Bet the Farm: NFL Week 9 Betting Contest

Welcome to Bet the Farm, Razzball’s weekly NFL wagering contest. We’re back for our second season and ready to take you on over the course of 17 weeks of NFL play. For those new to the game, here are the rules:

You start with $1,000 in contest money to make wagers with. You may join in any week.
You can wager on the spread or Over/Under for any NFL game, so long as your pick is made by kickoff of that game. The Yahoo Sports Odds page is a good place to get betting lines: you may use the best line you find available when you make your post, but revisions to wagers are not allowed.
Your wager must be in an increment of $10.
You must beat the House: Therefore, you only receive 90% of your wager for a win ($9 on a $10 bet), but lose 100% of your wager on a loss.
Your wager may be any amount between $10 and your full bankroll.
New this year: If you lose your entire bankroll, you are allowed a re-buy for another $1,000. Unlimited re-buys are available.
New this year: Bet the Farm staff will keep track of the full leaderboard for all participants. However, any player who has taken a re-buy will be listed below all players who have not taken a re-buy – even those with lower current balances. It’s always better to not lose all your money. Players with two re-buys will be listed below those with one re-buy, and so on.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Learn more about our 2024 Fantasy Football Subscriptions!

The best blend of accurate and bold weekly projections for QB/RB/WR/TE + PK + Defensive Teams and IDP as well as a kick-ass DFS lineup optimizer and projections for DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo!

Weekly Rankings: Let’s Stay At The Hilton

by: Sky

When Reggie Wayne went down for the remainder of the year, the first thing I heard about was DHB stepping up. Stepping up to do what? Drop the ball more? And it’s here where I said ‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears’. And when I realized no one was listening I said this whole DHB love was absurd and that the one you want would be TY Hilton. You think I’d lie to you? I have Hilton as a top 10 WR this week and plan to have him as one for many weeks to come. So of course, DHB will use this bye week to realize trying to catch the ball with the back of his hands is pointless and goes off. Because life’s like that. In other news, I have James Jones high simply because I think he’ll be ready to go. If he’s not? You see where Boykin is? Well delete Jones and move Boykin up there. It’s that simple. In other news, J-Stew is expected back in Carolina. As if Tolbert wasn’t F’ing things up for everyone who owned DeAngelo, we now have Williams not practicing and a third pair of hands to muck around with things. Oh well, we drafted a flex we knew that’s what we’d get…we just wanted so much more…In other news, I don’t get the Russell Wilson ranking love. Sure, he’s the 11th best according to ESPN fantasy scoring but ahead of guys like RG3 who’ve had their bye. Plus it’s at home and you know Marshawn is angry after his last showing. I expect full BeastMode and at least 15 middle fingers and you should too. Foles & McCown? Surprise! Think gameflow and general skillset will make them top 12 options this week. Shonn Greene should be an interesting flex play for teams that are in need as the news from the Titans is he should get 15 touches if he’s healthy enough to go. Worried about CJ?K? Don’t be. Those are the carries up the middle that he was giving you 1.2 YPC on. No, that’s not an actual stat, just a guesstimate. He’s been terrible between the tackles this year anyways, I’m hoping we see him more in the passing game with this game plan laid out. Your DST this week? Pick a flavor. Lot of good defenses with reasonable matchups out there. Definitely streaming season. But enough, we prattle on too long. Let’s get to the week 9 rankings for 2013 Fantasy Football…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Week 9 Players to Play/Avoid: CJ’s OK

October 30, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Rush & Pass Strategy | 52 Comments

by: Loudon

Jason Avant was the second best receiver for Philadelphia with 54 receiving yards, but as soon as Vick came out of the game, I knew it was curtains for my run of great sleeper picks. That just means it’s time to start a new one! Keep reading to find out who it will be.

After missing the last two weeks, it seems as though DeMarco Murray is ready for action once again and he’s in a fantastic matchup to kick things off. Since it sounds like the Cowboys were playing it safe with Murray this past weekend by keeping him off the field for an extra week, expect big things from him once again.

Chris Johnson is also in a great matchup this week. In fact, with a bunch of easy matchups for the rest of the season, Johnson might actually be someone you want to target in a trade. Don’t sell the farm to get him, but if he’s already on your team, he’s a must start this week.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

DraftKings – A Week Closer To Millionaire-dom

October 30, 2013 | DraftKings | 12 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

We’re heading into the second half of the season, but that means there’s still 8 more weeks to keep your DraftKings acumen razor sharp, or play your way through satellites, or just start crunching week 17 numbers for the HUGE WEEK 17 MILLIONAIRE GRAND FINALE DraftKings is throwing to end the regular season. I’m trying my hardest to win my way up, but guys keep getting hurt on my squad! Good thing my DraftKings triage heals every week, and why playing in daily leagues erases the injury pessimism into brand new healthy optimism. Start anew every week!

