Week 4 Power Rankings

10. Nemo (10)- Nemo has proactively offered up some QB depth to begin plugging up some holes in his leaky WR hull.  In Bowe, Branch, and Rice, Nemo has tantalizing talent but lacks the consistent return of a top-tier WR.  The trade market is, shall we say, sluggish at the moment so look for teams to slowly approach here as activity perks up leading into the byes.  However, even if he makes a ‘deal of the season’, continued poor outings from CJ will doom this team to the lottery. 

9. DFlam (8)- Cam Newton, drafted to play football, had difficulties swimming his way upstream last week and his no-show is essentially  a wash.  The RB injuries are slowly sorting themselves out but losing Hernandez has been painful while Mike Williams might as well pull a hamstring so DFlam can sit him.  A false dawn for Ryan Grant would be another cruel twist here but the safe bet is that Grant will have to win a game or two for ‘Flam as the byes loom.

8. Thompson (9)- Thompson was not a happy camper after last week’s rankings but continued strong performances should keep him in the running for a playoff race despite a low position here.  A lot of lip service is being paid at the moment to ‘involving’ Percy Harvin but so far no go there- action on these sentiments will surely be a boon for Thompson’s squad moving into October.

7. Tighe (7)- A truly difficult week for Tighe but positive news on Foster and Vick should buoy some sinking feelings.  Julio Jones is starting to round into form as well here while the Grossman acquisition is looking sharp in the short term.  For now, it is one week at a time here for last year’s top unit.

6. Brett (5)- Brett is solid throughout, Austin Collie perhaps not included, but falls behind Curran due to my minor concerns about Best’s injury history and Hightower’s role moving forward. 

5. TMac (4)- In this ongoing ‘Brett/TMac’ debate I have been having, I lean again to the Mac with his surging Daniel Thomas situation.  I also think it will be closer to 50-50 with Helu and Hightower going forward and this gives TMac an edge in the event Washington maintains its early pace.  And is that Lance Moore?  Goodness, TMac needs more WR’s like this piece needs more bad jokes.

4. Curran (6)- Curran continues his steady ascent behind a strong stable of arms.  Although Brady has had the headlines, no one can really argue with Sanchez and his fantasy relevance.  Hasselbeck, grey flecks throughout, is showing no signs of age- can he survive without Britt?  At this point Curran is one RB away from moving into the elite squads of the NFFL.

3. Malinn (3)- It remains a bit of a ‘Top 3’ here but the gap is shrinking.  Malinn looks to be in trouble with Gates and Greene is a split-time RB on a passing team (for now, and for Pats games).  Curran is closing fast, no doubt about it…

2. Lee (2)- Our favorite South Korean sits again at #2 on a combination of my comfort with the rankings and his overall scoring output thus far.  The huge red flag is that this team, with as much depth as a kiddie pool on Autumn Street, is looking at no better than .500 entering the bye weeks.  A massive week beckons for Lee.  Personnel wise, I would say that he is need of a RB with the Ben Tate rodeo winding down.

1. Concannon (1)- A huge week for Concannon- rumors of PBR being renamed ‘150 Points’ are unconfirmed.  But, the Britt loss was a massive blow and likely the biggest bit of league news this week.  It seems all other systems are a go for now but only time will tell if this team can keep the early pace or become yet another rabbit in the marathon NFFL season.

MNF Week 3

Over and done…

Thompson 117, Tmac 73- Thompson with Moss
Concannon 163, Tighe (Grossman, Davis) 43
Curran 155, Lee (Dez) 94
DFlam 99, Nemo 85

Thompson looks to run up the score with an emphatic rebuttal to his #9 ranking while Tighe probably could have done little this week given his opponent.  Curran picks up another huge Patriot week while DFlam falls just shy of 100 but does get the ‘W’.

MNF Game of the Week

Malinn (Romo) 98, Brett (Hightower, Witten) 82

A big battle here as Witten could severely dampen any Romo attempts to stretch the lead.  The formula here would be for a big Witten game to slow Romo while Hightower tacks on a TD or two- not an unlikely formula there but Malinn is in the driver’s seat.

