Two playoff spots are secured; only two remain. The battle for the final two slots is heating up with only four teams remaining in contention. Let's break it down.
The Perpetual Dynasty (8-4)
The current front runner for one of the final two playoff spots is TPD. It has been another impressive campaign from the back to back champ, scoring the 2nd most points in the league so far. Once again though their strong play is hindered by a tough schedule and poor circumstance. Their SOS ranks in the top 5, with teams averaging 136 ppg against them in their last 5 contests. Still TPD has handled their schedule reasonably well. They are hoping the additions of Rudolph and Brate will finally squelch their poor TE play that has plagued them all year, and last week validated their hope. The teams around them in the standings will be hoping TPD's classic negative crazy circumstance will somehow keep them out of the playoffs, but that may only be wishful thinking. TPD could make it into the playoffs without even winning another game, and a win this week would officially book their ticket to the dance for a sixth time in seven seasons.
Tavon and Only (7-5)
Tavon is 4th in points and stands at 4th in the standings. Their 5 losses this season have come against the three teams ahead of them in the standings as well as one to LFB. They have beaten up on poor competition this season but have failed to secure wins against the blue bloods. They will be hoping for a rematch against McCoy if they can make the playoffs, after losing to them twice this season by a combined 11 points. They play UB this week, who are playing well, and they finish with The Morgans in the final game of their season. It's a tough schedule to close, but the playoffs are still well within reach.
La Flama Blanca (7-5)
LFB holds the same record as Tavon, but once again have benefited from a soft schedule. They are 6th in points scored, but hold the league's 3rd easiest schedule. Three straight wins after a slow middle season run have them in direct contention for a playoff spot. Playing against TPD and Loco, two other playoff hopefuls, won't help matters, but anything is possible with this enigma of a team. They've scored under 100 points 4 separate times this season. They need to win out in order to have a shot at the playoffs, but even then they would need help in the form of teams ahead of them losing games.
El Pollo Loco (6-6)
Loco is the last team with a chance at the playoffs but it is a difficult road. They have to win out and hope for the same poor play from teams ahead of them like LFB is. They've been too inconsistent similar to years past and have been unable to take advantage of having the league's 4th easiest schedule. Their hope is all but finished, but a win against the thorn in their side McCoy may be enough to revitalize their hope heading into the final week.
McCoy and Morgans have glided into the playoffs on a wave of dominant play and hilariously easy SOS.
To put it in perspective, Loco, the team directly behind McCoy in the West, would be (9-3) had they had McCoy's schedule. Only four teams have scored over 120 points against McCoy all year, with 6 separate teams scoring under 105 this year against them. All that being said, McCoy has scored the most points in the league, so reversing the hypothetical and giving them other team's schedules would only give them a few more losses than the one loss they have. The injury to Gordon is troubling, as well as the trends for what has happened to dominant regular season teams when they reach the playoffs. With that in consideration, it will be hard for them to take it easy the rest of the way, even with them basically sleep walking through the regular season so far.
Similar to last season The Morgans are slowing down at the wrong time but their easy schedule has prevented it from affecting them. 7 of the last 10 teams to play them have scored below 115 points, including 6 of the last 8. That type of consistent ease of schedule makes it nearly impossible to lose many games, but like McCoy, they continue to score points and are still arguably the best team in the league capable of beating anyone.
The playoffs will tell the tale for each of these two teams. Will their regular season success over inflate the actual quality of the team, just like it has each of the last two seasons for both of them, or will they continue their momentum through the playoffs. It is a fascinating storyline considering McCoy and The Morgans have a combined (3-9) playoff record over the last three season's. This year's MFFL playoffs will once again be off the chain, with many a storyline to digest. This week will paint the picture with even more detail.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Match-Up Build-Up Week 11
Week 11 has arrived and the stakes are clearly visible. Most of the match-ups feature strong teams against below average ones, with the exception being TPD vs Tavon. So this week we will breakdown the teams still fighting for a playoff spot.
