Evans World 2012 – Week 15

One week left to go in our season, and it’s been a good one.  Not a great one, considering I haven’t cared much about my own lineup for the past few weeks, but even still there are plenty of moments and players to remember.  I’ll get into those more next week in my season round-up.  For now this will be a quickie as we’re all getting ready for the holidays and so many good days ahead.

RANDOM THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK

• It’s pretty clear what the will of the FF Gods was this past week (as Mike might put it) … Gary and Mike were not destined to win a championship this year.  Both of their go-to teams this past week, the Giants and the Bucs, were not just shutdown but shut OUT.  No grey area there.  The Eli-Cruz and Freeman-Jackson combos I lauded last week were death knells for their chances this week.  It really hurt to watch the 180-degree turn in fortune for those two teams.  Congrats to Tony P. and Nathan, our top two seeds, for making their way back into the championship once again.
• Surprisingly this is only the second time that Tony and Nathan have met up in the championship, the last time being 2009 when Nathan won in a high-scoring shootout.  Will this be Tony’s year of revenge?  Stay tuned.
• This past week’s matchup between Tony and Mike was a record setter in two ways.  First, it was the fifth largest blowout in EW history.  Second, Mike’s score was the fifth lowest in EW history.  Definitely not the kind of thing you expect to see nor wish for in a playoff game.  But like I said, the FF Gods have not shined their kindness on Mike this season at the right times.  They were definitely looking after someone other than Mike this weekend.
• Not for nothing, but Nathan left 63 points behind on his bench.  Tony left 56.  No matter who wins this week it can be said that both Nathan and Tony built amazing FF teams this year and are to be congratulated for that.  We’ll also give them a little of our money along with the praise.  Well, at least those of you who have paid your dues will.  Hint, hint, nudge, nudge, say no more.
• And meanwhile over in the Consolation bracket … no one cared.  Perhaps we need to change that next year?
• For the life of me I’m having a hard time determining whether Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson are viable FF QB’s next season.  I’m waiting to see what the final numbers are for them, but since neither of them have the marquis WR to throw to (except maybe Reggie Wayne for Luck, but how much longer can he last?) it’s hard to say they’ll break far into the 2nd/3rd draft round next year.  Even still, it’s hard to argue with their success over other tier 2 FF QB’s like Romo, Rivers, Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan.  Going to give it some more thought this week but it is a puzzle to me.  Hopefully it is to you too.
• I think next season will be a good year to be a 49ers, Seahawks or Colts fan.  I think Cowboys, Cardinals, Bills, Jets and Eagles fans are looking at some major changes … and they need them.
• Say what you will about the guy, I think Colin Kaepernick is the QB of the future in San Francisco and an easy middle round FF QB pick.  I think they need one more solid WR threat other than Moss or Manningham and a solid backup to Gore and SF suddenly becomes the most viable FF-wise they’ve been in a decade.
• There’s something really hinky going on with the whole bounty investigation.  Six months ago there was enough evidence to warrant suspensions and fines.  Now the same evidence doesn’t warrant the same result.  I have to think there are a couple of things going on here.  One, the NFL learned of the detail of the bounty program and acted quickly suspending players and coaches without first gathering enough solid evidence.  Two, the testimony of Gregg Williams is suspect in the whole process.  He said they did it.  The players deny it.  He was suspended.  The players weren’t.  What the hell?  Third, I think the NFL is trying to play damage control with the Player’s Union here by letting the suspensions go.  There’s a lot more going on here than the public knows or may ever know.
• Adrian Peterson is one of the best RB’s I’ve seen seen Barry Sanders.  I love to see him play as hard as he does.  I see him back in the first round next fall and rightfully so.  I understand the Titans RB will no longer need the spot.
• As much as I like the guy, Mason Crosby has got to go in the offseason.  It surprises me that each year there are 100+ place-kickers eligible for the draft if not NFL play, and players like Mare and Akers keep finding ways to land the jobs.  Seriously, are there no kickers between the ages of 24 and 34 that can play at the NFL level?
• I hope Rob Parker never works in sports again.  Seriously.  Anyone who talks in such a separatist and backwards way about race-relations, no matter what their own race is, doesn’t deserve any public platform to speak from.  My only question for him is what “cause” he’s speaking of because I doubt it’s about equality.  And if it isn’t then what the hell kind of goal is he aiming for?  What a fucking idiot.

