Week 2 Recap: Top 5 Story Lines/Power Rankings

Top 5 Story Lines

1. He's back and he's better than ever. Kory came back from his 1 day suspension rejuvenated and got a HUGE 103-100 win over Dynasty Kings (Jimmy Graham disappointing big time in this one). This win could play a huge role in whether IDGT has a shot at the division this year, but it's going to be an uphill climb with DeMarco Murray and Drew Brees looking like busts.

2. 4 teams undefeated Machine Marshall 2-0, Super Manning 2-0, Red Rockets 1-0-1, and Purists 1-0-1. Do any of them have a shot at going the distance and keeping that 0 in the column in January? Definitely not. Unlike last year when IDGT went on a historic 10-0 run (before collapsing and going 1-3 to finish out the regular season), none of these teams have the fire power to do that. Machine Marshall and Purists are extremely long shots to even sniff the playoffs so we can rule them out. Red Rockets getting LBell back is big time and Feed Moncrief emerging has them looking strong again, however with no Dez this team isn't undefeated caliber. Super Manning, unless they get a time machine for Peyton, Forsett, and Andre then there's no shot for them either.

3. Winless: Miami Sharks, BSL, and Goonsquad all currently reside at 0-2, do any of them have a chance at salvaging this season? Let's first look at the two time champs now chumps, Miami Sharks. To be honest I feel like I have a solid plan to be back in the mix in 2016 and even to have a strong back half of 2015 but at 0-2 I'd say there's a .07% chance we can turn it around in time to make a playoff push. BSL, man it feels like Andrew should be 2-0 on the back of breakout performances from Hyde and ARob and be poised to get to the top of the power rankings. Unfortunately at 0-2 you could say this ultra talented squad is facing a must win against division rival Super Manning. I still believe in BSL regardless of what happens this week, with Machine Marshall, Miami Sharks, and Purists up after this one they could get things rolling real quick at 3-3 or 4-2. Goonsquad, Tick is in a similar situation to Andrew at really talented squad 0-2 facing division rival Red Rockets this week. The difference between Goonsquad and BSL is, if Goonsquad drops this game to go to 0-3 it's  almost game over close up shop for 2015 in my opinion.

4. It's like rain on your wedding day. So I'm down here in Wilmington to watch my ex business partner and mortal enemy marry my sister. It's an outside wedding and there's a 90% chance of rain in the forecast, which leaves me not sure what to root for. Do you root for the wedding to be a disaster for the laughs/karma or that it will be a success for your sister's happiness. I imagine this is a lot like how Purists and Red Rockets felt about their tie this week. For those of you that clamor for a tie breaker rule in regular season I know where you're coming from. A tie is the purgatory of feelings but let me just say I don't believe that any of us in the league are mentally stable enough to handle a loss because of our bench score or back up QB.

5. Things can change fast in this league, last year the Miami Sharks were 4-2 striving for a 3 peat but then in week 7 the bottom fell out when they scored just 38 points against eventual champion Scott's Tots. Now the Miami Sharks are no longer a powerhouse franchise but instead trying to quickly rebuild while spending their days reminiscing about 2012 and 2013.

Power Rankings

1. Scott's Tots (1-1)  Prv. # 1 - The Eddie Lacy injury hurt bad last week when they only needed 8 points to beat division rival Super Manning and advance to 2-0. However as long as Lacy gets back quick I don't see any reason to lower this team from #1 yet. 

2. Dynasty Kings (1-1)  Prv. #2 - Dang that Jimmy Graham. Dynasty Kings have scored 100+ in back to back weeks to open the year, and it looks like they may finally have a chance to live up to their name. 

3. CLO Collins (1-1)  Prv. #4 - Todd Gurley is coming. If Gurley can live up to half of the hype, CLO could start to be very dangerous again. Also with rookies Abdullah, Perriman, Aghlor and some picks, he has the ammunition to make a trade or two to get his team right for a run.

