Ten weeks in the books! The Cowboys and Bills got back on track while the Cardinals suffered their second loss of the season thanks to PJ Walker and newly signed Cam Newton of the Panthers. Around the BBL, the Icecaps suffered their second loss in a row while the Piranhas are finally full strength just in time to make a postseason run.
On to the recaps!
Hurts so Good 135.04 – 126.69 Everglade Squatches
HSG- HSG swept the season series against the Squatches, also winning back in week 1. Despite losing Nick Chubb to covid and Robert Woods to a torn ACL earlier this week, HSG found a way to win to even their record at 5-5. Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson, Travis Kelce and the Buffalo defense led the way for the afternoon, but it was start of the week AJ Dillion who really pushed HSG to the win. AJ Dillion turned in a week winning performance considering he is the backup to Aaron Jones, and I do not think anyone could have forecasted the day he ended up having. Apparently, Tim knew and cashed in and earned the win.
Great Starts: Justin Jefferson (15), AJ Dillion (26), Buffalo defense (19)
Bad Starts: Jarvis Landry (3), Nyheim Hines (3), Dallas Goedert (3)
Squatches- This team got over 29 points from the defense position and still lost. The Dallas defense turned in a week altering performance but found their way on the losing side this week. Dak Prescott and Jonathan Taylor did their job putting the Squatches in a great position to win. They did not, as six players scored in single digits which sunk the Squatches. But the only person they can blame is themselves because they benched DeVonta Smith. If the Squatches would have started Smith, they would have won this week. The Squatches are 5-5.
Great Starts: Dak Prescott (30), Jonathan Taylor (19), Dallas defense (29)
Bad Starts: Cordarrelle Patterson (4), Marquise Brown (3), Josh Jacobs (4), Terry McLaurin (6)
Benched: DeVonta Smith (19)
GalensWinningWinners 111.86 – 97.57 Sahara Sandstorms
GWW- GWW got a huge win against the battered and bruised Sandstorm squad to even their record at 5-5. No non-quarterback position scored more than 13 points on a week where GWW missed projection by over 40 points. After a lackluster performance from Lamar Jackson on Thursday night, Galen was sweating it out on Monday night facing a trio of Rams players. They prevailed and took down the Sandstorms by 14 points. Still not scoring at peak performance, a win was great considering their lineup. They will need some smart roster management moves to stay in the playoff hunt.
Good Starts: Derek Carr (22), George Kittle (11), Chris Boswell (10)
Bad Starts: Tyler Lockett (2), Christian Kirk (6)
Sandstorms- Definitely not how you drew it up if you’re the Sandstorms. A two-game losing streak going into week 11 with the core of the lineup (Rams players) headed to bye. Scoring south of 100 points, the Sandstorms were ravaged by injuries, losing Alvin Kamara to a knee injury, and Kyler Murray to that same nagging ankle injury. Forced to start Colt McCoy once again, he did not give the Sandstorms a chance to win, scoring zero points. Also scoring zero points was tight end Mike Gesicki who started off the week on a bad note. With Joe Burrow also on a bye, they turned to Taylor Heinicke who scored a respectable 17. Waiver wire pickup Mark Ingram was a solid contributor as well as the Green Bay defense on a week where the Sandstorms underperformed mightily. As mentioned, dealing with some bye issues as well as injuries have made the Sandstorms take a step back in their run of dominance over the previous month. They drop to 6-4.
Solid Starts: Cooper Kupp (13), Najee Harris (15), Mark Ingram (17), Green Bay defense (19)
Bad Starts: Colt McCoy (0), Mike Williams (4), Mike Gesicki (0), Matt Gay (4)
All I do is Winston 153.02 – 84.46 Tundra Icecaps
Winston- Winston put on a show this week, scoring the most points this week thanks in part to Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans and the Indianapolis defense. Having to scramble late this weekend, they picked up and started Mason Rudolph who scored a reasonable 17 points. After having a rather unlucky start to the season, Winston has rattled off five straight wins to move to 6-4. The only thing that could improve about this team, is that instead of a gimmicky player team name this manager could plant its stake with a consistent franchise name and logo. But as the Rolling Stones said, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”.
