Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

Have you seen Happy Gilmore?

If you haven’t, stop reading this and go watch it. Not just for a reference that I am about to make, but also, well, for life in general. You haven’t seen Happy Gilmore? Go fix that now, I’ll wait …

…on behalf of society in general, thank you for FINALLY watching it!

So the part that we will be talking about here is when Happy hits his first hole-in-one. Going through the games this week really made me think about this one, and here’s why.

Looking at the schedule this week we have a game or two where it is pretty easy to guess who will win. Past that, it’s anybody’s guess! We have so many potential good games this week. I don’t just mean good teams going at it, but evenly matched teams against each other – we have good vs good, mediocre vs mediocre, and the Raiders vs the Bengals!

Not only that though, in the few games where, on paper, there is clearly a better team, the better team is on the road, which should ALWAYS make you think a little more when picking that game.

This could obviously pose a problem for a confidence pool as you can imagine. There are way too many toss-ups to feel completely confident this week. However, we are coming off of a really good week so the momentum is on our side.

OK, back to the movie – so Happy hits the hole-in-one, turns to Chubbs and says that was a lot easier and should just try to get it in one shot every time! So, that’s what we’ll just do. Forget about the general purpose of a confidence pool, let’s just get them all right! Hard to lose that way!

WEEK 15 – HERE WE GO!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

16 – BALTIMORE over Tampa Bay – Giving Lamar Jackson the undisputed reigns is going to go a long way for potentially getting the Ravens to sneak the AFC North away from Pittsburgh.

15 – CHICAGO over Green Bay – Oh there are just so many things that I could say about this game…I’ll just leave it at this…BEAR DOWN!!!

14 – LOS ANGELES RAMS over Philadelphia – It feels like the Rams may feel a little shaken right now – their stranglehold on the NFC is gone. That could make them dangerous.

13 – ATLANTA over Arizona – I know what you’re thinking – “Why would the Falcons be this high?” First off, look at the rest of the games and you’ll understand. Second…have you seen the Cardinals lately?

12 – KANSAS CITY over Los Angeles Chargers – Couldn’t ask for a better way to start the week off. If Melvin Gordon doesn’t play then there is no way the Chargers can keep up with the Chiefs.

11 – MINNESOTA over Miami – I still can’t get over the way the Dolphins won last week…and I have a feeling Miami is a team that will be thinking about last week too much and not enough about this week,

10 – Houston over NEW YORK JETS – The winning streak is over for the Texans, which may be the best thing for them heading to the end of the season.

9 – JACKSONVILLE over Washington – Cody Kessler vs Mark Sanchez … this is a thing! My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that BOTH OF THESE TEAMS WILL HAVE NEW COACHES NEXT YEAR.

8 – CAROLINA over New Orleans – The bookends of this week are amazing and will be full of points. Look for another big game for McCaffrey (something that could probably just be said the rest of the year).

7 – PITTSBURGH over New England – So the Patriots lost on the Miami Miracle and the Steelers lost to the Raiders. Both teams obviously have a lot to prove – lucky for the Steelers the game is in Pittsburgh.

6 – DENVER over Cleveland – Who would have thought that a road game for the Browns wouldn’t exactly be a slam-dunk pick for the home team?

5 – INDIANAPOLIS over Dallas – Also, who would have thought that this game would end up having Game of the Week potential?

4 – Detroit over Buffalo – This game is on the schedule and therefore will happen…that’s all I can say.

3 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Tennessee – Derrick Henry can’t run for 732 yards and 17 touchdown every week like he did last week! **Disclaimer – numbers may not be exact**

2 – Oakland over CINCINNATI – Marvin Lewis will still have a job next year. The Bengals could very well lose at home to the Browns and Raiders in the span of a few weeks and Marvin Lewis will still have a job next year.

1 – SAN FRANCISCO over Seattle – Richard Sherman is going to have the 9ers ready for this one.

Last week is what makes the NFL so fun! So many upsets! Any Given Sunday!

On the flip side of that, last week is also what makes being a confidence pool pretty frustrating. More than likely though, the others in your pool were joining in your misery so you shouldn't have lost too much ground.

Week 14 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – KANSAS CITY over Baltimore – With all of the off the field distractions going on in KC, the Chiefs need to make an on the field statement.

15 – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS over Cincinnati – One of the main reason that the Chiefs need to make a statement is because the Chargers aren’t exactly that far behind them!

14 – TENNESSEE over Jacksonville – The Titans surprised the Jags early in the season. This time, it won’t be nearly as surprising (hopefully it will be more entertaining though since it will be the Thursday Night Game).

13 – HOUSTON over Indianapolis – This is an understatement, but the Texans are just impressive!

12 – GREEN BAY over Atlanta – You know that feeling when you get out of a long, bad relationship and you just want to go out and have fun? That feeling may propel Aaron Rodgers to a career day…which is saying something!

11 – SEATTLE over Minnesota – When you have to go on the road to play a team that is in the same playoff boat as you are, CenturyLink Field is not the place you want to go!

10 – Pittsburgh over OAKLAND – The Raiders looked good at home against the Chiefs last week! Can they keep that momentum going? … … … no … … … the answer is no.

9 – DALLAS over Philadelphia – Again, someone has the win the NFC East, right? My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE COWBOYS WILL WIN THE NFC EAST.

8 – Carolina over CLEVELAND – I feel that Christian McCaffrey will have a big game…like he apparently always does!

7 – New Orleans over TAMPA BAY – Remember when the Bucs beat the Saints in the Dome to start the season…Drew remembers!

