LOD Fantasy Football: 2024 Midseason Recap

In honor of the late John Beard, whose wisdom and wit helped shape the League of Drunks (LOD) into the "Greatest Fantasy Football League to Ever Exist," we present this midseason recap of a season that continues to defy expectations. As the race for the trophy bearing his name intensifies, one can't help but imagine Beard's trademark smirk at the chaos unfolding in the league he helped build.

Week 7 Results: Underdogs and Statement Wins

The season's halfway point delivered several notable outcomes:

• "Throat Goat" (Travis) outgunned "Cleveland Steamer" (Brown Dave) 124-109 in the highest-scoring game of the season
• "Cant See The Inevitable Outcome" (Dylan) shocked "BadGamblerJustGiveMeMy$$$" (Bassett) 94-84
• "Say No to Hash" (Kyle) handled "gAyl" (Neale) 91-64
• "UNSUPER MARIO" (B. Maull) edged "Dominicano Muli" (Tony) 91-87
• "SurprisedSheSaidYes" (Alan) dominated "SuxDickForMoney" (Ernest) 90-55

The Battle for Beard's Legacy

As we reach the midpoint of the regular season, the race for the John Beard Memorial Trophy – awarded to the regular season champion – has become a three-way battle. Alan, Travis, and Bassett are locked in a dead heat at 5-2, with Kyle and B. Maull lurking just one game behind at 4-3. The trophy, honoring the man who famously declared himself "regular season champion" despite playoff struggles, serves as a fitting tribute to Beard's competitive spirit and self-deprecating humor.

Current standings with playoff implications:

The Minorities Division:

1. Kyle (4-3, 655 pts, 84% playoff chance)
2. B. Maull (4-3, 613 pts, 73% playoff chance)
3. Brown Dave (3-4, 678 pts, 52% playoff chance)
4. Dylan (3-4, 604 pts, 52% playoff chance)
5. Ernest (3-4, 564 pts, 35% playoff chance)

The Privileged:

1. Travis (5-2, 696 pts, 92% playoff chance)
2. Bassett (5-2, 663 pts, 95% playoff chance)
3. Alan (5-2, 655 pts, 86% playoff chance)
4. Tony (2-5, 598 pts, 28% playoff chance)
5. Neale (1-6, 530 pts, 2% playoff chance)

The Dick Cup: Jets Defense Grounds Ernest

Ernest claimed this week's Dick Cup with a paltry 55-point performance, largely thanks to his unwavering faith in the Jets Defense, which posted an abysmal -5 points against Pittsburgh. The decision-making behind starting the Jets Defense, combined with former MVP Patrick Mahomes sitting as the 22nd ranked QB and his team workhorse DK Metcalf projected to miss Week 8, has league managers wondering if Ernest might become a regular visitor to the Dick Cup ceremony.

Game of the Week: David Slays Goliath

In a matchup that would have made John Beard proud, Dylan's "Cant See The Inevitable Outcome" stunned Bassett's "BadGamblerJustGiveMeMy$$$" 94-84. While Bassett's team struggled with injuries to key players Jayden Daniels, Mike Evans, and Zay Flowers, Dylan's squad saw stellar performances from Bijan Robinson (20 points) and Joe Mixon (23 points). However, Dylan's ongoing quarterback struggles – with only one 15+ point QB performance all season – could limit his playoff aspirations.

LOD Championship Legacy

The League of Drunks' storied history shows a clear dominance by The Privileged division in recent years. No Minorities division manager has claimed the title since 2020, with Travis (4 championships), Kyle (2 championships), and Bassett (1 championship) establishing themselves as the league's dynasty builders. Notable championship matchups:

• 2023: Travis def. Kyle
• 2022: Travis def. Bassett
• 2021: Bassett def. Travis
• 2020: Kyle def. Brown Dave
• 2019: Travis def. Dylan
• 2018: Kyle def. Brown Dave
• 2017: John Beard def. B. Maull
• 2016: Travis def. Eric Curb

Mid Season Playoff Preview

As we reach the halfway point, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape. Current projected playoff seeding and matchups:

First Round Byes:

1. Travis (5-2, 696 pts) - Leading The Privileged
2. Kyle (4-3, 655 pts) - Leading The Minorities

Wild Card Matchups:

• #5 B. Maull vs #4 Alan
• #6 Brown Dave vs #3 Bassett

Historical Context:

• Bassett and Travis have faced each other in two championship games (2021, 2022)
• Brown Dave's playoff appearances have twice ended in championship losses to Kyle (2018, 2020)
• B. Maull hasn't reached a championship game since falling to John Beard in the memorable 2017 finale
• Travis has made three straight championship games

Key Playoff Race Trends:

• Travis and Bassett, who have met in two championship games, currently sit on opposite ends of the playoff bracket
• Brown Dave, despite being the sixth seed, leads The Minorities Division in total points (678)
• Dark horse Alan continues his surprising run, holding the fourth seed after years of struggling

Notable Week 7 Performances

• Baker Mayfield (Kyle) impressed with 26 points on 370 yards and 3 TDs
• Jahmyr Gibbs (Travis) exploded for 27 points with 116 yards and 2 TDs
• Derrick Henry (Brown Dave) continued his touchdown streak with 23 points
• Joe Mixon (Dylan) matched Henry with 23 points of his own
• The Jets Defense (Ernest) grounded their owner's hopes with -5 points

Looking Ahead to Week 8

Key matchups include:

• Kyle vs Bassett: A potential preview of another championship showdown
• Travis vs Ernest: Can Ernest bounce back from his Dick Cup performance?
• Dylan vs Alan: Another chance for David to slay Goliath

As we enter the second half of the season, one can almost hear John Beard's voice echoing through the league: "I've forgotten more football than you've ever known." In a season where division leaders can fall to last-place teams, and the Dick Cup changes hands weekly, perhaps we all have something to learn – and forget – about this beautiful chaos we call fantasy football.

- LOD News Wire