Week 4 Recap!

I'm confident in saying that week 4 could be renamed to the destruction of Alex's team week, and it would be apt.  Many injuries, and some anger later, and now we are seeing the separation of teams, kind of.   Barring stat corrections we only have one undefeated team, and that's only technically undefeated (which is the worst type of undefeated).  Our current reigning champ is 0-4, and still has Chris Thompson on his bench, although this week it may not have helped much.  Derek Carr broke something in his back 😭 but should be back pretty soon, but until then just remember all those fantasy relevant WRs that EJ Manual made in Buffalo.  

Aside from that, I think that this week shows how fast things change in the NFL.  Bye weeks start and now after the first two weeks we have people that looked like studs just falling off, and people that looked like nothing showing up, and if you're like me you can't even remember all those people that have quickly dissipated into irrelevance.  Things can also quickly change again in the next two weeks, and I'll talk about that with which I am most intimately associated with, my team.  Doug Martin is back, bringing either false hopes or awesome support when it is needed, Andrew Luck is supposedly coming back in two weeks and we all know who Luck is, a fantastic scorer.  Two weeks from now my team could look completely different, could yours?  It just is such a strange game where season long there are cornerstones and things that change and with a rapid pace that can make great teams look bad and bad teams look great.  

Speaking of which, only 5 teams have scored more than 100 points each week:

Nic

Jake

D-Smith

Cone

Andrew (score exactly 100 each)

So, clearly best teams.

Top 5

QB

1. Tom Brady (114 points)
• He's Brady and his defense is literally just a bunch of guys from the streets playing for his autograph.  He can't stop throwing because he can't keep a lead, but he throws TDs and yards like no other.  
2. Alex Smith (102 points)
• Stupid Alex Smith is back in this spot again.  Who knows maybe I'm wrong, but history tells me I'm not.  He keeps performing and he has stayed in this spot for 4 weeks, the Chiefs look good, but wait for a post game-6 regression.
3. Aaron Rodgers (100 points)
• He can really do no wrong.  Hell, he hit Jordy on a pass that even Jordy didn't think was possible.  His offensive pieces are dropping around him though, and while Rodgers can absolutely play hero ball, I don't think you like to see him having to do it all the time.
4. Russell Wilson (94 points)
• He's number 4 on the year with an absolute garbage o-line.  I think after the first two weeks he started drinking more Miracle Water ^tm and got over whatever ailed him.  I would call his RB corp thin at this point, but Lacy is back there so that's demonstrably incorrect.  
5. Drew Brees/ Dak Prescott (91 points)
• These guys arent blowing up, but they are incredibly consistent from week to week.  That London game looked bad for Brees but somehow he still put up over 20 and hasn't thrown a pick.  Prescott has a good running game, and has started airing it out more.  His defense isn't great, so he keeps throwing as well.

RB

1. Todd Gurley (116 points)
• Well, Hunt has been replaced.  This dude has been good, him and Goff have that whole offense clicking right now.  The defenses they have played aren't as good as the defenses they will play, but he's taken that top spot from Hunt, something that was seemingly impossible after the last few weeks.
2. Kareem Hunt (110 points)
• He now has less points than Tom Brady, so the fantasy world is coming back into balance.  But damn! A bad game for Hunt is 16 points and he has scored more than every other QB.  Dudes been great, but can now be considered a bust after losing spot 1 to Gurley.  Sell while you can Jared.
3. Leonard Fournette (74 points)
• Look at that gap between Hunt and Fournette.  Wow.  Fournette has been good for number 3 through 4 weeks and he has been a consistent force.  Jax actually has a defense that is good against teams without Bilal Powell, and that helps Fournette a lot.
4. Devonta Freeman (71 points)
• He's looked better than number 4 in my opinion, but Atlanta has a ton of offensive weapons.  He's great, and maybe with Julio and Sanu out he can have a good game.  Assuming they use him instead of Brate, Howard, and Coleman.  We will see I suppose. 
5. Zeke Elliott/ Chris Thompson (70 points)
• What does it say about Thompson that some scrub like Elliott can catch up to him this early in the season?  Maybe this is the end of the Thompson era, maybe it's time to drop Thompson, I think the huge amount of carries are catching up with him.  

WR

1. Stefon Diggs (83 points)
• Creating separation against the Lions is apparently not easy.  That's a sentence I wouldn't have typed before the season began.  Diggs did it and now has two consistent weeks back to back, so that's a good sign.
2. Antonio Brown (74 points)
• Throw that Gatorade Brown, throw it.  Ben missed him getting wide wide open about 3 times, and knowing how the Steelers have played that probably won't happen again.
3. Deandre Hopkins (72 points)
• He's got that league leading target count.  Watson blew up! If Fuller being on the field opens shit up this much for the Texans, then expect good things from that offense as a whole.
4. AJ Green (67 points)
• Consistently above 10 points, not too shabby.  Dalton looks better, even if it was against the Browns, and that can only help AJ Green. I would be maybe more worried when they start going against better teams again.
5. Jordy Nelson (66 points)
• Good going Andrew, two of the top 5.  Nelson and Rodgers are just god damned the same mind.  Nelson has the comebacks when Rodgers scrambles and they complete crazy looking things.  I don't even think Nelson is amazing, just has probably the most chemistry with a HoF QB.

