Hello everyone. It’s been a minute since our last newsletter, sorry, so let’s take a look at what has been happening.
FAMILY DIVISION
Parity is the best word to describe the family division. Nine out of the ten teams are within one game of a 4-4 record. Four teams will make the playoffs this year due to the expansion to ten teams. There is a four-team tie at 5-3 with the first half of the season complete. Congrats to the Coastal Wave (Abbey), Columbus Cowboys (Ben), Seymour Hoosiers (Myiah), and the Romney Raiders (Joey) for getting into the playoff position. However, with eight games remaining, a lot will change.
For example, the Hoosiers started the year at 0-3 before winning five straight. And after being the last undefeated team at 4-0, the London Snitches (Amy) have lost four straight to even their record at 4-4. There will be many changes over the second half of the season, and it will be fun to see where everyone lands.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
None of the current playoff teams play each other, but there are two matchups between those 5-3 teams and teams who are currently 4-4.
These games will tighten the standings even more or create some cushion for the playoff teams. If I were to guess, the 4-4 teams will both win, well, just because that is what normally happens.
FIRST DIVISION
The Olney Ospreys (Kirsi) have an impressive record at 7-1 and sit alone atop the standings. They are one of only two teams across all three levels with a record better than 5-3.
After that, it becomes a jumbled mess of parity. The West Virginia Blacklungs (Rob S) are the only other team with a winning record at 5-3. Five teams sit tied at 4-4 with only two more playoff spots available. And two more teams are only a game back at 3-5. Even the struggling Kobe Beef are only two games back of playoff position.
With eight regular-season games remaining, the playoffs remain in sight for everyone. This race is sure to get even more enjoyable.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
The defending champion Baltimore Bulldogs (Katie) face the former champion Louisiana Lycanthropes (Kiley). With both teams sitting at 4-4, these champions need the win to move ahead in the race for another belt.
The Hawaii Volcanos (Paul) must knock off the league-leading Ospreys to stay on the right side of the playoff bubble. The Ospreys are looking to stack another win on their way to the playoffs.
The third big matchup features the 5-3 Blacklungs facing off against the 4-4 Allegheny Alligators (Cody). Each of these three bubble games becomes important because you never know how the tiebreaks will play out. And each win against a team battling for position may be the one that matters. Maybe this week nine matchup will eventually determine which team makes the playoffs.
DYNASTY DIVISION
Seven teams make the playoffs in the dynasty division and avoid possible relegation. Almost every year, some team with seven wins misses out due to the tiebreaks and ends up in the playdowns. The magic number has always been eight wins. Eight wins has always gotten teams into the playoffs and a chance for a title. We only play 14 regular season games in this division instead of 16. So, things are starting to get a little more serious.
However, no team is more than a game and a half out of playoff position. But time is running out for teams to accumulate some wins and get to eight.
GAME OF THE WEEK
The West Virginia Rednecks (Wayne) are the second team on any level to have a record better than 5-3. Their 7-1 record ties the Olney Ospreys for the best overall record on any level. Stacking one more win will give them the magic eight-ball. But the Louisville Leafblowers (Shane) cannot be overlooked. They have a one-point loss and a tie, so they are only three points away from a 6-2 record instead of their current 5-3-1. Louisville is due to catch some breaks from the fantasy gods, and running into the Rednecks when the San Francisco 49ers are on bye may be just the break they need. Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffery, Brandon Aiyuk, and even Sam LaPorta are on a bye. I hope I did not just jinx them.
Good luck everyone.
Wait, one last thing. It is Halloween week so here is a very entertaining tidbit.
https://x.com/ESPNNFL/status/1718664763969069178?s=20
Okay, one more last thing. If you did not know Wayne turned 60 this week. I mean, did the NFL exist 60 years ago?
Well, yes. But there was no Super Bowl yet. Frank Gifford was the quarterback for the Giants. Damn, that was a long time ago. Wayne is old!