2023 Power Rankings - Week 6

 Wait, I’m here again? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted the EDOTLOCCA when he invited me to his office.  Well I’m here now, so your Commish may as well deliver another edition of the Power Rankings as it has seemingly become my job now. Joking aside, Tom currently has COVID so we wish him a speedy recovery, and he should be back writing the article next week. Let’s get it!

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12. Avatarell (1-4) - No change: they finally got a win, huzzah! Though it was much more to do with what was going on on the other side of the field with Richardson getting injured than anything they did. This is still a fairly weak team over all, which has now developed a QB problem, and Travis Kelce that isn’t fully healthy and may finally be showing his age. They will be getting Higgins back, and Taylor should get going more - but I don’t think this will dramatically change their fortune.

11. Buccing The Trend (0-5) - No change: the last remaining winless (and lossless) team. Once again the team performed fairly well but just got rained on by the opponent. The win will come, it may be this week,  but overall it’s just not fully clicking right now. Getting Barkley back is big for them (but unlikely to mean much for this week), if Tua can take some work from his RBs a Coach Taylor turnaround isn’t unfathomable. Osborn gives them another option too

10. Forge Flyers (1-4) - Down 3: 2 injuries drop this team down - 1 on the team and 1 not, but both affecting their QBs. Richardson looked like a revelation but health has dodged him, and now will do so for at least a month. Cousins lost Jefferson too. This team does still have nice pieces, but outside of Henry (who has only been an RB2 thus far) lacks star power. It could come together though. 

9. Tom’s Tyrants (2-3) - Up 1: a close win, boy must coach barnes be happy to have Kupp and the real joe burrow back. Inconsistent RBs will likely hold this team back, but the receiver room is pretty strong on the whole. If burrow can maintain form we could definitely see them go on a nice run. Thielen has been a real bright spot also. 

8. U R Gould (4-1) - Up 1: the loss finally arrived (inevitably), but the team still looked pretty good. They’re an ok side overall, but like Forge Flyers lack any real star power. That being said, if Addison can step up they could have quite the duo with him and brown. If Fields recent form continues also we could definitely see this team rising up the rankings. Losing Conner is a minor blow but one they can overcome. 

7. Great Scott (3-2) - Up 1: the Jekyll and Hyde act continues after a superb performance last week. This team is clearly capable of lightning it up, but consistency has been hard to come by. If Burrow can steady then Chase will as well - getting a healthy ASRB will help too, and with the Achane injury Mostert profiles to be a legit RB1 again. They’ve got Wilson if he becomes a thing too - the injury list is long however and QB mildly uninspiring. If Lawrence can really get it going, look out. 

6. The Dream Team (3-2) - No change: they had a nice blow up week last week, but a generous matchup for hall and half of the bills defence sacrificing themself on the concrete of Tottenham stadium facilitated Etienne’s big day. Both great players no doubt, but they’ll be streaky. Hill remains the pillar of this team, and we’ll see if Herbert can continue his hot start. There’s not an awful lot of depth here, but some complementary pieces make the starting lineup very well rounded 

5. Burdettinators (4-1) - No change: their first loss of the season came last week, and honestly with all the injuries it’s surprising it took this long. Coach Burdett has done a fantastic job so far but the bye weeks will be gruelling for a roster on fumes. Despite being on fumes, they have a fairly strong foundation - but I feel like guys like Collins, hill, swift, ford and Williams are at a bit of a crossroad. If they struggle again this week I think it may be time to revise down expectations on this team. 

4. Patistan (4-1) - Down 3: a nice win last week, but a brutal loss as well - losing Justin Jefferson to a hamstring injury. They’re well set up to press on without him though, as this could be the most well rounded starting lineup in the league. They’ve got some depth to play with, and they have the hot hand when it comes to QB streaming (which has been a big part of their success so far). Adding Stroud and continuing to play matchups should solidify that, as they continue their march to the playoffs.

