JY’s Big Board
While I may not be the greatest with understanding this league and knowing team needs or depth, there is one thing that I feel fairly confident about at times. That is my ability to scout. Typically, I work over an entire season collecting data, talking with prospects and developing my strategy for the draft. However, in this case, I just pulled the information recently and will be using present day information to create a big board.
The methodology here is going to be similar to that of Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, who does hockey prospects. I am going to adapt a bit for football, of course. The first thing being that I will be listing out a board by position. That is rare in the hockey world, as the skills are translatable to all areas of the game and there is not separation. However, in this, the skills needed are so different all around that it only makes sense to separate them in some way.
That is going to mean that it is essentially a bunch of little boards, rather than one big board I guess. Though, the plan is for that to change at the bottom when I mash them all together to make one giant board.
When pulling up information and creating my list, I did create cutoffs. Specifically, I looked only for currently active players with over 100 TPE. While I may have missed somebody along the way, I feel confident this list is pretty inclusive of all of the actives. I do want to apologize ahead of time if I did miss anybody.
Let’s get started and I will be leaning offense and working my way over to defense to close out.
QUARTERBACKS
The team is made from this position. This could be the most important decision a team makes typically, as the wrong person behind center can make the offense stumble and fall. There are only a couple of players at this position in the draft, but it is going to be a major addition for the team that eventually pulls that trigger.
1. Ricky Stanzi, DAL
250 TPE, $17,607,830 Bank, 1 Former Player (1348 Max TPE)
Passing Statistics: 225/410, 3349 Yds, 54.9% Completion Percentage, 25 TD, 9 INT, 93 QB Rating
We start off with Ricky Stanzi of the Dallas Birddogs. Ry_ is a former high earning player, hitting over 1300 TPE with his first player is a major part of his ranking here. He has a high bank, has been close to the top in terms of earning and seems to hit all the markers we want. From pedigree to current success, he seems perfectly aligned to be a great pick up for a team in need of a quarterback.
If we go from a sim outlook, Stanzi was the third best quarterback by QB Rating, which I know isn’t the greatest measure of success, but can give a pretty good idea at least. He was fourth in yards, but not by much. The only concern I would see here is in his completion percentage, as his was the second lowest in the league behind only Bondi Beach’s Dexter Zaylren. The excuse for Zaylren being that the talent wasn’t there, but for Stanzi he had the talent to work with and struggled to get the catches. It isn’t the worst situation, however, as he still showed he was a gamer who could lead his team well and managed to get a top seed in the south for the playoffs.
Stanzi is a great prospect as a user and as a player has a little way to go, but should ultimately become a superstar in the league in no time. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him off the board early.
2. Dustin Parmelee, LON
257 TPE, $23,813,860 Bank, 0 Former Players
Passing Statistics: 248/395, 2607 Yds, 62.8% Completion Percentage, 21 TD, 9 INT, 90.1 QB Rating
Slightly higher TPE, slightly higher bank. Ultimately, this was more of a toss-up than it may seem with the final ranking. However, that pedigree can be very important when it comes to a quarterback. You need to be very confident in this person’s ability to build a player and stick with it through the difficult stretch of just hoarding TPE and waiting for your opportunity. Parmelee is going strong, and looking fantastic. If Stanzi hadn’t had a great player once before, he easily would be in that top spot.
Even past that, he was great in sim as well. London did have the second fewest pass attempts in the league, but they made them count as he had more completions than Stanzi did for a way higher completion percentage. The only fear I could see is the interceptions, as with so many in fewer attempts, he may need to work on the decision making a bit. That isn’t unusual for quarterbacks at his age and level, so expect that to improve over time.
Parmelee could be seen a bit more as boom or bust to some, which may push him back later in the draft into the second or third round, but he has first round talent and could easily turn out to be an elite level player.
RUNNING BACK
I found this group really interesting, as I can see concerns just about all the way through. While running back has taken a back seat in the present day quite a bit, it can still be an influential part of the offense considering he touches so much of it. This group has a lot of potential, but I wouldn’t expect to see any taken very early in the draft.
