Grindhouse
Image by Nick M. W.
By Emmitt Smith and Nick M. W.
AGS teams continue the brutal march through the fantasy football season.
As the season marches on through Week 9, teams in any fantasy football league start to see separation between the playoff contenders and the rest of the teams. This past week in AGS fantasy football saw a bit of that happening, which segmented our league into tiers of success.
In the top tier stands one team, T. Ruth, who so far has managed to be our Sunday Division leader since the season kicked off. He was the league champ in 2018, and he’s been in the mix for a title in every year since that one. This season, he’s 8 - 1, and he may not see another loss for at least 2 more weeks. He’s punched his ticket to the playoffs, and it hasn’t really been that close. His one loss this year was by 0.5 points.
The next tier features 5 teams that are all around 3 wins away from getting into the playoffs. These teams—New Jax City (5 - 4), Rebel Scum (6 - 3), The Curse (6 - 3), The Sugandese (6 - 3), and Ambassadors of Quan (6 - 3)—all have realistic chances of making the playoffs, but they are definitely not guaranteed to make the playoffs. This is especially true for Scum, Curse, and Suga, who are all in the same division with T. Ruth and get to end the season with games against each other. At least one of these teams is not going to make the playoffs.
That’s because of a team in the third tier. Who's Coming in 2nd? is leading our Thursday Division with a losing record (4 - 5) because he’s undefeated against his division rivals, despite Ambassadors of Quan having the best record in that division. Penthouse Pimps (4 - 5) and Rudy’s Replacements (3 - 6) have a lot of talent on their rosters and can put up a bunch of points when they’re hot. I have a feeling one of these 4 teams is going to get hot to close out the season, make the playoffs, and crush someone else’s dreams.
The last tier teams in AGS is for this year’s bottom feeders, all 2 - 7, and all former champs, including Cebert Frogs, the winningest team in AGS, and also the most consistently good. According to the genius statisticians at CBS Sports, Frogs averages a third place finish every year. Not this one, though. FU Pay Me! and Palos Verdes Prime Time round out the last of the bottom teams. One of these squads will be heading for a name change next season.
There are still 5 weeks to go in the regular season, though, and a lot can change before the dust settles in the end.
Reactions to Week 9:
Nick: Fantastic win against a good team and a division leader, New Jax City. Most of our guys played in the morning window out here in the Pacific Time Zone, and I spent the entire morning trying not to think about the huge mistake I'd made just before kickoff.
I had my roster set Thursday. The only real decision I had to make was whether or not to start Justin Fields or A-Rod. Easy choice. I put Fields in and enjoyed the rest of my week.
Sunday morning at around 9:15, I decided to start Aaron Rodgers because Allan Lazard, that all-world badass receiver, was playing. It looked like the right choice after the Bears and Packers first offensive drive, but things quickly changed.
Out of sheer luck, NJC's offense wasn't in its top form, so Justin Fields’ 50-burger that I left parked on my bench wasn't a critical error. A few of the other guys on my squad came through to seal the deal for me.
Emmitt: I don’t have the words to describe how frustrating it is to have players that are attached to quarterbacks who can’t score. I can’t lose anymore. I’m 3-6 and in the hole. Another week of frustrating QB play from Herbert. He doesn’t have his “main” receivers, and his ribs are still hurt, but you are out there every Sunday, so I need some frickin production! Plus, I was going up against one of the hottest teams in the league in The Curse. It was a solid 142-112 win for him though.
Biggest surprise of Week 9:
Emmitt: There are no more surprises; I’m just waiting for my players to break out and start putting up some stats. It’s like there are only 6 teams in the NFL that like using running backs the right way. No surprise over here, just frustration watching this damn team.
Nick: Justin Fields breakout performance was a big surprise. He’s been one of the best fantasy football quarterbacks since Week 5, and he’s been riding my bench since last season when I drafted him as a rookie. It’s taken a 30-point and 50-point performance the last two weeks to finally earn a starting spot on Rebel Scum’s roster this week.
Looking at the standings, I still think it's possible that Rudy's Replacements can sneak into the playoffs, but some fantasy football magic has to happen.
Rebel Scum, you are 6 - 3, but that's far from a guaranteed playoff spot.
How are you two owners feeling about the last five weeks of the season?
Emmitt: Gotta go 5-0. That’s how I feel. But I just see our playoff picture to look like the playoff picture in the NFL. It’s pretty wide open when there are five or six teams that could catch fire and win it all.
Nick: Yeah, I feel the same way as Rudy. Looking at my record, you might think that there isn’t as much pressure to win this week or next week with 5 games left and at least 2 wins to earn a playoff spot, but I feel a lot of pressure to get those two wins before I have to play my division rivals the last 3 weeks of the season. Getting those two wins won’t be easy.
Pimps is my Week 10 matchup, and even though he’s a game below .500, he’s got a squad that can put up points. Jalen Hurts and Nick Chubb are scary, and D’Onta Foreman is one of those backup running backs who can produce.
I’m feeling like the last 5 weeks of the season are going to be stressful.
Which 2 - 7 team are you most surprised to see struggling this season?
Nick: Probably Frogs because he used to make a couple of in-season moves that would give his team a boost and carry him into the playoffs. I can’t remember the last time he didn’t make the playoffs. Both FU Pay Me! and PVPT sat out of the playoffs last season, so their struggles aren’t as surprising.
Emmitt: I’m surprised to see both Primetime and Cebert struggle with the QB’s they have. I mean I’m only a game ahead of them, but I think Cebert got stagnant with his roster. A whole lot of trades, injuries, changes to offensive systems can have a roster looking real raggedy, but, I don’t know. I think there is gonna be a record pileup at the end of the season.
If you could have a mulligan, would you take back your trade or make a different move?
Emmitt: So is this question a way to think that what I did was idiotic? I don’t have a mulligan or know anybody named mulligan. I made a move to improve, and it is not looking very good.
Nick: No, I wouldn’t do it over if I could. I didn’t spend much for the Bills DST. They have been okay so far. I thought they would play better against the Jets. Dang…maybe I would take that mulligan.
Predictions for your Week 10 matchups:
Emmitt: You already know, Rudy’s gotta win!
Nick: I’m nervous about this matchup with Pimps. It’s going to be close, and he’s got Jalen Hurts going on Monday night, so if I’m not up by 35 points or more, it’ll be a sweaty ass cheek kind of night.
