PSAS: Week 9 Stock Market & Previewz

Week 9 is here. Can't believe Josh Gordon is a couple of weeks away from actually returning. Time flies, and while several teams have probably been pushed off the cliff, the actual race to the playoffs as well as battle for first-round bye is only heating up. It only gets more interesting as the bye bonanza starts in Week 9 with six teams on bye. The bye teams in Week 9 are: Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, and Tennessee.

Another fat one got fatter on a casino hit in Week 8. It's clear the dough is baking more breads needed for bye-hungry owners, and while not quite the level of last year, it is an inflated market of at about 15% at Week 8. If you look, there are opportunities to grow your waiver cash.

The payout schedule for each 5 bankerbitez bet is as following.

Blue Chip Market Performer Junk
Blue Chip (#1-4*) 5 3 2
Market Performer (#5-8*) 10 5 3
Junk (#9-12*) 15 10 5

*Based on weekly Power Rankingz. In case of a tied rank, commissioner's ruling will be published here.

The Guide

-Playoffs Preview, Luck's Speedway vs Crescent City Connection

(1) Phat Girlz 7-1 (3 bb) vs (5) TakingTigerMountain 5-3 (10 bb)

Girlz face another preview for playoffs in a match against resurgent TigerMountain.

Even in a loss, three players went over 22 pts and fourth almost reached 20 for Monique. Last week's was a game that the Phat One admitted was bound to happen, sooner or later. It didn't affect their first-round-bye prospect, as the second-placed BDT also went down and got gobbled up by Mustards and TigerMTn into the pack. Green Bay, Chicago, and Tennessee on bye affect the Girlz heavily here, making the Girlz thin especially at running backs, with both Forte and Sankey sitting out. Monique's rather not drop two in a row and sandwich her Birthday with two losses, especially with Week 10 match against BDT on Luck_Hilton bye looming. Tough stretch for Up Town Top-Ranking Girlz.

TigerMountain had a rebound week, with Antonio Brown's dominant perfomance complimenting Big Ben supplementing the Triple Crescent City Connection well. The second highest score of the week was tarnished only by the lack of production by the Patriots receivers (Edelman & Vereen). TTM will look to strike fast on with CCC on TNF against not-so-dominant Carolina D.

Girlz are missing some pieces here, so an upset pick looks appetizing.

-Waiting for Gordon

(2) AEthernauts 6-2 (3 bb) vs (8) HomeSpunNeckBloodz 4-4 (10 bb)

Contender versus wannabee is a crucial match for both when each is missing key NFC North players on bye.

Nauts had Week 8's highest scoring offense despite Cam scoring a mere 5.64 pts on a no TD day, but the depth covered it more than enough with Sanders, Tate and Murray all going over 20. Gates and Buffallo D complemented with stellar 16+ performances. With Tate and Marty-B on bye in Week 9 and Josh Gordon still several weeks away from his return, Nauts used the new-found waiver cash on Ridley-replacement Jonas Gray and Big Ben #3 target M. Bryant, but these are significant downgrades to say the least. It's a dangerous week for Big Sky.

Bloodz lost a tough one in Week 8 to resurgent Shock and are still hovering around the .500 mark. Currently on the outside looking in at seventh place, Bloodz are in a similar spot of lacking scores to back their cause. As always, the 2014 version grinds out wins, but to do so the Spinnerz need the loud-mouth WR tandem of Marshall and Smith Sr. producing. The backfield of Bernard and Ellington as well as QB Foles have had their byes already, so if they can manage a win in Marshall's bye week, things can look up for the Bloodz' cause. Beating Nauts, while a tough challenge, is a good start. Loss here will put their backs against the river.

The game in a week Nauts are slightly vulnerable is a solid upsetter bet.

-Battlefield Aurora
(3) Dijonnaise All-Stars 6-2 (2 bb) vs (9) Trichotillomaniacs 2-6 (15 bb)

30 or so years ago, owners of these franchises lived within several miles of each other in Aurora, CO, a suburb of Denver. Maybe they met at the Firestation tour, K-Mart toy isle, or waiting in line to sit on Santa's lap at the Cherry Creek Mall. Years have passed and both have traveled thousands of miles, and here they meet again, this time in the PSAS battle field.

Cashing in on Arian Foster staying relatively healthy and showing off his 2012 self, Dijonnaise All-Stars is the hottest team in the league riding a five-game winning streak and holding the thunderbolt. Even better, the next three opponents for Colonel is combined for 4-20 records (Trix, Polk and Pelican), so the record can extend to eight before they have a showdown with Phat Girlz in Week 12. It's not easy for Colonel this week as A-Rodg and Rod-White are on bye, but the Draftbots had thought about it all; they have MVP-candidate Philip RIvers stashed. Colonel has started to loosen up his wallet as well, landing LaFell to fill the gap. With Foster looks to have a good game to extend it to six-games for the Yellow against JJ Watt and the Trix defense.