1. Kiara Tenoh, LON
242 TPE, $4,289,920 Bank, 0 Former Players
Rushing Statistics: 272 Carries, 1370 Yds, 5.0 AYC, 10 TD
Receiving Statistics: 13 Catches, 85 Yards, 2 TD
The current TPE total is what carries Tenoh to the top of the list here, but there is a bit of a flag poking its head up. Tenoh has the lowest bank of any of the running backs in the class, and has only completed rookie task requirement media. While that isn’t the end of the world, at some point the contracts shrink a bit and it can be harder to keep up if you aren’t getting that influx of cash every season. A lot of players in every league lean on their contract to carry them through the season, but it’s rare for it to truly be able to do that. It’s a concern, but it isn’t an unfixable issue which is why I still rank Tenoh as my top running back in spite of it.
In terms of play on the field, Tenoh was second in the league in yards last season as London leaned heavily on the running game. Out of players with over 100 rushing attempts, he tied with Noah Johns for first in yards per carry, and was third in rushing touchdowns. Tenoh has high speed and looks to get around the edge or find a small opening to really make an impact, however at the higher level it’s that much harder to set an edge and find a gap, so expect to see Tenoh try to put on some muscle in the coming seasons.
Tenoh is the top running back in this class, but only by a hair, in spite of the difference in TPE. If they get to work on some media or graphics to build up that bank a little, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them become an elite player in the league.
2. Tron Carter, BBB
202 TPE, $52,981,878 Bank, 1 Former Player (1389 Peak TPE)
Rushing Statistics: 188 Carries, 840 Yds, 4.5 YPC, 7 TD
Receiving Statistics: 15 Catches, 143 Yards, 1 TD
The second highest TPE, the highest bank and the pedigree of a former high earning player. Really, the only thing that makes him land second is that the gap in TPE is 40 and not 20. If he were just a bit closer to Tenoh, Tron Carter would be the top running back in the class. Instead, it’s a bit of a toss-up because while he’s got the things you want, he just hasn’t seemed to be consistent with the updates to keep up with everybody else. He’s consistent enough to still be a high-end prospect, though, and should have no problem being a good contributor to a team, the question is just how much of one.
On the field, Carter was remarkable as a player who only had one fumble all season in spite of a heavy load on offense. He can manage turnovers well, and that’s a very important factor when looking for somebody who is going to have the ball in his hands nearly 15 times a game. He was able to be a north-south runner that can break his way through the line and make plays happen. However, he does have a negative with his hands. While he holds on for dear life when he has the ball, he also had 5 drops this season and shows that he may not be the most adept in the passing game. I’d expect to see a bit more focus on that side of things, as while he was good when he was able to make the catch, that’s a lot of drops for somebody that is a featured part of the offense.
Like I was saying, Carter easily could be the top guy in the running back class if he were closer in TPE at the time I collected the data. However, in this case, he falls just shy and lands at number two, but should be a great asset still.
3. Miracle Whip, TIJ
174 TPE, $7,500,000 Bank, 0 Former Players
Rushing Statistics: 276 Carries, 1275 Yds, 4.6 YPC, 6 TD
Receiving Statistics: 25 Catches, 117 Yds
We have hit the stretch of running backs that are effectively unidentifiable from each other. The reason being that the differences in TPE and bank are very small, to say the least. We’ll put Miracle Whip in here at third on the list, because he has the highest TPE remaining and highest bank, so looks to be a bit more of a sure thing. He hasn’t been the most vocal player in some ways, as he hasn’t written any media or done any graphics and so his star doesn’t burn quite as bright as some others. But he’s a slow and steady, consistent kind of guy, and his player build appears to be leaning similarly.
Whip is a strong player, and definitely fits the mold of a downhill runner that will bully you between the tackles. He wasn’t a big factor in the passing game, mostly a check-down type that doesn’t make things happen once he’s got it unlike the others above, but is still a good piece to an active offense. His 1275 yards ranked third on the season, and he had the second most carries in the DSFL this year, showing his workhorse type of ability. Similar to above, he rarely turned the ball over, and even more impressive was his blocking ability as he had the most pancake blocks of the running backs in this class, and did not allow a single sack.
When looking it over, I expect Whip to be a mid-to-late round player. He has talent, but he’s likely to rely on the contract similar to what I was saying for Tenoh. He hasn’t taken the next step at this point, and while he should be a steady guy, he seems more like a third down and goal line kind of back, and may not be the biggest individual playmaker.