Week 3 Power Rankings

10. Nemo (9)- A slow start for Nemo but last week was a massive leap forward.  Hillis, the more questionable of his two-headed RB monster, looked strong while first round choice Dalton impressed.  A potential surplus of QB talent is developing here as Big Ben and Cutler hold steady while Henne delivers nice QB4 depth- perhaps one goes out to fill that hole at W/R.  Like I’ve said over and over, it is early and someone has to be #10.

9. Thompson (7)- Brutal. Brutal. Brutal.  The only upside for Thompson is that Charles was a $9 guy and the roster does have talent remaining due to this cost-savings.  But boy, was that brutal.  Thompson may be the first team to truly be out of contention in this young season as it is so hard to see any team overcome such a loss so early.

8. Dflam (10)- ‘Flam continues to enjoy his injury ward, adding Hernandez and the Cadillac this week, but the increasingly convincing play of Mr. Newton has him in the lead for the ROY award.  Some might even argue that he is the #1 here with Flacco his usual up and down self!  Mike Williams is a key guy to get on track but Flam will most likely ride the fortunes of the #1 overall pick while his battered team settles itself out.

7. Tighe (6)- Looking for an injured RB?  Come on down!  Tighe swung a deal for perpetually un-injured Law Firm due to his mini-crisis, perhaps also (rightfully, or maybe justifiably) assuming Gore was likely to get hurt next.  Adding Grossman is a statement of faith that not many here would echo but he is an improvement on both Kerry Collins and an injured Vick.  Tighe will need to ride out the storm during this injury spell but he remains sharp in all ways, the addition of Fred Davis potentially a savvy one if further injuries force him back to a two-TE offense.

6. Curran (8)- Curran swung a deal this week that saw Gore arrive with local favorite Ben…BGE heading out.  Is Benson out?  No word for sure but at this point the RB struggles are reaching a fever pitch.  The good news is that his QB tandem of Hasslebeck and Brady is arguably tops so far, if not for the future then for the first two weeks.  Gronk is in line for more work while the WR’s are tough- look for more strong showings from Curran in the coming weeks.

5. Brett (5)- A tricky spot for Brett as Hightower, looked to as at least a solid first-half option while other RB’s here develop, is now looking like he is facing real competition from Helu for carries.  In fact, in comparing TMac and Brett, I gave TMac the nod for that reason alone.  Still, the lineup is strong and I think the Colts WRs will be OK moving forward.

4. Tmac (4)- Not sure which is more embarrassing- Jerome Simpson and his pot incident or DeAngelo and his four or so yards so far.  What is not embarrassing is that TMac continues to play a strong lineup across the board with only the inconsistency of DeSean Jackson a true concern.  This concern, by the way, generally becomes moot when he blows up for thirty points.  A big week for the Mac Attack rookie scouting department- Helu and Thomas looked outstanding in week 2.

3. Malinn (3)- The Romo injury and the lingering presence of Reggie Bush means another week of staring at Lee’s (broken) brake lights.  It will be interesting to see how Thomas Jones figures into the Chiefs offense moving forward but for now, like all teams, Malinn is looking hard for an answer at W/R.

2. Lee (1)- Lee falls in a #1 v #2 matchup but he is still in outstanding position with Blount rounding into form.  Tate looks good so far but I think this is temporary- Foster, with similar workloads last year, had found his way to bigger days so I think a healthy Arian means somewhere between 60 and 70% of the work.  Lee’s hole, at this point, looks to be TE- Marcedes Lewis is the definition of fluke and no favors were done for him with the insertion of Gabbert at QB.  I think.

1. Concannon (2)- No guest ranking this week- I believe I ‘outperformed’ my 'own' ranking by the most, anyhow.  The team is now encountering its first bit of turbulence with injuries to Austin, Britt, and Beanie.  The shocking release of long-time locker room character guy James Jones may also cause its own difficulties- fun while it lasted, JJ.  On the bright side, A.J. Green is poised to debut while Eli will continue to struggle to reach 10 fantasy points per week but it is enough for now in the flawed month of September for this team to wear the target on its over-hyped back.

