Degen or Diesel: Who gets the W

Week 5 

Week 5 means were already at the midpoint of the FPF season. Its truly wild to see the season go by this fast, I personally still feel like I was writing article #1 just a few days ago analyzing all the new and returning teams in Tier 3. The division is slowly starting to take shape and some teams are claiming their spot at the top of the standings. This week well look over the updated Power Rankings, The surge of the Process and the top defender of tier 3 Ariel Liberati. Finally ill give my weekly Picks and go over this weeks Game of the Week between Snowdon Deli Degens and Win Diesel. 

Weekly Storylines 

The Process dismantle Team Sexy 

A battle of two 3-0 teams took place last week as our Game of the week. I was expecting a high scoring close battle between two top teams. I predicted Team Sexy to come out with a win. But I was terribly wrong. Jonathan Perez and The Process offence was on fire. Scoring 5 offensive tds and 4 points off of converts. Perez also added 40 rushing yards and was only sacked one time. The Process had a great game winning 46-18. The first half was a close as expected as The Process only led 20-18 but the second half was all The Process and their all stars. Sam Anastasopoulos Wr for team Sexy had a day catching 8 passes for 115 yards and also added two scores to his stat line. He had a great game but ultimately turnovers killed Team sexy and held them to 18 points all game. 

Ariel Liberati adds to his INT total 

In only 4 games Ariel Liberati has been making his case for Defensive Player of the Year. 14 tackles, 7 INT’s, 3 PD’s and 2 Touchdowns. With still 6 games left, at this pace Liberati is well on pace to reach double digit INT’s on the season. He is currently leading the the division and is ahead of the second league leader by 4 already. Liberati has the hands of a top receiver and the anticipation of a great DB. He has all the tools to be an All-star and a DPOY. He can surely win his second individual award this season as long as he keeps showing up and keeps balling. 

Parlay Tilters sit at bottom of the division 

An 0-4 start for the Parlay Tilters as they sit at the bottom of the division. Not a new team to FPF but their offence has been struggling to score more then one td in 2 of their games. I haven’t had a chance to watch this team play live yet but they are a group of young athletic guys so I expect them to be able to move the ball better and get in the endzone. Unfortunately for Parlay Tilters, their schedule isn’t going to get easier as they take on two undefeated teams in the next 3 weeks

Power Rankings 

1. Win Diesel 3-1

One of the best +/-’s in the division and beating quality teams like West Island Boys and Notorious C.I.G. Huge game here in week 5 that will really test the ability of Win Diesel. 

2. The Penetrators 3-0

Another week another win for The Penetrators. A huge 33-6 win vs Mengoose and one of the best performing offences in tier 3 right now. I expect these boys to keep it it rolling and keep running up the score on the lower end teams. 

3. The Process 4-0

The Process climbing to #1 in the standings after a massive win against the previously undefeated Team Sexy. Noah Groper and Ariel Liberati have been carrying this offence as they have been dominating the targets. They have a combined 50 targets out of Perez’s 80 pass attempts. But truly the win streak is being pushed by their defence, with countless INT’s, PD’s and touchdowns, every offence they have faced have looked lack lustre. 

4.  Jagerbombers 2-1

Week 4 bye leaves Jagerbombers at 2-1. They’re loss coming from a good Snowdon Deli Degens and they haven’t beat anyone with more then 1 win is what leaves me dropping them down to #4. A big win against Team sexy this week can see their stock rise.

5. Les Petites Carottes JR  2-2-1

Possibly the most inconsistent team in tier 3. Losing to Mengoose, then beating Win Diesel then losing to Ball Hawks the week later. From being a power house in Division E and C last Spring to a mid record here in tier 3. They have ballers so I can’t feel comfortable placing them lower then #5 right now but another loss to a team with a losing record can see them fall drastically.   

6. Snowdon Deli Degens 3-2

Another strange team to rank from week to week as they have beat strong teams like Jagerbombers and then losing to a winless team like MOFO’s. Adam Malinoff has been playing great but has been turning over the ball and throwing a lot more interceptions then last season and has only completed about 50 percent of his passes. Huge game vs Win Diesel this week. 

