Contenders or pretenders?

As we near the halfway point of the regular season, we have several clear trends unfolding.

Davante Adams, traded to the Jets on Tuesday, was a surprise special guest when Jets QB Aaron Rodgers appeared on the Pat McAfee Show yesterday.

Three teams have separated from the pack and planted their flag for a solid shot for a playoff spot. Those three – John Lambert’s Rangers, Chris Zimnoch’s Recliners and Bob Garcia’s Band Aids – have the best current odds on ESPN to make the playoffs. The Rangers (an 83-percent chance) top the list followed by the Recliners (65 percent) and the Band Aids (60 percent).

After those three, it gets pretty murky in the playoff waters. The Spread Beaters (a 49-percent chance) and the Tirades (a 45-percent chance) head the list of wannabees followed by four more -- WTNE (39 percent), Invaiders (28 percent), the Gerbils (15 percent), and Who Dey (13 percent).

Doing a deeper dive, there are three clear scoring leaders among the playoff hopefuls (since this is a points league) and those should be favored to land those coveted playoff spots. The Rangers (606 points) is the only team to top 600 points so far and keep that 100-point or better scoring average going through the first six weeks of the season.

The Spread Beaters (592 points) are not far behind the Rangers, followed by the Band Aids (572 points). There is a 40-point drop off from the Band Aids as WTNE checks in with 533 points. Who Dey has amassed 531 points, and the Recliners have 526 points. Everyone else, including the winless Pack, have barely topped 500 points.

In an ironic twist, four of those hopeful playoff teams square off in Week 7 as the Chandler Rangers take on the Spread Beaters and WTNE takes on the Marietta Tirades.

The second trend that has emerged is the stranglehold the Rangers and Recliners (both at 5-1) have on the Silent Division, 2 games clear of the rest of the division (all 3-3). Over in the Shitty Teams Division, only the Band Aids is above water at 4-2. The Tirades are even and in a 4-way tie for the league’s fourth-best team record. All hell is about to unfold in the coming 6 weeks. Strap ‘em up boys, it is going to be a wild ride.

Another early start

The Thursday night and pre-dawn kickoff Sunday from London continues this week. The NFL starts the week Thursday night with the Broncos travelling to the Big Easy to take on the Saints. The Jacksonville Jaguars start us off, again, on Sunday against the New England Patriots with a 6:30 a.m. start (PDT). Another odd twist is two more games to end the week on Monday (Ravens at Tampa and the Chargers at the Cardinals). Off this week are the Cowboys (thank, God) and the Chicago Bears. Here's a look at the week seven matchups.

Game of the Week

Spread Beaters (3-3) vs Rangers (5-1), Spread Beaters favored by 2: This could be the most entertaining game on the slate and the one most likely to drive both managers to drugs. Several key starters don’t take the field until Monday night. The best team in the league (John’s Rangers) get the edge at QB (Jalen Hurts over Kyler Murray), at RB2 (Kyren Williams over Brian Robinson Jr.) and at TE (George Kittle, yay, 9ers!, over Travis Kelce). Pringle gets the edge at RB1 (King Derrick vs. Breece Hall), both WRs (DK Metcalf and Chris Godwin) and at flex (J.K. Dobbins). The biggest wild card in this one is John’s WRs (Amari Cooper and Davante Adams), who both were traded by their NFL teams. Cooper moves to the potential high-wire act in Buffalo and Adams reunites with Aaron Rogers in the Meadowlands. Get a tub of popcorn and watch this one unfold. Take the Beaters and 1.

The Close Ones

Tirades (3-3) vs WTNE (3-3), WTNE favored by 3: This one also might be wild, or it could get ugly quickly. The Tirades still have two starting RBs (both listed as questionable) who might not take the field. Aaron Jones is hoping to return to practice Thursday but Minnesota just traded for Cam Akers which either looks like a very ugly timeshare developing or is an indicator that Jones may not be healing as well as the team hopes. In the Bay Area, Jordan Mason was limited in practice Wednesday and may or may not play. Tough decisions for Ron this week. Jordan gets the edge at QB in this one (Jayden Daniels vs. Josh Allen), RB2 (Alvin Kamara tonight on a short week vs. Mason) and at TE (Trey McBride vs. Kyle Pitts) and flex (Saquon Barkley vs. David Montgomery). Saquon and Monty both might slide into starting RBs before Sunday kicks, so stay tuned on this one. Take WTNE by 1.

Invaiders (3-3) vs Recliners (5-1), Invaiders favored by 3. This might be the most goofy line of the week. The Invaiders continue to be a walking M*A*S*H unit and have four starters who still have not stepped on the practice field (the same four who have missed the last two weeks) and represent 49 points of their projected 93-point total. I will go out on a limb and predict at least two of those players won’t practice Thursday and won’t take the field Sunday. With that abundance of question marks, Chris gets the edge at both RBs with Bijan Robinson and Joe Mixon (also still carrying a questionable tag after a monster Week 6), WR Garrett Wilson, TE Sam LaPorta and the Commanders’ defense. The only advantage I can count on is at kicker. Punt.  Take the Recliners and 5.

Gerbils (2-4) vs Packers (0-6), Gerbils favored by 6: Rare is the bookie willing to take action on a game that features only two wins between the teams after six weeks. This one might be the rare exception. The Gerbils carry most of the positional edges in this one with Josh Jacobs, Drake London, Tee Higgins and Brock Bowers. If those four produce, this one should be in the Gerbil win column. The retooled Pack (wait till 2025!) still carries an edge at QB (Anthony Richardson) and RB1 (Kenneth Walker III), the Broncos’ defense and the Commanders kicker. Take the Gerbils by 5.

The Blowout

Band Aids (4-2) vs Who Dey (2-4), Band Aids favored by 30: When I first saw this line, I figured the rookie had three or four starters on bye who he had not replaced. Sadly, that is not the case. Bob gets the positional advantage everywhere, with only a push predicted between the RB2s. Take the Band Aids in the survival pool this week. This one could get ugly and quickly. Take the Band Aids by 15.