The final stretch is here, and the bye weeks are in the rearview mirror. But beware, injuries will persist as a looming threat, and an opportunity. Some players will get shut down by their NFL teams once they bow out of playoff contention. However, this will result in other players finally getting the opportunity to shine. Making savvy moves can be the difference between having a good team and a championship team.
Before the update, here’s one quick heads-up and some advice. There’s a Thursday game this week and three games on Saturday. Set your lineup early in the week, but circle back and recheck to see if any changes have occurred. Also, some quick old-timer advice. I would suggest not putting players into your flex positions on Thursday and Saturday. Move them into the RB and WR slot. That way, if there is a sudden change on Sunday morning, you have more flexibility (pun intended) to adjust your lineup.
And one last thing for your dynasty folks. Rosters will be on lockdown after this week, and there will be no pickups once our playoffs begin. So brace yourself against the inevitable hiccups and ensure your depth is rock solid.
FAMILY DIVISION
The Lynchburg Lemonades (Ryan) shook things up by taking down the number one-seeded Coastal Wave (Abbey).
Despite the upset, the Wave are still standing tall in 1st place.
And with a two-game lead with two games remaining, the Wave sit comfortably in the driver’s seat. The former champions have their eye set on a second title.
But watch out because here comes the Farmville Furies (Maddie), ridding a phenomenal seven-game win streak, surging into sole possession of second place. The former champion Furies are on the same mission as the Wave. Both of these powerhouses look to become the first two-time champions in league history.
Back to the Lemonades, their big victory launches them into a three-way tie for third place with the Columbus Cowboys (Ben) and the Romney Raiders (Joey).
With only two playoff spots potentially up for grabs, these teams are gearing up for a fierce battle over these last two weeks.
GAME OF THE WEEK
And here we go. Two of those teams will battle this week. While it might not be an outright elimination game, the stakes could not be much higher. The winner will secure a very strong position in the race for those four coveted playoff spots.
FIRST DIVISION
The Olney Ospreys (Kirsi) remain on fire, securing their spot among the final four in the playoffs. A former champion in the Family Division champion, the Ospreys are eyeing history by aiming to become the first owner of a championship in two different divisions. It would be a historic feat.
Meanwhile, the Louisiana Lycanthropes (Kiley) are again showing themselves as one of the elites in this division. The two-time former champion sits two games ahead of the bubble with two games to play.
And then it gets fun.
Last week, the Dakota Dragons (Butch) defeated the West Virginia Blacklungs (Rob S) in the game of the week.
Now, both teams sit deadlocked for the fourth and final playoff spot at 7-7. And with six teams hovering within just a game of that 7-7 mark, the race for what might be only two playoff spots will be thrilling.
Two big weeks to go. With the playoff race so tightly contested, every game this week carries playoff implications. So get ready for exciting matchups that will keep us on the edge of our seats. While every game will be big this week, two games stand out as must-watch battles thanks to the intrigue and significance included.
GAME(S) OF THE WEEK
Well, well, well! Maybe the defending Champion Baltimore Bulldogs (Katie) showed they are not ready to surrender their belt just yet. With their big win last week, the Bulldogs are sitting at 6-8 and just a single game back of playoff contention. And guess what? The Bulldogs square off against the 7-7 Dragons this week. Both teams will be desperate for a victory in this exciting matchup where the stakes could not be much higher.
Get ready for fireworks in this matchup of the two hottest teams in the league. Both teams roll into this one on four-game winning streaks. For the Lycanthropes, a victory secures one of the coveted playoff spots. Meanwhile, the Kobe Beef’s journey this season is nothing short of spectacular. Starting at 2-8, their turnaround has them poised to become an epic come-from-behind story. But it all ends without a victory this week.
DYNASTY DIVISION
Well, another regular season has ended in a dynasty, but this chapter of league history is far from complete. We still have the excitement of the playoffs and the Super Bowl. And, we have the dramatic battle in the playdowns towards the agonizing Toilet Bowl. These last three weeks are where history is made.
Here are the final regular season standings.
Hitting the twelve-win mark in the regular season is a rare feat and a testament to the West Virginia Rednecks (Wayne) dominance. It’s the kind of achievement that has only been accomplished a few times in league history. This is a rare and impressive achievement that has West Virginia looking unstoppable. Everyone else is looking for a helmet-catch-type miracle.
The Rednecks have secured the first-round bye in the playoffs and need two more victories for their first title in twenty-two years. They are dominant and due. But miracles can happen against dominant teams.
As is almost always the case, the tiebreak for the final spot in the playoffs came down to teams with 7-7 records. Thanks to a crucial victory all the way back in week five…
…the Louisiana Lightning (Denny) earned the final spot in the playoffs. Does that performance in the pivotal game make DJ Moore the Louisiana MVP? Unfortunately, the Virginia Pioneers (Dave) now must avoid the relegation gauntlet of the playdowns despite their 7-7 record.
