THL Power Rankings: S8/5, Week 1!

Every week, we will be bringing you a new, updated version of the Power Rankings, encompassing both Ragnaros and Sylvanas Leagues. Every Wednesday evening, watch this space for Ericokey and FollowDurden's Ragnaros League rankings, and MojoPowell and YellowDart's Sylvanas League rankings! If you don't fancy the read, then the rankings will also be discussed every Thursday evening on Tavern Talk, 9PM at twitch.tv/teamhearthleague. Really, you have no excuse to not know what everyone thinks of your team! Overall standings are decided by a healthy mixture of both author's individual rankings, as well as a healthy helping of good old fashioned data, provided by Starlax.

Ragnaros League: Week 1

1.a) Hearthstone Academy
​HSA​ had as good of a start to a season as you can have. Winning all their matches and denying a lot of points in a division match is great. They look to be the front runners in Blue after Week 1 for sure.
Player to Watch: Bluesombrero
Will Rebound: Can you rebound from a win? And if you can, would you even want to?
-Ericokey

1.b) Thermic Whims
​Thermic Whims are off to a great start, with a Week 1 win and winning all but one series. If I had to pick a team to win it all without bias at this point in time then this would be it.
Player(s) to Watch: Rizen/Brewski, these are probably the best players at their respective seeds, so I'm cheating and putting 2 people here.
Will rebound: Switters
-Ericokey

3) Swagoi 
Swagoi are always a force, and they came out of the gates swinging this Season. Their 1-4 seeds went a combined 12-3. That’s incredible.
Player to Watch: Earl
Will Rebound: DocMcButt (not too much to pick from here)
-FollowDurden

4) Always Topdeck Lethal 
​These guys raked in the second most points possible against a team of Rag veterans (The Pod People). BlueSpartan is a solid anchor in the 3 seed, and if he can continue performing in that critical spot then ATL has a legit shot.
Player to Watch: Sullythe1
Will Rebound: BlakeHall (not too much to pick from here)
-FollowDurden

5) Team Next Level 
Team Next Level had a big win over Maple Syrup Inc., in a series where they only dropped one match. They will look to continue this success next week.
Player to watch: ApexPredador
Will rebound: Jammies
-Ericokey

6.a) ThunderGun Express
ThunderGun Express started the season off with a big win over division rival Xnergy; Though their 1 and 2 seed both lost, so they will need to fix that going into next week.
Player to watch: Durtymike
Will rebound: Nate
-Ericokey

6.b) Bloodbath & Beyond
They faced Project Mayhem in Week 1 and came away with two sweeps versus Rag veterans. This is a solid roster, and I have a feeling they’re going to be hanging around the playoff hunt until the very end.
Player to Watch: JoeHS
Will Rebound: HockeyBoyz3
-FollowDurden

8) Really Nice Guys
Really Nice Guys won a close week 1 against the defending champions, in a series that came down to the last match. They could be a real contender in a strong Blue division if they keep this up.
Player to watch: AndyRogers
Will rebound: JoshSampson
-Ericokey

9.a) Prep Coin Concede
Pulling down 13 points without a loss is never a bad week, as PCC tied the Hombres. PCC is always a contender, and I don’t see this season being any different. Jaspyr made the most of his first Rag match as a fulltime player, taking down Brunson 3-1.
Player to Watch: Jaspyr
Will Rebound: Cinder
-FollowDurden

9.b) Spicey Boys
Despite the loss, the Spicey Boys are still a team to keep an eye on. Wolfmack getting swept is a rarity, and their other losses all went to game 5.
Player to Watch: Ridiculous
Will Rebound: Wolfmack
-FollowDurden

11) Bad Hombres
This lineup is rock solid from top to bottom. If motivated, I see no reason why they can’t surprise everyone here in Season 8. There’s no clear favorite in the Gold Division, which makes this all the more fun.
Player to Watch: Dunamis
Will Rebound: Brunson
-FollowDurden

12) Team Mox
That win against Spicy Boys is a big one. There’s no glaring weakness anywhere on this team. ArthurRhodes is rock solid in the 2 seed, and Mattatarms can see some success in the 3 seed.
Player to Watch: Bonja
Will Rebound: Mattatarms
-FollowDurden

