2020 Pre-Season Power Ranks
I reached out to all the primary owners and invited them submit power rankings by today (8/31). I received them from 8 owners and ESPN. Commentary is brought to you by Marino and Chris because I didn’t ask anyone to write it, but they supplied it anyway. The rest of the rankers were Troy, Abaum, Falcone, Ian, BPou, and Billy.
12 — Steve Calhoun (11.4 avg rank, Best — 10, Worst — 12)
Chris Black (ranked 12) — I ran out of time at work to write a big review on him. Fitting. His team finally ran out of time on trying to be anything but the #1 pick next year. Easy setting a lineup to lose.
Marino (ranked 11) — He’s in rebuild mode and drafting the division of death helps. And if he decides to do this thing called trade, I think he has a couple valuable players in OBJ/Andrews/Green(if healthy) who could all yield a solid return.
11 — Andrew Bartell (11.3 avg rank, Best — 10, Worst — 12)
Marino (ranked 12) — As Hallahan said in bold predictions, a roster having 11 rookies isn’t great. But the team is firmly in the rebuild stage and guys like Ridley/Slayton are good young WR and Dobbins has a bright future in Bal and would need to, or else he may regret trading his 2021 1st which may end up 1.01.
Chris Black (ranked 10) — You know that GIF of the lady that drinks the soda and says “hmm okay, no, okay”. That’s what happens when you look at this roster- Okay Watson, Michel, Ridley… then you sour quick when you see the rest. Please don’t write a google review about this rank.
10 — Ian Crosby (9.2 avg rank, Best — 8, Worst — 11)
Chris Black (ranked 9) — It’s gotta suck to have the power to draft your division and then draft 2 teams that are going to take away your opportunity to be in the playoffs. But it is what it is. Will be a stronger team but not have the wins or points to make the playoffs.
Marino (ranked 9) — Another team looking to come out of a rebuild and on the rise. A RB duo of Henry and Taylor put them in good position for the future. A lot of WRs with promise but need to take the next step for this team to take the next step.
9 — Dan Marino (8.7 avg rank, Best — 7, Worst — 11)
Marino (ranked 10) — Top 10! Clearly this team is in rebuild mode and I’m trying to be unbiased but I think this season’s outlook is better than the 2 below me. Swift/Akers are both entering situations where they can/should be the top RB to add to Sanders’ RB1 potential. Team really needs Williams and Metcalf to take the next step to further the rebuild along. I think Hockenson has a top 6 TE season. And having Mahomes isn’t a bad thing.
Chris Black (ranked 11) — It wasn’t Kanye’s year and it won’t be Dan’s year either. From hating all the beloved local sports teams to getting boom/bust production from players throughout the weeks while Mahomes tries to keep him relevant. But in the Meh division, him and Head/Frank will battle out one of the bottom spots.
8 — Nicholas Sarlo IV (8.7 avg rank, Best — 7, Worst — 10)
Chris Black (ranked 7) — This is their year! The has-beens are relevant again in their break out year 6! Sarlo/Hark battle Black for the top seed in their division. Obviously they don’t win the division, but make the playoffs thanks to the UWC. And to take it from Hallhan/Scott. The long con is paying off.
Marino (ranked 8) — Offseason was not kind to their roster as Brown/Mack/Johnson/Samuel and more all saw better players brought in at their position. I think Campbell and Jonnu make big steps forward this year and Mixon will benefit from an improved offense as well and be a top 7 RB. May finally be able to sneak into the playoffs given their division despite their best efforts.
7 — Michael Altbaum (6.7 avg rank, Best — 5, Worst — 10)
Marino (ranked 7) — Mike was really close for the 6 spot. CHH/Jacobs/Sutton/Moore are a great young core and the addition of Diggs makes that WR group very solid with Aiyuk/Ruggs. Questions at TE/QB and RB depth could hold him back this year but future looks bright. With 3 firsts in 2021 he could choose to speed up the process as well with some in season trades.
Chris Black (ranked 5th) — Mike and Billy are going to battle for their division. I just think Billy pushes ahead. This division is sending 2 strong teams into the playoffs, one makes it to the finals Billy or Mike.
6 — Chris Black (6.1 avg rank, Best — 3, Worst 8)
Chris Black (ranked 3rd) — This team is old. They fell off per reports years ago, but here they are. Still winning the hearts of players and fans. Will he win? No. Will he make the playoffs? Yes. Will he overperform but underachieve? Probably.
Marino (ranked 6th) — Really close between him and Abaum for me. But I give Chris the slight edge due to division and with more proven players to start the year. A lot of players in new situations this year should be interesting him.
5 — Brett Poulton (5.1 avg rank, Best — 4, Worst — 8)
Marino (ranked 5) — Not going to get much better than Barkley and Kamara at RB with Carson/Ingram to back them up. Hurst I think breaks out this year. Problem with this team is at WR, Chark broke out last year but him/Boyd/Hilton/Jones aren’t on the same level as the 4 teams above him.
Chris Black (ranked 8th) — The lineup is half good, half bad. That’s gonna leave you in the bottom half of your division and telling us something about how it’s better you miss the playoffs to make your team stronger and you won a mug before the endless year of COVID-19
4 — David Hallahan (4 avg rank, Best — 3, Worst — 6)
Chris Black (ranked 6th) — Lamar, Thielen (take 2), and Godwin can only keep you afloat in the division of death. They would make it in as 6th seed, if not for the UWC knocking them out of the playoff spot.
Marino (ranked 3rd) — Preseason #3 and true championship contender, but things either break really well or really bad for them, Conner, Thielen, Fuller, JuJu all expected to be important parts but have to battle back form injury/down years. If not I could see Billy sneaking past him. But could very well still be LamarSZN.
3 — William Davis (3.6 avg rank, Best — 2, Worst — 5)
Marino (ranked 4th) — The best of the rest in my eyes. Where they could see path into the top 3 by years end. While their starters may not be as good as the top 3, they have depth and a lot of upside on the roster that they could use to trade for a big piece if needed to make a push.
Chris Black (ranked 4th) — Time to spread your wings and fly little buddy. Winner of your division and a force in the playoffs. Billy/Ryan’s team has arrived. Could use one of the rookie RBs (Dillon or Gibson) to give you a boost.
2 — David Falcone (2.1 avg rank, Best — 2, Worst — 1)
Chris Black (ranked 2nd) — Remember when this team was good? They still are. But it isn’t from those big name guys, some bench players are going to step up into more prominent roles and keep this team in the top tier
Marino (ranked 2nd) — Falcone has the better depth and slightly better starters entering the season, gives them the slight edge over Hallederer. If Gurley and Newton can stay healthy and be re-energized on new teams he can get his 2nd mug.
1 — Troybert Altbaum (1 avg rank, Best — 1, Worst — 1)
Marino (ranked 1) — Reigning champ and with all his starters returning, albeit shallow bench, trading for his RB3 in RoJo and a future first for what could be his WR5/6 in Diggs was a good for him. Until proven otherwise he’s the #1.
Chris Black (ranked 1) — This is the last year floating at the top, then we’ll see a drop off and a team that’s desperate for picks and young players. Enjoy this last ride as you beat up in the division of death pal.
Curious how we got here? Here’s the rankings I compiled…
