Week 17 finds some things clearing up in the standings. Assuming the Black Assassins cannot make up a 200+ point differential on the Dream Team, the Dream Team will be the 2025 SWFFL champions. Second place will go to the Assassins or Good Fellas depending on what happens in week 18. An Assassin win or Good Fellas loss will keep the Assassins in 2nd place in the Final Standings. The Black & Blue Attack can lock up the last money spot with a “W”. They can also keep it with a loss as long as none of the teams chasing them can catch them in points. Also, for all the SWFFL teams remember that this week is the “Golden” helmet consolation prize. So, the EAGLES barely won and the Dream Team had a successful but nerve-wracking Monday night in more ways than one. So given that and the first sentence above, I think the notes will be extremely pleasant today.

  The old web (http://swffl.50megs.com) has updated archives and historical records. I will also add some web-exclusive. Send any ideas to me and I will see what I can do.

Key Match-ups to watch this Week

   The Black & Blue Attack will try to lock up that last money spot by avenging their early season loss to the Croatans. The Roxborough Wranglers will try to sweep the Shop and with a little help elsewhere, sneak back into the money. The Black Assassins will try to lock up 2nd place with a season sweep of the Jelly Beans. In a family affair that could have had some serious championship ramifications, the Dream Team will try to complete the season sweep of the Good Fellas as round 3 of the SWFFL faux playoffs (the faux Super Bowl) has lost most of its shine. The Money Takers hope to get that last money spot with a sweep of the Fightin’ Irish and a little help form some other teams.

   Norm was 4 of 5 last week, making him 36 of 75 (48%) for the year. He regains top billing (but has lost the season long contest). Spock was 3 of 5 last week, making him 45 of 75 (60%) for the year. His locks are below:

 C  -1 BB (RW)     DT -4 GF (266)
JB  -7 BS (251)     MT -9 FI (255)
BA -17 JB (255)

   Only one game was decided prior to Monday night, the other 4 had some Monday night madness (actually a lot of them did).

   The Money Takers had already locked up the victory against the Jelly Beans and they still Nacua in their back pocket on Monday night. The Takers were led by Reichard, as they avenged their early season loss to the Beans. The Beans failed to field a 20-point starter and fell well short of triple digits, and there was not a whole lot of help left on the bench either.

   The Fightin’ Irish and Stafford easily overcame a 12.3-point deficit to the Black & Blue Attack on Monday night. The Irish avenged their early season loss to the Attack and played spoiler by keeping that last money spot open week 18, The Irish were led by Stafford, King Henry and Diggs. The Attack was led the Bengal Trio (Burrow, Brown and Chase) in the loss. The Attack could have locked up that last money spot with a Maye, Addison or Godwin start.

   The Croatans and a 30.3-ppoint lead had to feel comfortable against the Roxborough Wranglers and Bijan on Monday night. That comfort level disappeared after the 93-yard TD run by Bijan that gave the Wranglers the “W”, some vengeance for their early season loss, their second helmet of the year and made Bijan the weekly MVP. Bijan had some help from Dak as they kept their Money hopes alive. The Croatans were led by Purdy in the loss that made their path to the Money a lot narrower. A Higgins (not Tee) or Robinson would have made the path to money a lot clearer and more probable.

   The Black Assassins and the Good Fellas met up in the 2nd round of the SWFFL faux playoffs. The Assassins, London and a 26.5-point lead held off the Fellas and Gonzales on Monday night (just barely). If Gonzales added one more 50+ yard FG to his Monday night performance that SWFFL Super Bowl may have been on tap for Week 18. The Assassins climbed into 2nd place and completed the season sweep of the Fellas due largely to the efforts of Williams, Swift and McBride. The Fellas were led by Allen and Gonzales in the loss. The Fellas best lineup would have kept their trophy hopes alive..

  The "Game of the Week" honors go to the contest between the Dream Team and the defending Champion Body Shop. The Dream Team, Williams and the RAMS overcame a 6.8-point lead by the Shop and Pitts on Monday night. To be honest after the first half it did not look good but a key injury to William’s backup (Corom) up and a blocked FG for a TD put the Dream Team on the road to victory. That blocked FG also helped keep the Fellas form winning as well – so as I said – a successful but very nerve-wracking Monday night. In the end, the Dream Team was led to victory by Run CMC as they locked up the title and swept the Body Shop (if you want to be the Champ you have to beat the Champ – not always true but definitely fits this week). The Shop was led by Lawrence, Olave and Aubrey (thankfully – he did not keep me from clinching as that would have been some serious Fantasy God’s revenge). A Gadsen and Dobbs start would have led to an interesting week 18 in the SWFFL.

CHATTERBOX:(Get Quotes in by Monday Night)
Dream Team (Norm): Suspiciously Absent

BEST & WORST OF WEEK 17

MVP: Bijan Robinson (48,9) Roxb. Wranglers       Best on Bench: Drake Maye (40.7) Black & Blue      Low Scorers: Jelly Beans (81.6)    Coaching Efficiency: High: Jelly Beans (92%) Low: Black & Blue (70%)

Top Rostered Players By Position (Rostered Players Only)
QB – Allen(425.7),Stafford(422.0),Maye(415.7),Prescott(392.4)
RB – McCaffrey(396.9),Robinson(392.5),Taylor(380.4),Gibbs(375.6)
WR – Nacua(364.0),S-Njigba(363.6),Pickens(302.0),St.Brown(299.1)
TE – McBride(302.4),Pitts(199.0),Kelce(192.0),Ferguson(190.6)
PK – Aubrey(253),Myers(244),Reichard(211),Dicker,McLaughlin(205)
ST – SEAHAWKS(151),TEXANS(129),STEELERS(123),EAGLES(111)

IR: BB-Jones, Dobbins; RW-Hunter; JB-Ertz; BS-Benson