MALT DIVISION
KNOCKIN ON EVAN'S DOOR (KED)
Owner: CHAD LEWBER
2023 Season: DFFL RUNNER UP (2NDPLACE)
2022 Season: 6th Place
The Team
(Elite Contract,
*not-graded)
QB:
Lamar Jackson, Anthony Richardson
RB:
Joe Mixon, Rachaad White, Kenneth Walker II
WR:
Josh Reynolds, Zay Jones, Marquise Hollywood Brown, Elijah "Lessis" Moore, Chris "Oldas" Godwin, Diontae "Hasno" Johnson
TE:
Cole "N'yet" Kmet
K*:
Nothing to see here....
DEF*:
Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Elite Contract: (Top 10 QB, Top 15 RB, Top 20 WR, Top 5 TE) + (Under or within $5 for Auction Value)
“Sponsored” by Fantraxhq.com
Players to Watch:
Anthony Richardson (QB): Chad had great success at his QB and TE position in 2023. Lamar Jackson (QB) Baltimore, was a regular among the Top 5, and was consistent producing fantasy points that either met or exceeded Sleeper projections. Richardson, however, is the player to watch for KED, as he reprents continuity and depth at an important position. And since both Richardson and Jackson are essentially "running QBs," they "run" the risk - no pun intended - of injury. If Richardson can prove as elite a passer as he has shown in his running game, the chances of injury decrease and his ability to consistently start as the QB1 for KED improves. If however, he fails to take the next step in his QB game, while preventing any multi-game injury, then KED will need a good backup and solid luck with Jackson to compete in a talent rich Malt Division.
Cole Kmet (TE): George Kittle (TE) 49ers, was let go by KED due to contract expiration this year. While Kittle was mostly hit or miss for the first half of the 2023 season, he came on strong in the second half when KED was continuing his rise in Malt Division. While KED struggled mightily with solid play from his WRs, Kittle was beginning to boom as a Top 5 TE at a difficult fantasy football position. If the new Chicago Bears offense can integrate Cole Kmet the way Justin Fields did in 2023, then KED has himself a potential Top 5 candidate at this difficult position. However, if the Bears offense struggles and/or largely reduces the TE role to a blocking one, allowing top WRs like Moore and Allen to get the targets they want, then KED will have to look elsewhere for production. If one peruses the KED WR bench, they will come away wanting.
Practice Squad (Taxi)
Luke McCaffrey (WR - R1)
Malachi Corley (WR - R1)
Ben Sinnott (TE - R1)
The PiTS
(TK’s Player in the Spotlight)- Washington Commander's Ben Sinnott (TE) will quickly become Jayden Daniels' favorite target when push comes to shove and the offense looks to get the ball out of Daniels' hands quickly and often. Sinnott's run after catch abililty and speed will take over, and as the season progresses, Daniels will take advantage of Sinnott's strength and consistency. While not reaching the Top 5 in 2024, Sinnott will grace the Top 10 and tempt Chad's will to "SteveHim" on Taxi all year.
CAP (2024) - $147 ($18 DM)
Draft Capital (2025 +): 8 picks (2 firsts)
OVERALL GRADE
B-
Evan's Door is not entering the 2024 season postured to attain Malt Division Leader. Having said this, KED was not in position in 2023 either. Yet, KED managed a very good season, starting the best players he could and managing fantasy point success into the playoffs. So it's difficult to say how a savvy manager will end up at this very early stage in DFFL. However, KED will have their work cut out for them in a talent-rich division.
KED's bench is not healthy from an expectations standpoint, and so depth is very limited. Since the KED starters only include 3 "Elite Tier" contracts, inadequate bench talent make the situation dire.
Evan's Door does have "Rookie Pick capital" that could assist in bringing in talent at the WR and, less needy, RB position during the 2024 season. This fact along with Chad's comeback kid history lends strength to his final grade for the SOTL.
As the DFFL 2024 Fall Auction appears to offer less talent than in previous years, CAP stength is a little less impactful. Yet, having the CAP space KED does, provides flexibility in trades that could improve talent. As a result of Chad's success when the cards are down, its difficult to assess that he won't be a competitor both in Malt and potentially in the playoffs. However, he has a lot of work in front of him, and if I were a betting man, I'd bet the under on KED representing Malt in the DFFL Bowl as he did in 2023.
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