This season's week 1 match-ups are unlike any other. For the first time in MFFL history the commissioner is starting the season with a rivalry week. It's an unbelievable display of ingenuity and hype. The league waits, coiled like a spring, ready to strike the first deafening tone of the season against their most bitter of foes.
1. The Perpetual Dynasty (0-0) vs Imposing Monstrosity (0-0)
Overview: The season's first top match-up begins with a back and forth rivalry. Stros took the first two games of this rivalry in 2017, but TPD snapped back with a sweep of their own last season. Arguably this season's best draft is paired against the crazy antics of a 3peat champion, fireworks are expected.
Team Notes: TPD is your 3peat champion. Such a feat has yet to be fully understood due to its unique nature. Carried by a harden resolve and an unrelenting style of managerial creativity and skill, TPD has captured glory three straight seasons even though they have had to grind and fight through each regular season. Always pushing their limits further, TPD looks to get back to their dominate regular season ways this season. In pursuit of their goal, they have already made an astoundingly large amount of moves, six trades to be exact, reshaping much of their team merely a few days after the draft. It is par for the course for this manager, and a sign to the rest of the league that their hunger remains, and to take down the top dog will mean enduring their ferocious bite. For the first time since 2012, TPD has RBs that actually deserve to be in a starting lineup come week 1. They hope their young stable of backs can be the catalyst for a more balanced beginning. TE was a problem for them all of last season, so they took no chances this year and invested draft stock into O.J Howard, whom they hope and expect to have a breakout season. Stars at the top with Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins make the lineup as exciting as ever, but the real strength of this team may be their depth at WR. All TPD needs is one breakout season from any of them and their fortunes would look bright once again.
Impsoing Monstrosity is finally feeling more comfortable performing in the wild wild west nature of the MFFL. Last season was nothing they wanted. They won only two games in what amounted to a lost season for the youngest MFFL franchise. They rallied the troops this summer and set their targets on major improvements for 2019. The draft played right into their hands for such success, as many big named players seemingly dropped into their lap at multiple points during the draft. They then rocked the minds of the MFFL world, acquiring Tyreek Hill from TPD in exchange for much of their young starting lineup and depth. Simply put, they aren't messing around this year. Their starting lineup may be the most imposing the MFFL has to offer to start the season. They look to garner wins early as any attack on their health could spell big trouble due to their current lack of depth.
Game Notes: This match-up is explosive on so many levels, but don't expect any answer early on as both teams are back loaded towards 4:00pm games, and TPD has serious firepower slated for Monday night, with three counted on starters taking center stage then. Home road splits seem to be about even.
Match-Up Breakdown:
TPD- (++++,---,=) Average, TPD's toughest match-up at least feature games in which his players will have to score points in order to keep up with potent offenses.
Stros- (+++,---,==) Average, His RBs and Hill have tough match-ups on paper, the rest oft he lineup can exploit poor defenses potentially.
Key Battle: TE and Defense- there are advantages and disadvantages across the whole lineup, but these two spots look to be the most even, with each having exploitable match-ups.
Stros wants to turn the page on last season and a win against the 3peat champion would be the best way any team can start the season. TPD's team will not remain the same in the least throughout the early portion of the season, as they keep each player on high alert, moving on from players quickly and confidently if they have too. This is a big rivalry week game with much on the line. The competitive nature of the MFFL does not allow for even the slightest of missteps. Get your freakin popcorn ready.
2. GrabbingThemTDs (0-0) vs Unstopa-Bo (0-0)
Overview: The rivalry with the most smack talk in the league checks in at #2. An unbelievably close match-up year in and year out, these two want nothing more than to blast the other and claim bragging rights.
Team Notes: GrabbingThemTDs brings a new name and new style to the 2019 season. This is perhaps the most prepared they have ever been for an MFFL draft. After the draft they partook in a trade, something they rarely do before the season starts. The shocking selection of Baker Mayfield sent shockwaves throughout the entire draft room, but TDs has not relented and will entrust Baker to lead their franchise this season. They have talent at every position across the field and solid depth ont he bench. TDs has never been able to replicate their playoff appearance way back in year one, but this season brings about a new drive and determination. They look like real contenders for the 2019 season.
