On this week's episode, Liam and I hand out some mid-season awards, debate Dalvin Cook vs. Christian McCaffery and display a tremendous amount of joy over the news that advance tickets for Knives Out are now on sale. Listen, subscribe and call your congressperson to let them know where the most clumsily-delivered fantasy football takes on the internet are located.
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mid-season-mvps-and-wet-pencils-eof108/id1478573845?i=1000455589229
Earful of Dirt: https://www.earfulofdirt.com/2019/10/mid-season-mvps-and-wet-pencils-eof108.html
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
2019 Fantasy Football Mid-Year Awards
The fantasy playoff hunt is about to start heating up after 8 hotly contested weeks, so now is the ideal time to get contemplative about how this season has played out thus far. Here are the players that I believe have provided owners with the most joy and pain through the first half of the fantasy season.
Biggest Surprise: 49ers Defense (27 sacks, 10 INT, 6 FUM REC, 2 TD)
I'm honestly flabbergasted by how good this group has been this year. A year ago this defense was a farce that almost seems like they were purposely avoiding making impact plays (they mustered a league-worst 7 takeaways), now they're a fearsome machine who gets after the quarterback and consistently takes the ball away. Most impressively, they've made this leap with very minimal personnel changes (only 3 of their 11 starters weren't on the team a year ago). Expect Robert Saleh to get some head coaching interviews after orchestrating such a swift turnaround.
Honorable Mentions: Austin Hooper (Falcons), Zane Gonzalez (Cardinals), Gardner Minshew (Jaguars)
Biggest Flop: Damien Williams (Chiefs) (100 Rushing YDS, 2 TD, 15 REC, 115 YDS, 1 TD)
Here's a classic case of the fantasy football world putting too much stock into a late season emergence. Williams has reverted back to the below average committee back he was prior to the post-Kareem Hunt release surge he enjoyed in the final month of 2018, operating as the 1B option to a more seasoned veteran (LeSean McCoy) and not doing a whole hell of a lot with his limited touches.
Dishonorable Mentions: O.J. Howard (Buccaneers), Baker Mayfield (Browns), Zach Ertz (Eagles)
Best Value Pick: Lamar Jackson (Ravens) (1,650 Passing YDS, 11 TD, 5 INT, 576 Rushing YDS, 3 TD)
Negative offseason buzz paired with his horrific playoff performance against the Chargers sent Jackson plummeting down fantasy draft boards over the summer. The owners who were fortunate enough to cash in on his high-end QB2 ADP are reaping the vast rewards. Jackson has been an even more deadly rusher in his sophomore campaign while showing some notable improvement as a passer under new OC Greg Roman.
Honorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Courtland Sutton (Broncos), Darren Waller (Raiders)
Worst Value Pick: Joe Mixon (Bengals) (320 YDS, 0 TD, 19 REC, 110 YDS, 3 TD)
A horrific offensive line that seems incapable of creating rushing lanes paired with a much more pass-happy attack from new HC Zac Taylor has relegated Mixon, whose ADP was around 14-18 in most leagues, to a volatile RB3/FLEX play.
Dishonorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Browns), Le'Veon Bell (Jets), Damien Williams (Chiefs)
Top Successful Sleeper: Darren Waller (Raiders) (46 REC, 496 YDS, 3 TD)
Jon Gruden's passing offense has a tendency to run through tight ends and Waller proved that theory once again in 2019. With his steady hands and terrific after-the-catch ability, Waller has emerged as the most reliable receiver on a Raiders team that is lacking firepower following the fallout from the Antonio Brown debacle and delivered fantasy owners with a top-tier TE at a very affordable cost (last 2-3 rounds in deeper leagues, waiver wire in smaller leagues).
Honorable Mentions: Mark Andrews (Ravens), John Brown (Bills), Matt Brieda (49ers)
Still Asleep: Dante Pettis (49ers) (10 REC, 88 YDS, 1 TD)
While the 49ers have been the surprise breakout team of 2019, Pettis has done almost nothing to contribute to that success. This very popular sleeper pick has struggled to get consistent snaps in a receiving corps that isn't exactly overflowing with talent and has only logged more than 1 reception in a game 2 times all season.
