Phat Bowl VIII is Christmas Weekend!!!

It's Murphy vs. Wes this weekend! 1 vs. 2! The Upstart vs. the Dynasty ...

Phat Bowl VIII ...

(1) Mad Dog vs. (2) Ramshaft Raiders - According to the Yahoo! Week 16 Predictions, this final fantasy match should be a close one. It's Murphy's big-play receivers vs. Wes's elite quarterbacks!

QB Matchup - (MD) Garrard, Cassel, Stafford, & Sanchez vs. (RR) Peyton, McNabb, & Henne ...

Wes's duo of Peyton & McNabb gives him a huge advantage over whichever 2 QBs Murphy ends up starting. I think its Garrard & Cassel for Mad Dog right now, with a chance that you start Stafford (at QB2), if healthy.

WR Matchup - (MD) DeSean, Austin, Moss, & Rice vs. (RR) Manningham, Chambers, Hester, & Visanthe

This is Mad Dog's strength ... Big-play Receivers! Any of his trio of starting receivers could score 20+pts on any given Sunday. Wes has a set of receivers who will all score around 10pts consistently, but they don't have quite the upside.

RB Matchup - (MD) Moreno, Jacobs, Turner, & Choice vs. (RR) Jamaal Charles, Grant, DeAngelo, Felix, & Bradshaw

This is where Wes has to prove his fantasy prowess. Mad Dog will be starting Moreno & Jacobs this weekend, with a chance that Turner starts at RB2, if healthy. Personally, I don't know if I play Turner, even if he does start. An FFL Championship is a lot to bet on a gimpy ankle. Meanwhile, Wes has 5 RBs that must be whittled down to two for this weekend. Ya gotta start Charles no matter what. I see Wes's RB2 as a choice between Grant, DeAngelo (if healthy), or Bradshaw. I think Jamaal Charles is the best RB on the field this weekend, so I would have to give the edge in the backfield to Wes's Raiders.

SpT Matchup - (MD) Clark, Akers, NO & NE Ds vs. (RR) Celek, Longwell, MIN & NYG Ds

This matchup is pretty even ... Dallas Clark vs. Celek ... Even! Akers vs. Longwell ... Even! ... So that means it comes down to the DEFs. I like both Ds to score well this weekend, as both squads are coming off of bad losses in Week 15. If I had to pick one over the other, I would have to pick Murphy & the NO D ... The Saints are at home (after a loss), facing the Bucs. Can you say statement game.

So who does the Schwam pick to win it all in 2009? ... Mad Dog takes his first Phat Bowl!!! (see the play on words, there ... HAHAHA)

I'm willing to sidebet on this match ... Any takers?

Tha Commish

Dreams of a Phat Bowl ...

The Phat Bowl looks like it is starting to crystalize with only MNF yet to play ...

Mad Dog leading Demmelitions (138-115) ... Demmel's inaction to replace Rackers this weekend may cause him a trip to the Phat Bowl. I mean, does Demmel knows that he has 2 non-active Kickers on his roster (Rackers has a groin injury & Carney was replaced a couple weeks back). With (Murph) Jacobs vs. (Demmel) Hakeem Nicks playing tonight, it will take a minor miracle for Demmel to pull-out the "W". On the flipside, Murph's squad had a great weekend with 4 players scoring 20+pts and 6 players in double-digits.

Ramshafts Raiders lead J$ (117-90) ... With a 27pt deficit heading into MNF, Jilbert needs a monster game from Santana Moss and for Wes's only remaining player, Manningham, to score nothing. Jilbert needed his QBs (Alex Smith or Cutler) to do something this weekend, which they did not (a combined 4pts will not cut it)! The Raiders scored about what was expected, but no one's on J$'s squad ended up with a big day, as was needed.

So unless some crazy things go down tonight, Phat Bowl VIII is looking like a 1 vs. 2 showdown starting on Christmas Day Friday (... First Week 16 game is SD @ TEN on Friday, 12/25).

On a sidenote, I have a 19.74pt lead in another fantasy playoffs and my opposition has Quinton Ganther (WAS-RB) playing tonight. My team is done playing (105.84pts total) ... What do ya think my chances are of advancing?

That's all I got for now ... Get ready for MNF and the Phat Bowl over Christmas!

Tha Commish

Week 15 Preview ...

With a spot in the Phat Bowl on the line, Da Schwam previews this weekend's matchups ...

