MFL Position Needs for Teams Without a First Round Pick
May 29, 2022 16:39:35 GMT -5
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Post by Chicago Bears on May 29, 2022 16:39:35 GMT -5
Fantasy season is amongst us. At a time when a lot of the leagues are out and about picking up FAs, setting up draft slots, and continuing the annual tradition that is Football before Football, every team has a goal in mind. MFL is like no other. 32 teams preparing for the second annual draft, where every team hopes to select the player (or some instances players) that will singlehandedly turn their franchise around, setting themselves up for a Patriot-esque dynasty. Our inaugural season saw teams blow themselves up before the season even began, trading draft prospects for a chance to go full Los Angeles Rams; by having no first-round pick (or draft picks in general), and going buy in, foregoing what cap space they have in order to have a win now team. As our mock draft experts prepare in anticipation for the teams who have first round picks, lets, at least for now, look at the teams who forfeited their 1st round draft picks, see where they currently are team wise, and what position of needs they currently have that will need to be plugged if they want to consider themselves in it for the MFL Super Bowl Championship ring. In no order, let us start it off with:
1) Los Angeles Chargers
a. When looking at the roster makeup, 2 things stand out that, to a detail freak, gives me anxiety; Cap Room ($1.1 million for 2022-2023) and contract lengths for certain players (Sam Darnold 5.67million till 2026) (Mike Williams $20 million until 2026/never averaged more than 49 catches until 2021). With cap that tight, it’ll be a challenge to be able to make room for additional upgrades for a team that will definitely struggle, specifically the QB, RB, and WR room. Sam Darnold is within a pulse from officially being moved to backup full time. Darnold, in 4 seasons, has never played more than 13 games in a season, and never have thrown more than 20 TDs (19 TDs in 2019 in what is considered his best statistical season). Given, $5.6 million isn’t a lot when compared to what the market value is for potential starter Qbs in this league but going back to the cap hell the team is in, cutting the loss when he is inevitably replaced by Matt Corral, will be tricky to see. Given, LA still has PJ Walker and Kyle Trask on contract until 2023/2024 respectfully, which are both good short term (PJ Walker is currently projected to back up Darnold and Corral is currently nursing an injury, giving him a leg on the backup gig) and long term (former second rounder Trask sitting behind Tom Brady, and the both the former head coaches of Tampa Bay have given good reviews on Trasks progression so far), which will give LA a few good options during trade season or when needing to package players for potential picks. Not having a first round may be a blessing as well in regard to the MFL rookie QB draft given how not great this draft class was. Should give LA a season to round out the roster, shed some contracts, and give itself a run to what is a top heavy QB draft for 2023. Going to Running back… is where I personally believed the $20 million invested in Mike Williams should have instead gone. Melvin Gordon had himself a decent 2021 season (808/7 and 27/207/2 receiving) and in a 32-team league, are numbers that can get you by and then some. However, last year’s 2nd round pick Javonte Williams is currently in position to get himself an increased role, heading into the season as RB1 in Denver. There’s no guarantee that Gordon will have a similar type of season like last year and may as well be regressing from last year’s stats. Signed to $15 million until 2026, there’s no chance that Gordon even makes it till then. We all saw him lose his job to Ekeler in San Diego, and on his way out in Denver come 2023. With the depth behind him of JaMichael Hasty, Phillip Lindsey, and Larry Roundtree, all signed until 2026, the draft strategy would be targeting late round/UDFA running backs in the later rounds of the draft capitol in possession, specifically swinging for the higher upside UDFA who have been turning heads in OTA’s. As someone who overdrafts hitters in Baseball leagues, the saying here is swing enough times and eventually you’re going to get a hit… I’m not going to touch to strong on receiver here, given I’ve been bringing Mike Williams up every other sentence it feels like. However, with the last 3 years being WR heavy in the NFL, not having that first round pick hurts the most to improve a WR core that includes Williams, Nico Collins (WR2 in what is an improved offense ) Amari Rodgers (3rd round pick who has a chance to carve out a consistent role in the Devante Adams-less offense) and Jalen Guyton (deep threat WR for LAC), that first round pick could have also been used to pick up a top 13 rookie WR, but later rounds will still have potential diamonds that can be pursued, but teams who trade 1sts are in win now, and these receivers seem poised to be ready to win, but in 2023-2024. But that cap space…. Definitely a team to monitor, who even with these holes, will sneak on some of the top teams in this league.
2) Las Vegas Raider
a. Number 1. Quarterback. Between the Jamarcus Russell Era up to Terrelle Pryors one year at the helm, the Oakland Raiders were in quarterback purgatory. Now, in MFL, history seems bent to repeat itself. Drew Brees (2 years 520k) and Case Keenum (2 years $520k) are two options on the roster. At 43, Brees will not be returning, that a given. And Case Keenum will only give you one, maybe two games for the season. Now, on the roster is Baker Mayfield, signed at $22 mil up to 2026. Currently on a roster whose relationship is all but tanked, I personally give Mayfield no chance to play for. With the report that came out recently that Carolina wanted the Browns to take on 80% (13mil/18mil) and, shockingly enough, Cleveland only wants to take no more than 50% of his contract (roughly 9million), Mayfield’s stuck in essentially no man’s land. With rosters filling out, teams’ content with rolling with the quarterbacks they have (Seattle for example) at least until preseason, we are looking at a chance that Mayfield may not even play at all this season. With no first-round pick, LV loses itself a chance to take on a chance to pick up a QB taken in this year’s draft class. Given, the draft capital to give up for one in the first may be heavy, playing an entire season without a QB is a strategy that hasn’t been done in both Fantasy and in real life since Tampa Bay did it in 2002 with Trent Dilfer… against the Raiders. Looking at the rest of the roster, Tight End is also a position that will cause the LV to struggle throughout the season. With returning leaders Tyler Conklin and Geoff Swaim (5.7 points and 3.8 points per game), LV will be shorthanded in that position. Granted, Tight End is a position that has historically struggled to put consistent points on the board outside the top 5, but with Conklin returning to TE2 in Minnesota and Swaim in a run first offense that doesn’t normally pass to tight ends to begin with, LV is going to need players who can score to make up for its missing QB. Luckily for the Raiders though, is that the 2022 rookie TEs this season have all been going out in later rounds. There have been TEs taken Round 5 and later who are in actual position to may be being TE1 in their respective teams. Cade Otton from Tampa Bay, for example. But I’ve said too much. And now… Kicker. Not so much the most desperate of needs, but Brian Johnson is in camp battle with Joey Slye, and reports coming out of camp is that Slye has the edge in camp. Kickers are sneaky when it comes to getting points for struggling teams but missing a player in the lineup is suicide for contending teams. With the Raiders coming off an 8-4 record last season, they’re going to need every competitive advantage they can get.