-The Real McCoy- (9-1)
It has been a charmed season for McCoy yet again. He was down entering Monday Night Football last week, but Kittle came through, securing 9 catches, after previously receiving more than 5 catches in a game just once, leading to a come back victory over UB. They are now one win away from breaking the longest winning streak in MFFL history, set last season at 9 by The Morgans. They have scored the most points in the league, but it is a bit misleading as they once again did not score the most points in the league last week, meaning they've scored the most points in a week just twice all season, while still somehow being on a 9 game win streak. They far and away have had the easiest schedule in the league. Teams are averaging a pitiful 116 points per game against them. Every other team but one, the morgans, are average over 130 ppg scored against them. That is a truly startling statistic, and it speaks to how helpful their schedule has been even with their large point totals each week. The playoffs are all but a certainty at this point. They will be hoping to secure the top spot in order to avoid The Morgans or TPD. We have seen this script before with this franchise, they will be hoping for more playoff success this time around. What a year it has been.
-The Glorious Morgans- (8-2)
They predictably bounced back last week after a poor showing the week before, winning a crucial game against TPD. It makes them the front runner for the Eastern crown. Similar to McCoy they received an atypical TE performance, with Ertz securing 14 catches for 150 yards and 2 TDs. It was a true godsend, as they would have lost the match-up without such an explosion from a TE. Still, the rest of the squad was impressive and they proved a major point. If not for their collapse against McCoy, this team would have been considered the best at this stage of the season, but outside of TPD, each team has fallen victim to playing poorly against McCoy, so do not read much into it. They are once again steam rolling towards the playoffs with a potential repeat clash against TPD. After sweeping TPD in the regular season last year, TPD got one back in a playoff victory with some smooth managerial decisions. Facing TPD for a 3rd time again this year is probably the last thing they want at this point. The Ertz explosion may have covered up the fact that for two straight weeks they haven't been as good. We'll see if the trend continues. A late season slowing was what hindered them last season too.
-The Perpetual Dynasty- (7-3)
TPD left a large amount of points on their bench last week. They had every opportunity to beat The Morgans but failed to do so. It was a disappointing defeat but one the will in all likelihood be irrelevant towards their rest of season outlook. They are loaded with studs at WR and RB, and perhaps have the best rest of season outlook considering their depth, and the fact that they have not wasted some of their best players weeks, (looking at you 41 point Ertz) as teams ahead of them may have to deal with. No one wants to play this team late in the year, evidenced by TPD's two straight ships. They have a crucial game this week against the team directly below them in the standings. A win in that game would almost certainly nail down a playoff spot, even though it would not be a full certainty.
-Tavon and Only- (6-4)
Tavon has put up impressive point totals and would seem to be the default favorite to obtain the 4th playoff spot. Unfortunately for them, three of their next four games are against the three teams directly ahead of them in the standings. They may get bounced by the fact alone, even if they perhaps deserved better based on their performance this season. If they somehow make the playoffs it will be truly earned based on their schedule to finish the year.
-El Pollo Loco- (5-5)
It has been an up and down season for Loco once again. They are hoping the East picks itself apart and leaves a playoff slot available to them in doing so. They play McCoy and the Morgans in two of their last four games, so like Tavon, securing a playoff spot would be much earned on their parts.
-La Flama Blanca- (5-5)
Truly barley holding their head above water, LFB will benefit from a soft schedule the next two weeks. They need to keep winning in order to have any hope of the playoffs. Making it is all that matters, as they can blow up any week and beat any body. The playoffs are a whole different animal compared to the regular season, and la flama could possibly prove that point were they to make the playoffs.
UB is technically not out of it, but it would take a miracle. Rationally there are 6 teams fighting for 4 spots. Here we go, week 11 style.
-The Real McCoy- (9-1)
It has been a charmed season for McCoy yet again. He was down entering Monday Night Football last week, but Kittle came through, securing 9 catches, after previously receiving more than 5 catches in a game just once, leading to a come back victory over UB. They are now one win away from breaking the longest winning streak in MFFL history, set last season at 9 by The Morgans. They have scored the most points in the league, but it is a bit misleading as they once again did not score the most points in the league last week, meaning they've scored the most points in a week just twice all season, while still somehow being on a 9 game win streak. They far and away have had the easiest schedule in the league. Teams are averaging a pitiful 116 points per game against them. Every other team but one, the morgans, are average over 130 ppg scored against them. That is a truly startling statistic, and it speaks to how helpful their schedule has been even with their large point totals each week. The playoffs are all but a certainty at this point. They will be hoping to secure the top spot in order to avoid The Morgans or TPD. We have seen this script before with this franchise, they will be hoping for more playoff success this time around. What a year it has been.
