Week 12 of the college football season saw many fantasy football leagues commence their postseason. It was the same for the 5 Yard Showdown, where two intra-team contests meant that we were guaranteed a Team College v Team Rush final.

Game 1: Ash 49.9 – 217.85 Jack

It was a routine win for Jack, who faced Ash’s depleted roster. His weekend got off to the best possible start, when Rondale Moore (Purdue, WR) and Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota, RB) combined for 62.8 points. It was already clear that this game was Jack’s to lose.

A late cancellation of Clemson’s fixture hurt Ash’s chances, with Trevor Lawrence once more banished to the side-lines. A raft of opt-outs, cancellations and injuries across college football fixtures meant that Ash could not field a full roster. When you’re taking on the #1 seed in the tournament, that can only mean bad news.

Jack almost set the perfect line up. He could have maximised his points by starting Peyton Ramsey (Northwestern, QB) and Seth Williams (Auburn, WR) ahead of Luke McCaffrey (Nebraska, QB) and Rashod Bateman (Minnesota, WR) respectively. That would have added a grand total of 1.15 extra points to his final score.

Jack goes through, and heads into the Final Showdown as favourite to bring home the bacon for Team College.

Game 2: Murf 97.55 – 115.4 Stocks

It was a much closer game between the two head honchos over at the main site. Both teams were short of fielding a full roster, largely due to the amount of cancellations to Week 12 games. Murf’s late switch at Tight End bore no fruit, as Chase Allen (Iowa State, Tight End) failed to register a point.

It was very much a battle of the quarterbacks. For Murf, Feleipe Franks (Arkansas, QB) hauled in 30.25 points. Not to be outdone, Stocks played Brennan Armstrong (Virginia, QB) whose four touchdown passes brought in 48.35 points. The highest scoring non-QB was Jahan Dotson (Penn State, WR), who ended the day with 8 receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Stocks continued his hot streak, seeing off a fierce opponent that has used the waiver wire to devastating effect to make the postseason. With his victory, it meant that it was #1 v. #2 in the Final Showdown.

Final Showdown: The Rosters

Rosters are correct at time of writing and do not include late waiver claims.

Jack, Team College

QB: Luke McCaffrey (Nebraska), JT Daniels (Georgia), KJ Costello (Mississippi State), Peyton Ramsey (Northwestern)

RB: Kevin Harris (South Carolina), Mohamed Ibrahim (Minnesota), Rhamondre Stevenson (Oklahoma), Seth McGowan (Oklahoma), TJ Pledger (Oklahoma), Trey Sermon (Ohio State), Austin Stogner (Oklahoma), Deuce Vaughn (Kansas State)

WR: Rashod Bateman (Minnesota), Rondale Moore (Purdue), Garrett Wilson (Ohio State), Seth Williams (Auburn)

TE: Jake Ferguson (Wisconsin)

Ok, what is it with Jack and Oklahoma running backs? All jokes aside, his roster is stacked with talent at the position. He was wise to roll with just one Tight End, and Jake Ferguson routinely coughs up points for the Badgers. He only has four wideouts, but each one has the ability to win games on their own. Rondale Moore’s return for Purdue will be the perfect tonic to a team already in great form. At quarterback, JT Daniels had 400+ yards and 4 TDs in his Georgia debut. He’s scheduled to take on a 2-6 South Carolina team whose defence are leaking 277 air yards per fixture.

Jack absolutely has the players at his disposal to win the inaugural 5 Yard Showdown for Team College.

Stocks, Team Rush

QB: Brennan Armstrong (Virginia), Malik Cunningham (Louisville), Hendon Hooker (Virginia Tech)
RB: Tank Bigsby (Auburn), Keyon Henry-Brooks (Vanderbilt), Rakeem Boyd (Arkansas), Chris Rodriguez Jnr (Kentucky)
WR: Tutu Atwell (Louisville), Jahan Dotson (Penn State), John Metchie III (Alabama)
TE: Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State)

The first thing that hits you about this roster is the size of it. No doubt, Stocks has been hit hard by injuries and opt-outs. Two of his four running backs, Rakeem Boyd and Chris Rodriguez Jnr, are scheduled to miss out this weekend, too. Tank Bigsby and Keyon Henry-Brooks are both questionable. If they miss out, it could be curtains for Team Rush.

However, if I know Stocks like I think I do, he’ll relish this chance to beat the odds. He’s an expert on the waiver wire, and thrives when his back is to the wall. There are spaces aplenty on his roster to bolster his troops. One thing I have learnt in my time at 5 Yard, is to never underestimate the 5 Yard Family, especially its patriarch. Stocks knows and loves his college football, and will not go down without a fight. 

Follow the updates from Saturday’s Final Showdown over at @5yardcollege, where Saturdays are for rushing…but you already knew that.

Let’s go Team College!