2018 Power Rankings (Week 2)

Who's dishing out the fantasy points?

Hello everyone! Welcome to the second week of our 2018 Power Rankings. Feel free to skip to the rankings but in case you are curious, here's how the scoring works...

Each team was ranked in six categories for the week:
-Total fantasy points scored.
-Fantasy points averaged per game by starters.
-Total amount of points produced by the bench.
-Games missed due to inactivity (doubled for starters).
-Fantasy points per game gained or lost through transactions (using last 30 averages)
-The standings.

Then, each team was given points depending on where they were in the rankings. The better a team performed in the rankings, the less points I gave them.

I doubled the scores in the weekly total and per game average as a final touch because this game is ultimately about scoring fantasy points.

From there, I totaled each team's score across the six categories and used those final scores to sort my power rankings. 52 points would be average with the lower scores being above average.

I also added everyone's running season average (and ranking) beneath their week's score this week. Just another way to consider how things are shaking out.

Here are my results:

12. TimAin't Duncan - Nick (0-2)

Week Total: 659 points (12th)

Per Game: 22.7 ppg (11th)

Bench Scoring: 225 points (4th)

Missed Games: 14 games (3rd)

Transactions: 0 ppg (9th)

Standings: (9th)

Week 2 Total: 71
Season Average: 57.5 (8th)

 

Dropping six spots to the bottom after a big loss at the hands of Freddy, Nick's team lands here for the usual reasons: a poor week total at a poor per game average. The high rate of missed games and the strong output by the bench may be distracting but the starters simply did not bring it this week. Overall, it was a disappointing outing after a promising opening week.

11. MAMA said Knock u out - Rich (0-2)

Week Total: 701 points (11th)

Per Game: 21.2 ppg (12th)

Bench Scoring: 126 points (11th)

Missed Games: 17 games (1st)

Transactions: +20.9 ppg (4th)

Standings: (9th)

Week 2 Total: 71

Season Average: 73 (12th)

Up a spot from last week despite a large loss to Tyler's squad. It almost feels too forgiving to put Rich's team here considering the poor rankings in the first three categories but the positives are worth noting. Bottom line though, the missed games are painful and the waiver acquisitions are nice but this team needs a lot more fantasy points if it wants to contend.

10. Balls to the Wall - Brett (0-2)

Week Total: 807 points (8th)

Per Game: 26 ppg (6th)

Bench Scoring: 180 points (10th)

Missed Games: 5 games (12th)

Transactions: +23.5 ppg (3rd)

Standings: (9th)

Week 2 Total: 62

Season Average: 63.5 (11th)

After a close loss to Nate and a big trade with Tyler, Brett actually landed in the same spot as last week. The weekly total was modest but the per game average was actually pretty good. The bench wasn't great but Brett actually added fantasy points through transactions this week, not through his trade but through replacing his second round picks with quality guys. A mixed bag overall.

9. RIM JOBS - Alex (2-0)

Week Total: 741 points (9th)

Per Game: 23.9 ppg (10th)

Bench Scoring: 197 points (8th)

Missed Games: 13 games (5th)

Transactions: 0 ppg (9th)

Standings: (1st)

Week 2 Total: 61

Season Average: 58 (9th)

Slipping a spot from last week despite beating the team that jump above him, this is one of those rankings that look hard to justify at first glace. However, when taking a closer look at the numbers I can see the general lack of point production across the board, regardless of what the win column says. Alex's squad is definitely in the playoff hunt but, right now, it's looking like a first round exit at best.

8. All-NBA 5th Team - Matt (0-2)

Week Total: 716 points (10th)

Per Game: 24.7 ppg (9th)

Bench Scoring: 243 points (1st)

Missed Games: 15 games (2nd)

Transactions: 0 ppg (9th)

Standings: (9th)

Week 2 Total: 59
Season Average: 59.5 (10th)

Flipping spots with the team that beat them this week, Matt's squad has had a rough start to the season. Another below average weekly total and per game pace are clear concerns but what bumps this unit up this week is the league-leading bench. Matt's start hasn't been ideal but with his promising bench and the prospect of healthier days, there is room for optimism here.

7. Draymond Green Tornado Kick - Nathaniel (1-1)

Week Total: 856 points (7th)

Per Game: 25.9 ppg (7th)

Bench Scoring: 211 points (7th)

Missed Games: 9 games (7th)

Transactions: +10.8 ppg (6th)

Standings: (5th)

Week 2 Total: 53

Season Average: 50 (6th)

Holding the same spot after a nice win over Brett, Nathaniel's squad was the epitome of league-average this week. In each category, Nate was able to put up strong numbers while refraining from being particularly impressive. I believe this is an indication of Nate's well-balanced team that, like many team in this league, is simply missing that top-tier, outlier fantasy producer.

6. Deng Girl - Freddy (2-0)

Week Total: 876 points (5th)

Per Game: 25.8 ppg (8th)

Bench Scoring: 224 points (5th)

Missed Games: 7 games (8th)

Transactions: 0 ppg (9th)

Standings: (1st)

Week 2 Total: 49

Season Average: 45.5 (5th)

Sliding a spot from last week despite throttling Nick's team this week. Freddy has been able to put up good point totals from his bench and starting lineup both weeks now, yet his per game average continues to lag behind. It is clear that this is one of the better teams around but the per game average so far gives me pause. I believe that stat will need to change if this team wants to break into the top ranks.

5. Admiral Kryptonite - Me (1-1)

Week Total: 868 points (6th)

Per Game: 26.3 ppg (5th)

Bench Scoring: 235 points (3rd)

Missed Games: 6 games (10th)

Transactions: +16.8 ppg (5th)

Standings: (5th)

Week 2 Total: 45

Season Average: 39 (4th)

Dropping a spot  after a tough loss to Danny this week, my starting lineup slipped some while my amount of missed games increased. Overall, I think it was a minimal slip which, I believe, is due to the depth of this team. My bench was good and I even added some more production through waiver wire. Like I said last week, I expect this team to hover in this range all year.

4. Love Kaman My Bibby's - Danny (1-1)

Week Total: 895 points (4th)

Per Game: 28.9 ppg (3rd)

Bench Scoring: 110 points (12th)

Missed Games: 14 games (3rd)

Transactions: +27 ppg (2nd)

Standings: (5th)

Week 2 Total: 36

Season Average: 53.5 (7th)

Jumping seven spots this week after a big win over my squad. It is remarkable to see over a 5 point increase in Danny's per game pace this week compared to last week, which goes to show how misleading these early weeks can be. It was a great outing from Danny's unit this week but the inconsistent ppg and the questionable bench makes me doubt the stability of this team overall.

3. Emperor Kuzma - Tyler (2-0)

Week Total: 930 points (3rd)

Per Game: 27.4 ppg (4th)

Bench Scoring: 219 points (6th)

Missed Games: 6 games (10th)

Transactions: +38.4 ppg (1st)

Standings: (1st)

Week 2 Total: 32

Season Average: 32.5 (3rd)

Up a spot from last week after a convincing win over Rich and a very splashy trade. Tyler seems to be one of the few owners with a team that could rival the top contenders. His weekly total, per game average, and bench have all been strong so far and now he will be welcoming a new top-tier talent in John Wall. This was a big week for Tyler and the league as a whole. Hopefully it mixes things up.

