It's the end of the regular season & now the playoffs start

Contributing Writer:​ Tom Agayoff of Klueless in ChicagO

What does that mean? It means we're nearing the time when we can finally clear our minds of all the confusion and brain fog we’ve been experiencing these last several weeks. Many of us have had moods that are as changeable as the tides. (Don’t believe me just ask your family and friends) And like the tides, those moods are dictated by many things including the weather.  What has weather got to do with fantasy football, you say? Hang on, bear with me for a second. I’m talking about the season. You notice it I'm sure, you just might not realize it.

I’m talking late dawn and early sunsets. Shorter days and longer nights. For all of us in the Northern Hemisphere, December 21 will mark the longest night and shortest day of the year. 

So we let this endeavor (fantasy football) distract us and confuse our minds, which is quite easy for me really. For instance the time my brother and I were attending basic training together in Lackland AFB in Texas and there was a blanket party. It was a night I’ll never forget. It had such a profound affect on the rest of my life that...

Where was I? Yes that's right December 21st. Right December 21st.

Anyways December 21st means one thing to me. More Sunlight

Sunlight

​The first and most well known way in which season affects mood is in what is known as 'seasonal affective disorder' – abbreviated rather appropriately to 'SAD'. This condition can also be known as 'winter depression', 'winter blues' and my favorite 'fantasy depression'.

SAD is a type of major depressive disorder, and sufferers may exhibit any of the associated symptoms, such as feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, withdrawal from social interaction, sleep and appetite problems, difficulty with concentration and decisions, a lack of energy, and/or agitation. Sound familiar?.

There are various explanations as to why someone might experience SAD, but generally it is believed to relate to the amount of light. This then means that it is not in fact the cold of winter that causes the depression, but rather the lack of light getting into your brain. Interestingly birds wake up at the crack of dawn because they have such thin skulls that the light affects them quicker.

So I have examined the past season to see what teams are experiencing “SAD”. 

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In the Rohan division there appears to be 4 teams that are showing little effect of SAD.

​Ertz when Eifert, Obi-Juan Kenobi, Lloyd Dobler, and Prickly Prancin.

Now Obi-Juan Kenobi was easy to figure out. Having only made 6 trades all season indicates that he had a really good draft. As to why his decisions haven’t turn to dirt, the answer lies in his 2 week trip to Indonesia and his additional 2 weeks in Costa Rica. In a word Sunlight.

I was a little puzzled at first about Prickly Prancin, then I remembered an Instagram post.

​He’s got sunshine in his life. Now Lloyd Dobler made 12 acquisitions, an indication of an    average draft. So the good decisions made since the draft has to be attributed to the desert sunshine. Clean dry desert sunshine. As for Ertz only 6 players remaining from the draft. His 11 acquisitions show a keen eye for talent. Ertz, do you have sunshine in your life?

In the Gondor division there are only 2 teams that show little sign of SAD. Straight Outta Goffton and Golden One. Now the Golden One had an average draft, only 9 acquisitions, and 1 on IR. I figure it’s the walks during lunch that have helped here. Straight Outta Goffton on the other hand has only 4 players from the draft left. He replaced them with a whopping 34 acquisitions. And for the most part these trades were successful. So unless he has sunshine in his life I can only infer that it’s the constant light from the monitors that is having an effect here.  

There are 3 teams in the Gondor division the exhibit what I call Syndrome X. These are Powered by Donuts, 50 Shades of Caitlyn and Cleveland’s Dawg Pound. As far as Syndrome X goes, for us guys, we all were told by our mothers in our childhood, “boy, you have a thick skull.” (may have been my dad). The fairer sex doesn’t seem to have this problem, thick skull that is. This is evident by the fact that in Alaska they have the running of the bulls not cows. I remember that time in Sespe hot springs in December I participated in this very ritual.

Now as to why Powered by Donuts, 50 Shades of Caitlyn and Cleveland’s Dawg Pound have not fared much better let’s look at some stats. Cleveland’s Dawg Pound has been decimated by injury, 6 players falling to IR. 50 Shades of Caitlyn has had 2 on IR and has made a 56 activations but has still failed to climb up. It may just be hormones in her/his case.

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As for Powered by Donuts watch out. Having only 6 players left from the draft she has been making moves recently. I mean the way she knocked me out of the playoffs on Monday night was brilliant. I was hoping in 50 shades but it seems 50 shades might be SAD after all. (:-(

Now for the teams that exhibit SAD completely.  

Kashyyyk Wookies, Ram I Am and Klueless in Chicag0. The first statistic that stands out is that we are the lowest teams in PF (points for). In fact the only other team you could place in the category would be 50 Shades. Our acquisitions have been poor at best. 4,8 and 19 total.

If I had to guess I would say “Ram I Am’s” head is not in it.

I mean come on, living in Malibu, driving fast cars, flying jet planes. Did I mention the fabulous view from the patio? Fantasy football?  Yeah right. As a side note, everybody's brought their A game against Ram I Am. 1420 points against, ouch. And his 5 division losses tied him only with yours truly.

Now for the Wookies. Of the 7 losses 6 were blow outs. 4 teams had fewer points against (PA) than the Wookies. The Wookies were mediocre at home and stinkers on the road. Big Ben being out hasn’t helped here either. All I can say is Mike, get a little more sunshine.

And the winner of the SAD trophy goes to Klueless in Chicag0. Monday night clinched it for me. No more stats please. Is it December 21st Yet.

Congratulations to the winners. Hope it’s better next year for the losers.

Is it December 21st yet?

​Hey “commish” I propose a new trophy the SAD trophy. (:-(

One more thing, we all had to write a week recap this year and there have been some very good efforts. So I think we all realize how difficult expressing ourselves can be when we're suffering from SAD. I nominate the League manager as the manager of the year. After all keeping this bunch of misfits together is a chore. Thanks Janelle for keeping us from being really SAD.