The Sanderson Gazette - 2024-11-06 - Down Pat

Week 9 Recap

Matt def. Pat, 79.14-78.82

The final Buccaneers touchdown on Monday night pushed Baker Mayfield up to 19.00 points for Matt and dropped the Chiefs defense to 2.00 for Pat... and provided the razor-thin margin of victory (15th all-time!) for Matt. Derrick Henry (26.20 for Pat) led all scorers in this game.

Mike R. def. Ed, 141.14-85.06

Mike put up one of the most balanced 140-point games we've ever seen, with no player above 23.50 (Alvin Kamara) or below 10.87 (Trey McBride). Ed got 20.00 from his defense (the Chargers) and 16.27 from Cade Otton in the loss.

Richie def. Kevin, 129.65-111.70

Richie raced out to a lead behind Joe Burrow (31.15), Garrett Wilson (24.00), Rhamondre Stevenson (18.67), and Darnell Mooney (17.73), and Kevin could never catch up. Mike Gesicki (25.33) had a huge game for the loser.

Babel def. Rabbit, 108.95-81.49

Babel trailed by a small amount heading into Monday night, but Kareem Hunt (18.07) and Travis Kelce (11.33) made sure that deficit evaporated quickly. Rabbit got 25.90 from Lamar Jackson and 22.93 from Chase Brown, but five of his other players couldn't even hit the five point mark and he found himself on the losing end for the fourth straight week.

Pulley def. Scott, 99.00-91.28

Matthew Stafford (20.90) needed overtime to push Pulley to victory. J.K. Dobbins added 23.17 of his own, offsetting Diontae Johnson's zero. Scott got 15.00 from his kicker (Tyler Bass) and 16.00 from his defense (the Jets).

Dave def. Schertz, 124.48-107.00

Dave got big games from Justin JeffersoN (19.37), Bijan Robinson (16.47), and... Jaxon Smith-Njigba (36.00)? Jalen Hurts (30.70) and De'Von Achane (26.03) gave Schertz a high enough score that he had a chance to take the lead on Monday night, but Xavier Worthy put up -1.00 and sealed his fate.

Rob def. Derrek, 113.82-90.55

Once again, Saquon Barkley (31.23) was Rob's best player. And in a throwback to 2019, DeAndre Hopkins (23.47) also put up a big game for our first place team. Derrek saw Zay Flowers put up 28.93 and the Broncos defense score -5.00.

Trades

Trade between Matt and Scott

Matt received:

  • Marvin Harrison, Jr. - from Scott - keeper cost: 1st
  • David Montgomery - from Scott - keeper cost: 3rd

Scott received:

  • Drake London - from Matt - keeper cost: 2nd
  • Najee Harris - from Matt - keeper cost: 4th

Scott made his second major trade in as many weeks, taking a downgrade at RB in exchange for an upgrade at WR this time. Matt did the same, and also was looking for someone to cover Najee Harris's bye in a must-win week.

As for the results? Scott can't be happy with how this turned out. Sure, he knew Harris was on bye, but Drake London left his game with a hip injury after scoring 9.60... and Scott lost a close game.

Matt got 10.37 from Montgomery, but just 2.53 from Harrison. He got his much-needed win, but London plus Rashod Bateman (3.33) would have netted him 0.03 more points, so it's not like this trade made a difference.

Standings

  1. Rob, 8-1, 977.37
  2. Babel, 7-2, 934.25
  3. Mike R., 5-4, 1,012.23
  4. Richie, 5-4, 969.95
  5. Dave, 5-4, 920.26
  6. Pat, 5-4, 918.74
  7. Matt, 5-4, 849.92
  8. Rabbit, 4-5, 985.97
  9. Ed, 4-5, 909.30
  10. Scott, 4-5, 895.43
  11. Schertz, 3-6, 858.76
  12. Derrek, 3-6, 795.93
  13. Pulley, 3-6, 795.86
  14. Kevin, 2-7, 892.22

Blingalytics Ratings

  1. Rob, 644
  2. Mike R., 628
  3. Rabbit, 619
  4. Babel, 541
  5. Richie, 539
  6. Scott, 514
  7. Dave, 511
  8. Ed, 498
  9. Pat, 492
  10. Kevin, 471
  11. Schertz, 460
  12. Matt, 419
  13. Derrek, 336
  14. Pulley, 328

Weekly Awards

Team Blangums

Mike's 141.14 earned him his third Team Blangums of the season.

Slapped Heartbeat

Pat is no stranger to Slapped Heartbeat awards, but his 78.82 marks his first one this year, at least.

Weekly MVP

Jaxon Smith-Njigba put up 36.00 for Dave, which was clutch in his victory.

Dud of the Week

All Caleb Williams needed to do for Pat was score 9 points; he put up 8.35 instead.

Start of the Week

Matt chose Bucky Irving (3.73) over Rashod Bateman (3.33) and won by 0.32.

Misplay of the Week

Kevin didn't have great options for his second flex spot, but going with DeMario Douglas (4.67) over Demarcus Robinson (24.53) cost him a win.

Pickup of the Week

The very last pickup of the week was Mike Gesicki, who scored 25.33 for Kev.

Blessed Cahoots

Matt had the second lowest score of the week; lucky for him, his opponent had the worst!

Week 10 Preview

Game of the Blingaweek

Bernie's Bullies (Mike R., 5-4, 3rd) vs. Ed Gross (Richie, 5-4, 4th)

Mike R. leads all-time series, 7-5.

More than half the Team Blangums awards this season have gone to these two teams. And while both are just 5-4, their point totals (they rank 1st and 4th, respectively) mean that this game shouldn't have a must-win feel to it. But that doesn't mean it won't be a barnburner.

