Fanrun Fantasy Football Fight Power Rankings: Week 4
By Tucker Harlin
The committee has spoken.
The Week 4 power rankings for the Fanrun Fantasy Football Fight are coming to you ahead of Thursday’s battle between the Cowboys and Giants.
There are three teams with each possible record through the first three weekends. Of the 12 teams, about eight of them are sitting in the mix for playoff spots at this point in the seasons.
Here are your official power rankings:
1. TUCKER HARLIN (3-0)
I wouldn’t put myself up here if there was a logical explanation not to but there’s not one.
I have 56 more points for than the next closest standing in the league. My team is the only team to break 400 points four in the opening three weeks. ESPN’s power rankings have me atop the league.
Josh Allen, Breece Hall, and Brandon Aubrey have been consistent presences for me over the first few weeks. Derrick Henry finally had a breakout weekend for me when he ran wild in Dallas.
I’ve got Bob to play against this week. Bob’s team underperformed the first two weeks, but he had a strong outing against Jace despite taking a loss. Not a team I’m underestimating.
2. SAM BEARD (3-0)
Last week wasn’t Sam’s best work, but his team’s mere survival against Russell is notable for the top of the league.
He’s got a consistent trio in his starting lineup of Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, and Alvin Kamara to rely heavily on. D.J. Moore and Dalton Kincaid were both more lively for Sam this week. From a depth standpoint, everyone not named Jaleel McLaughlin has scored at least 10 points once
The question now is what’s going to happen at quarterback. Tua is on IR for several more weeks, and Justin Herbert is far less than 100%. He acquired Sam Darnold who also had injury concerns a week ago, so Sam’s had horrible luck at that spot.
Sam finds himself in yet another battle of unbeatens against the Varsity Athletes this weekend, another decisive battle in the top of the league standings.
3. RUSSELL SMITH (2-1)
Russell took his first loss of the season to Sam in Week 3 but still stays at the third spot in the committee’s power rankings.
The heart of his team is the running back tandem of James Cook and Saquon Barkley to go with receiver D.K. Metcalf. Zay Flowers and Anthony Richardson have been all over the map, and he’s had some temporary help from Jordan Mason at flex that he won’t benefit from in a few weeks when Christian McCaffrey returns.
Other than the steady improvement of Devin Singletary, Russell’s bench has little to be desired.
Russell clashes with the winless Ryan Brown, who is in desperate need of Christian McCaffrey’s return.
4. CODY MCCLURE (3-0)
Cody is like the 2024 Ole Miss Rebels of the Fanrun Fantasy Football Fight. His record looks good, but he has the ninth-most points for with a little over 315 and far and away the fewest points against in the league with just 220.88 in three weeks.
The best piece in Cody’s lineup so far this season is surprisingly Malik Nabers. Tyreek Hill is going to take a hit in production for several more weeks, Jalen Hurts has been all over the place at quarterback, and Travis Etienne and Rachaad White have been iffy at running back.
David Montgomery has been Cody’s best running back through three weeks, but the Varsity Athletes didn’t start Montgomery last week.
Cody plays his toughest game so far this weekend against Sam, a matchup in which the Varsity Athletes need to elevate their play beyond varsity level.
5. MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES (2-1)
More Important Issues started its season incredibly up and down, scoring 103 in Week 1, a league-high 151.9 in Week 2, but went back down to 110 in Week 3.
Top draft choice Bijan Robinson is yet to have that breakout performance, only scoring just north of 16 in his best two weeks. Chris Olave has gotten better as the season has progressed, and Nico Collins is up and down from average weeks to boom weeks.
Chuba Hubbard and J.K. Dobbins appear to be nice later round choices by Issues.
Now, Issues just needs George Kittle to find his way back onto the field for the 49ers. Or maybe Issues needs to start Jauan Jennings???
More Important Issues faces Tim this week, who’s coming off his best performance by far in Week 3.
6. TIM HILL (2-1)
Tim’s first two weeks were nothing special, but his team exploded for 147.88 against Ryan in Week 3.
Both Jonathan Taylor and Kyren Williams had their first true boom weeks of the season, and Amari Cooper went off for 27.6 out of nowhere for The Thrill.
