[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Season Two NSFL Receiving Trio Rankings[/div][div align=\\\"center\\\"]Final Results/Analysis/Rankings[/div]
Aaaaaaaaaand we are back with the NSFL Receiving Trios Rankings! We have the S1 Final Rankings for Season One, The Predictions and Analysis for Season Two, the rankings from Week One to Week Four and the rankings from Week One to Week Eight are all available for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to click the links to see where we left off and to get caught up on how the system to get the rankings works:
S1 Receiving Trio Rankings
S2 Receiving Trios Preview/Analysis/Predictions
S2 Receiving Trios Weeks 1-4 Update
S2 Receiving Trios Weeks 1-8 Update
Every team has a specific trio of receivers, (three WRs, two WRs and a TE/RB, or whatever the QB feels comfortable with) These three makes the QB feel confident that a big play or a great in-game performance is waiting to happen.
To figure out this "top dog" of Receiving Trios, we're going to be focusing on these attributes:
Trio Total Receptions
Trio Total Yards
Yards Per Catch (YPC) for the trio
Trio Total Touchdowns
Trio Receptions Percentage (in relation to the team)
Trio Total Percentage (in relation to the team)
Then we get the averages for those stats and see how each team stacks up. After that, we list the rankings for each specific stat and each spot in these rankings will factor into the final overall rank.
Any tiebreakers are decided by getting the average of the Trio Receptions Percentage and Trio Touchdowns Percentage. Higher percentage gets the higher spot up the list.
Here's a few notes before we get started:
We DO NOT not factor strength of schedule for this. It's all about how they performed against whoever is placed in front of them on the schedule. As you all know, it's "Any Given Game Day" in the NSFL and you never really know how a team is going to stack up against another team until it happens.
Keep in mind, some of this was written before the draft, and I'm not in tune of all of the acquisitions and how they'll work out for each individual team. I'm going 100% from a statistical standpoint and from what I say, these are just my personal opinions of how they performed this past year when it comes to the actual analyses for each team. Same thing for the predictions in future articles.
For Season Two, this WILL be the "100% End All, Be All" trios set for the regular season of Season 2. You want your player in one of these spots for the trios, stop whining and complaining and you'll have to do better for Season Three.
If you feel a player should be up there instead of another from your respective team, feel free to ask in the comments and I can do a quick work up to incorporate the change there to see if the ranking of your team changes, check this link right HERE.
Any late trades that occurred during the season in the Wide Receiver position will not be incorporated in the ranking system because they didn't play a full season with the team they started the year with.
The two players affected by this rule is obviously Bailey Cook (former Sabercat) and Darren Smallwood (former Wraith). From this point forward, I will only be using receivers that have been with the same team for the whole season. So Darren Smallwood and Bailey Cook will have to wait until next year to make their contributions for their new squads in these rankings.
Any suspensions will keep you out of the way for getting awards so this applies here as well (you know where I'm going with this and who I'm talking about). It's for the same reasons listed above about not playing a full season and whatnot.
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Alright, now that we have that out of the way, we can get to the all important rankings!
Arizona Outlaws is first up on the list. In the last update, they were at the bottom of the list. Where will they be placed for the final ranking? They already have back to back Ultimus trophies, will they add their firstReceiving Trios crown along with it? You'll have to scroll down to see but lets see how their trio has done this year as a whole:
Regular Season Record: 12-2
Defeated Orange County Outlaws to Win the Solis Trophy
Defeated Baltimore Hawks to win the Ultimus Trophy
Season Two NSFL Champions
With as near flawless of a team that Arizona seems to put on the field every week, you'd have to think that eventually, they're not going to be at the bottom of the list for long as far as their receiving trio goes.
Let's just say that they hit that stride they needed and picked up some serious momentum.
The only issue I had to figure out with this trio was whether Chess or Tkachuk would be the third receiver. We already know how much of a beast Dustin Evans and Mayran Jackson was. Their problem in their rankings was that this is a TRIOS ranking system. Meaning three.
Their third could be interchangeable depending on what you want. The catches would go in favor of Tkachuk but the TDs were Chess' specialty. After doing the math, C.A. Chess brought their ranking higher than what Joseph Tkachuk can do with his 20+ more catches. That and it also helps to have another player with a Yards Per Catch stat over 10 to help boost them up.
All in all, I must say, after starting most of the year at the bottom of the list, they all saved their best for last and it proved in their rankings. I'm looking forward to see if they can maintain this streak going into next year. Improvement from Chess can very well put them on the list for having a Receiving Trios crown in their future along with another possible Ultimus.
Best Trio Game:
Week 10 VS San Jose
Final Score: 65-0 (Outlaws Win)
Trio Stats:
14 Receptions
300 Yards (21 YPC)
6 Touchdowns
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Dustin Evans - 54 yard pass from King Bronko for a Touchdown[/div]
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We have the Baltimore Hawks coming up next on the list. They came from the team that missed the playoffs to NSFC Champions in one year, it's been a great turnaround for them. Let's see who has been running the pack for them so far:
Regular Season Record: 8-6
Defeated the Yellowknife Wraiths in Conference Game
Wins the Glacie Trophy for Best Team in the NSFC
Defeated by Arizona Outlaws for the Ultimus Trophy
They had all of the momentum in the world, the right pieces were in their favor to contend for the top spot.