4. Jax Baker, POR
164 TPE, $6,750,000 Bank, 0 Former Players
Rushing Statistics: 274 Carries, 1153 Yds, 4.2 YPC, 6 TD
Receiving Statistics: 7 Catches, 25 Yds
Baker is the first player we see that didn’t get the field immediately, which can play a factor here. He only started in half of the team’s games, but he made an impact with the starts he did get while splitting time with Noah Johns. The issues with Baker are the same as some others in the class, he just isn’t setting himself apart in any way. There hasn’t been media, just one graphic which I have to assume was for rookie tasks. His bank is lower, his TPE is fourth in the running back class. These guys need to set themselves up somehow, and at this point, Baker is a fine prospect, but a project to some degree.
He’s a hard-nosed runner like Miracle Whip before him. Even while splitting time, he finished fourth in the league in yards with his 1153. He was strong and steady, somebody that got a first down on about 24% of his carries. There are weak points to his game, as he had 3 drops and rarely was able to break off a big run. A player like him, though, isn’t expected to make a breakaway run at top speed. He isn’t going to outrace anybody right now, but he is able to bulldoze some and that should be impressive. For now, he’s somebody that I expect to see as a short-yardage back that comes in when you need a yard or two, but he could become something bigger.
Realistically, Baker is somebody that I wouldn’t expect to see before the third round just at a glance. He has potential, there is talent there. The issue is if he can jump on it himself and really set himself apart at all. If not, he should be an effective player still, just may not become a superstar like some others could.
5. Matthew Holford, NOR
152 TPE, $6,000,000 Bank, 0 Former Players
Rushing Statistics: 164 Carries, 653 Yds, 4 YPC, 6 TD
Receiving Statistics: 14 Catches, 84 Yds
And the last of the identical people, Holford is so much like the others in that he hasn’t done much to set himself apart. He splits time with the next person on this list, which I know can make it a bit more difficult, but on the user side there are concerns to be had. A player that again hasn’t done any media or graphics, leaves you to wonder if he’s committed to becoming a high-end player. He hasn’t really done many point tasks, mostly just doing predictions, and it seems like he’s going to be a slow and steady kind of player. Like I’ve said above, those can be great contributors to a team, but it isn’t somebody you stick your neck out for typically.
On the field, like I said Holford was splitting time. His four yards per carry is the second lowest among players with over 100 carries, but that’s still the steady force you want from a running back. He was a definite contributor to his team this season, even as the team is pretty young and needs time to develop. The question here will be if he can keep up and set himself apart for them moving forward as the rest of the team finds success. He had 6 drops this season, so he doesn’t exactly have the hands. He isn’t the strongest or fastest, but he is definitely steady and that’s important. If he keeps working at it, he should be able to be a fine part of the offense, though maybe not featured so much.
This is the end of that trio of people that just are close in TPE and bank. Holford could end up being a great later round pick up, but I don’t see him going in the first two rounds for sure and he may not make it into the third either. He should be a fine player and an asset for whatever team picks him up, it’s just going to be the long play and take some time for him to really become a contributor at the ISFL level.
6. Jeremy Crouse, NOR
117 TPE, $8,358,230 Bank, 0 Former Players
Rushing Statistics: 120 Carries, 543 Yds, 4.5 YPC, 4 TD
Receiving Statistics: 9 Catches, 47 Yds
A bit of a later addition to the draft class, Crouse is a bit behind due to it. He hasn’t been bad, but he isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire either. He’s done one media piece, and it was about a month ago. He may not be a world beater, but he has some potential as somebody that could be overlooked due to his lower TPE and bank numbers.
On the field, he split time with the guy above, Holford, and was actually pretty effective. He’s the first running back we see without a drop to his credit this season, though he doesn’t appear to be utilized that often in the passing game. That is surprising, as he seems more inclined to those passing downs than Holford would be. Holford is that pound the middle kind of back, Crouse is basically the opposite. He has very little beyond his speed, and so if he’s able to find some open space he can make it work, but it doesn’t take a lot to get him off balance and knock him down. That actually is where I’m surprised, he had no fumbles on running plays, but he did have 3 in the passing game which likely is what led to him sitting on those passing downs more often than not. All in all, he’s a fine player but won’t be making or breaking the team anytime soon. He is a bit behind, though, and should he find the chance to catch up, may be able to surprise.