3) Kansas City Chiefs
a. When looking at the roster makeup, you look at a team that filled out its roster with players who can deliver week by week with consistency, with players who are not cap consuming to the neck, and most importantly, a Super Bowl champion. So, being subjective as I am, a few needs stand out, if only that the team can proceed with its road to defend the title. Numero uno, Running back. The depth in this team stands as Chase Edmonds, Miles Sanders, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn. While Sanders is currently the de facto RB1 for run first Phili, Edmonds and Vaugn are in no man’s land in their respective teams. Edmonds is projected to average 14.7 ppg in Miami, but Miami is set to be a RBBC, not including the addition of Tyreek Hill. I mean, before even talking about the new WR core and pass first offense, just look at Miami’s RB depth; Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel, Myles Gaskin, and Gerrid Doaks. Any number of those guys can put up the 14.7 ppg if they were the RB1, but it looking to be a beatdown for what could be 10 touches a game with all the weapons on the outside. And, to make it short for Vaughn, is on his way out with Rachaad White’s arrival. KC gives itself a chance to scout the rookie RB and use later round picks to get a back who gives him the highest ceiling. There are currently a few UDFA running backs who’s been making noises in the offseason for some teams, so it’s up to the GM to scout and chose who they feel gives them the best chance. Nitpicking a little here, DE would be the next bet for improvement. In IDP leagues, consistent tacklers who put up consistent numbers are usually the safest bets when selecting players. Given that DT and DE generally give you, what, roughly 45-50 tackles for the absolute consistent 10 ppg changers. Although Dee Ford (6.2ppg) and Von Miller (8.4ppg) are “projected” to give themselves that, they aren’t by any means top of their class. Von Miller the last two seasons has been “showing his age,” and Dee Ford has… 8 tackles in 2 years, and more than 15 tackles only once in 5 years (2018, contract year). Also luckily, DE tend to go extremely late in rookie drafts, and if you want 5 tackles this season, there should be someone in the 5th round for you there. (If you can’t tell I’m trying to stretch this paragraph out. Hard to poke holes and upgrades on Super Bowl contenders usually, especially winners) Heres to hoping that Evan Engram becomes the TE1 everyone thought he would be with NYG, now that he is with the Jaguars. 2021 was his healthiest season to date, and that was spent playing with oft hurt Daniel Jones and one week of Jake Fromm State farm. However, camp news coming out is that he’s struggling with drops in OTAs. Having to rely on Jonnu Smith and Brock Wright this season will hither, but not stop, this Kansas City Chiefs
4) Denver Broncos
a. Starting things off, running backs. Or, in this case, lack of. With a lineup of Mike Davis, Darrynton Evans (had to look up to see if he was a real player, turns out he’s a former 3rd round pick. Go figure), D’Onta Foreman, and Boston Scott, there isn’t anyone in that backfield who can give you a consistent, +10 touches a game given who’s ahead of them in the depth chart. Some brave Fantasy teams have gone the no-back rosters, but those squads usually have a few top 5 players at other positions to make up for the lack of running back points they’d receive. Of everyone on the list, Mike Davis has the best chance to maybe get early backfield work given the injuries that the top 2 backs got during the season, plus the release of Ty’Son Wallace, but that’s a huge IF. It’s anxiety inducing to pray for a situation to occur for your handcuffs to get opportunities. Roster makeup wise, this team can survive with mediocre running back play but, in an AFC West division with the Super Bowl Champs and the 8-4 LV Raiders, upgrades are needed to keep score with. Moving to the defensive end, well actually, defensive backs. You know you have a top tier DB on your real NFL team if you don’t hear a peep from them. The problem for fantasy? They need to suck in order to accumulate NFL stats for points. The team employs Brandon Facyson, Avonte Maddox, and Darius Slay. Facyson is a backup for Indy and did not record a stat until week 6 (put up 16.5 points), put up a huge 27-point game week 7, and then disappeared again until week 11, and again barely made a peep until seasons end (besides week 15, put up 15 points and didn’t see a snap the last 3 weeks lol). You’d like to see more consistency with the player, and betting on players to show up week in and week out to give you either o snaps, 9 points, or +20 points, generally isn’t a common strategy that a team should employ. With Maddox and Slay both in Phili, you’d like to bank on a DB who doesn’t also play for one of the two teams listed above so you don’t handicap yourself towards the end of the season, once injuries start taking mount and playoff pushes are being made. With the available cap space of $23.5 mil, and the roster make up overall strong enough to compete in any division that isn’t the AFC West, they could also go for getting themselves a kicker. Cairo Santos. The real Chicago Bears have a kicker curse. Might want to replace that guy so his kicking curse doesn’t affect the MFL Denver Broncos
5) Buffalo Bills
a. Now moving past the AFC West and their “No First Round Picks Allowed,” rule moved past, now’s the Buffalo Bills turn. With a roster that can put up explosive number of points just 3 offensive players (DeAndre Hopkins ((suspended)) Justin Jefferson, DeShaun Watson) any one of those players can make most MFL teams wave the white flag prematurely. Now heres the issue. Watson has been meeting with the league offices throughout the season, and consensus is that Watson will be served, at minimum a 6-game suspension, and at worst a full season suspension (hoping for the later, no way 23 civil suits against the guy is only worth 6 games). With only Watson on the roster and nobody to be a handcuff for the team, severely caps what this team can put offensively. Defensively, cornerback is again an issue. Jaire Alexander leads the DB group but has an unproven squad of Blessaun Austin (had 10 points week 14 and put up 5 points in the 3 other games he played in) Steven Nelson, who should put up decent numbers in a bad Houston defense but also has been inconsistent in his own right. Not forgetting Bradley Roby, who does not get consistent playing time nor is he reliable (1 game of +10 points, 2 games of -1 points), you’d like to add a rookie DB who is either A) on a bad defense or B) really bad but the starter is hurt, and the team has no hope but to play their DB. With only 2 DEs on the roster, you’d like to also target defensive ends, as Rakeem Nunez-Roches has just been replaced in Tampa Bay and will once again get inconsistent playing time. Can’t rely on Nick Bosa to put up enough points for two players, you’d much rather prefer have Nick Bosa put up enough points for 2 players while a rookie DE puts up... probably 10-15 snaps and/or more than 3 points.
b. EDIT: New Orleans brass are expecting that Alvin Kamara may be missing, minimum 6 games, but also potentially a year due to the battery assault arrest during the Pro Bowl. The team does have Mark Ingram and Leonard Fournette but expect New Orleans to sign a running back since they did not draft one. Mark Ingrams good, but he’s also old with wear and tear.
6) New York Jets
a. The problem with having with more than one share on a team, is that you are forced to have to choose who will perform, and bye weeks. The running back group for this team? Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, and Xavier Jones. Might as well call this team the New York Rams. Cam Akers should, hypothetically be RB1, but looking at the injury history in recent times and unknown roles for the 2 and 3, not having variety can be detrimental for the team. There are a few ways this team can go. Trade the handcuffs for late round draft picks and take a shot at the later round picks or keep them all and wait around next year when, inevitably, one of the two (or all three, who even knows) get traded/released from the actual LA Rams, thereby giving New York a deep back court. Mattison is good too, but again, he’s a handcuff who produces like a RB3 overall when Cook sits, which is about 2 games a season. Unlike most teams, this team has an advantage on cap count, as the earliest the contract expires is 2025 (Xavier Jones) and the most they’ll count against the cap is $5.75 million (Cam Akers). And the oldest player in the backfield you may ask? Darrell Henderson (24 years). Maybe not this year, but earliest being next year, this teams back field is set up how you would want to construct your roster. The cornerback depth is good as well, but you’d like to target some CBs in the draft just to round out the roster. With a surprisingly deep cornerback group in this rookie class, there’s bound to be a DB found in any round and even UDFA. Honestly, it’s hard to poke holes in this team. There’s top of the depth chart players in the most important positions (Rashad Bateman, CeeDee Lamb, and DJ Moore all in the Wide Receiver group alone!!) and valuable depth pieces throughout the roster. With $36.6 million in cap still available and only 3 players contracts ending in 2022, this team is a Super Bowl challenger. Maybe some extra defensive depth overall would give this roster a safe floor. Injuries are unfortunately a part of the NFL, and you would like some depth just in case this team goes full 2022 Cleveland Browns and have the entire starting roster in IR.
