Goal Line Gazette 

No Place For The Weak                                Issue #525

The Cowboys extend their winning streak dating back to last year to 9 consecutive games.   

 

The Cowboys did it again. Even though they scored their lowest score since week 1, they still dominated Bronx Swag, 236 - 175, to improve to 6-0. The Cowboys also continue to lead the points standings by 155 points over their closest rival XXXL. It has been an incredible run by the reigning, defending, undisputed, undefeated champions. I’m running out of superlatives to describe The Cowboys historic run. It’s been a magical ride. The Cowboys can start to look at their magic number. At the moment their magic number is 6 games. What else can you look at when you’re 6-0 with the #1 overall offense. Bronx Swag had their worst week of the season, falling to 2-4, they’re in last place in the Metro West division.  

 

Allbrite Picks snapped a 2 game losing streak in dynamic fashion, unloading the weekly high score on Two Weeks of Bacon, 326-190. A week ago, Allbrite Picks was in last place.  The victory and points vaulted Allbrite Picks all the way up into second place in the Metro West division. Allbrite has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. They currently own the #3 offense with a 3-3 record. It was the highest score TWB has faced all season, who lost for the third consecutive week, falling to 1-5 and into last pace for the first time in almost a month. Lead by Patrick Mahomes/60 points and Devon Achane/57 points, XXXL prevailed over G-Force, 245-177. It was the 3rd consecutive game that Mahomes scored 50+ points. Mahomes hasn’t scored 50+ points in 3 consecutive games since 2022, when he was the #1 overall player. XXXL is the preeminent force in the Metro West division. At 4-2, XXXL has held a piece of the best record in the division all season and sole possession of 1st place for a month. G-Force has suffered back to back losses to division leaders (The Cowboys and XXXL). Dynamic Duo snapped a 5 game losing streak, their longest in franchise history to start a season. Duo came from behind to beat 3 All The Way, 242-157. It was the least points Dynamic Duo has faced all season by 64 points and the least points they faced over the last month by 100 points. Duo crawled out of the Southern Comfort cellar for the first time since week 2, but still have a long walk back to redemption. The loss ended a 2 game winning streak for 3ATW, who fell to 3-3 but are hanging tough in 4th place. After the game, Dynamic Duo and 3ATW swung a major trade, Duo shipped out the underperforming AJ Brown, TJ Hockenson and their week 6 pick to 3ATW for Trey McBride and the Ravens defense. After a slow start, G’ss Mafia has caught fire, winning 3 in a row. They beat Showtime, 238-219, who did mount a comeback on Monday night. G’ss Mafia took over sole possession of 2nd place in the Southern Comfort division and are tied with XXXL for the second best record in the OSFL at 4-2. Showtime has dropped 2 in a row, falling to 5th at 3-3. In what can only be described as a massive upset, an injury ravaged Wolfpack who came into the game with the 12th ranked offense, stunned Phriends of the Devil, 229-187, to win their second game in a row. A couple of weeks ago when I spoke Dino, because of all the injuries, there was twang of hopelessness in his tone, but this team has battled it’s way to a 2 game lead from 5th place. Led by Baker Mayfield/41 points and Jaxon Smith-Njigba/68.2 points, both of whom are MVP candidates, The Wolfpack are very much alive in the Southern Comfort playoff hunt. Phriends of the Devil are discovering what Dynamic Duo found out, Josh Allen isn’t going to save you. Josh Allen is 1-5 in his OSFL starts. It was the worst performance of the season for POTD who fall to 3-3, but remain in third place in the Metro West division.         

 

It does happen, but it’s not often that the 6 highest scores win their games like they did in week 6. We’re 1 game from the halfway point. From where I’m standing, it’s going to be a wild fight to the finish.                                  

 

Games of the Week

Week #7

Week 6 picks (3-3)/Season (15-15)

 

The Cowboys (6-0) Vs Showtime (3-3)

 

