"Asdvadz Mer hede"! DId Pope help Vosgereechee Gyank win AFFL Draft Lottery?

Pope Francis rocking Vosgee logo to "Gyank Nation" fans outside the Vatican

After suffering through a difficult 2015 season, Vosgee Gyank owner Mardig Kasbarian final finished first in something, the 2016 AFFL Draft Lottery. With a total of seven lottery balls in the hopper, and the best odds in the group, Vosgee edged out Prime Time and Magnum Sev.i and will select first in this years AFFL Draft.

"It feels great to win," said an enthusiastic Kasbarian. "We're going to take things up a notch this year. Maybe two notches. We'll see. I have to clear that with the wife, but we'll see.

Taking it up a notch or two would be welcomed, as Gyank Nation and its fans have yet to reap any fruits of their years of dedication, having made the playoffs only once in the past eight years.  It is the longest current playoff drought in the league, one that eats away at Kasbarian every year.  Will 2016 be the season when he finally gets the "mamoon" off his back? With the amount of support Vosgee is receiving from big time players, it very well could be.

Mardig unveils "Flamingo Gyank," his new good luck shirt.

Pope Francis was seen holding up a Vosgee Gyank logo to a crowd of supporters outside the Vatican earlier this week. Rumors had been swirling for months that the Pope was a secret AFFL follower and now we have the proof.. A long time fan of the Gyank, the Pope has given "his blessing" to every one he drafts, his two potential keepers of Allen Robinson and CJ Anderson, and said, "May all the fantasy luck be in the Vosgee hoooouse."

Kasbarian himself has also put forth a concerted effort to change the tide of years past, unleashing a new lucky "flamingo shirt" to wear on Sundays. He claims that the shirt actually helped him win the lottery and he has embodied the spirit of a flamingo to draft the right players. Why you may ask? Well let Kasbarian explain.

"Flamingos are not endangered; they are classified as 'least concern,' did you know that? They also steal nests that are already built, bro. That's what Gyank is all about. I'm the least of any managers concern, but I'm gonna snatch a title right out from under the league."

Will this flamingo fly, or will he be another ornament that gets set out on the AFFL lawn? With the first pick in the draft this year, the blessings of the Pope, and the power of the Flamingo, Vosgee is set for his most successful season yet... that is until he isn't.

Here is the complete AFFL Draft order that will take place Aug. 25th along with the Draft Video below.

1. Vosgee Gyank (Mardig)
2. Prime Time (Ara)
3. Magnum Sev.i (Sevag and Danny)
4. BDiddy (Baret, Mike P, Tiggy)
5. Hangin' & Bangin' (Dre and Avo)
6. HBK Shant Michaels (Shant A)
7. Cobra Kai (Sayyad)
8. Atomic Bomba (Raffi)
9. Jaj Cousteau (Chris)
10. Awesomeness VII (David)
11. Grabbers United (Sassoon)
12. Hartan (Harout & Vartan)

No More Asterisk: Hartan wins 2015 AFFL Title!

After talking more trash than Waste Management all season long, team Hartan backed it up by winning their first 12 team AFFL title, defeating Grabbers in the final by a score of 131.70-112.48. In so doing, they become the third franchise to have two titles to their name, joining Atomic Bomba and Awesomeness. They are the first Co-managed Champion of the modern AFFL era. It was a title that was much needed, as the first championship of the squad was during the 10 team year of the AFFL. Everyone refused to recognize that championship as legitimate and called team Hartan a pretend champion for years. They can do so no longer, as the 2015 title legitimizes the team and puts them in AFFL lore.

Grabbers reached the finals for the second time in four seasons, and shouldn't hang their head. The ultra competitive league doesn't have much wiggle room for error, and Grabbers managed the season flawlessly. In so doing, they have elevated their status among all teams, and are creeping closer to becoming one of the elite franchises in the league.

In honor of our champs, and in true AFFL fashion, we present to you the Champions Slideshow commemorating the teams victory. Congratulations to Hartan. 2015 AFFL Champs.

2015 AFFL Yearly Awards

Alas, all things must come to an end, and sadly, the 2015 AFFL season will draw to a close this weekend. There shall be one champion come the conclusion of week 16, but since this is Christmas, more awards need to be given out. Presenting the 2015 AFFL awards as voted on by the esteemed panel of 7 AFFL judges who shall remain anonymous. These awards have been sponsored and include a wide range of prestigious categories. While not everyone will win an award, the ones that do can take pride in knowing that event though their season may have fallen apart they did something right along the way. Keep your chins up lads, there is always next year.

Below is the list of recipients of the awards, the final vote among AFFL judges, and the rationale submitted by the judging panel. Congratulations to the winners.

Soul-Glo's Best Pick of the Draft Award

Winner: Atomic Bomba - Devonta Freeman (9th round)

Runner-up: Hartan - Todd Gurley (4th round)

Judges: 6-1 in favor of Bomba

This one was fairly easy to call, as the Bomba drafted the current #1 RB in fantasy in the 9th round. Todd Gurley was an exceptional pick by Hartan, as they risked a player off injury that high. Gurley currently is the 3rd highest RB in fantasy. Close to Freeman, but given the 5 round value, the edge goes to the Falcons running back and the Atomic Bomba

Schick's Close Shave Victory of the Year

Winner: Atomic Bomba

.52 victory over Vosgee Gyank week 13

Runner-up: Grabbers United

.9 victory over BDiddy week 6

Judges: 7-0 in favor of Bomba

With the season on the line, the Atomic Bomba needed 5 points from Dez Bryant in order to make the playoffs. He got those points over the last six minutes of the game, and won the playoff spot on the last two passes of the game to Dez Bryant.  Considering the implications of the match and how it ended, it doesn't get closer than that.  Grabbers is currently in the championship game, but their narrow victory would not have effected that. Had they lost, they still would have made the playoffs and with the point totals, advanced.