I would say Crouse is the last running back taken off the board, and doesn’t go before round four off the top of my head. He has potential, but he hasn’t really stepped into the limelight as he hasn’t been doing much to build his bank or TPE. He needs some work, but with the right coaching, he can get there.
WIDE RECEIVERS
This is the deepest group on the board, as we have ten to consider here. This could be one draft that you don’t see a wide receiver go very early because they’re so prevalent that you can expect to get a good option available later in the draft. However, there are some absolutely elite talents in this group, and the teams that do jump on it may be thankful for doing so down the line.
1. Vincent Sharpei Jr., MINN
254 TPE, $68,053,233, 3 Former Players (Max TPE 1055, Minimum TPE 799)
Receiving Statistics: 78 Receptions, 1223 Yds, 15.7 YPR, 12 TD, 8 Drops
This is a pretty hard decision to make, and ultimately came down to a couple of things. First of all, the bank. Sharpei has built up a massive bank over the years, and should have no issue being able to max earn for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, there is also the pedigree here with three players and the worst of them still maxing out at nearly 800 TPE. This is a user that basically guarantees a good player. He may not become the best receiver in this draft, considering the depth of it, but he is the safest option possible it seems and that guarantees his place at the top.
Meanwhile we look on the field, and Sharpei was a fantastic piece for Minnesota this season. He was third in yards, as well as third in yards per reception among the class. He also tied Troy Abed of the Kansas City Coyotes for the most touchdowns this season. Sharpei is clearly one of the fastest receivers in the class, and put out 5 receptions over 40 yards. Minnesota is a big player offense, having Sharpei on one side and another player, Mason Malone, who we’ll discuss later, on the other side. They were aiming deep, and Sharpei was a pretty much perfect example of this mindset. He should be a big piece of whatever team picks him up, and is looking like a long term WR1 for anybody.
It is obvious this is a difficult decision to make, and there is a list of people who could fill this spot on any other big board out there. If I’m making the choice, I list Sharpei as the top of my board knowing the connections he has deep in the league’s history and how likely he is to be a big piece moving forward as well. There isn’t really a bad option here, though.
2. Squidward Tentacles, BBB
249 TPE, $34,051,415 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max 1336 TPE)
Receiving Statistics: 85 Receptions, 1209 Yds, 14.2 YPR, 8 TD, 18 Drops
Once again, the pedigree wins out on this one even though there are many options still at this point. Tentacles is not far from the TPE leaders, only five behind Sharpei and only ten behind the highest TPE receiver in the class. Meanwhile, he has a large bank to make up that difference, and the pedigree of somebody who was a max earner before. He has all the makings of a great player, and just like Sharpei, comes with the history you like in the league. It would be unlikely to expect him to be anything less than another WR1 for a team, easily.
Then on the field, Tentacles was electric. He was second in receptions and fourth in yards, while putting up a respectable number of touchdowns. The concern here is in the drops, as 18 leads the class. However, that is the boom or bust potential of Tentacles in some way. While the user side is in no way boom or bust, or is more so just boom, the player has been a little different. He is, to my understanding, the fastest player in the class though not by a big margin. As the WR1 for Bondi Beach, he was the deep ball target for the team and when they already struggled in many ways, it was guaranteed they’d have some issues in the passing game. Tentacles was really the only big target they had, and it was difficult on him to get separation, but what he was able to produce here shows the immense talent level. With a little longer to develop, he should have no issue being able to become a playmaker at the ISFL level quickly.
Once again, this is a matter of opinion. The pedigree, the play, the bank. This is a person that knows how to build a player, and what they’re doing at this point. They have connections in the league, and have the talent needed to be a superstar in the league. I fully expect to see him go early in the draft, and he is basically guaranteed to be worth it.
3. Jason Waterfalls, TIJ
259 TPE, $8,788,520 Bank, 0 Former Players
Receiving Statistics: 78 Receptions, 1115 Yds, 14.3 YPR, 7 TD, 11 Drops
Here’s a fun one for me, considering it’s my own player at least. I pulled the information for this before my recent media was graded, so I know I have over $20 million unaccounted for on this. I don’t have the pedigree here, but there is the TPE level and the pedigree from the SHL ultimately. However, it isn’t enough to get above the other two on the list even with the TPE difference. Only five more than Sharpei and ten more than Tentacles, it isn't a major difference. The bank is lower as well, so Waterfalls falls to third on the board and that’s still debatable.
