08-16-2022, 07:00 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-20-2022, 03:33 AM by dude_man. Edited 2 times in total.)
******Sorry this is coming out after fantasy drafts, we had to sprint to the finish line after a moderately surprising start date. Some write-ups were left blank or kind of short due to time******
Hello and welcome to the third annual Simulation Football Writers Guild fantasy rankings! In this article we will be providing some insight, analysis, and honestly some guesswork as to who will be producing in fantasy in S37. We will try to update the rankings a little bit if there are any big moves or roster changes that happen after the rankings go live, but no guarantees there. This season the rankings are brought to you by Pvtpenne, TubaDeus, RussDrivesTheBuss, Slate, Michiganonymous, 124715, and Domffl but if you have any negative comments please direct them towards Russ. Without further ado, let’s get into the rankings.
QUARTERBACK
1. Carter Knight
Knight is the engine behind the highest scoring offense from last season and their roster has not taken any major hits. It’s likely that his TD/INT ratio will take a bit of a hit, but even if it does, he was second in attempts only behind TE82 from AUS last season, so the opportunity to make it up is yardage volume is clearly there. Kaep should run it back and have another big year, Salem is a great TE and even Huntsman had almost 500 receiving yards last year. This is a pretty safe bet for your QB spot and you shouldn’t feel bad for taking him as the first one off the board. - Russ
2. Live Laughlove
While this offense is no longer the “Yeeti” of old LLL still finished as QB2 last season, only behind an incredible season from Carter Knight. His WRs have dwindled a little bit, but the running game still lacks potency, so I think the volume will be there to carry LLL to another great fantasy season. With a 3:1 TD:INT ratio last season, so those numbers could wobble a bit, but I’d still say LLL is very safe as QB2-3. - Russ
T-3. Malcolm Savage
Poor Malcolm Savage was asked to do a lot with very, very little in terms of offensive weapons. While reliable ol’ Tugg(boat) Speedman did as much as his elderly frame could manage, it was still much less than that that New York offense needed. One thing that I can give to this Silverbacks offense is that they are fostering a good community for their younger players. They have two future All-Pro offensive weapons still building towards their peak TPE seasons. McTurtle and McHollywood will be absolutely essential for the success of this offense. But Savage is still an elite ISFL QB. He’s done more with less many times in his career. If you’re a gambling person, Savage is a great QB to take a late-round flyer on. He is as boom/bust as they come. - domffl
T-3. Elessar Jones
Rookie sensation Elessar Jones had a fantastic season for fantasy, even with subpar receiving options. Jones was the QB3 on the back of a whopping 716 rushing yards and an almost 2-1 TD:Int ratio. Now I will say his rushing volume and turnover rate definitely have room for some negative regression to the mean, but these past few seasons have proven how valuable rushing QBs are for fantasy and Jones is no exception. Despite the aforementioned potential for negative regression for the mean, I think Jones has QB1 potential this season with some up and coming weapons in NOLA to throw to, and it would be much easier if he snagged a couple more rushing TDs. - Penne
5. Kaguya Shinomiya
One of the most dangerous QBs to deal with, Shinomiya taught the ISFL that QBs are much more than just their arm. Shinomaya averaged a touchdown on every 10 rushes, which is, by all accounts, absurd. Although Philadelphia has a very young and inexperienced receiving corps, they have the opportunity to learn and grow together. Sama, Boot, Kemp, and JHM will make a very deadly offensive core in just a couple of seasons. But for now, Shinomaya will have to continue to rely on his legs until his supporting cast grows into their roles in the Liberty offense. - domffl
6. Kazimir Oles Jr.
Oles is a very interesting choice this year. Coming off of one of the most efficient seasons we’ve seen in a while that had him finish as QB4, I’m not certain he can replicate it. He had the fifth highest yards total while also having the third least attempts. I just don’t see that tracking into this season. The CHI offense does have plenty of weapons, but if they use Oles as little as they did last season, I think he’s due to see some regression in overall production. Now, that’s not to say he’s a bad pick for your QB. But I do think if you want him, you should wait until 3-4 are off the board before you consider it. - Russ
7. Tight End Eighty-Two
Only one season removed from leading the entire league in passing yards and passing attempts, Tight End Eighty-Two finds himself, yet again, overlooked by younger, faster quarterbacks. Sure, TE82 isn’t the “sexy” pick, but he should still see a gigantic workload heading into his final season in the ISFL. Even though his workload was immense, TE82 was only able to garner a TD% of 3.3, fairly below the league average. Hopefully, with some ascension of some of the younger skill position talents, he can regress back towards the mean in terms of TD%, making his fantasy score match his on-field production. - domffl
8. Wendell Sailor
Sailor had what seems to be an anomalous season in S36. His volume was about as average as ever in terms of attempts, but his production dropped off heavily in terms of yards and TDs compared to his previous seasons. Fortunately, I think this was just a blip season, and not his new norm. The AZ offense will still move through Jay Cue Jr., but the Outlaws still have one of the best WR corps in the league. If Sailor can return to his numbers from a couple seasons ago, he could finish as a top 5 QB. But I think he’s more likely to end up around that 6-8 range because he is ultimately capped by his lower attempt totals. If you do want to take him, you should be safe to do so as the last QB in your group, unless you have an AZ homer. - Russ
9. Dexter Zaylren
The Honolulu Hahalua live and die (theoretically, if they even can die) by their defense, so their quarterback Dexter Zaylren isn’t asked to do too much. “Game manager” is seen as a pejorative term, but Zaylren is a great one and perfect for his role. Zaylren finished as the QB11 last season on low volume, but may see a higher workload as Buffalo Hunter regresses again. Furthermore, Honolulu’s offensive weapons are a strong enough group that the passing game should be reasonably efficient. Zaylren may not be taken in the draft, but if he gets a big workload he might be a worthwhile waiver pickup. - TubaDeus and 124715
10. Tron Carter
The Otters are coming off of a top 5 passing volume season and all of Tron’s weapons are still improving sans Goat Tank Jr; what’s not to like? Tron is hitting his first regression, but that hasn’t seemed to slow down QBs in the past (see Oles in S36) and he still has boat loads of TPE. Camacho and Rodka are a solid WR duo, with GTJ thrown in there as a wild card and Tron has some solid potential to sneak into the top 6 QBs. - Penne
RUNNING BACK
1. Jay Cue Jr.
I don’t think this will surprise anyone. Cue is still the clear #1 RB in the league. After regressing, he is no longer the highest TPE RB in the league, but 2 things of note there: TPE is not the best determining factor in RB success, and opportunity is vital. Cue has led the league in rushing attempts for the last 3 seasons, and I don’t see that changing this year. The AZ philosophy is to run the ball as much as they can get away with, and it turns out that’s a lot. Cue is incredibly productive and will continue to be in one of, if not, the better offensive situations for any RB in the league. Do not be afraid to take him 1OA. - Russ
2. Lalu Zohri
Zohri waited patiently to take over this backfield and when he finally did he pulled off an RB2 season. This season, not much has changed in the CHI offense and he should see nearly identical usage. Some would say he could be the RB1 this year, and while it is technically possible, I still see him as RB2 behind JCJ from Arizona. I’m not worried about his regression as he still has all the stats and traits you need as an RB, and as mentioned before, his volume should still be massive. If Cue goes 1, this is an easy 2. - Russ
3. John Huntsman
Huntsman should be another safe pick fro you in the top 3 of your draft. He finished as RB4 last season and was 3rd in carries among all RBs. I don’t see SAR moving away from what’s been working for them for many seasons now. And what has been working, is getting Huntsman involved in the passing game as well. Last season he finished with almost 500 receiving yards to go along with his great rushing production. He did have 17 rushing TDs which could come down a bit, but he also had 0 receiving touchdowns. I could see those numbers move in opposite directions and ultimately give you very similar totals to last year. They did call up a young RB in Pete Zuh, but I don’t see him eating into Huntsman’s production enough to worry and not take him at least top 5. - Russ
4. The Stig
The Stig averaged a very healthy 5.1 yards per carry in S36. With the emergence of Elessar Jones, the new all-star rushing QB, some might be tempted to knock Stig down a couple pegs due to ceding some of his rushing work to Jones. I say, move him UP. Even with Jones taking >150 rushing attempts, Stig still tied for the 4th most rushing attempts in the league. Jones rushing prowess should only allow Stig to become an even more dangerous weapon for the Secondline. In NFL fantasy, we often drool over the Baltimore running back (whoever it might be that week) and it works for them even with Lamar Jackson taking 10+ carries every game. Why can’t that also happen in the ISFL? Well, it already is. The Stig is the answer. - domffl
5. Buffalo Hunter
Volume, volume, volume, that’s the name of the game in fantasy and that was the name of the game for Buffalo Hunter’s season in S36. Honolulu was middle of the pack in rushing attempts, but Hunter had the 2nd most carries in the league. The Hahalua management have called up a young gun RB that might siphon a few carries from Hunter, but I’m not too concerned about that. They will still lean heavily on the run game and I predict some improvement in Hunter’s efficiency to make up for any potential dip in volume. A high TPE RB without major competition in his backfield on a high scoring, high rushing volume team? Sign me up. - Penne
6. Michaelangelo McTurtle
McTurtle was RB9 last season as a rookie in the NYS offense. Granted, he’s a bit older than most rookies, so his TPE is climbing. He doesn’t see as many carries as some may like to see from their RB, but he was highly productive averaging 4.9 YPC. AND he is heavily involved in the pass attack for the ‘rillas. He ended with over 500 yards and 3 TDs in the air last year. He’s taken over as the clear RB1 there and with a bit of a depleted WR corps, he should see similar involvement in the air as he did previously. The opportunity is ripe for McTurtle to take a step and repeat as a top 10 RB, with upside for finishing even higher with some more TDs. He does take a little knock for having a Mobile QB, but everything else points in the right direction. - Russ
7. Dante King
In last season’s version of this piece, Dante King and Busch Goose were so closely ranked and projected so similarly that we combined them into a single write-up. Not quite the case this season. Although both King and Goose are into regression, Goose is one season older and was bitten significantly harder by the Regression Demon this offseason, which I expect makes Dante King the clear leader of the Hawks backfield. Now Goose isn’t going anywhere (see below), so his production does put a dent in King’s upside, and Goose’s superior ability as a receiver is worth noting, but prediction is a game of probabilities, and I think the most probable outcome is a clear RB1/RB2 split between King and Goose, respectively, this season. –Michiganonymous
