Week 7 Hawkins Power Rankings

1. Assassins (3-3, last week's rank: 1) – All the Assassins did in a Week 6 loss to the Legend of Bo was increase their league-leading scoring average to 169.9 per game. The record is deceptive—the Assassins have yet to put up under 130 and have cracked the 190 mark three times, something no other team has done. To put this in perspective, half the league's teams have yet to even reach that mark once. Concern: This team has pinned its hopes on the Texans' offense (Schaub, Slaton, and Johnson). If the Texans falter, will the Assassins?
   
2. Wings of Pastrami (4-2, last week's rank: 6) – The WOPs have reeled off three straight W's, with last week's 200+ point outing being their most impressive of the year (and that was without starting QB Tony Romoand star WR Calvin Johnson). This makes them the highest risers on this week's HPR. As long as this team's stable of WRs continues to produce, it should put up big numbers. Concern: How confident can a team feel about its playoff run with Pierre Thomas and Clinton Portis as the guys at RB? **EDITOR'S NOTE: This was written prior to the WOPs trade of Romo and Portis for Warner and Jacobs, but you might be able to substitute Jacobs for Portis in the above concern, at this point, since Jacobs has yet to get untracked.**
   
3. Cocks (5-1, last week's rank: 3) – Week 6 illustrated some of the concerns we've had with this team—Benson and NYG's Steve Smith were somewhat held in check, and the result was an "adequate" 120-point outing. That said, it was still a win (and it was done without Frank Gore), and it gave the Cocks a sizable 3-game division lead, setting this team up nicely for a playoff push. Concern: The same as last week: How comfortable are the Cocks relying on Cedric Benson and Steve Smith?
   
4. Vote 4 Pedro (5-1, last week's rank: 4) – The Pedros put up their highest score of the week last week, making the HPR's look prophetic, as Brady and Welker exploded. Unfortunately, Brady and Welker don't face the Titans' D every week (and the Pats still have a bye week upcoming), but it's an encouraging sign. Brady alone can propel a team to success. Team him with an elite TE in Gates and an Ochocinco-of-old, and this team looks promising. Concern: There are several, as is the case with most of the teams from here on down the list. For one, the Ravens D/ST has looked pedestrian of late (the Pedros picked up the Bills from waivers this week, and that squad has only score ONE fewer fantasy point than the Ravens). Also, there are major question marks at RB, as LT put up a season high 11.5 points this week. Barber is the team's go-to back, but he's had some health issues lately. Can a team win without an elite RB?
   
5. Armadillos (5-1, last week's ranking: 2) – We don't want to overreact to one bad week (and it was a bad one: sub-80 points bad), but the Week 6 loss illustrates the concerns this team has. Manning was on a bye and Peterson and Owen Daniels were the only Armadillos to put up more than 11 points. Now, Manning, Peterson, and the Vikes' D/ST (plus Daniels) is a good core, but this team needs all of those players to step up every week, and we all know what can happen when you rely on Peterson down the stretch. Concern: This team has only one WR in the top-40 in points scored, and that receiver, Burleson, has had only one 100-yd game and hasn't cracked the top-15, despite not having had a bye yet.
   
6. Floating Turtleheads (4-2, last week's ranking: 6) – Not much has changed from last week following the Turtleheads big win over the Armadillos (which pulls them within a game of the division lead), though I suppose that alone could be a case for them being ahead of the Armadillos. This week could get ugly with Warner facing a tough Giants defense and Flacco on a bye, but with Hines Ward surpassing expectations and Michael Turner playing well (a TD in four straight games), things are holding steady for the Turtleheads. Concern: Brandon Jacobs has yet to crack the 100-yd mark and only has 1 TD; when the weather turns cold and teams look more to the running game (except the Patriots, apparently), does this affect a team relying heavily on the arm of Flacco and the hands of Ward, Vincent Jackson (although weather in SD may not be an issue), and Greg Jennings? **EDITOR'S NOTE: Again, the Turtleheads-WOP trade changes this things slightly, but not a lot.**
   
7. Legend of Bo (3-3, last week's ranking: 7) – The bitter taste of Week 5's embarrassing 65-point loss still remains, despite a big win against the rival (and top-ranked) Assassins. The LOBs 200+ point output was the second time this team has reached 190 or more, a feat unmatched by any other team but the aforementioned Assassins. Until this team shows it on a consistent basis, though, they'll remain in the middle of a strong group of mid-tier teams, rankings-wise. Concern: Inconsistency and an underperforming WR corps. It's difficult to believe that a group consisting of Boldin, Braylon Edwards, Steve Smith, and DeSean Jackson has yet to produce a week-in, week-out threat.
   
8. Cookie Monsters (2-4, last week's rankings: 8) – The Monsters thought their ranking last week was a little generous. Well, they could make a case that this week is a little too harsh, as this team has notched season-high scores in back-to-back weeks. The acquisition of Ben Roethlisberger has turned the Monster's fortunes around and made them a dangerous team to face. Concern: Outside of Roddy White, there's not a lot of WR depth on this team. Manningham's played well, but most of his value so far has been tied to his ability to produce TDs; can he keep that up?
   
9. Pricks (2-4, last week's ranking: 9) – Like the Boobs below them, this team is actually performing adequately, scoring-wise. The Pricks have increased their score each of the last three weeks, yet all three were losing efforts. And before we get too excited about this scoring trend, we should mention that last week was a season high, and it was still a hair shy of 160 points. Concern: A popular preseason sleeper, Carson Palmer has yet to put up more than 275 yards passing and has thrown multiple TDs only twice. All this adds up to him being the 16^th-ranked fantasy QB. Why do I say this? He's the Pricks' best QB.
   
10. Estelle Getty's Boobs (2-4, last week's rank: 5) – The bubble burst a little on the Boobs, as they are the league's biggest fallers in the HPR this week. A week after putting up a season high 171.8 points, the Boobs sagged to a middling 101.5. There's still good talent on this team, so a run isn't out of the question, but for now, we must face the fact that this is a team that has yet to string together back-to-back wins. Concern: Amazingly, Ryan Grant has scored in double-digits every game this season; yet, the strongest RB on this team's roster is a backup, Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw. The Boobs continue to need Forte to step up his production.
    
11. Alley Cats (0-6, last week's ranking: 11) – The losing continues, as the Cats dropped another tough game, this time to the Pedros. Once again, the Cats put up a respectable score, going over the 140-pt threshold, yet they were, once again, outscored. The Cats have now have the highest points-against total in the league, at 999. To put that in perspective, only three other teams have had 900 or more points scored against them. Concern: For all that "respectable scoring," this team is still 11^th in the league in total points, so while the Cats can perhaps hang with other teams (I wouldn't be surprised to see them get multiple Ws still this season), they're don't have the firepower to blow anyone out.
12. Ra-Tards (1-5, last week's ranking: 12) – The Ra-Tards got back on the right side of 100 points this week, but couldn't out-duel the Monsters, dropping their 4^th straight. Once again Brees was the main contributor, with nearly half of the Tards point total (no other player put up over 20). They don't face a team with a winning record again until Week 10, so maybe the Tards can establish some momentum. Concern: Westbrook and Parker have been major disappointments at the RB spot and the team's two best WRs, Cotchery and Harvin (that says something right there), are dinged up. Maybe Brees can put up 100 this week.