2020 - Week 11 Observations (Part 1)

Matchup 1: Vote for Creepy Sniffin Joe defeats the The TC Williams Titans (133.85 to 116.4):

Dyl’s season is likely over at 3-8, but he got a crucial win in his attempt to avoid the Gabriel. He’s still currently in last place based on points tie breakers, but he’s tied with DMO in terms of wins and losses at 3-8. He’s also only 1 game back of Tieg (4-7) with two weeks to go. I know Dyl will stay Dyligent with his roster, but it’ll be an uphill climb out of last place these last two weeks.

Dyl’s WRs put up insane numbers this past week and I have to wonder “where has this been all season”? Keenan Allen threw up 28.5 points on 16 catches (sixteen!) for 145 yards and a TD, while I threw up in my mouth. Diontae Johnson shredded the Jags for 12-111 and Cooper Kupp did the same to the Bucs D with 11-145. All in all those three combined for 39 catches, and over 400 yards this week. Good grief.

Matchup 2: Slight Brees defeats WatsOn Those Gurley Fries (140.45 to 138.75):

Speaking of avoiding the Gabriel, Tieg is looking to do the same. Not only that, but he actually has a chance to make the playoffs. If he wins out he finishes at 6-7 - if Ken, Frader and Lamone lose out, he could catch them in the standings (both at 6-5 currently). I won’t look at matchups just yet, but if Tieg pulls out a W this week he’ll make things really interesting in Week 13.

And now I’ll address the elephant in the room - Taysom Hill. Due to a weird ESPN decision to give Taysom Hill TE eligibility this season, many people were able to use the New Orleans Saints starting QB in their TE or FLEX spot during Week 11. Tieg was one of those people as he was smart and added Taysom Hill after the Drew Brees injury in Week 10. At the time we didn’t know Hill would start, but we knew he would be involved. Well, he started for the Saints and put up 29.55 points this week. And….. ESPN took away his TE eligibility the next day. So how do I feel about that? I think it’s bullshit to be quite frank. Not that he was TE eligible - while that’s stupid, it did make some sense based on his usage. What I can’t tolerate is ESPN changing the rules during the season. THAT is bullshit. What happens to anyone who spent FAAB or waiver claims on Hill last week? Yes they got a cheat code for one week, but now they have an illegal roster all of a sudden? What happens to the people who lost to someone who used Taysom Hill? (Kev did, of course it was Kev in our league.) Uhhh sorry? Fuck that - if those people had to play a team that had Hill at TE, then everyone should have to. Yes it’s stupid, but you can’t just willy nilly change the rules like a child. ESPN should have made this adjustment before Week 11, or not done it at all. Just because he played well it’s an issue now? Nonsense. I’m seriously considering moving this league out of ESPN next year. I think that’s enough effort spent on this, it’ll be interesting to see what Tieg does with his roster going forward.

Matchup 3: Foreskin Fondue defeats A Finkle In Time (116.85 to 90.3):

HUGE win for Lamone that definitely saved his season. If he loses he’s at 4-7 and likely out of playoffs - instead he’s 5-6 and only one game back of Ken/Frader. He’s got the 4th most points in the league, so tie breakers will be friendly to him. Given the fact he has Derrick Henry, I don’t think anyone wants to see Lamone’s team in the playoffs.

Speaking of Derrick Henry in the playoffs - holy hell his schedule looks good. From Weeks 13 on he plays the Browns, the Jags, the Lions and the Packers. I believe all of those teams aside from the Browns are in the bottom 5-8 of the league in run defense. Let’s hope Lamone just doesn’t make the playoffs. (Sorry.)

Another reason we don’t want to see Lamone in the playoffs - Austin Ekeler was removed from the IR this week. A healthy Ekeler and Derrick Henry with those matchups? Can’t wait to lose to Lamone in the first round of the playoffs.

Matchup 4: COVID Dak-cine defeats Rolling w Mahomies (119.55 to 117.5):

I think most of you play in multiple fantasy leagues, so I have to ask - does it seem like there are a TON of close matchups in fantasy this year? I know it happens every year in every league, but I can’t count the number of matchups I’ve won or lost this season by 4 points or fewer across my various leagues. This week alone we had 2 of 5 matchups decided by fewer than 3 points. Maybe I’m just overthinking it, but I feel like there’s something there.

Speaking of close matchups, it’s crazy how one play can absolutely turn your fantasy matchup. I’m guessing most of you watched MNF, so you probably saw the Rams make a crazy drive at the end of the half to kick a field goal with no time left. But do you remember the play that got them there? The Rams threw a WR screen to Robert Woods, which he then took 35 yards into FG range. That 4 point play with 19 seconds left in the half was the difference in Ken’s win over DMO. 4 points for Ken when the Rams could have easily just kneeled the ball and went into halftime tied - or Woods could have been tackled after a 5 yard gain, which is the result of 99% of WR screens. One play. One play.

Matchup 5: Rugg and Tugg defeats Fresh Prince of Bhel-Aire (140.95 to 100.1):

The first thing I have to point out is the QB decision Keetz made - to sit Aaron Rodgers and start Justin Herbert over him. Rodgers had a tough matchup vs. Indy, but comeon - he’s Aaron Rodgers. He had put up 20+ in 8 of his first 9 games and 26 or more in 7 of his first 9. If it’s me, I roll with Rodgers and take the slight loss in production given the matchup. But Keetz? He started the 22 year old Herbert over Rodgers…. and it worked. Could not have worked better. Rodgers played well with 28 points, but Herbert put up 36. Well done.

I’ll write more about this in the season-recaps, but Antonio Gibson was a great pick by Keetz in the draft. We knew AP had been cut at the time, but to spend an 8th round pick on a guy who was a WR in college? (And plays for the “Football Team”) Risky to say the least. Alas, it has made Keetz look like a genius yet again. Gibson got off to a modest start this season, but has put up 20+ points in 3 of his last 4 and is currently RB13. Damn you Keetz, well done again.