Monday Update: A New Champion Will Be Crowned

Gentlemen,

For the first time since this blog began, there will be a Week 16 Championship that won't include me. I know this sounds like #FirstWorldFFProblems, but I'm still sad about it.

I realize no one is going to feel sorry for me that I'm not in the championship. But it's so much more than that... I'm just sad that (aside from a 3rd place game), my fantasy season is over. There isn't a next week. There is only next season and that is so very far away...

As I've professed before (and undoubtedly will again), I just enjoy playing Fantasy Football so much. I spend way too much time reading, researching, analyzing, debating Waiver bids and lineup decisions... When I find a new website or article, I consume it like it's food. I just love playing the game so freaking much and it really stings that the season is over.

I'd love to crack some jokes here, but right now, thinking about Fantasy Football, and someone else playing for the title just makes me feel empty inside. It's the feeling of trying your best at something, and having it not be good enough.

And now, that which you love the most is being taken from you.

Meanwhile... Coconuts and Crapswell are playing for the championship.

(Sigh)... I guess I just need to appreciate the season that was. It's 4 months that brings us closer together as friends, and gives us a reason to pay even closer attention to football. It gives me a built-in excuse to get away from home to see you jokers and next season will be here before we know it... We only have like 8 months until the draft!

The Games

Screw the recaps. I lost and Juan is well on his way to destroying Kenni. This is the fucking world we live in now.

I kid, but in all seriousness, I have to give credit where it's due... Congrats to Andy and Juan. You've both become very good fantasy players in the past couple seasons, more than we give you credit for. 

Juan used to overthink a lot of matchups and suffered from some incredibly tough luck, while Andy would get piss drunk and spoon with my dog...during the draft. 

Needless to say, they've both come a long way and worked hard to get to this point. As sour as I am right now, I really am happy for the both of you.

I may seem all calm and sad now, but yesterday I was a pissed-off, whining, frustrated, cantankerous, old bastard. My run of emotions during the afternoon games (when Dan Bailey scored TWENTY FOUR FUCKING POINTS AGAINST ME AS A GODDAMN KICKER) wasn't pretty.

Yeah it's probably good that I lost... I need to learn to deal with my emotions a little better.

Looking Ahead... CHAMPIONSHIP
Next week, we will crown a new champion, gentlemen. This is Year 9 of this league, and thus far 6 different people have won it all. Next week, we will have #7.

Andy made his name this season on unprecedented RB depth, especially in a year like this one, with so many big names being busts/injured. At one point he had Forte, Moreno, Murray, Morris, and Stacy. He flipped those last two for Luck and Julius, giving him the QB and TE his team was lacking (although Luck hasn't exactly been a stud).

Here's a look at his Week 16 roster:

Although he doesn't have a stud WR, Andy does have great depth at the position, enough to sustain a Fitz concussion without issue. In fact, he probably wasn't starting him next week anyway. 

I got a lot of grief for my Edelman bid after Week 1, but despite dropping him after a cold spell in the middle of the season, he's gone on to prove me right over the past month. 

/anger rising

A big question for Andy will be Luck, and how comfortable he feels starting him against KC. That defense has been schizophrenic lately, but when they're on, they've completely shut teams down.

Ok, now let's take a look at Juan's team: 

Juan's defining move was really the trade with Crabs early on, which many forgot about... Mike Wallace and Steven Jackson for Gio and Torrey Smith (who he later flipped for Romo). Where would both Juan and Crabs be this season had they not made that trade?

Juan's got Romo listed as his starter currently, which is ballsy to say the least... It's a great matchup, but could YOU put your championship hopes in Romo's hands? That question may define Juan's season next week, whether he sticks with Romo or doesn't...

Aside from the QB position, Juan's got pretty much a no-brainer lineup. Jeffrey and Green are both no-doubters (speaking of which, Jeffrey may be Pickup of the Year - other nominees?). Lacy, Bernard, and Mathews are all easy choices.

This really all comes down to the Romo decision... Juan gets to debate with himself for a whole week.

Team Names
I'm not gonna make you do shit, but if you seriously want your team name to be historically stored as Yoga Pants or Testing For Parents because you didn't want to waste two minutes of your day to change it... well then that is just good old-fashioned American laziness.

Tonight
Well, I'd really love to go... since I'm still alive in my dad's league and need big nights from Pitta/Tucker to survive. Unfortunately, I'm a solo daddy this evening as my wife is stuck going to dinner with some jerkoff big shot who's in town from her HQ. Fuck him.

On the bright side, school is done until January, so I'll be able to sit and enjoy the game and drink plenty of beers on my own.

/wife sends email 'asking' me to wrap more presents tonight

ARRRRRGGGGGHGHGHGHHGHGH

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKK

I used to like Christmas.

Ok, so next week... Oh that's right... I'll be in fucking Iowa. So that means no more MNF for me until next season. Fuck my ass, I fucking hate when football ends.

Someone needs to host something in January so we can at least all watch some playoff football together. Please...

Because I'm in Iowa, there won't be a Monday Update next week and I'm not sure what the rest of the season will look like for blog posts. Hopefully we keep it running, even when football goes bye bye.

In the meantime, (sincerely now) have a very merry Christmas, boys. Travel safe, eat and drink heartily, enjoy your loved ones, and keep in mind that next season... MNF is back at Sally's.

See you next season, boys.