Jerry’s World Wonder (JWW)
Owner: Brian Dembinski
2022 Season: 1st Place (Defending Champions)
Returning Players ( * solid contract)
QB: *Jared Goff ($13x3)
RB: *Tyler Allgeier ($7x3), Ezekiel Elliot $69 ’23);
WR: Mike Evans ($31 ’23, $32 ’24), Marquise “Hollywood” Brown ($8x2), Michael Pittman Jr. ($7 ’23), Tyler Lockett ($23 ‘23)
TE:
K: Matt Gay ($1 ’23)
DEF:
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, Mike White (NYJ)
RB: Austin Ekeler, Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Cordarrelle Patterson, Justin Jackson
WR: Kendall Hinton
TE: Dalton Shultz, Evan Engram
K: Will Lutz
DEF: Miami, KC
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 0
2nd: 4*
3rd: 1
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Matt Corral ($7)
Desmond Ridder ($6)
Pierre Strong ($5)
Mo Alie-Cox ($3)
CAP (2023)
$224 ($16 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: B
JWW is bringing back some good talent from his DFFL BOWL V victory, but he lacks depth at receiver. His saving grace for 2023 looks like a solid CAP of over $200. Considering the amount of productive free agents come the '23 auction draft, JWW can correct the depth issues.
JWW has CAP luxury in picking a franchise player from a litany of solid options; particularly at the RB position. Dalvin Cook did not have a great 2022. However, pending Vikings draft results, Cook should be back in the center of things next season. Austin Ekeler is aging, but franchising isn’t about longevity so much as its about retaining a very productive player “one more year.” Ekeler was a game changer in getting JWW to the playoffs and beyond.
Weighing down the Wonder’s grade is a lack of long-term dependable depth at WR. Having fewer options at RB tends to work in DFFL, and is at the heart of recent “Zero RB” strategies. Increasingly, RBs are hard to trust as coaches and game script move to committees. Thus, packing it in at WR is essential, and here JWW needs to go to work in free agency and/or trade transactions.
The Wonder will need to determine way ahead for final year players, such as Michael Pittman and Tyler Lockett – extend? Or not extend? My guess is that Lockett remains without extension and Pittman gets a multi-year. However, the Wonder has the capital to extend both and improve future depth and trade proposals.
The rookie draft is the life blood for any franchise. It provides a team with young talent and helps build future growth. JWW retains a valuable footprint in the 2023 Rookie Draft, and in the 2nd round where DFFL owners have historically had good luck. Pending any changes to his picks, JWW will seek out some diamonds in the rough.
Taxi decisions will include signing Matt Corral and/or Desmond Ritter who will be poachable in ’23. Both could end up starters on building teams – something to watch. My guess is that not many DFFL owners will be interested in these QBs, so they are likely safe for decision-making for JWW. Pierre Strong likely won’t be someone many will try to poach. However, it’s always possible Strong builds report with returning coach Belichick and ends up the Stevenson of 2022.
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UGG Life (UGG)
Owner: Mike “Mooch” Petronis
2022 Season: 3rd Place
Returning Players ( * solid contract)
QB: *Joe Burrow ($6 ’23, $9 ’24)
RB: A.J. Dillon ($7 ’23)
WR: *Michael Gallup ($18x3), Stefon Diggs ($25 ’23), *Jerry Jeudy ($8 ’23, $11 ’24), *Ja’Marr Chase $9x2)
TE: *Hunter Henry ($10x2)
K: *Justin Tucker ($4x3)
DEF: New England ($8x2)
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Aaron Jones, Josh Jacobs, D’Onta Foreman, Chase Edmonds, Mike Boone, Donavan “Bam” Knight, Gus Edwards, Joshua Kelly
WR: Davonte Adams, Zay Jones
TE: Gerald Everett, David Njoku
K: Chase McLaughlin
DEF: Philadelphia
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 0
2nd: 0
3rd: 2
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Zamir White ($6)
Rob Gonkowski
CAP (2023)
$254 ($48 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: A-
UGG is bringing back a slate of solid players with long-term cheap contracts. This bodes well for his 2023 season; particularly when measured along with his whopping $254 CAP. While some of that CAP is sure to be used on franchising a wide receiver; namely, Davonte Adams, he should still have some solid bidding cash come auction.
UGG is losing many of his RBs to free agency and will probably want to seek some depth in this category. If Davonte Adams doesn’t work out as a franchise choice, the Life may look at one of his departing running backs. Josh Jacobs should be a priority, given the solid 2022 season he had.
At receiver, UGG is well-balanced but will want to build on gaining some depth in a crowded free agency. Players like Chase, Diggs, and Jeudy are still young and target rich.
UGG is safe in the QB, TE, K, and DEF category. The Life has two 2023 Rookie 3rd Rounders. With these picks he can have some flexibility in getting a future WR2/3 or less-likely a future RB3/4. Typically, the 3rd round remains a decent place for WR picks.
UGG has one of the most depleted Taxi rosters in DFFL. The only candidate for poaching is Zamir White (Raiders). If the Raiders retain Josh Jacobs, White may be safe on taxi. If Jacobs is gone, then White is a must-contract for UGG.