-The Glorious Morgans- (8-2)
They predictably bounced back last week after a poor showing the week before, winning a crucial game against TPD. It makes them the front runner for the Eastern crown. Similar to McCoy they received an atypical TE performance, with Ertz securing 14 catches for 150 yards and 2 TDs. It was a true godsend, as they would have lost the match-up without such an explosion from a TE. Still, the rest of the squad was impressive and they proved a major point. If not for their collapse against McCoy, this team would have been considered the best at this stage of the season, but outside of TPD, each team has fallen victim to playing poorly against McCoy, so do not read much into it. They are once again steam rolling towards the playoffs with a potential repeat clash against TPD. After sweeping TPD in the regular season last year, TPD got one back in a playoff victory with some smooth managerial decisions. Facing TPD for a 3rd time again this year is probably the last thing they want at this point. The Ertz explosion may have covered up the fact that for two straight weeks they haven't been as good. We'll see if the trend continues. A late season slowing was what hindered them last season too.
-The Perpetual Dynasty- (7-3)
TPD left a large amount of points on their bench last week. They had every opportunity to beat The Morgans but failed to do so. It was a disappointing defeat but one the will in all likelihood be irrelevant towards their rest of season outlook. They are loaded with studs at WR and RB, and perhaps have the best rest of season outlook considering their depth, and the fact that they have not wasted some of their best players weeks, (looking at you 41 point Ertz) as teams ahead of them may have to deal with. No one wants to play this team late in the year, evidenced by TPD's two straight ships. They have a crucial game this week against the team directly below them in the standings. A win in that game would almost certainly nail down a playoff spot, even though it would not be a full certainty.
-Tavon and Only- (6-4)
Tavon has put up impressive point totals and would seem to be the default favorite to obtain the 4th playoff spot. Unfortunately for them, three of their next four games are against the three teams directly ahead of them in the standings. They may get bounced by the fact alone, even if they perhaps deserved better based on their performance this season. If they somehow make the playoffs it will be truly earned based on their schedule to finish the year.
-El Pollo Loco- (5-5)
It has been an up and down season for Loco once again. They are hoping the East picks itself apart and leaves a playoff slot available to them in doing so. They play McCoy and the Morgans in two of their last four games, so like Tavon, securing a playoff spot would be much earned on their parts.
-La Flama Blanca- (5-5)
Truly barley holding their head above water, LFB will benefit from a soft schedule the next two weeks. They need to keep winning in order to have any hope of the playoffs. Making it is all that matters, as they can blow up any week and beat any body. The playoffs are a whole different animal compared to the regular season, and la flama could possibly prove that point were they to make the playoffs.
UB is technically not out of it, but it would take a miracle. Rationally there are 6 teams fighting for 4 spots. Here we go, week 11 style.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Match-Up Build-Up Week 10
Week 9's game of the week fell flat but crucial victories were won across the MFFL, as well as upsetting defeats. Week 10 is here and the playoff picture is really taking shape. Three teams at the top are favorites to secure a spot eventually, while four other teams jockey for what could be only one playoff spot remaining. Wild times as always in the MFFL. Lets break it down.
1. The Perpetual Dynasty (7-2) vs The Glorious Morgans (7-2)
Overview: The Morgans hold a slim lead in the East over TPD by a minuscule 12 points. The winner this week may take the pole position towards an eastern division crown.
Team Notes: TPD is rolling. They have won 5 straight games and scored the most points in the league last week. They are strong at the top and have acquired key depth along the way with multiple pieces via trade and free agency. This team is trying to make a run at a 3peat and they have as good a shot as any to do so. Their gameday managing has been on point this season, a theme of each of their consecutive championships each of the last two years. Having a strong team while also being able to handle adversity better than any one else make this squad serious contenders for the ship once again.