8. Goat Tank Jr.
Goat Tank Jr. and racking up yards through the air and on the ground, name a more iconic duo. GTJ has spent some time at WR as well as some time in a RB committee the past couple of seasons for OCO and I project that to happen again. While this usage definitely hurts his ceiling as he won’t be a 300 carry, 75 target guy, he does have a very high floor. 125+ targets with the yardage efficiency that a WR gets is basically a guarantee that GTJ will rack up 1000-7 through the air. Add in all that extra gravy he gets on the ground and GTJ should remain solid for your fantasy team. - Penne
9. DeAndre King
DeAndre King is taking over for Mason Malone as RB1 in San Jose. Malone finished last year as RB3, so why so low for King? The biggest difference is the addition of Onion Man back into their WR corps. That means King will be flexed out less as a receiving option and will primarily just take carries. King was RB17 last year, and while he should definitely finish well above that, he may be limited by his lack of receiving work. San Jose will have a rookie QB this season, so they will try to lean on King a bit to take pressure off. But if that doesn’t work out, they may have to switch things up. - Russ
10. Busch Goose
The Goose is loose! Even in a split backfield with Dante King, Goose finished last season as RB7. Unless we’ve received intel that something has changed, I still see Goose as their main man and he will still produce at a high rate. If you’re concerned by regression, I wouldn’t be too much. His offseason update should put him almost back to maxed speed and he kept all his needed traits. Now, if you’ve heard from the bird that he may be playing more of a second fiddle to King this year, then by all means fade him a bit. But I think he can still be a safe pick for a top 10 RB. - Russ
11. Rab Thecrab
The transition from Goat to Crab in the Berlin backfield officially happened in the middle of last season, but this will be Rab’s first full season as the bellcrab back for the Fire Salamanders. If last season was any indication, it could be a good one. In the first game of the post-Tank era for Berlin, Rab Thecrab rushed for over a hundred yards and two touchdowns, ending the season with over 400 yards despite only four games of lead back work. Additionally, there’s not much competition in the backfield for the Fire Salamanders, with only Marvin Toledo on the roster. The bigger issue is game flow - the young Berlin defense figures to be among the league’s worst again this season, meaning Bageshwari Singh and the passing offense will have higher volume but Thecrab may suffer. Still, as the easy top back, this crab is a good addition to your roster with a high floor. - 124715
12. Lonnie Jackson
Lonnie Jackson may be hitting his 2nd regression season, but he still should see a pretty decent chunk of volume given how much Philly likes to keep it on the ground. There is a chance he is in a 50/50 committee with JHM, which would hurt him pretty bad. But in the event he is the outright RB1 and bellcow of the team, getting him at RB12 will be a value. - Penne
13. Ozamataz Buckshank
With yet another season of regression coming for the once-mighty Jim the Vampire, Ozamataz Buckshank should see a bigger workload heading into the S37 season. Buckshank only saw 111 carries to JtV’s 158 in S36, but this speedy back will be able to take advantage of his touches with his updated TPE from the offseason. And while the QB for AUS has 1300+ TPE, the WRs are lacking in that department. Only Johnny Patey stands above 500 TPE heading into the season. This means that AUS might have to rely on their backfield to catch some “high-percantage” passes close to the line of scrimmage. This will be Buckshank’s bread and butter. I love Buckshank as a possible flex for my fantasy team this year, especially if I prioritize an early kicker or OL. - domffl
14. Kumquat Archipelago
Full disclosure, at the time I was making my rankings I was unaware of Adebayo Akinfenwa’s switch from fullback to Power Running Back, and expected that Kumquat Archipelago would be leading Yellowknife’s rushing attack. Now however the Wraiths have a true 1a/1b situation at running back and I’m not sure who will be who. At any rate, (SPOILER ALERT!) I expect Bernd D. Brot to be far and away the best fantasy athlete to come out of Yellowknife this season. Draft the Yellowknife running backs with cautious optimism in the FLEX range. The riskier but potentially more lucrative move would be to wait and see if one or the other emerges as the better back to own before trying to claim them through the waiver system after Week 1 or 2. –Michiganonymous
15. Adebayo Akinfenwa
The former fullback turned power back should figure to have the lead role in the YKW RB committee which ran over 425 times last season. Archipelago was the lead guy for the Wraiths last season, but Akinfenwa has the TPE lead and the build to handle more carries out of the duo. Yellowknife ran for 1800 yards and 14 TDs last season, if Akinfenwa gets 60% of that, that would be good enough for RB15 last season. Add in any kind of receiving work he might get and he could push for a top 12 spot. - Penne
16. Mason Malone
Just one season removed from an overall RB3 performance, Mason Malone finds himself as the second-highest RB on the Sabercats roster. In S36, Malone out-touched DeAndre King in rushing attempts 319 to 73. Although that will most certainly become much more of an even split, I’m not entirely convinced Mason Malone gives King complete bellcow duties; at least, not without a fight. But if I am being completely honest, Malone might best be suited as your waiver wire watch target instead of your RB2/Flex out of the draft. There are a lot of variables to consider when trying to predict this backfield. Rumors have circulated about a direct RB1-RB2 relationship, but I’ve also heard that it could be more of a committee approach. Make sure to check his stats after a week or two to see how his role has changed. But, that being said, at his current price of RB16, Malone has league-winning potential if he hits. - domffl
17. Zane Cold
Zane Cold finished the S36 season as the RB19, well below expectations. Role-wise, we should see a pretty similar split in the upcoming S37 season for the Orange County backfield. Goat Tank Jr. should work out of the slot a good percentage of the time while Cold takes the majority of backfield work. Cold rushed a total of 183 times compared to Tank Jr.’s 114, but Cold was only able to turn those rushes into an abysmal 680 yards, good for 3.7 yards per carry. Tank Jr., on the other hand, boasted a healthy 4.9 yards per carry. If Cold can find a way to become more efficient with his touches, he could be a reliable weekly starter for your fantasy team. But until he proves that he can, assume that he can’t. Keep your eye on him in late rounds, especially if the RBs start to dry up early. - domffl
18. Jarvis Harbinger-Marjin
IS IT BETTER TO FEAR JARVIS HARBINGER-MARJIN OR IS IT BETTER TO LOVE HIM? PERSONALLY, I THINK HE WANTS US TO BE AFRAID OF HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM. FAMOUS FOR HIS GOAT SACRIFICES AND HIS BROKEN CAPS LOCK KEY, THE HARBINGER OF DOOOOM IS THE ONLY THING IN PHILADELPHIA MORE CRACKED THAN THE LIBERTY BELL. NOW, DO I REALLY BELIEVE THAT HE’S THE MORTAL VESSEL FOR A WORLD-DESTROYING ELDRITCH ABOMINATION? I’M NOT SO SURE, BUT I ALSO DON’T PLAN TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. FORTUNATELY FOR ALL OF EXISTENCE, JHM MANAGES TO KEEP HIS INNER MONSTER CONTAINED UNLESS HE’S ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD. WITH LONNIE JACKSON STILL TRUCKING ALONG AND SECOND-YEAR QB KAGUYA SHINOMIYA EMERGING AS A SURPRISE RUSHING THREAT, IT’S PROBABLY STILL BE A SEASON OR TWO EARLY FOR THE HARBINGER TO EMERGE AS A TRUE FANTASY ASSET, BUT HE’S POTENTIALLY A VIABLE FLEX AND WOULD BE WORTH MONITORING AS A PRIORITY WAIVER ADD IF HE TURNS OUT TO BE MORE. –Michiganonymous
19/20. Sam Squanch/Ceti Pyxis
The Yeti RB duo are low on TPE and hard to project in terms of usage and volume. Maybe Pyxis is RB1 because of activity levels and Squanch is reduced to a different role. Maybe Squanch is RB1 because of TPE. Maybe they are in a committee. Who knows? Either way, I would avoid this duo during the draft and maybe keep an eye out for their usage in week 1 if you need to make a waiver pickup. - Penne
WIDE RECEIVER
1. Nick Kaepercolin Jr.
After leading the league in receptions and tying the ISFL league record in TDs in a single season, it should come as no surprise that Nick Kaepercolin Jr. tops our list of fantasy WRs. This offense is showing no signs of slowing down. Both QB Carter Knight and Kaepercolin Jr. are heading into their peak TPE season. I see no reason as to why we should expect less than 115 receptions and 15 TDs from this sensational duo. - domffl
2. Cole Maxwell
Maxwell’s game is maximizing his yards every time he gets the ball. The “Yeeti” offense has moved to the wayside a little, but Maxwell was still the second most productive receiver in terms of yards last year. He has regressed again, but he’s still got the speed and Deep Threat Trait, so I don’t think there’s reason to be alarmed. While the Yeti do have many WRs rostered, none of them pose a threat to his WR1 status. Their run game is not exactly ready to take over as the focal point, so there still should be a solid amount of passing going on. All that adds up to Maxwell being a top fantasy option yet again this year. - Russ
3. Johnny Patey
The math here is pretty simple. AUS throw the most of any team. Patey is one of two legit receiving options on the offense. He finished last season 1 catch off having the most in the league. So the volume and opportunity are all still here for Patey. And that opportunity led him to be the yardage leader among all WRs last year. Even after regressing, Patey has 100 Speed and the Deep Threat trait, so the production shouldn’t drop off much at all. Patey is a safe bet for your top WR pick again this season. - Russ
4. Bernd D. Brot
Call it a hunch (because that’s all it is, really), but I have Brot ranked as my WR2 this season. Why? Talent and volume. First, talent: with Sal Ami regressing for the first time this offseason, Brot will enter S37 with the 3rd-highest TPE among WRs, and he’s only getting better; he’s still a season away from hitting peak TPE! He has elite Speed and Hands, as well as the Deep Threat and Athlete traits. Secondly, volume: Brot has the weakest competition for targets among any of the top WRs. With Troy Abed traded back to Berlin, Yellowknife’s WRs are Brot and two rookie call-ups. Adebayo Akinfenwa’s switch from fullback to Power Running Back could be an indication that the Wraiths plan to run the ball more this season, but both YKW RBs are S35 players, still growing and not yet up to the standard of the top backs in the ISFL. The upshot of all this: Bernd D. Brot is far and away the best player in Yellowknife’s offense, and if they’re smart, they’ll try to get the ball to him as much as possible. Look for Brot to make the most of that opportunity. –Michiganonymous
