Power Rankings: Week 9
Welcome to Week 10, gentlemen. We’ve never had a league this balanced, this wide open, and this unpredictable. We saw both an 0-3 and an 0-5 team claw their way back to relevancy. We saw two 4-1 teams tumble all the way to 4-5. We’ve seen league-shaking trades, gut-wrenching injuries, FAAB shopping-sprees, and marginal losses that make you lose sleep at night. We’ve seen it all in 2022.
No matter your path, we now have HALF the league standing at 4-5. Another three sit at 5-4.
5 weeks remain. Who wants it more?
Ryan (6-3)
Last Week: 1st
Big week! Why - you ask? Because you’re #1 in the GLOAT Power Rankings, baby!!! Never mind your precious newborn daughter! Anything short of a championship banner in 2022 would be a colossal letdown. It’s becoming more and more evident that this collection of talent should be enough to get it done IF they’re at full health. Think about it - the worst player on the starting lineup is arguably Darren Waller. Darren Waller…the 2020 TE2. In all seriousness - Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful little heartbreaker! A true Father of 2.
Chet & Mike (6-3)
Last Week: 3rd
The “fraud” narrative is getting stickier and stickier! 5th in scoring and losers of two straight - but the 6-3 record is very real. With the way the standings are shaking out, the Burlingame Boneheads are likely just one win away from securing a second consecutive playoff berth. That First Round BYE might require more of an effort than initially accounted for, but there’s still plenty of time to quiet the h8ers. On a scale of 1-10, how frustrated are you two with your 1st round pick?
Cole (5-4)
Last Week: 5th
WWW. Three straight dubs like he’s starting a website. The scary realization is that we’ve yet to experience this lineup at full strength. How many other lineups have two tailback workhorses, three high-upside WR2’s, a trendy QB, and a bountiful bench? Not many. There are many reasons to feel confident, and thankfully the winning record allows for extra patience with JT’s bum ankle and the broken Indy offense. Fantasy aside - can you imagine being the Colts’ OC/DC and having Irsay pick someone off the street over you. I’d be HEATED.
Case (4-5)
Last Week: 2nd
I’m trying my best not to read too much into Week 9. BYEs and injuries left our token beanstalk with less firepower than expected. The bad news is that Week 10 yet again leaves the roster short-staffed. Man, what to make of Gabe Davis at this point? Selling JT hasn’t been painful in the slightest, but it hasn’t paid dividends either. Both Davis and Kirk are must-starts, but they’re more unpredictable than gas station sushi. It need not be said, but Week 10 presents a HUGE matchup with significant playoff implications.
Kyle (4-5)
Last Week: 8th
Get a load of this guy! One might call that a “statement game”. Joe Mixon’s memorable day jumped him from RB14 all the way up to RB4, and Kenyan Drake played his role admirably as the obnoxious waiver wire acquisition of the week. I’m sure all of you were exulted to see Nick Folk follow up his 21 point outing in Week 8 with a 17 point outburst in Week 9. That’s what it’s all about right there. That’s why we play fantasy football. Kickers are too fun. Now 4-5, currently standing as the 6th seed, it will be interesting to see how Kyle navigates his Kicker’s BYE week.
Tom (4-5)
Last Week: 6th
I’m in love with Justin Fields! And I don’t care who knows it! His rushing upside perfectly compliments a roster with a modest backfield and heroic wide receivers. The injury bug has been awfully pesky lately. First Breece Hall, then the Kupp scare, then Aaron Jones tweaks an ankle, and finally Mike Evans hits the sideline for a drive after getting popped in the ribs. My little heart can’t take it anymore! If the winds don’t shift, this is a lineup capable of making a deep run. But at 4-5 - that is FAR from a given. Up next is the red hot birthday boy coming off four consecutive victories.
Henry (5-4)
Last Week: 9th
He got that dawg in him. We all counted him out, but Hank won’t go down that easy. Aiyuk and McLaurin have been reliable WR2s, and this is a sneaky good three-headed RB monster. Dameon, Jamaal, and Rhamondre are ALL top fifteen backs right now. And Jeff Wilson isn’t far behind. What if Diontae captures his old form after the BYE with Claypool gone? What if Herbert reinstates his top five QB status once his wideouts are back? What if Kyle Pitts actually gets hot? Call me crazy - but if one or two of those events unfold, I think Hank could take the bank.
Brad (4-5)
Last Week: 11th
Exactly one month ago, we sat here and teased Bradley over his donut in the win column. And rightfully so! D’Andre Swift hadn’t suited up in weeks, Keenan continues to nurse a bum hammy, and now Jamar Chase has fallen and can’t get up. Short their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks - this roster has strung together four consecutive wins and reasserted themselves within the playoff conversation. Mahomes, Etienne, and Lockett have picked up more than their fair share of slack. The healthier this club gets, the scarier they get. Gotta knock ‘em out while we still can.
Devon (5-4)
Last Week: 4th
Back to back losses have reintroduced the once-lovable misfits to the middle of the pack. The truth is, these boys need a supportive slap across the face. Geno, Ekeler, and Ertz are not the problem - they know that. But Fournette and Pittman have succumbed to their inadequate offenses, and the KC backfield might be fools gold after all. The young WR trio of Jeudy, Claypool, and GWil might need to “Greg Jennings” this unit and put the team on their back. HUMUNGOUS matchup planned for Sunday in the newest chapter of a storied rivalry. Who am I kidding? Every matchup is crucial this week - but this contest might get flexed to primetime.
Austin (4-5)
Last Week: 12th
4 straight L’s makes this a lossapalooza. But one could argue the roster is in better shape than it was two weeks ago. Given Michael Thomas’ brittle nature, Chris Olave has staying power as an excellent WR2 (maybe even higher) for the remainder of the year. With Amon-Ra and DK also strapping up, this is quietly an excellent WR room. It’s too bad he’s on BYE this week, but little baby Michael Carter has become a somewhat-trustworthy RB2. There are two 4-5 vs. 4-5 matchups this weekend, with Stain partaking in one of them. Toppling the reigning champ would do wonders for a roster in desperate need of a shot in the arm.
Bali (3-6)
Last Week: 7th
Now is not the time for panic, that comes later. I hesitate to say Week 10 is a MUST win, but it’s pretty darn close. The Duvernay letdown and Bobby Trees’ goose egg proved to be detrimental. It’s been fascinating to see the simultaneous demise of fantasy relevance for QBs like Brady, Rodgers, & Stafford (all of whom were top 6 QBs in 2021). Thankfully, John B. has Dak to turn to. The points have continuously refused to show up, and I continuously fail to understand why this roster is so dysfunctional.
Bacich (4-5)
Last Week: 10th
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Now 10th in scoring after dropping four straight. The D’Onta Foreman fun was short-lived, Raheem Mostert’s stock appears to be in decline following his reunion with Jeff Wilson, and Tyler Higbee has become borderline irrelevant. It’s not ALL bad news - Davante Adams bounced back and Allen Lazard appears to be a reliable WR2. But let’s be honest, this team ain’t what it used to be.
