The Sanderson Gazette - 2024-11-13 - Solid

Richie: "Ravens helmet looks solid."

Mike R.: "Solid cool looking, or solid foundationally?"

Mike R.: "Hopefully it's not ceramic."

Richie: "Firm and stable in shape."

Richie: "Not a liquid."

Rob: "Good observation."

Week 10 Recap

Matt def. Rabbit, 112.08-102.97

This game came down to Monday night, where Matt needed just one yard from game-time decision Tyreek Hill (9.23). Brock Purdy (25.85) and George Kittle (13.60) picked up where they left off before their bye for Matt, who won his sixth straight. Rabbit got another massive game from Lamar Jackson (35.80) but lost his fifth straight in really tough fashion.

Babel def. Scott, 87.83-85.60

This one came down to Sunday night, and unlike Matt, Babel's game-time decision (Nico Collins) didn't play, so he needed every bit of Kai'mi Fairbairn's 12.90 to pull off the victory. James Conner's 19.97 for Babel helped offset horrible showings from Sterling Shepard (1.23), Javonte Williams (0.90), and Collins fill-in Robert Woods (0.13) Scott's highest scorer was James Cook, with 14.67.

Richie def. Mike R., 124.41-106.90

Richie just missed scoring 125 points for the third straight week, but at least got the win. He was powered by Joe Burrow (36.50) and the Eagles defense (22.00). Mike got 21.43 from Chuba Hubbard and 15.07 from Terry McLaurin, but fell to 5-5 despite retaining his lead in total points.

Dave def. Pat, 144.70-89.43

Kyler Murray's 30.90 set the tone for Dave, who also got 27.33 from Bijan Robinson and 18.53 from George Pickens. Courtland Sutton (15.33) put up a good game for Pat, but no other flex-eligible player in his lineup outperformed projections as he fell to 5-5 and out of the playoff picture.

Kevin def. Derrek, 105.35-63.29

It was the Ja'Marr Chase show for Kevin, as the star WR put up 53.20. Derrek's whole team scored just 10.09 points more than Chase.

Schertz def. Rob, 90.01-53.95

For the first time all season, Schertz got to play what might be the most imposing trio of RBs in Blingaleague history: Christian McCaffrey (12.97), De'Von Achane (5.70), and Kyren Williams (6.87). Each one underperformed, but it didn't matter; Rob's team decided it didn't really want to play any more - with Tua Tagovailoa putting up his score, 8.75.

Ed def. Pulley, 87.89-64.58

The two highest scores in this game were a kicker (Joshua Karty (18.50) for Ed) and a defense (New England (18.00) for Pulley). Daniel Jones's (13.10) rushing touchdown for Ed was the only one scored or thrown for by any player in this one.

Trades

Trade between Rob and Scott

Rob received:

  • Tua Tagovailoa - from Scott - keeper cost: 9th

Scott received:

  • Quentin Johnston - from Rob - keeper cost: 11th

Rob was desperate for a QB with Dak Prescott injured and Geno Smith on bye; Scott seized that opportunity and sold one off in exchange for a second-year WR with potential.

Tagovailoa scored just 8.75, but he'd have needed 50+ to make a difference in Rob's game this week. Johnston did score 9.20 (on just two targets, though), better than anyone on Scott's bench, but he also lost his matchup.

Trade between Dave and Pulley

Dave received:

  • Josh Jacobs - from Pulley - keeper cost: 1st
  • Cooper Kupp - from Pulley - keeper cost: 2nd
  • Isaac Guerendo - from Pulley - keeper cost: 9th
  • Evan McPherson - from Pulley - keeper cost: 13th

Pulley received:

  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba - from Dave - keeper cost: 6th
  • Nick Chubb - from Dave - keeper cost: 7th
  • Justin Tucker - from Dave - keeper cost: 9th
  • Xavier Legette - from Dave - keeper cost: 11th

This is the first true keeper-driven trade of the year, it appears. Pulley sold off Jacobs and Kupp - two players with no real keeper value - for Smith-Njigba, Legette, and Chubb - all of whom could be enticing next summer.

Dave won Team Blangums (spoiler alert!) despite Jacobs being on bye, Kupp (10.67) having an average game, and McPherson (4.00) putting up a dud. It's hard to call that a win, but it certainly didn't hurt him. And Pulley wouldn't have won his game with the players he traded away, so hard to really call this anything for him.

Trade between Ed and Richie

Ed received:

  • Davante Adams - from Richie - keeper cost: 2nd

Richie received:

  • Cade Otton - from Ed - keeper cost: 9th
  • Tyrone Tracy, Jr. - from Ed - keeper cost: 9th

Ed had a plethora of solid, but not awesome, flexes and TEs. Richie needed a TE and wanted to divest in the Jets WR corps.

Adams (4.13) was bad for Ed, but he still won (wait, really?!). Tracy (14.43) was good and Otton (4.67) was below average for Richie, and he won by nearly twenty points. Just looking at point totals, this was a win for Richie, but not a blowout.

