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.