Week 6 Power Rankings
Last week was a full-on concept album. This week? Just the B-sides.
The Power Rankings
Samantha and Geoff continue to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the pack.
In Week 5, we went long with a Taylor Swift-inspired Power Rankings. This time, I’m taking the week off. Even Taylor needs some downtime. So instead of an album-length analysis, we’re going with the acoustic version—quick bullet points and clean takes.
Geoff is the new team owner atop the Power Rankings, dethroning Samantha for the first time this season. With a big game from Drake London (31.8 points) and a breakout for Ladd McConkey (23), this team is looking dangerous, having finished in the top four in scoring in five of six weeks. The league leader in receptions (33.5 per game), Geoff is about to add Rashee Rice to that equation who is back from his suspension in Week 7. Yes, this is Geoff’s very first time in sole possession of first place (through 192 career weeks!), but I don’t think it’ll be his last. Bonus milestone: Geoff just became the sixth owner to top 20,000 career points. He and Alex are both just two wins away from 100.
Could Samantha have had a worse week? Sure, she had a dud. It happens. Just 92.14 points in a loss to Jess, her first score of less than 110 points this season. But injuries to both Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) and Garrett Wilson (knee) are a double whammy and, at the very least, a medium-term concern. She has the toughest schedule in the league over the next three weeks (Kelly, Erik, Geoff—all top-six in the Rankings) but the easiest schedule after that, finishing up against the league’s bottom-five teams. Long-term, I think she’ll be fine. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see a dip in performance.
D’Andre Swift’s 55-yard TD reception on Monday night gave Chelsie her second weekly prize of the season and vaulted her to third in the Rankings, our highest riser this week. And like Geoff, she’s only getting stronger. With CeeDee Lamb and George Kittle potentially returning to join Jaxon Smith-Njigba (current WR1 while Puka’s out) and De’Von Achane (RB4), this lineup is stacked. Arrow pointing up. 🚀
Jess knocked off Samantha this week and continues to dominate the ground game, leading the league in RB scoring at 49.1 ppg. That pace would break her own record (46.3) set just last season. Then, it was Barkley, Aaron Jones, and Rhamondre Stevenson. This time? Barkley, Josh Jacobs (32 this week), and Javonte Williams (still RB5 despite a dud). Same formula, same success.
Like Samantha, Erik also got a punch in the gut this week. After back-to-back 140+ point games, you knew a 93-point regression to the mean was incoming. But this one was especially painful due to a wave of injuries: Puka Nacua (ankle), Calvin Ridley (hamstring) and Jauan Jennings (playing with…FIVE broken ribs?!). With Hollywood Brown’s stock declining now that Rashee Rice is back, the WR cupboard’s looking bare. Not to mention Rachaad White’s value is nearing its expiration date with a healthy Bucky Irving. Last week, I was more bullish on this team, but losing Nacua is big. 😬
What. A. Comeback. Down 66.88 points entering Monday night, Kelly stormed back behind Bijan Robinson (35.8), Caleb Williams, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Deebo Samuel—winning by the skin of a kneel-down. The victory moves her to 4-2, already surpassing last year’s total. At that record, history gives her a 74% chance of making the playoffs. Things are looking up for Kelly.
Greco is 4-2, but trending down. She’s had three subpar outings in the last four weeks and ranks just 10th in TW% during that time. Injuries could turn this from a slump into a slide: Bucky Irving, Chuba Hubbard, Aaron Jones, Terry McLaurin, and David Njoku could all miss Week 7. Her next four opponents? Jess, Kelly, Erik, and Geoff—all teams above her in the Rankings. Not all 4-2 teams are created equal, and this one is looking the most suspect.
Another loss for Josh, his third in a row after a 2-1 start. The good news is that Ja’Marr Chase now has back-to-back weeks with 25+ points while Tetairoa McMillan finally found the end zone with two TDs (albeit on three catches). Josh’s trademark has always been trades and free agent pickups. But this season, just 2.5% of his points have come from players he didn’t draft. Given a middling offensive performance so far—five weeks finishing between fifth and eighth in scoring—it might be time to hit the market.
Where the heck did that come from? After weeks of meh, Brandon exploded for 149.12 points, runner-up for the weekly prize. He climbs two spots to ninth and sits one good week away from the top half. The unlikely secret weapons: Cam Skattebo and Rico Dowdle—both 30+ point scorers. Dowdle alone has accounted for nearly 10% of Brandon’s season total in points in just two weeks. Can a ninth-rounder and an undrafted free agent fuel a comeback? Stranger things have happened.
Prior to this week, Alex’s WRs ranked 8th (29.4 ppg) in scoring. Then they erupted: George Pickens, Brian Thomas Jr., and Kendrick Bourne combined for 74 points—best in the league. And that’s with Nico Collins on bye. With Omarion Hampton and James Cook at RB, it seemed like this team’s strength might have been in the backfield. But suddenly, it’s looking more like an explosive passing attack. Despite its TW%, I believe Alex’s team deserves to be ranked higher. With a 3-3 record and three 130+ point games this season, this team has the time and the ability to make a run. (Did I jinx him enough?)
Gray may “still really like his team,” but the team doesn’t seem to like him back. After another dud (82.54) and a loss to Geoff, he’s 1-5 with two “worst of the week” scores in the last three. The good news? He bet right on Kimani Vidal (22.8). And he’s got a soft four-week stretch ahead (all opponents ranked 8th or lower). If he’s gonna make a move, it’s now. History says 1-5 teams make the playoffs just 9% of the time.
Hamlet’s Ophelia drowned, but what happened to Beth Ann is somehow crueler. Two losses by less than 0.20 points—0.02 in Week 4, 0.20 in Week 6. Brutal. She’s been in the top half of scoring just once, but that kind of bad luck is cosmic. She’s due for a bounce back. Let’s hope it comes soon, because the fantasy gods owe her big time.
We’re just barely hitting the midpoint of the season, and there’s still plenty of football left to play. A couple of smart moves, a little luck, and anyone can flip their season. So whether you’re 6-0 or 1-5, don’t lose heart just yet. The Rankings might look settled—but they never stay that way for long.
