Recliners seek third straight win
Chris Zimnoch’s team seeks a share of the Silent Division lead with a win over the Invaiders.
The Recliners-Invaiders clash is one of three games are in the running for “Game of the Week.” Other in the running are the division-leading Gerbils taking on the 5-4 Who Dey, and the 7-2 Band Aids taking on the 5-4 Tirades.
As we were waiting Tuesday to find out where Jonathan Taylor (the Spread Beaters’ keeper this season) would land at the NFL trade deadline (answer: the same place he started, Indianapolis) and who the 49ers would land (Go Niners!), the intrepid staff at JSFL Today sifted through the data ESPN has packed into the full standings page and who that organization believes has a realistic chance to advance to the money round of our little fantasy game. Topping the charts should be no surprise. Chuck Nelson’s Gerbils (8-1) have a 96-percent chance, as of this writing Thursday morning, to be one of the four finalists when the first round of the playoffs in Week 16 rolls around. To miss the playoffs at this stage, Chuck would literally have to lose almost every week down the final six game stretch of the regular season.
Bob Garcia’s Band Aids (7-2), fresh off the blockbuster deal for WR CeeDee Lamb last week (see more below on that), have an 84-percent chance to advance. The only Silent Division team with a decent chance to advance is the division-leading Invaiders (5-4) with a 60-percent chance (and Vern thinks his odds should improve with the addition of WR Parker Washington via trade this week, also see below). The Packers (6-3) carry a 52-percent chance to keep on keeping on. No other team in the league, at this stage of the proceedings, has better than a 37-percent chance (the 5-4 Tirades). The team tied with the Tirades for fourth place in the Shit-Talkers’ Division, Who Dey, has a 28-percent chance to advance, despite the fact Who Dey currently holds the tiebreaker over the Tirades (909 points to 864 points). The disparities in the postseason odds lays in the difficulty of the road ahead for some of those teams.
The Tirades face one of the toughest gauntlets in the final weeks as all six teams they face have winning records — the Band Aids this week, the Invaiders in Week 11, Who Dey in Week 12, the Gerbils in Week 13, the Packers in Week 14, and the Band Aids, again, in Week 15.
Who Dey has a similar gauntlet ahead, with one exception in Week 14, as Matty draws the Gerbils this week, the Band Aids in Week 11, the Tirades in Week 12, the Packers in Week 13, the gutted (and winless) WTNE in Week 14, and the Invaiders in Week 15.
While those teams are fighting for three expected playoff spots in the tougher division, the Packers have the inside rail as Jeff faces two teams with losing records on the closing schedule. Jeff draws his brother, John, this week, the Gerbils in Week 11, the Band Aids in Week 12, Who Dey in Week 13, the Tirades in Week 14, and the winless WTNE in Week 15.
In the other division, ESPN believes the Invaiders, with its one-game lead over the Recliners, has an easier path to the division title as it takes on those Recliners this week, the Tirades in Week 11, the gutted WTNE in Week 12, the Rangers in Week 13, the soon-to-be-gutted Spread Beaters in Week 14, and Who Dey in Week 15.
The road ahead for the Recliners includes two games against the best team in the league. Chris starts his closing schedule with the division-leading Invaiders this week, the soon-to-be-gutted Spread Beaters in Week 11, the Gerbils in Week 12, the gutted WTNE in Week 13, the Rangers in Week 14, and the Gerbils, again, in Week 15. ESPN gives the Rangers, now at 3-6, a 14-percent chance to make the playoffs. Unlike Chuck, John Lambert may have to win out to keep his slim playoff hopes alive. The Rangers get the Packers this week, WTNE in Week 11, the Spread Beaters in Week 12, the Invaiders in Week 13, the Recliners in Week 14, and the Spread Beaters, again, in Week 15.
Trade updates
As Ron reported Tuesday, Bob was the first team owner to go all-in on an expensive and escalating trade with Jordan Garcia for the rights to “borrow” CeeDee Lamb and Saquon Barkley for the rest of the 2026 season. If the gamble works, Bob picks last and has mortgaged the 2027 season with no first- or fifth-round picks. If Bob gags like he usually does, Jordan will receive his 2nd- and 8th-round picks, instead. In exchange, Jordan will give Bob his 10th- and 12th-round picks whether he wins or loses.
