Predicting blowouts provides a useful fantasy football advantage. Simply, one should start multiple players on the winning team and avoid starting players on the losing team.
Last night, the Falcons put up a ton of points against the Bucs. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Steven Jackson, Devin Hester, Antone Smith, and the Falcons defense all scored double digits (Harry Doulas also chipped in a touchdown). While the Bucs had no double digit earners—only scraps of points from Bobby Rainey, Vincent Jackson, and Mike Evans—all were made during junk time.
So how does one gain a fantasy football advantage from this?
Consider the following trend in weeks 1, 2, and 3, and predictions for weeks 4, 5, and 6.
The first three Thursday Night Football games have all been blowouts. In each game, the home team has won. In each game, the winning team had something to prove.
In week one on TNF, Seattle needed to prove that they were still the same team that won the championship, especially since many of the past Lombardi Trophy winners have had post season Superbowl hangovers. The Seahawks blasted the Packers 36-16. Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, and Percy Harvin had excellent games. Aaron Rodgers had one of his worst.
In week two on TNF, the Ravens were coming off of a humiliating loss at home against their division rival in Cincinnati. Desperate to avoid starting 0-2 at home and for the season, the Ravens needed to prove that they were over their Superbowl hangover from the 2012 season and show that they were indeed playoff contenders once again. The Ravens manhandled the Steelers 26-6. Joe Flacco, Bernard Pierce, and Justin Tucker had nice games; Owen Daniels served as a fantasy zombie—coming to life with 2 touchdowns. While the Steelers failed to get into the endzone.
In week three on TNF, the Falcons were coming off of a humiliating loss handed to them by the Bengals as well. ATL needed to prove: they were over their fluke from last season, are indeed a force to be reckoned with, and are contenders for the playoffs. The Falcons squashed the Bucs at home 56-14.
In week four on TNF, the Redskins host the Giants. Coming off a poor performance at Philly, The Skins will need to prove that they are real contenders for the division without RG3. Washington will beat New York 35-7. Advise: start Redskins; bench Giants.
In week 5 on TNF, the Packers host the Vikings. After a disappointing start to the season, the Packers will need to prove that they are indeed an elite team. Green Bay will beat Minnesota 45-14. Advise: start Packers; bench Vikings.
In week 6 on TNF, the Texans host the Colts. Once considered a top Superbowl prospect, the Texans need to prove that they still have a dominating defense and can use it to win the AFC South. Houston will beat Indianapolis 20-6. Advise: start Texans; bench Colts.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Feminism Is Not a Fad; It's the Future
I'm male. I'm a feminist. And I'm not perfect either.
Months ago, when the first video of Ray Rice dragging Janay Palmer out of the elevator went public, I watched in denial. "Maybe she got drunk, passed out, and he tried carrying her up to their room," I thought. Then after watching the whole video, I felt like an ass. My only excuse: I was a fan of Ray Rice and desperately hoped that he wasn't a bad guy. Conclusion: I was ignorant.
The problem with men such as myself: we are unbearably slow. Too often, we need to play extra innings in order to arrive at the appropriate responses to situations that concern women. Nevertheless, women tolerate us. We're lucky they do.
The reason for our slowness: we lack control of our emotions. Contradiction to reality, women are the ones typically accused of being overemotional, and this is bullshit.
When confronting mental challenges, men such as myself try swinging a bat at our emotions in hopes to bash out feelings and let logic happen. And like a Hail Mary pass to the endzone, sometimes we get lucky. In fact, I consider luck one of my best virtues, especially when it comes to getting a second chance with women when I don't deserve it.
Notably, women are the ones who manage logic and emotions methodically like quarterbacks leading their teams on long drives. Some women are even capable of doing our thing better than us. You'd think we'd let them do it, and encourage them as well, but we don't because it scares the shit out of us.
Paranoia, fear, anger: these are the emotions (in that order) that give men such as myself problems. We notice the inevitable: women obtaining equality in every field. This change freaks us out. We're paranoid where women's equality will lead, we fear everything we know changing, we get angry every time there's tangible progress. Ray Rice's atrocity was finally handled this week. Regardless of various opinions on the matter, the tone that was dominate in men's responses to the incident was anger (no points awarded for guys who tried to hide anger with amusement and posting things on Facebook like, "Good riddance!").
When it comes to women's equality, where do you draw the line? You don't. You can't. Women will eventually obtain their goal: 50% of everything. They're unstoppable.
My prediction is that we'll be alive to see a lot of big changes in women's equality: a woman president, women priests, and women playing in men's professional sports.
You went, "Pfft," at women playing in men's sports didn't you? (Not you ladies.) Allow me to introduce Mo'ne Davis.
She's not a softball pitcher; she's a baseball pitcher and appears to be the total package. What are the technicalities prohibiting women from playing in men's professional sports leagues? Who the hell knows! But I believe nothing is going to stop Mo'ne Davis and all the other young ladies who got "the stuff" and are well adjusted like she is.
