The Sanderson Gazette - 2025-10-01 - Jumbled

We currently have nine teams in a big 2-2 jumble - the most we've ever had! (In 2008, 2019, and 2022, there were eight; 2021 had only two!)

The jumbled standings are reflected in the playoff odds, where no team has less than a 12% chance. That's the highest minimum value there since we expanded to fourteen teams! No one can truly say they're out of contention at this point, which is really exciting.

Week 4 Recap

Scott def. Schertz, 153.75-106.23

Well, this was a statement. Scott followed up his week three Team Blangums with an even better score. As usual, Bijan Robinson (27.63) was great, and Jordan Love (29.15) was a great play at QB. Oh, and don't forget about Drake London (20.67) and Chase McLaughlin (18.50). When all was said and done, Scott's lowest scorer - and only one in single digits - was Jordan Mason with 7.70.

Schertz didn't have a bad week himself, with Omarion Hampton (23.73) and De'Von Achane (16.17) having great games, but had no hope of keeping pace with his opponent.

Babel def. Derrek, 146.34-71.12

Babel rode Josh Jacobs (30.07), Bo Nix (29.00), and Kenneth Gainwell (26.57) to a huge win, nearly doubling D's total and moving to .500 on the year. Nearly a third of Derrek's points came from Christian McCaffrey (23.17).

Rabbit def. Mike R., 133.90-106.87

Rabbit won the Game of the Blingaweek convincingly, with George Pickens (29.87) and the Detroit defense (21.00) having excellent games. Mike got another great week from Puka Nacua (28.67), but, like Schertz, just couldn't keep up with an opponent firing on all cylinders.

Richie def. Ed, 127.70-106.95

This was the only matchup that was in any sort of doubt on Monday night, and after Justin Fields (28.40) ran for a long touchdown, it no longer was. New arrivals Quentin Johnston (19.07) and Travis Etienne, Jr. (18.53) delivered for Richie, as well. Ed got 25.45 from Josh Allen and 16.50 from Javonte Williams, which means that while he did lose, he did finally win a trade (more on that below).

Pulley def. Dave, 121.85-96.29

Pulley took home his first win of the season behind Patrick Mahomes II (29.50) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (21.33), overcoming a zero from his defense (San Francisco). Dave, like Derrek, got nearly a third of his points from a RB; Ashton Jeanty finally broke out with 32.07.

Rob def. Matt, 112.26-72.48

Rob's new QB (Baker Mayfield, 20.75) and WR (Emeka Egbuka, 19.47) were struggling until they connected on a 77-yard touchdown and gave him a nice cushion over our Monster Heel. And stop me if you've heard this before: Matt got nearly a third of his points from his best RB, Bucky Irving (23.90).

Kevin def. Pat, 86.80-72.03

In a high-scoring week (see below), this game stood out as the clear worst. There were no twenty-point players; Deebo Samuel, Sr. (16.50) led the way for Kevin, while Caleb Williams (13.40) did for Pat.

Trades

Trade between Ed and Scott

Ed received:

Scott received:

Ed was staring 1-3 in the face and decided he couldn't carry Lamb through his injury. Scott was happy to take him in what turned into a pretty huge deal.

It's no surprise Ed wound up taking a hit this week because of the trade, but in a twist, so did Scott! Williams and Egbuka outscored Walker III and Garrett Wilson, whom Scott played in their places. It didn't impact his matchup or his question for back-to-back Blangums, though, so I doubt he's upset.

Trade between Mike R. and Richie

Mike R. received:

Richie received:

Richie stole a win last week, but his team was still in rough shape... so Mike came to the rescue with a trade that had an immediate impact on both their games.

Johnston (19.07) and Etienne, Jr. (18.53) had great games and turned a loss into a win for Richie (and a win into a loss for Ed), while A.J. Brown scored just 0.93, dooming Mike to a loss.

Trade between Ed and Rob

Ed received:

Rob received:

Rob coveted Egbuka and was willing to send a top-two QB (Allen) for him. Everything else in this trade is just for balance.

As mentioned before, Ed actually came out ahead on this one - though it was by less than a point. Allen (25.45) was very good, and while Harvey (17.13) was, too, it was on Ed's bench... but that was to make room to start Javonte Williams (16.50), who had more than Kamara did. Rob lost this by more than Ed one, because it meant he played Kamara (7.27) over Marvin Harrison, Jr. (14.80).

