The Premise

The 2023 draft is here. The one thing everyone is wondering: who has the best keepers?

Good news, I have the definitive, process driven answer. We can use the average ADP of each owner’s two keeper players as a measure of their overall strength.

Why ADP?

Well, it’s simple – we want to see who amongst us has the best start to their rosters, right? What better way than to use the public’s rankings of said players as our barometer.

What data source?

I am using Underdog Fantasy‘s 2023 ADP to arrive at these conclusions. Why?

Underdog runs the largest Best Ball fantasy contest on planet Earth – with over 600,000 entrants vying to claim the $3,000,000 top prize, I’d wager its the sharpest ADP source on planet Earth, as well.

What’s a good ADP average?

We keep 28 players (14×2). If the average ADP of your keepers isn’t inside the first two rounds of ADP (higher than 28), then it’s probably bad.

With that said, on to the rankings!

Best of the Best

1.) Finley – Tyreek Hill & Cooper Kupp, Average ADP 4.85
Both consensus top five picks since fantasy drafts opened in May, Finley begins the season with the most dynamic duo (when healthy) at WR. Alas, Kupp is already dealing with his second hamstring strain – we shall see how this pans out.

2.) Fahey – Travis Kelce & Saquon Barkley, Average ADP 10.65

Are you surprised Travis Kelce is a top 5 pick in redraft leagues this season? You shouldn’t be. Kelce outscored every other TE on planet Earth by 5+ FPPG in 2022. With a potpourri of uncertainty at WR, Patty Ice will lean on him once again in 2023.

3.) Holter – A.J. Brown & CeeDee Lamb, Average ADP 11.65
DAL’s Lamb and PHI’s Brown have slid in recent drafts, but have comfortably been in the low first, high second round ADP range this summer.

The WOAT

14.) Bizzy – Josh Jacobs & James Conner

Josh Jacobs is a consensus 2nd round pick; now that he’s back in the fold in Vegas with his Brinks truckload of cash in tow, I won’t quibble with this selection.

James Conner is a 7th round pick in fantasy football this year. Now – I think he’s a good pick in that range (80.4 ADP); the reality is in a format like this, you can toss that player back, and draft him again ahead of ADP if you really love him. A missed opportunity here, for sure.

13.) Lavoie – Najee Harris & Aaron Jones

Najee Harris (42.2 ADP) is expected to see increased competition from Jaylen Warren this season. In fact, Warren mixed in during drives a lot more than expected with the Steelers’ starters in preseason. Jones (48.9 ADP) is in a 1A/1B usage battle with AJ Dillon. There were probably better options available, here, as well.

Wrap up & Full List

It’s just math, and the math is clear – the fantasy football world has deemed this is the way it is for keeper power rankings. If you’re atop the ADP leaderboard here after your first two picks, congratulations! Don’t f*ck it up in the draft tomorrow?

And if you’re not? There’s a long way to go before we crown a 2023 champion. Happy football season, cheers!

Rk	Owner	Keeper Average ADP
1	Finley (Kupp & Hill)	4.85
2	Fahey (Kelce & Barkley)	10.65
3	Holter (AJ Brown & Lamb)	11.65
4	Burke (Jefferson & D. Smith)	12
5	Rooney (Diggs & Pollard)	12.6
6	Adams (ARSB & Wilson)	13.65
7	Long (Chubb & Mahomes)	16.15
8	Seth (Adams & Hurts)	19.85
9	Gerrish (Ekeler & Samuel)	21.1
10	Sylvia (CMC & Mixon)	21.25
11	Northrup (Henry & J. Allen)	23.7
12	Caliri (Chase & Burrow)	25.25
13	Lavoie (Harris & Jones)	45.55
14	Bizzy (Jacobs & Conner)	53.4

a blog by Rick Lavoie

As someone who has played Fantasy Football for years, I can attest to the thrill of competing against friends, family, and coworkers. However, there’s a new league in town that I believe can offer an even more exciting experience: fantasy wrestling.

Now, I know what you might be thinking: “But wrestling isn’t real!” And while it’s true that the outcomes of matches are predetermined, that doesn’t mean it’s any less entertaining. In fact, the world of professional wrestling is full of over-the-top characters, dramatic storylines, and unexpected twists and turns – all of which make for an incredible fantasy league.

