Inside the LFFL Week 7 Results

Week 7 marks the midway point of the Fantasy regular season.  After the results we have three teams topping the league with 5-2 records and two teams with a 2-5 record.  Everyone else stands in between.  All have good to reasonable shots to make the playoffs.  We had a very close game and a good one involving siblings!  

• Trash Talking Mimes (4-3) 82.62 Power Pugs (3-4) 64.52:  Erik and Bill have a down week in scoring but the good thing is they were playing my pathetic team.  This one still came down to an individual match up between Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Nico Collins with my team trailing by a point going into the late MNF game.  JSN was dominant scoring 22.3 while Nico couldn't get open and left the game with an injury in the fourth quarter.  The Mimes were led in scoring by Jaxon Dart with 29.42 and the Pugs got 14.3 out of Tucker Kraft. 
  Butt Kickers (5-2) 114.54 Art Donovan U (2-5) 52.38:  Bob gets it down this week behind balanced scoring led by Jalen Hurts with 25.04, Rashee Rice returns with 719.7, Jordan Addison has 17.3 and Kyle Monongai runs for 16.4. Gary's lineup had no one with more than 6.8 (Marvin Harrison Jr)
  Boomer & Bunker (4-3) 120.84 Rolling thunder (3-4) 117.52:  Boomer puts it together for his fourth straight win with Quinshon Judkins scoring 26.4, Jayden Daniels has 18.74, Josh Jacobs ads 18.3 and Houston D/ST is good for 17 on late MNF.  Denny has Keenan Allen with 23.4, Daniel Jones scores 21.22, Javonte Williams checks in with 18.3,Amon-Rs St. Brown catches 17.6 and the Chiefs D/ST anchors with 15. This one came down to Fairbairn vs the Texans D/ST on late MNF with the Texans having a big second half including a TD.
  Big City Carpetbaggers (5-2) 123.32 Men of Steel (4-3) 98.64: In a match up of two playoff bound teams, Terry pulls it out with 24 by Davante Adams, 26 by the Browns D/ST and Jaylen Warren scores 17.8.  Ed receives a big 35.6 from Christian McCaffrey and Cam Scattebo with 16.9.
  KELLZKRUSHERZ 113.76 Password is Taco (2-5) 106.48: Kelly wins the brother sister rivalry with Bo Nix scoring 37.96, Ja'Marr Chase comes alive against the Steelers secondary with 30.1.  Drake Maye leads PT with 23.08 and Tee Higgins runs free vs the Steelers with 18.6 and the Bears scores 16.  
  Chaka Khan (3-4) 103.64 Gangus Cons 95.04 (3-4) Jason rides the explosive Jahmyr Gibbs with 35.3 on MNF, 18.4 from Jake Ferguson and 17.64 by Trevor Ferguson. Ron comes up short despite 26.24 from Patrick Mahomes, 19.5 by CeeDee Lamb in his return and 15 kicked in by Brandon Aubrey.
  EZ Dubs (5-2) 131.46 Blame the Refs (3-4) 110.04: Justin moves to the top of the league with AJ (throw me the f'n ball) Brown scoring 26.1, Trey McBride rolls with 24.4, Dak Prescott has 23.26 and Bijan Robinson cruises to 18.2 while the Pats D/ST scores 19. Jonathan Taylor led the way for Denny with 32.7, Chris Olave has 24/3 and Mike Pittman puts up 17.3.
  Week 7 Player of the Week: Bo Nix KZKZ 37.96
  Week 7 Bench player of the week: DeVonta Smith 28.8 RT, Rhamondre Stevenson PT 15.8
  NFL Picks : Gary, Kelly and Jason all go 10-5 while Denny still leads by 3 over Erik.  
  Potent Notables: Week 8 will see 6 teams on bye.  Cardinals, Lions, Jags, Rams, Raiders, Seahawks on bye will create some lineup problems. Weekly High Point winners so far in order: Gangus Cons, BCC, CK, B&B, BTR, MOS, EZD. $14 per week.  No repeat winners so far.  
  The Steelers Defense looked great last Sunday and four days later on TNF, they had their annual Flacco meltdown.  For a team that added Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay to the secondary specifically to cover Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins of the Bengals , well that didn't work at all.  We'll see what happens the next time the two teams meet in Pittsburgh. 