5. Vincent Sharpei Jr.
It’s Sharpei not Sharpie, but Sharpei was good enough last season that you could write his name down in Sharpie on your draft boards. Despite being on a relatively low passing volume team, Sharpei amassed over 150 targets and absolutely capitalized on all of them. Sharpei was top 3 in efficiency and was only held back from further greatness by an average TD rate. Sprinkle in another couple TDs for Sharpei and as Michael Jordan put it “the roof is the ceiling” for this guy. - Penne
6. Sal Ami
Coming off of a season where he was the WR6 and racked up nearly 200 fantasy points, Sal Ami and the Hahalua are looking to three-peat and they should just go back to the well a 3rd season in a row. What does that mean? Feed Buffalo Hunter on the ground and feed Sal Ami through the air. I will say that Honolulu was very run heavy last season, even so Sal Ami was still pretty good in fantasy. Some of the Hahalua pieces on defense are aging so there’s always a chance they allow some more points on that side of the ball and have to throw a little more to keep up. In this case, Sal Ami would be a huge beneficiary. - Penne
7. Zayne Dangle
Dangle could definitely see a repeat of his production from last year as the primary target in the BER offense. Rookie QB Singh had a great campaign and established a solid connection with his WR1 last season, and that should carry into this year. He was fifth in receptions and sixth in yards among all pass catchers, but what held him back from finishing higher was his TD total. With a season under his belt, Singh should see a move up in production and Patey would be a big benefactor there. If his TD total creeps up to 10, he could possibly end up with a top 5 finish. Draft with confidence. - Russ
8. Kotoni Staggs
Kotoni Staggs was one of the hardest players to rank this season. While the TPE and the relationship with their QB is there (wink), the Outlaws were in the bottom half of passing plays in the league. Even so, Staggs was able to bring home 93 receptions and over 1,200 yards with 7 touchdowns in S36. With this sort of usage, there is an argument to be made that Staggs’s TD total should regress positively. Staggs is the last WR in this tier of elite WR1’s, so make sure you grab at least one of the WRs from here or above. To be honest though, I think at the current price, I am very much in on Staggs this season. - domffl
9. Escanor Sama
I’m not as confident in this one as some of my other rankings, but it could pan out. Escanor is still the highest TPE and most experienced WR in Philly. The real issue here is he finished with 10 TDs on only 77 catches last season. That TD total will likely come down a little, but his yardage could increase as the Philly O gets better. Philly does have a rushing QB which eats into production a bit and Kemp is creeping up on Sama as well.l But Sama is a capable receiver when called upon. So long as some of that is in the red zone, he should still see enough work to merit a possible top 12 finish. - Russ
10. Jaycee Higgins
Jaycee Higgins, the lead dog of the Sabercat WR group has done nothing but put together solid seasons the past 3-4 years or so. 1200 yards and 8 TD is a pretty normal season for Higgy and those are top 10 WR numbers. San Jose have added Onion Man (who will eat away at the RB pair’s opportunities, not Higgins’) and gotten another full season of max earning from Blondin and Penne, but there is no reason not to believe that Higgins is still the guy. - Penne
11. President Camacho
The name might be unfamiliar to ISFL fantasy managers, but the face isn’t! The Player Formerly Known as Gus Bus has a new identity and a new position, and he’s expected to be the WR1 for the Otters this season. The former centerpiece of Orange County’s offense, Goat Tank Jr., is into his regression seasons and also dealing with off-field issues. This creates a production gap in the Otters’ offense that Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho is primed and ready to take advantage of. I expect the Otters will be a somewhat run-dominant offense, so keep expectations measured, but he should be comfortably a low-end WR2 and perhaps more. –Michiganonymous
12. Zaphod Beeblebrox
Zaphod found himself stepping into the pass heaviest offense in the ISFL last year, which was a great thing for a rookie WR. Lots of opportunities to show what he’s got and he showed out, finishing with 1k yards and 8 TDs. That was good enough to finish as WR14 in his rookie campaign. If anything, his situation has become even more clear with Radetzky regressing into unsafe TPE totals. They did call up rookie Delores Bickerman, but I think she’ll be a firm WR3 in this corp and shouldn’t impact Zaphod’s production. Even if his numbers remain the same from last season, he should be a safe option in the middle rounds of your draft. He’s got a floor of WR14ish with the upside of top 10. - Russ
13. Rejoignez LordreSombre
Is Rejoignez a WR2 on their own team? Yes. Should that prevent you from drafting them? Nope. Remember the section earlier about how efficient Sharpei was for the Butchers? Now take that and sprinkle on even more efficiency on top of that (yes, LordreSombre was better per target than Sharpei). Now I don’t expect that to continue since Rejoignez is hitting regression, but Chicago should still have an elite passing game and this player will be a big part of it. - Penne
14. Eeeeeeee Phenssta
The Colorado WR2 has been a productive fantasy player in many past seasons thanks to the Yeeti offense, but last season WR2 Bud E. Fingers finished as just the WR17, slightly disappointing given previous success. In that light, ranking Eeeeeeee this high may seem like a stretch, but they have a few things going for them. First of all, better earning - Mr. Phenssta is already at 518 TPE compared to Fingers’ 437, and that gap should only get larger over the course of the season cementing their WR2 status. Second, a worse run game - Colorado “only” had the 6th most pass attempts in the league last season, but with their RB group getting markedly worse thanks to regression they will likely be a bit heavier on the passing side this season. All of these factors should give Eeeeeeee a solid floor and a pretty high ceiling, making them a low end WR2 / high end Flex consideration. - Slate
15. Troy Abed
This is one that I could see finishing higher than we have projected, even though I ranked them higher than everyone else already. BER was 4th in passing attempts last season AND supported two top 10 WRs in their offense (Dangle and Onion Man). Dangle is ranked as our WR9, and Onion Man returned to San Jose, which leaves a vacancy for Abed to step right into. With their only other WR on roster being a 400 TPE IA (please come back French Fries), and a rushing game that probably needs another season or so to get going, I’m very high on what this WR duo could end up doing. I think BER will pass often and Abed is no stranger to fantastic seasons. - Russ
16. Quinton Crash
Listen, Crash is still in the quadruple digits of TPE. There’s no need to panic and drop Crash below some lesser TPE receiving options. The one thing to watch out for is that this offense is likely going to continue feeding Cue Jr. the ball in the backfield. It’s worked out well for them for 3 seasons now, so like my mama always said, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But all that being said, Cue jr. is entering his second season of regression. So while he will still be a top back in the league, he might begin to show that he’s human…kinda. Er, at least, virtually boundaried. And when the juice stops flowing from their backfield, QB Wendell Sailor might be relied on to air it out over the top of the defense instead, benefitting this team’s absolutely stacked WR corps. Crash is someone I will continue to take at the end of my fantasy drafts until he retires. Reliable and undervalued. - domffl
17. Saleem Spence
Despite playing in the productive SAR raid offense, last season Spence was only the 21st highest scoring WR in fantasy, largely thanks to his teammate NKJ stealing the spotlight and the touchdowns from him. Spence recorded a season low 879 receiving yards as QB Carter Knight force fed the ball to the younger Kaepercolin Jr. However, Spence holds major upside in the possibility that the Sailfish spread out the passing targets a bit more evenly next season. Spence has recently had back-to-back 1400 yard seasons in S33 and S34, and scored 12 TDs in S35 (with Kaepercolin Jr. on the team!). If Sarasota passes the ball as much as last season, it wouldn’t take a huge shift in targets for Spence to put up that kind of season again. - Slate
18. Luke Quick
Luke Quick is admittedly not as Quick as he once was. Luke Slow is a bit harsh, perhaps Luke Leisurely would be a more apt nickname. Ultimately, he put out a poor showing last season with a WR19 finish, but he is the clear WR1 in Baltimore that has an aging backfield and is a bit light on weapons otherwise. Quick will have his fair share of opportunities. - Penne
19. Calvin Spiff
Last season, WR Troy Abed finished as the 11th best WR in fantasy in his first full season playing with QB Dustin Parmelee. Having now left to return back to the Fire Salamanders, the profitable WR2 slot in the Wraiths offense now goes to the upcoming Calvin Spiff, who sits at a respectable 528 TPE for an S35 create, ranking towards the bottom end of the top 20 in his cohort. While there are higher TPE or more proven options, drafting Spiff as a FLEX WR is buying into the idea that Yellowknife makes good use of their WR2s and that Spiff can be a productive asset based mainly on his position in that offense. If he can come close to replicating what Abed did last year, he could end up finishing as a top 12-15 WR, but it is unclear how close he can come given his youth and lower TPE. - Slate
20. Louis Blondin
I personally have Blondin ranked as WR16. The secret sauce here is that he is switching to the Speed Receiver archetype, so he should be able to see an uptick in his production. He’s been earning like mad, so he should be ready to truly breakout and help rookie QB Owen Farrell transition to the big leagues. The Cats may see themselves playing from behind a good bit this season, and if that is the case, I see Blondin’s targets increasing and with that his overall production thanks to his new found speed. He’ll also have the added bonus of the Deep Threat trait as a further boost. Excited to see what he can do this year and moving forward! - Russ
TIGHT END
1. Deshawn Penne
Finishing well above the next closest tight end, Deshawn Penne showcased his receiving prowess by racking up 83 receptions for 816 yards and 10 TDs. On a team without much receiving talent, Penne will need to fill a pretty large hole of offensive weapons. Unless there is a major offseason move for the Sabercats, expect Penne to take the majority of targets and yardage for this offense. I will most certainly be reaching a round or two for this tight end. - domffl
2. Lucius Salem
Salem finished as the TE2 last season, 14 points ahead of Lenard Graf, so it isn’t a huge stretch to place them there again in S37. Salem has strong upside to potentially push Penne for the TE1 crown thanks to the passing environment they find themselves in. Sarasota passed the 2nd most of any team last season, and with Salem only continuing to increase in TPE (acquiring the Deep Threat trait to start this season!) the amount of targets they get, even getting few if any snaps at WR, means they have lots of opportunity to score some long TDs this season. - Slate
3. Lenard Graf
Not much has changed in the TE landscape, so my outlook on Graf hasn’t really moved. Whether he lines up some at WR or not, his numbers and opportunity should still be very high. And with only 2 WRs on the roster, he should see plenty of targets. Graf had the most receptions in this offense last season and I don’t see that changing this year. Another season around 750 yards and 6 TDs should be about right so you should feel safe taking him as your TE. - Russ
4. Gronku Muerto
Muerto definitely isn’t the flashiest option at TE, or even the flashiest option on his own team. That said, volume is king in fantasy and volume was Muerto’s middle name. Berlin was top 5 in pass attempts and I expect that to continue as they should be in quite a few negative game scripts forcing them to sling it. Muerto had almost 150 targets, which is basically unheard of at TE. He wasn’t the most productive with those targets, but 125+ targets is a guarantee for fantasy relevance which is all your asking for at this point in the rankings. - Penne
5. American Boot
American Boot had a disappointing season in regard to efficiency. Even though he is built as a Vertical Threat TE, Boot only amassed 502 yards and a single touchdown on his 63 receptions. This lack of RAC yardage might have been affected by the utter lack of top-tier receiving options on the team; but nevertheless, Boot will hope to get his yardage and TD totals up to match his usage percentage. American Boot is the TE of the future in this league, I have no doubt about that; the question really becomes: when will the future get here? Personally, I think it will be S38, but that doesn’t mean he won’t improve from his S36 numbers this year. - domffl
6. Herc Kirkby
Is this the year AZ has a fantasy relevant TE? Maybe. He’s the third or fourth option in a low volume passing offense. He was TE5 last year by 3 points. I don’t see any significant increase in his workload, so most likely he should be one of your last picks if you’re not able to take one of the top 3 TEs. He may move up a little if he grabs a couple more TDs, but with the offense running through JCJ that seems unlikely. - Russ
7. Mister Hogmally
Hogmally finished as the TE7 in fantasy as an immediate callup rookie, and while that didn’t require a particularly impressive statline last year it’s still a good indication that they might be a good flier to take late at a thin position if you miss out on one of the top 3-4 in your draft. Hogmally definitely has upside thanks to Colorado’s potential passing preference, but previous performances point to positional preferences in the Yeti’s offense. In other words, they throw to their WRs much more than their TEs, so Hogmally may not get the biggest slice of the pie. - Slate
8. Rex Crenshaw
Crenshaw had a very poor showing in fantasy last season, finishing as the TE10 as they struggled to get involved as the NOLA offense shifted with the callup of Elessar Jones. Strictly looking at TPE, though, Rex definitely has the potential to have another strong season as they rank 4th among all TEs. Crenshaw definitely has the capability to put up a good season, but like with many other TEs the question is mainly just about how their team will put them to use. - Slate
9. Molki Koivu
10. Reece Wells
Reece is not only a delicious peanut butter cup, but he is also the first real TE for YKW since Buffalo Hunter in S33. Now I don’t expect him to put up a 100 catch season like Hunter did then, but he does have a solid set-up with the Wraiths to potentially have a productive season for fantasy. Parm is one of the highest TPE QBs in the ISFL, and the rest of the team’s weapons outside of Brot aren’t exactly the biggest threats. Rookie TEs don’t usually have a ton of success, but Wells might. - Penne
OFFENSIVE LINE
1. Stumpy Jones
The one true king. If you’re taking an OL early, it needs to be Stumpy. If not, don’t take one early. He’s been the best OL for at least a couple seasons now, and there isn’t much competition to stop that. Beniri is up there, but even as a similar TPE, he finished almost 30 cakes behind Stumpy. He could also be a safe bet. However, with OL scoring being heavily nerfed, I don’t advise taking OL until pretty late, and as basically your last pick if you don’t get one of the top 2-3. - Russ
2. Beniri T’Chawama
Stumpy Jones remains the top fantasy OL until proven otherwise. However, Ben T’Chawama is set to overtake him as the TPE leader among OL players. This will be T’Chawama’s peak TPE season, whereas Stumpy is in his third season of regression and definitely on the downhill side of his glittering career. The situation is right for T’Chawama to take over as the league’s best pancake chef. If nothing else he’s a mortal lock to finish in the top 6; fantasy managers should draft with confidence. –Michiganonymous
3. Theo Awardssystemisbad
While some might dislike his name or wish it would be changed to Awardssystemisbetter or Awardssystemisimproved, that doesn’t change his production on the field. Theo is still dodging regression and was the OL4 from last season. I see no reason for that to change this season unless Carimi gets slotted in by the Chicago management as the LT over Theo. Carimi has been playing along the interior in the past so I believe Theo is the front runner for the LT job. OL success in fantasy is pretty TPE dependent and Theo is up there amongst the highest. He is a top 6 lock as long as he snags the OL job for the Butchers. - Penne
T-4. D’Nickashaw Mangoldson
At the time of ranking, we were unsure of Bernie Sanders’ future with the Arizona Outlaws, but since then he has signed and will remain with the Outlaws. This puts the portmanteau of an OL, Mangoldson’s potential fantasy success for this season at risk. Mangoldson and Bernie had the same amount of TPE at the end of last season, but Mangoldson is 3 seasons younger meaning he has been earning better and Bernie is facing his first regression. I would shy away from Mangoldson during the draft just because we aren’t certain if he will have the LT job or not, but you should keep an eye out for waivers after week 1 if he does have the job. - Penne
T-4. Dallas Fort-Worth
To be completely honest, I’m not entirely sure why Dallas Fort-Worth is ranked as low as 4th. Still climbing towards his peak TPE season, DFW had the second-highest pancake total for human offensive line player in S36 while not once allowing a sack for his beloved QB. I don’t see that changing much heading into S37. Dallas Fort-Worth is someone I will be looking to grab right after the consensus OL1 Stumpy Jones is drafted. - domffl
6. Manhattan Project
Death, taxes, and Manhattan Project putting up nearly 100 pancakes with 0 sacks allowed. Those are the 3 guarantees in life. Project definitely doesn’t have much upside since he is stuck at the center position which naturally lowers the pancake total a bit. But if you want to take an OL late and be 100% sure he will be good enough then Project is your guy. - Penne
7. Swantavius Payne
Our lovely former commissioner is ready yet again to quest for pancakes. Last year’s OL10 has moved up in our rankings and could possibly rise through the year. His cake numbers are driven down by having a rushing QB it seems, so his upside isn’t super high. I do think he could maybe surprise some if he catches a few high pancake games early, but through the whole season, I think he stays around 90 cakes. He only allowed 2 sacks last year, so there’s not much room for improvement there either. If you want to take Swanty as your OL, I suggest doing it with your last pick. - Russ
8. J.T. Kurbis
Last season’s rookie sensation J.T. Kurbis is back and better than ever on a very intriguing Wraiths offense. He finished as the league’s OL9 last season, but will make a huge jump in TPE before this season and sees a (admittedly slight) jump in his ranking this season. He still lags many of the league’s top fantasy linemen in TPE and all of them in experience, but the upside is there depending on how Yellowknife’s offense runs. Given the logjam at the OL position, Kurbis is a fine option for your team, but hold off until the end.