7) Arizona Cardinals
a. This roster is interesting to me as they have a lot, and I mean A LOT of players who are essentially in a prove it situation for their respective squads. Davis Mills (do Texans go QB in a QB heavy draft in 2023), JK Dobbins (injury history + Gus Edwards) CEH (1st round pick that was outplayed by Derrick Gore the UDFA weeks 6-12 until weeks 13-16 and 1 playoff game + injury history) Marvin Jones (WR1 but in Jacksonville), really my complaints here would probably go… Quarterback #1. Does Davis Mill play well enough to be the franchise QB for the Texans? My answer is no. Everybody talks about how well he played the last few weeks of the season but Mills just doesn’t pop off the screen for me. Fantasy wise, in anything less than a 16-team league, he would be found in the Waiver wire throughout the season barring bye weeks. 2022 was not the year for a quarterback, so rolling with Mills may work in its favor, at least this season, but from 2023 and on, the scouting department must search for a more competent quarterback, before you roster a stopgap backup who you expect to roll out week one and throughout. The team did do a good job in adding DEs, but none of those players added are expecting to play DT, another position of need. Rolling with just Davon Godchaux (awesome name by the way) isn’t necessarily something you want to rely on the crunch. Especially with the other additions that the New England Patriots added, Godchaux’s role is set to diminish, with beat reporters saying he’ll be a rotational piece. Same as CB. Vernon Hargreaves isn’t guaranteed a roster spot and Troy Hill only had 3 games scoring more than +10 points, even though he played more snaps than Jalen Ramsey… All pro DB Jalen Ramsey (972/953). And he averaged 8 points on more snaps. Given, he was playing in Cleveland, but he was CB2 behind Denzel Ward another all-pro. And again, it’s a deep CB draft. There’ll be somebody out there in the later rounds for you.
8) Los Angeles Rams
a. Something about the Rams and not wanting to keep their first-round picks. To be fair, it wouldn’t have net them even Kenneth Walker if they had their first rounder, who they could’ve desperately needed. With a depth of Matt Breida (sitting behind Saquan Barkley) and Fullback CJ Ham (who is no Marcell Reece and blocking 99% of the time for Cook/Mattison), the team needs to find a running back. Yesterday. The only hope here would be Tony Jones, if Mark Ingram proves inefficient and Alvin Kamara gets served prison/suspension for his assault charges. That’s a big IF, and Saquan Barkley reports are saying that he’s the healthiest he’s been in a while. In my notes I wrote down Wide Receiver as another need, but I can’t fault the team for having pieces with potential. James Proche and/or Tylan Wallace should improve with Hollywood Brown’s trade, but in a run first offense it’ll be hard regardless to be WR1 in fantasy out there. Myles Boykin went to Pittsburgh, but in a rebuild year, it feels like he’ll just be given gadget role plays or 4 receiver sets while the newly added receivers get integrated to the offense (also to note Calvin Austin can also serve a similar role to that of Boykin). Also, add a tight end. Dalton Keene from New England? Most likely cut given they have like, 4 starter worthy receivers who can’t produce for us fantasy wise. Josh Oliver from Baltimore? Again, look at my earlier snark remarks on that run first Baltimore offense. If your name isn’t Mark Andrews, you’re not getting targets as a tight end.
9) San Francisco 49ers
a. The good? Marcus Mariota and Carson Wentz are in your lineup. The needs work. Outside of Javonte Williams, you have Derrick Gore, Brandon Bolden, Carlos Hyde, and Patrick Taylor in your backfield. It’s a situation you’d like to remedy, as none of these players are even guaranteed a roster spot with their respective squads. For the team, the most expensive of these players is Hyde with $750k (he’s a free agent). Now, a few things can go the way for the team. Trade a quarterback (having yourself 2 starters means one team in the league has 0 starters. Player for player?) or draft a bunch of late rounders/UDFA and hope one of them sticks. You’d have a better chance in the draft, but by how much? Really depends on the strategy for the team. The team is more than capable of doing a No RB lineup with Williams being your bell cow in your lineup, but with that you’d also need to have a capable Tight End. Which again, its many players but no guarantees. Tyler Kroft is in San Fran (so is George Kittle), Sammis Reyes (TE3) Ricky Seals Jones (has talent, just can’t put it all together) and Nick Vannett (Taysom Hill is now the TE1 for the team). If you’re looking for a cheat sheet, second round pick Trey McBride has been going late firsts/mid second in most fantasy 32 team drafts, so there should be multiple tight ends available if you’d like to trade up to the second round, in fact might have too many options. Finally, defensive end. Target a DE in the draft, pleases. The highest projected player in the lineup is Kendal Vickers at 3.2ppg… he’s not even guaranteed a roster spot with this team. What I’d do? Trade one of my quarterbacks for multiple late round picks and throw darts on DEs and TEs. But hey, I haven’t won a Super Bowl or anything.
10) Seattle Seahawks
a. What’s up with the West not having any first-round picks? When looking at this roster make up, you have a very strong Josh Allen, with another QB1 in Mitch Trubisky and a serviceable WR/RB group. You’d like to add a tight end in this team, however. Trey Burton and Blake Jarwin are FA (with Jarwin having retired this past offseason I believe) Gerald Everett steps into the role of TE1 in LA, but the Chargers very, very much improved offense gives him a 5th receiver option. Everett seemed to alternate good games last season, with 7 games at +11 points, and 9 games at less than 9ppg (given, he did average 3 targets a game). You’d like to be safer with safer options, but Everett isn’t going to cost you a game. But he isn’t going to win you games every week. And to be Super Bowl contenders, you’d like all your position players to put up points week in and week out. Now, IDP Linebacker winners are the ones who can accumulate tackles and are leaders in their defense. In this linebacker core you have Anthony Barr (FA), KJ Britt (12 points all year last year) Daelin Hayes (practice squad in Baltimore) Kavien Pierre Louis (19 points last season) and Reggie Ragland (FA) round out the linebacker squad. Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Only 2 linebackers were drafted in the first round this year, and one of them (Devin Lloyd) is scheduled to play outside linebacker or DE, so you essentially have one true linebacker (Quay Walker, Green Bay), so drafting a highly drafted Linebacker in the late rounds is more than plausible. Could you trade up and draft Quay Walker, who in my few leagues has been going in the early second rounds on average? Sure. Definitely needed. Would I, do it? Maybe, but I’m not Seattle nor do I have the team’s knowledge or notes, so I won’t be making any moves for them (all your picks 2023 for my early 2022 second rounder buddy). Otherwise, you might want to trade for a kicker. Cody Parker and Tristan Vizcaino? Free Agents
11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
a. There are teams that absolutely could’ve used their first-round picks that was traded away. There are other teams who traded their first-round picks to cover holes and made my job harder to making notes on what teams could improve. Tampa Bay falls in that category. But your kicker. Greg the leg. Signed for $2.6 mil up to 2026. And why. The guy was missing kicks every 2 weeks. You don’t need a first to draft a kicker, but Cade York went for 1.30 in a league draft about two weeks ago. Just saying. Besides that, the team did a good job covering its DT/DE needs, but they could go with looking for upgrade at those positions somewhere in the trade market. The top position players would be DJ Jones (expected to fill a larger role in the D-Line in Denver, which is also improved tremendously) But he’s also projected 6.6ppg. And on the DE side, Leonard Williams has newly drafted Keyvon Thibadoux (?) on the other side. Rookie DEs tend to struggle first year besides a few outliers, but Williams should improve beyond his 74 ppg projection. Tampa Bay could do with upgrading its safety group, with Quandre Diggs being the only projected starter in its lineup. Daxton Hill and Lewis Cine have averaged in the 2nd/3rd rounds in my recent league drafts, so finding a rotational player in later rounds is more than plausible instead of going through the trade market.
