2020 Power Rankings: Week 2

 2020 Power Rankings: Week 1

Hello, one and all. Ahh, it’s good to be back watching football isn’t it? Better make the most of it because, you know, it probably won’t last that long. Week 1 is in the books and, as always, roughly 50% of us will be happy (I’m totally not bitter), but even more of a certainty is the massive changes in rankings from Week 1 to 2. Just for fun, I looked back at the changes from last year and it made me realise quite how bad I am at this, you guys really deserve better. I might as well draw the names from a hat, you know like the draft order reveal supposedly did (again, totally not bitter). Anyway, enjoy the ensuing chaos!

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12. Patistan (0-1) Down 8

Yikes, Thomas got injured, not exactly what you would call an ideal start. Equally Mixon proved that the Bengals O-line is going to make him work for his yards. And they put up the low score, by a distance. Joshua Kelley looks like an shrewd late round draft pick though and I feel like Slayton might see a little more starting time too after a big week. Coach Allen’s early season could already be tied to Michael Thomas’s ankle.

11. The Tuckfards (1-0) Non-mover

Always nice to get a win in Week 1, Mahomes and Hopkins gave exactly what you’d expect from them. Smith-Schuster being on the bench was… interesting, but it didn’t cost them on this occasion. There’s a lot of committee RBs on this team which doesn’t bode well for weekly upside, but picking the right player in the right moment has always been a speciality of Coach Merritt.

10. Tom’s Tyrants (0-1) Down 2

Putting up nearly 100 points without your first round pick definitely falls into the category of ‘not too shabby’, but lots of that was thanks to Davante Adams. There were some encouraging signs despite the loss, targets and touches suggest some of their starters will be in for bigger weeks, the bench options could maybe use a bolster though.

9. U R Gould (0-1) Non-mover

The Arizona contingent looks ready to take the league by storm, despite the tough matchup, Coach Gardner will be smiling. They put up a good score despite the loss and Thielen’s gamescript inflated score should be balanced out in the future by Chubb’s gamescript related bust. All in all, they look like they’ll have some nice options for the season.

8. Bear Necessities (1-0) Up 4

So, pretty much every player I called an unknown quantity turned out a pretty decent quantity of points, obvs, even if it was only one week. Josh Allen doesn’t get to play the Jets every week, although the Dolphins in Week 2 might not be too different. Taylor got a massive boost with Mack gone, although Hines did more than anyone (including himself) was expecting, doesn’t matter though because Coach Stubbs Sr. now has both. 

7. Buccing the Trend (1-0) Up 3

That was certainly a statement score to open the season, big props to Josh Jacobs who managed to outshine CMC on the other side of the field. There were decent contributions across the board, mostly coming on limited touches as well. The targets for each of the receivers suggests even bigger weeks await. We’ll give the bench an extra week to, you know, start playing.

6. Damaryiusthomasandfriends (1-0) Down 1

Well, Aaron Rodgers was out to impress, and the result was an impressive score. That’s not coming every week, but it’s still nice to know he has it in the locker. Losing Le’Veon for a couple of weeks probably won’t be as bad as it sounds, hopefully the week on the bench motivated Mike Evans. Missing Mack as well, the roster already looks kind of thin. NB. Demaryius Thomas is clearly not the household name he once was.

5. Forge Flyers (0-1) Down 4

Relying on the reigning MVP each week is far from a broken tactic, but this box score would have looked a little limp without him. They were unfortunate to lose Conner and will be hoping the early positive diagnosis is correct, they’ll need bigger performances from him. Equally, Coach Leach will be waiting for one of his receivers to emerge, my call of lacking star quality was evident in Week 1.

4. Burdettinators (1-0) Up 2

Pretty good return from Week 1 to be honest, even if a lot of points came in the Falcon’s and Texan’s respective garbage times. The Jones-Ridley combo is definitely going to work out all the time Matt Ryan is forced to throw >50 times a game. Equally, watching Edwards-Helaire rushing against 5/6 man fronts could be something we get used to, pretty handy.

3. Gridiron Gang (0-1) Non-mover

Scanning down the list of individual box scores, this looked like a decent week, but 82 points, meh. Certainly less than Coach Stubbs Jr. would have hoped for, but that was mainly down to a distinct lack of TDs. Ekeler’s lack off targets ad Barkley’s lack of O-line were both alarming, hopefully they were just settling into the season. Gridiron Gang won’t be too perturbed after just one week, but they’ll be looking for a response in Week 2, is Cam the guy?

2. IKSAN (1-0) Up 5

I told myself not to question the spreadsheets, you all heard it, if only I had reminded myself. One of the more well rounded performances in Week 1, although the lack of rush attempts for Carson were concerning. Not sure Kerryon Johnson will make many more appearances in the starting lineup after being massively outshone by a man 12 years his senior. Plenty of bench options ready to go in his place though, especially after astutely splashing the waiver cash.

1. The Dream Team (1-0) Up 1

In a week where there were no enormous scores, Coach Nathwani will be pretty chuffed with his. Wilson may not put up 40 points each week, but you get the feeling just about all the rest of the team have more in the locker. A.J. Green looks fully healthy again, that could be huge as we progress through the season. The minor Kittle injury could be the only dampener on a solid Week 1.

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Right, there you are, could have been worse I suppose? (Seriously, check out the 2019 Week 2 edition, wow.) On the upside, this definitely gets easier as we make our way through the season, so onwards and upwards!