As soon as they were going to continue their dominance, #CarmelGate (Or #GibsonGate, depends on which on you prefer, I like #CarmelGate better) happened.
And boy could they have used Carmel Gibson to give them a boost. His five Touchdowns right now would have helped them so much, but when he was labeled with his suspension, the Baltimore Hawks got suspended in these rankings.
His touchdowns weren't the only thing that he left behind. He was also on pace to be the Hawks leading receiver in catches. Jon Baker could not fill his shoes and that's where the momentum went. Cooper Christmas and Matthew Vincent did all they could to keep them afloat but ultimately failed in doing so.
It also didn't help that they didn't have the best QB play from Scrub Kyuube but they did enough to secure a home playoff game and a spot in the NSFL Championship against the Outlaws despite their passing issues. They are also a predominant running team, leading the league in rushing attempts. S2 is not their year for passing but let's see how they switch it up for S3. Just like the Outlaws before them, the Hawks can use better play from their third receiver and they can make their own run for top Receiving Trios honor.
Best Trio Game:
Week 3 VS San Jose Sabercats
Final Score: 24-23 (Baltimore Loss)
Trio Stats:
16 Receptions
239 Yards (15 YPC)
2 Touchdowns
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Cooper Christmas - 32 yard pass from Scrub Kyubee for a Touchdown[/div]
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Third team on the list is the Colorado Yeti, NSFC champs from Season One look to make their claim on the Ultimus but it may have to wait until Season Three to do so. We'll see how that works out for them. Here's the end result for the trio at the end of Season 2:
Regular Season Record: 8-6
Missed Playoffs
This is another team that has the proper talent on their team right now to be a contender for being the top Receiving Trio. Posting the second best amount of Touchdowns and above the league average for five of the six listed categories helped raise the bar for Colorado.
At this point of the list, the Yeti are the first team to get to the 50/50/50 Catch Club. Kendrick Hendrix, D.J. Law and Rich Gucci all played key roles to raise their rank from the previous week. I still would like to see more production from Law and Gucci to help get to the next level but with a stable all around QB like Logan Noble, they're gonna be just fine.
One of their craziest stats for the year is how this trio scored 16 of their 18 passing TDs thrown from Noble. Does that mean they need more WR depth throughout the roster? I'm not one to tell, but as long as they stay consistent in their development, this can be a sleeper pick for the best Receiving Trio in the future.
Week 12 VS Las Vegas Legion
Final Score: 23-17 (Colorado Loss)
Trio Stats:
18 Receptions
265 Yards (14.7 YPC)
2 Touchdowns
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Kendrick Hendrix - 32 yard pass from Logan Noble for a Touchdown[/div]
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They say "Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."
Does that mean the uninspiring receiving play will remain here? I don't know but we'll have to see to see if that's true. What does the final product look for the Las Vegas Legion?:
Regular Season Record: 3-11
Missed Playoffs
Now this is a team that went downhill real quick. Not only throughout the season as a whole but with these rankings as well. Some of the blame can be put on the play of their QB Bercovici. But these stats when we look at it can show that it's uninspiring play across the board.
Stormblessed and Alexandre LeClair both weren't the most effective receivers, with both barely passing 750 yards receiving and Johnny Rocket not producing in his role very well either. Season One Best TE winner Gabriel Tenzini didn't show too much fight to make the list himself, essentially falling out of the conversation.
At face value, this NEEDS to be addressed, but I still have faith that with better performance as the team eventually grows, this unit of receivers will jump out at people. Despite their low rating in most categories, they still managed to be a great TD scoring lineup, gaining the third most total touchdowns out of all of the trios.
It's something to build on but not too much else to report here. They have some work to do.
Week 1 VS Orange County Otters
Final Score: 37-26 (Las Vegas Loss)
Trio Stats:
13 Receptions
197 Yards (15.2 YPC)
3 Touchdowns (Everybody in the Trio got a TD catch this game)
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Stormblessed - 18 yard pass from Josh Bercovici. [/div]
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The Otters appear to have the edge of taking the Receiving Trios crown by being ahead at the last update but there's still a chance for a team to take the crown out of their grasps. Orange County fell short to the Outlaws in a nail biter and now they'll be prepping for Season Three. How will their hungry receiving corp fair for the squad?
Regular Season Record: 8-6
Eliminated from Playoffs by Outlaws
This team right here, I can't fault them for much. Stellar throughout the whole year, sticking to the game plan, performing each and every week, great stand up players, and a wonderful organization in general.
These three can do it all.
We can start off with either one, they're great in their own rights but they have the most chemistry out of all of the trios. It was the same trios and QB they had last year through both years. Robert Phelps proved to be a force on his own, tied for second most catches of all receivers and putting up Best WR Honor type numbers.
Bradley Westfield has always been a Touchdown machine since the first season of the NSFL. Lets not forget George Wright Jr., who had a Best TE caliber year to boot, lead ALL receivers (Wide Receivers & Tight Ends) in receptions. This trio can do it all.
They almost had the first trio to have all three receivers to catch 80 passes individually and almost 3,000 yards combined for the year. If that isn't a testament to how good they are as a Receiving Trio, I don't know what to tell you, man.