The Yankee Candle Co. Blow-out of the Year

Winner: Jaj Cousteau - 82 pts week 10

Runner-up: Hartan - 77 pts week 3

Judges: 7-0

When Jaj blows his wad, he really blows his wad. An 82 point victory over the Atomic Bomba in week 10 was the biggest margin of victory by a team this year. Hartan came close with a 77 point thumping of Prime Time in week 3. Nothing is worse than losing, only when you get absolutely destroyed. Kudos for Jaj for making it an ass-kicking.

Toyota Truck's Best Waiver Pick-up

Winner: Awesomeness - Jordan Reed

Runner-up: Jaj Cousteau - Javarious Allen

Judges: 4-3 in favor of Awesomeness

This was a close one. Both pick-ups were instrumental in the success of the the teams. Jaj did a masterful job picking up Allen just before Justin Forsett got hurt and got mass production from him for three weeks. However, the edge goes to Awesomeness as the pick of Reed occurred week 1 and Reed currently resides as the 5th best TE in fantasy. Oh, and he's been the top TE over the last month.

The Joe's Trade of the Year

Winner: Grabbers United - Gronkowski/Winston for Cam Newton/Greg Olsen

Runner-up: HBK Shant Michaels - Gore/Martin/Aiken/Jeffery/Peyton for Brees/Miller/Jordan Matthews/Barnidge/Andrews

Judges: 4-3 in favor of Grabbers

Another close call. HBK did a masterful job resurrecting his team from the depths of a horrible season. On the brink of a lost season at 1-5, Shant pulled off a masterful trade, getting players while at a "buy low" state. The team won six of seven games to finish the season after the move, and nearly made it into the postseason. If it weren't for Cam Newton's explosion at the end of the season, HBK would be the winner. However, Grabbers won the bye and is one win away from a title thanks to Newton. That trade could win them a title, thus deserves the award.

The Boomerang Co. Comeback Manager Award

Winner: Awesomeness

Runner-up: Atomic Bomba

Judges: 7-0 in favor of Awesomeness

Fairly easy one to call. Awesomeness has finished in last place the last two seasons. Once a proud champion of the AFFL, his return to relevance in 2015 was overdue. Finishing in 3rd is still in play, and would be a masterful turn around from the previous two seasons. Bomba's rebound from a 9th place finish isn't as great, and no other team can claim the kind of turn-around as from last year to this as Awesomeness.

The Kaiser Steel Co. Toughest S.O.B in the AFFL

Winner: Cobra Kai

Runner-up: HBK Shant Michaels

Judges: 5-2 in favor of Cobra Kai

Any week you played Cobra Kai was going to be a week of work because you know he was working on the other side. Waiver pick-ups, trades, sneaky roster moves, everything was in play when the Kai came up on the schedule. No other manager made more moves than the Cobra. He was a tough out most all weeks, and a team nobody wanted to play. HBK took to off during the second half of the season and was a team that nobody wanted to face either. However, the hardest, toughest manager this year was the Cobra. Nobody out worked him.

The E-Harmony Tandem Manager of the Year

Winner: Hartan (Root and Vartan)

Runner-up: BDiddy (Baret, Mikey, Tiggy)

Judges: 6-1

A separate category for Co-managed teams is new this year, as requested by Prime Time. Of the four co-managed teams in the league, no team was working in greater harmony than Hartan. Having finished in 4th place the past three seasons, the chemistry between the pair is apparent. All roster decisions and controversies did not effect the team greatly, as they catapulted to the top of the Dolma division. BDiddy and friends did a fine job salvaging a team that was left for dead mid-season. Nonetheless, the co-managed team that is better than the other co-managed teams is indeed Hartan.

The Kellogs Smack Talker of the Year

Winner: Hartan

Runner-up: Cobra Kai

Judges: 5-2

From WWF references to the bashing of the Mazoon division, Hartan not only one the Dolma division, they took the crown when it came to smack-talk too. Whats app messages were littered with meme's and images by the hands of team two-face all season long, so much so that the league is now rooting against them. That's the kind of smack talk that you love to see. Cobra kai nearly won the award with the epic pic of Ara topless at the most appropriate time. Alas, the volume of Hulk Hogan images was just to much to overcome.

The Mountain High Team of the Year

Winner: Grabbers United

Runner-up: HBK Shant Michaels

Judges: 6-1

This one doesn't have much debate with it. Grabbers seems like a team of destiny, and perhaps the most fun team in the AFFL to root for. They waddled around for a bit in the Mazoon division, narrowly holding on to a playoff spot most of the season thanks to a favorable schedule, only to turn it on the last three weeks. With Cam Newton exploding, Sammy Watkins coming and going then coming, and a bunch of no names at RB for most of the season, this team has something for everyone. HBK had that mojo going as well, but came up just a bit short.

The Mez Dolma Manager of the Year Award

Winner:  HBK Shant Michaels

Runner-up: Grabbers United

Judges: 4-3

Let the controversy begin. How could Grabbers manager Sassoon not get the award? It isn't that he isn't deserving. Grabbers has managed to make it to the finals with a roster that would have been selected as one of the leagues worst. However, Grabbers was helped by a favorable schedule, and did begin the year on a winning streak. HBK was 1-5 and on the brink of thinking about 2016. No team had ever made the playoffs after such a start, and after a few trades and waiver pick-ups, HBK came within a few points of doing so. Because every move had to be exactly right, and darn near was, HBK gets the nod as Mez Dolma Manager of the Year.

AFFL Finals Preview: Hartan v Grabbers United

There has been much smack talk this season from team Hartan. They have used Hulk Hogan meme's and lengthy what's app messages to thrash the "weak" Mazoon division and have become this years "team everyone loves to hate." This Sunday, they either back-up their season-long tsunami sized trash talk and walk-off into the sunset with a big middle finger to the league, or be forced to endure 12 managers pissing on their fantasy grave with joy. Yes, this game has build-up galore.