12) Atlanta Falcons
a. That defensive line in general. Sheesh. Offensively, the lineup can more than make up for the team’s lack in the line market, but besides Chase Young (who’s had some struggles in the sack department but otherwise been as good as advertised) neither DT nor DE will put up the points needed against Super Bowl contending teams. It’s a snappy 2 for 1, but both sides can use upgrades or fresh young potential. The offense is built for the long-term contender, and by the offense alone id put some dollars in for the Super Bowl, but that would essentially be my one and only goal for this offseason/draft. But since I’m giving 3 per team, I guess we could say tight ends could use a fresher as well. Noah Fant is on the cusp of achieving potential TE1 status, but in a new environment with unproven QBs and a new offense that relatively hasn’t featured TEs all that often should look towards a second option, in case Fant just can’t put it all together. Hate you for taking Thaddeus Moss away from me though.
13) Cincinnati Bengals
a. When building rosters, a strategy I’ve learned and tried to incorporate over the years was this; deep depth with players who have potential mixed in with starters. The deeper the roster the deeper the run. Now, to a certain point, I would personally feel safer if I had a player who can guarantee me decent scoring, at least 1-2 on offensive role positions. Looking at the wide receivers, you have 7 receivers (!) on this roster. But looking at each player, your bent on having to rely on either big plays or potential role increases. Out of the way, Hollywood Brown should be the focal point in his new offense with former QB Kyler Murray, especially with Hopkins suspended. After that… Nelson Agholor is looking at 4 receiver sets in New England with Devante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, and N’Keal Harry. Although he is more than capable of putting up Las Vegas Raiders numbers (48/896/8) it’ll have to be with another franchise. A piece worth holding but that’s a huge risk for this season. Parris Campbell and Ashton Dulin both play for Indy, but as a second-round pick from 2019, Campbell just hasn’t seemed to put it all together and may be his last chance with the team while also moving down the depth chart with Alec Pierce joining the team. Campbell played 1 game in 2020 and 5 games in 2021. He has talent, don’t get me wrong (wasted a first-round pick on him back in 2019 on a completely different fantasy league), but him breaking out after so many years of injury is risky. Right behind him on the chart though, Dulin is presumably expected to take over Campbell’s role if/when he goes down and misses games. A special teams ace who only had a line of 13/173/2 last season and 5 total receptions in the two years prior, he’s more in line to gain a significant gain in targets with Matt Ryan in tow. Again, relying on Campbell to go down to get in that position however. Rounding off, Antonio Gandy-Golden from Washington is battling for a roster spot this season… targeting receivers should be the goal in the draft most definitely, however whatever receivers coming out this late would be a risk. Scout work will be required. (EDIT: Forgot about AJ Green. He’s on his down years and I don’t expect him to make much of an impact as he once was. Here’s to hoping he pans out as well. Receiver line up is built on relying on these guys to ball out, and that’s too risky for someone like myself, but if they do ball out, it’ll be one of the better cores in the MFL League). Finding another tight end will do wonders for this team as well. Ross Dwelley is battling for a roster spot and behind George Kittle, kind of hard to ever obtain targets outside of missed games. Ryan Griffin is in a favorable position in Chicago, with a terrible WR core and mediocre pass catching RBs and an overall terrible offense, but Cole Kmet is projected to produce TE1 numbers on career best targets, but in a position to be with a starter, don’t be surprised for a few outlier games from Griffin. Finally, DT. Go draft a DT. Any DT. Larry Ogunjobi is on the roster for $11mil and unsigned in the NFL. That’s the depth. Go trade for any round pick. DTs are notorious for going late in drafts, chances are you’ll find someone who can produce 0.1 more points than Ogunjobi if this holdout continues.
14) Tennessee Titans
a. Offensively, wow. Everybody is signed at the earliest 2023, and majority of the offensive pieces are either signed to 2025, 2026, or 2027 (only one player is signed to 2022, meaning this team has at least one whole year together). If we’re going to nitpick, CB may be the first position to look for a more reliable starter. Dane Jackson and Taron Johnson roles will be diminished with the selection of Kaiir Elam, Donte Jackson won’t have consistent playing time with Jaycee Horn coming back from injury. Bryce Hall is my wildcard for this CB group. A 5th rounder from last year, the guy put up 61 total tackles and 4 passes defended. Teams targeted him quite often and overall, he kept up. A jump forward and you’re looking at players capable of putting up +10ppg with a number of depth pieces who should put in +5ppg even with smaller roles. If there’s any way to add one more starter to this DB line up, it’ll turn into one of the teams’ strengths on the defensive end to keep with their strong S group. Now, if there’s any way the team can shore up the defensive line group overall, that might be a better focus group to work with. Although there’s not really many scrubs that would take away this teams Super Bowl contention, there’s two ways this team can go in terms of the d-line. A) trade everything picks related for starting DT and DE to give this team an overall makeup of death by a thousand positions, each position more capable of scoring at will than the last, or 2) invest picks on players with potential and put the scouting department through the ringer so, when those players selected are ready to be put into the lineup, they’ll be ready to keep up this teams winning pedigree, cheap as well.
15) Minnesota Vikings
a. I’ve always been a believer of a strong offense. And if you are looking for a sleeper this season (even though they were just in a Super Bowl) this would be the team to look at. Although in cap hell (34 active players with $994k cap) offensively you’re looking at players who could win leagues by themselves (looking at you, Derrick Henry). To continue to be in the Super Bowl hunt, one of the first things to look into would be to look into the quarterback spot. Specifically, the one QB on the roster. Ryan Gosling’s little brother Jared Goff is counting $33.5 million against the cap. As the only QB on the roster, it wouldn’t be so troubling as he’s struggled offensively when not matched with Sean McVay. In a make-or-break year, this is Goffs year to show he deserves to continue being a starting quarterback in the NFL. But that cap count… not worth it. Long term would be to trade him for a few late round picks for cap clearance and build for the long term in the QB strong 2023 NFL Draft or look into this trade market and trade for backup QBs who are in offenses with struggling/oft hurt QBs (Washington, Cleveland is the first to come in mind). Also, in the TE spectrum, Kahale Warring from Jacksonville doesn’t appear to be a lock for the roster with Evan Ingram in tow. Late round draft picks should be able to lock up a rookie TE on a cheap contract, however rookie TEs historically struggle to produce year 1. As the GM, it’s an interesting position to be in; double down and go for a successful Super Bowl hunt after being so close or reload and be back in contention in the 2023 season. If on the latter, the team can look into acquiring Linebackers as well, as the team currently only has Preston Smith projected to put in points (projected 7.8ppg). However, if there’s anything that Fantasy has taught me, teams don’t make the Super Bowl by accident. With some tight scout work, no doubt this team can make it back to the big game.