Honorable Mentions: Darrell Henderson Jr. (Rams), Darwin Thompson (Chiefs), James Washington (Steelers)
Top Waiver Add: D.J. Chark (Jaguars) (39 REC, 660 YDS, 6 TD)
The Jags sophomore WR has taken advantage of his excellent chemistry with rookie QB Gardner Minshew to put together a breakout campaign that pretty much nobody saw coming. Chark is currently ranked 5th in total fantasy points* (standard leagues), 7th in YDS and tied for 1st in TD's among wide receivers- which puts him ahead of several top 25 draft picks including DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster in all 3 categories.
Honorable Mentions: 49ers Defense, Terry McLaurin (Redskins), Chase Edmonds (Cardinals)
Top Rookie: Josh Jacobs (Raiders) (620 Rushing YDS, 4 TD, 11 REC, 102 YDS)
The 1st rookie off the board in most fantasy drafts has lived up to the hype and then some. Jacobs has taken complete control of the Raiders backfield with his strong, aggressive rushing style and is currently averaging 103.1 scrimmage YDS per game-which ranks 6th among running backs. If he keeps this up in the back half of the season, he should be a top 5-10 overall pick in 2020.
Honorable Mentions: Terry McLaurin (Redskins), D.K. Metcalf (Seahawks), Kyler Murray (Cardinals)
Mid-Year MVP: Christian McCaffery (Panthers) (735 Rushing YDS, 8 TD, 39 REC, 343 YDS, 2 TD)
To me, this race hasn't even been close. McCaffery has put up video game numbers almost every week while facing stacked boxes on nearly every snap and having to adjust to a new QB in the middle of the season. If he can avoid missing time and keep producing at a similar clip the rest of the way, this might end going down as one of the most dominant fantasy season of all time.
Honorable Mentions: Dalvin Cook (Vikings), Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Deshaun Watson (Texans)
Biggest Surprise: 49ers Defense (27 sacks, 10 INT, 6 FUM REC, 2 TD)
I'm honestly flabbergasted by how good this group has been this year. A year ago this defense was a farce that almost seems like they were purposely avoiding making impact plays (they mustered a league-worst 7 takeaways), now they're a fearsome machine who gets after the quarterback and consistently takes the ball away. Most impressively, they've made this leap with very minimal personnel changes (only 3 of their 11 starters weren't on the team a year ago). Expect Robert Saleh to get some head coaching interviews after orchestrating such a swift turnaround.
Honorable Mentions: Austin Hooper (Falcons), Zane Gonzalez (Cardinals), Gardner Minshew (Jaguars)
Biggest Flop: Damien Williams (Chiefs) (100 Rushing YDS, 2 TD, 15 REC, 115 YDS, 1 TD)
Here's a classic case of the fantasy football world putting too much stock into a late season emergence. Williams has reverted back to the below average committee back he was prior to the post-Kareem Hunt release surge he enjoyed in the final month of 2018, operating as the 1B option to a more seasoned veteran (LeSean McCoy) and not doing a whole hell of a lot with his limited touches.
Dishonorable Mentions: O.J. Howard (Buccaneers), Baker Mayfield (Browns), Zach Ertz (Eagles)
Best Value Pick: Lamar Jackson (Ravens) (1,650 Passing YDS, 11 TD, 5 INT, 576 Rushing YDS, 3 TD)
Negative offseason buzz paired with his horrific playoff performance against the Chargers sent Jackson plummeting down fantasy draft boards over the summer. The owners who were fortunate enough to cash in on his high-end QB2 ADP are reaping the vast rewards. Jackson has been an even more deadly rusher in his sophomore campaign while showing some notable improvement as a passer under new OC Greg Roman.
Honorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Courtland Sutton (Broncos), Darren Waller (Raiders)
Worst Value Pick: Joe Mixon (Bengals) (320 YDS, 0 TD, 19 REC, 110 YDS, 3 TD)
A horrific offensive line that seems incapable of creating rushing lanes paired with a much more pass-happy attack from new HC Zac Taylor has relegated Mixon, whose ADP was around 14-18 in most leagues, to a volatile RB3/FLEX play.
Dishonorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Browns), Le'Veon Bell (Jets), Damien Williams (Chiefs)
Top Successful Sleeper: Darren Waller (Raiders) (46 REC, 496 YDS, 3 TD)
Jon Gruden's passing offense has a tendency to run through tight ends and Waller proved that theory once again in 2019. With his steady hands and terrific after-the-catch ability, Waller has emerged as the most reliable receiver on a Raiders team that is lacking firepower following the fallout from the Antonio Brown debacle and delivered fantasy owners with a top-tier TE at a very affordable cost (last 2-3 rounds in deeper leagues, waiver wire in smaller leagues).
Honorable Mentions: Mark Andrews (Ravens), John Brown (Bills), Matt Brieda (49ers)
Still Asleep: Dante Pettis (49ers) (10 REC, 88 YDS, 1 TD)
While the 49ers have been the surprise breakout team of 2019, Pettis has done almost nothing to contribute to that success. This very popular sleeper pick has struggled to get consistent snaps in a receiving corps that isn't exactly overflowing with talent and has only logged more than 1 reception in a game 2 times all season.
Honorable Mentions: Darrell Henderson Jr. (Rams), Darwin Thompson (Chiefs), James Washington (Steelers)
Top Waiver Add: D.J. Chark (Jaguars) (39 REC, 660 YDS, 6 TD)
The Jags sophomore WR has taken advantage of his excellent chemistry with rookie QB Gardner Minshew to put together a breakout campaign that pretty much nobody saw coming. Chark is currently ranked 5th in total fantasy points* (standard leagues), 7th in YDS and tied for 1st in TD's among wide receivers- which puts him ahead of several top 25 draft picks including DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster in all 3 categories.
Honorable Mentions: 49ers Defense, Terry McLaurin (Redskins), Chase Edmonds (Cardinals)
Top Rookie: Josh Jacobs (Raiders) (620 Rushing YDS, 4 TD, 11 REC, 102 YDS)
The 1st rookie off the board in most fantasy drafts has lived up to the hype and then some. Jacobs has taken complete control of the Raiders backfield with his strong, aggressive rushing style and is currently averaging 103.1 scrimmage YDS per game-which ranks 6th among running backs. If he keeps this up in the back half of the season, he should be a top 5-10 overall pick in 2020.
Honorable Mentions: Terry McLaurin (Redskins), D.K. Metcalf (Seahawks), Kyler Murray (Cardinals)
Mid-Year MVP: Christian McCaffery (Panthers) (735 Rushing YDS, 8 TD, 39 REC, 343 YDS, 2 TD)
To me, this race hasn't even been close. McCaffery has put up video game numbers almost every week while facing stacked boxes on nearly every snap and having to adjust to a new QB in the middle of the season. If he can avoid missing time and keep producing at a similar clip the rest of the way, this might end going down as one of the most dominant fantasy season of all time.
Honorable Mentions: Dalvin Cook (Vikings), Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Deshaun Watson (Texans)
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Week 8 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers: 2019 Edition
Quarterback
MVP: Deshaun Watson (Texans)
As expected, the Raiders horrific secondary had no answers for Watson. The rising star signalcaller threw for 279 YDS and 3 TD's while adding another 46 YDS on the ground in an ugly, but hard-fought comeback victory. Watson will look to make it 3 fantasy MVP performances in 4 weeks when the Texans travel to London to take on the Jaguars this Sunday.
As expected, the Raiders horrific secondary had no answers for Watson. The rising star signalcaller threw for 279 YDS and 3 TD's while adding another 46 YDS on the ground in an ugly, but hard-fought comeback victory. Watson will look to make it 3 fantasy MVP performances in 4 weeks when the Texans travel to London to take on the Jaguars this Sunday.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Drew Brees (Saints), Matthew Stafford (Lions)
LVP: Kirk Cousins (Vikings)
Cousins didn't really take advantage of his opportunity to stick it to the Redskins. He put together a clean, but very pedestrian game (285 YDS, 0 TD's, 0 giveaways) in his 1st showdown with the team that repeatedly refused to commit to him as their long-term franchise QB as the Vikings cruised to a 20-9 victory last Thursday night. The $84 million man will look to return to the level of the dominance he displayed earlier in October when the Norseman travel to Arrowhead Stadium for a showdown with the Chiefs banged-up secondary.