The Cowboys have been outstanding to this point. Flawless really. 6-0 with the #1 offense, those are the facts and they’re undisputed. Everything I just wrote is on point, including the phrase, to this point. Why is it that it’s easier to see our flaws when we’re losing than when we’re winning? I don’t want to rain on The Cowboys parade, they really have been phenomenal to this point but we’re starting to see small cracks in The Cowboys offense. The first one was Chuba Hubbard. The emergence of Rico Dowdle cannot be ignored (53-389 and a TD/7-84 and a TD recv/60 touches for 473 total yards and 2 TD’s in 2 games/152 points in 2 games). If Hubbard is 100% he’s probably going to be splitting time if not outright lose the job to Dowdle. We don’t know, but you can’t not play a guy who’s averaging 30 touches for 236 total yards and a TD per game. That’s one problem but now the Seahawks aren’t using Kenneth Walker. Over his first 4 games of 2024, Walker was averaging 16 touches per game, to 11 TPG over his last 2 games. In 4 of the 5 games Zach Charbonnet has played in, he’s out-snapped Walker 164 to 153 snaps and week 6 was the largest differential to date. Charbonnet played on 60% of the snaps to Walkers 35%. That is starting to become a problem. Walked has out-touched Charbonnet 85 to 64, but Charbonnet played in one less game. These are small blemishes, I’m not predicting a collapse or anything like that.These rest of this offense is rock solid. Ron & Dino threw their former partner Kon a lifeline by trading them QB Michael Penix Jr and a supplemental draft pick for Kyler Murray and the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Ron was very happy with the trade, he felt that he upgraded his defense and 3rd QB. 

Matt Stafford entered week 6 as the #3 overall player and then proceeded to have his worst statistical week of the season and really the reason Showtime lost the game. There’s one reason why… Puka Nacua got hurt. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that if Puka Nacua didn’t get hurt Showtime wins easily. If Nacua is OUT this week, Stafford must be downgraded significantly. Showtime loses James Cook to his BYE which appears to be catastrophic to this offense, but Cook has cooled considerably over his last 2 games. We have never seen the version of Bijan Robinson who played on Monday Night football. That is the best he has ever looked in his career. Forget the numbers (19-170 and a TD/6-68 recv/83.3 points) and the numbers were great, Bijan Robinson for the first time in his career looked like the best RB in the NFL. Showtime is hemorrhaging points at WR. WanDale Robinson is the #1 WR on this team. They need Mike Evans back in the worst way possible.  Someone will knock off the Cowboys eventually, I just don’t think it’s going to be Showtime. Even without Chuba and Walker relegated to scraps (which seems insane to me), The Cowboys have too much firepower for Showtime to deal with. I’m taking the Cowboys to win.               

     

Dynamic Duo (1-5) Vs Allbrite Picks (3-3)

Allbrite Picks scored their highest score of the season in week 6, logging their first weekly high score in over 2 years (1st since week 4 of 2023 - 347 points). Allbrite Picks has already matched their win total from 2024, when they finished the season 3-11, which was the the year without a Fish, which was a lot like the 1974 classic animated Christmas special, The Year without a Santa Claus, the one with Heat Miser and the Snow Miser. Allbrite Picks look all the way back and they currently stand in 2nd place of the Metro West division at 3-3 with the third most points in the OSFL. Allbrite Picks will try not to take a step back this week, but they will be without their first round pick and top RB Derrick Henry/28.3 PPG. They might also be without the top rookie WR Emeka Egbuka/30.3 PPG. Derrick Henry’s BYE forces rookie RJ Harvey into the starting line up. Harvey has maxed out at 7 touches in 5 of his 6 games. The one game he received more than 7 touches was against the Bengals and he scored 31.8 points. The core of Allbrite Picks offense comes from their WR’s. George Pickens/33 PPG has been a monster since CeeDee Lamb went down, scoring 6 TD’s in 5 games and catching 100+ in 2 of his last 3 games. CeeDee Lamb is expected back so there could be a slight retraction in production but Pickens is still going to eat going forward. Drake London/32 has broken out over his last 2 games, averaging 55 PPG! Chris Olave has caught 6+ passes in 5 of his 6 games. Olave has more receptions than anyone on Allbrite Picks roster, ranking 5th among all WR’s with 39 receptions. TE Tucker Kraft/21.9 PPG has ranked inside the top 5 TE’s since week 2. Allbrite gets Jordan Mason/23.8 PPG back from his BYE and Aaron Jones still hasn’t returned yet. Jayden Daniels is coming off of his best statistical game of the season, having scored 52 points but he cost Washington the game on Monday night because of a bad hand off he fumbled late in the game. 

