Season 18 of Big Brother (US) is underway and tons of drama has already unfolded. From having four veteran players joining the game, to having two houseguests that are siblings of former players, to having three players on the block each week instead of two, to one of the biggest blindsides in the show's history in the first live eviction of the summer - this season is sure to be an exciting one. With two of the sixteen contestants already evicted, here are my projections (from weakest player to strongest) of where the remaining houseguests stand, and who I believe is the front runner to receive the 500,000 dollar prize:

14. Bronte

Bronte's awful helium balloon-pitched voice was an instant target on her back as soon as she walked in that house and opened her mouth. On top of that, she has made closest friends with a group (Paul, Natalie, Bridgette) that has already seen one of their own (supposedly strongest of the pack) get evicted. She's part of a group that is way out numbered by the veteran's side of the house, and has quickly set herself apart from almost every single promising alliance thus far. Unless Bronte can change her strategy into working with the stronger players on the other side, she will most likely be packing her bags soon.

13. Bridgette

Give Bridgette some credit. She gets the game - probably more-so than any other newbie this summer. She was smart to point out the fact that Nicole has played the game before and not everything she says should be trusted fully - in a group of newbies that doesn't seem to realize the veterans have the obvious advantage. However, Bridgette has already been caught spying by the biggest alliance in the house, and even her own core friends in the house are beginning to doubt her honesty. If she doesn't befriend a different group of houseguests soon, the majority of the house will vote her out very soon.

12. Paul

Paul has one thing going for him - he's a competitor. He talks the talk just like his friend Jozea did, the difference is that Paul can walk the walk. He won the Veto competition when he needed to. In a season where there doesn't appear to be as many "competition beasts" as we're used to, Paul could surprise many by winning numerous challenges this summer and keeping the power in the house within his team. What will lead to his downfall is his big mouth. His trash talking has already ticked off a lot of houseguests early on and put a big target on his back. The good news? With that being said, I still think Paul actually has a pretty good social game. He does seem to know what he's trying to do and sounds pretty darn persuasive when he needs to be. If Paul can befriend the other side of the house and lower down on the trash talking and gossip, he could make it longer than many would think.

11. Corey

I do appreciate the fact that Corey was really the first newbie to think, "hey, the veterans know what they are doing, maybe I should work with them and the newbies at the same time!" However, I think Corey has dug himself into a little bit of a hole by playing completely in the middle. He hasn't really made any tight friends in the house, and he doesn't seem to be part of any solid small alliance. I think this might hurt him in a few weeks when he has no one to go to for support when on the block.

10. Natalie

Natalie is playing smart in the sense that she is basically befriending everyone, and avoiding the drama so that there is no target on her back. She is part of a few different alliances and most people seem to be cool with her, so that's going in her favor. The bad news is that she's hiding so much in the background that I think in the middle weeks of the competition other houseguests will realize she is just sneaking along and try to get her out. But hey, that strategy got Victoria all the way to the finale in season 16.

9. Victor

Victor is doing a good job in the sense that he has formed bonds with a few of the strongest guys and girls in the house. He's not doing a good job in the sense that he is playing similar to his buddy Paul and doing way too much talking. He makes unnecessary snarky comments all the time, and it's starting to get on the nerves of houseguests that are supposedly closest to him. I think Victor's best chance to go deep this season is by befriending a veteran. That could not just get him the support of a strong player, but get him multiple votes if he goes on the block.

8. Tiffany

Tiffany has played an interesting game so far in telling some of the houseguests she's Vanessa's sister, and not telling others. However, I think this might be a bad move come a few weeks from now. Word will get out eventually as it always does in the house, and if she hasn't told everyone by that point, a lot of trust will be lost in her. I also think she is almost identical to Vanessa in all of her emotions and actions. The difference? I'm afraid she doesn't appear to be as smart or strong of a player as Vanessa was (which to be fair is very high up on the chart). If Tiffany comes clean soon and proves herself in competitions, she could make it very far. But she better look out for Da'Vonne who has been on to her since the second she walked in that house.