75% of the team's catches and over 65% of the team's touchdowns means that this trio has been put to work and responded like they should. Adding the fact that they were above the average for four of the categories listed here, they know what they're doing and they plan on doing it well for years to come. Inspiring work all around for these guys.
Week 1 VS Orange County Otters
Final Score: 37-26 (Las Vegas Loss)
Trio Stats:
20 Receptions
246 Yards (12.3 YPC)
3 Touchdowns (Everybody in the Trio got a TD catch this game)
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Bradley Westfield - 29 yard pass from Mike Boss.[/div]
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The Philadelphia Liberty is next up here. In S2, they were at the bottom of the NSFC Season Rankings. They gave a good chase but ultimate feel short in their inaugural season. What do their Trios Ranking look like?
Regular Season Record: 5-9
Missed Playoffs
The Philadelphia Liberty went through some things similar to what their sister team, the Las Vegas Legion, went through this year. Plenty of talent that didn't perform to where they needed to be for them.
Sub par Quarterback play from Jameis Christ didn't help this trio raise their ranks, but they will still find their way to the middle of the pack, mostly thanks to two people.
First one would be their Tight End, Paul DiMirio, adding some stellar receiving stats for his rookie year, gaining the second most receiving yards for a TE and also snagging a great amount of catches. Their second player would be the other S2 Rookie Fox North, who became a household name overnight, making big play after big play after big play and another big play week in and week out.
Their issues off the bat was that they gained plenty of yards but didn't score enough points, which eventually became their downfall.
Also their third member of the trio, Damien Kroetch, was decent. Not too impressive in any one category but definitely serviceable. It may be a position they will look to improve in the draft to compliment North and DiMirio in the future.
This Trio definitely has potential and I'll be looking forward to see how they perform come Season Three.
Week 13 VS Colorado Yeti
Final Score: 27-20 (Philadelphia Loss)
Trio Stats:
20 Receptions
279 Yards (13.95 YPC)
1 Touchdowns (DiMirio and North each had 100 yards receiving this game)
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Damien Kroetch - 8 yard pass from Jameis Christ.[/div]
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Next up are the San Jose Sabercats who missed the playoffs for a second straight year. They will be looking to regroup both on and off the field in order to make their first playoff berth.
Regular Season Record: 4-10
Missed Playoffs.
Let's keep it real here. I could have honestly put Darren Smallwood here, his stats from his time as a Sabercats will help raise their overall ranking a bit, but it's how I chose to make the ranking system. They have to play all of the games for the same team.
Putting all of that into consideration, this breaks out one of the first this series.
We have our first Running back to make the list!
That's right, Jack Durden's receiving play wasn't exactly the most flashy but in this case, this is their third best receiver on the team that has played all of the games in the regular season.
This has really been the story of one man. Shane Weston, who once again put up stellar numbers to wrap up Season Two. If anything he's the main (and only) reason as to why their rank didn't go 100% south.
Break Bottles had an underperforming year despite being a finalist for Best TE in Season 1 and has yet to be the compliment that Ethan Hunt will need at the position.
The Bailey Cook/Darren Smallwood trade flipped the script for both teams, this is obviously the team that took the worst hit of it when it comes to these rankings. Being under the average in all statistical categiries doesn't bode well for the Saberkitties in S2, but come Season 3, I'll be curious where they stand in next year's rankings.
That being said, I'm not worried about them when it comes to next year. Smallwood and Hunt showed plenty on continuity going forward and we know who they got in Shane Weston. This trio is trending upward for Season Three. Especially with the new blood of leadership both from the players and upper management of the squad. Watch out for the Sabercats.
Best Trio Game:
Week 4 VS Orange County
Final Score: 23-19 (Sabercats Win)
Trio Stats:
13 Receptions
152 Yards (11.7 YPC)
0 Touchdowns
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
None during this game, it literally was the best I can find, Sabercats, let me know if there was a game that I missed where these three receivers did better. Not with Cook/Smallwood.[/div]
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Last team we need to mention is everyone's second favorite team to hate (Obviously it's the Arizona Outlaws that are the #1), the Yellowknife Wraiths. For the second straight year, they were good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to advance. What exactly went down with the Wraiths in S2?
Regular Season Record 8-6
Defeated by the Baltimore Hawks in the NSFC Championship Game.
We have een what the aftermath did for the San Jose Sabercats. In Yellowknife, the trade had very minimal impact, and it's mostly for the reasons why they won the Season 1 Receiving Trios crown.
Josh Garden had yet another phenomenal year as a receiver for Chris Orosz (who won the Best QB award) and #WraithsNation not to mention, they had the #1 TE for S2 named Ricky Maddox.
Along side of them, they had one of the best third receivers in the game in Damien West, who was a former starter #1 Wide Receiver in his own right. If there's anything bright about their future is that they keep a steady stable of receivers in deck.
Where they go from here will be a little different, now that Maddox has chose to become a force on the other side of the ball, but he mentioned that he wouldn't have switched positions without a proper heir to the throne. Look out for Joseph Askins.
Do I believe he'll be in this trio in the future? Yes. Yes I do. That being said, even without the "GOAT TE™" Bailey Cook, Damien West, and Josh Garden sounds like a awesome Trio on paper.
In Season Two, this was around the middle of the pack all around performance, they excelled in certain things, but the trade essentially messed up their percentages for catches and touchdowns, seeing as Smallwood and Cook took touchdowns and receptions from the trio.