Dynamic Duo snapped a 5 game losing streak with their first victory of the season in week 6. For the second time this season, after the game Dynamic Duo traded with the team they played. At the end of week 6, Dynamic Duo sent AJ Brown/15.7 PPG, TJ Hockenson/12 PPG and a week 6 supplemental draft pick (Atlanta Falcons Defense/11.4 PPG) for Trey McBride/23.8 PPG and the Ravens Defense/6 PPG. AJ Brown is a top WR, but 15 PPG over his first 6 games killed us. I blame AJ Brown directly for our week 2 loss by 9 points to the Wolfpack, AJ Brown scored 12.7 points. He only hit that 15.7 PPG average twice. Hockenson put up solid numbers in the 3 games Carson Wentz started for the Vikings, but JJ McCarthy didn’t even look at him in the other 2 games. We’re 1-5. We can’t wait on guys to come around, or hope the right QB is starting. We gave AJ Brown 6 weeks and he was a total disappointment, he currently ranks as the #36 WR. We couldn’t wait anymore. Since 2023, no TE in the NFL has more (229) catches or more (2318) yardage than Trey McBride. I watched this guy score 40 points against me with a back up QB last week and I said to myself, we need this guy. We’re giving a lot of marginal guys runway. Tre Tucker/22 PPG has straight up outplayed AJ Brown over the first 6 games. As long as Brock Bowers is OUT of the Raiders line up, Tre Tucker is the top receiving target. There was no indication which RB would be the primary back for the Chargers heading into week 6. Luck has been against us all season, we got a little lucky with Kimani Vidal. Hindsight is 20/20, but we took a calculated risk starting him and he rewarded us with 45.8 point performance. Mike wanted him at the draft in the 19th or 20th round. You can hate Caleb Williams for his earrings, his painted nails and general weirdness but if you watch him play you cannot deny that he’s a solid QB. The Bears have won 3 in a row (Dallas, Las Vegas and Washington) and the last 2 were on the road. Williams scored 40 points last week. You keep it around 40 and we can win some games. Last week was the best D’Andre Swift/48.5 points has looked in a long time. Swift had the 8th 100 yard rushing game of his career. Willams and Swift connected on a 55 yard TD on Monday night. We never intended to trade Josh Allen or AJ Brown, but neither player was doing enough in my opinion. The Allen trade blew up on us, but it also allowed us to grab Vidal. We don’t expect 45 points from Vidal. If he gives us 40% of that per game, I’ll take it. Ja’Marr Chase score 80 points on Thursday night and it could’ve been worse because he made at least 4 mistakes. Joe Flacco has revitalized Chase and the Bengals. Allbrite Picks has a solid team, but they’re coming out of their highest score of the year so there will most likely be regression and the OSFL woke a sleeping giant in Dynamic Duo. Dynamic Duo wins their second game in a row.  

 

 

G’ss Mafia (4-2) Vs Phriends of the Devil (3-3)

G’ss Mafia enters this game on a 3 game win streak. It’s been the Rico Dowdle show for the last 2 weeks. Chubba Hubbard is expected to return this week. It is unknown how the split between Dowdle and Hubbard is expected to be divided but Carolina has won it’s last 2 games with Dowdle in the starting line up. I think it’s safe to say there will be some sort of retraction in production. Jay has a decision to make at QB. Jared Goff at home after a tough loss, against an opponent who can score on Monday night, yes please, I want some of that. Bo Nix is home against the Giants who shocked Philadelphia last week. The Giants run defense has played a lot better recently but they’re still susceptible against the pass. Both of these QB’s could put up numbers this week. JK Dobbins had his worst game of the season last week and plays the aforementioned Giants improved run defense this week. I don’t know what’s going on with Breece Hall. The play calling on both sides of the Jets/Broncos games was abysmal last week. Trade rumors continue swirling around Hall. He has a phenomenal match up this week against Carolina. Justin Jefferson returns from his BYE. Jefferson averages 96 yards per game after the BYE, including 2 100+ yard bonuses and 2 TD’s in 6 career games. Brian Thomas Jr had his best game of the year in week 6 (32 points), scored his first TD of the season. Marvin Harrison Jr cleared the leagues concussion protocol, but he continues his lackluster, inconsistent production. Harrison should’ve been better than this. He’s only caught 5+ receptions twice all season, has zero 100 yard games and 2 TD’s. There no way to look at Harrison as anything other than a disappointment since he’s come into the NFL. G’ss Mafia could go many different ways with their final Flex spot including Jameson Williams who caught 6 passes (most in the 2025 season) and scored a TD in week 6. Kyle Pitts has been a top 10 TE all year long and really only had one bad game (last week). Pitts has played 2 prior games against the 49ers. He hit a bonus in one and scored a TD in the other. Sam LaPorta has become much more consistent in year 3, averaging 19.7 PPG.