Bob’s Band Aids gave up DeMario Douglas and Jordan Mason. It is the second time CeeDee has been traded in as many weeks. The Rangers traded him to WTNE a week ago to land WR Justin Jefferson. In landing Lamb, Bob has another No. 1 WR on the roster to deploy (likely replacing the injured Puka Nacua) or slide him into the flex position while Garrett Wilson nurses his aching muscles. With Josh Allen, Lamb, Nacua (if he returns) and Javonte Williams, the Band Aids are going to consistently post big numbers every week until we end the Band Aids’ season, or he wins it all. The dicey part of the deal is the gimpy Barkley, who has spent more time in street clothes on Sundays this season than he has in uniform. If Bob gets anything out of Saquon, it is a bonus. And, I suspect Bob is not done dealing. This is an “all-or-nothing” move for this season. Who cares if he does not start drafting next season until after we return from the Del Mar racing track?
This is the first of several “escalating” trades we can expect before the Thanksgiving week trade deadline. Jeff is a common user of the “make-it-hurt-more” if I win approach to deadline deals. And look for the activity around trades to pick up as more teams realize they have no chance this season.
The Invaiders joined the trade party on Wednesday by “renting” WR Parker Washington from the Spread Beaters for recently acquired WR Tank Dell and Vern’s sixth-round pick next season. As dismal as the Invaider receiving corps is these days (2 WRs and a flex last week did not combine to top 10 points), Vern may not be done dealing. At least one more move is in the works. The Band Aids, who were interested in Washington, also may not be done. Washington has hauled in 29 receptions so far this season for 493 yards and 5 touchdowns.
NFL schedule
Four fantasy-loaded NFL rosters are on a bye this week as the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all get the week off to rest up for the stretch run. We get another European game this week as the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions play in Munich, Germany, at 6:30 a.m. PST Sunday. The Week 10 slate opens Thursday with the New York Giants hosting the Washington Commanders in a key NFC East battle (yawn). The Sunday night game features an AFC Central battle as the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to take on the Cincinnati Bengals. The week is complete with the Monday ho-hum match of the Los Angeles Chargers at the Jacoby Brisett-led Baltimore Ravens.
There are three games expected to top a combined total of 50 points this week and they include the 55.5 points estimated in the San Francisco 49ers (Go Niners!) at Dallas Cowboys, the 51.5 points estimated in the Munich game (Patriots-Lions), and the 50.5 points estimated by the Buffalo Bills at New York Jets. The two games estimated to stay under a combined 40 points is the Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns. Unless you are rocking one of those defenses, those are two games you might want to avoid.
And, one last reminder that this season’s “bymemaggeddon” looms in two weeks when six NFL teams take the week off. Those looming six teams are the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Adjust those Week 11 rosters, accordingly. You have been dutifully warned.
Game of the Week
Invaiders (5-4) vs. Recliners (4-5), Invaiders favored by 8: This could be the week that decides if Vern has enough to make it back to the playoffs. After losing first-round pick DeVon Achane for the season and getting only 10 snaps total from second-round pick WR A.J. Brown, the Invaiders have been held together with duct tape, hot glue, and a league-high 23 waiver moves so far (just adding to the winner’s kitty, you can buy me a beer later). The Invaiders come into this one with a one-game lead against a banged-up Recliners after Chris lost RB Josh Jacobs for an extended period of time. The Recliners already have lost Jeremiyah Love to injured reserve and likely will lose Rhamondre Stevenson for an extended spell. The Invaiders felt now was the time to strike and add depth to his receiving corps with the deal with Matt Pringle (and, yes, Pringle said he is open for business to trade the rest of his roster for draft picks). These two teams faced each other three weeks ago and the Invaiders walked away with a 94-56 win. The Invaiders continue to wait and see if A.J. Brown, who is traveling with the team to Germany, is activated and put out on the field. The Invaiders are also playing a waiting game on injured RB David Montgomery, who is making slow progress in his recovery. The Invaiders, at the time of this writing, were favored by 3 before the trade. Parker Washington slides into one of the WR starting spots and will be one of the favored matchups this week. The Invaiders will be favored at QB with Trevor Lawrence at Tennessee, and RBs Bijan Robinson at home to Kansas City and Zach Charbonnet at Las Vegas. The Recliners will be favored at three starting positions – Ja’Marr Chase at home to Pittsburgh, tight end Brock Bowers at home to Seattle, and kicker Dominic Zvada (New York Giants) at home tonight to the Commanders. The Swami never likes to bet on the Invaiders, but says take them and 2.