Not to say it was a bad thing, but it's the truth. Regardless of that, I still see a super bright future for this Receiving Trio. We'll see how it all plays out when S3 rolls around, I'm expecting a top two spot for them next year.
Best Trio Game:
Week 14 VS Orange County
Final Score: 23-19 (Sabercats Win)
Trio Stats:
23 Receptions
252 Yards (11 YPC)
2 Touchdowns (Both by Josh Garden)
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Josh Garden - 26 yard pass from Chris Orosz.[/div]
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Alrighty then, we gave the outlook of each team's respective trio. Now is the time to review the averages for each category:
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From the Averages, we now see which teams went above, at or below the averages for each stat:
Now it's time to see how each team stacks up for each statistical average:
Arizona Outlaws:
Trio Combined Receptions: Below Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio AVG Yards Per Catch: Above Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 2 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 4 out of 6
Baltimore Hawks:
Trio Combined Receptions: Below Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Below Average
Trio AVG Yards Per Catch: Above Average
Touchdowns: Below Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Below Average
Below Average: 5 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 1 out of 6
Colorado Yeti:
Trio Combined Receptions: Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio Avg Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Above Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 1 out of 6
Average: 1 out of 6
Above Average: 4 out of 6
Las Vegas Legion:
Trio Combined Receptions: Below Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Below Average
Trio Avg Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 4 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 2 out of 6
Orange County Otters:
Trio Combined Receptions: Above Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio AVG Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Above Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 1 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 5 out of 6
Philadelphia Liberty
Trio Combined Receptions: Above Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio AVG Yards Per Catch: Above Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Below Average
Trio Receptions %: Above Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 1 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 5 out of 6
San Jose Sabercats:
Trio Combined Receptions: Below Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Below Average
Trio Combined AVG Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Below Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Below Average
Below Average: 6 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 0 out of 6
Yellowknife Wraiths:
Trio Combined Receptions: Above Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio Combined AVG Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Below Average
Below Average: 3 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 3 out of 6[/div]
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Last step before the true rankings is to see how each team stacked up against each other in every specific category. Where they're placed in each spot will determine where exactly they will end up in the final rankings posted below:
Trio Combined Receptions:
Otters
Liberty
Wraiths
Yeti
Outlaws
Hawks
Sabercats
Legion
Trio Combined Receiving Yards:
Otters
Liberty
Wraiths
Outlaws
Yeti
Hawks
Legion
Sabercats
Trio Combined AVG Yards Per Catch:
Outlaws
Hawks
Yeti/Otters/Wraiths
Liberty
Sabercats/Legion
Trio Combined Touchdowns:
OutlawsYeti
Legion
OttersWraithsLiberty
Hawks
Sabercats
Trio Reception Percentage:
Otters
Yeti/Liberty
Wraiths/
Outlaws
Legion
Hawks
Sabercats
Trio Touchdown Percentage:
Legion
YetiOutlaws
Liberty
Otters
Wraiths
Hawks
Sabercats[/div]
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With the individual rankings now complete and the ranking average finished, we have our Trio Rankings below. The number in parentheses is the ranking from the last update so you can see who moved up and moved down:[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Otters: 2.50 Rank Average (2)
Last Update Ranking: 1
Outlaws: 2.67 Rank Average (4.83)
Last Update Ranking: 8
Yeti: 3.00 Rank Average (3.5)
Last Update Ranking: 4
Liberty: 3.33 Rank Average (4)
Last Update Ranking: 5
Wraiths: 3.83 Rank Average (3.33)
Last Update Ranking: 3
Legion: 4.67 Rank Average (4.67)
Last Update Ranking: 7
Hawks: 5.50 Rank Average (4.33)
Last Update Ranking: 6
Sabercats: 7 Rank Average (2.67)
Last Update Ranking: 2[/div]
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There you all have it, we finally have our rankings complete for Season Two. I apologize for the wait, but I will be working on getting the S3 Previews/Predictions out within this next weekend.
This year, the crown will reside in the warm sun of Orange County, California. Perhaps it will help defrost the crown from where it was last year.
The biggest jump would obviously be the jump from last place to runner up. Taking the silver medal in one update is just amazing. Which proves you never really know what will happen and what trades will essentially take them away from overall greatness.
The biggest fall would obviously be the Sabercats, but we all know what happened, that trade really messed them up but I definitely see them competing next year!
The teams that I believe needs the most improvement for the upcoming year will be the Hawks and Legion with a mention to the Liberty as well, mostly on the QB play more than anything else. Saying that, I do believe they will make that jump and S3 is where a majority of receivers will have three seasons under their belt. Season Three will be a spectacle to see (Bars).
That's all I have for tonight, hope all is well with the rest of your week and keep the mindset strong. We're less that 24 hours away from football, folks!
Take care, peeps.
@`incitehysteria`, @`Dermot` & @Dangles13 each get 1Mill from this article. I'll take the rest and the bonus from this. Gotta love that 4K Word tier.
