The Sanderson Gazette - 2024-10-30 - Sixth Best Blingaweek Ever

Week 8's margin (12.97) is the 6th lowest ever, and its average score (107.33) is the 26th highest.

If you multiply those two ranks, it comes in as the 6th best Blingaweek ever. The top ten?

  1. Week 6, 2018, 60 (score: 5th, margin: 12th)
  2. Week 2, 2023, 71 (score: 71st, margin: 1st)
  3. Week 2, 2020, 112 (score: 4th, margin: 28th)
  4. Week 12, 2023, 140 (score: 20th, margin: 7th)
  5. Week 4, 2018, 152 (score: 2nd, margin: 76th)
  6. Week 8, 2024, 156 (score: 26th, margin: 6th)
  7. Week 5, 2022, 180 (score: 60th, margin: 3rd)
  8. Week 5, 2021, 188 (score: 1st, margin: 188th)
  9. Week 10, 2010, 210 (score: 10th, margin: 21st)
  10. Week 2, 2011, 312 (score: 3rd, margin: 104th)

Week 8 Recap

Babel def. Mike R., 105.41-104.78

The 63rd closest game ever came down to Jordan Mason (1.80) getting injured and failing to pull Mike ahead. That wasted 18.00 from the Lions defense and 6.67 from Terry McLaurin.

Babel gutted out the win behind Travis Kelce's 18.00 and Keon Coleman's 15.33.

Rob def. Dave, 101.25-99.58

CeeDee Lamb's (31.47) huge fourth quarter pushed Rob ahead, and George Pickens's (9.87) middling Monday night kept Dave behind in this tight matchup. D'Andre Swift added 18.90 for Rob, while Bijan Robinson scored 18.03 for Dave.

Richie def. Rabbit, 142.38-115.89

Richie needed just over three points from Chris Boswell (13.00) and the Steelers defense (17.00) on Monday night to win; he wound up with thirty and Team Blangums. Rhamondre Stevenson (21.07) and Joe Mixon (20.47) were also key players in his win. Rabbit got 25.55 from Lamar Jackson and 18.10 from Jonathan Taylor in his tough loss.

Derrek def. Pat, 93.48-89.62

Pat couldn't get enough from Malik Nabers (9.47) on Monday night to keep his hot streak going. Cole Kmet (3.87) and Caleb Williams (9.65) also contributed to his dud. Derrek didn't do much better; only Zay Flowers (15.33) and David Njoku (14.13) scored more than a point greater than their projections for him.

Pulley def. Schertz, 118.22-116.53

Pulley nearly doubled his week seven score and broke 100 for the first time this season thanks to Matthew Stafford (27.55), Josh Jacobs (24.43), and Raheem Mostert (15.37). Schertz got 37.50 from Jalen Hurts but fell just short in his bid to reach .500 on the year.

Matt def. Kevin, 106.30-86.99

Matt won his fourth straight with Brock Purdy (27.60) and George Kittle (23.07) leading the way. Kevin couldn't capitalize on 19.50 from Jahmyr Gibbs and 17.33 from DeVonta Smith.

Scott def. Ed, 129.65-92.54

James Cook (26.03), Kyle Pitts (24.13), and new addition Jayden Daniels (24.50, more on that in a minute) exploded for Scott. Only Cade Otton (22.80) did for Ed.

Trades

Trade between Ed and Scott

Ed received:

  • A.J. Brown - from Scott - keeper cost: 1st
  • Jordan Love - from Scott - keeper cost: 7th
  • Josh Downs - from Scott - keeper cost: 10th

Scott received:

  • Marvin Harrison, Jr. - from Ed - keeper cost: 1st
  • Amari Cooper - from Ed - keeper cost: 4th
  • Jayden Daniels - from Ed - keeper cost: 8th

Ed decided the time was right to sell Jayden Daniels and received a high end WR in A.J. Brown as part of the package.

In terms of the outcome, well... it might have caused Scott to beat Ed this week. If Ed had played the three players he traded away instead of Love, Brown, and Jalen Tolbert, he would have scored 113.47. If Scott had played the three players he traded away instead of the three he received, he'd have scored 124.68 and still won. But if Scott had played Christian Watson instead of Downs, he'd have scored 108.05 and lost.

Fun fact: this was just the ninth trade between teams that faced off in the same week.

