Today I’ll take a look at the playoff teams, how they got here and to preview the Round 1 Matchups.
- Stephen T-Bo (9-5)
Congratulations on making the playoffs for the first time Stephen! Stephen had a rough go in 2009 and 2010, but he’s back and not only does he get the number 1 pick. Now he is the #1 seed in the playoffs after going 9-5 and beating Scotty in Week 10 giving him the head to head tie breaker when it comes to seeding. Stephen of course drafted Jamarr Chase with the 1.01. An unfortunate turf toe injury left Burrow out for most of the year and so Chase wasn’t his normal dominate self. He is still sitting at WR5. The biggest two picks Stephen made were Javonte Williams in Round 8 (he currently sits at RB#7 on the season) and Davante Adams in Round 4 (he currently sits at WR#6). His best free agent acquisition was Rico Dowdle for $5 FAAB. He sits at RB#12. He has a complete team heading into the bye with a chance of being crowned champion!
- Scotty (9-5)
Congratulations to Scotty for winning points leader and the cash prize! Scotty tied Trey at 9-5, but they split their head to head matchups and Scotty has the advantage when it comes to points. Scotty got here by drafting CMC in the first round. Everyone expected him to be healthy last year and he was hurt all year. Everyone expected him to be hurt this year and he has been healthy all year. RB#3 on the season. In addition Scotty got Drake London who has had his moments and now he has the bye to potentially get him healthy for a final four run. James Cook was probably his best draft pick in Round 3. He sits at RB6. I liked the pick during the draft but Mahomes sits at QB#2 on the season. Scotty has managed well and will have a chance to compete for his second Super Bowl. He’s made the playoffs 11 times and the Super Bowl 3 times. Last year he was defeated by JD in Super Bowl 16.
- Brad (8-6)
Brad makes his 12th playoff appearance in league history, but his first in 3 seasons. He did this by winning Division 3. Brad won two Super Bowls in the league’s first three seasons but has gone 0-3 in Super Bowls in the last 13 seasons. This season he has been carried by Jahmyr Gibbs. Who sits at RB#2 and has single handedly won Brad several weeks. He also did well with Drake Maye who sits at QB#5 who he drafted in Round 9. And Jaylen Waddle who he drafted in Round 6, who took over as the Dolphins #1 WR when Tyreek Hill went down to a nasty season ending injury. He sits at WR#14. Brad had 4 weeks with no Bowers, but survived with a solid season from Treyveon Henderson (RB#20) and Jaylen Warren (RB#19). Brad picked up Christian Watson when his two veteran wideouts went down in Mike Evans and Garret Wilson. Watson has been on a tear since coming back including scoring 5 touchdowns in the past 4 weeks heading into Round 1.
4. Trey (9-5)
Super Bowl 9 winner Trey makes his 7th playoff appearance in league history. Trey has only made one Super Bowl, but he won the thing. After a few seasons out of the playoffs he made it last year and now finds himself back again, but this time as a strong competitor. Trey was 2nd in Points For and tied for first for best record in the league. His only downside is he was in the division with Scotty who edged him out in points. Due to that he’ll square off against the 5th seed Mike Grote in the 1st Round. Trey got here by going bruiser RBs to start his draft, which worked. Henry is RB#8 and Jacobs is RB#10 heading into the playoffs. This meant he had to be right about his first WR taken Jaxon Smith-Njigba. And as he pointed out to Brad’s chagrin, he was indeed right and Brad was wrong. JSN is the #1 WR in fantasy and has set the Seahawks franchise record for most receiving yards in a single season. He also did well with #5 TE Tyler Warren who might see an uptick in usage given the Colts QB situation heading into Week 15. Trey also has RJ Harvey who took over after Dobbins was lost for the season. Trey traded Jameson Williams to Scotty midseason, with both being pleased I think as they are both strong “2’s” in their respected position. Trey also picked up Michael Wilson for $15 FAAB. Kyler Murray gets hurt. Marvin Harrison gets hurt. In comes Jacoby Brissett slinging the rock to Wilson and McBride. Wilson has games of 29, 19.8, and 34.7 in the past four weeks. Making Trey one of the best teams in the league heading into the playoffs.
5. Mike (7-7)
Mike has never won a Super Bowl and over the past 7 seasons he was playing the make the playoffs, miss the playoffs, make the playoffs, miss the playoffs game. No more. Mike has now made the playoffs in back to back seasons. His first time doing so since Season 1 and 2. Mike’s best player is Puca Nacua who has been awesome. He sits at WR#2 and makes the 10 people who drafted ahead of Mike look silly. Mike somehow survived the season despite not having his 2nd round pick for most of the year. This was due to the emergence of Travis Etienne. Drafted in Round 9 he currently sits as RB#11. He’s been streaming QBs and will have to stream Tight Ends in the playoffs as he just lost Zach Ertz to a bad leg injury. Mike is what one would consider the Underdog heading into a Round 1 matchup with Trey.
- Kenny (7-7)
Congratulations to Super Bowl 12 winner Kenny for making the playoffs due to the head to head tie breaker. Kenny beat out on Joe and JD because of uneven head to head matchups meaning it went to Points where Kenny had the advantage. Kenny has been led by the RB#1 Jonathan Taylor. He also has his 2nd round pick Amon-Ra St. Brown who is WR#4. Then he has a lot of awesome stories from this season. Dak is slinging it and sits at QB#3. Kenny Gainwell is in a 50/50 split with Jaylen Warren and looks more explosive. Kyle Monangai is in a split with D’Andre Swift but has 5 rushing TDs on the season. Kenny is getting healthy at the right time too getting back Terry McLaurin.