2. Team Penetration - Michael (1-1)

Week Total: 997 points (2nd)

Per Game: 31.2 ppg (2nd)

Bench Scoring: 243 points (1st)

Missed Games: 7 games (8th)

Transactions: +3 ppg (8th)

Standings: (5th)

Week 2 Total: 30

Season Average: 29.5 (2nd)

Down a spot from last week after a somewhat surprising loss to Chris. Despite the loss, Michael's team is still an outlier of talent. Look no further than his per game average and bench scoring to see how many points are being produced on this roster. Yet, this week did show that, at the very least, Chris is certainly on his level. Maybe this will be a closer race than I first expected.

1. Team Greek God - Chris (2-0)

Week Total: 1065 points (1st)

Per Game: 32.3 ppg (1st)

Bench Scoring: 185 points (9th)

Missed Games: 10 games (6th)

Transactions: +10.7 ppg (7th)

Standings: (1st)

Week 2 Total: 27

Season Average: 28 (1st)

Taking the top spot this week after a big win over his biggest competitor, Chris's team looked like the monstrosity that redefined this league over the last few years. I said all last year that Chris had the best starting lineup and it looks like he will be making that case again this year. Which is probably his only chance given how mundane his bench has looked thus far. We'll see how much that matters.

2018 Power Rankings (Week 1)

Who is starting the season off with a bang?

Hello everyone! Welcome to the first week of our 2018 Power Rankings. Feel free to skip ahead to the rankings if you want but in case you are curious, here's how the scoring works...

Each team was ranked in six categories for the week:
-Total fantasy points scored.
-Fantasy points averaged per game by starters.
-Total amount of points produced by the bench.
-Games missed due to inactivity (doubled for starters).
-Fantasy points per game gained or lost through transactions (using last 30 averages)
-The standings.

Then, each team was given points depending on where they were in the rankings. The better a team performed in the rankings, the less points I gave them.

I doubled the scores in the weekly total and per game categories as a final touch because this game is ultimately about scoring fantasy points.

From there, I totaled each team's score across the six categories and used those final scores to sort my power rankings. 52 points would be average with the lower scores being above average.

I will also be adding everyone's running season average (and ranking) beneath their week's score beginning next week. Just another way to consider how things are shaking out.

Here are my results:

12. MAMA said Knock u out - Rich (0-1)

Week Total: 506 points (12th)

Per Game: 22 ppg (12th)

Bench Scoring: 111 points (10th)

Missed Games: 13 games (2nd)

Transactions: +8.8 ppg (8th)

Standings: (7th)

Week 1 Total: 75

 

Rich's squad missed a lot of games last week but that can't cover everything. The bench gave very little and the starting lineup gave even less. Despite making a positive change by dropping Mozgov for CJ Miles, the lowest point total at the lowest pace will usually land a team here. Rich may need to find sources of scoring pop beyond Miles if he hopes to move up the ranking this season.

11. Love Kaman My Bibby's - Danny (0-1)

Week Total: 556 points (10th)

Per Game: 23.2 ppg (11th)

Bench Scoring: 76 points (12th)

Missed Games: 10 games (4th)

Transactions: +11.4 ppg (6th)

Standings: (7th)

Week 1 Total: 71

Much like with Rich's team, Danny's guys started the season with a general lack of fantasy points. The scoring pace of the starting lineup and output of the bench were alarmingly low when put side-by-side. Yes, Danny's squad missed more games than most and the addition of Allen Crabbe in lieu of Dwyane Wade should help but the real issue is with what to expect from Danny's team overall.

10. Balls to the Wall - Brett (0-1)

Week Total: 583 points (9th)

Per Game: 24.3 ppg (9th)

Bench Scoring: 204 points (4th)

Missed Games: 4 games (9th)

Transactions: 0 ppg (9th)

Standings: (7th)

Week 1 Total: 65

It was a rough first outing for Brett last week. The starting lineup was missing the punch we became accustomed to last year. The might have something to do with the injury to Gordon Hayward. On the bright side, Brett's bench was very strong and his team exhibited good health outside of Hayward. It's hard to tell what is going to become of this team this season but week one was certainly painful.

9. All-NBA 5th Team - Matt (0-1)

Week Total: 546 points (11th)

Per Game: 26 ppg (8th)

Bench Scoring: 175 points (5th)

Missed Games: 8 games (5th)

Transactions: +16.7 ppg (5th)

Standings: (7th)

Week 1 Total: 60

Despite the low weekly total, Matt's squad was able to slot in at ninth due to the quality rankings in other areas. The bench scoring was above average, the starting lineup's pace was reasonable and the addition of Tyson Chandler can only help. Meanwhile, Matt also experience a fair amount of missed games. All of this is to say that I think this team is better than the point total suggests.

8. RIM JOBS - Alex (1-0)

Week Total: 636 points (7th)

Per Game: 23.6 ppg (10th)

Bench Scoring: 146 points (7th)

Missed Games: 2 games (10th)

Transactions: +25.5 ppg (3rd)

Standings: (1st)

Week 1 Total: 55

The lowest ranked team that won last week is put here due to the mundane point total and surprisingly low points per game pace by the starting lineup. The bench was alright and the addition of Dillon Brooks should make it even better but I'm not so sure I like these numbers overall for Alex. I think there might be more work to be done here than expected.

7. Draymond Green Tornado Kick - Nathaniel (0-1)

Week Total: 605 points (8th)

Per Game: 27.5 ppg (4th)

Bench Scoring: 174 points (6th)

Missed Games: 11 games (3rd)

Transactions: +11.3 ppg (7th)

Standings: (7th)

Week 1 Total: 47

The week total wasn't good but the per game pace actually was. Nate's bench also put up some decent numbers despite a high amount of missed games. Factor in the addition of Ed Davis for Jahlil Okafor's dead weight and Nate had a better week that it may appear at first glace. If Nate is able to reduce his amount of missed games, his team could climb even higher.

6. TimAin't Duncan - Nick (0-1)

Week Total: 651 points (6th)

Per Game: 27.1 ppg (6th)

Bench Scoring: 105 points (11th)

Missed Games: 14 games (1st)

Transactions: +46.7 ppg (1st)

Standings: (7th)

Week 1 Total: 44

Nick has the highest ranked team that lost for a few reasons. The weekly total and per game average were both marginally above average, his team missed the most games, and he added the most fantasy production this week by attaining Terry Rozier and Darren Collison for the remains for Jeremy Lin. All of this implies that Nick's team is primed for an even more productive week two.

5. Deng Girl - Freddy (1-0)

Week Total: 745 points (3rd)

Per Game: 26.6 ppg (7th)

Bench Scoring: 308 points (1st)

Missed Games: 1 game (11th)

Transactions: 0 ppg (9th)

Standings: (1st)

Week 1 Total: 42

Freddy's squad came out looking better than they had all last year. Coming in third on the weekly total at a reasonable pace is even more impressive since Freddy also had the most productive bench this week. The main issues deterring a higher ranking is the lack of missed games combined with the pedestrian per game average. Freddy may need to find more pop if he wants to climb higher.