9. Panda McKyle
Panda McKyle is an interesting addition to the OL ranks this season, as he’s packed on the pounds to transition from being San Jose’s quarterback to protecting the rookie Owen Farrell. It’s unclear at this point which side of the line he’ll be playing on, but based on TPE this ranking projects him to be the starting left tackle, with heavily regressed Jaja Ding Dong sliding over to the right. For years Ding Dong was consistently among the league’s best OL players while manning the left side for the SaberCats, so one would hope to see McKyle continue that legacy of strong play. This ranking reflects McKyle’s status as an unknown quantity given that this is his first year playing OL, but he is certainly one to watch, and a player who could sneak into the top 6 by season’s end. –Michiganonymous
10. IsHe ReallyInvisible
The question gets asked all the time and no one really knows the answer, but is he really invisible? As a blocker I would say definitely not. IHRI transitioned from QB to OL and immediately put up a near triple digit pancake season, with only 1 sack allowed. This was good enough for 7th in fantasy scoring. He is hitting another season of regression, but old low TPE OL can still be fairly productive as we’ve seen in the past. - Penne
KICKER
1. Swantavius King
A man on a mission, King, Swanty will aim at being the best K in the league this year, and I think he can do it. The SAR offense was the highest scoring in the league last year, and shouldn’t slow down much at all this year. He was off the top volume on XPs last season by 1 and only a handful off of most FGs attempted. This offense moves and King Swanty will be a huge benefactor. TPE doesn’t seem to matter much at all for kickers, but he is making sure that it’s not the reason he misses! I would feel very safe taking him as K1 in any group. - Russ
2. Levy Tate
I think Tate could also have a great shot at K1 this season, and for similar reasons to King, Swanty. CHI finished 1 point behind SAR in total offense, and Tate did finish with the most total kicks attempted. She, as a matter of fact, finished as K1 last season. So it’s well within her range of outcomes. I think if you’re looking to be the first to take a Kicker, you either grab King or Tate and are happy about it. Basically, pick your poison on which offense you think does better, which really is a toss-up. - Russ
3. Double Doink
With the second-highest TPE of all ISFL kickers and still several seasons from her peak TPE season, Double Doink should quite easily be the second kicker off the board in terms of raw skill. Unfortunately, Doink is on a mediocre offense, which limits the amount of XP and short-range field goals she is able to attempt. Doink attempted the most field goals of any kicker in S36, including the most from beyond 40 yards, limiting her field goal percentage. If the Yellowknife offense can move the ball better this season and get Doink in a better position to score, we could easily be looking at the overall top kicker season from Double Doink. - domffl
4. Savathun T Witchqueen
Combine a top 6 TPE kicker with a top 4 scoring offense from last season and that is the mixture of volume and accuracy that I’m looking for from my fantasy kicker. A lot of fantasy success from kickers comes from getting field goal attempts and while Arizona was in the bottom half of the league in that department last season, I think Witchqueen offers a solid floor. - Penne
5. Orlando Doom
Rookie kicker Orlando Doom steps into an interesting kicking situation in Colorado. Lux Opal’s shoes are really big ones to fill, but the Yeti have a propensity for putting up points. Despite LLL nearing his peak TPE season, all of his weapons are either hard into regression or extremely young and low TPE. I still expect them to move the ball well, and hopefully for Doom’s sake that leads to a fair share of kicking opportunities. - Penne
6. Freddy Bly
For similar reasons to why I ranked King, Swanty so highly, I ranked Bly a bit higher than others did. Bly was one of 2 kickers to have more XPs than King last season and he’s still in that same high-powered offense in HON. They scored the third-most in the league last season, and should be near the top again. He was lower last season on FGs attempted which brought his overall scoring down, but that could come back up and make him a top option again. I’d say he’s safe as one of the last 2-3 Ks to take in your draft. - Russ
7. Orange County Kicker
8. Alfredo Dos Santos
T-9. Jack Lewis
Lewis might be a slight surprise to be included on this list considering he was the K12 last season in scoring, but he also saw just the 12th most field goal attempts on an above average offense. With a rookie QB the Sabercats could very easily fail to convert TDs a few more times in the red zone and Lewis could shoot up the fantasy scoring on the back of some more easy field goal opportunities. - Penne
T-9. Jean-Jacques Leroy
TEAM DEFENSE
1. Honolulu Hahalua
The Hahalua are coming off back-to-back Ultimus victories, and the defense is coming off consecutive seasons as the top fantasy defense. That’s not a coincidence. How good are they? Consider this: last season Honolulu’s defense finished as the 9th-ranked overall player in fantasy. That’s the value of a 2nd-round pick. The next two fantasy defenses were Sarasota and Yellowknife, separated by just 10 points at 25th and 27th overall. The Honolulu defense outscored every wide receiver, in a year where the top overall WR broke the touchdown receptions record. They outscored all but the top two quarterbacks. Now, is this entirely down to how good Honolulu’s defense is, or is it the product of a broken ISFL fantasy scoring system? My attorney has advised me not to speculate. Either way, the Hahalua defense might be the single biggest positional advantage in ISFL fantasy this season. But if you can’t get them on your team, don’t fret! There were more fantasy group winners who had the Chicago Butchers (DEF 9) than group winners who had the Hahalua last season. – Michiganonymous
2. Sarasota Sailfish
While the SAR offense received a ton of praise and attention, the defense tied for first in least points allowed. They were also DEF2 in terms of fantasy scoring. Now, they were eclipsed by HON in fantasy scoring by 50 points, but I think that gap could close a little. They have one of, if not the best secondaries in the league, with 4 of 5 players over 1K TPE. Their DL does look a bit leery, but Moyes is a grizzled veteran who had an amazing season last year and Kekua is coming up the ranks as well. I do think part of the reason for the gap that formed between HON and SAR last season was TD luck by their defenses. HON’s Gallagher had 4 TDs as a CB which he’s highly unlikely to repeat. In any case, I think SAR is very safe as your defense and should be the second or third off the board. - Russ
3. Yellowknife Wraiths
The Wraiths of Yellowknife ended the S36 season tied for 1st in Points Allowed. This young defensive squad is only getting better as they approach the peak TPE seasons for several of their defensive backs. This unit also supports the 2nd and 3rd highest sack LB’s of the S36 season. Yellowknife is my “dark horse” candidate for being the top defensive unit of S37. What’s best, you can get them an entire round (maybe 2) later than the Hahalua. - domffl
4. Chicago Butchers
CHI finished as DEF9 last season. We’ve got them moving up 5 spots to DEF4. That’s a mighty big jump, you may be thinking. However, if you look closer, they were 9 points off of being DEF5 last season. They’ve got a solid secondary and are building up their F7. Omni Man is a force at LB and the team finished with the third highest INTs. If they can increase their sack totals a bit and grab a TD, they could definitely finish top 5. However, the takeaway here is that 6 defenses finished within 10 points of each other. So if you miss out on those top 3, it’s pretty safe to wait a good while for yours. - Russ
T-5. Orange County Otters
Sacks, sacks, sacks, that’s my number 1 indicator for fantasy success for defenses. Sacks contribute the most points and are the most predictable stat and I believe OCO should do pretty well for themselves in that department. Some might be concerned that they lost the McTurtle bros in free agency, but they only contributed 11 sacks which is offset by the trade deadline acquisition of Rocco Blade who had, you guessed it, 11 sacks last season. The top 4 sack getters on the team return to a team that was top 5 in sacks. I’m in on drafting OCO as one of the last defenses in the draft. - Penne
T-5. Arizona Outlaws
While Arizona’s linebacker room is depleted this season, they tooled up with great players at other important spots on defense by adding Leonardo and Raphael McTurtle to the defensive line and Mark Goodhead to the secondary. Arizona has won a lot of games in recent history and tend to get the most out of their roster, so while they may compare unfavorably to some other defenses on paper, in my mind they still have the capability to be a high scoring, or at least rosterable, fantasy defense. Arizona was definitely a controversial defense to place among our group, so if you do take Arizona be prepared to bail if these predictions don’t come to light. - Slate
7. New Orleans Secondline
NOLA was a team that actually finished above that quagmire I mentioned in my CHI writeup. They had a solid combo of turnovers and sacks, but didn’t necessarily stick out in any category. They did score 4 TDs which helped them escape that grouping of defenses below them last season. This year they have some lower TPE across the board in defensive positions, which I think will see them move down from the DEF4 finish they had previously. They have a couple stars in Garciaparra and Springer who could help generate some points, but overall, I think this unit may not be strong enough to be a good selection for your fantasy team. - Russ
8. San Jose Sabercats
Homer pick? Maybe a little. SJS wasn’t great in the sack department last season, but they’ve added a former All-Pro veteran in BamBam McMullet and will add a full season of TPE across most of the rest of the front 7. Throw in a veteran CB crew with a knack for turnovers and a propensity across the entire team to recover fumbles and this is a sneaky team defense for fantasy. - Penne
9. Philadelphia Liberty
While the Liberty don’t pose the greatest threat in the box, they might have one of the best defensive back corps in the entire league.
10. Austin Copperheads
I don’t know what to tell you here, folks. If you’re trying to decide whether you should draft the Copperheads defense, you’ve probably done something wrong. Sure, they’re better than the Salamanders, Yeti, and Silverbacks, but is that really an accomplishment that they can claim with pride? Now, this isn’t entirely their fault, the Copperheads defense is just young. But they have some all-star users that should vault this defense into a top-half squad within a few seasons. Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, Joey Din, Draft Steal, and Nate Winter will be staples on this defense for years to come. We might be talking about the Copperheads as one of the top defenses in 5 seasons. But for now, avoid. - domffl
Mr or Mrs Grader, please pay out the following amounts:
@RussDrivesTheBus 25%
@Pvtpenne 21%
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@124715 8%
@TubaDeus 7%
Hello and welcome to the third annual Simulation Football Writers Guild fantasy rankings! In this article we will be providing some insight, analysis, and honestly some guesswork as to who will be producing in fantasy in S37. We will try to update the rankings a little bit if there are any big moves or roster changes that happen after the rankings go live, but no guarantees there. This season the rankings are brought to you by Pvtpenne, TubaDeus, RussDrivesTheBuss, Slate, Michiganonymous, 124715, and Domffl but if you have any negative comments please direct them towards Russ. Without further ado, let’s get into the rankings.