MNF Week 2

Game Over
Brett 122, Nemo 108
Thompson 110, Tighe 93
Curran 107, Malinn 95

A trio of tight matchups underlines what is a very tight, competitive opening two NFFL weeks.  The Tighe-Thompson tilt saw two injuries turn it- Charles initially, Vick late, with the Charles injury having massive ramifications for the remainder of the year.  Curran continues to perform well after his Power Ranking honors while Nemo came back strong, despite another tough CJ outing, but could not overcome Brett.

Still Ticking
Concannon (Eli, Bradshaw) 138, Lee (Nicks) 123


Nicks, nicked, is in further trouble here as any point he scores will be offset by Eli.  To give a general idea, Eli scores 2/3 of Nicks's points on TD's and takes two for any five scored via yardage.



MNF Game of the Week
Tmac (Manningham) 105, Dflam (Caddy) 101

A classic MNF battle is about fifty-fifty to me as the running back trails the receiver by four points.  Good luck to all.

Power Rankings, Week 2

Last week in parenthesis (!), mush...

10. DFlam (9)- Is Cam for real?  Colston and SJax add to the injury pileup and I am unconvinced about McGahee as a flex play.  Roddy, the low scorer, is a positive but I need one more week from CAM before I get really giddy about this squad.

9. Nemo (8)- Strong QB play here is a plus and Henne could be real steal deal.  CJ is on pace for 144...carries...give me the over, but I am very worried about Kansas City.  Big-plus to McCluster, a potential RB4 due to his qualifications as a W/T, but unfortunately at the moment Nemo may not have the RB3 to allow this.



8. Curran (10)- Say what you (I) will (did) on this team but I whiffed badly on Benson.  Gresham, too, looks a big player and LT has started strong, again- can he avoid the late fade?  So long as Mr. Brady keeps chugging along, who knows where this team climbs?


7. Thompson (6)- So far, so good, but Thompson is relying on Denver (Orton) KC (Cassel, Charles) and Indy (Addai) to overcome poor team play to produce good numbers- I think only Charles gets them, unless Orton sticks a full sixteen games in.  Harvin, Doucet, and Sproles could all be saviors, provided you like McNabb to exceed 39 yards this week (tentative OVER).

6. Tighe (7)- QB2 is only the biggest hole for any team in the league at the moment but strong showings otherwise make him a dangerous #6.  Steve Smith- big time swipe?  And with Foster yet to even play, this team is bubbling with potential.


5. Brett (5)- Strength across the board means the Collie loss looks OK.  Who else likes the look of Fitzpatrick for MVP?


4. TMac (2)- A strong start for Mac Attack but two question guys (in my mind, the same mind that went g.tate-gilyard-jacoby-i.just.threw.up.in.my.mouth atop last year’s rook draft) are Mendenhall and DeAngelo- neither did anything. We’ll keep an eye on it here at power ranking headquarters but TMac- already shopping Maclin- might need to hit that deep, deep WR pool a little earlier than expected.

3. Malinn (#3)- Bush and Greene look a bit dud-ish but overall the team did as well as expected. Graham, Plax, Bess stepped up big- can they keep pace?

#2 The Commish (4)
'In the first edition of guest writer on the power rankings I put Timmy at #2. He should start getting a cut of the pot just based on the work he puts in but we'll address that later. Team wise, Timmy's got a strong overall squad with Brees, Fitz, and Finley locking down the 1 spot at their respective positions. Much like the rest of the league the commish has some questions at RB but with multiple options to choose for Timmy could be poised for a strong run this year.' -Papa Coffee

Lovely stuff there.  And for the finale...

#1. Lee (#1)- #1 is #1, though we already see cracks- Nicks hobbling, Dez having some sort of ‘cramps’, Marhsawn Lynch being about what he was for all but that one play last year, Calvin limping. But, the rule of power rankings (JUST MADE NOW) is if you are #1, you stay #1, provided you win. Good luck Lee- another #1 v #2 this week.

NFFL Schedule Update

Power Rankings coming up later today...we'll aim for around 4pm.

