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RCT Fantasy Football: Week 10 Roundup

Ten weeks are in the complete, and only three more regular season matchups remain for each team. This means we can start dividing teams up into "safe" and "not safe" from last place! The short answer is - if you have six or more wins, you are safe from last place and are simply battling for playoff position. If you have five wins, one more win will ensure your safety from last place. If you have four or fewer wins, you are in prime position to finish dead last. The reason I say that is, our last place team, currently at 2-8, is in the middle of the pack in terms of scoring (8th). That means they're a very dangerous last-place team, and could literally beat anyone. I would not want to be in their way during these last three weeks.

Will anyone choke down the stretch? Will averagegatsby continue to freefall? To answer all your questions, this week I turn to my right-hand man at RCT, Mr. misterbrain.

mv: misterbrain, welcome back to the RCTFFL guest spot. How has your fantasy team performed to this point?

mb: Welcome back? Unless I blocked out a traumatic experience from last year (entirely possible since my team was horrible), this is my first go-around in the guest commentator spot. Overall, my season can be summed up with four quick points: failed to draft a quarterback, gave up too much trading for Matt Ryan, got lucky that someone dropped Brady, lucked into enough wins to be in playoff position right now. Oh and just call me misterbrain, Mr. misterbrain was my father.

mv: I coulda swore you did this last year. Oh well. Remembering things isn't my strong suit. Just ask my new bride. Anyway, you've won two in a row, but before that you had a three game skid. What went wrong?

mb: Byes and injuries. I held on to multiple injured running backs, and failed to realize I had multiple players that shared a bye week. When you are stuck starting Bobby Rainey and Matt Asiata in the same week, you know you are doing it wrong.

mv: What do you expect from your team over the rest of the regular season? Are you worried at all about falling into the last-place slot?

mb: I'm thinking I'll sit borderline playoff team the rest of the year. I'm not worried about last at this point, although a quick losing streak could change my mind on that.

mv: Anything you'd like to say to the rest of the league, or perhaps the commissioner, before we get started?

mb: I'm coming for you.....

Once again, "Power" Rankings, not standings, is how we're listing the teams.

RCTFFL Power Rankings

1. The Fighting 5.7s (6-4) - KUGrad08

Last week: Win vs Mantis Shrimp Murder Sticks 90.6-85.9

This week: vs Eva Destroyer of Worlds

mv: A big winning streak plus the third-highest points scored finally gives us a new #1, as Grad's team claims the top spot. Admittedly, he's struggled picking up wins despite the points, as he is only +8.6 Delta points on the season. Will Grad make another run to the Sooper Bowl?

mb: He's in a good spot, but could lose some important seeding position this week when he has to play Bridgewater with Romo on bye. My main concern with his roster is that outside of Marshawn Lynch, there really isn't anyone that you can count on putting up big points every week. Can he handle a playoff week where Lynch goes cold? I'd have to say no.

2. Mantis Shrimp Murder Sticks (7-3) - Johns4th

Last week: Loss vs Fighting 5.7s 85.9-90.6

This week: vs Golden Nuggs

mv: MSMS has a tricky matchup vs RCT fan favorite Golden Nuggs. They've dropped two in a row, can they get back into the win column and compete for a #1 seed in the playoffs?

mb: Fan favorite? Since when? As for MSMS, they have a loaded roster (aided by a poor trade by yours truly) so the losing streak is a bit of a surprise. Based on the roster they put together, I'd have to say that they are one of the favorites to get to the Sooper Bowl this year.

3. Delhi Meats (7-3) - 2.1secondsleft

Last week: Win vs Everglades Swamp Apes 89.7-85.8

This week: vs Yummy Catfishes

mv: DM is also in the hunt for the #1 seed in the playoffs. They are on fire, winning four in a row. A tough matchup awaits with the Yummy Catfishes - the winner will have a clear edge and a tiebreaker in the race for the top playoff spot. How do you see their matchup this weekend shaking out?

mb: This is going to be the best matchup of the week, as both teams here are solid. The only hole that the Delhi Meats have is at TE, but what really concerns me is that short of Sanu, they don't really have anyone on the bench that you can rely on in a pinch. The hope is that they are healthy the rest of the year, because the waiver wire doesn't have any reinforcements either. I'm going to have to lean towards the Meats in this matchup though.

