so, I go away on vacation for a couple of weeks and suddenly the NFL season starts??? Who planned that out?

Anyway, I've been preoccupied catching up on work related stuff (I know, ridiculous, right?) But I am indeed going to be doing the power rankings once again this season. This one is going to be a little more streamlined and to the point for this first week since it is already Saturday night, but the rest of the way through the season I plan on having these done sometime from Tuesday through Thursday.

I'm hoping we're able to get more discussion going this season. This area is open for anybody to respond to, post your own thoughts, your thoughts or comments about whatever I have to say, or why you disagree with something I might be thinking, or a prediction.

Last season I made predictions based on who would be the best and worst players in each position every week.. This season I think I'm going to do something a little different and try to pick a player or two each week who would normally not be your number one starter, but who I think might be in for a decent performance.

I haven't really had the time to study the schedule the first two weeks like I normally would, so these are going to be directly off the top of my head.

For running back, I think if you have Chester Taylor this would be a great chance to start him. There is every indication Minnesota will blow out Detroit. And that's the case, AP is going to get a break in the second half and Chester Taylor might be in for a higher than normal number of carries and a trip to the end zone.

Wide receiver: I know that everybody in Washington gave no reason to believe the wide receivers will be producing any numbers of consequence of this season, and while St. Louis might be able to shut down... well, OK, they probably can't shut down anybody, but I think Washington will try to get on top quick so Santana Moss should be a good start as a second wide receiver or flex position.

In future weeks I will probably also look for a standard starter on most teams who I think might be in for an off week, but for this time let's just start slow.

I also normally throw in a general comment about the NFL. Here it is this week: what is up with everybody's infatuation with Philip Rivers?? I mean, I'm slightly more impressed with him that I have been with Jay Cutler, and everybody knows how he performed last week. Sure, he had a decent season last year, but Phyllis has never really done anything, never really had a breakout year, and people are crazy about him. I somewhat understand the attraction from fantasy owners, he puts up decent numbers and is a young guy, and everybody loves "potential". What I don't understand is the everyday media who seems ready to appoint him the second coming of Joe Montana. The kid has never won anything of consequence and his first reaction to a bad performance or any kind of criticism by the media is to cry like a gigantic, hungry baby.

Anyway, onto the power rankings. Normally these will be more detailed than what follows. Remember, these have very little to do with your actual record or overall point total in our league. These are nothing more than my own personal opinion as to how "powerful" your team is, where your strengths may lie and what the weaknesses on your team are



1. Evil Midnight Bombers (1) – this was the only team I graded as A after our initial draft, and I still think they have the most powerful team in the league. They are strong at every position, maybe a little weak with their second wide receiver, but all of their players have the potential to score on any given week. Right now I think they will be the team that has the chance to separate themselves from the rest of the league

2. Team S (2) – they may not have performed particularly well in the first week, but they have AP and barring injury the guy might break a whole bunch of single-season records this year. If Pierre Thomas can get and stay healthy, they might wind up with the best running back duo in the league. Throw in Owens who has to score a fair number of points soon or later (barring the mental breakdown was usually doesn’t happen until his second season), Antonio Gates and the Steelers defense, and you have the potential for a lot of points. Obvious weak spot is the quarterback position

3. Team Eagles (3) – this one is a result of the performance one Mr. Drew Brees gave in the first week of the season combined with his overall schedule this year. Just like AP on the ground in Minnesota, Drew has the potential to break a lot of single-season records this year. Add to that the possibility of Darren Sproles becoming more or less of a starter in San Diego, and you already have a decent 1-2 punch. If Boldin can get his head on straight and stop talking about whatever “injury” he has from one week to the next, this team can certainly compete. Main weakness would be no solid second starter at either wide receiver or running back at this point in the season, although they do have a number of players who could emerge

4. MM of M (4) – the monkeys title is just too long for comfort, so they get an abbreviation. Despite that, they have what could turn out to be five of the strongest starters in the league with Gore, Addai, Benson, Calvin and Jason Witten. Right now the major flaw appears to be having banked on Carson Palmer being your main quarterback and now being stuck with Byron.

