EFL Power Rankings - Week 8, 2019
Elite Fantasy League
The fact that you are here reading this proves that you are probably more invested in this pointless "sport" of fantasy football than you previously realized. After all, these are fake power rankings of fictitious teams that, in the end, mean nothing.
Then again, there is a trophy. Two, in fact. And each will have to remain on a mantle until the end of time. One you are hoping to win, and the other you are trying not to. These rankings might give you an idea of how close you are to either trophy. Of course, these rankings are entirely made up by your commissioner (who also happens to be a team manager). Probably still objective, though...
It's Week 8 in our league, which means there are a short 6 games before playoffs. That means EVERYONE still has a shot at making OR missing the playoffs.
Where does your team stack up just past the midpoint?
CHASING THE GOLDEN TROPHY (#1-5)
1.
Run CMC (3rd | 5-2)
Manager: Nick Gosney
Years in League: 1
Best Finish: N/A
This team has been the clear point leader for over 2 weeks now at 918. When looking at the roster, it’s easy to see why. Top to bottom, Run CMC has the most complete roster in the league. With a great RB tandem, solid QB, surprisingly good Buffalo and 49er defenses, and a serviceable WR corps, this has the look of a squad that can perform all season long. As long as the real CMC stays healthy, Run CMC has the best shot of anyone at the golden football. Rookie Manager = Beginner’s Luck?
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2.
Cryo Bout That (4th | 4-3)
Manager: Sy Gallimore
Years in League: 11
Best Finish: Champ (1x - 2010)
With 3 of the top-15 RBs so far this season, Cryo Bout That has put up an impressive point total just 10 points off the lead at 908. One major component to look out for: Alvin Kamara’s health. If Kamara goes down, this team loses much of the ground it has put between itself and 3rd. Still, another top-to-bottom solid team. Is this the year this manager doesn’t choke in the first round of the playoffs?
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3.
Tate’s Team (2nd | 5-2)
Manager: Tate VanEgmond
Years in League: 1
Best Finish: N/A
This team might have auto-drafted T.Y. Hilton while everyone else allowed him to slip down the draft board following Andrew Luck’s retirement, but WHAT A STEAL. The scary part: he’s only the 3rd best WR on the team. Tate’s Team’s only real weakness is at the RB position, but the rest of the roster is able to mask that weakness week after week. This team is a contender.
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4.
Ruthlessberger (5th | 4-3)
Manager: Ian Svendsen
Years in League: 3
Best Finish: 4th (2018)
Ruthlessberger has the oddest group of vagabonds you might ever see on a fantasy football roster. 598-year-old Frank Gore is the leading flex player and Jameis Winston and Josh Allen are the quarterbacks. Yet, somehow it works. New Orleans’ defense has been amazing, Jameis randomly surprises, between Mack, AP, and David Johnson Ruthlessberger gets exactly one good performance per week, and the WR corps contributes a solid amount week by week. It’s not all about style points, gentlemen.
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5.
Lucks Run Out (10th | 1-6)
Manager: Austin Owen
Years in League: 4
Best Finish: Champ (2x – 2016, 2017)
This manager’s quest for 3 titles in 4 years was 100% jinxed by his chosen name. Andrew Luck’s ghost is somewhere laughing. Lucks Run Out has posted the 3rd most points in the league at 770. Somehow, that point total has netted him all of one singular win - contributed largely by teams’ huge scoring outbursts against him (846 points against - highest in the league). Truly unlucky. While this roster would still have the gumption to squeeze into the playoffs and play the spoiler, Patrick Mahomes’ injury leaves Lucks Run Out with few options. When Mahomes returns, perhaps Lucks Run Out’s fortunes will change...but it may be too little, too late. Not even New England’s insane fantasy defense will be able to save this team. An unfortunate result for an otherwise very talented squad.
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STUCK IN THE MIDDLE (#6, #7)
6.
The Falcoholics (1st | 6-1)
Manager: Ryan Johnson
Years in League: 1
Best Finish: N/A
Our fearless standings leader has a lot of reason to be fearful. Though The Falcoholics have somehow strung together 6 wins in 7 games this season, they are absolutely the biggest pretender thus far. The Falcoholics have posted only 714 points (6th in the league) but have been served wins by their opponents’ dismal scoring (only 579 combined points against - over 100 points below the next lowest total, and nearly 300 points below Lucks Run Out). In only 1 game this season did The Falcoholics have a team score 100+ points against them: a Week 5 loss to Jujus on that Beat. This can’t be expected to continue - especially in the playoffs. However, even if The Falcoholics lose every single game for the rest of the season, they would not even come close to being last in the league. It looks like this team is stuck in the middle.
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7.
ThrowUpThe X (6th | 3-4)
Manager: RD Gallant
Years in League: 10
Best Finish: Champ (1x - 2013)
It is really a wonder that this team hasn’t performed better to date. It checks all of the boxes. Great QB: Aaron Rodgers. Check. Great Receiving Corps: League-leading Godwin, OBJ, Robert Woods. Check. Great RB: Zeke. Check. Competent specialty units: Across the board. Check.
There’s no reason this can’t be a contending team. But until they start putting up the points they should be (currently 8th in the league in Points For...only 3.5 points ahead of last), this team can’t be ranked any higher. This one is really out of the manager’s control. Stuck.
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CHASING THE PORCELAIN THRONE (#8-10)
8.
Jets Jets Jets (8th | 2-5)
Manager: Tim Cook
Years in League: 11
Best Finish: Champ (1x - 2015)
This squad would be a top 3 team...between 2015 and 2017. Matt Ryan, Jimmy Graham, Julian Edelman, Larry Fitzgerald, and LeSean McCoy have all seen better days. And while this isn’t necessarily a bad squad, you just can’t rely on any of these players to be high-level performers each week. Still, the return of Saquan Barkley and upswing play of DJ Chark could help Jets Jets Jets surprise managers once in a while. This team might be the last in the playoffs. But, as they have done before, even making the playoffs as the 8th seed doesn’t mean you don’t have a shot at a title.
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9.
Cherne’s Champions (9th | 2-5)
Manager: Jordan Cherne
Years in League: 5
Best Finish: Champ (1x - 2018)
The fact that we’re still able to find plenty of good things to say about teams this deep in the rankings shows just how even the league really is. Cherne’s Champions probably should have been a good team. We expected Nick Chubb and Joe Mixon to break out this year, Drew Brees wasn’t supposed to get hurt, the Texans defense was supposed to be elite, and Davante Adams was going to run it back as the top receiver. Unfortunately, none of those have panned out. And neither has Cherne’s Champions’ season. Will the return of Drew Brees be too late to help Cherne’s Champions defend their title? Don’t look now, but we might be witnessing a rare first-to-worst storyline.
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10.
Jujus on that Beat (7th | 3-4)
Manager: Joshuwa Shelton
Years in League: 4
Best Finish: 3rd (2018)
With Baker leading NFL in interceptions, Brady being more of a game-manager than elite QB, a thin WR corps, and only one running-back, Jujus on that Beat’s only hope for wins comes when players have one-week-wonders pushing 35-40 points. While this has happened a few times this season, it is hard to get excited about a team that relies on this week after week. If no breakout happens, their LAC defense might have to lead the way in scoring like they did with a whopping 11 point outburst in Week 4 en-route to a 59-point (yes, total) performance. Perhaps Jujus on that Beat should begin preparing its fake-hopeful “Maybe next year?” that I have perfected as a Tampa Bay Bucs fan.
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