Week 2 #PowerRankings - Let’s overreact! edition

After 2 weeks, we have enough data to start noticing trends, but also enough data to be dangerous in how we interpret these trends. Don’t worry, that’s why I’m here to help us all overreact appropriately!

1. Love thy Naber (Jeff Lin) (2-0) [2]

I don’t know how Jeff Lin is doing it again, but he has separated himself from the rest of the pack early on this season. Baker’s hot start has definitely helped. While losing Cooper Kupp for some time is a big blow, it looks like Marvin Harrison Jr is ready to pick up the slack. Given how many players have gotten injured so far this season, Jeff has a good amount of bench depth to give his team cushion in case another one of his starters goes down, including his recent FAAB spend on Carson Steele.

Let’s overreact! Baker continues to cook for Jeff, his rookie WRs play past their potential, and Achane stays healthy. Jeff makes the championship game again, giving him a Top-2 finish in 4 of his 5 years in the league.

2. PleaseGiveMeSomeWRs (Eric) (2-0) [4]

I still can’t get over Eric’s RBs - Kamara’s 43 points catapulted Eric’s team into Week 2 #HighScore but Bijan and Josh Jacobs also provided solid performances. Has Eric fixed his WR problem? Not really, but I’m more confident in Pickens than I was during preseason, and Jameson Williams has shown he can put up points. It also probably provided Eric some relief that Mark Andrews had a better Week 2.

Let’s overreact! Kamara stays hot, Jacobs stays healthy and gets the workload he needs to be fantasy relevant, Mark Andrews returns to form and re-establishes himself as Lamar Jackson’s favored target, and Eric’s WRs play way past their potential. Eric plays Jeff Lin in the championship game and wins his first championship since 2004.

3. choubacca (Aaron) (1-1) [1]

Aaron’s team fell flat in Week 2, scoring the least amount of points in the league (against Jeff Chen, of all people), and things are starting to look a little questionable. How will Tua’s injury impact Tyreek? Can Dak bounce back after 2 mediocre weeks? Will Rachaad White miss time? Can Sam LaPorta and the Detroit offense figure things out?

Let’s overreact! Aaron’s team underwhelms and slips to the middle of the pack because of erratic performances from Dak, Tyreek, and LaPorta. Conner and CeeDee help stabilize things so the slippage isn’t worse, but Aaron’s bench doesn’t help much.

4. Breece Mode (Haji) (0-2) [5]

In spite of the loss, I’m bumping Haji’s team up because it is actually pretty good on paper. He’s just had unfortunate matchups against high-scoring teams (3rd in Points For, 1st in Points Against). Of course, the injury bug has also bitten Haji’s team with Deebo Samuel and Justin Jefferson getting injured in Week 2. So these next few weeks may be a struggle if he’s having to start Amari Cooper as his WR1 or WR2. Breece Hall will continue to get his work in, and Josh Allen is one of the best QBs in the league, so reversion to the mean is bound to happen. Haji will get his wins at some point.

Let’s overreact! But somehow, as these things always go, reversion to the mean doesn’t happen, and Haji is this season’s David - he is plagued with unlucky matchups and can’t string enough wins to even make the playoffs.

5. Terrific Tortoises (David) (1-1) [6]

David was able to continue to rely on Jordan Mason in the absence of CMC, and Tony Pollard has been surprisingly productive. Hopefully ARSB won’t have to miss time, but David’s team still looks strong with Rashee Rice emerging as an important part of the Chief’s offense and Jalen Hurts getting the job done. 

Let’s overreact! CMC never returns to form, but that’s actually better for David, as Jordan Mason fills that role perfectly and the rest of David’s team continues to roll into the playoffs.

6. Run It Back! (Gabs) (1-1) [3]

Anthony Richardson is looking like a less reliable option than he did at the beginning of the season. Garrett Wilson should get better, and Diontae Johnson’s opportunities should increase with Andy Dalton under center. Gabs may continue to struggle with Kenneth Walker out, but at least Brock Bowers and Brian Thomas Jr are a couple of bright spots on his team.

