Jerry’s World Wonder (JWW)
Owner: Brian Dembinski
2022 Season: 1st Place (Defending Champions)
The Team
(Top Tier Contract)
QB:
Patrick Mahomes, Geno Smith
RB:
Najee Harris, Jerrick McKinnon, Jerome Ford
WR:
Davonte Adams, Mike Thomas, Jerry Jeudy, Alen Robinson
TE:
Darren Waller, Jonu Smith, Gerald Everett, Jake Ferguson
K:
Justin Tucker, Cameron Dicker
DEF:
Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals
Players to Watch:
Jake Ferguson (TE) - Dallas tight ends tend to do well in Fantasy, and QB Dak Prescott promises a breakout season in Jake's 2nd season. The potential to be a top-10 TE is there for this lad, and JWW's commitment to the player could make him a Top Tier Contract to come.
Mike Thomas (WR) - The man with the funky toe is finally back...or is he? Mike's talent isn't in doubt as he is connected with some of the great plays in recent Saints' history. However, health has relegated the receiver to the fantasy cellar in the past couple of years. JWW's above PAV investment could come back to haunt him, or could reflect a savvy fantasy projection from The Wonder.
Practice Squad (Taxi)
Hunter Renfrow (Draft)
DeWayne McBride (Draft)
Stetson Bennett (Draft)
Devon Achane (RS1)
Eric Gray (RS1)
Deuce Vaughn (RS1)
Rude's Taxi Prognostications - Stetson Bennett (QB) RAMS takes the helm in LA as the team fades into rebuild mode after a season-ending injury to Matthew Stafford. Deuce Vaughn (RB) COWBOYS surprises fantasy owners in Dallas, and becomes a name in everyone's fckn mouth in 2024.
CAP & Waiver - $24 ($47DM)
OVERALL GRADE: C
All of the Wonder's depth is in his Kicking and D/Secondary rooms - precisely where many an owner stream week to week off the waiver wire.
While he roars into 2023 the defending DFFL champion, fielding starters like Mahomes, D. Adams, Najee Harris, and Darren Waller, his team is one injury at any one of these positions from simply meowing the rest of the way.
Complicating the lack of depth is the lack of CAP and second-to-RAF DM dilemma that prevents any real attempt at competing for waiver gold in case of injury.
JWW is teetering in Tier IV territory, which could firmly shift into the cellar with any injury at the QB or RB position.
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UGG Life (UGG)
Owner: Mike “Mooch” Petronis
2022 Season: 3rd Place
The Team
(Top Tier Contract)
QB:
Dak Prescott, Sam Howell, Joe Burrow
RB:
Austin Ekeler, David Montgomery, Cordarrelle Patterson, Nick Chubb, Joshua Kelley, A.J. Dillon
WR:
Tyler Lockett, Ja'Marr Chase, Amari Cooper, Brandin Cooks, Odell Beckham, Jr.
TE:
Juwan Johnson, Hunter Henry
K:
Chad Ryland, Graham Gano
DEF:
New England Patriots
Players to Watch:
Amari Cooper (WR) - The #1 receiver in Cleveland is an injury prone, aging, expensive long-term investment for The UGG. He has the potential to get Top 10 receiver fantasy production with the likes of TuggyPulls Watson as his thrower. However, significant questions/concerns remain, as seemingly always with a Cleveland pro team. If Watson can be great again, he can make Amari awesome. If Amari can stay healthy, UGG can set and forget all season long in 1 of 2 WR slots.
Sam Howell (QB) - Riverboat Ron has known and coached some top QBs in the NFL, and by all early indications, the Sam Train is steaming through DC will a lot of solid potential. Personally, I'm intrigued by Howell, and think he can be a franchise history-making player. Some of his pre-season throws over the middle remind me of how John Elway sent precision guided missiles to Shannon Sharpe back in the 80's and 90's. Howell deserved a 4 yr contract from UGG, but he still got two years. UGG could see his next cheap Top 10 QB in this dude, but if it pans out, the PAV will quadruple and UGG will be making expensive decisions on Burrow or Howell (or both) in 2 years.
Practice Squad (Taxi)
Tyler Conklin (Draft)
Mike Gesicki (Draft)
TuTu Atwell (Draft)
Chicago Bears (Draft)
Pierre Strong, JR. (RS2)
Cedric Tillman (RS1)
Rude's Taxi Prognostications - Tyler Conklin (TE) JETS plays like the tight end Rodgers wished he had in Green Bay the last few years. Conklin grabs Top 10 TE status by Week 5, as Rodgers finds it's easier to throw to the talented TE than his wides when in the RedZone. Cedric Tillman (WR) BROWNS supplants Elijah Moore as the #2 receiver by mid-season. His big playability and team player aptitude is refreshing for a team yearning for a talent not plagued with controversy or attitude issues.
CAP & Waiver - $33 (NO DM)
OVERALL GRADE: B+
UGG is cruising into the 2023 DFFL season with a solid set of starters and decent depth at many of the main positions.
Concerning is his budget situation for potential injury covering on the Waiver Wire. However, with Chubb and Ekeler in the running back room, Burrow and Prescott running his offense, and receivers like Chase, Cooper, and Lockett, UGG is looking tops in the Tier II category.
He very likely is a Top 6 team at the end of the fantasy regular season. His ticket to the DFFL 2023 playoff season is his to lose.
