Fantasy Recap, Week 12: One Long Pair Of Eyes

One thing about fantasy football: you have to keep an eye on what's comin'. It's a long season, and winning? Winning, it turns out, is pretty important... but as important? That the right opponents lose at opportune times. This is never truer than here at the ass-end of the season.

Let's take a look at why, shall we?

In my NFL.COM league... I won!

Catchers in the Rye

Projected: Win

Actual: Win 116-64

East

Catchers in the Rye 7-5-0

Eau Claire Vandals 5-7-0

LacesOu 5-7-0

Textboo 5-7-0

Central

Tiny Adorable Hedgehogs 8-4-0

Death by Haiku 2 5-7-0

RumseyB 4-8-0

Goregor 3-9-0

West

DredPir 10-2-0

HolyHan 9-3-0

Mothers 7-5-0

Underdo 4-8-0

See, in the NFL leagues, the playoffs begin in Week 15. The first place team in each division makes the playoffs, along with one division's 2nd -place team with the best record. The "easiest" way to make the playoffs, then, is to be #1 in your division. At this point, I'm #1 in mine... but if I lose the last two games, and one other team in my division wins the last two games? I'm out of the playoffs. But, as they say: so far, so good.

In that hopelessly crappy NFL.COM league? I lost.

Sith Lords of the Gridiron

Projected: Loss

Actual: Loss 99-106

Central

Clemson 7-3-2

UsualSu 7-5-0

LofasLa 6-6-0

Sith Lords of the Gridiron 4-7-1

East

BBbadbo 8-4-0

Knights 7-5-0

FBomber 6-6-0

royals1 6-6-0

West

TeamAlp 6-5-1

Lynchbe 5-7-0

YounGGu 4-8-0

FifeFan 4-8-0

There's really no math here that makes the playoffs possible. Sorry to disappoint you.

Last of the NFL.COM leagues is actually first in my fantasy football lovin' heart... and yes, it's because I'm #1 in that league. I'm just that shallow. Oh, and I won.

The Powerful Mach 5!

Projected: Win

Actual: Win 119-115

Central

Powerful Mach 5! 10-2-0

Provide 6-6-0

JediMas 6-6-0

Bigbron 2-10-0

East

NEPats 9-3-0

baldeag 6-6-0

Skeleto 2-10-0

ItaliHe 2-10-0

West

Xchucki 10-2-0

Provide 9-3-0

KNIGHTS 6-6-0

Breakin 4-8-0

Actually, I'm handily #1 in my division, but another team has been on a winning streak, and has actually surpassed me in points, so now I'm #2 overall... by one point. The good news is that at this point I can't miss the playoffs here. Go Speed Racer! Go!

In my Yahoo! league? I got whupped. Whupped!

Blue Blazer Regulars

Projected: Win

Actual: Loss 231-348.50

*1. Purple Flat. Blasts 10-2-0

*2. De chier des bulles 9-3-0

*3. Night Train 9-3-0

*4. MightyPurpleHelmets 7-5-0

*5. Blue Blazer Regulars 7-5-0

6. Extreme Hummingbird 5-7-0

7. Snooze Alarm 5-7-0

8. LiL Man 4-8-0

9. Purple People Eaters 3-9-0

10. Intercepticons 1-11-0

* Clinched Playoff Spot

Of course, I've clinched a playoff spot, so in a sense it's no big deal... but then my pride starts messin' with me.... We have one more "regular season" game in this league, so I have a shot at getting back up to 5th... but that's about the best I can hope for. Nancy, meanwhile, has been on quite the winning streak, and sits happily in second! At this point she not only made the playoffs, but has earned a bye in the first week! Pretty cool!

Finally, in the office Yahoo! league... I lost.

Live Free; Rhyme Hard

Projected: Loss

Actual: Loss 222.06-380.40

1. Death by Haiku 10-2-0

*2. BALCO 9-3-0

*3. CA Hot Blasts! 9-3-0

*4. The Flying Frenchman 8-4-0

*5. The Pastry Ducks 7-5-0

*6. San Diego Zoo 7-5-0

7. LightsOut 6-6-0

8. Bliss's Blitzers 5-7-0

9. Livefree; Rhymehard 4-8-0

10. Baby Bashers 4-8-0

11. Alabama Hot Pockets 3-9-0

12. ativan stat 0-12-0

* Clinched Playoff Spot

In this league we have two more regular season games... which is problematic. The top 8 teams make the playoffs, and as you can see, I'm mired in 9th place. If I win the last two games, I make the playoffs. Because of whom I'm playing, if I lose one game, there's almost no chance of me making the post-season... which has never happened to me in an office league. Another thing that I've never seen happen? Tony clamped on to 1st place like a Regulan Blood Worm. He's had a very impressive run, tellyouwhat.

So, after 12 weeks I'll certainly make the playoffs in two leagues. Likely make it in three... and with a great deal of luck, maybe even make it to the post-season in 4 of 5 leagues. Who could have foreseen?