Most of who was mentioned in the article (Sorry if I missed you!):
@`DillyDing`
@Zoone16
@princekyle
@DollarAndADream
@RealShimSlady
@Bingbongday
@Ghostspeed
@deadendpath27
@Viktor1980
@Law
@Noble
@adam2552
@Aenir
@Ballerstorm
@Theo667
@ADwyer87
@701
@DrunkenTeddy
@Viktor1980
@Bwestfield
@Player1
@adam2552
@Merica
@JBLAZE_THE_BOSS
@RainDelay
@Blake Bortles
@daBenchwarmer
@Symmetrik
@4D Chess
@124715
GRADED
Aaaaaaaaaand we are back with the NSFL Receiving Trios Rankings! We have the S1 Final Rankings for Season One, The Predictions and Analysis for Season Two, the rankings from Week One to Week Four and the rankings from Week One to Week Eight are all available for your viewing pleasure. Feel free to click the links to see where we left off and to get caught up on how the system to get the rankings works:
S1 Receiving Trio Rankings
S2 Receiving Trios Preview/Analysis/Predictions
S2 Receiving Trios Weeks 1-4 Update
S2 Receiving Trios Weeks 1-8 Update
Every team has a specific trio of receivers, (three WRs, two WRs and a TE/RB, or whatever the QB feels comfortable with) These three makes the QB feel confident that a big play or a great in-game performance is waiting to happen.
To figure out this "top dog" of Receiving Trios, we're going to be focusing on these attributes:
Trio Total Receptions
Trio Total Yards
Yards Per Catch (YPC) for the trio
Trio Total Touchdowns
Trio Receptions Percentage (in relation to the team)
Trio Total Percentage (in relation to the team)
Then we get the averages for those stats and see how each team stacks up. After that, we list the rankings for each specific stat and each spot in these rankings will factor into the final overall rank.
Any tiebreakers are decided by getting the average of the Trio Receptions Percentage and Trio Touchdowns Percentage. Higher percentage gets the higher spot up the list.
Here's a few notes before we get started:
We DO NOT not factor strength of schedule for this. It's all about how they performed against whoever is placed in front of them on the schedule. As you all know, it's "Any Given Game Day" in the NSFL and you never really know how a team is going to stack up against another team until it happens.
Keep in mind, some of this was written before the draft, and I'm not in tune of all of the acquisitions and how they'll work out for each individual team. I'm going 100% from a statistical standpoint and from what I say, these are just my personal opinions of how they performed this past year when it comes to the actual analyses for each team. Same thing for the predictions in future articles.
For Season Two, this WILL be the "100% End All, Be All" trios set for the regular season of Season 2. You want your player in one of these spots for the trios, stop whining and complaining and you'll have to do better for Season Three.
If you feel a player should be up there instead of another from your respective team, feel free to ask in the comments and I can do a quick work up to incorporate the change there to see if the ranking of your team changes, check this link right HERE.
Any late trades that occurred during the season in the Wide Receiver position will not be incorporated in the ranking system because they didn't play a full season with the team they started the year with.
The two players affected by this rule is obviously Bailey Cook (former Sabercat) and Darren Smallwood (former Wraith). From this point forward, I will only be using receivers that have been with the same team for the whole season. So Darren Smallwood and Bailey Cook will have to wait until next year to make their contributions for their new squads in these rankings.
Any suspensions will keep you out of the way for getting awards so this applies here as well (you know where I'm going with this and who I'm talking about). It's for the same reasons listed above about not playing a full season and whatnot.
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Alright, now that we have that out of the way, we can get to the all important rankings!
Arizona Outlaws is first up on the list. In the last update, they were at the bottom of the list. Where will they be placed for the final ranking? They already have back to back Ultimus trophies, will they add their firstReceiving Trios crown along with it? You'll have to scroll down to see but lets see how their trio has done this year as a whole:
Regular Season Record: 12-2
Defeated Orange County Outlaws to Win the Solis Trophy
Defeated Baltimore Hawks to win the Ultimus Trophy
Season Two NSFL Champions
With as near flawless of a team that Arizona seems to put on the field every week, you'd have to think that eventually, they're not going to be at the bottom of the list for long as far as their receiving trio goes.
Let's just say that they hit that stride they needed and picked up some serious momentum.
The only issue I had to figure out with this trio was whether Chess or Tkachuk would be the third receiver. We already know how much of a beast Dustin Evans and Mayran Jackson was. Their problem in their rankings was that this is a TRIOS ranking system. Meaning three.
Their third could be interchangeable depending on what you want. The catches would go in favor of Tkachuk but the TDs were Chess' specialty. After doing the math, C.A. Chess brought their ranking higher than what Joseph Tkachuk can do with his 20+ more catches. That and it also helps to have another player with a Yards Per Catch stat over 10 to help boost them up.
All in all, I must say, after starting most of the year at the bottom of the list, they all saved their best for last and it proved in their rankings. I'm looking forward to see if they can maintain this streak going into next year. Improvement from Chess can very well put them on the list for having a Receiving Trios crown in their future along with another possible Ultimus.
Best Trio Game:
Week 10 VS San Jose
Final Score: 65-0 (Outlaws Win)
Trio Stats:
14 Receptions
300 Yards (21 YPC)
6 Touchdowns
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Dustin Evans - 54 yard pass from King Bronko for a Touchdown[/div]
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We have the Baltimore Hawks coming up next on the list. They came from the team that missed the playoffs to NSFC Champions in one year, it's been a great turnaround for them. Let's see who has been running the pack for them so far:
Regular Season Record: 8-6
Defeated the Yellowknife Wraiths in Conference Game
Wins the Glacie Trophy for Best Team in the NSFC
Defeated by Arizona Outlaws for the Ultimus Trophy
They had all of the momentum in the world, the right pieces were in their favor to contend for the top spot.
