1. South Park Cows (1st 5-0 939.62 pts)
The Cows have taken the league by storm, and in an unorthodox manner: They have streamed QBs and relied upon top picks Matt Forte and Antonio Brown to produce week in and week out. Eschewing Y!'s projections, Mike Hart has made his own fortune, trusting his instincts and making shrewd matchup decisions each week. Picking up Matt Asiata midweek when the Adrian Peterson business began has proven to be one of the best moves of the year, as he has grinded out quality RB2 numbers. Their WR corps is among the strongest in the league, and LB CJ Mosely is quietly the top candidate for Rookie of the Year.
2. Toronto Les Tres Petites (3rd 3-2 893.01 pts)
LTP has not missed a beat since half their braintrust left for Colorado: Stu Ferguson has his team at the top of the charts by way of a similar strategy: Multiple QBs, a stud RB, and quality WRs in all four slots. DeMarco Murray has been a revelation, scoring over twenty points all five weeks to date. There is room to improve the second RB slot- otherwise, this team is a veritable tank.
3. Phoenix Uprising (2nd 4-1 889.01 pts)
Phoenix has had good fortune, with three matchups being decided by less than ten points they have managed to win two of them, to partner with two blowout victories. This despite underwhelming performances from its top four picks: Drew Brees has been good, not great, and none of their "big three" WRs have scored double digits in the past three weeks. The RB Carousel is in mid season form: Kevin Grimes has started eight different running backs, out of a maximum of ten. The team owes its record to its top two defensive picks: LB Lavonte David and S Harrison Smith.
4. Oniontown Massacre (8th 2-3 857.74 pts)
It wouldn't be fair to say the Massacre have been tremendously unlucky to this point- the 811.79 points they have faced so far this season puts them right in the middle of the pack. It would be more accurate to say their luck has been untimely: Two of their three losses were of the single digit variety, while both of their wins have been blowouts. Top to bottom they have a solid squad, with QB Andrew Luck being the obvious frontrunner for MVP in the early going. Vince Milillo's team is coming off their worst loss of the season, but I still think they are trending upwards.
It wouldn't be fair to say the Massacre have been tremendously unlucky to this point- the 811.79 points they have faced so far this season puts them right in the middle of the pack. It would be more accurate to say their luck has been untimely: Two of their three losses were of the single digit variety, while both of their wins have been blowouts. Top to bottom they have a solid squad, with QB Andrew Luck being the obvious frontrunner for MVP in the early going. Vince Milillo's team is coming off their worst loss of the season, but I still think they are trending upwards.
5. Hill Valley McFlys (4th 3-2 855.90 pts)
The McFlys have actually been the luckiest team in the league this year, seeing their opponents put up a meager 752.58 against them. But with one exceedingly poor week, and one hard luck (less than five points) loss, they have not been able to capitalize on their schedule. They have a glut of WR talent, and a pocket full of useful (but not elite) RBs- this is where Mike Verrino makes his living on the trade market. Look for the McFlys to turn their wealth of mid level talent into some high tier performers in the coming weeks.
The McFlys have actually been the luckiest team in the league this year, seeing their opponents put up a meager 752.58 against them. But with one exceedingly poor week, and one hard luck (less than five points) loss, they have not been able to capitalize on their schedule. They have a glut of WR talent, and a pocket full of useful (but not elite) RBs- this is where Mike Verrino makes his living on the trade market. Look for the McFlys to turn their wealth of mid level talent into some high tier performers in the coming weeks.
6. Saskatoon Sasquatch (9th 2-3 840.37)
This team has scored enough to win every week, only to have their opponent score a little bit more: One loss by four, one loss by nine, and one loss by twelve. If it is any consolation, two of those losses came against the top two teams in the league, and they won't have to face South Park or Phoenix again. A strong WR corps supplements QB Matt Ryan and RB Marshawn Lynch- what this team could really use is some help at TE, where the team has not gotten double digit production once this season.
7. New York's Finest (10th 2-3 837.58 pts)
The Finest are a deeper team than in years past, anchored by top overall pick Peyton Manning. WR Randall Cobb has been elite returning from injury this year, and the rest of the team has done enough to stay competitive. On the defensive side of the ball, LB DeAndre Levy is again one of the league's biggest playmakers, a rare LB that has the oomph to stop the run dead in its tracks, and the freak athleticism to ballhawk intermediate patterns. They've had the second toughest slate to date, seeing 892 pts against through five weeks.
The Finest are a deeper team than in years past, anchored by top overall pick Peyton Manning. WR Randall Cobb has been elite returning from injury this year, and the rest of the team has done enough to stay competitive. On the defensive side of the ball, LB DeAndre Levy is again one of the league's biggest playmakers, a rare LB that has the oomph to stop the run dead in its tracks, and the freak athleticism to ballhawk intermediate patterns. They've had the second toughest slate to date, seeing 892 pts against through five weeks.
8. Indiana Turbanators (5th 3-2 822.19 pts)
The Turbanators won two nailbiters to start the season before being blown out in week three, and then splitting a pair. Mired in mediocrity, they made a blockbuster trade, as Ajay Patel made a ballsy call to stick with 123rd overall pick Philip Rivers over second round pick Aaron Rodgers; Grouping him with their first round pick Montee Ball, they bet an ailing Megatron can elevate their team to the next level. It won't happen right away, but if they can split the next couple of weeks to stay over .500, this is a team that looks poised to dominate in the back half of the schedule.