4. Emperor Kuzma - Tyler (1-0)

Week Total: 652 points (5th)

Per Game: 28.3 ppg (3rd)

Bench Scoring: 136 points (9th)

Missed Games: 8 games (5th)

Transactions: +33.3 ppg (2nd)

Standings: (1st)

Week 1 Total: 33

A solid weekly total and particularly high per game average has this team looking good. The bench was sub par but that should change since Tyler bolstered his lineup with Al Farouq-Aminu, Trevor Booker and Larry Nance Jr. Really though, the biggest thing to note here is the per game pace since it is not too far off from the highest in the league.

3. Admiral Kryptonite - Me (1-0)

Week Total: 742 points (4th)

Per Game: 27.5 ppg (4th)

Bench Scoring: 261 points (2nd)

Missed Games: 8 games (5th)

Transactions: 0 ppg (9th)

Standings: (1st)

Week 1 Total: 33

My team put out an above-average weekly total, per game pace, and bench total. I missed a fair amount of games as well. My team gives widespread production which makes me feel like my team will be reliably in the top half of the rankings but will struggle to get much higher than this. That is, unless some major changes are made.

2. Team Greek God - Chris (1-0)

Week Total: 808 points (2nd)

Per Game: 29.9 ppg (2nd)

Bench Scoring: 141 points (8th)

Missed Games: 7 games (8th)

Transactions: +23 ppg (4th)

Standings: (1st)

Week 1 Total: 29

Chris' squad looked much like it did last year. The only difference here is that Chris' team would often claim the 1st place ranking in the per game pace last year. This week, Chris came in second in both the weekly total and per game pace. For anyone else, that would be great. But for a team with championship expectations, that isn't where he wants to stay. Added points for picking up Kelly Oubre Jr., which should help the below-average bench.

1. Team Penetration - Michael (1-0)

Week Total: 876 points (1st)

Per Game: 32.4 ppg (1st)

Bench Scoring: 217 points (3rd)

Missed Games: 0 games (12th)

Transactions: 0 ppg (9th)

Standings: (1st)

Week 1 Total: 29

This story is an old one but a true one. First place in the weekly total and per game pace by significant margins. Also, Michael's bench was one of the best. The only thing to knock this team for is the lack of additions made and lack of missed games. Both of which are flimsy weaknesses. If anyone wants to dethrone this team, it is clear that they will need to add firepower. This is quite a team.

2018 JBL Preseason Rankings

2018 JBL Preseason Rankings

Hello and welcome to another season of dynasty basketball! It has been an exciting off-season with many big changes. As usual, I am here in an attempt to make sense of everything. To do that, I decided to rank all our teams from bottom to top. I evaluated each team on their ability to produce fantasy points this year while factoring in their prospects of adding more firepower over the course of the season.

I judge all this based on three main resources: production, prospective upside, and contract values. I also considered if a team has extra picks that could be used to trade for production in-season. However, above all else, these ranks are about expected production because that is what everything comes back to.

Enjoy!

Tier 4 - Pining for the Playoffs

Who can elevate their team to the playoffs?

12. TimAin't Duncan (Nick)
Top Producers: Nikola Vucevic, Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin
Top Prospects: Lonzo Ball, Luke Kennard
Top Trade Assets: Lonzo Ball, Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier

Many improvements have been made on last year's regular season sacko squad. Carmelo, Gallinari, Batum and Fournier are all quality assets that could help any playoff team. Meanwhile, Lonzo Ball is one of the most interesting incoming rookies on what should be an above-average rookie class. An improvement on last season's win total seems inevitable but the overall production is still below average. Work may still need to be done for a coveted playoff spot.

11. MAMA Said Knock u out (Rich) 
Top Producers: Chris Paul, Paul Milsap, Klay Thompson
Top Prospects: Jamal Murray, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum
Top Trade Assets: Jamal Murray, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown

This team is bizarre because while it has a lot of quality individual assets, the group really sputtered last season. I like the acquisitions made but I'm not sure it will be enough to jump start this team back into playoff contention. I love the core of prospects but it is hard to see them always pulling their weight this season. This bunch strikes me as a team that could either trade all their prospects for a push this season or trade all their producers for top tier prospects. Either way, I believe this is the season where a major move is made.

Tier 3 - Playoffs or Bust

Who will be spectators come playoff time?

10. All-NBA 5th Team (Matt)

Top Producers: Hassan Whiteside, Kyrie Irving, Blake Griffin
Top Prospects: Lauri Markkanen, Caleb Swanigan
Top Trade Assets: Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving

The surprisingly good team of last season may see a regression this time around. The squad relies mostly on veterans with injury histories. Meanwhile, there is a general lack of resources here which puts the unit at a disadvantage for making improvements through trade. All this leads me to believe that Matt will have to be one of the more attentive wavier wire owners if he wants to experience the same sort of success he did last season.

9. Balls to the Wall (Brett)

Top Producers: John Wall, Kyle Lowry, Gordon Hayward
Top Prospects: De'Aaron Fox, Skal Labissiere, Thon Maker
Top Trade Assets: De'Aaron Fox, Skal Labissiere, extra picks

Brett's squad has been a reliable playoff team since he took charge of the sputtering franchise. However, this season may be his biggest challenge yet. Although I feel uncomfortable ranking what I know to be a good team so low, I think there is going to be a real battle at this range of the league. I imagine a lot of shuffling of the standings this season and Brett's depth has questionable immediate production. Fortunately for Brett, his team appears to be a more attractive trade partner than most which should come in handy over the course of the season.

8. Draymond Green Tornado Kick (Nathaniel)

Top Producers: Marc Gasol, Kristaps Porzingis, Dennis Schroder
Top Prospects: Markelle Fultz, Malik Monk, Frank Ntilikina
Top Trade Assets: Dennis Schroder, Draymond Green, Avery Bradley

One of the more intriguing collection of assets, Nate might have the most trade-able roster in the league. Last season has pretty disappointing but we can excuse a lot of that with injuries. Meanwhile, Nate might have had the best rookie draft out of all of us since he is entering this season with three NBA rookies who all ought to see rotation minutes by season's end. The on-court production is still a slight question mark but there is more than enough here to have playoff expectations.

7. RIM JOBS (Alex)
Top Producers: LeBron James, DeAndre Jordan, D'Angelo Russell
Top Prospects: Kris Dunn, Justin Jackson
Top Trade Assets: DeAndre Jordan, extra picks, D'Angelo Russell

After the most productive season in franchise history, this year's most mysterious team had a bit of an awkward off-season due to it's changing of owners and, in turn, visions. As the team's fourth owner in six seasons, Alex will hopefully bring some lasting stability to our cursed franchise. There are certainly tools to work with here, including the King himself and Alex is an owner that brings championship experience. All things considered, there is a lot to be optimistic about here since this team could very well be in the finals hunt if everything breaks right.

Tier 2 - Contenders or Pretenders?

Who are the real contenders?

