Pre-Season Power Rankings
by CODYyoungSON | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
Power rankings disclaimer
My logic and thought process for my rankings is as follows:
1. My personal opinion
2. Taking last season into account
3. Taking previous success in M21 into account
4. Taking Better League success into account
1. Patriots – Austin
What can you say? Austin is a super bowl favorite just about every year. He is a known feared passer of the league and the man just got Hot Route Master? In my opinion good luck AFC and good luck whoever he faces in the Super Bowl. I think Austin’s loss against Connor isn’t going to sit well with him and is going to fire him up even more to make a run towards his second ring of the cycle.
2. Bills – Alex
This might be a bit of a hot take seeing as Alex has yet to reach a Super Bowl in his Better League tenure, but I’ll back up my claim here. Alex has built a great defense over there in Buffalo, a team that has one the division 2 out of 3 times against Austin. Alex took a tough loss to Connor this past playoff, but can you blame him? He lost to the Super Bowl champ. Alex is playing some really high-level football and if he’s limiting his mistakes, he’s tough to beat.
3. Browns – Connor
Maybe it’s disrespectful to put the current Super Bowl champion at #3 before a user who hasn’t even made a Super Bowl, but I’m willing to defend my case. This is a special case. Connor hadn’t made a Super Bowl ever before this cycle let alone have a playoff win since Madden 18. (If my memory is correct.) So, I think it’s fair to say there’s a good shot that Connor has a tough road to repeat. But again, I can’t disrespect the Super Bowl champ as much to put him outside the top 3. So, I will say this, Connor I think has maybe his biggest season yet afoot. Which is surprising knowing he just won the Super Bowl, but what I’m curious about is how will he respond to the success?
4. 49ers – Ben
Ben’s a tough decision for me. Maybe it’s because I’m his father? Maybe it’s because he’s 1-4 in Super Bowls? Maybe I’m being too hard on my guy? Anyways, back to my power rankings. I think it’d be tough to not put Ben at #4 or maybe even higher. He’s made back to back Super Bowls so you can’t deny that the team building, and stick skills are there. The question is can Ben get over the hump of a Super Bowl win outside of his stacked Madden 20 team and miracle run? Only time will tell.
5. Bengals – Cody
For me personally it’s always feels weird ranking myself. I think it’s because I have a weird mixture of confidence and zero confidence in my madden ability. Sometimes I’m feeling myself and then other times I think I’m a bottom tier user. BUT at the end of the day, I did win a Super Bowl and I won it with the a pretty below average roster, so I guess I can toot my horn a little? I have the best version of my OL I’ve had yet this cycle and my defense is coming together. So, toot, toot? But also, I’m washed? I don’t know?
6. Saints – Dan
This one’s tough for me. Maybe it’s “brother” bias. Maybe it’s because I know deep down if Dan is playing at his best, he’s near impossible to beat. So, it’s tough to put Dan at 6 for a couple reasons. First, he’s gone one and done twice. (But then again so have I and I put myself and 3 so I guess I’m a hypocrite, but it’s my power rankings so suck it.) Anyways, back to Dan, people forget but because of the past two seasons but Dan when absolutely locked in is near impossible to beat. Dan’s had a tough couple seasons in New Orleans, but you’d be an IDIOT to count an “angry” Dan out. Going one and done is only going to fuel Dan’s fire, so look out for him this season NFC.
7. Chiefs – Alex
Of all my placements this might be my toughest one. I really struggled with these 7 positions, it felt like this placement could go to numerous users depending on what your “criteria” is. BUT it’s my criteria and I’m going with “BIG” Alex at number 7. Why you might ask, here’s my thoughts. Sure, Alex has found himself as a the “Madden 21 Chase meme” but I don’t think we can overlink a Better League great. He’s had some tough wild card matchups and I personally don’t want the league to “sleep” on Alex. He can go on a run at any time, ESPECIALLY if slept on. So, for me Alex’s Better League pedigree gives him the number 7 spot.
8. Colts – Justin
Nothing pains me more than putting Justin in the top 10, but I’d also be quite the hypocrite not to considering he’s my father and seems to consistently have quality regular season wins. What’s difficult for me to understand with Justin is outside of a few big playoff runs, he is often your typical one and done candidate. I think I have a good idea why, too. Justin if you’re reading this, I need you locking in and getting better at passing. The whole league likes to give you crap about your run game, bouncing into your OL, you getting lucky and other reasons. But…at the end of the day it’s the lack of passing game that has I think limited your playoff success and why you don’t have a ring. You’ve been close a few times but Super Bowl winners have success on both sides of the ball. Get that passing game going a bit more and maybe we’ll see a Super Bowl push out of you before 21 is over.