So why should everyone in the MIPPA Fantasy Football league switch to fantasy wrestling? Here are just a few reasons:

1. The 1980s wrestling era was legendary.

There’s no denying that the 1980s was a golden age of professional wrestling. This was the era of Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Macho Man Randy Savage, and countless other iconic wrestlers. By creating a fantasy league that only includes characters from this era, you can tap into the nostalgia of your youth and relive some of the most memorable moments in wrestling history.

2. The characters are larger than life.

One of the things that makes wrestling so captivating is the characters themselves. From the heroic underdogs to the villainous heels, each wrestler has their own unique personality, backstory, and motivations. By drafting these characters onto your fantasy team, you’re not just picking players – you’re building a roster of larger-than-life personalities that are sure to make for some epic matchups.

3. The drama is unbeatable.

Sure, there’s plenty of drama in football – but it pales in comparison to the soap opera-esque storylines of wrestling. From feuds that last for months to sudden betrayals and surprise returns, the world of professional wrestling is always full of unexpected twists and turns. By creating a fantasy league that follows these storylines, you’re not just watching matches – you’re fully immersed in the drama and intrigue of the wrestling world.

4. The possibilities are endless.

Unlike football, where the rules are pretty straightforward, wrestling is a world where anything can happen. You could have a match that involves wrestlers fighting in a steel cage, or one that takes place in a graveyard. You could have a tag team match where the partners are chosen at random, or a match where the loser has to leave the wrestling world forever. By creating a fantasy wrestling league, you have the freedom to come up with your own unique match types and stipulations, which can make for some truly unforgettable moments.

Now, I know that some of you might still be skeptical. After all, wrestling isn’t for everyone, and it’s not exactly a “serious” sport. But that’s precisely why it’s so much fun. By embracing the over-the-top, often ridiculous world of wrestling, you’re giving yourself permission to let loose and enjoy the ride. And isn’t that what fantasy leagues are all about?

So, to everyone in the MIPPA Fantasy Football league – I challenge you to prove me wrong. Try out a fantasy wrestling league using characters from the 1980s, and see if it doesn’t become your new favorite pastime. Who knows? You might just find that you enjoy it even more than football.

Challenge: Create a Fantasy Wrestling Roster and Stage a Mock PPV

To start, each member should create their own fantasy wrestling roster made up of characters from the 1980s wrestling era. They can do this using any method they choose – whether it’s a draft or simply selecting their favorite wrestlers.

Once each member has their roster, they should use it to stage a mock pay-per-view event. This can be done in any way the members see fit – whether it’s through written stories, drawings, or even video reenactments.

During the event, each member should write a storyline that leads up to their main event matchup. The main event should be between two wrestlers from different rosters, and the winner should be determined by a vote from the rest of the league. Each member should present their storyline in a way that’s engaging and exciting, using their own creativity to make their characters come to life.

To make things more interesting, there should be a punishment for the member who receives the least votes for their main event matchup. The punishment? They must film themselves performing a wrestling entrance – complete with music, costume, and over-the-top theatrics. This video should be shared with the rest of the league, and it should be good enough to make even the biggest wrestling fans laugh.

By participating in this challenge, the members of the MIPPA Fantasy Football league can experience the excitement and creativity that comes with fantasy wrestling. Who knows – they may just become lifelong fans of the sport!

A Vent, by Rick Lavoie

I am not going to lie. I’ve been in a funk recently. Not an, “I am cutting myself” kind of funk, but a funk nonetheless. When I am feeling a little depressed, I usually cope with three different mechanisms. First, I eat wildly out of control. Second, I buy tech devices that I don’t need and don’t know how to use. Thirdly, I reminisce. I have been looking back a lot, recently. And I am shocked by what we’ve become!!!

We had a tumultuous close to our season this year. It was rough, especially because my team sucked and I wasn’t on the inside track for winning any cash or a free meal at the draft. I have said, several times recently, that I am not really feeling the Fantasy Football vibe anymore. I think it’s because we’ve become complacent as a league. This retrospective vent will aim at righting part of that sinking ship!

