Benny Football's SSFFL Round 1 Playoff Preview

By: Benjamin Fontana, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Welcome to the 2017 Slushie Sundays playoffs. I couldn’t be more excited, with $655 on the line for the winner of the 3-week playoff bracket, and $200 going to the runner-up. Let’s get right into the match-ups.

Playoff Payouts:

1st - $655
2nd - $200
3rd - $100 (Consolation Game Winner)
4th - $50 (Consolation Game Loser)

9th - 1st Pick in 2018 Slushie Sundays Draft (Loser's Bracket Champion*)
12th - Shame...in the form of a Novelty License Plate ("Plate Game" Loser)

Willy G's Power Rankings - Week 8

Power Rankings - Week 8

With  just over half of the regular season behind us, it seemed the appropriate time to assess where the league is at with some power rankings. The rankings below constitute my opinion of how the league ranks as far as each team’s roster, and ability to succeed going forward. I did not rank teams based on their success so far (if you want that, you can just check the standings), and trades have made a significant impact in where teams will end up on this list.

#12: Why You Pee On My Car?

Sorry Aaron, but a lot of it has to do with momentum. After a 2-0 start, Aaron is now riding a 5 game losing streak into week 8, and coming off a 46 point performance. While the Antonio Brown/Big Ben trade away may have been beneficial for Aaron’s team for the future (Christian McCaffrey looks to be a pass catching machine at RB, and Big Ben has been fading as a fantasy QB), Brown was his only fantasy “stud”, a guy that could win you any given week. He has done a nice job finding fill in RB’s off of waivers thus far, but they look unlikely to be permanent solutions at the spot (Chris Ivory, Wendell Smallwood, Derrick Henry, Elijah Mcguire). McCaffrey gives him a guy that he can set and forget at RB going forward. Pierre Garcon looks to be his most consistent WR, and Alshon Jeffrey has been big for the Eagles success, but the emergence of Zach Ertz and Nelson Agholor cut into Jeffrey’s ability to put up WR1 numbers.

Regular Season Prediction: 4-9


#11: Kissing Suzy Kolber

Despite giving up Brandin Cooks, Vinnies team is still heavy with New England Patriots, who have indeed been one of the top offenses in the NFL, to no one’s surprise. But despite the Pat’s offensive success, it hasn’t translated into a ton of fantasy points for Vinnie's team. This may be partially due to the Patriots tendency to spread the ball out to a lot of different weapons.He was hurt early in the season by the Redskins slow start (Rob Kelley and Jamison Crowder have been duds so far). This team certainly has a lot of fantasy talent - Michael Crabtree and Chris Hogan are two very underrated fantasy players, and Tom Brady is an elite fantasy QB. Orleans Darkwa is potentially the first Giants RB to be fantasy relevant in awhile, but Joe Mixon has yet to breakout like many people thought he would.

Regular Season Prediction: 4-9


#10: Sch’dy Schmeckles

Chris has two standout WR in Demaryius Thomas and Larry Fitzgerald. But it’s hard to envision either of them having a great rest of the season with Drew Stanton (Just google Drew Stanton Supergirl: enough said) at the helm for the Cardinals, and Trevor Siemian really struggling to get DT the ball (He has less than 2 fantasy points in 2 of his last 3 games). Kirk Cousins has been great since his slow start, and Zach Ertz is the fantasy TE to own this year. But his team is thin at RB (Matt Forte, Mike Gillislee, Frank Gore, Alex Collins), and lacking those guys to get you consistent touches and points at the RB spot makes it hard to win in weeks when you’re other guys don’t have blow up games.

Regular Season Prediction: 5-8


#9: Im Fucked DJ on the Block

I’m sure I’ll catch some flak for this, but Josh’s team has overperformed it’s value so far. He lost 2 of the top fantasy players, and nobody really knows what Zeke’s season will look like a few weeks from now. Nelson Agholor, Mike Williams, Allen Hurns, and Sammy Watkins are all middle of the road WRs. Alex Smith has been a pleasant surprise, but being the #1 ranked QB means he only averages 1 more fantasy point per game than the next several QB’s. Dion Lewis was a sneaky good pickup, and may take control of the New England backfield in future weeks. If Zeke plays all season, Lewis takes control of the Patriots backfield, Alex Smith continues his MVP campaign, and he picks the right combo of WR every week, then Josh will end up near the top of the standings. But to me, that’s a lot of what if’s.

Regular Season Prediction: 7-6


#8: Team New Year

This was a tough spot to pick. Chreeyusz has a solid squad, but lack of RB’s puts him here. Amari Cooper finally picked up the slack, but can we really expect any more 200 yard, 2 td games? Hopefully last Thursday was the sign of Cooper getting on track, but as a big play threat with a low floor (look at his fantasy scores weeks 3-5) he may have some weeks that it’s hard to put him in your lineup. The injury to Stefon Diggs has raised concerns for his fantasy owners, but Chris has gotten great production from Jarvis Landry. Marshawn Lynch and Isaiah Crowell have been disappointments this season, and we have really only seen one week of fantasy relevance from Adrian Peterson. He’ll need Cooper to perform well the rest of the way, and will need a healthy Stefon Diggs as well.

Regular Season Prediction: 6-7


#7: Wentz Wagon

The insertion of Carson Wentz into his lineup, and the subsequent change in team name have sparked some life into the Cookie Man’s team. He’s got a great team this year, with several guys on his bench yearning for a chance to play (Aaron Jones, James White are both starting quality RB). He owns 3 of the top 17 RB in fantasy points, and they are guys that are getting touches and consistent points every week (Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, Buck Allen). Michael Thomas and Adam Thielen are both safe and very good WR as well, but are not the type of guys to win you a week. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins does look to be a difference maker at the tight end spot, becoming one of the focal points of the jets offense. His WR depth is a bit shaky however. Martavis Bryant has been a joke this year, DeVante Parker’s has yet to get healthy, and Robert Woods is unexciting as a fantasy WR.

Regular Season Prediction: 6-7


#6: Death Row Records

If we were ranking teams based on owners, I’d have Nick in the top 3, as that is where he seems to finish every year. But I can’t anticipate waiver pickups and start/sit decisions of another owner, so this is where I have him based on his current roster. We have no idea if Andrew Luck will be back at all this season, and that hurts T.Y. Hiltons’ stock quite a bit. Jordy Nelson is an elite fantasy WR.. when Aaron Rodgers is on the field. Hard to picture a scenario where he gets the same production with Hundley at QB though. Nick has a really nice mix of RB (Doug Martin, Chris Thompson, Jerick McKinnon, Lamar Miller), so good depth at that position, and Hunter Henry has been producing really nicely. But the questions surrounding his wide receivers make that a position that I have less confidence in.