7. Paulie

You know if he's the brother of Cody he has to be good at Big Brother. He hasn't disappointed so far. He was put in a very difficult situation by being a pawn week one, but think about what he accomplished. On one hand you had Paulie, former brother of a second place houseguest, the best body in the house who looks like a huge threat to be a competition beast, and someone who clearly can charm the pants of both the guys and girls in the house and has a great social game. On the other, you had Jozea who everyone couldn't stand, and whose ego was bigger than his "messiah" mouth. If the houseguests would have kept Jozea, he would have gone home soon after he has way too many enemies (and he might have made some of the most idiotic decisions ever on the show). The houseguests easily could have gotten rid of the far stronger player, but they didn't. And I have a feeling Paulie won't be back on the block anytime soon. Look out for this guy - the only thing hurting his chances is the fact that he also seems to be playing the middle line and doesn't appear to have any foundation behind him.

6. Michelle

I'm having a hard time reading Michelle so far. She seems like a slightly weak player to me and bit of a floater. However, she has done a fantastic job going around the house and forming alliances with many different houseguests. She seems to be on everyone's side, and is being the smart person in the room that just nods their head yes or no without running their mouth and making a regretful statement. The question is, how long can she last without taking a stand and making a powerful move in the game? To be decided.

5. James

James is one of those players you have to love. His pranks are definitely the highlight of every episode. James has done a good job being a center-piece of the strongest alliance in the house, the strongest team in the house and has made progressing relationships with many of the newbies. The issue is that all of the houseguests that have seen the show before know how strong of a player he is, and while they might not be coming after him this early on, it is definitely likely that will happen later on in the season. I would not be surprised if Nicole and Da'Vonne try to take him out towards the end - of course assuming they are all still competing then.

4. Zakiyah

I love the way Zakiyah has played the game so far - more so than any other newbie. She is seen as an ally by all sides of the house so far and has formed tight relationships with a few of the strongest players in the game. My biggest fear with her is that she hasn't proved to be very competitive thus far. She has a shot at winning this whole thing, but if she's gonna do it, she's going to need to make some big moves and win some big competitions.

3. Nicole

Nicole has played a completely different game than she did two seasons ago, which is proving to be a great thing. She's being way more sneaky, smart, and competitive. Not only that, but after being the first head of household, she got rid of her biggest threat AND basically left with no blood on her hands. She has clearly learned from the past and is here to win. Almost everyone in the house wants to work with her. Don't be surprised if she makes it all the way to the finale this summer.

2. Da'Vonne

Last year, Big Brother fans lost it on social media when Mama Day was taken out week two. She might have ran her mouth a little bit too much last time. But this time? It's just humorous. She is by far the most entertaining houseguest this summer, and is playing a much better game than she did previously. She's keeping her mouth shut and making friends with all the other houseguests. She's in a very fortunate position where the other houseguests see her as a strong competitor and want to work with her, yet not enough of a threat that they need to get her out. The key to Da'Vonne success this season is going to be forming a tight bond with a newbie that will be there in the end. The veterans have her back, for now, but that won't be enough later on. Zakiyah seems to be Da'Vonne choice for now (besides Nicole), but I'm not fully convinced she's better off with her than a strong competitor like Tiffany or Victor. Either way, she's feisty enough to take out each houseguest one by one until she claims victory. Point blank - and the PERIOD.

1. Frank

Frank has all 100's in my book so far. His game play so far reminds me a lot of season 16 winner Derek. He seems to be just as tight with the newbies as he is with the veterans. And even with half the house knowing he won the road kill competition, he still had Jozea's side completely out of the blue on who could have nominated Bridgette. My only concern so far is that he could be in trouble if that news eventually gets back to Bridgette (which is why I really suggest whoever wins the road kill competitions in the future should keep the win to themselves - after all, that is why it's an anonymous win). But regardless, unless Frank does something really stupid I see him being here for the long haul and being the front runner to win that 500,000 dollar prize.

What are your thoughts? Who do you think has the best shot at winning Big Brother this year?