Here We Go: Division 6

Happy New Year and welcome to the first Winter Season Division 6 article! I can’t lie, it has been a long time since I’ve written for this division. I got to cut my FPF writing teeth here. Was all the football great? No, but it was definitely fun. One of the main things I learned is that every single year in FPF, there are always players that are diamonds in the rough. Whether it be a case of players just wanting to play with their friends, teams that are new to the league, or a crew of free agents, there are always players who dominate here and then climb the ladder and end up doing so in higher divisions. Who will it be this year?

That is one of several questions that will need to be answered this Winter Season. Here are a few more:

*Who can have an impact like Emerson Peterkin?

The two-way threat and starting Quarterback for the Champlain Cavaliers took the league by storm last year, as he used his perfect combo of size and speed to dominate on both sides of the ball. He was able to take his talents and essentially become a hired gun for multiple higher division teams. By all accounts he isn’t playing in Division 6 this season, so who can pick up the mantle of the most exciting player in Div. 6?

*Who will be the best Quarterback in Division 6?

All-Star QB Noah Swaminadhan along with X-Men are now in Division 4B, so who will be the next passer to take the award? There 30 candidates. Let’s see who takes it.

*Can Luca Chiricosta repeat as Two-Way Player of the Year?

Last season as a rookie, he led the way with nine interceptions, running back six of them for touchdowns. As a Receiver, he had a jaw-dropping 17 TD receptions. Talk about impressive. Can he top those numbers this year?  

*Who will have the top defense in Div. 6?

Week 1 showed a lot of promise, as 10 teams held their opponents to two touchdowns or less. Despite this being an offensive league, I can tell you first-hand that defensive is what wins you championships. Who will be the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, or Cleveland Browns this year?

*Which team has the best name in Division 6?

 From Div. 6 to Co-Ed and all the up to Div. 1, there are always a bunch of creative and fun team names. Just looking at the schedule, names like WYD Step Bro’s?, DG Shootas, Show Me Dem TDies  Le Speakeasy, and McGill Swim Team stand out to name a few. I am going with Le Speakeasy.

*Who will be the Best Rusher in Division 6?

Next to Quarterback, this is the most important position in FPF. From names like Zackary Alberts-Gill, Bryan Nguyen, Josh Notte, Charles-David Martel, Kenny Boutilier, to Isiah Allard, a lot of the league’s best Rushers got their start in Div. 6. Who will be the next one to add their name to the list?

*Which rookie team will be the most surprising?

Every year in Division 6, we have a new team who comes into the league with little to no fanfare and ends up shocking a couple of the bigger name and climb the standings. Looking at the rosters, there are a lot of good players and phenomenal athletes singed up this year. With 30 teams making up the field, I see more than a few rookie teams who could make an impact.

*Which veteran squad will be the most disappointing?

Just like those teams who come out of nowhere and surge up the standings, there are teams who also do the opposite. Complacency, the loss of a player or two, or simply a case of others getting better while you don’t, some teams will slip from the year before. Who will it be this year?

*Who will make it to the finals this year?

Other than seeing some of teams when I score kept this past Spring Season and FPF Cup, I don’t really know all the squads that well yet but based off the action I have seen so far, and some of the names on different rosters, I am going with Royals and Show Me Dem TDies, as they both have a solid mix of veterans, speed, and playmakers.

*Who will win it all this year?

I saved the best question for last. The X-Men are gone, so we will have a new champion when it is all said and done. The Royals are back, SKOL, and Mutation also come to mind, along with a couple of other squads that have promise. I am going with Show Me Dem TDies.

Picks

 Mutation vs No Fly Zone – No Fly Zone

Royals vs Cavaliers du Rohan – Royals

Tex4s Chooches vs The Mortadel’s – The Mortadel’s

Free Agent Squad vs DG Shootas – DG Shootas

Le Speakeasy vs Cheat Squad – Le Speakeasy

Meat Fiddlers vs Pigeons – Meat Fiddlers

Winded Warriors vs Salt’s n a Pepper – Salt’s n a Pepper

Chomedey Chodes vs Demons – Demons

McGill Swim Team vs ALLBALL – ALLBALL

Show Me Dem TDies vs Texas Whales – Show Me Dem TDies

Towers FT vs WYD Step Bro’s? – WYD Step Bro’s?

Last Week: N/A

NFL Picks

Cleveland Browns vs Houston Texans – Houston Texans (Upset Special #1)

The Joe Flacco story has been great, and the Browns defense is arguably the best in the league, but C.J Stroud is special, and the Texans defense isn’t exactly Swiss cheese. The Texans with rookie Will Anderson Jr (their other first round pick this past April), along with Jonathan Greenard can get after the passer. The Browns have injuries up and down their Offensive Line, and Flacco has tossed a lot of picks. That’s not a recipe for success.

Miami Dolphins vs Kansas City Chiefs – Kansas City Chiefs

Truth be told I hate the Chiefs. I respect what they have done the last few years, but just like anybody outside of their friends and family members, I don’t trust the KC’s Receivers. More importantly, even before all the injuries the Dolphins have suffered on defense, the Fins are SOFT, and they haven’t beaten a good team all season. Last year proved that when you punch this team in the mouth, they can’t respond. This season is no different.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills – Buffalo Bills

Both teams have a ton of injuries heading into this one, although the return of Minkah Fitzpatrick will help the Steelers. Beyond that though, let’s look at the most important position, Quarterback. Would you choose Mason Rudolph over Josh “INT” Allen? Me neither.

Green Bay Packers vs Dallas Cowboys – Dallas Cowboys

The 49ers fan in me wants to go Packers. Even though Jordan Love and his young receiving core have looked good growing up in front of our eyes the last month plus, the Boys, are too good to fall here, especially with the game being in Dallas. I think the Cowboys defense will get after Love and force some turnovers. Dallas will win and their delusional fans will be thinking Super Bowl Monday morning.

Los Angeles Rams vs Detroit Lions – Detroit Lions

I almost put St. Louis…Welcome to the Matt Stafford Bowl! I am happy for the city of Detroit, and our main man and referee in die-hard Lions fans Leo Gervais. The Pistons stink, the Tigers do as well, and the Red Wings aren’t there yet. The Lions offense is for real if QB Jared Goff doesn’t turn the ball over. The team’s pass defense is suspect, but they have enough fire power to keep pace with and outscore the Rams.

A lot of people are picking LA in the upset. Not me. The Lions O-Line can keep Aaron Donald from dominating, and I think the Lions defense will get a crucial stop against the city’s former QB.

Philadelphia Eagles vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tampa Bay Bucs (Upset Special #2)

I take great delight in knowing that when my Niners punched the Eagles in the mouth back in Week 13, they haven’t recovered, as they have gone (1-4) since then. To make matters worse, they put Matt Patricia as their defensive paly-caller, and the unit has gone from bad to terrible.

The Eagles will be without A.J Brown on Monday night. The only thing working in their favour is that they are playing the Bucs, who despite still having some big weapons in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, have a banged-up Baker Mayfield at QB, and are a team who backed their way into the NFC South title, as they should’ve lost to the lowly Carolina Panthers last Sunday. Besides that, Tampa looks great!

I trust Todd Bowles and the Bucs defense led by Pro Bowl snub Antoine Winfield, more than I trust the Eagles without AJ Brown. I am going with another upset here.

That is it for this week. Welcome back to everybody, and good luck on your games this week. This is the best time of year (minus the cold and snow). FPF is back, and the NFL playoffs are underway!

If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected], or on the FPF Facebook page.