RL - Week 6 Tiers & Power Rankings, 2024
A double edition!?! (don't miss #27)
|| Disclaimer: I’ve had a fever for three days and my brain is just recalibrating. Proceed with caution. ||
A lot of movement already in our second tiers edition of the season; only 20% of teams remained in their previous tier-level (albeit, renamed).
Additionally, an 8th (but placed as 4th) tier was added - Oakland A’s - for those that didn’t have a home within the other tiers. Surely, eight tiers is enough to categorize 36 teams, otherwise, I’m doing something wrong.
I digress.
(full power rankings below the tiers)
BOW DOWN, PEASANTS
1. U Digg It? 7-11 (RD Gallant) - Legacy Division
Undefeated is one thing, but averaging 110 points per game in a 12-team league is another. Are we witnessing our third Relegation League champ? You know U Digg It? 7-11 wants nothing more than to win a league title riding the coattails of Dak, Brandon Aubrey, and former-Cowboy Tony Pollard. Especially since the Cowboys never will.
2. Jordanian Putters (Jordan Putt) - Bedrock Division
The brilliance isn’t just in name alone. Jordanian Putters follows U Digg It closely with a 102ppg average. Who needs Nico Collins, Jonathan Taylor, and Cooper Kupp? Not Jordanian Putters, apparently, who dropped 106 points last week without any of them.
3. Lisan al-QB (Alex Chang) - Mettle Division
If you’re not sensing a trend yet, you should be. Great name, over 100ppg, some injury concerns. Lisan is pacing Mettle Division in wins and second in Points For. It will be interesting to see what Lisan does once CMC returns, as Jordan Mason, who has been a key contributor for Lisan, will no longer be fantasy relevant. But by that time, a high playoff seed will already have been locked up, if it hasn’t already.
TROPHY / PROMOTION FAVORITES
4. Special Brownies (Zach Dye) - Legacy Division
For anyone starting Patrick Mahomes this year, it’s been a grueling year. That is, for anyone other than Special Brownies, who don’t even need a QB rostered to score 90 points on a given week. No, really. Patrick Mahomes is averaging just 14.5 points per game this season. Special Brownies is averaging 105.
5. Julio’s Marvelous Team (Julio Hernandez) - Mettle Division
Mettle Division’s points leader finds themselves in just third place at 4-2, but only lost last week because a sack of Josh Allen was flagged and wiped off of the board in a one-point loss to Hobnobbin with Tomlin. They have plenty of reasons to be excited. Promotion feels well within the grasp of a well-rounded team. Hindsight is 20/20: we all should have picked Brandon Aubrey in the first round of the draft.
6. Love Thy Nabers (Daniel Monnier) - Bedrock Division
In our first tiers, I had this team finishing last in Bedrock. Talent-wise it seemed over-reliant on unproven rookies Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers. 6 weeks in, those were fantastic bets. Not only that, but it’s clear that this manager is playing the waiver wire and scrapping the best that they can out of the team each and every week. All of a sudden, it looks like a promotion-worthy team.
7. Destroyers (Justin Watson) - Bedrock Division
Originally, I thought this team might never lose. And to be fair, it has only lost once, but it turns out it does have a weakness. His name is Jalen Hurts. Other than Hurts, this team has what no other team has - great WRs & great RBs. In a 12-team league, teams usually have to choose.
8. Dak Dak Goose (Ryan Tidwell) - Mettle Division
This team really is stacked. The only things that have held Dak Dak Goose back from being elite are Cooper Kupp’s injury, Ja’Marr Chase’s slow start, and the late realization that Jayden Daniels makes Mahomes look like dog-water in fantasy terms. Now that all of those things have righted themselves, watch out.
9. Jonathan’s Amazing Team (Jonathan Bahn) - Legacy Division
Chris Godwin and Jonathan Taylor returning to form have paced Jonathan’s Amazing Team, but this team still would be just mediocre if it weren’t for masterful managing. Enough injuries and underwhelming players have forced Jonathan’s Amazing Team to hit the waiver wire. So far, only success.
TROPHY / PROMOTION HUNTING
10. Slim Pickens (Josh Shelton) - Legacy Division
This team would be in the Trophy Favorites category except Nico Collins hitting IR and not having a true second-RB are holding this team back from being in the top 3. The good news is at 4-2 and with the point total they possess, they should be in solid playoff position when Nico Collins returns.
