Post Trade Deadline Championship Rankings/Odds

After a trade deadline that saw big moves out of the Gators, Blazers, and Oilers franchises, it's time to take another look at the GFFL XI Championship odds.


1. Wolf Puppies (9-1) - It's hard not to rank Essick's franchise #1 as they are leading not only the standings but points scored as well. While they will most likely take an L this weekend due to bye week struggles, they are all but assured a playoff spot and the #1 seed. That of course puts them 1 win away from GFFL Bowl XI and 2 wins away from being this year's champion. This team may not look like the best squad on paper but they are riding a rag-tag group of out of nowhere HB1's (Charcandrick and DWill) and are at this point the favorite to be GFFL Bowl XI Champions.
Odds: 1/1. 

2.  STUB (6-4) - I know a lot of you guys don't want to see this team ranked so high and I'll be honest I can't believe they are. This is one of those examples of the more things change the more they stay the same. Vogler has an entirely new franchise, yet here we are again looking at him as a possible championship contender. This squad may be getting healthy at the right time to make an unreal fourth  consecutive trip to the GFFL Bowl. One thing is for sure, I think we are headed for a week 14 Classics-STUB showdown for the Central division, #2 seed, and 1st round bye. Vogler boasts a very complete team (especially if McFadden stays healthy) and with Romo back for Dez, STUB may have saved their best for last.
Odds: 2/1

3. Gators (5-5) - The Gators may be destined to play in the wildcard round (possibly even as the 6 seed), however if you're looking at rosters there is not a stronger team out there. Palmer-Freeman-Peterson-Lynch-DT-Evans-Reed, as far as usage and talent in 2015 it doesn't get much better than this. They'll have to finish this season out at least 6-1 to win a title most likely but the talent is here to do it. It's been a weird season for the Gators and while this is far from the undefeated season many speculated about they still have a great shot at GFFL's ultimate prize.
Odds: 4/1. 

4. Classics (7-3) - This team is a lock for the playoffs, especially with 2 Nutrient games left on the schedule. The only problems for the defending champs are, one STUB is lurking to steal that bye week, and two he is in a very bad spot as far as halfbacks. JHill has been garbage and has a very uninviting playoff schedule, Starks is a low end HB2 at best, and Chris Johnson is seemingly wearing down and one bad quarter away from losing his job to Ellington/D.Johnson. Christian is a heck of an owner, that's why he's the defending champ. However on a team full of big names the only guy he's got that is playing like a star is last year's GFFL Bowl MVP, Antonio Brown. I'm overall very worried about the Classics and think if they don't get that 1st round bye their chances at making it back to the GFFL Bowl are slim to none.
Odds: 7/1

5. Oilers (6-4) - Surprise, this team that seemed destined to rebuild is now right in the thick of things and the heavy favorite to win the West. It's kind of a weird squad, not superstar names we're used to seeing on championship squads, but Hopkins and AROB are the new elite WR's in town. They also have two high end HB2's that are just good enough to bring home a championship. Eifert gives this squad an elite scoring threat at TE who is capable of winning weeks on his own making this team very dangerous in the playoffs.
Odds: 8/1

6. Blazers (5-5) - Kind of a gross team but at the end of the day they can field a competitive roster at each position and are led by the number one QB in fantasy, Tom Brady. While they are most definitely a long shot they have the ground work set up in such a way that lightning could strike and they could go on a magical 3 game run. Will they? Probably not. Also before even thinking about that magical run, they have to get through this tough 3 game stretch over the next 3 weeks first (Gators, DKillers, Oilers).
Odds: 15/1

7. Dream Killers (5-5) - Man that game last week would have been nice to have. However the Dream Killers' schedule sets up in such a way that playoffs still seem very possible if not likely. The biggest game on their schedule is a Thanksgiving week 12 match up with the Blazers. That game could very well go a long way in determining who goes to the dance and who stays home. The DKillers have an eye on 2016 and their roster while decent at every spot does not seem like a real championship threat (you never know what can happen when the season comes down to 3 weeks though). One thing that really may come back to haunt, Miles is the points tiebreaker as they have scored the 2nd fewest points in the whole league. While I think DKillers are more likely to make the playoffs than the Blazers, I actually think they have worse championship odds.
Odds: 25/1

