We've officially crossed the halfway mark of the NFL season, although we're even further along in our fantasy one. With only 5 more weeks until playoffs, look out for a playoff prediction column next week. In the meantime, we look at two of the teams trying to stay in the hunt...
MOTW
5. BEST TEAM (Mike) vs. 6. Dak 고기 ALL DAY (Rich)
Two teams currently in the playoff race. One will move to 6-4 and build an extra game cushion from falling out of contention and even possibly compete for the bye. One will fall to 5-5, one game closer to the 4-6 teams that are trying to steal a playoff spot in the last few weeks of the season. Mike's team has been ravaged by missed games so he needs every win he can get until his team is healthy again. Rich has been a bit unlucky (4th most PA) but has some great matchups this week to try to extend his win streak to 2 games.
Key Players on Bye:
Mike - Brandin Cooks (WR2), Joe Mixon (RB1/2)
Rich - None
Key Injuries:
QB: Mike ◯ ◯ 🟢 ◯ ◯ Rich
I don't believe in this narrative of Mahomes's demise. I think there are concerns that Kelce can't get open, teams are taking the deep ball away from Hill, and that nobody has emerged as a viable WR2 for this offense (#freeJoshGordon), but in a divisional matchup that they need to win, I think Mahomes comes through. He'll need to for Mike to stand a chance against Dak playing against a terrible Atlanta team that he should thoroughly dominate to bounce back from a terrible showing against the Broncos (but even in that terrible real-life showing, he put up 22 fantasy points).
WR: Mike ◯ ◯ 🟢 ◯ ◯ Rich
It speaks to Mike's team's depth that he can lose somebody like Cooks and still be competitive at the WR position. Lockett gets Wilson back this week and Thielen and Waddle are WR1s or WR1A/B in their respective offenses. Rich has 3 WR1 or 1A/B's as well so this should be a high-scoring position battle. The interesting fight will be between Jefferson and Thielen; whoever gets more love from Cousins this week might decide this matchup.
RB: Mike ◯ ◯ 🟢 ◯ ◯ Rich
My goodness. Mike is down Mixon AND Hunt. How is he supposed to compete in this category? Thankfully he got CMC back which helps bring some power to the position (EDIT: this was previously a green circle all the way on Rich's side before Mike but CMC in). It's kind of ridiculous that Melvin is his RB4 when everyone is healthy. Zeke (who should dominate a weak Falcons D) and either AP (who should be in even better shape and more prepared) or D'Ernest (who will be a true workhorse back if Chubb can't play) will be a formidable matchup and I expect this to be a wash.
TE/K/DST: Mike ◯ ◯ 🟢 ◯ ◯ Rich
This is a bit TBD based on who Rich picks up for his defense (best options may be a reinvigorated NE, a Broncos team playing at home, or the Packers if Wilson doesn't play). No matter who he picks, the Cardinals may be the best defense to own this week against a horrendous Panthers offense that can't move the ball at all and prefers to give it to the opponents. On the flip side, Ertz has been great for the Cardinals but Waller should feast in a matchup against the Chiefs, especially with no more Ruggs. Kickers seem like a wash, just like this overall matchup.
Winner: Rich, by a hair
Man this one is close. The green circles tell the story as none of them lean one way or the other (obviously this is my assessment, others may disagree). I'll pick Rich just because there's a little more certainty and higher floor to his team. I think certain people on Mike's team (Mahomes, Lockett, Ertz) need to buck an ongoing trend in play to really match up against Rich's team. While I think Mike's ceiling is slightly higher, Rich's floor is miles ahead.
Good luck to all!
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