QUARTERBACK
1. Carter Knight
Knight is the engine behind the highest scoring offense from last season and their roster has not taken any major hits. It’s likely that his TD/INT ratio will take a bit of a hit, but even if it does, he was second in attempts only behind TE82 from AUS last season, so the opportunity to make it up is yardage volume is clearly there. Kaep should run it back and have another big year, Salem is a great TE and even Huntsman had almost 500 receiving yards last year. This is a pretty safe bet for your QB spot and you shouldn’t feel bad for taking him as the first one off the board. - Russ
2. Live Laughlove
While this offense is no longer the “Yeeti” of old LLL still finished as QB2 last season, only behind an incredible season from Carter Knight. His WRs have dwindled a little bit, but the running game still lacks potency, so I think the volume will be there to carry LLL to another great fantasy season. With a 3:1 TD:INT ratio last season, so those numbers could wobble a bit, but I’d still say LLL is very safe as QB2-3. - Russ
T-3. Malcolm Savage
Poor Malcolm Savage was asked to do a lot with very, very little in terms of offensive weapons. While reliable ol’ Tugg(boat) Speedman did as much as his elderly frame could manage, it was still much less than that that New York offense needed. One thing that I can give to this Silverbacks offense is that they are fostering a good community for their younger players. They have two future All-Pro offensive weapons still building towards their peak TPE seasons. McTurtle and McHollywood will be absolutely essential for the success of this offense. But Savage is still an elite ISFL QB. He’s done more with less many times in his career. If you’re a gambling person, Savage is a great QB to take a late-round flyer on. He is as boom/bust as they come. - domffl
T-3. Elessar Jones
Rookie sensation Elessar Jones had a fantastic season for fantasy, even with subpar receiving options. Jones was the QB3 on the back of a whopping 716 rushing yards and an almost 2-1 TD:Int ratio. Now I will say his rushing volume and turnover rate definitely have room for some negative regression to the mean, but these past few seasons have proven how valuable rushing QBs are for fantasy and Jones is no exception. Despite the aforementioned potential for negative regression for the mean, I think Jones has QB1 potential this season with some up and coming weapons in NOLA to throw to, and it would be much easier if he snagged a couple more rushing TDs. - Penne
5. Kaguya Shinomiya
One of the most dangerous QBs to deal with, Shinomiya taught the ISFL that QBs are much more than just their arm. Shinomaya averaged a touchdown on every 10 rushes, which is, by all accounts, absurd. Although Philadelphia has a very young and inexperienced receiving corps, they have the opportunity to learn and grow together. Sama, Boot, Kemp, and JHM will make a very deadly offensive core in just a couple of seasons. But for now, Shinomaya will have to continue to rely on his legs until his supporting cast grows into their roles in the Liberty offense. - domffl
6. Kazimir Oles Jr.
Oles is a very interesting choice this year. Coming off of one of the most efficient seasons we’ve seen in a while that had him finish as QB4, I’m not certain he can replicate it. He had the fifth highest yards total while also having the third least attempts. I just don’t see that tracking into this season. The CHI offense does have plenty of weapons, but if they use Oles as little as they did last season, I think he’s due to see some regression in overall production. Now, that’s not to say he’s a bad pick for your QB. But I do think if you want him, you should wait until 3-4 are off the board before you consider it. - Russ
7. Tight End Eighty-Two
Only one season removed from leading the entire league in passing yards and passing attempts, Tight End Eighty-Two finds himself, yet again, overlooked by younger, faster quarterbacks. Sure, TE82 isn’t the “sexy” pick, but he should still see a gigantic workload heading into his final season in the ISFL. Even though his workload was immense, TE82 was only able to garner a TD% of 3.3, fairly below the league average. Hopefully, with some ascension of some of the younger skill position talents, he can regress back towards the mean in terms of TD%, making his fantasy score match his on-field production. - domffl
8. Wendell Sailor
Sailor had what seems to be an anomalous season in S36. His volume was about as average as ever in terms of attempts, but his production dropped off heavily in terms of yards and TDs compared to his previous seasons. Fortunately, I think this was just a blip season, and not his new norm. The AZ offense will still move through Jay Cue Jr., but the Outlaws still have one of the best WR corps in the league. If Sailor can return to his numbers from a couple seasons ago, he could finish as a top 5 QB. But I think he’s more likely to end up around that 6-8 range because he is ultimately capped by his lower attempt totals. If you do want to take him, you should be safe to do so as the last QB in your group, unless you have an AZ homer. - Russ
9. Dexter Zaylren
The Honolulu Hahalua live and die (theoretically, if they even can die) by their defense, so their quarterback Dexter Zaylren isn’t asked to do too much. “Game manager” is seen as a pejorative term, but Zaylren is a great one and perfect for his role. Zaylren finished as the QB11 last season on low volume, but may see a higher workload as Buffalo Hunter regresses again. Furthermore, Honolulu’s offensive weapons are a strong enough group that the passing game should be reasonably efficient. Zaylren may not be taken in the draft, but if he gets a big workload he might be a worthwhile waiver pickup. - TubaDeus and 124715
10. Tron Carter
The Otters are coming off of a top 5 passing volume season and all of Tron’s weapons are still improving sans Goat Tank Jr; what’s not to like? Tron is hitting his first regression, but that hasn’t seemed to slow down QBs in the past (see Oles in S36) and he still has boat loads of TPE. Camacho and Rodka are a solid WR duo, with GTJ thrown in there as a wild card and Tron has some solid potential to sneak into the top 6 QBs. - Penne
RUNNING BACK
1. Jay Cue Jr.
I don’t think this will surprise anyone. Cue is still the clear #1 RB in the league. After regressing, he is no longer the highest TPE RB in the league, but 2 things of note there: TPE is not the best determining factor in RB success, and opportunity is vital. Cue has led the league in rushing attempts for the last 3 seasons, and I don’t see that changing this year. The AZ philosophy is to run the ball as much as they can get away with, and it turns out that’s a lot. Cue is incredibly productive and will continue to be in one of, if not, the better offensive situations for any RB in the league. Do not be afraid to take him 1OA. - Russ
2. Lalu Zohri
Zohri waited patiently to take over this backfield and when he finally did he pulled off an RB2 season. This season, not much has changed in the CHI offense and he should see nearly identical usage. Some would say he could be the RB1 this year, and while it is technically possible, I still see him as RB2 behind JCJ from Arizona. I’m not worried about his regression as he still has all the stats and traits you need as an RB, and as mentioned before, his volume should still be massive. If Cue goes 1, this is an easy 2. - Russ
3. John Huntsman
Huntsman should be another safe pick fro you in the top 3 of your draft. He finished as RB4 last season and was 3rd in carries among all RBs. I don’t see SAR moving away from what’s been working for them for many seasons now. And what has been working, is getting Huntsman involved in the passing game as well. Last season he finished with almost 500 receiving yards to go along with his great rushing production. He did have 17 rushing TDs which could come down a bit, but he also had 0 receiving touchdowns. I could see those numbers move in opposite directions and ultimately give you very similar totals to last year. They did call up a young RB in Pete Zuh, but I don’t see him eating into Huntsman’s production enough to worry and not take him at least top 5. - Russ
4. The Stig
The Stig averaged a very healthy 5.1 yards per carry in S36. With the emergence of Elessar Jones, the new all-star rushing QB, some might be tempted to knock Stig down a couple pegs due to ceding some of his rushing work to Jones. I say, move him UP. Even with Jones taking >150 rushing attempts, Stig still tied for the 4th most rushing attempts in the league. Jones rushing prowess should only allow Stig to become an even more dangerous weapon for the Secondline. In NFL fantasy, we often drool over the Baltimore running back (whoever it might be that week) and it works for them even with Lamar Jackson taking 10+ carries every game. Why can’t that also happen in the ISFL? Well, it already is. The Stig is the answer. - domffl
5. Buffalo Hunter
Volume, volume, volume, that’s the name of the game in fantasy and that was the name of the game for Buffalo Hunter’s season in S36. Honolulu was middle of the pack in rushing attempts, but Hunter had the 2nd most carries in the league. The Hahalua management have called up a young gun RB that might siphon a few carries from Hunter, but I’m not too concerned about that. They will still lean heavily on the run game and I predict some improvement in Hunter’s efficiency to make up for any potential dip in volume. A high TPE RB without major competition in his backfield on a high scoring, high rushing volume team? Sign me up. - Penne
6. Michaelangelo McTurtle
McTurtle was RB9 last season as a rookie in the NYS offense. Granted, he’s a bit older than most rookies, so his TPE is climbing. He doesn’t see as many carries as some may like to see from their RB, but he was highly productive averaging 4.9 YPC. AND he is heavily involved in the pass attack for the ‘rillas. He ended with over 500 yards and 3 TDs in the air last year. He’s taken over as the clear RB1 there and with a bit of a depleted WR corps, he should see similar involvement in the air as he did previously. The opportunity is ripe for McTurtle to take a step and repeat as a top 10 RB, with upside for finishing even higher with some more TDs. He does take a little knock for having a Mobile QB, but everything else points in the right direction. - Russ
7. Dante King
In last season’s version of this piece, Dante King and Busch Goose were so closely ranked and projected so similarly that we combined them into a single write-up. Not quite the case this season. Although both King and Goose are into regression, Goose is one season older and was bitten significantly harder by the Regression Demon this offseason, which I expect makes Dante King the clear leader of the Hawks backfield. Now Goose isn’t going anywhere (see below), so his production does put a dent in King’s upside, and Goose’s superior ability as a receiver is worth noting, but prediction is a game of probabilities, and I think the most probable outcome is a clear RB1/RB2 split between King and Goose, respectively, this season. –Michiganonymous