Regular Season Prediction: 7-6


#5: The House That Julio Built

Yuck. Pains me to say it, but Brian now has one of the best starting lineups in the league. Ajayi has underwhelmed so far, but has been getting so many touches, you have to figure he’ll start to score some touchdowns. LeSean McCoy is the focal point of the Bills offense. Julio Jones, Dez Bryant, and Brandin Cooks make up a nice trio of WR’s. He’s very deep at TE- especially if Reed can stay healthy for once (Jordan Reed, Evan Engram, Charles Clay when back from injury), but lacks depth at the WR spot. He would be wise to ditch Matt Ryan at QB (Who is ranked 24th in fantasy points for QB’s) and upgrade the position, but he is likely to put up points each week either way.

Regular Season Prediction: 7-6


#4: Sergio Dipp

Dom has two of the premier wide receivers in fantasy football with AJ Green and Mike Evans. He has Rob Gronkowski, a potential week winner on any week, and one of the top RB in Melvin Gordon. But with Rodgers out, Davante Adams value is called into question. Tevin Coleman has been solid, but on an offense that has been struggling. Ty Montgomery seems to get less and less work each week, with the ascension of Aaron Jones. He has a team I wouldn’t be surprised to see in the Championship at the end of the season, but it will take some big performances from his big name players.

Regular Season Prediction: 8-5


#3: Dewsy McDukesters

Leonard Fournette and Jordan Howard are both workhorse running backs on teams that are committed to running the ball first. That is a lot of guaranteed touches, and a good opportunity for fantasy points. On the flip side of that, the Seahawks can’t run the ball to save their life, which adds value to Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin. I’ll need to continue to get steady production from Duke Johnson (Who I auto-drafted when my computer froze up, whoops) to churn out enough points each week. My team doesn’t have the ceiling that many others do, but has had a great floor so far- leading me to 6 straight weeks with 100+ fantasy points. I’ll probably get knocked off in the playoffs by somebody’s team having a blow up day, but If I can end the playoff drought (3 straight seasons without an appearance), I’ll be very happy. PS: I should get Danny Woodhead around week 10 or 11 off of IR. Remains to be seen how he will get used given Buck Allen’s current utilization, but he will certainly add some depth.

Regular Season Prediction: 7-6


#2: WATSON GANG

Joe and the WATSON GANG have been surreal the last 2 weeks. Joe has now scored 290 points in the last 2 weeks combined. Possibly the biggest waiver addition of the season so far is Deshaun Watson, who has been incredible throughout this early season. Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown is a combination that you never want to play against in fantasy, and Mark Ingram appears to be a top tier fantasy RB with Adrian Peterson out of the mix. He has a few questions as far as depth on his bench, but there is no denying that Joe’s team has the most firepower in the league.

Regular Season Prediction: 8-5


#1: Are Bonita Fish Big?

Dave has scored 100 points in 5 out of 7 weeks, and has not scored less than 95 points yet. When you can produce consistent points, you will give yourself the opportunity to win in any given week. He has depth at RB (Devonta Freeman, Todd Gurley, Carlos Hyde, and Ameer Abdullah). He also owns 2 of the top 3 fantasy WR in points scored (Deandre Hopkins, Tyreek Hill). Cam has been boom or bust each week so far, but Dave’s team has enough balance throughout the rest of his lineup to offset the bust weeks, and still pull out a victory. Pencil him in as the top team in the league through 7 games.

Regular Season Prediction: 9-4

Will Gavin's Wednesday Six-Pack: Week 5 Edition

YTD: 0-0

Just a quick introduction, since I’ve been absent through the first quarter of the season (I’ll let Nick stick to the real writing, because god knows it’s not my strength). It has been a great start to the 7th(!) season of Slushie Sundays, and I’ve been loving all the content from everyone so far. I can’t promise to write this every week, because some weeks I just don’t have it in me, but it definitely won’t be the last of my weekly picks columns this season. 

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We are now in our 6th year of this as a keeper league, and it’s pretty cool to look back at some of the drafts to see who guys spent big draft picks on or decided to keep. Some teams, such as Daves have been handsomely rewarded by keepers. He has now owned the trio of Todd Gurley (4th round), Devonta Freeman (8th round), and Deandre Hopkins (3rd round) for three consecutive seasons. They led him to a championship, performed subpar for a season, and are now leading him to the best record in the league. Some teams have decided to trade off assets for future draft picks (see Josh, Dom in recent years), and have seen it pay off. Josh had just one keeper last season, but instead capitalized in the draft to win in some of the most dominating fashion in Slushie Sundays history. Other players (me) have spent keepers on players such as Justin Forsett or Demarco Murray with the Eagles, to completely bone my season from the get go. Certain players have been staples of some teams for many years (see: Joe and Lev Bell, Will and AJ Green, Nick and Andrew Luck, and many more that escape me). Some teams have been rewarded by loyalty to solid keepers, and other teams have been beaten by it due to inconsistency or injury.  

The one thing for certain is that there is no one strategy for sure to succeed in this league. In a league that now has 10 teams separated by just one game, you can’t count any team out. Anyways, on to my picks:

The Dozen - Slushie Sundays Week 3 Recap

Well this is certainly not how we envisioned the league to look after three weeks. Aside from Dave's squad remaining undefeated of course. Regardless, it has been the bizarro world in the first quarter of the Slushie Sundays Fantasy Football League. Early preseason favorites are not only 1-2 (Josh, Aaron and Brian) but they're also struggling to score points. Yes, scoring has been down early on but this week we experienced a great set of games in the NFL with plenty of points on the board. Will these teams bounce back? Who knows. Brian had a great roster last year and caught a horrific string of bad luck that boxed him out of a late playoff berth. Although all wins matters equally, setting the tone early is normally in everyone's best interest. 

Surprisingly, especially with last season's flurry of roster moves, there haven't been any trades. Shocking I know, but it appears as though maybe teams have become more conservative with their draft picks and are now realizing the danger of unloading picks. There's still time for this to change but it is interesting, even with only three weeks into the season. I applaud teams for not panicking and sticking to their picks and allowing the new waiver bidding system to do it's job. As I hoped, in my opinion, it's creating an extra layer of strategy to an already competitive league. We've seen teams completely burned by it (Chris Casey) and some bids for significant money paying off (Tarik Cohen). Extra strategy but also less desperation, as teams that budget their salary careful realize they could change the landscape of their roster with economical bidding. Hope you all are enjoying the difficulty of an added dimension like myself.

Of the teams missing out on the postseason in 2016, it's fair to say each team has shown improvements already in the young season. Dom and Chris Casey are scoring over 100 points per game while Will was a monster Larry Fitzgerald game away from being 2-1. As for Brian, his team boasts one of the best lineups in the league, simply a lack of touchdowns has crippled a few matchups. The parity of this league is it's true hallmark. Granted, only four champions in six years isn't the best example, but the fluctuation of teams from each year is nice to see. Dave is the perfect example.