4. Red Rockets (1-0-1)  Prv. #7 - This team with Dez would argue for the #1 spot. Without him they are forced to start Watkins or Cooks opposite Feed Moncrief which is less than scary to opponents. Lev Bell and Gordon make up a fine 1-2 punch at tailback but this squad without Dez looks a notch below the big three of the league. However, John is known for making a move or three so I wouldn't be surprised to see this team climb to the top. 

5. Super Manning (2-0)  Prv. #6 - Say what you want, just like Peyton this team keeps finding a way to get it done. While the Peyton-DT combo isn't quite what it used to be and Andre Johnson may be literally dead, this team still has enough to challenge for a playoff spot. 

6. BSL (0-2)  Prv. #3 - While BSL could easily be 0-3 after this week (have terrible match ups), I'm still buying stock especially if I can get it discounted like Volkswagen. Their week 4-6 schedule is the cure to all that ails this BSL team. I've got confidence this team will be at .500 or better by Week 7 and then from there they could make something happen.

7. IDGT (1-1)  Prv. #5 - Impressive win this weekend, but this team looks like a house of cards and the DeMarco Murray card is just about to be pulled out. Without a dominant Murray these guys just seem like yesterday's news. 

8. Goonsquad (0-2)  Prv. #8 - You want to talk about a HUGE game for the franchise. Tick has gotta get this W over Red Rockets this week or this franchise may be doomed to a 3rd straight season of no playoffs. I think the Andrew Luck-TY Hilton combo plays to vintage form this week but will it be enough?

9. Purists (1-0-1)  Prv. #10 - Proving the doubters wrong even with Evans underachieving. I still think this team is a year or two away thanks to Benjamin. A running back breaking out and a move for a better WR2 could have me changing my tune though.

10. Carolina Lions (1-1)  Prv. #11 - The Lions went out and got themselves a franchise 3 down back in Jeremy Hill. They also made a nice move for JStew, if they can get the receivers right you never know with Luke this squad could come out of nowhere.

11. Machine Marshall (2-0)  Prv. #12 - This ugly squad won't be as ugly when Martavis Bryant comes back. However they need CJ Anderson to get back rolling (I think he does against Detroit this week).

12. Miami Sharks (0-2)  Prv. #9 - See Story Line #5. I ain't as good as I once was but I was good once as I ever was. Lamar Miller-CMike-McKinnon-Jeffery-Cooper-DGB-Funchess-Floyd is an interesting core but it'll be back half of 2015 before this team has any real bite to it. 

Week 1 Recap: Top 5 Story Lines/Power Rankings

Top 5 Story Lines

1. New Owner for IDGT. Unfortunately with Kory Adams about as interested in his team as Dylan Gibson is in getting a full time job (he started Justin Blackmon what choice did I have), we have made a move to replace him. The new owner, Matt Loftus, brings a combination of energy and hands on ownership that IDGT has never experienced. He takes over a team with championship aspirations after finishing one game short of being UDFL III champs. He also was able to cancel his DirecTV with a year remaining and avoid cancellation fees so his negotiating skills are top notch.

2. Scott's Tots and Dynasty Kings come out firing like 1A and 1B of the league. Tots picked up right where he left off, starting his title defense with a 139 outburst led by Julio Jones. Dynasty Kings' rebuild looks like it paid off in a big way as they finished 2nd in week 1 scoring with a 129 led by his boy DeAndre Hopkins. These two squads distanced themselves from the rest of the pack and should be at the top of the list of UDFFL BOWL IV title contenders.

3. The title game preview that wasn't. CLO and Red Rockets face off was a lot like Mayweather and Pacquiao, all hype and no substance. Red Rockets saw themselves win in a snoozer while CLO Collins is hearing whispers that his AD-Mega 3 consecutive playoff appearance run may be over. Of course you have to think Caleb may have already known this as he was proactive this offseason in acquiring young franchise corner stone Todd Gurley. The Rockets on the other hand would probably trade their 1-0 start for a healthy Dez. John Gallimore's super squad doesn't look nearly as scary as it once did with an injured Dez and an under performing Dez. Bottom line your AFL Division winner is probably one of these two squads but for now they look a step below the Tots and Kings of the league.