Reminiscing helps me build clarity and thinking about the past makes me hopeful for the future. This coping mechanism helps me avoid pitfalls and making the same mistake twice. My first step towards reminiscing was downloading all of the episodes of the MIPPACast to my favorite podcast app. I am currently working my way through Episode 4 where in the first five minutes, Will used the word “cocksure.”

I chortled at the ease in which the word flowed from his mouth! Ever the wordsmith, Will, Seth, and John made some amazing points regarding the upcoming Patriots/Chargers AFC Championship game in 2019. It is fun listening to the guys chat about games that I know the outcome to! While this walk down memory lane provided moments which excited my mirth, I have also noted a subtle trend in each of the first four episodes. I have been the butt of repeated jokes…mainly by Seth, but Jon has also hopped on the bandwagon too. Most of these are at the expense of myself and my brand new puppy, at the time, Monty. Although, at the end of episode #3, the crew (with Champ Champ Adams) relished the fact that my Christmas spirit had been obliterated by local teens cutting the wires to my Xmas lights.

None of the lighthearted jabs actually hurt my feelings as I listened to these podcasts a second time. In fact, the vent isn’t about being bullied by my supposed friends. The vent is that we did stuff…as a group…from time to time.

The Bourbon Bowl no longer exists. Memorial Day Softball dwindled down to hardly enough guys to play a full game. Poker mucked its hand and folded a long time ago. Sadly, the MIPPAcast hardly makes new content and even the MIPPABlog has less traffic than ever before.

Our memory of the past is highlighted with ups and downs. I think, as Shakespeare once said, “The evil that men do lives after them, while the good is oft interred with their bones.” As I think about those days, I smile. Covid sucked. All of our lives present new complications that stand in the way of “the old days,” but I’d love to try and find a way to rekindle some of the magic that you all have brought to my life.

I suggested earlier in this post that I was hoping to ‘right the ship’ tonight. I should have said, I hope to start the process of righting the ship because boats can’t turn on a dime. I hope that new MIPPACast Episodes start coming out soon. I hope that we can bring back MIPPA Poker Nights in America. I hope that we can begin to find some time to make new memories.

In that vein…

I propose a bi-monthly MIPPA meet and greet. I think I will call it the MIPPA Brew and Review. Every other month, available MIPPA members will meet at a centrally located, but ever rotating local brewery. We will order tasty bevvies, maybe bring the kids/dogs, and cherish the good times. The Review can happen on future episodes of the MIPPAcast so everyone can be part of the fun, even if it is digitally. I just bought a new Go Pro…if I can figure out how to use it, then we can even livestream our thoughts on the best beers!

I also propose trying to kickstart a new tradition for the fall…assuming that we can find a way to make Memorial Day Softball (or a reasonable facsimile) start up again.

My initial thought is MIPPAFrolf. Frolf, by the way, is a vernacular portmanteau of Frisbee and Golf. It should be easy to pick a weekend in the fall in which a good number of us can congregate with some Disc Golf. This “sport” is another family friendly event which all types can enjoy. The ‘clubs’ are cheap enough, the green’s fees are affordable. The commune with nature is totally an Autumn tradition waiting to happen. We can even coincide MIPPAFrolf with a MIPPA Brew and Review. I promise that I will even try to learn how to use my new drone to fly overhead and take some amazing shots of us taking less spectacular shots!

So…here you go Friends! A new MIPPABlog post. One where I reminisce, and vent, and propose new ideas. I hope some of you are on board…if not, no worries. It is all good. Either way, you’ll probably be hearing from me a little more often on this platform!

Standings

Mints
1.) Pollard, Pierce & Pickens, LLC (Rooney) – 4-2
2.) M.F. Lunchables (Gerrish) – 4-2
3.) Kupp Tha Balls (Adams) – 3-3
4.) The McManal Probes (Northrup) – 3-3
5.) Ghost of Bill Russell (McLaughlin) 3-3
6.) Bizz Dawgs (Bizzy) – 2-4
7.) Absentee Manager (Burke) – 0-6

Sundowner
1.) Boston Robstahs (Holter) – 5-1
2.) Merrymount Madmen (Caliri) – 4-2
3.) Boston Bureaucrats (Long) 3-3
4.) INSERT WITTY NAME (Fahey) – 3-3
5.) Dartmouth Drunks (Finley) – 3-3
6.) Gorham Mion Match (Sylvia) – 3-3
7.) The Pissahs (Lavoie) – 2-4

This season is the pinnacle of parity. 13 of 14 squads (RIP Al) still have a very strong chance to qualify for the MIPPA postseason.