Phriends of the Devil are learning what Dynamic Duo had to find out the hard way, Josh Allen will not save you. Allen is averaging 48.4 PPG, but he’s scored below that number 4 times, significantly lower twice, including last week’s debacle against the falcons (37 points). I’m not saying Josh Allen won’t explode at times going forward, I’m saying besides week 1, he hasn’t done it yet and his record in the starting lineup is 1-5. Allen is on his BYE this week, and Kyler Murray missed last week game, forcing Kon and company to scramble for a QB in week 7. Phriends of the Devil picked up MIchael Penix Jr/33.3 PPG for Kyler and the Steelers D. I loved Jahmyr Gibbs coming into the season but if you actually watch him play, he doesn’t look as good as he did last season and David Montgomery has been the better looking rusher. 4 PPG separate them. You can believe all you want that Gibbs will miraculously turn into this 50 PPG player, but as long is Montgomery is upright and playing as well as he’s played, he’s a 25-28 PPG player. He’s a solid RB and has another game in prime time this week against Tampa Bay but they’re going to lose him to his BYE next week. These next 2 games are pivotal to Phriends of the Devil. Javonte Williams had his worst game of the season against Carolina (20 points/29 rush yards), which is not a great sign going forward. Williams faces Washington this week in a division rivalry game. Washington has been gashed by the run over their last 3 games. Williams has scored 32 and 43 points against other division rivals this season. Rachaad White is set to start his 3rd consecutive game. White hasn’t been much of a drop off from Bucky Irving. Rome Odunze was shut down in week 5 (7.2 points/2 - 32). He could bounce back in week 7 at home against New Orleans, especially if DJ has any limitations. Moore was seen multiple times on his knees during the Monday night game due to a groin injury. Tetairoa McMillan has been the second best rookie WR in 2025 after Emeka Egbuka, averaging 19.3 PPG and ranking 24th WR overall. Phriends of the Devil have Matthew Golden/11.5 PPG in their starting line up over DeVonta Smith/17.8 PPG. I will agree that the Eagles look like they’re a team with a Super Bowl hangover but I don’t see what Phriends see’s playing Golden over a Smith. Orande Gadsden II had a solid game in week 6 (7-68/20.8 points) and might be worth a dart throw over Chig Okonkwo, but there are so many receivers in LA, it’s tough to count on consistent production, especially from a rookie who appeared to emerge from the either a week ago. We’re about to find out a lot about what Phriends of the Devil is made of over the next 2 games. They need at least a split or they’re going to complicate their current position in the division, which is close to the top at the current time. G’ss Mafia is a tough out. Phriends of the Devil have yet to lose back to back games this season, that could change in week 7. The 187  point seasonal low in week 6 was a surprise because they didn’t have any BYE’s, now you’re removing Josh Allen from the equation and starting Michael Penix Jr in his place? I cannot advocate for victory in this spot. G’ss Mafia has no significant BYE and get Justin Jefferson back after scoring 238 without him last week. I’ll take G’ss Mafia to win their 4th in a row.

                                                  

 

The XXXL 69ers (4-2) vs The Wolfpack(3-3)

I’m running out of time so I have to go quick on the last 3, sometimes life just gets in the way. When they’re 100%, XXXL is stacked. Yes Travis Etienne has regressed over the last couple of weeks and Devon Achane could be playing in very bad weather, but they should still produce. A couple of weeks ago I said it would be a mistake to give up on Tee Higgins, who scored 29.6 points and it easily could’ve been 45 points if he didn’t slide to seal the game against the Steelers on Thursday night. Smart play by Higgins, tough break for XXXL. Hopefully that won’t  matter in the final outcome but it could. Since the beginning of the 2023 season, Amon-Ra St. Brown has gone 3+ games without a TD once. He hasn’t scored a TD in his last 2 games. The way Patrick Mahomes is producing, he makes up for a lot non-producers or mistakes. Mahomes averages 296 pass yards (including 5 - 300+ yard pass games) and 2.4 TD’s per game over 14 career games against the Raiders. Travis Kelce has scored more point in 4 consecutive games, including Hitting his first bonus in week 6. If Puka Nacua can’t go, Davante Adams role could expand in week 7. 

