It only took 14 weeks of play and a number of stiff cocktails, but we finally made it. The regular season is over and the race for the title is on.
To those of you that didn't make it: better luck next season and I hope you do well in the consolation brackets. Don't forget, you can still win some dough if you win your league's consolation prize which will come in handy when I send out everyone's invoices in the next few weeks and you didn't tell your spouse how much you spent on the waiver wire.
To those teams fortunate enough to punch their ticket to the playoffs, congratulations. You did well this season, or at least not as bad as some of your league counterparts. But now comes the hard part: winning it all. Let's take a brief look at some of the contenders.
THE UPPER CLASS
The Golden Tate Warriors, Pork Chop Express, TJONES35, and Jalenhouse Rock will all enjoy a well-earned week off from fantasy while they watch the serfs battle it out in the first round. Among all of the postseason contestants, though, I have some concerns about a few of the teams within this group.
The Golden Tate Warriors and Jalenhouse Rock have both done consistently well throughout the season. Their scoring rarely fluctuates and, though they had a bad week here and there, they didn't stay down for long. But, they can be beaten and they'll need to spend their bye week shoring up their game plans and getting players ready for what could be a difficult round 2...especially if you're the Warriors.
For different reasons, the Pork Chops and TJONES are probably the most concerning to me.
The Pork Chop Express cruised through the season and played very well. But a deeper dive into their season reveals a team that may not have been challenged as much as they're about to be. Opponents of the Chops scored 1395 points against them - fewer than 9 of their league mates - which, some would argue, is how you win 10 games while being the 7th highest scoring team in the league. To do well in the postseason, their defense will need to continue limiting their opponents to a level of scoring that they're capable of topping. That's a challenge in the regular season, but it's an endeavor when you're facing the best teams in the league each round.
TJONES35 was in a league of their own through the first 11 weeks of the season, winning 10 games and never scoring below 109 points. But you wouldn't know that if you only looked at their final 3 games where they finished 0-3 while never scoring more than 99 points. Where TJONES once looked primed to win the title without a problem, they now look like they're lucky to be here. The coaching staff will certainly be using this week to work out a game plan that gets them back to their previous level of play...or they may be handed their hat.
THE SILVER MEDALISTS
This group is a mixed bag for me. I see some with the potential to run the table and others that may not escape the first round, namely Baby Got Dak.
Although Dak began the season 6-0, things fell apart in the second half and they were 2-6 over their final 8 games while averaging 103.5 pts/gm...32.3 pts/gm less than their first 6. It was a turnaround so severe that they nearly didn't make it to the postseason. Could you imagine winning the first 6 games of the season and missing the playoffs? Because their season took such a terrible turn, they lost what seemed like an automatic first-round bye and they don't have the luxury of time to try to figure out how to get the offense rolling again.
The other 3 teams in this category - Jergoff Passout, Ohio State Gunkeyes, and Tallaassee Tator Tots - all look like they're capable of making it to the promised land.
A slow start to the season saw Passout begin 1-4 with an average score of 102.3 pts/gm. Fast-forward a bit, and you'll find a team that won 4 of their last 7 with an average score of 119.9 pts/gm. Sure, they didn't break any records, but when you consider the fact they haven't scored less than 100 points since week 6, I think you'd agree they're not going to be jerked around.
The Tots and the Gunkeyes could arguably be the best teams in the Segundo League. Over the final 5 weeks of the season, only Belichicks Hoodie scored more points that the Tallaassee Tator Tots (126.8 pts/gm), and they're not even in the playoffs. If you narrow the scope to the final 3 weeks of the season, the Gunkeyes posted totals of 120, 145, and 120 for an average of 128.3 pts/gm. I wouldn't want to face either of them right now.
THE DISRUPTERS
If it's trouble want, look no further than Digg-A-Watts, NH Bounty Hunters, Gotham Rogues, or MaxxCasualties. Seriously, count them out at your own risk. I will go out on a limb right now and tell you at least one of our two league champions will come out of this group.
One of the keys to success in the postseason is entering on a hot streak. Well, there isn't another team in either league that has been hotter than the NH Bounty Hunters lately. Through the final 3 weeks of the season - when it mattered most - the Hunters were 3-0 with an average score of 145.0 pts/gm. They've found their rhythm and I wouldn't want them looking for me.
From the very beginning of the season, MaxxCasualties looked like a team that was going to struggle. And what did they do? They finished the season 8-6 and they were the 4th highest scoring team in the Segundo League. "But, Commish, they lost 4 of their final 5 games." I'm aware of that, but they still averaged 114.2 pts/gm in those contests - better than all but 2 teams.
Through the first 6 weeks of the season, the Gotham Rogues were 2-4 while averaging 97.6 pts/gm and they had just lost their best player, Justin Jefferson, the week before. A situation like this would doom most teams. Not the Rogues. They would go on to win 5 of their next 6 while increasing their offensive output to 129.2 pts/gm...without Jefferson! Whether Jefferson rejoins their postseason lineup or not, they've already proven they have other talent ready and willing to step up.
On paper, Digg-A-Watts my look like the weakest link in this bunch. But what if I told you that they made their playoff run by winning 5 of their final 8 games, including a 4-game season finale that included Jergoff Passout twice, Golden Tate Warriors, and Baby Got Dak...all playoff teams. There probably isn't a more battle-tested team in the Sagebrush Cactus League than Watts, and if you think they fought this hard to get here and just lay down, guess again. I wouldn't be shocked to see them take down some quality teams.
Good luck in the postseason!
Commish
GOLDEN TICKET CHALLENGE
There are still a few weeks remaining in this contest but let's be honest, I don't see anything changing among the top two teams, Baby Got Dak and NH Bounty Hunters.
PIGSKIN PICK'EM CONTEST
Barring a catastrophic collapse, Jalenhouse Rock is taking the top honors in this contest. However, we still have a pretty close race between 4 teams chasing after 2nd place. Pork Chop Express and Baby Got Dak both have 131 correct picks while Badazz Bri and Los Perros Locos are lurking just behind with 129 and 128 correct picks, respectively.
COMMISH'S PICKS
Several of you have been a thorne in my side all season and last week was no different. Baby Got Dak, NH Bounty Hunters, Digg-A-Watts, Who Is You, MaxxCasualties, and Belichicks Hoodies have consistently been difficult for me to predict and I got every one of their games wrong in week 14.
Those, and a few other surprises, left me with a 3-3 record in the Sagebrush Cactus League and a 4-2 record in the Segundo League last week.
POWER RANKINGS
If you saw the Sagebrush Cactus League Power Rankings last week, then you've already seen them this week. There was, literally, no change after week 14.
It took a while, but the top of the Power Rankings in the Segundo League were shaken up after week 14. After sitting atop the list for most of the season, TJONES35 surrendered their throne to Ohio State Gunkeyes. With the Gunkeyes moving up from #3, several teams saw their ranking fall with the exception of the Tallaassee Tator Tots, who also moved up 1 spot to #4.
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