Here’s how the experts see the rest of the year playing out:

The clear underperforming roster of the first 6 weeks belongs to Adams, who wants us to make sure we all Kupp Tha Balls down the stretch. Adams’ roster has the second most points scored on the season despite his 3-3 record.

The trio of DET Amon-Ra St. Jerry Rice Brown, MIN Jefferson and LAR Kupp is *by far* the highest upside WR room in the league. Adams may have stumbled onto his league winning RB with SEA’s Ken Walker III now that Rashaad Penny (fibula) is out for the season.

The biggest potential pretender who sits at 3-3 or better by points scored: shockingly, the Sundowner leading Boston Robstahs only have the 7th most points scored in the league. This is a big reason why the power rankings have them with a massive regression in the second half. Holter will need to manage well to stay on top deep into the winter.

Your author is feeling the pressure of living up to this projection, no question.

Trade SZN is likely to heat up in the next couple of weeks, as managers try to solidify their title run chances. Here’s your author’s top theoretical trade targets at each key position you should be considering for any roster holes:

Trade Targets

Buy WR Chris Godwin

Godwin’s routes run and targets spiked in Week 6, and he’s back to the top of Tom Brady’s priority list as a result. Godwin is by far the best remaining asset on Absentee Manager’s 0-6 roster, and should command a hefty price tag from a WR needy contender any day now. With his current manager purely looking ahead to 2023, high draft picks should be firmly on the table for TB’s slot specialist.

Buy RB Raheem Mostert

No idea if his owner is selling, but Mostert has played >55% of the snaps for the Dolphins in each game since Week 2, and currently owns a 69.1% share of MIA’s team rushes and 7.4% of team targets over the last 3 weeks of play. If that holds he’s going to be a great value once MIA’s offense gets back on track. Currently collecting dust on Adams’ bench, we suspect he could be pried away by an RB needy owner for a midrange draft pick.

Buy TE David Njoku

After seeing just 1 target in Week 1, Njoku has earned 5+ targets in every single game Cleveland has played since. He’s logging >80% of offensive snaps every single week, and is on pace for a career high in targets, receptions, and reception yards. Not only does Njoku sport a high target share on the season, he also has a 25% (7 of 28) target share in the red zone in Cleveland’s offense – so the TDs should be on deck. While this info might be enough to convince the trade happy Seth McLaughlin to simply hold him, TE hungry managers should try to pry him away.

Bonus targets: NO WR Chris Olave, ARI WR DeAndre Hopkins, SF RB Elijah Mitchell, ATL TE Kyle Pitts, TB TE Cade Otton

Key Week 7 Matchups

Here’s some matchups between closely ranked squads. The winners will start to create separation in our standings down the stretch:

Kupp Tha Balls (3-3, Adams) vs. Boston Bureaucrats (3-3, Long) – bye week hell for Adams might translate to yet another 7th place pace victory for the Bureaucrats. No Kupp or Jefferson? This is the week someone absolutely needs to clip Adams (and he knows it). The trio of Mahomes, Pittman, Pitts and Chubb projects to lead ML to victory.

Gorham Mixon Match (3-3, Sylvia) vs. Dartmouth Drunks (3-3, Finley) – Slight edge to Sylvia this week, as Finley’s Drunks have a huge hole with TE Dallas Goedert on bye. Jets rookie RB Breece Hall’s emergence as a true workhorse RB just might turn the tide for the artist formerly known as IR or In Jail.

Ghost of Bill Russell (3-3, Seth) vs. The McManal Probes (3-3, Northrup) – Minty! Either way, some Mints on Mints crime is guaranteed in Week 7 here. Seth’s hoping a return from DET’s Swift boosts his squad to victory, while Will needs to overcome the loss of Josh Allen with a waiver wire QB stream.

