2021 SGL Thanksgiving Special Report
We are 11 weeks into a 14-week regular season, and the SGL Cup Playoff table is nearly set. 3 teams have made their plates and are ready to feast, leaving 7 teams playing musical chairs with 5 spots. This season has seen ups, downs, blowouts, and less than 1 point wins.
Grant's Gamblers(2-9) were unfortunately eliminated last week. This is their 5th time to miss in the previous 7 years.
The 2021 Bulldogs have the least amount of transactions- 9. Their biggest splash was a $37 bid for Damien Williams once David Montgomery went out. Unfortunately, Khalil Herbert outplayed Damien, and the Bulldogs were left without an RB2. The Bulldogs also dropped Elijah Moore- in his defense, he was averaging 3 ppg. Since dropping, he's averaging 18.7 in the last 5 weeks.
Jaycee's Jackalopes(4-7) have had a rough year with a league-low 109PPG but might have the chance to turn things around with 3 remaining weeks. They were (2-5) through the first 7, and if they want to make the playoffs, they will need to win out. That means beating Wizards, Peas, and rivals- Swans the last week of the year.
The Jackalopes biggest FA splash was Devontae Booker for $58- beating out Swan($41) and Beasts($31). Jackalope, unfortunately, got caught holding the Michael Thomas($6) bag and held it unnecessarily for the first 9 weeks of the year. Injuries have also played a part in the Jackalope performance- Lamar, CEH, Miles Sanders, Amari Cooper have all missed time. Their playoff likelihood is 5%. They need to win out and some help along the way.
Walter's Wizards(5-6) started the season (0-5) and then went on to their next 5. No team has EVER started the season (0-5) and made the playoffs. That has a 66% likelihood of changing this year. Two of the losses were Monday night heartbreakers by less than a point:
- 122.2 - 122.96 to Swans
- 121.04- 121.58 to Juleps
The Wizards have a league-high 52 transactions this year- the second highest is 35. Here are the most notable transactions, the Wizards have added/dropped Kirk Cousins 4X. Kirk(QB8) has yet to be on another team. Michael Carter was also a Wizard briefly. Dawson Knox(TE10) was Wizard's largest purchase at $16.
The remaining schedule for Wizards includes Jackalopes, Hound Dogs, and Peas w a combined 17-16 record. They'll feel safe if they can get 2 wins out of that slate. IF the Wizards were to miss, this would be the first time since 2017 and the third time in franchise history.
The Norwich City Dragons(5-6) locked up a huge win last week in a year that has given them plenty of hot/cold streaks. After starting (2-5), the Dragons have won 3 out of their last 4. The Dragons started the year in Vegas with the terrible news that J.K. Dobbins($29), hours after being drafted, had been shot- for the season. However, this didn't sink the Dragons. The core 5 for the Dragons are the best in the league: primarily together by Deebo Samuel(WR3), Tyreek Hill(WR2), Michael Pittman(WR12), Ekeler(RB2), and Mark Andrews(TE2). The Dragons have tip-toed in waivers, with their largest purchase being Dalton Schultz at $14. They are part of the ONLY TRADE THIS year: Dragons sending Chase Claypool to the Pease for Joe Burrow.
All they need now is a little luck from their opponents, as their opposing teams are averaging 125.6/PPG- the second highest in the league. The Dragons face Bulldogs, Skulls, and Fire Ants with a combined record of (19-14). The Dragons, too, will feel safe with 2 wins and MUST take care of business this week against CDMX.
The Swans(6-5) I don't think I've received more texts about a team this year than the Swans. Why? The Swans are on the cusp of making the SGL Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history (4 years), and they have the SECOND lowest PF. They are currently averaging 110.7/PPG, which is only 1 point higher than Jackalopes's league-low at 109.7/PPG. How have the Swans been successful when putting up such low totals this year? Defense. The Swans have only faced a team with over 130 points once. The Swans might be peaking at the right time with all of that said. Last week they put up a season-high of 145 points. They have CMC healthy, Rodgers balling, Swift quietly having an RB5 year.
With the Swans so close, here's who they have on the remaining schedule: Skulls, Fire Ants, and the Jackalopes with a combined record for (20-13). If the Swans win one more, they'll feel pretty safe; ESPN says they have an 82% chance of making the playoffs.
Boister's Beasts(6-5) The Beasts started the year (4-2), and they're now sitting at (6-5) with a chance to make the playoffs this week. In the last 4 weeks, the Beasts are REELING. They've averaged 108.9 points during that span and have luckily gone (2-2).
The Beasts have solid throughout. They could have been excellent. The Beasts added Cordarrelle 9/12, and 4 days later, he was dropped. CP is averaging 17.9/PPG and the RB10. The Beasts also lost the bid for the Saquon backup- Booker- to Jackalope $58 > $31. The Beasts also had some bad luck with their Rams received, Robert Woods. The Beasts wanted to walk away with either Kupp or Woods on draft day, and he bid Woods. Woods and Kupp both went for $29. Kupp has gone on to be the WR1 on the season. Woods was shot and killed 3 weeks ago- purely in a fantasy sense.
