Hello everyone, and welcome to the 33rd season of the Duncan Family Fantasy Football League. Yes, this is going to be our 33rd season. This week I will review last year and discuss each division in the league. Next week I will begin with the weekly newsletter.
The first four weeks of the season are more informational than anything. First, everyone learns what their team looks like versus the preseason projections and computer rankings. Then, as injuries mount and the bye weeks begin, the real management begins. Of course, starting 4-0 versus 0-4 matters, but week five is when teams need to make adjustments that allow them to make a run at the title.
For example, just last year, the Dakota Dragons (Butch) began the year at 0-4 and ended up competing in the First Division Championship. So it is just a matter of making the adjustments and moving forward. We will still have the three divisions this year with thirty family members competing. I find it pretty awesome that we have thirty family members participating together; it warms my heart.
FAMILY DIVISION
The Family Division is for those family members new to fantasy football. Or, well, those who don’t really care about fantasy football and are just in to participate in a family activity. The Family Division consists of six teams again this year.
The family division will play a sixteen-week schedule, with the top two teams competing in week 17 for the Family Division Championship. The Champion of the Family Division will have the option of being promoted to the First Division.
Last year, the Olney Ospreys (Kirsi) defeated the Poultry Platoon (Erika) in the Championship game, and the Ospreys moved into the First Division. Once again, the Poultry Platoon just narrowly missed the title and are hoping to take the title this year.
The 2020 champion Farmville Furies (Maddie) will try to become the first team to win a pair of Family Division Championships. Good luck to everyone in the Family Division.
The good news is that we have a new member this year. Darren Duncan will represent the Navarre Florida portion of the family along with his father, Denny, a long-time participant currently in the first division. Go Florida Duncans!
FIRST DIVISION
The First Division is a bit more competitive. Now going into its seventh year, everyone is becoming more experienced. Plus, there are now a bunch of old heads at this level thanks to relegation. So winning this division is going to continue getting harder and harder.
The First Division has ten teams and plays a sixteen-week schedule. The top four teams make the playoffs and compete in the Semi-Finals in week 17. The winners of the semi-final games play in a championship matchup in week 18. Plus, those two semi-final winning teams also have the option to be promoted into the Dynasty Division.
The bottom two teams compete in a relegation game in week 17. The loser of this game may be relegated to the Family Division for the following season.
Last year’s First Division championship was an all-time classic. It was a father/son matchup between Butch and Dakota. Almost everyone was rooting for Butch. NOT! The Salisbury Auto Drafts (Dakota) defeated the Dakota Dragons (Butch) to win the championship.
The most entertaining part, with his championship victory over his father and promotion to the Dynasty Division, Dakota has at least temporarily named his team The Real Dakota Dragons. Gotta love the dig.
There are some interesting storylines in the First Division this year. First is the Louisiana Lycanthropes (Kiley). They have already won the First Division title twice and will be looking to win their 3rd title this year. So it would seem that the Lycanthropes are the team to beat.
Plus, no one has yet to win a Championship of two different levels. But four teams have a chance to do just that this year. Three teams currently in the First Division have won Dynasty Championships. So former Dynasty Champion Louisiana Lightning (Denny), two-time Dynasty Champion Hawaii Volcanos (Paul), and four-time Dynasty Champion Dakota Dragons (Butch) will all have the opportunity to become the first to win a title on two different levels. Only one person can become the first to accomplish the feat.
Plus, the Olney Ospreys (Kirsi) won the Family Division last year and also have the opportunity to become the first to win a title on two different levels.
It should be a fun year. Good luck everyone.
HISTORY NOTE
Part of the newsletter this year will be some notes about the history of the league. This week we will discuss the Dakota Dragons team name. When we began the league in 1990, Butch named his team the South Bend Dragons because he was a Notre Dame fan. When Dakota was born, Butch changed the name to the Dakota Dragons in honor of his son. It was a really cool name. Of course, now, Dakota is in the league, so maybe it is time for an adjustment. We shall see. We now have the Dakota Dragons (Butch) in the First Division and The Real Dakota Dragons (Dakota) in the Dynasty Division.
DYNASTY DIVISION
The Dynasty Division is the OG level. This division has been around for all 32 seasons. We began with eight teams back in 1990. Over the years, we expanded to fourteen teams, probably the maximum. So, as others wanted in, we came up with the concept of multiple levels, and here we are. Now, we are up to three levels and thirty participating. AWESOME!
The Dynasty Division differs from the Family and First Divisions because it is not a single-year league. We keep our rosters from year to year and have an annual draft of just rookies. The league has deep rosters, and we even play defensive players. It is a very competitive league with some very experienced owners.
The Dynasty Division plays a fourteen-week schedule. The top seven teams make the playoffs, with the number one team getting a bye in the first round. The Super Bowl is in week 17.
There will be two teams relegated out of the Dynasty Division each year. Whoever finishes in last place will become the first relegated team. The other six teams that do not make the playoffs will then participate in the playdowns. The playdowns are the bizarro playoffs. The bottom two teams in the rankings get byes into week two of the playdowns. While the winners advance in the playoffs, the losers advance in the playdowns. Then, during week 17, the remaining two losing teams advance to play in the Toilet Bowl, with the loser of that game becoming the second relegated team.
Last year the Montana Mountaineers (Chuck) defeated the West Virginia Blacklungs (Rob S) in the Super Bowl. The Mountaineers joined the Minnesota Blizzard (Geri), Phoenix Heat (Steven), Minnetonka Chippewas (Greg), New Orleans Hurricanes (Jamie), Virginia Pioneers (Dave), Dakota Dragons (Butch), and Myrtle Beach Wave (Rob D) with championships over the last eight years.
That is eight different champions in the last eight years, which is an amazing level of parity. So while my first choice would be for the New Orleans Hurricanes to win this year, it would be cool if we could make it nine different teams in nine years. Good luck everyone.