Merrymount Madmen (4-2, Caliri) vs. Boston Robstahs (5-1, Holter) – Will the Burrow & Chase stack hit on back to back weeks? This matchup of our two most recent champions also has major implications on the Sundowner division title. Caliri has to make up for the loss of Thielen & Higbee to their bye weeks, while Holter trades last week’s Davante Adams bye for this week’s Stefon Diggs absence. The potential return of Jonathan Taylor looms large over the outcome of this battle.
—
MF Lunchables has a 2 game edge on the Bizz Dawgs, and is projected to win easily. Same goes for Pollard, Pickens & Pierce, LLC, as Absentee Manager’s squad is already looking forward to the offseason. Finally, look for INSERT WITTY NAME to climb above .500 with a healthy projection over The Pissahs in Week 7.

There’s a long way to go in the MIPPA 2022 season – we’ll either be back semi frequently with more updates, or see you again in Week 5 of 2024 for our next blog!

I was put on BLAST, but the suggestion was right. MINT UP! Read below:

Aw yea, the blogs are back.

Thought this wasn’t happening for a second, didn’t you? Fear not – I’m here to give you a weekly rundown of each matchup – one you never asked for!

For those who won their first week – you came, you drafted, you conquered! Big Dak Energy? Dak’d that ass up. WAP? No slip ups for them despite the lubrication. The Robstahs? Pure domination thanks to Davante AND Thielen going off. COVID Commanders? Commanding performances from Russ and DK! The Mask Debaters? No debate – Ridley Brees-ed right through that Seahawks defense. Al’s team? Good.

Your Week 2 Power Rankings:

We’re all about to get royally butt-raped by Al. Save us, Robstahs – you’re our only hope!

Finley won.

Your illustrious blogger conveniently forgot to give him credit. Shout out to Finley.

The playoffs have arrived!

Dalvin Cook leaving Monday Night Football in the 3rd quarter with a shoulder injury sunk the Bizz Dawgs (8-5), setting the playoff field as follows:

1.) Merrymount MadMen (9-3-1)
2.) Return of Tornado Rodgers (9-4)
3.) Dartmouth Drunks (9-4)
4.) INSERT WITTY NAME (9-4)
5.) Gorham IR or In Jail (8-4-1)
6.) Pay Me In Yang Bucks (8-5)

Tornado Rodgers won the Mints division with a thrilling 100-72 win over the Fortunate Fools (6-7). Led by Russell Wilson, Keenan Allen and Leonard Fournette, Tornado Rodgers has earned a week of rest, and will resume play in Week 15 in Round 2.

The Merrymount MadMen turned a 9-0-1 start into the top overall seed, but enter the playoffs on a three game losing streak. Easton Yard Sale (3-10) earned their third win of the season thanks to strong performances from Aaron Rodgers, Calvin Ridley and Kareem Hunt. The MadMen hope to bounce back after a week off themselves in Round 2.

Here are your Week 14 Power Rankings for Round 1:

#4 INSERT WITTY NAME vs #5 Gorham IR or In Jail

New plan – matchup breakdowns for you through the playoffs!

IR or In Jail (8-4-1) enters the week as slight 1 point favorites over INSERT WITTY NAME (9-4). The fans in Gorham have high expectations for Matt Ryan, who faces the league’s 8th best pass defense according to Football Outsiders’ DVOA. Derrick Henry looks to keep his late season surge going, as he faces the 23rd ranked rush defense.

It might be tough sledding for Kenny Golladay – the Lions have the lowest implied team total in Vegas for Week 14 (14.25 points) as 14 point underdogs to Minnesota. Gorham will look for Julian Edelman and Stefon Diggs to take advantage of their matchups to carry the load.

INSERT WITTY NAME has two stud RBs playing in island games – Ezekiel Elliott kicks off the week on Thursday Night Football against the Bears, while Saquon Barkley wraps up the week on Monday Night Football against the Eagles. As a result, this first round matchup may go right down to the wire. WITTY NAME also has Alshon Jeffery on the other side of the Giants-Eagles matchup – Alshon is coming off a monster performance against the Dolphins, and faces a NYG defense who ranks 32nd defending WR1s on the season.