  1. Week 10, 2010: Kevin and Pat
  2. Week 9, 2012: Ed and Pat
  3. Week 12, 2014: Babel and Dave
  4. Week 10, 2018: Dave and Mike R.
  5. Week 8, 2019: Derrek and Ed
  6. Week 12, 2021: Kevin and Richie
  7. Week 6, 2023: Ed and Richie
  8. Week 11, 2023: Mike R. and Pat
  9. Week 8, 2024: Ed and Scott

Standings

  1. Rob, 7-1, 863.55
  2. Babel, 6-2, 825.30
  3. Pat, 5-3, 839.82
  4. Rabbit, 4-4, 904.48
  5. Mike R., 4-4, 871.09
  6. Richie, 4-4, 840.30
  7. Ed, 4-4, 824.24
  8. Scott, 4-4, 804.15
  9. Dave, 4-4, 795.78
  10. Matt, 4-4, 770.78
  11. Schertz, 3-5, 751.76
  12. Derrek, 3-5, 705.38
  13. Kevin, 2-6, 780.52
  14. Pulley, 2-6, 696.86

Blingalytics Ratings

  1. Rabbit, 674
  2. Rob, 635
  3. Mike R., 593
  4. Scott, 538
  5. Pat, 536
  6. Ed, 531
  7. Babel, 529
  8. Richie, 499
  9. Dave, 472
  10. Matt, 453
  11. Kevin, 446
  12. Schertz, 443
  13. Derrek, 339
  14. Pulley, 313

Weekly Awards

Team Blangums

Richie's 142.38 earned him his second Team Blangums of the season.

Slapped Heartbeat

Kevin's 86.99 is now the highest score to ever get the Slapped Heartbeat award.

Weekly MVP

CeeDee Lamb (31.74) was the only player to score thirty points and to be started by a winning Blingaleague team. (Honorable mention to Jalen Hurts, who scored 37.50 in Schertz's loss.)

Dud of the Week

The Vikings defense scored -1.00 for Dave in a game he lost by less than two.

Start of the Week

Babel played Keon Coleman (15.33) and Javonte Williams (5.47) over Sterling Shepard (2.40) in his razor-thin victory.

Misplay of the Week

If Pat had played Dalton Kincaid (10.13) over Cole Kmet (3.87), he'd have won.

Pickup of the Week

Chris Boswell scored 13.00 for Richie.

Blessed Cahoots

A sub-1.00-point win is always fortunate, and especially fortunate when your opponent's RB leaves with an injury while he's seven yards short of passing you. That means Babel can cry out "Blessed cahoots!" this week.

Pryor Play of the Week

D'Ernest D'oh

Dave used a waiver claim to pick up Cedric Tillman, whose 25.20 in any of Dave's WR or flex spots would have gotten him a win.

Week 9 Preview

Game of the Blingaweek

Keep Calm & Keon (Babel, 6-2, 2nd) vs. Pralines & Dick (Rabbit, 4-4, 4th)

Rabbit leads all-time series, 12-8.

It's hard to say exactly who Babel's second place squad has been led by. Josh Allen (vs. MIA) has been solid, but not really what Babel expected when he used a first round pick on the Bills QB. James Conner (vs. CHI) has probably been overall the best, but hasn't really won any games on his own. Travis Kelce (vs. TAM) is coming around, but has his share of duds. Kai'mi Fairbairn (@NYJ) and the Bears defense (@ARI) have been among the best special teams plays, but are still just special teams plays. I guess Babel's been driven by a team without any actual weaknesses, even if no one is in the running for fantasy MVP.

Rabbit, on the other hand, does have a clear best player: Lamar Jackson (vs. DEN). Jackson's MVP-level performance to this point has allowed Rabbit to remain our leader in points and expected wins despite injuries to Jonathan Taylor (@MIN) and Rashee Rice (IR) and disappointing play from Sam LaPorta (@GB). This week could hinge on the health of Brian Thomas, Jr. (@PHI) and the effectiveness of Romeo Doubs (vs. DET) without Jordan Love.

Pick: Pralines & Dick.

Other Blingamatches

Bernie's Bullies (Mike R., 4-4, 5th) vs. Live Commish (Ed, 4-4, 7th)

Ed leads all-time series, 9-8.

A week nine game is never truly an elimination game, but this has the feel of one, no? Mike's on a two game losing streak and could use Alvin Kamara (@CAR) returning to glory in a plus matchup. A big Lions game from Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown (both @GB) would help, too.

