Power Rankings?

The first few weeks of any fantasy season really help a owner see where their team is going.  It's not foolproof of course, some records come from easy or tough schedules early on.  Some losses or wins will come from pure dumb luck.  For the most part though, one can see their general strengths, weaknesses, and areas they need to improve.  That is why I am introducing the following:  The first ever (I know its only been a few weeks) Fantasy Power Rankings (at least the first in our league...someone else definitely could have thought this up before me).

What you have to remember while reading:

• This is coming out of a place of both innovation and laziness as I don't want to do a summary on everyone's match-up this week.
• I will come out with new Power Rankings every 3 weeks. (only because I came up with this Week 3)
• These are my opinions, and although I encourage input on who you guys think should be higher, I don't want anyone getting angry at me for them. (I've been wrong before)
• In the time it will take me to do these I may as well have done a match-up summary...shit.

1) The Kummish (2-1, 388.74 pts,  389.80 pts against)

This pick at No. 1 shouldn't surprise many of you.  Although he is 2-1 to start the season, he has the best QB in Rodgers and a very strong group of WR to go with his 3 solid starting running backs, led by Michael Turner.  His one loss was more of a product of a bad match-up for him last week.  He's still the team I would like to go up against the least.  2-1 through the toughest schedule so far is impressive.

2) Nulty (co-commish) (2-1, 359.18 pts, 356.64 pts against)

After much deliberation I'm going with Nulty at numero dos.  He has Rivers and Romo, possibly the top QB tandem in our league.  He also doubles up on both of his WR, making him a threat to score big points any given week.  If Ryan Grant can start playing like himself again, he is the sure number two on this list.  The only thing that may take Nulty down is his lack of depth, and it could hurt him during both bye weeks or if injuries strike.  In a non-bye situation though, scary to go against.

3) Myself (1-2, 352.30 pts, 351.08 pts against)

OK, I think I know what most of you reading are thinking.  How dare you put your 1-2 team in third while there are still a bunch of 2-1 guys and especially while a 3-0 team is still left?  I'll state my case in a couple of points.  My team depth gives me the opportunity to fill my holes at any time, giving me at least a chance every week.  Also, one of my losses was to the number one team on this list...that has to count for something right?  Maybe I'm wrong, but if I am I blame my obvious bias and delusions of grandeur.

4) Rich (2-1, 353.64 pts, 329.02 against)

I like the way this team is built.  Rich has a top QB in Brady who will put up big numbers, but the part of his team I love is his RBs.  Mendenhall and Gore is a very solid tandem, and he has a lot of solid flex options on his bench which could help during bye weeks.  With Philly's defense likely to step up a little more at some point, he should have a pretty hard team to beat.  So far he hasn't been tested too much, facing a relatively light schedule thus far.

5) Joe (3-0, 369.20 pts, 295.42 against)

I couldn't bring myself to drop the only undefeated team any further down this list, although it was close.  In the first couple of weeks, Kenny Britt helped Joe out a lot, scoring 45 points between the first two weeks.  A season ending injury to Britt leaves him weak at WR though.  Adding to that, after his recent trade of Gore to Rich, and the impending full return of Arian Foster, Ben Tate loses a lot of his value for Joe, who with his weak bench will have trouble filling the flex spot.  I don't see this league having an undefeated team at the end of the year, and due to his schedule, Joe could be in for a mini-collapse as the season rolls on.

6) Danny (1-2, 367.44 pts, 388.70 against)

Danny has been very unlucky so far, and could probably be 3-0 given an easier schedule (losing while scoring  147 pts week 2).  I just don't know if a lot of his guys can keep it up.  I'm not sold on Cam Newton actually being a top 5 fantasy QB yet, and his numbers could fall off a cliff if defenses can figure him out.  Stafford and Beanie Wells are always big injury risks, and besides Aaron Hernandez, I don't love Danny's bench this year. I do of course love AP, and his WR combo is pretty good.  By the way I can feel these rankings starting arguments this weekend already.  Im going to regret doing this later, but it's too late to stop now.

7) Adam (2-1, 342.26 pts, 278.64 against)

Sometimes you look at a team, and you can say, hey that teams alright.  Then you realize nothing jumps off the page to set that team apart.  Then you look at other teams and then realize that alright team isn't one of the better ones.  We've reached the bottom half of my rankings, and i guess these would be the teams I don't mind facing too much.  Matt Ryan and his Falcons haven't thrown the ball as often as they were supposed to, and that's hurt the Ryan-Roddy connection Adam pretty much based his draft around.  Wes Welker could be huge this year, and I think he will be, but I'm not sure how long Freddy Jackson continues to be this good.  Decent depth, an OK defense, and the totals he's posted so far leave me skeptical here.

8) Frank (1-2 287.80 pts, 305.22 against)

You really cant read too much into the results here.  Franks team is about to get better with the return of Arian Foster to regular duty either this week or next.  His QBs will throw up at least decent numbers every week, and he has a solid WR tandem whenever Manningham comes back from his concussion.  That being said, I don't like his depth past those players, and it may hurt him moving forward.  Obviously losing Charles was a huge hit to his team, and it puts his playoff chances in serious jeopardy.

9) Neil (1-2 350.48 pts, 377.64 against)

Drew Brees...sure thing.  Darren McFadden...sure thing.  Unfortunately after that nothing worries me much about Neil's team.  Reggie Wayne has no real QB to get him the ball, and it looks like its the same for Bowe. The only place I really like Neil's depth is at QB, but that's not going to be enough to win you a lot of fantasy match-ups.  I see him mostly beating up on the weaker teams...which would start with....

10) Russ (2-1 339.40 pts, 330.06 against)

I'd like to note that at this point I completely realize that a match-up summary would have been shorter and 1000 times easier, but here we are.  I have to admit that part of dropping Russ down is the probability that at some point he will stop checking his team.  Mostly though, it's because he just has a lot of decent players throughout.  Calvin Johnson and MJD are his two standout players, and as a 1-2 punch it's not the scariest fantasy lineup.  No backup QB and about average depth leave him in this spot.

Gates on the Bench

11) Ed (1-2 320.46 pts, 363.86 against)

This has taken long enough as it is, but I'll explain why Ed gets the nod over Tom here.  Even though we make fun of him for his players, he has one of the best benches in the league.  Unfortunately for Ed, he also has one of the worst starting lineups.  McCoy and Gates (whenever he comes back), will only be able to carry him so far.  Benson wont run much this year, as his team will be behind a lot late even when he's not suspended.  Ed will surprise for 2 more victories this year though.

12) Tom (0-3 272.12 pts, 336.94 against)

Dallas Clark has lost his QB, and pretty much most of his value.  Chris Johnson has looked lost way too often in the last couple of years, and I'm just not sure if Big Ben can help Tom rape his way to any wins at all this season.  He could surprise a team having a down week though, and I'm sure everyone who isn't playing him each week will hope he can pull off some wins.

Seriously regretting this decision, these were your Power Rankings going into Week 4.