Official Blog Call: Too close! Going to be a good matchup.

#3 Dartmouth Drunks vs. #6 Pay Me In Yang Bucks

Patrick Mahomes vs the number 1 passing defense. Travis Kelce vs. the #6 defense against TEs. Christian McCaffrey against the #11 run defense (#16 against RBs in the passing game). Michael Thomas against the #2 pass defense, and #9 defense against slot WRs. If there ever was a spot for all of the Drunks’ studs to have “floor” games, its right here in Week 14. The rest of the playoff teams this season have two favorite squads remaining: themselves, and whoever is able to knock off the Drunks and open up the bracket. They are the odds on favorite, -21.5 here on Tuesday.

Can the Yang Bucks pull off the upset? Lamar Jackson faces the Bills #5 pass defense, but may be able to use his legs behind the 4th best run blocking line in the NFL – the Bills are just 26th against the run. DeAndre Hopkins faces a Broncos’ defense that is 26th in the NFL defending WR1s, while Odell Beckham Jr faces a Bengals defense that… well, is the Bengals. And the rapper, Darren Waller? The Titans are also 26th by DVOA defending TEs in the passing game.

Yang Bucks will need each of these guys to put up their best effort in order to overcome what the Drunks bring to the table here in Round 1. The winner here draws Tornado Rodgers in Round 2.

Official Blog Call: Drunks win, Yang Bucks covers.

Before wrapping things up, some business to take care of.

2020 Draft Order:
1.) Burke’s Squad (1-12)
2.) Easton Yard Sale (3-10)
3.) Boston Robstahs (4-9)
4.) The Pissahs (5-8)
5.) MF Lunchables (5-8)
6.) kicking butker (6-7)
7.) Fortunate Fools (6-7)
8.) Bizz Dawgs (8-5)

Congrats to Tornado Rodgers on the Mints division title! Like we said about the MadMen two weeks ago – winning a M.I.P.P.A. division is amongst the highest honors in fantasy sports competition. Comes with a bye week, and of course, the ultimate prize – bragging rights for months.

Good luck in round 1, everyone!

14 M.I.P.P.A. warriors entered the arena on August 30th to draft players. Just 7 remain in contention. Only 6 can win this portion of the contest and enter the final battle.

Let’s dive right in to the stuff you came here for!

The Dartmouth Drunks (8-4) kicked kicking butker (5-7) to the curb, stomping them out 140-76 on the backs of Jameis Winston (Jameis Winston derangement syndrome destroys the brain), Christian McCaffrey and Michael Thomas. They have a stranglehold on the 3rd seed at this point.

IR or In Jail (7-4-1) did M.F. Lunchables (4-8) a solid and improved their 2020 draft slot, winning 114-105 in Week 12. Currently sitting as the 7th seed, IR or In Jail kept their championship dream alive with the victory. Derrick Henry or bust seems to be the path for IR or In Jail!

After an underwhelming game in the 1:00pm EST window from Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf, “Uncle Lenny” Leonard Fournette SAVED Tornado Rodgers (8-4) season with a 36 point performance. They defeated the Boston Robstahs (4-8) 72-69.

INSERT WITTY NAME (8-4) hopped on the back of the Lord himself, Christ Godwin, and he delivered them from evil. His 42 point performance was the primary effort that knocked Bizz Dawgs (8-4) out of control of the Mints’ division title.

The team currently sitting with the Mints division crown? Yang Bucks (8-4) will continue to ride the Lamar Jackson train until it derails, as they defeated the regular season champions, Merrymount MadMen (9-2-1) 132-62 behind strong games from each of Jackson, DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr.