Grabbers and Hartan are the 1 and 2 seeds respectively, and there is no doubt that they deserve to play for the 2015 AFFL title. Both teams are division winners. Both managers made great trades to prepare for the playoffs. Both have put up a helluva lot of points in their respective semi-final games. These teams have remained near the top of the league for the majority of the year and will now square-off to determine who will be the new AFFL title holder and get their name engraved on the AFFL trophy.

Below is a break-down of both teams, their history, the storylines, and prediction on just how this final will go down. Even though Grabbers was predicted to win the title at the beginning of the playoffs, that doesn't mean the new prediction will follow suit. Let's get to it.

Eliminate the Asterisks

Hartan

Highest previous finish: AFFL Champion '07 (10 team league)

Last Four seasons: Finished 4th place. Never has finished top 3

Story trying to be told: Erase the asterisks associated with the 2007 title and become a champ in the current 12 team format. 

Over the past eight seasons, Hartan has managed to be a team of underachieving consistency. Every year team two-face is near the top of the standings, makes the playoffs, then manages to fall apart during the semi-final match. This year marked the fourth straight season that Hartan had made the semi-finals, and a loss to Jaj Cousteau in 2015 would have started the "they're jinxed" discussion. However, Hartan managed to break-through, with a huge day from Drew Brees, and reach the final for the first time since 2007. Kudos to them for a job well done.

Since 2007, Hartan has had a monkey on their back. They have failed to reach the finals since winning the title on the arm of Tom Brady. But that was when the AFFL was a 10 team league, and anytime the Hartan title ever comes up, an asterisks is placed next to it, marking the "easier" title from a downsized league. Because of this, they haven't been thrust into the elite of the AFFL. The three years of semi-final losses and multiple seasons finishing in 8th place gave them a persona of a team that was "a consistent loser," and a "non-threat."

The truth is that making the semi's four straight seasons is a feat that no other team has achieved. Is Hartan a dynasty? Without a title, no, but this year they have a chance to put a crown on the top of their recent success and make three fourth place finishes look like a winner. 

Road to the Final

Hartan's road to the final really began last season, when they elected to select Odell Beckham Jr. in the 16th round of the draft. Locked and loaded for 2015 with an 8th round keeper in ODBJ, Hartan began the season with a powerful WR duo in Aj Green and ODBJ, but the rest of the team was uninspiring. One of the criticisms of a Hartan draft is that they are too conservative in their draft strategy, and the beginning of 2015 was evidence of this. However, they are excellent when it comes to the waiver wire and trades, and picking up Dion Lewis helped alleviate the fantasy dud that would be Andre Ellington. This move was a crucial part of the team starting the year 4-0 and taking the lead in the race for the Dolma Division. As the leader, Hartan deemed themselves the Hulk-Hogan of the AFFL, and proceeded to torment managers with Hulk Hogan Meme's to accentuate their dominance over all. It got annoying quickly, but they've been going strong with it all year. 

While Dion Lewis was a brilliant play, it was also offset by the blunder of dropping Cam Newton. Had Hartan held onto the current MVP of the NFL they would no doubt be the overwhelming favorite to take the crown. Dropping Cam also led to a week 5 loss to the Atomic Bomba and a relinquishing of the Dolma division lead. It was evident that Hartan and Bomba would be battling it out for the Division crown.

Entering week six with a 4-1 record and byes about to hit, Hartan could have gone either way. A loss to the Bomba could have derailed the team and ruined their morale. "Same old AFFL story," pundits began to say, "Bomba gonna take charge now and win this thing." However, Hartan hunkered down and knew that a week 11 rematch with the Atomic one was a chance to reclaim the Dolma throne. Nothing had been lost, and there was everything to gain.

They responded to the loss by winning four of their next five, including a blow-out victory against Vosgee gyank where they put up over 169 points. The offensive explosion was a showcase of just how high a ceiling this team had, and gave the league notice that this team was for real. But just when things hit a high note, disaster struck. Dion Lewis went down with a torn acl, leaving the Hartan veil thin at the RB position. The loss of Lewis lead to their lowest output of the season to that point, albeit in a win against Grabbers, and things began to look shaky again. Would this be the final blow to Hartan?  The Atomic Bomba match-up was coming around the corner and the roster looked depleted. The future of Hartan looked eerily similar to its past: winless.

By now,  Hulk Hogan meme's were being posted double time, but the production on the roster wasn't reflecting that sort of dominance. Enter, HBK. Just before the trade deadline, Hartan managed to plan for the future despite the present looking grim. Gambling that they would get the bye in the playoffs, they traded for Drew Brees and Stefon Diggs giving away Phillip Rivers and AJ Green. It was a bold move at the time, as the Bomba match-up loomed around the corner, but a move that proved to pay-off big time later on.

Hartan would lose to Bomba week 11 and to Hangin' week 12, but managed to hold onto the Dolma division crown by beating Awesomeness week 13. It was their first Division Title in their history, and meant that they would get a pass directly into the semi-final game where they could possibly play against the Bomba a third time. Instead, they faced the current champion Jaj Cousteau. (dum, dum, DUM!)

 

Semi-final game

Jaj Cousteau is a team nobody likes to play. Truly a wild card in any match, the Jajman had a team that was fairing well thanks to Blake Bortles and Allen Hurns. The two erupted week 14 to take out the Bomba, and had a positive match-up once again in week 14. Add to that Antonio Brown and his consistent point production, and Jaj Cousteau was a team that was deadly.