The Wolfpack pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year last week when They beat Phriends of the Devil. Baker Mayfield lost all his receivers and still scored 40+ points and beat the 49ers. Mayfield is an NFL MVP candidate. I was dead wrong about Jaylen Warren and the Steers RB situation. I didn’t believe that Warren could carry the load but his 41.8 point performance on Thursday night put The Wolfpack firmly in this game. Nick Chubbs is the other starter for the Wolfpack. CeeDee Lamb returns after missing the last 3 games, giving this offense a much needed boost. This is a very different offense when Lamb is in it, who was averaging a hair under 35 PPG before he got hurt. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been on of the best players in the league, averaging 39.4 PPG. JSN has hit 4 bonuses and scored 3 TD’s, along with 8+ receptions 4 times. He is a real problem for anyone facing The Wolfpack. Ladd McConkey had his best game of the season in week 6 (7-100 and a TD/41 points). This offense also starts Keenan Allen. There’s so many receivers on the Chargers offense (including XXXL’s Quentin Johnston and now rookie TE Gadsden II), it’s tough to determine which receiver will be relevant from week to week. XXXL is the top team in the Metro West division with a 4-2 record but it’s a little surprising that both of their losses are against the current last place teams (Bronx Swag & TWB). If you match up the scores from week to week, XXXL would have beaten The Wolfpack in 5 out of the previous 6 weeks. Which isn’t a huge stat, but The Wolfpack do have the 12th ranked offense thru 6 games. I think they’ll keep their week 7 score close to what it was in week 6 or it could even be higher with the return of Lamb, but I’m still siding with XXXL this week. Mayfield has been solid but sooner or later the lack of high end WR’s will matter. Mahomes is playing at a level we haven’t seen in years. I like XXXL to win.                   

 

G-Force (3-3) Vs 3 All The Way (3-3)

G-Force leapt from the starting gates with a 2-0 record but then lost 3 of their last 4 games. 4 of their games have been decided by 13 points or less. They dropped the last 2 games against both division leaders (The Cowboys and XXXL). G-Force had their worst week of the season in week 6 (177 points). 3 All The Way lost last week with the lowest score of the week (157), their worst score of the season, ending a 2 game wining streak. 3 All The Way half asses last week, taking a zero at kicker and TE when Dalton Kincaid was a late inactive on Monday night. 3 All the Way will be without their best player #1 ranked WR Puka Nacua/41 PPG. 3 All The Way swung a major trade shipping out Trey McBride and a defense for AJ Brown, TJ Hockenson and a pick they used on a solid Atlanta Falcons defense. They needed to do something and this was a pretty solid offer. Rookie Ashton Jeanty is now the highest scoring non-QB in 3ATW’s starting lineup. After that RB is a mess. Isaiah Pacheco has yet to score 20 points in any game this season. It appears that Zonovan “Bam” Knight will make his way into an OSFL starting line up for the first time since 2022. 

Saquon Barkley has slid out of the top 15 RB’s and he hasn’t missed a single game. It’s shocking how far he’s fallen off. Alvin Kamara is starting to show signs of age. 

Kyren Williams is the highest ranked RB on this team, but he has yet to rush for 100 yards in 2025. Quinshon Judkins had a rough game last week, and could play in very bad weather this week. Brock Bowers could miss his 3rd game. Rashee Rice makes his much anticipated return after a 6 game suspension. Deebo is banged up. Both of these teams are trying to figure things out, but there remains a lot of uncertainty on both of these offenses. I’m taking G-Force but this is far from a lock.

 

         

Two Weeks of Bacon (1-4) Vs Bronx Swag (2-4)

This game pits both last place teams against each other. Sometimes the Fantasy Gods give you just enough to survive. One of these teams can revive their season with a win and the other slides deeper into the abyss. Coming into week 7, not a single player on Bronx Swag’s roster had hit a bonus all season, which is amazing and almost impossible. Chase Bronw had his best game of the season on Thursday night, scoring 30 points, rushing for 100 yards and snapping Bronx Swag’s 6 game streak without a bonus. Bronx Swag will be without their top WR Garrett Wilson who is injured and their starting TE Mark Andrews who is on his BYE. Jackson Dart makes his 3 consecutive start for Swag. Dart has scored 46 and 45 points in his previous two starts. TWB has no significant BYE’s and they should be getting George Kittle back into the staring line up. I’m taking TWB for the win but this should be close.   

 

Weekly High Scores

Week 1: G-Force - 255

Week 2: The Cowboys - 329

Week 3: Bronx Swag - 270

Week 4: The Cowboys 297

Week 5: G’ss Mafia - 331

Week 6: Allbrite Picks - 326