Now that we are well into the preseason, I thought this would be a good time for an update on the FFPC $1,250 Dynasty League. Although there were 31 trades made during the startup draft, no trades have yet been made since, which is not totally unexpected this soon after a high stakes startup. I know I have been more cautious and have spent more time analyzing trade proposals than I normally would as the implications for each trade are greater here. Also, most of the league members are gearing up for the high stakes redraft season, so their focus is elsewhere.

As requested by a reader, I put together my overall assessment and 2010 power rankings for each team in this league. Lots can happen during the season so I highly doubt the year will actually shake out this way. Also, there really aren’t any bad teams for 2010 (well, with the exception of my own) which added to the difficulty of picking out 6 teams to miss the playoffs. Still, I had to rank some combination of teams in the bottom 6 (and the top 6), so here’s my best shot at it.

An asterisk denotes that I own that team’s 2011 first round pick.


Team 1 – Gates of Wrath (formerly Sour Gates)*:

Projected lineup:

QB: Drew Brees
RB: Adrian Peterson
RB: Jerome Harrison
WR: Hines Ward
WR: Derrick Mason
TE: Antonio Gates
Flex: Tony Gonzalez
Flex: Chris Chambers

Key Supporting Cast: Fred Jackson, Darren Sproles, Thomas Jones,

Overall Assessment: This team is extremely top heavy with Adrian Peterson, Drew Brees and Antonio Gates as the team leaders, possibly the best top 3 out of any team in this league. The rest of the lineup could be decent to very good in 2010, so this team’s 2010 prospects are bright, but I am more interested in how this team manages its challenges come 2011 when key players like Derrick Mason, Tony Gonzalez and maybe even Hines Ward retire. Actually, thats not true, I am more interested in how this team will do in 2010 since I have their first rounder. This team is taking a big gamble on the old guys (given that this is a dynasty league), but that gamble could well payoff with a nice payday in 2010.

2010 Power Ranking: #5 out of 12 and projected wildcard team.


Team 2 – Fitz Of Fury*:

Projected Lineup:

QB: Jay Cutler
RB: Shonn Greene
RB: Pierre Thomas
WR: Larry Fitzgerald
WR: Anquan Boldin
TE: John Carlson
Flex: Hakeem Nicks
Flex: Ahmad Bradshaw

Key Supporting Cast: Michael Bush, Robert Meachem, Santana Moss, Lance Moore, Jimmy Graham, Jeremy Shockey, Carson Palmer

Overall Assessment: Based on the eyeball test, I really like this dynasty team. This team could be good for years to come and has my guys, Fitz and Nicks. The WRs in particular are very strong with Nicks as the WR3 (and Santana Moss on the bench as the WR4), and the RBs are no slouches either. Michael Bush as the RB4 is really good depth. Interestingly though, when I run the numbers, this team is coming up short of the playoffs (probably due in most part to the team’s weakness at TE). I wouldn’t be surprised in this case though if those projections end up being way off because the team just looks like a winner to me.

2010 Power Ranking: #7 out of 12 and in contention for a wildcard berth.


Team 3 – Air Coryell

Projected Lineup:

QB: Eli Manning
RB: Joseph Addai
RB: Marion Barber
WR: Andre Johnson
WR: Miles Austin
Flex: Marques Colston
Flex: Michael Crabtree
TE: Owen Daniels

Key Supporting Cast: Steve Slaton, Brandon Jacobs, Matt Cassel, Brandon Pettigrew, Laurence Maroney

Overall Assessment: This lineup looks awesome for 2010. The WRs should remain excellent in 2011 and beyond, but the RBs will be hurting after 2010. Still, the team can be no worse than average in 2011 and will probably be above average (although 2010 is this team’s peak year). This year’s fortunes could turn on the health of Owen Daniels. If he is solid, this team has no weaknesses in 2010.

2010 Power Ranking: #3 out of 12, playoff team just missing out on a bye and a title contender.


Team 4 – Run Forest Run*:

QB: Peyton Manning
RB: Steven Jackson
RB: Frank Gore
WR: Mike Williams (TB)
WR: Donald Driver
TE: Heath Miller
Flex: Ryan Mathews
Flex: Devin Aromashodu

Key Supporting Cast: Kevin Kolb, Dexter McCluster, Jermaine Gresham, Ladanian Tomlinson

Overall Assessment: This team made some bold moves, the first being taking Ryan Mathews at 1.11. After what we’ve seen from him in the pre-season, I’d say that early pick is looking pretty good as he should be a featured back for a long time. This team boasts the best running back trio in the league (or second best next to The Best of The Best - see below). Kevin Kolb was an interesting pick at 5.11 given that this team already had Peyton Manning, a sign that this team was thinking long term value. Kolb could be a very nice dynasty player and if he does well out of the gate, it could allow this owner to shop Manning or Kolb around to shore up a weak area. Obvious weakness of the team is at WR, where it looks like Donald Driver will be the WR1. Mike Williams could turn out to be a very nice pick at WR at the end of the day (especially at this time next year), so this WR situation is very likely to improve in 2011. I like this team for dynasty (especially the top 4 – getting Steven Jackson at 3.12 was ridiculous), although 2010 could be challenging.