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The MEGA Watts (TMW)
Owner: Steven Ranes
2022 Season: 6th Place
The Team
(Top Tier Contract)
QB:
Deshaun Watson, Tua Tagovailoa
RB:
Derrick Henry, Clyde Edwards-Hellaire
WR:
Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans, Deandre Hopkins, Nico Collins
TE:
Donald Parham, Mark Andrews
K:
Harrison Butker
DEF:
San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens
Players to Watch
Deshaun Watson (QB) - Mr. Tuggy Pulls is heading into 2023 with so much riding on his future as a starting QB in the NFL, but also the future for the Cleveland Browns. He has the capacity to prove his astronomical salary's worth, bringing some of the athleticism and talent he showed in Houston. If this happens, TMW is postured for a couple of fantasy productive seasons at the QB position. However, the Browns brought in some solid backups who shouldn't give coaches pause for starting if Watson can't rally some wins. In the event Tuggy Pulls falls further out of favor in the NFL, TMW will be left holding a hot potato. However, TMW has proven more than capable of tossing hot potatoes to other daring owners (see: Kyler Murray).
Nico Collins (WR) - Nico is one of the few long-term contracts on TMW's squad under the cost of a COSTCO hotdog, but with real break-out WR1 potential. It's still anyone's guess who among the receivers will truly step up to be CJ Stroud's go-to, but Nico Collins is certainly poised to handle the WR1 role. If this happens, TMW will have a Top 20 WR at bargain cost through 2025. Collins' competition is significant, however. Dalton Shultz (TE) came to Houston from Dallas with the capacity to be a target sponge. Metchie and Rook sensation Tank Dell are also postured to breakout in that new offense. We should have a good idea by Week 4 whether Nico can be productive in fantasy circle, or if he simply fades into fantasy irrelevancy.
Practice Squad (Taxi)
Hassan Haskins (RS2)
Sam LaPorta (RS1)
Rude's Taxi Prognostications - Hassan Haskins (RB) TITANS dresses up as a Turd mascot when owner, Steve, is unhappy with team's performance. He will be dancing The Carlton to a continual loop of Tom Jones' 'It's Not Unusual' on TMW's sidelines. Sam LaPorta (TE) LIONS will become the most productive rookie TE since T.J. Hockenson in 2023. Injuries, suspensions, and all around lack of receiver talent will force the Lion's offense to run through the rookie. He won't disappoint.
CAP & Waiver - $63 ($12DM)
OVERALL GRADE: B
The MegaWats had a very successful offseason!
TMW brought in starters like Tua Tagovailoa, King Henry, and Mike Evans to propel his franchise from the depths of Tier IV in May to Tier II territory going into September. While depth is a big concern at running back and tight end, his receiver and QB room is full of the who's who at those positions.
TMW retains just enough CAP to shop for a bye week TE (or sign Sam LaPorta), and to add depth at RB.
This is my DARK HORSE team to go to the DFFL Championship Bowl Game this year!
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Dead Money Millionaire (DMM)
Owner: Lewis Edmonds
2022 Season: 11th Place
The Team
(Top Tier Contract)
QB:
Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Hurts, Tyson Bagent
RB:
Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, Tyler Allgeier, Jalen Warren, Evan Hull
WR:
Calvin Ridley, Jakobi Meyers, JuJu Smith-Schuster, D.J. Chark, George Pickens, Curtis Samuel, Parris Campbell, Allen Lazard, K.J. Osborne
TE:
David Njoku
K:
Jake Elliot
DEF:
Cleveland Browns
Indianapolis Colts
Players to Watch
George Pickens (WR) - The Millionaires signed Pickens to a max contract at Rookie Salary. Given the PAV for 2023 and expectations for a trifecta breakout from Pickens, Harris and Pickett, DMM may just have himself a solid set and forget player for some time to come. Some are picking the Steelers to go well into the playoffs, and that just doesn't happen without George. The flip side is that the QB doesn't take the next step and George pays the price for it. Pittsburgh continues to flounder, and DMM looks to trade the contract away and reset.
Evan Hull (RB) - Hull is one of those homer players a fantasy manager just has a "good feeling" about. When you add "homer" and "good feeling" (oh and super cheap Rookie price), you get an Evan Hull 4 yr contract with The Millionaires! The backfield (lets not kid ourselves - the whole team) in Indianapolis is truly in untraveled territory. The star RB, Justin Taylor, is out the facility...screen door literally hitting him in the ass, and the remaining backs are looking at each other like the infamous Spider Man meme; your the guy!, No, your the guy!...Evan Hull can truly step up and be Irsay's pet project success - OR - he could see that playing RB in Indianapolis is a fool's errand. Perhaps, this was what JT shared with him in the days before requesting a trade?
Practice Squad (Taxi)
Dustin Hopkins
Marcus Mariota
Braxton Berrios
Noah Gray
Jelani Woods
Josh Downs
Rude's Taxi Prognostications - Braxton Berrios (WR) DOLPHINS is productive as an NFL receiver and fantasy producer in Miami, rivaling Hunter Renfrow and Josh Reynolds for successful #3 wide receivers. Folks will simply say, "Well, apparently even a diamond can't shine in a Jets uniform. How did we not know, Berrios was actually pretty good?" Marcus Mariota, after showing why he's been on more NFL teams than the NFL logo in pre-season, gets an opportunity to start after Hurts goes down injured. He is quickly benched for Tanner McKee.
CAP & Waiver - $105 ($43DM)
OVERALL GRADE: B+
I like this Dead Money Millionaires team. The journey they traveled from bottom of the barrel to Solid Tier II DFFL team is one we can all marvel at and learn from.
DMM has top tier players and decent depth for the QB, RB, and WR positions. What he lacks in depth at TE, he can easily find with his enviable $100+ CAP position! Some of what concerns me - one homer to the other - is his propensity to believe in and therefore sign any Colts player with a pulse, despite what all the writing on the wall is saying. He may yet find some diamonds in the rough - Evan Hull and Josh Downs; so the jury is out, but not for long.
This is a DFFL Playoff team and should compete for Division leadership.
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