8. Synergy Express (6-4) - I don't know how Chris has gotten this team to 6-4, I just really don't know but I do applaud it. The schedule is also pretty decent for a playoff ticket but...there's just no way in the world this roster can win a championship it just cannot happen and it will not happen. I don't know if they'll hold on to their playoff spot but I do know Synergy Express will not be your 2015 champions.
Odds: 100/1

TRADE BLOCK

For SALE

Cubs

HB Marshawn Lynch

QB Russell Wilson

Gators

2017 1st (Blazers)

HB Gio Bernard

HB Christine Michael

WR Emmanuel Sanders

NC Panthers

HB Rashad Jennings

HB Jonathan Stewart

WR Michael Crabtree

WR Danny Amendola

Wolf Puppies

HB Dion Lewis

HB Jamaal Charles

Synergy Express

Everyone other than Duke Johnson and Stefon Diggs

STUB

WR Calvin Johnson

TE Travis Kelce

HB Matt Forte

12 Quick Hits

12 Quick Hits

1. The Wolf Puppies set a brand new scoring record of 164, unreal amount of points, thanks in large part to Drew Brees' 44 point outburst. Will didn't have a lot of respect last year and was known mostly as "that guy that made that trade" but after taking over the ex-Pirates, Will has made some solid moves and kept the magic going with this franchise. If he can lead these guys to the #1 seed and to GFFL Bowl XI, respect won't be a problem anymore. 

2. All in, that's the message the Gators sent when they dealt LeVeon Bell and Stefon Diggs this week. I was able to trade for about 70% of my starting line up for my match up this week against STUB and I've got my sights set solely on a 2015 playoff berth and title. 

3. The Dream Killers, aka the anti-Gators, are grabbing future chips every and any way they can. They've acquired both LeVeon Bell and Keenan Allen in addition to a trade earlier in the year that netted them Jordy Nelson. It's an excellent strategy at 5-3 as they still have a roster that looks like a contender, but have also set themselves up to field a potential juggernaut in 2016 and beyond.

4. Don't look now but the Houston Oilers are 6-2 and just might be for real. I know what you're thinking, the West is terrible and yeah you would be right. This is a solid squad though and there's an argument that could be made that they are a top 3-4 team in the league. 

5. It's about time for the Blazers to turn into sellers, this team is not making the playoffs but they do have valuable playoff assets. Tom Brady, Frank Gore, Danny Woodhead, and Justin Forsett could all net some youth and/or picks that would serve the Blazers better than bringing them back in 2016. 

6. How cool are the Nutrients man? Yeah I know they suck but to have Todd Gurley and Amari Cooper on the same squad is just awesome. If they can figure out a way to fill out the rest of this starting line up then they could eventually take control of the Central for a whileeeee. 

7. Copperheads are taking the rest of this year and 2016 off but 2017, oh 2017, these guys will have some fun in a loaded draft. 

8. The Classics are kind of flying under the radar but they look like a lock for 9-10 wins and an outside shot at their patented 11-3 season. This squad is arguably the most consistent franchise in GFFL history and they've put themselves in place to contend for a record 3rd GFFL title this year. 

9. I said arguably for a reason, no franchise has had as much success year in and year out as the ones ran by Michael Vogler. Three straight championship games and now he's taken a franchise that was 3-11 last year to a 5-3 record and a favorite to make the playoffs. If he somehow gets this squad to GFFL Bowl XI, I really don't know what we'll do. 

10. Taylor Ray has an interesting squad this year, they're ultra talented in some areas and just average in others which is normally a formula for a playoff spot but for some reason this just hasn't really clicked. At 4-4 with a daunting schedule coming up you could see this team become a seller at the deadline (Marshawn Lynch anyone?), especially if they drop this game to the Blazers.

11. The Panthers are 2-6, their owner is the oldest in the league and technology challenged so this squad doesn't get a lot of press. However with that being said, the Panthers are building a little squad over here, Tannehill-Latavius-JStew-Alshon-Cooks-Olsen and a top 3 pick in 2016 that's a building project that's going in the right direction.

12. Chris Murphy and Synergy Express is kind of weird, not so much Chris but the direction his team is going. I don't know what they're doing to be honest it's weird but I'm a big Diggs fan and wish they'd move Marshall for another young receiver so I could get somewhat excited about a Miller-Duke-Diggs-YoungWR core and picks.