Unstopa-Bo has been somewhat of an enigma throughout their MFFL career. Their greatest achievements coming in 2015 and 2016, when they made the championship game both years but failed to win either time. The last two seasons have shown a serious fall from grace, as they have had a (5-9) record consecutively. It is feast or famine for this franchise, but one thing that is always a constant is their desire to stick it to TDs. It's their favorite thing to do every season, and last season they got the sweep on TDs. This season presents some normal themes. They had a strong draft, like they always do, and look ready to begin the season strong. A potential problem for them is their lack of overall firepower and serious question marks at RB. They will begin the season with Damien Williams and Derrick Henry as their #1 and #2 RBs. The only other RBs on the roster are Philip Lindsay and LeSean McCoy. In the past they have relied on strong drafts to carry them throughout the season, but this year they will have to pounce on trades and waiver wire moves in order to solidify their depth. In that vein, they have already made one trade before the season started, something they perhaps have never done before. Similar to TDs this squad may be adopting a new strategy this season after back to back disappointing years. A UB more ready to make creative moves should be a scary thought to the rest of the league.
Game Notes: Both teams are 1:00pm heavy. It will be a back and forth affair come Sunday. Both teams are road heavy.
Match-Up Breakdown:
TDs- (++++,--,==) Good match-ups overall but some sneaky troubling ones.
UB- (+,---,====) Poor/Brutal, generally tough across the board.
Key Battle: #2WR and Flex
Based on UBs poor circumstance at RB and their generally poor match-ups, the early favorite may be TDs. But throw records and match-ups out the window when these two meet. It is an old fashion blood bath. Bragging rights and a double meat Chipotle bowls await the winner of this match-up.
3. El Pollo Loco (0-0) vs The Glorious Morgans (0-0)
Overview: Two of the most dedicated teams draw swords in this explosive match-up in week one.
Team Notes: El Pollo Loco has turned a corner after an average start to their MFFL career. After leading the league in points in 2017, they followed it up with an (8-6) season a year ago, barely missing out on the playoffs by a single game. Whatever mistakes they perhaps made as a young and up and coming franchise they have learned from and are squarely in the mix heading into this season. They need Elliott to sign an extension, without him their chances of victory in early match-ups takes a steep fall. The rest of the lineup is littered with young and up and coming talent. If guys like Carson, Boyd, Godwin, and JonesII, explode onto the scene, then this team is going to be tough to beat, as their stars Mahomes, Zeke, and Engram should hold down the fort at their respective positions. Loco hopes to continue their steady climb up the MFFL ranks.
The Glorious Morgans have cemented themselves as a top 3 franchise in this league. They have accomplished this by having two of the best regular season's ever in back to back years. Their teams have set and broken regular season records each of the last two seasons. Unfortunately the playoffs have not gone the way they wanted in any of the last three seasons, mirroring old TPD teams. Ironic being that their playoff foe they've struggled against is TPD. The lineup looks as good as ever to start 2019, with some of the best depth of any roster. They will be relying on JuJu and DJ all season, with hopes of Brees maintaining his HOF form at the age of 40. Everything has broken right for this franchise each of the last two seasons, as they have perhaps borrowed some of McCoy's midas touch qualities. Looking at the shape of things for 2019, do not expect a drop off.
Game Notes: Loco will need a large lead after their bulk 4:00pm games, as TGM are extremely back loaded. Morgans have the majority of their guys playing home games.
Match-Up Breakdown:
Loco: (++++,--,==) Good match-ups across the board.
TGM: (+++,--,===) Solid match-ups but probably not as strong as Loco's.
Key Battle: TE and #2 RB, both teams have questions at #2 RB if Zeke is out, but their TE battle should be explosive.
Loco needs Elliott to play, but those chances seem weak at best. Without him the Morgans would be a favorite, a position many teams in the MFFL have failed to follow through on each season. Both of these teams will look different as the season progresses, each make multiple moves throughout.