For years, Dave swore off fantasy football and was begged to join the league. After a rough couple seasons, he teetered on the edge of not wanting to continue playing. However, he decided to stick with it and has ripped off what looks to be a third straight successful season. With his amazing run to an upset victory in the Super Bowl V, to an earnest title defense cut short by an upset from Joe, Dave is poised to show he belongs as an elite owner. His title ensures his clout along the league and our full respect (as always) but Dave would rather be feared than loved. While displaying phenomenal sportsmanship - which was recently criticized - we know that Dave is hungry to get back to the glory days of his title run. 

Back in 2015, he was the people's champ, an outsider who through a grassroots movement represented the downtrodden fantasy owners, inspiring wisdom and confidence to those less fortunate all the way to fantasy immortality. But he's never forgot where he came from and never took anything for granted. Putting it man hours each week and season to ensure sustained greatness like his idol, Coach K. Although focused on season and week-long goals, he's always looking to the future and making sure his team represents sustained success, whether it's through integrity, respect from his fellow owners or just winning games. I am so proud of you Dave, and as a fan from the beginning, I've enjoyed every part of the ride. 

The Dozen - Slushie Sundays Week 2 Recap

We have pivoted at the office of the Slushie Sundays official league blog. After serious consideration and courting public opinion (one text to Ben this weekend), I have decided to switch things up a little to avoid being stale. Millennials these days are too preoccupied by their gadgets and Instagram stories to get the ink underneath their fingers and read an online article that doesn't have video content. Then I remembered how my face looks on a front-facing camera and thought otherwise.

So instead, I spared you all the displeasure of me creating digital content and strive to shuffle my method of writing. Many people (a few people kindly posting feedback) have been saying they love the rants and since they're much easier to conjure up, they will remain and serve as the backbone of these write-ups. I can honestly write for hours about random stuff and existential crisis caused by fantasy football, it's the boring, repetitive recaps that make me want to chop my fingers off.

To that, I prevent to you "The Dozen", a weekly roundup of each team based on the current standings each week. I'll leave the hot takes and debates to the video content professionals, Brian, Joe and Aaron. Assuming they'll begin to post power rankings, it would be foolish to post my own, instead I will assess, compliment, hate on and subtly jab at each roster from my keyboard and if anything sounds controversial, I'll be covered by the insanity and smack talk thrown at us by each video series. Each team will receive a "Good" and "Bad" analysis, since no team is perfect, even Dave's (yet). Dynamics of team's change so often and it will be interesting to track how the landscape of each roster changes with the passing weeks.

So just to reiterate, these are NOT power rankings. Straight facts homie. The picture of the standings below each week will determine the order of The Dozen. Unsatisfied with your position? Win more games, it's as simple as that. This format may change over the season but I figured a change of pace would do the blog some good.

The Dozen - Slushie Sundays Week 1 Recap

Welcome back to another season of Slushie Sundays football. The last time I spoke with you, I actually championship aspirations (2016 was crazyyy mannn). To bring you up to speed, I lost, so did ten other schmucks and Josh won. Aside from the money, the fame, the fans, the trophy is Josh really all that different from any of us? I think we're all winners for being a part of this tight knit fraternity that would rather ridicule others for roster decisions than partake in butt-chugging or whatever they do in those things.

We waited all summer for this write-up season and it proved once again that a football Sunday is even better than *insert PG-13 reference to not upset future corporate sponsors of this blog*. For six lucky souls, it was the result they envisioned five long, painstaking days ago when they drafted the remaining core of their roster. There is nothing sweeter than witnessing offseason hype and optimism ring true, regardless of the result. Sure, teams known for prolific scoring were required to get down and dirty in their matchups but in my opinion, wins like this build character. But what would I know? I lost in a shootout.

All kidding aside, there was some horrendous football played on Sunday and teams were blindsided like Joe Theismann. I did you all a favor and didn't hyperlink the video of his leg being mangled but next week I can promise more bodily injuries in the write up. I'm getting extremely off topic but what I truly intended to prove in this paragraph was that this is a results based league. Unfortunately for some, moral victories aren't properly compensated in Slushie Sundays and usually (in my ideal universe), the most victories receives the glory.

That being said, don't get bent out of shape after one loss and gut your entire roster, it gets better; hopefully. Trust me, I wanted nothing more than to walk roundtrip to Denver/Cleveland/Los Angeles to beat Trevor Simeian, Ben and Adam Vinatieri with a pillowcase full of nickels to vent my frustrations in succession, but my wellness advisor (the beer in my fridge) instructed me to breathe easy and focus on the upcoming weeks. For it is a marathon, not a sprint. With injuries, suspensions, benchings, etc. anything can happen this season and I sincerely mean it. We can draft our players and set our lineups but aside from that, we are held hostage to the decisions of dimwitted coaches, play-callers and millionaire athletes who don't even know we exist. It's all about having FUN and not losing your sanity (this will be fun to read again in three weeks if I still have a losing record). Gotta love fantasy football right?

Week 12 Recap & Week 13 Preview: CRUNCHTIME

This is the end. This is the end, my friends. In what seemed like it was just yesterday, the 2016 season has come and gone. However, a whole season is about to begin. That's right, it's playoff time baby. For some select teams, it has been playoff mode since the beginning of November. I would also like to say I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving with your respective families and you know for a fact that I made it aware I was thankful for this league and all of you. The break from reality this league provides me on a daily basis during the fall is unmatched by anything else and the ability to stay in touch with each of you distance-aside is fantastic. 

We've had a great season thus far and it can only get better from here. I wish you all the best of luck in the playoffs and the consolation bracket. As we've seen from this year and TY Beanies, all it takes is one 1st round pick to change the entire fortune of a franchise. I don't know if next year's rookie class may yield talent like this season but we can certainly hope for reviving the non-playoff teams of 2016. This league prides itself on the basis of being consistently inconsistent, where teams rise and fall with each passing year, keeping everyone on their toes. Whatever happens from this point forward, will certainly not be replicated this time next season. At the end of the recap, I'll make my best attempt to determine the playoff seedings and what it will take for team's to make the playoffs at this point. Best of luck to all the rest of the way and remember to set those lineups. Playoff seeding, berths and draft picks are all at stake at this point.

GAME OF THE WEEK

(7-5) Why You Pee On My Car? - 132.9

(5-7) Dirty Birds, Inc. - 99.9

After making a hefty wager in the beginning of the season pitting each team's respective studs against each other (Brown and Jones), Aaron took a step closer to the $100 wager with a massive game from his conglomerate of Steelers. Brown, Roethlisberger and a stingy Pittsburgh defense set the tone early on Thanksgiving night, easing their way to Aaron's 7th victory of the season. Now slotted in the 3rd seed, WYPOMC has officially clinched a playoff berth after the truly unfortunate 2015 season that left fans of the team and front office wondering what could have been. Not anymore. Aaron's team rebounded from a slow start to form one of the more potent lineups in the league. Owner Aaron Pommer must be ecstatic to be back in the big dance to continue his redemption tour and has his team's sights set on the ultimate prize. A win this weekend in the season finale will officially clinch the 3rd seed, although it could be anyone in the 6th seed for his potential matchup. Who knows, it could even be Brian the way things are shaping up.

