Three close games decided on Monday Night promised to set the season's playoff path. They pitted top and bottom six teams a sweep either way could have either significantly complicated things or all but wrapped up the playoff package. As it was only one MNF upsetter pulled through and the melee (Trichs) and the standings now feature a six above six below breakdown. Winners of two straight the Trichs are the only team south of the border with top half points, and losers of two straight BDT are the only top with bottom half points. Are they headed in opposite directions? The board-leader PG lost and the basement dwellers won, so nobody is clinched or eliminated yet. With the amount of attrition yet to play, the rankings opine we're looking at a 7-6 bar for the 6 spot (possibly five spot too?) with a points tie-breaker. Several teams have QB vacancies/byes will anybody trust Dirty Sanchez or the Dog Killer?
T.1. (1) Phat Girlz - (7-2) - On a super bye week the Girlz were slimmed down to begin with but didn't get much nutrition from the remaining ingredients. With Forte, Sankey and Cobb on byes this was basically a shot in the dark at a win. The only mildly troubling news is Tate's continued devolution into RBBC role, which might have gotten worse with West's game on Sunday. It's still the Indy duo, Forte and Cobb that make the Girlz formidable but they won't necessarily tip the scales against other Blue Chippers without multiple starting RBs. The Girlz will again have too many byes to adequately defend against a top six team next week without sacrificing depth and spending money on the wire. A third straight loss might well upset Monique's bye dreams. Average Points 126.6 - Average Points Against 113.7
T. 1. (2) Aethernauts - (7-2) - A host of missed projections lead to a nail-biter for the Nauts on MNF. McKinnon got multi-vultured by Asiata, Sanders returned to his endzone allergic self and Murray suffered his first single digit of the season under gathering storm clouds in Dallas. But a win is a win and the Nauts are now in perfect position to secure an all important bye. If underachieving Cam ever gets it together the Nauts will soar alone at the top of the rankings. Gordon returns in week 12 if the Explorers can keep him rostered that long he's "ready to unload"? Average Points 120.8 - Average Points Against 107.2
3. (5) TakingTigerMountain (6-3) - The resurgent Tigers got a teed up upset facing the Girlz in a super bye week, but they looked good doing it again. All of the skill players were in double digits and three bench players as well. The Tigers are TD hunters and there were no less than 10 scores on the starting roster. When the Saints and Patriots are clicking there's bound to be fire on the mountain. They're now second by points with one foot in the post season at six wins. A 3-1 finish could easily see them with a bye and a 1-3 could just as easily usher them to the consolation tourney. Average Points 124.3 - Average Points Against 113.1
4. (4) Dijonaise All Stars (6-3) - The Mustard Men suffered the most spectacular back up QB destruction in week 9. Rivers, roundly discussed as an MVP in the early weeks, imploded for a -2 point fantasy performance, including three interceptions and a fumble. Minus Rodgers, White and S-Jax on the bye, Team Yellow had a hard assignment to beat a tough Trichs squad. Luckily for them, they have one to give after squeaking out back to back upsets. After a five game winning streak Dijon drops the Bolt the week after it was first awarded. Average Points 111.9 - Average Points Against 105.8
5. (3) BuildingDwellingThinking (6-3) - The Romo Autumn has begun with an initially moderate back injury stretching into missed time and broken ribs. BDT pulled the trigger and parted ways to avoid dropping any of their positional depth. In all likelihood he can be had back when/if he's ready. With Jordy on bye some high end potential was removed from the Philosopher's equation too. With Weeden captaining the Cowboys offense Dez gets a downgrade, Welker seems to have been obliterated out of the Broncos offense finally. They'll see what they get from the Buffalo dual injury replacement team and likely let the lesser Manning ride under center for the time being. More trades could easily be in play before the deadline for the Titration King. Average Points 105.9 - Average Points Against 96.6