The remaining schedule for the Beasts is spicy. They have Gamblers, Juleps, then the Hound Dogs- with a combined record of (14-19). The last week of the season verse the Hound Dogs could have MAJOR playoff implications.
Jack's Juleps(6-5) The Juleps have been quietly putting together a 4 game win streak and have won 5 of their last 6. The Juleps have been as consistent as any team posting between 118-130.5 points the past 7 weeks- no duds.
The reason for the success? Jalen Hurts(QB1), Tom Brady(QB2), and a high floor team. This year it's felt like quarterback play has been widely inconsistent- Josh Allen, Dak, Mahomes, Lamar all posting duds. And I just mentioned, the Juleps have the best waiver acquisition of the year- Cordarelle Patterson. This has given the Juleps the ability to start Chubb, Flames, and Cordarelle. Even Gaskin has been playing better as of late. He was able to lock up Coradarelle with a $19 bid. The next highest? Wizards at $3. That week the Panthers D/ST went for $9, and there were TWO $5 bids for Daniel Carlson K- Gambler and Swan. Other players of note, D'Ernest Johnson went for $36 and Michael Carter for $5.
The only teams standing between the Juleps and the SGL Cup Playoffs, arch-rival Hound Dogs, Beasts, and Bulldogs. With a combined record of (15-18), and ESPN gives them a 94% chance of making the playoffs.
Blaster's Hound Dogs(6-5) With a horrific shit lost to the Gamblers last week, the Hound Dogs once thought to be a title-favorite, are once again fighting for a playoff spot. The Hounds started the season averaging 134.4 points through the first 5 weeks, and over the last 3 weeks, they've averaged 100.5- fucking dreadful.
As the owner of the Hounds, I'm coming to say injuries are killing these Hounds. The Russel Wilson injury has stunted DK (and Russ) from what they could be. Kamara is set to miss his third week in a row. Elijah Mitchell- the $76 man, has missed 3 weeks- possibly 4 this week.
The Elijah Mitchell bid- highest this year, has not totally paid off. When healthy, he's averaging 12.8/PPG.
The Hounds have 3 testy rivalry games over the next 3 weeks- Juleps, Wizards, and Beasts, with a combined record of (17-16).
Sobey Snappin' Peas(7-4) The Snappin' Peas are the first team in SGL history to make the playoffs in their first 2 years as a franchise. The Peas started the year (5-0) led by their stars- a strategy they adopted at the draft when they snagged Zeke $62 and Dalvin $70 early. The Peas looked unstoppable through the first half of the season, with Playoff Lenny playing like he was back at LSU. As the year has gone on, the issue for the Peas has been WR- currently starting DJ Moore WR14 and Chase Claypool WR44.
Have the Peas snapped too early? They've lost their last 4 out of 6 and in their losses over the last month only posted over 92 points ONCE. Do they need to make a blood sacrifice? The Peas still have HENRY RUGGS III ON THEIR TEAM. Do they know something our justice system does not? Or do the Peas not want to change any of their team chemistry this close to the playoffs.
The Peas have clinched already, but they still face Fire Ants, Jackalopes, and Wizards with a combined record of (17-16) and seeding matters.
Fire Ants(8-3) The Fire Ants have clinched a spot in the 2021 SGL Playoffs. This is now back-to-back at least 8 win seasons for the Fire Ants. How are the Fire Ants doing this? Jonathan Taylor. JT has been the RB1 and fantasy MVP of the season so far, averaging 24 PPG. Put JT next to Davante Adams, and that's the best 1-2 punch in the league. They paved the way for the longest win streak of the year from week 2 to week 8 for 7 wins in a row.
Is it all roses for the Fire Ants? Or is there a collapse looming stronger than Jason's excuse for not making the draft: "I have a work dinner." 
Over the last 4 weeks, the Fire Ants have posted over 104 points once and have been lucky enough to go 2-2.
The remaining schedule for the Fire Ants has them facing the Peas, Swans, and Dragons with a combined record of (18-15).
Stull's Skulls(8-3) The Skulls are tied for the best record in the SGL and have the most points for averaging 127.2/PPG while ALSO holding opponents to a league-low 109.6 PPG. How are the Skulls doing this? Did they make a deal with the devil? Nope. Just a Gambler.
The Skulls lured the Gamblers into the back of a van and tour out the heart of those poor Gamblers- Ja'Marr Chase. In Gambler's defense, Calvin Ridley had yet to step away, but nevertheless, the Skulls walked away with the breakout TD machine Ja'Marr and Chase Edmonds, who was having a nice little year before his injury.
Are the Skulls the favorite? Not so fast!
Like other top teams now, the Skulls have also found themselves in a ~near~ slump as they've posted about 109 only once in the last 3 weeks.
The Skulls will undoubtedly look to be the #1 seed and have the Swans, Dragons, and Gamblers with a combined record of (13-20)
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