Dy'Nasty Fan'Tasy (DNF)
Owner: Kirk Gagnon
2022 Season: 2nd Place Returning Players ( * Solid Contract)
QB: *Trevor Lawrence ($8x3), Marcus Mariota ($1x2)
RB: *Derrick Henry ($50x2), *Miles Sanders ($13x2), Jonathon Taylor ($9 '23), *Dameon Pierce ($7x3), Cam Akers ($10 '23, $1 '24), *Brian Robinson ($5x3)
WR: Diontae Johnson ($20x2), *Christian Kirk ($17x2), *Drake London ($9x3), Justin Jefferson ($10 '23), Kyle Phillips ($1x2), Denzel Mims ($1x2)
TE: Foster Moreau ($1 '23)
K: *Tyler Bass ($1x2), Jason Myers ($1x2)
DEF: Tennessee ($1 '23), New Orleans ($1 '23)
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Aaron Rodgers, CJ Beathard
RB:
WR:
TE: Chigoziem Okonkwo
K:
DEF: New York Jets
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 0
2nd: 0
3rd: 1 Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Christian Watson ($8)
Malik Willis ($7)
Chris Evans ($6) CAP (2023)
$213 ($2 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: A
The 2022 2nd Round Place winner brings significant CAP capital, multiple cheap long-term contracts, and a ton of solid depth into 2023. While DNF brings a only a 3rd pick into the 2023 rookie draft (for now), he’s receiving the top grade of the “A-listers.”
The Fan’Tasy brings a rising Trevor Lawrence into the off-season with a really nice contract. It appears Lawrence is the guy for the future of Jacksonville, and DNF will now seek to provide some depth for BYE and injury potential. It appears for now that Aaron Rodgers may no longer be in an NFL uniform and thus DNF timed his contract perfectly. However, if Rodgers ends up coming back, and his situation appears good enough, I suspect he could be an option for franchise – but I really, really doubt it.
DNF has starters and depth in the RB position that makes any fantasy owner jealous. Not to mention these guys are all on extended cheap contracts – highly ideal for the RB in DFFL. His CAP luxury provides him the option to extend recently injured Jonathon Taylor; its risky – he’s on a building team with more question marks than answers. However, JT is talented and an extension could be manageable if this auction value decreases to a more reasonable level.
At WR, DNF does retain a receiver (or maybe two) whose price outweighs production, at least in 2022. Once again, this truly isn’t too concerning for The Fan’Tasy as he has more than enough capital to build depth from not only free agency, but from his Taxi Squad with Christian Watson. DNF likely extends Justin Jefferson at whatever price value come auction. JJ is arguably the best receiver in the NFL, and DNF should be happy to extend him long-term.
The only concern for the DNF Franchise, which prevented the (A+) is the lack of rookie picks. However, given the number of long-term contracts, he can afford a year off. However, I expect some trades in the off-season which will provide a rookie pick or two.
The Taxi Squad will reduce by one with the long-term signing of Christian Watson before he is poached. The other guys are in no danger and will thus either remain on Taxi, or go to free agency by choice.
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Knockin’onEvansDoor (KED)
Owner: Chad Lewber
2022 Season: 5th Place
Returning Players ( * Solid Contract)
QB: Lamar Jackson ($35 ’23), Matthew Stafford ($11x2)
RB: Nick Chubb ($56 ’23), *Kenneth Walker III ($8x3), Saquon Barkley ($65 ’23, $51 ’24)
WR: Chris Godwin ($9 ’23), D.J. Chark ($9 ’23), Iaiah McKenzie ($5 ’23), Nelson Agholor ($8 ’23), *Rondale Moore ($7 ’23, $8 ’24, $9 ’25), Amari Rodgers ($6x2)
TE: George Kittle ($36 ’23)
K:
DEF: Los Angeles Chargers ($3 ’23), Tampa Bay ($2x2)
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Tyler Huntley
RB: Isaiah Pacheco
WR: Juju Smith-Schuster, Marquise Goodwin, James Washington Ben Skowronek
TE: Cade Otton
K: Younghoe Koo, Graham Gano
DEF:
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 0
2nd: 0
3rd: 1
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Deven Thompkins
Kaylon Geiger
CAP (2023)
$101 ($16 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: D
KED shockingly receives the lowest grade for DFFL franchises. KED has significant starter and depth concerns heading into 2023. Additionally, he brings a bunch of expensive contracts into ’23 with little CAP to extend or franchise players. Finally, KED has only one 3rd rounder for rookie draft capital and no Taxi Squad for replenishing his stable of starters or depth players.
