With Week 8 officially under way, we have reached the halfway point in another challenging season of L.E.D. fantasy football. One division has produced multiple teams rich in talent, while another proves to be the gauntlet of the L.E.D. Let's revisit my preseason predictions and see how things have developed.
APPAREL DIVISION
- Chicken Little Flea Flicker - The Champ is out to prove she isn't a one-hit wonder this season. Rookie RB, Saquon Barkley, is everything he was advertised to be and more. Add him to the consistently high production of WR, Davante Adams, and TE, Zach Ertz, and it's no wonder that Chicken Little is one of the highest scoring offense in the league. In a division that has turned to be the most talented in the league, I expect Coach Meads and Chicken Little to be an underrated and tough out as we head towards the homestretch.
- Dirty Skiveys - "Having the #1 pick sucks" -- Yeah right, Joe. Locking down the best running back in football must be soooo terrible. After starting the season 0-3, Todd Gurley and the Skiveys have flown back to the top of the division and have no plans of leaving this time. Joe was tired of being at the bottom of the all-time standings, and is leaving his losing ways behind him. Gurley and Joe's elite stable of WRs, Juju Smith-Schuster, Mike Evans, and Cooper Kupp will help the Skiveys make their L.E.D. playoffs debut in 2018.
- Player Haters - Perhaps I was a little to harsh on the Player Haters before. Maybe evening deserving of a backhand from Silky Johnson himself. It was clear that the team had talent, but I was skeptical of Andy Reid and how he was going to use RB, Kareem Hunt. Hunt has silenced the critics such as myself, but the same cannot be same for Kenyan Drake. Michael Thomas continues to be an underrated WR that puts up huge stats, and the high-octane offense of the LA Rams has made Robert Woods a solid weapon. As I previously stated, any team with Aaron Rodgers should have a chance to compete. I'm not hating as hard as I was on this team. The Player Haters will be a team on the bubble of making the playoffs.
- Steel City - Head Coach Chris Shackelford is no longer distracted by the everyday grind and commitment of police rookie school, and he's proven that he's back and committed to Steel City again this year. Defying a traditional draft strategy, Steel City is back and strong as ever. Antonio Brown is arguably the best in the league, Alshon Jeffery is finally healthy, and RBs Mark Ingram and Kerryon “My Wayward Son” Johnson have come on strong late. This offense has done enough to put Steel City at the top of the league and the early favorite to win the division. Barring any serious injuries, this team is a shoe-in for the playoffs.
LODGE DIVISION
- All Dem TD's - The injury bug shows no mercy. That's the case here with Coach Allen and All Dem TD's. Taking a chance in the first round on RB, Dalvin Cook may have seem dangerous, but for a team drafting in the 12th spot, it was a risk that had to be taken. Unfortunately, it's not paid off...yet. Coach Allen is loading up his stables with a pair of injured studs by recently adding RB, Leonard Fournette. Hoping for an offensive explosion come Week 10, Dex will need to win a game or two between now and then to stay competitive in the playoff race. Look for those points to come from steady WRs, T.Y. Hilton and Jarvis Landry. It wouldn't hurt if Kirk Cousins decided to start slinging it either. (EDIT: Now Will Fuller is out for the season -- give Dex a break!)
- Cris Carter's Fall Guys - The Fall Guys were one of my early season favorites to make the playoffs and that still appears to be the case. What's scary about this team is that Le'Veon Bell hasn't even shown up year and they're still finding ways to win. I still believe one of the smartest moves in the draft was picking up James Conner as a handcuff (drafting in the 15th round, FYI). Coming into this season, who honestly thought Adrian Peterson was going to be this useful? Anyone?! The only weakness on this team is at the WR spot. Keenan Allen just hasn't shown up, and Coach Florian is desperately going to need production from this position if he hopes to separate himself from the rest of the field going forward
- 4th & Schlong - Coach Williams and 4th & Schlong are proving why there is a growing number of fantasy players going with the "Zero RB" draft strategy. This team is single-handedly being carried by elite WRs, Adam Thielen and DeAndre Hopkins. Another brilliant move by Kellen was trading away WR, Odell Beckham in order to acquire the high scoring QB, Patrick Mahommes. Even the L.A. Rams DEF/ST is a high scorer.Add in the consistently big stats from TE, Travis Kelce and you're left with 2nd highest scoring offense in the L.E.D. RBs James White and Lamar Miller aren't the most trustworthy names at the position, but they're getting it done and Kellen will take whatever he can get from them. I look for this team to win the division and lock up. This team will compete with the Fall Guys for the division crown.
- Huge Hefner - It's not been the year that I had originally thought it would be Coach Alkire and Huge Hefner. He's been let down tremendously by injuries all over the place. Doug Baldwin had a slow start to the season after dealing with a knee injury, and free agent pick up Larry Fitzgerald has been hampered by the dumpster fire offense that is the Arizona Cardinals. Add in the fact that RB Devonta Freeman went to the IR early in the season and it's been tough sledding for this team. Alvin Kamara is good, but he's not good enough to put up the points Huge Hefner is missing from other players. If Cam Newton and Julian Edelman can step up, this season can be salvaged.
TEAM SPORTS DIVISION:
- Cam Newton's Law - In the Team Sports division, I'm not exactly sure it matters how good you are -- your division rivals are constantly making moves to get better. Coach Luck and Cam Newton's Law are more talented today than they were after the draft, but that talent is very streaky. After acquiring WRs Odell Beckham and Kenny Golladay via trades, the group appears to be shored up. But with Kenny G competing for catches against Marvin Jones and Golden Tate, and Eli Manning laying on his back most of the time -- this talent doesn't always pay off. Newton's Law is still getting good production from the RBs group led by Melvin Gordon. This team is close to being well-rounded, but they'll have to win the division if they hope to make the playoffs. The division is just too competitive to sneak in.
- Grizzly Adams Bears - Only one player on this team was drafted by Coach Riley. One. Sony Michel was one of the few bright spots for this team before he was injured. Michel will only be out a few weeks total, but this team desperately needs points now. And while the season may seem bleek on the outside, Coach Riley has shown determination in improving this team. He has successfully wheeled and dealed his way to landing some big names on his roster that include WR Julio Jones and TE Evan Engram. If Michel gets back soon and RB Tevin Coleman can put up staring RB numbers, Grizzly Adams has a chance to make up some desperately needed ground in a tough division.
- Pee In Yo Cornflakes! - Another team that has been wheelin' and dealin' is Coach Zaino and Pee In Yo Cornflakes! This team is one solid FLEX player from being very well rounded. Ezekiel Elliott and A.J. Green are the big names on this team that consistently deliver points. Brandin Cooks was a great trade acquisition that has paid off as well. Come week 13, this team will be in the hunt for one of the last playoff spots.
- Shiva Kamini! - Shiva Kamini is the quietest team in the league that keeps on winning. Did you know that QB, Philip Rivers is currently QB4 going into week 8? Did you know David Johnson is RB11 and has found someway to score in the horrible Cardinal offense? Sure, these are big names, but how come no has talked about them in the fantasy world? The WR group of Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, and Tyler Boyd have produced very well, and out of no where, RB, Philip Lindsay, has emerged as a every week flex play. If anyone is hoping to beat this team, you're gonna need a handful of players to be off their game.