Week 6 Recap: Leaders Break Away From Pack

As the league nears it's halfway point, the playoff teams start to rise to the top and the playoff picture becomes more clear. Two teams lead the way at 5-1 as Dave and Dom continue to be the surprise stories of the season as they each ripped off two impressive wins. Since Brian and Dom play later in the season, there isn't much standing in their way from here on out. Could you imagine a championship featuring these two squads? Right now, it seems like the odds on favorite but a few teams will stand in the way. For now, each team is enjoying their success but also remaining focus on the task ahead.

For the teams at 2-4 and lower, it may seem bleak but there is hope. Well, in Will's case, not necessarily. A 1-5 team has never made it to the playoffs but one must think The Super Mariota Brothers have a strong enough lineup to get back to the postseason but he has to take it one game at a time. As for the 2-4 teams, there have been several examples of teams coming back to make the postseason at this point. Currently, the 8th seeded team is also 2-4 which means someone will improve on this trend. In the past three seasons, 50% of the teams that are 2-4 after Week 6 go on to make the playoffs. This also includes a young Jew by the name of Eddie Hecker, who was in the same scenario in his rookie season and miraculously cashed in his Hanukkah wishes with a spot in the Slushie Bowl. My point is, don't give up on the season (and your dreams!) now. But if you lose next week, it's basically over (2-5 team has never made the postseason), so yea.

GAME OF THE WEEK:

Kissing Suzy Kolber - 134.

Schenectady Schmeckles - 131.2

A come from behind win on Monday Night may have saved Vinnie's season for the time being as Odell Beckham finally paid dividends with a huge first half to seal the victory. Aaron Rodgers didn't too much due to the Packers early lead but it was enough to propel KSK to their second win. Fresh off of trading away Eddie Lacy, they pieces acquired made immediate impact as Keenan Allen turned in another great performance while Jonathan Stewart return to form with a huge 2-TD game against a tough Seattle defense. Should Vinnie expect this each week? No, but it is a start and all this team needed was a spark. 

However, the one thing that could impede his progress (Aaron Rodgers bye) has finally occurred. This week he takes on The Super Mariota Brothers who are in a must win situation as well. No quote from Vin this week, unfortunate due to his usual comical take on his newfound bleak outlook on fantasy. Vinnie is probably gearing his team up for battle next weekend against Will and nothing can derail his preparation. Too crucial to falter now.

You all can eat shit! A big bag of shit!

The Schmeckles had a great chance to take another step towards their first playoff berth but Odell Beckham and Aaron Rodgers had other plans. His gang of Patriots put in an impressive performance but it ultimately wasn't enough. Edelman's mangled pinky and the backseat Dion Lewis took to LeGarry Blount was the reason he couldn't finish off what seemed to be another win for Schenectady. This week, Chris takes on Veto Corleone with a chance to step on the throat of the Cookie Man. Additionally, it could be double the pain for Ben as the Patriots face the Jets this weekend. A loss in fantasy and a Jets' loss could result in a very bad weekend in Cleveland. Jimmy Graham finally turned in a huge performance while Arian Foster appears to be back. A healthy lineup could present serious problems for Chris' opponents going forward.

Chris' season outlook with this guy leading his squad.

NOW, FOR YOUR WEEKLY RECAP....

Largest Margin of Victory: 

- Taco Corp over Super Mariota Brothers - 43.4 Points

Upset of the Week:

- Kissing Suzy Kolber over Schenectady Schmeckles

Most Points Scored ($10 for Week 6): 

- Taco Corp - 158.2 Points

Least Points Scored: 

- Veto Corleone - 82.6 Points

Teams losing on Monday night looking like this when they see the final score...

Taco Corp  - 158.2

Super Mariota Brothers - 114.8

Well, I'm not going to say I was right but I was completely right. Dave's team is an absolute force at this point. Every person he plugs into his lineup is producing at a high rate and Todd Gurley hasn't even played a third of the season. Once again led by Devonta Freeman, Taco Corp beat their (earnings) projections with another 150+ point output, giving Dave the highest scoring team once again. Don't spend all that money in one place brother. Anyways, DeAndre Hopkins has been the best receiver in the league while Freeman is the best running back statistically. Larry Fitzgerald is continuing his renaissance season while Alshon Jeffrey now returns from injury with a 25 point performance. He now has more players than his own good and is a few weeks away from clinching his 3rd career playoff appearance. I would not want to play this team anytime soon (I play him Week 10...) and I'm sure alot of the teams feel the same. Dave took to social media Sunday to declare his surefire chances of taking the title and when I asked him about his team he told me:

"I feel like the team I put together will go down as the greatest team ever assembled in this storied league."

Next week, Dave takes on Chreeyusz in another Dolan Drive matchup. A win would ultimately clinch a playoff berth for the CEO of Taco Corp. Will the trio of Gurley, Freeman and Hyde continue to pay massive dividends?