The Mints title (and the second bye week) will come down to Sunday – Yang Bucks, Tornado Rodgers, and Bizz Dawgs all have paths to clinching it! For now, some tiers (and tears):

Contenders
Merrymount MadMen (9-2-1)
Dartmouth Drunks (8-4)
INSERT WITTY NAME (8-4)

Mints Logjam
Yang Bucks (8-4)
Tornado Rodgers (8-4)
Bizz Dawgs (8-4)

Win and In?
IR or In Jail (7-4-1)

2020 Mock Drafters
Fortunate Fools (6-6)
kicking butker (5-7)
The Pissahs (5-7)
Boston Robstahs (4-8)
M.F. Lunchables (4-8)
Easton Yard Sale (2-10)
Burke’s Squad (1-11)

Power Rankings for the rest of the season (lol):

Yang Bucks (8-4) and INSERT WITTY NAME (8-4) play a crucial H2H in the final week of the season. There is a path to the loser missing the playoffs; if IR or In Jail wins, their tie will hurt one 8-5 squad badly come Monday night. So there’s a lot on the line! Yang Bucks will try to clinch their division title and playoff berth on the backs of Lamar Jackson, Le’Veon Bell and DeAndre Hopkins. INSERT WITTY NAME is poised to win, however, on the backs of Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott. They are 7 point favorites.

Dartmouth Drunks (8-4) was literally the worst possible matchup for Bizz Dawgs (8-4). As huge 60 point favorites in Week 13, it appears like Bizz Dawgs Mints title dreams (maybe playoff dreams?) are DOA. Dalvin Cook returns to the starting lineup for the Bizz Dawgs, hopefully he can lead them to victory. The Drunks bring Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Christian McCaff- yeah nope, BizzBot is screwed here guys.

Tornado Rodgers (8-4) is a 15 point underdog to the snake-bitten Fortunate Fools (6-6). The Fools are the 2nd strongest team in our power rankings, and have scored the third most points on the season. This is a REVENGE GAME for the Fools, who lost in the championship round of the inaugural Hooter’s Invitational to Tornado Rodgers last season. A win here by the Fools might send Tornado Rodgers back to that bracket for year two. Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara play on Thursday night, and will try and bury Tornado Rodgers. Russell Wilson, Leonard Fournette and company will certainly have something to say about that come Sunday, though. This is the MARQUEE GAME OF THE WEEK and worth monitoring come Sunday.

While sitting in the 7th slot today, IR or In Jail (7-4-1) looks poised for a playoff berth as they wrap up their regular season campaign against Burke’s Squad (1-11). The matchup couldn’t come at a better time for the fans in Gorham, who are optimistic Julian Edelman, Derrick Henry, and Matt Ryan will lead them to the playoffs.

That’s it for the Week 13 power rankings! Good luck, everybody! Final projections:

Just two weeks remain in our fantasy regular season – Week 11 saw some fates virtually sealed in our M.I.P.P.A. 2019 season. Just 9 of our 14 competitors remain in the hunt.

The week started off with a BANG! Yang Bucks (7-4) and Fortunate Fools (5-6) kicked off their H2H early with some dueling transactions on trade deadline day.

The Fools added Zach Ertz and Drew Brees to their roster, while the Yang Bucks mortgaged the future to acquire DeAndre Hopkins. When the dust settled, the Fools ended the week with 106 points, more than 8 other M.I.P.P.A sqauds – just not enough to overcome the efforts of Lamar Jackson. At 5-6, the Fools need a miracle.

With the victory, Yang Bucks was hoping for some help to take the Mints division lead – the Bizz Dawgs (8-3) retained control, however, with a real doozy of a H2H with the Merrymount MadMen (9-1-1). The 45-30 matchup is (likely) the lowest scoring regular season matchup in M.I.P.P.A. history!

It’s not all bad news for the MadMen, though – with a 3 game lead over 7th place, the MadMen are the only M.I.P.P.A. squad mathematically clinched for the postseason. With a 2.5 game lead in Sundowner, they’ve also clinched a first round bye in the playoffs.

kicking butker (5-6) kept their slim playoff hopes alive with an upset win over INSERT WITTY NAME (7-4) on the backs of Dak Prescott, Mark Ingram and Jamison Crowder. butker will look to keep it rolling against the Dartmouth Drunks in Week 12.

Speaking of the Drunks (7-4), they won their bye week, keeping Burke’s team well positioned for the #1 overall pick in August.

