Can you believe we are already HALFWAY through the fantasy regular season? It’s gone by unbelievably fast. As customary with the halfway point, a team-by-team breakdown ensues. However, we must mention a few matchups from last week first.
Misfits Survive Sandstorms Push, 149-142
This was the week. The Misfits had a ‘down’ week scoring 149 as the Sandstorms had a chance late. Half of Ben’s starters played Monday night, including a below average performance from Baker (13), which gave the Sandstorms some hope. Unfortunately, the Texans offense is horrible, and the Seahawks refuse to use Kenneth Walker at the goal line. Coupled with benching Olave (22), Logan couldn’t get it done and remains winless, as the Misfits remain undefeated.
Dawgs Shock Icecaps, 161-138
Things were good. Actually, one could say it was great for the Icecaps. Going into Sunday night, Jack scored 111 with five players to go. As you can tell from the final score, Mac Jones, Montgomery, Kittle, Collins, and Piñero combined for 27 points. Enter Jamyr Gibbs. Single handedly flipping this matchup, Gibbs (36) put on a show to give the Prairie Dawgs an unbelievable come from behind win.
In the other matchups, the Squatches handled HSG, the Piranhas knocked off the Thunder, and GWW rolled the Avalanche.
On to the breakdowns!
MISFITS 7-0
This team has to be the surprise of the season. I mentioned last week how this team has finished either 8th or 9th in four out of five seasons in the league. No chance that happens again unless there is a catastrophic mis-management situation that occurs. Arguably, Ben had the best draft, spending his first three picks on Bijan Robinson, Amon Ra St. Brown, and Jonathan Taylor. Just an absolutely menacing lineup that the rest of the league should be worried about. Does this team have a real chance to be the first undefeated team in league history? I’m not sure, but that lineup is just standing there…. MENACINGLY!!!
THUNDER 5-2
This team has been solid all season, thanks to Josh Allen and Puka Nacua, their first two draft picks. Another bright spot? Drake Maye, which is another reason why this team has been winning. Which is strange considering the history of this franchise where quarterback play has never been the strong part of the lineup. So far, the rest of the lineup has been pulling their weight, but we must ask ourselves. Can it be sustained?
GALENSWINNINGWINNERS 4-3
Rattling off two straight wins, is GWW on to something? Christian McCaffrey was well worth price of admission and is paying off quite nicely. Chase Brown was not paying off and after shipping him out for Josh Jacobs, the squad got much stronger. Paired with a surging Swift, is this the best RB room in the league? Probably yes. On the flip side, they might just have the weakest receiver room. Samuel, Wilson, Worthy and Harrison? I’m not impressed. Two of those receivers combined for 12 points last week and the other two were injured. You know what else I’m worried about? Tua as QB 2. Thankfully, Trevor Lawrence is only on bye once.
ICECAPS 4-3
“This is stupid.” Is it time to panic? Just a couple weeks ago this team was 4-1. I wouldn’t say it’s time to panic, even after the “stupid” loss against the Dawgs. Struggling with injuries all season, to be at 4-3 is the best-case scenario. No Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy, George Kittle, maybe even Nico Collins now, it’s certainly been challenging to navigate. The good news? Diamond in the rough Rico Dowdle was an elite pick up a couple weeks ago to steal a win. Not to mention waiting for Rashee Rice gave this team a much-needed boost last week. If everyone gets healthy this team can make a run, but that’s a big IF.
SQUATCHES 4-3
I just… I’m not sure what to make of this team. You look at it, and you’re underwhelmed. 155 points later and you ask yourself; did I just lose to Daniel Jones and Kimani Vidal? Why yes, yes you did. Daniel Jones has been a great option this year, paired with a resurgence of George Pickens and you have a nice duo of players. The main heartbeat of this team? Cam Skattebo. One of the better waiver wire pickups this season, Skattebo has injected life in this team as of late. If Derrick Henry and the Ravens could simply run the ball like a normal team, the Squatches can compete in December.
PIRANHAS 4-3
Jordan should be sending a thank you card to Joe Flacco after sending 23 targets to Ja’Marr Chase. It’s exactly what you want with your No.1 overall pick in the draft. You know who won’t get a thank you card though? Mike Vrabel, who refuses to give the ball to TreVeyon Henderson. Judkins, Achane, Allen, Nix, and great pick Tyler Warren have all been solid options on a solid team. As with Jordan’s teams every year, can he make the correct start/sit decisions?
AVALANCHE 3-4
Not the greatest of starts. Saquon Barkley has been a letdown, but not as much as Brian Thomas. Add in a Malik Nabers season ending injury and a waste of a fourth-round pick Alvin Kamara, your first four picks haven’t exactly paid dividends. I mean, Erk’s out here starting Rashid Shaheed this week. That should tell you what you need to know about this squad. JSN has been a great draft pick (5th round) and despite all the negative remarks, the team is only 3-4. And remember, if Erk woke up in time and swapped out Metcalf for Warren, this team would be 4-3! There’s still time to turn it around, especially with Barkley, Thomas, and JSN.
PRAIRIE DAWGS 3-4
Just the aforementioned incredible win from the Dawgs makes them 3-4 instead of 2-5. They lost Joe Burrow for the year (unfortunate) which explains the slow start. They also made a great trade for Jaxson Dart a couple of weeks ago to sure up the quarterback room. Outside of Jahmyr Gibbs and Drake London, who’s left? Michael Pittman? Jordan Addison? Here’s the bad news, Nick won’t be able to get 36 points from Gibbs this week because he’s on a bye. With a bench that would have been elite in 2021 with Cooper Kupp, Nick Chubb and DJ Moore, this team needs to get with the times. The Dawgs are still missing some key pieces to make a run. Still… it could be worse.
HURTS SO GOOD 1-6
Is it too early to say it’s over? The team is just not very good. Outside of last week’s game, AJ Brown has essentially been nonexistent, Breece Hall can’t do anything on the Jets anemic offense, and CJ Stroud… where do I begin? The biggest bust so far has to be first round pick Ashton Jeanty. The Raiders are terrible; how do you spend a first-round pick on a running back and give him six carries in the entire game? It’s a microcosm of Tim’s season and he better start wheeling and dealing or else this team will be playing for last. Only averaging 122 points per week, there just isn’t a lot of hope. It could be worse.
SANDSTORMS 0-7
The Sandstorms have something to say about that. Averaging a sad 114 points per week, this team is trying. CeeDee Lamb is back, which is one of the only positive notes about this team. Trying to improve the quarterback position, they went out and got Jayden Daniels (at the price of Josh Jacobs which I mentioned earlier). They also received Chase Brown from that deal who has been quite underwhelming. Kyler Murray and Geno Smith have been absolute letdowns, Kenneth Walker gets no respect at the goal line, and injuries to Bucky Irving and Trey Benson haven’t helped. It could be worse. Daniels won’t play this week, so that’s not good. Still, it could be worse. Geno Smith and Kyler Murray are on bye this week. Wait, it just did get worse. At this rate, this team needs to avoid the league’s first winless team.
WAIVER WIRE UPDATE
Erk got in on the backup QB spending, dropping $22 on Andy Dalton! Galen spent $15 on another tight end, this time Oronde Gadsden. Tez Johnson went for $10 to Jordan and Jack spent $8 on Brashard Smith, who is currently starting in his flex spot. Interesting choice.
ON TO WEEK 8!
Thank you Nick for your patience with the article. Greatness does in fact, take time. Here’s to the second half of the season! Cheers!
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