Playoff Race Heating Up - Biggest Stories from the Last Month

(Nothing in this post was created using any sort of generative AI)

History Made, Still Ongoing

The Skattebroken franchise has made history in this league with the longest losing streak in league history, AND the worst start to a season in history. The Skattebrokens currently sit at 0 wins and 11 consecutive losses in a completely unprecedented season missing the playoffs after just 10 weeks, with the chance to have a completely winless season. Injuries to Jayden Daniels and Terry Mclaurin, along with the regression from Derrick Henry and Chuba Hubbard have left this team in ruin, forcing them to sell every last piece they can. Selling Henry, Diggs, Montgomery, Juwan Johnson, and Khalil Shakir so far has net this team an extra 1st (in 2027), two 2nds, and two 3rd round picks in varying years, with the hopes of drafting some young talent and gaining a direction that isn't down towards the depths of endless pain and suffering. The bright spots for this team are obviously the rookies Tetairoa McMillan and Tyler Warren, and surprisingly (at least surprising to me) Jameson Williams has been a monster with Dan Campbell taking over the playcalling. The only thing left for this team is to try and avoid a complete winless season.

Playoff Race as Close as Ever

The race for the playoffs might be as close as it will ever be. Heading into week 13, there are 3 teams that have already clinched a playoff spot but are still fighting for a bye. There are 6 teams still in contention for a playoff spot, but the 7-5 Tony Dorset look like a lock for a playoff spot. The remaining 5 teams all have a difference of 1 game + tie breaker (points for) at 6-6 or 5-7. The playoff teams will not be completely decided until after week 14, but one thing to look out for is, 2024 runner up, CMC Revenge Year is currently sitting at 5-7 and OUTSIDE of the playoffs despite their late season breakout. Mahomies over Mahoes was selling earlier in the season, but his team has really turned it on the last few weeks going 2-2 in the last month sitting at 6-6 and currently sitting 5th in the standings hoping for at least one more win to secure a playoff berth for the first time. With the trade deadline approaching (end of week 13), some teams are looking to buy that last piece that pushes them into the playoffs, and some might be looking to sell in hopes of having a better chance next year (cough my team cough).

Trade Deadline Getting Juicy Already

The trade deadline has never been super important in the redraft format because you lose your team in the offseason, and there's no future to plan for. But with dynasty, the trade deadline is a perfect harmony of teams looking to buy and get into the playoffs, and teams looking to sell and look towards the future. While some years there might be an imbalance in the amount of teams buying to the amount of teams selling, this is one of the most important points in the dynasty cycle. As for this year, the week has started off HOT with the I'm Done my Kraft franchise giving away a frustrating player in DK Metcalf, a 2nd in 2027 and a 3rd in 2028 and in return, hopefully the fix to their tight end issues with Kraft out for the year in Juwan Johnson, and another wide receiver with a high weekly floor in Khalil Shakir. I'm Done my Kraft has struggled with the wide receiver position all year, not being able to find consistent production from that position and hopes that Shakir can be that consistent high floor guy that he has been for the last nearly two years. This team has also been in shambles since Tucker Kraft went down with a torn ACL, and Juwan Johnson should be able to fill in better than Mark Andrews and Pat Freiermuth for that one week. Johnson seems to have a good connection with Tyler Shough, and if that continues, Johnson should be a very good fill-in for the rest of season. On the other side of the deal, Skattebroken is able to get two future picks that he could easily draft young players when the drafts arrive, or trade them later for other players. The important thing for them is the flexibility picks provide, along with stable value. Picks will only go up in value as time goes on. Lastly, the Rome Wasn't Built in a Day franchise has listed 5 total players on the trade block, Rico Dowdle, Woody Marks, Oronde Gadsden, Jaylen Waddle, and even 2024 2nd overall rookie pick Rome Odunze. All players that have started games for this franchise, and with the chances of them getting their first playoff appearance looking bleak after a 1.7 point loss, this franchise just wants to add some draft capital for the offseason to get more flexible. Sources also tell me they are looking to trade away their bad players and in return get very good players.

Rumours of Expansion???

If you have heard rumblings of possible expansion, you heard correctly. There has been significant interest from at least 2 new potential owners looking to buy into the league. Because of this increasing interest from possible new owners, a conversation has sparked among some of the current owners and the commissioner about if expansion is possible and how that would be implemented, hypothetically of course. The commissioner, privately, had attempted to figure out a framework for how this expansion would work for a future article for people to read before voting on expansion. Yes, that means during the league meetings, league expansion will be one of the topics that gets voted on (it will have to be a unanimous decision for it to pass). In the meantime, the commissioner ran through a quick exercise projecting who each team would protect under the assumption that every team protects a full starting lineup (1qb, 2rb, 2wr, 1te, 2flex, 1k, 1 d/st) + 5 other players. Here is the google spreadsheet with every team's protected, unprotected and then a list of the possible expansion players pool sorted by most points (as of Saturday the 22nd). Rules are by no means set in stone for the vote, more owners will meet to discuss the structure of this possibility, but maybe start thinking about how you feel about a possible expansion to 12 teams.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pj8JlDnwCm7Poj1NK5HlLwgxq3t0fmYehQkZw8_y8eU/edit?usp=sharing

Look out for the Playoff Edition of the Biggest Storylines, or maybe even something after the trade deadline...