Hanging on a cliff with just the fingers, the Far East Rulaz ground one out against Polk High also battling with their backs against the river. With the league's fourth highest score and six losses, it's simple for the Trix; each game is a Win-Or-Out. The receiver titration is starting to gel, and while McCoy is still a disappointment, at least Bradshaw is holding up while scoring TDs and Denard Robinson looks to be a capable RB2/Flex as well in case Bradshaw or McCoy goes down. In Palmer, they found a capable back-up to Kaep with a double-titration upside, though Michael Floyd's goose-egg in Week 8 out of Flex-start with Palmer at realm was a huge hair-pulling boxsheet for General Far East. The Trix need Julius Thomas to regain form against the hottest team of the league.

Two words: Ring It.

Cali Bowl 2.0

(4) BldgDW3LL1NGTh1nk1ng 6-2 (2 bb) vs (11) ThePelicanBrief 1-7 (15 bb)

The second meetings of the season between these two bitter west coast rivals feature two teams at the opposite end of spectrum, but as rivalry games go, this is no cake-walk for nobody.

Boyz in Chico's loss to Dijon in Week 8 was bitter and not sweet, as Romo apparently re-injured his back. While looking like something he may be willing to play through, we don't know a) if he'll be able to play this week, or b) how it'll affect his play even if he plays. Their QB stash RGIII may or may not be ready. While a clear athletic talent, what the media seemed to have forgotten (but not General) is how everyone in Redskin Nation was clamoring for Kirk Cousins to replace RGIII because of his ineffectiveness. Still, RGIII is a viable fantasy weapon with his legs while the injury concern with him is quite possibly greater than that of Romo. Nelson and the new Buffalo RB tandem on bye and Montee still a week or two away from a return means a rare two-TE look for BDT this week, possibly. This is still the Boyz of Romo-Dez, so the QB's health is occupying the most of Chico whispers this week.

Pelican showed life in their Week 8 loss to TigerMtn with Brady at 34 and Fitz at 23. Seattle D also had the resurgent double-digit performance, but it's quite possibly a little too late now for the Grishamites. Pelican 2014 will battle forward with hopes of being remembered for their pride, and the road starts in a game against their bitter rival that paid for their entry fee.

Watch Romo's health this week, if he's a no-go, the favorable odds look more favorable.

-Battle for Survival

(6) SanFranciscoFerries 4-4 (5 bb) vs (7) The Old Future 3-5 (5 bb)

Two middle-of-the-pack teams in a knock-out match. Winner will stay in the hunt, a loss will put Ferries at the edge and push Future off it.

The Frisco Kids actually had a good game, just not good enough to beat the Nauts and their high score of the week. Gronk gronking it and Patterson and Lacy's emergence out of sophomore slump are good signs for the Boatmen, but they just can't get out of that win-loss pattern. Good news, it's odd week so Ferries should have no reservation to get that W here with Russel Wilson visiting now-friendly Oakland Coliseum.

The Week 8 win over Phat Girlz really stamped their presence in PSAS for Old Future. Now it's time to prove it wasn't afluke. Not easy to do since neither Knile Davis or Miami D should be expected of repeat performances and the bench is full of injured/suspended players that can't help them during bye. While Future gets Gore and Crab back, Alshon sits this week and T-Rich is limited with injury. With Peyton at realm, they are on solid foundation. Just need the fixtures to shine here.

Even odds favor higher ranked team, but Future is the upsetter's choice.

-Florida-Georgia-Kentucky

(10) Shock_Pix 3-5 (5 bb) vs (12) Polk High Panthers 1-7 (5 bb)

This week's bottom feeding match feature two SEC giants. Yeah South!

Shock is clearly back and dangerous. Keenan Allen's resurgence and Witten's rise from grave mixes well with Demaryius's domination. The surrounding pieces are also shining, with the likes of Cooks and Hill, while Rainey and Harvin have near-future upsides. A solid QB outing is all El Mundo needs for a contending team. Soon, they may need that DB2 help, but until then, why fix what's not broken.

Tough loss to Trix probably ended hopes for this year's contribution to Millie's college fund. The Ben-sane outing was the highest losing score of the season at 145.54. Steel-city double-titration and Charles are the kind of blue-collar work-horses that it's too bad the Megatron-Green tandem didn't come through. They could have scored 200. Once the star receivers return, Bundy has a clear shot at the Moral Victory and Consolation tourney. So keep checking in between changing diapers.

Hmm.