6. Love Kaman My Bibby's (Danny)

Top Producers: DeMar DeRozan, CJ McCollum, Eric Bledsoe
Top Prospects: Hernangomez, Saric
Top Trade Assets: McCollum, Randle, Saric

Since taking over this team, Danny has consistently produced a playoff-level squad. This off-season was the most active I've ever seen Danny be and I believe it will pay off for him this year. The additions of McCollum, Randle and Aldridge will prove a big boost while Gasol and Wade should provide nice value from the end of the bench. The only thing holding this group back is the general lack of trade appeal. Danny may have to look to waiver wire for a majority of his improvements this campaign.

5. Deng Girl (Freddy)

Top Producers: Damian Lillard, Stephen Curry, Paul George
Top Prospects: Josh Jackson
Top Trade Assets: Jusuf Nurkic, Gary Harris, Clint Capela

The most disappointing team of last season has two more seasons with the core we all know and love. This year demands a bounce back and I believe Freddy has every intention of making that happen. This team finished our first three regular seasons as a serious championship contender and everything that made that happen is still on the team. While the core is undoubtedly elite, the difference will come down to what kind of production Freddy can get from the ends of his roster. If that is right, true contention is definitely possible.

4. Blow Me (Tyler)

Top Producers: Karl Anthony-Towns, Kawhi Leonard, Kemba Walker
Top Prospects: Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen
Top Trade Assets: Kawhi Leonard, Ben Simmons, extra picks

Tyler has one of the rare collections of top tier talent, prospects and assets all on one team. It is easy to see all kinds of moves being made that could put Tyler into serious championship contention and that bodes well for his squad. Most teams don't have any round one talents and this group might have two. Meanwhile Simmons, Mitchell and the extra picks are all assets that could field serious firepower in the trade market if it came to that. All of this is to say that Tyler is a clear front-runner to break up the Chris-Michael trilogy.

3. Admiral Kryptonite (Me)

Top Producers: Miles Turner, Kevin Love, Devin Booker
Top Prospects: Dennis Smith Jr., Brandon Ingram, Taurean Prince
Top Trade Assets: Devin Booker, Miles Turner, extra picks


This feels like possibly the most abundant glut of assets I have ever had yet the team lacks obvious pizazz due to noticeable absence of any first round talent. I may have the deepest team in the league but it is going to take much more than that to actually knock on the championship door. Much like with Tyler, I feel prime to make some moves but moves are most certainly going to need to be made if I want to elevate to the next tier. It's hard to tell if I'm so close or so far.

Tier 1 - Championship or Bust

There can only be one Fantasy King

2. Team Greek God (Chris)
Top Producers: Russell Westbrook, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant
Top Prospects: Marquese Chriss, Jonathan Issac, Dragan Bender
Top Trade Assets: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Jabari Parker

Three first round talents, two second round talents and two third round talents. In any other league, this would be an outlier champion but, in our beloved league, there happens to be two outlier, champion-level teams. It really is remarkable how close these two teams are while being so dominate, like two perfectly paired outliers, battling it out. Chris made a lot of intriguing acquisitions this off-season, injecting his squad with a lot of youth on useful contracts. However, the investment in guys like Parker and Embiid might be the difference in this razor thin race for supremacy.

1. Team Penetration (Michael)
Top Producers: Anthony Davis, James Harden, DeMarcus Cousins
Top Prospects: John Collins, Buddy Hield, Juan Hernangomez
Top Trade Assets: Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert

The defending champions start this season where they left off last season: in pole position for the first back-to-back championship ever. I hope it doesn't happen! Really though, this team is going to be tough for anyone to beat and that includes Chris. With five first round talents all on one team and one of the most attentive owners around constantly uncovering diamonds in the rough, there is no doubt that this team will be a team to be feared come playoff time. Until something dramatic happens, this is the team to beat.

That's it! Good luck everyone! I hope you all beat each other and lose to me!

2017 JBL Midseason Review

Merry Christmas and welcome to the Power Rankings Midseason Review. To celebrate the halfway mark of the regular season, I thought it would be a good idea to look back on what everyone has accomplished thus far.

Here are the leaders, so far, of each category used for the Power Rankings this season:

Most Injured Team

Winner: TimAint Duncan - Nick

Average Missed Games: 15.5 games per week

Average Place in Rankings: 3.4 Power Ranking score

Other Nominees: Pippen Aint Eazy, Draymond Green Tornado Kick, Make It Nashty

Unfortunately for Nick, TimAin't Duncan has consistently been one of the most injury plagued teams in our league. Based off of their per game average, we can estimate that this team has missed out on about 335 fantasy points a week so far. While painful, the silver lining may be that this team is due to be better once healthy.

Best Transactions

Winner: MAMA Said Knock You Out - Rich

Average Points Per Game Gained: 7.7 ppg added per week

Average Place in Rankings: 3.5 Power Ranking score

Other Nominees: Team Penetration, Blow Me, All-NBA 5th Team

Though MAMA Said Knock You Out started the season off slowly, the team has consistently improved through the transaction market. Rich has been both diligent and savvy while netting a total improvement of 61.6 points per game so far this season.

 Best Bench

Winner: Team Penetration - Michael

Average Total: 317 points per week

Average Place in Rankings: 2.3 Power Ranking score

Other Nominees: Blow Me, Admiral Kryptonite, All-NBA 5th Team

Team Penetration has one of the few benches that has been consistently elite. They are leading the league with a weekly average forty points higher than anyone else and Team Penetration has 13 guys averaging over twenty fantasy points per game. It is clear this team possesses the most elite depth.

 Best Starting Lineup

Winner: Team Nipple - Chris

Average Points Per Games: 34.3 ppg per week

Average Place in Rankings: 1.0 Power Ranking score

Other Nominees: Team Penetration, All-NBA 5th Team, Balls to the Wall

The defending chamions have systematically posted the highest per game average each week. The nearest team still gives up over two points per game on the season. At this point, it is safe to say that Team Nipple will beat any team if they play the same amount of games.

 Best Team

Winner: Team Penetration - Michael

Average Weekly Total: 1109 points per week

Average Place in Rankings: 1.4 Power Ranking score

Other Nominees: Team Nipple, All-NBA 5th Team, Balls to the Wall

Team Penetration has the best top-to-bottom squad right now and it showing in both the standings and the weekly averages. More often than not, Team Penetration has claimed the highest weekly total and Michael's crew has yet to lose. Clearly, this has been the most dominate team of the first half of the season.

2017 Power Rankings (Week 8)

Who stepped up their game this week?

Happy holidays everyone! Welcome to the halfway mark of the regular season and the eighth week of Power Rankings. Skip ahead to the rankings if you want but in case you are curious, here's how the scoring works...

Each team was ranked in six categories for the week:
-Total fantasy points scored.
-Fantasy points averaged per game by starters.
-Total amount of points produced by the bench.
-Games missed due to inactivity (doubled for starters).
-Fantasy points per game gained or lost through transactions (using last 30 averages)
-The standings.

Then, each team was given points depending on where they were in the rankings. The better a team performed in the rankings, the less points I gave them.

I doubled the scores in the weekly total and per game categories as a final touch because this game is ultimately about scoring fantasy points.

From there, I totaled each team's score across the six categories and used those final scores to sort my power rankings. 52 points would be average with the lower scores being above average.