Best of the Rest
Tirades (5-4) vs. Band Aids (7-2), Tirades favored by 8: If Ron has sights on life in the postseason, this might be one of the first “must-win” scenarios he faces over the final few weeks. Bob won the last matchup between them in Week 4, 101-90. The Tirades come into this rematch favored at five starting positions. Ron has the positional edge at both RBs as Christian McCaffrey (Go Niners!) is at Dallas and Derrick Henry looks to get healthy at home against the Chargers, at wide out with Tee Higgins at home to Pittsburgh, at tight end with Sam LaPorta in Germany against New England, and at flex with RB Jadarian Price at Las Vegas. Bob’s Band Aids are favored at the final four starting positions. He gets the edge at QB with Josh Allen at the New York Jets, WR CeeDee Lamb at home to San Francisco, the Colts defense hosting Miami and at kicker with Brandon Aubrey (Dallas). The Swami says take the Tirades and 5.
Gerbils (8-1) vs. Who Dey (5-4), Gerbils favored by a bunch: Matt McCumber still has to fill two donut holes in his starting lineup (he loses RB D’Andre Swift and TE Colston Loveland to the bye but both are still in the starting lineup; come on, Matty, help me out here) but the Gerbils come into this one heavily favored, regardless. The big scoring edge for the Gerbils comes with one starting WR (Luther Burden) on a bye and still is in Chuck’s starting lineup. Matty will need to pick up a running back as he two backups (the alphabet gang, J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey) are also on a bye. Jake Ferguson is his backup tight end and he has a big, fat, red O alongside his name meaning he is out this week. So, add a backup TE to the shopping list. The last time these two tangoed, the Gerbils won a wild one, 114-107.
Chuck likely slides George Pickens into the void at WR and adds more scoring fuel to the fire. Either way, the Gerbils are favored at five starting positions as of this writing Thursday morning. He gets the positional edge at both RBs with Jahmyr Gibbs in Germany against New England and Kenneth Walker III at Atlanta, at tight end with George Kittle at Dallas, flex RB Blake Corum at Arizona, and the Rams defense at Arizona. Who Dey gets four positional edges. Matty gets the nod at QB with Joe Burrows at home to Pittsburgh, both WRs with Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Las Vegas and Tetarioa McMillan at New Orleans, and at kicker with Tyler Bass (Buffalo) at the New York Jets. The Swami says bet the house and take the Gerbils and 15.
Packers (6-3) vs. Rangers (3-6), Packers favored by 7: There never is any love lost when these two brothers tangle on the fantasy playfield. They met back in the opening week of the season and Jeff walked away with a 22-point win, 106-84. This time around, the scoring prediction falls pretty close to the previous result, but John still has to fill the void left with RB Bucky Irving on a bye. Pencil in Breece Hall (projected for 8 points) as the most likely fill-in. The Packers are favored in four of the nine starting matchups. The positional edge goes to QB Jayden Daniels tonight at the New York Giants, RB James Cook III at the New York Jets, WR Matthew Golden at home to the Vikings, and at flex with RB Ollie Gordon II at Indianapolis. The Rangers are favored at four other starting spots. John gets the nod at RB with Chuba Hubbard at New Orleans, at WR with Malik Nabers at home to Washington, at TE with Isiah Likely tonight at home to Washington, and at K Adre Szmyt (Cleveland) at home to Houston. There is a draw at defense – the Lions in Germany for John and the Vikings at Green Bay for Jeff. The Swami says, as we have repeated this mantra dozens of times, “Never bet against the Pack.” Take the "Jeffly" brother and 5.
Dog of the Week
Spread Beaters (2-7) vs. WTNE (0-9), Beaters favored by 22: All we can say about this one is, “woof.” The only redeeming quality of this game is as a showcase for guys to trade for. Both teams are in “fire sale” mode and have lost at least one major starter to another greedy team owner in the last two weeks. And, remember, there are only two wins to be found between these two teams. And, Jordan’s WTNE is not projected to break 70 points this week, according to the stats gods at ESPN. Woof. The Spread Beaters are favored at six of the nine starting positions and should bag their third win of the year, unless Matt Pringle is attempting a “dive” to take for the first pick next year. The Beaters are favored at QB with Drake Maye (as long he continues to call signals for the Beaters), both RBs with Jonathan Taylor (still a Colt) at home to Miami and Bhayshul Tuten at Tennessee, at WR with Deebo Samuel Sr. at Dallas, at tight end with Travis Kelce at Atlanta, and at K with Spencer Shrader (Indianapolis) at home to Miami. Jordan is favored in the remaining three starting spots. He gets the nod at the other WR with Drake London at home to Kansas City, at flex with WR DeMario Douglas at Detroit, and at defense with the Ravens hosting the Los Angeles Chargers. The Swami says take the Beaters and 18.
Comments