When looking at the stats on the field, though, there’s definitely been success here. Sixth in yards and with a respectable number of touchdowns, Waterfalls was the top receiver in Tijuana for the season. However, in a difference from the receivers around him, Waterfalls did not have much in the way of big plays. Seemingly the slowest of the upper echelon of receivers, Waterfalls is more of a route runner that goes for underneath routes and the big catch when it counts thank running downfield and getting under it. This is really interesting when recognizing that he also was a kick returner for Tijuana, averaging around 21 yards per return as well. He may not be the fastest or the big play guy, but Waterfalls looks likely to be a catch magnet in the future to help develop the strategy and set up big play guys on the outside.
This one is a bit bias, as I of course think I would be a great pick up in the first round, and I don’t think I’ll be falling out of that. However, I see two guaranteed above me and another that is debatable at the least. It will be up to the teams to decide who they like more when it comes to this top part of the receiver board, and there’s still another that could even be at the top for some.
4. Mason Malone, MINN
253 TPE, $9,760,929 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 379)
Receiving Statistics: 87 Receptions, 1498 Yds, 17.2 YPR, 9 TD, 9 Drops
This is the one time that pedigree works against a player a bit. It isn’t too significant, but it is a factor to see somebody with a recent player that failed to really launch like expected. However, Malone has been fantastic so far, being the third highest TPE receiver in the class and having built out a comfortable bank. The bank could use a little more compared to the others earlier, but is still a good total. It is a bit unfair in a way, Malone falling to fourth on this ranking after having such a great start to his career, but is in a very deep and tight receiving group.
The big surprise of Malone, going from a quarterback prospect to a wide receiver, is to see him then take that change and run away with it. He was the number one receiver this season in the DSFL by just about any measure. He had the most catches, the most yards and was tied for third in touchdowns. Malone turned out to be an absolute stud on the field, and part of that may be because of the high-end talent on the field for Minnesota this season. Being lined up across the field from Vincent Sharpei Jr., the top ranked receiver, probably helps that. He had openings in the coverage, and he took advantage of it in a way nobody else probably could have. He showed up and made defenses have to respect him, and that’s admirable.
Malone is a victim of a deep class in a way, somebody that I expect to be a first round pick easily but with the depth of this receiver class could slip a little to the early second if teams are being a bit more picky about the positions they take. It would be a shocker, but it is possible. I’m going to bet on Malone being a first round pick, and him becoming an absolute superstar in the future for whatever team is lucky enough to have him fall into their laps. That’s a lot of number one receivers in this class, and Malone may end up being the best of them all. Once again, it’s all opinion anyway.
5. Calvin Hobbes, POR
244 TPE, $12,281,830 Bank, 0 Former Players
Receiving Statistics: 82 Receptions, 1168 Yds, 14.2 YPR, 8 TD, 16 Drops
Finally, just like we had the run of running backs who were too close to call, we come toward the end of our group of receivers who are too close to call. Hobbes is high TPE, just about 15 behind the leader in the class. He has a solid bank, having taken advantage of the double media voucher and putting out a large amount of media before the DSFL draft. He doesn’t have the pedigree of some of the top of the class, but he has the TPE to keep up and the bank that proves he is here to work. He definitely shouldn’t be slept on in this draft, to say the least.
Statistically, Hobbes was a great asset to Portland. He was fifth in yards and third in receptions among all receivers this season, and the top receiver for Portland by a fairly large margin. Hobbes falls under the same set up as many others, being a high-speed player that definitely works on the outside of the hash marks. He is the second on our list to perform kick returns, averaging nearly 20 yards per return. He was a high-profile player for Portland, and is set up to continue his play as their top receiver for the next season. He didn’t have it easy this season as a rookie, taking on the best of the best from every other team. Now that he’s seen it, he should be prepared to step it up going forward.
Hobbes is similar to Malone, a victim of the depth of this class. In a normal receiving class, I could see him being one of the top two or three. However, in this class, he’s stuck landing a bit behind some who will be absolute superstars. He should have no issue becoming a WR1 on a contender in the future, provided he keeps up his bank, and he could be a good value pick in the late first or even falling into the second round.
