Week 14

Some big matchups in Week 14 and some big misery (more on that below). Amazingly with only one week left in the regular season there are 7 teams that are still in the hunt for one of the 4 playoff spots. Because one of Umphlett and KRABS have to lose VZ is guaranteed to make the playoffs. Sigh.

And with Jeff’s commanding point total you can basically assume he is locked into a top 4 spot too. But with Tyreek Hill “injured”, Kenan Allen and Josh Jacobs Out, and Jeff and Jacob apparently having Taco Salad debates over Jaylen Waddle, is this team falling apart at the finish line?  

The other two spots are completely up for grabs. 5 teams, 2 spots. Should be a wild weekend.

KRABS

While he currently seems to be more interested in who other managers are starting vs. his own team, he has a little bit of an issue. CJ Stroud is reportedly still in Concussion Protocol and KRABS currently has Geno Smith, Nick Mullens (huh?) and Baker Mayfield on his bench. Heck why don’t you just pick up Rex Grossman too. I mean don’t drop Rondale Moore to do that, but you know hey its an idea. The headline here is that did the dream die in Week 14? 6 straight wins  and now we are looking at a roster that might finally be turning into the pumpkin we always though it was.

the icon

More on this roster below but all eyes are on Devon Achane. Oh wait. He didn’t start him. I mean All eyes are on Austin Ekeler. Gulp. Well you have Brandon Aubrey! And you are getting to play against Brent Cozart!

Jerry’s Belt Buckle

Could Justin Herbert’s injury be addition by subtraction? Howell actually has show the ability to have a pretty high ceiling and he hasn’t scored less than 15 points since Week 7. He has 5 games above 20 fantasy points and 2 above 25. Herbert has scored 13 or less points the past three weeks. And honestly I think I have to apologize to Justin Herbert. I tried to get Umphlett to trade him to me and obviously wasn’t able to convince him. But clearly me just mentioning the name of Justin Herbert to Umphlett was enough to transfer Trevor Lawrence stink onto him and have him be injured. But back on topic, Umphlett’s team may be better with Howell starting. Or maybe it will be Tommy Cutlets baby! Although not going to lie, starting Odell Beckham and Najee Harris are bold “Umphlett-eqse” choices.

This is where it gets fun

black is for sunday

All year we have wondered what was going on with this team (at least for the weeks that Jeff Wilson Jr. wasn’t on the team). After starting 0-4 things looked bleak, but Brent has won 4 of the last 5 games and Lamar Jackson looks ready to make a point. Chris Olave has 4 straight games of double digit points and continues to deliver his preseason value over the last month. But the breakout start here is definitely Puka Nacua. This guy is the real deal. With a matchup against the Redskins can he help get Brent one more victory to move the Hype Train into the top 4?!?!

showmedamoney!

At the end of Week 11 Billy was riding a 5 game losing streak and still had Dak Prescott and Josh Allen on his roster (WHY?). What has happened since that time? Three straight wins. Cooper Kupp has been MIA but he came alive last week with a huge game and if he can continue that performance it makes a HUGE difference for this lineup. Allen and Henry are super stars, but it takes players like Kupp and Montgomery to make a difference. Billy has had a long trust of Amari Cooper as well. Can Joe Flacco unlock some of that magic?

I am going to predict that the final top four are:

1)      Jeff

2)      VZ

3)      Overbay

4)      Brent W

KRABS is going to fight but I think that Jeff is going to have a big Week 15 victory. And I think Billy will keep the momentum going and make it 4 straight which means that 4th place will be a 3 way tie at 8-7 and Brent W will win the points scored tiebreaker.

Before we get to the awards let’s check this week’s episode of Gridiron Heights:

This was a pretty funny one.  And sad. All at the same time.

Manager of the Weak

Now I am sure my readers are just waiting for me to pick VZ for Manager of the Weak since he only scored 63 points and his team is a tire fire right now. I mean he started Cade Otton. I don’t even know who that is. Mahomes is well, not great. Speaking of Mahomes was it just me or did anyone think of the ending of Dodgeball during the ending of the Chiefs vs. Bills?

But yeah Mahomes hasn’t been great. Nico Collins is hurt now.  And as discussed above CJ Stroud may not even play. Davante Adams is sick (probably of VZ). Mike Evans may be the most stupefying player in Fantasy Football history. He started somebody named Chuba. But hey maybe Taysom Hill will be healthy again. The irony of that. Now all of these are things that clearly make me question how in the heck this roster is in first place of our league. It’s honestly cruel and unfair. But as pathetic as these things are I cannot in good conscience give Manager of the Weak to VZ. I have to give it to myself. 2023 was an abject failure and we are just … disappointed. It has been a series of failures and missteps all year all surrounded by one primary issue: Trevor Lawrence.