Mike's team might lack any truly top tier players, but it makes up for that by having strength at every position. Well, except QB, where he's... fine; Kirk Cousins (@NO) and Jared Goff (@HOU) are both solid, but also leave him in a position of picking between two, well, solid players instead of just relying on a strong one. But Amon-Ra St. Brown (@HOU) and Terry McLaurin (vs. PIT) are among the top fifteen WRs in per-game scoring, and Alvin Kamara (vs. ATL) has been the lone bright spot on the Saints offense.

Richie is in a similar position, though he does have a weakness at TE (where Jonnu Smith (@LAR) is currently slated to start). No one has WRs as good as him, though; Garrett Wilson (@ARI) and Darnell Mooney (@NO) have been great, and Puka Nacua (vs. MIA), Davante Adams (@ARI), and Calvin Ridley (@LAC) are all trending up right now. Too bad he can't play all of them. Joe Mixon (vs. DET).

Pick: Ed Gross.

Other Blingamatches

Double Digits (Dave, 5-4, 5th) vs. The Vistas are Back (Pat, 5-4, 6th)

Dave leads all-time series, 10-6.

Dave's been hot lately, scoring 120+ in two of the last three weeks and vaulting into 5th place. While Justin Jefferson (@JAC) and Bijan Robinson (@NO) have of course been a big part of that, it's been his next tier of pass catchers - George Pickens (@WAS), Mark Andrews (vs. CIN), and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (bye) that have been instrumental in Dave's playoff push.

Meanwhile, Pat - who a couple weeks ago looked like one of the teams to beat - has failed to crack 90 points in two straight games. That means this is not a good time to lose Kenneth Walker III to his bye. He still has Derrick Henry (vs. CIN), of course, and Justin Herbert (vs. TEN) is ready to step in for the struggling Caleb Williams (vs. NE), but this might very well be a must-win game for Pat.

Pick: Double Digits.

Harrison Hammers (Matt, 5-4, 7th) vs. Pralines & Dick (Rabbit, 4-5, 8th)

Rabbit leads all-time series, 14-8.

This battle of the Blingatitans features teams going in opposite directions. Matt's won five straight games, and while his schedule is the easiest ever through nine weeks, he's been genuinely good during the streak, averaging over 107 points per game. Sure, Tyreek Hill (@LAR) and Marvin Harrison, Jr. (vs. NYJ, on his fourth Blingafranchise just nine games into his career!) have been disappointing, but George Kittle (@TAM) has been awesome, and now Khalil Herbert (@BAL) looks like he'll have some value.

Rabbit, on the other side, has lost four straight and now sits below .500 on the season. He'll look to Lamar Jackson (vs. CIN) - who's been great during the skid - Jonathan Taylor (vs. BUF), and Chase Brown (@BAL) to get him back in the win column.

Pick: Pralines & Dick.

Keep Calm & Keon (Babel, 7-2, 2nd) vs. Let him Cook! (Scott, 4-5, 10th)

Scott leads all-time series, 4-2.

This is probably the first matchup in history where both teams are named after Bills players. Babel's namesake is Keon Coleman (@IND), who's been a mixed bag. He also has the QB in Buffalo, Josh Allen (@IND), and might get Nico Collins (vs. DET) back this week. With Travis Kelce (vs. DEN) on a roll and a good chance at turning a 7-2 record into a bye, Babel is on the short list of strongest contenders for the Sanderson Cup.

Scott's been wheeling and dealing all year, and recently traded for Quentin Johnston (vs. TEN) and his keeper value. He's not out of playoff contention yet, though, as James Cook (@IND) and Jayden Daniels (vs. PIT) are among the very best at their positions. The health of Drake London (@NO) and consistency of Amari Cooper (@IND) and Kyle Pitts (@NO) will go a long way toward determining Scott's fate.

Pick: Keep Calm & Keon.

Live Commish (Ed, 4-5, 9th) vs. Pullman's MondoSquad (Pulley, 3-6, 13th)

Pulley leads all-time series, 9-8.

Ed will hope a pair of New York RBs - Breece Hall (@ARI) and Tyrone Tracy, Jr. (@CAR) - can end his three game losing streak. Cade Otton (vs. SF) has been excellent the past two weeks, but Jaylen Waddle (@LAR) getting back to his old ways might be the key to the commissioner's playoff hopes.

Pulley's on a two game win streak and will be in this one until Monday night with his Matthew Stafford-Cooper Kupp (both vs. MIA) stack. Evan Engram (vs. MIN) has also emerged as as the top target in Jacksonville once again, which helps his upset chances here.

Pick: Pullman's MondoSquad.

Rob for Today (Rob, 8-1, 1st) vs. schertzopotamus (Schertz, 3-6, 11th)

Schertz leads all-time series, 10-4.

Rob will be unexpectedly turning to Tua Tagovailoa (@LAR) at QB with Dak Prescott and Geno Smith on IR and bye, respectively. DeAndre Hopkins (vs. DEN) looks like a fantastic pickup, though, and Saquon Barkley (@DAL) is in the fantasy MVP conversation. Rob'll be fine in the long term, even if this week threatens to end his streak of breaking 100 points.

Meanwhile, Schertz might be getting Christian McCaffrey (@TAM) back this week, but is it too late for him to make a playoff run?

Pick: schertzopotamus.

D's Nuts (Derrek, 3-6, 12th) vs. The Chocolate Donuts (Kevin, 2-7, 14th)

Derrek leads all-time series, 11-7.

These two won four of five championships from 2016-2020. Now they're both in the bottom three. C'est la vie, I guess.

Pick: The Chocolate Donuts.

Closing Thoughts

Hopefully you're all doing OK out there and that the Gazette can be a welcome distraction from the real world for a little while, at least.