Mid Season Review
I'll list the important players with their ranking among their position. 
Pickle Division

Big City Carpetbaggers 5-2 668.3 points:  Terry has his team at the top of the Division standings.  He has maneuvered through the Lamar Jackson injury and lost top WR Malik Nabors.  QB Jackson (18) and Rattler (19) have led the team this far. RB Jaylen Warren (21) has produced like a RB2 and TreVeyon Henderson (42) has yet to break out. WR Davante Adams (7) and Stefon Diggs (31) are the vets while Kyle Pitts (11) is the top TE.  Jason Myers (4) and the Browns (6) are solid.  
Outlook: To match their 5-2 record in the second half, will need big numbers out of Jackson and Adams with a breakout from Henderson.
Butt Kickers (5-2) 720.02 points : Bob has his team in good position for the second half .  Jalen Hurts (3) and Justin Herbert (6) provide premium options at QB if he makes the right choice.  RB's Derrick Henry (15) and Bucky Irving (31) should be the driving force once Irving is healthy and Henry and the Ravens get their wings. A potential strong group of WR's Feature Courtland Sutton (15) , Jordan Addison (42) , Ricky Pearsall and Rashee Rice (103).  Addison and Rice are back from suspension, Pearsall has been injured .  TE's feature vets Dallas Goedert (5) and Zach Ertz (9) K Chris Boswell (9) and the Rams (9) 
Outlook: With Irving and Pearsall returning from injury and Rice, Addison from suspension, this should be a lineup to fear. 
Trash Talking Mimes (4-3) 744.4 points:  Erik and Bill are top playoff contenders with Josh Allen (2) at the helm. Saquon Barkley (16) has disappointed in his production so far. Jacory Croskey-Merritt(24)is moving up the ranks and Tony Pollard (25) remains a solid option.  WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (1) ,Rome Odunze (8) and Quentin Johnson (13) are young and very productive . TE Sam LaPorta (10) amd Harold Fannin (16) are the options. Chase McLaughlin (7) and the Steelers (13) are lineup options.
Outlook: If Barkley can find his 2024 groove with Allen and JSN this team can reach the top.
Rolling Thunder (3-4) 732.44 points: Denny has a good team better than their record indicates.  QB Daniel Jones (7) has surprised with CJ Stroud (17) backing him up.  Javonte Williams (7) and James Cook (8) provide the 1-2 punch. At WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (3), Keenan Allen (10) and Davonta Smith (18) provide excellent options. TE has been non productive with TJ Hockenson (20) and Evan Engram (26).  K Ka'imi Fairbairn (5) and D/ST Chiefs (15) are bottom of the lineup options. 
Outlook: Solid options and this team has scored well.  Will need to win the close match ups.    Could use a TE to step up.
Power Pugs (3-4) 598.38 points: My team is a mess much worse than the record indicates.  QB Baker Mayfield (10) has produced some good games RB's Chase Brown (32) ,Zach Charbonnet(34), Chuba Hubbared (35) and Bam Knight (52) are the current unsavory options. WR's Tre Tucker (19) Nico Collins (23), Keon Coleman (39) and DJ Moore (40) are the options. TE Tucker Kraft (4) has been consistent.  K Cam Little (25) and the Vikings D/ST (12) have been inconsistent.  
Outlook: May need a miracle to be serious contenders.  Collins must produce like a first round fantasy choice. Same can be said for Chase Brown. Reviving DJ Moore would help as well.  
KELLZKRUSHERZ (3-4) 668.14 pts :  Kelly's team has been gathering some steam the last few weeks.  QB Bo Nix (8) is scoring big, at least last week.  At RB ,waiver acquisition Rico Dowdle (12) has revived the RB spot along with Alvin Kamara (30).  WR Ja'Marr Chase (2) is hot and WanDale Robinson (24) has performed well but Ladd McConkey (29) has underperformed. Khalil Shakir (36) and Jakobi Meyers (48) are other options. TE has not been a plus with David Njoku (24) as the top guy. K David Lutz (24) and the Chargers (19) round out the lineup.
Outlook: Will be in the running with the trio of Nix, Dowdle and Chase leading the way but needs other options to step up.
Art Donovan U (2-5) 659.88 pts.  Gary has run into some tough luck. At QB Matt Stafford (9) and Caleb Williams (11) are the choices. At RB rookie Ashton Jeanty (13) and Ken Walker 3 (22) have produced. WR's Drake London (9) and Marvin Harrison Jr (32) are the top guys. TE Dalton Kincaid (6) and Hunter Henry (8) are good choices.K Cam Dicker (Dicker the Kicker) (6) and the Denver D/ST (2) are good options.
Outlook: More is needed from Harrison and Walker with the right lineup choices made at QB and flex.