The Morgans fell flat last week in the game of the year in the MFFL. A fall from grace was coming but last week was a hard drop. We wouldn't read too much into it. The Morgans are still loaded and more than likely will bounce back this week. Assuming Gurley gets back to doing Gurley things the squad will be fine. The bench is not as deep as previously hoped, with up and down play from secondary RBs, but this is still one of the best teams in the league. Do not be swayed by one bad week.
Game Notes: TPD has three of their best players on Thursday Night, not a good thing for TPD as Thursday's historically go bad for them. Both teams are home heavy.
Match-up Breakdown:
TPD- Average (++++, =, ---) Some very good some very bad
TGM- Good (+++, ====, -) Solid match-ups.
Key Battle: FLEX
This match-up is extremely close between two elite teams. The Morgans have had TPD's number for a while and a bounce back from week should be expected. TPD needs to have Thursday finish well or they are doomed. Three players on Thursday is unprecedented. This is a key game in the race for the eastern crown, even if both are still front runners for a playoff spot regardless of the outcome. This is a huge game folks. We will know a lot about the rest of this match-up following Thursday's results.
The rest of the match-ups feature clear favorites who have to take care of business in order to keep pace in the playoff race. McCoy has won 8 games in a row and is stoppable at the moment. A win against an up and down Unstopa-Bo would tie the record for longest win streak ever. It has been a blessed season considering they've scored the most points in a week just twice, while having a super soft schedule during a season in which points are being scored at an all time high. Five of their eight wins have come when their opponent failed to score more than 103, with four of them scoring well below 100. Yes they are scoring points, but their soft schedule has helped them get wins during the eight weeks in which they did not score the most points of the week. Tavon has to take advantage of a soft match-up this week. Their schedule down the stretch is daunting. Loco and Bo continue to duke it out in the West, hoping the East picks itself apart. La Flama has taken on water, losing 5 of 6 games, but at least they scored a decent point total last week. Don't count LFB out, they have an extremely soft schedule the next three weeks. It's go time. Week 10 promises to be a critical week. Let's do this.
1. The Perpetual Dynasty (7-2) vs The Glorious Morgans (7-2)
Overview: The Morgans hold a slim lead in the East over TPD by a minuscule 12 points. The winner this week may take the pole position towards an eastern division crown.
Team Notes: TPD is rolling. They have won 5 straight games and scored the most points in the league last week. They are strong at the top and have acquired key depth along the way with multiple pieces via trade and free agency. This team is trying to make a run at a 3peat and they have as good a shot as any to do so. Their gameday managing has been on point this season, a theme of each of their consecutive championships each of the last two years. Having a strong team while also being able to handle adversity better than any one else make this squad serious contenders for the ship once again.
The Morgans fell flat last week in the game of the year in the MFFL. A fall from grace was coming but last week was a hard drop. We wouldn't read too much into it. The Morgans are still loaded and more than likely will bounce back this week. Assuming Gurley gets back to doing Gurley things the squad will be fine. The bench is not as deep as previously hoped, with up and down play from secondary RBs, but this is still one of the best teams in the league. Do not be swayed by one bad week.
Game Notes: TPD has three of their best players on Thursday Night, not a good thing for TPD as Thursday's historically go bad for them. Both teams are home heavy.
Match-up Breakdown:
TPD- Average (++++, =, ---) Some very good some very bad
TGM- Good (+++, ====, -) Solid match-ups.
Key Battle: FLEX
This match-up is extremely close between two elite teams. The Morgans have had TPD's number for a while and a bounce back from week should be expected. TPD needs to have Thursday finish well or they are doomed. Three players on Thursday is unprecedented. This is a key game in the race for the eastern crown, even if both are still front runners for a playoff spot regardless of the outcome. This is a huge game folks. We will know a lot about the rest of this match-up following Thursday's results.
The rest of the match-ups feature clear favorites who have to take care of business in order to keep pace in the playoff race. McCoy has won 8 games in a row and is stoppable at the moment. A win against an up and down Unstopa-Bo would tie the record for longest win streak ever. It has been a blessed season considering they've scored the most points in a week just twice, while having a super soft schedule during a season in which points are being scored at an all time high. Five of their eight wins have come when their opponent failed to score more than 103, with four of them scoring well below 100. Yes they are scoring points, but their soft schedule has helped them get wins during the eight weeks in which they did not score the most points of the week. Tavon has to take advantage of a soft match-up this week. Their schedule down the stretch is daunting. Loco and Bo continue to duke it out in the West, hoping the East picks itself apart. La Flama has taken on water, losing 5 of 6 games, but at least they scored a decent point total last week. Don't count LFB out, they have an extremely soft schedule the next three weeks. It's go time. Week 10 promises to be a critical week. Let's do this.