Standings

  1. Rob, 8-2, 1,031.32
  2. Babel, 8-2, 1,022.08
  3. Richie, 6-4, 1,094.36
  4. Dave, 6-4, 1,064.96
  5. Matt, 6-4, 962.00
  6. Mike R., 5-5, 1,119.13
  7. Pat, 5-5, 1,008.17
  8. Ed, 5-5, 997.19
  9. Rabbit, 4-6, 1,088.94
  10. Scott, 4-6, 981.03
  11. Schertz, 4-6, 948.77
  12. Kevin, 3-7, 997.57
  13. Pulley, 3-7, 860.44
  14. Derrek, 3-7, 859.22

Blingalytics Ratings

  1. Mike R., 636
  2. Rabbit, 620
  3. Rob, 587
  4. Richie, 579
  5. Dave, 563
  6. Babel, 525
  7. Scott, 497
  8. Kevin, 492
  9. Ed, 487
  10. Pat, 483
  11. Schertz, 456
  12. Matt, 455
  13. Derrek, 313
  14. Pulley, 307

Weekly Awards

Team Blangums

Dave's 144.70 earned him his second weekly payout of the season.

Slapped Heartbeat

Rob's 53.95 is his third worst score ever. This is just the tenth time the first place team has gotten their heartbeat slapped and the fourth time the team stayed in first! (The last time either scenario happened was in week 11, 2022 when - surprise! - Rob stayed in first place after having the weekly low score.)

Through nine weeks, Rob had been scoring 108.60 points per week, with a high of 115.13 and a low of 101.05. That led to a standard deviation of just 4.75 - by far the lowest ever measured at that point in the year. That means his week 10 score was 11.5 standard deviations below his average, which is absolutely bonkers.

Weekly MVP

Ja'Marr Chase's is easily this week's MVP, as he scored 53.20 for Kevin.

This is not his highest score ever; that would be 53.47 back in week 17, 2021. Chase is the first player to have multiple 50-point weeks in Blingaleague history.

Dud of the Week

CeeDee Lamb scored just 3.10 for Rob.

Start of the Week

None this week. Babel won by just over two points, but his bench was full of zeroes. Matt won by under ten points, but he nearly cost himself a win by playing Rome Odunze (3.07) over Bucky Irving (15.17).

Misplay of the Week

Another blank award. Scott barely lost, but had no one on his bench do any better than his starters.

Pickup of the Week

The Arizona defense got Matt 14.00 critical points.

Honorable mention to John Parker Romo (that's the new Vikings kicker, for future reference), who scored 14.10 for Kevin.

Playoff Scenarios

Rob clinches a playoff berth with:

  • a win

AND

  • losses by two of Mike R., Pat, and Ed.

Babel clinches a playoff berth with:

  • a win

AND

  • losses by two of Mike R., Pat, and Ed.

Week 11 Preview

Game of the Blingaweek

Harrison Hammers (Matt, 6-4, 5th) vs. Let him Cook! (Scott, 4-6, 10th)

All-time series tied, 3-3.

  • Matt still plays: Rob, Derrek, Mike R.
  • Scott still plays: Mike R., Pat, Richie

Matt - no stranger to long winning streaks - just won his sixth straight to pull into playoff position. In a week with zero matchups between two top-six teams, that's good enough to earn the spotlight.

The problem for Matt is that, even after scoring 100+ in five of the six games in his streak, he's still just 11th in total points. Yes, that's how bad his first four weeks were. Brock Purdy and George Kittle (both vs. SEA) have been huge during his recent run, and Tyreek Hill (vs. LV) might finally be a valuable play again. If even one of Khalil Shakir (vs. KC), Rome Odunze (vs. GB), or Rashod Bateman (@PIT) can become a reliable fantasy WR, Matt's hot streak could extend into the playoffs.

Scott has had an up-and-down year. He has scored 120 or more thrice (only Mike R. has more such games), but also under 70 twice (a feat only matched by Schertz). He's got the pieces to turn his season around, though: Jayden Daniels (@PHI), Drake London (@DEN), and James Cook (vs. KC) have all shown flashes of being among the best at their positions this year.

Pick: Harrison Hammers.

Other Blingamatches

Double Digits (Dave, 6-4, 4th) vs. Pralines & Dick (Rabbit, 4-6, 9th)

Rabbit leads all-time series, 13-6.

  • Dave still plays: Pulley, Richie, Kevin
  • Rabbit still plays: Ed, Pulley, Derrek

Dave has been nearly as hot as Matt; he's scored 99 points or better in six straight weeks and has taken home Team Blangums twice in that span. He's also been wheeling and dealing lately - are we in for a repeat of 2021? Dave sure hopes new WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (vs. JAC) can combine with Justin Jefferson (@TEN) to make that so.

