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All-Star vs. All-Misfit Week 8!

These next two weeks are the most important weeks of the regular season in fantasy football.

I’m not joking. The roster decisions you make in Week 9 and Week 10 will likely decide your fantasy championship. For all of those 6-2, 7-1, or (nice going) 8-0 teams out there, you can take a hit at this point. That means that if you have a player with great matchups in your league’s championship weeks, you can take a 0 at their position if they’re on bye here. Maybe make some trades, boost up your roster. You’ve almost locked up a playoff spot and now that should be your entire focus.

For those teams that are 5-3, 4-4, or 3-5, these weeks are also insanely critical. You’re two games out of locking up a playoff spot or falling completely out of contention. You cannot afford to take 0s, and if you’re rostering two middle-of-the-road TEs, D/STs, or QBs…. Well, don’t do that.

Oh and for those stuggling teams out there - Sometimes you’re the highest scorer in your league. Sometimes, you’re the second highest scorer in your league. In one of my leagues this week, I was the latter… against the former. Some days you put up 182 and they put up 190. Luck of the draw.

The All-Star team contains the top players from each position in terms of Average Draft Positions. For instance, Peyton Manning was the first quarterback off of most boards this year. Therefore, he’s the weekly All-Star QB. If the All-Star player has a bye, I go to the next person at that position by ADP (when Manning is out, I go to Aaron Rodgers, the second QB off the board). The All-Misfit team contains the players that nobody expected to score, but hit paydirt. This team will change drastically week-to-week, as no player can be on it consecutive weeks.

The scoring is ESPN standard, and the team format is: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, D/ST, K.

Without further ado, here is your Week 8 All-Star team!

QB: Peyton Manning – 23 points
RB: LeSean McCoy – 9 points
RB: Jamaal Charles - 23 points
WR: Dez Bryant - 9 points
WR: Demaryius Thomas – 10 points
TE: Jimmy Graham - 11 points
D/ST: Seahawks - 12 points
K: Stephen Gostkowski – 15 points

Total: 115 points

With Calvin Johnson gone another week (and surprise: he’s gone this week too, folks… Bye Week) Dez tried to fill in again here and failed. However, the takeaways here are that Jamaal Charles’ sluggish start to the season is now a thing of the past – he’s gotten over 100 yards from scrimmage in his last few games. Also – Jimmy Graham is healthy and officially back on the “start with confidence” TE1 spectrum. He’ll return to Top-3 TE shape in no time. McCoy’s still trying to find some holes – I bet he’d find more if he bought all of his O-Line the new Madden so they can see how good they’re supposed to be. Seahawks D/St bounced back after all that chatter, but they’re still matchup dependent, like almost every defense except perhaps the Lions.

Here’s the All-Misfit team!

QB: Ben Roethlisberger - 44 points
RB: Lorenzo Taliaferro - 18 points
RB: Theo Riddick - 13 points
WR: Brandin Cooks - 21 points
WR: Donte Moncrief - 17 points
TE: Tim Wright - 12 points
D/ST: Dolphins - 26 points
K: Billy Cundiff - 13 points

Total: 164 points

Ok, so Big Ben’s Big Day (dibs on the children’s book with that title…) totally skewed this. But last week was a crazy fantasy week, with a bunch of big days for a bunch of people. I expect Taliaferro to be a weekly Flex consideration, with Bernard Pierce clearly in the doghouse. Brandin Cooks is also legit – another weekly flex with WR2 upside (especially playing at home… and he’s a solid WR2 in PPR). Tim Wright makes his second appearance on the misfit team – all that guy does is catch touchdowns, annoy Gronk owners, and catch more touchdowns. Ben Roethlisberger’s production here is a complete flash in the pan – don’t buy into it. If you started him, great. If not, don’t start him this week.

VICTORY: Misfits. By a lot.

Overall: Misfits lead 3-1-1.

Week 9 Waiver Picking

This week is TERRIBLE bye-week. Good luck.

QUARTERBACKS

Michael Vick (@ Kansas City)

Yah, yah, yah I get why you’re screaming at me. But Michael Vick used to be a great QB, and at this point he’s fighting for a starting spot. He’s got cool toys with Eric Decker and Percy Harvin, and the guy can still run. I think he’ll do fine this week.

Brian Hoyer (vs. Tampa Bay)

I’d start YOU versus Tampa Bay. But seriously – he doesn’t completely suck as an NFL QB. Ignore the Jacksonville game. He’ll throw it a couple of times into the endzone.

Teddy Bridgewater (vs. Washington)

Washington’s young secondary looked great on Monday Night Football. But that was a rivalry game in the spotlight. I expect Bridgewater to air it out a lot (especially since Washington actually has a good run defense this year). He’ll throw a TD and maybe sneak one in on the ground.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Mike Evans (@ Cleveland)

He’s getting a decent amount of targets every game, and Haden will try to take away VJax. I think this opens up the field for Evans to score again.

Martavis Bryant (vs. Baltimore)

Just want to throw it out there – the Steelers’ offense looked phenomenal this past weekend. Roethlisberger is coming to Baltimore for a rivalry game, and he’s coming in hot. Bryant will get his.

Allen Robinson (@ Cincinnati)

I like Allen Robinson, and he is the only receiving option you want to own in Jacksonville. He finds the endzone and gets a ton of targets against a Bengals defense that is floundering.

RUNNING BACKS (aka Slim Pickin’s)

Charles Sims (@ Cleveland)

You heard it here first (maybe). Lovie Smith inherited Doug Martin and Bobby Rainey when he came to Tampa Bay. He chose Charles Sims, and talked him up this week. Sims can pass-catch and run the ball hard… and he’s super-duper available in nearly every league out there. Grab him.