Cousins didn't really take advantage of his opportunity to stick it to the Redskins. He put together a clean, but very pedestrian game (285 YDS, 0 TD's, 0 giveaways) in his 1st showdown with the team that repeatedly refused to commit to him as their long-term franchise QB as the Vikings cruised to a 20-9 victory last Thursday night. The $84 million man will look to return to the level of the dominance he displayed earlier in October when the Norseman travel to Arrowhead Stadium for a showdown with the Chiefs banged-up secondary.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kyler Murray (Cardinals), Jacoby Brissett (Colts), Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
Running Back
MVP: Tevin Coleman (49ers)
What a comically dominant performance this was. It only took Coleman 13 touches to gain 118 YDS and score 4 TD's in a blowout win over the Panthers. Coleman has been a scoring machine (6 total TD's) since returning from an ankle injury at the beginning of the month and should be a high-end RB2 for a Week 9 matchup with the Cardinals.
What a comically dominant performance this was. It only took Coleman 13 touches to gain 118 YDS and score 4 TD's in a blowout win over the Panthers. Coleman has been a scoring machine (6 total TD's) since returning from an ankle injury at the beginning of the month and should be a high-end RB2 for a Week 9 matchup with the Cardinals.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Jones (Packers), Latavius Murray (Saints), Christian McCaffery (Panthers)
LVP: Le'Veon Bell (Jets)
Despite facing a much more favorable matchup, Bell was every bit as ineffective this week as he was last week against the Patriots vaunted D. The Jaguars stuffed Bell every single time he touched the ball on Sunday afternoon, which resulted in him finishing the game with a depressing 35 YDS (23 rushing, 12 receiving) on 12 touches. Horrible offensive line play, game script issues and Adam Gase's questionable at best playcalling have prevented Bell from having success during his inaugural campaign with the Jets. However, there's legitimate potential for things to get rosier as they are about to enter a very favorable portion of the schedule that includes dates with the Redskins, Bengals and Dolphins (2x).
Despite facing a much more favorable matchup, Bell was every bit as ineffective this week as he was last week against the Patriots vaunted D. The Jaguars stuffed Bell every single time he touched the ball on Sunday afternoon, which resulted in him finishing the game with a depressing 35 YDS (23 rushing, 12 receiving) on 12 touches. Horrible offensive line play, game script issues and Adam Gase's questionable at best playcalling have prevented Bell from having success during his inaugural campaign with the Jets. However, there's legitimate potential for things to get rosier as they are about to enter a very favorable portion of the schedule that includes dates with the Redskins, Bengals and Dolphins (2x).
Dishonorable Mentions: Ty Johnson (Lions), LeSean McCoy (Chiefs), Derrick Henry (Titans)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
After a quiet couple of weeks by his standards, Evans was due for one of his patented inhuman explosions. He absolutely ruined a damn good Titans secondary, who did a great job containing Chris Godwin, amassing 198 YDS and 2 TD's on 11 catches. A matchup with a very burnable Seahawks secondary is up next for the freakishly gifted 6th year pro.
After a quiet couple of weeks by his standards, Evans was due for one of his patented inhuman explosions. He absolutely ruined a damn good Titans secondary, who did a great job containing Chris Godwin, amassing 198 YDS and 2 TD's on 11 catches. A matchup with a very burnable Seahawks secondary is up next for the freakishly gifted 6th year pro.