The Turbanators won two nailbiters to start the season before being blown out in week three, and then splitting a pair. Mired in mediocrity, they made a blockbuster trade, as Ajay Patel made a ballsy call to stick with 123rd overall pick Philip Rivers over second round pick Aaron Rodgers; Grouping him with their first round pick Montee Ball, they bet an ailing Megatron can elevate their team to the next level. It won't happen right away, but if they can split the next couple of weeks to stay over .500, this is a team that looks poised to dominate in the back half of the schedule.
9. Margaritaville Parrotheads (6th 3-2 797.36 pts)
JJ Watt continues to be the only game changer at defensive line, and as he goes, the Parrotheads go. In weeks one, three, and four Watt has scored 20.5, 16, and 23.5 and Margaritaville has won. In weeks two and five Watt scored 6.6 and 4.0 and the Parrots lost. Doesn't take a genius to spot a correlation. The team's achilles heel is a reliance on rookie WRs, who boom and bust as they take their lumps- but as they play each week, they are also gaining experience, and should improve as the season goes on. If that is the case, watch out for Steve Grimes' team.
JJ Watt continues to be the only game changer at defensive line, and as he goes, the Parrotheads go. In weeks one, three, and four Watt has scored 20.5, 16, and 23.5 and Margaritaville has won. In weeks two and five Watt scored 6.6 and 4.0 and the Parrots lost. Doesn't take a genius to spot a correlation. The team's achilles heel is a reliance on rookie WRs, who boom and bust as they take their lumps- but as they play each week, they are also gaining experience, and should improve as the season goes on. If that is the case, watch out for Steve Grimes' team.
10. Ho Chi Minh City Lead Farmers (14th 0-5 788.80 pts)
Winless in five, I am surprised to see HCM City has not been as woeful as their record suggests. Looking at their roster, there is a lot to like: chiefly the two stud RBs in Eddie Lacy and Le'Veon Bell. The rest of the roster is talented, but many of their key players have started slowly. Pete Persampieri will need to turn things around in a hurry if they want to sniff the post season- the best course of action may be to hold tight to his current roster and let them play themselves out of it, rather than any panic moves.
11. Manitoba MooseCrew (11th 2-3 780.95 pts)
After some early season turmoil, Manitoba looks like a team ready to come into their own: Winners of two straight, they've survived the roughest early season schedule in the league (seeing an astounding 946.08 points!) and now have a chance to make up some ground. Attaining a true franchise QB in Russell Wilson, and boasting the best WR duo in the league in Demaryius Thomas and Jordy Nelson, they are primed to break out. Marty Sheehy's team can start by defeating the defending champions to even their record.
After some early season turmoil, Manitoba looks like a team ready to come into their own: Winners of two straight, they've survived the roughest early season schedule in the league (seeing an astounding 946.08 points!) and now have a chance to make up some ground. Attaining a true franchise QB in Russell Wilson, and boasting the best WR duo in the league in Demaryius Thomas and Jordy Nelson, they are primed to break out. Marty Sheehy's team can start by defeating the defending champions to even their record.
12. Pawnee Pacers (13th 1-4 780.93 pts)
Another year, another batch of disappointment for Pete Allegretta. They've only surpassed 160 pts twice in five weeks, resulting in one win and one heartbreaking loss. Seeking some more consistency, the Pacers will turn to Aaron Rodgers in week 6, hoping to start their first winning streak of the season. Solid RB depth could turn into some prime trade pieces when Rashad Jennings and Montee Ball return to health.
Another year, another batch of disappointment for Pete Allegretta. They've only surpassed 160 pts twice in five weeks, resulting in one win and one heartbreaking loss. Seeking some more consistency, the Pacers will turn to Aaron Rodgers in week 6, hoping to start their first winning streak of the season. Solid RB depth could turn into some prime trade pieces when Rashad Jennings and Montee Ball return to health.
13. Oakwood Drivers (12th 2-3 772.56 pts)
The Drivers have had a promising season put on hiatus with the Adrian Peterson suspension. Coupled with Knowshon Moreno's hand injury, a team with a deep RB trio found itself hurting. So they went back to what worked last year, trading for RB Fred Jackson, and finding profit in underrated WRs. It's been an up and down start for Tom Acquisto, but that is preferable to the down and downer start of 2013, and with Moreno, Eric Decker, and Jordan Cameron all getting healthy, the Drivers have a lot of potential for upswing. Not that they could fall much lower on this list, coming off a 115 point putrid effort in week five.
14. California Swag (7th 3-2 769.68)
Least but certainly not last- the 2012 Champs are over .500 despite the lowest totals in the Larkspur Bowl. They have bookended three solid weeks with 133 point messes, but manage to be 1-1 in those games. The team's fortunes rest on Tom Brady, who was left for dead before a big time performance last week. Jimmy Graham will provide a mismatch every time he takes the field, and Alshon Jeffrey is a bonafide WR1. After that, its a matchup playing bonanza, but Jason Kalmer has shown he is aces in that department before.
Least but certainly not last- the 2012 Champs are over .500 despite the lowest totals in the Larkspur Bowl. They have bookended three solid weeks with 133 point messes, but manage to be 1-1 in those games. The team's fortunes rest on Tom Brady, who was left for dead before a big time performance last week. Jimmy Graham will provide a mismatch every time he takes the field, and Alshon Jeffrey is a bonafide WR1. After that, its a matchup playing bonanza, but Jason Kalmer has shown he is aces in that department before.
No comments:
Post a Comment