As soon as they were going to continue their dominance, #CarmelGate (Or #GibsonGate, depends on which on you prefer, I like #CarmelGate better) happened.
And boy could they have used Carmel Gibson to give them a boost. His five Touchdowns right now would have helped them so much, but when he was labeled with his suspension, the Baltimore Hawks got suspended in these rankings.
His touchdowns weren't the only thing that he left behind. He was also on pace to be the Hawks leading receiver in catches. Jon Baker could not fill his shoes and that's where the momentum went. Cooper Christmas and Matthew Vincent did all they could to keep them afloat but ultimately failed in doing so.
It also didn't help that they didn't have the best QB play from Scrub Kyuube but they did enough to secure a home playoff game and a spot in the NSFL Championship against the Outlaws despite their passing issues. They are also a predominant running team, leading the league in rushing attempts. S2 is not their year for passing but let's see how they switch it up for S3. Just like the Outlaws before them, the Hawks can use better play from their third receiver and they can make their own run for top Receiving Trios honor.
Best Trio Game:
Week 3 VS San Jose Sabercats
Final Score: 24-23 (Baltimore Loss)
Trio Stats:
16 Receptions
239 Yards (15 YPC)
2 Touchdowns
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Cooper Christmas - 32 yard pass from Scrub Kyubee for a Touchdown[/div]
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Third team on the list is the Colorado Yeti, NSFC champs from Season One look to make their claim on the Ultimus but it may have to wait until Season Three to do so. We'll see how that works out for them. Here's the end result for the trio at the end of Season 2:
Regular Season Record: 8-6
Missed Playoffs
This is another team that has the proper talent on their team right now to be a contender for being the top Receiving Trio. Posting the second best amount of Touchdowns and above the league average for five of the six listed categories helped raise the bar for Colorado.
At this point of the list, the Yeti are the first team to get to the 50/50/50 Catch Club. Kendrick Hendrix, D.J. Law and Rich Gucci all played key roles to raise their rank from the previous week. I still would like to see more production from Law and Gucci to help get to the next level but with a stable all around QB like Logan Noble, they're gonna be just fine.
One of their craziest stats for the year is how this trio scored 16 of their 18 passing TDs thrown from Noble. Does that mean they need more WR depth throughout the roster? I'm not one to tell, but as long as they stay consistent in their development, this can be a sleeper pick for the best Receiving Trio in the future.
Week 12 VS Las Vegas Legion
Final Score: 23-17 (Colorado Loss)
Trio Stats:
18 Receptions
265 Yards (14.7 YPC)
2 Touchdowns
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Kendrick Hendrix - 32 yard pass from Logan Noble for a Touchdown[/div]
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They say "Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."
Does that mean the uninspiring receiving play will remain here? I don't know but we'll have to see to see if that's true. What does the final product look for the Las Vegas Legion?:
Regular Season Record: 3-11
Missed Playoffs
Now this is a team that went downhill real quick. Not only throughout the season as a whole but with these rankings as well. Some of the blame can be put on the play of their QB Bercovici. But these stats when we look at it can show that it's uninspiring play across the board.
Stormblessed and Alexandre LeClair both weren't the most effective receivers, with both barely passing 750 yards receiving and Johnny Rocket not producing in his role very well either. Season One Best TE winner Gabriel Tenzini didn't show too much fight to make the list himself, essentially falling out of the conversation.
At face value, this NEEDS to be addressed, but I still have faith that with better performance as the team eventually grows, this unit of receivers will jump out at people. Despite their low rating in most categories, they still managed to be a great TD scoring lineup, gaining the third most total touchdowns out of all of the trios.
It's something to build on but not too much else to report here. They have some work to do.
Week 1 VS Orange County Otters
Final Score: 37-26 (Las Vegas Loss)
Trio Stats:
13 Receptions
197 Yards (15.2 YPC)
3 Touchdowns (Everybody in the Trio got a TD catch this game)
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Stormblessed - 18 yard pass from Josh Bercovici. [/div]
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The Otters appear to have the edge of taking the Receiving Trios crown by being ahead at the last update but there's still a chance for a team to take the crown out of their grasps. Orange County fell short to the Outlaws in a nail biter and now they'll be prepping for Season Three. How will their hungry receiving corp fair for the squad?
Regular Season Record: 8-6
Eliminated from Playoffs by Outlaws
This team right here, I can't fault them for much. Stellar throughout the whole year, sticking to the game plan, performing each and every week, great stand up players, and a wonderful organization in general.
These three can do it all.
We can start off with either one, they're great in their own rights but they have the most chemistry out of all of the trios. It was the same trios and QB they had last year through both years. Robert Phelps proved to be a force on his own, tied for second most catches of all receivers and putting up Best WR Honor type numbers.
Bradley Westfield has always been a Touchdown machine since the first season of the NSFL. Lets not forget George Wright Jr., who had a Best TE caliber year to boot, lead ALL receivers (Wide Receivers & Tight Ends) in receptions. This trio can do it all.
They almost had the first trio to have all three receivers to catch 80 passes individually and almost 3,000 yards combined for the year. If that isn't a testament to how good they are as a Receiving Trio, I don't know what to tell you, man.