Honorable Mentions: Cooper Kupp (Rams), Kenny Golladay (Lions), Julian Edelman (Patriots)
LVP: Corey Davis (Titans)
In a development that shouldn't shock anybody whose familiar with him, Davis followed up a terrific outing with a porous one. The Titans de facto #1 wideout was largely invisible against the Bucs wretched secondary, securing just 2 catches for 9 YDS. Unless you're absolutely desperate for a FLEX/WR3 play, Davis shouldn't be in your lineups this week against the Panthers.
In a development that shouldn't shock anybody whose familiar with him, Davis followed up a terrific outing with a porous one. The Titans de facto #1 wideout was largely invisible against the Bucs wretched secondary, securing just 2 catches for 9 YDS. Unless you're absolutely desperate for a FLEX/WR3 play, Davis shouldn't be in your lineups this week against the Panthers.
Dishonorable Mentions: Marvin Jones Jr. (Lions), Kenny Stills (Texans), D.J. Moore (Panthers)
Tight End
MVP: Austin Hooper (Falcons)
It's kind of hilarious that Hooper is putting together a career year while a complete meltdown is happening around him. The 4th year tight end was once again a bright spot for the reeling 1-7 Falcons as they got their teeth kicked in by the Seahawks-securing 6 catches for 65 YDS and a TD. Hooper has been the top fantasy tight end through 8 weeks by a pretty wide margin and he appears set to remain an elite option when the Falcons return to action in Week 10 against the Saints.
It's kind of hilarious that Hooper is putting together a career year while a complete meltdown is happening around him. The 4th year tight end was once again a bright spot for the reeling 1-7 Falcons as they got their teeth kicked in by the Seahawks-securing 6 catches for 65 YDS and a TD. Hooper has been the top fantasy tight end through 8 weeks by a pretty wide margin and he appears set to remain an elite option when the Falcons return to action in Week 10 against the Saints.
Honorable Mentions: Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Evan Engram (Giants), George Kittle (49ers)
LVP: Zach Ertz (Eagles)
Where art thou Zach Ertz? The star tight end was a non-factor yet again, only managing 20 YDS on 2 catches versus a feisty Bills defense last Sunday. With a healthy Carson Wentz under center and a ton of injuries at WR, Ertz has been an inexplicable flop in 2019. He'll be a low-end TE1 against the Bears in Week 9.
Where art thou Zach Ertz? The star tight end was a non-factor yet again, only managing 20 YDS on 2 catches versus a feisty Bills defense last Sunday. With a healthy Carson Wentz under center and a ton of injuries at WR, Ertz has been an inexplicable flop in 2019. He'll be a low-end TE1 against the Bears in Week 9.
Dishonorable Mentions: Gerald Everett (Rams), Greg Olsen (Panthers), Jimmy Graham (Packers)
Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Patriots
Freddie Kitchens, Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb were the latest group of helpless souls that got to feel the wrath of the Patriots defense as their bumbling offense surrendered 5 sacks, 3 takeaways (2 FUM REC, 1 INT) and a TD to the league's scariest unit. Greg Roman and John Harbaugh are going to have to get really creative for Lamar Jackson to not get eaten alive by this group in primetime this Sunday night.
MVP: Patriots
Freddie Kitchens, Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb were the latest group of helpless souls that got to feel the wrath of the Patriots defense as their bumbling offense surrendered 5 sacks, 3 takeaways (2 FUM REC, 1 INT) and a TD to the league's scariest unit. Greg Roman and John Harbaugh are going to have to get really creative for Lamar Jackson to not get eaten alive by this group in primetime this Sunday night.
Honorable Mentions: 49ers, Jaguars, Steelers
LVP: Bears
In an excellent all-around week for fantasy defenses, the Bears merely passable performance (17 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 INT) against the Chargers is the one that let down the highest volume of owners. Chuck Pagano's group will look to rebound against a decent-to-good Eagles offense in Week 9.
In an excellent all-around week for fantasy defenses, the Bears merely passable performance (17 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 INT) against the Chargers is the one that let down the highest volume of owners. Chuck Pagano's group will look to rebound against a decent-to-good Eagles offense in Week 9.
