Haru 2019 Draft Preview

It's coming down to the final days before the Haru basho. Fantasy Basho teams are going to need to be selected any day. To help out any team owners who are pondering draft boards, here is some quick advice on who might be generously placed on the Power Rankings and which Rikishi got slammed by the formula. There are also some suggestions for anyone searching for putting their team together based on theme.

OVERRANKED RIKISHI

Daieisho

Ranking eighth on the Power Rankings makes Daieisho the highst ranked non-sanyaku rikishi, which seems a bit over his level right now. In fairness to Daieisho, he's performed well of late, which is how the formula is determined. It just seems like he is not likely to repeat his 9 win efforts from January and November for March.

Okinoumi

Right now, Okinoumi is ninth in the rankings, one spot below Daieisho. This is despite a make-koshi in January. He is up high thanks to a surprising 11 wins at Kyushu in November. He is much more likely to be closer to 7 than 11.

Ryuden

Ryuden has had two straight 6-9 records. He is boosted in the power rankings thanks to his ten wins from Aki, three basho ago. He also has not looked very good of late.

UNDERRANKED RIKISHI

Tomokaze

Some of Tomokaze's Power Rankings, somehow, include a performance Makushita. That's because he has only had two Juryo basho before he made it to the top division. He is young, he is good, and the Power Rankings are not equipped to handle this.

Yago

Last basho's impressive newcomer, Yago had a slower rise than Tomokaze, but he proved he belongs in Makuuchi with 9 wins. He is still weighed down by two Juryo basho in the rankings. He is poised to more firmly set himself in the Maegashira ranks, if not higher.

Hakuho

Is it weird to place a Yokozuna on an "underranked" list? Well, yeah, if it is based on these rankings. Hakuho appears to be healthy, which means he is in top form, and he probably should be higher than 4th on any ranking.

FUN TEAMS

Super-Heavyweights

Ichinojo

Aoiyama

Chiyotairyu

Kaisei

Mighty Mites

Daieisho

Terutsuyoshi

Ishiura

Chiyoshoma (in spirit if not size)

All Real Names

Takayasu

Endo

Shodai

Yago