PLAYDOWNS
In this first matchup, the 8th-seed Virginia Pioneers take on the 11th-seed Minnetonka Chippewas (Greg). In the last seven years, both of these teams have made two trips to the Super Bowl. And both of them have a title in those same seven years. But now, here they are, squaring off in the playdown quarter-finals and trying to stave off relegation.
In the second matchup, the 9th-seeded Saskatchewan Speedsters (Zach) face off against the 10th-seeded Phoenix Heat (Steven). Going into last week, the Speedsters were tied for first place in the western conference and only needed one last victory against the Minnesota Blizzard to secure the second seed in the playoffs.
What a twist of fate! The Speedsters were so close, but it was not to be. A rough two-game skid to end the regular season has the Speedsters fighting it out in the playdowns. And what do they get? How about the third-highest-scoring team in the league?
Yes, the Heat were the third-highest-scoring team in the league and ended up as the 11th seed. Yeah, I know, fantasy football is stupid! The Heat won the Championship twice in the last four seasons but now will compete in the relegation gauntlet of the playdowns. I know one thing, all of us playoff teams are glad the Heat are out.
The Real Dakota Dragons (Dakota) and Montana Mountaineers (Chuck) finished in the 12th and 13th spots, respectively. So, those two will get byes in the first round of the playdowns. Quick reminder: in the playdowns, the losers of each game advance on, eventually, to the Toilet Bowl. So, the Dragons and Mountaineers will await the losers of the two games above.
Last but not least, we should be a fond farewell to the Beverly Hills Gold Diggers (Tanner). Their last-place finish puts them back into relegation after just getting promoted this year. This is a roster full of talent, and the Gold Diggers were relatively consistent this season, typically finishing over 50 points, which should have resulted in more victories. But you have to catch the right teams at the right moments. It is a tough break for a team that showcased its strengths but fell short when it mattered most.
As for whichever teams get promoted this year, they should be pleased. This Gold Digger roster included a top three WR in AJ Brown, a top three TE in TJ Hockenson, a top QB in Justin Herbert, and a lot more intriguing talent such as Zach Charbonnet and Kyle Pitts. This is shaping up as an excellent year to get promoted.
PLAYOFFS
Our first game features the other promotion team from last season. Fresh off that promotion, the Louisiana Lightning (Denny) have impressed with a playoff-worthy performance. Despite the setback of losing their top pick, Justin Jefferson, for much of the season, the Lightning’s shrewd moves and roster improvement paid off, earning them a spot in the playoffs.
Their opponent will be the second-seeded Minnesota Blizzard (Geri). The Blizzard rallied after starting 4-6 through ten weeks, going 3-0-1 down the stretch to clinch the Western Conference title. With six Super Bowl victories on their shelf, no one looks forward to going against the Blizzard in the playoffs.
The 6th-seeded Myrtle Beach Wave (Rob D) are back in the playoffs with another impressive season. Their savvy moves, including trading for talents like David Montgomery and Saquan Barkley, proved pivotal, allowing the Wave to stack up those crucial W’s, getting the always coveted eight wins to earn their playoff spot. Those strategic additions set the stage for a deep playoff run.
The New Orleans Hurricanes (Jamie) have been dominant over the last five regular seasons, boasting an impressive record of 48-19-1 and averaging 9.6 wins per season. That 9.6 average is a big number, considering only one of fourteen teams was above that average this season. However, the Canes’ postseason performance paints a very different picture, with a 0-4-1 record over that same time. The big question arises. Will the Canes continue to earn the label of playoff chokers and the team everyone wants to play in the first round? Or, can the Canes rewrite their recent playoff narrative?
Our final matchup pits the 4th-seeded Louisville Leafblowers (Shane) versus the 5th-seeded DC Braves (Shebaz). Louisville has been steadily climbing over the years, improving their win totals every season as they move up the standings. Their first playoff run last year was marred by an infamous and unlucky tie leading to them not advancing. Now, they have home-field advantage in this matchup and are looking for their first playoff victory.
QUICK NOTE: In the playoffs, the team with the higher seed and home field advances in case of a tie. Or, in the playdowns, the higher-seeded team survives, and the lower-seeded team advances. In the case of a tie in the Super Bowl or Championship games, it is considered a split title with both teams getting a Championship.
On the other side of the field, the Braves have a roster brimming with talent capable of unleashing points in bunches. Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamari, and Cooper Kupp, just to name a few. While their regular season was inconsistent at times, there is no question this team could put together a deep championship run by putting up big totals.
HISTORICAL NOTE
No promotion team has ever won a Super Bowl, and five teams have an opportunity to do so this season. West Virginia, Louisville, DC, Myrtle Beach, and Louisiana are all formerly promoted teams in the playoffs this season. Only one person can do it first, so the race is on.
Good luck everyone!