But the match-up couldn't have gone better for Hartan. Despite Antonio Brown doing everything humanly possible to keep Cousteau in the match, nearly all the major players on the Cousteau line-up put up a dud. Javrious Allen was benched after a fumble and finished with -.2. The Carolina defense fell apart late against the NYG and finished with negative points. The match-up was over midway through Sunday, when ODBJ caught a TD against the invincible Josh Norman, and put Hartan up for good. All that was left was a three hundred yard, three TD performance from Drew Brees on MNF to seal the deal. The ticket to the finals was stamped. Hartan had done it. He was in.

Now the question remains, can they win it? It has been a road of ups and downs and injuries for team two-face. They have managed to avoid the pitfalls and gotten lucky at the right times. Heading into the final has them on the doorstep of greatness, but there is another team that has something to say about how the Hartan story will end. Enter the Grabbers.

Rocky Balboa is Back

Grabbers United.

Highest previous finish: 2nd place. Lost in finals 2012

Last Four seasons: Only 2 playoff appearances.

Story trying to be told: To win the title and cap an incredible rise from being on the bottom of the AFFL for years.

Grabbers United's history is riddled with years of disappointment and let down, with a few bright spots in between. They haven't enjoyed playoff success many times over the years, making the post-season only twice over their 9 year career. However, despite the lowly beginning, Grabbers has been one of the fastest risers in the league, after their first playoff and finals appearance in 2012. A return to the playoffs happened in 2014, with a fifth place finish, and now Grabbers finds himself in the finals again. In so doing, he becomes only the fourth franchise to make the finals twice in the current twelve team format (Bomba, Prime Time, Awesomeness are the others). Its a feat that is a testament to the great managerial job Grabbers has done over the last three seasons. His knowledge and instincts have grown leaps and bounds, and this young Jedi has become a kin to the AFFL force and has used it in 2015 at will.

With three trips to the playoffs in four seasons, and two finals appearances, Grabbers has elevated his teams status closer to elite status. The one thing that will get you that status is a title, and Grabbers is salivating at the chance of doing so. The story that he is writing is one of redemption. Having lost a chance at such an honor for years, Grabbers can now lay to rest the years of disappointment and write a new chapter for the future. He could become the sixth unique team to win an AFFL title, and become the newest manager to have his name etched into the AFFL trophy. It would be the AFFL's version of Rocky, a team that was in the dumps, that climbed the mountain against all odds. Needless to say, he has a lot of support around the league.

Road to the Finals

Grabbers has three children. The highest number of kids of any AFFL managers household. It is no doubt that those kids played into his AFFL karma over the past three years. This season was one that saw a Grabbers roster seemingly void of talent, win week after week. It baffled experts and infuriated managers. However, like a microcosm of his own history, Grabbers would transform into an AFFL butterfly late into the season to legitimize his chances for a finals birth.

2015 began swimmingly for the Grabbers, as the team started off winning three of their first four games. Their point totals were erratic, and hardly ones that gave anyone the sense that they were a serious contender in the title race. With two outings of 78 and 60 total points, it was clear to most that Grabbers would be an up and down team without much pop from the roster. A nine win season wasn't going to happen without some changes, so things were a bit of a mystery for the franchise.

Sass is Boss

This couldn't have been more evident than the week 6 match-up against BDiddy. Grabbers escaped with a narrow 119.68-118.78 victory. It was indeed a lucky win, and prompted Grabbers to claim that despite his 5-2 record, he is "the worst team in the league." Frequently pandering for a lower place in the weekly power ranks, Grabbers tried all that he could to turn the jinx tide in his favor and harness some AFFL karma. It worked, as he won the next two games in a row, all while scoring 105 and 93 points in consecutive weeks. It became quite clear that the schedule Grabbers had was helping him immensely, and that the AFFL karma was on his side from the beginning.

Still, Grabbers wasn't in any position to make the playoffs, nor was he even a favorite to take the division title. Cobra Kai and a fast rising Awesomeness, not to mention a stubborn Jaj Cousteau were all hovering around the top of the division and looked to be the more likely candidates to make it to the top of the division race. Something had to be done in order to quell Grabbers lack luster point production. The team had pulled off waiver wire pick-ups and managed supremely to this point, consistently starting players that were the correct calls, but how long could that go on.

Then disaster struck as Andrew Luck was lost for what would be the season. Grabbers was now faced with a line-up that had only one stud on it, Gronkowksi, and he was injured as well. If the finals were to come, they certainly weren't going to come with the current roster. Grabbers then looked for a trade.

After stubbornly holding out on trades for most of the season (and demanding way to much during negotiations as well) Grabbers struck a deal with Cobra Kai: Gronk for Cam Newton and Greg Olsen. It was a superb move, as Gronk hadn't been spectacular all season, and Cam had just began to tear things up. With the trade, Grabbers now had a legit QB and lost very little at the TE position. With the return of Sammy Watkins to relevance and the emergence of Darren McFadden, the team was putting up their highest totals of the year by seasons end.

Grabbers finished the season winning three straight, and posting 153 and 146 point totals the final two weeks of the season to capture the Mazoon division crown. Their high point production was a direct result of the trade for Cam Newton, and it has continued right through the playoffs.

Semi-final Game

Grabbers had a pass to the Semi-finals, where an old champion had resurrected from obscurity. Awesomeness found himself in the semi's for the first time in 5 seasons, and was one of the hottest teams in the AFFL. Grabbers had his work cut out for him, as the match-up did not exactly favor the Mazoon division champ.

It became quite clear early on in the match that this was going to be a high scoring affair. Grabbers had players go on Saturday evening, with Marshall, Dmac and the Jets defense giving him the early lead. None of those players did anything spectacular, however, they set a nice cushion for Grabbers to begin with.

Once Sunday hit, Awesomeness went to work, with Kamer Aiken and Jordan Reed exploding for huge days. With two players, Awesomeness cut heavily into the lead, and this became a race to 150 points. Soon, the KC defense would join in, with a pick six, putting Awesomeness in striking range of Grabbers. Down only 20 points, with three players left, Awesomeness took the advantage over Grabbers late into the early games.

