(1) BIGBOY! vs (6) pack slayer
Here we go! pack slayer vs BIGBOY! As much as these two teams talk smack to one another and those around them I am glad that they get to settle it on the field and for a chance to get to the Super Bowl. When this one is done the loser will have no excuses or at least none that anyone will care to hear and the winner will move on to their first ever Super Bowl Appearance. Both of these two teams have traditionally struggled in the post season with pack slayer winning just their second game last week in 8 tries while BIGBOY! is currently 1-6 in the post season. So let’s forget the past and look at what is going on now. BIGBOY! is the #1 seed for a reason as they have been dominating opponents so far this season. They have averaged a whopping 147 points per game which to put that into perspective there are a total of 5 teams that this year they did not have a single game in which they scored 147 points and their opponent pack slayer has had just two such games so there is no doubt this team has been the best in the regular season but now it is the post season and things change. It only takes one bad game and all of your regular season success goes out the window. For pack slayer they have been playing in important games since week 7 after they started the season out 2-4 and had to dig their way back out and have had one of their best three week stretches of the season to close out the regular season and then last week in the playoffs. This will no doubt be a huge challenge and I am sure pack slayer is looking forward to the underdog / nothing to lose mentality. So now the real question is can they pull of the upset? Well let’s take a look.
PREDICTION
QB POSITION
Who would have thought that when looking at a match up of Brady vs Ryan Fitzpatrick that it actually takes some evaluating? Fitzpatrick has been on a tear the last three weeks and really has put this team on his shoulders. He has averaged 27ppg during this stretch and will look to continue that run! Brady on the other hand has been the top fantasy QB all year and he has only had 3 games all season where he failed to score 20 + points. I am not counting Fitz out in this one but Brady gets the edge based on the match up and therefore so does BIGBOY!.
WR TRIO
pack slayer did a nice job getting their WR group to where it is today and really a strength of their team. Marshall like Fitzpatrick has been on a tear the last three weeks and just to show how much of a tear these two players (Marshall and Fitzpatrick) have been on is in the last three weeks they have accounted for 40% of the total scoring for pack slayer. Which to be honest that is hard to sustain over time but can they do it for two more weeks? Ok, back to the WR’s. Bryant has been solid but LaFell given the situation has been a disappointment. For BIGBOY! Julio Jones has been a monster while Tate and Sanders have been solid #2 and #3 WR’s with Tate surprisingly outplaying Sanders many weeks. I think Julio makes this one close but I like pack slayer to win the WR matchup.
RB DUO
Jeremy Langford and CJ Spiller vs AP and Lamar Miller. I am not sure this one needs much explaining as BIGBOY! wins this match up and it is not even close.
TE
Jordan Reed when healthy has been a really solid TE and is coming off a 26 point effort last week. Barnidge on the other hand has been Mr consistent since week 3 as only twice have they failed to score 10 + points. This is a close one but I think Manziel will once again be looking for his TE a lot this week and with Reed’s big performance last week he won’t be flying under the radar against Buffalo. BIGBOY! with the slight edge.
FLEX
Diggs vs Powell. Diggs burst onto the scene in week 6 – 8 but since then in the past 6 weeks they have failed to top the 10 point mark. For Powell he has found a way to contribute since coming back from injury in week 11. Another close matchup here but I am going to go with Diggs breaking out of the slump and getting over 10 points this week and pack slayer winning this position.
WHO WINS THE GAME?
As much as I like to find ways that the underdog can pull off the upset I am not seeing it here. For pack slayer A LOT hinges on how their guys perform on Saturday night? I just don’t think they have enough firepower to keep up so I am going with BIGBOY! to keep things rolling all they way to their first ever Super Bowl appearance!
(2) Sportsfreak vs (3) Bossman
This looks to be the match up everyone will be paying attention to this week. Yes, it is intriguing to see if a #6 seed can beat the top dog but I think everyone expects BIGBOY! to win that one but this is a matchup of two veteran teams and two of the most successful franchises in the league. Sportsfreak coming off last season which they made it to the Super Bowl for the first time they will be looking to not only get to the Super Bowl but this season won’t be a success unless they can get that elusive first championship ring! For Bossman they seem to be a regular in these playoffs and their last Super Bowl appearance was in the 2012 season where they came up a little short to Pack Attack. They however do have their name on that championship trophy as back in the 2008 season they were able to get their first and only championship. Sportsfreak has had a well balanced attack led by their two star QB’s (Palmer and Newton). I remember on draft day there was a lot of ? mark whether or not to take Newton and they ended up taking Newton in the 8th round and Palmer in the 9th. Now that is some good value! Bossman’s season has been one of resilience as the injuries continue to pile up and yet they continue to put a good product on the field and are now a win away from a Super Bowl trip. Do they have it in them? Let’s find out.
PREDICTION
QB POSITION
Bortles has been playing really well for Bossman the last couple of weeks but he will be going up against a Falcons team that surprisingly has been pretty solid against opposing QB’s. Palmer has been so consistent this year for Sportsfreak as only one time has he failed to score 15+ points! That is the type of production you are looking for from a starting QB.. oh wait he’s not even been the main starter for this team but he will get the call this week in the most important game of the season. I really like Palmer in this one assuming he doesn’t get hurt… sorry can’t help but think of last year and how last week Bossman knocked Dalton out in the first quarter! Let’s assume he stays healthy and if so I am going with Sportsfreak to have the edge.
WR TRIO
This is where Bossman has excelled as they have the #1 scoring WR in AB and the #8 scoring WR in Fitzgerald. Sportsfreak traded away Julio Jones earlier in the season but they got Crabtree as one of the WR in return and he has been really solid for the most part. In another trade they also acquired Brandin Cooks and that might have been the best trade they have made all year as although he has still been a bit inconsistent he has been really solid since week 7. It certainly helps Sportsfreak that Brown is going up against a tough Denver D this week but I suspect he will still get his points so I am going with Bossman to have the edge in this one.
RB DUO
Draughn & David Johnson vs Freeman & Ivory. The edge in this one goes to Sportsfreak however they are going to need Freeman to come up big for them in these playoffs if they want to get that championship. Ivory has been one of the better RB’s this year in fact ranking as the 7th best back in the league and again another draft day bargain as he went in the 5th round. For Bossman, I do like Johnson in this match up but I don’t see enough production for them to keep up.
TE POSITION
Greg Olsen vs Heath Miller. I know that this has the potential to change come Sunday morning as Bossman is holding out hope that Eifert plays and if he does that certainly would change things but for now we need to assume he is out and with that said unless something changes with Olsen’s status expect Sportsfreak to have a big edge at the TE spot.
FLEX POSITION
Ryan Matthews vs Brandon Bolden. This is a really close one as Bolden expects to see a lot more touches out of the backfield with Blount now done for the year however it is NE so who knows what might happen. Ryan Matthews is in a similar spot where it seems that he is the back with the most value in the Philly backfield but then again they have 2 other guys that get extensive playing time. If I had to pick, which I guess I kinda do I am going to go with Bolden simply because I think he should get 4-5 catches out of the backfield at a minimum and most likely the goal line work. Sportsfreak with the slight edge.
WHO WINS THE GAME?
I think based on my picks you can see that I am picking Sportsfreak to win this game however I will say that even though the individual match ups seem to favor Sportsfreak I have a hard time counting Bossman out as they seem to just find a way to win. I however do think Sportsfreak has the better team and will get the win and get back to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row and setup Brother Bowl IV.