Power Rankings Week 12

The g0dz had two last chances to tighten the playoff race, but let them go by in week 11. TigerMountain and Phat Girlz both sported beatable scores but playoff outsiders Neckbloodz and Trichs couldn't take advantage. As a result the playoff six are all but decided, with four officially rendered.  Now a still-tight race for playoff byes will command attention at one end while Moral Victory points standings.  Sign of the times - the Babylon freebie paid off this week. That about says it all. Some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night...

1. (1) Aethernauts - (9-2) - Zeus seemed to toy with the idea of stripping the Aetherials of their thunderbolt and bye-lead in week 11, before blessing Gray with four touchdowns and over 40 touches in a SNF blowout. With Murray on bye it seemed like the Nauts might drift landward and be vulnerable to a dangerous Polk spoiler.  Sanders entering the concussion protocol, might mean that the Nauts are forced to thrust Gordon into the spotlight untested.  Flash aaaa-aah, he'll save everyone of us...

2.  (2)  Phat Girlz - (8-3) -  The Girlz went in for a terrific lowball in week 11 and only narrowly came away with a victory thanks to some big name injuries for the Trichs. Luck nearly missed 20 pts, but managed to scratch them up in garbage time loss, Forte and Cobb were merely very good this week and not world beating, and Ben Tate was a negative impact from the flex. With the RBBC seemingly swinging away from him Tate was dropped by the Browns and AP suspended by the NFL the Girlz could be in for a moderate downgrade losing two prospective ground options in the same day. Luckily Sankey appears to be at least a serviceable RB2 as long as Mettenburger can keep the Tennessee offense moving somewhat.  

3. (4)  Dijonaise All Stars (8-3)   -  Col. Mustard and the Condiments have been all too spicy lately.  With A-Rodg fast closing in on QB1 by points, and a season-long hold on Foster handcuff Blue finally paying off they won again big time in week 11. The addition of Mike Evans as an smash breakout hero at WR lends some heft to a sometimes thin air attack. The Mustard Men might be a touch behind on a points tie-breaker for bye, but big scores in the last two weeks have them catching up quick. 

4. (3) TakingTigerMountain  (8-3) - The Mountain came into MNF needing Antonio Brown the points #1 WR to equal his 14 point projection to eek out a win - he got 15.  It's been that kind of season for Brown and TTM. Antonio has been a target beast and reliably proficient in the endzone. TTM on the other hand bid big and lost early on AP as an every down back, and have seen Brees' numbers take a big slide toward mediocrity and Jimmer battle injuries. Currently sporting a 4-0, 0-3, 4-0 record breakdown, it's worth wondering what direction the ski lift will be headed in week 14. Playoff bound, the Tigers get the hibernating Shocks next week before a playoff preview with the Nauts, where TTM could potentially play their way into a bye. The Tigers are still #2 by points, but only 3 slim points ahead of the Nauts - statistical dead heat. 

5 (5) BuildingDwellingThinking  (7-4) - BDT active again in the trade department, still got crushed on Cowboy's bye week. De-investing in Dez may prove a smart move if Romo can't go, and certainly Denard Robinson's acquisition looks fortuitous now that Montee Ball's injury has reoccurred. That said, it's some strange juju for Cowboyatti to go dally with Redskins QBs. With Crowell, Bryce Brown and Robinson the Deep Thinkers can play "guess the flex" week to week. The loss here has to put them on yellow alert - they'll loose seeding to the Ferries on points if they fall into a tie and an upset by the Bloodz next week could cast them into purgatory. 

6. (6)  SanFranciscoFerries (6-5)-  The Ferrries docked their boat at the postseason warf, simply awaitng permission to deboard. A resounding 157 point game sunk rival BDT and moved them above .500. Massive days for the Bell and Lacy ground express powered the win, supported by Wilson's first time over 20 pts in five weeks and a pair of double digits from LSU wideouts Beckham and Landry. What's more the big game put them 5th by points, ahead of other contenders (BDT, OF, Trichs and Homespun).  An insurgent for the 6 spot (like the Spinners or Future) would need the Ferries to drop both remaining games and surrender their points advantage.  With two tough opponents remaining the Frisco Kids can't rest, but one win should put them in officially, and two might push them up to the five slot. 

7.  (9) Old Future (4-7)  - The Futurists made a case to stay in the playoff race by smashing the shock, putting up 120+ even with a substandard Peyton game.  The astute pick-up of Jordan Matthews worked for a second straight week, as did a wire agent paydown CJ Anderson. T-Rich has injury-lucked into a bell cow job in Indy.  They're about 70 points south of the Ferries, but with Manning at the helm a crooked number or two wouldn't be surprising. 

8. (7)  Homespun Neckbloodz (5-6) -  The Bloodz lost a heartbreaker to TTM in the waning moments of the 3rd quarter of MNF. The Spinners got what they needed, a low-scoring game where the Tiger's blue chips largely avoided the endzone. Unfortunately, the Bloodz were similarly allergic with the notable exception of Brandon Marshall's double dip.  Still points poor, the Bloodz need two wins and some help to keep playoff dreams alive. They could pass BDT by points at 7-6 by making up a 107 point deficit. Or they could pass the Ferries by win percentage if the Boatmen lose out. Neither is particularly likely, bu the Cyclotron gets a chance to help its own cause playing BDT in week 12. Even if they're out, winning one of two could guarantee a(n underrated) Consolation Tourney bye.

9. (7)  Trichs  (3-8) - Finally the Trichs' playoff ambitions were put out of their misery by a second loss to rival Phat Girlz in week 11.   Tantalizingly within reach, the Girlz drifted well into upset range, but the Pullers couldn't take advantage. Bradshaw's snapped ankle was the last straw so to speak, but Julius Thomas injury was the first.  Another massive J.J. Watt game (3rd double digit) buoyed the Trichs' hopes. But with mediocre QB play and receivers on teams struggling to find the endzone there just wasn't an upset left to pull.  The Trichs are still very much in play for moral victory, but probably need triple digits in both remaining contests to fend off late challenges from Polk and Pelican. 

10. (11)  Pelican Brief (3-8) - The Pelicans limped to the finish of a bruising week 11 contest, outclassed by a powerful Dijonaise squad. They loose Allen and Jennings to injuries and watched Brady suffer his first sub. 20 point game in five weeks. Lynch and Mason continue to power through, but couldn't find any paydirt to leverage the Legal Eagles here. A surprising 30 from Green Bay's D/St on the bench would have been a weird and wacky play, but it does emphasize the degree to which the Seattle D/ST has been a disappointment as a keeper. 

11. (12)  Polk High Panthers (2-9) -  Polk really had a good shot at a 12/1 upset in week 11.  A Bellicheck inspired fantasy party (Faulk Flashback?) for Jonas Gray undercut the win, but does nothing to dim the nice point total for the Panthers. Charles continues to bravely soldier on in the middle of the field, racking up 29 on two scores. They're still in play for the Moral Victory after a Trichs lowball, so there's plenty to play for. 

12. (10) Shock_Pix  (3-8) - After a brief heady stint in contention the Shock returned to its old ways, leaving the lineup spots fallow. Would it have made a difference? Probably not this week, although Hill was spectacular on the bench.  But the fire went out of the Pixies in week 9, so roster maintenance and maximization are out the window.