Solid Starts: Josh Allen (24), Deebo Samuel (26), Mike Evans (12), Mark Andrews (13), Indianapolis defense (23)
Bad Start: Younghoe Koo (3)
Icecaps- This marks the second straight loss for the Icecaps after jumping out to a 7-1 start. As we mentioned last week on this very program, injuries caught up with this team and it certainly did not get any better this week. Eight starters scored in single digits, which is not something you see from a team at the top of the league. Two weeks in a row this team has faceplanted, but their lead on the league remains at 7-3. The generally stable quarterback starts failed this week, as Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson combined for 13 points. The Icecaps do not look as strong as they once did three weeks ago.
Great Starts: Tyreek Hill (21), DeAndre Swift (15)
Bad Starts: Javonte Williams (5), Dawson Knox (1), Daniel Carlson (2)
Amazon Piranhas 129.33 – 104.24 Tropical Thunder
Piranhas- Finally at full strength, when you have the luxury and privilege to start Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, CeeDee Lamb, Dalvin Cook, and Christian McCaffrey, you should never be losing. That came true today as the Piranhas got their third win of the year, second against the Thunder. The aforementioned Lamb, Cook and McCaffrey all did what they were expected to as the Piranhas rolled through the Thunder. They still underperformed based on their projection of 161 but it’s a much-needed win if the Piranhas want the playoffs.
Great Starts: CeeDee Lamb (23), Dalvin Cook (19), Christian McCaffrey (18)
Bad Starts: Darren Waller (2)
Thunder- This is the Thunder we have been accustomed to seeing this season, barely scoring north of 100 points. They actually got solid performances from Stefon Diggs, Ezekiel Elliot and waiver wire pickup D’Ernest Johnson but were severely let down in other parts of their roster. After Carson Wentz scored 30 points last week, he followed that up with seven this week. Also at the quarterback position, Matt Ryan played so poorly he was benched in the physical game (not fantasy) as he scored zero fantasy points. Even TJ Hockenson got in on it, electing to also score zero points, ultimately destroying any chance of winning the Thunder had. They are 5-5 but with a terrible point differential, the playoffs will be a challenge.
Great Starts: Stefon Diggs (23), Ezekiel Elliot (18), D’Ernest Johnson (17)
Terrible Starts: Carson Wentz (7), Matt Ryan (0), TJ Hockenson (0), Jerry Jeudy (5)
Philly Special 124.45 – 81.41 Hipple’s Heroes
Philly Special- Patrick Mahomes got back on track this week in a big way and helped Philly over the lowly Heroes. He scored 46 points and put this matchup out of reach in an otherwise somewhat competitive matchup earlier in the afternoon. The Pittsburgh defense stepped up in addition to Kirk Cousins and gave Philly their sixth win on the year. However, six starters scored in single digits including Myles Gaskin, AJ Brown, Dalton Schultz and DK Metcalf. The good thing for them is they got the play the Heroes for the second time this year and are 2-0 against said Heroes.
Great Starts: Patrick Mahomes (46), Pittsburgh defense (16)
Bad Starts: AJ Brown (2), Myles Gaskin (5), Dalton Schultz (1), DK Metcalf (3)
Heroes- Mac Jones was the only highlight scoring 25 points. The Heroes scored under 85 points for the second consecutive week. They are 2-8.
Solid Start: Mac Jones (25)
Week 11 Matchups
GalensWinningWinners 5-5 vs. Tundra Icecaps 7-3
Philly Special 6-4 vs. Sahara Sandstorms 6-4
Tropical Thunder 5-5 vs. Everglade Squatches 5-5
All I do is Winston 6-4 vs. Hurts so Good 5-5
Amazon Piranhas 3-7 vs. Hipple’s Heroes 2-8
Around the League
Four weeks remain in the regular season! The time to make a move for the playoffs is now.
Cheers!
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