Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Week 6 #PowerRankings - NC State Fair New Foods Edition!


As Abraham has reminded all of us - the NC State Fair begins soon! And with it comes new foods to try AND... NC State Fair Food Comps! Once again, I’ve collected all the “New Foods” posted on the NC State Fair website and created comps for each team. Whoever ends up going will have to let us know if they end up trying any of these.



1. Run It Back! (Gabs) (4-2) [2]

Gabs’s team continues to roll. It is just solid all around, with very few flaws - the fact that Gabs is able to sub in Quinshon Judkins and / or Kenneth Walker for an injured Bucky Irving in a pinch is a testament to how good his team is. While neither of those subs had great weeks, they both have the potential to be solid RB2s for most teams. Dak is cruising, DK Metcalf is producing, and Brian Thomas Jr may have finally arrived this season. Even though Jeff Chen’s team has been more impressive from Weeks 1-5, I think the recent injuries to Jeff’s team will hurt him for the next few weeks. Add to that the potential for a Dak-CeeDee stack once CeeDee returns (maybe Week 7?), and I had to bump Gabs up in the rankings.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: South Of The Border Stuffed Turkey Leg

Gabs has had a solid base of old reliable fantasy assets from the beginning of the season (Jonathan Taylor, Kenneth Walker, DK Metcalf, Dak Prescott, Zach Ertz) and managed to add some new and youthful flair to spice things up in a good way (Quinshon Judkins is the newest add, but also Brian Thomas and Bucky Irving as keepers from last year). This South of the Border Stuffed Turkey Leg takes a classic Fair Food (Turkey Legs) and adds some flair (Mexican Street Corn and Cheese) to elevate it to the next level.



2. To Hamstring A Mockingbird (Jeff Chen) (5-1) [1]

Jeff Chen decides to change his team’s name, I guess after nearly half of his players get their hamstrings injured. But why a mockingbird? I get that it’s a play on the book, but I also don’t get it. Maybe it’s too sophisticated for me to understand. Anyways, let’s talk about his #LowScore in Week 6. Was that a one-week fluke or is this indicative of things to come? It doesn’t sound like Emeka Egbuka will be returning soon, but on the brighter side, Quentin Johnston and George Kittle may see the field soon, and Lamar might return after his bye this week. James Cook and Javonte’s weeks were likely flukes. All things considered, I think Jeff’s team is still solid, but it’ll be on some shaky ground the next few weeks with the injuries piling up. Once his players get healthy again, it should be smooth sailing.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Carolina Shawarma Burger

This was easily the best-looking New Fair Food on the entire list (in my opinion.. by now you should know my love for lamb). Everything about it sounds delicious, from the brioche bun to the beef and lamb shawarma, to the BBQ sauce, to the pickled onion, fresh cilantro, and coleslaw. Plus a side of fries! This is the full package - a tasty and filling meal - just like Jeff’s team has been the full package this season. You might be tempted to eat it too fast, though, so you have to be careful not to pull a jaw muscle like Jeff’s players have pulled their hamstrings? But given some recovery time, it will all be well worth it.



3. Just Didn’t Catch D’Achane (Haji) (5-1) [3]

Haji barely squeezed out the win with Odunze’s 4.2 points - he needed every bit of that production to beat Aaron. I feel like things have really opened up for Haji since Week 1. He’s on a 5-game winning streak, and he’s got the pieces to continue the streak - Achane, Jeanty, and Warren have been rolling. And with Puka injured, Davante should see a lot more production. I like Haji’s outlook.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Maple Bacon & Fruity Pebbles Korean Corn Dog

Someone might look at the fruity pebbles on this Korean corn dog and think the whole thing is gimmicky and artificial. So appearances may be offputting at first, but I would expect that the combination of sweetness from the fruity pebbles and savoriness from the bacon and deep fried cheese would be a winning combination. After all, it’s their “fan favorite.” I think when given the time to develop over the season, Haji’s team has performed nicely (Jeanty just needed some time), and I would expect this Korean Corn Dog is one of the better performers as a New Food at the Fair.