75% of the team's catches and over 65% of the team's touchdowns means that this trio has been put to work and responded like they should. Adding the fact that they were above the average for four of the categories listed here, they know what they're doing and they plan on doing it well for years to come. Inspiring work all around for these guys.
Week 1 VS Orange County Otters
Final Score: 37-26 (Las Vegas Loss)
Trio Stats:
20 Receptions
246 Yards (12.3 YPC)
3 Touchdowns (Everybody in the Trio got a TD catch this game)
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Bradley Westfield - 29 yard pass from Mike Boss.[/div]
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The Philadelphia Liberty is next up here. In S2, they were at the bottom of the NSFC Season Rankings. They gave a good chase but ultimate feel short in their inaugural season. What do their Trios Ranking look like?
Regular Season Record: 5-9
Missed Playoffs
The Philadelphia Liberty went through some things similar to what their sister team, the Las Vegas Legion, went through this year. Plenty of talent that didn't perform to where they needed to be for them.
Sub par Quarterback play from Jameis Christ didn't help this trio raise their ranks, but they will still find their way to the middle of the pack, mostly thanks to two people.
First one would be their Tight End, Paul DiMirio, adding some stellar receiving stats for his rookie year, gaining the second most receiving yards for a TE and also snagging a great amount of catches. Their second player would be the other S2 Rookie Fox North, who became a household name overnight, making big play after big play after big play and another big play week in and week out.
Their issues off the bat was that they gained plenty of yards but didn't score enough points, which eventually became their downfall.
Also their third member of the trio, Damien Kroetch, was decent. Not too impressive in any one category but definitely serviceable. It may be a position they will look to improve in the draft to compliment North and DiMirio in the future.
This Trio definitely has potential and I'll be looking forward to see how they perform come Season Three.
Week 13 VS Colorado Yeti
Final Score: 27-20 (Philadelphia Loss)
Trio Stats:
20 Receptions
279 Yards (13.95 YPC)
1 Touchdowns (DiMirio and North each had 100 yards receiving this game)
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Damien Kroetch - 8 yard pass from Jameis Christ.[/div]
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Next up are the San Jose Sabercats who missed the playoffs for a second straight year. They will be looking to regroup both on and off the field in order to make their first playoff berth.
Regular Season Record: 4-10
Missed Playoffs.
Let's keep it real here. I could have honestly put Darren Smallwood here, his stats from his time as a Sabercats will help raise their overall ranking a bit, but it's how I chose to make the ranking system. They have to play all of the games for the same team.
Putting all of that into consideration, this breaks out one of the first this series.
We have our first Running back to make the list!
That's right, Jack Durden's receiving play wasn't exactly the most flashy but in this case, this is their third best receiver on the team that has played all of the games in the regular season.
This has really been the story of one man. Shane Weston, who once again put up stellar numbers to wrap up Season Two. If anything he's the main (and only) reason as to why their rank didn't go 100% south.
Break Bottles had an underperforming year despite being a finalist for Best TE in Season 1 and has yet to be the compliment that Ethan Hunt will need at the position.
The Bailey Cook/Darren Smallwood trade flipped the script for both teams, this is obviously the team that took the worst hit of it when it comes to these rankings. Being under the average in all statistical categiries doesn't bode well for the Saberkitties in S2, but come Season 3, I'll be curious where they stand in next year's rankings.
That being said, I'm not worried about them when it comes to next year. Smallwood and Hunt showed plenty on continuity going forward and we know who they got in Shane Weston. This trio is trending upward for Season Three. Especially with the new blood of leadership both from the players and upper management of the squad. Watch out for the Sabercats.
Best Trio Game:
Week 4 VS Orange County
Final Score: 23-19 (Sabercats Win)
Trio Stats:
13 Receptions
152 Yards (11.7 YPC)
0 Touchdowns
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
None during this game, it literally was the best I can find, Sabercats, let me know if there was a game that I missed where these three receivers did better. Not with Cook/Smallwood.[/div]
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Last team we need to mention is everyone's second favorite team to hate (Obviously it's the Arizona Outlaws that are the #1), the Yellowknife Wraiths. For the second straight year, they were good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to advance. What exactly went down with the Wraiths in S2?
Regular Season Record 8-6
Defeated by the Baltimore Hawks in the NSFC Championship Game.
We have een what the aftermath did for the San Jose Sabercats. In Yellowknife, the trade had very minimal impact, and it's mostly for the reasons why they won the Season 1 Receiving Trios crown.
Josh Garden had yet another phenomenal year as a receiver for Chris Orosz (who won the Best QB award) and #WraithsNation not to mention, they had the #1 TE for S2 named Ricky Maddox.
Along side of them, they had one of the best third receivers in the game in Damien West, who was a former starter #1 Wide Receiver in his own right. If there's anything bright about their future is that they keep a steady stable of receivers in deck.
Where they go from here will be a little different, now that Maddox has chose to become a force on the other side of the ball, but he mentioned that he wouldn't have switched positions without a proper heir to the throne. Look out for Joseph Askins.
Do I believe he'll be in this trio in the future? Yes. Yes I do. That being said, even without the "GOAT TE™" Bailey Cook, Damien West, and Josh Garden sounds like a awesome Trio on paper.