6. (6) SanFranciscoFerries (5-4)- The bye bonanza hit the Ferries hard, with Lacy, Stafford and Bush all taking a seat during a key playoff race game - leading to a tight finish. Russell Wilson muddled through another TD-less campaign, now low-balled in three of his last four games. Forsett, Gronk and Bell all found the endzone. The Ferries are mid-range streaky, with four games over 120 and three under 90. With decent points and occupying the 6th spot by winning percentage, they control their own fate, but with a tough remaining schedule, they'll have to beat a couple playoff teams to keep it that way. Average Points 111.4 - Average Points Against 116.7
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7. (9) Trichs (3-6) - Foles' absence might affect the Trichs the most with key pieces Shady and L-Mac. Both functioned well under the Sanchize's stewardship, but for how long? The Keepernick's amazing goalline fumble nearly cost the Trichs a win here - his lost season is a fair parallel for the Shogun squad. Robinson's emergence in J-ville. D-Jax's renewed connection with RGIII, even Palmer's legit passing in Arizona - all good signs for the Hair Pullers, but have they come too late? We're going to break with tradition and offer Zeus' Thunderbolt to the Shogun as a two win squad (tied with several others). Is that bad juju? Is it a fantasy gauntlet? The Maniacs can hardly look a gift horse in the mouth at this point. Either they hold the bolt through November or console themselves with Golden Tee and consolation tourney. Every coach says "one game at a time" but they have to be looking at a week 12 game with the Bay Area Boatmen and hoping that a W would pull them even. Average Points 116.4 - Average Points Against 120.2
8. (8) Homespun Neckbloodz (4-5) - A crushing end to a near-miss comeback slows the spin of the Bloodz playoff run. Spinners lost their QB in week 9 to a broken collarbone - but Foles has been far from elite. Replacing his production is less of a concern than when they can get Nio-Gio back. The Bengals tailback is slated to miss another week that the low-ceiling Bloodz can ill-afford. Points poor they need win column at all costs, pumping up their projections to match teams like BDT and TTM still on the schedule is key. Their only chance to regain control of their destiny is to win out. Once they hit the six loss mark they'll need significant help. Average Points 98.1 - Average Points Against 93.2
9. (7) Old Future (3-6) - The Future sneaked up on the Ferries and cut things close on Monday Night. Even in defeat Peyton piled up his projection, but on Alshon's bye the slim pickings show OF to be a bit starved at WR. They need T-Rich to come return to form and Frank the Tank to start busting trenches again. Dead middle by points they're far from old news, but they need to win out and hope for the best. Average Points 108.4 - Average Points Against 106.5
10. (9) Shock_Pix (3-6) - A big no-confidence vote in LSU back Hill cost the Shocktop, as Hill ran all over the Jags in place of injured Nio-Gio. The Pixies got smotherered by Polk anyway, but another unexpected R-burger passing storm obscures the closeness of the game. They were a long-shot to "Shock the World" with a six spot appearance after an absentee start, technically they're still just a longer shot. But now last in points, their destiny is in the hands of the godz. Average Points 97.3 - Average Points Against 120.4
T.11. (11) Pelican Brief (2-7) - The Pelicans caught a massive break with Romo sidelined and upset the favored BDT by a large margin. Again, central is the rejuvenated Brady who slaughtered Peyton's squad at home in early freezing conditions. B345t mode retunred to double digits for the first time in four weeks. With back to back weeks over 120, the Pelicans are in play for Moral Victory Consideration. Average Points 99.5 - Average Points Against 109.1
T. 11. (12) Polk High Panthers (2-7) - Out of nowhere Big Ben has caught fire and leads the league in passing over the last two weeks, throwing 11 TDs. Charles continues to plow on ahead and AJ Green returned to action after missing four weeks and essentially cancelling Polk's season. If Megatron returns next week there's every reason to think that the Panthers will stay at this high level of scoring and contend for the Moral Victory. Average Points 101.9 - Average Points Against 119.9
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