It is do or die for the final time this season for Bri. After a loss to Aaron put him in the 9th seed at 5-7, he will need to beat Dave in order to make the playoffs and will need some help from Joe as well. Julio Jones and  Matt Ryan got the W against Arizona but their scores weren't too flattering. Nonetheless, with yet another Super Bowl rematch this week against Dave, Brian has the chance to get into the playoffs with a victory. What seed he would be if he wins remains to be seen but the only thing that could keep him out would be a loss at this point. He would hold the tiebreaker over Dave with another win and if Chris happens to upset Joe, we could potentially see a Josh-Brian matchup in the first round. Talk about a true gauntlet after scratching and clawing his way to this point. Currently projected to beat Dave and enact his revenge on last year's champ, Brian will be out for blood

(5-7) Hogan Knows Best - 91.4
(6-6) EBDB BnB - 124.1
Dave finally pulled the plug on the Blake Bortles experiment and he kept his playoff chances alive. Following a huge Thursday game from Kirk Cousins, EBDB BnB rebounded to get back to 6-6. Staring at 5th straight loss, Dave's players rallied around their owner and picked up a crucial victory. We knew the defending champs would not go quietly into the night and now have another must win game this weekend. Kelvin Benjamin was once again kept in check besides a long TD and Gurley had another lukewarm performance but now is not the time to hold back. Facing Brian in a Super Bowl rematch with win and get in stakes, it is all hands on deck this weekend. Carolina plays on Sunday night while Cousins faces a difficult road test in Arizona. Brian's team has played well of late and of course, will rely on the Falcons to win him the matchup. Can Devonta Freeman steal points from Jones and Ryan to vault Dave into the playoffs? Did I mention he could knock Brian out. What a matchup it will be.

This could be the final stake in Will's season. After showing flashes of hope for the playoffs last week, he stumbled to another loss, putting him in 10th once again. Needing losses from Chris and Brian seem reasonable but the task of beating Josh seem insurmountable. Only once has Josh lost this season and Will needs a heroic performance from his squad to pull it off. It all starts on Thursday Night, it is imperative that Minnesota holds Zeke in check while Dak has the best game of his young career (update, Will started Kaepernick anyways). Then he must dodge more bullets than Neo to even consider the upset victory. Strong games from Jamison Crowder, Sammy Watkins and Fat Rob Kelley would certainly be appreciated. If all else fails, Will's team would be in great shape to snag that #1 pick for next season to start the rebuilding process.

(4-8) The Shitty Beatles - 89.3
(8-4) Brule's Rules - 77
This season most likely ends with another season without a playoff berth but you can't say anything negative against the fight in Dom's team. He'll come up a game short of the postseason but he has the chance to win 5 of the last 6 matchups to get back to 5-7. In addition, the one loss included a nailbiter against the best team in the league. He was plagued by bad luck and got beat by an ungodly amount of points each of the first five weeks but it wasn't all a wash. He totes an impressive arsenal of draft picks, readying him for a revival in 2017. Hopefully he avoids the license plate holder game and can solidify his keepers for next season in the process. Trust the process in 2017. Hopefully we can see Dom back in the spotlight for something other than massive fire sales next season.

Welp, the hits keep coming for the former #1 seed. Nick lost against Dom to put him at three straight losses. Granted Andrew Luck not playing did not help either but his team is starting to struggle at the worst possible time. He'll use this week's matchup against Aaron to sort out his final playoff roster and get the boys some necessary rest with the division and 2-seed clinched. As of today, he would face Start The Carr in the first round but we know how much that could change by next week. Nick rebounded from weak keepers in the offseason to a dynamite roster and would not want to see this season end any earlier than the Super Bowl. 

(3-9) Schenectady Schmeckles - 107
(5-7) Team New Year - 84.9
At this point Chris is simply trying to play spoiler and he has succeeded so far. In what looked like a much needed victory for Chreeyusz, the Schmeckles held firm and knocked Chris down to 5-7 with the help of Aaron Rodgers, Tavon Austin and Terrelle Pryor. This was especially comforting as it is now starting to look like Pryor could become a viable keeper option for 2017. He will most likely post 1,000 yards with a pair of incompetent quarterbacks. Rodgers will remain a top-prize QB for a few more years and with a strong draft next year, Chris can start to climb his way back to fantasy relevancy. A consolation championship is the next step from here. Also, he has the chance to potentially knock Ben out of the playoff race this weekend. Very exciting, if you're into that kind of stuff.

It seems like it's been said every week but another frustrating loss for Chreeyusz and Team New Year. Russell Wilson turned in yet another poor performance while Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry were non-factors on Sunday. With the loss, Chris still remains in the 8 seed for the time being but he desperately needs a win. Upsetting Joe this week would give him an automatic berth in the playoffs. However, a win by Brian and a loss to Joe would result in Chris being relegated to the consolation bracket once again. Great news for Chris coming across the wire (in terms of fantasy), Gronk will not be a factor this weekend against him. However, his Patriots suffer a massive loss going forward. I'm sure a playoff berth will help ease the pain. Team New Year has not been able to score all season and this trend must end tonight if he wants in on the big dance. His trio of receivers must step up this week and strong start from Stefon Diggs and Jerick McKinnon would be vital. 

(6-6) Start The Carr - 110.1
(6-6) Kissing Suzy Kolber - 143.8
Vinnie keeps his season alive once again with a convincing win over Start the Carr this weekend. After a huge performance from Jordan Reed on Thursday, Tom Brady and company sealed the deal to vanquish the Cookie Man. Interesting side note, Vinnie was highest scorer this week and his two top receivers gave him a combined score of -0.1. Unprecedented. The rest of the team certainly picked up the slack with 5 players scoring of 20 points to help him inch closer to the playoffs. With the win, KSK now sits in the 5th seed at 6-6 a few weeks after staring elimination square in the face. This weekend, he hopes to cement a top seed as he faces the Shitty Beatles. Although a playoff spot is not 100% guaranteed at this point, it is safe to say Vinnie will be in the postseason for a third straight season to start his career. Currently, he's slotted to face Joe in the 4/5 matchup but with the fluidity of the playoffs, who knows who he'll be matched up against opening round weekend.

Cooks was unable to officially seal a playoff spot but he is still in unless a nuclear meltdown occurs this weekend. However, he is hoping to avoid a 7 or 8-seed to ensure his season doesn't end promptly in Week 14. Especially since his team is finally starting to gel. Rookie Michael Thomas continued his fantastic rookie season while Derek Carr performed well once again but it was simply not enough to stop the highest scorer of the week. This weekend he'll face a Schmeckles team playing much better of late. Aaron Rodgers holds a favorable matchup which could make Ben weary. I don't believe he would be able to lose his playoff spot with a loss, unless Brian, Will, and Chris all win but we'll see. I'm honestly too lazy to go check it again and my fingers hurt from typing out scenarios. But you got this Cooks, it's not like Chris hasn't already started playing spoiler...

