With a 3 team tie atop the division, it was tough to imagine the Wild West getting any wilder. That all changed given the events this late last night and this morning, which could dramatically change the dynamics of the shootout set to take place over the remaining weeks of the regular season.
Wednesday night, Team Thanos owner Jay Hey Hennin and Wild Bunch owner Nicky “Diamonds” Panepinto struck a deal on a rare interdivision blockbuster that saw both teams’ first round picks switching sides. Team Thanos acquired a pair of starting backs in David Johnson and Nick Chubb, while The Wild Bunch now employs the services of Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliot and Packers RB Aaron Jones.
For Hennin, the jettisoning of Elliot serves multiple purposes, as he traded one starting piece for two and managed to fill the hole Zeke’s bye created this week as Team Thanos looks to put an end to a 4 game slide. The rising Chubb, now the unquestioned number one back out in Cleveland, has a chance to arouse Team Thanos’ RB2 hole and the DJ acquisition should get the blood flowing back to Team Thanos (if the Cardinal’s new offensive coordinator can get Johnson into the right positions) for the long, hard playoff push.
The Wild Bunch, meanwhile, took advantage of their surplus at RB to add a huge weapon to their holster for the jam-packed division race. While Zeke won’t be able to make an immediate impact given his bye this week, Diamonds is counting on a refreshed Elliot to lead the charge for a team that many think is on the ascent.
Not to be outdone, the bottom dwelling KerryOnMyWaywardSon owner Mark Richter made a last ditch effort to save his season this morning when he sent DeAndre Hopkins, Alshon Jeffrey and the injury-plagued Dalvin Cook packing to Lobster Beesk in exchange for Odell Beckham Jr, Tarik Cohen and Randall Cobb.
The 1-6 Richter was in need of immediate help, and the upcoming bye for Jeffrey and uncertain status of Cook were a couple of the main motivations behind the deal. Meanwhile Meade’s Lobster Beesk squad, sitting at 5-2, has more wiggle room to withstand the Alshon bye week and wait for Dalvin to return to full strength for the playoff race.