Fantasy league 2017 -- week 8 recap

At the halfway point in the season, there’s a pretty clear pick for MVP. And it should be no surprise that it’s the QB for the best team in football.

It’s not rocket science. He’s done everything this team has asked of him. He’s been a steady leader who doesn’t get into trouble, doesn’t make everything about himself, and just keeps winning. And winning. And winning.

It’s not an exaggeration to say he hasn’t made a single mistake on the field this year. When he is in the game, you know a victory is coming. It’s certain. And you can see the team sees it too. That kind of calming leadership is rare in the league these days, especially with a significant lack of quality QB play on many other teams.

True, there is still a half season to go. But especially after his performance on Sunday, I feel like it’s time to acknowledge the greatness that we’re seeing on the Eagles sidelines every week.

That’s why the first half MVP award goes to backup Eagles QB Nick Foles, who saw his first game action this week and nobly handed off the ball seven times on Sunday to help seal the victory over the Niners. His dedication to the craft is inspiring, and his work this year has been flawless. It’s worth noting the Eagles are 22-8 in the last 30 games he has suited up in a Philadelphia uniform.

Also Carson Wentz is doing a really good job too.

QB: Russell Wilson, 43.08 pts — on my bench
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, 24.93 pts — started by Mom D
RB: Ezekiel Elliott, 25.77 pts — started by Jim
TE: Jack Doyle, 20.07 pts — started by Jim
K: Matt Prater, 18.00 pts — started by Mike
DEF: Baltimore, 34.00 pts — started by Sam
D: Matt Milano, 15.50 pts — on the wire

Don’t cry for me too much. While Wilson had 452 yds passing, 4 TDs and 30 yds rushing, my other QB (DeShaun Watson) had 402 yds passing, 4 TDs and 67 yds rushing (and two more turnovers) for 40.78 pts. So I’m OK starting the wrong QB this week.

Also, there are no Eagles on this list this week. But if the Eagles go 4-4 in the second half of the season, they'll finish 11-5. Since the playoff expanded to 12 teams, no team has ever gotten 11 wins and missed the post-season.

(Edit: Eric just noted that the 2008 Patriots went 11-5 and missed the playoffs. But nobody likes Eric.)



“Kinda boring” edition

3rd place: Jeremy Kerley, -0.91 pts — on the wire
2nd place: Oakland, -1.00 pts — on the wire
1st place: Houston, -2.00 pts — started by Bob

Fun fact: Houston gave up 35 pts this week and was worth negative pts. Seattle, the team they played, gave up 38 but was worth 11 pts, thanks to a return TD. Fantasy football is a cruel mistress.

** In case you missed it, the early game on Sunday was “A special Sunday edition of Thursday Night Football, from London.” So it was a Thursday football game we watched on a Sunday morning, but played Sunday night. Unless you watched it on tape delay.

** The first official set of college football playoff rankings came out on Tuesday. Related, the entire college football playoff system is dumb and should be nuked.

** As Joanna pointed out to me, the Fox announcers during Sunday’s football games kept saying that the World Series would be on later that evening “right here where your dial is set.” It’s possible they were talking about the 1984 World Series, in which case the TV dial reference would have made sense, but not so much for 2017.

In honor of All Hallows' Eve tonight, here’s a look at the scariest facts for some of the supposed championship contenders in the NFL:

** Atlanta Falcons: The team is 4-3 … and won by less than a TD each against the Lions, Jets and Bears. Oh my. They easily could be 1-6.

** New England Patriots: The team is 6-2 … and giving up more yards per game than anyone in football. Their offense collects 16 yds a game less than their defense surrenders each week.

** Pittsburgh Steelers: The team is 6-2 … and their QB is the 25th rated passer in the league. He has zero games with three TDs this year and one game with five INTs.

** Seattle Seahawks: The team is 5-2 … and rushed for 33 yards on 21 carries this week. Take away one 21-yrd QB scramble, and they rushed 20 times for 12 yds.

** Jacksonville Jaguars: The team is 4-3 … and in first place. That’s a horrifying indictment against the AFC South and football as a whole.

Dallas managed to escape with another victory on Sunday, much to the delight of their younger players, who are learning how to feast on the misery of others to sustain their dark souls. Take, for example, the Cowboy’s second-round pick this year, who had to be benched this week because of adjustment problems to the pro game. After the victory against the Maryland Racial Slurs, the extent of his confusion because clear as his name unraveled across headlines:

Dallas Rookie Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie
** Us win? I be a crackhead doll. I be a zero crook.

That much evil can make it seem like your brain is on drugs, kids.

Also, all the drugs in the Dallas facility doesn’t help either.

** Dad and I split our picks again this week. After picking Oakland to lose last week (they won), I picked them to win this week (they lost). Stupid Raiders. But I’m still five games ahead of Dad, and at 73-46 for the year so far (61 percent), I’m not doing too bad.

** The Phillies hired Dodgers assistant coach Gabe Kapler as their new manager this week. He’s a heavy analytics guy who once forced the Dodgers minor-league system to switch to only organic food. I expect he’ll be beaten to death by Larry Andersen before next July.

** O-H-I-O. Just saying.

** We’ll deal with that giant Eagles trade next week. I can’t handle it right now.

Week 8 standings

1 — Foles me Wentz (Capt. Awesome), 1017.39 pts
2 — Gronky Tonk Man (Joel), 959.99 pts
3 — For Who? For Wentz? (Ant), 929.53 pts
4 — Animal Crackers (Mom D), 871.80 pts
5 — ThePigskin Predators (Dad), 867.92 pts
6 — Dat CTE Lyfe (Sam), 834.98 pts
7 — Foles v. Sproles (Jo), 827.01 pts
8 — Cosby's Sleepers (Mike), 787.74 pts
9 — Tiny Trump Gloves (Jim), 770.91 pts
10 — SmartyPants on Fire (Paul), 729.49 pts
11 — Blue Collar Killers (Jeff), 713.13 pts
12 — Last Exit 2 Kutztown (Bob), 691.77 pts

Now we’re talking.

My squad’s huge week — 172.76 pts, the biggest single week of the season so far — made them the first fantasy team over the 1,000-pts barrier this year, and put them back in the top spot in the chase for the Awesome Cup. For those of you keeping score at home, I’ve scored more than 310 pts over the last two weeks, or about 45 percent of Bob’s total for the first eight weeks of the season. That’s good coaching, my friends.

One more reminder: The NFL trade deadline is over, but the league’s trade deadline isn’t until Thanksgiving. So if you really want to pry LeGarrette Blount away from me, you still have time to do that.