In Season Two, this was around the middle of the pack all around performance, they excelled in certain things, but the trade essentially messed up their percentages for catches and touchdowns, seeing as Smallwood and Cook took touchdowns and receptions from the trio.
Not to say it was a bad thing, but it's the truth. Regardless of that, I still see a super bright future for this Receiving Trio. We'll see how it all plays out when S3 rolls around, I'm expecting a top two spot for them next year.
Best Trio Game:
Week 14 VS Orange County
Final Score: 23-19 (Sabercats Win)
Trio Stats:
23 Receptions
252 Yards (11 YPC)
2 Touchdowns (Both by Josh Garden)
Longest TD Catch In This Game:
Josh Garden - 26 yard pass from Chris Orosz.[/div]
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Alrighty then, we gave the outlook of each team's respective trio. Now is the time to review the averages for each category:
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From the Averages, we now see which teams went above, at or below the averages for each stat:
Now it's time to see how each team stacks up for each statistical average:
Arizona Outlaws:
Trio Combined Receptions: Below Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio AVG Yards Per Catch: Above Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 2 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 4 out of 6
Baltimore Hawks:
Trio Combined Receptions: Below Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Below Average
Trio AVG Yards Per Catch: Above Average
Touchdowns: Below Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Below Average
Below Average: 5 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 1 out of 6
Colorado Yeti:
Trio Combined Receptions: Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio Avg Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Above Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 1 out of 6
Average: 1 out of 6
Above Average: 4 out of 6
Las Vegas Legion:
Trio Combined Receptions: Below Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Below Average
Trio Avg Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 4 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 2 out of 6
Orange County Otters:
Trio Combined Receptions: Above Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio AVG Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Above Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 1 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 5 out of 6
Philadelphia Liberty
Trio Combined Receptions: Above Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio AVG Yards Per Catch: Above Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Below Average
Trio Receptions %: Above Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Above Average
Below Average: 1 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 5 out of 6
San Jose Sabercats:
Trio Combined Receptions: Below Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Below Average
Trio Combined AVG Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Below Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Below Average
Below Average: 6 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 0 out of 6
Yellowknife Wraiths:
Trio Combined Receptions: Above Average
Trio Combined Receiving Yards: Above Average
Trio Combined AVG Yards Per Catch: Below Average
Trio Combined Touchdowns: Above Average
Trio Receptions %: Below Average
Trio Touchdowns %: Below Average
Below Average: 3 out of 6
Average: 0 out of 6
Above Average: 3 out of 6[/div]
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Last step before the true rankings is to see how each team stacked up against each other in every specific category. Where they're placed in each spot will determine where exactly they will end up in the final rankings posted below:
Trio Combined Receptions:
Otters
Liberty
Wraiths
Yeti
Outlaws
Hawks
Sabercats
Legion
Trio Combined Receiving Yards:
Otters
Liberty
Wraiths
Outlaws
Yeti
Hawks
Legion
Sabercats
Trio Combined AVG Yards Per Catch:
Outlaws
Hawks
Yeti/Otters/Wraiths
Liberty
Sabercats/Legion
Trio Combined Touchdowns:
OutlawsYeti
Legion
OttersWraithsLiberty
Hawks
Sabercats
Trio Reception Percentage:
Otters
Yeti/Liberty
Wraiths/
Outlaws
Legion
Hawks
Sabercats
Trio Touchdown Percentage:
Legion
YetiOutlaws
Liberty
Otters
Wraiths
Hawks
Sabercats[/div]
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With the individual rankings now complete and the ranking average finished, we have our Trio Rankings below. The number in parentheses is the ranking from the last update so you can see who moved up and moved down:[/div]
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Otters: 2.50 Rank Average (2)
Last Update Ranking: 1
Outlaws: 2.67 Rank Average (4.83)
Last Update Ranking: 8
Yeti: 3.00 Rank Average (3.5)
Last Update Ranking: 4
Liberty: 3.33 Rank Average (4)
Last Update Ranking: 5
Wraiths: 3.83 Rank Average (3.33)
Last Update Ranking: 3
Legion: 4.67 Rank Average (4.67)
Last Update Ranking: 7
Hawks: 5.50 Rank Average (4.33)
Last Update Ranking: 6
Sabercats: 7 Rank Average (2.67)
Last Update Ranking: 2[/div]
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There you all have it, we finally have our rankings complete for Season Two. I apologize for the wait, but I will be working on getting the S3 Previews/Predictions out within this next weekend.
This year, the crown will reside in the warm sun of Orange County, California. Perhaps it will help defrost the crown from where it was last year.
The biggest jump would obviously be the jump from last place to runner up. Taking the silver medal in one update is just amazing. Which proves you never really know what will happen and what trades will essentially take them away from overall greatness.
The biggest fall would obviously be the Sabercats, but we all know what happened, that trade really messed them up but I definitely see them competing next year!
The teams that I believe needs the most improvement for the upcoming year will be the Hawks and Legion with a mention to the Liberty as well, mostly on the QB play more than anything else. Saying that, I do believe they will make that jump and S3 is where a majority of receivers will have three seasons under their belt. Season Three will be a spectacle to see (Bars).
That's all I have for tonight, hope all is well with the rest of your week and keep the mindset strong. We're less that 24 hours away from football, folks!
Take care, peeps.
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