Fantasy football: new lows as season close to finish
Another week, another loss for me. My performance this year has been abysmal at best and this week was no different. With six teams out, attack of the bye week left most teams struggling to find points. However, some managed to rise above and turn their backup players into first-string points. Let’s take a look at how the week fared for The Tartan Fantasy League.
Justin Tucker Must (not) Die over Drop it like it’s Crock 103.3–95.4
Despite Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette’s unexpected benching, contributing editor Lula Beresford still managed to pull out a win. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz definitely compensated for Fournette’s lack of points completing 15 of 27 passes for 199 yards. He also managed four touchdowns in Philadelphia’s 51–23 win over Denver. Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey also had a pretty solid performance rushing 15 times for 66 yards and catching five of six passes. With New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, and Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis all bringing in double-digit points, Beresford’s team finished with a solid lead over mine. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott carried my team with two touchdowns, three carries, and 21 of 33 completed passes for a total of 26.7 points. My next highest scoring player, Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess, came in at 13.6 points catching five of seven targets. I went into this week expecting to win, but my players had other plans.
Third–String Team over Easy Breesy 126.4–120.3
Well, this week the student has become the master with assistant sports editor Marika Yang beating sports editor Ian Tanaya. Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch finally did what Yang drafted him to do carrying 14 times for 57 yards and two touchdowns for a total of 20.3 points. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce also performed well catching seven of nine targets and a touchdown for 20.3 points as well. Despite Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green only bringing in 1.6 points, Yang still pulled off the victory. Tanaya saw most of his points come from Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.
Thomas caught eight of 12 targets for 70 yards resulting in 21 points. Even though all but one of his players earned double-digit points, it still wasn’t enough to overcome Yang’s team.
Yes We Cam over Team Andah 107.4–48.7
Editor–in–Chief India Price more than doubled staffwriter Josh Andah’s score this week. We get it Andah, you care little to none about fantasy football, but I had hoped that by now you would have at least changed your name to something more fun and creative. Andah barely had a playable team this week with three players on bye week, one on injury reserve, and another that was benched for a hamstring injury. Honestly, 48.7 points is a lot for him to have garnered with so few players. He can attribute this tiny victory to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s 22 of 32 completed passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns for 23.6 points and wide receiver Doug Baldwin caught seven of 12 targets for 108 yards and a touchdown for 23.8 points. Andah’s lack of attention allowed Price to pull out a win despite scoring in the low 100s. Price saw an impressive performance from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, as usual, completing 13 of 24 passes for 137 yards, nine rushes, and a touchdown for 20.1. Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill also had a solid performance with a touchdown and two of four targets caught for a total of 15.3 points.
For week ten, I’m up against Andah, who has not made one adjustment to his line since draft day and I’m pretty sure has forgotten he’s a part of this so it won’t be as satisfying, but I should at least win since he’ll have two players on bye week. With many of Yang’s top scorers on bye week, I expect Price to easily overcome her team. As far as the matchup between Tanaya and Beresford, it seems a bit too close to call right now. While I know it’s far too late for me to do anything about my terrible losing streak, I’m looking forward to a victory in week ten. Although maybe I shouldn’t count my eggs before they hatch because the last time I faced off against Andah, he still won despite having two players on bye week. Stay tuned.