DeAngelo Williams (vs. New Orleans)

I usually don’t advocate for starting a Carolina RB. But this week, you may be desperate, and Williams loves to run. He’s the best back on the team, and the only one that’s really healthy.

Denard Robinson (@ Cincinnati)

I told you last week to get him. A lot of you didn’t. Your loss – he’s a bright spot in an otherwise dismal offense. Seriously though – he’s running through holes that aren’t there.

TIGHT ENDS

Dwayne Allen (@ NYG)

Allen is a top-12 TE and I don’t understand why he’s so available. That said, he’s got a good matchup against the Giants, and he’s a favorite target of Andrew Luck.

Larry Donnell (vs. Indianapolis)

On the other side of this game, I think it’s time for Donnell to reemerge. Coming out of the bye, I think he and Eli had a meeting and realized that Eli+Donnell=Touchdowns=winning. I’m not good at math, but I think winning is good.

Niles Paul (@ Minnesota)

Jordan Reed is a top-10 TE. But Gruden has realized that he needs to buy time for his QB to throw at his star wide receiving duo. Niles Paul is their blocking back, and he also gets open for dump passes when coverage breaks down. He’s seeing a lot of snaps, which is worth a streaming add this week.

TOFFG interview: Marshawn Lynch!

This week, we had the honor of interviewing a man of few words - Marshawn Lynch. He typically doesn't like talking to the media, but we were able to get some fake answers out of him.

The Other Fantasy Football Guys: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Lynch. Can we call you Marshawn?

Marshawn Lynch: Yah.

TOFFG: You actually seem to have a lot of nicknames, such as “Skittles,” “Beast Mode,” and even “Money” back in college at Cal. Where do all of these come from?

ML: I’m Beast Mode on the field. It’s what I do.

TOFFG: What about “Skittles?”

ML: Yo, have you ever had Skittles? Taste the rainbow, man. I got a custom Skittles dispenser in my locker. Keep me goin’.

TOFFG: It really does seem to. You have been unstoppable on the field, but you’ve averaged 300 carries per season going into this year. Aren’t you worried about getting hurt?

ML: I’m just ‘bout that action, boss.

TOFFG: Yes, we know. But what about your physical condition? Have you had any worries about your ability to continue playing at this level?

ML: No. I’m worried about other people trying to play at my level.

TOFFG: Right… in other news, how do you feel about the Percy Harvin trade?

ML: Damn, they got my *censored*.

TOFFG: I’m terribly sorry, Skittles. But how do you prepare for games, going forward? Your team can’t stretch the field as much, so they might not be able to give you the ball.

ML: Stay ready so it ain’t no getting ready.

TOFFG: What does that even mean?

ML: ...

Photo Credit

J. Harris Picks the Thursday Night Game!

Check it out under "The Other Guys Pick the NFL" above!

Shutup and Listen (Fantasy Football for Mature Audiences)...

... has a new post from contributor CKShreve! Check it out in the menu above.

All-Star vs. All-Misfit, Week 7!

This is a public service announcement – if you have any players on the Lions or Falcons, make sure your lineups are set by 9 am EST. THE GAME IS IN LONDON… with a super early kickoff. Those of you who have Reggie Bush/Calvin Johnson will get clarity on whether they’re playing, super early. But if you have to choose between a Lions/Falcons player and a player later in the day, then… good luck, I guess.

Just a reminder - The All-Star team contains the top players from each position in terms of Average Draft Positions. For instance, Peyton Manning was the first quarterback off of most boards this year. Therefore, he’s the weekly All-Star QB. If the All-Star player has a bye, I go to the next person at that position by ADP (when Manning is out, I go to Aaron Rodgers, the second QB off the board). The All-Misfit team contains the players that nobody expected to score, but hit paydirt. This team will change drastically week-to-week, as no player can be on it consecutive weeks.

The scoring is ESPN standard, and the team format is: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, D/ST, K.

Without further ado, here is your Week 7 All-Star team!

QB: Peyton Manning – 28 points
RB: Matt Forte – 22 points
RB: Jamaal Charles - 16 points
WR: Dez Bryant - 15 points
WR: Demaryius Thomas – 29 points
TE: Jimmy Graham - 0 points
D/ST: Seahawks - 1 point
K: Stephen Gostkowski – 9 points

Total: 120 points

As usual, all Forte does is produce, produce, produce. Demaryius pulled off another great game – stacking him with Peyton Manning is a winning combination this and every year. However, Jimmy Graham played dead this week… after he was a surprise active. A lot of people (this guy!) were burned by that. Seahawks have become a matchup-based defense… you can safely drop them if they have a rough matchup and someone better is available (Lions, Colts, etc).

Here’s the All-Misfit team!

QB: Kyle Orton - 15 points
RB: Tre Mason - 14 points
RB: Denard Robinson - 18 points
WR: Kenny Stills - 16 points
WR: Allen Robinson - 12 points
TE: Gavin Escobar - 18 points
D/ST: Vikings - 14 points
K: Blair Walsh - 13 points

Total: 120 points

I think all of these players are legit pickups if you need someone in a deeper league, except for Gavin Escobar. Surprise game from Denard Robinson – the Jags are the third-worst run-blocking offense in the league. If the Jags continue to run with him, he could be an intriguing add.

VICTORY: NO ONE! Tie, 120 all.

Overall: Misfits lead 2-1-1. (I've only done this a few weeks, y'all. Calm down.)