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The MEGA Watts (TMW)
Owner: Steven Ranes
2022 Season: 6th Place
Returning Players (A+ Contracts - *)
QB: Kyler Murray ($30x3), *Deshaun Watson ($11x2, $1 ’25)
RB: Alvin Kamara ($57x3), Leonard Fournette ($22 ’23), CEH ($9x2), Eno Benjamin ($1x2)
WR: *Tyreek Hill ($48 ’23, $42x2), Amari Cooper ($41 ’23, $26x2), Keenan Allen ($37x3), CeeDee Lamb ($8 ’23), Kenny Golladay ($3x2), Van Jefferson ($2 ’23), DPJ ($5 ’23)
TE: *Tyler Higbee ($5x2), Donald Parham ($1x2),
K: Harrison Butker ($5 ’23)
DEF: San Fran ($1x2), BMore ($1x2)
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Sam Darnold, Brock Purdy
RB: Mark Ingram II
WR: Laviska Shenault
TE: Mark Andrews,
K: Ryan Succop
DEF:
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 0
2nd: 2
3rd: 2
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Rachaad White ($7)
Joe Flacco
CAP (2023)
$108 ($5 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: C
The Watts is headed into 2023 with some tough problems to solve. He has multiple expensive and long term contracts for players that are not meeting production expectations. Additionally, he CAP is not great; particularly if he decides to franchise a player – namely, Mark Andrews.
At QB, The Watts is bringing back Kyler Murray and Deshaun Watson. While Watson’s contract is cheap and relatively long-term (a good thing), Murray is very expensive for the real likelihood he remains injured for a majority of 2023. Additionally, the Cardinals are now in a state of turmoil/rebuild and Murray’s place in the franchise is questionable at best.
The RB situation in TMW land is just as dicey. Alvin Kamara is on a multi-year expensive contract, and has NOT been playing up to expectations (at least not great in 2022). He remains an elite RB with huge upside, but the 2024-2025 aspect of his contract is concerning. If he has another down year in ‘23, TMW will have a lot of dead weight to contend with.
The news doesn’t get much better at WR. The exception could be Tyreek Hill which is showing no signs of slowing down, and continues elite status as a WR. The concern is with Tua’s health and the way forward for Miami at the QB position. Hill has an expensive contract with the kind of Dolphins uncertainty that tends to make fantasy owners nervous. The Watts has some solid talent and potential with Cooper and Allen, but again, their longevity in the league is concerning. TMW’s limited CAP will make decisions like extending CeeDee Lamb and DPJ difficult. The former is almost certainly getting an extension.
Will TMW franchise (again) Mark Andrews? Will his ’23 rate continue to be super high? My guess is that the Watts will let him go to free agency, given his age and injury proneness. This will free up money for other contract extensions and building depth in the auction draft.
TMW has some draft capital which allows him to build his Taxi, replacing and likely signing (or watch poached), Rachaad White.
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Dead Money Millionaire (DMM)
Owner: Lewis Edmonds
2022 Season: 11th Place
Returning Players (A+ Contracts - *)
QB: Matt Ryan ($10 ’23), *Jalen Hurts ($6x3), Jacoby Brissett ($1x3)
RB: Tony Pollard ($9 ’23), Jalen Warren ($1x2)
WR: *Deandre Hopkins ($13x3), Jarvis Landry ($10x2), Parris Campbell ($1 ’23), *Josh Palmer ($6x3), Curtis Samuel ($4 ’23), *Allen Lazard ($1x2), KJ Osborn ($1x3), Russell Gage ($1 ’23)
TE: *Mike Gesicki ($11x2), Jonnu Smith($4 ’23)
K: Matt Prater ($3 ’23)
DEF: Cleveland ($2 ’23)
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB:
RB: Tony Jones, Chuba Hubbard
WR: Demarcus Robinson, Hunter Renfrow
TE: Kylen Granson
K: Greg Zuerlein
DEF: Seattle
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 2
2nd: 2
3rd: 0
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
George Pickins ($7)
Jelani Woods ($6)
Hassan Haskins ($6)
CAP (2023)
$313 ($3 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: A
DMM has a ton of CAP moving into 2023! In addition, he has one of the best QBs on a cheap multi-year contract. What DMM lacks in RB depth, he makes up for in his receiving corps with a set of cheap multi year contracts on players that could be in the WR ½ range next season. The Millionaire brings some solid draft capital to the Rookie Draft, and thus has a great chance to build a solid team for years to come.
DMM retains the services of Jalen Hurts – one of the most productive QBs in fantasy. This contract is CHEAP! at $6 for 3 more years. The only downside at QB is the Millionaire’s slate of useless backup QBs – the possibly retiring Matt Ryan and Jacoby Brissett. DMM needs some QB depth as he considers options for the offseason.
While the RB position is slim for DMM, he has plenty of cash to pick who he wants of the multiple DFFL free agent RBs hitting the wire in 2023. As he determines this, it’s not so bad having an RB1 – Tony Pollard – on staff for only a $1 in ’23!
Hopkins, Palmer and Lazard highlight DMM’s returning receiver corps. All three could easily be #1s on whatever team they end up in the 2023 offseason. DMM has them for pennies on the dollar considering their potential and other DFFL receiver contracts.
DMM doesn’t have to worry about franchising any players, and will focus on getting contracts for 2 of his 3 Taxi players – Pickins and Haskins. I suspect DFFL poaching interest in his rookie TE Woods will be minimal at best, and DMM has Mike Gesicki returning for a couple more years. However, Pickins is a shoe-in for DMM’s roster and Hassan Haskins is likely to be a premium player.
In the Rookie Draft of 2023, DMM will have some solid pick potential. This will allow him to grow his team into a solid contender in the very competitive Barley Division.
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