The playoffs are here!
The 3 weeks of joy, terror, and inevitable disappointment for all but one team have finally arrived. Six teams have already experienced their let-downs for the year and have bowed out of the playoffs. To their benefit, they should be gifted better draft picks for their (lack of) efforts.
Per league rules, draft order for the miserable non-playoff teams is determined in reverse order of potential points (PP)so that those teams who are uniquely terrible at finding points both in their starting lineups and on their benches can have the best crack at improving.
Here’s your tentative draft order:
1. Big Ginga (12th overall in PP)
2. It Ertz When Eifert (11th in PP)
3. Al Davis: Crypt Keeper (10th in PP)
4. The Aborted (9th in PP)
5. Norse Code (7th in PP)
6. Afternoon Delight (4th in PP)
7 - 12 = Reverse order of playoff results
Now that we have those miserable souls out of the way, let’s talk about what everyone really cares about:
Playoff Teams
First off, the teams with “Fantasy” in their name/ the ones a bye
Seed 1: Fantasy Unabiding (10–3)
Fantasy Unabiding comes in at the #1 seed with a record that’s tied for 1st, but with a tie-breaker over the other 10-win teams. While coming in at #3 in the MFL PowerRanks, FU grabbed the #1 seed in the final week despite limping into the playoffs with a depleted roster. Luckily the bye should allow for Kerryon Johnson time to heal up and may give a chance for Marquis Goodwin and Sterling Shepard to reinforce the WR group. That said, a lack of a strong (or mediocre) TE after injuries and the dreaded “Commissioner’s Exempt List” for Kareem Hunt keep Andrew’s team from being a clear favorite despite the #1 seed.
Seed 2: Fantasy Costco (10–3)
The number one seed for most of the year, Fantasy Costco dropped from the top spot after a Week 13 loss to the all-rookie Afternoon Delight squad. The team has stayed strong throughout the year with only two losses by a combined 13 points and the highest “minimum points” in a given week with a floor of 114.94. The team looks to be in a good position entering the playoffs, avoiding the late-season injuries that seem to have plagued many other contenders. If there was a favorite, Fantasy Costco seems to be the team to beat.
Games this week:
#3 Release the Kringen vs. #6 Fightin’ Whities
Two teams, two competent (healthy) wide receivers. The #1 power-ranked Kringens are the early favorite in this game as they feature more depth at WR along with competent QB and TE groups. However, don’t count Joe’s Whities out as Todd Gurley and Alvin Kamara can easily drop 30+ points any given week and he returns Leonard “LeGarrette “Mike Tyson” Blount” Fournette from his one week suspension. While Joe will likely have the top scorer or two this week, a surplus of flex-worthy depth players will likely make the difference for Release the Kringen even as he reels from losing AJ Green and DeSean Jackson in the last week. Release the Kringen’s quest for the Donny Kringen 3rd Place Memorial Award persists.
Casey’s Pick: Release the Kringen
#4 Nuclear Fallout vs. #5 Anarchy PD
What a difference a year makes, Anarchy PD and Nuclear Fallout were both on the outside of the playoffs in 2017 yet both are solid contenders this year. For Anarchy PD, the addition of Saquon Barkley has really shored up the RB group along with Joe Mixon punching his way forward into a useful RB2. That said, Sean’s WR2 Emmanuel Sanders literally just popped his Achilles tendon an hour ago so his starters take an immediate hit. On the other side of things, Peter matches up pretty well with a good but not-yet-great QB, a weak TE group and pretty good RB/ WR cores. A big question will be whether Melvin Gordon can return to play (and be productive) in Week 14. If not, Nuclear Fallout may be in danger of being blown away. Neither team has a great option at their 2nd flex but have the #1s to make up for it.
Casey’s Pick: Anarchy PD
If my predictions are true: Week 15 will feature #3 Release the Kringen vs #2 Fantasy Costco and #5 Anarchy PD vs. #1 Fantasy Unabiding