Norwood Division

1. Malinn

2. Tighe

3. TMac

4. Concannon

5. Brett

Mustang Division

A. Lee

B. Nemo

C. Curran

D. Thompson

E. DFlam

*Please note that the schedule below is based entirely off of the schedule skeleton- in the event of a discrepancy, the skeleton, which I have checked for accuracy, takes precedence over the schedule below.

NFFL Schedule

Week 1

Malinn v Thompson

Tighe v DFlam

TMac v #1 Lee

Concannon v Nemo

Brett v Curran

Week 2

Malinn v Curran

Tighe v Thompson

TMac v DFlam

Concannon v Lee

Brett v Nemo

Week 3

Tmac v Thompson

Malinn v Brett

Tighe v Concannon

Lee v Curran

Nemo v DFlam

Week 4

Concannon v DFlam

Malinn v TMac

Tighe v Brett

Lee v Nemo

Curran v Thompson

Week 5

Malinn v Lee

Tighe v TMac

Concannon v Brett

Nemo v Curran

Thompson v DFlam

Week 6

Tighe v Nemo

Malinn v Concannon

TMac v Brett

Lee v Thompson

Curran v DFlam

Week 7

TMac v Curran

Malinn v Brett

Tighe v Concannon

Lee v DFlam

Nemo v Thompson

Week 8

Concannon v Thompson

Malinn v TMac

Tighe v Brett

Lee v Curran

Nemo v DFlam

Week 9

Brett v DFlam

Malinn v Tighe

TMac v Concannon

Nemo v Curran

Thompson v DFlam

Week 10

Malinn v Nemo

Tighe v TMac

Concannon v Brett

Lee v Thompson

Curran v DFlam

Week 11

Malinn v DFlam

Tighe v Lee

TMac v Nemo

Concannon v Curran

Brett v Thompson

Week 12

Tighe v Curran

Malinn v Concannon

TMac v Brett

Lee v DFlam

Nemo v Thompson

Week 13

Brett v Lee

Malinn v Tighe

TMac v Concannon

Nemo v Curran

Thompson v DFlam

Week 14

Malinn v Lee

Tighe v Nemo

TMac v Curran

Concannon v Thompson

Brett v DFlam

Week 15

NFFL Semi-Finals

Week 16

NFFL Superbowl

Week 13 (D): 5 v A

Week 14: Rivalry Week

MNF Update

Game Over

Lee 122, TMac 105

 

#1 Lee rumbles to a strong opening week win against a strong TMac squad.

 

Victory Formation

Malinn 101 (Marshall, Lloyd), Thompson 54 (Orton, McFadden)

DFlam 112 (Hernandez), Tighe 94 (F)

Concannon 133 (F), Nemo 68 (Branch, Moreno)

Three solid victories for these squads as all top 100.  Thompson and Nemo, with additional bodies to go, should make these games respectable with some late scores while DFlam and Malinn target the early points lead.

MNF Game of the Week

Brett 96 (F), Curran 74 (Brady, Green-Ellis, Gronkowski)

It looks good for Curran, provided NE wins, amidst rumors that he printed out several stacks of 'Power Rankings' to use as toilet paper.  A potentially 'cellar-leaving' win for the bottom man beckons.

Next time- updated Power Rankings and a rule change idea.

Commish

NFFL Week 1 Power Rankings

Here we go, then...


10. Curran

The biggest concern here is at RB, a position where the names on this list are generally being avoided in drafts around the country.  Green-Ellis was strong last year but there are doubt about his ability to repeat those numbers while LT faded badly late last year and Benson goes from one orange uniform to another.

The strength of this team is depth at QB and with Brady the only name commanding major trade value it may hint at a potential mega-deal. 

9. DFlam

DFlam was higher in my early rough draft but he came out of the Thursday opener worse off than anyone else in the league.  Colston's injury will sideline him for four weeks while Grant looks like he might be in a 50-50 timeshare.  Although Pierre Thomas could deputize nicely for Grant, the W/R options are less appealing with QB-weak Dallas Clark and the unreliable Robert Meachem.

Already dealing with depth issues at QB after the Garrard release, DFlam now has to worry about the flex positions before two NFL games have even kicked off.  Perhaps, finally, DFlam will get off his rear and actually complete a trade.

