WEEKS 11-13 & REGULAR SEASON REVIEW + PLAYOFF PREVIEW

The Phase 6 Regular Season is complete. A former champion on a massive tear, a reigning one trying to defend the crown, and two ascending James’s round out our final 4. It’s time for our playoff preview as well as autopsies on our consolation bracket. This is the Phase 6 Playoffs. 

SFI Championship Semi-Finals, Round 1

#1Peyton’s Forehead Shiner (10-3) vs #4 Is This Soccer (8-5)

From the consensus #1 team in pre-draft rankings to a 2-3 start, Peyton has come all the way back to comfortably secure the #1 seed. He reaches his 3rd postseason on the back of the longest win streak he’s ever had in the SFI at 8 consecutive victories. He reaches his 3rd postseason on the back of the longest win streak he’s ever had in the SFI at 8 consecutive victories. 

If he’s able to reach the finals, that’ll be 3 out of the last 4 seasons he’s been in the championship. Not quite a dynasty, though Iron Man could become the next boogeyman should he make it to the finals yet again. 

Facing a less than complete Dr. Strange in the first round places him in solid position to win it all, we’ll find out if he can can live up to the hype and carry momentum to his 3rd championship appearance.  you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Lads, he’s done it. Keeping Thanos at bay with a victory over the Mad Titan in Week 13, he has kept the 3-time champ out of the playoffs entirely, holding on to the final available seed. 

With 3 starters on bye, he’ll face off against one of the best #1 Seeds we’ve seen on an 8-game win streak. 

Dr. Strange is the clear underdog heading into his 3rd playoff appearance in his 4th season. He’ll need to bend reality to find the scenario in which he wins. 

It was an intense battle for Dr. Strange to get here. His victory being capped off by 2 of his keepers makes it all the more satisfying. As we mentioned, he has 3 everyday starters on bye in the opening week of Round 1.

Considering he needs to replicate that all-time performance just to keep pace with what we’ve seen from Peyton as of late, Peyton is considered the favorite by a good margin.

SFI Championship Semi-Finals, Round 1

#2 Suh-Tang Clan (9-4) vs #3 Odell’s Rusty Hip (9-4)

Odell’s Rusty Hip enters her 4th postseason. As the reigning champion with 2 championship games under her belt, she carries a wealth of experience into her 2023 postseason campaign.

By regular season record, she’s the winningest manager in the SFI. She faces off against a manager in his 2nd season and first playoff game. 

With some truly explosive talent on her side, can she make a run at another championship to defend her crown?

In his sophomore campaign, Vision will make his playoff debut. Facing the reigning champion and 2x Finalist, his mettle will be tested immediately. 

Having a phenomenal start to 2023, he certainly cooled off down the stretch, losing 3 of his last 7 following a 6-1 start. 

He is still an elite team with the potential to take it all the way. If there was ever a way to convince the league he has championship pedigree, defeating the current champion to reach the finals sure is a way to put them on notice. 

Both of these teams are ticking time bombs, undoubtedly having the two best upsides of any team in the league. Their weakness? Consistent dominance. Being the 2nd and 4th highest scoring teams, this may appear as nitpicking; but hey, that’s what we’re here for.

They’ve both finished below league average in points just under half the season, at 6/13 games. For perspective, Peyton’s Forehead Shiner has finished above league average in points 11/13 regular season contests. 

Odell could easily have a trademark game this year and send Vision home with the sophomore blues. If this were only a single game, she may have the advantage. But Vision has the better roster overall, so we’ll consider him the favorite over a 2-week stretch. 

Commish’s Pick: Suh-Tang Clan

SFI Consolation Bracket, Round 1

#5 Sledge Hammer (6-7) vs #8 Team G-MEN (3-10)

For the first time in SFI history, in the final game of the last week of the regular season; Sledge Hammer has been eliminated from postseason contention. He will not be a member of the final four.

Finally, nature is healing. 

From a championship loss to a first round defeat; now being out of the race altogether, he will look to rebuild 3 full seasons removed from his last championship victory. 

Facing off against a decimated squad in the G-MEN heading into the first round of the consolation bracket, the team that gave him loads of trouble this season will likely be quick work for the Hammer as he aims for the #1 Overall Pick and the coveted Cheeze-It Bowl. 

The shield destroyed and the wheels came off this squad in 2023, following up his championship campaign with double digit losses at 3-10. 

Spending serious draft capital on Lawrence & Burrow was a solid move pre-draft. However, Burrows had a underwhelming season before a season-ending injury, and Lawrence has only just started to put up fantasy numbers.

In the postseason, he faces off against a lethal Sledge Hammer looking to blow off some steam after nearly missing the playoffs for the first time ever. With the odds stacked mightily against him, he could be seeking the #2 overall pick and last place. It’s time to put this season in the rear view and look to 2024. 

With the dynasty of Thanos over for as long as it reigned, he seeks a much needed rebuild. Boasting a team that still has more exponentially dangerous assets than his opponent, the G-Men may be in for a thrashing as the Mad Titan still seeks hardware as a consolation for his dashed playoff dreams.

Commish’s Pick: Sledge Hammer

SFI Consolation Bracket, Round 1

#6 Bradshank Redemption (4-9) vs #7 Pull The Lever, Gronk! (3-10)

We’ll do our best, but we really don’t have a lot of analysis to do for Bradshank.

Were there a few players that she reached on by a little? Sure. Wilson and Rhamondre come to mind. Those still ended up being startable fantasy assets. The real issue was injuries.  Jaylen Warren and KW3 may have been the best selections at RB for the entire draft, minus Mostert from another manager. 

Other than looking at a high-end QB first in 2024 rather than a position player, the draft process doesn’t need to change all that much for Bradshank. 

Historically, this was one of the best seasons to stack wide receivers, so the strategy was correct. However, the actual receivers she ended up drafting didn’t meet the hype. 

With Adams having awful QB play, Kupp being injured, and Higgins dealing with both, Diggs was really the only player that actually lived up to his ADP. While Adams wasn’t a complete bust, this selection with ASRB, AJB, and CeeDee Lamb still on the board at that time certainly stings.

Mahomes was certainly a bust with the #2 overall selection. Coming off an MVP season, the signs for regression were definitely there and discussed heavily in the fantasy community given the receiving corp (more like receiving corpse am I right?) he had heading into the season and his lack of rushing upside compared to other QBs. Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts needed to be the selections in this spot for optimal competitive viability. 

Dak was a massive steal down the stretch. This was probably her best selection of the entire draft and certainly a Top 5 steal of the draft. 

In a Mother-Daughter match, the battle for the 2024 #1 Overall Pick is on the line.

Winning both regular season matchups, Bradshank has the chance to complete the sweep. Since their last meeting, things have changed. Boasting an MVP-caliber season from Dak Prescott among other key players performing well lately, Gronk may be the favorite heading into the consolation bracket. 

Commish’s Pick: Pull The Lever, Gronk!

Zach S