Week 15, or ugh!

 It was miserable. It felt terrible. It sucked.

Am I talking about Week 15? Or the sickness that ravaged my family? Well, really it was both.

I didn't write the Notes last week because everyone else in my family was sick. It would be easy to blame the Notes coming out Thursday morning this week on the Tuesday NFL games, but really it was because I finally caught it. I fought valiantly but, like the entire unit in Rogue One, I ultimately lost.

Week 15 in the NFL was brutal. Looking at our fantasy numbers, it was one of the lowest point outputs on the year (and that included the two teams who were on bye). It was a tough week.

But it worked out for Iron Ryan and Death Valley Driver, as they won their matchups to move on to the semi-finals. It was a rough first-ever playoff appearance for Utah Falco, who basically saw Tom Brady drop a turd at the worst time possible for Tom Brady to drop a turd (it wasn't totally his fault though, since he lost his two best receivers).

Ultimately, the difference in the matchup for DVD was Jonathan Taylor's 67-yard TD run to ice the game on Saturday night. Without those 13 points (6 for the TD, 6 for the yardage, and 1 for the 40+ yard bonus), Sycamore pulls out the victory. 

And now, looking at the playoffs, it seems more to be a Playoffs of Attrition. At this point, who's going to get lucky enough to keep their players healthy (both not injured, and off the COVID list). We've tried to build depth, but COVID and the NFL's terrible management of it might wreck all those plans.

Hardcore Sacks was dealt a blow with Austin Ekeler going to the COVID list. Iron Ryan looks like he'll be without Tyreek Hill, half of the stack that propelled him to a win in Round 1. Projections right now have BOTH semi-final matches too close to call. It's going to be a helluva Week 16 in STPS.

And maybe in the NFL too.

In our Worst Bowl, it looks like there's going to be a third week of that too. The winners from this week play next week for the chance to earn the extra scratchers next week, and the losers this week play to avoid being the Worst.

Is it possible that Team Provost will be the first to go from Champ to Worst in a single season? Is it possible that Pedro Pickles could take the lowest scoring team in the league and earn extra scratchers for next year?

(Hey look! That gif says "anything" the exact same way I say "anything" right now.)

And now, I wish to take a few moments to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Another year of Smarter Than Phil Simms Fantasy Football is coming to an end (hey, we get an extra week this year!) and I'd be remiss not to thank you all for another fun year. I absolutely love this league. Everyone is engaged (ok, most of you), and you all make it fun to play in a league like this. Thank you.

And so, as you all sit down for a nice cup of hot cocoa on Christmas Eve, remember that I am thankful for you. You guys frickin' rock.

With that said, I will destroy all of you on my way to a championship. Later losers!