(6-6) Team RUTHLESS - 108.8
(10-1) TY Beanies - 140.8
Another convincing performance from Josh on the backs of his stud players. Led once again by David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliott and Odell Beckham, Josh cruised to his record-tying 11 win this season with his sights on history next weekend. Not much else to say about this team as they enter the postseason as the overall #1 seed and the odds-on favorite to win this whole thing. Anyone on the top half of the bracket and the doomed 8th seed (currently Chreeyusz) are hoping to avoid Josh at all costs. Next week, he'll face Will in an attempt to make Slushie Sunday history with his 12th win in 2016. In addition, a win can drive a stake in any playoff hopes Will had for this season. All Josh can do is sit back and see who his first victim is next week. Could be anyone at this point. May god have mercy on whomever gets that dreadful draw.

Joe had the opportunity to officially seal a playoff spot against his oldest rival but was blown away by the juggernaut that is TY Beanies. Le'Veon played well once again in addition to superstar Mike Evans but Drew Brees was sat and Rob Gronkowski is now out for the season. At full strength, there is no question this team can compete for the title but the inconsistency has really plagued this team. Can they rebound from this injury and make a deep playoff run for the first time in Joe's career? For starters, he has to win this week to ensure he has a spot to begin with. Highly unlikely that Will, Dave and Chris all can swing upsets but you never know at this point. Anyways, Chris had a decent trio of performances on Thursday and now Joe has his work cut out for him in terms of clinching. Le'Veon faces the Giants while Drew Brees is poised for another shootout against Detroit. If Joe wins, he has the potential to remain in the Top-5 for seeding and will avoid a tougher opponent. But, the win is also crucial to his playoff chances. Chris will not hold anything back.

PLAYOFF SCENARIOS:

(Tiebreakers are a giant bitch to figure so I won't even bother at this point. I will be more than happy to break them down this weekend as matchups become more clear...to the best of my knowledge of the tiebreaker format. Strictly requirements for playoff berths below.)

Josh, Nick & Aaron: Clinched

Joe, Ben, Chreeyusz, Dave & Vinnie: Win & In

Brian: Win + Loss from Chreeyusz

Will: Win + Losses from Chris & Brian

Dom & Chris Casey: Eliminated

Week 11 Recap: Primetime Performers

Of course, this week is Thanksgiving, arguably the best time of the year for the playoff regular season. The playoff race has already begun to heat up and the three games on Thursdays cause great panic for teams equally with overreactions and over-confidence. This week, our matchups don't disappoint either, including a must-win battle of 5-6 teams with Will and Dave. Will knocked off Nick in impressive fashion and Dave has now lost 4 in a row, dropping him from 3rd place to 10th in a matter of a month. The winner of this game may seal a potential playoff berth, while a loss puts either team on life support. Then, there's the friendly rivalry of Aaron and Brian, who have traded shots back and forth all season and now, Aaron is in the position of power at 6-5. Brian, fresh off a devastating loss to Joe, now sits at 5-6 in the 8th seed, hoping for a win to take some pressure off.

Going into last week, there was a logjam of 5-5 teams and after the weekend, 5-6 teams are all the rage. Aaron, Ben and Joe did themselves huge favors by improving to 6-5, while Will and Vinnie kept their season's alive with victories over Nick and Dave, respectively.  This weekend will be chocked full of matchups with ultimate playoff implications. I for one cannot wait to watch it all unfold. As usual, I want some good, clean, wholesome competition to top off my holiday weekend. I know you all want the same. Be sure to give thanks to the fantasy gods. Happy Holidays everyone, and god bless.

Now, let's recap the week that was...

GAME OF THE WEEK

(6-5) Team RUTHLESS - 125.4

(5-6) Dirty Birds, Inc. - 117.1

The best matchup on the board turned out to be the most exciting with the back and forth nature of the Monday Night game. Essentially, it came down to Lamar Miller against Amari Cooper and after a strong start to the game for Miller, Joe came from behind with a clutch TD from Cooper. Cooper, the most recent addition to Team Ruthless, was instrumental in the victory, along with other acquisitions, Drew Brees and Coby Fleener. The win for Joe would clinch him a playoff spot with a win in either of the next two weeks but he is hoping for a Top-4 seed in the process. Le'Veon Bell continued his dominance again but the squad was dealt another blow with CJ Prosise out for the rest of the year. In addition to Gronk being out and a short bench, Joe may need to utilize the waiver wire to fill his roster going forward. He'll need it this weekend, as he faces Josh in a roommate rival that has more at stake then just playoff seeding. It could potentially be a playoff preview in addition to all the bragging rights. 

An absolutely devastating loss for Brian on Monday Night. After Lamar Miller had a touchdown called back, Amari Cooper was able to break through in the closing minutes, dropping him to 5-6 along with nearly half the league. Thankfully, due to tiebreakers, he's currently slotted in the 8th seed but he realizes that he must win at least one more game to give him a potential playoff berth. The trade for LeSean McCoy and Dez Bryant has paid dividends already in terms of production but will McCoy's injury linger into this week's matchup where he is needed the most? At least he can lean on the dynamite tandem of Demarco Murray and Lamar Miller for the time being, both runners are producing at an amazing clip, as it seems Miller is back on track for the stretch run. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones return from bye this weekend and it is perfect timing as Brian will face Aaron in a heated rivalry game where the projection is currently razor thin and you know Aaron would like nothing more than to cripple Brian's playoff chances. 

(5-6) Hogan Knows Best - 136.6
(8-3) Brule's Rules - 114.5
Staring elimination in the face, Will's squad buckled down for a monumental comeback against Nick on Sunday Night. Down over 50 points with a 20-point projected loss staring him in the face, "Fat" Rob Kelley, James Starks and Jamison Crowder combined for nearly 70 points to topple Brule's Rules and plant himself right in the thick of the playoff hunt yet again. But the win would be overshadowed by the painful loss of AJ Green, the franchise centerpiece after already losing Thomas Rawls and Sammy Watkins. It will be difficult to overcome that loss but role players have stepped up as of late. This week Will has yet another must-win game, facing his old pal Dave is what looks to be the matchup of the weekend. The projections have this matchup being extremely tight and I expect nothing less from these two, both hungry to make it into the postseason. Will, who has gone two straight years without tasting a playoff berth, needs to take care of business to have any chance going into Week 13. This matchup could certainly be swayed by the Dallas-Washington game on Thursday. Will's lineup features 4 players while Dave will trot out Kirk Cousins for the first time this year. It is imperative for Will to get off to a strong start. Will was amped about the win, here's what he had to say, "Shout out to Fat Rob and Duke-Alum Jamison Crowder for keeping my fantasy season alive. Nick and his squad have been a pillar of excellence in Slushie Sundays since the beginning and I am ecstatic to have pulled this one out. Need to figure out how to replace AJ Green quickly against the defending champion."