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Match-Up Build-Up Week 9
Week 8 Review: The Morgans and McCoy will not stop. TPD quietly having a great season. UB fighting.
Hard to believe we are entering week 9 of the MFFL season. This week 9 is especially special as we have two teams on an historic pace meeting in the octagon. The Morgans and McCoy are each on 7 game winning streaks. Their roster's have been blowing up seemingly every week. But now it has to end for one of them, assuming there is no tie. They've scored points and neither team has faced any sort of stress, with each team having far and away the easiest schedules in the league. The stars have aligned for these two teams, dating back to each of the last three seasons. And now they meet to settle the score.
1. The Real McCoy (7-1) vs The Glorious Morgans (7-1)
Overview: What a match-up this is. Neither team has slowed from a hot start and both feel they should be the top dog this season. It very well could be a preview of the championship match-up for this season, and it would be utterly shocking if either of them did not make the playoffs. A collapse of epic proportions would have to happen to prevent either of them from having a special season. Match-ups like this, at this point in the season, are rare, sit back and enjoy the show.
Team Notes: Even with Julio and Gordon on bye last week McCoy still scored over 160 points. There is simply nothing in the shape of stress that has affected this team. No matter who has been in their starting lineup, that player has scored in bunches. It is very similar to the Morgans of last season. The early pick-up of Mahomes continues to be one of the best of all time, right along with TPD's pick up of Conner this year, and who could have seen this season coming from Adam Thielen. Not even in their wildest dreams would McCoy have expected that type of production from those two players, but when you are McCoy players come to play for you. Everything this team touches turns to gold.
The Morgans cannot be stopped. They lead the league in points and continue their unbelievable pace of winning almost every game they play. Their heart and soul is undoubtedly Todd Gurley. Most of what The Morgans have they owe to him. Overall they are averaging a vintage TPD 154 points per game. Outside of Gurley, they may not have as many bonafide stars as some of the other top teams, but they have the best quality depth in the league, with their RB and WR cores going four deep with weekly starters. Just like McCoy, nothing has presented even the slightest bit of stress for this team. No matter the week, no matter the players, this team has balled out.
Game Notes: Morgans are back loaded. Morgans have Ertz and Boyd on bye. McCoy has Mack on bye.
Matchup breakdown:
TGM: Poor (+, =====, --) Difficult match-ups
TRM: Average (++, ====, --) Not as bad as the Morgans but nothing great really.
Key Battle: Gordon vs Gurley
MFFL seasons should not be as easy as it has been for both of these teams. Conventional wisdom would suggest that poor play or poor circumstance will find them at some point, but with these two teams it is less certain. Still, as has been discussed, it is fair to wonder if some of their best weeks are behind them. It will be hard to get hot late in the year when this is the standard. They will hope the standard remains a constant, which is a difficult ask. If the standard is constant then one or both of these teams are destined for an amazing season of MFFL football. They are titans. This is an unbelievable matchup.
2. The Perpetual Dynasty (6-2) vs La Flama Blanca (4-4)
Overview: The East match-up on center stage for this week checks in at #2.
Team Notes: TPD is quietly having a fantastic season. They've won four straight and are averaging 144 ppg. The win last week was orchestrated by some terrific gameday managing. The entire fantasy community was telling TPD to start Winston over Wilson, but TPD trusted their own experience and expertise and started the player no one else would have. It worked. Their gameday managing is their ace up their sleeve compared to other opponents. They are not afraid to go out on a limb if their instincts dictate so.
LFB has scored under 100 points in three of four games. When they don't blow up they struggle to get solid points from their stars. It has been all or nothing this year. Based on the fact that they have had a few down weeks in a row, and they're playing TPD, expect a bounce back performance. This is a crucial game in the East for both teams.