11. Maye Cause Drowsiness (Keaton Smith) - Legacy Division
The impressiveness of this team comes in the fact that they find themselves at 4-2 in spite of having Anthony Richardson, Derek Carr, and Justin Fields at starting QB. With how bad those 6 performances have been, Maye Cause Drowsiness might as well play their namesake at starting QB. Oh, wait, they are. Week 7 starter: Drake Maye. And yet, still hunting down a trophy.
12. Jordan’s Crazy Team (Jordan Williams) - Mettle Division
This team’s weaknesses just got covered up nicely by the recent acquisition of Christian McCaffery from Bryce Bryce Baby. The days of starting Jalen Warren are numbered, and when those days expire, Jordan’s Crazy Team is ready to challenge just about anyone in the league.
13. ATL Lemon Peppas (Jason Meredith) - Bedrock Division
This team is really good. The crazy thing is that the team would’ve been even better two years ago. Unfortunately, Travis Kelce and Justin Tucker and the Baltimore Ravens defense haven’t matched their draft capital this year, and Tyreek Hill is the victim of bad QB play without Tua. The good news is that Lamar, Jones, Diggs, and Jayden Reed are carrying the torch.
14. Bijan Frise (Campbell Wurl) - Bedrock Division
This team just passes the fringe to being a promotion hunter. Losing Chris Olave to injury hurts with a weak WR bench, but the QB, RB-room, TE, K, DEF, etc. are all above average and on teams that will be fighting for playoff positions. That should keep Bijan Frise dangerous when the fantasy playoffs roll around.
OAKLAND A’s
15. Kyler’s Splendid Team (Kyler Stock) - Mettle Division
Like the Oakland A’s, Kyler’s Splendid Team doesn’t have a real home in these rankings. They are closer to the promotion challenger side of this tier than the opposite, but being led by Kirk Cousins and owning the 7th highest point total in the league kinda just feels about right for this team. Stuck somewhere in no man’s land.
16. Ian’s Ingenious Team (Ian Svendsen) - Mettle Division
There isn’t a home for this team either. They don’t feel like a real challenger - their 3 wins coming against the 7th, 10th, and 12th place teams in the division. But they also aren’t really at risk for relegation, led by CeeDee Lamb, David Montgomery, and the mostly hot Sam Darnold.
TIM TEBOW
17. Bo Nix Fan Club (Cody Morford) - Legacy Division
Week by week an absolute roller-coaster. 60 points, then 100 points, then 100 points, then 70 points, then 120 points, then 60 points. It’s hard to know what to expect. Sometimes it’s electric, sometimes it’s a dud, but it’s always must-watch-TV.
Tim Tebow.
18. Creamsicle Crusade (Sy Gallimore) - Mettle Division
3-3. 501 Points For, 501 Points Against, as many games scoring 50 points as 100 points. About as underwhelming as can be, and yet still in position for the playoffs.
Tim Tebow.
19. Hobnobbin with Tomlin (Nathan Clute) - Mettle Division
This team has managed to have weeks scoring in the 40s and 60s and still ending up at 3-3 in the final playoff spot.
Some weeks you want to look away and some weeks you’re on the edge of your seat.
Tim Tebow.
20. Stevie Kicks (Stevie Collins) - Bedrock Division
Despite having all positions filled and playing, Stevie Kicks has averaged just 60 points per game over the last two weeks. While that sounds like a recipe for disaster, somehow Stevie Kicks maintains a 3-3 record and the last playoff slot.
Tim Tebow.
21. Jayson’s First Rate Team (Jayson Rhea) - Bedrock Division
Jayson’s First Rate Team lost to Stevie Kicks last week. Stevie Kicks scored 62 points. Sure, the team is a Puka-draftee victim, but the real issue is team management. Patrick Mahomes started on a bye week and the RB slot was left vacant. Yet, Jayson’s First Rate Team is 3-3 and in 7th position.
Tim Tebow.
GOOD, BUT ANGERED THE FANTASY GODS
22. Sweet Carolina (Michael Schultz) - Legacy Division
Managed to average 100 points per game and yet find themselves at 3-3 on the season because they have the 2nd highest Points Against. Oh, and all of that with Pacheco on IR. It’s impressive, but it feels like there’s something going against this team. It’s probably because they drafted Harrison Butker.