A strong week muddied by a late surge by Will has Nick experiencing his first losing streak of the season. Not a bad time to get it out of the way however, as his team gears up for a deep playoff run. By default, he's clinched the division but there are new problems at hand. Andrew Luck may sit this weekend after being placed in concussion protocol, while his team is still looking to solidify it's playoff roster. Bench contributions were noted last weekend as Doug Baldwin continues to perform but he's not been able to crack the starting roster. Doug Martin and Theo Riddick are in a battle for the 2nd RB spot behind Frank Gore and Tyler Eifert looks to be supplanted by Eric Ebron for the present time. A deep bench is certainly not  the most problem to have but it will make some decisions tougher come playoff time. As for now, Nick still has a small outside shot for the number one seed and he's focused on ending the season on a strong note. However, back in his championship season in 2013, he stumbled to the finish losing two of his last three matchups, only to rip off three straight wins and claim the crown. The postseason push starts now with a matchup with Dom, fittingly a family affair on Thanksgiving of all days. Prayers up to Andrew Luck as well.

(3-8) The Shitty Beatles - 97.7
(10-1) TY Beanies - 102.8
David Johnson is just too good. Really all there needs to be said. An off week for Josh's team's standards, but another win nonetheless. A win this week will clinch the number one overall seed. But don't get too excited, that spot currently belongs to Brian. Regardless, Josh is the team to beat right now and it's quite apparent. Scoring far more points than anyone else this year, it's his title to lose at this rate. He has three Top-5 running backs, Odell Beckham and Cam Newton. A loss would be a monumental achievement for his opponent at this rate. But we'll save this talk for the postseason. Right now, Josh has his sights set on the number one overall seed. A prestigious honor that has also been an omen for teams of the past. I digress, a win this week gives Josh the #1 spot and it also puts him one win away from setting the all-time single season record for wins in a season. Three teams have reached the 11-2 plateau but no one has ever won 12 in a season and Josh has a legitimate chance at this point. This week, he'll take on his roommate Joe, who he easily beat in Week 1. Now, Joe is hoping to wrap up a playoff spot with a revamped roster but we know Josh will not show him any mercy.

In memoriam, Dom's 2016 season. After a rough start, he was able to stick around until Week 11 and nearly knock off the top dog to keep his playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be. Still technically alive but barely breathing, Dom will be playing for pride at this point. Frantically hoping to avoid a 'Shit Bowl' appearance with the license plate holder at stake. Since he's stockpiled enough draft picks to last a nuclear winter, having the first overall pick would work wonders next season. This week he'll face his older brother, hoping to exact some revenge for what he claims as "bad fantasy advice" from the past weekend. Nick mollywhopped Dom in Week 1 and will certainly be out for a repeat performance over the holiday weekend.

(2-9) Schenectady Schmeckles - 94.2
(6-5) Why You Pee On My Car? - 117.4
After experiencing a mountain of shitty luck in 2015, Aaron is one win away from being back in the playoffs. Sitting at 6-5, he took care of Chris Casey in impressive fashion, posting 117 points as the postseason inches closer. This weekend, it wasn't Brown or Roethlisberger doing the damage, it was Steelers Defense leading the charge for WYPOMC. Very balanced attack from the rest of the team nonetheless. Roethlisberger and Brown will be fine going forward and this team is starting to resemble a threat with a healthy Carlos Hyde. Brandon Marshall is currently the 4th best receiver on this team and it will be interesting to see how Aaron treats one of his star players moving forward. Another factor has been the rebirth of Jimmy Graham, now playing like we have been accustom to for so long, Aaron has a legitimate threat from the TE spot each week. 

Well, the regular season was already over for Chris but he is just unable to have any luck of the sort. Aaron Rodgers turned in another fantastic performance, but half of the team shouldn't have bothered showing up. Spoiling strong games from LeGarrette Blount and Sterling Shepard. The decimated running back core and the loss of a 4th round pick really hurt Chris this season but it can be salvaged by winning the consolation bracket and nabbing the first pick. Already having Rodgers as a keeper is a fantastic start, paired with the potential of Eddie Lacy and Terrelle Pryor, things could be looking up for 2017. This weekend, he hopes to play spoiler against Chreeyusz, as he'll be hungry for his 6th win to keep his playoff chances alive.
(5-6) EBDB BnB - 69.8
(5-6) Kissing Suzy Kolber - 83.3

Huge victory for the boys from Lake George. Tom Brady was special once again in San Francisco, leading Vinnie's team to a mild upset over EBDB BnB. Sitting at 5-6, Vinnie finds himself right back in the playoff hunt with two to play. In fact, thanks to tiebreakers, he clings to the 5 seed at this current juncture, jumping 4 spots in one week. However, he realizes that he must keep the pedal down to ensure a third straight playoff appearance in his young career. In addition, the rest of his roster besides Brady were extremely underwhelming and hopefully they were saving it for when it really matters most. Martellus Bennett will be relegated back to the bench after Gronk heals but Jordan Reed shows no signs of slowing down in return. Mark Ingram and Brandin Cooks look the bounce back against the Rams while Ty Montgomery hopes to factor into the offense more than last week. With a team that's been beat up as much as KSK has, it would be a blessing to be to make the playoffs. Here's to hoping he can make the most of it. This week, he takes on Ben in what proves to be a hotly contested matchup between two rosters hurting to score points on a weekly basis. 

More disappointment from the BnB. After the five-game winning streak put Dave back in serious contention for the division, his team has unraveled at the hands of Blake Bortles, and others. Failing to score over 100 points in each of his last four losses, he's struggling to find offense from any of his players at this point. Michael Crabtree has cooled off from his fast start while Kelvin Benjamin has yet to live up to expectations in 2016. Desperate times now as he sits in 10th place and a tough matchup against Will's team looms large. It could be a pseudo-elimination game depending on other team's results and Dave will look to fire up the roster once more to keep his quest for a repeat alive. Thankfully, Devonta Freeman returns from bye and Kirk Cousins has been summoned from the bench to officially replace Bortles. However, Will's roster features Robert Kelley and Jamison Crowder in addition to Dak Prescott, making the late afternoon game as pivotal as they come. All the best to Dave in his playoff push. The heroic story of perseverance in 2015 can't possible end with a consolation appearance right?

(5-6) Team New Year - 74.2
(6-5) Start The Carr - 107.6
A much needed win for the Cookie Man this weekend as Start the Carr is finally poised to clinch a playoff berth. Led by Derek Carr and Minnesota's Defense yet again, he finds himself back over .500 in the closing weeks of 2016. This team simply won't quit on an owner hoping to bounce back from a troubling 2015 season. Although much wasn't needed this weekend to get the victory, it will be interesting to see who will step up for Ben in upcoming weeks. Spencer Ware continues to produce while Demaryius Thomas and Devontae Booker return from bye weeks. If Michael Thomas can continue his strong rookie season, he has the opportunity to make some noise in the postseason, especially if he can remain in the top-5 for seeding. Quietly Rishard Matthews has become a perfect flex option as well, creating a balanced lineup that features favorable matchups this weekend again. Facing KSK, he can exercise his demons of yesteryear and inch closer to finally clinching a spot in the big dance once again. "Start the Carr is back on the right track. With DC and Vikings D finally playing back up to their potential, the rest of the squad is slowly following suit. This team is in good shape for the final weeks of the season."