8. Goat Tank Jr.
Goat Tank Jr. and racking up yards through the air and on the ground, name a more iconic duo. GTJ has spent some time at WR as well as some time in a RB committee the past couple of seasons for OCO and I project that to happen again. While this usage definitely hurts his ceiling as he won’t be a 300 carry, 75 target guy, he does have a very high floor. 125+ targets with the yardage efficiency that a WR gets is basically a guarantee that GTJ will rack up 1000-7 through the air. Add in all that extra gravy he gets on the ground and GTJ should remain solid for your fantasy team. - Penne
9. DeAndre King
DeAndre King is taking over for Mason Malone as RB1 in San Jose. Malone finished last year as RB3, so why so low for King? The biggest difference is the addition of Onion Man back into their WR corps. That means King will be flexed out less as a receiving option and will primarily just take carries. King was RB17 last year, and while he should definitely finish well above that, he may be limited by his lack of receiving work. San Jose will have a rookie QB this season, so they will try to lean on King a bit to take pressure off. But if that doesn’t work out, they may have to switch things up. - Russ
10. Busch Goose
The Goose is loose! Even in a split backfield with Dante King, Goose finished last season as RB7. Unless we’ve received intel that something has changed, I still see Goose as their main man and he will still produce at a high rate. If you’re concerned by regression, I wouldn’t be too much. His offseason update should put him almost back to maxed speed and he kept all his needed traits. Now, if you’ve heard from the bird that he may be playing more of a second fiddle to King this year, then by all means fade him a bit. But I think he can still be a safe pick for a top 10 RB. - Russ
11. Rab Thecrab
The transition from Goat to Crab in the Berlin backfield officially happened in the middle of last season, but this will be Rab’s first full season as the bellcrab back for the Fire Salamanders. If last season was any indication, it could be a good one. In the first game of the post-Tank era for Berlin, Rab Thecrab rushed for over a hundred yards and two touchdowns, ending the season with over 400 yards despite only four games of lead back work. Additionally, there’s not much competition in the backfield for the Fire Salamanders, with only Marvin Toledo on the roster. The bigger issue is game flow - the young Berlin defense figures to be among the league’s worst again this season, meaning Bageshwari Singh and the passing offense will have higher volume but Thecrab may suffer. Still, as the easy top back, this crab is a good addition to your roster with a high floor. - 124715
12. Lonnie Jackson
Lonnie Jackson may be hitting his 2nd regression season, but he still should see a pretty decent chunk of volume given how much Philly likes to keep it on the ground. There is a chance he is in a 50/50 committee with JHM, which would hurt him pretty bad. But in the event he is the outright RB1 and bellcow of the team, getting him at RB12 will be a value. - Penne
13. Ozamataz Buckshank
With yet another season of regression coming for the once-mighty Jim the Vampire, Ozamataz Buckshank should see a bigger workload heading into the S37 season. Buckshank only saw 111 carries to JtV’s 158 in S36, but this speedy back will be able to take advantage of his touches with his updated TPE from the offseason. And while the QB for AUS has 1300+ TPE, the WRs are lacking in that department. Only Johnny Patey stands above 500 TPE heading into the season. This means that AUS might have to rely on their backfield to catch some “high-percantage” passes close to the line of scrimmage. This will be Buckshank’s bread and butter. I love Buckshank as a possible flex for my fantasy team this year, especially if I prioritize an early kicker or OL. - domffl
14. Kumquat Archipelago
Full disclosure, at the time I was making my rankings I was unaware of Adebayo Akinfenwa’s switch from fullback to Power Running Back, and expected that Kumquat Archipelago would be leading Yellowknife’s rushing attack. Now however the Wraiths have a true 1a/1b situation at running back and I’m not sure who will be who. At any rate, (SPOILER ALERT!) I expect Bernd D. Brot to be far and away the best fantasy athlete to come out of Yellowknife this season. Draft the Yellowknife running backs with cautious optimism in the FLEX range. The riskier but potentially more lucrative move would be to wait and see if one or the other emerges as the better back to own before trying to claim them through the waiver system after Week 1 or 2. –Michiganonymous
15. Adebayo Akinfenwa
The former fullback turned power back should figure to have the lead role in the YKW RB committee which ran over 425 times last season. Archipelago was the lead guy for the Wraiths last season, but Akinfenwa has the TPE lead and the build to handle more carries out of the duo. Yellowknife ran for 1800 yards and 14 TDs last season, if Akinfenwa gets 60% of that, that would be good enough for RB15 last season. Add in any kind of receiving work he might get and he could push for a top 12 spot. - Penne
16. Mason Malone
Just one season removed from an overall RB3 performance, Mason Malone finds himself as the second-highest RB on the Sabercats roster. In S36, Malone out-touched DeAndre King in rushing attempts 319 to 73. Although that will most certainly become much more of an even split, I’m not entirely convinced Mason Malone gives King complete bellcow duties; at least, not without a fight. But if I am being completely honest, Malone might best be suited as your waiver wire watch target instead of your RB2/Flex out of the draft. There are a lot of variables to consider when trying to predict this backfield. Rumors have circulated about a direct RB1-RB2 relationship, but I’ve also heard that it could be more of a committee approach. Make sure to check his stats after a week or two to see how his role has changed. But, that being said, at his current price of RB16, Malone has league-winning potential if he hits. - domffl
17. Zane Cold
Zane Cold finished the S36 season as the RB19, well below expectations. Role-wise, we should see a pretty similar split in the upcoming S37 season for the Orange County backfield. Goat Tank Jr. should work out of the slot a good percentage of the time while Cold takes the majority of backfield work. Cold rushed a total of 183 times compared to Tank Jr.’s 114, but Cold was only able to turn those rushes into an abysmal 680 yards, good for 3.7 yards per carry. Tank Jr., on the other hand, boasted a healthy 4.9 yards per carry. If Cold can find a way to become more efficient with his touches, he could be a reliable weekly starter for your fantasy team. But until he proves that he can, assume that he can’t. Keep your eye on him in late rounds, especially if the RBs start to dry up early. - domffl
18. Jarvis Harbinger-Marjin
IS IT BETTER TO FEAR JARVIS HARBINGER-MARJIN OR IS IT BETTER TO LOVE HIM? PERSONALLY, I THINK HE WANTS US TO BE AFRAID OF HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM. FAMOUS FOR HIS GOAT SACRIFICES AND HIS BROKEN CAPS LOCK KEY, THE HARBINGER OF DOOOOM IS THE ONLY THING IN PHILADELPHIA MORE CRACKED THAN THE LIBERTY BELL. NOW, DO I REALLY BELIEVE THAT HE’S THE MORTAL VESSEL FOR A WORLD-DESTROYING ELDRITCH ABOMINATION? I’M NOT SO SURE, BUT I ALSO DON’T PLAN TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. FORTUNATELY FOR ALL OF EXISTENCE, JHM MANAGES TO KEEP HIS INNER MONSTER CONTAINED UNLESS HE’S ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD. WITH LONNIE JACKSON STILL TRUCKING ALONG AND SECOND-YEAR QB KAGUYA SHINOMIYA EMERGING AS A SURPRISE RUSHING THREAT, IT’S PROBABLY STILL BE A SEASON OR TWO EARLY FOR THE HARBINGER TO EMERGE AS A TRUE FANTASY ASSET, BUT HE’S POTENTIALLY A VIABLE FLEX AND WOULD BE WORTH MONITORING AS A PRIORITY WAIVER ADD IF HE TURNS OUT TO BE MORE. –Michiganonymous
19/20. Sam Squanch/Ceti Pyxis
The Yeti RB duo are low on TPE and hard to project in terms of usage and volume. Maybe Pyxis is RB1 because of activity levels and Squanch is reduced to a different role. Maybe Squanch is RB1 because of TPE. Maybe they are in a committee. Who knows? Either way, I would avoid this duo during the draft and maybe keep an eye out for their usage in week 1 if you need to make a waiver pickup. - Penne
WIDE RECEIVER
1. Nick Kaepercolin Jr.
After leading the league in receptions and tying the ISFL league record in TDs in a single season, it should come as no surprise that Nick Kaepercolin Jr. tops our list of fantasy WRs. This offense is showing no signs of slowing down. Both QB Carter Knight and Kaepercolin Jr. are heading into their peak TPE season. I see no reason as to why we should expect less than 115 receptions and 15 TDs from this sensational duo. - domffl
2. Cole Maxwell
Maxwell’s game is maximizing his yards every time he gets the ball. The “Yeeti” offense has moved to the wayside a little, but Maxwell was still the second most productive receiver in terms of yards last year. He has regressed again, but he’s still got the speed and Deep Threat Trait, so I don’t think there’s reason to be alarmed. While the Yeti do have many WRs rostered, none of them pose a threat to his WR1 status. Their run game is not exactly ready to take over as the focal point, so there still should be a solid amount of passing going on. All that adds up to Maxwell being a top fantasy option yet again this year. - Russ
3. Johnny Patey
The math here is pretty simple. AUS throw the most of any team. Patey is one of two legit receiving options on the offense. He finished last season 1 catch off having the most in the league. So the volume and opportunity are all still here for Patey. And that opportunity led him to be the yardage leader among all WRs last year. Even after regressing, Patey has 100 Speed and the Deep Threat trait, so the production shouldn’t drop off much at all. Patey is a safe bet for your top WR pick again this season. - Russ
4. Bernd D. Brot
Call it a hunch (because that’s all it is, really), but I have Brot ranked as my WR2 this season. Why? Talent and volume. First, talent: with Sal Ami regressing for the first time this offseason, Brot will enter S37 with the 3rd-highest TPE among WRs, and he’s only getting better; he’s still a season away from hitting peak TPE! He has elite Speed and Hands, as well as the Deep Threat and Athlete traits. Secondly, volume: Brot has the weakest competition for targets among any of the top WRs. With Troy Abed traded back to Berlin, Yellowknife’s WRs are Brot and two rookie call-ups. Adebayo Akinfenwa’s switch from fullback to Power Running Back could be an indication that the Wraiths plan to run the ball more this season, but both YKW RBs are S35 players, still growing and not yet up to the standard of the top backs in the ISFL. The upshot of all this: Bernd D. Brot is far and away the best player in Yellowknife’s offense, and if they’re smart, they’ll try to get the ball to him as much as possible. Look for Brot to make the most of that opportunity. –Michiganonymous
