By Mason Smith
Power Rankings. This is what the preseason all lives up to. If we can all recall back to last year what Mitchell’s preseason power rankings were, and in parenthesis after their name how they actually finished 2018 – side note I had to relisten to one of those podcasts to get this info… ouch:
- Adam (7)
- Jarrod (2)
- Tim (4)
- Gray (8)
- Mitchell (5)
- Hanna (9) (Mitchell hyped up Marquise Goodwin saying he’ll get 15-20 points a week. Lol.)
- Mason (1)
- Derek (10)
- Jake (3)
- Caleb (6)
- Logan (12)
- Ben (11)
Yikes not a whole lot of accuracy there based on how the year ended. Now granted, Mitchell didn’t know that some managers would tank (Logan), some would trade away their best assets (Ben), that some wouldn’t trade away those players that they needed to trade (Gray) and that some managers would drop an arguable top 10 fantasy player in lieu of a third string wide receiver that isn’t even all that good (Adam). Mitchell didn’t know that his all 2014 team wouldn’t actually be all that good when it mattered most. Come to think of it, Mitchell may not even know a whole lot about fantasy football – but he sure as heck cares the most about this league and that is why he is our fearless leader. That is why we put up with his completely faulty and biased opinions and that is why we read/listen to his content he puts out for us. However, this week, we decided to give Mitchell a week off. So, Mitchell, in his moment of exhaustion decided to turn to one of the brightest, youngest fantasy minds he knows – the reigning champion, the league fantasy savant. However, Jarrod got a little jealous and decided to put up his own BS advice. Don’t worry – my BS is much better so please enjoy.
I have decided to take this column in a few ways with Power Rankings. First, I am going to put each manager into their power ranking based off of what has happened in the league over the last 2 years. We have all been together for 2+ years now so I think we are starting to figure out each other’s managerial styles – for better or worse. Maybe some of us need to change and adapt, but I will rank the managers from worst to first with a comparison to a college football program just for shits and giggles. Second, I will put into power rankings each person’s team, there current roster. Worst to first – what each person’s team looks like. Lastly, what I am going to do is, short and sweet, predict how this year will finish in the standings. Where is your team going to finish 2019. No explanation, no defense, just my bold prediction on the internet forever.
All that to say – Let’s get into it.
Let’s start with 12 – the “not the best” manager in our league
12 –TIM – Tim, I am starting with you because your managerial style is “you don’t” meaning you don’t really manage your team. You are not the most “active” member, so to speak. I think I make more trades in a week than you have in the last 2 years and I think your starting QB is older than you. What college program is Tim? I say STANFORD. Stanford just lines up and hands the ball off. You don’t really do anything creative – you are just there running the same I-Formation that has been around forever.
11 – GRAY – Anyone shocked that my back 2 are Tim and Gray? Gray, football knowledge isn’t your strongest gift – but I think if you wanted to get into it, you would be a fucking force to be reckoned with. The question lingering is – do you actually want to get into it? If we were ranking funniest group chat members Gray would be towards the top… but we are not. So…. Gray’s college team would be – drumroll please – UCF. Why Mason? Because much like UCF – Gray also claims to have won the championship.
10 – CALEB –Woah – the 2017 Champion is this low? Yeah because Caleb hit big that year on Todd Gurley. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Caleb’s other finishes in the league have been around or below .500 with less than impressive teams. Caleb often picks his players with his heart and not his head and that is one of the shortcomings of Manager Caleb. His College team comparison would have to be his beloved FSU. Much like FSU, Caleb won it all one year but we are seeing the true colors now.
9 – BEN – Ben, to be honest, this is an improvement. I bet if Mitchell did this list last year you would’ve been further towards the bottom. You are on the rise. Stay on it. Your College Team would be – NEBRASKA. You are on the come up. Keep recruiting the right way, don’t try and cut corners, and pretty soon you’ll be beating Michigan and OSU. Jump on the Scott Frost train. The one thing holding you back is your commitment level to Football knowledge.