Ketchup Division: 

EZ Dubs (5-2) 773.6 pts
Justin has a strong contending team.  QB Dak Prescott (5) is having a big year with Jordan Love (12) is a solid backup.  Bijan Robinson (3) and David Montgomery (19) are the top guys.  WR options are Jaylen Waddle (25), Aj Brown (26) and Josh Downs (57).  TE Trey McBride (2) is a no brainer start.  K Eddy Piniero (3) and D/ST Pats (5) or Lion (7) are the choices.
Outlook: This team will remain in the mix with Prescott, Robinson producing consistently.  Needs more from Brown if they would throw him the f'in ball!
Men of Steel (4-3) 778.74 pts :  Ed's team is fourth in scoring and doing a good job keeping up with the high flying Ketchup Division.  Jared Goff (13) is the top QB.  RB's Christian McCaffrey (2) and Cam Skattebo (9) are good options and Omarion Hampton will be another option when he returns from IR.  WR George Pickens (4) has outperformed his preseason ranking while Brian Thomas (33) has underperformed his. Kendrick Bourne (41) and Jameson Williams (44) are other options.   TE Chiggy Okonkwo (30), Harrison Butker (14) and the Eagles (17) are bottom of the lineup spots.  
Outlook:  Could use more from Thomas but this team should contend for the top spot.
Boomer & Bunker (4-3) 800.36 points:  Boomer started out the year with lots of bad luck, going 0-3 despite being the top scoring team in the league.  But they turned it around since then with 4 straight wins and have remained atop the league scoring. QB spot has been Jayden Daniels (21), Sam Darnold (16) and Bryce Young (20) RB is solid with Josh Jacobs (4) rookie Quinshon Judkins (14) coming on and JK Dobbins (18).  WR duo of Puka Nacua (5) and Emeka Egbuka (6) have been great.  Tet McMillan (30) and Rashid Shaheed (34) are other options.  TE Mark Andrews (18) and Cade Otton (22) are hit and miss.  K Chad Ryland (8) and the Texans D/ST (1) are productive.  
Outlook:  Deep and talented team.  Could use a QB and TE to step up.  Will remain at or near the top.
Blame the Refs (3-4) 787.16 pts
Defending champ Rob has another high scoring team but has had some bad luck, scoring over 100 every week but still has a losing record.  QB's Justin Fields (23) and Brock Purdy (36) have not provided consistency.  RB's Jonathan Taylor (1), Devon Achane (6) and D'Andre Swift (10) are the top group in the league.  WR Mike Pittman (14), Chris Olave (16) and Zay Flowers (22) are decent but not elite.  TE Theo Johnson and Dalton Schultz are keeping the spot warm until George Kittle returns.  K Jake Bates (13) and D/ST Colts (8) are the other spots.
Outlook:  Should continue to contend with their RB's leading the way.  Needs a different QB option and a WR to step up.  
Chaka Khan (3-4) 736.6 pts .  Jason's team has suffered 4 losses where the opposition has scored over 120 in each game.  QB Trevor Lawrence (15) and Tua (25) haven't been elite.  RB's Jahmyr Gibbs (5) , Jordan Mason (20) and RJ Harvey (41) have produced, WR's DK Metcalf (12) has produced as advertised, Travis Hunter (43) is showing good signs and Cooper Kupp (49) seems a shadow of himself. TE Jake Ferguson (1) is a big surprise K. Matt Gaye (17) and the Seahawks (3) are solid.  
Outlook: Needs Lawrence to perform like a top 10 QB and Gibbs to produce like he did in week 7.  Should contend for a spot, needs to stack some wins. 
Gangus Cons (3-4) 728.3 pts : Ron's team has been in some close games, going 1-3 in games decided by less than 10 points.  QB is a strong spot with Patrick Mahomes (1) returning to his Fantasy Football elite status.  RB's Travis Etienne (17) ,Breece Hall (23) and Kareem Hunt (40) are startable but not fantastic. WR is bolstered by the return of CeeDee Lamb after missing 4 games on IL. Romeo Doubs (20) and Deebo Samuel (21) are the other starting options but Deebo is out right now.  TE is manned by Travis Kelce (7) and Jonnu smith  (22) Brandon Aubrey (1) is the top kicker in the league and the Bills D/ST (21) round out the lineup. 
Outlook: Needs more RB production. CeeDee's return solves WR questions.  Should contend for a playoff spot.  
Password is Taco (2-5) 685.46 pts:  Matt's team suffered through a 4 game losing streak earlier in the season and now must make a run to make the playoffs.  QB Drake Maye (4) has become elite while running and passing for TD's.  RB's include Kyren Williams (11) ,Rhamondre Stevenson (29) and Woody Marks (33).  WR Justin Jefferson (11) ,Garrett Wilson (17) and Tee Higgins (35) form a very solid and competitive group.  TE Tyler Warren (3) is really coming into his own. K Mike Badgely (35) and D/ST Bears (4) round out the lineup.
Outlook:  No reason for this team to be 2-5.  Will need continued elite play by Maye. Jefferson needs to step it up to the elite status we've all seen before. The return of Aaron Jones could help.