2024 Round 1 Playoff Preview

2024 Playoffs - Round 1

Game 1

This is the most common playoff matchup we have seen in KAOS as Flanders and Ghostbusters meet up for the 4th time. In each of the 3 previous meetings, the winner of this game has won the KAOS Cup with The Ghostbusters holding a 2-1 edge. Overall, these 2 teams have six Championships between them!

The Ghostbusters enter this game with all starters available. They are the only team not effected by the Week 14 Bye-mageddon. They have averaged 161 points/game, led by the #1 ranked Wide Receivers and the 2nd Ranked QBs and RB's.

Flanders may not have been dominant this season, but they were consistent. Their QBs were ranked 6th, the WR are 5th and the RB are 7th while averaging 144.30 points/game.

Ghostbusters won the season series 2-0.

Prediction: Ghostbusters 318 Flanders 301

Game 2

Our 2nd matchup pits the leagues highest scoring team this year Mel Kiper's BA (2,178 points) versus our only auto-draft team Dark Helmet. MKBA is going for their 3rd title while Dark Helmet is looking for his first.

MKBA is in a precarious position in Week 14 with both of his QBs on the bye. He will be going with Derek Carr in one spot while leaving the other spot empty. They'll be relying on their 2nd Ranked RBs and 2nd Ranks WRs. They have been averaging a league-leading 165 points/game.

Helmet has some Bye-week related issues of his own, but at least he will be able to start two QBs even though Bo Nix is not available. Top 10 WR Courtland Sutton will also sit out Week 14, but there #1 Ranked RBs will be there. Helmet averaged 154 points/game, 3rd highest in the league.

Dark Helmet won their only matchup during the season, 221-185. MKBA went 1-2 against the other three playoff teams this year.

Prediction: Upset alert! Leaving a QB spot empty will burn Pete in this one. Helmet wins 303-295

SEASON WRAP-UPS FOR NON-PLAYOFF TEAMS

It's time to take a look at the rest of the league to summarize how their seasons went compared to the preseason rankings, how their draft picks performed and what the future outlook is for each team.

Stick Rock – Preseason Rank (5)/Regular Season Finish (4): Stick Rock finished right around the preseason rank. They were in playoff position every week right up until the final game was played through Week 13.

What went right – Kamara in the 5th Round and Chuba Hubbard in the 12th formed a high-scoring RB duo. Malik Nabers was drafted in Round 6 is a potential keeper. Garrett Wilson was a top 10 WR who could be an elite receiver with better QB play. George Kittle TE3 played above his 7th round draft selection.

What went wrong – The keepers were a bust. CJ Stroud QB15 took a step back, while Jonathan Taylor RB24 and Cooper Kupp WR37 could not stay healthy.

Conclusion: I can just copy and paste from last year’s conclusion. You cannot just draft your team and ride them through an entire fantasy season. Try making a trade or making a lineup adjustment or two instead of riding players that are not getting the job done. This team was good enough to make the playoffs but stuck too long with under-performing players. Kamara, Wilson and Kittle are potential keepers for next year.

Peeping Tomlins – Preseason Rank # 7/Regular Season #6. Another team that finished right around their preseason projection. They stayed in contention right up until a November slump doomed them that saw them average fewer than 120 pts/game.

What went right: Keepers Justin Jefferson WR03 and Kyren Williams RB09 delivered elite production. Jared Goff QB07 was a steal in the 6th round. The Steelers stack worked well… until it didn’t.

What went wrong: Thankfully he got a value in Goff as Keeper Round Selection Dak Prescott QB25 was ineffective and hurt. The other Keeper Round pick Rachaad White RB25 ended up losing his starting job. Jared had the foresight to draft Bo Nix QB08 in the 15th round. Too bad he did not hold on to him as Nix goes on to lead Dark Helmet to a playoff spot.

Conclusion: This team was a playmaker or two short of competing. They will probably only keep two again this year (Jefferson/Williams) but will need to do a better job with the early draft picks in 2025.

