Tom Rides Dak, Scott Gets Gibbs Shoved Down His Throat
Only one name overlaps this week, the Broncos defense. Everything else is a different philosophy. Tom spread the money, and Scott had his roster built around a $9,500 problem he didn’t choose.
Tom’s Week 8 Lineup
QB Dak Prescott (Cardinals @ Cowboys), $6,300, facing the 29th-ranked defense.
RB Derrick Henry (Ravens @ Bills), $7,200, facing the 29th-ranked defense.
RB B. Tuten (Colts @ Jaguars), $5,900, facing the 21st-ranked defense.
WR Caleb Douglas (Patriots @ Dolphins), $4,100, facing the 20th-ranked defense.
WR Zay Flowers (Ravens @ Bills), $7,200, facing the 32nd-ranked defense.
WR CeeDee Lamb (Cardinals @ Cowboys), $8,100, facing the 21st-ranked defense.
TE Hunter Henry (Patriots @ Dolphins), $4,300, facing the 31st-ranked defense.
FLEX T.J. Hockenson (Vikings @ Lions), $4,600, facing the 32nd-ranked defense.
DST Broncos (Chiefs @ Broncos), $2,300, facing a 7.9 FPPG allowed average.
Scott’s Week 8 Lineup
QB Josh Allen (Ravens @ Bills), $7,700, facing the 14th-ranked defense.
RB Jonah Coleman (Chiefs @ Broncos), $4,300, facing the 8th-ranked defense.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Vikings @ Lions), $9,500, facing the 1st-ranked defense.
WR C. Bell (Patriots @ Dolphins), $3,200, facing the 20th-ranked defense.
WR Ja’Kobi Lane (Ravens @ Bills), $3,400, facing the 32nd-ranked defense.
WR Puka Nacua (Chargers @ Rams), $8,600, facing the 12th-ranked defense.
TE Trey McBride (Cardinals @ Cowboys), $7,400, facing the 13th-ranked defense.
FLEX Josh Palmer (Ravens @ Bills), $3,600, facing the 27th-ranked defense.
DST Broncos (Chiefs @ Broncos), $2,300, facing a 7.9 FPPG allowed average.
Color Commentary
Scott’s week started with a loss, and losing comes with a penalty. This week’s penalty is Jahmyr Gibbs at $9,500, the most expensive player on either roster, locked into a matchup against the 1st-ranked defense in football. Tom picked him on purpose. Scott didn’t have a say, and he had to build the other eight spots around a salary hole he never asked for.
That explains the barbell. With $9,500 gone on Gibbs, Scott still paid $8,600 for Nacua and $7,400 for McBride, which left $3,200 and $3,400 for two of his receivers. It only works if the expensive guys all show up, and the most expensive one is walking into the toughest matchup on the board.
Tom went the other way. Nobody on his roster faces a defense ranked better than 20th, and five spots draw a soft matchup at 29th or worse (Flowers and Hockenson at 32nd, Hunter Henry at 31st, Dak and Derrick Henry at 29th). He has real exposure to two games: Ravens-Bills with Henry and Flowers, and Cardinals-Cowboys with Dak and Lamb. Scott is in the same two games with Allen, Lane, and Palmer in Ravens-Bills and McBride in Cardinals-Cowboys, just with a thinner roster behind them.
Both managers took the Broncos defense, so that spot can’t separate them. The other eight is where Scott needs a punishment pick to beat the odds.
Season Tracker
Tom — 6 wins
Scott — 1 win