8 – HANNA – Hanna, you could also be a Fantasy Football Force but I feel like you don’t care enough to become one. You are occupied with school, helping people, art, and other BS useless life things. Fantasy Football needs to be the end all be all. Duh. Your College team would be – NORTH DAKOTA ST. What Mason??? North Dakota St, they are the number 1 team in the FCS, they just don’t have the resources as the FBS schools.
7 – DEREK – Derek, for how long you have been playing fantasy football, I would expect more from you. Although, you did have a solid draft – could this be the start of a new Derek? I am bending the rules with Derek – his College Team is more like a coach – Kliff Kingsbury. Kliff – a mediocre coach, who just got pulled up to the pros. If his trajectory is anything like Derek, I would sell any stock you have in Arizona Cardinals players – they have an 8-8 ceiling. Stay okay, Derek.
6 – ADAM – Nick Chubb for John Ross? Ouch. Adam always manages a solid roster but the lack of upper level management proves to be crucial to his middle of the pack-ness. Do more research, listen to more experts, do what they say until your fantasy wisdom grows. I see Adam’s fantasy football knowledge as me 3 years ago when I first began. The question for you Adam is – will you go all in or stay on the border? Adam’s college football team is – TEXAS. Texas always seems to recruit well – but can they actually do anything with their team?
5 – LOGAN – The sheer thought of tanking last year to get the first overall pick was a supreme managerial move. More teams need to see that and realize that if you’re not in the hunt this year, you should sell off for future assets (young players, rookies, picks in the first couple rounds) to better your team. Logan’s college comparison is – NOTRE DAME. On the outside you think they are good – until you realize they aren’t really that good at all…
4 – JAKE – Jake – your team is solid but your management is sometimes questionable. When it matters most you sometimes don’t care and that is what holds you back from being truly elite. What other college team does that sound like other than FLORIDA. Florida could be good, but lack of great coaching and lack of attention to detail will hold them back when it matters most.
3 – MITCHELL – Mitchell, your love for your team is what carries you through the low points. Your team is great, but can you get it done? It doesn’t seem like you can stop the bleeding when it happens. When it rains, it seems like it pours. Any other team than MICHIGAN for your comparison? Will they ever get it done? Was JT actually short or will you just keep telling yourself that to ease the pain?
2 – MASON – Did you know that in his third year ever playing Fantasy he won the league? Impressive. Mason is a young Fantasy Football savant – his college comparison is OKLAHOMA,and more importantly, Lincoln Riley. Back to back Heisman’s. Back to back championships? TBD.
1 – JARROD – Jarro – you are number 1 just because you play the numbers, you do the research and you proved you can be a top player with distractions in life. What will you be this year without the distractions? Jarrod is ALABAMA. Consistently great but sometimes he has some troubled players that even his voodoo can’t overcome.
Now let’s get onto the team power rankings. I promise these will be shorter. I am going to give your rank and one move Mason would make if he was the GM of your team for a day.
12 – GRAY – Gray, you weren’t this low before the Lamar Miller injury – but that hurts you… bad. You need RB help. Jordan Howard won’t get it done this year. I would trade Josh Gordon, Dede, or Moncrief (after he has 2 serviceable weeks in a row) for a RB and I would drop guys like Riley Ridley for upside handcuffs like Malcom Brown or Dontrell Hilliard until Week 10.
11 – CALEB – Man, this team is starting 3 players from the Bucs. That’s all you need to know. I would start Latavius Murray over Barber and maybe try and make a trade to get some depth on the roster.
10 – DEREK – Well you went out and made a solid deal. Unfortunately for you, I don’t think too highly of Lindsay so I don’t think this is quite the homerun that Jarrod did. I do really like the addition of Corey Davis. You have some sneaky young guys that will come back soon in the future. You may be really good towards the end of the year if they pan out. Right now though? Ehh… I don’t like Henry, Watkins, Lindsay or Cohen. I think Corey Davis outscores Sammy Watkins in week 1, so I would make that lineup switch.
