EFL Power Rankings - Quarterfinal Analysis, 2020
Elite Fantasy League
PLAYOFF ANALYSIS
With only one week remaining before playoffs, there are 7 teams who have clinched a playoff berth, 2 teams battling for the 8th spot, and 1 team trying to avoid the Porcelain Throne Trophy. Which means, it’s time to be primarily concerned with seeding. No team has shown any sustained consistency during the past 6 weeks (except maybe for Tater’s Tots [sorry, brother]), and it’s hard to imagine that starting now.
That also means that the scenarios for seeding, with 60% of the league within 2 games of each other, are almost endless. Rather than going through all of them, I will ignore the fact that you will likely stay right where you’re at in your current seeding, and give you the benefit of the doubt - showing you the best possible scenario for you going into the playoffs.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
But also,
Read ‘em and weep.
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1.
ThrowUpThe X (3rd | 9-4)
Week 12 Ranking: 1 (no change)
Manager: RD Gallant
Years in League: 11
Best Finish: Champ (1x - 2013)
How They Got Here:
How It’s Looking:
Scenario for 1st seed: Win + Jets Jets Jets Loss
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2.
Cherne’s Champions (2nd | 7-6)
Week 12 Ranking: 2 (no change)
Manager: Jordan Cherne
Years in League: 6
Best Finish: Champ (1x - 2018)
To date this season, Cherne’s Champions’ opponents have averaged almost 110 points per game. As you read that, apply it to your own team’s performance this season and guess what your record would be. Yet, their record is still 6-6, despite having the highest points against in the league (by a wide margin). With unsung heroes like Antionio Gibson contributing, Cherne’s Champions is in prime position to win their division with a little help from Jujus on That Beat. This team passes the contender check.
Scenario for 2nd seed: Win
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3.
Ruthlessberger (4th | 7-6)
Week 12 Ranking: 6 (+3)
Manager: Ian Svendsen
Years in League: 4
Best Finish: 4th (2018)
This team is your wild card. It’s hard to figure Ruthlessberger out. One week they look like a contender and the next they look like a first-round exit – or, at least play like one. Still, it’s hard to argue with Mahomes, Henry, and gang - especially when Mark Andrews returns from the ‘Rona. It’s a solid team that might be a notch below contention, but certainly is not a team anyone wants to face.
Scenario for 4th seed: Win + #Blessed Loss + Maintain Points Against vs. Cherne’s Champions OR Win + #Blessed Loss + Cherne’s Champions Loss
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4.
Tompa Bay (8th | 5-8)
Week 12 Ranking: 8 (+4)
Manager: Sy Gallimore
Years in League: 12
Best Finish: Champ (1x - 2010)
Finally. Healthy. For the first time all season, Tompa Bay entered Week 12 with a fully healthy roster and promptly put up the highest point total in the entire league this season. Tompa Bay’s track record of losing speaks for itself, but if this healthy version of the squad is for real, this team should secure the 8th seed and be a dangerous matchup for whoever secures #1.
Scenario for 8th seed: Win
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5.
Jets Jets Jets (1st | 10-3)
Week 12 Ranking: 4 (-1)
Manager: Tim Cook
Years in League: 12
Best Finish: Champ (1x - 2015)
How They Got Here: The hottest of starts. Jets Jets Jets started the season 8-0 and rode it to the #1 seed in the league.
How It’s Looking: Not great. Since their 8-0 start, Jets Jets Jets has been just 2-3 in their last 5. To boot, they got very poor production from their two players in the Thursday night game, already putting them at a deficit to begin their first game of the playoffs against red-hot 8th-seeded Tompa Bay.
Scenario for 1st seed: Win
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6.
BCE (7th | 6-7)
Week 12 Ranking: 3 (-3)
Manager: Austin Owen
Years in League: 5
Best Finish: Champ (2x – 2016, 2017)
Bad beats. Three 100-point losses since our last rankings. That’s been the story of BCE this season – whether coming from their opponents or their own roster moves. Yet, the team remains competitive every week, and, were it not for two 140 point+ performances from Tompa Bay, this team would have one of the best records in the league. Slumping into the playoffs shouldn’t be a concern for this balanced team.
Scenario for 4th seed: Win + #Blessed Loss + Ruthlessberger Loss OR Win + #Blessed Loss + Points Against over Ruthlessberger.
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7.
Jujus on that Beat (5th | 7-6)
Week 12 Ranking: 6 (-1)
Manager: Joshuwa Shelton
Years in League: 5
Best Finish: 3rd (2018)
Despite leading their division, with one of the lowest point totals in the league it’s hard to consider Jujus a true contender at this point. Case in point, one loss in Week 13 could drop Jujus from 2nd all the way to 6th. With Cam slumping, Jujus has to rely on DK Metcalf and Dalvin Cook – not bad guys to be relegated to rely on, but not the most comforting position to be in either. I expect this to be a 6th seed by the time the playoffs roll around.
Scenario for 2nd seed: Win
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8.
#Blessed (6th | 7-6)
Week 12 Ranking: 7 (-1)
Manager: Nick Gosney
Years in League: 2
Best Finish: Champ (1x - 2019)
The most paradoxical team of the past 5 weeks, #Blessed has racked up 4 wins in 5 games while averaging a measly 92 points per game (including a single-game 138 point explosion that skews the average). As good as that has been for securing a playoff spot, it doesn’t bode well if their opponent can crack 100 since #Blessed can’t be counted on to do that for themselves. Perhaps, a favorable playoff seeding will help them get through the first round. This manager is going to have to find some magic to repeat.
Scenario for 3rd seed: Win by 202.45 points vs. Throw UpThe X
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9.
The Falcoholics (9th | 4-8)
Week 6 Ranking: 9 (no charge)
Manager: Ryan Johnson
Years in League: 2
Best Finish: 3rd (2019)
The Falcoholics have had a tough time putting points on the board, but, with Tater’s Tots slumping, they have crawled out of last place and last in points – both to 9th. Still, a win in the final week will push The Falcoholics into the playoffs, which could change their pursuit of one trophy to a pursuit of a better one.
Scenario for 8th seed: Win
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10.
Taters Tots (10th | 3-9)
Week 6 Ranking: 8 (-2)
Manager: Tate VanEgmond
Years in League: 2
Best Finish: 8th (2019)
This manager has failed to field a full team the past 3 weeks, and, as a result, their output has suffered. Tater’s Tots has put up some very meager scoring efforts – the lowest of the season. Barring a win in the final week and a 200+ point offensive explosion from the 5 players that actually might be active in their starting lineups, the Porcelain Throne has already been won.
Scenario for 9th seed: Win + Points Against over loser of The Falcoholics vs. Tompa Bay
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