2014 Training Camp Power Rankings
1. CLO Collins - Rodgers/Peterson/Charles/Mega/Cruz/Graham...After two straight 1st round playoff exits, CLO is bringing a star studded line up into 2014 with hopes of finally breaking through and making his first Ultimate Dynasty Bowl.
PROS: Can't do much better than his starters at QB, HB1, HB2, WR1, WR2, TE1. Those are the types of players that can win weeks on their own...and they're all on one team.
CONS: Flex position is a bit of a mystery with 2013 underachievers Ray Rice and Trent Richardson vying for opportunities, along with an aging Frank Gore. Depth is just decent with the same previously noted three backing up his backs, and Watkins and Amendola backing up his receivers. While Watkins projects to be a star it'd be absurd to think he'd be anything more than a WR3 in Buffalo's run first offense his rookie year.
VERDICT: CLO is a mortal lock to make his third trip to the postseason and as of today he's the early favorite to be Ultimate Dynasty Bowl bound.
2. Miami Sharks - The Sharks are coming off two straight Ultimate Dynasty Bowl titles and after an offseason of wheeling and dealing they bring a squad to the table that has the fire power to bring home a third title.
PROS: McCoy/Lynch/Dez/Jeffery are a sick big four that can go toe to toe with any team's top four in the league. They possess the back ups to both star runners (one being ultra talented) which helps cover them if injury strikes. Lamar Miller, Justin Hunter, Bryce Brown, and Latavius Murray have the talent to emerge and potentially add another stud or two to the Sharks' line up.
CONS: Lack a TE1, and while I believe my plan to stream tight ends will work it still carries with it a lot of risk and is a far cry from having Jimmy's consistent production the past two years. While there's a lot of potential on the bench lack proven back ups.
VERDICT: The Sharks should be able to punch a third straight playoff ticket, the question is will they be Ultimate Dynasty Bowl bound yet again? Right now I think a Sharks VS CLO, Ultimate Dynasty Bowl III could be on the horizon come December.
3. Scott's Tots - Debated placing them ahead of the Sharks, but unlike a year ago the Tots badly lack depth or any potential break out guys (not a fan of Devonta Freeman). The starters are top notch and that's why they are ranked as a top 3 Ultimate Dynasty franchise as they look to build upon their success in 2013.
PROS: Forte/Lacy/Julio/Nelson/Cameron. That's a championship caliber squad right there. Knile Davis is a talented back up and should something happen to Charles he'd make a strong flex play.
CONS: The bench for lack of a better word is just gross (and not in a good way). The only guys barring injuries you may be able to plug into the starting line up are D.Freeman and Cotchery...
VERDICT: After a miserable 2012, the Tots managed to finish with the best record in the league in 2013. In 2014, I see the Tots as the heavy favorite to win the UFL and be back in the playoff mix, and if everyone stays healthy they have a shot at the title.
4. Red Rockets - If Gordon gets a light suspension or anything less than a season, then this team can be scary good. Even without him they are looking strong enough to give CLO a run for the AFL, and to even make a run for the Ultimate Dynasty Bowl championship.
PROS: Solid or above player at every position, potential to have a dominate running back core. Nice receiver depth with Torrey Smith, Maclin, and Britt waiting in the wings.
CONS: Good solid trio of backs, but after that there are only two other backs on the roster and you'd be crazy to expect either of them to see more than 3-5 touches a game barring injuries in front of them. Add in the fact Foster is already dealing with some hamstring issues and Ball is unproven if they don't catch the right breaks they could get real desperate at running back in a hurry (you could say that for the majority of teams in the league however)
VERDICT: This squad reminds me so much of the 2013 Tots it's unreal. So many above average players but lacking the big names that really jump off the page at you, but it doesn't matter if his runningback core stay healthy the Red Rockets are going to be a force to be reckon with.
5. Kory Adams - Brees/Murray/AJG/Gronk...If Gronk and Murray are healthy and can stay healthy this is a team that could go from being above average to one of the elites in a hurry. This is the last team that I think you can look at on paper and think he has a real good shot at a title.
PROS: Brees, AJG, Gronk, and even Murray all have shots at being the number one or at least top three players at their position. If that happens Kory Adams is going to be tough to beat.
CONS: If Murray goes down and Ellington doesn't live up to all the hype, his runningback situation could get really ugly really quick. Lacks high upside bench players, and what I mean by that there is no one on his bench that has real break out potential that could impact his team (SJAX, Wayne, Stewart, Bradshaw are all vastly declining assets), (Cooper, the Jones, Edelman are not exciting at all).
VERDICT: This team will live and die with Gronk and Murray, one of the few teams that I could see being a top three team or a bottom three team. You'd be crazy to bet on Gronk and Murray playing 16 games (maybe even combined) so I'll say Kory needs a great string of health to punch his first playoff ticket.
