It has been a little while as my early momentum on Power Rankings fizzled out around a month ago. In terms of 2012, the plan will probably be to start with a full ranking, update the top 3 each week, and perhaps go full once a month from that point.
As usual, these rankings are in the idea of 'if we could pick a team today, what order would they go' but at this stage records play a big role in that. Next week, I have a similar feature planned except with 2012 keeper potential factored in- something to look forward to for those out of the race. Without further explanation, ado, or Freddy Adu, then...
10. Thompson
With four wins, Thompson is at the top of the bottom four but as noted last week his performance of late has been historically poor. Looking at the next two weeks, his QB tandem of Ryan and Palko is as bad as any in this region and he lacks a consistent threat at RB. At WR, Stevie Johnson, provided he avoids continuing to shoot himself in the foot, looked strong last week and could lead a resurgence.
The other caveat is that this squad has dealt with quite a bit of injury and some of these players are now returning. Moss is back, for one, and DMF could return in time for rivalry week. If these two can perform we could see another win from this team before the curtain falls on the 2011 season.
9. Nemo
Overall, there is not much to worry about here for contenders to trip up on but the QB duo of the Big Red Ben is solid enough to give Nemo a chance in any week. Chris Johnson has shown some spark of late and could add further to his chances. There is a hole at RB2 and the WRs, in general, lack big-time ability but Nemo has a shot to catch Curran napping in Week 13.
8. Tighe
Tighe has very little to speak of at RB but looks to have enough solid play coming in across the rest of the board to give him a steady hold of the eight spot. With Vick out, Young has played solidly but injuries to Felix Jones, Julio Jones, and Manningham have all been more difficult to overcome of late. One side note is that with Malinn all but mathematically out, Tighe is all but mathematically unlikely to impact the playoff race.
7. Brett
Brett hung around for a while before opting to give away AP and call it a season but at this moment his hold on the seven spot is very solid, both from above and below. Bush and Murray at RB is as strong a duo this side of Malinn and that gives him a good chance to impact the standings late this year. With two games against contenders- Lee this week, DFlam next- the key guys are likely the QBs. Fitzpatrick and Bradford really just could not maintain the pace but good showings in the next two weeks might lead to an upset or two. The other question is at WR- Knox and Wayne represent two solid rolls of the dice and perhaps Riley Cooper could play a big role in rivalry week.
6. Malinn
Malinn could still get into the playoffs but this view is shared only by the most socially-challenged mathematicians. With Tighe a dead rubber opponent in week 13, we look ahead to week 14 and his showdown with Lee:
QB: Romo against the Giants could go either way but Colt McCoy is in trouble at PIT
RB: Rice hosts Indy- nice- while MJD welcomes Tampa Bay. Now we are talking...
WR: Marshall (PHI) Wallace (CLE) and Lloyd (@SEA, MNF) could all provide positive games
TE: The two-TE set, Graham and Gates, are nearly matchup proof
With solid potential for an upset, Malinn will surely be preparing his Knute Rockne speech for his squad ahead of the rivalry week showdown.
5. TMac
As detailed in the playoff picture update, TMac is almost out of the division race as he needs to clear Concannon in the standings but currently trails by a full win. The other issue is at WR, where he has held the most depth all year, is now a position where things are quickly crumbling. De$ean Jack$on, a regular starter, has not contributed in weeks, and a look to the bench reveals Breaston and Simpson as the two vying for the top backup spot.
QB is an average spot with Freeman in freefall but Stafford looking to now get the thumbs-up on the injury front. Davis, at TE, is also about average. RB holds plenty of big names but only Foster is reliable. Mendenhall is likely the quietest bust of the 2011 season and Turner is beginning to limp around- who knows if he can make it. DeAngelo Williams has feasted on weak defenses of late- could he be a late savior for TMac?
Overall, TMac's squad has fought valiantly but the signs of a collapse are here and a tough schedule looms. It seems, at this point, that he will be on the outside looking in come playoff time.