I also added everyone's season average (and ranking) beneath their week's score. Just another way to consider how things are shaking out.

Here are my results:

12. TimAint Duncan - Nick (2-6)

Week Total: 12

Per Game: 12

Bench Scoring: 11

Injuries: 3

Transactions: 5

Standings: 9

Week 8 Total: 76

Season Average: 70.8 (12th)

In the same spot as last week, TimAint Duncan scored 612 points on 19.7 points per game in a loss to All-NBA 5th Team. Nick's bench put together 143 points while the team missed 14 games due to inactivity. Nick did not make a transaction this week.

Even with the high amount of missed games, the low scores all-around are tough pills to swallow. This team seems to be missing scoring pop as it is often found near the bottom in scoring from the starting lineup and bench alike. Until that is resolved, TimAint Duncan will have difficulty climbing the ranks.

11. Draymond Green Tornado Kick - Nathaniel (2-6)

Week Total: 10

Per Game: 9

Bench Scoring: 7

Injuries: 4

Transactions: 12

Standings: 9

Week 8 Total: 70

Season Average: 59 (10th)

Sliding two spots down this week, Draymond Green Tornado Kick put up 754 points at a pace of 25.1 points per game in a pivotal win over RIM JOBS. Nate Dogg's bench added in 232 points of their own while the team missed 13 games due to injuries. The team netted a total loss of 12.2 points per game by dropping Jonathan Simmons for Cameron Payne and trading away Kyrie Irving for Avery Bradley. 

A quality win while missing a good amount of games is nice to see. The bench was solid but the starting lineup was actually below average. The transactions this week have a lot of good qualities to them but certainly come with risks. If they pay off, however, Draymond Green Tornado Kick may see a resurgence.

10. Pippen Aint Eazy - Freddy (2-6)

Week Total: 8

Per Game: 11

Bench Scoring: 5

Injuries: 10

Transactions: 5

Standings: 9

Week 8 Total: 67

Season Average: 55.5 (9th)

Falling four spots, Pippen Aint Eazy posted 832 points on 23.1 points per game in a tough loss to Make It Nashty. Freddy bench contributed 242 points as well while the team missed 4 games due to inactivity. No transactions were made.

Another narrow loss has got to be painful for a team with such dynamic players. The biggest concern is the low per game average from the starters this week. The bench looked good but the injuries were also uncharacteristically low. With the injuries finally clearing up, the best starting lineup may still be forming for this team.

9. MAMA Said Knock You Out - Rich (2-6)

Week Total: 9

Per Game: 7

Bench Scoring: 9

Injuries: 10

Transactions: 5

Standings: 9

Week 8 Total: 65

Season Average: 67.5 (11th)

Slipping two spots this week, MAMA Said Knock You Out scored 807 points at nice rate of 26 points per game. Rich's bench mustered 206 points and the team missed 4 games due to injuries. Rich did not complete a transaction and MAMA Said Knock You Out had the added bonus of having last week's tie be updated to a victory this week.

Poor point totals from both the bench and the starting lineup while missing very few games is a bad look. The saving grace is the quality per game pace from the starting lineup. To me, those are signs of a team with a good core that needs more depth.

8. RIM JOBS - Monty (4-4)

Week Total: 11

Per Game: 10

Bench Scoring: 6

Injuries: 1

Transactions: 2

Standings: 5

Week 8 Total: 56

Season Average: 53.8 (8th)

Down three spots from last week, RIMS JOBS could only put together 630 points on 24.2 points per game in a rough loss to Draymond Green Tornado Kick. Monty's bench added in a cool 241 points while the team was struck by the most missed games this week with 23. Monty added on 4.2 points per game by bringing on Garrett Temple and Tim Hardaway Jr to replace Wayne Ellington and Willie Cauley-Stein.

The starting lineup had a tough time but that was most likely due to the unusually high amount of missed games. The bench put together another good performance and the transactions were solid once again. If the injuries clear up, this team will likely bounce right back.

7. Admiral Kryptonite - Gus (4-4)

Week Total: 5

Per Game: 8

Bench Scoring: 1

Injuries: 12

Transactions: 5

Standings: 5

Week 8 Total: 49

Season Average: 48.6 (6th)

Rising three spots, Admiral Kryptonite scored 915 points at a pace of 25.4 points per game in a win over MAMA Said Knock You Out. My bench lead the league with 341 points with my team missing a league low of 3 games this week. I did not make a roster move.

A nice point total on a soft per game average is reasonable but it is my bench that is the real winner here. My injuries were lowest this week so some of these numbers are likely to dip going forward but it was still a quality showing overall.

6. Make It Nashty - Danny (4-4)

Week Total: 7

Per Game: 4

Bench Scoring: 10

Injuries: 2

Transactions: 5

Standings: 5

Week 8 Total: 44

Season Average: 50 (7th)

Jumping five spots this week, Make It Nashty tallied just enough with 851 points on a brisk rate of 27.5 points per game in a close win over Pippen Aint Eazy. Danny's bench provided 171 while the team missed 18 games due to inactivity. Danny made no transactions this week.

We still have not seen this team at full strength so it is hard to blame the below average bench. The high per game average by the starters, however, indicates that there is capable talent on this team. If the injuries ever clear up and give way to solid depth, this team may become consistently good.

5. Balls to the Wall - Brett (5-3)

Week Total: 4

Per Game: 5

Bench Scoring: 12

Injuries: 5

Transactions: 5

Standings: 3

Week 8 Total: 43

Season Average: 46.5 (5th)

Slipping one spot this week, Balls to the Wall threw up 986 points on 27.4 points per game in a honorable loss to Team Penetration. Brett's bench could only chip in 122 with them missing 9 games this week. No transactions were made.

Balls to the Wall has subtly become one of the more consistent teams around. The starting lineup has been providing strong numbers for over a month now and it is beginning to show in the standings. As usual, the main thing holding this team back in the rankings is the poor bench. I believe resolving that issue will be the difference-maker for this team.

4. All-NBA 5th Team - Matt (5-3)

Week Total: 6

Per Game: 6

Bench Scoring: 3

Injuries: 6

Transactions: 1

Standings: 3

Week 8 Total: 37

Season Average: 38 (3rd)

Down one spot this week, All-NBA 5th Team scored 875 points at a pace of 27.3 points per game in a win over TimAint Duncan. Matt's bench was strong with 303 points while the team missed 8 games due to inactivity. Matt added 4.4 points per game this week by bringing on Courtney Lee to replace James Ennis and receiving Kyrie Irving in a trade for Avery Bradley. Unfortunately for All-NBA 5th Team, due to stat updates last week's tie was changed to a loss.

Matt's starting lineup was a bit down but MDUB still got the dub. The bench looked elite this week and All-NBA 5th Team topped the transaction market by acquiring Kyrie Irving in a trade, making this a strong week overall. Matt's squad has become a real finals threat.

3. Blow Me - Tyler (4-4)

Week Total: 2

Per Game: 3

Bench Scoring: 4

Injuries: 8

Transactions: 4

Standings: 5

Week 8 Total: 31

Season Average: 43.6 (4th)

Flying up five spots from last week, Blow Me dropped 1060 points on 29.4 per game scoring in a surprise win over Team Nipple. Tyler's bench added in 285 points while the team missed 8 games this week. Adding on Kelly Oubre Jr. to replace Dario Saric currently brings no change to Blow Me's per game average.

