It’s that time again, welcome back, everyone, to another year of the LOC! And, as the ancient Chinese proverb states, ‘say it on a live podcast, and it must be fulfilled’, so here we have a full set of on-time power rankings. We’ll hit these in reverse order, as always, but the post-draft edition is inevitably a bit of a 52-card pickup system for rankings, particularly when everyone decides to selfishly draft quite sensibly. I’m going for an organic best pick / worst pick system, and seeing where the flow takes me so, without delaying any further, lets see if it comes out in the wash.
12. Bear Necessities
Favourite Pick: Michael PittmanLeast Favourite Pick: David Montgomery
Every year, one team seems to end up with a lot of my draft day avoid list. Usually, that is nothing but a good omen for the season ahead, but this team does feel chocked full of aging veterans, some of whom are almost certainly past their fantasy prime. I’m less worried about Pittman’s targets than most (check the pre-injury data from last year, he’ll be fine) and I thin Brian Robinson was a great pick too, but this team screams TD reliance to me.
11. IKSAN
Favourite Pick: Chris GodwinLeast Favourite Pick: Dak Prescott
The Dak Prescott pick has been talked about a lot already, and that is completely justified. It was the biggest shock of the draft, and he will need a repeat of last season to not make this look bad. As a result of that, we have Zamir White and George Pickens starting in week 1. Far from terrible, but probably not striking fear into Forge Flyers. Chris Godwin is not a sexy favourite pick, but until Hollywood Brown is fit again, he is the only player I’d be confident in relieving any of the starters, should they stutter.
10. Forge Flyers
Favourite Pick: Ja’Marr Chase Least Favourite Pick: Alvin Kamara
First instinct is this isn’t my favourite team. After promising to go light on the RBs, we ended up with 3 in the first 4 rounds, finishing with the tremendously underwhelming Kamara. Don’t get me wrong, decent player, slightly past his best and in a mediocre offense, but still decent. It was more the build up in the room, including the not so subtly implied sexual stimulation, at the fact Alvin Kamara was still available in the 4th (at least a round or two earlier than I would have even considered him). Maybe that’s just me. Chase was amazing value, and so was Jordan Love, they save the team for me.
9. The Dream Team
Favourite (autodraft) Pick: Lamar JacksonLeast Favourite (autodraft) Pick: Najee Harris
It’s always the same with autodraft, you get some great value from inexplicable fallers, and then you find out you have glaring holes elsewhere. Lamar was great value, Davante could be a steal, and the WR room in general is loaded. But,then you notice that Najee is not in a RB room as such, more of a cubicle. And not a big, fancy, disable-access cubicle, very much a ‘can’t-swing-a-cat’ sized cubicle, with no floor (fantasy football points floor, that is).
8. Oakland Bears
Favourite Pick: Dalton Kincaid Least Favourite Pick: Jonathon Brooks
Firstly, welcome to the league Freddy. Secondly, fair warning, and you’ll pick this up fairly early on anyway, but these rankings are rarely even half right, so take them with a pinch of salt. Anyway, back to the team, which is pretty well balanced, even with the spattering of autodraft randomers at the end. I like the Richardson pick, although pairing with Taylor could cap both. And I think Kincaid was a sneaky great pick as a potential target hoover for Josh Allen. Brooks could prove me wrong, but he felt early with the injury and the team he will be playing for.
7. Strawberry Jamal
Favourite Pick: AI artwork Nick ChubbLeast Favourite Pick: Rhamondre Stevenson
First and foremost, I would like to raise a glass to a coach who decided to put a stop to a long and tumultuous ride with autodraft. And, the team looks decent as a result. A few bad offense RBs have me a little concerned, but there is some good volume in play. I really like the Chubb pick, although Jerome Ford would have been a nice compliment. I think Burrow, Jefferson, Aiyuk, and St. Etienne, form one of the highest upside player cores in the league.
6. Buccing The Trend
Favourite Pick: Jaxon Smith-NjigbaLeast Favourite Pick: Stephon Diggs
The team with Patrick Mahomes is always going to be one you don’t want to face on any given week and, paired with Bijan and Jacobs, I think this team carries a high weekly floor. There’s not much continuity on this roster though, and we won’t really know the upside until roles become more defined. I am fairly confident that Smith-Njigba will be starting over Diggs by week 3, and is an early pick for steal of the draft.
5. Tom’s Tyrants
Favourite Pick: Jayden DanielsLeast Favourite Pick: Aaron Jones
Let’s not beat around the bush, this team is probably going to ride or die on the back of Daniels. The value was great, but if he can’t replicate his Heisman form, a season of waiver surfing could pursue. This definitely felt like a value-based draft, with Tee Higgins and Amon-Ra being particularly notable, but some picks could lack the upside for a deep playoff run, looking at Jones and Zach Moss in particular.
4. Patistan
Favourite Pick: Mark AndrewsLeast Favourite Pick: De’Von Achane
A hard team to pick my least favourite player from, which you can only imagine is a good sign. They’re relying on Miami being just as explosive, without even owning their most explosive player, so there is some massive boom / bust risk. I thought the Andrews pick was great value though, and the high upside bench should mean this team gets stronger as the season goes on. Respect must be paid to landing Tua so late, he could make the draft strategy look genius. Could.
3. Gridiron Gang
Favourite Pick: Rico DowdleLeast Favourite Pick:Deebo Samuel
I couldn’t put Taysom Hill as my favourite pick for two reasons. Firstly, I don’t need to hear anymore about what a fantasy legend Taysom Hill is and, secondly, he simply isn’t. That being said, plenty of good picks to choose from here, and I do appreciate the late round RB additions looking for sneaky backfield leaders. Collins and Deebo weren’t my favourite value picks, I feel both their target volumes could be unreliable week-to-week, but that’s not to say that this isn’t a strong team.
2. Wren Kitchens
Favourite Pick: Terry McLaurin Least Favourite Pick: Malik Nabers
I’m going to skip the low hanging fruit (homer QB2 pick, confirmed misogynist pick) and focus on the rest of the team, which is pretty handily put together. I don’t love the value on Nabers, but he is going to get targets, and the early season prominence of the Hubbard / Ford combo will give him time to get set. Other middle round picks like McLaurin and Rice profile to be solid and consistent contributors which, paired with the anchors of Hurts and McCaffrey, could mean a high weekly ceiling.
1. Great Scott
Favourite Pick: Cooper KuppLeast Favourite Pick:Javonte Williams
I’m splitting hairs on the least favourite pick here. I think Williams probably ends up too RBBC to be a reliable starter, but he was drafted late with that risk built in. This one went under the radar for me on draft day, but I think the starting lineup is great. Kupp was one of my favourite draft day targets, and I think Evans and Hall were great values. Murray could be special, if he stays fit, and the bench is laden with upside, particularly Worthy and Reed.
There we have it; the first rankings of the season are in the books. And, unlike other LOC media, I won’t be selling my soul with non-league material. These rankings are LOC only. Have a great season, good luck to all.
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