6. Andy Fantuz, KCC
207 TPE, $35,085,892 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 1305)
Receiving Statistics: 80 Receptions, 846 Yds, 10.6 YPR, 1 TD, 8 Drops
Back to pedigree a bit on this one, as Fantuz doesn’t look to be the most spectacular player in the receiving class, but has the history to be a high earning player. The bank is there, most likely due to the former player. So while his TPE isn’t the highest, he definitely seems to be worth a look as a high caliber receiving prospect. He is quite a bit off from the five listed beforehand in TPE, so it does lower him down the list, but being within about 20 TPE of the next highest on the list means he Isn't that far off considering the bank and the pedigree.
In terms of the play on the field, Fantuz was the second lowest in yards per reception in the class and definitely seems to be more of an afterthought of the KCC offense. With Troy Abed leading the way there, Fantuz was left to take over short routes and help drive the ball forward. His one touchdown on the season shows how he wasn’t really a priority in the red zone, but he was a priority to move the ball forward with his 80 receptions at least. Fantuz is looking like a good prospect for teams looking for a slot receiver to play the short and mid yardage routes. He may not be a number one guy on the outside, but he will be a great support piece to open up layers to the offense.
Fantuz is a good pick up for teams needing to open up space on the field for their other playmakers to work, and is going to be somebody with a good bank and a history of building a good player. He should be available in the later stages of the draft, late second or early third, and with his history that’s a steal at that point. It’s entirely possible he goes before then, but his TPE is where I lean a little bit back.
7. Cliff Burton, DAL
228 TPE, $13,706,750 Bank, 0 Former Players
Receiving Statistics: 46 Receptions, 733 Yds, 15.9 YPR, 9 TD, 9 Drops
Burton has done a couple of graphics and an article, and so the bank has been building there. He’s the sixth ranked receiver by TPE in the class, and has been a great earner. In the SHL, he’s been a great asset for a team that was struggling for a period of time, and has been a good addition for their locker room. I can attest that he’ll be a great addition for any team that picks him up. The bank is good for somebody that expects to be a steady earner, and he should be able to be a big asset for a team moving forward.
In actual play, Burton may not have had the biggest season. He was overshadowed in Dallas by a really high impact crew led by Ivan Toastovich, and that left him with a little less on the counting stats than the others on this draft board. However, what we can see is that Burton was a great secondary option for the team and became a red zone target with his nine touchdown grabs. He wasn’t the primary option, and unlike Malone wasn’t really able to shine in that role the same. However, he was definitely able to find his place in this superb group, and is showing the talent to be able to be a top receiver for Dallas in the future and should be a good number two, possibly a number one, for an ISFL team in the future as well.
Burton is a good pick up that I think may be available in the later second round, and would be a big get for any team. In the long term, I project him as a WR2 for a highly competitive team, but I may be misrepresenting him with that only because the other four above him were so good. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him become a WR1 for a good team and make a legitimate superstar of a player.
8. Bradley Welch, LON
208 TPE, $14,543,070 Bank, 0 Former Players
Receiving Statistics: 52 Receptions, 675 Yds, 13 YPR, 7 TD, 16 Drops
Yet another slow and steady kind of earner, but one that has been fantastic at creating media to work himself up in the bank. I have to give a lot of credit here, it’s unfortunate that this is such a deep receiving class as Welch has been good at building up bank, making himself a high priority target and earning at a steady rate. The issue is, this class is a lot of high priority targets all over and so you really need to be high on TPE to set yourself apart. Welch looks like somebody that could progress into a superstar one day, but here may actually be undervalued a little just due to the class ahead of him.
On the field, Welch was not exactly the hottest target in London. Having a rookie quarterback, the team was bound to adjust a bit to give him easier assignments. Include that Welch wasn’t the only rookie receiver, Parmelee was leaning into his tight end more and more. That didn’t stop Welch from putting up strong numbers, especially the seven touchdowns and the thirteen yards per reception. It does put him in an awkward spot, however, of being one of the lower players on this list in terms of yardage and receptions, in spite of doing fairly well himself. His sixteen drops are second in the class, but some of it could also be blamed on a young and inexperienced group needing time to gel. Ultimately, Welch looks like somebody who has found his role in an offense, being a kick returner and making the short-to-mid yardage plays that get the offense rolling. He is extremely impressive in that he’s the only one on this list who managed to get a first down on half of his receptions. Welch proves to be a battler, who will get those extra yards, and that can be impressive for a team.
