WEEK 12 PREVIEW
Welcome to the first of three rematch weeks to end our regular season - a chance for revenge! What a treat we have this week - 3 games TODAY, a game tomorrow on Black Friday, and then regular action on Sunday and Monday… God Bless America! I’d like to wish our two US team owners Rick and Rich a Happy Thanksgiving, and remind all owners that our trade deadline is November 29th. All trades must be accepted by 12pm this coming Wednesday to go through.
Here are our match previews for Week 12…
3RD AND LONG heads to the Bay for a highly anticipated rematch against PURDY GOOD. It was a thrilling finish when they played each other six weeks ago - Justin Herbert had the ball in his hands on the final drive with a chance to pickup the win for the Chargers and Purdy Good… but threw an untimely pick to the Cowbitches ending both the game and the fantasy match. Ryan would hang on and sneak away with the 107-104 win to reclaim first place, a position he has not since relinquished. He’s now two games in front of everyone else in the ICLAFF with just three games left so with a win this week and a loss by his brother and cousin, he would officially lock up the first seed. For what it’s worth ESPN currently has Ryan listed as a 38.8 point favourite over Shawn with all his players projected to score off the charts, but Shawn has been playing his best fantasy football over the last couple of weeks picking up two straight wins and putting up some of his best scores ever. They’ve had some dramatic ups and downs this season but if PG can sneak into the top 8 and get their most dangerous weapon Justin Jefferson back, they could be a threat to everyone to take it all. An upset win at home over the first place team would be a huge statement.
STRAIGHT OUTTA COUGHLIN takes on ERIC E-ALL’S in a match I’m sure Eric has been looking forward to for some time. SO-CO demolished the Double E’s 168-78 in Week 6, the second biggest blowout in ICLAFF history - so this is a chance for Eric to get redemption. Both teams are coming off of wins last week, and both have put up big points over the last couple of weeks (Matt - 286 and Eric - 268) so we could have some high scores in this showdown. The Eazy E’s really need this one… currently they’re in 7th place holding a playoff position, but it’s soooo close. They are literally just hanging in by a few points and it would be nice to create a little breathing room by picking up their 6th win.
Ross will be celebrating US Thanksgiving south of the border this week as his OTTAWA ROSS RIDERS face off against the STAND ALONE AMERICAN. The Riders have lost two in row, the first time they’ve done that since dropping the first two matches of the season. They barely got out of Crystal Lake alive last week, not only losing the match but also Joe Burrow and Kenneth Walker to injuries. Ross will likely turn to Jordan Love under centre this week, but he will have to monitor the rest of his roster right up until the games kickoff having 3 other key players listed as questionable - RB Derrick Henry, along with two receivers AJ Brown and Puka Nacua. The Lone American stopped a 3 game losing streak with a win last week, but still remains in 11th place. His lineup is capable of putting up big numbers at anytime so he’s always a threat to have a big week. They have the most points of any other team in the Finkle Four so if he can put together some wins to end the season, he’s still got an outside shot at sneaking into the playoffs and playing for the Bundy. It all starts by trying to take advantage of a wounded and struggling Riders squad this week.
Mike will also be enjoying the American Thanksgiving festivities with J-OSHAWA ALLEN travelling down to Sin City to challenge the LAS VEGAS SUN WORSHIPERS. This is actually the rematch of the Toilet Bowl Rematch. We all remember that the Worshipers lost to the Shwa in last year’s Toilet Bowl, but they got their revenge winning 117-89 the last time they met for the first rematch back in Week 6. The match this week has huge playoff implications for both teams. Things have turned very tense in The Shwa really quickly after back to back loses and their team failing to score 100 points in either match. This time last week Mike was still feeling pretty good in 5th place, but he plummeted 4 spots in the standings in just a few short days and panic is once again starting to set in for the J-Oshawa Mafia. It’s an understatement to say that this team needs to bounce back with win this week to stay in the playoff race. Rich also lost last week but his Worshipers are just a game behind the Shwa in 10th place. If he actually sets a full lineup this week he should have a chance, and a victory could bring him right back into the post season conversation.
Looking to get back to their winning ways, HOOKED ON A THIELEN will be going up against MARC’S FUNKY BUNCH. Both teams are 6-5 but the Purple T’s have dropped their last two matches, while The Bunch have won two straight to jump over Don in the standings and into 5th place. Last week was especially devastating for Don, he slid from a nice comfortable 3rd place position in the standings all the way down to 6th. Last time these two faced each other In Week 6, The Bunch won it in a close one 112-106 getting out to a lead and hanging on. The strategy looks to be much the same in the rematch - Don only has his kicker Jake Moody in action before Sunday, so Marc will look to get a jump on him with WR Amon-Ra St. Brown going this afternoon, plus RB Zach Charbonnet and WR Brandon Aiyuk going tonight.
It’s the rematch between Vader and Jason with the CRYSTAL LAKE SLASHERS hosting the DARTH RAIDERS. Last time they met on the Death Star where the Slashers came away with the 137-98 victory. Now, the Slashers are the hottest team in the league making short work of their last 3 victims and scoring at least 120 points in each of the wins. Last week’s win came at a cost however with WR Cooper Kupp messing up his ankle. He’s listed as questionable but has not practiced yet so it’s not looking good for this week. This is nothing new for Glen who has been dealing with injuries to key players all season. He worked his ass off to get his team back into playoff position, but knows with a loss this week he could be right back down in the Finkle Four. His opponent in Week 12 knows all about being down in the standings. At 2-9 Howie’s D-Raiders are in dead last and are pretty much playing for pride at this point… oh, and trying to avoid a trip to the dreaded Toilet Bowl where they could walk away with the most infamous trophy in all of fantasy sports - The Ray Finkle Award of Shame.