3. Bear Necessities (3-2) - No change: it’s a good team, I don’t think it’s a great team, but certainly one that deserves some respect. Outside of Jackson and maybe Robinson there’s not a great deal of start power, but they just have a gaggle of solid players (certainly if Jackson’s receivers fancy actually catching a ball or two). Good is the enemy of great however, and I just can’t shake the feeling that this might be another good bear necessities team that doesn’t quite make it due to some other slightly flashier teams pipping them to the finish line 

2. Gridiron Gang (3-2) - No change: another week in the 2 spot for my team, I seem incapable of justifying to nudge my team up, and it has been too good to nudge down. When fully healthy and available I’d argue this team has the best top to bottom starting lineup in the league - I’ve not had that for some weeks, but it hasn’t mattered. If DeShaun Watson’s shoulder keeps him out for an extended period of time though this team does have a WR problem - it’s a very prospective bench, as it has been all year, and that has limited my ability to play the waiver as much as I normally would. Lack of depth keeps this team in 2. 

1. IKSAN (2-3) - Up 3: I keep yo-yoing them about, but last week was a vital win in Coach Sherwood’s season. Touchwood, come next week they should be back to full health - and good luck to any team facing them from there on because this is the best top to bottom roster in the league and I won’t hear otherwise. If I’m being super critical, I’d say the current chiefs offence is suppressing mahomes’ upside a bit, but that’s the only nitpick - and he’s still gonna be rock solid. 

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There you go, perhaps my final entry of the power rankings (at least for a bit anyway). I look forward to Tom returning next week, walking in the door and saying “what on earth has Naith been doing in here” whilst he wades through the scrawled notes scattered everywhere. But until that time, best of luck in your matchups this weekend, unless you’re playing me of course!

2023 - We are Tottenham bound!

 Hello and welcome to another episode of the LOC Report! The Commish and Co-host could have live streamed a pod from Tottenham stadium together as they watch the Ravens take on the Titans this week, but we thought it better with stadium signal to give you the week 5 recap and week 6 preview as normal.

2023 - The LOC, perfectly balanced, as all things should be

 Hello and welcome to another episode of the LOC Report! Commissioner Stubbs and Co-host Chris Leach back to give you the low down on another week of the LOC season. Entering week 4 we still had 3 undefeated teams and 3 defeated teams - that number has now dropped to 2 a piece (love the symmetry). The guys recap what happened in week 4 and which team lost their 0s, and preview week 5.

2023: Power Rankings Week 5

 Hello again, the Commish is back to deliver another edition of the power rankings in relief of the EDOTLOCCA! After my rusty return to the literary action last week, I couldn’t let another week go without having another shot to make good on it (definitely nothing to do with Tom not being able to write the article again this week). September is in the books, so let’s see the state of play in the LOC heading into October.

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12. Jamal Fix It (0-4) - No Change: look, this team is definitely better than their 0-4 record. They showed last week the classic Ross penchant for a good week with a roster that otherwise seems adrift - Coach Nunn is just unfortunate it was against the week’s highest scorer. To be honest, I saw enough to move them off the bottom, but potentially losing Tee Higgins for at least a week or 2 takes them back a bit. They are getting Taylor back, but I need to see that impact before I believe it. They’re going to get wins this season.

11. Buccing The Trend (0-4) - No Change: If not for injury Coach Taylor may have had the grace of falling down. They faced a good opponent too, but it still wasn’t a great week - however, like Ross’s team, they’ve shown enough to get wins this year. Jacob’s finally got going, evans hamstring injury opens the door for Godwin, and Barkley is returning. Tua and the special team will have better days so the turnaround could be coming sooner rather than later. 

10. Tom’s Tyrants (1-3) - down 1: I was confident enough to lock them on the pod last week, but it appears that confidence was misplaced. Burrow needs to get right, or Coach Barnes needs a new QB. Until either or both of these things happen this team will be held back. Allen is the pillar, they have a couple of nice backs in Cook and Robinson, but this roster just doesn’t have a lot of juice. But Tom certainly knows how to turn a team around. 