Ed's on his own two game skid and will likely be without Jordan Love (vs. DET), thrusting rookie Bo Nix (@BAL) into his lineup. Breece Hall (vs. HOU), A.J. Brown (vs. JAC), and Cade Otton (@KC) will all probably need to find the end zone for him to stay in the playoff picture.

Pick: Bernie's Bullies.

Double Digits (Dave, 4-4, 9th) vs. schertzopotamus (Schertz, 3-5, 11th)

Schertz leads all-time series, 8-5.

These two both lost by less than two points last week and could really use some good luck this week. Bijan Robinson (vs. DAL) is finally living up to his potential for Dave, while Justin Jefferson (vs. IND) is as steadily great as they come. Can Nick Chubb (vs. LAC) reach anywhere near his old levels of play, though?

Schertz has seen Jalen Hurts (vs. JAC) explode recently, as well as Kyren Williams (@SEA) be consistently great. But having to play Jerry Jeudy (vs. LAC) and Cody Parkinson (vs. JAC) can't make anyone feel confident in a win.

Pick: Double Digits.

The Vistas are Back (Pat, 5-3, 3rd) vs. Harrison Hammers (Matt, 4-4, 10th)

Matt leads all-time series, 9-7.

Pat narrowly avoided getting his heartbeat slapped this past week, but how long can a team with Derrick Henry (vs. DEN), Malik Nabers (vs. WAS), and Kenneth Walker III (vs. LAR) be held down? Caleb Williams (@ARI) remains a wildcard; are the Cardinals a bad enough team for him to put up a strong fantasy score?

Matt's won four in a row and broken 100 points each time, after starting 0-4 without doing so even once. But now George Kittle and Najee Harris - key players during his hot streak - are on bye. Drake London (vs. DAL) and Tyreek Hill (@BUF) might both need to have elite games for Matt to move over .500 on the year.

Pick: The Vistas are Back.

Ed Gross (Richie, 4-4, 6th) vs. The Chocolate Donuts (Kevin, 2-6, 13th)

Kevin leads all-time series, 7-6.

Richie looks like he's rounding into form, with Puka Nacua (@SEA) back, Joe Mixon (@NYJ) rolling, and Darnell Mooney (vs. DAL) playing like one of the best value picks of the draft. Sure, Chris Boswell and the Steelers defense are on bye, but will Richie need them with his really strong on-paper lineup?

Kevin's been feisty lately, but is also coming off a Slapped Heartbeat. Ja'Marr Chase (vs. LV) and Jahmyr Gibbs (@GB) can only do so much.

Pick: Ed Gross.

Let him Cook! (Scott, 4-4, 8th) vs. Pullman's MondoSquad (Pulley, 2-6, 14th)

Scott leads all-time series, 4-2.

The last time James Cook (vs. MIA) played the Dolphins, he scored three touchdowns. Throw in Jayden Daniels (@NYG), Marvin Harrison, Jr. (vs. CHI), and the suddenly top-tier TE Kyle Pitts (vs. DAL), and the good times should roll for Scott.

Pulley's got back Cooper Kupp (@SEA) and immediately put up his highest total of the season. He's probably in too big of a hole to have realistic playoff hopes (about which the playoff odds calculator agrees), but he's a much tougher out that he was a few weeks back.

Pick: Let him Cook!

Rob for Today (Rob, 7-1, 1st) vs. D's Nuts (Derrek, 3-5, 12th)

Rob leads all-time series, 12-10.

Rob's 7-1 and CeeDee Lamb (@ATL) has awoken from his slumber. Derrek is 3-5 and his current all-play win percentage (.269) is on track to be the sixth worst ever.

Pick: Rob for Today.

Closing Thoughts

Calling back to the opening section, here are the worst weeks in Blingaleague history.

  1. Week 8, 2010, 45,780 (score: 218th, margin: 210th)
  2. Week 11, 2012, 45,582 (score: 214th, margin: 213th)
  3. Week 10, 2015, 45,365 (score: 215th, margin: 211th)
  4. Week 4, 2010, 44,091 (score: 213th, margin: 207th)
  5. Week 7, 2011, 42,749 (score: 197th, margin: 217th)
  6. Week 1, 2023, 41,200 (score: 200th, margin: 206th)
  7. Week 11, 2008, 38,784 (score: 202nd, margin: 192nd)
  8. Week 12, 2019, 38,734 (score: 181st, margin: 214th)
  9. Week 5, 2017, 37,736 (score: 178th, margin: 212th)
  10. Week 3, 2017, 37,410 (score: 174th, margin: 215th)

(There have been 219 weeks at this point in time.)