Skoal Bandits – Preseason Rank #9/Regular Season #7. Bandits finished 2 slots better than their initial projections thanks in part to improved production from some of his younger players. They got better as the season wore on and are a team heading in the right direction.

What went right: Bijan Robinson RB04 finally delivered on his pre-draft hype. Baker Mayfield QB05 was a 6th round steal as was David Montgomery RB10 in the 8th Round. JK Dobbins RB18 was a reliable RB2 drafted in the 14th round, until he got hurt.

What went wrong: Keeper Round Selections Brandon Aiyuk WR59 and Anthony Richardson QB24 sank any chances of being a contender this year. Mid round picks Mike Evans WR27, Evan Engram TE15 and Christian Kirk WR56 were injured and/or ineffective for most of the season.

Conclusion: This team pretty much delivered on what was expected. A middle of the pack team that has accumulated some young talent to build around in 2025. Bijan Robinson, David Montgomery and Marvin Harrison are potential keepers for 2025.

Wrath of Khan – Preseason Rank #6/Regular Season #8. Jimmy scrapped and clawed his way into contention most of the season before dying down the stretch. The Keepers got off to a slow start and struggled to recover the rest of the season.

What went right: Keeper round selections Derrick Henry RB02 and Jahmyr Gibbs RB05 had monster seasons. In-season Trade for Drake London WR06 added much needed WR depth. The middle and back end of the draft were amazing, picking up Chase Brown RB14 in the 14th, Jordan Mason RB30 in the 19th, George Pickens WR8 in the 8th and Brian Robinson RB26 in the 9th.

What went wrong: The two Keepers sank the season for Khan. Travis Kelce TE04 and Tyreek Hill WR20 were ok, but they needed to be spectacular. The QB play (9th out of 10th) was abysmal.

Conclusion: Another middle of the road team that finished where they were expected to. A lot of talent is on this roster heading into 2025, but it may be time to part ways with Kelce and Hill.

’69 Olds – Preseason rank #3/Regular Season #9: Another disappointing finish for 69 Olds as they struggled to score all season long.

What went right: Jalen Hurts QB06 and Rhamondre Stevenson RB23 provided consistent production in a lineup that needed it. Patrick Mahomes QB09 played well late to salvage the decision to keep him. Kenneth Walker III RB20 and Jason Smith Njigba WR08 were solid mid-round pickups. Darnell Mooney WR17 in the 14th round was one of the best value picks in the draft.

What went wrong: Keepers Isaiah Pacheco RB52 and DJ Moore WR15 were either hurt or too inconsistent to be depended on. Outside of the KWIII, Mooney and JSN picks, the rest of the draft was terrible.

Conclusion: It’s time to blow this team up. Keep Jalen Hurts and throw everyone else back and start over.

Milford Football Team – Preseason rank #2/Regular Season #10. Welcome to the most disastrous Fantasy Season in KAOS history. It started with the Week 1 injury to CMC RB48 and ended with… another injury to CMC. MFT not only goes from first-to-worst, they also become the only 1-win team the league has ever seen.

What went right: Some solid draft picks with Zay Flowers WR09 in the 7th round, Ladd McConkey WR14 in the 11th and Bucky Irving RB17 in the 15th. Tucker Kraft TE06 was an absolute steal in the 20th round.

What went wrong: Everything else. Sam LaPorta TE11, Jaylen Waddle WR35, Raheem Mostert RB45 and Jonathan Brooks RB59 were selected in Rounds 5-9 and none of them proved to be dependable starters. Even the good news didn't last as Ladd McConkey and Tucker Kraft were dropped and Bucky Irving was traded to unload the disappointing Laporta pick.

Conclusion: This was just a huge confluence of Injuries, too many rookies drafted and not enough depth on the bench to overcome the injuries. But Josh Allen QB04 and Jordan Love QB14 are good enough to build a contender around next year.