BARLEY DIVISION
THE MEGA WATTS (TMW)
Owner: STEVE RANES
2023 Season: 3RDPLACE
2022 Season: 6th Place
The Team
(Elite Contract,
*not-graded)
QB:
Deshaun Watson, Tua Tagovailoa, Brock Purdy
RB:
Josh Jacobs, James "T2" Conner, Derrick "King" Henry, Samaje Perine, Clyde "Moochie" Edwards-Helaire
WR:
Deebo Samuel, Mike "Mount" Evans, Tyreek "DaFreak" Hill, Nico Collins
TE:
Sam LaPorta, Cade Otton
K*:
Harrison Butker
DEF*:
Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers
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:
Nico Collins (WR): In 2023, The Watts maintained at least 2x solidly Top 5 wide receivers throughout the season - Tyreek Hill and Keenan Allen. While Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel were not receivers to fade, they mostly accomplished what they were supposed to in terms of production. All things similar, 2024 will likely see a continuation of Tyreek doing what he does in terms of Top 5 production. This leaves Steve looking for one of his remaining three receivers to step up in a big way for the Keenan Allen departure. Nico Collins is a player to watch, as he is entering his 3rd season on a rookie contract. If Nico can take the next step with a talented QB at the helm within a loaded receiver locker room, Steve will be looking at four solid receivers keeping him competitive all year long. This is particularly important as his RB room is aged with more questions than certainties. If Nico fails to become the WR1/2 in a potentially explosive Houston offense, The Watts will be at a precarious position with multiple aging receivers and no real future talent in the hopper.
Brock Purdy (QB): The other prime position for The Watts is at Quarterback. In 2023, The Watts had significant success playing between typically Top 5 Tua Tagovailoa and the upstart rookie Brock Purdy. Brock came on strong in the late weeks, which buoyed Steve's playoff chances. As The Watts prepares a run at Barley Division Champion in 2024, they truly only have 2x QBs to accomplish last year's success. Deshaun Watson is a soup sandwich, which could be a wild card, but probalby not. If Brock Purdy achieves the success he did in 2023, he could easily be Steve's starter out the gate and for all but the Bye Game. But if he struggles, then The Watts will have to rely on Tua for a long and hopefully succesful season. Tua began to falter after Week 9 in 2023, probably due to wear and tear, but also as a result of Miami coaching as the Dolphins secured a playoff appearance. Much like with the receiver room, Steve needs his youngsters to show up in a big way.
Practice Squad (Taxi)
Hassan "FelonHis" Haskins (RB - R3)
The PiTS
(TK’s Player in the Spotlight)- Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta is currently the FanTrax Dynasty #1 Tight End. This elite TE position will only solidify as gold from Game 1 through szn end. Sam LaPorta will prove to be Jarod Goff's #1 target in 2024, as Sam makes his sophomore season in the NFL one for the history books. With The Watts securing a Top 5 TE along with two consistently Top 5 WRs and a Top 5 QB all season, he easily defeats Barley Division competition to get to the Playoffs as the #4 Seed. In 2025, Steve no longer uses his "5th Place is The Watts' Place" mantra. He'll have graduated to "4th Avenue."
CAP (2024) - $70 ($6DM)
Draft Capital (2025 +): 10 picks (4 firsts)
OVERALL GRADE
C+
The Watts remains a "sure bet" dark horse in 2024. With 4 elite contracts, The Mega Watts have projection-busting players in 3 of 4 primary fantasy positions; the most significant being Sam LaPorta. As many DFFL franchise owners struggle to measure even a 50% "cheery" outlook at the tight end position, The Mega Watts have a 75% likely SCORE! in that limited position. With the likes of WR1s Mike Evans (nothing changed in that offense) and Tyreek "DaFreak!" Hill, RB1 Derrick Henry (aged, but a probable Top 5), and two score happy QBs, TMW should blitz the other Barley Division competitors in 2024.
Having said all this, the depth/bench of TMW is very lacking. The prognosis is worsened when looking at The Watts' CAP for 2024. How will Steve bolster his depth?
This is where his A-Game Draft Capital comes into play. TMW has four 1st Round picks in what is expected to be a solid rookie class over the next two years. While Steve is likely playing "future stocks" over contracted DFFL "junk bonds" , he does have options to improve depth.
TMW is not a DFFL "Elite Team" heading into 2024. Their saving grace is competing in a division rife with uncertainty and limited and aging fantasy talent. Their biggest concern is depth and competition for remaining talent in the FFAA with so little CAP. Furthermore, given that I believe Steve has his eyes on the future, I doubt he uses Draft Capital to shore up his bench and depth this season. As a result, TMW will probably be competitive enough in Barley to get to the playoffs. However, differing from TK's PITS assessment, probably keeps them at 6th or 5th place in 2024.
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