Standings

  1. Rabbit, 4-0, 455.79
  2. Scott, 3-1, 493.72
  3. Mike R., 2-2, 441.47
  4. Schertz, 2-2, 409.70
  5. Babel, 2-2, 398.92
  6. Kevin, 2-2, 392.28
  7. Pat, 2-2, 390.50
  8. Rob, 2-2, 385.39
  9. Derrek, 2-2, 382.59
  10. Matt, 2-2, 371.11
  11. Richie, 2-2, 329.56
  12. Pulley, 1-3, 434.80
  13. Ed, 1-3, 390.57
  14. Dave, 1-3, 366.85

Blingalytics Ratings

  1. Scott, 755
  2. Rabbit, 683
  3. Mike R., 656
  4. Pulley, 635
  5. Schertz, 534
  6. Ed, 451
  7. Pat, 448
  8. Rob, 447
  9. Babel, 438
  10. Derrek, 432
  11. Kevin, 426
  12. Matt, 392
  13. Dave, 356
  14. Richie, 348

Weekly Awards

Team Blangums

Scott earned back-to-back Blangums awards with 153.75. He now has the tenth most points through four weeks in Blingaleague history.

Slapped Heartbeat

Derrek (71.12) just barely edged out both Pat (72.03) and Matt (72.48) for the Slapped Heartbeat award this week.

Weekly MVP

Just like in real life, this week's MVP will go to the QB of the best team: Jordan Love (29.15) for Scott.

Dud of the Week

A.J. Brown put up just 0.93 for Mike R.

Start of the Week

Scott identified Jordan Love (29.15) as his starter, which made Baker Mayfield (20.75) expendable. If he had stuck with weeks 1-3 starter Mayfield, he wouldn't have won Team Blangums.

Misplay of the Week

It's easy to give this to Mike, for his trade to Richie that netted him -30 points, but we already talked about that above.

Instead, let's talk about Derrek, who at some point has to stop playing Ladd McConkey, right? The second-year Chargers WR scored 9.87 in week one and has declined each week since. This week he had just 1.47 in D's lineup, while DK Metcalf had 22.80 on his bench. Derrek wouldn't have won with that total, but he would have avoided the shame of getting his heartbeat slapped.

Pickup of the Week

The waiver wire didn't make a big impact this week, so we will once again celebrate Richie's shrewd trade for Quentin Johnston and Travis Etienne, Jr.

Pryor Play of the Week

Dave lost his game, but Ashton Jeanty (32.07) had the kind of performance this award was created to highlight.

Week 5 Preview

Game of the Blingaweek

Pralines & Dick (Rabbit, 4-0, 1st) vs. The Chocolate Donuts (Kevin, 2-2, 6th)

Rabbit leads all-time series, 11-7.

Rabbit will once again be featured here, and as long as he's undefeated and playing other playoff contenders, that's unlikely to change. Jonathan Taylor (vs. LV) and Jalen Hurts (vs. DEN) have been his star players so far, which is to be expected. But he's got a couple of WRs whose production is all jumbled up from what was expected: George Pickens (@NYJ) has three games with 15 or more points, while Brian Thomas, Jr. (vs. KC) has none! Even if that situation un-jumbles itself, Rabbit should still have one of the top teams all year and really should be thinking about a bye already.

Kevin's team is basically a jumble in the aggregate (which is nothing new for him). He's scored above 140 and below 70 on the year. Ja'Marr Chase (vs. DET), the consensus #1 overall player heading into the year, has only scored above six points once (and that was 28.00!), while Keenan Allen (vs. WAS) was his steadiest contributor until this past week. Jahmyr Gibbs (@CIN) will have to continue to carry a heavy load... and his matchup this week means he actually might be able to.

Pick: Pralines & Dick.

Other Blingamatches

Keep Calm & Stefon (Babel, 2-2, 5th) vs. The Vistas are Back (Pat, 2-2, 7th)

Pat leads all-time series, 9-7.

We now come to the two teams most jumbled up by injuries so far. Babel was already down James Conner, and now adds Tyreek Hill to the list. Week four heroes Josh Jacobs and Kenneth Gainwell are both on bye, which means future Remember-A-Guys like Chris Rodriguez, Jr. (@LAC), Kendre Miller (vs. NYG), and Malik Washington (@CAR) are currently slotted to start.

That would look like a death sentence against anyone other than Pat, who saw Malik Nabers join Mike Evans in his team infirmary. His emergency backups, Rashid Shaheed (vs. NYG) and Joshua Palmer (vs. NE), are at least guys he drafted. Derrick Henry (vs. HOU), who is still healthy, if all jumbled up, really needs to get back on track if Pat wants to right his ship, but he does look likely to move to 3-2, at least.

Pick: The Vistas are Back.

schertzopotamus (Schertz, 2-2, 4th) vs. D's Nuts (Derrek, 2-2, 9th)

Derrek leads all-time series, 9-5.