2010 Power Ranking: #11 out of 12 (this was a really tough call, but the RBs just weren’t enough to make up for the youth movement at WR. Too many “win now” teams in this league to compete against.).


Team 5 – Marshall Law

QB: Tony Romo
RB: Ray Rice
RB: Jamaal Charles
WR: Brandon Marshall
WR: Steve Smith (NYG)
TE: Visanthe Shiancoe
Flex: Justin Forsett
Flex: Darren McFadden

Key Supporting Cast: Matthew Stafford, Steve Breaston, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Laurent Robinson, Ben Tate

Overall Assessment: A very good team here, both in the short and long term. Tough break on Ben Tate, though. The 2010 lineup is very solid and starting off with a trio of Ray Rice, Brandon Marshall and Jamaal Charles is right up there with the Oldies But Goodies team. Forsett at 9.01 is now looking like a pretty good value (I thought it was a bit early at the time of the draft). Then again, Ben Tate at 6.08 could stunt the growth of this team. This team is very young for the most part so they are looking like a perennial playoff team.

2010 Power Ranking: #4 out of 12 and a projected wildcard team.

Team 5 – Numero Uno

QB: Matt Schaub
RB: LeSean McCoy
RB: Felix Jones
WR: Greg Jennings
WR: Reggie Wayne
TE: Jason Witten
Flex: Steve Smith (CAR)
Flex: Chad Ochocinco

Key Supporting Cast: Ricky Williams, Reggie Bush, Donald Brown, Chester Taylor, Nate Burleson, Devin Thomas, Brett Favre

Overall Assessment: The name says it all. This team has a powerful lineup and a ridiculously deep bench. Its weakness is at RB, but with so many viable RBs on the team, it is likely that this team will have 2 good options to start week in and week out. This team has a few players whose value is already in decline (Wayne, Smith and Ocho), but the team’s depth (Donald Brown) and young starters (Felix and McCoy) will keep this team in contention for at least a few years. If I had to pick a team to own other than my own, I would probably go with this one.

2010 Power Ranking: #1 out of 12, bye team and preseason favorite to win it all.

Team 7 – Numero Dos

QB: Philip Rivers
RB: Maurice Jones-Drew
RB: Michael Turner
WR: Randy Moss
WR: Wes Welker
TE: Brent Celek
Flex: Chris Cooley
Flex: Kellen Winslow

Key Supporting Cast: Clinton Portis, Carnell Williams, Tashard Choice, Fred Davis, Eddie Royal, Julian Edelman

Overall Assessment: That lineup is deadly (remember, TEs get 1.5 PPR). If Numero Uno didn’t already call dibs on the name, this team would have it. Dos has Uno beat on projected starting lineup alone, but Uno is so ridiculously deep on the bench that I think that will ultimately win the day. Now can you see why I traded Uno’s and Dos’ 2011 1sts (and an 11th round startup pick) for Demaryius Thomas? These two teams are ridiculous. I would be a bit concerned about the future for this team with aging vets like Randy Moss, Michael Turner, Kellen Winslow and even Wes Welker, but 2010 is looking VERY good. I like the fact that this team has Eddie Royal and Fred Davis ready to step in to fill in the holes left by some of the aging vets, but this team will still be on the decline after 2010 (although, thats not saying a whole lot given how high this team will likely start).

2010 Power Ranking: #2 out of 12 and bye team.

Team 8 – Heap of Trouble*

QB: David Garrard (are you kidding me?)
RB: Rashard Mendenhall
RB: Jonathan Stewart
WR: Lee Evans
WR: Dwayne Bowe
TE: Todd Heap
Flex: CJ Spiller
Flex: Braylon Edwards

Key Supporting Cast: Vincent Jackson, Demaryius Thomas, Kenny Britt, Donnie Avery, Jared Cook

Overall Assessment: This team (my team) has very little to no chance of making a splash in 2010 (unless VJax comes back, Deangelo goes down, Spiller lights the league on fire, etc.), but as you know, I LOVE its chances in 2011 and beyond. CJ Spiller could be a franchise-altering pick at 4.11 if that run against the Colts is any indication. Hopefully, Vincent Jackson will sign on with a team in 2010 so that I can score enough points for the 1.1. The rules here slot the 1.1-1.3 using the three worst teams by victory points, but the order of the three is by most points scored with the team scoring the most taking the 1.1 (and the team scoring the least points taking the 1.3). In other words, I need enough points scored to beat the other two worst teams for the 1.1 (not likely).

