After 12 years of never having these matchups, this week lived up to the hype. Going into Sunday night, 4 games were still up in the air, and going into Monday night, 2 games were still undecided and could go either way.
Game Recaps
Skyler vs Jordan: In the matchup with the most history this week, it looked like Justin Jefferson might single-handedly get Jordan the win, but his hot start wasn't enough to hold on to the lead. This was one of the two games that were decided before Sunday night, and anything that happened during primetime only served to run up the score. Besides Justin Jefferson (leading scorer in the game at 37.2), Jordan had a solid showing from several players, but no one else broke 20. Skyler was able to counteract Jefferson with a 30 point game from Davante, followed by Diontae and last-minute pickup Tua.
Chad vs Rob: This was one of the 4 games that went into Sunday night close, but then 3 of Rob's top 4 scorer's played on Sunday (Ekeler, Najee, Mike Williams) and put the game away. Najee and Williams were good and combined for 38+ points, but Ekeler put up 41.5 by himself. Yet the 4 total touchdowns Ekeler scored wasn't enough to be the single leading scorer of the week. For good measure, the other member of Rob's top 4 scorer's that was mentioned above played on Monday night (Tom Brady) and just added insult to injury by scoring 20+ points. Chad actually had a really good week from his star players with Jalen scoring 30+, and Mixon, Evans, and McLaurin each getting 20+. Total, Chad had 130 points, which should be good enough to win most weeks, but this was a league bounceback week, and he was only the 5th highest scorer, yet he wasn't even the unluckiest team this week. Not to spoil too much, but Chad's loss did put the North at 3-1 this week. Thanks a lot, loser.
Matt vs Brady: In what I thought was the most important game of the week, Brady squeaked by Matt by the narrow margin (but still not the narrowest margin this week) 1.52 points. Dalvin Cook was the only player on Matt's team to break 20+ points. If only Matt had a trade offer out there this week that would have won him his game -- but I digress. Brady had two players over 20+ -- Keenan Allen with 20.20 and the Pats DST with 35. It turns out that last-minute pick 6 by the Pats DST wasn't running up the score, but instead was a major factor in Brady winning. Brady was nearly undone by an injury to CeeDee Lamb, who left the game at 4.4 points, but it also kept Prescott to a terrible 2.64 points. He also lost Michael Carter to injury, and Darrel Williams was effectively useless since CEH came back -- for Matt's team might I add. Matt's loss came about thanks to the 2nd worst week of the season for both DK and Chase. I know TE's are hit or miss in this league, but Dan Arn0ld was a big miss in a week with the (second) narrowest of margins. The game came down to Fournette and Succop against Godwin, and Godwin was the single highest scorer of the 3, but Fournette plus Succop was just enough to get the narrow win at the end.
Tyler vs Trevor: In what was easily the most entertaining game of the week (if not the year) for neutrals we had the Bonanza (what), the weekly nail-biter (what), the nightly nail-biter (what), and the Monday Night Miracle/Nightmare (what). For the records, all of the "(what)'s" is a reference to a small bit on the Pat McAfee Show. Anyway, this game won the bonanza by less than a point over Rob and Chad, and the nail-biter by less than 2 points over Matt and Brady -- with Tyler winning by 0.18 points. That's one rushing yard and two passing yards. As of this writing (Wednesday morning), no stat corrections have taken place that would change this outcome, but it could still happen. Tyler had QAaron Rodger score 40+ points Tyreek score 20, which somehow was enough to beath Trevor who had an amazing 53.4 from Jonathan Taylor. Lest you think Taylor was the only one to show up for Trevor, he also had Swift, Thielen, and Kelce combine for 62+. Unfortunately for Trevor, he placed too much faith in his Titans and had two WR's score less than 7.5 combined points. Tyler had 8 of his 9 players score in double digits, which was enough to combat Trevor's high-scoring studs and his low-scoring duds.
TJ vs Tommy: The only 'award' Tyler and Trevor didn't win was the battle of ineptitude, which was rightfully earned by this matchup. Tommy was the 7th highest scorer this week, and this still managed to be the blowout of the week with Tommy winning by over 40 points. This wasn't totally unexpected on TJ's side as Hollywood was part of the bug going around Baltimore, Woods was on bye, and Patterson was a late scratch -- it's just unfortunate his remaining starters couldn't pull it together while some of the better players were recovering. Tommy had the only two players to score 20+ this game in McCaffrey and Conner. He also had a DST that score -3, but that ended up not mattering this week as Tommy got the win, and held onto 3rd place in the league.