We built our entire roster around Trevor and he failed us. I am so disappointed because I was so CONVICTED that Lawrence was going to have a huge year. And he didn’t. Although oddly I am still convinced I am right. It just didn’t happen at the right time (or all completely yet). Through the first four weeks I stuck with Trevor and he was not able to score above 20 points, having a 7, 14, and 16 point game. We started 1-3. In Week 5 I pivoted to CJ Stroud, expecting him to continue his ascent and of course what happened: Lawrence outscored him 15-14. In Week 6 I went back to Lawrence with a home game vs. the Colts and well, it didn’t work. He only had 17 points (Stroud scored 16 on my bench). It was in Week 7 where the downfall of my season came. Frustrated by Lawrence ability to truly breakout and with CJ Stroud on bye, I took a gamble on Matthew Stafford at home vs. the Steelers. It didn’t work. Stafford had 13 points. Amazingly somehow I still won in Weeks 5, 6, and 7. But the downfall of the season started here. Oddly a 2-4 KRABS spent $26 to pick up Stroud who was on bye coming off two consecutive weeks of less than 20 fantasy points (Editor’s Note: the reason KRABS did this was because he thought Stroud was Keeper Eligible which he is not. Yet even when he is stupid KRABS still finds a way to screw The Generalissimo). In Week 8 I started Lawrence again, he scored 14 points again, and somehow I won. Stroud started for KRABS in Week 8 and only scored 11 points. The last time he would score this low all year. In Week 9, with no choice to let Lawrence screw me since he was on bye, I went with Derek Carr who scored the 2nd highest point total at QB for me all year at 19. Meanwhile Stroud scored 48 for KRABS. I lost to Overbay in a matchup that will haunt my season outcome all year. In Week 10, Trevor Lawrence started again.  And scored 0. I lost by 59 points. I vowed never to start Trevor Lawrence again. I traded for Jared Goff. And started Jared Goff in Week 11.  Goff scored 15. Trevor Lawrence scored 33 points. I lost by 8 to Cozart who I just made a trade with and had gutted his roster. It was at this point I new that 2023 was not my year. That was cemented in Week 14 when Jared Goff screwed me yet again scoring 7 points and Trevor Lawrence scored 21 points and I lost by 3.

All year has been a series of trusting Trevor Lawrence only to have him screw me when I finally can’t trust him anymore. It’s a tragedy. A true tragedy.

Hey at least I can get an early start on my Microsoft Excel Fantasy League.

Move of the Week

All due respect to Brent W for the pickup of the New Orleans defense, but that was some what predictable considering they were playing the Panthers. At Home. I am going to give the Move of the Week to Brent C for his pickup and starting of the Minnesota Defense. They complete shut down the Las Vegas Raiders on the road in a 3-0 thriller while scoring 20 Fantasy Points. It is clear that Brent C is on a role with his lineup decisions and he is clearly on track to keep up his stellar success by based on who he places in his starting lineups, ensuring victory and success. Congrats to Brent C for winning the Week 14 Move of the Week!

MVP

Brandon Aubrey, Cooper Kupp, Lamar Jackson, Minnesota Defense, Deebo Samuel

Deebo Samuel – 26 Fantasy Points, 9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 149 Receiving Yards, 1 Receiving Touchdown, 1 Carry, 1 Yard, 1 Rushing Touchdown (that should have been McCaffery’s)

Deebo Samuel has been an enigma all year, but he is turning it on when it matters the most. He has now scored 71 Fantasy Points over the past three weeks and has somehow scored 4 rushing touchdowns over the last 5 games. When he is healthy he is a dominating force in Fantasy, but being healthy has long been a tricky task for Mr. Samuel. Umphlett needs one more win to make the playoffs and you know he is licking his chops to see that 49ers vs. Redskins matchup in Week 17.  Yikes.

Manager Of The Week

In the other absolute must win Overbay and the icon came up with a huge victory over The Institute. It’s been an interesting year for Overbay, but there is no better way to describe that then Brandon Aubrey having the biggest game of his season with 22 points. He has been on fire this season and normally no one cares about kickers, but they mattered in this matchup. And while Overbay actually started Noah Brown who literally scored 0 points, he continues to get strong production from Rachaad White (a keeper). For Overbay to win in a week when Jalen Hurts only scores 7 points (his lowest total of the year) you know he is rolling. Congrats to Overbay for winning the Week 14 Manager of the Week!

Until Week 15 (this is it, last week of the regular season)…

-          The Commish