1) Los Angeles Chargers
a. When looking at the roster makeup, 2 things stand out that, to a detail freak, gives me anxiety; Cap Room ($1.1 million for 2022-2023) and contract lengths for certain players (Sam Darnold 5.67million till 2026) (Mike Williams $20 million until 2026/never averaged more than 49 catches until 2021). With cap that tight, it’ll be a challenge to be able to make room for additional upgrades for a team that will definitely struggle, specifically the QB, RB, and WR room. Sam Darnold is within a pulse from officially being moved to backup full time. Darnold, in 4 seasons, has never played more than 13 games in a season, and never have thrown more than 20 TDs (19 TDs in 2019 in what is considered his best statistical season). Given, $5.6 million isn’t a lot when compared to what the market value is for potential starter Qbs in this league but going back to the cap hell the team is in, cutting the loss when he is inevitably replaced by Matt Corral, will be tricky to see. Given, LA still has PJ Walker and Kyle Trask on contract until 2023/2024 respectfully, which are both good short term (PJ Walker is currently projected to back up Darnold and Corral is currently nursing an injury, giving him a leg on the backup gig) and long term (former second rounder Trask sitting behind Tom Brady, and the both the former head coaches of Tampa Bay have given good reviews on Trasks progression so far), which will give LA a few good options during trade season or when needing to package players for potential picks. Not having a first round may be a blessing as well in regard to the MFL rookie QB draft given how not great this draft class was. Should give LA a season to round out the roster, shed some contracts, and give itself a run to what is a top heavy QB draft for 2023. Going to Running back… is where I personally believed the $20 million invested in Mike Williams should have instead gone. Melvin Gordon had himself a decent 2021 season (808/7 and 27/207/2 receiving) and in a 32-team league, are numbers that can get you by and then some. However, last year’s 2nd round pick Javonte Williams is currently in position to get himself an increased role, heading into the season as RB1 in Denver. There’s no guarantee that Gordon will have a similar type of season like last year and may as well be regressing from last year’s stats. Signed to $15 million until 2026, there’s no chance that Gordon even makes it till then. We all saw him lose his job to Ekeler in San Diego, and on his way out in Denver come 2023. With the depth behind him of JaMichael Hasty, Phillip Lindsey, and Larry Roundtree, all signed until 2026, the draft strategy would be targeting late round/UDFA running backs in the later rounds of the draft capitol in possession, specifically swinging for the higher upside UDFA who have been turning heads in OTA’s. As someone who overdrafts hitters in Baseball leagues, the saying here is swing enough times and eventually you’re going to get a hit… I’m not going to touch to strong on receiver here, given I’ve been bringing Mike Williams up every other sentence it feels like. However, with the last 3 years being WR heavy in the NFL, not having that first round pick hurts the most to improve a WR core that includes Williams, Nico Collins (WR2 in what is an improved offense ) Amari Rodgers (3rd round pick who has a chance to carve out a consistent role in the Devante Adams-less offense) and Jalen Guyton (deep threat WR for LAC), that first round pick could have also been used to pick up a top 13 rookie WR, but later rounds will still have potential diamonds that can be pursued, but teams who trade 1sts are in win now, and these receivers seem poised to be ready to win, but in 2023-2024. But that cap space…. Definitely a team to monitor, who even with these holes, will sneak on some of the top teams in this league.
2) Las Vegas Raider
a. Number 1. Quarterback. Between the Jamarcus Russell Era up to Terrelle Pryors one year at the helm, the Oakland Raiders were in quarterback purgatory. Now, in MFL, history seems bent to repeat itself. Drew Brees (2 years 520k) and Case Keenum (2 years $520k) are two options on the roster. At 43, Brees will not be returning, that a given. And Case Keenum will only give you one, maybe two games for the season. Now, on the roster is Baker Mayfield, signed at $22 mil up to 2026. Currently on a roster whose relationship is all but tanked, I personally give Mayfield no chance to play for. With the report that came out recently that Carolina wanted the Browns to take on 80% (13mil/18mil) and, shockingly enough, Cleveland only wants to take no more than 50% of his contract (roughly 9million), Mayfield’s stuck in essentially no man’s land. With rosters filling out, teams’ content with rolling with the quarterbacks they have (Seattle for example) at least until preseason, we are looking at a chance that Mayfield may not even play at all this season. With no first-round pick, LV loses itself a chance to take on a chance to pick up a QB taken in this year’s draft class. Given, the draft capital to give up for one in the first may be heavy, playing an entire season without a QB is a strategy that hasn’t been done in both Fantasy and in real life since Tampa Bay did it in 2002 with Trent Dilfer… against the Raiders. Looking at the rest of the roster, Tight End is also a position that will cause the LV to struggle throughout the season. With returning leaders Tyler Conklin and Geoff Swaim (5.7 points and 3.8 points per game), LV will be shorthanded in that position. Granted, Tight End is a position that has historically struggled to put consistent points on the board outside the top 5, but with Conklin returning to TE2 in Minnesota and Swaim in a run first offense that doesn’t normally pass to tight ends to begin with, LV is going to need players who can score to make up for its missing QB. Luckily for the Raiders though, is that the 2022 rookie TEs this season have all been going out in later rounds. There have been TEs taken Round 5 and later who are in actual position to may be being TE1 in their respective teams. Cade Otton from Tampa Bay, for example. But I’ve said too much. And now… Kicker. Not so much the most desperate of needs, but Brian Johnson is in camp battle with Joey Slye, and reports coming out of camp is that Slye has the edge in camp. Kickers are sneaky when it comes to getting points for struggling teams but missing a player in the lineup is suicide for contending teams. With the Raiders coming off an 8-4 record last season, they’re going to need every competitive advantage they can get.