9. Bears – Cmass
So 9 and 10 were maybe the toughest for me because they felt like they could potentially be interchangeable but taking recent success into account higher on the list I’m putting Cmass at 9. Cmass is a guy who I think a lot of people write off. They think this guy is a great streamer but how could he possibly compete with the league’s elite. Last year he finally showed up to debunk that a little. Multiple big wins on the season and getting the one and done monkey off his back by beating Dan is enough for me to consider CMass as “here.” He’s built a great squad in Chicago. A lot of his trades were trolled and laughed at, but that team is stacked now and pair that with his stick skills Cmass deserves in the top 10. I think what would push him over the top is limiting the mistakes. It just seems like what ends up biting Cmass in the butt in big games is one too many mistakes on either side of the ball that ends up being his demise.
10. Panthers – Steel
We’ve made it to 10 and this is maybe one of my more controversial picks to date. Steel didn’t make the playoffs last year after a commanding lead on the division which was disappointing no doubt. However, he did make it the previous two seasons picking up wins in the wild card rounds both times. Steel for me is a guy who understands Madden very well and has for the most part played very consistently on both sides of the ball. Last season he struggled offensively quite a bit and he’d admit that but for me I still think he’s top 10. This is where some of my other factors I mentioned above are coming in. This is just my opinion. I’m not weighing to heavy on last season, playoff success, etc. For me Steel even though there were guys who I’m about to rank under him have had longer term BL success and more recent BL success, I still feel for me he’s a top tier quality user.
11. Rams – Kiing
What can you say about Kiing? To be honest, a lot probably, but that’s besides the point. Kiing has been a known feared runner in this league, as well as a very aggressive successful defensive user. For anyone that’s played Kiing a lot it’s like going up against the IRL Steeler/Ravens. He’s going to keep sending pressure at you and make you uncomfortable in the pocket all game. For me Kiing had the most to prove so far this Madden. He is in a division with Ben, Lucky and formerly, may God rest his soul, Cloud. That’s no walk in the park and I think a lot of people had potentially written Kiing off. They thought it’d be Ben and Cloud’s division, but now it’s looking like it’s Ben and Kiing’s. Kiing likes to play down his madden skills but this guy can compete with anyone at any time. If he’s hot he’s tough to beat. He’s started to get a bit of a passing game going which has excited me. That’s what Kiing needed to win a ring one day. I think he still needs to continue to become a more proficient passer, but the core is there.
12. Vikings – Bos
I’ve got Bos at 12. This may be a bit hypocritical considering he just beat Kiing in the playoffs but I personally just don’t know enough about Bos yet in the “lore” that is Better League. Bos has had success in GiT but that’s a different league that used different settins often. Bos dominated this season pretty handedly but I’m assuming his strength of schedule was probably not the highest. I’m going to be interested to see how Bos does this year having a 1st place schedule and having to go up against some of the NFCs best.
13. Raiders – Morty
Some Better League OGs might be coming for my neck after this placement of one of the OG GOATs, but alas here we are. I’m going to say two true statements. First, Morty is a FOUR TIME Super Bowl winner. Second, Morty hasn’t appeared in a Super Bowl since Madden 20. Morty is the most unpredictable Madden player many of us have probably ever played. Sometimes that plays to his advantage and then other times I think it bites him in the butt. What I love about Morty is he just picks plays, motions a guy and puts some hot routes out there and sees if it works. As I said before, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t and leads him into making some bad decisions. So maybe this is disrespectful but outside of one playoff run in M21 there just hasn’t been enough recent success for Morty to crack the top 10.
14. Steelers – Jesse
Following up my hottest take with maybe my 2nd hottest take ranking right here. Let me preface it with this. By no means is this a diss on Jesse. Jesse has had success in Better League and has proven he can be a very good defensive user. Where I think he’s lacking is why I have him at 13. For me Jesse struggles mightily at times on offense and more specifically passing the ball. This is discounting is user skill though. If you let Jesse get a couple turnovers off of you and he’s running the ball well he’s a very tough user to come back against. BUT if you force Jesse to pass the ball and he’s playing down in my opinion, he has a very hard time coming back to win. I’d love to see Jesse continue to get better and the passing game and I think he could become a real force, kind of like Connor has done this cycle.
