(Also, a quick reminder to make sure that you message me regarding any issues you would like the league's feedback on. The survey is only weeks away!)
MOTW
5. David Y Team vs. 6. BEST TEAM
The two teams with the worst names in the league face off in a huge week 10 game. The winner will be 6-4, pretty much needing 1 win over the next 3 weeks to get into the playoffs. The loser will drop to .500 and need 2 of 3 wins and maybe a lot of points to win the tiebreaker to get in. For David and Mike, the playoffs start this week.
Studs: Cooper vs. Brees
While Minnesota's defense is pretty staunch, they've been susceptible to big plays by the top WRs. Julio and Ridley both scored a TD, Davante got over 100 yards, Alshon got a TD, Marvin Jones dropped 4 scores, and Tyreek put up a 140 and a TD. You'll see that the list has all kinds of receivers: speedsters, end zone threats, quick slant slot receivers. Amari should have a productive day, even if his team doesn't get the win. Brees gets to face the worst pass defense in the league. He tore up Arizona in his first game back and now he gets the Falcons at home to ease him back from his injury. Expect 300+ yards and 3+ TDs with the only thing limiting him being the huge lead the Saints build over the Falcons.
Duds: Zeke vs. D. Freeman
The reasons that allow Cooper to succeed (playing from behind, weak secondary) will be Zeke's downfall. Minnesota is one of the best at stopping the run. D. Freeman had 8 carries for 19 yards, Josh Jacobs had 10/44, and Howard had 13/39. Now they did have a few big performances against them (Aaron Jones and Damien Williams both had 100+ and a score) and none of the duds are as good as Zeke, but I think game flow will dictate a light day for Zeke. Nobody can shut him down completely but I don't think we'll see the Zeke we're used to. Freeman falls into a similar narrative as the Falcons will be playing from behind most likely starting in the 2nd quarter. On top of that, the Saints run defense has been their strength, stopping big names throughout the season. Freeman's best bet will be to get involved in the passing game to boost his production.
X-Factors: Tough Matchups vs. Ridiculously Easy Matchups
Cowboys vs. a rugged Minnesota team that keeps the other offense off the field by running the clock. Lockett against the best defense in football. Jimmy Graham vs. being guarded by Luke Kuechly. David's team is going into the slaughterhouse for what looks to be a down week for every player on his roster. Even Cooper is listed as the stud only because he has the most favorable of the Cowboys skill players. Contrast that with Mike's team. Saquon vs. the reeling Jets. Keenan vs. a burnable Raiders secondary. Hooper vs. a vulnerable middle of the field in a shootout. There's just so many easy matchups for Mike's stars, is this really a fair fight?
Key Players on Bye:
David Y - Watson, Howard, Chark - David could really have used a few of these other guys. DeShaun has been as hot as any QB in the league. Howard is in a split backfield but they've been effective running the ball (and should still be more useful that Darrell Henderson). And Chark could start over Renfrow as he is better at pretty much every aspect of football than Renfrow.
Mike - R. Freeman, Sanu - While he will miss the options to choose Royce and Sanu, I don't know if either would start. The only one I could really see starting is Sanu over Watkins or Boyd but it's not a bonafide upgrade like David would have with his players.
Winner: Mike
The matchups just lean too heavily towards Mike's way. David has an uphill fight to make the playoffs while Mike gets to prove one of my predictions wrong (of him missing the playoffs).
[On another note, Paul is doing a great job in making sure my prediction of him making the playoffs goes down the drain]
MOTW record: 2-2
Good luck to all!
Simon Kim
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