Week 1 Preview

Game of the Blingaweek

Rob for Today (Rob) vs. Double Digits (Dave)

Rob leads all-time series, 11-10.

The rematch of Blingabowl XVII features 2024 MVP Josh Allen (vs. BAL) and 2024 Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley (vs. DAL) for Rob and 2024 Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels (vs. NYG) and everyone's favorite rookie Ashton Jeanty (@NE) for Dave.

I like that run-on sentence as much as I like what's going on in the flex positions in this matchup. Neither Tank Bigsby (vs. CAR) nor Michael Pittman, Jr. (vs. MIA) inspires much confidence for Dave, and while Keon Coleman (vs. BAL) and R.J. Harvey (vs. TEN) have some upside for Rob, it's hard to trust them, either.

Pick: Rob for Today.

Other Blingamatches

Bernie's Bullies (Mike R.) vs. Keep Calm & Stefon (Babel)

Mike R. leads all-time series, 12-9.

Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins (both @CLE) provide a nifty stack for Mike. Chuba Hubbard (@JAC) and James Cook (vs. BAL) aren't as exciting, but they're a nice pair of RBs. And Trey McBride (@NO) and Puka Nacua (vs. HOU) have both been excellent the the past two seasons. Is Mike the team to beat?

Babel, who is much older than Mike, has a team that is, well, much older than Mike's. After of second-year players Bo Nix (vs. TEN) and Will Reichard (@CHI), Babel's next youngest player is Josh Jacobs (vs. DET), who's entering his seventh year! Team namesake Stefon Diggs (vs. LV) is going into his eleventh!

Pick: Bernie's Bullies.

Harrison's BFF (Richie) vs. Harrison Hammers (Matt)

Matt leads all-time series, 8-6.

This one could be a TE slugfest, as Richie's Brock Bowers (@NE) will face off against Matt's George Kittle (@SEA). While Richie might have a small edge there, I think the rest of the matchup favors Matt. Lamar Jackson (@BUF) vs. Justin Fields (vs. PIT)? Matt. Bucky Irving (@ATL) vs. Breece Hall (vs. PIT)? Matt. And if Darnell Mooney (vs. TAM) winds up being too hurt to play, Richie might have to scramble to pick someone up Sunday morning, as his bench is full of injured and suspended players.

Pick: Harrison Hammers.

schertzopotamus (Schertz) vs. Pralines & Dick (Rabbit)

Rabbit leads all-time series, 10-4.

Schertz has a quietly solid roster, led by keepers Kyren Williams (vs. HOU) and De'Von Achane (@IND) and first round pick Nico Collins (@LAR). Kyler Murray (@NO) isn't the sexiest option, but he's traditionally been a better fantasy QB than real-life one and has a nice matchup.

On the other side, Rabbit must love seeing Jalen Hurts's (vs. DAL) matchup vs. the Parsons-less Cowboys defense. And if the Eagles do get out to a big lead, George Pickens (@PHI) could load up on garbage time stats. And don't forget about Chase Brown (@CLE) and Jonathan Taylor (vs. MIA), who won't have anyone competing for touches out of their respective backfields.

Pick: Pralines & Dick.

Live Commish (Ed) vs. The Vistas are Back (Pat)

Ed leads all-time series, 11-5.

What I just said about George Pickens could go double for Ed's Dak Prescott-CeeDee Lamb (both @PHI) stack. After that he has more question marks. Will Alvin Kamara (vs. ARI) be the lone bright spot in New Orleans? Is Kenneth Walker III (vs. SF) going to be in a committee even if he stays healthy? And what to think of Travis Hunter (vs. CAR)?

For Pat, Derrick Henry (@BUF) and Malik Nabers (@WAS) provide a really nice one-two punch. Mike Evans (@ATL) has been defying the aging curve, and at flex he has a fun pair of Bears-Lions RBs in D'Andre Swift (vs. MIN) and David Montgomery (@GB).

At the time of writing, Yahoo projects this game to have a 0.06-point margin, so it could be a good one.

Pick: The Vistas are Back.

The Chocolate Donuts (Kevin) vs. Let him Cook! (Scott)

Scott leads all-time series, 4-3.

In a very un-K-Pat move, Kevin is really making it hard on yours truly by waiting until the last minute to set his lineup. As of writing, he still doesn't have starters chosen, though he also has no Thursday night players. I'll go ahead and assume Ja'Marr Chase (@CLE) and Jahmyr Gibbs (@GB) make the cut, as well as Mark Andrews (@BUF) and Ka'imi Fairbairn (@LAR), who don't have any other options at their positions.

Scott has no one named Cook on his team any more, but he appears to still be rolling with the name. He will definitely be rooting for a Bucs-Falcons shootout to maximize Baker Mayfield (@ATL), Drake London (vs. TAM), and Bijan Robinson (vs. TAM). And he might need it, with unproven rookies Kaleb Johnson (@NYJ) and Jayden Higgins (@LAR) also currently in his lineup.

Pick: The Chocolate Donuts.

Pullman's MondoSquad (Pulley) vs. D's Nuts (Derrek)

Pulley leads all-time series, 13-8.

Patrick Mahomes II (@LAC, for Pulley) and Justin Herbert (vs. KC, for Derrek) face off in real life and in this matchup to start the season. Pulley adds Isiah Pacheco (@LAC) and Derrek adds Ladd McConkey (vs. KC) in the same matchup.

While these guys let their fandoms influence their defenses (San Francisco (@SEA) for Pulley, Minnesota (@CHI) for D), they went the opposite way with some other players. Derrek will trot out 49ers Christian McCaffrey and Ricky Pearsall (both @SEA) while Pulley's got Viking Aaron Jones, Sr. (@CHI).

Pick: Pullman's MondoSquad.

Closing Thoughts

Let the eighteenth season begin!

Good luck, everybody!

Previous Next

All Sanderson Gazettes