Grabbers however found his answer once again in the same players that carried him to this point. Sammy Watkins showed up for a huge TD to stretch the lead some, and Cam Newton caught fire, throwing 5 touchdown passes against the NYG. The 160 point total was enough to hold off the 130 points put up by Awesomeness. Had Awesomeness played Desean Jackson and Danny Woodhead, they would have reached the final, but it was not to be. This was the year of the Grabbers, a team that had managed to a 'T' and had pulled off successful move after successful move.

Now the question remains, who wins the final?

Finals Breakdown

Both these squads have stud Quarterbacks, solid Wide Receivers, and good running backs. They are complete teams, that haven't too many holes. However, both will be relying on plug-in players for different reasons. This will dramatically effect the outcome of the match. Whichever team gets the most out of their plug-in guys will without a doubt be crowned champion.

Injuries for both teams will directly impact this game as well. While Grabbers comes into the match-up relatively healthy, Hartan has a few key players that are either out or questionable to play. The top of this list begins with Drew Brees. Brees has been on fire of late, and with Cam Newton on the other side of the match-up, Hartan will need a big outing from the QBposition. They managed to pick up Kirk Cousins in case Brees can't go, but relying on Cousins isn't ideal.

The suspension of ODBJ will also be a huge loss for Hartan, as the match-up was a positive one. Jeremy Maclin, Diggs, and Tyler Lockett are serviceable, but don't offer the upside that ODBJ did. We will safely say that without ODBJ, the Hartan WR core does take a hit.

One injury working in Hartan's favor is the one to Lesean McCoy. Having picked up Karlos Williams off the wire, the team now has a viable option to play in the flex should McCoy be ruled out. It is a crafty move by Hartan and one that could swing the match-up in their favor.

Here is the ultimate positional breakdown between the two teams and their history amongst one another. Our prediction follows.

Hartan vs Grabbers United

• Grabbers United: 108 ppw
• Hartan: 116 ppw

Hartan leads series 6-4 head-to-head

Grabbers 1-0 vs Hartan in playoffs.

Positional breakdown

QB Position

Drew Brees vs Jac/Kirk Cousins vs Phi vs Cam Newton vs Atl

The Qb match-up is as close to even as possible, barring Drew Brees playing. Both starters have the potential to go for 40 points, and it wouldn't be surprising if that happened. Cam Newton had 29 points two weeks ago vs. Atlanta, so he can be projected for a similar output. Brees plays a horrific Jags secondary, as does Cousins in Phi. Either should be a shoe-in for a similar outing as Cam. The only twist is the lack of a running game for Cam and the injury of Brees. Drew could be scaled back as far as pass attempts if he plays, while Cam will pick up some more yards on the ground.

Advantage: Grabbers

WR Position

Maclin, Lockett, Diggs Vs Marshall, Watkins, Randle

It was a terrible time for Hartan to lose ODBJ to a one game suspension. Not having the stud receiver in the line-up will force Hartan to rely on WR2/3 types with upside. The match-ups for these receivers play to their favor, but they will have their work cut out for them battling Marshall and Watkins. Both have been solid and offer more upside than the other three. Grabbers also has Ruben Randle, and can piggy back off the ODBJ for some points. Ultimately, this match-up is going to be won or lost by the hands of Sammy Watkins and Marshall. If both produce at the level they have been, this will be another gain for Grabbers.

Advantage: Grabbers

RB Position

Todd Gurley, James White, Karlos Williams, Ryan Matthews vs Darren McFadden, Denard Robinson, Duke Johnson

While Hartan doesn't have the upside at the WR, they do at the RB position. Both Gurley and White have been solid in recent weeks, but the key player of the group is Karlos Williams. Should he get the start, he has RB1 upside and could eat into Dmac's and Denard Robinsons total. Darren McFadden doesn't have a great match-up, but Denard does, against the second worst rush defense in the league. If Yeldon sits again, Denard should produce close to RB1 value as well. Still, with Gurley as the best player on the board, the edge goes to Hartan.

Advantage: Hartan

TE Position

Delanie Walker vs Greg Olsen

Delanie Walker is a good player on a bad team, but he gets a lions share of the targets weekly. He can take a short pass to the house at any moment as evidence of his week 15 outing. On the flip side, Greg Olsen is a mean machine. No other TE has produced like Gronk in the league, and Olsen is a weekly threat for 20+ points. With Cam Newton on fire, and the Falcons being a far better match-up for a TE than Houston, we have to lean slightly to Olsen here.

Advantage: Grabbers

Defense/Special Teams

Boswell, Minn Def vs Gano, Oak Def

Stephen Gostkowski is the only kicker that has been better for fantasy than Gano. While Boswell has been solid of late, the Carolina offense is a gift that keeps on giving. The kicker/Qb strategy is paying off big time for Sass, and should continue this week. On the defensive front, Hartan will look to take advantage of a Giants team missing their best player and start the Vikings. Oakland, while in a good match-up, isn't a great defense and could be in for a huge let down.

Advantage: Push

Final Verdict

In a year where close calls were the norm and line-ups fell apart and then came back to life, the AFFL crown will go to a team that has endured the most. Hartan is currently enduring the loss of players to the final minute, and Grabbers has managed that all season as well with the loss of Luck. There is something to be said about the AFFL Karma, it always gravitates towards teams that have had it the hardest and have survived. No team has had it harder. Losing Luck, putting up an anemic 1400 points. Three kids to manage at home. Grabbers is poised to be this years AFFL champion. Its been written in the fantasy book of the gods and shall soon be etched on an AFFL trophy. Mery Xmas Grabbers. Your Ass is the winner.