TE

1. Rob Gronkowski (62 points)
• Same with Brady, if they keep having to score, Gronk will benefit.  It's not just TDs Grink gets huge plays out of seemingly nowhere at all.
2. Zach Ertz (61 points)
• Once again, the consistency is there.  Color me hugely surprised, I didn't think he had it in him.  Congrats to Wentz or Ertz (whoa, their names are similar!!!!) but either way, it's working here.
3. Travis Kelce (58 points)
• Hey look a big game!  Kelce is good, but he's still a punk.  I'd be worried about him getting suspended for something dumb, or catching 1 ball for 1 yard.
4. Charles Clay (51 points)
• 15, 5, 15, 16.  Take out week 2 and wow, that's almost exactly the same.  I think he might be the first passing option after Shady on that team.  That consistency is rad.
5. Delanie Walker/ Jason Witten (45 points)
• Tied for fifth, they're averaging only 11.25 ppg.  The vets are doing alright, but I just feel bad for TEs this year.

D/ST

1. Lions (57 points)
• This is the most strange thing about this season imo.  Think back to... forever.  When have the Lions had a good defense?  I didn't think football allowed that.
2. Jaguars (52 points)
• Kitty Cat teams dominating.  Read what I said above and also apply that here.
3. Steelers (49 points)
• Unsurprisingly both the last teams have played the Ravens and managed to make their way onto this list.  This is probably the first time they've made it here since Polamalu played for them.
4. Texans (43 points)
• Watt is good, but really their D isn't that scary anymore.  They've just got a whole d-line that is made of physical freaks.
5. Bills (41 points)
• Not a bad showing for a team that people thought would be one of the absolute worst teams before the season started.

K

Greg The Leg. LEGATRON.

GAME REVIEWS

Yuriy Yedinak vs Matt Burke

Matt had his first really respectable week and still got stomped.  Sorry Matt :(

Matt:  so this matchup should have been yours, except for the fact that your WRs all decided to take a week off.  I mean holy crap Lamar and Bell played great, Rivers actually threw some TDs and Seattle D destroyed the Colts.  At 0-4 what do you do?  I know last year I tried to make sensible trades and hold still, but it didn't work for me.  Ty Mont being injured is just a sad sad thing, but can you hold him while at 0-4?  Sanu is out for 2-3 weeks, Matthews broke his thumb, and Thompson (still on your bench) fell to earth.  I don't think I'm crazy, I think you gotta make some moves to survive man.

Yuriy:  you've got good players man, but they seem so inconsistent.  Who's blowing up each week?  I guess as long as someone does it's okay, but do you think that someone always will?  If so good going my man.  I don't really know what to say, maybe watch out for Gordon's bone bruise can keep him hurt for a while, and to be completely honest I don't believe that Mixon will ever become anything more than what he is now.  This year anyway, I mean Bernard isn't going away and clearly they like Hill, Mixon is just one piece of the three.  Witten might not continue to be a good bet with Dak getting more comfortable throwing to Dez.

Yuriy wins 140-129.

Oscar Meyer vs Daniel Smith 

This one was close for most of the weekend. 

Daniel:  let's just be clear here, Matt Ryan cost you that week.  Very clearly if you had played Dak you would have won.  Can you keep playing Ryan?  He does have two first names.  Your RBs and WRs are starting to come around and look solid, maybe Amendola will stay healthy for a bit longer than last time.  Landry on them Dolphins scares me, they pass to him a bunch but he doesn't get anywhere with those passes.  

Dad:  your team is like the tale of two different parts.  There is consistency with Brees, Howard, and Odell.  Then there is the week-to-week high variance of Gillislee, Watkins, and Ginn.  Serious kudos to picking the waiver wire and choosing the right people to play.  Clay, Ellington and Funchess look to be good depth and matchup plays for you in the future.  I think youre teetering the line of being scared of a lost season, but I also know that you've been there before and made it to the playoffs so you do what you do.

Oscar beats Daniel 133-123

Alex Gomez vs Jake Yorke

Alex changed his name and as far as I'm aware it's incredibly apt. 

Alex: how many of your players a week are dying?  Bye Carson, bye Adams, get well soon guys.  Ingram seems incredibly frustrating to own, as does Crowell.  Dalton put up 35 and you still scored less than 100, that's scary.  With the rest of your bench nursing injuries too your depth and starters are disappearing faster than Blockbusters in the early 2010s.  Stafford isn't performing greatly after that first week, and they are winning so who knows if that changes.  DT and Maclin aren't consistent, and they would appear to be your best hope.  I won't tell you what to do, but I would tell you you need to do something.

Jake:  I'm pretty amazed that you almost completely chose all the wrong players to start and still won easily.  McCoy isn't killing it but he also isn't losing you games, Brandin Cooks is a boom/bust officially I think.  Abandon all ye Ravens players, even against Oakland.  Your bench this week makes me think that there isn't a huge problem with your team, you just have to make the right choices when you go against an actual healthy team.