A big win from a team that is proving to be capable of big things. Blow Me put in elite scoring across all categories and toppled one of the top dogs. It will be interesting to see how often this can be replicated but, at the very least, Tyler's squad is clearly knocking on the championship contender door.

2. Team Nipple - Chris (6-2)

Week Total: 3

Per Game: 1

Bench Scoring: 8

Injuries: 6

Transactions: 3

Standings: 2

Week 8 Total: 27

Season Average: 26.3 (2nd)

Relinquishing the top spot this week, Team Nipple put up 1030 points on a league leading 31.2 points per game but it was not enough in a tough loss to Blow Me. Chris' bench added in 222 points of their own while the team missed 8 games due to inactivity. Team Nipple gained 0.8 points per game by picking up Luol Deng for Andrew Harrison. 

Another excruciating loss for the team that is still producing the highest per game average by the starting lineup. Maybe it is an issue of depth, maybe it is the nature of having so many must-start guys, maybe there is no issue at all and it a result of rotten luck. Regardless, this team is still elite and has the best core in the league. It will be interesting to see if that is ultimately enough.

1. Team Penetration - Michael (8-0)

Week Total: 1

Per Game: 2

Bench Scoring: 2

Injuries: 8

Transactions: 5

Standings: 1

Week 8 Total: 22

Season Average: 23.9 (1st)

Taking back the top spot, Team Penetration lead the league with 1133 points at a rate of 30.6 points per game. Michael's bench was also strong with 323 points while the team missed 6 games due to inactivity. Michael did not make a transaction this week.

At this point, we know where this team stands and it stands very tall. The bench and starting lineup alike are to tier and the undefeated record shows it. Team Penetration his the team to beat.

2017 Power Rankings (Week 7)

Who has been rising in the rankings?

Hi everyone and welcome to the seventh week of Power Rankings. Skip ahead to the rankings if you want but in case you are curious, here's how the scoring works...

Each team was ranked in six categories for the week:
-Total fantasy points scored.
-Fantasy points averaged per game by starters.
-Total amount of points produced by the bench.
-Games missed due to inactivity (doubled for starters).
-Fantasy points per game gained or lost through transactions (using last 30 averages)
-The standings.

Then, each team was given points depending on where they were in the rankings. The better a team performed in the rankings, the less points I gave them.

I doubled the scores in the weekly total and per game categories as a final touch because this game is ultimately about scoring fantasy points.

From there, I totaled each team's score across the six categories and used those final scores to sort my power rankings. 52 points would be average with the lower scores being above average.

I also added everyone's season average (and ranking) beneath their week's score. Just another way to consider how things are shaking out.

Here are my results:

12. TimAint Duncan - Nick (2-5)

Week Total: 11

Per Game: 12

Bench Scoring: 12

Injuries: 3

Transactions: 2

Standings: 9

Week 7 Total: 72

Season Average: 70 (12th)

Dropping one spot to the bottom, TimAint Duncan tallied 814 points at a pace of 22 points per game in a tough loss to Draymond Green Tornado Kick. Nick's bench could only chip in 79 points due to the team missing 19 games due to inactivity. The squad added on 16.5 points per game by bringing on Sergio Rodriguez and Dwight Powell to replace Andre Roberson and the inactive Michael Carter-Williams. 

Weak numbers from both the starting lineup and the bench will put a team here, no matter how many games were missed. The transactions were nice and there is still room for improvement if this team ever gets healthy. Nick's team is better than the scoring numbers would suggest, but how much better is the real question.

11. Make It Nashty - Danny (3-4)

Week Total: 12

Per Game: 11

Bench Scoring: 3

Injuries: 11

Transactions: 6

Standings: 6

Week 7 Total: 72

Season Average: 50.9 (7th)

Sliding a spot for the second week in a row, Make It Nashty put up 803 points on 23.6 points per game in a pivotal loss to RIM JOBS. Danny's bench posted a cool 271 points and the team missed 9 games due to inactivity. Like six other owners, Danny did not complete any transactions this week.

A poor week from the starting lineup and very few missed games to explain it. The silver lining here is a superb showing from the bench. Ultimately, I think Danny's squad is better than this but these poor weeks are beginning to pile up.

10. Admrial Kryptonite - Gus (3-4)

Week Total: 10

Per Game: 10

Bench Scoring: 8

Injuries: 2

Transactions: 6

Standings: 6

Week 7 Total: 62

Season Average: 48.6 (6th)

Falling three spots this week, Admiral Kryptonite put together 855 points at a rate of 25.1 points per game in a blowout loss to Team Nipple. My bench added in 225 points of their own while my team missed 21 games due to inactivity. I made no transactions this week.

Not a very good output from my starting lineup or my bench. The high amount of missed games can account for some of the blame but my team is also a bit inconsistent. I am optimistic that my team will bounce back but I definitely don't like to see weeks like this.

9. Draymond Green Tornado Kick - Nathaniel (1-6)

Week Total: 3

Per Game: 9

Bench Scoring: 11

Injuries: 5

Transactions: 5

Standings: 12

Week 7 Total: 57

Season Average: 57.4 (10th)

Slipping three spots, Draymond Green Tornado Kick totaled a big 1044 points at a pace of 25.5 points per game as the team cruised to their first win of the season. Nathaniel's bench contributed 173 points despite the team missing 16 games due to inactivity. Nate Dogg added 2 points per game by replacing Chris Bosh with Mario Hezonja.

A very strong weekly total but the per game average was not nearly as strong. Also, the bench was not able to do as much with a flood of missed games. It is definitely nice to see the win and the high week total but the rest of the numbers are not quite as exciting. Despite that, Nathaniel's team has had two good weeks in a row and might be coming back from the dead.

8. Blow Me - Tyler (3-4)

Week Total: 9

Per Game: 8

Bench Scoring: 2

Injuries: 9

Transactions: 6

Standings: 6

Week 7 Total: 57

Season Average: 45.4 (4th)

Dropping four spots this week, Blow Me posted 885 points on 26 points per game in a difficult loss to Team Penetration. Tyler's bench continued their strong play with 282 points while the team missed 12 games due to inactivity. Tyler made no transactions this week.

A pretty flat week from a starting lineup that has proven to be better than this but the bench came in big once again. It is nice to still see value somewhere on the team, even in a down week. I'm sure this team will bounce back soon enough.

7. MAMA Said Knock You Out - Rich (1-5-1)

Week Total: 5

Per Game: 5

Bench Scoring: 9

Injuries: 12

Transactions: 3

Standings: 11

Week 7 Total: 55

Season Average: 67.9 (11th)

Rising two spots, MAMA Said Knock You Out scored their season high with 969 points at an impressive rate of 27.7 points per game in a surprise tie with All-NBA 5th Team. Rich's bench provided 219 points of their own and the team missed only 6 games due to inactivity. 4.9 points per game were added by swapping in Tim Frazier for Tony Parker.