3) Kansas City Chiefs
a. When looking at the roster makeup, you look at a team that filled out its roster with players who can deliver week by week with consistency, with players who are not cap consuming to the neck, and most importantly, a Super Bowl champion. So, being subjective as I am, a few needs stand out, if only that the team can proceed with its road to defend the title. Numero uno, Running back. The depth in this team stands as Chase Edmonds, Miles Sanders, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn. While Sanders is currently the de facto RB1 for run first Phili, Edmonds and Vaugn are in no man’s land in their respective teams. Edmonds is projected to average 14.7 ppg in Miami, but Miami is set to be a RBBC, not including the addition of Tyreek Hill. I mean, before even talking about the new WR core and pass first offense, just look at Miami’s RB depth; Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel, Myles Gaskin, and Gerrid Doaks. Any number of those guys can put up the 14.7 ppg if they were the RB1, but it looking to be a beatdown for what could be 10 touches a game with all the weapons on the outside. And, to make it short for Vaughn, is on his way out with Rachaad White’s arrival. KC gives itself a chance to scout the rookie RB and use later round picks to get a back who gives him the highest ceiling. There are currently a few UDFA running backs who’s been making noises in the offseason for some teams, so it’s up to the GM to scout and chose who they feel gives them the best chance. Nitpicking a little here, DE would be the next bet for improvement. In IDP leagues, consistent tacklers who put up consistent numbers are usually the safest bets when selecting players. Given that DT and DE generally give you, what, roughly 45-50 tackles for the absolute consistent 10 ppg changers. Although Dee Ford (6.2ppg) and Von Miller (8.4ppg) are “projected” to give themselves that, they aren’t by any means top of their class. Von Miller the last two seasons has been “showing his age,” and Dee Ford has… 8 tackles in 2 years, and more than 15 tackles only once in 5 years (2018, contract year). Also luckily, DE tend to go extremely late in rookie drafts, and if you want 5 tackles this season, there should be someone in the 5th round for you there. (If you can’t tell I’m trying to stretch this paragraph out. Hard to poke holes and upgrades on Super Bowl contenders usually, especially winners) Heres to hoping that Evan Engram becomes the TE1 everyone thought he would be with NYG, now that he is with the Jaguars. 2021 was his healthiest season to date, and that was spent playing with oft hurt Daniel Jones and one week of Jake Fromm State farm. However, camp news coming out is that he’s struggling with drops in OTAs. Having to rely on Jonnu Smith and Brock Wright this season will hither, but not stop, this Kansas City Chiefs
4) Denver Broncos
a. Starting things off, running backs. Or, in this case, lack of. With a lineup of Mike Davis, Darrynton Evans (had to look up to see if he was a real player, turns out he’s a former 3rd round pick. Go figure), D’Onta Foreman, and Boston Scott, there isn’t anyone in that backfield who can give you a consistent, +10 touches a game given who’s ahead of them in the depth chart. Some brave Fantasy teams have gone the no-back rosters, but those squads usually have a few top 5 players at other positions to make up for the lack of running back points they’d receive. Of everyone on the list, Mike Davis has the best chance to maybe get early backfield work given the injuries that the top 2 backs got during the season, plus the release of Ty’Son Wallace, but that’s a huge IF. It’s anxiety inducing to pray for a situation to occur for your handcuffs to get opportunities. Roster makeup wise, this team can survive with mediocre running back play but, in an AFC West division with the Super Bowl Champs and the 8-4 LV Raiders, upgrades are needed to keep score with. Moving to the defensive end, well actually, defensive backs. You know you have a top tier DB on your real NFL team if you don’t hear a peep from them. The problem for fantasy? They need to suck in order to accumulate NFL stats for points. The team employs Brandon Facyson, Avonte Maddox, and Darius Slay. Facyson is a backup for Indy and did not record a stat until week 6 (put up 16.5 points), put up a huge 27-point game week 7, and then disappeared again until week 11, and again barely made a peep until seasons end (besides week 15, put up 15 points and didn’t see a snap the last 3 weeks lol). You’d like to see more consistency with the player, and betting on players to show up week in and week out to give you either o snaps, 9 points, or +20 points, generally isn’t a common strategy that a team should employ. With Maddox and Slay both in Phili, you’d like to bank on a DB who doesn’t also play for one of the two teams listed above so you don’t handicap yourself towards the end of the season, once injuries start taking mount and playoff pushes are being made. With the available cap space of $23.5 mil, and the roster make up overall strong enough to compete in any division that isn’t the AFC West, they could also go for getting themselves a kicker. Cairo Santos. The real Chicago Bears have a kicker curse. Might want to replace that guy so his kicking curse doesn’t affect the MFL Denver Broncos
5) Buffalo Bills
a. Now moving past the AFC West and their “No First Round Picks Allowed,” rule moved past, now’s the Buffalo Bills turn. With a roster that can put up explosive number of points just 3 offensive players (DeAndre Hopkins ((suspended)) Justin Jefferson, DeShaun Watson) any one of those players can make most MFL teams wave the white flag prematurely. Now heres the issue. Watson has been meeting with the league offices throughout the season, and consensus is that Watson will be served, at minimum a 6-game suspension, and at worst a full season suspension (hoping for the later, no way 23 civil suits against the guy is only worth 6 games). With only Watson on the roster and nobody to be a handcuff for the team, severely caps what this team can put offensively. Defensively, cornerback is again an issue. Jaire Alexander leads the DB group but has an unproven squad of Blessaun Austin (had 10 points week 14 and put up 5 points in the 3 other games he played in) Steven Nelson, who should put up decent numbers in a bad Houston defense but also has been inconsistent in his own right. Not forgetting Bradley Roby, who does not get consistent playing time nor is he reliable (1 game of +10 points, 2 games of -1 points), you’d like to add a rookie DB who is either A) on a bad defense or B) really bad but the starter is hurt, and the team has no hope but to play their DB. With only 2 DEs on the roster, you’d like to also target defensive ends, as Rakeem Nunez-Roches has just been replaced in Tampa Bay and will once again get inconsistent playing time. Can’t rely on Nick Bosa to put up enough points for two players, you’d much rather prefer have Nick Bosa put up enough points for 2 players while a rookie DE puts up... probably 10-15 snaps and/or more than 3 points.
b. EDIT: New Orleans brass are expecting that Alvin Kamara may be missing, minimum 6 games, but also potentially a year due to the battery assault arrest during the Pro Bowl. The team does have Mark Ingram and Leonard Fournette but expect New Orleans to sign a running back since they did not draft one. Mark Ingrams good, but he’s also old with wear and tear.
6) New York Jets
a. The problem with having with more than one share on a team, is that you are forced to have to choose who will perform, and bye weeks. The running back group for this team? Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, and Xavier Jones. Might as well call this team the New York Rams. Cam Akers should, hypothetically be RB1, but looking at the injury history in recent times and unknown roles for the 2 and 3, not having variety can be detrimental for the team. There are a few ways this team can go. Trade the handcuffs for late round draft picks and take a shot at the later round picks or keep them all and wait around next year when, inevitably, one of the two (or all three, who even knows) get traded/released from the actual LA Rams, thereby giving New York a deep back court. Mattison is good too, but again, he’s a handcuff who produces like a RB3 overall when Cook sits, which is about 2 games a season. Unlike most teams, this team has an advantage on cap count, as the earliest the contract expires is 2025 (Xavier Jones) and the most they’ll count against the cap is $5.75 million (Cam Akers). And the oldest player in the backfield you may ask? Darrell Henderson (24 years). Maybe not this year, but earliest being next year, this teams back field is set up how you would want to construct your roster. The cornerback depth is good as well, but you’d like to target some CBs in the draft just to round out the roster. With a surprisingly deep cornerback group in this rookie class, there’s bound to be a DB found in any round and even UDFA. Honestly, it’s hard to poke holes in this team. There’s top of the depth chart players in the most important positions (Rashad Bateman, CeeDee Lamb, and DJ Moore all in the Wide Receiver group alone!!) and valuable depth pieces throughout the roster. With $36.6 million in cap still available and only 3 players contracts ending in 2022, this team is a Super Bowl challenger. Maybe some extra defensive depth overall would give this roster a safe floor. Injuries are unfortunately a part of the NFL, and you would like some depth just in case this team goes full 2022 Cleveland Browns and have the entire starting roster in IR.
