Week 6: Matchups
The anticipation is building for the matchup of the season, but there's quality matchups up and down the schedule this week. Every game matters for the bubble teams, and seeding tiebreakers are on the line. Super League looking tough af these days. Here we go:
Super League Matchup of the Season: Bud Ice Penguins vs Zark's Sharks
Bud Ice Penguins - "For us we really just need to make the right decision at Wide Receiver and hope the Giants don't suck too bad this week versus the Bills. We have some great matchups but just need the dice to roll our way."
Zark's Sharks: - "I'm gonna win because there's no other option."
As you can see, both sides come into this one feeling confident, as they should. Both teams come in unbeaten, and the clear top two teams, the best two starting lineups, and lead by two of the best executives of this season. While it took tremendous executive skill to get their rosters to this point, anything can happen this week. One team will look to lock up the number 1 seed and have a shot at breaking records and finish with an unprecedented record, while the other essentially falls 2 GB of the winner due to the playoff tiebreaker. I said last week that there was only one bye, but that was my tard brain speaking. There are 3 BYE's in the first round, so I expect both teams to be in the top 3 despite this. I haven't even really talked about the matchups yet but there's just so much at stake with this matchup.
As Noah mentioned, a big key for the Sharks could be a right-place, right-time stack matchup as Allen and Diggs face one of the worst NFL teams this week. Noah certainly has more options than Zach this week, and while this seems like a luxury, so many great options can actually be hard to manage. If Noah chooses correctly, he will likely be in line for the new Coach of The Year honors. It's hard to ignore what Noah has done this week, getting deeper and adding even more value to the starting lineup. I commend Noah and believe he has the best collection of talent in the league, but my gut is saying Sharks this week. I think the magic number for the Sharks is 45 points between Diggs and Allen, which is very possible. That would likely give the Sharks the edge in an otherwise close battle at all positions. I almost guarantee we see this matchup again in the finals this season, but for now, gimme those Sharks.
Verdict: Sharks win
Parma Pirates vs. UNFINISHED BIZ
This is turning into a high stakes game as a lot of trash has been talked on both sides. It's a legacy game for the commissioner, as I mentioned in this week's power rankings that Carter's squad may have seen their last win of the season. This claim will be immediately tested against the commissioner. I think both of these teams will be on the outside looking in this season, but if for some reason both teams are still in the playoff hunt at the end of the year, this game will determine the tiebreaker. Carter is starting Bryce Young at an attempted big brain play, but what he doesn't realize is he's playing Bryce Young in a must win game. If this works out, it could be one of the craziest coaching moves in league history, but I don't see it. The team Carter is rolling out only averages 95 points on the season, where as the Pirates are averaging over 120 with this lineup. I think Pirates win as UNFINISHED BIZ fails to put up 100 points again.
Verdict: Pirates win
Washington Fantasy Team vs. Slats Slimes
This matchup is flying under the radar for most of the league, as WFT is a largely unproven team right now. This matchup is game 1 in a 2 game season series between the squads. The Slimes have been a scoring powerhouse, and on paper he should win this matchup handily, with his starting lineup this week averaging a league best 162.91 points this season. It's hard to compare this lineup to Curtis', who is being hidden at this moment in a bizarre but possibly effective strategy. How do you prepare for a team who's entire lineup is up in the air? Geno Smith is back, so QB decisions will have to be made. The biggest factor in this matchup is Austin Ekeler. If he is a game time decision this week, the Slimes will be forced to make a very tough decision. Leaving in Ekeler could be the pathway to victory for WFT, as the Slimes have no other Monday night options to replace Ekeler if he misses the game. Taking out Ekeler for a downgrade could also be a plus for WFT. I think Sam will figure it out by Sunday, and will win a close matchup and get back to 500.
Verdict: Slimes win
PGH Crooners vs. SL Dynasty
This is another interesting matchup with real playoff seeding implications, as this is a tiebreaker match. PGH could pickup another key tiebreaker this week against a weakened SL Dynasty, and the obvious factor here is the difference in RB quality. It's possible CMC levels the playing field by himself, but with the way Breece Hall has been running, that is a huge task. SL Dynasty (I'mma start calling them SLD) currently has 3 WRs listed as questionable. If any of these guys miss, it spells disaster for SLD. If PGH gets the job done, they would only be one game back on the loser of Penguins/Sharks, with a chance to overtake their position with a tiebreaker later in the season. I think the injury / BYE situation is too severe for SLD to overcome this week, so I think another PGH staple win. SLD will move to 2-4, and with a matchup versus the Penguins next week, this could end up leading to a 5 game losing streak.
Verdict: Crooners win
Explosive Potential vs. Play Action Jackson
This is simple. PAJ needs to win, they added points this week, and Explosive Potential is way too injured this week to make a meaningful stab at the point deficit they already face in the starting lineups. Explosive Potential is already thinking about the future, and that's the correct move because the present is an L from PAJ.
Verdict: PAJ wins