Let’s overreact! Anthony Richardson is unreliable and too boom / bust, Kenneth Walker can’t stay healthy, and Garrett Wilson doesn’t live up to the pre-season hype. Gabs still ends up middle of the pack off the backs of Richardson’s good weeks and his rookie TE / WR. 

7. Spider Pig (Luke) (2-0) [10]

Props to Luke for capitalizing on the Chargers defense against a terrible Carolina offense. His D scored 8 points more than Andrew’s, which was what he needed to win their matchup. Starting Austin Ekeler was also a bold move, although it may have been more out of necessity. Luke’s team is definitely performing better than expected, but the question remains how long he can sustain this, especially if Puka misses more time than expected, and if Charbonnet takes a back seat once Kenneth Walker returns. In the meantime, Luke should just enjoy this unexpected 2-0 start.

Let’s overreact! Saquon continues to dominate in a good offense, Luke catches some breaks with Kenneth Walker + AJ Brown missing more time and Charbonnet + DeVonta Smith continuing to roll, Aiyuk returns to game form after holding out for too long, and there’s an uptick in Mahomes’s production with the loss of Pacheco. Luke surprisingly makes playoffs and vies for a three-peat against all odds.

8. Go DJ that’s my CJ (and AJ) (Andrew) (0-2) [7]

With AJ Brown out, Andrew had a tough decision to make, but ended up making the right one with Rashid Shaheed. Now the question is, does he start Shaheed over DJ Moore or McLaurin? What does he do with JSN? His RB situation seems pretty solid, but he’ll definitely need more production at WR to win games.

Let’s overreact! AJ Brown misses more time than expected, and DJ Moore and McLaurin continue to struggle with rookie QBs. Andrew makes the decision to go with the less proven WRs, but they end up being too boom-bust, and CJ Stroud and Justin Fields continue to be mid options at QB. Andrew finds himself fighting to stay out of Sacko in spite of solid RB play.

9. Maybabyboo (Laura) (1-1) [8]

Laura’s team fell back to earth on Sunday after a hot start from James Cook on Thursday night. Add in the injury to Joe Mixon, Tua’s injury impacting Jaylen Waddle, and Christian Kirk not living up to expectations, and things are looking a little iffy for Laura. On the bright side, Zay Flowers is the target leader for Baltimore, and I think better days are ahead for Travis Kelce.

Let’s overreact! Laura’s team continues to be boom-bust depending on how her RBs and Zay Flowers perform, which is enough to keep her out of Sacko contention but not enough for playoffs.

10. Unicorn QueenZ (Tim) (1-1) [9]

Losing Pacheco sucks. And Jeff Lin outbidding me for whoever that white RB guy is also sucks. Maybe Kareem Hunt is (not) the answer, but I was hoping to get a little more time out of my RBs before Jonathan Brooks returned to play. It looks like I’ll need to rely on QB / WR / TE to carry my team. 

Let’s overreact! Pacheco doesn’t return to form, JaMarr Chase continues to be a dud, and my team implodes on itself because Brian Robinson has to be my RB1 rest of season and I never start the right players on any given week. I don’t end up getting Sacko, but close enough for concern.

11. I am not sacko! (Jeff Chen) (1-1) [12]

Jeff Chen beating Aaron was funny, and while I think Jeff’s team looks better than last place, I need more proof before putting his team much further up in the rankings. I’m ready to admit I was wrong about Nico Collins - it’s looking like he’ll end up a WR1 this season - but question marks still abound with Mike Evans’s age, JK Dobbins’s injury history, and Jeff’s lack of bench depth.

Let’s overreact! Jeff Chen blows away everyone’s expectations, and Nico Collins ends up WR1, JK Dobbins stays healthy in a run-heavy offense, David Montgomery continues to produce, and Burrow, Kittle, and Metcalf return to form. Jeff is playoff bound and laughing in all of our faces.

12. 第六 (Abraham) (0-2) [11]

Abraham’s itching for Jordan Love to return, because 6.64 points from Matthew Stafford isn’t going to cut it. Things looked better for Abraham’s NFC South WRs, and Abraham’s RB production was also solid, but his team just fell short. Braelon Allen was a nice last-minute insurance pickup. But the biggest holes are QB and TE for Abraham, and right now it’s slim pickins.