4. ToInfinityandBijan! (Eric) (4-2) [5]

Eric’s team continues to dominate at the RB position. Bijan is basically the entire Falcons offense (minus some help from Drake), and Josh Jacobs has dominated his past 2 weeks. Even with Etienne seemingly on the downswing, D’Andre Swift on the bench is there if needed. TBD on whether Ladd’s production will continue once Quentin Johnston returns, but at least things look a lot better after Eric’s team Week 6 #HighScore following a Week 5 #LowScore.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Deep Fried Lamb Chops

Eric’s team relies very heavily on its RBs, as seen the last two weeks. His Week 5 bye-pocalypse kept Bijan, Jacobs, and Swift out and subsequently gave him that week’s #LowScore, but then he came roaring back with his RBs at full strength in Week 6 and earned a much-deserved #HighScore. Just like these Deep Fried Lamb Chops, Eric’s team isn’t anything super fancy (deep fried meat), but it does one thing really well (deep fried meat), and it gets the job done (deep fried meat).



5. Unicorn QueenZ (Tim) (3-3) [4]

I really thought my team was going to lose to Abraham in Week 6, but Jayden Daniels saved me yet again (last season included) from another disappointing loss. Consistency at WR continues to be my team’s problem, but thankfully I’ve had a few fairly consistent bulwarks (CMC, Skattebo, and McBride) as anchors.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Double Decker Korean Donkatsu Burger

This burger is a double-decker of two hunks of white meat (fried pork cutlets) between some plain buns and with a little slaw and sauce. My two hunks of white meat (CMC and Skattebo) have been carrying my team, and the rest of my team has been some plain buns and a little slaw - nothing impressive, but enough to create a palatable team / dish.



6. 第六 (Abraham) (2-4) [7]

Patrick Mahomes seems to have returned to fantasy relevance, which is great news for Abraham’s team. Hopefully Pickens will continue to produce when CeeDee returns from injury, and Drake London has put up 2 impressive weeks recently. That’s good timing for Abraham, since Keenan seems to be losing steam, likely from his old age. Abraham will still need help at RB with Omarion out (maybe for longer than expected) - Kyren has held his own, but RJ Harvey / Bam Knight are short-term bandages at best. Abraham’s team has been all over the place this season - he’s ranked last in Standard Deviation rankings, meaning his team has been really bad for 3 weeks and really good for the other 3 weeks. Ultimately, I think Abraham’s team will be fine with the rise of Mahomes.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Hot Honey Jalapeno Popper Donut

Abraham’s team is kind of like this donut - I can’t tell what it’s supposed to be. Sweet? Savory? Spicy? All of the above? The 1st two weeks were Sacko-level performances, followed by two weeks of top-tier production. I would imagine this donut is similar - take one bite and you might get a totally different experience than the next bite. Plus, after staring at this photo for 5 minutes, I still can’t tell whether I would like it or not.



7. Spider Pig (Luke) (3-3) [8]

If Puka misses time, Luke’s team is going to struggle. Josh Allen will be fine, Olave has been serviceable, and Jaylen Waddle has taken advantage of the Tyreek injury. But Saquon hasn’t been the same Saquon as last year, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt hasn’t stepped up when given the opportunity. Harold Fannin should see an increased role with Njoku injured, but I don’t think it’ll be enough to make up for the loss of Puka.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Chicken Caesar Mac Stack

Pre-season Luke’s team looked weak, with his team ranked 11th in the pre-season #PowerRankings, but then came out of the gate strong as the Week 1 #HighScore. Since then, his team has been so-so, with a flash in Week 5, but not enough to propel him into a strong playoff contender yet. I imagine this Chicken Caesar Mac Stack is similar: It doesn’t look or sound super special when you look at the photo or read the description, but I could see how taking the first bite would taste really good. However, keep at it for a few more bites and I would imagine the experience loses its appeal quickly.



8. Terrific (Taylor’s Version) (David) (5-1) [6]

David got a favorable matchup against a struggling Laura’s team in Week 6 to pull out a win and somehow land the #3 spot in the League Standings in spite of being 8th in Points For. I guess this is David reaping the harvest from previous seasons when it’s been reversed - high in Points For but low in the win column. I think his team will improve greatly with the return of Rashee Rice, but I find it hard to believe that starting 3 receiving options from KC (Rice, Worthy, and Kelce) and two TD-offsetting offensive options for Detroit (ARSB and Gibbs) will be a sustainable winning formula, but you do you. David likes his Chiefs and Lions players, I guess.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Hawaiian Street Corn