There are several lingering questions about Peaches’ team.
When does Deebo Samuel return? Is Patrick Mahomes going to break 20 at any point this season? Is Tank Dell permanently lost in the shuffle with both Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs in the Texans’ system?
Like I mentioned at #5, Tim goes at it with More Important Issues this week, a matchup that could have strong implications for the playoffs.
7. JACE BROWN (1-2)
I kept hyping Jace up about his team, and he finally had a good week with 138.68 in Week 3.
Both Lamar Jackson and Jahmyr Gibbs have been averaging between 16-20 points per game, and both Ja’Marr Chase and Zach Charbonnet broke out for Jace in his first win of the season.
Jace’s team isn’t without questions as Travis Kelce, D’Andre Swift, and Justin Tucker have all underperformed. Dallas Goedert could at least be a temporary fix with both the Eagles’ best receivers out for the time being, but Goedert’s by no means a panacea.
Jace is going against Jon’s winless and running back-less team this week, a nice opportunity for him to get to .500.
8. BOB BASKERVILLE (1-2)
Despite falling to Jace, Bob finally had a week in which he scored over 120.
Rashee Rice has improved each week, Marvin Harrison Jr has been great outside of that Week 1 hiccup, Zack Moss and Joe Burrow finally had boom weeks.
Bob still needs some things to change before his team can ascend in the rankings. For one, he needs Josh Jacobs to start trending back in the right direction.
Second and most importantly, the injuries are beginning to pile up. A.J. Brown has now missed two straight weeks, and both Sam LaPorta and T.J. Hockenson are banged up at tight end.
Bob plays against Young Phillip Fulmer this weekend, a demanding test for a team that’s suffered so many injuries.
9. HOUSTON KRESS (1-2)
Though it was his worst performance of the season thus far, Houston finally picked up a much needed win to avoid an 0-3 start.
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are the two best parts of the Vol Rumor Mill’s squad in its current state. DeVonta Smith, Brock Purdy, Isiah Pacheco, and Joe Mixon have all suffered injuries at some point this season.
Dak Prescott and Jaylen Waddle have both underperformed to start the season. Prescott had his first boom week in Week 3 and has an opportunity to turn the ship around in Dallas, but the loss of Tua is going to prevent Jaylen Waddle from producing at high levels for the foreseeable future.
Houston play William this week in a game between two teams desperate to find their ways into playoff conversations.
10. RYAN BROWN (0-3)
The lack of a Christian McCaffrey appearance is taking its toll on Ryan’s team.
De’Von Achane, Davante Adams, and Brock Bowers have been Ryan’s top performers in CMC’s stead, but all three of those guys have had down weeks at one point or another this season.
The only bench piece Ryan has that could pick up his play is DeAndre Hopkins, but how can you trust a receiver when Will Levis the one throwing to him.
Ryan takes on Russell this week, who is once again a serious playoff contender for the Fanrun Fantasy Football Fight.
11. WILLIAM PATTESON (0-3)
It’s been a hard start to the season for William.
Of everyone on Overtime Bill’s team, Drake London and Quentin Johnston may be his top two performers. CeeDee actually wasn’t the worst idea for a #1 overall pick considering the guy Bill passed up on has been sitting on IR for three weeks, but he’s not producing at a high level either.
The overreliance on the Jacksonville Jaguars was a costly mistake, and Rhamondre Stevenson remembered he was playing for the Patriots in Week 3.
William will have one of his better opportunities to win this week against Houston, but his team has a lot of work to do.
12. JON REED (0-3)
The Running back-less Reed’s Ranchers are in a deep hole right now. Bucky Irving and Tyjae Spears are the go to guys at running back right now.
The idea of drafting three high profile receivers in Cooper Kupp, Brandon Aiyuk, and Garrett Wilson hasn’t worked out. Wilson has scored more than 15 yet this season, Aiyuk looks rusty after an extensive holdout, and Kupp has been injured.
Kyler Murray and Jayden Daniels might be Jon’s best two players through three weeks which isn’t good considering he can only play one of them each week. Maybe Diontae Johnson turns it around with Andy Dalton running the offense in Carolina?
Jon plays against Jace this week, whose team appeared to flip a switch in its win over Bob last week.