Kyle vs Brandon: This started out as a low-scoring game -- it ended as a low-scoring game too, but it also started as one -- but it was a somewhat exciting one as Brandon was behind after the afternoon games, but then 40 points on Sunday night from Herbert gave him the victory. For good measure, he had Toney run up the score a little more on Monday night and he ended up winning by 20. Herbert was Brandon's only good player, while Kyle had Kyle Allen and Nick Chubb get 20+ each. Both teams will be hoping for better from their benches as they get back to their divisional games.
Award Season
MVP: If there is a stat correction after publishing, and Trevor wins, this will go to JT. Until then, this award will go to Justin Herbert for getting Brandon the comeback win. There were some contenders on the closer games who helped their teams win late, but none of them had amazing games, so I'm giving this to Herbert. Rodgers came in second place, and that Pats DST in third, but the narrative of Herberts late game heroics puts him over the top.
LVP: The Titan's played a terrible game against the Texans. The whole team gets the LVP as Trevor started their QB, K, and DST, and they combined for 19.22. Individually, it was Tannehill's worst game of the season, Bullocks worst game of the season, while the DST was middle of the road for them.
Luckiest Team of the Week: Brandon was the 9th highest scorer (aka not good) but still got the win. However, I will give this to Tommy instead. He was only two points better, still won, and maintains a hold on the 3 seed, and controls his own destiny to win at least the two seed, and get a bye -- more on that later. In case you can't tell -- I'm bitter that he won.
Unluckiest Team of the Week: Trevor was the 3rd highest scorer of the week, and still lost. The fact that it was by 0.18 points and he had JT who scored 50+ just makes it worse.
Highest Scoring Team of the Week: Skyler wins this for his second time of the year.
Lowest Scoring Team of the Week: TJ also 'wins' this for his second time of the year.
Playoff Update
I give the South a lot of crap for being bad, and rightly so, but Tyler has already won the West division and guaranteed himself no worse than the 2 seed, though, given his record and points, he is clearly the favorite to get the 1 seed.
No one has technically been eliminated. All the 3 win teams could get to 6 wins, and Brady (the current 6 seed) currently has 6 wins. If they catch up on points, and Brady loses out, they are in. It's an obvious long shot. Brady started the season with a 5 game losing streak, so who knows how he will finish.
Chad, Tommy, and Skyler all 'control' their own fates for the top seed in the North -- as much as any of us can control our fates in fantasy football. If any one of them wins out, they win the division. Everyone in the South controls their fate for the top seed in the south (record-wise anyway, tie-breakers could still come into effect). Jordan, TJ, and Kyle will depend on other people winning and losing to make the playoffs.
Game Previews
We are getting back to the division games this week, so every game is a little more important.
Skyler (4) vs Tommy (3): Skyler has 1 player on Thanksgiving and 2 players in primetime. He has 0 players on bye. Tommy has 2 players on Thanksgiving and 0 players in primetime. He has 3 players on bye. The winner of this game will be in second place in the North division --first if Chad also loses.
Jordan (7) vs TJ (9): Jordan has 1 player on Thanksgiving and 1 player in primetime. He has 4 players on bye. TJ has 2 players on Thanksgiving and 1 player in primetime. He has 0 players on bye. Both teams are playing for the last wildcard spot -- so their fates will be dependant on Brady.
Kyle (12) vs Tyler (1): Kyle has 4 players on Thanksgiving and 2 players in primetime. He has 2 players on bye. Tyler has 2 players on Thanksgiving and 2 players in primetime. He has 1 player on bye. Tyler has won the division, Kyle is trying to the wild card. If Kyle loses, he will officially be out of the playoffs.
Matt (6) vs Rob (8): Matt has 1 player on Thanksgiving and 3 players in primetime. He has 1 player on bye. Rob has 1 player on Thanksgiving and 1 player in primetime. He has 0 players on bye. The winner of this match will be in first place for the division.
Chad (2) vs Brady (5): Chad has 1 player on Thanksgiving and 2 players in primetime. He has 0 players on bye. Brady has 3 players on Thanksgiving and 0 players in primetime. He has 0 players on bye. If Brady wins, he will get to 7 wins, and anyone at 4 and under wins (after this week) will be eliminated from wild-card contention.
Brandon (10) vs Trevor (11): Brandon has 2 players on Thanksgiving and 0 players in primetime. He has 0 players on bye. Trevor has 1 player on Thanksgiving and 0 players in primetime. He has 1 player on bye. If Trevor loses and Matt wins, Trevor will be eliminated from the division race.
Scenarios by Team
Chad, Tommy, Skyler, Brady, Tyler, Jordan, Matt: Nothing of note can happen this week.
Trevor and Kyle: Eliminated from wildcard with a Brady win. Trevor eliminated from division champion with a loss and a Matt win.
Rob, Brandon, TJ: Eliminated from wildcard with a loss and a Brady win.
Good luck to everyone but Tommy this week.
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