Let’s overreact! Jordan Love misses more time, Abraham’s WRs are boom-bust, and Abraham finds himself training for a 5K this winter.

Week 1 #PowerRankings

Week 1 has finally come and gone, for better or worse. While I was glad to have football back, I was also not glad to have football back. To have waited 8 months for what was supposed to be an improved team and end up being sorely disappointed with how much things have not improved - in fact, they have gotten worse - is definitely demoralizing. And the sad thing is you probably don’t know if I’m referring to the Panthers or to my fantasy team. Both. It’s both. But alas, the #PowerRankings are not all about me, so on to the important stuff..

1. choubacca (Aaron) (1-0) [1]

Aaron’s team had a solid showing in Week 1, as expected. CeeDee + Tyreek will continue to be the top WR duo in our league. Dak didn’t need to throw much since Dallas was beating Cleveland so badly, so better days will be ahead of him. LaPorta will also be fine. Rachaad White, James Conner, and Zack Moss look to be serviceable RBs as well, until further notice. With what ought to be an easy Week 2 against Jeff Chen, I expect Aaron’s team to continue to cruise.

2. Hawk Tua (Jeff Lin) (1-0) [3]

Jeff Lin makes a statement in Week 1 by putting up the highest score in the league. Cooper Kupp with 21 targets is ridiculous, and with Puka out for a while, Kupp will continue to roll if he stays healthy. Tua’s schedule gets harder the next few weeks, so picking up Baker as some insurance was smart. Marvin Harrison’s poor Week 1 performance might be a little concerning, but I would expect things to turn around for him. If Achane misses time, Jeff will be a little weak at RB, but he’s got a decent enough bench to move things around and make it work. Kyle Pitts’s potential may finally end up being unlocked this season, too. Jeff has a way of winning, and this season has started off accordingly. Of course, it helps to get 20+ each from your Kicker and Defense too.

3. Run It Back! (Gabs) (1-0) [2]

Gabs got just what he needed from Garrett Wilson and SF Defense to eke out a win against Andrew. While the production from Wilson should have been better, the number of targets he’s receiving is at least encouraging. Jonathan Taylor and Kenneth Walker will continue to be a solid RB duo for Gabs, and Anthony Richardson should continue to produce with his running ability. Props to Gabs for starting rookies Brock Bowers and Brian Thomas Jr - their futures look bright. Diontae Johnson (I should say, the Panthers in general) probably isn’t a viable start in the near future, but I can see Gabs shuffling some things around to maximize his team’s potential, including bumping Ezekiel Elliott into the Flex position while he still has some juice early in the season.

4. PleaseGiveMeSomeWRs (Eric) (1-0) [9]

The position I thought was Eric’s weakest ended up showing up Week 1. Not only did Stefon Diggs and George Pickens have above-average weeks, Eric got impressive WR production from his bench in Ladd McConkey and Jameson Williams. Bijan, Josh Jacobs, and Kamara should continue to anchor his RB corps, and Lamar Jackson will get his. The biggest concern for Eric now is Mark Andrews - can he continue to be relied on as a startable TE? But otherwise, his team is looking pretty solid moving forward, especially if he can continue getting good production from his WRs.

5. Breece Mode (Haji) (0-1) [5]

Haji was probably encouraged to see the production from his team this week, but was just in an unlucky matchup against Laura. Josh Allen (who hopefully will be ok with his finger injury) was the 2nd-highest scoring QB in Week 1. Justin Jefferson appears to be QB-proof. Breece Hall had solid numbers in spite of his inefficiency. And Deebo Samuel will continue to put up numbers if he’s healthy. Haji’s weakness at RB2 was on full display this week, and Chuba is not going to get the job done. Amari Cooper got 9 targets, but only caught 2 of them - he ought to be fine, but there’s definitely some concern about whether the Cleveland offense can figure things out. Michael Pittman Jr. ought to be serviceable as a Flex option. I’m not too worried about Haji’s team outlook moving forward.

