Day: December 5, 2017

Wow what a Season!

The final week of the Season determined which team finished first overall.  It determined which two teams would get the first round byes.  It determined who would snatch sixth place.  There was more on the line in the final week than I’ve ever experienced before.

Playoff Team Seedings

1 – Blitzkrieg: 9-4, 1591.26 points

Blitzkrieg had to beat the surging division rival, and last Season’s Champion For Whom the Bell Tolls for to retain their number 1 seed.  If they lost they would have fallen to third place, and had to play a quarter-final match.  Instead they get a well deserved break to try and figure out their roster issues.  They have only averaged 118 points per game over the last three games.  It’s been enough to compete, but is it enough to win a Championship?

2 – Grid Warriors: 8-5, 1770.09 points

All my team does is put up points week after week.  A full 160 total points more than the next closest Team for the Season.  Regular Season dominance doesn’t always mean post Season success though.  Averaging 142 points per game over the last three games is a good sign.  22 points per game better than the next closest Playoff team.  Do I feel confident?  Yes I do.  The only losses I’ve suffered all Season have been to breakout Fantasy performances.  As long as I don’t run into one of those, I will be the Champion.

3 – Pixie’s Pirates: 8-5, 1609.98 points

Pixie’s Pirates were my pick to win the championship at the beginning of the Season.  Injuries made their trip to the playoffs a little more difficult.  Losing David Johnson to injury really opened up opportunities for everyone else.  Their Roster is so stacked that I would consider them to be my most difficult opponent in the Playoffs.  They have only averaged 113 points per game over the last three games.  They would have averaged more but poor starting roster choices have limited their scores.   Starting the right group of Players each week will determine their fate.

4 – Swaggy B: 8-5, 1457.71 points

Swaggy B has pushed me for the Grid Central title all year.  In the end I was able to beat him in our Week 11 match, and that was the difference.  I’m glad that the only way we will meet again this Season is in the final.  Swaggy B is averaging 120 points per game over the last three games.  More importantly their team is fully healthy.  Although I wouldn’t consider them a favourite to win the championship.  They definitely fill the roll of Dark horse.

5 – Because you’re a Lannister: 8-5, 1357.88 points

The results of the Week 13 games hurt Because you’re a Lannister’s final seeding worse than anyone else.  They went from second overall with a first Round bye, to fifth facing a surging Playoff ready Team.  Averaging only 93 points per game over the last three games.  I would be surprised if they advanced past the quarter-finals.  Their only hope to advance is a huge game from LeSean McCoy.  Facing the lowly Colts it’s possible that McCoy could put up 40+ points.

6 – Stoniestars: 6-7, 1466.83 points

Ignore the regular season record.  Stoniestars finished the Season with more total points than Because you’re a Lannister, and Swaggy B.  They are averaging 120 points per game over the last three.  Cobe Life is the only team averaging more.  Their Quarter-finals opponent has made some poor roster choices lately.  Stoniestars looks primed to make a run for the title.  Last Season it took a late surge by For Whom the Bell Tolls for, and a little bit of luck to win the championship.  Are Stoniestars this year’s For Whom the Bell Tolls for?

Quarter-finals

Pixie’s Pirates vs Stoniestars

I just finished describing Stoniestars surging push to make the playoffs.  They are on a three game winning streak.  Well I don’t believe that another Cinderella Season is in the works.  Against any other team I might have picked Stoniestars to win.  Pixie’s Pirates is just way too strong.  I’m guessing that they will make the correct roster decisions, and post the highest scoring total this week.

Winner: Pixie’s Pirates

Swaggy B vs Because you’re a Lannister

Barring any significant injuries to key Players on Swaggy B’s roster.  I don’t think Because you’re a Lannister is packing enough star power to get the win.  This is Fantasy Football, and anything can happen.  I just don’t see the likelihood that everything goes wrong in just one week.

Winner: Swaggy B

 

How it stands

1 – Texas Proud:  11-2, 1638.34 points

Finishing as the Regular Season Champion a full 2 wins ahead of second place.  Texas Proud has put together a dominant Season.  With the most points accumulated by far, and entering the Playoffs averaging 128 points per game over their last three.  The road to the True Fanatics League Championship goes through them.  The combination of key Players from the L.A. Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs has proven to be a winning combination.  Only one team in the Playoffs have averaged a better score over the last 3 games.  Texas Proud is still my pick to win it all.

2 – Aegon Targaryan: 9-4, 1347.27 points

At 9-4 Aegon Targaryan easily won their division, and earned the first round bye.  Selecting the correct roster each week will be a key component to their continued success.  With the second lowest total points for the Season, and the lowest average points per week over the last three games with 95.  Aegon Targaryan is going to need a little help from the Fantasy Gods to win the championship.  The one real advantage they have going in, is that they wouldn’t face Texas Proud until the final.

3 – Raider in the North: 7-6, 1293.10 points

Raider in the North earned the third place position with a Week 13 win over Cobe Life.  That match would decide who has the unfortunate possibility of facing Texas Proud in the Semi-final.  With the win Raider in the North has the seemingly much easier route to the Championship.  They only need to beat the sixth place team, and then the poorly performing Aegon Targaryan team to reach the finals.  They have averaged 22 points more per game than Aegon Targaryan over the last three games with 117.

4 – Cobe Life: 7-6, 1486.19 points

Losing that game to Raider in the North might be the nail in the coffin.  I was really hoping to avoid having to face Texas Proud until the final.  My team has faired well over the last three weeks, but difficult matches has limited my success.  Cobe Life is averaging 115 points per game over the last three.  If I want to win the championship I’ll need to score better than that.

5 – The Bottom Feeders: 7-6, 1389.31 points

The Bottom Feeders haven’t had the easiest trip to the playoffs.  They’ve had to deal with a lot of adversity all Season.  Losing the final game of the season cost them the easier route to the Championship as well.  They’ve only averaged 108 points per game over the last three.  They are probably looking at their road to the Championship, and wondering what’s the point?  They have to beat the two highest scoring teams in the league just to reach the final.  Still anything is possible.

6 – In Dak we Trust: 6-7, 1347.20 points

So In Dak we Trust has been able to sneak into the playoffs by winning their final game of the regular season.  That’s no small feat considering they had to beat Texas Proud to do it.  That’s right.  Not only did they defeat the number 1 seed.  They have the highest scoring average over the last three weeks with 133.  At this point your Regular Season record doesn’t mean squat.  In Dak we Trust is the hottest team in the True Fanatics League right now.  If it’s all about peaking at the right time.  Then In Dak we Trust might be ready to win the championship.

Quarter-finals

Raider in the North vs In Dak we Trust

Raider in the North was probably happy earning the third place spot.  In doing so though they suffered a costly loss.  Rob Gronkowski let his emotions get the best of him, and it looks like he’ll miss the quarter-final game.  I expect the loss of Gronkowski gives In Dak we Trust a significant advantage.  They will post another high score, and get the win.

Winner: In Dak we Trust

Cobe Life vs The Bottom Feeders

On paper this looks like a very even matchup.  It’s when you look at who’s likely to be unavailable for this match that things become predictable.  Ezekiel Elliot is still serving his suspension.  Zach Ertz has entered concussion protocol, and both Roethlisberger and Cousins have difficult matchups.  It’s an unfortunate situation for The Bottom Feeders, but a bonus for me.  It’s not an easy week for me either, but Cobe Life has  better bench Players.  I believe that will be the difference.

Winner: Cobe Life

Good luck to all of you, and for those of you that didn’t make the playoffs, thanks for a competitive Season.