4. Yummy Catfishes (7-3) - KJordan29

Last week: Win vs Demaryius Targaryen 90.6-85.9

This week: vs Delhi Meats

mv: YC and DM are about as even as it gets. Are you sure about your pick for the winner of their matchup this weekend?

mb: I think I am? Really DM is in the same situation as YC, except their huge gaping maw is at QB, which is really dangerous. Luckily, they have superstars at pretty much every other position, so usually they can make up for it. Just not this week.

5. Turn Down For Watt (5-5) - averagegatsby

Last week: Loss vs Aisle End of Unfit Boys 77.2-87.3

This week: vs Montana Jayshox

mv: I didn't want to, but I had to drop gats down from the top spot. He still has the highest scoring team in the league, but I can no longer overlook the four game losing streak. Gats has scored less than 80 points in three of the last four weeks. What's going on over there?

mb: The better question is what took you so long? Do you really mean to tell me that if Kelvin Benjamin hadn't gotten 19 points when the Eagles went into a prevent defense at the end of that debacle that you would have kept TDFW in the top spot after only scoring 72 points? They have a solid roster in general, but their early success hinged on Andrew Luck and DeMarco Murray going crazy, and it just hasn't held up. The supporting cast has been passable, but with AJ Green falling off and Mike Wallace being hot and cold there just hasn't been enough there.

6. Hot Tamba Halis (6-4) - fizzle406

Last week: Win vs Eva Destroyer of Worlds 123.8-13.3

This week: vs Demaryius Targaryen

mv: The commissioner's team has also won four in a row, and six of their last seven. It wouldn't be wrong to say they are the hottest team in the league. After an 0-3 start, how did fizzle do it? Sorcery?

mb: Either sorcery or ‘roids. That's the only explanation I can think of. Or maybe he is editing scores after the fact... In reality though, everyone has all hit at once, with pretty much every player on his roster putting up double digits in the last 4-5 weeks (with the exception of the negative points he is getting from his defense).

7. Aisle End of Unfit ‘Boys (5-5) - misterbrain

Last week: Win vs Turn Down For Watt 87.3-77.2

This week: vs East Norwegian Land Crab

mv: The Boys have been very... mediocre... this year. They'll win a couple, but then they'll lose a couple. With only five wins, you're only one win away from the safe zone. Are you feeling confident?

mb: In getting to the safe zone, definitely. Of making noise in the playoffs, absolutely not. I'm actually surprised I did this well, after failing to draft a decent QB and then trading away most of my talent at precisely the wrong time. It's been nerve-wracking trying to find anything decent on the waiver wire, but some of my guys are finally doing something.

8. Golden Nuggs (6-4) - mikeville

Last week: Loss vs Montana Jayshox 75.4-76.7

This week: vs Mantis Shrimp Murder Sticks

mv: Thankfully, the Nuggs are safe despite a two game losing streak (thank you, FLJhawk). Now we're simply trying to pick up a few more wins and try to get a playoff berth. After a pretty disappointed upset loss week (thank you, Jay Cutler) the Nuggs have a tough matchup with MSMS. What's in store for the Nuggs?

mb: Weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. Sorry to say it bud, but the only guy you have on the upswing right now is Terrance West. The schedule gets easier for some key players in the next couple weeks, but overall you are in some trouble here, especially at the QB position.

9. East Norwegian Land Crab (5-5) - PenHawk

Last week: Win vs Requiem for Seabiscuit 90.5-72.3

This week: vs Aisle End of Unfit Boys

mv: PenHawk gets this spot due to a better record and a head-to-head win against DuckinKS. Will the Land Crab be able to get one more win and guarantee themselves a spot out of the basement?

mb: I don't expect it this week, but that roster is too talented to be shut out the rest of the season. The Jayshox give an excellent opportunity next week, in fact.

10. Requiem for Seabiscuit (4-6) - DuckinKS

Last week: Loss vs East Norwegian Land Crab 72.3-90.5

This week: vs Everglades Swamp Apes

mv: I know I keep mentioning it, but not very many people thought this team was going to do much. They're two games up from last place with three remaining. Can they hang on and stay away from last place?

mb: They drafted a minimal amount of talent, but hanging out at the bottom has allowed them to make astute pickups from the waiver wire. They look to have enough to keep them afloat for a few weeks, but they have to take advantage of their matchup this week, because after this they run into the better teams to end the season.

11. Everglades Swamp Apes (2-8) - FLJhawk

Last week: Loss vs Delhi Meats 85.8-89.7

This week: vs Requiem for Seabiscuit

mv: The Apes are suffering from some sort of curse against them. I mean, right? Isn't that the only explanation? They score points, but just can't get wins. They've only scored below 75 points twice, but conversely, they've only scored above 100 points twice. Is that the problem? Are they just not explosive enough?

mb: Charles has been consistent enough to give them good points, but pretty much everything else is working against them right now. I also don't understand the decision to keep two suspended players on their bench, especially since they can't possibly be stashing them for the playoffs.