4. Watch out for BSL! It took a while for Andrew to turn around the mess that Austin Zente drafted but it looks like he may have finally done it. While he did take a loss week 1, Carlos Hyde looked like a flat out stud and that Kelce guy isn't half bad either. Hyde-Ingram-Cobb-JMatt-Kelce looks like a squad that's ready to challenge for a playoff spot and perhaps even the title. I'd really like to see them make a move for a big time flex play. Either way it looks like Andrew has finally made it to the light at the end of the tunnel.

5. Father Time 1 - Peyton Manning and Andre Johnson 0. It was almost sad watching Peyton last Sunday and it seems like the end of the line is coming for his time with both the Broncos and Super Manning. With an aging Peyton-Lynch-Forsett-Andre, Phil's championship window could be closing one year earlier than anticipated. It's a shame as Phil may have the best backfield he's ever had, just in time for Peyton and Andre to fall off a cliff.

Week 2 Power Rankings

1. Scott's Tots (1-0) - Win the title and then come out and score 139 points in the opener...yep seems like an easy call for #1. They're not quite as strong as they were last year without a healthy Nelson, but they look like they're going to be just fine.

2. Dynasty Kings (1-0) -  Rebuild to championship contender almost overnight. The Kings were wheeling and dealing this off season and look like they want to get what their brother has, an Ultimate Dynasty title. They have the team to do it if McCoy can get right.

3. BSL (0-1) - I'm drinking the BSL kool-aid. See Story Line 3 for why, but seriously this team looks ready to make a run. 

4. CLO (0-1) - Mega and AD have to bounce back, don't they? The two hall of famers' seasons will directly correlate with how much success CLO experiences. My guess they can pull it together enough for CLO to make one more run. 

5. IDGT (0-1) - Loftus takes over a roster with plenty of talent, if he can make a move or two to improve the WR2 situation then watch out. 

6. Super Manning (1-0) - Obviously really needs Peyton and DT to get right but I love the Lynch-Ivory duo in a league where a solid halfback is worth their weight in gold. 

7. Red Rockets (1-0) - Boy this team sure looks a lot different without Dez in the line up. I also don't know if Melvin Gordon is going to be ready to be anything more than a low end HB2 this year. The good news is LBell-MGordon

8. Goonsquad (0-1) - Luck-Foster-Hilton-Maclin-Sanders will eventually be a sick line up, Tick just has to stay competitive during Foster and Hilton's injuries and he could make some noise in a more vulnerable than expected AFL.

9. Miami Sharks (0-1) - A poor showing for the once proud Miami Sharks in week 1, however I still think this team has potential to get things turned around quickly. Jeremy Hill-Alshon Jeffery-Amari Cooper give them a trio of studs to build around. While the bench is stocked with players like Brandon Coleman, Christine Michael, Buck Allen, and Jerick McKinnon who could emerge and propel the Sharks from the basement back to competitiveness. 

10. Purists (1-0) - This squad with a healthy Benjamin would have had a chance to make some noise. Unfortunately without him it's Mike Evans and a trio of low-mid HB2's that he's hoping at least one will emerge to HB1 status. 

11. Lions (0-1) - All the depth but lacking star power with Lamar Miller as their #1 player by a good margin. The Lions have made it to the title game with worse rosters than this though so never sleep on Luke Zente, especially if he could trade some of this depth for an impact player.

12. Machine Marshall (1-0) - Don't let the win fool you, this franchise is in a terrible spot if CJ Anderson doesn't end up being the HB1 many hoped he would. Aside from Anderson, Alfred Morris-Martavis Bryant, and Keenan Allen may be the only pieces on the whole squad who hold any real solid dynasty value. Boles needs to be on his knees praying for Anderson every night.