Winner: Grabbers United (144.13-121.22)

AFFL Mega Playoff Preview '15

After thirteen long weeks of battle, the fantasy football gods have chosen the six teams that will duke it out for the 2015 AFFL crown: Hartan, Grabbers United, Awesomeness, Jaj Cousteau, Cobra Kai, and Atomic Bomba. Are these the six best teams in the AFFL? Many argue that HBK Shant Michaels and perhaps even BDiddy deserve to be in the playoffs as they finished the year white hot. HBK managed to trade his way back from a 1-5 start to narrowly missing out on the sixth seed. It just wasn't meant to be. That being said, these six teams were for the most part consistently in the top half of the standings for the majority of the year and are worthy of their playoff position. There are plenty of story lines to get excited about. Lets lay those out first.

Jaj Cousteau goes for Back-to-Back Titles

It has been done twice before, the last time by the Atomic Bomba ('11,'12), but Jaj Cousteau can become the third back-to-back champion of the AFFL. The Jajman has done an excellent job managing his team once again, finishing the year with an 8-5 record and 4th overall seed. Where others zig, he zags, and his reliance on non-sexy names has paid off huge, as Blake Bortles, Allen Hurns, and others have helped keep the team afloat after the loss of Jamaal Charles. However, of the former back-to-back title winners, only one team, Atomic Bomba ('12), has won the title being anything less than a 2 seed. Jaj will have to go through a dangerous Bomba squad and the top seed Hartan in order to get to the final. The road is not easy, and with tough match-ups to certain key players, the going could get rough. Will Jaj climax twice two years in a row? Answer is cumming. 

The Return of Two Lalazarian Managed Teams in the Playoffs. 

From 2008 to 2012, a Lalazarian managed team won the AFFL title. It is remarkable to believe that for five straight years this fact held true. Now, for the first time since 2009, the Atomic Bomba and Awesomeness have both made the post-season and have a chance to meet in the final once again. Should that happen, it would put both franchises in a unique place, as having been the only two teams to meet in the final three times. With six titles between the two of them, there is no question that these two are among the favorites to end up with their name etched into the AFFL trophy. Awesomeness has been steadily climbing the power ranks for the past several weeks, and has a formidable team that is centered around AP, Hopkins and Rodgers. The Atomic Bomba hasn't been as fortunate, as he has dropped two of his last three games and saw the play of Dez Bryant and Randall Cobb completely fall off. However, the Bomba karma is still strong, as evidence of his Monday night Miracle to get a must-have week 13 win. Both these squads have a ton of experience and could peak at the right time to reclaim the AFFL crown as their own.

Grabbers Looks to Beat Entire Field of Champions to claim his first Title.

Yes, the postseason is loaded with the cream-of-the-crop of the AFFL when it comes to championships. Five of the six teams represent the entire list of AFFL champions since the leagues inception: Atomic Bomba ('06,'08,'11,'12), Awesomeness ('09,'10), Hartan ('07), Cobra Kai ('13), Jaj Cousteau ('14). The exception is of course Grabbers United, who will no doubt be a fan favorite to upset the field of title winners to capture his first AFFL crown. And he's got a good a shot as any. Already in the semi-finals with a bye, Grabbers needs only one victory to reach the championship. The last time the team was this far along in the playoffs was 2012, where they finished in 2nd place, losing to the Bomba in the title game. Grabbers has come a long way, and has manged exceptionally well. The team may not be the most explosive, but with Cam and Olsen producing at a high level (and with a favorable schedule) the team has a great shot of outlasting a field of AFFL Champions to claim one of his own. What a story that would be.

Hartan Trying to Erase "10 team Title Astrisk" from Record

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They have made the playoffs four years straight, finishing fourth three times and sixth last year. They are one of the more consistent franchises in the AFFL, and yes they have an AFFL title. So how come Hartan isn't regarded as elite? One factor working against them is that the title they won was the one season the AFFL was a ten team league. Many pundits put an astrisk next to this title because it was before the 12-team format that the AFFL now functions under. Since the change in '08, Hartan has never placed in the top 3, leaving many to label the 2007 title a fluke. After losing in the semifinals from 2011-2013, Hartan desperately needs to make it to the Championship game and get over the hump. They have never been the number one overall seed, and should they fail to win in their semi-final match-up, all the heavy smack talk that they have laid on the league will come back on 'em ten fold. Hows that for pressure brotha'?

The Answer to the Cobra Kai Philosophy "Never Say Die to a Trade."

After a season long trading excursion by Cobra Kai, the team has put together a roster that is theoretically built for the playoffs. Accumulating players with favorable week 14-16 schedules, the Kai opted to emphasize match-up based planning in order to go after his second title. Now we will finally get the answer to whether this strategy paid off or not. Could the loss of Gronkowski be the sign of a collapse set to come? Did he make one trade too many? Will the heavy investment in the Steelers offense comeback to bite him? It will be fascinating to watch team Cobra go into the week 14 battle with Awesomeness knowing that three starters will be affected by one game. Ultimately, the league will be waiting anxiously to find out if the match-up based philosophy paid off, or if Kai outsmarted himself taking three steps too many.

These story-lines make for an intriguing playoffs, but they don't do anything in telling us who is most primed to breakout as the top team in 2015. To determine that, we have to look at the cold, hard facts of which team is peaking at the right time, which team is deep enough, and most importantly, which team has the most luck to carry them through. After all, this is survival of the luckiest, and the team with the most four-leaf clovers up their rear will be crowned champion in late December. So lets get to it.

How high is that Ceiling?

To win the AFFL title, you'll need to put up a plethora of points. The days of eeking out victories by barely clearing a 100 points are gone. Scores are on average at a higher clip these days than they were in years before. It use to be said that a 130 point total was a great day. Now, 140s are norms. With the point-a-palooza going around the AFFL like whooping cough, this years crop of six teams will need to make like Rappin' Fortay and "Tear the roof off the Motha" if they wish to remain a playa in the "Players Club." Long live 90's rap.

