09-21-2022, 07:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-22-2022, 10:48 AM by MobiausGrander. Edited 1 time in total.)
The New York Silverbacks have a long and illustrious history of drafting wide receiv-hahahahaha sorry I couldn’t finish the sentence. If there’s one thing this team has sucked at since their creation over 10 seasons ago, it’s drafting pass catchers. They’ve managed to win 2 Ultimus’s on the backs of trading for and signing veterans and creating strong running games. With my own player’s season coming to an end I wanted to see how it stacked up in team history compared to the other rookies. I’ve found 4 total rookies out of 9 drafted receivers that managed to make it to the ISFL and play for a full season.
Here’s how they rank.
4. Harley Fank (S25)
Statline: 29 Receptions, 416 Yards, 0 TDs, 14.3 Yards Per Reception, Longest Reception: 45 Yards
This is an unfair ranking for multiple reasons. For one, Fank is the only true rookie on this list. Drafted in S25 he was called up that very same season for a newly made Silverbacks team desperately in need of whatever talent they could get. But there are only 4 total players to list and somebody has to bring up the rear, and Fank is that unfortunate soul. Fank was a distant WR3 behind the much more talented Sean Snyder and Jackson Kingston on a roster with a rookie Sam Howitzer at QB. Given all those factors and the fact that New York had the 3rd worst passing game in the league, 29 catches for 416 yards isn’t all that bad. The lack of scores hurts and there was very little explosiveness to Fank’s game, but he was a reliable enough target that unfortunately wasn’t a Silverback for much longer.
3. French Fries (S32)
Statline: 55 Receptions, 820 Yards, 2 TDs, 14.9 Yards Per Reception, Longest Reception: 59 Yards
Fries has a particularly delicious name to go along with a much more seasoned Sam Howitzer throwing him the ball and a generally improved roster that finished 10-6 in S32. Snyder was still on the roster joined by a young Tugg Speedman and Joseph Radetzky so Fries was not lacking in competition for targets. Even so he managed to rack up 55 catches for over 800 yards and 2 TDs. With these stats Fries ranked among the best WR3’s in the league and was the first truly good rookie receiver in Silverbacks history. He would be traded to Yellowknife just 2 seasons later for the next receiver on our list.
2. Darius Bailey (S35)
Statline: 92 Receptions, 1,037 Yards, 5 TDs, 11.3 Yards Per Reception, Longest Reception: 60 Yards
Interestingly enough, Bailey wasn’t drafted by the New York Silverbacks. He was taken by the Yellowknife Wraiths and then quickly traded to New York for French Fries and a Round 2 pick. Bailey holds the distinction as the first New York rookie to pass 1,000 yards and hit 5 TDs. Bailey was a very different kind of receiver for New York, averaging only 11.3 yards per catch. If Bailey had the explosiveness of French Fries with his 92 catches he would have finished the season with 1,370 yards, as opposed to just barely crossing 1,000. That’s not to say he had a bad year, far from it as his reliability was important to moving the sticks and coming down with the football. But there is one more player who I think tops this season.
1. Mandrews McHollywood (S37)
Statline: 75 Receptions, 1,009 yards, 5 TDs, 13.5 Yards Per Reception, Longest Reception: 74 Yards
BIAS! RIGGED!
Yes I have my player ranked at #1 but to be honest I really don’t think it’s that big of a stretch. With one game left to go in the season Mandrews is only 28 yards behind Bailey’s yardage total with 17 fewer receptions and the same amount of TDs. Mandrews has been more explosive, with a longer farthest catch and playing with a worse passing offense behind Ken Oath and just ahead of the now aged Tugg Speedman. Even if Mandrews somehow doesn’t pass the rookie yardage record for the SIlverbacks, I believe he still has had the better rookie season. Hopefully his career pans out better as well.
Here’s how they rank.
4. Harley Fank (S25)
Statline: 29 Receptions, 416 Yards, 0 TDs, 14.3 Yards Per Reception, Longest Reception: 45 Yards
This is an unfair ranking for multiple reasons. For one, Fank is the only true rookie on this list. Drafted in S25 he was called up that very same season for a newly made Silverbacks team desperately in need of whatever talent they could get. But there are only 4 total players to list and somebody has to bring up the rear, and Fank is that unfortunate soul. Fank was a distant WR3 behind the much more talented Sean Snyder and Jackson Kingston on a roster with a rookie Sam Howitzer at QB. Given all those factors and the fact that New York had the 3rd worst passing game in the league, 29 catches for 416 yards isn’t all that bad. The lack of scores hurts and there was very little explosiveness to Fank’s game, but he was a reliable enough target that unfortunately wasn’t a Silverback for much longer.
3. French Fries (S32)
Statline: 55 Receptions, 820 Yards, 2 TDs, 14.9 Yards Per Reception, Longest Reception: 59 Yards
Fries has a particularly delicious name to go along with a much more seasoned Sam Howitzer throwing him the ball and a generally improved roster that finished 10-6 in S32. Snyder was still on the roster joined by a young Tugg Speedman and Joseph Radetzky so Fries was not lacking in competition for targets. Even so he managed to rack up 55 catches for over 800 yards and 2 TDs. With these stats Fries ranked among the best WR3’s in the league and was the first truly good rookie receiver in Silverbacks history. He would be traded to Yellowknife just 2 seasons later for the next receiver on our list.
2. Darius Bailey (S35)
Statline: 92 Receptions, 1,037 Yards, 5 TDs, 11.3 Yards Per Reception, Longest Reception: 60 Yards
Interestingly enough, Bailey wasn’t drafted by the New York Silverbacks. He was taken by the Yellowknife Wraiths and then quickly traded to New York for French Fries and a Round 2 pick. Bailey holds the distinction as the first New York rookie to pass 1,000 yards and hit 5 TDs. Bailey was a very different kind of receiver for New York, averaging only 11.3 yards per catch. If Bailey had the explosiveness of French Fries with his 92 catches he would have finished the season with 1,370 yards, as opposed to just barely crossing 1,000. That’s not to say he had a bad year, far from it as his reliability was important to moving the sticks and coming down with the football. But there is one more player who I think tops this season.
1. Mandrews McHollywood (S37)
Statline: 75 Receptions, 1,009 yards, 5 TDs, 13.5 Yards Per Reception, Longest Reception: 74 Yards
BIAS! RIGGED!
Yes I have my player ranked at #1 but to be honest I really don’t think it’s that big of a stretch. With one game left to go in the season Mandrews is only 28 yards behind Bailey’s yardage total with 17 fewer receptions and the same amount of TDs. Mandrews has been more explosive, with a longer farthest catch and playing with a worse passing offense behind Ken Oath and just ahead of the now aged Tugg Speedman. Even if Mandrews somehow doesn’t pass the rookie yardage record for the SIlverbacks, I believe he still has had the better rookie season. Hopefully his career pans out better as well.