Like this Hawaiian Street Corn, David’s 5-1 record looks very nice on the surface, but is it substantive? I’m sure the corn tastes delicious, but let’s consider the problem of the pineapple. What are you going to do with half of a pineapple cut like that? You can’t eat the rind, and it’s not like the plastic cutlery they give you will be strong enough to peel the rind or scoop the fruit out. Are you going to carry it around the State Fair and take it home to eat later? The rind and leaves are so pokey, I would imagine even eating trying to eat the corn would be an ordeal. So yeah, not a practical State Fair Food, even though it looks appealing. I feel like David’s team looks nice with its 5-1 record, but it’s not a practical team, it doesn’t appear to be well thought out, and too many questions remain for me to buy in completely.





9. chinaballa (Andrew) (1-5) [9]

After an ugly loss to Jeff Lin’s team, Andrew’s finding himself on a destructive downward spiral 5-game losing streak. It really hasn’t been pretty for Andrew’s team, and he tried to make a splash trade to help navigate his team out of the losing streak, but Marvin Harrison Jr and JK Dobbins were not the answer in Week 6. I’m not sure if MHJ will miss time with his concussion, but I do think JK Dobbins will bounce back. At least Drake Maye has been solid at QB and JSN continues to dominate as Andrew’s WR1. Derrick Henry has been.. ok, but not the same as last year. Before the trade, I would have said if Andrew can wait out CeeDee’s injury, he’ll be on more solid ground in a few weeks. But now, I’m not so sure. Things don’t look great with a tough matchup against Haji in Week 7.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Flaming Hot Cheetos Pickle Pizza

Andrew’s team looked decent to start the season: CeeDee, JSN, Derrick Henry, Pacheco, Drake Maye were all promising fantasy assets. I had him ranked 4th in pre-season rankings. But as the season has progressed, his team is looking worse and worse by the week. One might be tempted to try this Flaming Hot Cheetos Pickle Pizza, thinking visually it looks interesting, conceptually it might work, the individual separate flavors are all pretty good, and mix most things on a pizza and you can get it to be decent, right? The first bite might even be not-half-bad. But I would imagine the more you eat, the more you regret, and I think Andrew has major #RegretZ right now.



10. choubacca (Aaron) (1-5) [12]

Rico Dowdle has been Aaron’s (and the Panthers’) workhorse the past 2 weeks, and will probably continue to be fantasy-relevant even after Chuba returns to play. If Rachaad White can continue to produce with Bucky Irving out, Aaron’s RB situation won’t be as bad as it was to start the season. He has definitely been the benefactor of injuries. Garrett Wilson and Calvin Ridley might miss time, but JaMarr Chase should be more consistent with Joe Flacco throwing to him. Aaron’s team looks better than it did to start the season, but I also feel like this is a flash in the pan of the entire season, and I still question the long-term sustainability of his (relative) success.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Chicken Corn Dog

How in the world does Chicken Corn Dog count as 2025 NC State Fair New Foods? Do better, State Fair. This is just a corn dog with mystery meat on the inside. That’s what all corn dogs are. Just because you say it’s chicken doesn’t mean it’s any less mysterious, and don’t try to put more words to describe how it tastes to try and get me to buy it. You can still get these for like 50 cents at RCCC lunch, right? Or is it $1 now? Aaron’s team is like a Chicken Corn Dog - trying to be a legit “New Fair Food” but in reality it’s still just a corn dog. Don’t hear me hating on corn dogs - they are easy to eat and will satisfy your hunger. Similarly, Aaron’s team has been performing well as of late - I’m not hating on it as much as I was earlier in the season. But don’t be fooled, it’s nothing special.  



11. 大展鸿图 (Jeff Lin) (1-5) [11]

Jeff Lin finally gets his first win! Not that his team did that spectacularly, but Jaxon Dart might prove to be a valuable fantasy asset with his ability to run. Kimani Vidal may end up being a crucial waiver pickup for Jeff if he wants his team to move up in fantasy relevance. But where Jeff lacks in consistent production is at the WR position, and I just don’t see a sustainable path forward with the WRs he has on his roster. At least his team isn’t last in the #PowerRankings anymore!