Dishonorable Mentions: Bills, Panthers, Packers
2019 NFL Power Rankings: Week 9
()=previous ranking
1.(1) New England Patriots (8-0) Week 9 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
2.(2) New Orleans Saints (7-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
3.(3) San Francisco 49ers (7-0) Week 9 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
4.(4) Green Bay Packers (7-1) Week 9 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
5.(5) Baltimore Ravens (5-2) Week 9 opponent: New England Patriots
6.(7) Seattle Seahawks (6-2) Week 9 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7.(9) Minnesota Vikings (6-2) Week 9 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
8.(6) Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
9.(8) Buffalo Bills (5-2) Week 9 opponent: Washington Redskins
10.(11) Indianapolis Colts (5-2) Week 9 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
11.(12) Houston Texans (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
12.(10) Carolina Panthers (4-3) Week 9 opponent: Tennessee Titans
13.(13) Dallas Cowboys (4-3) Week 9 opponent: New York Giants
14.(14) Los Angeles Rams (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
15.(16) Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Chicago Bears
16.(17) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Houston Texans
17.(18) Detroit Lions (3-3-1) Week 9 opponent: Oakland Raiders
18.(19) Oakland Raiders (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Detroit Lions
19.(15) Chicago Bears (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
20.(23) Tennessee Titans (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Carolina Panthers
21.(22) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
22.(20) Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1) Week 9 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
23.(21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5) Week 9 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
24.(26) Los Angeles Chargers (3-5) Week 9 opponent: Green Bay Packers
25.(24) Cleveland Browns (2-5) Week 9 opponent: Denver Broncos
26.(25) Denver Broncos (2-6) Week 9 opponent: Cleveland Browns
27.(27) New York Giants (2-6) Week 9 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
28.(28) Atlanta Falcons (1-7) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
29.(29) New York Jets (1-6) Week 9 opponent: Miami Dolphins
30.(30) Washington Redskins (1-7) Week 9 opponent: Buffalo Bills
31.(31) Cincinnati Bengals (0-8) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
32.(32) Miami Dolphins (0-7) Week 9 opponent: New York Jets
1.(1) New England Patriots (8-0) Week 9 opponent: Baltimore Ravens
2.(2) New Orleans Saints (7-1) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
3.(3) San Francisco 49ers (7-0) Week 9 opponent: Arizona Cardinals
4.(4) Green Bay Packers (7-1) Week 9 opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
5.(5) Baltimore Ravens (5-2) Week 9 opponent: New England Patriots
6.(7) Seattle Seahawks (6-2) Week 9 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7.(9) Minnesota Vikings (6-2) Week 9 opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
8.(6) Kansas City Chiefs (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Minnesota Vikings
9.(8) Buffalo Bills (5-2) Week 9 opponent: Washington Redskins
10.(11) Indianapolis Colts (5-2) Week 9 opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
11.(12) Houston Texans (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
12.(10) Carolina Panthers (4-3) Week 9 opponent: Tennessee Titans
13.(13) Dallas Cowboys (4-3) Week 9 opponent: New York Giants
14.(14) Los Angeles Rams (5-3) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
15.(16) Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Chicago Bears
16.(17) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Houston Texans
17.(18) Detroit Lions (3-3-1) Week 9 opponent: Oakland Raiders
18.(19) Oakland Raiders (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Detroit Lions
19.(15) Chicago Bears (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
20.(23) Tennessee Titans (4-4) Week 9 opponent: Carolina Panthers
21.(22) Pittsburgh Steelers (3-4) Week 9 opponent: Indianapolis Colts
22.(20) Arizona Cardinals (3-4-1) Week 9 opponent: San Francisco 49ers
23.(21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5) Week 9 opponent: Seattle Seahawks
24.(26) Los Angeles Chargers (3-5) Week 9 opponent: Green Bay Packers
25.(24) Cleveland Browns (2-5) Week 9 opponent: Denver Broncos
26.(25) Denver Broncos (2-6) Week 9 opponent: Cleveland Browns
27.(27) New York Giants (2-6) Week 9 opponent: Dallas Cowboys
28.(28) Atlanta Falcons (1-7) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
29.(29) New York Jets (1-6) Week 9 opponent: Miami Dolphins
30.(30) Washington Redskins (1-7) Week 9 opponent: Buffalo Bills
31.(31) Cincinnati Bengals (0-8) Week 9 opponent: Bye Week
32.(32) Miami Dolphins (0-7) Week 9 opponent: New York Jets
Monday, October 28, 2019
The Best and Worst of Arnold Schwarzenegger
“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career
highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's
new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography
of “Terminator: Dark Fate” star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger that I've seen:
The Terminator
Commando
Predator
The Running Man
Red Heat
Total Recall
Kindergarten Cop
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Last Action Hero
True Lies
Eraser
Jingle All the Way
Batman & Robin
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
The Expendables
The Expendables 2
The Last Stand
Escape Plan
Sabotage
The Expendables 3
Maggie
Terminator Genysis
Best Performance: Predator (1987)
Picking a top performance for Schwarzenegger was a painful exercise. He's an action movie legend with a stupid good resume that has brought his A-game to nearly every role he's ever played. I ended up going with Predator because Alan "Dutch" Schafer is the character that I feel does the best job of showcasing the combination of macho charisma and slick comedic timing that has made him one of the greatest protagonists the genre has ever seen.