Another disappointing week from Chreeyusz's squad. Desperately needing a win to keep pace, his team once again let him down with weak performances from his running backs and basically the rest of his team. Once again, Russell Wilson turned in a great performance, only to be spoiled by the rest of the roster. Jerick McKinnon has proven that he is not a startable running back anymore and Jonathan Stewart is certainly not able to shoulder the load on his own. The success for Chris lies in his trio of receivers. Stefon Diggs, Jarvis Landry and Allen Robinson have yet to get hot at the same time and it is severely plaguing his team. Next week, more than anything he will need them to carry his team. Toting favorable matchups for his players, he'll face an already eliminated Schmeckles roster only playing for consolation seeding at this point. Chreeyusz realizes it is must-win territory, and a win will put him in great shape for Week 13.

Week 10 Recap: Staying Alive

Another week in the books and the playoff picture remains just as muddled as before. Now, 6 teams remain at 5-5 with only three weeks remaining. As of right now, Chris Casey appears to be on life support sitting at three games back. However, everyone else remains in contention, even Dom, who pulled off an upset victory over Dave this weekend. In addition, his brother (Chreeyusz) was busy pulling off a major upset to keep him right in the playoff hunt, beating his older brother Nick.

This weekend is shaping up to feature some epic matchups to determine the fate of several teams. In fact, three separate matchups feature both opponents sitting at 4-6 or 5-5. At this rate, it is must win mode from here on out and I for one can't even begin to imagine how it will work out. Unfortunately, we all won't be around to watch the games together but hopefully we can coordinate something over the holiday weekend. Just remember, even though your playoff chances may look bleak, there is still so much more to play for. The number one pick and not having a license holder declaring your fantasy ineptitude comes to mind.

GAME OF THE WEEK

(5-5) Team New Year - 127.5

(8-2) Brule's Rules - 124.5

"I think we know who the title belt goes to now in the Caputo household...". The only close matchup of the weekend took place in the same household as Chreeyusz improved his postseason chances with a win over his older brother. Chris, no stranger to beating Nick in the past, caught a great opportunity when nearly half of Nick's roster was on a bye. Thanks to this YUGE victory, Chris can control his own destiny for the rest of the season with a favorable schedule ahead. Jameis and Russell Wilson have both been playing well and it is now just a decision between matchups at this point for Team New Year's QB dilemma. The main catalyst in his playoff chances is the run game, which has plagued him the entire season. Matt Jones has been phased out of the offense while Jerick McKinnon and Jonathan Stewart have been lackluster thus far. Hoping to keep the good vibes going, Chris faces the struggling Start the Carr. Ben has lost 5 of the last 7 games and has been unable to put up many points in recent weeks. Can Chris string together 100+ point performances for the first time this season? Jarvis Landry and Allen Robinson will look to finally carry this team for the same time. 

A rare loss for Nick this weekend but it should certainly being a positive experience for the team. With mostly reserves, Brule's Rules were able to put up a great deal of points and nearly win in a shootout. As of right now, he has the division locked up with one more victory, in addition to a Top-2 seed. The depth on his roster was on full display this week and will be a major factor the rest of the season. In regards to this matchup, Nick was proud of how his team fought with most of the starters down and wishes his brother luck for the remainder of the season. It is imperative to stay focused because winning out and a Josh loss could result in the #1 seed for Nick. This weekend, he faces Will, a team on their last legs for a playoff berth. Nick doesn't want to slow up at this point in the season and is certainly not prepared to lose back to back matchups.

(4-5) Dirty Birds Inc. - 134.1
(2-8) Schenectady Schmeckles - 110.5
It would appear that the team is finally back on track. Strong games from Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray were more than enough to take care of the Schmeckles. After making a beneficial trade two weeks ago, Brian is poised to make a deep run once again in the playoffs. Here's what Brian had to say after his second win in a row, "This is the time of year where the league should be very nervous I'm in contention for a playoff spot. This is a championship caliber team. My record doesn't accurately reflect how good my team. Just look at my total points! The league's luck is about to run out. Daddy's home and he's looking to f**k." This week, a much more difficult opponent in Joe and Team Ruthless. Weeks prior, they made a massive trade and this matchup will certainly make it clear who won this particular transaction.

Well, this appears to be the final nail in the coffin for Chris' season. Nearly mathematically eliminated from playoff competition, it was certainly a let down after all the progress that was made in 2015. The Aaron Rodgers trade looked promising but it was the core of the team that really let Chris down. Eddie Lacy was injured right away and LeGarrette Blount could only do so much to bolster the run game. In terms of keepers, Terrelle Pryor was a great addition and could be a fringe keeper based on his play for the rest of 2016. For now, all Chris can focus on is avoiding the license plate. The first pick in next year's draft could really turn things around for a team. Case in point, Ezekiel Elliott.

(3-7) The Shitty Beatles - 83.1
(5-5) EBDB BnB - 77.8
This team still has life after an upset victory over Dave. It wasn't pretty, but Philip Rivers was able to provide enough points to seal the deal for Dom. Jay Ajayi and Antonio Gates continued their strong play while Delanie Walker, albeit on the bench had a huge game as well. Unfortunately for Dom, he faces Josh next week but he's not concerned, at least until he found out that Rivers and Gates are on bye. With an extremely large task at hand, Dom is ready for the fight, simply making his quote "Hello Josh" for this week. Everyone on the Beatles needs to be firing on cylinders this weekend in order to pull off the major upset. If not, he is most like relegated to the consolation bracket, hoping to avoid the license plate holder. But the season isn't a total wash, Dom has obtained an absurd amount of picks over the past season and will be looking to reload with a revamped roster next season regardless.

After rattling off 5-straight wins to put him in prime position for a playoff spot, Dave is now back to fighting for his life with the majority of the league. Once again, Dave was plagued by the play of Blake Bortles. A rocky season at best, Bortles has tested Dave's mettle far too often to receive a vote of confidence. Kirk Cousins has been brought in to work out and may get the start this weekend in a pivotal game against Vinnie. With Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin playing in primetime, it is imperative that Dave gets out to a great start in order to make his decision easier at QB. Bortles has a decent matchup but will he go back to the well again? Todd Gurley, who has also been M.I.A. most of the season, faces MIA this weekend, hoping to recapture the magic from 2015, especially with Devonta Freeman on bye. The x-factor as usual, will be Michael Crabtree, returning from a quiet game and then a bye, can he post another massive game to will Dave to victory and end the 3-game skid? A typical DeAndre Hopkins-like performance would also be appreciated too. 