7) Arizona Cardinals
a. This roster is interesting to me as they have a lot, and I mean A LOT of players who are essentially in a prove it situation for their respective squads. Davis Mills (do Texans go QB in a QB heavy draft in 2023), JK Dobbins (injury history + Gus Edwards) CEH (1st round pick that was outplayed by Derrick Gore the UDFA weeks 6-12 until weeks 13-16 and 1 playoff game + injury history) Marvin Jones (WR1 but in Jacksonville), really my complaints here would probably go… Quarterback #1. Does Davis Mill play well enough to be the franchise QB for the Texans? My answer is no. Everybody talks about how well he played the last few weeks of the season but Mills just doesn’t pop off the screen for me. Fantasy wise, in anything less than a 16-team league, he would be found in the Waiver wire throughout the season barring bye weeks. 2022 was not the year for a quarterback, so rolling with Mills may work in its favor, at least this season, but from 2023 and on, the scouting department must search for a more competent quarterback, before you roster a stopgap backup who you expect to roll out week one and throughout. The team did do a good job in adding DEs, but none of those players added are expecting to play DT, another position of need. Rolling with just Davon Godchaux (awesome name by the way) isn’t necessarily something you want to rely on the crunch. Especially with the other additions that the New England Patriots added, Godchaux’s role is set to diminish, with beat reporters saying he’ll be a rotational piece. Same as CB. Vernon Hargreaves isn’t guaranteed a roster spot and Troy Hill only had 3 games scoring more than +10 points, even though he played more snaps than Jalen Ramsey… All pro DB Jalen Ramsey (972/953). And he averaged 8 points on more snaps. Given, he was playing in Cleveland, but he was CB2 behind Denzel Ward another all-pro. And again, it’s a deep CB draft. There’ll be somebody out there in the later rounds for you.
8) Los Angeles Rams
a. Something about the Rams and not wanting to keep their first-round picks. To be fair, it wouldn’t have net them even Kenneth Walker if they had their first rounder, who they could’ve desperately needed. With a depth of Matt Breida (sitting behind Saquan Barkley) and Fullback CJ Ham (who is no Marcell Reece and blocking 99% of the time for Cook/Mattison), the team needs to find a running back. Yesterday. The only hope here would be Tony Jones, if Mark Ingram proves inefficient and Alvin Kamara gets served prison/suspension for his assault charges. That’s a big IF, and Saquan Barkley reports are saying that he’s the healthiest he’s been in a while. In my notes I wrote down Wide Receiver as another need, but I can’t fault the team for having pieces with potential. James Proche and/or Tylan Wallace should improve with Hollywood Brown’s trade, but in a run first offense it’ll be hard regardless to be WR1 in fantasy out there. Myles Boykin went to Pittsburgh, but in a rebuild year, it feels like he’ll just be given gadget role plays or 4 receiver sets while the newly added receivers get integrated to the offense (also to note Calvin Austin can also serve a similar role to that of Boykin). Also, add a tight end. Dalton Keene from New England? Most likely cut given they have like, 4 starter worthy receivers who can’t produce for us fantasy wise. Josh Oliver from Baltimore? Again, look at my earlier snark remarks on that run first Baltimore offense. If your name isn’t Mark Andrews, you’re not getting targets as a tight end.
9) San Francisco 49ers
a. The good? Marcus Mariota and Carson Wentz are in your lineup. The needs work. Outside of Javonte Williams, you have Derrick Gore, Brandon Bolden, Carlos Hyde, and Patrick Taylor in your backfield. It’s a situation you’d like to remedy, as none of these players are even guaranteed a roster spot with their respective squads. For the team, the most expensive of these players is Hyde with $750k (he’s a free agent). Now, a few things can go the way for the team. Trade a quarterback (having yourself 2 starters means one team in the league has 0 starters. Player for player?) or draft a bunch of late rounders/UDFA and hope one of them sticks. You’d have a better chance in the draft, but by how much? Really depends on the strategy for the team. The team is more than capable of doing a No RB lineup with Williams being your bell cow in your lineup, but with that you’d also need to have a capable Tight End. Which again, its many players but no guarantees. Tyler Kroft is in San Fran (so is George Kittle), Sammis Reyes (TE3) Ricky Seals Jones (has talent, just can’t put it all together) and Nick Vannett (Taysom Hill is now the TE1 for the team). If you’re looking for a cheat sheet, second round pick Trey McBride has been going late firsts/mid second in most fantasy 32 team drafts, so there should be multiple tight ends available if you’d like to trade up to the second round, in fact might have too many options. Finally, defensive end. Target a DE in the draft, pleases. The highest projected player in the lineup is Kendal Vickers at 3.2ppg… he’s not even guaranteed a roster spot with this team. What I’d do? Trade one of my quarterbacks for multiple late round picks and throw darts on DEs and TEs. But hey, I haven’t won a Super Bowl or anything.
10) Seattle Seahawks
a. What’s up with the West not having any first-round picks? When looking at this roster make up, you have a very strong Josh Allen, with another QB1 in Mitch Trubisky and a serviceable WR/RB group. You’d like to add a tight end in this team, however. Trey Burton and Blake Jarwin are FA (with Jarwin having retired this past offseason I believe) Gerald Everett steps into the role of TE1 in LA, but the Chargers very, very much improved offense gives him a 5th receiver option. Everett seemed to alternate good games last season, with 7 games at +11 points, and 9 games at less than 9ppg (given, he did average 3 targets a game). You’d like to be safer with safer options, but Everett isn’t going to cost you a game. But he isn’t going to win you games every week. And to be Super Bowl contenders, you’d like all your position players to put up points week in and week out. Now, IDP Linebacker winners are the ones who can accumulate tackles and are leaders in their defense. In this linebacker core you have Anthony Barr (FA), KJ Britt (12 points all year last year) Daelin Hayes (practice squad in Baltimore) Kavien Pierre Louis (19 points last season) and Reggie Ragland (FA) round out the linebacker squad. Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Only 2 linebackers were drafted in the first round this year, and one of them (Devin Lloyd) is scheduled to play outside linebacker or DE, so you essentially have one true linebacker (Quay Walker, Green Bay), so drafting a highly drafted Linebacker in the late rounds is more than plausible. Could you trade up and draft Quay Walker, who in my few leagues has been going in the early second rounds on average? Sure. Definitely needed. Would I, do it? Maybe, but I’m not Seattle nor do I have the team’s knowledge or notes, so I won’t be making any moves for them (all your picks 2023 for my early 2022 second rounder buddy). Otherwise, you might want to trade for a kicker. Cody Parker and Tristan Vizcaino? Free Agents
11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
a. There are teams that absolutely could’ve used their first-round picks that was traded away. There are other teams who traded their first-round picks to cover holes and made my job harder to making notes on what teams could improve. Tampa Bay falls in that category. But your kicker. Greg the leg. Signed for $2.6 mil up to 2026. And why. The guy was missing kicks every 2 weeks. You don’t need a first to draft a kicker, but Cade York went for 1.30 in a league draft about two weeks ago. Just saying. Besides that, the team did a good job covering its DT/DE needs, but they could go with looking for upgrade at those positions somewhere in the trade market. The top position players would be DJ Jones (expected to fill a larger role in the D-Line in Denver, which is also improved tremendously) But he’s also projected 6.6ppg. And on the DE side, Leonard Williams has newly drafted Keyvon Thibadoux (?) on the other side. Rookie DEs tend to struggle first year besides a few outliers, but Williams should improve beyond his 74 ppg projection. Tampa Bay could do with upgrading its safety group, with Quandre Diggs being the only projected starter in its lineup. Daxton Hill and Lewis Cine have averaged in the 2nd/3rd rounds in my recent league drafts, so finding a rotational player in later rounds is more than plausible instead of going through the trade market.