A strong showing from the starting lineup is definitely nice to see and the addition of my main man, Tim Frazier could help out with the flat bench. This was the healthiest team this week so the numbers may be inflated a bit but, either way, Rich's squad is showing signs of life.

6. Pippen Aint Eazy - Freddy (2-5)

Week Total: 8

Per Game: 7

Bench Scoring: 4

Injuries: 1

Transactions: 6

Standings: 9

Week 7 Total: 50

Season Average: 53.9 (9th)

Jumping six spots this week, Pippen Aint Eazy put up 918 points on 26.2 points per game in a tough loss to Balls to the Wall. Freddy's bench had their best week yet with 255 points while the team led the league with 22 missed games. Freddy made no transactions.

The starting lineup put up quality numbers and the bench looked good, all while missing the most games this week. The loss was an tough one but it nice to see that this team can put up solid points even when plagued by injuries. If this team ever gets completely healthy, we may see a jump in these rankings.

5. RIM JOBS - Monty (4-3)

Week Total: 7

Per Game: 4

Bench Scoring: 10

Injuries: 7

Transactions: 6

Standings: 5

Week 7 Total: 50

Season Average: 53.4 (8th)

Elevating three spots back up, RIM JOBS tallied 958 points at an elite rate of 29 points per game in nice win over Make It Nashty. Monty's bench added in 183 points and the team missed 13 games due to inactivity. No transactions were made this week.

Solid all around numbers but it is the per game average that has my attention. There have been strong weeks from both the starting lineup and the bench this year. It seems like this team has gotten better with each week and is establishing itself as a true contender.

4. Balls to the Wall - Brett (5-2)

Week Total: 4

Per Game: 6

Bench Scoring: 4

Injuries: 10

Transactions: 6

Standings: 3

Week 7 Total: 43

Season Average: 47 (5th)

Continuing the climb up with one spot this week, Balls to the Wall dropped 1007 points on 26.5 points per game in a big win over Pippen Aint Eazy. Brett's bench was strong as well with 255 points while the team missed 10 games due to inactivity. No transactions were made.

One of the best starting lineups in the league also had a big week from their bench. At the very least, it seems that the bench is better than before. If this keeps up, Brett's squad should stay near the top of these rankings.

3. All-NBA 5th Team - Matt (4-2-1)

Week Total: 5

Per Game: 3

Bench Scoring: 4

Injuries: 6

Transactions: 6

Standings: 4

Week 7 Total: 36

Season Average: 38.1 (3rd)

Sliding one spot this week, All-NBA 5th Team posted 969 points with a 29.4 per game average in the tie with MAMA Said Knock You Out. Matt's bench put up 255 points of their own while the team missed 14 games due to inactivity. Matt completed no transactions this week.

The tie is unfortunate for a team that came in third in points per game but all the scoring numbers still look good. The bench is strong and the record is still one of the best. Matt's squad has really separated itself from the heard and become the clear third best team in the league. Everything about this team is above average.

2. Team Penetration - Michael (7-0)

Week Total: 2

Per Game: 2

Bench Scoring: 1

Injuries: 7

Transactions: 4

Standings: 1

Week 7 Total: 21

Season Average: 24.1 (1st)

Unseated after a month on top, Team Penetration put up 1073 points at a pace of 30.7 points per game as they remain undefeated with a victory over Blow Me. Michael's bench dropped 341 points while the team missed 13 games due to inactivity. 4.4 points per game were added by bringing in Tony Allen to replace PJ Tucker.

There is nothing to dislike about this team. The best record, the best bench, and the second best starting lineup are all killer qualities. Michael's squad even missed a good amount of games this week so I can stop bringing that up. So far this season, Team Penetration has been the most consistently great team.

1. Team Nipple - Chris (6-1)

Week Total: 1

Per Game: 1

Bench Scoring: 7

Injuries: 3

Transactions: 1

Standings: 2

Week 7 Total: 17

Season Average: 26.1 (2nd)

Bouncing back with a two-spot jump to the top this week, the defending chamions totaled 1148 points on 31 points per game in an easy win over Admiral Kryptonite. Chris' bench added in 234 points while the team missed 19 games due to inactivity. The team picked up 20.2 points per game by adding Evan Turner to replace Alec Burks.

It is good to see a solid performance from the bench while also missing a high amount of games and Evan Turner is a big immediate upgrade from Alec Burks. However, the main reason this team is here is due to the efforts of the starting lineup. After four weeks, the defending chamions have reclaimed the highest weekly total while retaining the highest per game average. Whoever holds those two titles will most likely hold this top spot. A nice bounce back week from the defending chamions.

2017 Power Rankings (Week 6)

Which team turned a corner this week?

Hi everyone and welcome to the sixth week of Power Rankings. Skip ahead to the rankings if you want but in case you are curious, here's how the scoring works...

Each team  was ranked in six categories for the week:
-Total fantasy points scored.
-Fantasy points averaged per game by starters.
-Total amount of points produced by the bench.
-Games missed due to inactivity (doubled for starters).
-Fantasy points per game gained or lost through transactions (using last 30 averages)
-The standings.

Then, each team was given points depending on where they were in the rankings. The better a team performed in the rankings, the less points I gave them.

I doubled the scores in the weekly total and per game categories as a final touch because this game is ultimately about scoring fantasy points.

From there, I totaled each team's score across the six categories and used those final scores to sort my power rankings. 52 points would be average with the lower scores being above average.

I also added everyone's season average (and ranking) beneath their week's score. Just another way to consider how things are shaking out.

Here are my results:

12. Pippen Aint Eazy - Freddy (2-4)
Week Total: 12
Per Game: 12
Bench Scoring: 7
Injuries: 2
Transactions: 4
Standings: 9
Week 6 Total: 70
Season Average: 54.5 (9th)

Falling four spots to the bottom, Pippen Aint Eazy could only muster 483 points at a snail's pace of 21 points per game in a blowout loss to Team Penetration. Freddy's bench scored 198 points while his team missed an outrageous 30 games due to inactivity. No transactions were made.

The lowest score at the lowest pace will usually land a team in this spot. Freddy's squad is clearly dealing with a lot of injuries and it impacted the starting lineup this week. Amongst the ugliness, it is nice to see the bench put up respectable numbers. I doubt this poor showing will be a common occurrence.

11. TimAint Duncan - Nick (2-4)
Week Total: 8
Per Game: 11
Bench Scoring: 12
Injuries: 6
Transactions: 4
Standings: 9
Week 6 Total: 69
Season Average: 69.7 (11th)

Dropping one spot this week, TimAint Duncan scored 793 at the rate of 22 points per game in a nice win over Make It Nashty. Nick's bench had the league low total of 67 points while the team missed 16 games due to inactivity. No transactions were made.

A lukewarm output landed TimAint Duncan a solid win over a good team. However, the per game output remains suspect and the bench has been demolished by injuries. It is difficult to know what to make of this team since it has never been at full strength.

10. Make It Nashty - Danny (3-3)
Week Total: 10
Per Game: 9
Bench Scoring: 8
Injuries: 4
Transactions: 4
Standings: 5
Week 6 Total: 59
Season Average: 47.3 (6th)

Sliding six spots this week, Make It Nashty could only total 706 points at 23.5 points per game in a surprise loss to TimAint Duncan. Danny's bench chipped in 192 points of their own while the team missed 20 games due to inactivity. Like six of his fellow owners, Danny made no transactions this week.

