Week 6 Bad Beats: Austin Ekeler wins fantasy matchup against himself, but loses the game on the field

Jorge Martin

Week 6 is barely in the rearview mirror, but the sting of victory being snatched by the jaws of defeat is still very fresh — maybe even somewhat raw. That’s what this article is for: to deal with that — and it will be each week throughout the fantasy football season.

We put out the call to the fantasy football community for everyone’s Week 6 bad beats. Call it part-group therapy, part-group hug. Even a little bit screaming into the night. We’ve all had those bad beats that are so razor-thin they hurt like a paper cut with salt dumped on it.

This is to let everyone who had a bad beat know that they’re not alone. Time for us to commiserate in our shared misery.

It was the Battle Royale that would have made headlines like a heavyweight title fight. Or maybe not. Still, the anticipation for Harmon's Hedge vs. Too SEKSy for This League was palpable. The buildup on Ekeler's Edge between Austin Ekeler and Yahoo Fantasy co-host Matt Harmon had been growing for weeks.

Could they deliver a barn burner? What a battle it was.

Ekeler had the strange coincidence of going against himself in fantasy, something Harmon had held over him since draft day. Ekeler did, however, have Justin Herbert in that powder blue 10 jersey that looks almost perfect, and the Dallas defense. Harmon was anticipating the return of Ekeler, and getting weekly updates from, well, Austin himself.

The back and forth was breathtaking, with multiple lead changes in the game. It was down to less than a point with the Chargers in the red zone late in the fourth quarter. Herbert passed to Ekeler with 7:54 remaining, and No. 30 fought for every last inch, but he was just a yard short. A touchdown would have put Harmon's Hedge ahead. Instead, a Herbert pass to Gerald Everett widened the lead for Too SEKSy for This League. In the real Monday Night Football game, the score was tied 17-17.

But that was not the end of the scoring. With the Chargers getting the ball back late in the fourth, now trailing 20-17, it was time for more points. Alas, the points all went to Too SEKSy for This League, as a late Micah Parsons sack and Stephon Gilmore interception sealed the fantasy victory for Ekeler. It's no consolation for the real-life 20-17 loss for the Chargers.

"Winning the game and playing well is a lot higher [on the priority list] than our fantasy league, and I wish I would have beaten myself this last week," Ekeler said on the upcoming episode of Ekeler's Edge, which comes out Wednesday.

Were there other bad beats? Of course, and coincidentally several ended on the same sequence of events as the Ekeler-Harmon tilt, while many others were tied to other aspects of the Monday night matchup. Hopefully, these bad beats weren't too tilting.

Late INT, Tough L

That last Herbert interception was the difference between savoring victory and the hand-wringing that comes with defeat for @GarretWATO. It would be good to know the rest of the roster, just to see what other players might have gone off or let down. Keep reminding yourself that Herbert will come through way more often than not.

Sack and pick, did the trick

Dallas D gets the interception right after Micah Parsons sacked Herbert. What a nail-biting loss for @MorenosaurioRex. Shoutout to all Clerks and Kevin Smith fans who got the Berserkers team name. Cult classic.

The other side of the coin, Herbert’s last interception brought the bad beat for @diegogranados33. And all "Married With Children" and Al Bundy fans will get that Polk High Legend team name. Cue Sinatra singing "Love and Marriage."

Feeling incomplete

Yes, one of those incompletions to Keenan Allen would have been nice to turn into a completion, but @HarryAbelson also rostered the Dallas D. That late interception was good for you, no? No?

Never mind being 6-0. National attention on going unbeaten would have hurt your title-winning chances. Ask the 2007 Patriots.

If only ...

If only the refs hadn’t called a penalty to call back a Josh Palmer TD, @SportsJunkieFLA might be singing a different tune. Hey, now UP and Adams, you don't have to feel so bad about being winless.

Fighting for that extra yard

Oh, that extra yard that Ekeler was fighting for would have looked so good in this comeback attempt for @V_Monte. He’s going to make up for lost time. Good times are coming.

Missed FG, not missed receptions

Yes, @Brandnon_Mostyn needed just another Jake Ferguson catch to get the win. At least Brandon isn’t fixated on Tyler Bass missing a pair of field goals, either of which would have made the difference.

Question on QB scoring

Yes, totally understood how heartbreaking it was to get a bad beat off a late sack and interception from the Dallas defense. What I’d like to know from @iowahawkfan21 is what scoring settings that league has for quarterbacks that Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen could score 30+ points each after the turtle races they played in. Do they get points per pass attempt?

Double-edged loss

Yes, these losses are brutal, but @stobbz17 should tip the cap, or curl the mustache, for your opponent winning while subbing in Gardner Minshew at quarterback. Especially for your Colts (sorry about that loss, too). Now, where’s that order of Olave Garden breadsticks?

Ultimate turnaround

Our friend @FarhatTony had the distinction of having Justin Herbert going against his opponent rostering the Dallas defense. That last interception was a three-point swing and gave Gregor Kazzab the win. Tony, at least you don’t have to worry about Herbert having the bye week the rest of the season.

A Tie?

They’re as rare as a solar eclipse — Oh, there was one last Saturday? Falling backward into a tie, at least it’s not a loss for @Farm_Lift. Maybe you’ll back into the playoffs because of one fewer loss. Fingers crossed.

Here are a couple of the best (or worst) bad beats that didn't come from the Monday night game.

There is a bright side

Yes, @Jeffer_Laughlin that bad beat was horrible. Look on the bright side, you have Tua, Breece Hall and Stefon Diggs. With those three, I like your chances most weeks to not be in this column.

Don't sit Tua

Speaking of Tua Tagovailoa, this is a public service announcement: Do not sit him for any reason. Wish you’d have asked me who to start @Nick_Tagas. Props for the clever team name, tying in the names of both your quarterbacks. Now get Tua back into the starting lineup!