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Pickle Sub

Just look at the photo and I shouldn’t need to explain any more. Why would you replace the best part of a sub (the bread) for the worst part of the sub (a whole pickle)? And how tiny is this sub if it all fits into a pickle? I think this might be the lamest New Fair Foods I’ve ever seen. And similarly, Jeff’s team has been pretty lame this season.



12. Maybabyboo (Laura) (2-4) [10]

Well, at least Laura’s team didn’t score the least amount of points in Week 6. While her team currently has a little cushion from Sacko with 2 wins, her low Points For may propel her team down to last place in league standings if her team doesn’t get their act together. I really don’t know what to say - I thought her team looked solid to start the season, but after a promising Week 1, things have gone downhill fast. Injuries have plagued her team (McCarthy, Chuba, James Conner, Trey Benson, Cedric Tillman), and developmental players like Travis Hunter and Bhayshul Tuten haven’t panned out. Justin Jefferson and Jake Ferguson have been the two lone bright spots, but her team will need much more than that to get out of last place in the rankings.

NC State Fair New Foods Comp: Chicken Feet

C’mon on, who goes to the State Fair to eat Chicken Feet? Whoever is selling Chicken Feet at the State Fair has to do better with figuring out their target audience. There’s no way you can get any White people within 10 feet of Chicken Feet - good luck trying to feed them any meat that resembles the actual animal - I think they would rather starve first. Maybe some adventurous Black and Latino folks would be willing to try, but most would rather have other fair food. And I can already hear my dad’s voice echoing the sentiment of all the Asians going to the Fair and seeing $20 for Chicken Feet: “Why you pay $20 for something you can make it at home? Too expensive, not worth it, rip off!” No one at the State Fair is going to want to pay money to eat that. And I hate to say it, but Laura’s team is like Chicken Feet - no one in their right minds would pay money to manage that.


Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Week 5 #PowerRankings - Gemini Edition!


Week 5 #PowerRankings - The 5-0 / 0-5 Edition 🖐️


  1. I am not sacko! (Jeff Chen) (5-0) [1]

    Jeff Chen is still unbeatable, knocking off Gabs's strong team in Week 5. The Lamar injury situation is still concerning, but let's be honest, Jeff has enough depth to play Mac Jones and still win, which he basically did this week. James Cook, Javonte, and Emeka are performing like league winners, and Quentin Johnston is looking like an incredible waiver pickup. He gets Eric on his bye-pocalypse week, so 6-0 is basically a lock. Jeff is so good, he can afford to have Lamar, Nico, Stroud, Chubb, and Mixon all on his bench/IR. It's not fair.

    Trending: 🔥🔥🔥


  1. Just Didn’t Catch D’Achane (Haji) (4-1) [2]

    Haji is holding strong at number two, securing a win against Abraham this week. Achane and Jeanty are an absolute power duo at RB, and the fact that Jeanty is still playing upright in the backfield doesn't even matter anymore because he's just producing. Rome Odunze is making that second-year leap you predicted, and Davante is still defying age. Jordan Love is a serviceable QB, and with an easy Week 6 matchup against Aaron, Haji should be looking to solidify his top spot.

    Trending: 📈


  1. Terrific (Taylor’s Version) (David) (4-1) [3]

    David continues to rack up the wins and climb the Points For standings, taking down Eric this week. Jahmyr Gibbs and ARSB are the motor for this team, and Xavier Worthy is giving him the big-play production he needed. Tony Pollard is a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 now that he's back on the Titans (who would have thought?), and Baker Mayfield has actually been a solid backup for Stafford. David is sitting pretty and faces Laura in Week 6, which should be another W. David doesn't care about Points For, but he's trending up on that list, too.

    Trending: 📈


  1. Run It Back! (Gabs) (3-2) [4]

    A tough loss to the league's top team, but Gabs still looks solid. Having both Jonathan Taylor and Quinshon Judkins as strong RBs keeps him in every matchup. The biggest concern remains WR, with the whole Brian Thomas Jr. situation going from bad to worse, and now he has an open WR spot. Bringing CeeDee back from IR should help if he can stay healthy. Gabs is DEEP at RB, but he needs to figure out who's going to catch passes for him, otherwise, he's going to struggle in shootouts. Week 6 is a crucial test against Luke.

