RudeAwful Fitz (RAF)
Owner: Rudolf "Mike" Haden
2022 Season: 4th Place
Returning Players ( * Solid Contract)
QB: Patrick Mahomes ($46 '23), Russell Wilson ($24 '23)
RB: Rhamondre Stevenson ($5 '23)
WR: Michael Thomas ($37 '23, $23x2), Courtland Sutton ($28x3), Corey Davis ($24 '23), *Nico Collins ($6x3), *Romeo Doubs ($6x3), KJ Hamler ($5 '23, $1 '24)
TE:
K: Evan McPhearson ($7x2)
DEF:
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB:
RB: Joe Mixon, Dontrell Hilliard, Samaje Perine, Latavius Murray, Kyren Williams, Jerick McKinnon
WR: Darius Slayton, Mack Hollins, Rashid Shaheed
TE: Taysom Hill, Tyler Conklin, Austin Hooper
K:
DEF: Denver, Las Vegas, Arizona
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 1
2nd: 1
3rd: 1
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Trey McBride ($7)
Randall Cobb
Brett Rypien
CAP (2023)
$142 ($80 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: B-
RAF is bringing back a couple decent WR contracts, solid positioning in the ’23 Rookie Draft, but a difficult CAP situation in a year where he will have to pay up on contracts and attempt to bolster depth at RB and WR. However, while the situation is not ideal for RAF, any team who brings back the #1 QB in fantasy football is in a B Category at the start.
Both Mahomes and Wilson will require extensions in the offseason, and Mahomes will likely be a top money contract. RAF hopes Wilson’s auction value takes a precipitous dive (likely). This would allow him to extend Wilson at a discount price in a year where RAF expects he will take a dramatic upturn in production.
RAF will be looking at a return to “Zero RB” strategy given the difficult CAP situation he finds himself in. Either he will offer an extension to Stevenson, who will be a top-dollar candidate, or potentially re-franchise Mixon. Doing both will place RAF on the outside looking in, come time for the free agent auction. However, RAF has zero depth at RB, and this will be problematic unless he uses some draft capital on an upstart and cheap rookie back.
At WR, RAF has a number of expensive and long-term contracts for players who have been subpar in production: either due to injury or due to game script. RAF will be desiring a solid coach and QB in Houston and in Green Bay to help Collins and Doubs increase production in ’23. One can pray that Michael Thomas stays healthy (and productive), and that Sutton experiences an increase in productive targets as well.
RAF has depth concerns at every position except QB. This is worrisome for a re-attack on the playoffs next year, given RAF’s history with injuries in regular season. The CAP will probably preclude his ability to find “known quantities” in the auction draft, but given RAF’s propensity to find cheap diamonds in the rough, he should ultimately remain competitive in HOPS Division.
RAF’s Taxi is diminished. He only has a TE in practice squad that will almost assuredly receive a multi-year contract.
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More Than a Thielen (MTT)
Owner: Tim "Cheesy) Annen
2022 Season: 10th Place
Returning Players ( * Solid Contract)
QB: Ryan Tannehill ($13 '23)
RB: Darrell Henderson ($33x3), Antonio Gibson ($7 '23), D'Andre Swift ($7 '23)
WR: Adam Thielen ($41 '23), AJ Brown ($28 '23), Terry McLaurin ($26 '23), Darnell Mooney ($21x2), Marquez Callaway ($16x2), *Devonta Smith ($8x2), *Deven Duvernay ($6x3),
TE: Dallas Goedert ($20x2), Robert Tonyan ($1x2)
K: Greg Joseph ($1 '23), Brandon McManus ($1 '23)
DEF: Minnesota ($4 '23)
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Derek Carr
RB: David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds
WR: Deandre Carter
TE: Noah Fant
K:
DEF: Green Bay
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 1
2nd: 2
3rd: 1
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Terrace Marshall ($7)
Skyy Moore ($8)
Kenny Pickett ($7)
David Bell ($7)
Tyquan Thornton ($6)
CAP (2023)
$155 ($12 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: C-
MTT brings a tough CAP situation, significant lack of depth, along with a number of questionable, expensive, long-term contracts into 2023. While the rookie draft (his four picks) has potential to breath air into the Thielen Franchise, this team appears to be in re-build mode.
At QB, MTT will need to decide a contract extension for the aging and injured Ryan Tannehill. Even with an extension, the Thielen is almost assuredly in a situation where rookie QB Kenny Pickett is provided a multi-year contract off Taxi and either takes the start or backs up Tannehill. Other feasible options are to take the CAB route, “I don’t need no stinking QB!,” and just trade or sign a cheap QB along with some prayer that he becomes a Geno Smith or Justin Fields overnight.
MTT brings a fired, aging, NFL free agent back at RB…and he does this at a whopping $33 for 3 whole years. I suspect that unless things go very, very different for Henderson this off-season (not likely), MTT will drop his arse and take the DM hit. Then there’s what to do with injury-prone D’Andre Swift. Swift has/is ceding too much of the backfield to his backup (RB1) Jamaal Williams. This could lead to a falling auction value – good for a re-sign - or a situation where the cost and CAP concerns outweigh the benefit of Swift become a hurt backup. Antonio Gibson, if he remains in Washington, likely does not get an extension.
At WR, MTT has a solid group returning – though the concentration on Eagles receivers and future extension requirements will make for some tough offseason decisions. MTT’s minimal CAP will create a tight wallet situation if he intends to re-sign the likes of AJ Brown.