8. Nemo

Question marks at WR push Nemo down to the bottom three but, like those below him, the 'wait-and-see' approach is vital.  There are plenty of options here, including the electrifying Randall Cobb, so perhaps something will come out of it.  If so, look for Nemo to angle up to the middle of the rankings by October.

7. Tighe

If Packers-Saints crushed DFlam, he would have found himself next to Mr. Tighe, already pushed down into the cellar via the Manning injury news.  It is hard to punt $25 million and remain competitive but with his keeper class it more or less wipes out his savings, pegging him firmly back to square one.

That said, it is with no surprise that QB2 is the problem area.  Campbell, in my mind, will likely emerge as a better option than Collins.  At W/T, Tighe is currently going TE but at some point Steve Smith, Crabtree, or deep sleeper Demaryious Thomas should step forward.

6. Thompson

The defending champions clock in at mid-table, a solid but unspectacular lineup meriting such a ranking.  The early play of Darren McFadden is vital as Addai is a shaky W/R but with depth across the bench and reliable QB play Thompson should be in position to battle for the playoffs in all but the most injury-riddled of scenarios.

5. Brett

Brett pushes on from the cellar, a trio of QBs in Schaub, Fitzpatrick, and Bradford sure to provide stability while he sorts out the fallout from the Manning injury.  Indeed, two Colt WRs is a risky bet and could be an early damper but there is enough depth at WR for now to get through it in September.  A critical question could develop at W/R where Ingram's first NFL game was less than inspiring.

4. Concannon

Nothing was learned on Thursday- Brees is great, Finley is a matchup nightmare- so the same questions remain.  But with start power at WR and enough solid options at RB, this team has the look of a 4-2 or 5-3 squad, one firmly in the hunt without inspiring fear in other contenders.

3. Malinn

MJD, Rice, and Grant could all be top guys at their position (though not together, of course) and the WR talent is likeable enough to bump him above Concannon.  QB2 looks like Kolb's to lose but McCoy should make it very interesting as we move forward. 

2. TMac

TMac's only hole is at TE, an indicator of strength, but there are minor injury worries at RB.  The lack of a clear #3 QB is also a potential isssue but Hill backs up Stafford nicely.  The key, though, is WR depth, represented by Maclin- benched.

1. Lee

#1 Lee chugs into the top spot on the strength of a paper-thin draft strategy that netted a formidable roster that leaves South Koreans and ER doctors alike foaming at the mouth with the excitement of cash in the future.

Alex Smith?  Worst backup QB in the league.  Marion Barber?  Same at RB.  Mike Thomas?  Yikes, Kerry Meier is unavailable?

But for now, it is Lee's title to lose.  Good luck, all.

Schedule Skeleton

Norwood Division

1. Malinn

2. Tighe

3. TMac

4. Concannon

5. Brett

Mustang Division

A. Lee

B. Nemo

C. Curran

D. Thompson

E. DFlam

Division Games (replace 1 with A, 2 with B, etc.)

* For these games below, the non-divisional game is listed.  Fill in the rest of the schedule by matching the number on the left of the colon with the pairings on the right.  So, for Week 3, the Norwood Division matchups are 1 v 5 and 2 v 4, the Mustang Division A v C and B v E.

1: 2 v 3, 4 v 5

2: 1 v 4, 3 v 5

3: 1 v 5, 2 v 4

4: 1 v 3, 2 v 5

5: 1 v 2, 3 v 4

Schedule Skeleton

Week 1:  1 v D, 2 v E, 3 v A, 4 v B, 5 v C

Week 2:  1 v C, 2 v D, 3 v E, 4 v A, 5 v B

Week 3 (D): 3 v D

Week 4 (D): 4 v E

Week 5 (D): 1 v A

Week 6 (D): 2 v B

Week 7 (D): 3 v C

Week 8 (D): 4 v D

Week 9 (D): 5 v E

Week 10 (D): 1 v B

Week 11: 1 v E, 2 v A, 3 v B, 4 v C, 5 v D

Week 12 (D): 2 v C

Week 13 (D): 5 v A

Week 14: Rivalry Week