Schertz has quietly scored 106 or more each of the last three weeks and sits in fourth place. Omarion Hampton (vs. WAS) has capitalized on Najee Harris's season-ending injury and De'Von Achane (@CAR) has been very good all year. That has made up for the jumbling of Nico Collins (@BAL) and Kyren Williams (vs. SF), who have both been underwhelming to start the year.

Derrek's team might have the least amount of jumbling; it's really just Ladd McConkey (vs. WAS) who's been unexpectedly bad. Justin Herbert (vs. WAS) has been a good, but not great QB. Christian McCaffrey (@LAR) is healthy, so he's been really good. TreVeyon Henderson (@BUF) is still ramping up to more usage. D's team is probably going to tread water all year and hope that McConkey or others level-up.

Pick: schertzopotamus.

Harrison Hammers (Matt, 2-2, 10th) vs. Pullman's MondoSquad (Pulley, 1-3, 12th)

Matt leads all-time series, 10-8.

Matt's team identity is all jumbled up. Is he the team that started 2-0, with the sixth and third best scores in the first two weeks? Or is he the team that lost its next two, with the fourth and third worst scores in those weeks? For week five, he's looking more like the latter; Lamar Jackson (vs. HOU) doesn't look likely to play, and Bucky Irving's (@SEA) status is up in the air. For the former, Spencer Rattler (vs. NYG) looks like quite a downgrade; for the latter, Rachaad White (@SEA) might not be?

What's most jumbled for Pulley is his record! He's just the fifth team to start 1-3 or worse with 2.5 or more expected wins. The results of those teams are jumbled, too - two of them eventually earned a bye, but the other two missed the playoffs completely! Amon-Ra St. Brown (@CIN) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (vs. TAM) have been everything Pulley could have asked for before the season started, and Patrick Mahomes II (@JAC) just had his best fantasy performance in what feels like years. That means Pulley's bye prospects are realistic... but probably need Terry McLaurin (@LAC) to rebound and Darren Waller (@CAR) to have more games like he did in week four.

Pick: Pullman's MondoSquad.

Bernie's Bullies (Mike R., 2-2, 3rd) vs. Gross-ly underestimated (Richie, 2-2, 11th)

Mike R. leads all-time series, 7-6.

These two jumbled their trajectories with their trade last week and will forever be entangled in history. Puka Nacua (vs. SF) can't be expected to cover for A.J. Brown (vs. DEN) forever for Mike, though he should stay among the top WRs all year. James Cook (vs. NE) and Trey McBride (vs. TEN) should maintain their status among the top RBs and TEs, respectively, too. Daniel Jones (vs. LV) remains the wild card that could determine if Mike gets a bye or falls into the chaotic middle class of the league this year.

Richie must feel like he's playing with house money, having won two straight after his historically bad week two. Justin Fields (vs. DAL) is healthy again, which means he's good for a ton of rushing yards every week, and Quentin Johnston (vs. WAS) and Travis Etienne, Jr. (vs. KC) look like legitimate fantasy stars this year.

Pick: Gross-ly underestimated.

Let him Lay them Bricks! (Scott, 3-1, 2nd) vs. Double Digits (Dave, 1-3, 14th)

Dave leads all-time series, 6-1.

The outcome of the pre-draft trade between these two, which was mostly judged to be in Dave's favor at the time, is what's been jumbled here. Bijan Robinson (bye) has been a fantasy MVP contender for Scott so far, though he won't be available this week. Dak Prescott (@NYJ) is coming off a huge game, though, and so is Garrett Wilson (vs. DAL). And Jordan Mason (@CLE) is the clear #1 RB for the Vikings. A third straight Blangums might be too much to ask, but a third straight win looks very doable for Scott.

Dave finally gets Jayden Daniels (@LAC) back, and Ashton Jeanty (@IND) no longer looks like a bust, so he might not remain the worst team in the league for long. But does he have enough firepower to turn his season around? Justin Jefferson (@CLE) has been consistently solid, but hasn't hit anywhere near his ceiling; that's probably key for Dave.

Pick: Let him Lay them Bricks!

Rob for Today (Rob, 2-2, 8th) vs. Live Commish (Ed, 1-3, 13th)

Ed leads all-time series, 11-10.

Just two seasons ago, these two met in the Blingabowl. Now, they couldn't beat a team that scored below 35 the week before he faced the two of them. Talk about jumbled!

Pick: Rob for Today.

Closing Thoughts

Week four's average score was 108.18, by far our highest of the season and the 22nd best of all time.