NFL Fantasy League 2015: Halfway
Week 2 Highland Executions did a small change at kicker and started Seattle Seahawks Steven Hauskchka and would eventually release Parkey and sign K Josh Brown (benched) from the New York Giants.
At 0-3-0 the entire team was struggling, even though I had two good QB's and one solid RB in Forte. Before week 4, the Executions received a trade deal. The trade was for Broncos QB Peyton Manning in exchange for Roethlisberger, and I accepted. Shockingly, Roethlisberger was injured during week 3 and would be out for a few weeks. I contacted the other teams owner, stating he/she couldn't take back the trade, but I would be willing to give him/back Manning for Roethlisberger. He/she never responded. So I kept Manning and started him for week 4.
With Manning as the starter now, the Executions won their first game by 3 points (62-59) to become 1-3-0. They picked up Miami Dolphins WR Rishard Matthews and started Texans Foster, who returned from injury, but only put up 1 point. The Executions let go New England Patriots WR Danny Amendola (benched) to make roster room for Matthews. The acquisition of Manning and Matthews seemed like a good one.
The Executions picked up their 2nd win and first back-to-back of the season with a score of 108-59 to become 2-3-0. The team was starting to pick up pace and both Forte and Foster had big games. Gates returned from injury and posted 21 points, the most out of any player that week.
The Executions (week 6) benched QB Manning and started QB Philips again, whom hadn't seen any playing time since week 2. They released San Diego Chargers RB Melvin Gordon and picked up Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart. The starting of Philips and the pickup of Stewart for week 7 saw the Executions lose by 0.40 points to become 2-5-0. Losing by 0.40 points was the 2nd most devastating loss in my 15 years of playing fantasy football. I lost a game (week 1) with the Highland GraveDiggers by 0.28 points.
So the trade for Manning, the pick up of Matthews, and Stewart, hasn't put a dint into the winning ways of the 3-time NFL.com Champion Executions.
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The Highland GraveDiggers (3-4-0) aren't off to a great start, but still have time to make the playoffs. The GraveDiggers won their NFL.com League Championship last year (2014) with a 8-6-0 record.
Week 1 was just a total lose for the GraveDiggers, as they lost their first game by 0.28 points (101.36 - 101.64) Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was the starter over New England Patriots QB Tom Brady. The RB position wasn't so magnificent, with Arizona Cardinals RB Andre Ellington and San Diego Chargers rookie RB Melvin Gordon as the starters. Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antonio Brown was a huge draft pick, along with Indianapolis Colts' T.Y. Hilton. The Executions had Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans benched due to him being injured. Buccaneers RB Doug Martin was the flex player, whom helped the RB position. Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey and Philadelphia Eagles defense served as the starters.
After the heartbreak loss from week 1, the team got back on track with a nice 11 point win to become 1-1-0. For week 2, the Executions (even though they almost won) benched RB Ellington for Cincinnati Bengals Giovani Bernard, which was a great move. Ellington had 0 points for that week, while Bernard had 16.
Week 3 saw another win for the Executions and the team picked up Denver Broncos defense off waivers to backup the Eagles.
Week 4 saw the Executions lose their 2nd game of the season by a huge 48 point loss and a return of Evans to the lineup as a starter. Hilton was booted down to flex player and Martin was benched, which probably wasn't a good move. He scored 28 points that week, still not enough to win. The team picked up K Robbie Gould from the Chicago Bears to backup K Dan Bailey.
Heading into week 6 the team had lost 2 in a row. The only change was the Broncos defense became the starter. A week 6 loss made it 3 straight losses. The team lost by 3 points 94-97.
Heading into week 7 there were some changes to the lineup (to say the least) both Denver and Cincinnati had bye weeks, thus Bernard and Broncos defense were benched. Ellington and Martin became the starters at RB while Gordon was benched. Arizona Cardinals WR Doug Brown was picked up off waivers and became the starter. The biggest change? QB Tom Brady became the starter. These changes helped the Executions become 3-4-0.
It seems as though last years champions can't stay on course.
The Highland LavaRockets (4-4-0) are currently at .500 and have had a back and forth season thus far. They'll win a game, lose a game, win a game, and lose a game. At 4-4-0, they're far away from making the playoffs.
Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning was the starter, as Jacksonville Jaguars QB Blake Bortles was benched. Looking back, I should've started Bortles instead of Manning. I know, sounds odd typing that. San Diego Chargers RB Danny Woodhead and Pittsburgh Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams were the starters. Williams was in for an injured Le'Von Bell. The WR position was a very weak one. San Francisco 49'rs Torrey Smith and New England Patriots Danny Amendola were the starters. Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald was at the flex position. San Diego's TE Antonio Gates was suspended for the first 4 games of the season, thus Philadelphia Eagles Eric Ertz was the starter. Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri started over Seattle Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka and Houston Texans defense started over Denver Broncos defense. Looking back, I wish I would've started Bortles, Vinatieri, and Broncos defense.
Week 1 got off on the wrong note as the LavaRockets lost by 31 points to become 0-1-0.
No big changes were made heading into week 2, but Amendola was benched for Tennessee Titans WR Kendall Wright and Hauschka became the starter. With a 121-69 point victory, the LavaRockets made it to .500 with a 1-1-0 record.
Week 3 saw the LavaRockets fall back, losing by 20 points to become 1-2-0. By week 3 the Texans defense was doing horrible. At the beginning of the season, the Texans were suppose to have a good defense, thus far they haven't. Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart was picked off waivers and benched.
Week 4 the LavaRockets jumped back to .500 with a 2-2-0 record and escaping with a 5 point win. Stewart got the start in the flex position adding 5 points and Cincinnati Bengals WR Marvin Jones was grabbed off waivers and benched, while Broncos defense started and added 10 points compared to the Texans -2 points.
Week 5 saw the LavaRockets skip away with a 67-64 win to make it two wins in a row.
With a week 6 loss and Gates returning to the lineup (he returned for week 5, but I had him benched), more changes needed to be made. Manning was benched for Bortles and the LavaRockets came out of week 7 with a 68-64 win to become 4-3-0.
Week 8 saw the team lose by a hair, 65-68. New Orleans Saints TE Benjamin Watson was picked up, but benched.
If the LavaRockets would've won their close games, they would easily be 6-2-0 instead of 4-4-0. The team hasn't made the playoffs since 2012, but if they continue their winning ways, they have a strong chance to do so in 6 weeks.