Still poo-pooing my predictions? Whatever.
A realm exists where everything that you say will never ever happen - will happen. It's called the future.
Months ago, when the first video of Ray Rice dragging Janay Palmer out of the elevator went public, I watched in denial. "Maybe she got drunk, passed out, and he tried carrying her up to their room," I thought. Then after watching the whole video, I felt like an ass. My only excuse: I was a fan of Ray Rice and desperately hoped that he wasn't a bad guy. Conclusion: I was ignorant.
The problem with men such as myself: we are unbearably slow. Too often, we need to play extra innings in order to arrive at the appropriate responses to situations that concern women. Nevertheless, women tolerate us. We're lucky they do.
The reason for our slowness: we lack control of our emotions. Contradiction to reality, women are the ones typically accused of being overemotional, and this is bullshit.
When confronting mental challenges, men such as myself try swinging a bat at our emotions in hopes to bash out feelings and let logic happen. And like a Hail Mary pass to the endzone, sometimes we get lucky. In fact, I consider luck one of my best virtues, especially when it comes to getting a second chance with women when I don't deserve it.
Notably, women are the ones who manage logic and emotions methodically like quarterbacks leading their teams on long drives. Some women are even capable of doing our thing better than us. You'd think we'd let them do it, and encourage them as well, but we don't because it scares the shit out of us.
Paranoia, fear, anger: these are the emotions (in that order) that give men such as myself problems. We notice the inevitable: women obtaining equality in every field. This change freaks us out. We're paranoid where women's equality will lead, we fear everything we know changing, we get angry every time there's tangible progress. Ray Rice's atrocity was finally handled this week. Regardless of various opinions on the matter, the tone that was dominate in men's responses to the incident was anger (no points awarded for guys who tried to hide anger with amusement and posting things on Facebook like, "Good riddance!").
When it comes to women's equality, where do you draw the line? You don't. You can't. Women will eventually obtain their goal: 50% of everything. They're unstoppable.
My prediction is that we'll be alive to see a lot of big changes in women's equality: a woman president, women priests, and women playing in men's professional sports.
You went, "Pfft," at women playing in men's sports didn't you? (Not you ladies.) Allow me to introduce Mo'ne Davis.
She's not a softball pitcher; she's a baseball pitcher and appears to be the total package. What are the technicalities prohibiting women from playing in men's professional sports leagues? Who the hell knows! But I believe nothing is going to stop Mo'ne Davis and all the other young ladies who got "the stuff" and are well adjusted like she is.
Still poo-pooing my predictions? Whatever.
A realm exists where everything that you say will never ever happen - will happen. It's called the future.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
A few things before kickoff
Acquisition Budgets
You may have noticed your acquisition budget beginning at 100 instead of 1000. Both Yahoo and ESPN use a base budget of 100 to gauge players for waivers, trades, and auction drafts. Although I feel using low numbers don't truly represent the monetary nature of the NFL, there's no need to be different. This way, the value that analysts put on players will make sense in our league.
Small Leagues
Due to a lot of legacy team owners stepping down this season, The Lumbergh F*cked Her Leagues are 10 and 8 teamed. Hopefully, we'll see them back next season. In the meantime, one thing that should change this year is an increase in trades and a decrease in drops. Virtually all of your players rank inside the top 150. This leaves very few of them droppable. Use the trade block and remember that trades process faster than waivers.
Smack Talk
With all the fancy video and picture taking apps available for smartphones, there's simply no excuse not to get more creative with smack talk this year. Have fun! That's why you joined isn't it?
Far and Away
Y'all know I've moved to LA, and I'll be missing my B'more crew, so chat with me during the games. I'd like to use Twitter and/or Facebook chat over group text messages. Agreed?
You may have noticed your acquisition budget beginning at 100 instead of 1000. Both Yahoo and ESPN use a base budget of 100 to gauge players for waivers, trades, and auction drafts. Although I feel using low numbers don't truly represent the monetary nature of the NFL, there's no need to be different. This way, the value that analysts put on players will make sense in our league.
Small Leagues
Due to a lot of legacy team owners stepping down this season, The Lumbergh F*cked Her Leagues are 10 and 8 teamed. Hopefully, we'll see them back next season. In the meantime, one thing that should change this year is an increase in trades and a decrease in drops. Virtually all of your players rank inside the top 150. This leaves very few of them droppable. Use the trade block and remember that trades process faster than waivers.
Smack Talk
With all the fancy video and picture taking apps available for smartphones, there's simply no excuse not to get more creative with smack talk this year. Have fun! That's why you joined isn't it?
Far and Away
Y'all know I've moved to LA, and I'll be missing my B'more crew, so chat with me during the games. I'd like to use Twitter and/or Facebook chat over group text messages. Agreed?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)