WEEK 8 RE-CAP
Four teams scored more than 140 points in the ICLAFF this week, and some streaks were extended. Here’s what happened in Week 8…
The LAS VEGAS SUN WORSHIPERS looked quite impressive in the Battle of the ICLAFF Basement with the DARTH RAIDERS. In a somewhat surprising move, Rich started QB Baker Mayfield on Thursday - and it paid off with him scoring 21 points and giving the Worshipers the lead. Then on Sunday, Alvin Kamara was huge again for Rich notching 27… but his biggest story was WR CeeDee Lamb. He had an incredible 34 points in the first half alone, and ended with 41 - the highest score in fantasy football this week. On the other side, it was another struggle for the lowly D-Raiders. Even their usually reliable QB Pat Mahomes battled the flu and managed just 6 points, one of 5 spots in Howie’s lineup that failed to put up at least 10. That’s now 4 straight losses for the Evil Empire as they drop this one 119-80. After their most decisive win of the season, the Worshipers are now out of the Toilet Two… just one game back from getting out of the Finkle Four and into a playoff spot.
We were treated to quite the shootout between HOOKED ON A THIELEN and the STAND ALONE AMERICAN. This was like a battle between two heavyweights going blow for blow all weekend. I knew they would put a ton of points put up… and boy did they ever, combining for an outstanding 291, a new ICLAFF record! Don had a productive Thursday - WR Stefon Diggs picked up 16 points, while RB Rachaad White had 18 - giving Hooked-T an early lead. They were neck and neck most of the day on Sunday - Rick battling back getting 20+ point performances from 5 of his players, including 30 from his stud RB Christian McCaffrey. Don held a 14 point lead going into the Sunday nighter with just WR Joshua Palmer to play for Rick… but he got banged up a little early in the game and could only manage to score 5. The Lone America’s comeback falls short, and Hooked-T hangs on for the 150-141 win. This is the third time the Purple T’s have scored over 150, and they have now taken over the lead in total points scored this season. Rick puts up the second most points he’s ever scored in the ICLAFF, but still loses. He outscored all but 3 teams in the league this week, unfortunately he was facing one of them.
The CRYSTAL LAKE SLASHERS headed into Brooklin trying to knock off first place 3RD AND LONG. Jalen Hurts had another great week (27), and McLaurin finally put up decent numbers (17), but tight end Darren Waller was knocked out of his game in first quarter, after scoring just 1 point. A tough pill for Glen to swallow considering his two backups tight ends Taysom Hill and Dalton Kincaid together had 40 points from the Slashers bench. Glen still led the match by 49 before RB Austin Ekeler scored 23 points on Sunday night for Ryan to cut into the lead and set the stage for Monday night. With 3 Lions in action for the Beer Bottles, could the Slashers hang on to their lead on the eve before Halloween? It took until late in the first half, but the league’s top team eventually prevailed. QB Jared Goff and kicker Riley Patterson were great… and Jahmyr Gibbs had his breakout game - scoring 30 and helping 3&L collect the most points in the ICLAFF this week. This ends in a 152-119 final. For the second week in a row the Slashers watch their lead slip away on Monday night.
MARC’S FUNKY BUNCH was looking to avoid back to back loses when they challenged STRAIGHT OUTTA COUGHLIN. Marc got out to an 8 point lead on Thursday thanks to Bills RB James Cook, but he should’ve had Bucs WR Chris Godwin in his lineup - he scored 18 on his bench. SO-CO received double digit performances from every spot in their lineup but their defence. The Tua and Waddle Miami connection together had 47 - and “Dicker the Kicker” chipped in with 16 points on Sunday night, after Matt signed him earlier in the week. The Bunch cashed in 41 points from their Jacksonville QB and RB Trevor and Travis… and Aiyuk added 16, but they still trailed by 31 going into Monday night with just their superstar receiver Amon-ra St. Brown left to go. Playing a little under the weather he still was able to score 17, however his Lions teammate Sam Laporta scored a second half touchdown for Matt putting this one out of reach. The Funky Bunch lose another tough one 142-108. For the first time this season, the defending champs have won 3 in a row!
Another week, another great performance by the OTTAWA ROSS RIDERS, this time they took down ERIC’S E-ALLS who have been struggling over the last few weeks to say the least. They had a little better week this time around, George Kittle had 24 and Keenan Allen also had decent game… but Russell Wilson was the only starter to find the end zone for Eric this week. The Double E’s top performer was actually WR Deandre Hopkins, however his 3 touchdowns and 35 points did not count from the bench. Ross’ offence once again came up big headlined by a 33 point AJ Brown performance, and Cool Joe Burrow seems to have found his groove again - he threw 3 touchdowns and had 283 passing yards, good for 28 fantasy points. They take this one quite easily, 135-93. The City of Ottawa is going wild! Their Riders have won 6 straight and are now just 3 games away from tying the Slashers record winning streak of 9 wins to start last season.
As predicted, things got really ugly in The Shwa this weekend during the rivalry match between PURDY GOOD and J-OSHAWA ALLEN. This one was over faster than Mike Babcock’s coaching stint in Columbus… Josh Allen was the highest scoring QB this week with 29, putting Mike out in front on Thursday. Then, just halfway through the early Sunday games Mike already had a 78% win projection. Shwa had an 80 point lead before the late afternoon games kicked off, and based on the way Shawn’s team has been struggling to score points lately you pretty much knew this was over. Justin Herbert was the only won who scored more than 15 points for PG, and five players were held to less than 8. This one ends 126-88. That’s now two wins in a row for J-Oshawa, while PG drops their 4th straight. Just like Mike did last year - Shawn won his first 4 to start the season, then lost his next 4. In only a matter of a few weeks without Justin Jefferson, he’s gone from being undefeated and in 1st place…. all the way down to 8th place, barely holding onto that final playoff spot and in danger of dropping down to the Finkle Four. His season is in a complete free fall.
