Fantasia Week 5
Quick one this week as Drutonia has been a busy place this week!
Quick hits
-I always had immense respect for fanbases that endure year after year of failure but that has multiplied this week after watching the Packers flounder on Thursday. This was doubly difficult as Lions RB David Montgomery posted a career day in fantasy scoring over 40 in a Packer stomping I've not witnessed in over a decade. I knew this year would be hard but ouch. I tip my cap to those of you have been experiencing this for years. Two things are clear to me in this early season: the Lions are for real. The Packers are not.
-Stefon Diggs still gets it done. The Bills are still finding their footing and, I believe, will be well on their way soon. Do yourself a favor and watch the Stefon Diggs TD from Sunday. So many receivers would have gone down on initial contact. Not him. Shrugs off multiple defenders and refuses to quit. Glad he doesn't play for the Vikes anymore.
Moral Victories
-A lot of football talking heads decry the term 'moral victories', I could not disagree more. When you're on a team that is bound for anything but a top ten pick, moral victories can be watershed moment in players careers.
-Several great ones this week including much maligned Zach Wilson stepping up to the oche and outperforming Patrick Mahomes! The Jets didn't get the win but that kid sure did and he needed it. -Speaking of overlooked qbs, Sam 'Hound Dawg' Howell is the man. He does it all on a Washington team that deserves more respect. Not a lot more, but some. He runs, he reads defenses and he executes. Fun to watch!
-Rookies running for their lives... in the right direction! Raiders Aidan O'Connell (who?) the Purdue product was running for his life the entire game but still managed to keep it competitive in a losing battle.
-The Brown's rookie QB DTR was similarly started in lieu of injury but flashed brilliance on several plays. Sure, he doesn't have the sense to sense pass rushers bearing down on him but he has the wheels to escape. Fun to watch and I'll be honest, not rooting for Watson.
Dru's Draft Bust Corner
-I always try to find a deep sleeper late in the draft, as I'm sure many of us do, and this year I bet on Ezekiel Elliot having a comeback with his new Patriots squad. This bust became apparent immediately as, ironically in red, white & blue, these colors don't run.
Traders & Traitors
-The first trade of Fantasia season was executed by none other than yours truly and Mike 'GM of the year contender' Merla. This story starts, as many trade stories do, with a text from one professional to another. It was simple, both are teams had gaps to fill. I needed a RB to shore up my roster and Merla needed an elite WR. We proposed several trades back and forth in the middle of the week before we settled on my sending Deebo Samuel in return for Josh Jacobs. I know what you're thinking, 'Dru! You traded one of the most talented receivers in the league for a runningback off to a slow start on a bum team.' You're right but my gut tells me that Deebo goes to hard to remain healthy all year. Jacobs has an excellent track record (took me to the playoffs last year) & is on a one year deal making him a contract year player that will leave it all on the field. As Merla put it, 'I believe this deal helps us both.' Jacobs came up big for me, more on that later, but it's a long season and I play Merla next week. It will hurt we Deebo secures the dub for him. C'est la vie.
On to the show!
-After watching, agonizingly, my Packers get shredded and my fantasy team go down by 40 points earlier, I had little hope to stop the Luitonian menace; however, fate had other plans! I execute my first trade in years and new Drutonia Josh Jacobs delivered with over 30 points for the first time this year. Coupled with AJ Browns career game and DJ Moore finally getting involved we overcame Josh Allen's 44 points to secure the win. It took my squad scoring a season record 194.7 points to stop Lui in his tracks! This week, relief is spelled D-R-U. I now share the Eastern Conference lead with Kels & Swiffer, but for how long?
-Swiffer rose to 3-1 with another career performance by CMC & Justin Fields reaching his potential in a losing effort. Quick aside, boy was I wrong on the CMC trade. At the time, the Niners gave Carolina a billion picks for a guy I thought had already played his best football. Egg on my face every week at CMC continues to top himself. If the Niners are on offense on a tv near you, have a seat, and enjoy the ride. CMC put up a season leading 52.7 points and showed no signs of slowing down. Merla's squad had an okay day but that isn't enough to compete with Swiffer's squad.
-Kels brought the heat to Team Merica this week with her highest scorer being.... her defense?! 29 points in the Seahawks beat down of the Giants. Are they this good or are the Giants this bad? Yes. Her Kamara patience paid off as he put up 20 along with Justin Jefferson. Barring an injury setback, its hard not to see the Twin City Griddy Committee making it to the playoffs.
-In the battle of DME, Tupy toppled Clint on the way to his fourth win of season putting up a whopping 194 points! (Nearly as much as our favorite commissioner's squad) With talent oozing out of ever orifice and waiver pickup of the year, Puka Nacua scoring over 30 fantasy points, Alden will sit the Iron Throne for the foreseeable future.
-Congrats to our resident Mizzurah Bubba securing his first dub against a struggling Overweighters squad. Still plenty of time for Negro to right the ship and there are rumors that he may be interested in a trade partner. Stay tuned!
Week 5
-Merla is looking for his first win against everyone's favorite Drutonian and he's projected to take it with new QB Dobbs at the helm! Will the clock strike midnight on Dru's Cinderella story?
-Team Merica looks to right the ship while Swiffer just wants to keep on sailing. Will CMC continue to produce against the league's best defense against the run in the Cowboys? Chloe's has a very favorable matchup with Tua playing the less than Giants. This one should be interesting.
-Sorry Clint but I'm picking the underdog Overweighters to stop their skid and return to form this week. Unless the Bengals can get on the same page, then I'm picking the Burrowneous Assault. I guess that means I'm not picking either?
I've gotten some requests for a guest column in one of these newsletters and I want to be clear with all of you: That door will always remain open! I'd love to read someone else's rants and raves!
Good luck this week peeps!
Your Commish