The Franchise tag will be a bit of a dilemma for MTT. Does Carr go to a better team and become the starter? (Not Likely, IMO). Does David Montgomery end up out of Chicago and in a backfield that uses him more as a 1 and not a 2? (Probable, IMO) My guess is that a franchise tag of Montgomery best serves MTT’s needs, but the money will be tight. Maybe too tight to take that chance.
MTT’s Taxi is a decision quagmire as well. I suspect Kenny Pickett is signed to a cheap, multi-year contract as this would help a position need and prevent a likely poaching situation. The other Taxi players will be a wait and see situation, as it’s not a given they will make the needed transition to more productive fantasy players.
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Point Six (PTS)
Owner: Mike Poleski
2022 Season: 11th Place
Returning Players ( * Solid Contract)
QB: Justin Herbert ($7 '23), Jameis Winston ($6x2),
RB: Kareem Hunt ($20 '23), Javonte Williams ($9 '23), *J.K. Dobbins ($8x2), Kenneth Gainwell ($7 '23)
WR: *Brandon Aiyuk ($13x2), DK Metcalf ($29x3), *Jahon Dotson ($8x3), Rashod Bateman ($7x2), *Amon Ra St Brown ($7x2), Elijah Moore ($7x3)
TE: *Kyle Pitts ($8x2), Hayden Hurst ($4 '23)
K: Daniel Carlson ($4x2), Robbie Gould ($1 '23)
DEF: LA Rams ($7 '23)
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Andy Dalton
RB: James Conner
WR: Allen Robinson, Brandin Cooks, Julio Jones
TE: Logan Thomas, Will Dissly
K:
DEF: Pittsburgh, Detroit
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 2
2nd: 1
3rd: 0
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Tyrion Davis-Price ($6)
Danny Gray
Braxton Berrios
Jordan Mason
CAP (2023)
$244 ($4 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: A
PTS has significant CAP to spend, a host of solid cheap contracts (especially at WR), and plenty of top-tier draft positioning as he rolls into the 2023 off season.
At QB, the Six will probably extend Justin Herbert’s contract. Herbert, while not having the 2022 season we expected, still proves to be one of the better fantasy options at that position. The 2023 season could truly be explosive for Herbert.
PTS has a solid RB returning on a cheap multi-year (Dobbins), and will likely be able to extend Javonte Williams for pennies on the dollar (given injured status). Both these RBs, if healthy in 2023, could fetch a ton of fantasy points with very little taken out of the Six’s bank.
The Six’s situation at WR is truly enviable. Solid rookies on cheap contracts, like Amon-Ra and Jahon, should take the next step in production in ’23 (and PTS doesn’t have to extend them). Aiyuk and Metcalf are the veterans on decent multi-year contracts, and PTS will be in church on Sunday’s praying for better years to come for Bateman and Elijah Moore – not a bad situation, as they are ch-ch-cheap!
Whatever PTS lacks in depth, he has the CAP to bolster in the auction draft next season! PTS has some great rookie draft positioning, so it’s likely the Taxi roster improves – possibly even some players he can sign during the season. As for the current Taxi roster, pending some unforeseen situation in the 49er backfield, TDP will be TBD. He’ll probably remain on taxi with little to no interest for poaching purposes.
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Cranberries ala Bart (CAB)
Owner: Bart D'Angelo
2022 Season: 12th Place (Offending Toilet Bowl King)
Returning Players ( * Solid Contract)
QB: *Justin Fields ($7x2), Zach Wilson ($8 '23, $6 '24),
RB:
WR: Deebo Samuel ($40 '23), DeVante Parker ($16 '23), *Garrett Wilson ($7 '23, $8 '24, $9 '25), *Chris Olave ($7 '23, $8 '24, $9 '25), Jaylen Waddle ($8 '23),
TE: *Pat Freiermuth ($7x3)
K:
DEF:
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Davis Mills, Taylor Heinecke
RB: James Robinson, Kenyan Drake, Raheem Blackshear, Jamycal Hasty, Damien Williams
WR: Cooper Kupp, Marvin Jones, Chris Moore, Greg Dortch, Kendrick Bourne, Sterling Shepard, Jamison Crowder
TE: Brock White, Daniel Bellinger
K: Jake Elliot
DEF: Jacksonville, New York Giants
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 2
2nd: 0
3rd: 1
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Jameson Williams ($8)
Wan'Dale Robinson ($6)
James Cook ($9)
Isiah Spiller ($8)
D'Wayne Eskridge ($7)
CAP (2023)
$288 ($12 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: B+
CAB brings a ton of CAP, solid long-term and cheap receiver contracts, great rookie draft positioning and some solid Taxi Squad signees to his franchise in 2023. What CAB lacks in depth at QB and RB, he makes up for in cash and draft picks to compete at both positions before the start of next season.
CAB has a Top 10 QB on a cheap multi-year contract. The Bears will likely provide Justin Fields with even more assistance prior to the start of next season, so CAB should be in great position at QB.
The RB situation is non-existent, but depending on what happens in the off-season, current Taxi Squad rooks, James Cook and Isiah Spiller, could be signed on long-term cheap contracts to immediately give CAB reasonable depth (and possible starters). I suspect this is where CAB will do the most damage to his CAP in the FA auction (James Robinson probably won’t be franchised – unless things change for him in off-season).
The WR situation for CAB is where he receives top marks in grading. He has multiple WR 1&2s on multi-year low-cost contracts. All of these cheap receivers are expected to be production magnets in 2023 – particularly Jameson Williams, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson. CAB has some solid rookie draft picks he can choose to grow Taxi potential or trade for known quantities within DFFL owners’ coffers. Given CAB's CAP and interest in receiving Kupp late in the 22 season, Kupp gets franchised.
The state of CAB looks great after having a very, very down year.
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