AAF Power Rankings: Commanders Take Top Spot

The Alliance of American Football season is through six weeks. There’s a new team in the top spot and a familiar face in the basement of the rankings. How do the rest of the teams stack up? Read on for the power rankings of the AAF teams through week six.

1. San Antonio Commanders 4-2 (Up 1 Spot)
Previous Week: 37-6 win at Atlanta Legends
Upcoming: vs Salt Lake Stallions

The Commanders are now the hottest team in the Alliance, having won three straight games. Quarterback Logan Woodside put together his most complete game, utilizing his talented receivers and taking advantage of short fields. The Commanders defense has overtaken the Iron as the best unit in the league at forcing turnovers. They’ve forced nine turnovers in the last two weeks, making life difficult for the Hotshots and the Legends. The run defense for the Commanders was stout this past week as well, holding Kenneth Farrow and Trey Williams to a combined 67 yards.

2. Orlando Apollos, 5-1 (Down 1 Spot)
Previous Week: 22-17 loss vs Arizona Hotshots
Upcoming: at Atlanta Legends

It turns out that the Apollos are beatable, and at home no less. There were some holes in Orlando’s normally airtight game. Leading receiver Charles Johnson missed seven of the 11 targets thrown his way. Garrett Gilbert had his worst completion percentage of the year and was intercepted for the first time. The Apollos defense allowed the Arizona rushers to cut them up all game. Orlando has a seemingly easy game against the Atlanta Legends, but if some of these mistakes become patterns the Apollos lead in the East could be vulnerable.

3. Birmingham Iron, 4-2 (Up 1 Spot)
Previous Week: 32-29 at Birmingham Iron
Upcoming: at Memphis Express

Luis Perez found his way back into the game for the Iron after an injury to Keith Price. He was both the good and the bad for the Iron: he threw three touchdowns but also threw two ugly interceptions. It will be interesting to see who the Iron go with if both Perez and Price are healthy. There’s no doubt about the Birmingham defense, especially the secondary. Bradley Sylve had a breakout game, and star corner Jamar Summers had another interception to run his tally up to three on the year.

4. Arizona Hotshots, 3-3 (Up 3 Spots)
Previous Week: 22-17 win at Orlando Apollos
Upcoming: vs San Diego Fleet

When you walk into the home of the league’s only undefeated team and come out with a win, you move up the power rankings. Hotshots quarterback John Wolford played a good game against the Apollos on Saturday, and the Arizona rushing attack continues to be the strength of the offense. Tim Cook acts as the power and Jhurrel Pressley is the finesse in the backfield. Add in Justin Stockton, and you have the best trio of running backs in the entire league.

5. San Diego Fleet, 3-3 (Down 2 Spots)
Previous Week: 32-29 loss vs Birmingham Iron
Upcoming: at Arizona Hotshots

Sometimes you win by the last-second field goal, and sometimes you fall to it as well. This week the Fleet were victims of the game-winning field goal and were then leapfrogged by a few teams in the power rankings. The Fleet struggled on third down against the Iron, converting only 2-of-12 on the day. Halfback Ja’Quan Gardner had his third straight down week after back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. For the Fleet to emerge from a crowded West, they’ll need Gardner and backfield mate Terrell Watson to get more yards on the ground once again.

6. Salt Lake Stallions, 2-4 (No Change)
Previous Week: 22-9 win vs Memphis Express
Upcoming: at San Antonio Commanders

The Stallions were finally able to put together a win this week, downing the Memphis Express. Josh Woodrum came out slinging for the Stallions tossing two touchdowns in the first quarter. The Stallions’ greatest asset is their pass rush, and they managed six sacks against the Express and constantly were disrupting the flow of the passing attack. They’ll have a tougher task against the Commanders line this coming week, but if they can force Logan Woodside into mistakes they can get their first consecutive wins of the season.

7. Atlanta Legends, 2-4 (Down 2 Spots)
Previous Week: 37-6 loss vs San Antonio Commanders
Upcoming: vs Orlando Apollos

The Atlanta Legends looked very promising after switching to Aaron Murray at quarterback. Unfortunately, the team as a whole had a down week in getting run over by the San Antonio Commanders. The Legends defense couldn’t force any turnovers while the offense gave the ball up four times. Getting down early made it hard for the Legends to get their run offense going. Tarean Folston and Brandon Radcliff could be a dynamic duo, but if the Legends find themselves behind early they’ll leave it up to Murray to play them back into games. That can be a hit or miss endeavor.

8. Memphis Express, 1-5 (No Change)
Previous Week: 22-9 loss at Salt Lake Stallions
Upcoming: vs Birmingham Iron

The Memphis season has taken another turn this week. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger had played well the week previous but was injured on the first offensive play against Salt Lake. In comes the biggest name to enter the Alliance: Johnny Manziel. The former Heisman winner bounced out of the NFL and CFL and has now found his way to the last place Express. Will Johnny Football be able to turn things around for Memphis? He has some good weapons at his disposal in halfback Zac Stacy and wideout Reece Horn