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Paper Tigers
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Another year comes to a conclusion. Sort of strange year. Did not feel like there was an elite team at all until second half of year once again Asian Alley Cats moved to the front of the pack.
I don’t know if its my imagination or not, but it feels like more than ever it is so hard to post a lineup of players who actually play. Its surprising in an age of so much access and information that it seems more difficult to know who is playing until 3 minutes before kickoff on Twitter. Multiple times this year I had Ibrahim, Tillman, Sanders, Tavion Thomas either play or not play at last minute when I had no idea what would happen. In cases of Ibrahim and Thomas it was a shock even to the fans of those teams. Unless you are able to hang on Twitter for 12 hours on a Saturday, its very hard to post a lineup of 9 players who actually play wee after week. Maybe I’m just misremembering and this has always been a major issue but somehow seems worse now. Team by team breakdown below in order of finish:
All-Soul Team:
Congratulations to Asian Alley Cats on another Points Title. Wish I coulda held him off. See everyone next June!!!
I don’t know if its my imagination or not, but it feels like more than ever it is so hard to post a lineup of players who actually play. Its surprising in an age of so much access and information that it seems more difficult to know who is playing until 3 minutes before kickoff on Twitter. Multiple times this year I had Ibrahim, Tillman, Sanders, Tavion Thomas either play or not play at last minute when I had no idea what would happen. In cases of Ibrahim and Thomas it was a shock even to the fans of those teams. Unless you are able to hang on Twitter for 12 hours on a Saturday, its very hard to post a lineup of 9 players who actually play wee after week. Maybe I’m just misremembering and this has always been a major issue but somehow seems worse now. Team by team breakdown below in order of finish:
- 1. Asian Alley Cats – Again, Scott and his wide net of insider connections lead him to another points title. Drake Maye emerging was big. AAC shoots for the moon at QB and normally hits a few of them. Anthony Richardson was boom or bust but the boom can be Ws. Made some smart pickups during the year at RB to weather the mediocre performances of top RBs on depth chart. Sort of similar at WR too. Top players don’t knock your socks off. Pretty impressive to finish with the most points despite not having excellent RB or WR units.
- 2. Paper Tigers – Thought early in the year that I might have the best team in the league but was a very thin roster. Backups after top 3 QBs, 3 RBs, 4 WRs, were worthless and I did not get anything much from waivers. My QB picks were really good in Sanders, Duggan and Daniels after Armstrong busted. Tavion Thomas was so puzzling, things going on in locker room or off field there. Then Tillman’s injury cost me a lot but everyone has injuries – it was just hard to know when he’d play or not. Ibrahim was a beast at RB and Hutchinson most consistent WR in country although only 3 TDs vs FBS teams. Too often though I had to start weak WRs during bye weeks. Still, all in all, QB strength first half of year result in a runner-up finish.
- 3. End Zone Divas – Hooker, Penix, Ewers made for one of the best QB units. Good find in Reese at RB although A&M’s anemic offense didn’t help things. Downs was as good as expected at WR and Hyatt obviously was a big find. This was one of the stronger teams despite not having an excellent RB unit.
- 4. Skeet Shooters – This really looks like the best team on paper but you have to factor in the odd waiver pickups, kickerless lineups, and all the other buffonery that we always get from the island. A lineup that starts with Hartman, Cunningham, Charbonnet, Judkins, Johnston is tough and there were options at WR. Cunningham and Hartman both missed some games and I don’t know how early in the season Judkins got into the lineup but I’d still say by end of season this was one of the top 2 or 3 lineups in the league.
- 5. Waxy Frogs – This team got off to a hot start but I had concerns. Tucker and Brown’s schedules got tougher and the production dropped off especially for Tucker. Brown kept getting yards but then was in low scoring B1G games with few TDs to be had. Bryce Young wasn’t great this year and very thin at QB behind Travis. Was Travis good? I don’t know. Backup RBs really shaky. At WR Wicks was so bad this year. Team definitely declined but still finished in top half of the league.
- 6. Smurf Turfers – Leonard surprised at QB – not sure how much he was used here. Very strong RB unit – probably the best in the league. A lot of question at WR and you need to start at least 3 each year. Will be interesting to see if the Turfers face any offseason ramifications for the white-flag trade made with Heisman Hopefuls. Will Shipley may look to transfer from the Turfers with the leadership questions amidst the controversy
- 7. Heisman Hopefuls – Moved up from 10th to 7th with a big final week. I liked the QB position early but then Shrader and Levis slowed down in second half of year. Brilliant pickup in Charlie Jones and risked a lot of fantasy points to do it. Gibbs had his good days so that was not a bad pick. Biggest issue here is inconsistency at wide receiver I think with top WR picks not doing all that much this season although Jones made up for some of that. Good use of waiver wire for a few different guys to make up for draft misses. Unfortunate that the owner felt the need to collude with another owner in that late-season shakedown of Raheim Sanders for circus peanuts.
- 8. Orgy of Evil – Good QB unit with Pac-12 guys. Henderson was disappointing. RBs here are not good at all. Actually neither are WRs. Really a one unit team this season.
- 9. Drunk Jocks – I thought I liked this team a decent amount but WRs Mingo wasn’t consistent. Allen on Wisconsin didn’t have the season some thought he’d have. Will Rogers was mostly good but never runs so he’s not elite and passing yards probably below what one would expect. Then the other QBs behind him are really limited. Marvin Harrison ended up being good addition but not enough players here to fill out a strong lineup week in and week out.
- 10. Winsley’s Warriors – Thought this team had potential to have a great year – what a disappointment. The QBs are OK but nobody here you could count on each week. Bijan was good and Dye was too before getting injured. But its WR that was the big problem here. Smith Njigba did absolutely nothing and it was tempting for Mike to start him when it seemed like he’d play. Burden was a Week 1 tease. Other WR options were OK like Ford-Wheaton, McMillan etc. Entire year woulda been different if Smith-Njigba was healthy.
- 11. California Raisins – QB position really a mess here. Not sure I’d like starting any of those guys week in and week out. Howard probably ended as top QB. Abanikanda was really good . Thought Grant was nice pickup early but Nebraska was just so bad it didn’t work out. Iowa State never scores points. Definitely some talent at WR with Smith-Njiba missing season and Egbuka getting more playing time but in this league you need QB production and it just wasn’t here.
- 12. Dawgfathers – The QBs outside of Jefferson disappointed here. Leary wasn’t even good when in and Tagovailoa had some tough weather games. Slovis was worthless I’m sure. Deuce Vaughn was still good at RB and Miyan Williams had his weeks here and there. This WR unit is terrible – no way around that. I think it rivals mine from last year actually.
All-Soul Team:
- QB Drake Maye – North Carolina
- QB Caleb Williams – USC
- RB Bijan Robinson – Texas
- RB Mo Ibrahim – Minnesota
- RB Blake Corum – Michigan
- WR Jalin Hyatt – Tennessee
- WR Charlie Jones – Purdue
- WR Marvin Harrison Jr – Ohio State
- K Jake Moody – Michigan
Congratulations to Asian Alley Cats on another Points Title. Wish I coulda held him off. See everyone next June!!!