WEEKLY AWARDS

• MVP – Giving this one to Nathan this week for the Brady-Hernandez combo that got him into the playoffs.  Not a real surprise there, but definitely made the difference to pull away from Gary.  Too bad the Giants laid such a big egg this week.  A fully-armed and operational NE-MO team might have actually made Nathan break a sweat this year.
• Honorable Mention – Denver was a question mark at the beginning of the season.  How much would Peyton come back?  How effective would their DEF be?  Who would be their star RB?  Tony P. rode the wave very well, relying on Peyton and the DEF to seal off the monster win over Mike.  While I would like to see more consistent play at RB, Denver is showing how they will be a FF powerhouse for at least the next season or two as long as Peyton keeps up this run.  Me, I like seeing Denver make a push for the AFC playoffs.  I think they’ll be the spoiler team for somebody.  There isn’t an AFC team out there that likes to play in Denver in January except the Broncos.
• Best Owner Choice – Love Nathan’s pick to start Moreno over Forte.  Sure, the Packers DEF was sure to slow him down, but Moreno was what I would call a daring pick that paid off huge.  Great call, Nathan!
• Unfortunate Bench – Well, Gary’s lineup was perfect so nothing there.  And Mike could have swapped his entire lineup and not even come close to catching up.  So we’ll keep this award boxed up for a second week.  I’ll only point out that James Jones sat on the bench again for Mike this past week.  He’s having the year I honestly expected out of Jordy Nelson.  I’m jealous and thrilled at the same time.
• Lawrence Philips Award – This week I give my award outside the NFL to assault rifle owners.  Americans have the right to own guns, and they always should.  I do not own a gun, but I understand the potential need for one these days.  I also believe Americans have the right to hunt, and they should in order to keep nature from overrunning us (those wacky deer).  But I do not believe average, everyday Americans should have the right to own an AR.  What the hell do you need an AR for?  To protect your home and family?  From what, the zombie apocalypse?  To hunt?  Is it hunting to mow down an entire herd at once?  Rifles? Sure.  Shotguns? Sure.  Guns designed for military use?  Hell no.  Would banning AR’s have stopped any of the maniacs who have attacked the public this year?  Not a single one.  But perhaps the body count would have been less if they didn’t have access to equipment reserved for trained soldiers to assault fortified armies.  Maybe they’d feel less empowered with lesser hardware to conduct such heinous and selfish acts.  If nothing else the sheer logic of someone truly needing an AR completely baffles me.  If you own an AR, I plead to you to keep it locked up, use it only in controlled environments, teach its responsible use and never, ever, ever let anyone use it to kill another human being.  I plead to Congress from this blog to do something to keep these weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of the assholes in the world who want to kill without remorse.  Will that solve the problem?  Not even close.  The mental health of our sons and daughters must be addressed too.  We must do all we can and more to keep them from performing such terrible acts as we’ve seen this year.  We must give them the care, love and clinical support they need without question and with the full support of our health-care providers and insurance companies.  There are no guarantees there, and that’s a harder battle than anything our government must face.  But passing laws banning AR’s seems like a no-brainer to me.  I’m tired of moments of silence before games to commemorate the innocent loss of life. {stepping down from soapbox}

PREDICTIONS FOR THE FINAL WEEKEND

• Our championship game between Nathan and Tony P. will be a great one, without a doubt.  I, like Yahoo!, expect both teams to exceed 100 points.  However, looking at the matchup as it is today, with Nathan’s marquis players facing the horrible Jaguars and Tony P.’s players against the surging Browns DEF, I think Nathan wins this one.  If it’s Calvin Johnson who makes the difference in the win I will be sick to my stomach until the start of the next season.  Sorry, Tony, but I don’t think you’ve got this one.
• I also have to apologize to Gary who I don’t think will be able to beat Mike.  I don’t see the Giants bouncing back this week enough to give you the win.  Mike will need to take a good long look at his lineup this week before making his final choices, but I think the odds are in his favor.
• I’m still going to be in last place when this is all said and done.

Next week we’ll crown our champion, take a look back at the players and moments that made the season and close out what has been another fun season for me as the Commish.  Of course next Monday and Tuesday is Christmas so the blog will be a little late.  Until then, Merry Christmas to you all!