15. Giants – Austin
I’ve got our resident hero sitting at 14. For me Austin like Jesse is lacking the offensive fire power. I also think what puts Jesse above Austin here in these rankings is Austin, to me, isn’t as feared of a user on defense. Austin when he’s playing his best can compete with just about anyone. The issue is I’m not sure we’ve seen that out of him yet. He’s in a pretty easy division, sorry NFC East, and I think it’s done him a real disservice. Not that he can control his division mates. I just think he’s not “battle tested” when it gets to playoff football and I think the three one and dones would agree. Maybe you’re thinking well Alex has gone one and done all three seasons why is he so high. Well Alex has a history of success that Austin doesn’t have yet. So, Austin for now is just above the middle of the pack that is Better League
16. Seahawks – Lucky
I think 16 is a perfect placement for Lucky. Lucky is a guy that can at times beat the best in the league and at other times struggle against opponents you’d assume he’d beat. Unfortunately for Lucky he’s in the toughest NFC division this cycle which doesn’t help his power rankings. I do however think it will help his Madden skills in the long run. The one interesting thing is, in my opinion, if you swapped let’s say Ryan to the NFCW and Lucky to the NFCE, I think Lucky wins that division just about every season of Madden 21. Me putting Lucky at 16 isn’t necessarily a jab at him but more so he has the potential but didn’t get much help from being in the division he’s in.
17. Jaguars – Cam
Coming in right around the middle of the rankings is my boy Cam. I think this is the fairest assessment of Cam. Cam has had success in Better League and he’s also had some pretty poor seasons if I may. Cam has always been able to build a great defense. He and anyone else in this league would likely agree with that statement. But Cam like the 2 mentioned before struggles a bit at times on offense. Cam likes to go with an unconventional approach which I personally love. He’s always picking the teams no one else probably wants and making odd roster moves, solely because he’s just trying to have fun. Sometimes that has worked in his favor and sometimes it hasn’t, but I’ll never knock a guy for doing what he wants to do because it’s fun. So, keep on keepin on Cam.
18. Broncos – Phil
Coming in with maybe another hot take right here. Phil is coming off a very bad 3-win season and many users who had more wins than him are about to feel disrespected. But we’re forgetting Phil is a Super Bowl winner and in season two made the playoffs. So, this is where my opinion on the user and their history outweighs recency bias. For me if Phil is playing at a high level, he’s very tough to beat. Heck you could put him top 15 maybe even top 10. BUT he did just come off a bad season so 18 feels fitting for now.
19. Buccaneers – Wohzi
I’m going to keep it brief about Wohzi. This isn’t out of disrespect or because I’m tired of typing but because Wohzi quite literally might be the most confusing Better League user. We’re talking about a guy who took a dump on the Super Bowl champs chest in Week 17 to finish out his season 3-13. We’re talking about a guy who has competed and beaten Dan. A guy who quite possibly is the definition of any given Sunday. For me it just depends on which Wohzi shows up. If he’s playing his best look out because will shock you and probably beat you. If he’s playing his worst, well, then we all know what happens.
20. WFT – Kook
Kook is maybe the most confusing user to me. Thoughout his BL career he has the destiny seasons it feels and just beats up on quality opponents, but then it feels like he always just falls short. I’m not sure if I can put my finger on what it is. If I had to guess it comes down to making a few mistakes in the game which ends up being too much for him to overcome. At the end of the day I think Kook is right around the middle of the pack with some of these other guys until he can prove otherwise.
21. Chargers – P
I admittedly don’t know very much about P. I know either him or Ben claimed he was the one who taught Ben the “Madden ropes,” but I’m also not sure what that means either. P had some success last year but if I’m remember correctly, he had a last place schedule. P’s real test is right in front of him. The AFC West outside of Alex pooped their pants last season and P’s got a second-place schedule staring him in the face. Let’s see if he can make a name for himself in Better League and get to the playoffs.