Most points for the week with this guy on a bye? Watch out.

Another week that Will's team posts 110+ points and it results in a loss. Two weeks in a row he has lost to the highest scoring team of the week and patience is starting to run thin at the team offices in Buffalo. Strangely enough, the Brothers are currently 4th in the league in scoring but has been plagued by brutal luck, as he has allowed 65 points more than any other team in the league. Like the Bills and Titans, Will's squad showed promise early on but has been decimated by injuries (to Marcus Mariota) and the ability to keep the other team out of the endzone. When asked for comment about his team, Will simply had this to say:

"2015 just isn't our year." 

Maybe it isn't your year Will, but stranger things have happened before. There's always the chance of being the first 1-5 team to make the postseason. Next week, the luck may be on his side as Aaron Rodgers will be gone for Vinnie and new acquisition Andy Dalton hopes to steer him towards the playoffs once his bye is over. Good Luck Whitt.

Nowhere to go but "Up" for Andy Dalton and the Super Mariota Brothers

Team New Year - 115.1

Sweet Drippins  -  91.6

Essentially in a must-win game, Yung Chreeyusz delivered as his team showed their true potential in a strong victory over Sweet Drippins. Gary Barnidge has turned into a major asset paired with Greg Olsen as Chris continues to ride the two-TE set while Mike Evans struggles. His true problem lies in his running backs but for now it appears he can get by for now on the backs of his strong young core. Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry continue to produce while Mike Evans is waiting in the wings. If Jeremy Hill can return to 2014 form he can make a serious run to get into the postseason after all. Next week it doesn't get any easier as he takes on Dave, arguably the hottest team in football (I mean seriously, have you seen Drew Brees in those Wranglers?). Chris declined to send in a quote but I'm sure it would be filled with optimism and disdain for his current running back situation.

"Uncle" Gary Barnidge hoping to keep Chris' team afloat

It looked as though Aaron would be able to skate by at 3-1 with the injuries to his QB's but after a close lose last week, he was blown away by Team New Year to fall back to 3-3 on the season. Although Colin Kaepernick filled in nicely, the rest of his team severely let him down. Antonio Brown continues to struggle without Roethlisberger (as does Sweet Drippins) and CJ Spiller has certainly not been able to fill the void of Marshawn Lynch. With a tough matchup against Dom looming, it could turn into make or break time for Sweet Drippins if Ben isn't able to return as soon as Aaron hoped. Scoring less than 100 points each of the last three weeks has crippled his chances and one can only hope his luck turns around in Week 7.  Aaron also declined to comment but he was most likely scanning the league injury report for Roethlisberger's status to be upgraded. Knowing his luck, Colin Kaepernick was probably hit by a bus in the meantime.

Accurate representation of Sweet Drippins' current state

Destroy Him - 117.2

The Apocalypse - 62.9 

Dom is another team that is currently rolling and remains 5-1, tied atop the division with his good friend David T. Now with a trade to acquire Antonio Gates and Martellus Bennett, he is officially all in for 2015 and is looking for very strong in his first attempt at playoff football. He has now tied his franchise record for wins in a season and is looking at double digits in his breakout season. Pushing all the chips to the center is the only way to get to the championship and he has already proven that dealing away draft picks for proven talent is the right play. But will it work mid-season? Last year, he stocked up on keepers but now he just wants depth. Blake Bortles has been the real surprise, riding his hot hand to another big win while Cam Newton is still putting up big numbers on the bench. Without Forte, James Jones and Bennett this weekend, his team's true depth will need to be on display once again but Dom seems up to the task. When I asked him about his mentality for winning "now", he told me:

"No one tells their grandkids about the one time their fantasy team simply 'just made the playoffs'...Officially all-in on the 2015 Fantasy Football season."

Next week, Dom takes on Sweet Drippins with a chance to set a career-high for wins in a season...in Week 7. In 2012 and 2014 he notched 5 wins before getting edged out for a playoff spot but with a victory this weekend, he can start to plan his playoff roster.

Dom's season hinges on the continued production of this man.

After a three game win streak, Joe's team finally came back down to earth as he lost an uneventful matchup to Dom. As the dust settles, Joe is back to 3-3 and with his team (specifically Dez) getting healthier, he is poised to make a deep playoff run once again. If LeSean McCoy can continue to stay healthy, there is no reason Joe can't be a contender come postseason time. LeVeon wasn't at his best this week but Joe continues to have supreme confidence in his team on a weekly basis. The emergence of Lamar Miller is extremely promising and could create one of the best RB trios in the league. The one position that has caused problems recently is the receiver. Golden Tate hasn't shown his 2014 form and Randall Cobb has struggled besides a massive Week 3 performance. The eventual return of Dez Bryant couldn't come at a better time. When asked about his team's matchup, he told me:

"Big loss this week for The Apocalypse. Players didn't produce but this is expected. Was just trying to avoid the loss. We'll be right back on track after a victory over Josh also known as the skid mark on the underpants of the Slushie Sunday league."