(1) Mad Dog vs. (5) Demmelitions - According the Yahoo! Matchup Projections, this should be a very close weekend ... QBs - Demmel's duo of Brady & Rodgers rules over all. Stafford could be a QB2 for Mad Dog this weekend, if healthy. Otherwise, Murph's choice of starting Garrard & Cassel seem to be right on ... WRs - Edge goes to Demmel here, starting two elite receivers (Wayne & Andre Johnson) and Hakeem Nicks (who is on quite a hot-streak the past month). Mad Dog's trio is still pretty good with Rice, DeSean, & Randy Moss. These 3 have the upside to make this weekend very exciting ... RBs - Like the receivers, I give Demmel the edge here, but again, Mad Dog is a very close second. Demmel is starting Thomas Jones & Addai, while Murphy has Moreno & Jacobs ... SpT - How funny is it that Demmel has two Kickers on his roster, yet both are injured! Since Demmel is a K down, I will give this category to Mad Dog with Miller, Akers, & NE D ... SCHWAMI SAYZ DEMMELITIONS IN THE UPSET!!!

(2) Ramshafts Raiders vs. (3) J$ - This is a true "Clash of the Titans" ... McNabb & Peyton vs. AP & CJ!!! ... QBs - Edge Raiders with Peyton & McNabb (over J$'s Cutler & Alex Smith) ... WRs - In what appears to be the wildcard in this matchup, how each team's receivers do this week may go a long way in determining who makes it to the Phat Bowl. Da Schwam does not think too highly of either trio. Wes has the more consistent corp (with Manningham, Chambers, & Visanthe), while Jilbert has more upside (with Roddy, Jennings, & Santana Moss). I'm gonna call this one even ... RBs - Edge J$ with AP & CJ over whichever 2 players Wes decides to start this Sunday. I'm not sure about leaving DeAngelo on the bench, in favor of Grant ... SpT - I will give Wes a slight edge here with a better TE (Celek) than Jilbert (Winslow) ... SCHWAMI SAYZ RAMSHAFTS RAIDERS IN THE PHAT BOWL (again ...?!?!)!!!

Good luck to all fantasy owners ...

Tha Commish

... And the Division Championships are set!

Da Schwam went 1-1 this past week ... Gellis ends up losing by a mere 2pts., while Chad failed to mount a comeback last night as his remaining duo of Warner & Hightower combined for -2pts.

Gellis was so close to pulling out the "W" last night. He needed to overcome a 16pt deficit heading into MNF (with Fitzgerald/Gore vs. Alex Smith) ... Gore got the big game he needed (24pts), but the entire ARZ O stalled last night, which left Fitzy with a measly 2pts. The only ARZ player that did anything was Beanie Wells.

The horrid ARZ O also hurt the SoCal Strikers hopes ... Chad needed a big game from the Cards' O last night (as Chad had a 27pt deficit to overcome) and WOW, did Warner and the boys not deliver! With Warner & Hightower combining for -2pts., Demmel actually increased his lead with Rackers measly 3pts.

Da Schwamz stats after Week 14 ... ESPN Pigskin Pick 'Em 118-90 ... ESPN Eliminator Challenge 13-1 (Lost KC upset over PIT in Week 11) ... Yahoo! FFL Picks 28-22

And now, the NDHFFL Division Championships (Week 15) are set ...

(1) Mad Dog vs. (5) Demmelitions

(2) Ramshafts Raiders vs. (3) J$

Who will make it to the Phat Bowl?

Tha Commish

Pre-MNF Wildcard Weekend Update ...

With the ARZ @ SF game still to be played, the Week 14 playoff picture is starting to take shape ...

Going into tonight's game, Jilbert holds a 16pt lead over Gellis ... J$ has Alex Smith playing vs. Gellis's remaining duo of Fitzgerald & Gore ... Gellis is still very much in this game.

In the other wildcard matchup, Demmel may have 27pt lead over Chad's Strikers, but this match is anything but over ... Chad has Warner & Hightower tonight, while Demmel has Rackers ... Chad is still very much in this game, as well.

MNF will be an interesting game to watch with the fantasy playoffs on the line ...