4. DFlam
DFlam checks in at a very strong #4 with a dynamic two-RB set at QB. Both Tebow and Newton continue to produce despite poor throwing performances of late and there is no reason to expect that to change in December.
DFlam does not have any major concerns but his top RB and WR are slight question marks- Forte lost Flacco, White has been inconsistent- and Jackson/Colston do not really seem likely to make up for it by being elite #2 guys. There is solid depth with Flacco and McGahee.
This team is simply very well-rounded and has made it this far by being uber-consistent. It should really be in line to score 95-105 point per week, a range it has fallen into more or less each week this year. A bad week against DFlam will be punished but, on the flip side, a strong showing should be rewarded.
3. Curran
Curran blew up last week, hitting 141 points and winning his fourth straight game (streaky Curran: five wins to start, three losses in a row, and now four wins on the trot). At 9-3, the explosion pulled him ahead of Lee on tie-break and gives him a huge boost in that race for the division.
His team has over-relied on Patriots but it may work out as the Pats have begun to click again on offense. Brady, Welker, and Gronkowski are the three most consistent Pats and Curran starts all of them. Palmer is a questionable QB2, probably the weakest of those in the playoff race, while Jennings has produced at a #2 level behind Jordy Nelson. With Cruz cruising, Curran has hardly noticed.
One caution flag to wave here is at RB. Gore has been banged up all year and traditionally misses a game or two. If SF locks up a bye early, Gore could sit in key playoff weeks. There is also concern for Benson, in his case more scheduling. If either falters, the backups are LT and Ricky Williams- more of a potluck offering than a pot of gold.
As usual, this team will go as the Pats go and given the cupcake-laden schedule it will be very unsurprising to see Curran make it all the way to week 16.
2. Concannon
The commish cruised early in the year but a combination of players returning to earth and injuries have brought him back to the playoff pack at this late stage of the year.
The good news is that this has not impacted the QB position. Brees and Eli have been and should remain the top duo in this league and behind this consistent output Concannon has managed to hold the ship steady while digging into his bench. Ponder provides solid insurance but without either one the season is over.
RB has been an up and down ride with a variety of tiny little bothers all season but the big blow was the loss of Fred Jackson for the year. One week removed, Wells and Mathews look to be ready to step up big and Bradshaw is back in practice but this position is weak in both the quantity and quality department.
The receiver position has been another highlight despite losing Britt for the year and Austin for most of it. Fitzgerald has proven QB-proof while AJ Green is looking like a real blue-chipper as a rookie. Jordy Nelson has been the best white WR outside of the thirteen colonies and Laurent Robinson has, finally, played to his talent. Finley, at TE, has been a bust but does look to have an easy slate moving forward.
Concannon's team has been strong all year but at this point the depth is stretch a bit thin. One injury could be a knockout blow at RB while every bit of help is needed from WR and QB. If he holds on, though, the division title and league championship beckon and the ability to choose a semi-final opponent could prove the edge needed in this very tight playoff race.
1. Lee
All four of the other contenders have holes at critical spots but Lee is not one of them- the prime reason for his inclusion here. QB1, RB1, WR1...all set for Lee with Rodgers, McCoy, and Johnson.
The issue stressed for Lee all year was depth and his move for AP kind of addressed it, until he got hurt. Still, AP should be good to go soon and with Lynch and Blount now re-emerging it seems that Lee has the RB support to overcome what has been a dreadful decision to buy Phillip Rivers. The same could be said of Dez Bryant, a tough play each week who has been bailed out by solid showings from Calvin Johnson. If Nicks can start returning to form, Lee looks to be in good shape at WR.
Like all teams, an injury would now hurt Lee but what was a depth problem in week 1 is now a more universal concern in that it is shared by all teams at this stage. Thus, given the talent level at the top spots and steady RB work shown of late it seems Lee is, at this point, the favorite to win the Superbowl. Both Brett and Malinn, tough outs at this stage, will look to show otherwise and perhaps keep Lee out of the playoffs entirely but provided he sneaks in it could once again prove to be Lee's year.
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