12) Atlanta Falcons
a. That defensive line in general. Sheesh. Offensively, the lineup can more than make up for the team’s lack in the line market, but besides Chase Young (who’s had some struggles in the sack department but otherwise been as good as advertised) neither DT nor DE will put up the points needed against Super Bowl contending teams. It’s a snappy 2 for 1, but both sides can use upgrades or fresh young potential. The offense is built for the long-term contender, and by the offense alone id put some dollars in for the Super Bowl, but that would essentially be my one and only goal for this offseason/draft. But since I’m giving 3 per team, I guess we could say tight ends could use a fresher as well. Noah Fant is on the cusp of achieving potential TE1 status, but in a new environment with unproven QBs and a new offense that relatively hasn’t featured TEs all that often should look towards a second option, in case Fant just can’t put it all together. Hate you for taking Thaddeus Moss away from me though.
13) Cincinnati Bengals
a. When building rosters, a strategy I’ve learned and tried to incorporate over the years was this; deep depth with players who have potential mixed in with starters. The deeper the roster the deeper the run. Now, to a certain point, I would personally feel safer if I had a player who can guarantee me decent scoring, at least 1-2 on offensive role positions. Looking at the wide receivers, you have 7 receivers (!) on this roster. But looking at each player, your bent on having to rely on either big plays or potential role increases. Out of the way, Hollywood Brown should be the focal point in his new offense with former QB Kyler Murray, especially with Hopkins suspended. After that… Nelson Agholor is looking at 4 receiver sets in New England with Devante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, and N’Keal Harry. Although he is more than capable of putting up Las Vegas Raiders numbers (48/896/8) it’ll have to be with another franchise. A piece worth holding but that’s a huge risk for this season. Parris Campbell and Ashton Dulin both play for Indy, but as a second-round pick from 2019, Campbell just hasn’t seemed to put it all together and may be his last chance with the team while also moving down the depth chart with Alec Pierce joining the team. Campbell played 1 game in 2020 and 5 games in 2021. He has talent, don’t get me wrong (wasted a first-round pick on him back in 2019 on a completely different fantasy league), but him breaking out after so many years of injury is risky. Right behind him on the chart though, Dulin is presumably expected to take over Campbell’s role if/when he goes down and misses games. A special teams ace who only had a line of 13/173/2 last season and 5 total receptions in the two years prior, he’s more in line to gain a significant gain in targets with Matt Ryan in tow. Again, relying on Campbell to go down to get in that position however. Rounding off, Antonio Gandy-Golden from Washington is battling for a roster spot this season… targeting receivers should be the goal in the draft most definitely, however whatever receivers coming out this late would be a risk. Scout work will be required. (EDIT: Forgot about AJ Green. He’s on his down years and I don’t expect him to make much of an impact as he once was. Here’s to hoping he pans out as well. Receiver line up is built on relying on these guys to ball out, and that’s too risky for someone like myself, but if they do ball out, it’ll be one of the better cores in the MFL League). Finding another tight end will do wonders for this team as well. Ross Dwelley is battling for a roster spot and behind George Kittle, kind of hard to ever obtain targets outside of missed games. Ryan Griffin is in a favorable position in Chicago, with a terrible WR core and mediocre pass catching RBs and an overall terrible offense, but Cole Kmet is projected to produce TE1 numbers on career best targets, but in a position to be with a starter, don’t be surprised for a few outlier games from Griffin. Finally, DT. Go draft a DT. Any DT. Larry Ogunjobi is on the roster for $11mil and unsigned in the NFL. That’s the depth. Go trade for any round pick. DTs are notorious for going late in drafts, chances are you’ll find someone who can produce 0.1 more points than Ogunjobi if this holdout continues.
14) Tennessee Titans
a. Offensively, wow. Everybody is signed at the earliest 2023, and majority of the offensive pieces are either signed to 2025, 2026, or 2027 (only one player is signed to 2022, meaning this team has at least one whole year together). If we’re going to nitpick, CB may be the first position to look for a more reliable starter. Dane Jackson and Taron Johnson roles will be diminished with the selection of Kaiir Elam, Donte Jackson won’t have consistent playing time with Jaycee Horn coming back from injury. Bryce Hall is my wildcard for this CB group. A 5th rounder from last year, the guy put up 61 total tackles and 4 passes defended. Teams targeted him quite often and overall, he kept up. A jump forward and you’re looking at players capable of putting up +10ppg with a number of depth pieces who should put in +5ppg even with smaller roles. If there’s any way to add one more starter to this DB line up, it’ll turn into one of the teams’ strengths on the defensive end to keep with their strong S group. Now, if there’s any way the team can shore up the defensive line group overall, that might be a better focus group to work with. Although there’s not really many scrubs that would take away this teams Super Bowl contention, there’s two ways this team can go in terms of the d-line. A) trade everything picks related for starting DT and DE to give this team an overall makeup of death by a thousand positions, each position more capable of scoring at will than the last, or 2) invest picks on players with potential and put the scouting department through the ringer so, when those players selected are ready to be put into the lineup, they’ll be ready to keep up this teams winning pedigree, cheap as well.
15) Minnesota Vikings
a. I’ve always been a believer of a strong offense. And if you are looking for a sleeper this season (even though they were just in a Super Bowl) this would be the team to look at. Although in cap hell (34 active players with $994k cap) offensively you’re looking at players who could win leagues by themselves (looking at you, Derrick Henry). To continue to be in the Super Bowl hunt, one of the first things to look into would be to look into the quarterback spot. Specifically, the one QB on the roster. Ryan Gosling’s little brother Jared Goff is counting $33.5 million against the cap. As the only QB on the roster, it wouldn’t be so troubling as he’s struggled offensively when not matched with Sean McVay. In a make-or-break year, this is Goffs year to show he deserves to continue being a starting quarterback in the NFL. But that cap count… not worth it. Long term would be to trade him for a few late round picks for cap clearance and build for the long term in the QB strong 2023 NFL Draft or look into this trade market and trade for backup QBs who are in offenses with struggling/oft hurt QBs (Washington, Cleveland is the first to come in mind). Also, in the TE spectrum, Kahale Warring from Jacksonville doesn’t appear to be a lock for the roster with Evan Ingram in tow. Late round draft picks should be able to lock up a rookie TE on a cheap contract, however rookie TEs historically struggle to produce year 1. As the GM, it’s an interesting position to be in; double down and go for a successful Super Bowl hunt after being so close or reload and be back in contention in the 2023 season. If on the latter, the team can look into acquiring Linebackers as well, as the team currently only has Preston Smith projected to put in points (projected 7.8ppg). However, if there’s anything that Fantasy has taught me, teams don’t make the Super Bowl by accident. With some tight scout work, no doubt this team can make it back to the big game.
