THTR - Week 14

NFL Films famously recorded Hank Stram, legendary Chiefs head coach, shouting to HOF QB Len Dawson, “Just keep matriculating the ball down the field boys.” While this is far from the fiery speeches caught by the Mic’d Up crew, the foundational truth of Stram’s instructions remain important. The search for marginal gains which add up to significant improvements is a pillar of modern sports analytics. “Matriculating the ball down the field” is why Billy Beane looks for players that “get on base”, it’s why Dave Brailsford painted the inside of the British cycling team’s trailer white to better see dust on the bike frames, it’s why Stephen Curry’s shot chart looks like an arc with a dot around the hoop. Decisions viewed in isolation can seem marginal and insignificant, but when they are taken as a collective, result in 20-game win streaks with a minuscule payroll, multiple world championships and Tour de France yellow jerseys, and even a paradigm shifting way to play basketball.

Football is a game of inches and, by association, so is fantasy football.

As such, witness the Curse of D’Onta Foreman. Since Kommish rostered “he who should not be rostered” in Week 10 his squad has averaged a respectable 100.9 points/week. However, in Weeks 1-9, Kommish averaged a monster 118.7. Sure there are other mitigating factors…BUT do you really think the nefarious influence of D- nta F - reman can’t cause injuries!?! The curse is real, and every point matters!!!

All Hail ManChild.

0.5 Commish, OUT!