3. El Pollo Loco (4-4) vs Unstopa-Bo (3-5)
This Western division clash is pivotal. Both of these teams are still alive due to playing in the West, where wins are more easily obtainable. Loco is (3-1) against the West this year and (1-3) against the East. Both of these teams will try to survive and somehow make the playoffs, where anything is possible. They need the East to pick itself a part. This is a huge game.
Hard to believe we are entering week 9 of the MFFL season. This week 9 is especially special as we have two teams on an historic pace meeting in the octagon. The Morgans and McCoy are each on 7 game winning streaks. Their roster's have been blowing up seemingly every week. But now it has to end for one of them, assuming there is no tie. They've scored points and neither team has faced any sort of stress, with each team having far and away the easiest schedules in the league. The stars have aligned for these two teams, dating back to each of the last three seasons. And now they meet to settle the score.
Overview: What a match-up this is. Neither team has slowed from a hot start and both feel they should be the top dog this season. It very well could be a preview of the championship match-up for this season, and it would be utterly shocking if either of them did not make the playoffs. A collapse of epic proportions would have to happen to prevent either of them from having a special season. Match-ups like this, at this point in the season, are rare, sit back and enjoy the show.
Team Notes: Even with Julio and Gordon on bye last week McCoy still scored over 160 points. There is simply nothing in the shape of stress that has affected this team. No matter who has been in their starting lineup, that player has scored in bunches. It is very similar to the Morgans of last season. The early pick-up of Mahomes continues to be one of the best of all time, right along with TPD's pick up of Conner this year, and who could have seen this season coming from Adam Thielen. Not even in their wildest dreams would McCoy have expected that type of production from those two players, but when you are McCoy players come to play for you. Everything this team touches turns to gold.
The Morgans cannot be stopped. They lead the league in points and continue their unbelievable pace of winning almost every game they play. Their heart and soul is undoubtedly Todd Gurley. Most of what The Morgans have they owe to him. Overall they are averaging a vintage TPD 154 points per game. Outside of Gurley, they may not have as many bonafide stars as some of the other top teams, but they have the best quality depth in the league, with their RB and WR cores going four deep with weekly starters. Just like McCoy, nothing has presented even the slightest bit of stress for this team. No matter the week, no matter the players, this team has balled out.
Game Notes: Morgans are back loaded. Morgans have Ertz and Boyd on bye. McCoy has Mack on bye.
Matchup breakdown:
TGM: Poor (+, =====, --) Difficult match-ups
TRM: Average (++, ====, --) Not as bad as the Morgans but nothing great really.
Key Battle: Gordon vs Gurley
MFFL seasons should not be as easy as it has been for both of these teams. Conventional wisdom would suggest that poor play or poor circumstance will find them at some point, but with these two teams it is less certain. Still, as has been discussed, it is fair to wonder if some of their best weeks are behind them. It will be hard to get hot late in the year when this is the standard. They will hope the standard remains a constant, which is a difficult ask. If the standard is constant then one or both of these teams are destined for an amazing season of MFFL football. They are titans. This is an unbelievable matchup.
2. The Perpetual Dynasty (6-2) vs La Flama Blanca (4-4)
Overview: The East match-up on center stage for this week checks in at #2.
Team Notes: TPD is quietly having a fantastic season. They've won four straight and are averaging 144 ppg. The win last week was orchestrated by some terrific gameday managing. The entire fantasy community was telling TPD to start Winston over Wilson, but TPD trusted their own experience and expertise and started the player no one else would have. It worked. Their gameday managing is their ace up their sleeve compared to other opponents. They are not afraid to go out on a limb if their instincts dictate so.
LFB has scored under 100 points in three of four games. When they don't blow up they struggle to get solid points from their stars. It has been all or nothing this year. Based on the fact that they have had a few down weeks in a row, and they're playing TPD, expect a bounce back performance. This is a crucial game in the East for both teams.
3. El Pollo Loco (4-4) vs Unstopa-Bo (3-5)
This Western division clash is pivotal. Both of these teams are still alive due to playing in the West, where wins are more easily obtainable. Loco is (3-1) against the West this year and (1-3) against the East. Both of these teams will try to survive and somehow make the playoffs, where anything is possible. They need the East to pick itself a part. This is a huge game.
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