7. Bandits 3-0-1

Steadily having a great season under the radar as the Bandits aren’t perfect, but are undefeated. They have been playing good complementary football as their offence and defence both have been playing well. Emile Skaf has yet to turn the ball over and has been chewing the clock and being selective and effective with his throws as he has completed 65 percent of his passes. Their schedule is on the lighter side so I expect them to keep winning for a while. 

8. Team Sexy 4-1 

A big loss to The Process but a bounce back win vs Trapstars. Even though Trapstars have lost some of their fire power over the last few seasons, they are still a good experienced team. Sam Anastasopoulos has been a bright spot for this squad but he won’t be able to do it the whole season by himself, they need another stud to step up. Looking a little one dimensional and a loss to The Process keeps them here at #8

9. Tune Squad 2-1

I said last week I expect this team to go on a win streak. They started with a huge win vs Parlay Tilters. Lets see if they can keep it going this week vs TrapStars

10. Team Ethnik 2-1

A Week 4 Bye week for Team Ethnik means no changes. #10 on the power ranking list means you can fall off the list at any moment as there are 15 other teams trying to take your spot. Team Ethnik is scheduled to play 2 games here in week 5 and 2 wins good wins could mean a lot for this teams momentum and place here in the power rankings. 

Game of the week 

Degens vs. Diesel: A Divisional Showdown

The Week 5 matchup between the Snowdon Deli Degens and Win Diesel promises to be a thrilling divisional clash. Both teams are currently in the playoff hunt, and the winner of this game will gain a significant advantage in the standings and the power rankings 

Snowdon Deli Degens:

The Degens have been a consistent force this season, compiling a 3-2 record and outscoring their opponents by a narrow margin. Led by quarterback Adam Malinoff, their offense has been productive, with Malinoff throwing for 800 yards, 20 touchdowns, and three interceptions in five games. However, their defense has shown some vulnerabilities, allowing opponents to score consistently. They got their wins over Slippery Slopes, Voodoo and Jagerbombers.

Win Diesel:

Win Diesel, on the other hand, has been impressive in their own right, winning three of their four games and showcasing a solid defense as they have only allowed 81 points against. Quarterback William Sebag has been a key contributor, throwing for 500 yards and 16 touchdowns, while wide receiver Giancarlo Rachella has emerged as a reliable target, catching over 200 yards and six touchdowns.

Key Matchups: 

• Quarterback Duel: Malinoff vs. Sebag. Both quarterbacks have been playing at a high level, and this matchup could be the deciding factor in the game. Malinoff’s ability to dissect defenses and find open receivers will be tested against Win Diesel’s solid secondary. Sebag, on the other hand, will need to continue his efficient play and avoid turnovers to lead his team to victory.
• Receiving Battle: Rachella vs. Degens’ secondary. Rachella has been a consistent target for Sebag, and the Degens’ defense will need to contain him to limit Win Diesel’s offensive production. Degens’ secondary will need to communicate effectively and play disciplined football to prevent Rachella from breaking free for big plays. I would avoid Man to Man. 
• Defensive Showdown: Win Diesel’s defense vs. Degens’ offense. Both teams have shown defensive capabilities, and the ability to create turnovers and stop the other team’s offense will be crucial. Win Diesel’s rusher, FeliX Sebag will need to generate pressure on Malinoff, while their secondary will need to be disciplined and avoid giving up big plays. The Degens’ defense will need to be aggressive and create turnovers to give their offense extra possessions.

Prediction:

This game is expected to be a close contest, with both teams possessing the offensive firepower to put up points. However, Win Diesel has a slight edge due to their balanced offense and solid defense. I predict Win Diesel to come out on top with a final score of 35-30.

Weekly Picks 

Prediction Record: 9-7 

Voodoo               Vs.     Team Ethnik

Trapstars             Vs.    Tune Squad 

The Penetrators   Vs.    Parlay Tilters 

Ball Hawks         Vs.    Show Me Them TD’s

Team Ethnik       Vs.    Mixed Mambas 

Black Shinobi     Vs.   Tune Squad 

Team Sexy          Vs.  Dirty Slugs