Jake wins 117-87

Chris Cone versus Andrew Gomez

Andrews team looks hot right now.

Chris:  Brady is helping you a ton, but I'm thinking you might need some depth so you can not start players like Mercedes Lewis and Brandon Coleman.  They're players that probably shouldn't be on your starting lineup, but at the same time I wonder if you have better choices.  Now your not near panic mode yet, there have been great things for your team, and Tom Brady will consistently give your whole team a safe floor.

Andrew:  your WRs are on fire man.  Your RBs this upcoming week are suddenly nonexistent.  They're scoring at crazy paces that can keep you afloat through many games.  That trade for Crabtree and Carr kinda blew up in your face with Carr's injury happening 😭.  You might need some depth but if the rest of your team can stay healthy then you can at least keep scoring points.

Andrew wins 143-104

Valeriy Shishkin versus Jared Grube

Third tie ever in the league (as it stands now).

Val:  those running backs I spoke of being amazing for you before suddenly aren't looking so hot.  Rodgers is pulling you through some adversity, and a last second TD helped you not lose.  Your whole team outside of Rodgers is becoming boom or bust and this was one of those bust weeks.  Your bench also didn't show much so it's not really that you made the wrong decision, it's just that no decision was the right one.

Jared:  Kareem came down to earth, even if his descent wasn't so far.  16 points shows he's at least something near human.  Julio getting hurt at least happens right before his bye, so good news there.  Cooper losing Carr😭 makes a bad situation worse for his outlook.  Theo Riddick didn't do anything and hasn't looked amazing, Tyreek showing that low score bust game, and Fleener being nonexistent can hurt.  Blount on your bench looks nice, but we can see now that your team isn't bulletproof.  If you had gone against 9 of the other teams then a tie wouldn't be something you'd even have to worry about, but that's fantasy football.

No one wins, everyone loses.

Nic Meyer vs Ory Yaslinskiy

Nic:  I could have won and I hate it.  The funny thing is, I asked Janice before the games start if I should start Fuller or Richardson, and Lynch or Abdullah.  If I had listened to her I would have won, but I didn't.  Lesson learned.  I feel good about my team though, my low score on the year is 106 and my high score is 122. That's consistency, and after adding some potentially high scoring pieces to my bench I think 2-2 is a fine place to be.  Also, Muscle Hamster and Luck are showing their faces on the horizon.  

Ory:  WTF with Gurley dude.  Bench him for fairness of the league plz.  Russell Wilson killed me and he absolutely should not have, unless they were all to Richardson.  Tate, Kearse and McCaffrey didn't look brilliant, but they didn't look terrible either.  That Jordan Reed trade hasn't helped you a ton either.  

Let me take a moment here to acknowledge the situation with Ory's brother Arkadiy.  Arkadiy is an amazing nice guy, and it's a tragedy what has happened to him.  I know we are a small group, but if you have anything to give I would absolutely urge you to help with his recovery.  Show some solidarity and keep Arkadiy in your thoughts.   Please do donate.

Arkadiy Yaslinskiy's generosity page.

Ory wins 138-118

Player Profile 

(Powered by Jake Yorke):

Alex Gomez!

Alex, a father to two, a husband, a son, and a brother.  Also the self-made expansion team heel who manages to upset everyone by doing a damn good job every year.  He's a great shit talker and a great opponent, he's carved out his role in our league quickly and it's better for having him. 

In the years since he has had his own team, he is 18-12 for a good .600 win percentage, which is pretty damn good.  He has a average ppg of 133.3!  His best season w/l was 10-3, and his overall best season was a loss to Matt Burke in the championship.  Dude has 111 player acquisitions since he has been in the league, which is good for the first place in acquisitions, surprisingly beating me out in that same time.  He's not a champion, but he is a contender, and unless we see some regression he has a high probability of getting one at some point.  Although, he is 1-2 in the playoffs...

The player we see linked to Alex most often is Carson Palmer, his favorite late round QB.  

The team in the NFL that bares the most similarity to Alex's fantasy teams is probably the Jaguars.  The Jags were an expansion team that came straight out the gate looking like they were going to be good contenders.  They had some great teams but never won a super bowl, and of course we know how badly the team looked for a while, and who knows, maybe Alex's bad years are still upcoming.  This 2 game losing streak certainly makes a case for that.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Jared Grube (3-0-1 492 PF) (previously 1)

2. Andrew Gomez (3-1 526 PF) (previously 2)

3. Yuriy Yedinak (3-1 496 PF) (previously 4)

4. Orest Yaslinskiy(2-2 494 PF) (previously 8)

5. Chris Cone (2-2 478 PF) (previously 3)

6. Nic Meyer (2-2 466 PF) (previously 5)

7. Jake Yorke (2-2 457 PF) (previously 10)

8. Valeriy Shishkin (2-1-1 432 PF) (previously 6)

9. Alex Gomez (2-2 407 PF) (previously 7)

10. Daniel Smith (1-3 469 PF) (previously 9)

11. Oscar Meyer (1-3 436 PF) (previously 11)

12. Matt Burke (0-4 402 PF) (previously 12)

Thanks for reading.  Good luck next week.