4. The Real McCoy (0-0) vs Tavon and Only (0-0)
Overview: The most lopsided rivalry in the league slots in an #4 for week 1.
Team Notes: McCoy has absolutely dominated this rivalry, there is no way around it. They have used Tavon as a platform in which to pad their dominating stats. The firepower displayed by this team each season is perhaps unmatched by anyone other than TPD. It hasn't hurt that they have had the easiest path to success year in and year out, playing in the West division that had three teams fail to capture more than 5 wins last season. Their all time easiest schedule amounts to nearly 400 less scored points against them than the team with the 2nd easiest schedule, which is staggering. What is impressive about this franchise is that they have taken the good luck and fortune given to them and done what one is suppose to do, dominate every week. A similar comparison may be the Patriots of the AFC East. TPD bested them in three straight playoff's, two of which were in the championship. McCoy's regular season success speaks for itself, but they will try to start winning championships again starting this season. During this year's draft they routinely displayed frustration with the nature of how the draft was going for them, but as they always seem to do, they found a way to have good circumstance bounce their way in the shape of Bell falling to them unexpectedly and by drafting Pollard in the late rounds, who looks poised to help them in big ways early in the season. Classic McCoy. The bench leaves some to be desired but the starting lineup is packed full of guys who look ready to play their asses off for this franchise. McCoy always gets the most out of their guys.
Tavon and Only is not messing around this year. Red flags be damned, this team took as many star players as they could in the draft, even some with big question marks entering the season. Gurley and Gordon are positioned as two league winning RBs but also could season killers. No team has a bigger range of potential outcomes than this one. If it works look out, but a lot has to go right for this team and franchise. They are trying to get back to their championship level form of 2015, but that season has looked more like an anomaly in the grand scheme. Beating a team that has routinely held them down would be one hell of a way to turn a new corner.
Game Notes: This game will likely be decided during the Sunday Night Game. Both teams have a lot of home games.
Match-Up Breakdown:
TRM- (++,---,===) Average across the board with a few good and some bad.
TAO- (++,--,====) Average, very similar to McCoy
Key Battle: DEF, both have tough match-ups for their defenses this week
Both teams have big names, some of which perhaps past their prime, but if either can squeeze out one more HOF quality season out of the majority of them then watch out. Pollard entering McCoy's lineup last minute could be the difference maker.
5. La Flama Blanca (0-0) vs Baker's Chubbin (0-0)
Overview: Two teams with a fierce rivalry will clash come Sunday. Both franchises are still looking to make their mark in the MFFL.
Team Notes: LFB is long past their glory days of old. They have struggled to keep pace in the ultra competitive East division each season. Another team that relies heavily on a good draft, they have failed to make the necessary team improvements during the season the last few years. They also go after big names, which has been hit or miss as of late. Their strategy this season for the draft was to get as many good RBs as they could, and they did, stockpiling talent at that position. This meant though that they could not grab the firepower at other positions, and WR, QB, and TE may be a point of weakness in certain match-ups unless guys step up. This franchise seems to be able to find diamonds in the rough. If they can get back to doing that this season they will return to the top tier of the league and challenge for a playoff spot.
Baker's Chubbin as struggled mightily much of their MFFL career. They have routinely had the opportunity to pick first overall entering the draft slot selection show. The stars of their squad this year are easily their RBs. But similarly to LFB, the rest of the lineup will need others to step up. If Wentz returns to being a top 5 QB then their success chances will spike. The question remains whether or not this team will make the necessary moves in season to garner success.
Game Notes: Monday night will decide the fate of this match-up. LFB is home heavy.
Match-Up Breakdown:
LFB- (++,---,===) Average match-ups though leaning poor.
BC- ( ++,---,===) Average but seemingly better than LFBs
Key Battle: OMG look at these RB match-ups!
Both teams will look to make changes this season, in hopes of reawakening success of old.
Week 1 is upon us. Here week go! Come on!
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