5. Vincent Sharpei Jr.
It’s Sharpei not Sharpie, but Sharpei was good enough last season that you could write his name down in Sharpie on your draft boards. Despite being on a relatively low passing volume team, Sharpei amassed over 150 targets and absolutely capitalized on all of them. Sharpei was top 3 in efficiency and was only held back from further greatness by an average TD rate. Sprinkle in another couple TDs for Sharpei and as Michael Jordan put it “the roof is the ceiling” for this guy. - Penne
6. Sal Ami
Coming off of a season where he was the WR6 and racked up nearly 200 fantasy points, Sal Ami and the Hahalua are looking to three-peat and they should just go back to the well a 3rd season in a row. What does that mean? Feed Buffalo Hunter on the ground and feed Sal Ami through the air. I will say that Honolulu was very run heavy last season, even so Sal Ami was still pretty good in fantasy. Some of the Hahalua pieces on defense are aging so there’s always a chance they allow some more points on that side of the ball and have to throw a little more to keep up. In this case, Sal Ami would be a huge beneficiary. - Penne
7. Zayne Dangle
Dangle could definitely see a repeat of his production from last year as the primary target in the BER offense. Rookie QB Singh had a great campaign and established a solid connection with his WR1 last season, and that should carry into this year. He was fifth in receptions and sixth in yards among all pass catchers, but what held him back from finishing higher was his TD total. With a season under his belt, Singh should see a move up in production and Patey would be a big benefactor there. If his TD total creeps up to 10, he could possibly end up with a top 5 finish. Draft with confidence. - Russ
8. Kotoni Staggs
Kotoni Staggs was one of the hardest players to rank this season. While the TPE and the relationship with their QB is there (wink), the Outlaws were in the bottom half of passing plays in the league. Even so, Staggs was able to bring home 93 receptions and over 1,200 yards with 7 touchdowns in S36. With this sort of usage, there is an argument to be made that Staggs’s TD total should regress positively. Staggs is the last WR in this tier of elite WR1’s, so make sure you grab at least one of the WRs from here or above. To be honest though, I think at the current price, I am very much in on Staggs this season. - domffl
9. Escanor Sama
I’m not as confident in this one as some of my other rankings, but it could pan out. Escanor is still the highest TPE and most experienced WR in Philly. The real issue here is he finished with 10 TDs on only 77 catches last season. That TD total will likely come down a little, but his yardage could increase as the Philly O gets better. Philly does have a rushing QB which eats into production a bit and Kemp is creeping up on Sama as well.l But Sama is a capable receiver when called upon. So long as some of that is in the red zone, he should still see enough work to merit a possible top 12 finish. - Russ
10. Jaycee Higgins
Jaycee Higgins, the lead dog of the Sabercat WR group has done nothing but put together solid seasons the past 3-4 years or so. 1200 yards and 8 TD is a pretty normal season for Higgy and those are top 10 WR numbers. San Jose have added Onion Man (who will eat away at the RB pair’s opportunities, not Higgins’) and gotten another full season of max earning from Blondin and Penne, but there is no reason not to believe that Higgins is still the guy. - Penne
11. President Camacho
The name might be unfamiliar to ISFL fantasy managers, but the face isn’t! The Player Formerly Known as Gus Bus has a new identity and a new position, and he’s expected to be the WR1 for the Otters this season. The former centerpiece of Orange County’s offense, Goat Tank Jr., is into his regression seasons and also dealing with off-field issues. This creates a production gap in the Otters’ offense that Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho is primed and ready to take advantage of. I expect the Otters will be a somewhat run-dominant offense, so keep expectations measured, but he should be comfortably a low-end WR2 and perhaps more. –Michiganonymous
12. Zaphod Beeblebrox
Zaphod found himself stepping into the pass heaviest offense in the ISFL last year, which was a great thing for a rookie WR. Lots of opportunities to show what he’s got and he showed out, finishing with 1k yards and 8 TDs. That was good enough to finish as WR14 in his rookie campaign. If anything, his situation has become even more clear with Radetzky regressing into unsafe TPE totals. They did call up rookie Delores Bickerman, but I think she’ll be a firm WR3 in this corp and shouldn’t impact Zaphod’s production. Even if his numbers remain the same from last season, he should be a safe option in the middle rounds of your draft. He’s got a floor of WR14ish with the upside of top 10. - Russ
13. Rejoignez LordreSombre
Is Rejoignez a WR2 on their own team? Yes. Should that prevent you from drafting them? Nope. Remember the section earlier about how efficient Sharpei was for the Butchers? Now take that and sprinkle on even more efficiency on top of that (yes, LordreSombre was better per target than Sharpei). Now I don’t expect that to continue since Rejoignez is hitting regression, but Chicago should still have an elite passing game and this player will be a big part of it. - Penne
14. Eeeeeeee Phenssta
The Colorado WR2 has been a productive fantasy player in many past seasons thanks to the Yeeti offense, but last season WR2 Bud E. Fingers finished as just the WR17, slightly disappointing given previous success. In that light, ranking Eeeeeeee this high may seem like a stretch, but they have a few things going for them. First of all, better earning - Mr. Phenssta is already at 518 TPE compared to Fingers’ 437, and that gap should only get larger over the course of the season cementing their WR2 status. Second, a worse run game - Colorado “only” had the 6th most pass attempts in the league last season, but with their RB group getting markedly worse thanks to regression they will likely be a bit heavier on the passing side this season. All of these factors should give Eeeeeeee a solid floor and a pretty high ceiling, making them a low end WR2 / high end Flex consideration. - Slate
15. Troy Abed
This is one that I could see finishing higher than we have projected, even though I ranked them higher than everyone else already. BER was 4th in passing attempts last season AND supported two top 10 WRs in their offense (Dangle and Onion Man). Dangle is ranked as our WR9, and Onion Man returned to San Jose, which leaves a vacancy for Abed to step right into. With their only other WR on roster being a 400 TPE IA (please come back French Fries), and a rushing game that probably needs another season or so to get going, I’m very high on what this WR duo could end up doing. I think BER will pass often and Abed is no stranger to fantastic seasons. - Russ
16. Quinton Crash
Listen, Crash is still in the quadruple digits of TPE. There’s no need to panic and drop Crash below some lesser TPE receiving options. The one thing to watch out for is that this offense is likely going to continue feeding Cue Jr. the ball in the backfield. It’s worked out well for them for 3 seasons now, so like my mama always said, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But all that being said, Cue jr. is entering his second season of regression. So while he will still be a top back in the league, he might begin to show that he’s human…kinda. Er, at least, virtually boundaried. And when the juice stops flowing from their backfield, QB Wendell Sailor might be relied on to air it out over the top of the defense instead, benefitting this team’s absolutely stacked WR corps. Crash is someone I will continue to take at the end of my fantasy drafts until he retires. Reliable and undervalued. - domffl
17. Saleem Spence
Despite playing in the productive SAR raid offense, last season Spence was only the 21st highest scoring WR in fantasy, largely thanks to his teammate NKJ stealing the spotlight and the touchdowns from him. Spence recorded a season low 879 receiving yards as QB Carter Knight force fed the ball to the younger Kaepercolin Jr. However, Spence holds major upside in the possibility that the Sailfish spread out the passing targets a bit more evenly next season. Spence has recently had back-to-back 1400 yard seasons in S33 and S34, and scored 12 TDs in S35 (with Kaepercolin Jr. on the team!). If Sarasota passes the ball as much as last season, it wouldn’t take a huge shift in targets for Spence to put up that kind of season again. - Slate
18. Luke Quick
Luke Quick is admittedly not as Quick as he once was. Luke Slow is a bit harsh, perhaps Luke Leisurely would be a more apt nickname. Ultimately, he put out a poor showing last season with a WR19 finish, but he is the clear WR1 in Baltimore that has an aging backfield and is a bit light on weapons otherwise. Quick will have his fair share of opportunities. - Penne
19. Calvin Spiff
Last season, WR Troy Abed finished as the 11th best WR in fantasy in his first full season playing with QB Dustin Parmelee. Having now left to return back to the Fire Salamanders, the profitable WR2 slot in the Wraiths offense now goes to the upcoming Calvin Spiff, who sits at a respectable 528 TPE for an S35 create, ranking towards the bottom end of the top 20 in his cohort. While there are higher TPE or more proven options, drafting Spiff as a FLEX WR is buying into the idea that Yellowknife makes good use of their WR2s and that Spiff can be a productive asset based mainly on his position in that offense. If he can come close to replicating what Abed did last year, he could end up finishing as a top 12-15 WR, but it is unclear how close he can come given his youth and lower TPE. - Slate
20. Louis Blondin
I personally have Blondin ranked as WR16. The secret sauce here is that he is switching to the Speed Receiver archetype, so he should be able to see an uptick in his production. He’s been earning like mad, so he should be ready to truly breakout and help rookie QB Owen Farrell transition to the big leagues. The Cats may see themselves playing from behind a good bit this season, and if that is the case, I see Blondin’s targets increasing and with that his overall production thanks to his new found speed. He’ll also have the added bonus of the Deep Threat trait as a further boost. Excited to see what he can do this year and moving forward! - Russ
TIGHT END
1. Deshawn Penne
Finishing well above the next closest tight end, Deshawn Penne showcased his receiving prowess by racking up 83 receptions for 816 yards and 10 TDs. On a team without much receiving talent, Penne will need to fill a pretty large hole of offensive weapons. Unless there is a major offseason move for the Sabercats, expect Penne to take the majority of targets and yardage for this offense. I will most certainly be reaching a round or two for this tight end. - domffl
2. Lucius Salem
Salem finished as the TE2 last season, 14 points ahead of Lenard Graf, so it isn’t a huge stretch to place them there again in S37. Salem has strong upside to potentially push Penne for the TE1 crown thanks to the passing environment they find themselves in. Sarasota passed the 2nd most of any team last season, and with Salem only continuing to increase in TPE (acquiring the Deep Threat trait to start this season!) the amount of targets they get, even getting few if any snaps at WR, means they have lots of opportunity to score some long TDs this season. - Slate
3. Lenard Graf
Not much has changed in the TE landscape, so my outlook on Graf hasn’t really moved. Whether he lines up some at WR or not, his numbers and opportunity should still be very high. And with only 2 WRs on the roster, he should see plenty of targets. Graf had the most receptions in this offense last season and I don’t see that changing this year. Another season around 750 yards and 6 TDs should be about right so you should feel safe taking him as your TE. - Russ
4. Gronku Muerto
Muerto definitely isn’t the flashiest option at TE, or even the flashiest option on his own team. That said, volume is king in fantasy and volume was Muerto’s middle name. Berlin was top 5 in pass attempts and I expect that to continue as they should be in quite a few negative game scripts forcing them to sling it. Muerto had almost 150 targets, which is basically unheard of at TE. He wasn’t the most productive with those targets, but 125+ targets is a guarantee for fantasy relevance which is all your asking for at this point in the rankings. - Penne
5. American Boot
American Boot had a disappointing season in regard to efficiency. Even though he is built as a Vertical Threat TE, Boot only amassed 502 yards and a single touchdown on his 63 receptions. This lack of RAC yardage might have been affected by the utter lack of top-tier receiving options on the team; but nevertheless, Boot will hope to get his yardage and TD totals up to match his usage percentage. American Boot is the TE of the future in this league, I have no doubt about that; the question really becomes: when will the future get here? Personally, I think it will be S38, but that doesn’t mean he won’t improve from his S36 numbers this year. - domffl
6. Herc Kirkby
Is this the year AZ has a fantasy relevant TE? Maybe. He’s the third or fourth option in a low volume passing offense. He was TE5 last year by 3 points. I don’t see any significant increase in his workload, so most likely he should be one of your last picks if you’re not able to take one of the top 3 TEs. He may move up a little if he grabs a couple more TDs, but with the offense running through JCJ that seems unlikely. - Russ
7. Mister Hogmally
Hogmally finished as the TE7 in fantasy as an immediate callup rookie, and while that didn’t require a particularly impressive statline last year it’s still a good indication that they might be a good flier to take late at a thin position if you miss out on one of the top 3-4 in your draft. Hogmally definitely has upside thanks to Colorado’s potential passing preference, but previous performances point to positional preferences in the Yeti’s offense. In other words, they throw to their WRs much more than their TEs, so Hogmally may not get the biggest slice of the pie. - Slate
8. Rex Crenshaw
Crenshaw had a very poor showing in fantasy last season, finishing as the TE10 as they struggled to get involved as the NOLA offense shifted with the callup of Elessar Jones. Strictly looking at TPE, though, Rex definitely has the potential to have another strong season as they rank 4th among all TEs. Crenshaw definitely has the capability to put up a good season, but like with many other TEs the question is mainly just about how their team will put them to use. - Slate
9. Molki Koivu
10. Reece Wells
Reece is not only a delicious peanut butter cup, but he is also the first real TE for YKW since Buffalo Hunter in S33. Now I don’t expect him to put up a 100 catch season like Hunter did then, but he does have a solid set-up with the Wraiths to potentially have a productive season for fantasy. Parm is one of the highest TPE QBs in the ISFL, and the rest of the team’s weapons outside of Brot aren’t exactly the biggest threats. Rookie TEs don’t usually have a ton of success, but Wells might. - Penne
OFFENSIVE LINE
1. Stumpy Jones
The one true king. If you’re taking an OL early, it needs to be Stumpy. If not, don’t take one early. He’s been the best OL for at least a couple seasons now, and there isn’t much competition to stop that. Beniri is up there, but even as a similar TPE, he finished almost 30 cakes behind Stumpy. He could also be a safe bet. However, with OL scoring being heavily nerfed, I don’t advise taking OL until pretty late, and as basically your last pick if you don’t get one of the top 2-3. - Russ
2. Beniri T’Chawama
Stumpy Jones remains the top fantasy OL until proven otherwise. However, Ben T’Chawama is set to overtake him as the TPE leader among OL players. This will be T’Chawama’s peak TPE season, whereas Stumpy is in his third season of regression and definitely on the downhill side of his glittering career. The situation is right for T’Chawama to take over as the league’s best pancake chef. If nothing else he’s a mortal lock to finish in the top 6; fantasy managers should draft with confidence. –Michiganonymous
3. Theo Awardssystemisbad
While some might dislike his name or wish it would be changed to Awardssystemisbetter or Awardssystemisimproved, that doesn’t change his production on the field. Theo is still dodging regression and was the OL4 from last season. I see no reason for that to change this season unless Carimi gets slotted in by the Chicago management as the LT over Theo. Carimi has been playing along the interior in the past so I believe Theo is the front runner for the LT job. OL success in fantasy is pretty TPE dependent and Theo is up there amongst the highest. He is a top 6 lock as long as he snags the OL job for the Butchers. - Penne
T-4. D’Nickashaw Mangoldson
At the time of ranking, we were unsure of Bernie Sanders’ future with the Arizona Outlaws, but since then he has signed and will remain with the Outlaws. This puts the portmanteau of an OL, Mangoldson’s potential fantasy success for this season at risk. Mangoldson and Bernie had the same amount of TPE at the end of last season, but Mangoldson is 3 seasons younger meaning he has been earning better and Bernie is facing his first regression. I would shy away from Mangoldson during the draft just because we aren’t certain if he will have the LT job or not, but you should keep an eye out for waivers after week 1 if he does have the job. - Penne
T-4. Dallas Fort-Worth
To be completely honest, I’m not entirely sure why Dallas Fort-Worth is ranked as low as 4th. Still climbing towards his peak TPE season, DFW had the second-highest pancake total for human offensive line player in S36 while not once allowing a sack for his beloved QB. I don’t see that changing much heading into S37. Dallas Fort-Worth is someone I will be looking to grab right after the consensus OL1 Stumpy Jones is drafted. - domffl
6. Manhattan Project
Death, taxes, and Manhattan Project putting up nearly 100 pancakes with 0 sacks allowed. Those are the 3 guarantees in life. Project definitely doesn’t have much upside since he is stuck at the center position which naturally lowers the pancake total a bit. But if you want to take an OL late and be 100% sure he will be good enough then Project is your guy. - Penne
7. Swantavius Payne
Our lovely former commissioner is ready yet again to quest for pancakes. Last year’s OL10 has moved up in our rankings and could possibly rise through the year. His cake numbers are driven down by having a rushing QB it seems, so his upside isn’t super high. I do think he could maybe surprise some if he catches a few high pancake games early, but through the whole season, I think he stays around 90 cakes. He only allowed 2 sacks last year, so there’s not much room for improvement there either. If you want to take Swanty as your OL, I suggest doing it with your last pick. - Russ
8. J.T. Kurbis
Last season’s rookie sensation J.T. Kurbis is back and better than ever on a very intriguing Wraiths offense. He finished as the league’s OL9 last season, but will make a huge jump in TPE before this season and sees a (admittedly slight) jump in his ranking this season. He still lags many of the league’s top fantasy linemen in TPE and all of them in experience, but the upside is there depending on how Yellowknife’s offense runs. Given the logjam at the OL position, Kurbis is a fine option for your team, but hold off until the end.
