- 01. Phoenix Uprising 874.97 (1st 4-0, W4)
The Uprising have had huge production from their top three picks and solid production at every position, and have not suffered any serious injuries to date. Picking up and starting Devonta Freeman was most fortuitous, and the fast start has allowed the team to wheel and deal with an eye toward the playoffs.
- 02. Saskatoon Sasquatch 818.87 (4th 2-2, L1)
The Sasquatch have not been very lucky- despite a decisive number two ranking here, they're merely .500 on the season. Two monster weeks have resulted in wins, and two decent weeks went against slightly more decent weeks. Despite some missed opportunities, this is a team with plenty of playoff potential, especially if Latavius Murray and LeSean McCoy can get back to health.
- 03. South Park Cows 768.50 (3rd 3-1, W2)
The Cows might be 4-0 on the year, had they not been billed to play Phoenix early this season. They went down in a tight matchup, one that could go either way any week. Once again South Park has built a deep, resilient roster that should weather byes and injuries well- To date, they have not explored the trade market, instead focusing on quality drafting and well thought out roster moves.
- 04. New York's Finest 751.26 (2nd 4-0, W4)
The defending champs have only had one subpar effort in four games, and even that resulted in a win over hapless HCM City. The receiving depth is key, even with its limited upside: Steve Smith and Davante Adams are hobbled, but Martavis Bryant is back and Julius Thomas is on his way. The team's core of Aaron Rodgers and three elite level RBs in Matt Forte, Todd Gurley, and Frank Gore should keep them from sinking out of playoff position.
- 05. Oakwood Drivers 733.71 (6th 2-2, W2)
The Drivers knew what they were doing all along. After suffering two hard luck losses to start the year, Le'veon Bell returned to a team that was doing pretty okay and elevated it to playoff contender. Oakwood won five games in each of its first two seasons, but should surpass that total this year. Their WRs aren't going to overpower anybody, but they're all sufficient enough to not be a liability, and the defensive cycling has been impressive every week.
- 06. Revis Islanders 731.15 (5th 2-2, L2)
The Islanders took a hit with Big Ben on crutches, but adding Dion Lewis early has been a masterstroke that counteracted their misfortune. With studs Randall Cobb and Amari Cooper and an always formidable defense, the Islanders are looking to go the distance this year. Last year the 2012 champs faded late, falling out of the playoff race in the final month- I'd expect them to keep an eye toward Thanksgiving this time around.
- 07. Manitoba Moosecrew 730.63 (7th 2-2, L1)
The Moosecrew were a quality team last year after some early turnover, and they've continued that trend into the new year. Two thirds of their veteran WR triad have worked out really nicely: Larry Fitzgerald and Brandon Marshall both look like WR1. Andre Johnson, the highest regarded of the three on draft day, has been a dud. If he gets it going, the Manitoba time machine could really kick it up a notch. AP and Carlos Hyde are a high upside RB duo, so if they can get in the playoffs and return Tony Romo under center, look out.
- 08. Toronto LTP 692.71 (8th 2-2, W1)
LTP have been up and down in terms of results, but their productivity has been consistent, right in that 170-180 realm where a game can go either way. Twice their opponent has broken 200, and they lost. And the other two times they have won. This is a high floor, low ceiling outfit that still needs to turn their surplus QB into a difference maker to establish their identity this season. Until then, they are good enough to be in it, but not good enough to win it all.
- 09. Pawnee Pride 691.91 (9th 2-2, L2)
The Pride got off to a hot start before coming back down to earth. Truth is, both of their wins were close games, while their losses were both demolitions. Expect their luck to regress some: They won't win all the close ones, but their opponents won't put up 200 plus every week either, as they have three times in a row. How their running backs shake out, and what they do with any excess value will define their season. Simply amassing a plethora of options isn't enough to win: Identifying who stays, and spinning off the others when the getting is good is how you turn a profit.
- 10. Hill Valley McFlys 680.34 (10th 2-2, W1)
Hill Valley has responded to each loss with a win, but have not been able to approach the 200 point mark yet this season. For all of the kinetic potential the McFlys assemble on their roster, they need to find ways to turn it into points to guarantee themselves victories. If their wide receivers can all get healthy, they should be well on their way to making good on their promise- then it comes down to roster management: 39 roster moves have helped and hurt: showing their hand and being too impatient have seen players don the red and orange only to excel elsewhere, while some mainstays have put up disappointing results week and week.
- 11. HCM City Lead Farmers 678.17 (13th 0-4, L4)
Another year, another batch of bad luck for HCM, who consistently under perform in the win column. They're not quite world beaters, but they're good enough to have won a couple of games. Misfortune at 212 points in week two, and dropping a 187 against the Sasquatch buzzsaw leaves them winless yet again- they need to win this week to stop the skid before it matches last year's 0-5 start that eventually turned into 1-8. They have some really good RBs, a top five TE, and Andy Dalton playing the best football of his career. But they could use some upgrades at WR.
- 12. Deputy Van Halens 670.49 (11th 2-2, W2)
Deputy scored 227 last week, signs of life that may signal month one as a building block. How they finagled a second win out of three games where they were mediocre, terrible, and terrible is not something worth agonizing over. Injuries and a confounding RB situation have not helped the team in the early going, but shrewd defensive streaming and a steady hand could definitely keep them trending upward. Also, Phil Rivers finding enough blocking to be awesome. That would help too.
- 13. Savannah Petes 661.77 (12th 1-3, L3)
The Petes are a lot of things, but one thing they are not is afraid of change: Three big trades have seen the bulk of their roster go through the wash. No team is more in need of getting its injured players back, and really, that is what their season comes down to. No player is more indicative of that than Andrew Luck, who is missing the second game of his career tonight- if he can get right sooner rather than later, the Petes can make a run of it. If this is going to be a lost season for him, it appears it will be a lost season all around in Savannah.
- 14. Liberal Head Trauma 630.62 (14th 0-4, L4)
The two teams without wins also happen to be the two teams with the best perceived depth at RB coming into the season. With Arian Foster back on the gridiron (for now) HT moved Lamar Miller and helped their overall product. They didn't get immediate results, but the projections show they should be better than this. It might all come down to their QB situation, which remains unsettled. Could a trade with Toronto answer both teams' needs?
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