13) Texas Stubbies
​The defending champs lost a close Week 1, but they put up some decent points anyway which is always good. If they can get some wins throughout the season and have all their losses look like this then they will be real contenders.
Player to watch: Shunsui21
Will rebound: Bloodhunter
-Ericokey

14) Team Xnergy
Xnergy started off with a loss but put up some decent points. They will need to fix some problems in their bottom seeds though because the 3-5 seeds all lost.
Player to watch: JRJuggernaut
Will rebound: BoomBoomHall
-Ericokey

15) Project Mayhem
Itachi had a bit of hype attached to him as he enters Rag play, bringing a long history of success from the Yu-Gi-Oh world. He didn’t disappoint, winning his first match 3-2 vs YellowDart. There’s no glaring hole on this roster, and Markshire isn’t going to lose many weeks.
Player to Watch: Itachi
Will Rebound: Markshire
-FollowDurden

16) The Pod People
​The PP continue their up and down ways from previous seasons, hitting the buzzsaw that was ATL in Week 1. RidiculousHat getting swept in the 1 seed is painful to see, but there wasn’t much support down the rest of the roster as only one other team member pulled a win.
Player to Watch: DirestBear
Will Rebound: MojoPowell
-FollowDurden

17) Maple syrup Inc.
It looks like the 'Everyone bring Mage' strategy didn't work out for Maple Syrup Inc. in Week 1, in which they lost all matches but one. It will be interesting next week to see how they switch it up and if that works.
Player to Watch: Not Chiggmo
Will Rebound: Not Chiggmo
-Ericokey

18.a) Noob Central
Not sure what happened in Week 1… Slimsch and Stephieee are strong at the top of the roster, but went a combined 2-6? If they don’t get rolling, this is going to be a long season for the Noobs.
Player to Watch: Ham
Will Rebound: Stephieee
-FollowDurden

18.b) Dirty Mike and the Boys
Dirty Mike and the Boys had the roughest Week 1 of any team in the League. They will need to tighten up in the coming weeks to make up for it if they intend to make playoffs.
Player to watch: TonyMontana
Will rebound: Lefty 2111
-Ericokey

​20) Defias Brotherhood
Defias Brotherhood are off to a bad start to the Season already and if they want to turn it around they will need to bounce back big next week.
Player to watch: Twizz
Will rebound: C0mp
-Ericokey

Sylvanas League: Week 1

1) Booty Sweat
A new team comprised of lots of familiar faces, Booty Sweat takes home a crushing victory (20-1) over Team TRYHARD. The players that make up this team are mainly THL powerhouses and champions, and it would be tough not to have heard of these players if you followed the last Ragnaros League Season at all. They seem poised to remain some of the strongest contenders all season long.
Player to Watch: Ericokey
Will Rebound: Tough to rebound when you sweep…
-MojoPowell

2) Tinyfin Fan Club
The defending champs are back, albeit with some different faces at the top seeds that were so strong for them last season. These guys didn’t miss a beat though with new 1 & 2 seeds Anamor and Trymehomie picking up solid wins as they begin their quest for a repeat title. 
Player to Watch: Trymehomie
Will Rebound: ArcaneTHL
-YellowDart

3) Thiccbois
The Thiccbois had an impressive week one victory over Team HearthCoach, with lots of new faces. Thiccbois are a team of primarily first-time THL players, with the addition of captain and 1-seed heavyweight earl, and they seem to show promise with a week one near sweep. It remains to be seen if they can keep up this kind of performance.
Player to Watch: earl
Will Rebound: xEmissary
-MojoPowell

4) DadLegend
DadLegend is off to a hot start for the second season in a row, but staying consistent will be critical to a playoff run. The top 3 seeds going a combined 9-1 really set the tone in their opening win vs. Hero Power Rangers with Junksterr putting up a respectable 2 points in his first ever Sylvanas League match. 
Player to Watch: Wowdotben, #1 DK Garrosh Renounce Darkness Rogue player in NA
Will Rebound: Rizen
-YellowDart

