Hi Owners - A fun week 1 wrapped up last night, and a few thoughts on our first head-to-head weekend are below. Week 1 was a weird week - the Mia/Tampa bye, first game jitters, and some unimpressive QB performances. Meanwhile, Toby gave me a lot of shit saying the draft should be post Week 3 of the pre-season in an effort to avoid injury. In one respect, he's right, as I would love to avoid season-ending injuries as best as possible. On the other hand, shut up! Making a schedule for 14 owners is near impossible - in August/September, there were THREE dates that were available that worked for everyone. Coordinating schedules for 14 owners in 3 time zones, 6 states and DC, 9 owners who are married, 8 kids between that we know of (ahem Carlos), vacations, work schedules (Coop is literally on the road forever), etc makes it near impossible, so I'll do my best next season, but griping about injuries and the draft (more specifically, how Cameron Meredith may screw your season over) is a bit ridiculous and short-sighted. Congrats Toby as you're my #1 a-hole of the week (which was going to me until you started crying Sunday)...
I May Have Spoke Too Soon
I like pie, even humble pie, and I may have spoken too soon about a few teams this season, namely the denver Ponyboys (who kept TY Hilton despite the colts not having a quarterback named Luck) and new owner Stabs, who drafted Todd Gurley among other initially-dubious selections in the draft for the new Kaeptain America. I am eating crow as both put up impressive performances, especially the ponyboys who knocked off early season favorite A Song of Matty Ice and Fire after Eric Garcia fell victim to have a craptacular NE defensive performance on Thursday night...
Welcome to Sacksonville
This week, Jacksonville apparently came out of nowhere (not really if you read off-season reports) and sacked the Texans' quarterbacks ten times, which is insane... I took a look and noticed our boy Toby picked them up last Friday and they popped off 34 points in Week 1, nearly helping Toby overcome the Vienna Sausages... I would've been apt to say well done Toby but the day before he picked them up, he dropped Jacksonville's defense for the Colts defense! Oaf, sometimes luck is better than smarts...
He Persisted
Speaking of Toby, he lost a heart-wrenching yet deserved match-up against Jon and the Vienna Sausages by just .4 points last night when the Broncos kicker Brandon McManus missed a FG. Jonny survived despite the now-infamous David Johnson injury and carried to a win on the back of Ted Ginn's 9.8 points in the Monday night game. Congrats and I look forward to facing off with you when Ted Ginn needs a big night for a win... Keeping up with a $22 Kicker/Keeper
Team Motley's decision to keep Pats Kicker Stephen Gostowski for $22 (double every other kicker and then some + a host of quality quarterbacks) paid dividends i guess when he netted 9 points, the same as Makese's quarterback this week. On the flip side, only 3 kickers outpaced him - Will Lutz, Dan Bailey and Matt Bryant, none of which cost more than $3 in the draft... I'll keep a running tally on this one because its so enjoyable.
Follow the Julio Trade Throughout the Season
Still bitter, Matt will be keeping a running tally of the now-vetoed trade of Julio/Britt/West for Gronk/AJ Green/Henry throughout the season, entitled "The Trade that Wasn't." No spoilers but the first week post is available on the league message board.
Fun Stats...Jacksonville is above 500 for the first time since they were 1-0 in 2011... Ben Roethlesberger is the all-time winningest QB in Clevand's new stadium, besting Derek Anderson this week... Big Ben is also 21-2 against the Browns all time... The Falcons had SIX 3-and-outs on Sunday; they had 24 ALL SEASON in 2016...
Top Score of the Week: 145.4 (The Big Gronkowski)Lowest Score of the Week: 75.4 (Team Motley)
A few League reminders below...
Waiver Wire: To give the West Coast teams a chance, waivers will start this season on Wednesdays (not Tuesdays) and run throughout the weekend... You may recall, last season, our 3 west coast owners were missing the waiver wire on a Tuesday following Monday night games, and we wanted to keep things as fair as possible.
League Dues: Just a reminder $100 league dues are due in next Monday (conclusion of Week 2) for four outstanding payees. I can receive payment via paypal (danreilly712@gmail.com), venmo (danreilly712), or cash/check (429 Ingraham Street NW, Washington, DC 20011). Those who do not pay dues by the conclusion of Week 2 will have their free agent budgets frozen beginning Week 3, and rosters locked beginning Week 5. There are only 2 outstanding owners so thanks to most of you as I didn't really have to chase you for cash money.