Power Rankings 2017: Week 1

Here we are at long last, the long dark nights of the offseason are over, LOC Christmas (otherwise known as the draft) has come and gone, and week 1 is finally here (unless you were meant to be playing in Florida). And with that, we can do the first power rankings of the year. Now coming out of the draft my gut feel was there was a lot of parity - I liked a lot of teams, and didn't really dislike or really like any, which makes this hard. So don't worry if you're at the bottom, and don't be cocky if you're at the top, because it's all very marginal.

Power Rankings

1. The Dream Team, 46-43: I said a few weeks ago on the 2017 preview show that I think Coach Nathwani's window is closing. He's had multiple years of success, and that has to come to an end at some point. But I also said I think this is the year The Dream Team win it, at the end of their window. I'm now even more confident in this after they drafted a team to back it up. They're not amazing in every spot, but i think they're very good. The only weakness I see is flex, they have upside there, but there's a lot of risk. A great well rounded roster.

2. ADRZ, 46-43: A surprisingly good result for an auto drafted team. They have two super stars in Gronkowski and green, and behind that a good, deep roster. It errs more on the safe side, but there are a couple of high potential guys mixed in here. This should be a consistent team (barring injuries).

3. IKSAN, 57-47: Coach Sherwood's team was the toughest to gauge. They've got potential to boom or bounce. Their entire RB corps could be amazing or shocking (and being without Elliot for 6 weeks is going to sting). The receivers are a strong-not-great group, but should provide stability week to week. They've also got one of the best fantasy TEs and QBs in the league in Cousins and Kelce.

4. Cash4Gould, 8-6: The man who was lightning quick with his picks at the draft clearly had a plan - and it was a good one. This is an above average roster, it's good and consistent throughout the starting lineup. However, I don't think there's a great deal of upside here, and a below average bench could hurt this team when they're missing a player or two in the bye weeks. But ultimately I think they're in good shape, Coach Gardner is off to a flyer!

5. Forge Flyers, 49-64: Coach Leach looks primed to build off his return from the netherworld of fantasy football after last season. McCoy is the foundation, and if Gurley returns to form, Fournette delivers, and Pryor makes the leap this team could be explosive. Outside of that, there's some decent options that could develop, and some that are a bit uninspiring. But I think on balance they'll have a fine season. 

6. Burdettinators, 60-56: Its fitting Coach Burdett's side is at 6, because if they hit they could be 1, if they don't they could be 12. Newton, Winston, Benjamin, Hyde, Diggs, Garçon have all put some amazing stuff on tape before - but they've also looked pretty bad at times. What versions of these players we get will dictate Burdettinators success. Hunt is high potential but also unproven as yet, and Gordon needs volume and health (barring a next step) to deliver the mail. I like the roster, I do - but there are some red flags. 

7. Gridiron Gang, 56-60-1: Being impartial in these articles is hard - especially without points on the board. There's a trifecta of great receivers here, but Cooks is a wildcard until we see how the patriots use him, and Bryant and Thomas may not be as special as they once were. Bell highlights the RB group, but after that it's questionable to put it mildly. Palmer Stafford and Olsen should provide stability around this, its tough to see the outlook of this team right now.

8. Bear Necessities, 66-52: This is a risky team - but if it pays off it could do very well. 4 Green Bay packers could be a boon, but a bad week would sink this team, and only Rodgers will probably be the consistent option. Freeman and Crabtree are solid, while hill is another wildcard who could do well or be flex worthy. The bench is quite uninspiring, not a lot of good options to lean on here. Coach Stubbs Sr. needs the starting lineup to lead this team. 

9. Patistan, 14-15: Coach Allen is trying to build off of their last season, and they've got some nice building blocks in place to do so. Jones and Thomas form a great receiver duo they'll rely on every week. QB should be a stable hand too. Unfortunately that's where the certainties end. Lynch, McCaffrey, Gore and Mixon form probably the biggest RB enigma in the league. How this group performs will dictate how well Patistan does this year. 

10. Tanky McTankface, 65-54: id just like to stop here and remind you all again that I like the next 3 teams. The nature of power rankings means I have to put someone 1-12, so just cause these 3 are here does not mean I think they're bad teams. This is probably the best Coach Merritt draft in years. Murray and Evans are two great foundations. Ingram, Jeffery, Adams, Coleman and Kelly should all bolster this, however the jury is still out on how good each of these players will be. After that there isn't a great deal to write home about, so they'll need some of those middle rounders to hit.

11. Southampton Narwhals, 25-31-1: is Coach Nunn's team as good as his Mario Kart skills? Hard to say, but they've got a decent side. Highlighted by Brady and Johnson, they arguably have the best 2 of those positions. Hilton is a star but will need Luck to perform, while Graham should easily be a top 5 TE. After that they have to hope Peterson, Landry and Robinson hit to give them a stable weekly side, but no one would be surprised if that happens. 

12. Tom's Tyrants, 64-53: I can personally vouch for how difficult it was drafting where myself and Tom were, so can Ollie who did the mocks for our teams. In a similar strategy, Coach Barnes has the best receiving group in the league hands down, and they'll probably win them games alone. But the rest of the roster is a quagmire. QB is an issue for this team. Luck should be great when he's back, but when will that be, and what condition will his shoulder be in? I think he'll be ok, but we don't know right now. Bradford also isn't an ideal starter, despite poor opposition. RB is also less than ideal. Powell and West are volume plays who could be good, but it's not an ideal starting duo. What they get from the bench RBs is also to be determined, but I like Rawls' upside, and Martin when he returns.