Wednesday, September 18, 2024

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.

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