The plot thickens as the dust settles on week thirteen. Another exciting week has provided some clarity in the standings. But the regular season is ongoing, and the stretch run for those coveted playoff spots is heating up.
FAMILY DIVISION
There were three big games in week thirteen involving teams jammed tight in the standings.
The Romney Raiders (Joey), Columbus Cowboys (Ben), and Lynchburg Lemonades (Ryan) all pulled off crucial victories. It’s a strong power move by all three of these newbies. Looks like these rookies are finding their footing and making a splash in their debut seasons.
Ah, but the old guard is still on duty. The Coastal Wave (Abbey) and Farmville Furies (Maddie), both former champions, will surely not just step aside. Both former Champions will be looking to smash these wannabes and claim their second chip. Which leads us to the game of the week.
GAME OF THE WEEK
The Coastal Wave reign supreme with a 2-game lead on first place. But the Lynchburg Lemonade are the top-scoring team despite residing just a game back of playoff position. This clash is the classic powerhouse showdown.
The Wave are out to solidify their dominance, while the Lemonades are hungry for a victory and a spot in the playoffs. There should be plenty of fireworks as these juggernauts collide.
FIRST DIVISION
The West Virginia Blacklungs (Rob S) pulled off a major coup in week thirteen, decisively taking down the defending champion Baltimore Bulldogs(Katie).
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the loss drops them to 5-8, and while not officially eliminated, their chances of a repeat championship now hangs by a thread. They may not repeat, but they still have their chip from last year.
On the flip side, the Blacklungs have made a bold statement, positioning themselves nicely into a playoff spot.
There was another big game last week.
On Monday night, the number one-seeded Olney Ospreys (Kirsi) held their ground with a stunning come-from-behind victory over the Dakota Dragons (Butch). Travis Etienne gave them just enough on Monday night to get by the Dragons.
Unfortunately for the Dragons, it was a tough pill to swallow, slipping one game back of playoff position with their third big loss in a row.
Three weeks remain, and anything can happen as the intensity cranks up.
GAME OF THE WEEK
What a pivotal showdown this will be! The Blacklungs and Dragons will clash, and the stakes could not be higher. The Dragons will be the more desperate team needing a victory to regain playoff position and break their losing streak. A win for the Lungers will put them in a commanding position for one of the playoff spots.
DYNASTY DIVISION
Another defending champion took it on the chin this week as the Minnesota Blizzard (Geri) took down the Phoenix Heat (Steven) in an epic clash of the Titans.
It’s de-ja-vu all over again as the defending champion is eyeing a bye in the playdowns for the second year in a row. Talk about crazy!
The unstoppable West Virginia Rednecks (Wayne) stacked up another win and will be the number one seed in the playoffs, which gives them a first-round bye and a berth into the semi-finals.
This is the last week of the regular season in the Dynasty Division, which means there will be a bunch of big games. Let’s begin by going back to the Minnesota Blizzard.
Talk about a high-stakes showdown. This clash between the Blizzard and Saskatchewan Speedsters (Zach) holds immense consequences. The winner will don the Western Conference crown and secure the coveted number two seed in the playoffs.
But here’s the kicker. The loser is out, eliminated from the playoffs, and straight into the nail-biting drama of the playdowns. Now that is do-or-die!
Our next game is between two teams currently in playoff position.
The Louisville Leafblowers (Shane) are sitting pretty with the coveted eight wins, aiming to solidify their playoff position with a high seed. But the Myrtle Beach Wave (Rob D)? The Wave have work to do.
A loss would have them tumbling into the nerve-wracking tiebreak at 7-7. And 7-7 is the land of uncertainty where randomness strikes. After being 7-4, a three-game losing streak ending with a dice roll tiebreak would be a tough pill to swallow for the Wave.
This matchup pits two teams in the exact same position as the Wave. The Virginia Pioneers (Dave) and DC Braves (Shebaz) sit in playoff position at 7-6. But they are not in yet. The winner gets their eighth win and a seat at the playoff table. The loser? As explained above, the loser will slide into that dreaded tiebreak at 7-7.
Now, this game is a bit different from the last two. The Minnetonka Chippewas and the Louisiana Lightning are just outside the playoffs with 6-7 records and one last chance to claim a spot. The winner of this game will get a chance at the tiebreak and one of the final spots in the playoffs. The loser? It’s off to the playdowns.
Unlike the previous matchups, where teams aim to avoid the tiebreak, this showdown is about getting that opportunity. It is fantastic to look at the middle of the standings. Seven teams are within a game, and only four spots are available going into the final week.
It’s amazing how one game can flip the script entirely. The perspective shifts from desperately avoiding the tiebreak to craving it, depending upon whether you are 7-6 or 6-7. In this league, the margins could not be more thin. It’s a testament to the unpredictability and intensity of fantasy football, where every game, every point, every decision, and every lucky or unlucky break can be the one thing that makes or breaks your season. Awesome!
Or, well, fantasy football is stupid!
And, as for fantasy football being stupid, let’s look at our most important game this week. This is the only game with historical ramifications.
This game will decide the first relegation spot. Both teams boast talent-laden rosters that seem more than capable of winning games, especially in a 14-team league. But fantasy football is stupid, and the margins are incredibly thin in this league, so here we are.
Here is what this game will come down to. These two played their first game back in week seven.
The Montana Mountaineers (Chuck) have two more advantages other than that 16-point victory over the Beverly Hills Gold Diggers (Tanner). The Mountaineers have a one-game lead in the standings and a 70-point lead in total points on the season.
Bottom line? The Gold Diggers must pull out the victory by 17 points or more to avoid relegation and send the Mountaineers down. If Montana wins, or stays within 16 points, Beverly Hills will be the first relegation team.
Good luck to everyone this week.