5) Tam Pam’s Surf Slam
With the best team name of the season, DurtyMike leads the charge for Tam Pam’s Surf Slam with a 3-0 over league veteran inposition. This team looks suited to make a very strong show in the next couple of weeks, and are definitely deserving of a spot in the top 8.
Player to Watch: DurtyMike
Will Rebound: Lefty211
-MojoPowell

6) Team Next Level
This group of guys from the Next Level Hearthstone Discord started off the season with a 15-10 victory over Team Black Lotus. Although a closer match than some others, all of their victories were either 3-1 or 3-0, which seems a promising start for them this year.
Player to Watch: Saku
Will Rebound: Jammies
-MojoPowell

7) 65,340,285 Boars
The Boars pulled out a close one this week vs the Sheep, their more aggressive nature and sheer numerical advantage was enough to offset the Sheep’s explosiveness. A critical sweep in the #1 seed by SmileyKris sticks out as the difference making match this week.
Player to Watch: SmileyKris
Will Rebound: Cinder
-YellowDart

8) Toliwag’s Disciples
It’s hard to lose when you pull off 3 sweeps and that’s just what Thatjester, Switters, and jimphilos did this week, all while missing their regular 4 seed. This team could be one to watch, especially when back at full strength.
Player to Watch: Switters
Will Rebound: Bonja
-YellowDart

9) Xplosive Sheep
The Sheep bring out the lowest total PR team in the league but distribute it close to equally across the seeds, a tried and true team comp method. They lost a close one this week but had a strong showing by mattyebs pulling off a sweep as a nearly 100 PR underdog. 
Player to Watch: mattyebs
Will Rebound: BitBeaker
-YellowDart

10) Team Black Lotus
An established Sylvanas League team, Team Black Lotus lost their week one match against Team Next Level. They did manage to pick up two victories in the series, but the L was taken, and it’s hard to tell if this will be their trend this season.
Player to Watch: Cyclometh
Will Rebound: Arthur Rhodes
-MojoPowell

11) Big Deck Bandits
The Bandits took a bit of a beating in week one, losing 10-15 to Tam Pam’s Surf Slam. The top two seeds take strong victories, but with the bottom 3 being defeated in this way, it’s doubtful as to how much of a contender they will be this season.
Player to Watch: Stephieee
Will Rebound: inposition
-MojoPowell

12) Hero Power Rangers
The Hero Power Rangers couldn’t quite live up the SMOrcin’ mantra this week, taking a loss vs DadLegend in their first ever Sylvanas League match. Some strong performances in the lower seeds is encouraging, and one has to think Inkd will find his All-Star form sooner than later. 
Player to Watch: MattAtArms
Will Rebound: Inkd
-YellowDart

13) The Fearless Hearth
Another new team this season, The Fearless Hearth low-rolled their opening week opponent by having to match up against the champs. They came away with 9 points and a week of experience under their belt for their new players who will look to turn it around next week against the Boars. 
Player to Watch: Kuthroat
Will Rebound: Apexpredador
-YellowDart

14) Xnergy
Xnergy snuck into the playoffs last season but will have to pick it up quickly to make a repeat run, as they were swept uncharacteristically at 3 different seeds this week vs Toliwag’s Disciples. Wolfmack however, pulled out a nice win vs. Bonja in the battle of 500 PR players.
Player to Watch: Wolfmack
Will Rebound: Starlax
-YellowDart

15) Team Hearthcoach
Team Hearthcoach emerges from Week 1 almost at the bottom of the power rankings, which is not generally the sign of a good season. Only scoring 6 points in your very first week can be a bit disheartening, but there’s still lots of time to improve.
Player to Watch: BlakeHall
Will Rebound: MetalDan
-MojoPowell

16) Team TRYHARD
Team TRYHARD’s week one performance makes their name seem like an oxymoron. In all seriousness, a one-seed DQ along with some questionable classes, it remains to be seen whether Team TRYHARD just had an off week, or are simply high-profile memers.
Player to Watch: Sage
Will Rebound: Gnetz
-MojoPowell