Meanwhile, the Gazette has gone broke recently betting on Rabbit. He's lost five games in a row, but scored 100 or better in four of them. That's some really rough luck. Lamar Jackson (@PIT) has been stellar all year, but Brian Thomas, Jr. (@DET) has fallen off lately and Jonathan Taylor (@NYJ) hasn't been fine, but not enough to drag the team to wins. I have a feeling we are getting a repeat of 2021 - specifically, Blingabowl XIV - for one week, at least.

Pick: Double Digits.

Keep Calm & Keon (Babel, 8-2, 2nd) vs. PULLEY (Pulley, 3-7, 13th)

Babel leads all-time series, 15-11.

  • Babel still plays: Kevin, Schertz, Ed
  • Pulley still plays: Dave, Rabbit, Rob

Every week, the Gazette talks about how Babel is just weathering the storm and keeps on winning. This week, let's talk about how Babel works the waiver wire better than just about anyone. He nabbed Kareem Hunt (@BUF) at the right time, and having the Chiefs prodigal RB has been clutch the past several weeks. This week, he pounced on Audric Estime (vs. ATL), who appears to be the new lead back in Denver. And let's not forget that he was the one to pick up Puka Nacua early in 2023.

On the other side, Pulley is playing out the rest of his schedule - and boy, is that a tough schedule! Maybe J.K. Dobbins (vs. CIN) and Nick Chubb (@NO) can steal him a win or two?

Pick: Keep Calm & Keon.

Ed Gross (Richie, 6-4, 3rd) vs. Live Commish (Ed, 5-5, 8th)

Richie leads all-time series, 7-5.

  • Richie still plays: Pat, Dave, Scott
  • Ed still plays: Rabbit, Rob, Babel

Richie has vaulted into third place with three straight wins, scoring 124 or better each time. Current and former Bengals Joe Burrow (@LAC) and Joe Mixon (@DAL) have been outstanding, and Rhamondre Steveson (vs. LAR) and Garrett Wilson (vs. IND) have had their moments. Make no mistake: Richie's roster - like the alternate Ravens helmet - is solid.

Meanwhile, Ed has been playing bye-week-Whac-a-Mole with his recent moves. Will Kenneth Walker III (@SF) provide the spark that Breece Hall hadn't been? Will A.J. Brown (vs. WAS) - or any non-QB on Ed's roster, really - finally score a TD?

Pick: Ed Gr-, or, wait, which one am I picking? Yeah, Ed Gross (that means Richie).

Bernie's Bullies (Mike R., 5-5, 6th) vs. D's Nuts (Derrek, 3-7, 14th)

Derrek leads all-time series, 10-9.

  • Mike R. still plays: Scott, Kevin, Matt
  • Derrek still plays: Schertz, Matt, Rabbit

What's the cure for a team that leads the league in points, but is only 5-5? Mike hopes it's a matchup against the last place team. Mike did shake some things up by adding George Pickens (vs. BAL) and Cooper Kupp (@NE) to reliable performers Alvin Kamara (vs. CLE) and Terry McLaurin (@PHI). That will also help.

Meanwhile, Derrek had a little too much invested in the disappointing Texans offense. Maybe a matchup against the flailing Cowboys will allow C.J. Stroud and Tank Dell (both @DAL) to spring an upset this week?

Pick: Bernie's Bullies.

Rob for Today (Rob, 8-2, 1st) vs. The Vistas are Back (Pat, 5-5, 7th)

Rob leads all-time series, 12-3.

  • Rob still plays: Matt, Ed, Pulley
  • Pat still plays: Richie, Scott, Schertz

Rob's team - so consistent through nine weeks (see the Slapped Heartbeat section above) - could very well be in shambles now. CeeDee Lamb (vs. HOU) looks totally different without Dak Prescott throwing him the ball. D'Andre Swift (vs. GB) has been sucked into the Bears' offensive incompetency vortex. And Saquon Barkley (vs. WAS) has been getting vultured at the goal line by his QB. Rob still has an inside track to a bye, but is he scaring anyone at the moment?

Pat looked like he might be the team to beat just three weeks ago, but he hasn't scored 90 points since. (He also very nearly won twice in that span.) He's now taking a chance on Breece Hall (vs. IND) and still has Derrick Henry (@PIT), so a turnaround and return to the playoffs is not unimaginable, even if it won't be easy.

Pick: The Vistas are Back.

schertzopotamus (Schertz, 4-6, 11th) vs. The Chocolate Donuts (Kevin, 3-7, 12th)

Schertz leads all-time series, 7-6.

  • Schertz still plays: Derrek, Babel, Pat
  • Kevin still plays: Babel, Mike R., Dave

With four Slapped Heartbeats between them, Schertz and Kevin have probably sealed their playoff fates by now. Schertz has enough firepower with Christian McCaffrey (vs. SEA), Kyren Williams (@NE), and De'Von Achane (vs. LV) to retain some valid playoff hope. Kevin has Ja'Marr Chase (@LAC), but can't afford even a single loss at this point.

Pick: schertzopotamus.

Closing Thoughts

After a nice run of averaging 99 points or better for five straight weeks, we fell to a collective mean of just 94.21 last week. Hopefully things turn around for us in week 11!