9. U R Gould (4-0) - up 1: the king lives. Once again they were fortunate in their opposition, but they did have a decent week - largely courtesy of benching fields and an aj brown blow up. I do like the Stroud addition though. I just struggle to see much upside with this team outside of pollard and brown though, and they’ve not both been super thus far. They started Sam LaPorta this week - that tells you where the team is at. 

8. Great Scott (2-2) - down 3: don’t let the win last week fool you, this team has its problems. You look at the team and can see the potential, but we’re just not getting it right now. Lawrence and jags haven’t got going, Chase is at the mercy of burrow. St Brown is hobbled, Mostert has an Achane problem, Sanders has a bad offence problem, and Gibbs has a Montgomery problem. Achane is the only juicy option on the bench, and he could be special, but he needs some of the other names above to start firing to help him. If things do click this team will be dangerous.

7. Forge Flyers (1-3) - up 1: they did it, set off the fireworks, they got a W! It was due. Yes, they benefited from a great D score, but cousins also let them down (and Coach Leach will be turning to Richardson im sure, who is entering stud level territory). If Henry can properly get going there’s more than enough of a supporting cast here to get their season back on track. They’re probably one of the more complete top to bottom teams in the league too, so are set up well for byes. 

6. The Dream Team (2-2) - down 2: I think it’s becoming increasingly clear to me this team needs Herbert and Hill blow up weeks to work. But to be fair, they’re two players that have a penchant for that, and their blow ups are or the nuclear nature. They do have other good pieces on the roster too, the ceiling is high but the floor is also low. A classic flashy boom and bust dream team team. 6th seems like the logical spot for this team

5. Burdettinators (4-0) - up 1: the undefeated start continues, now there are only 2. This team is the better and more worthy one. Despite all the injuries, I’d still take this team too. The starting lineup is solid, no doubt about it. But I just can’t shake the feeling that it needs some depth, as these aren’t guys you want to HAVE to rely on week in week out. Understandably, there is not much depth on the team. It will be interesting to see how they fair in the byes - but if they stay healthy they’ll do fine. 

4. IKSAN (1-3) - down 3: Coach Sherwood’s 80+ weekly points stretch since the end of 2021 has come to an end. Injuries pregame, during the game, and players returning from injury will do that - especially when your star QB doesn’t have a stellar week. When they do get healthy though this team could light it up. My beloved Alexander Mattison may not be throwing away his shot after all. Don’t get used to seeing IKSAN 2 games under 500, there’s a reason it doesn’t happen too often. The fall is more about other teams as opposed to them themselves.

3. Bear Necessities (3-1) - down 1: Another solid week and another win. Coach Stubbs Sr has a robust roster from top to bottom, and it’s easy to see them return to playoffs after narrowly missing out last year. Yet, there are some cracks in the roster that may be starting to appear. Mixon has been afflicted by the bengals slow start. Nacua has been a revelation, but what will the offence look like with Kupp back? Williams has a hip injury, and Robinson has an Arthur Smith problem. The upside is tantalising, but the shine coke come off if this team a little bit. 

2. Gridiron Gang (3-1) - No change: definitely not moving myself up to the cursed number 1 spot, let’s hope the power rankings goods don’t see through my guise. No, joking aside, Gridiron Gang remain in 2 despite coming off this seasons weekly highest score because it was a very top heavy effort by 3 players. No doubt the starting 6 of this team have a case to be the best in the league, but behind that it’s a bit sketchy. I could do with 1 or 2 of my prospective guys emerging and solidifying to really elevate this team. 

1. Patistan (3-1) - up 6: what a rise, and for good reason. The loss was a narrow one, in a week where the team was strong. There is a mighty fine coaching and GM effort going on here to field a good QB each work, and it’s working. The team is dripping in talent, you’d struggle to poke holes in any of the players. Kamara has only added to that seemingly. We’ve said in seasons past “this is pats year”. Well gentlemen, the year where we’ve not been saying that and they’ve been seemingly going under the radar a little more, could in fact be this year. 

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And there you go, hopefully I have made up for my teething problems of last week! The bye weeks are here and the added struggles from which will separate the contenders from the pretenders - so buckle up guys!