Consolation Bracket:
Joe (7-7) vs. JD (7-7)– just missed out on the head to head tie breaker with Kenny due to Points For. winner of this game will be guaranteed multiple balls in next season’s draft lottery
Chase (6-8) vs Katon (5-9)– division foes go at it for a 3rd time. Winner guarantees multiple balls in the draft lottery next season.
Tommy (5-9) vs. Jen (5-9)– These two battle it out to try and have a chance at a higher pick next season.
Round 1 Preview:
- Stephen (9-5)- BYE
- Scotty (9-5)- BYE
3. Brad (8-6) vs. 6. Kenny (7-7)
Story Line: RB#1 vs. RB#2
Kenny beat Brad back in Week 7 when Brad lost Mike Evans to a broken collarbone and had a whopping 6 players scoring 5 or less.
Kenny has #3 Dak Prescott against a tough Minnesota defense on Sunday Night Football. This pegs Brian Schottenheimer’s offensive mind against Brian Flores defensive mind in what should be a good game. Brad has #5 QB Drake Maye going up against Buffalo. New England is trying to lock down the division, but Buffalo isn’t going to make it easy on him. QB is even.
At RB we have #1 Jonathan Taylor for Kenny vs. #2 Jahmyr Gibbs for Brad. Both have tough matchups as JT goes to Seattle without a QB and Gibbs travels to Los Angeles to face the Rams. Both good defenses.
Kenny has Kenny Gainwell and Brad has Jaylen Warren. Warren has been more consistent in terms of usage, but Gainwell has looked more explosive. Who knows who scores more against Miami.
At WR Kenny has #4 Amon-Ra St. Brown vs LA Rams. Brad has #14 WR Jaylen Waddle vs. Pittsburgh and red hot Christian Watson in a tough matchup @ Denver.
Brad will need #4 TE Brock Bowers to act like the 2nd Round Pick Brad predicted against Philly. While Kenny will turn to TE#10 Juwan Johnson against the Panthers. In their first meeting in Week 10 Johnson went for 4-92-1 and 17.2 fantasy points.
Another interesting note is Kenny will have Kyle Monangai vs. Brad’s defense Cleveland #8. And Brad will have Jaylen Waddle vs Kenny’s defense in Pittsburgh #6.
This is about as 50-50 you can get folks. Brad vs. K-Dub. Flip a coin.
- Trey (9-5) vs. 5. Mike (7-7)
Story Line: WR#1 vs. WR#2
At QB Mike will pick one out of Stroud vs. Arizona or Purdy vs. Tennessee or someone off the waiver. Trey will have #9 Bo Nix after losing Danny Dimes to an Achilles injury. Broncos vs Packers should be a great game. The line opens as Packers slight favorites despite playing in Denver. Mike has to put in the work and get this guestimate right.
At RB you have Bucky Irving vs. Atlanta and #11 RB Travis Etienne vs. The Jets for Mike. Trey will have #8 Derrick Henry @ Cincinnati who he just scored 16.9 against two weeks ago. Henry has gotten at least 9.3 fantasy points every week since Week 5. He’s been a tremendous floor play and even has a couple 20 point games. Should be a close game, so Henry should keep that streak going. #10 RB Josh Jacobs has a tough matchup @ Denver, but it’s winter and he’s Jacobs. Pretty even actually despite it not looking so on paper.
#2 Puca Nacua vs. Detroit or #1 JSN vs. Indianapolis. Love how the playoffs lined up this year. Both teams are in potential shootouts and JSN has the added benefit of not going against Sauce Gardner who is injured. But the real story will be the Colts QB situation. They might be pulling a 45 year old dusty Philip Rivers off the streets or rolling with Brett Rypien, so I don’t know how competitive they’ll be at Seattle. Even in blowouts Darnold has moved the sticks throwing to JSN. Puca has a real chance to be in a shootout.
Mike has Zay Flowers a solid WR#2 vs. Cincy. Trey has Michael Wilson but in a tough matchup @ Houston. That secondary and defense is nasty. Big storyline will be whether Marvin Harrison is healthy or not.
At Tight End Mike doesn’t have one rostered and Trey has Tyler Warren who might play QB for the Colts. I’d say advantage Trey on this one, but we’ll see who Mike winds up starting.
Kenny Walker is in a good spot against Indy if they blow out the Colts now that their head is cut off. RJ Harvey is in the same boat as Jacobs. Tough matchup, but it’s cold and he’ll be solid.
Mike has Seahawks D/ST against QB less Colts. Will probably be a top DFS play this week as they sit at D/ST #1 averaging 13.5 per game. Trey has D/ST #5 in LA Rams. Detroit is a good offense, but they can be dominated at the line of scrimmage some weeks. In those weeks Jared Goff was seeing ghosts. Plus this is the classic Goff and Stafford vs. Their prior teams matchup. Making it extra spicy.
Advantage to Trey due to Tight End inequity. But the game is more evenly matched than one might think.
There you have it folks. Two incredible first round matchups. Consolation bracket people set your lineups for balls. Congrats to Scotty for winning Points Leader. I’ll send you some cash soon.
-Commish B-Razzle Dazzle
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