Our final matchup of contenders in Week 11 featured Tornado Rodgers (7-4) and IR or In Jail (6-4-1). With a 7 point lead heading into Monday Night Football, IR or In Jail would’ve preferred Keenan Allen to not score 21 fantasy points. The 125-125 tie with the MadMen they had back in Week 6 currently has them on the wrong side of the playoff seeding – will it come back to haunt them?

Updated tiers and rest of season power rankings:

Contenders
Merrymount MadMen (9-1-1)
Dartmouth Drunks (7-4)
Bizz Dawgs (8-3)

Undercover Trash
Pay Me In Yang Bucks (7-4)
Tornado Rodgers (7-4)
INSERT WITTY NAME (7-4)
IR or In Jail (6-4-1)

Playoff Hope Spoilers
Fortunate Fools (5-6)
kicking butker (5-6)

2020 Mock Drafters
Boston Robstahs (4-7)
The Pissahs (4-7)
M.F. Lunchables (4-7)
Easton Yard Sale (2-9)
Burke’s Squad (1-10)

Power Rankings:

There are 8 teams fighting for the 5 remaining playoff spots, but only 6 have the highest probability of qualifying. Let’s start with the 2 longshots.

kicking butker (5-6) has a 1% chance of qualifying for the postseason. Step 1 for them? They have to vanquish Dartmouth Drunks (7-4) somehow. butker needs Dak Prescott to continue to play at an elite level despite a matchup with the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. They are currently 43 point underdogs before waivers – they’ll need a replacement for their namesake, who is on bye in Week 12.

Fortunate Fools (5-6) came up with the short end of the stick in Week 11, but they are still a deeply talented roster. Oddsmakers give them a 14% chance of qualifying for the postseason. Their path begins with a winnable matchup against Easton Yard Sale (2-9). The Fools are currently favored by 57 points – a welcome sight for Yard Sale, who’s hoping to grab the #1 overall pick in 2020.

Both butker and the Fools will have to leapfrog at least two of the following teams by the conclusion of Week 13, which is why their path is dicey. The first?

IR or In Jail (6-4-1) draws M.F. Lunchables (4-7) in Week 12, and currently sit as slight 5 point favorites with Stefon Diggs on bye. Reports out of Gorham suggest John Brown has proven enough to his coach in practice (and on Sundays on the bench!) to warrant the spot start. With Brown anticipated in the lineup, IR or In Jail moves to a healthy 18 point favorite.

Tornado Rodgers (7-4) will look to grab the Mints division lead as 16 point favorites over the Boston Robstahs (4-7). The Robstahs coach is currently relying on his scouts to hire a new defense and special teams unit for this tilt on Sunday. Once they’ve identified a suitable group, we expect the spread to move back towards the Robstahs ever so slightly. Rodgers gets a well rested duo in Russell Wilson and DK Metcalf back from their bye week, however.

The final two matchups worth paying attention to look poised to shape the remaining playoff landscape.

Yang Bucks (7-4) draws Merrymount MadMen (9-1-1), who will look to bounce back from their disappointing loss in Week 11. The MadMen are truly limping to the finish line – Kyler Murray, Tyreek Hill, Christian Kirk and Zane Gonzalez are all on bye, while current projected starters James Conner and Evan Engram are both questionable for Sunday.

Yang Bucks also lost the services of Marlon Mack, who broke his hand in Week 11. A MadMen victory likely locks Yang Bucks into wild card contention only, while a Yang Bucks win keeps them in the race for the Mints division title. Yang Bucks are currently slight 4 point favorites.

Bizz Dawgs (8-3) sneers as they look down upon the rest of Mints with disdain – for weeks, the blog has been calling for their fall from grace, yet here they are – 1 game up with 2 to go. INSERT WITTY NAME (7-4) looks to humble the BizzBot as a 25 point favorite before waivers. BizzBot will have to adjust for Dalvin Cook and Sammy Watkins being on bye, while WITTY NAME will have to add a kicker for the weekend’s slate.

Bizz Dawgs needs to maintain their 1 game lead in Mints to hold on to the division title, as their points scored total trails both Yang Bucks and Tornado Rodgers by 60+ points.

Here’s the most likely final standings outcome based on rest of season projections:

And before we sign off for Week 12, congrats to the MadMen!

Winning a M.I.P.P.A. division title is no easy task.