5. The Bloodsuckers (5) – big Brother Manning may not be the dominant force he once was in fantasy circles, but there are still not many quarterbacks who are going to outscore him this season. Plus, anytime you can put Randy Moss on the same team as big Brother Manning, you have the potential for a lot of points. Throw in Tony Gonzalez at tight end, and things are not looking too bad. Obviously points would be the running back where they don’t really have a legitimate number one starter.

6. Farva’s Shovelheads (6) – Rodgers to Jennings could be the battle cry for this team all season long. They also took a couple of risks at running back that might be paying off with Darren McFadden and Cadillac Williams. Their main weakness would be no solid option as a second wide receiver, and I’m not sure there is anyone ready to emerge into that role on their team right now.

7. Dreaded Mercenaries (7) – the success of this team might depend on the success of the Dallas Cowboys. Tony and Marion should be able to keep them in the hunt all season long. They have decent possibilities at wide receiver and my sleeper hit of the week in Chester Taylor, but St. Louis might compete with Detroit for worst team in the league this season, that’s not going to help Steven Jackson. They also have little to nothing in the Way of depth right now

8. Damages (8) – they have what could turn out to be the most dynamic wide receiving corps in the league with Fitzgerald, TJ Whoseyourmomma and Crayton. They have the consistent is not outstanding baby brother Manning at quarterback and a solid tight end and defense. The main question mark is running back. The potential is there, but a lot of things have to follow the place. This is a team I would my eye on.

9. Amateur Pharmacists (9) – this team has the possibility to explode on any given week. With Michael Turner, Ryan Grant, Colston and McClain threatening from the goal line, they are bound to have a couple of huge weeks. Main weakness is the quarterback position.

10. Legion of Doom (10) – a decent tandem with DeAngelo Williams at running back and Reggie Wayne at wide receiver. The main concerns for this team will be can Kurt Warner stay healthy and Will any of their rookie running backs emerge early enough to make a difference

11. Heavenly Rampagers (11) – there is the potential for this team to skyrocket up the charts. Ronnie Brown has shown the ability to score touchdowns and over 1000 yd., Will Miami allow that to happen? Everybody knows what Tom Brady can do, but his knee appears to still be bothering him. And, Percy Harvin could turn into a decent producer in his first year. White can certainly knock in touchdowns and Hightower is, for the time being, still the main guy in Arizona. If everything clicks, this team will be able to compete with anybody. If it doesn’t, they might wind up right around the spot in the power rankings at the end of the season

12. Mopar’s Marauders (12) – Thomas Jones is not going to score like he did last week every week, but then again Chris Johnson probably won’t be shut down every week like he was last week. The running backs will have to carry this team as there are significant questions at both quarterback and wide receiver

13. Team Falk (13) – this team is probably ranked too low as I look everything over, but it always takes a couple of weeks for everybody to fall into their proper place. Brett is going to get points in Minnesota, Roy Williams and Andre Johnson are great wide receivers, the question here is, is Tomlinson going to destroy this team?

14. Mr. Al Davis (14) – MoJo is going to score points, and Donald driver isn’t bad, but he’s hardly a number one receiver. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lewis winds up losing his job sometime this season, and while the rest of the receivers are decent, none of them are going to have huge seasons.the quarterback position should be consistent, but overall I think this team has some troubles ahead of them

15. Shelby Township (15) – Brandon Jacobs and Steve Slaton should manage to score some points, but after that there are huge questions at quarterback and wide receiver. The fate of this team might rest in the hands of the mentally unstable Branden Marshall

16. Gaul Village Asterix (16) – I know this team won their first game, and I may be completely wrong on this, but I think this team is in for trouble all season. I’m not sold on Philadelphia as a whole and I’m not sure Westbrook is going to be able to remain healthy. Kevin Smith might get points here and there, but he is on Detroit. And Edwards seems like he is trying to show that last year was for real and two years ago was the fluke, and not vice versa. I mean, Kyle Orton is the only quarterback on this team right now. That alone says trouble to me.

And there we have it, the first power rankings of the season! Overall, even though we have more teams this season, I think there is better balance overall from top to bottom and right now there isn’t anybody I would rule completely out. Good luck everybody!