9. Panda McKyle
Panda McKyle is an interesting addition to the OL ranks this season, as he’s packed on the pounds to transition from being San Jose’s quarterback to protecting the rookie Owen Farrell. It’s unclear at this point which side of the line he’ll be playing on, but based on TPE this ranking projects him to be the starting left tackle, with heavily regressed Jaja Ding Dong sliding over to the right. For years Ding Dong was consistently among the league’s best OL players while manning the left side for the SaberCats, so one would hope to see McKyle continue that legacy of strong play. This ranking reflects McKyle’s status as an unknown quantity given that this is his first year playing OL, but he is certainly one to watch, and a player who could sneak into the top 6 by season’s end. –Michiganonymous
10. IsHe ReallyInvisible
The question gets asked all the time and no one really knows the answer, but is he really invisible? As a blocker I would say definitely not. IHRI transitioned from QB to OL and immediately put up a near triple digit pancake season, with only 1 sack allowed. This was good enough for 7th in fantasy scoring. He is hitting another season of regression, but old low TPE OL can still be fairly productive as we’ve seen in the past. - Penne
KICKER
1. Swantavius King
A man on a mission, King, Swanty will aim at being the best K in the league this year, and I think he can do it. The SAR offense was the highest scoring in the league last year, and shouldn’t slow down much at all this year. He was off the top volume on XPs last season by 1 and only a handful off of most FGs attempted. This offense moves and King Swanty will be a huge benefactor. TPE doesn’t seem to matter much at all for kickers, but he is making sure that it’s not the reason he misses! I would feel very safe taking him as K1 in any group. - Russ
2. Levy Tate
I think Tate could also have a great shot at K1 this season, and for similar reasons to King, Swanty. CHI finished 1 point behind SAR in total offense, and Tate did finish with the most total kicks attempted. She, as a matter of fact, finished as K1 last season. So it’s well within her range of outcomes. I think if you’re looking to be the first to take a Kicker, you either grab King or Tate and are happy about it. Basically, pick your poison on which offense you think does better, which really is a toss-up. - Russ
3. Double Doink
With the second-highest TPE of all ISFL kickers and still several seasons from her peak TPE season, Double Doink should quite easily be the second kicker off the board in terms of raw skill. Unfortunately, Doink is on a mediocre offense, which limits the amount of XP and short-range field goals she is able to attempt. Doink attempted the most field goals of any kicker in S36, including the most from beyond 40 yards, limiting her field goal percentage. If the Yellowknife offense can move the ball better this season and get Doink in a better position to score, we could easily be looking at the overall top kicker season from Double Doink. - domffl
4. Savathun T Witchqueen
Combine a top 6 TPE kicker with a top 4 scoring offense from last season and that is the mixture of volume and accuracy that I’m looking for from my fantasy kicker. A lot of fantasy success from kickers comes from getting field goal attempts and while Arizona was in the bottom half of the league in that department last season, I think Witchqueen offers a solid floor. - Penne
5. Orlando Doom
Rookie kicker Orlando Doom steps into an interesting kicking situation in Colorado. Lux Opal’s shoes are really big ones to fill, but the Yeti have a propensity for putting up points. Despite LLL nearing his peak TPE season, all of his weapons are either hard into regression or extremely young and low TPE. I still expect them to move the ball well, and hopefully for Doom’s sake that leads to a fair share of kicking opportunities. - Penne
6. Freddy Bly
For similar reasons to why I ranked King, Swanty so highly, I ranked Bly a bit higher than others did. Bly was one of 2 kickers to have more XPs than King last season and he’s still in that same high-powered offense in HON. They scored the third-most in the league last season, and should be near the top again. He was lower last season on FGs attempted which brought his overall scoring down, but that could come back up and make him a top option again. I’d say he’s safe as one of the last 2-3 Ks to take in your draft. - Russ
7. Orange County Kicker
8. Alfredo Dos Santos
T-9. Jack Lewis
Lewis might be a slight surprise to be included on this list considering he was the K12 last season in scoring, but he also saw just the 12th most field goal attempts on an above average offense. With a rookie QB the Sabercats could very easily fail to convert TDs a few more times in the red zone and Lewis could shoot up the fantasy scoring on the back of some more easy field goal opportunities. - Penne
T-9. Jean-Jacques Leroy
TEAM DEFENSE
1. Honolulu Hahalua
The Hahalua are coming off back-to-back Ultimus victories, and the defense is coming off consecutive seasons as the top fantasy defense. That’s not a coincidence. How good are they? Consider this: last season Honolulu’s defense finished as the 9th-ranked overall player in fantasy. That’s the value of a 2nd-round pick. The next two fantasy defenses were Sarasota and Yellowknife, separated by just 10 points at 25th and 27th overall. The Honolulu defense outscored every wide receiver, in a year where the top overall WR broke the touchdown receptions record. They outscored all but the top two quarterbacks. Now, is this entirely down to how good Honolulu’s defense is, or is it the product of a broken ISFL fantasy scoring system? My attorney has advised me not to speculate. Either way, the Hahalua defense might be the single biggest positional advantage in ISFL fantasy this season. But if you can’t get them on your team, don’t fret! There were more fantasy group winners who had the Chicago Butchers (DEF 9) than group winners who had the Hahalua last season. – Michiganonymous
2. Sarasota Sailfish
While the SAR offense received a ton of praise and attention, the defense tied for first in least points allowed. They were also DEF2 in terms of fantasy scoring. Now, they were eclipsed by HON in fantasy scoring by 50 points, but I think that gap could close a little. They have one of, if not the best secondaries in the league, with 4 of 5 players over 1K TPE. Their DL does look a bit leery, but Moyes is a grizzled veteran who had an amazing season last year and Kekua is coming up the ranks as well. I do think part of the reason for the gap that formed between HON and SAR last season was TD luck by their defenses. HON’s Gallagher had 4 TDs as a CB which he’s highly unlikely to repeat. In any case, I think SAR is very safe as your defense and should be the second or third off the board. - Russ
3. Yellowknife Wraiths
The Wraiths of Yellowknife ended the S36 season tied for 1st in Points Allowed. This young defensive squad is only getting better as they approach the peak TPE seasons for several of their defensive backs. This unit also supports the 2nd and 3rd highest sack LB’s of the S36 season. Yellowknife is my “dark horse” candidate for being the top defensive unit of S37. What’s best, you can get them an entire round (maybe 2) later than the Hahalua. - domffl
4. Chicago Butchers
CHI finished as DEF9 last season. We’ve got them moving up 5 spots to DEF4. That’s a mighty big jump, you may be thinking. However, if you look closer, they were 9 points off of being DEF5 last season. They’ve got a solid secondary and are building up their F7. Omni Man is a force at LB and the team finished with the third highest INTs. If they can increase their sack totals a bit and grab a TD, they could definitely finish top 5. However, the takeaway here is that 6 defenses finished within 10 points of each other. So if you miss out on those top 3, it’s pretty safe to wait a good while for yours. - Russ
T-5. Orange County Otters
Sacks, sacks, sacks, that’s my number 1 indicator for fantasy success for defenses. Sacks contribute the most points and are the most predictable stat and I believe OCO should do pretty well for themselves in that department. Some might be concerned that they lost the McTurtle bros in free agency, but they only contributed 11 sacks which is offset by the trade deadline acquisition of Rocco Blade who had, you guessed it, 11 sacks last season. The top 4 sack getters on the team return to a team that was top 5 in sacks. I’m in on drafting OCO as one of the last defenses in the draft. - Penne
T-5. Arizona Outlaws
While Arizona’s linebacker room is depleted this season, they tooled up with great players at other important spots on defense by adding Leonardo and Raphael McTurtle to the defensive line and Mark Goodhead to the secondary. Arizona has won a lot of games in recent history and tend to get the most out of their roster, so while they may compare unfavorably to some other defenses on paper, in my mind they still have the capability to be a high scoring, or at least rosterable, fantasy defense. Arizona was definitely a controversial defense to place among our group, so if you do take Arizona be prepared to bail if these predictions don’t come to light. - Slate
7. New Orleans Secondline
NOLA was a team that actually finished above that quagmire I mentioned in my CHI writeup. They had a solid combo of turnovers and sacks, but didn’t necessarily stick out in any category. They did score 4 TDs which helped them escape that grouping of defenses below them last season. This year they have some lower TPE across the board in defensive positions, which I think will see them move down from the DEF4 finish they had previously. They have a couple stars in Garciaparra and Springer who could help generate some points, but overall, I think this unit may not be strong enough to be a good selection for your fantasy team. - Russ
8. San Jose Sabercats
Homer pick? Maybe a little. SJS wasn’t great in the sack department last season, but they’ve added a former All-Pro veteran in BamBam McMullet and will add a full season of TPE across most of the rest of the front 7. Throw in a veteran CB crew with a knack for turnovers and a propensity across the entire team to recover fumbles and this is a sneaky team defense for fantasy. - Penne
9. Philadelphia Liberty
While the Liberty don’t pose the greatest threat in the box, they might have one of the best defensive back corps in the entire league.
10. Austin Copperheads
I don’t know what to tell you here, folks. If you’re trying to decide whether you should draft the Copperheads defense, you’ve probably done something wrong. Sure, they’re better than the Salamanders, Yeti, and Silverbacks, but is that really an accomplishment that they can claim with pride? Now, this isn’t entirely their fault, the Copperheads defense is just young. But they have some all-star users that should vault this defense into a top-half squad within a few seasons. Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, Joey Din, Draft Steal, and Nate Winter will be staples on this defense for years to come. We might be talking about the Copperheads as one of the top defenses in 5 seasons. But for now, avoid. - domffl
Mr or Mrs Grader, please pay out the following amounts:
@RussDrivesTheBus 25%
@Pvtpenne 21%
@domffl 17%
@Michiganonymous 12%
@slate 10%
@124715 8%
@TubaDeus 7%
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