6. Goonsquad - These guys are the last team I'll give a real outside shot at the title too. I won't list them as official contenders, but they are a team that with some breaks could find their way to a title. Spiller would have to ball out as well as Tate but it could happen.
PROS: Possess two halfbacks that at worst are HB2's and at best could be HB1's, especially Spiller. Deep at receiver with Roddy in for a bounce back year. Great young QB-TE combo.
CONS: Lack a WR1. Spiller and Tate have their share of injury problems and both have talented back ups eating away at their touches.
VERDICT: Goonsquad needs Spiller and Tate to hit big, but at the end of the day you definitely have to say the GS has a shot at the title which at this time of year that's all you can really want.
7. Super Manning - 2013 was their year. I don't care what you say the stars were aligned (Peyton record breaking, DT, Andre killing, and actually a good year from Mathews). There is no way this team is better in 2014 than they were in 2013, I just can't see it without making some moves. They will still be solid especially if Gerhart can be a HB2 for them and will be one of the teams in the mix to make the postseason.
PROS: Peyton-DT can win weeks by themselves. Gerhart may finally bring some stability to Super Manning's backfield. A lot of receiver depth.
CONS: Lack a HB1. Peyton and Andre seem like they can only go down from their 2014 campaigns due to age and standard regression.
VERDICT: Fringe playoff contender, but I have trouble buying in as Peyton won't be as good as last year. I think you'll find this team in the mix into the final weeks, but once again a post season ticket will escape the Super Manning's grasp.
8. BSL - If Terrence West or Carlos Hyde hit a year early this team could surprise. Allen, Patterson, Garcon, Cobb is a great receiver core, Morris is a low end HB1, they are solid at tight end, they just need that second runner. This team is built better for the future than they are now, but they can be competitive in 2014.
PROS: Nice receiving corps. Plenty of potential break out players (hello Ladarius Green). Possess a HB1 in Morris.
CONS: Too young, there are so many players on this roster that have bright futures that just probably won't be big impact guys in 2014 (Hyde, Matthews, Beckham, Lattimer, etc)
VERDICT: A year from now they could be boasting Hyde as their HB1, West as their HB2, and Morris as their HB3 and could be a top 3-4 team in the league going into 2015. Playoff appearances and title runs are in BSL's future, it's just most likely not in 2014.
9. Carolina Lions - Coming off back to back improbable Ultimate Dynasty Bowl appearances, the Lions find themselves in a familiar spot, near the bottom of the preseason power rankings. The Lions are never ranked high on paper, but they are 2 for 2 on proving everyone wrong and while I'd be more shocked than ever before, Luke has proved time and time again you can never count him out.
PROS: Deep at halfback which is what it takes a lot of the times to make a playoff run. Have Steve Smith which is fun.
CONS: No legitimate HB1 or WR1. Stacy is way more HB2 than HB1 and DJAX is a volatile WR2. So while they have halfback depth it is full of HB2's and 3's. No legitimate TE option, will be forced to stream them.
VERDICT: Third straight Ultimate Dynasty Bowl appearance, because I'm tired of guessing wrong on them. You'll see them late in December, it'll happen no rhyme or reason, just will.
10. Ohhh Kill 'Em - They are kind of like the Super Mannings, in that 2013 was really their shot. I can't see this team being a real threat for the playoffs this year like they were last season, I just can't.
PROS: Two volatile HB2's that can both go off and have OK compete with just about anyone. Marshall is a rock solid WR1.
CONS: Two volatile HB2's that can both no show and don't get goaline carries and could cause them to lost to just about anyone. Welker and Nicks are big time question marks behind Marshall.
VERDICT: Will have some big time point outbursts, but at the end of the day I think this is a 5-6 win team, if Brady bounces back.
11. Dynasty Kings - Have a handful of players that can put up some average to slightly above average weeks for him. There's no secret about it the Kings are all in on the rich 2015 draft and will have no shot at competing in 2014.
PROS: Gio Bernard is electric and probably a top end HB2. K.Robinson and D.Williams are at least startable halfbacks.
CONS: Will be the underdog in almost every match up this year. Barely have some middle to low end WR2's.
VERDICT: 2015 draft will be a lot of fun and could build a dynasty via that draft.
12. Purists - Outside of Newton, Martin, and maybe Bishop there are not a lot of 2014 producers on this team. The good news is this team should have one sick WR core in the future (Evans, Cooks, Benjamin, Lee) and pair of TE's (Ebron and ASJ).
PROS: Potentially top 5 running back on his squad. Newton can put up monster fantasy games at times.
CONS: A lot of his players will not be ready to put up consistent solid points until 2015. This team does have a bright future however especially if Martin bounces back. Could see a Hatfield brother Ultimate Dynasty Bowl V or VI in the future.
