2015-05 Dope Sheet

Another week of BFL is in the books and after some stunning results, the first cycle of fixtures will be completed by the end of week 5 as each team will have faced each other once. The average scores this week were quite low, probably as a result of the bye weeks beginning, but you can expect some high scoring match ups this week. The Dope continues to live up to his name with the predictions, so take very little notice of what he says.

Morgan @ Winos
Team Morgan played reasonably well in week 4 and whilst QB Peyton Manning and RB C.J. Anderson continue to put up below average numbers, there was an encouraging performance from TE Martellus Bennett. Coming out of the draft, Team Morgan was highly fancied and unfortunately, they have not lived up to the hype so far. The Panthers D/ST ranked sixth last week in points earned, but are on their bye week this week. However, picking up the Giants D/ST to cover for their absence was a nice move and The Dope anticipates that they do very well.
The Winos staunch refusal to change their line-ups has still not caught up with them as the team remains hot on the heels of the Rage at the top of the rankings. With several players on byes, if the front office’s laissez-faire attitude to team management has not been popular within the league, but given the results so far, it looks to have been justified. However, at some point, leaving the team untouched is bound to catch up with them and they will get beaten down heavily.
The Dope’s Prediction: This is the week where some tinkering would have helped the Winos, expect Morgan to win convincingly here.

Dezzys @ Rage
Given the predictions of doom and gloom in this column last week, the Dezzys upset victory against the Clowns has reinvigorated the team. DE Ezekiel Ansah was a defensive monster last week, with WR Jeremy Maclin thriving for the second week in a row and a third week is potentially forthcoming.
With the absence of RB Marshawn Lynch not announced until after he had been placed in the line-up, Rage fans were worried for the outlook of their team, but it was an outstanding performance from WR DeAndre Hopkins, as well as an inspired defensive effort – particularly from LB James Laurinaitis – that carried the BFL’s #1 team to the Hyundai Player of the Week award. With QB Cam Newton on his bye week, Drew Brees will return to the line up to lead what is now one of the most stacked offenses in the league.
The Dope’s Prediction: This one is going to be closer than Vegas predicts, with the Rage’s offense overpowering Dallas’s incredible defense.

Cookies @ Clowns
There is no other way of putting it, but the Cookies are the greatest 1-3 team ever. When you compare their record to the Orlando Rage, who have conceded more points and only scored eight more than them, The Dope continues to feel for the Cookies fans. However, the teams IDPs this week could contribute in this grudge match, finally living up to the front office’s mantra it does win championships.
The Clowns were the team most affected by the first of the bye weeks last week and that is what contributed to the shock defeat at the hands of the Dezzys. With those players now available, expect QB Tom Brady to lead the offense back into action.
The Dope’s Prediction: On paper the Cookies are a more complete team, but expect their misery to continue as the Clowns’ rested offense runs riot.

The Dope’s Week 4 Predictions: 1-2
The Dope’s Overall Predictions: 5-7