Tier 1 — Championship-ready
These teams combine elite weekly floors with top-end ceilings and the depth to survive byes/injuries.
1. Great Scott (Geoff) — 9‑0, 903.8 pts
Why #1: The single best starting five in the league — Herbert + CMC + Nacua + MHJ + Odunze. That starting lineup wins weeks on its own; bench veterans (Kamara, Kittle) preserve upside and trade currency. Risk: minimal; upside to finish first seed.
2. Forge Flyers (Chris) — 5‑4, 970.36 pts
Why #2: Highest points for in the entire pool. Mahomes + two elite RBs/WRs = sustained scoring. Slightly lower seed because record/bye timing has been rough, but roster construction is arguably the most complete.
3. Gridiron Gang (Naithan) — 5‑4, 909.02 pts
Why #3: High-upside, flexible roster. Lamar gives weekly boom potential; Gibbs + Cook + TreVeyon form a strong RB group with complementary roles. Bench depth and movable pieces (Dobbins/Pollard/Aiyuk) make this a dangerous playoff team once matchups are optimized.
---
Tier 2 — Top contenders who need a push
One or two gaps separate these squads from elite status — still very playable.
1. Buccing The Trend (Michael) — 6‑3, 975.96 pts
Why #4: Extremely high season scoring and consistent floor. If Michael adds a single high‑ceiling RB or WR, this team becomes a title favorite.
2. I KNOW SOMETHING (Ben) — 4‑5, 861.28 pts (after Burrow update)
Why #5: RB group and WR depth remain strong, but losing Burrow to a long absence is a real ceiling capper. With competent streaming QBs and smart waiver moves he’s still dangerous, but volatility increases.
3. Tom’s Tyrants (Tom) — 5‑4, 862.44 pts
Why #6: Strong WR room and an explosive RB. A QB upgrade or a timely breakout from bench pieces would vault Tom upward; current construction leaves him just shy of Tier 1.
---
Tier 3 — High variance / hungry for balance
Can beat anyone — can also cough up ugly weeks. Needs healthier balance.
1. The Dream Team (Vivek) — 4‑5, 821.32 pts
Why #7: Good QB/WR/return assets. Needs steadier RB production to reduce week‑to‑week volatility.
2. Patistan (Patrick) — 3‑6, 852.34 pts (after Skattebo season‑ending)
Why #8: Amon‑Ra and Olave provide high ceilings, but losing Skattebo cost the RB depth and forced Patrick into a riskier weekly setup. Trade or waiver RB is the immediate priority.
3. Plymouth Pa… / Cardiff Sheep (Ross) — 5‑4, 797.06 pts
Why #9: Strong positional advantages (top QB or TE pairing in many weeks), but middling supporting cast. If Ross stabilizes a second reliable RB or bench WR, he’s a solid sleeper.
---
Tier 4 — Rebuild / salvage mission
Short on balance or depth; need aggressive moves or lucky pickups.
1. Bear Necessities (Dave) — 2‑7, 793.68 pts
Why #10: Some nice pieces but roster construction has left the team RB‑thin and inconsistent. Needs targeted trades for immediate impact.
2. Oakland Goldminers (Freddy) — 2‑7, 758.08 pts
Why #11: Scoring has been middling; roster needs WR stability and fewer high‑variance weekly decisions to climb.
3. Make Kitchen Great Again (Ollie) — 4‑5, 667.46 pts
Why #12: Despite a respectable record, total points show a capped ceiling. WRs may be solid, but RB & QB holes limit playoff upside without a major transaction.
