Geoff Makes History, Josh’s Luck a Mystery
In last week’s playoff preview, we called Alex a scoring machine—and he delivered. Alex racked up 167.04 points, a mark that would’ve been the highest-scoring playoff game in Worst League history…until Geoff happened.
Geoff didn’t just beat Alex; he obliterated the record books. His 193.07 points not only set the all-time playoff record but also broke Jess’s long-standing league record from Week 12 of 2020 (191.82 points against Greco). To make matters worse for Alex, his own stellar performance earned him the dubious honor of setting the record for most points scored in a loss. Ouch.
Geoff and Alex scored the most and second-most points in Worst League playoff history.
This crushing defeat stings even more when you consider the other playoff matchup was, well, a dud. Josh set the record for fewest points in a playoff win in the PPR era with just 97.4 points scored. Not only that, but Beth Ann and Josh combined for just 186.88 points—nearly seven fewer than Geoff’s solo total. If Gray had managed to squeak out a win over Beth Ann in the final week of the regular season (he lost by just a point), the matchups would’ve shifted. Alex would’ve landed the three seed and likely cruised past Josh, while Geoff would have easily toppled Beth Ann. But alas, this is the game of inches we’ve chosen.
For Alex, this playoff exit adds another frustrating chapter to his postseason story. While he now ranks second in career playoff appearances with eight (trailing only Gray), his playoff record drops to 5-8. That’s a .385 winning percentage, ranking 10th among active players—above only Erik and Josh. Worse still, Alex’s recent playoff history is downright brutal. Over his last three playoff games, his opponents have averaged an unfathomable 170.49 points. That includes Geoff this year, Brandon’s 153.94-point barrage last year, and Alex’s 2021 championship loss to Beth Ann in which she scored 163.82 points. Yikes.
Meanwhile, Josh proved that sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, pulling off the fourth-biggest upset in Worst League history based on the difference in team TW% (-.162). His sub-100-point win over Beth Ann marked his fourth victory this season scoring fewer than 100 points—a feat no other team has managed even once. This week, luck struck again as Josh’s 97.92 points squeaked past Beth Ann, who was undone by the Chargers D/ST putting up a brutal -4 points. All she needed was four measly points from her defense to advance. Tough break.
Josh advances with just his third career playoff win in 12 tries, while Beth Ann drops to 2-3 in the postseason. This was her first playoff game since her championship run in 2021, but she won’t be taking home another trophy this year. For now, the streaky Josh continues his unlikely march through the playoffs.
Previewing the Semifinals
The semifinals will feature (1) Samantha vs. (5) Geoff and (2) Jess vs. (6) Josh.
After two upsets in the first round, the semifinals pit top seeds Samantha and Jess against the playoff Cinderellas, Geoff and Josh. But don’t let their seed numbers fool you—both Geoff and Josh bring serious challenges. Geoff is fresh off his record-setting 193-point game, while Josh seems to be defying all logic, strolling through raindrops on his improbable path to playoff glory.
(1) Samantha vs. (5) Geoff
This marks the first-ever playoff showdown between Samantha and Geoff in Worst League history. Historically, Samantha holds the edge with a 5-3 record against Geoff in the regular season, including four straight wins since 2022. That streak includes their lone matchup this season, a 122.92-111.36 win for Samantha in Week 8.
This game is shaping up to be a clash of strengths: Geoff’s electric WR corps versus Samantha’s trio of workhorse RBs. And don’t forget the QB duel—Lamar Jackson (Geoff) and Josh Allen (Samantha) have been two of the top quarterbacks all season. It’s a battle of star power, and Samantha will need her dominance in the trenches to fend off Geoff’s high-flying attack.
(2) Jess vs. (6) Josh
This isn’t Jess and Josh’s first playoff dance. They met in the first round in 2018, where Jess pulled out a gritty 104-98 win on her way to the championship game (she finished as the runner-up). Their all-time series is razor-close, with Jess holding a slight 7-6 edge. However, Josh had dominated their recent meetings, winning four straight before Jess broke the streak with a decisive 20-point victory in Week 5 of this season.
Samantha is still the favorite to win it all (37%), but Jess is a stronger favorite to reach the finals (66%).
The computer rates Samantha and Jess as significant favorites heading into the semifinals. Samantha holds a 61% chance of victory, while Jess edges even higher with a 66% win probability. However, ESPN’s fantasy projections paint a tighter picture. As of Sunday morning, Jess is a 57% favorite, and Samantha’s matchup is practically a coin flip at just 51%. It’s shaping up to be a nail-biter of a week.
Meanwhile, in the consolation ladder, Greco takes on Chelsie, and Gray battles Kelly in high-stakes matchups. The stakes? Avoiding the dreaded Poop Bowl. For the losers of these games, next week won’t be about glory but about dodging the ultimate Worst League shame.
Good luck to everyone this week, whether you’re chasing championship dreams or just trying to stay out of the toilet! May the fantasy odds be ever in your favor.