I’ll be playing in another $1-$2 contest and hopefully winning a big hunk of change to enter into some Millionaire satellites. I still haven’t won anything big, except all my pride after beating Nick every week! I think Nick is done…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Bad Graham’er

October 30, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Buy/Sell | 260 Comments

by: Sky

Normally I start these buy/sells off with a buy. I like to get you excited about getting ‘that one guy’ for cheap like I hope I did with Alfred Morris last week. Then I slowly ease you into what may be a call that you disapprove of or just don’t wanna hear. But this whole partially torn plantar fascia business is too big to ignore in my book and so I’m here to tell you to push the sell button on Jimmy Graham. The reason I say sell now can be summed up with a number: 18. That’s the amount of snaps Graham was in to play on on Sunday. Want more numbers to back up my stance? Cool, how about three. That’s the amount of targets he got in the game. Brees threw the ball 34 times in week 8. So Graham was a product of only 8.8% of Brees’ work on Sunday but no one cares because touchdowns. Specifically two of them. That saves a 3/37 day every time. Throw on the fact this game was after a bye week, do you want to hang your hat on that kind of production week in and week out? Our beloved Tehol mentioned a TE a couple of years ago who struggled through a similar injury. His name? Antonio Gates. Though statistically it wasn’t a bad year for Gates in 2010, he ended up only playing 10 games and bowed out during the time his owners needed him most: the playoffs. Now I’m not telling you the situation is exactly the same but do you really want to count on Graham to play through it and perform at the level you’re used to? Do you want to count on the Saints not sitting him at the end of the year if they have their division wrapped up to make sure he’s good to go for the playoffs? Basically, as a Graham owner you got a Joseph Fauria-type week and it masked a lot of things to be fearful of. He’s still a top 10 to 15 player so I’m saying you get out while the value is still there. I’d look to do a 2-2 trade where you take the ‘lesser’ TE and upgrade at another position in this scenario unless you have Reed or a player like him just waiting to take over for him on your team. Either way, I’d be getting out while the gettin’s good. In other buy/sell news for 2013 Fantasy Football…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Jam it or Cram it: Tricks and Treats in the Razzball Lounge

October 29, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Waiver Wire | 62 Comments

by: The Guru

Welcome once again my fantasy friends to The Razzball Lounge. The Lounge is the place we fake football scribes gather to talk the trash, tease the Tehol and drown the sorrows in early morning Bloody Mary’s – hey bartender, make it spicy and put a pickle in that! JB, that’s not a pickle. This week in the lounge it’s our annual Razzballin’ Halloweeny Spooktacular. That means you drink anytime someone screams “Ghostbusters” and also explains why Sky is dressed as a pregnant nun and snorting crushed up Smarties off the bar. “Hey guys, anyone want a bump?” Sky loves his sugar high and just can’t kick the habit. See what I did there? *high fives no one* Dropping quarters at the jukebox Jay Wrong plays “The Monster Mash” for the 23rd time. “Check out my Jennifer Lawrence costume!” *bottle smashes above head* It should be noted that Jay’s “Jennifer Lawrence” costume consists only of a brown wig and yoga pants. One of these things he wears on a regular basis. Locked in the ladies room the one and only Tehol Beddict, clad in his 6th grade He-Man Masters of the Universe costume, is sharing his “fun-size Snickers” with this handsome lady. “I thought she was dressed as a member of the Village People? Really.” And standing here at the pool table in my Edward Scissorhands get-up is your humble-but-nonetheless-festive Guru. *closes eye, aims cue, fires ball through window, cuts face* “You try to shoot with scissors for hands!” Here be the Week 9 Fantasy Frankensteins. It’s time to jam it or cram it.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

RCL Football Update: Week 8

October 29, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Commenter Leagues, Razzball Writers League | 16 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

2013 RCL Football Another week and another W! OK, so I’m a lot less proud of my 8-0 team after beating Tehol’s God Forgives I Don’t team that had two guys left in on byes. God remembers bye weeks, and you don’t Tehol! Everyone publicly smite him. Because not only did he forget to check that team, but now you have to deal with me raving on about an 8-0 team and another step closer to winning RCL! Shameful one of the wins was by 4 against underwear-chicken man, but a win is a win. Like the Seahawks on Monday Night. Whether it be a blown call by replacement refs or that miserable showing last night against the Rams, wins be wins. All 4 other 7-0 teams also won this week, so none of the unbeatens have fallen. You can check out the full interactive 2013-2014 RCL Standings tab up under “Leagues” that shows you how you’re stacking up against your Razzball competitors in your journey to RCL glory.