Of the six teams in the post-season, five have posted highs of 150 points or more at least once this year. If a team were to put up that amount in the playoffs, it would most certainly garnish them a win.

On the flip-side, a low total in any playoff game would be catastrophic. While there were many weeks where teams had a host of players on bye or injured, we still must consider just how low a team went during the year to see what their floor is. A week with a low point total isn't detrimental. Multiple low weeks is. Furthermore, it's important to see when these low weeks occurred. An 85 point week during the third week of the season is not nearly as bad as one week 12.

Below is a chart highlighting the highs and lows of all the playoff teams during the year, taking into consideration the weeks that those highs and low occurred as well.

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There are two things that jump out right away. The first, Awesomeness had a hell-of-a-week scoring 188 points. Two, Grabbers has failed to score 100 points five times and has a bye. Sometimes life isn't fair.

As far as high ceilings go, nobody seems to be higher than Awesomeness, who topped off at 188, but has five other weeks of 135+, three of which were in the second half of the season.  If AP, Rodgers, and Hopkins can manage to get on the same page, this team will be difficult to stop.

Hartan managed the second highest total of the season, but has only been able to clear 135 points one other week. With four other weeks where the team failed to put up 100 points, this team could may not have the offensive explosion to compete a the treetops like the other teams. What is more concerning for Hartan is that three of the four low total weeks came weeks 10,11,12. This team isn't peaking at the right time.

The same could be said of Bomba. Sneaking into the playoffs by the luck of Dez bryant can't mask the painful truth that the squad has scored below a 100 points in three of the past five weeks. The loss of Edelman could be a major factor in this down swing and something the team wont be able to overcome.

Two teams that seem to be peaking at the right time are Cobra and Grabbers. Cobra has managed his highest point total during the last two weeks of the regular season and Grabbers finished out weeks 12 and 13 with monstrous outings. Every season its the team that is peaking at the end that runs the table, and both these squads have a lot of good things going for them.

Lastly, Jaj, the former Champ, sits square in the middle of the ranks. His 153 point high week isn't too shabby, and he only has two low weeks during the second half of the season. Cousteau has a history of being an outlier when it comes to any data so we mustn't hold the Jajman to any sort of standards. He's his own enigma and there is no figuring out exactly what any thing means when it comes to his fantasy performances. 

Conclusion

Cobra and Awesomeness look to be the two teams that have the best odds at putting up a huge amount of points, along with Grabbers for his late peak. Bomba, Hartan are lower on the spectrum and will need to make the right roster calls in order to maximize points. Jaj can go either way.

1. Awesomeness ++++
2. Cobra +++
3. Grabbers +++
4. Jaj Cousteau ++
5. Bomba +
6. Hartan +

Injury Impact

Nothing can impact a playoff race like injuries. With the NFL taking more precautions with concussions and blows to the head, any player could be out for the game at any moment, swinging the outcome of a match-up immediately. The healthiest teams in the fantasy post-season are the teams that have the most line-up choices, and thus, have better odds to win any given week.

Below is a chart of significant injuries to teams and their possible replacements.

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Here, we notice that Cobra Kai and Hartan are the hardest hit when it comes to injuries. It could be argued that the loss of Ingram is a very big blow to Hartan, as the he ha been a rock solid option all year long. Cobra will get Gronk back eventually, however, in what shape is up in the air. With Will Tye as the only replacemant for Gronk, Cobra will be at a loss of points should he sit a week. Hartan has capable replacements. Jaj will be getting Eiffert back this week. 

For the most part, most teams are healthy going into the post-season and won't be affective too severly. It must also be mentioned that some players have a potential of returning from long absences to help teams out, namely Edelman for Bomba, and Luck for Grabbers. 

Injuries only test a teams depth as teams go deeper into the playoffs. All teams seem deep enough to handle the losses of positional players for the most part. The one benefit of fantasy football this year, there are plenty of WRs to choose from. 

Conclusion

Cobra and Hartan could be the hardest hit by the injury bug. Others, not so much. 

1. Cobra Kai ++++
2. Hartan ++++
3. Jaj ++
4. Bomba
5. Grabbers
6. Awesomeness

So who is going to win this years AFFL title? Here is the case for every team followed by the final predictions for the playoffs.

Jaj Cousteau

Regular Season record: 8-5

Last three - 1-2

Why he'll win it all: Jaj Cousteau packs a big whallop at the WR position with Antonio Brown. Capable of single-handedly winning match-ups by himeself, Brown has a very favorable week 14 and 16 match-up, with one tough one against Denver. The Bortles and Hurns combo could also be a boon for the Jaj meister. Bortles is coming off back to back huge weeks, and faces a suspect Indy pass defense week 14, along with a very poor Falcons team week 15. Eiffert is a huge redzone threat for Dalton and has been a top TE all season long.  Any week that Eiffert and Brown go off will surely provide a win.

With a top notch defense in Carolina and the above core, Jaj has 150+ potential, making him one of the favorites in the playoffs. 

Why he won't win it all: With losses in two of the last three games, Jaj isn't peaking at the right time.   What was once a three headed monster at RB, has now turned into somewhat of an enigma. West is caught in a timeshare, Ivory is losing touches to Powell, and Allen has a ridicullously difficult playoff schedule. Without help from the supporting cast of players, Jaj may not have enough of a complete roster to deal with a team that is loaded at RB and WR. It seems that things break Jaj's way, but an injury to Brown, Eiffert or Bortles will surely put pressure on the RBs to produce, and they may not be able to. 

