Power Rankings: Week 4

Week 3 was just ugly.  I didn't think it would get much uglier after Week 2, but it did.  Injuries abounded, the underpeformance bug bit hard, and frustration for this game of Fantasy Football exploded for many managers - I could just feel it in the Fantasy Football air.  Already, by Week 3, we have no undefeated teams and no unundefeated teams.  We are all stuck in mediocrity and have become subject to its oppressive so-so-ness, tainted with at least one unfortunate loss.  *Sigh*

This week's Power Rankings are brought to you in part by the album "Black On Both Sides" by Mos Def - Andrew introduced me to them - they're pretty good, check them out if you haven't heard of them.  ##thuglife##


1. Unicorn Burps (2-1) [2]

David's team deserves the top spot again.  With Cousins in his pocket, he doesn't have to settle with Brady's crapiness, which will give his team at least a short-term boost.  If he can maintain a healthy WR corps, and if Marshawn continues to dominate all RBs in the league, I can't really see much wrong with David's team except maybe TE, but that can easily be overlooked.  There are teams that are far worse off (see examples below).


2. Terrific Tortoises (2-1) [3]

For the second week in a row, David Li's team scores the second most points in the league.  It only took, what, 4 years?  I don't want to speak too prematurely, but I'm happy for him.  Sincerely.  With good QB options, the best starting WRs (and best bench WRs), and Gio still killing it, David Li's got a good thing going for him.


3. Spider Pig (2-1) [1]

There are a few things that should concern Luke.  Obviously, AP and Arian Foster are out for the foreseeable future, and Antonio Gates may have peaked this season already.  However, Luke has at least been active with replacing the areas his team is lacking in - Donald Brown, Matt Asiata - and he still has Matt Ryan and Demaryius, and Cecil Shorts III is returning, which should keep his team competitive.  Maybe not as competitive as they would have been with a healthy, not-in-trouble-with-the-law-NFL-and-public lineup, but still competitive.  I think Luke knows what he's doing in the midst of all these troubles.


4. Seenie J (1-2) [5]

Jeff's got the best QB in the league and the best QB in Fantasy right now.  *Sigh*  Such a waste of pointage.  But at least he finally got a win, albeit a close one.  His team has been scoring pretty consistently in the top half of the league each week, but only has one win to show for it.  It doesn't seem to add up when I look at his roster, but maybe that just means that Jeff's team is scarier than it appears.  And it could be even scarier if he finds a more consistent RB2.


5. Mo Murray No Probs (1-2) [4]

Wow what even happened?  No way that could be my doing.  Sure, Justina's team scores the fewest points this week, but her team still looks it can do some damage.  There are definitely weak spots, and this probably won't be the only week where she feels the frustration of starting the wrong player(s), but don't lose hope, Justina - just chalk this one up as a bad week and keep moving on.  I have confidence in your team... although I'm not sure you want me to anymore.


6. I'm Coming Home. (2-1) [6]

Duke doesn't win pretty, but he wins this week.  I think this is still a good place for his team for now, simply because I don't know what to make of it.  There's potential there (Calvin Johnson, Roddy White, Gronk), but his team hasn't been performing to it's full potential after Week 1.  He's got 2 wins, though, which should count for something.


7. Odoyle rules! (2-1) [9]

My team managed to:
1. Pull out the win, much thanks to Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense,
2. Score - get this - the 4th most points in the league for the week (it's the small victories), and
3. Be one of two teams (shoutout Unicorns) to surpass Yahoo!'s ridiculous prediction algorithm - take that, Yahoo!'s ridiculous prediction algorithm!
Sure, my team still sucks, but I'm 2-and-1 babyyy!  WINNING RECORD WHAT IT DO.  ##thuglife##  And what do I think about my trade with Eric?  I don't want to say too much, because it hasn't gone through yet, but let's just say I think it benefits the both of our teams, so it's a win-win.  That's what we look for in a trade, right?


8. Charlotte Hornets (2-1) [9]

That Alshon Jeffery coming in to save Abraham during MNF, much thanks to Brandon Marshall having to sit for some of the game.  In spite of the win, Abraham still has some RB woes, but his QB and WRs may be strong enough to get him some more wins down the road.  If I were him, I'd be vulturing that waiver wire or wheeling and dealing for some upgrades at RB.  But he'll have to make some sacrifices to pull that off.


9. The Pain Train (1-2) [7]

With Eddie Lacy and the TB RBs continuing to disappoint (besides Week 2 Rainey), it's hard to find the silver lining in Gabs's RBs.  He did a waiver overhaul with Khiry Robinson and Alfred Blue, but they aren't solid weekly starters.  Gabs needs to somehow put together a better supporting cast around Brees, Mike Wallace, and Julius Thomas in order to be more threatening.  Especially now that he's sitting at the bottom of the league's rankings.


10. Chou Chainz (1-2) [10]

I'm going to attribute Aaron's huge Week 2 to just luck.  I'm not seeing how his team is going to be a threat in the long term.  He hasn't had any real team-changing pickups off the waiver wire, which is surprising, since it's Aaron we're talking about.  But I guess vacationing in the Bahamas will do that to you.


11. GHOTEM (1-2) [11]

Big time sadface for Andrew's team.  With big question marks around Jamaal and DeAngelo, and Woodhead being pretty much gone for the season, Andrew is hurting bad at RB.  I honestly don't know what he's going to do at this point.  He's got to rely on his QB and WRs to help him win games, but I don't think he's got what it takes at those positions to carry him far.


12. #SOverySHADY (1-2) [11]

At the publishing of these rankings, the trade between Eric and I hasn't gone through, so I'm going to keep Eric at the bottom below Andrew.  However, if the trade goes through, his team will look much better with the addition of Aaron Rodgers and Emmanuel Sanders, and will likely receive a boost in the rankings.  Granted, he'll be losing the player his team is named after, but it'll be an overall improvement in his team.  If Jamaal Charles stays hurt, Eric's team could be looking even better.  Otherwise, Eric is going to be hurting bad at RB, and may remain stuck at the bottom.  But at least things are looking up, potentially.  He would have won this week had he not started Josh McCown - I still can't figure that out.