Fantasy Football in the Playground?

[Pendulous]

When the Packers face the Lions on Sunday in Detroit, both teams may be in a unique situation, that never happened before in the history of NFL.

If, earlier that day, the Washington Redskins beat the NY Giants, both Packers and Lions will make the playoff if, and only if, their game is ... a draw! In this case, all three teams (Packers, Lions, Redskins) are on 9-6-1, and the former two have the better tiebreaks. Any result other than a draw means the winner advances with 10-6, of course, but the loser, with 9-7, falls out of the playoff picture, allowing the Redskins in.

Which makes me wonder, how will the game play out if this happens...

While a week 17 NFC North showdown sounds great for a primetime last game of the regular season, it actually makes it bad because of this scenario. Green Bay and Detroit should play early and be forced to play for all the marbles, then the Washington game played later.

[Roland St. Jude]

No one else will say it, so I have to say congratulations to me on my win. Interesting fact...several years ago I was in a final and a game in which I had Steven Jackson went to overtime, he ripped off an 80 yard TD run to give me an extra 14 points which was a big part of my winning margin. This time around, Jay Ajayi comes into OT and while it wasnt a TD run, it was still a 69er for 6.9 points and since I only won by 8, it was a huge part of it. That, and not trusting the predictor which advised against going with Jordy Nelson, thank you very much.

Congratulations!

I am so salty right now about FF. Across my leagues, I crushed in total points for, average points for, played some of the hardest schedules, and seemingly made all the right moves to avoid leaving points on the bench or waiver wire. I lost in my work league championship to my arch-nemesis who had his best game by a full 30 points after sneaking into the playoffs. This after overcoming some of the most significant injury losses to my 2nd, 3rd, and 5th round picks. In another league, I lost in the semi-finals to a guy scoring his highest mark of the season (all four of my losses this season were to teams scoring a season high, as Yahoo was helpful enough to point out to me, along with the fact that I'd have been 10-0 against other teams last week and 12-0 if I had played my opponent's schedule for the year. Thanks Yahoo!). A second place and two third places sounds great, but it was going so much better than that. I'm about to quit this game (for a least a few months.)

[Nomrom]

No one else will say it, so I have to say congratulations to me on my win. Interesting fact...several years ago I was in a final and a game in which I had Steven Jackson went to overtime, he ripped off an 80 yard TD run to give me an extra 14 points which was a big part of my winning margin. This time around, Jay Ajayi comes into OT and while it wasnt a TD run, it was still a 69er for 6.9 points and since I only won by 8, it was a huge part of it. That, and not trusting the predictor which advised against going with Jordy Nelson, thank you very much.

Sorry, I've just been pissed at myself for finally deciding to pull Bryant after a few bad weeks before he has probably his best game of the season. But definitely, congratulations to you for your victory. Enjoy that new champion title.

In other news though, I can't be too upset this season. I will win both of my other leagues this year. In my work league, I managed to sneak into the playoffs before then playing the best games of the season and destroying my opponents on the way to a championship (and a $100 payout). In my friends league, I was first place all season and continued the winning ways into the playoffs for two easy victories and the title there (alas no payout).

Plus, my Texans get to be champs of the weakest division in the NFL, so I get at least one (probably depressing) playoff game to enjoy.

[Olinser]

I'm just so salty at all of my injuries. Gronk didn't even play half the season, CJ Anderson went out for the year on like week 3, Foster went out permanently, Corey Coleman broken his hand week 2 and came back crap, and then Doug Martin was out almost 2 months after week 2.

Man it was a terrible year for me.

[MikelaC1]

Gronk didn't even play half the season

Sorry, but expecting a full season out of Gronk is unrealistic, given his lifestyle. You can only go body surfing with porn stars or so other form of stupidity so many times before you are going to get injured.

[Roland St. Jude]

Sorry, but expecting a full season out of Gronk is unrealistic, given his lifestyle. You can only go body surfing with porn stars or so other form of stupidity so many times before you are going to get injured.

That's a good theory. I'm still working on a unified theory of why San Diego pass catchers have exploding ACLs.