Make It Nashty's inconsistency resulted in a costly loss here. The injuries are beginning to clear up and I expect that to at least curb these inconsistencies going forward. How high this team climbs depends on how much those inconsistent qualities can be curbed.

9. MAMA Said Knock You Out - Rich (1-5)
Week Total: 5
Per Game: 7
Bench Scoring: 10
Injuries: 11
Transactions: 3
Standings: 11
Week 6 Total: 59
Season Average: 70 (12th)

Rising two spots this week, MAMA Said Knock You Out boasted 866 points at a strong rate of 26.2 points per game in a big win over Draymond Green Tornado Kick. Rich's bench contributed 136 points while the team missed 6 games due to the inactivity. This squad added on 10.2 points per game with the addition of John Henson in lieu of Justin Hamilton.

The victory was well deserved as this week's starters put out rather healthy numbers. The main thing holding this team back is the low bench total and lack of missed games to explain it. At the very least, if the starters can continue this output, we may see a rise in Rich's squad.

8. RIM JOBS - Monty (3-3)
Week Total: 11
Per Game: 10
Bench Scoring: 2
Injuries: 7
Transactions: 2
Standings: 5
Week 6 Total: 58 
Season Average: 54 (8th) 

Dropping five spots this week, RIM JOBS put 649 points on the board at a pace of 23.2 points per game in a though loss to Balls to the Wall. Monty's bench dropped 291 points of their own while the team missed 15 games due to inactivity. This team added 13.5 points per game by bringing on Wayne Ellington and James Johnson to replace JR Smith and Jeff Green.

A weak showing from the starters resulted in a sobering loss. However, there is still a lot to like here. The bench put up big numbers and positive waiver transactions have been made. Furthermore, the low point total could have been impacted by the high amount of missed games. Even on a down week, this team is clearly on the favorable side of the playoff discussion.

7. Admiral Kryptonite - Gus (3-3)
Week Total: 6
Per Game: 5
Bench Scoring: 6
Injuries: 8
Transactions: 12
Standings: 5
Week 6 Total: 53
Season Average: 46.3 (5th)

Dipping one spot this week, Admiral Kryptonite posted 836 points at a good pace of 27.9 points per game. My bench added in 227 points and my team missed 11 games due to inactivity. My squad lost 2.9 points per game by letting go of Tim Frazier for Larry Nance Jr.

Weaker total numbers from previous matches were just high enough eek out a win over a team fighting through injury issues. The risky waiver move pushes me back in the rankings but I am definitely happy to see a high per game average that got me through the week.

6. Draymond Green Tornado Kick - Nathaniel (0-6)
Week Total: 7
Per Game: 8
Bench Scoring: 1
Injuries: 5
Transactions: 4
Standings: 12
Week 6 Total: 52
Season Average: 57.5 (10th)

Jumping six surprising spots this week, Draymond Green Tornado Kick totaled 815 points on an average of 24 points per game in a loss to MAMA Said Knock You Out. Nathaniel's bench dropped 343 points while the team missed 18 games due to inactivity. Nate Dogg made no transactions this week.

This looks crazy but Draymond Green Tornado Kick actually had decent numbers this week. Also, the bench exploded to have the highest output by a long shot. If the injuries clear up and that bench strength can be transferred to the starting lineup, this team might start collecting some wins.

5. Balls to the Wall - Brett (4-2)
Week Total: 4
Per Game: 6
Bench Scoring: 9
Injuries: 10
Transactions: 4
Standings: 3
Week 6 Total: 46
Season Average: 47.7 (7th)

Jumping two spots this week, Balls to the Wall scored 929 points at cool rate of 27.3 points per game in a victory over RIM JOBS. Brett's bench contributed 174 points while the squad missed only 7 games due to injuries. No transactions were made.

Ever since that weak first week, Balls to the Wall's starting lineup has been putting up strong numbers. The only thing still holding this team back is the below average bench. If that can be rectified, this team will rise even further.

4. Blow Me - Tyler (3-3)
Week Total: 9
Per Game: 4
Bench Scoring: 4
Injuries: 3
Transactions: 4
Standings: 5
Week 6 Total: 42
Season Average: 43.5 (4th)

Rising one spot, Blow Me posted only 784 points on an elite per game rate of 29 in a tough loss to Admiral Kryptonite. Tyler's bench added in 261 points while the team missed 21 games due to inactivity. No transactions were completed this week.

A low weekly total is surrounded by surprisingly strong numbers. The bench played well and the per game average of the starters was pretty beastly. The team was struck by some inopportune injuries and still managed to keep the score close. Tyler's squad is beginning to stand out.

3. Team Nipple - Chris (5-1)
Week Total: 3
Per Game: 1
Bench Scoring: 11
Injuries: 1
Transactions: 11
Standings: 2
Week 6 Total: 33
Season Average: 27.7 (2nd)

Sliding one spot this week, the defending chamions scored 953 points at an insane rate of 41.4 points per game in a surprise loss to All-NBA 5th Team. Chris' bench could only put together 108 points with the team missing a season record of 32 games due to inactivity. Chris added Sam Dekker and Andrew Harrison to replace Seth Curry and Jerami Grant, losing 1.3 points per game in the process.

The surprise loss may have caught some attention but it is the low bench total that is dragging the this team down in the rankings. The risky waiver moves further exemplify the issue with this squad: a lack of depth. However, I do not think this is time to panic for Team Nipple. I expect this starting lineup to go far, even with a weak bench and a fair amount of injuries.

2. All-NBA 5th Team - Matt (4-2)
Week Total: 2
Per Game: 3
Bench Scoring: 5
Injuries: 11
Transactions: 4
Standings: 3
Week 6 Total: 33
Season Average: 38.5 (3rd)

Elevating seven spots this week, All-NBA 5th Team dropped 1099 points at a brisk pace of 30.5 points per game in a giant win of Team Nipple. Matt's bench added in 247 points of their own while the team missed 6 games due to inactivity. Matt did not make any transactions this week.

This strong victory on good numbers has shown what kind of damage Matt's team can do. This is a scary team considering the bench put in good work as well. Comparing the numbers here with those of the team below, they actually look very similar. If All-NBA 5th Team can continue to post these kinds of numbers, they will be able to compete with any team in our league.

1. Team Penetration - Michael (6-0)
Week Total: 1
Per Game: 2
Bench Scoring: 3
Injuries: 9
Transactions: 1
Standings: 1
Week 6 Total: 20
Season Average: 24.7 (1st)

In the top spot for the fourth week in a row, Team Penetration topped the scoreboard once again with 1101 points at a rate of 32.4 points per game, continuing the win streak over Pippen Aint Eazy. Michael's bench produced 267 points and the team missed 8 games due to inactivity. This team added 17.3 points per game by bringing on PJ Tucker.

And then there was one. The final undefeated team has posted the best weekly total for fourth week in a row. However, the per game title still belongs to the defending chamions and the best bench still seems to be up for grabs. It will be interesting to see just how long this win streak will last.