2010 Power Ranking: #12 out of 12 and the 1.03 pick next year.

Team 9 – Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood*

QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Cedric Benson
RB: Ronnie Brown
WR: Percy Harvin
WR: Pierre Garcon
TE: Jermichael Finley
Flex: Vernon Davis
Flex: Devin Hester

Key Supporting Cast: Tim Hightower, Willis McGahee, Jerricho Cotchery, Mark Sanchez

Overall Assessment: The more I look at this team, the more I like it. I am surprised that this team didn’t pencil out higher in my projections than it did (better check those projections). Like Fitz’s Fury, I have a feeling this team will surprise. Finley is going to be a monster, and while I wasn’t a fan of taking Rodgers at the 1.05 instead of Andre Johnson, he is most certainly the #1 QB in the game and will give this team a big edge week to week (and year to year) at that position. This team will need Harvin and Garcon to shine in order to get into the playoffs. For now, I’m sticking with the projections for this team that I initially came up with during the startup draft, but as with Fitz’s fury, this team just has the look of a winner.

2010 Power Ranking: #8 out of 12, but in contention for the last wildcard spot.

Team 10 – Best Of The Best

QB: Matt Ryan
RB: Chris Johnson
RB: Jahvid Best
WR: Johnny Knox
WR: Mike Sims Walker
TE: Tony Scheffler
Flex: Jeremy Maclin
Flex: Deangelo Williams

Key Supporting Cast: Sidney Rice, Greg Olsen, Donovan McNabb, Mike Thomas, Arrelious Benn

Overall Assessment: Not only does this team boast having the best player in the league in Chris Johnson, but it also boasts having the best player named “Best”, earning this team its name. Really good team here, both in 2010 and going forward. This is one of the few teams in the league that will likely be stronger in 2011 than it is in 2010. This team also has two 2011 first rounders (Uno and Dos), although not its own pick. This team has a weakness at TE and Sidney Rice is out for half the season which has to hurt, but still, this team should be a playoff contender. I had this team ranked higher before the news of Sidney Rice’s surgery.

2010 Power Ranking: #6 out of 12 and a wildcard team, barely.

Team 11 – The Calvinators

QB: Joe Flacco
RB: Chris Wells
RB: Matt Forte
WR: Calvin Johnson
WR: Roddy White
TE: Zach Miller
Flex: Terrell Owens
Flex: Knowshon Moreno

Key Supporting Cast: Santonio Holmes, Mohamed Massaquoi, James Jones, Dustin Keller, Chad Henne

Overall Assessment: Solid team with a nice long term future. I may be unduly influenced by that Forte 89 yard run in the preseason, but this team looks a whole lot better to me right now than it did right after the draft. The bench looks pretty good as well. If Knowshon Moreno bounces back from the hammy ok, this team just might squeak into the playoffs this year. Next year, it will coast into the playoffs as this team will only get better. I know, its preseason football, but Calvin Johnson (my second favorite player in the game behind Fitz) looks like he’ll put up huge numbers this year.

2010 Power Ranking: #9 out of 12 (I really wanted to rank this team higher given all the talent on this team, but there are a lot of good teams in this league for 2010). Just looking at the players in the starting lineup, I would’ve guessed this would be a top 5 team in most leagues.

Team 12 – Brady’s Bunch*

QB: Tom Brady
RB: Ryan Grant
RB: Arian Foster
WR: Desean Jackson
WR: Mike Wallace
TE: Dallas Clark
Flex: Malcom Floyd
Flex: Dez Bryant

Key Supporting Cast: Montario Hardesty, Ben Roethlisberger, Jabar Gaffney, Golden Tate, Aaron Hernandez

Overall Assessment: This is the team I could be most wrong about, because it does have the potential of making it big in 2010 (and I could totally see how that could happen with the talent on this team). Coming out of the draft, I just wasn’t feeling Arian Foster as a legitimate starting RB, but apparently he is (if he can keep from fumbling the job away that is). Tough break on Dez Bryant, but he’ll be back by week 1 if not sooner, and he is a MEGA stud. I like this team’s future - this is a quality dynasty team. It also owns Air Coryell’s and Marshall’s Madness’ 2011 firsts (but not its own – since I own that one), further adding to this team’s dynasty coffers.

2010 Power Ranking: This is probably wishful thinking, but I have this team down for #10 out of 12 and likely the 1.1 for 2011 (as the highest scoring team among the bottom 3 teams). Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if this team squeaks into the playoffs.

Pick Outlook:
Based on my Power Rankings, I own the 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th best teams’ 2011 first rounders. If it really does play out that way (which of course is highly unlikely), my team should be sitting pretty in 2011 with the 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.8. That would be insane!!! The team name Heap of Trouble could take on a whole different meaning come 2011. Is this just all wishful thinking? Am I just way off on these rankings?