22. Lions – Fern
Maybe this is another hot take here. Maybe it’s because I ride the Rhodey Boys dongs. No one will know but Fern is coming in at 22 here. The thing I think people forget about Fern is like Jesse he is a VERY good defensive user. He can lurk the league’s best passers any day. I think Fern has run into two problems. One, he was blessed with an amazing roster in Madden 20 that let him do what he did best, play defense and run the ball. Then two, Fern getting the Lions and not being the best “GM” has hurt him has well. He’s pretty consistently been toting a very lackluster Lions roster outside of his impressive cornerbacks. I think Fern’s key to success from here on out and come Madden 22 is hopefully luck into a better team and also starting to put his GM pants on a little bit.
23. Cardinal – Kumar
Some Better Leaguers who have been around longer than Kumar might feel disrespected seeing this name before them. BUT being that I’ve been in a league with him before I know that Kumar has what it takes to put together quality seasons and get to the playoffs. He’s done it and GiT so I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt here and saying he might be able to do it here. Again, like Lucky he got plopped into the toughest NFC division which won’t help him but let’s see what our guy Kumar can do. This is a placement at 24 that likely come next season he could move up dramatically in the rankings.
24. Eagles – Ryan
If memory serves me well, Ryan is coming off his most successful BL season ever. So, hats off to him for grinding and getting better. Ryan like many users in the “bottom half” of the league I think have one thing that go against them, to me it seems like they haven’t found the one thing they do well in Madden. For some it’s defense, others running, others passing and others it’s all phases and they’re top tier. I think Ryan needs to keep grinding and find what he does best. Keep getting better at that and fill in the gaps with some lab time as well.
25. Cowboys – Taint
My guy Taint follows his NFC East member in the rankings. Taint like Ryan had I think his best season record wise to date last year. What I love about guys like Taint and Ryan is it seems like many of us who have been in this league for a while, you just get better and better. Playing this kind of competition every couple of days makes you learn and get better. I think Taint has shown he’s not afraid to put his GM pants on and he’s showed he can play some good Madden here and there. Keep grinding and I’d love to see my guy Taint climb these rankings eventually.
26. Texans – Chapter
Coming in at 25 is Chapter. Chapter is another confusing user because every now and again he will get on a roll and put together a very quality season. Unfortunately for him the “bad” seasons happen more often that the good seasons. I need to see more consistency out of Chapter to put him any higher than 25 at this point in time.
27. Falcons – Nick
Up next is Nick, he has shown he’s not afraid like Taint to pound the rock on you. I like the game plan as I think he understands he’s not the most proficient passer. At the end of the day though he’s got to get the passing game and defense up to par to start competing with the league’s best. Nick has some flashes of some really quality games here in there like Chapter but more often than not the losses keep coming. Luckily for him he has one of the league GOATs sleeping a room away to give him some Madden knowledge.
28. Packers – Mike
Mike might come for my neck here but else can I do and say? Mike to my knowledge has yet to crack 5 or 6 wins in his Better League career and that’s just not going to get the job done. Mike similar in ways to Nick, has another BL GOAT as his brother. The question is how bad does Mike want it? Does he want to become a guy who can compete in the league or is he getting fed up and on his way out? Only time will tell.
29. Dolphins – Reece
Sitting at 29 is Reece. Reece seems to be very active in the chat for the most part, seems to be a guy who knows a good amount about Madden but so far has not stacked up well against the Better League competition. For me just the way he talks about the game and his activity in the chat makes me think he’s not necessarily at the very bottom of the food chain here but until he puts some more wins together 29 or lower is a fair placement.
30. Titans – Dr. Gamble
Gamble coming in hot at number 30 in the rankings. Gamble did have one win less than the Jets, but for me has shown to be more active and more into Better League than Dom. Dom pops in chat here and there and so does Gamble, I guess Gamble just pops in a bit more. I admittedly haven’t watched a lot of Gamble’s games nor have I played him much if at all. I’m strictly going off history and past success with this ranking.
31. Jets – Dom
The PGA phenom coming in at 31. Unfortunately for Dom his dominance at swinging the virtual clubs doesn’t translate to being dominant at Madden. I played Dom last year and to me it seems like he gets a little scared on offense and just locks into one read and it’s often an easy safe dump off to the RB. Dom hasn’t been here long so there isn’t a ton to say but we’ll see if he can show flashes of success this season and on.
32. Ravens – Tim
Sorry Tim, this may be wildly disrespectful to you and if you take it that way maybe that’s good to fire you up for your first Better League season. I simply just don’t know anything about your Madden play. I was in GiT very briefly but don’t remember you, so it’d be a disservice to the ranking Gods to put you anywhere but 32 since I know literally nothing. Good luck division mate!