6. Terrific Tortoises (David) (0-1) [6]

David was smart and quick enough to swap out Jordan Mason for CMC on Monday Night, avoiding what could have been an even worse Week 1, which would have landed him at the very bottom of the league standings. Who knows how long CMC will be out, but at least Mason provides a bit of insurance moving forward. Tony Pollard’s usage made him seem like the preferred RB in Tennessee, so he might be a decent play at RB2 moving forward. Rashee Rice’s involvement in KC’s offense was very encouraging to see, and Amon-Ra St. Brown is too good to have a repeat dud performance like he did in Week 1. Jalen Hurts did decently enough, but David will need a lot of help at TE and even Flex. It was a rough week for David with CMC out, and it didn’t help that his K and DEF got him next to nothing. Brighter days are ahead, though - David still has a solid team.

7. Go DJ that’s my CJ (and AJ) (Andrew) (0-1) [7]

It was a close loss for Andrew, but the encouraging thing was he got solid production where he was expecting it from - AJ Brown, Rhamondre Stevenson, Derrick Henry, and CJ Stroud all had significant contributions to help Andrew’s team break triple digits, but it just wasn’t enough for the win. I would have expected more from DJ Moore and Terry McLaurin as WR1s on their respective teams, but both have rookie QBs throwing to them, so this year may be a rollercoaster ride for those players. At least he has some help on the bench, with Shaheed seeming to be Carr’s favored deep target, and Doubs getting a decent target share (once Love returns).

8. Maybabyboo (Laura) (1-0) [10]

Laura got points where she needed it. Her kicker Jake Moody saved the day with 26 points in MNF, and getting 17 from Dallas D helped as well. Joe Mixon looks to be a solid RB1 moving forward, with James Cook as a decent RB2 option as well. Kelce will have better games, but I’m not so sure about Christian Kirk and D’Andre Swift. At least Zay Flowers got the bulk of targets from Lamar, which should make him a reliable starting option. Laura’s team is definitely trending up, and we’ll see if she can continue the momentum against Eric this week.

9. Unicorn QueenZ (Tim) (0-1) [4]

I admittedly ranked my team too high in the preseason rankings. I overvalued Pacheco, Kyler, McBride, and Ridley. I thought Davante still had something left. I didn’t think JaMarr Chase’s contract-whatever-he-was-trying-to-do would affect much. I guess it also would have helped to start the players that actually scored the most points. The silver lining is that there is potential on my bench, now it’s just a matter of when to pull the trigger on starting, say, a Xavier Worthy or Jayden Reed over a Davante Adams or Calvin Ridley.. sigh.

10. Spider Pig (Luke) (1-0) [11]

Luke got the win in Week 1, but it wasn’t pretty. Outside of Saquon’s impressive performance and Devonta Smith’s solid showing, there wasn’t too much Luke could get excited about. Puka’s injury deals a big blow to Luke’s already weak team. If Kenneth Walker misses time, Charbonnet will be a nice asset for Luke. Mahomes does have the potential to blow up on any given week, but Luke’s got a lot of work to do if he wants to three-peat.

11. 第六  (Abraham) (0-1) [8]

Abraham had some solid production from his RBs, as well as Chris Godwin. But losing Jordan Love for at least a few weeks will be tough. It doesn’t look great for Drake London and Chris Olave either, and I would have expected more from Kincaid. I’m sure they’ll have better weeks, but Abraham’s got an uphill battle to climb.

12. I am not sacko! (Jeff Chen) (0-1) [12]

I’m not sure if much elaboration is needed, but Jeff Chen’s team needs some work. In spite of rostering 3 QBs, Jeff’s QB situation looks to be in dire straits. Even if he was able to combine the scores of all 3 QBs each week, that would probably make a high-end QB2. Raheem Mostert and Gus Edwards did not get the job done, and even though there was some good bench production from JK Dobbins and David Montgomery, I don’t know if that will be enough for Jeff to rely on. There was good production from Mike Evans and Nico Collins, but he’ll need much more than that.