[Olinser]

Sorry, but expecting a full season out of Gronk is unrealistic, given his lifestyle. You can only go body surfing with porn stars or so other form of stupidity so many times before you are going to get injured.

I didn't pick him for a full season. I picked him thinking he'd be available for playoffs, when he would actually matter. Of course that fell through and everything else piled up so I didn't even make the playoffs anyway.

[Roland St. Jude]

Obviously, I got permission to revive this thread past the thread necromancy date.

I've decided not to run this again this year, but if anyone else would like to do so, please feel free.

[tomandtish]

I'm game. And willing to run if no one else really wants it.

Roland, would you still be playing and just not running?

Do we want to keep the same basic league (that would mean adding on admin rights to whomever takes over).

[Pendulous]

I'm not responsible enough to run it, but I'm in to play again this year when the time comes.

[tomandtish]

I'm sensing a lack of interest. Only two people so far.

If you are interested in joining a FF league for GitP, let us know. Otherwise I'm beginning to suspect this was a one and done.

[Olinser]

I mean I'd still be down for it, just let me know.

[tomandtish]

OK, Only three total including me. I'm calling this DOA as far as a league goes. We can use it to talk about our other leagues though.

[scalyfreak]

I'm already in two fantasy leagues,or I'd be in on this.

Next year?

[Pendulous]

Can we talk about the NFL and our other fantasy leagues here? We don't have a dedicated NFL thread anyway, for the very few of us remaining.

[Roland St. Jude]

Can we talk about the NFL and our other fantasy leagues here? We don't have a dedicated NFL thread anyway, for the very few of us remaining.

Sure, seems as good a place as any.

[tomandtish]

Well, my drafts aren't until 9/2 and 9/3 (pay and family leagues respectively) so no draft news on my part until then.

As for the NFL in general, injuries/suspensions are already starting to take their toll. Quite a few players out for the season already.

[Pendulous]

Ours aren't even scheduled yet. Gonna be really late for us. Only in one this year it seems, since our usual group filled up two leagues easily this year, and our other group only ended up doing it once.

Far as actual football goes, watching Cowboys games and wondering why they still haven't decided to make Cooper Rush the backup QB. Kellen Moore seems weak, and the left-handedness forces the offense to shift for him. McCown is only good as a sideline veteran. Rush is almost putting up numbers that Dak did last preseason.

[tomandtish]

Remember, with the change in the rule regarding cutting players, they don't have to make a final decision until 4pm on 9/2/17 when they have to cut to 53 players. Used to be they'd have already had to cut to 75 in mid-August, but they did away with that.

Rush was apparently taking second team reps in practice yesterday, so they are certainly considering it. But it's always wise to take preseason games with a grain of salt, since you usually aren't playing against the best the other team has to offer.

An interesting question would be: Do the Cowboys decide to carry 3 QBs so they can keep him and not risk losing him/Moore to waivers?

[scalyfreak]

I can see Cowboys decide to keep Moore on as a third QB for a couple of reasons. For one, he can be consider a vet at this point in his career, and for another, he seems to be perfectly happy as a back-up/practice player (see his time with Detroit). He also knows the system very well, and seems to have a good relationship with the coaching staff. Players like that can contribute in practice and in the locker room, and tend to move on to coaching anyway. Basketball teams frequently keep veterans who have become inefficient on the court, because their contributions off it make them worth their paycheck, and it's not a stretch to imagine NFL teams doing the same thing.

That said, I agree with Pendulous that Moore's throwing arm is not quite NFL level, and his left-handedness causes the offense to have to adjust almost more than the opposing defense needs to.

So my prediction is, Rush takes over as back-up QB, and Moore stays on the roster as their third.

My second fantasy league drafts this Thursday. My first league drafted two weeks ago. Before the Elliot suspension was announced... guess who I drafted.

[tomandtish]

My second fantasy league drafts this Thursday. My first league drafted two weeks ago. Before the Elliot suspension was announced... guess who I drafted.

That's why we always wait until the weekend before. It limits preseason trading, but also minimizes last second trades/cuts/injuries/etc.

