When I don't have time to do three separate posts, I'll just combine them into one condensed soup version. Week 7 saw the Bye-pocalypse affect a number of teams for better and worse and sent some shockwaves through the power rankings.
Yankee Zulu jumped to the head of the pack with a statement win over World's Finest 148-113 in Week 7. The outstanding combo of Kupp and Chase gave YZ their second-highest score of the season and dropped WFFC to one game above .500. Even without #1 pick Christian McCaffery, Yankee Zulu is dominating the league with a near-perfect 6-1 record. Meanwhile, the highest-scoring team in the league sits at 4-3 and in a limo-of-sorts as they are only a game back from the Premier Division lead, but also only a game ahead in the race for a playoff spot. WFFC may get a break as they go into week 8 against the low-flying Hawks, while the Zulus get a surprisingly 2-5 Holy Penguins. Both teams are projected playoff contenders with YZ at 99% (-9900) and WFFC at 82% (-500) and both are 4/1 favorites to make the championship.
Although Vinegar Strokes was the hardest hit by the bye-pocalypse, D.C. Whitefish lost their coveted spot at the top of the power rankings when Ebola! remembered what winning was and snapped a three-game losing streak. The Whitefish can't blame the bye-week entirely as RB juggernaut Derrick Henry only managed to put up 17 points as the teams top scorer. Ebola got their first non-divisional win this season and did so against the former #1. An unlikely hero saved the day for Ebola as Michael Pitmman Jr. the 137th overall draft pick became the outside threat notching a 100+ yard performance. The Commonwealth Division is a mess with no clear dominant squad, but at the mid-season point Ebola has a 59% chance of winning the division at -144. Ebola meets fellow 4-3 record holder Deer Antler Addicts in what appears to be a near even matchup. D.C. Whitefish look to get back to their winning ways as they host the stumbling Koalas who have lost their last three and haven't broke 90-points in those games.
With YZ, WFFC, and DCW playing muscial chairs with the top three spots in the rankings, a group of contenders are sneaking up from behind with Nash Kato leading the charge. Nash Kato dismantled a depleated Vinegar Strokes by 99-points, bringing their record to 5-2. While the spotlights have been on the top-3, Nash Kato has quietly put together three-straight wins including the beatdowns of the Koala and the Strokes, both by nearly 100 points. Nash has three-tough games left on their schedule and a tricky game against the Holy Pens this week. The Strokes on the otherhand need to regroup and with their entire team more-or-less done with byes, they have the potential to go on a run which is a necessity at 2-5. Despite the 2-5 record, they are still projected at a 33% chance at the playoffs as anything can happen in the Commonwealth Division. Nash Kato is sitting slightly better at 61% and will likely benefit from a softer schedule down the stretch.
The Addicts are a riding a wave of momentum coming into this week having won 4 of their last 5 including the 144-104 thumping of the Hawks this past week. The 64-point anomoly in week 5 can almost be over looked as it sandwhiched between 147, 136, and 144-point games. If they can maintain that production they can certainly send some Halloween chills to the Whitefish and World's Finest for top spot in the Premier Division. After a huge upset of the Holy Pens in week 6 after a three-game skid, the Hawks went back to their losing ways with Kirk Cousins and Delvin Cook on a bye week. The only true bright spot came from Mike Gesicki's 21-points. The Hawks will need some magic and big points as they travel to World's Finest in hopes of a David v. Goliath type achievement.
Who are the Holy Penguins? One of the most dominant teams in USAFL history, but season has seen some bumps in the road to titletown losing close games to weaker opponents. Their two wins have been blockbusters, but they have lost their last two games by a combined 8-points and their last four losses by a combined 46-points. If that's not bad luck and a one-player difference, I just don't know what is. The 119-116 loss to the Ducks was certainly a heartbreak, but with Yankee Zulu's Raven heavy squad on a bye, they could be inline for a momentum shifting upset. The Ducks are finding their way through the labyrthn of inter-divisional play and come up with a measuring stick this week against Nash Kato. A win will certainly put them in the playoff hunt, while a loss will just add more question marks to the Commonwealth playoff picture. All praise needs to go to backup QB Joe Burrows who replaced a bye week Justin Herbert. His 36 was the difference maker in their three-point victory this past week.
A week-7 basement battle took place as Takada Monster Army finally decided to wake up from their slumber to put a 156-57 beatdown on the Sanctus Koala. The free-agent signing of Uzomah bolster the Monster Army an extra 25-points, while Alvin Kamara finally returned to his stud RB ways with 34-points. These two teams might have 2 and 3 wins apiece, but they are certainly not out of the playoff picture yet. Takada has a neafr 50/50 boom or bust scoring potential making them a wildcard from week to week. The Koalas are in a simlar boat, but closer to a 40/60 boom or bust chance. They have failed to break 90-points in their last three games and faceoff against an unforgiving D.C. Whitefish this week. The projections are not promsing for these two teams as both have a less than 30% chance of making the playoffs and currently stand at 2% for winning the whole shabang.
In the achievements race to General Manager of the Year, it's no surprise that D.C. Whitefish leads the pack, but quality roster moves and big wins have Nash Kato trailing slightly behind. Meanwhile, the high scoring league high scoring displays put on by World's Finest and Yankee Zulu have them rounding out the top four.
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