While no decisions are necessary for LaJax, I suspect KED would like to extend him. This will be tough, however, given CAP limitations.KED’s CAP situation may prevent him from competing with other franchises to bring in starting receivers or build needed depth. Matthew Stafford is a cheap contract, but I’m betting KED wants him to retire and move on, saving him $11 for other uses.
In the RB category, KED has a nice bright spot with the Walker III contract. He gets to retain the Chubb and Barkley contracts, which are expiring and expensive. It’s likely no extension is given to Chubb and that KED attempts to offload Barkley. However, given Barkley’s ’22 production, he’s not a bad starter to keep.
The WR position for KED is crushing. Everyone will be begging for an extension, but only one will probably be worth extending (rhymes with Godwin). KED has a good cheap long-term contract with Rondale Moore in Arizona, but given that team’s current state of dysfunction, this is not ideal for the EvansDoor.
Franchise decisions expected for maybe Isaiah Pacheco, though the KC backfield is not ideal for franchising any running back. I fully expect Juju Smith-Shuster in the auction next season, and going for less than $10.
Nothing to see as far as Taxi Squad, and nothing at this point for KED in terms of bolstering the young blood of his franchise through the rookie draft. This could change, and I expect they will if KED wants to stay competitive in Malt Division.
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Toe It Up (TIU)
Owner: Bart D’Angelo Senior
2022 Season: 7th Place
Returning Players ( * Solid Contract)
QB: Josh Allen ($55 ’23)
RB: Rashad Penny ($21 ’23), Devin Singletary ($30 ’23), *Zack Moss ($1x3), Michael Carter ($8x2)
WR: D. J. Moore ($36 ’23), Jakobi Meyers ($11 ’23), Robert Woods ($17 ’23), Tee Higgins ($7 ’23), *Sammy Watkins ($5x3), Kadarius Toney ($8x2), *Gabriel Davis ($5x2)
TE: Dawson Knox ($1 ’23)
K:
DEF: *Buffalo ($1x3)
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Geno Smith
RB: Jamaal Williams, Raheem Mostert
WR: Tyler Boyd, Richie James, Josh Reynolds
TE: Travis Kelce, Greg Dulchich
K: Nick Folk
DEF:
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 1
2nd: 0
3rd: 1
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Tylan Wallace ($5)
Dyami Brown ($5)
Alec Pierce ($7)
Jason Sanders
Khalil Shakir ($6)
CAP (2023)
$188 ($6 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: C+
TIU returns to 2023 with a squad of Bills-focused players with major question marks for future production relevancy. While the CAP situation is not terrible, given other DFFL teams’ with well above $200, TIU will probably be in the unenviable auction position of watching other teams take his priority targets. TIU does have some rookie picks and Taxi Squad players that could help his position when the season starts, but these options are minimal compared with a majority of other teams.
TIU returns with Josh Allen, who he can simply let ride out his contract, or provide him with an extension which isn’t likely to be cheaper than the current $55. TIU may need to barter with DFFL teams with a plethora of QBs on staff, as a cheap backup will be ideal for BYEs and potential injuries.
At RB, the Up will probably need to pick up or trade for a solid starting RB. His current options provide a lot of questions for whether they can be productive enough to start week-to-week. The WR spot is really tough for TIU, as his best contracts are for guys that haven’t shown themselves to be target productive in ’22; either due to injury, game script, or pecking order on depth chart. I don’t see much changing for these guys with the exception of Gabe Davis. As a result, I think Alec Pierce gets a multi-year contract off Taxi. Pierce isn’t in a great situation in Indianapolis, but he provides great potential for TIU, and he will assuredly get poached if not signed.
