Week 1 Preview

Game of the Blingaweek

D's Nuts (Derrek) vs. The Chocolate Donuts (Kevin)

Derrek leads all-time series, 10-3.

We'll start Blingaleague XII with a matchup between two of our top current franchises. D and Kev have won the last three Blingabowls, and among those ten wins by Derrek are semifinals victories in 2017 and 2018.

D's keepers - Christian McCaffrey (vs. LAR) and James Conner (@NE) - are his best players, but they go up against last year's conference champions. His QB, Cam Newton (vs. LAR), also faces the tough Rams.

Kevin has some better matchups. Alvin Kamara (vs. HOU) faces a Clowney-less Texans defense, and Mike Evans (vs. SF) faces a bottom-rung team from last year.

I said these two were the favorites for 2019 in last year's issue, and I stand by it.

Pick: The Chocolate Donuts.

Other Blingamatches

Baker Baker One-Nine (Babel) vs. Pullman's MondoSquad (Pulley)

Pulley leads all-time series, 9-8.

This is the eighteenth matchup between these two, the most all-time (Pulley vs. Rob will equal it in week thirteen).

Babel got some good Ezekiel Elliott (vs. NYG) news this week; the question is no longer "Will Zeke play?", but "How many touches will Zeke get against a bad Giants team?". Stefon Diggs (vs. ATL) has a good matchup of his own.

Pulley got some good injury news of his own: Amari Cooper (vs. NYG) and Julian Edelman (vs. PIT) are both healthy. Le'Veon Bell (vs. BUF) is a minor question mark in his first game for the Jets, but should be fine.

I'll go with the QBs for my choice; and in 2019, Baker Mayfield (vs. TEN) is a better fantasy play than Tom Brady (vs. PIT).

Pick: Baker Baker One-Nine.

Rob for Today (Rob) vs. The Vistas are Back (Pat)

Rob leads all-time series, 8-2.

Rob has made the playoffs six straight years and nine times total. That's nine times more than Pat.

But the consensus seems to be that Pat is in better shape heading into 2019. Nick Chubb (vs. TEN) is the undisputed #1 RB on a promising young offense, Carson Wentz (vs. WAS) seems to be fully healthy, and Mike Thomas (vs. HOU) is as reliable a fantasy WR as there is. If some wildcards like Leonard Fournette (vs. KC) and David Montgomery (vs. GB) come through this year, Pat might easily snap his postseason drought.

But don't overlook Rob in this one. DeAndre Hopkins (@NO) is still the top fantasy WR, and Brandin Cooks (@CAR) is a very solid option, as well. Jared Goff (@CAR) is the new highest-paid QB in the land; if he lives up to that contract in year one, Rob should continue his postseason streak.

Pick: The Vistas are Back.

Bernie's Bullies (Mike R.) vs. schertzopotamus (Schertz)

Mike R. leads all-time series, 4-3.

With last year's wildly disparate finishes for the Mikes, this year's Gentleman's Tussle doesn't have the same luster as in previous seasons.

But Mike R.'s team is not as all-powerful as last year's (ultimately disappointing) team. Adam Thielen (vs. ATL), Sony Michel (vs. PIT), and, hilariously, Tevin Coleman (@TAM) are still around, but all with lessened expectations. Travis Kelce (@JAC) is also back, though - and he could be a huge difference maker.

Schertz already lost Andrew Luck to retirement, but he has Russell Wilson (vs. CIN) ready to step in. Saquon Barkley (@DAL) might be the single best fantasy player, which is always a good thing, and Derrick Henry (@CLE) looks like he's healthy and ready to play.

Pick: Bernie's Bullies.

Harrison Hammers (Matt) vs. Rich vs the world (Richie)

All-time series tied, 4-4.

Yes, I'm as shocked as you that this series is tied.

Matt wasn't super confident in his team, but it's hard to argue with the strength of his RBs. Todd Gurley II (@CAR) might have some health concerns, but he's still a top RB; and Dalvin Cook (vs. ATL) and Austin Ekeler (vs. IND) join him. JuJu Smith-Schuster (@NE) also gives him a top ten WR.

Richie brings his own top pair of RBs, David Johnson (vs. DET) and Joe Mixon (@SEA). Kenny Golladay (@ARI) is a solid WR, but the rest of this team just doesn't look up to par with Matt's.

Pick: Harrison Hammers.

Super Bash Bros. (Dave) vs. Pralines & Dick (Rabbit)

Rabbit leads all-time series, 9-3.

Dave's team has potential... but also plenty of risk. Aaron Rodgers (@CHI) could be a top three QB... or he could be showing his age. Tyreek Hill (@JAC) can win games on his own... or go silent. Ditto for Alshon Jeffery (vs. WAS) and James White (vs. PIT). Zach Ertz (vs. WAS) should provide a steady, reliable, top-tier TE, though.

Meanwhile, Rabs has a team full of reliable performers. Kirk Cousins (vs. ATL), Davante Adams (@CHI), Chris Carson (vs. CIN), and Mark Ingram II (@MIA) all have super high floors. None of his core players are the kind of guys that lose you weeks... but outside of Adams, are any the kind that win them?

Pick: Pralines & Dick.

Live Commish (Ed) vs. Me and My Mahomes (Scott)

Ed leads all-time series, 1-0.

Ed's team is built around a top-five QB (Deshaun Watson (@NO)), a top-five WR (Julio Jones (@MIN)), and top-five TE (O.J. Howard (vs. SF)). Scott's team is built around a top-five QB (Patrick Mahomes (@JAC)), a top-five WR (Odell Beckham, Jr. (vs. TEN)), and a top-five TE (George Kittle (@TAM)). The problem for Ed is that Scott's version is, well, better.

That said, the extra "My" in Scott's team name takes him down a peg. "Me and My My Homes"?

Pick: Me and My Mahomes.

Closing Thoughts

Starting next week, you should all be receiving the Gazette earlier in the day... I'll be on Greenwich Mean Time for a year.

Good luck to everyone!

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