    Trending: 📉


  1. Spider Pig (Luke) (3-2) [8]

    Luke jumped up three spots after finally beating Andrew! The biggest surprise this week is that Luke's team actually performed like the good team it looked like in Week 1. Josh Allen and Puka are the foundation, and with Saquon coming into his own on the Eagles, Luke looks like a true contender again. If Waddle can stay healthy, and Jacory can continue to deliver solid RB2 numbers, this team is dangerous. His Week 6 matchup against Gabs will be the biggest litmus test for Luke's team.

    Trending: 📈📈


  1. #surviveandadvance (Eric) (3-2) [5]

    Eric is tumbling down the rankings. Losing to David wasn't the end of the world, but his players are collectively just not performing up to their draft value. Ladd is still struggling, and his RBs (Bijan, Jacobs, Etienne) can't carry the whole team every week. Now he faces a bye-pocalypse in Week 6, matching up against Jeff Chen. This team is staring 3-3 right in the face, and the gap between his talent and his production is becoming too wide to ignore. Eric needs to survive this week before he can advance.

    Trending: 📉📉


  1. 第六 (Abraham) (2-3) [7]

    Abraham loses a tough one to Haji, but his team is still firmly middle-of-the-pack. Mahomes, Kyren, Pickens, and London are all giving him what he needs, and Drake London finally looks like the WR1 we all hoped for. The biggest news is that Omarion Hampton is off the IR, giving Abraham another strong RB option. He needs to activate him ASAP! Abraham faces your team (Tim) next week, and since you're coming off a loss, that's a coin flip for sure. Keep that Drake London train rolling!

    Trending: 📈


  1. Unicorn QueenZ (Tim) (2-3) [4]

    After that dominant performance in Week 4, I was expecting my team to stabilize, but a tough loss to Laura drops me two spots and to 8th place. CMC is still a god, and the emergence of Skattebo is a bright spot, but the WR corps remains weak. I need Jayden Daniels to come back and save me from the QB carousel I'm on. Tetairoa McMillan and Courtland Sutton aren't exactly setting the world on fire. I'm crossing my fingers for a bounce-back win against Abraham in Week 6.

    Trending: 📉


  1. Maybabyboo (Laura) (2-3) [10]

    Laura finally gets her second win, beating my team. What a world. The RB woes seem to be slowly resolving themselves, and Chase Brown is looking like a solid weekly start. She wisely moved off the Njoku/Ferguson TE duo to just Ferguson, and Bo Nix is a surprisingly decent QB. Her biggest problem is the dreaded Week 6 Bye-pocalypse, with Justin Jefferson, McCarthy, and her Houston D all out. She's up against David, which looks like a guaranteed loss, but hey, at least she isn't 0-5.

    Trending: 📈


  1. choubacca (Aaron) (1-4) [12]

    HE DID IT! AARON GOT A WIN! I can't believe I'm writing this, but Aaron beat Jeff Lin. I guess that's what happens when you have a QB like Jalen Hurts and your opponent is starting a ghost. Rachaad White is a decent RB, and Garrett Wilson and Ja'Marr Chase are too good to keep losing. Aaron's team still sucks, but at least he's not in last place. His reward? A date with Haji's team in Week 6. The dream is over, but that 1-4 record looks a whole lot better than 0-5.

    Trending: 💩📈


  1. chinaballa (Andrew) (1-4) [9]

    Andrew drops to 11th after losing to Luke. Derrick Henry is great, but the rest of the team is either wildly inconsistent (JSN, Deebo) or just plain underwhelming (Pacheco, Dobbins). The waiver pickup of Marvin Harrison Jr. is a silver lining, but he needs to start producing like the generational talent he's supposed to be. Andrew has a shot at redemption in the "Battle Of Who Can Suck Less" against Jeff Lin in Week 6. If he loses this one, he's in serious trouble.

    Trending: 📉


  1. 大展鸿图 (Jeff Lin) (0-5) [11]

    Oh, Jeff. I was so excited for the "Battle Of Who Can Suck Less" this week, and you went out and lost to Aaron. You are now the league's sole 0-5 team. Your team is a nightmare of underperformance and injured/suspended players (Nabers, Stroud, Burrow). A.J. Brown is a fantasy heartbreaker, and Breece Hall is just okay. The one glimmer of hope is the Week 6 rematch against Andrew. This is a must-win to avoid the embarrassment of 0-6. You need more than just Ricky Pearsall being good.

    Trending: 📉📉📉