Franchise options for TIU truly is at the TE position. Travis Kelce is the #1 TE for fantasy purposes, and this probably won’t change for ’23. If Kelce goes to auction, he could easily fetch over $60 based on his receiver-like production in KC and the fact that a productive TE could be a league-winner in ’23. My guess is that Kelce is franchised, and TIU takes the CAP hit, hoping for some diamonds in the rough – similar to RAF’s strategy. As for Taxi, Alec Pierce is signed and the other guys remain on Taxi with no real danger for poaching, pending off-season changes.
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CeeDee’s Nutz (NUT)
Owner: Cody Lutke
2022 Season: 8th Place
Returning Players ( * Solid Contract)
QB: Tua Tagovailoa ($6x2), Trey Lance ($7x2), *Mac Jones ($7x3)
RB: Elijah Mitchell ($21 ’23), Nyheim Hines ($19 ’23), Najee Harris ($9 ’23), *Breece Hall ($9x3), *Travis Etienne ($8x3), *Khalil Herbert ($1x2)
WR: *Treylon Burks ($7x3), *Mecole Hardman ($9x3), Jalen Tolbert ($7x3), Chase Claypool ($7 ’23), Marquez Valdez-Scantling ($12 ’23), Mike Williams ($31 ’23) OBJ ($12 ’23)
TE: Darren Waller ($19 ’23), *Cole Kmet ($14x3)
K:
DEF: *Indianapolis ($1x3)
Free Agents and Franchise Options
QB: Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Christian McCaffrey, Damien Harris, Travis Homer, Keatotay Ingram
WR:
TE: Juwan Johnson, Jordan Akins
K: Brett Maher, Ka’imi Fairbairn
DEF: Dallas Cowboys
2023 Rookie Draft Capital
1st: 3
2nd: 0
3rd: 1
Practice Squad (Taxi) & Free Agents
Kyle Trask ($6)
Cameron Brate
Washington DEF
CAP (2023)
$185 ($9 DM)
OVERALL GRADE: B+
NUT arrives in the 2023 offseason with a ton of solid potential for the future. The CAP situation isn’t bad for competing to build depth in the auction, and he has significant building capacity based off three first round picks in the rookie draft. He is returning many cheap multi-year contracts for players that should be 1s and 2s in 2023. While some may spend top dollar getting a TE, NUT has two who are postured for great success – very possibly Top 10 stature as the ’23 season commences.
At QB, NUT has some question marks. Tua and Trey Lance’s health are big factors for NUT. Will they get right and become productive in Miami or wherever they play? (Probably Not). Or will they remain in tough situations with their respective teams looking for healthier options? (Probably). NUT does have Mac Jones, but how will the NE Patriots look at the start of next season? It’s quite possible Mac ends up the backup to a veteran QB… I believe even with these question marks, NUT has enough capital to prevent a collapse at this position.
Wow, does NUT have options at RB. Breece Hall will likely return to NY Jets better than ever after his unfortunate injury, and NUT has him at a cheap price for the long-term. Travis Etienne is a solid 1 in Jacksonville, and it’s quite possible that Khalil Herbert is the 1 in the Chicago backfield at the low price of $1 for two more NUT seasons!!
NUT will seek to build some depth behind his returning receivers, probably by way of one or two of his 1st round rookie draft picks – one or both with a great chance to be starters in the early weeks of 2023 season.
Christian McCaffrey is my pick for best NUT player to franchise. However, the backfield situation could get interesting with many mouths to feed and McCaffrey’s age becoming a factor. The truth is that NUT doesn’t need to franchise anyone. He can begin to settle into a DNF-like theme of building solid cheap contracts and watch talent and CAP improve. Malt division may not own a DFFL Players Cup trophy, but they are an increasingly competitive group owning more and more of the fantasy talent in the league.
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