Tha Commish

NDHFFL Playoffs - Wildcard Weekend

With Mad Dog & the Raiders on a Bye, it's time for Da Schwam to preview the pair of Wildcard matchups in Week 14 ... Da Schwamz record has been respectable all season (109-83 against the spread in ESPN Pick 'Em & 27-21 in Yahoo! FFL Picks)

(3) J$ vs. (6) Gellis -- QBs - Gotta give the edge to Gellis here. Favre is an elite option this season, while Hasselbeck is a better option (@HOU) over Orton (@IND). Jilbert's duo of Cutler & Alex Smith could go off. If they do, Jilbert could score 150 this weekend and Gellis will be in trouble; WRs - J$'s Roddy, Jennings, & Santana vs. Gellis's Fitzgerald, MSW, & Steve "Big City" Smith ... Gotta go to Gellis here. Larry Fitzgerald is quality and MSW should go off this weekend (he was a dud last weekend); RBs - CJ & AP ... No question! CJ is @STL, to boot! I'm a bit surprised Gellis is starting Gore this weekend over Benson. I mean Gore has been a dud, since the Niners went to a Spread O; SpT - Gellis gets the checkmark with Witten being a big advantage over Jilbert's Winslow. (Gellis) Hartley & TEN D is even with (J$) Gostkowski & PIT D ... SCHWAMI SAYZ GELLIS IN WEEK 14!!!

(4) SoCal Strikers vs. (5) Demmelitions -- In the previous 2 matchups between these fantasy rivals, Chad had won each contest by over 25pts. Can Chad make it a clean sweep? Possibly, but you can't count out Demmel with Brady & Rodgers ... QBs - With Brady & Rodgers, Demmel definitely gets the edge here. I think the Strikers will start Warner, but QB2 (either Big Ben or Eli) may end up being a crucial fantasy decision this weekend; WRs -Again, gotta go with the quality of Demmel's trio of Andre Johnson, Wayne, & Driver over Chad's starters. Although Chad does have a shot with a redhot Meachem, picking your poison with the Chargers receivers (Gates or Vincent Jackson), and Mason playing DET at home; RBs - Demmel gets the checkmark in the backfield with Thomas Jones & Addai, but Chad could make it a game if he picks the right RB2 (Forte, Stewart, or Hightower) to start alongside Ricky this weekend; SpT - Demmel for the sweep with Miller, Rackers, and GB D. The Strikers have a higher quality TE in Gonzo, and just about all fantasy kickers are created equal, but I do not like Chad starting the DEN D (@IND) in Week 14. I would take either D in the WAS @ OAK matchup over DEN this weekend ... SCHWAMI SAYZ DEMMELITIONS FOR THE WIN!!! (Third time's a charm, right ...)

That's all I got for now ... Enjoy the excitement of the fantasy playoffs!

Tha Commish

Looking back at the Final Weekend 'N Da Hood ...

So lets break down this weekend's action into the 2 most important aspects ...

Division Championships ...

Wes has been in Colts-mode for the better-part of the past 2 weekends, since locking up the Northend Division crown in Week 11 ... As for the Southside crown, it appears to come down to Ray Rice tonight. Gellis needs 37pts from Rice to secure the division title. In the event of a tie or a Mad Dog victory, Murphy would win his franchise's first division crown.

Playoff Picture ...

Raiders have earned a Bye in Week 14, but if Wes loses this weekend, he could see himself slip to #2 in the rankings, as the winner of the Mad Dog-Gellis matchup would end up being the #1 seed (by overall points tiebreaker).

As for Mad Dog & Gellis, I have already mentioned their position ... Win and they are the division champs & earn a bye next weekend.

Demmel still has 3 players tonight (Rodgers, Driver, & GB D), so a 53pt deficit is not out of the question to overcome ... If Demmel wins tonight, he is the #3 seed ... A loss, 6th place (probably).

The Strikers look to be cruising to a Week 13 "W", which would mean that Chad's final playoff position will be determined by the results of the Demmelitions ... If Demmel loses, Chad would end up in 5th place ... If Demmel were to pull-out the victory, then Chad would end up in 6th place.

With a 2pt. lead & Jennings playing tonight, it appears that J$ has all but locked up his seat in the playoffs. Assuming Jilbert wins this weekend, then he will end up either 4th or 5th place, depending on the outcome of Chad's matchup, as well as Demmel's.

Things don't look good for Snapp ... He needed either Chad or J$ to lose this weekend, as well as overcome a huge point deficit. Snapp still has Flacco & Crosby playing tonight, so in the end, Snapp may end up getting close in points, but will be a 1-game off.

REALLY ME ... REALLY???!?!?! Once I am mathematically out of the playoffs, I score 125pts+ a week and go 3-0 ... SWEET!!!

Felicia ends the season respectably ... Just not the Year of La Chica.

As for Burton, I really wish he woulda at least started active players in his lineup ... You don't need to go and pickup players, but at least start the ones who are active on Week 13 rosters (i.e. Vick & Jackson for Bulger & Westbrook this weekend). That woulda made the matchup with Jilbert that much more exciting.

Good luck to all and we will start talking playoffs tomorrow ...

Tha Commish