Prediction: Eliminated 1st Round by Bomba

Awesomeness

Regular Season record: 8-5

Last three: 2-1

Why he'll win it all: Simply put, the team is dangerous. Rodgers, Hopkins and AP are a formidable trio. Hopkins has been an animal on the field and has put up top 5 WR numbers. It is almost a given that he'll be producing on a weekly basis. Rodgers won't be denyed too many weeks, and the week 14 and 15 match-ups are favorable. The supporting cast isn't too shabby either. Gio Bernard is being utilized far more than others give credit. With Rodgers and Reed at TE, Awesomeness has a nice duo to choose from. Djax provides a solid, albeit inconsistent WR option, as does Snead. If they can stay healthy, there is no reason this team can't win 3 games. 

70+ points from Hopkins, AP and Rodgers is dueable, which mean so are the finals.

Why he won't win it all: Match-ups. The playoffs are a lot about match-ups, both for players on the roster and on the schedule. Awesomeness has the misfortune of getting both. Bad match-ups for Rodgers and AP during week 16 and 14 respectively will be difficult to overcome. Couple that with a first round match-up against Cobra and a redhot Grabbers team, and Awesomeness could be over his head when it comes to scoring enough points. 

Prediction: 1st round exit to Cobra Kai

Cobra Kai

Regular Season record: 7-6

Last three:  1-2

Why he'll win it all: Cobra has crafted his line-up like a chemist in a lab, carefully mixing the right players for the perfect roster. In the process of doing so, the team managed to have three Steelers in the starting roster. Normally, this can be a huge risk, but if a risk like this is to be taken, the Steelers is a great team to do it with. Big Ben has been on fire of late, and the offense as a whole will support plenty of play makers. Cobra has the most direct method of victory, and it hinges on the Steelers play. Should the Pittsburgh offense do what it normally does, this team will be very tough to beat. Oh, and we didn't even mention Calvin Johnson and Gronk. Those guys are great too.

4 studs on the roster gives this team a path to the playoff finale. 

Why he won't win it all: For the same reason he will, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fantasy is a cruel mistress, and when things are suppose to go a certain way, they often times don't. Pittsburgh plays Denver at home, in what could be a weather effected game. Couple that with an offense that will be facing the leagues top defense, and there could be a drought of points awaiting the Cobra Kai. Should he manage to get to that game, Grabbers will anxiously be waiting with his Panther stack in a very favorable match-up. It is difficult to see the Kai escaping that scenario.

Prediction: Semi-final loss to Grabbers. 

Hartan

Regular Season record: 9-4

Last three: 1-2

Why he'll win it all: With some questionable decisions to end the regular season, Hartan managed to sneak into the playoffs and straight to the semi-finals by earning the bye with a victory week 16. The roster has some great names on it, Brees, ODBJ, and Todd Gurly to name a few. The team hasn't errupted for a ton of points like others, but have enough upside to do so on any given week. With nice balance across the board and a Drew Brees schedule that just screams big outings, Hartan won't be left out of the race. Should Brees do what the team traded him for, and Gurly return to his early form, this team has enough in the key positions to win two games. 

Gurly, the world of victory rests on thee.

Why they won't win it all: Losing Mark Ingram is going to be difficult. Ingram was doing a ton in the Saints offense and was reliable for weekly output. Yes, Shaun Draughn looks to be capable of replacing Ingram, but he's not exactly of the same skill set. Couple that with a difficult week 15 match-up for ODBJ and Todd Gurly and this team may find the point total a bit on the light side. Nothing will hurt more than losing to either Bomba or Jaj in the semi's again. This team had high hopes for a title. Ingram's loss may ruin those hopes.

Prediction: Loss to Bomba in week 15

Atomic Bomba

Regular Season record: 8-5

Last three: 1-2

Why he'll win it all: Every year there is a team that just manages to squeek into the playoffs and runs the table. Last year was Jaj. This year, Bomba takes that title. The luck factor is high with the Bomba, having survived a week 13 war with HBK for the last playoff spot. But make no mistake about it, the Bomba has the roster to put up a fight each week. Palmer has been as steady as they come, and Freeman is a solid weekly RB. Mix in Amendola, John Brown showing up, and the possible return of Edelman, and there is a lot to like on the roster. Denver is also a defense that will give Bomba an advantage a the position during most the weeks. Should all things click for the Bomba, a 150+ outing isn't out of the norm. 

Deja Vu all over again? Bomba could be in the finals should Palmer and Freeman carry the roster.

Why he won't win it all: The one thing working against the Bomba is inconsitency. The team hasn't been lighting up the scoreboard the last few weeks, and really hasn't done much in the second half of the season. There really is no telling what this team will do. Furthermore, there is a bit of a concern with the RB position. Freeman has two match-ups with a tough Carolina run def, and Hillman and Murray don't seem like high upside Rb2s. There may not be enough pop at the RB spot to survive down weeks from Wrs.

Prediction: Loss to Grabbers in the finals. 

Grabbers United

Regular Season record: 9-4

Last three: 2-1

Why he'll win it all: This team has managed to earn the bye in the Mazoon division in some fashion not understood by many. They have lost players like Luck, seen Rbs rotate throught the year in the starting roster, and managed to win games when scoring 90 points. All these point to one ineviteable truth, Grabbers is a team of destiny. But not everything was simply luck. Grabbers did a superb job managing the roster and trading for the right players. The Cam/Greg Olsen tandum is deadly, and is set-up with a great schedule. McFadden should get enough work to be a solid Rb, and Watkins has been producing big of late. 

At the end of the day, we must ask ourselves, which team is most likely to overcome the ailments, injuries, bad match-ups, and overall chaos that could happen at any given week during the post-season? The answer has been Grabbers all year long. We don't see that changing during weeks 14-16

Prediction: Finishes week 16 with a Victory an captures AFFL Title

Round 1 - Bomba defeats Jaj, Cobra defeats Awesomeness

Round 2 - Bomba defeats Hartan, Grabbers defeats Cobra

Final - Grabbers defeats Bomba

Good luck to all the teams.