Well it seems like no one is giving Josh a chance to win or any respect for that matter (I still do, Josh). A win this week will get Joe back over .500 and can create some separation from the bottom tier of the league. I'm sure Joe would love to ruin Josh's playoff chances as well.

Veto Corleone - 91.3

Prestige Worldwide - 88.6

Not only is Prestige Worldwide the first name in entertainment, they're also the first name in the division leaders (well, tied with Brian until I shock the world and upset him). An absolutely pitiful performance from a handful of players would not be denied as Andrew Luck made his triumphant return to the lineup and helped Nick pick up a huge come from behind win. Heath Miller, Melvin Gordon, Brandin Cooks, Rashad Jennings, Alfred Morris and Ravens D were collectively terrible but the combination of McManus, Sanders and Luck (great name for a law firm) carried the squad to their 3rd straight win. The return of Luck provides much needed consistency but with Emmanuel Sanders possible being sidelined for multiple weeks, Nick's impeccable management skills will be once again put to the test. His blind faith in a banged up Andrew Luck single-handedly won him this contest as he swapped him in over Sam Bradford last minute to create a big enough cushion to fend off Jordan Matthews. His team may look gross on paper still but it is the little moves made by their veteran owner that has saved the season for now. Next week, it all will likely come crashing down as Prestige Worldwide takes on Brian for sole possession of a division he has no business leading. Once again, Nick declines to comment on his current status.

DERP 4-2

As usual, Ben suffered his weekly close defeat as his guts were ripped out by Rashad Jennings and Andrew Luck on consecutive nights. He finally made the switch to Carson Palmer (which paid off) but the rest of team wasn't as easy to replace. Demaryius Thomas had another strong performance but besides CJ Anderson (for once), the rest of his team through up some duds. At 2-4, all is not lost. Ben has a history of coming back from early season struggles to make the postseason and is currently in the 9th spot tied with 4 other teams with two wins. These next few weeks prove critical with Carson Palmer as the new starter since Chris Johnson has come back down to earth and the running back depth of his team is thinner than a Runway model. He did make a big move yesterday, acquiring Jamaal Charles for his 3rd round pick. He hasn't given up on the season but he clearly wants to make it easier for 2016. In response to the mounting questions about his season's prospects, Ben told me:

"I think I've finally realized that my team kinda sucks. Still a shot to salvage things, but I'm not holding my breath. Maybe after the Broncos bye week this Sunday we can get our shit together."

Ben's future resides in the hands of this child photo (now the QB of the Cards)

Dirty Birds - 117.6

Fucking ThunderC**t - 107.9

Even with the devastating injury to Jamaal Charles, Brian was able to bounce back in a big way this weekend as he held off Josh for his fourth win of the season. Charmeleon West was kind of a dud and Knile Davis wasn't anymore successful. Steve Smith bailed out Brian yet again with a late TD catch to put the lead at a safe distance. Gronk caught his usual TD pass and even though Matt Ryan and Julio Jones weren't anything to write home about, they still produced enough to get Brian close to the 120-point mark that usually guarantees a win (unless you're Will). Brian expressed his concern with his team yesterday by saying:

"Josh was a non-factor. I'm more worrieed about my team self-destructing than anyone beating me. Two weeks, two of my starting runningbacks could be gone. Charles gone and Randle is in danger of losing his spot as well. Woof."

Tons of respect for his opponent as usual. Now, the time has come for the long-awaited Super Bowl rematch. Brian vs. Nick. Both teams are certainly not at their best right now but expect it to be another classic. No, this time Andy Dalton is not available but Andy Luck is certainly there. With Brian's RBs in turmoil, can he pull through and take a firm grasp of the division lead? Steve Smith could be the answer. Smith plays on Monday Night and will serve as the nail in the coffin for Nick's winning streak.

Josh's team is teetering on the brink. One week he's rebuilding his squad and the other he's still vying for a chance to sneak into the playoffs. Each week, it appears as though he's letting go of another piece and acquiring draft picks. This week, Andy Dalton, Antonio Gates and Martellus Bennett got the boot. As for the players in return? Ronnie Hillman. It may seem lopsided, but he acquired multiple draft picks to load up for 2016. However, as stated before, there is still hope for Team Expletive. 

"We're a team up there with William's that produces and can't get any luck. Everyone's best games come against us. We will come back stronger than ever next year."

Fresh off his 25th, Team Mommy Slut takes on his roommate in a pivotal battle that could effectively end Josh's season  At this current juncture, Josh doesn't have a QB on his roster (bold strategy Cotton), in addition to no TE as well. He'll really have to piece this one together if he wants to pull off this upset. Half of his team is bye and his best options at running back are also the Lions' best options. So if that were any indication of what to expect, godspeed Joshua.