The Duality of Luck

Image by Nick M. W.

By Emmitt Smith and Nick M. W.

Sometimes you need a little luck to win (or lose).

Week 10 separated the playoff contenders further away from the consolation tournament teams, killing whatever remained of playoff hopes for a few squads. Sure, there could be a miracle 4-game winning streak for one of those teams to end the season and somehow get them into the playoffs, with some additional the help from head-to-head records against other teams in the hunt. Seems unlikely, but…

There are still 4 weeks left in the AGS fantasy football season, which is plenty of time for things to turn from Caravella Lemoncello to lemon juice concentrate. Injuries keep piling up, week-to-week, and waivers are thinner than a Jussie Smollett alibi. It’s a mess out there for owners with the same records, trying to land a playoff spot and let it ride. 4 more weeks to close it and get coffee or blow it.

Reactions to Week 10:
Emmitt: If anybody punched me in the stomach all week, it would be losing to Jimmy (FU Pay Me). Another drought by my QB, along with Gerald Everett, my #1 wide receiver, the kicker on the 49ers, and their defense. “Underperforming” Kamara struck again with a damn dud of a game. Overall, I had five players going into Sunday night’s game down by 38 and losing by two points. All I can do now is win every week, that's all. I had to get up and hit the movies and see the new Black Panther movie. Epic!!

Nick: I nailed my prediction from last week. Check my receipt from last week below.

Screenshot from “Dog Days” AGS Week 9, 2022, review. FarFromProfessional.com.

I was up by 35 going into the Monday Night game, and I pulled out the win!

Pimps has a bad record, but he could get hot and run the table. Coach Doyle has a good roster, but the way this game goes, sometimes that doesn’t matter. Pimps should have won; Jalen Hurts and Jake Elliot (kicker) were whittling my 35-point lead down to single digits, and he had enough time to cover that gap.

I held onto a 7-point lead halfway through the 4th quarter, and I was just waiting for Hurts to get one more shot at throwing a 50-yard touchdown to bury me, but it never happened. It was a Monday Night miracle! I didn’t earn that win, but I scored enough points to survive and avoid the loss.

I benched Aaron Jones, and that almost cost me. Why would I do that? Who was my better option? It turns out no one else on Rebel Scum was a better option, but I won and that’s all that matters.

Rudy, has your frame of mind towards the rest of the season shifted after your Week 9 loss? Obviously, you still want to win games, but do you have a different goal now then you did one week ago?

Emmitt:  My frame of mind has to be to keep competing. What else am I gonna do? I still have to fight for keepers plus mathematically I’m not out, so keep the fun train pushing Scum. This shit sucks, and you know what I mean.  

Nick: I do, and it does. The air is out of your balloon, but at least you’re not down at the bottom without much to play for this season. The extra keeper is valuable, whether or not you earn it through making the actual playoffs or winning the Turd Bowl consolation.

Scum, your squad has been hit with the injury bug in a major way this season. First it was Javonte Williams. Then Mike Williams went down. Now, Cooper Kupp is going to miss a few weeks.  There are 4 weeks left in the regular season, what’s your plan to stay competitive?

Nick: One thing I’m going to do is lean heavy on the run game. Justin Fields has been my best running back the last few weeks, and one of the best in real football during that same stretch, so he’s going to start every game he’s available and carry that rock with Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard, and Aaron Jones. 

I have some decent receivers, and Cooper Kupp was my big gun, but he is pretty much out for the season with that ankle injury, so I consider that a wrap for his 2022 AGS campaign. Mike Williams is still iffy with his ankle injury, but I’ll probably play him if he’s a go. Otherwise, Rebel Scum’s receivers are Chris Olave and Brandon Aiyuk, and that’s not exciting at all. 

So, we’re running the shit out of the ball, we’re going to play better defense, and I’m hoping everyone stays healthy because I need to squeeze out at least a couple more wins. At 7 - 3, I think if I go at least .500 in the last 4 games, I’ll make the playoffs. 

Which team do you enjoy beating the most when you pick up a win against them?

Nick: I enjoy every win equally. Each one carries something special with it. I haven’t beaten The Sugandese in a minute, so picking up a win against him in our upcoming matchup in Week 12 would probably feel better than any of the other wins I’ve racked up so far this season. 

Emmitt:  Same here Scum. However, I will say that there is always a good gut punch win around the last two weeks when everyone is playing within their division and spoiling someone’s hopes and dreams makes the holidays even sweeter. 

If you could see any musician perform, one that you haven’t ever seen, dead or currently alive, who would it be and why?

Emmitt: Both are dead. I want to see DMX first, and Michael Jackson from “Black or White” era (aka Dangerous ) to the Invincible album Mike! People still to this day don’t know how gangster Mike was.

C’mon son! DMX for the energy. DMX got me through basic training in 2000 when he dropped …And Then There Was X. Yo ,his pain, spirituality and deliverance of what was in him was always on full tilt!! Complete goose bumps thinking about it bro. 

Nick: Damn. Those are good call. MJ was the absolute shit for pretty much our entire childhoods. I got to see DMX when he performed on the Def Jam “Hard Knock Life” Tour. Seeing him was a spiritual experience. It was like you said.

For me, though, it would probably either be Nirvana or Biggie. Yeah, no, definitely Nirvana and Biggie. Ideally together, one after the other, Biggie opens, followed by Nirvana.

Predictions for your Week 11 matchups:

Emmitt:  Well my prediction is that I don’t get stressed out over T.RUTH running rampant with Derrick Henry and the Denver defense against the Raiders. So yeah, my roster will be lackluster and will not hit their marks for a 4th straight week. 

Nick: Another close matchup. This is how it’s going to be from here on out. I think Rebel Scum has better matchups than FU Pay Me!, so you know I’m calling it for Scummy in a close win that will be decided by Sunday night.