23. Salehmi Sandwich (Alex DiCarolo) - Legacy Division
It seems like the fantasy gods have it out for Salehmi Sandwich. Is it a conspiracy against having a back-to-back champ? Salehmi’s 615 points against are the highest in all three divisions. And their 2-4 record hurts considering they have the 4th highest point total in the league. My bet is it’s because the team has both a ‘Kelce’ and a ‘Swift’ on the roster.
24. Deck the Hall with Murray (Ben Musselman) - Mettle Division
Oof. 4th highest point total in the league but sitting in 9th place at just 2-4. Why? Because Deck the Hall with Murray also has the 3rd highest Points Against in the league. In other words, Deck the Hall can have as good a week as they want, but their opponent always does just a hair better. Next up: undefeated Lisan al-QB.
25. Not Your Average Joe (Joe Acosta) - Bedrock Division
The story here is injuries. Rashee Rice, AJ Brown, Devin Singletary and Dallas Goedert are among the starters that have spent significant time on the bench for this squad, who finds themselves with a 2-4 record despite having nearly 100 more points than the Bedrock foes ahead of them in the standings.
26. Joey’s Marvelous Team (Joey Eugene) - Bedrock Division
Joey’s team might be better than good. In all honesty, it might be great. Yet, the fantasy gods are angry because Joey hasn’t filled a WR slot for 4 consecutive weeks. Don’t get me started on Bye weeks. Even so, Joey’s Marvelous Team is in a staggering 5th position in the league.
DREAMING OF THE 2007 GIANTS
27. Rugyday Spoughaday (Jimmy Bunch) - Mettle Division
Not all of you know, but Jimmy actually requested a voluntary demotion from Legacy Division down to Mettle Division for one reason and one reason only: to beat Kyler Stock and help keep him from promotion.
Week 5 proved that the move was not in vain. Rugyday Spoughaday came through with their highest-point-total of the season in a 119-92 win.
Now that that’s over with, time to fight for a playoff spot.
28. Danny Dimes (Daniel Burke) - Bedrock Division
Finally, two wins after an 0-4 start! This team isn’t bad, just caught some bad breaks. Definitely has potential to make a run if they can squeeze into the playoffs.
29. Tim’s Legendary Team (Tim Cook) - Legacy Division
The first 3 weeks were tough, averaging just 66 points per game. The next 3 weeks have been impressive, scoring 99 points per game. Might only be 2-4 on the season, but there feels like some 8th seed fear factor in this team.
30. Ryan Johnson’s RAD Team (Ryan Johnson) - Legacy Division
Winning the Mettle Division last season feels a little hazy when dealing with today’s headaches of Rashee Rice’s injury and an underwhelming Travis Etienne. Are either of their teams’ offenses going to figure things out in time to win some games?
31. Bryce Bryce Baby (Caleb Miller) - Legacy Division
It started with drafting CMC #1 overall. Bryce Bryce Baby’s season turned on its head in a hurry. Winning two of their last three helps. Can the tide turn in time to make a playoff run?
*BOWING*
32. So Good It McHurts (Keuris Fernandez) - Legacy Division
Man, it’s tough to watch this happen. Sure, losing CMC to start off the year doesn’t help. Neither does Gus Edwards two weeks later. But there’s still talent on this roster. So how is it that lineups have been set every week and they still have the 3rd-lowest total across all three leagues?! Ouch.
33. Let’s Be Nabers (Eli Robinson) - Mettle Division
A lot of the same story here. Setting lineups, getting no results. A whole season of streaming QBs and Defenses that consistently don’t pan out. Not to mention losing Puka in Week 1, and getting a season-long no-show from Travis Kelce. Pain.
34. GioForce (Gio Gallimore) - Legacy Division
My love. Your team should be in the next tier higher. You could have at least one or two wins, easily. But I’ve been forced to walk the fine line between league commissioner and your husband. It pains me to see players in your starting lineup that shouldn’t be, but my hands are tied. Plus, I want to steal your spot in Legacy.
35. Chad’s Cool Team (Chad Holcombe) - Bedrock Division
Tua has been on IR since Week 2. Jake Moody sprained his ankle in Week 5. Both are still starters on this team. In case you were wondering why Chad’s team was relegated to Bedrock Division after last year, wonder no more.
36. Matthew’s Dandy Team (Matt Dalley) - Bedrock Division
It’s a miracle that this team won a game. Nearly 100 points less than every other team in the league. This league has 36 teams. What a waste of having Brandon Aubrey as your kicker.