[scalyfreak]

Pre-season trading is the main reason we do it. The way we see it, the unknown element of what is going to happen during pre-season adds to the excitement and encourages trades and other roster moves. I took a gamble on Elliot, and now that he's appealed the suspension it may or may not work out. Meanwhile, I'm fielding trade offers for him. The owner of Darren McFadden has been particularly persistent...

The fantasy league I'm in at work drafts later this week. Because they're boring people who want things to be predictable.

[Olinser]

So what's your guys thoughts on the likelihood of Ezekiel Elliot actually serving this suspension this year?

Even if he does the full suspension I'm thinking I can probably get him pretty low for his presumed points later in the season and I'll have him for playoffs then.

[scalyfreak]

If Ezekiel Elliot is still around when it's my turn to draft in the third round in my work league, he is mine.

[tomandtish]

I suspect it will get cut to three or so (could be 2, could be 4). But he'll miss a few games this season.

[scalyfreak]

Elliot was not around. Darren McFadden was still left on the board for the very last round though.

So... anyone here draft Julian Edelman?

[Pendulous]

Looks like our draft is scheduled for September 2. Guess running late is a good thing to avoid picking up these people who have gotten hurt in the preseason. Though last year, I grabbed Dak as a joke, before Romo got hurt. Definitely helped me out a bit. Although, September 2 is also week one of college football, so...eh. Gonna be half paying attention to both.

Had to work so unfortunately missed the games today. I heard Beastmode is still Beastmode, which is nice.

[Pendulous]

Had to join the second league instead to move around people so everyone made the drafts, so we drafted today.

Picked fifth, which I hate being in the middle (ten people). First pick was DeMarco Murray. Solid all around. Second was Michael Thomas. Unfortunately, the best WR available at the time. After that, I don't remember specifics. But I took a chance on Kareem Hunt for my second RB. With Ware out, he's gonna get the bulk of the snaps. Second WR was Jarvis Landry. Meh. Number one QB is Russell Wilson, and number one TE is Delanie Walker. Solid. Matt Forte and Jonathan Stewart round out my RB's. Stefon Diggs and Marvin Jones the rest of my WR's. Had issues trying to stay away from the same bye weeks, so I couldn't get exactly who I wanted at the time. There was also the issue of staying away from receivers on teams like the Niners who I have no idea who would even be throwing to them. Eric Ebron is my other tight end, and I got the Vikings defense. Picked up two kickers because I figured they're worth a bit more right now than defenses, and I have enough skill position players that I don't need to worry about dropping one for a week to grab a kicker during mine's bye week. At least until injuries happen.

Far as actual football news, Brock Lobster got dumped, Victor Cruz got dumped, Martavis Bryant is fully reinstated, and the Ezekiel Elliot thing is just getting weird. The Cards dropped Chris Johnson, which sucks, but I wonder if he plans to keep playing.

[scalyfreak]

Far as actual football news, Brock Lobster got dumped, Victor Cruz got dumped, Martavis Bryant is fully reinstated, and the Ezekiel Elliot thing is just getting weird. The Cards dropped Chris Johnson, which sucks, but I wonder if he plans to keep playing.

I have Bryant in one league and Elliot in the other.

If Elliot's suspension holds, my starting RBs will be Amer Abdullah and Ty Montgomery.

[tomandtish]

I have Bryant in one league and Elliot in the other.

If Elliot's suspension holds, my starting RBs will be Amer Abdullah and Ty Montgomery.

Elliott should have paid attention to Brady. The only valid basis for a suit is going to be whether or not they overstep the CBA. And the current one gives so much power that it's almost impossible to make that determination.

The petition claims Elliott was not given a fair process when he was denied an opportunity to confront his accuser and additionally when the testimony of Roger Goodell was not compelled during the appeal hearing.

Elliott's lawsuit claims he was not allowed to look at the investigative notes from the NFL's interviews with the accuser.

And what he (and Brady at the time) fail to realize is that none of this is required by the CBA. It's not a criminal court. The last CBA gave Goodell an obscene amount of power and very few checks and balances.

What he's setting up is a scenario where instead of missing games at the beginning of the season, he risks missing them at playoffs instead.