(4-6) Kissing Suzy Kolber - 77.8
(5-5) Why You Pee On My Car? - 112.8
Roethlisberger is healthy once again and so are Aaron's playoff chances. Huge performances from Ben and Antonio were more than enough to get WYPOMC back to an even record. The rest of the team phoned it in this weekend but once the byes are over with, Aaron totes a formidable roster which could be a tough out for anyone. The returns of Tevin Coleman and Carlos Hyde are crucial for any success in the postseason. For now, it would appear that Aaron will be in the playoffs, meaning he has an opportunity to rid himself of the infamous hot-pink license plate holder. A win this week will certainly allow him some breathing room and he won't be holding anything back this weekend against the Schmeckles, who are one foot out the door in the playoff race. Chris will be at full strength and is hoping to play spoiler with Rodgers and Blount leading the charge. For Aaron, the Steelers face the Browns and it appears Ben/Antonio could be in store for huge performances. 

It may be a lonely postseason for the boys from Lake George. Thankfully, Tom Brady is still on the roster and has a favorable matchup this weekend against San Francisco. Gronk nearly lost a lung and Martellus Bennett may be a play this weekend. Ty Montgomery has cooled off but will be called upon in primetime as the backup running back, hoping to fill the void of Forte. At this point, it is a must-win game sitting at 4-6 but he is certainly not done yet. Matt Forte's bye week is a killer but at least he isn't subjected to watching the Jets for a week. This weekend, he faces Dave which looks to be a closely contested matchup. Mark Ingram and Brandin Cooks will need to bolster the roster on Thursday night while Dave's duo of Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen look to gain an early lead. A loss this weekend could put Vinnie too far behind the 8-ball to get into the postseason. 

(5-5) Team Ruthless - 117.8
(4-6) Hogan Knows Best - 99.8
Strong performances from Le'Veon Bell and Drew Brees were enough to propel Joe to a huge victory over Will. His trade may appear to be a bunch of damaged goods but if they can stay healthy, he will have a lineup that can rival any squad. This weekend, he has a big test against Brian. We can finally see who won the trade from a few weeks back. Gronk is banged up, in addition to Jordan Howard and Will Fuller but it appears as though all three will play. Thankfully, Brian will be without his Falcons duo while Drew Brees and Le'Veon Bell has extremely favorable matchups. The x-factors come down to CJ Prosise with Rawls' return and Coby Fleener filling in for Gronk. Any significant contributions from them could decide this matchup. Obviously, the winner sitting at 6-5 will have a great chance to claim the 3rd seed.

Unable to pull off the upset in Week 10, Will now sits at 4-6, the outside looking in for the playoffs for yet another year. Similar to last season, he's allowed more points than he's scored and just can't seem to figure things out. The lineup is consistent each week but simply not enough to compare with some of the elite rosters. Tyrell Williams, Kenny Britt and AJ Green provided huge games but it wasn't enough to make up for weak RB play. As Christine Michael is phased out of the offense and Thomas Rawls is slowly making his return back to the field, Will has had to rely on Robert Kelley to lead his backfield and it is not enough. Perhaps, pickups of Charcandrick West and James Starks could provide a spark late in the season. In regards to his team, Will had this to say, "My team has lost some serious firepower over the course of the season. Barring a miracle, I have to accept I might not be a contender this year. Regardless, I will continue to give everyone my best shot and hope to sneak into the playoff picture." Love the attitude from Will here. His quest for a playoff shot goes through Brule's Rules this weekend.

(9-1) TY Beanies - 151
(5-5) Start The Carr - 80.1
Dominance once again from Josh. Everything is clicking at this juncture and he has vanquished every team he has played recently. David Johnson once again but up big numbers while the rest of the team followed suit. But this was the Ezekiel Elliot show. Arguably the league MVP at this point, he posted 40 points in an unbelievable performance against the Steelers. Cam Newton has appeared to turn things around and the team is clicking on all cylinders. Now with the inside track for the #1 seed, everyone should look out for TY Beanies. This week, he has the chance to finish off Dom's season and he will be more than willing to finish the job. "Another week our opponent  failed to break 100 points. I suppose it will be hard to keep up with a juggernaut that is averaging 136.3 points per game. Good luck to you Shitty Beatles. I hope you're getting used to the idea of that pink license plate on the back of your car."

"Man, I suck. Need to win out to have confidence. Start the Carr may need some re-shuffling. Always a challenging week with Denver on bye, but despite the recent slip, I'm staying confident that I can repeat my early season magic." The tailspin continues for Start the Carr after such a great start. Plagued with hardly any RB depth, Ben has been reeling in recent weeks. With Derek Carr on a bye and Jay Cutler being absolutely terrible, he never really stood a chance. This weekend, he gets his cornerstone QB back from bye but is unfortunately subjected to playing without Demaryius Thomas, McManus and Booker, who have kept his team afloat in recent weeks. Donte Moncrief and Michael Thomas will need to have special performances, or at least get in the endzone to beat Team New Year this week. Look for this one to be the closest game of the weekend, with Derek Carr's Monday Night performance ultimately being the difference.

WILL GAVIN'S SEXY SIX-PACK PICKS: WEEK ELEVEN EDITION

Brule’s Rules Vs. Hogan Knows Best

Winner: Brule’s Rules

​Two games should decide the bulk of this matchup. Will needs the Redskins and Packers game to be a slugfest, while Nick needs the Colts Titans game to be the same. The way its looked lately is like it will probably be Titans and Colts. Nick wins. 

Start the Carr Vs. Team New Year

Winner: Start The Carr

​This one comes down to Ben’s AFC West players. Look for Spencer Ware to have a big day against a below average Tampa D, while Derek Carr’s Monday night game will be the deciding factor. Chris’s WRs have come on lately, but let him down this week in a critical match-up of 5-5 teams. Ben wins.

Sch’dy Schmeckles Vs. Why You Pee on My Car?

Winner: Why You Pee on My Car?

​Aaron’s pair of Steelers play the Browns while Edelman looks for a big game against a lackluster 49ers defense. Peyton Barber and Tavon Austin turn in subpar performance against a pair of surging defenses.

Kissing Suzy Kolber Vs. EBDB BnB

Winner: Kissing Suzy Kolber

​Vinnie plugs in Martellus Bennett who connects with Tom Terrific early and often, while Eddie Royal has a modest day filling in for the suspended Alshon Jeffrey. Dave’s team takes a hit while his RBs fail to produce, and Blake Bortles disappoints yet again. Vinnie wins.

The Shitty Beatles vs. TY Beanies

Winner: TY Beanies

​The Chargers' passing game has been kind to Dom for the last few weeks. They are on bye this week, and despite Josh’s Melvin Gordon also being on bye in this one, Gio Bernard is a more than capable fill in. Josh wins easy.

Team Ruthless Vs. Dirty Birds Inc.

Winner: Team Ruthless

​The Falcons bye week hurts Brian, and despite his hoard of star RBs, he gets hit with a well-balanced facial of points from Joe. Team Ruthless is powered by Evans and Cooper’s big days, while Le’Veon Bell smokes (no pun intended) Cleveland. Joe wins a critical game with playoff implications.