Free agency has begun & here are your power rankings!

This is by far the most evenly balanced year we have had to date. This is the also the one year where I found it difficult to rank everyone. The decisions were tough, every team seemed to have a weakness whether no skill at a particular position or lack of depth or bench. Free Agency looks extremely weak again, looks like some teams are going to have to get lucky or address team needs by trades. Well less then a week to go, so I hope you are all ready to get this started.

Here are your preseason rankings…remember these are for fun, there’s no disrespect intended…take them for what they’re worth.

#1 Quasimofo’s (Key Players: Addai, Grant, McNabb) Overall its hard to see a huge weakness for the mofo’s. Roster is full of players with a lot of upside and depth. A solid textbook draft…my preseason #1. However, beware the curse…no preseason #1 has never won the flask. The match-up in week #1 could either prove that Quasi is #1 or it’s a fluke as the cards deal him a tough matchup vs. bengals.

#2 $Hail-Mary$ (Key Players: Barber, Jamal Lewis, Winslow) Some consider this team as taking the biggest risk on draft day with Barber overall at #3. I personally love the pick, and love the direction this team took on draft day. Another team that didn’t get flashy but addressed depth and picked up a solid defense to what could be a real contender in ’08. Week 1 finds Mary vs. Nutz in what should be a shoot-out, either way the Mary will need a win to stay atop the rankings.

#3 Bengals (Key Players: Portis, Lynch, Jones) With a solid running game, and I do mean solid, the Bengals offense had a huge upgrade over last year. If Rodgers comes through with a big year, then modest numbers from the WR spots would be enough to get this team to the playoffs for the 2nd year in a row. Trying to rebound from last years disappointing finish, bengals gets a tough matchup vs. Quasi to start the season.

#4 Diaper Dandies (Key Players: Gore, Eli, Mcgahee) In my opinion an overall successful draft, although there’s questionmarks, ingredients are there for what should be a solid year for the dandies. Defense looks solid as well…NO way this team misses the playoffs. Week #1 has Dandies in a rematch of last years title game. Dandies will need a win and a solid performance to start proving that last year wasn’t beginners luck.

#5 Buckeyes (Key Players: Manning, Braylon, Gates) A solid defense highlights this star studded O. With questionmarks at the RB spot, Buckeyes loses ground to Dandies but with the addition of Manning, Buckeyes wins out over Killa. In what should be an easy victory, the pressure is on cuz nobody wants to lose to #16…especially in the first week.

#6 Killa Cali (Key Players: Brees, Jones-Drew, Bush) Team may not be the most exciting but depth at RB and WR should help vs. Cali’s biggest rival…the bye weeks. If some of the younger players come through, and with Brees leading the way it could be a big year for Killa. Opening week is vs. longtime rival GO HEELS!, not a real friendly way to open the season.

#7 D’s Nutz (Key Players:Brady, Fitz, Colston) Without deviating from its usual draft day routine, Nutz picks up an extremely talented bunch of wideouts and paired with Brady this team is capable of some serious firepower. No true RB could spell trouble down the stretch as those points will help in the close games. Even as the offensive juggernaut this squad will probably turn out to be; the RB dilemma causes the Nutz to fall to a bubble team. Nutz will have a nice chance in week #1 vs Mary to make a believer out of me.

#8 The Agency (Key Players:T.O, Plaxico, Jennings) Some call not drafting a RB in the first 2 rounds suicide…Agency waited until round 6! When it comes to offensive power however I still see the Agency coming out huge…the wideouts on this squad are just super-stupid-retarded-fantastic. All team needs were met on draft day but without another answer at RB I can’t go any higher than 8th. Scary way to start the season vs. Monkeys, I do not see either team running away with this I think it is going to be a close one.

#9 Blind Monkeys (Key Players: AP, DA, Witten) Another solid draft for the monkeys. Team looks good especially on defense…in fact the defense may turn out to out perform the Monkeys offense. The key positions have some real firepower here…could be the monkeys first trip to the playoffs. Week #1 is vs. The Agency and would be a step in the right direction to grab a win early.

#10 TrueSole (Key Players: Westbrook, Housh, Favre) Here is another team that I see being hard to beat. Ignoring the age factor on this team, there are some real solid scorers here. In this year’s league though I’m putting Sole through some real adversity to prove me wrong. Interesting matchup vs. Cocoon in week 1, both teams looking to make a statement, I like Sole in this one.

#11 Cocoon of Horror (Key Players:Romo, Boldin, Maroney) With the smallest offensive roster in the league and slim pickin’s in the FA market. Cocoon is really putting all his faith in his starting 8. In this league we all know bye weeks and injuries take their toll so the lack of depth pushes the cocoon down to #11. Trying to put last year behind them, Cocoon starts off ’08 vs. Sole and is looking for that first “W”.

#12 HaTeRs (Key Players: Palmer, Moss, Young) With 24 picks on draft day, Haters covers all its bases. Team looks solid at all positions and has depth as well. Although I feel a repeat showing in the title game is a stretch, the playoffs are not. Haters finds themselves lucky to get an early chance to prove themselves, not to mention a chance to redeem last years horrible showing in the title game.

#13 Go Heels! (Key Players: LT, Turner, Garrard) Any team with LT is always going to be a contender. Heels looks good but without a real “superstar” at WR the heels falls to the bubble squads. However if the WR production comes through for the heels then the Heels should be in for her 6th playoff appearance. A win in week 1 is vs. Killa, in the Love & Hate bowl would be a good way to set things off.

#14 Doughboys (Key Players: Big Ben, Holt, LJ) Another team that doesn’t have a lot of pizzazz but has the players that should overall perform well this season. The rookie does not have a lot of depth at RB so we will see how that pans out this year. Overall I see a solid season but DB falls short of the playoffs this year. Week #1 gets DB a matchup vs. IPSux in what should be a winnable game.

#15 IndigoPalmsSucks (Key Players: Jackson, Jacobs, Steve Smith) IP starting offense looks good however with out addressing any other needs for depth, it could spell trouble if there are injuries to the QB or WR spots. If IP is looking to move up in the rankings it for sure will need to climb ahead of the doughboys this week.

#16 Jeru RIP (Key Players: Wayne, Cutler, McFadden) Denver passing game needs to come up huge this year to salvage the RU’s season. Until we see McFadden is some real action I have little faith in the Ru’s running game. Only time will tell but for now…RIP. Week #1 has the RU going against Buckeyes…if the RU is thinking upset, now will be the time to pull it off and prove us wrong.

* GAME OF THE WEEK*
#1 QuasiMoFo’s vs. #3 Bengals
With the most balanced attack, Quasi looks to take on the bengals running game.
Although there are a LOT of good match-ups this first week, its always exciting watching top teams prove they belong.

And of course what season wouldn’t be complete without the odds for winnin’ it all.
These are brought to you by Solestats Inc. a neutral party from the NFLL power rankings.
QuasiMoFo’s 4-1
$Hail-Mary$ 4-1
The Agency 5-1
Bengals 5.5-1
Monkeys 6-1
Buckeyes 6-1
TrueSole 7-1
Dandies 7.5-1
Killa Cali 7.5-1
IPSux 11-1
Cocoon 12-1
HaTeRs 14-1
Go Heels! 18-1
Ds Nutz 18-1
Doughboys 35-1
Jeru Rip 84-1