RCL Top Scorer TOP SCORER: The top scorer through Sunday held out to be the top scorer this week – huge props to the Redeye Raiders for putting up a whopping 213 points this week in the Take On Jaywrong league. Led by Megatron’s 50 and Brees’ 33, that 83 right there outscored a lot of RCL teams! The win takes Redeye to 5-3 and third place in the league, taking down Dread Pirate Roberts who stays in second going from 6-1 to 6-2. Climbing the rankings, Redeye! But all roads lead to Yeshcheese and yet another win for one of the RCL’s elite undefeated teams. Feels good up here, don’t it! And wouldn’t you know it, Redeye after notching the highest RCL score will be playing Yeshcheese is a huge week 9 throwdown. Congrats again to the Redeye Raiders!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Ex-Zac-to Knife

October 29, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Daily Notes | 211 Comments

by: Sky

Now I wish to start this post off by saying I’m a Seahawks fan. I’m not a loud-mouthed one nor am I looking at this game as any form of victory. The Rams whooped their butts and if they had any type of QB at the helm to run this offense more efficiently, Seattle would’ve/could’ve/should’ve lost this one. It was terrible on multiple facets but I’m gonna admit I came away impressed with a player from Saint Louis tonight. His name is Zac Stacy and he done good. Against one of the better defenses in the league, Stacy touted the rock 26 times for 134 yards. Not only was the volume night to see but averaging 5.2 ypc against a defense that was typically only giving up 3.7 and had only given up 641 total on the year, which is good enough for 6th best in the league? Flex those pecs son, you owned this game. Now I’m gonna throw a comparison out there but keep in mind I’m horrible at these. At least my wife thinks so. I told her she looked like Anna Gunn from Breaking Bad. Seriously, I know she’s an annoying character but look past that, honey! The hair, the eyes, the smile. Sorry, it’s all there. Yes, I’ll sleep on the couch tonight…but where was I? Oh yeah, the comp. Now I’m not saying he is exactly this but I saw a bit of Ray Rice in how he ran the ball tonight. Big body between the tackles that can turn a 2 to 3 yard carry into a 5 to 6 yard one with a few wiggles and you barely see him do it. Keep in mind I’m talking strictly about how he runs. Not what he’ll do rest of season nor his future prospects but I will say I was thoroughly impressed. Here’s to hoping that ankle sprain at the end of the game is very minor. I’d love to see if Zac is an RB maniac. In other 2013 Fantasy Football news…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

The Razzball Football Podcast – The One Where Calvin Johnson Tried To Break Fantasy Football

October 28, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Razzball Podcast | 9 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

What a huge Sunday it was in the midway week, as Calvin Johnson had the most receiving yards in a 4-quarter game in NFL history and the Cowboys gave up yet another heartbreaking loss. Nick and I go over that game plus everything NFC, then JayWrong calls in to review a big week in the AFC. Marvin Jones just caught another touchdown! Sorry I missed it during my spot on the pod, but RCL top scorer through Sunday goes out to the Redeye Raiders in Take on Jaywrong League with 213 points! Megatron and Brees shall lead you to the promised land. Nice work Redeye! We also cover another big week in DraftKings and Murph calls in with the injury report. Have a great 2nd half to the Fantasy Football season!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

MORE Vikings In Prime Time!? THE TERRORISTS WON!

October 28, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Daily Notes | 6 Comments

by: Jay

Good tidings everyone and welcome, once again, to this quickly/drunkenly-typed post of one handsome man’s observations of Sunday Night Football. Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me it’s time to watch Josh Freeman again already? Oh wait, he’s out with a concussion. Nice. So instead we get… Christian Ponder? Sigh.

the drinking game I played

Take a sip of PBR in a wine glass…

…whenever Mike McCarthy called a totally worthless run play.

…every time Christian Ponder completely whiffed on an open man.

…whenever Christian Ponder looked totally confused about life.

…every time Cris Collinsworth gushed over BJ Raji.

Chug a wine glass full of PBR…

…every time Mason Crosby shanked a kick.

…whenever I felt like it, because Christian Ponder, bro.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Marvin The Martian

October 28, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Daily Notes | 180 Comments

by: Sky

Truth be told, this lede was supposed to go to Megatron. I mean, c’mon, how could it NOT go to him, right? Well, special days happen that make you evaluate your lede and sometimes life when a guy that’s 20% owned in yahoo leagues scores 4 touchdowns on 8/122 on 8 targets. I’m gonna admit to you that I am still looking at Marvin Jones like an alien right now. I mean, the kid only had 16/247/3 coming into week 8 so this outpouring of fantasy goodness had to be a surprise even to Bengals fans and those 20%’ers out there. But second year wide outs coming alive midseason has happened before…right? Eh, it’s not as common I know. Marvin is probably more of a keeper pickup if he’s anything at this point but if you’re in a deeper league with enough bench depth to give him a shot/time, he’s worth the gamble. Not a question of talent with Marvin, just a question of opportunity. Well, I think you have that now, Jones. Take advantage. In other news from week 8 for 2013 Fantasy Football…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Last Second Decisions – The Battle Of Midway

October 27, 2013 | Last Second Decisions | 121 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

Man, hard to believe we’re already halfway through the fantasy season. Where has the time gone?

At the mid-point, it’s time to start really addressing a few things. Injury status, playoff schedule, all of that good stuff is important to start noting, especially with trades. When trading right now, its critical that you look at the schedule and realize you’re only getting 6 regular season games out of new acquisitions past this Sunday if 4 teams make week 15/16 playoffs, and only 5 if it’s a 6-team playoff. A little crazy to think you get that little time. While Fantasy Baseball and Fantasy Basketball (pumped for a big year!) are both marathons, Fantasy Football is a sprint. I pick Usain Bolt! Championship.

Please, blog, may I have some more?