6 – MIAMI over New England – Is it me or do the Pats not really seem like “the Pats” right now? 

5 – CHICAGO over Los Angeles Rams – Soldier Field will be rocking Sunday night! Trubisky will be back, and with him comes hope for a win here.

4 – ARIZONA over Detroit – A two game winning streak for Cardinals…what’s so surprising about that?

3 – New York Jets over BUFFALO – The Jets have been down this year, but I have to think the drubbing they took from Buffalo a few weeks back is still fresh on their mind.

2 – New York Giants over WASHINGTON –Mark Sanchez is quarterback for the Redskins…hard to have confidence in them right now.

1 – SAN FRANCISCO over Denver – This may just be a Raider fan hoping the 9rers can win another game and clear the path for the #1 pick in the draft. 

That’s it! No more bye weeks!

There are plenty of points to be had now – and with only a few weeks left in the regular season, the final push to that season-long title begins now!

Week 13 – HERE WE GO!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

16 – SEATTLE over San Francisco – Just a couple years ago you wouldn’t bat an eye to putting Seattle on the top line. Now? Well, a little trepidation, but…I mean…it’s still a home game against the 49ers.

15 – Kansas City over OAKLAND – Yes, I always say try to steer clear of road teams this high. But do I really need to explain this one?

14 – GREEN BAY PACKERS over Arizona – Forget how horrible the Cardinals are, the game is in Lambeau so you know the outcome! My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE PACKERS WILL FINISH THE SEASON HAVING WON (or tied) EVERY HOME GAME AND LOST EVERY ROAD GAME.

13 – HOUSTON over Cleveland – Everyone is talking about the Chiefs dominating the AFC, but don’t sleep on the Texans making to their first Super Bowl.

12 – NEW ENGLAND over Minnesota – It’s amazing how low the Vikings are fallen this year.

11 – MIAMI over Buffalo – Remember when this game was the rivalry of the league in the 90s? Now…not so much.

10 – PHILADELPHIA over Washington – This game has the potential to look get as ugly as Alex Smith’s leg. (too soon?)

9 – TENNESSEE over New York Jets – A home game against the Jets is a break the Titans badly need right now,

8 – Los Angeles Rams over DETROIT – After the Monday Night classic, what makes you think the Lions can slow the Rams down?

7 – New Orleans over DALLAS – The Cowboys haven’t played a team like the Saints on this current run that they are on.

6 – ATLANTA over Baltimore – This Battle of the Birds should be a lot more exciting than it probably will end up being. 

5 – Indianapolis over JACKSONVILLE – The hope the Jags had of winning this one when they benched Blake Bortles went out the window when Leonard Fournette’s suspension was announced. 

4 – Chicago over NEW YORK GIANTS – On paper the Bears should be a lot higher on this list…but something is telling me to keep a closer eye on this one.

3 – PITTSBURGH over Los Angeles Chargers – Trying to figure out who Big Ben was trying to throw that last pass to last week removes some of my prime time at home confidence in the Steelers.

2 – Carolina over TAMPA BAY – Just like the Bears/Giants game, I have a funny feeling about this one.

1 – CINCINNATI over Denver – For getting worked against the Browns like they did last week, the Bengals are in the “if you think they’ll win put them on the one-point line” group.

We have arrived at the Holiday Season.

Thanksgiving is upon us – a time to spend with family an reflect on the blessings that you have received and offer the appropriate thanks!

In this case, we are thankful for getting THREE football games on a Thursday! Yay football!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Week 12 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

15 – BALTIMORE over Oakland – The Raiders are riding high on their current one-game winning streak. Look for them to get back on the path of claiming the #1 pick in the draft this week.

14 – NEW ORLEANS over Atlanta – Is there a team you have more confidence in this season than the Saints? My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE SAINTS WILL WIN THE SUPER BOWL THIS YEAR.

13 – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS over Arizona – I’m confident the Chargers learned from their mistakes last week. Two straight home losses against mediocre at best teams just won’t happen.

12 – PHILADELPHIA over New York Giants – The Eagles embarrassed the Giants on national television in New York just a few weeks ago. What makes you think the same won’t happen when the game is in Pbilly?

11 – HOUSTON over Tennessee – You know you have it good when you can trade for an offensive weapon like Demaryius Thomas, basically not use him at all, and still find ways to come out on top.

10 – New England over NEW YORK JETS – The Patriots are playing the Jets…in New York…on Thanksgiving week…days after Mark Sanchez signs with another team – oh the memories!

9 – INDIANAPOLIS over Miami – The Colts have been looking like the perennial playoff team they were just a few years ago.

8 – CAROLINA over Seattle – The Panthers should be happy this game is in Charlotte as it will go a long way in determining who gets an NFC Wild Card spot.

7 – CINCINNATI over Cleveland –The battle of Ohio…and that’s where the excitement ends.

6 – TAMPA BAY over San Francisco –Here’s a mini bold prediction for you – if the Bucs put up another 500 yard game, they will score at LEAST six points. Bold, I know.

5 – Pittsburgh over DENVER – Last week proved that the Steelers are not out of any game and can always find a way to win.

4 – DALLAS over Washington – Our traditional Thanksgiving stop in Dallas should include a not-so-recent traditional outcome…a Cowboys wins!

3 – MINNESOTA over Green Bay – The Vikings are still in it, but they will need to win this big divisional matchup to stay in the hunt…and they know it.

2 – BUFFALO over Jacksonville – What happened to the Jags?

1 – DETROIT over Chicago – Who knew that Mitchell Trubisky would become so valuable to the Bears that him not starting could mean losing a game?