Yahoo sent me a matchup review email this morning. I had already started to work on this post on Monday night. They provided me with some more insight into the numbers and how we managed our victory. Although those insights are helpful, the posts on this blog are a customized review from my point of view. I’ll point out my errors and explain why decided to play this guy over that guy. No one else made these decisions but me, so this is a way for me to celebrate those calls or vent out my frustrations.
And they said we were the worse team in the league…
Pinstripe Bowl opened a new chapter in their history with an epic 130.84 – 100.72 win over WATCH WHAT U SAQUON in Week 1. Projected to lose by 6.23 points, the boys rallied and won their inaugural matchup by 30.12 points. Not bad for the “worse drafted team” in the league.
Yes, we will brag and savour this victory because we are projected to only win three games. That means that we are now 1/3 of the way there.
We will embrace the underdog role all season and hope for the best from all our players.
MATCHUP AND SCORES
The score could have been even more lopsided if Evan Engram (TE – New York Giants) had been in the lineup with his 28.60 points. We had our own disappointments, Stefon Diggs (WR – Minnesota) had only 5.70 points, and Sony Michel (RB – New England) only had 1.40. Had those two come closer to their projections, this matchup would have never been a contest.
As you can see, we managed to pile up a 30 point victory without four of our starting nine players reaching their projections. Only seven players on the entire roster managed to reach their predictions, which is a major red flag. The computer may say we have the worse team, but until these guys hit the field and do their job, computer print outs mean nothing…well kinda. When all the final numbers are analyzed, that’s where we learn where the accurate indications were. All that red means we could be in trouble in the coming weeks.
Here is how the rest of the league fared in week one.
STANDINGS
We will enjoy this view while it lasts. It is only one week, so there is not a whole lot to dissect here.
THE BENCH PLAYERS
There are no statistical categories to win, like fantasy baseball or hockey. In this league, the name of the game is scoring points. The only reason why the bench players are so valuable is they can make or break your matchup and/or season.
Our bench players went above and beyond by outscoring their projections by 10.22 points. We may have won the first matchup of the season, but sometimes 10 points or less could mean all the difference in the world.
I would have never expected 28.60 points from Engram since he was only projected for 12.66, but it just cements his status as one of the league’s elite tight ends. Even though the Denver Broncos lost to the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football, my two guys combined for 30+ points on the bench. I drafted Sanders late and signed Lindsay after the draft, which reassured me that I didn’t waste any thoughts on securing their services. Considering two of our “elite” starters couldn’t even reach double digits, we are happy the backups are in good shape.
STUDS AND DUDS
Best Player in Starting Lineup: Tom Brady – QB New England
Actual Points: 28.63 Projected Points: 23.03 Stat Line: 341 yards/3 TD
Worse Player in Starting Lineup: Sony Michel – RB New England
Actual Points: 1.40 Projected Points: 11.39 Stat Line: 14 rushing yards
Best Player on the Bench: Evan Engram – TE New York Giants
Actual Points: 28.60 Projected Points: 12.66 Stat Line: 116 yards/1 TD
Best Player in the League: Sammy Watkins – WR Kansas City (Chod’s Team)
Actual Points: 46.80 Projected Points: 12.33 Stat Line: 198 yards/3 TD
TRANSACTIONS
When you draft the worse team in the league, it’s never too early to push the panic button. After showing my roster to another football fan and then showing them who was available, he made a couple of suggestions.
I dropped Tennessee wide receiver Corey Davis and picked up Denver’s running back Phillip Lindsay. It worked out quite nicely since Davis had zero points in week one and Lindsay had 10.60.
Of course, with so many tight ends on our roster, someone else will eventually get moved.
Weekly Move Total: 1/4
Season Move Total: 1/50
Stay tuned for next’s week recap of Pinstripe Bowl’s 2019 Fantasy Football season.
Keeping the Stats 