12. Eva, Destroyer of Worlds (3-7) - Comercialeer

Last week: Loss vs Hot Tamba Halis 113.3-123.8

This week: vs Fighting 5.7s

mv: It's crunch time for Eva. One game ahead of last place with three weeks to play is not the place you want to be. A tough final three games awaits them, too: Fighting, Nuggs, and Watt. It's definitely NOT a place a fantasy owner wants to find themselves. What would you do if you were the owner of Eva?

mb: Start praying. It's nice that they have Manning and Sanders, but there are a lot of mouths to feed in that offense. with not much else in his lineup, he is going to need a lot of luck or divine intervention to get multiple wins and remain safe.

13. Montana Jayshox (3-7) - kstaff753

Last week: Win vs Golden Nuggs 76.7-75.4

This week: vs Turn Down For Watt

mv: The Jayshox picked up a much needed, HUGE upset win last week over Jay Cutler and the Golden Nuggs. They can mostly thank Justin Forsett for the win last week. Anyway, it put them tied with Eva for next-to-last place, one game up on the Apes. Can the Jayshox keep that one-game lead in the standings?

mb: I don't see it. The Jayshox is my pick to finish at the bottom of the league. The byes they have this week are going to kill their chances this week, and they just don't have enough talent to continue to stay competitive.

14. Demaryius Targaryen (4-6) - illmitch

Last week: Loss vs Yummy Catfishes 56.5-89.6

This week: vs Hot Tamba Halis

mv: Yes, I'm still ranking Demaryius last due to the pathetic point total, a full 77 points behind the next lowest scoring team (and 318 points behind Watt). How this team got four wins is still beyond me. Can you help me figure it out?

mb: Voodoo. Has to be Voodoo. How else do you explain the fact that the teams they beat all scored below season averages when they played while they scored well above their season average? Take the week they beat me as an example. Some strange force made me think Matt Ryan was a better call at QB than Tom Brady, and a last second self-guessing magic spell caused me to sit Jordan Cameron in favor for Heath Miller.

Great! Cool, thanks for stopping by, misterbrain. A few more questions and we'll wrap this up.

mv: Give us your prediction for Sooper Bowl champ.

mb: It's gotta be me, of course. Oh you want a realistic pick? I'll go with Murder Sticks, because then I can say I contributed to a Sooper Bowl run.

mv: And your Super Chump?

mb: The Jayshox.

mv: Give us One Crazy Prediction, anything you want.

mb: The Broncos lose to the Rams this week, and a kicker will crack the top 4 in fantasy points for the week.

mv: Well there ya have it, folks, your second-favorite editor, misterbrain!

Going Streaking: Fighting 5.7s, Hot Tamba Halis, Delhi Meats, Won 4

Going Sliding: Everglades Swamp Apes, Lost 6

Fantasy Player of the Week:

Marshawn Lynch, Fighting 5.7s, 40.3 pts

Honorable Mention(s):

Aaron Rodgers, Delhi Meats, 36.6 pts

Fantasy Player of the Weak (Starter who scored the least amount of points):

LOTS of bad choices were made this week:

Andy Dalton, Yummy Catfishes, -1.8 pts

Honorable Mention(s):

Jim Dray, Hot Tamba Halis, 0 pts

Andre Holmes, Eva Destroyer of Worlds, 0 pts

Terrence Williams, Everglades Swamp Apes, 0 pts

Antone Smith (why does this guy keep getting fantasy starts?), Requiem for Seabiscuit, 0.3 pts

Lamar Miller, Montana Jayshox, 0.6 pts

Peyton Hillis, Golden Nuggs, 0.9 pts

Zach Ertz, Mantis Shrimp Murder Sticks, 1.7 pts

Scott Chandler, Aisle End of Unfit Boys, 1.7 pts

Fantasy Bench Player of the Week:

Cardinals DEF, Fighting 5.7s, 27.0 pts

Honorable Mention(s):

Jordan Matthews, Hot Tamba Halis, 25.8 pts

Fantasy Team of the Week: Hot Tamba Halis

Fantasy Team of the Weak: Demaryius Targaryen

Loser "punishment" voting:

Last I was told, it was re-enact a famous picture of the Sooper Bowl champion's choosing.