Worst Performance: Batman & Robin (1997)
In a way, Mr. Freeze is one of Schwarzenegger's most memorable characters. A comically large man on skates going around spewing ice puns at a record clip is the type of image that's really hard to forget. That being said, no amount of memorable visuals can save this from being anything more than a less effective version of his signature deadpan joke delivery routine.
Best Film: Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Fair or not, Judgement Day set a bar so lofty for the Terminator franchise that any subsequent sequels were pretty much doomed from a popular opinion standpoint before they were even conceived. James Cameron improved upon the excellent original with a sharp expansion of the mythology, more staggering action sequences, effects that were groundbreaking for its era and a villain in the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) that is the perfect complement to Schwarzenegger's cyborg killing machine turned human protector.
Worst Film: Batman & Robin (1997)
Given how safe the superhero genre can be in the era of the MCU, the balls Joel Schumacher displayed by making such an odd, absurd movie centered around a character that had been beloved for decades is something I find kind of admirable. On the other hand, Batman & Robin's bursts of hilarity are often weighed down by a level of campy stupidity that truly needs to be seen to be believed.
Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Doctor Sleep” star Rebecca Ferguson.
Films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger that I've seen:
The Terminator
Commando
Predator
The Running Man
Red Heat
Total Recall
Kindergarten Cop
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Last Action Hero
True Lies
Eraser
Jingle All the Way
Batman & Robin
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
The Expendables
The Expendables 2
The Last Stand
Escape Plan
Sabotage
The Expendables 3
Maggie
Terminator Genysis
Best Performance: Predator (1987)
Picking a top performance for Schwarzenegger was a painful exercise. He's an action movie legend with a stupid good resume that has brought his A-game to nearly every role he's ever played. I ended up going with Predator because Alan "Dutch" Schafer is the character that I feel does the best job of showcasing the combination of macho charisma and slick comedic timing that has made him one of the greatest protagonists the genre has ever seen.
Worst Performance: Batman & Robin (1997)
In a way, Mr. Freeze is one of Schwarzenegger's most memorable characters. A comically large man on skates going around spewing ice puns at a record clip is the type of image that's really hard to forget. That being said, no amount of memorable visuals can save this from being anything more than a less effective version of his signature deadpan joke delivery routine.
Best Film: Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Fair or not, Judgement Day set a bar so lofty for the Terminator franchise that any subsequent sequels were pretty much doomed from a popular opinion standpoint before they were even conceived. James Cameron improved upon the excellent original with a sharp expansion of the mythology, more staggering action sequences, effects that were groundbreaking for its era and a villain in the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) that is the perfect complement to Schwarzenegger's cyborg killing machine turned human protector.
Worst Film: Batman & Robin (1997)
Given how safe the superhero genre can be in the era of the MCU, the balls Joel Schumacher displayed by making such an odd, absurd movie centered around a character that had been beloved for decades is something I find kind of admirable. On the other hand, Batman & Robin's bursts of hilarity are often weighed down by a level of campy stupidity that truly needs to be seen to be believed.
Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Doctor Sleep” star Rebecca Ferguson.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Movie Review: Zombieland: Double Tap
Patience is a virtue that isn't always easy to follow in a world where a Wi-Fi connection grants you access to an abundance of entertainment options. However, sometimes waiting for years upon years for a new entry in a series that you enjoy provides a highly rewarding payoff that justifies the pain that comes with enduring such a long wait. Zombieland: Double Tap is the latest title to prove the underrated merits of this increasingly prevalent industry practice.
A decade away from this undead wasteland drained not even an ounce of the non-stop goofy fun that made Zombieland stand out from other genre fare. In fact, given how natural and cohesive everything on screen feels, you would think Double Tap was made immediately after the original. The lovable leads (Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin) all enthusiastically step back into their roles as a smartass makeshift family whose bonds are tested after spending 10 years living in borderline isolation, all of the newcomers (Rosario Dawson, Avan Jogia, Luke Wilson, Thomas Middleditch and scene-stealing MVP Zoey Deutch) fit perfectly into this offbeat, meta world and of course, there's a heaping helping of gleefully gory zombie carnage. Having a sequel recapture everything that made the predecessor great without feeling like a forced retread is a beautiful thing that I believe deserves to celebrated just as much as any other triumph in the world of movies.
Plain and simple, Zombieland: Double Tap is a god damn blast that is right on par with the original. It warms my heart that all of the key players (in addition to the aforementioned primary cast, director Ruben Fleischer and writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick also returned) were so eager to make a sequel happen and their passion-driven efforts are reflected in the quality of the product on screen. Stone reportedly suggested to Fleischer during the latter stages of filming on Double Tap that they try and get the band back together every 10 years. If these hypothetical future sequels ended up being as irresistibly entertaining as the first two outings, I'd be 100% down to cap off every decade with a trip to Zombieland.
A decade away from this undead wasteland drained not even an ounce of the non-stop goofy fun that made Zombieland stand out from other genre fare. In fact, given how natural and cohesive everything on screen feels, you would think Double Tap was made immediately after the original. The lovable leads (Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin) all enthusiastically step back into their roles as a smartass makeshift family whose bonds are tested after spending 10 years living in borderline isolation, all of the newcomers (Rosario Dawson, Avan Jogia, Luke Wilson, Thomas Middleditch and scene-stealing MVP Zoey Deutch) fit perfectly into this offbeat, meta world and of course, there's a heaping helping of gleefully gory zombie carnage. Having a sequel recapture everything that made the predecessor great without feeling like a forced retread is a beautiful thing that I believe deserves to celebrated just as much as any other triumph in the world of movies.
Plain and simple, Zombieland: Double Tap is a god damn blast that is right on par with the original. It warms my heart that all of the key players (in addition to the aforementioned primary cast, director Ruben Fleischer and writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick also returned) were so eager to make a sequel happen and their passion-driven efforts are reflected in the quality of the product on screen. Stone reportedly suggested to Fleischer during the latter stages of filming on Double Tap that they try and get the band back together every 10 years. If these hypothetical future sequels ended up being as irresistibly entertaining as the first two outings, I'd be 100% down to cap off every decade with a trip to Zombieland.
Grade: A
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Earful of Fantasy Episode #7
On this week's episode, Liam and I go over Bill Belichick's vendettas, concede that the Jets offense didn't perform well against the Patriots last week and talk tight end dart throws. Listen below, subscribe at whatever podcast provider you fancy and take notes on our lineup advice so you can use it against us if or when it proves to be false.
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-jumpin-and-a-slumpin-eof107/id1478573845?i=1000454696037
Earful of Dirt: https://www.earfulofdirt.com/2019/10/a-jumpin-and-slumpin-eof107.html
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-jumpin-and-a-slumpin-eof107/id1478573845?i=1000454696037
Earful of Dirt: https://www.earfulofdirt.com/2019/10/a-jumpin-and-slumpin-eof107.html
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