In the world of fantasy football, all sorts of things equate to points: receiving yards, passing yards, rushing yards, sacks, points allowed, fumbles, etc. But what if fantasy football scoring was contingent on your players scoring actual points in the game? This week’s recap breaks down fantasy vs. reality scores, and shows how small a margin those victories really are. "Reality scores" are tallied with only touchdowns (passing, rushing & receiving), field goals, extra points and 2-point conversions. Let’s see what happens when fantasy meets reality.

Contributing Writer: Russell Deleon of Prickly Prancin

The best day of year is hands down fantasy football draft night.  All the research, training camp watch, and excitement of a new season culminates in an evening of selecting your studs, sleepers, and avoiding those bust players.  Even with the greatest of drafts the team will evolve as the season progresses and you’ll need to be savvy on the waiver wire and trades.  A well timed trade can put you over the top and give you team the needed boost.  With that in mind I wanted to put together a fundamental list of tips to make successful trade.

1. If you’re initiating the trade, make the initial offer.
Be specific on what players you’re looking to exchange. Don’t just send a message asking “who do you want for player X” Make the initial offer and outline who you want and who you’ll give up.

2. Consider your trade partners needs as well as your own and act accordingly.
Look over your trade partners roster and see what the potential trade leaves their roster looking like. How will their depth and strength of position be affected?

3. Don’t lowball people so hard that its insulting.
This one is pretty straight forward. Give quality for quality. Don’t offer 3 mediocre players for one superstar.  Don’t offer bench players for starters.

4. If you don’t like the trade, send a counter offer or note.
Every player in fantasy has a price. Everyone. (now repeat that it in the Godfather’s voice) Tell people what the price is. As steep as the price is, at least your fellow manager will know…. Or send a note saying your player is off the market.

5. Don’t be upset when you lose a trade.
Sometimes the player you may trade for might tear up his ACL the following week, and the player you traded away goes on to be league MVP. Hey it happens.  No crying in fantasy football, the commish doesn’t want to hear it. You can bounce back, stalk the waiver wire like a crazy ex girlfriend

6. Trade.
If fantasy were won at the draft, no one would play. Trades are fun, they keep things interesting and create rivalries.  Now go out and make a trade!

Contributing Writer: Justin Moreno of Lloyd Dobler
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Obi-Juan Kenobi beats Lloyd Dobler: 111-96
Surfing in Indonesia has not slowed down Obi-Juan juan bit. Solid performances from Steve Smith Sr. (grandpa) and Mark Ingram more than made up for the lack of points from the New England players as well as Carson Palmer, who was knocked out of the game against the Rams. Lloyd Dobler endured Jordy’s bye week and was hoping to squeeze out a win with some help from the Chief’s defense and Sterling Shepherd in week 4’s evening games, but Lloyd got nothing but disappointment. Both teams are now one game back of the undefeated Ertz when Eifert. With Josh coming back from his incredible surf trip, we will see if his team can continue the momentum they built in his absence.
 
Golden One defeats F TROOP Care Bears: 128-40
F Troop’s only production came from Demaryius Thomas. Golden One’s almost outscored F Troop with AJ Green alone, who logged a stellar 10 catch / 173 yard / 1 TD performance. F Troop, like the Patriots, is not worried whatsoever now that Brady is practicing and will be ready to go in week 5. Tom recently purchased Bill Belichick pajamas, and he believes it gets him in a better frame of mind when it comes to making decisions related to the F Troop Care Bears.
 
Straight Outta Goffton defeats Packing Heat: 149-121
Packing Heat had a solid week with a gritty performance from gimpy Russell Wilson (30 points), Melvin Gordon (22 points), Emmanual Sanders (19 points), Jimmy Graham (17 points), and Frank Gore (19 points). Unfortunately, Jo ran into the buzz saw known as SOG, who has Julio Jones… What did Julio do? Only the 6th receiver in history to record 300 yards in one game, along with 12 catches and a TD to boot. A cool 49 point day for Mr. Jones. So to put it simply, Dana and Julio put a beat down on our league manager. No mercy. SOG now sits atop Gondor, while Packing Heat will try and get victory #1 next week and start climbing back in the race.
 
Ertz when Eifert defeats Prickly Prancin: 93-89
Russ’ had to watch OBJ get shut down by the purple people eaters (Vikings defense). OBJ’s measly 2 points caused Prickly Prancin to lose a close one to Ertz when Eifert. This one hurt even more because PP had John Brown and his 25 points sitting on the bench. But Ertz had several solid performers also sitting with points on the bench, so we can’t play the what-if game. Clay’s team is the only undefeated team left in the league, and that is no coincidence, as they are also the highest scoring team to date as well. Prickly Prancin is still a respectable 2-2 and will look to get back over .500 next with a W next week.
 
Ram I Am defeats Kiss My Heisman: 118-115
Even though AP is on IR all day, he’s still occupying a bench position for some reason because Sammy Watkins has the IR position filled already. When asked about it after the game, Viju said, “Who cares. We don’t need AP. My brilliant coaching is all that matters.” And he’s sort of right. Pretty much everyone on his team scored 15 points this week as Ram I Am won a nail biter against Kiss My Heisman. KMH is still looking for win #1 as well, but with a solid 115 point performance this week, there is good reason that first victory will come soon.
 
Kashyyyk Wookies Defeats 50 Shades of Caitlyn: 116-96
Carlos did not want Jo and Lils to be the only defeated teams in the league. 50 Shades of Caitlyn (why is your name still Caitlin??), had a very respectable 97 points, but still lost to the Wookies. Mike’s team is building momentum under the solid leadership of Big Ben (44 points) and Antonio Brown (18 points), and at 3-1, the Wookies are putting everyone on notice that their championship last year was no fluke. Caitlyn on the other hand will face off against Packing Heat. Whoever wins that matchup moves out of mom’s basement.