9 – HANNA – this team is THIN. I don’t think you have a single person on your bench who is startable other than Henry. Go pick up Jack Doyle and Chris Conley ASAP. I am not a Miles Sanders believer. I would sell high when your players do decent. I would also sell on Zeke and Pollard – Pollard is fool’s gold and will notbe a RB1 while Zeke is out. Start Hunter Henry over MVS in week 1.
8 – LOGAN – Logan – your team is solid. You got a good core. My advice was going to be to trade out of Lindsay – which you did. You got AJ Green back but I think you will regret giving away Corey Davis when Tannehill takes over for the Titans. I’ll like your team when AJ Green gets back. If you want to really go for it this year, mortgage your future draft picks for contributors today. The reason you are this low is AJ Green is still hurt so that hurts your team today but you should finish higher. Start Marvin Jones or Geronimo over Fitzgerald.
7 – BEN – Ben, your team is slowly improving. I would trade Antonio Brown if anyone would give you solid value for him – I personally wouldn’t but someone like Tim, Derek, or maybe even Mitchell might want him. Start Sony Michel although I don’t think you’ve set your lineup yet.
6 – TIM – This team is old so this may be your last year to go for it, getting DeMaryius Thomas may end up being the steal of the draft with him coming in the 6th( 15th) round. I would try and trade Curtis Samuel and any other young guys you have and go all in for this year because your window with your stars won’t be open much longer. You better hope Melvin Gordon gets traded because I am not sure what is going on out in LA.
5 – ADAM – Adam your team isn’t bad. It actually is one of the best rosters. I had you at 4 before that Shady to KC news. The problem is, a lot of your players all have red flags going into the season. Now granted, not all of those will come to fruition, but I also doubt all of them will just disappear. This recipe doesn’t seem great to me. I would trade one of your Chargers receivers..
4 – JAKE – Jake, your team is good, but not great. And I think after that trade with me that it made your starting lineup a little weaker. Team strength got better but not your starters. I would trade a couple pieces for a solid contributor – maybe Antonio Brown?? Ben – you and Jake – you’re welcome.
3 – MASON – I love your roster man. Great job. Wait until Guice proves himself and then trade him to someone who wants to build for the future in exchange for someone to go all in this year.
2 – MITCHELL – Great roster man – the only reason you are at 2 instead of 1 is your roster is thin. You need some depth – start doing more good deeds to get this team some depth so you can make some trades. I am not worried about you though, you’re a solid manager, you’ll get that sixth starter – probably from me tbh. Maybe try and get guys with higher upside off of waivers than a Cincinnati starting X receiver. I get he is the starter but he won’t be anything special. Go scour waivers for solid starters that will score 10-113 for the first 2 weeks. Maybe Jimmy Graham has some upside still.
1 – JARROD– Best Roster (as of today) and best manager – should win it all, right? Nah. As long as you have a woman beater on your roster and as the namesake of your team the FF Gods won’t let that shit happen, man. In all seriousness I love this roster, however, I would sell my Freeman shares and I would also hold onto Thompson (which I know you will).
Well, there’s your power rankings folks. Now will those be how the season ends? Definitely (that is how you spell that word, Mitchell) not. Don’t fall in love with your spot too much and don’t get discouraged from your spot too much. This is all just a starting point. We have 16 weeks for shit to change, and it will change. Where will you end up? That is entirely up to you, and chance because after all, we are all just guessing here. Some of us are just better at making educated guesses while others of us are making blind guesses at some points it seems.
Best of luck this year and Mitchell, check below who will win it all and go ahead and order me a patch for my jacket:
12 – Gray
11 – Caleb
10 – Hanna
9 – Derek
8 – Tim
7 – Ben
6 – Adam
5 – Jake
4 – Logan
3 – Jarrod
2 – Mitchell
1 – Mason
The MFL 