I continue this trend of unlucky players, with Welch being similar to the two above him in that a normal draft may see him higher up the board. However, here he’s stuck fairly low on the board. That doesn’t really matter that much when you’re facing some insurmountable odds above. Seeing how he plays, it should only put a chip on his shoulder and whoever gets him – likely in the third round or later – is going to be lucky about it.
9. Tay Swizzle, POR
132 TPE, $21,532,530 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 422)
Receiving Statistics: 49 Receptions, 627 Yds, 12.8 YPR, 4 TD, 6 Drops
Once again the pedigree comes into play here a bit, though it isn’t the most impressive at this point. With only a couple of players left at the position in the draft, Tay Swizzle is the clear ninth option. Swizzle has a steady bank, has done the prediction tasks steadily and is training and getting activity checks. While PTs are getting overlooked a bit, that can be livable, just means this is a slow earner that won’t be ready for a few seasons. With a former player that didn’t end up with much in TPE, Swizzle doesn’t look likely to surpass the precedent set, but with recent media being put out, they are setting themselves up to do well monetarily and could surprise with the right push.
Back out on the field, Swizzle was far from the top target in Portland. The aforementioned Hobbes was the man there, fast and reliable. Swizzle, however, proved their worth as the player running the underneath routes and drawing coverage away from the deep ball. Swizzle only had six drops on the season, which is fantastic all things considered. With nearly fifty receptions, Swizzle was a play driver who managed a first down on almost half of their receptions as well. It may not be the most glamorous thing to be the number two in an offense, but it does help to show consistency and strength. Swizzle toughed it out and looks like somebody who should have no problems in the ISFL carving out a role as a short yardage catch magnet.
All in all, Swizzle isn’t going to light the world on fire. Without thinking of the depth of the class as a whole and just looking at the receiver group, I don’t expect to see Swizzle go before the fourth round. They may make it in the late third, but I would highly doubt it. They could be a fine depth option down the road, but I think they’re more of the third or fourth receiver on the depth chart kind of person.
10. Kai Marshall, NOR
108 TPE, $7,000,000 Bank, 0 Former Players
Receiving Statistics: 35 Receptions, 346 Yds, 9.9 YPR, 1 TD, 3 Drops
The late addition, Marshall was somebody who joined a little way after the DSFL draft took place. Due to that, he actually played four fewer games than anybody else in the draft. Often, those late bloomers can be great additions to the board as they get overlooked with lower TPE. If Marshall was consistent, they would have made it to the ninth spot on the board easily. However, seeing that they’re logging in but haven’t posted in weeks lends some concern. They could be a big booming pick, or they could bust out pretty quickly and go the way of the dodo. They haven’t done media, have rarely completed point tasks and appear to be at the least slow going.
That’s actually fitting for on the field as well, as Marshall is the slowest receiver on the board this season. With just under ten yards per reception, he wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire out there with the deep ball. It doesn’t help that he missed four games to start the season, and that it took half the season for him to get into the starting role on offense as well. However, he had opportunity and managed to make the best of it at times. He moved the chains pretty often, slightly over half of his receptions went for a first down. He just wasn’t a threat in the red zone, and struggled to really battle through defenses. He’s definitely a work in progress, but with some added effort, could be a great asset to a team.
A couple of weeks ago when I started looking at this, Marshall was going to be higher up the board because late bloomers are easy to overlook. Unfortunately, there’s been a dip since then. I don’t expect to see Marshall go until the end of the draft, whenever it may be, and it’ll just be a hail mary pick in hopes it works out.
TIGHT END
To some, the receivers are the focal point of the passing game that really drive the bus, however as we’ve seen before, a good tight end is hard to come by and really opens things up for the passing game. These players are asked to do the work of top receivers and offensive linemen, and don’t get much praise for it either. They’re the in between, and they can be a big part of a team’s success.
1. Nick L. Back, NOR
250 TPE, $23,161,340 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 829)
Receiving Statistics: 59 Receptions, 908 Yds, 15.4 YPR, 10 TD, 9 Drops, 11 Pancake Blocks
Somebody with some good pedigree, high TPE and a good bank? Sign me up. There was a small debate for the top tight end in the class, and you’ll see why in the next section. However, when it came down to it, there just isn’t a way to have anybody other than Nick L. Back in this spot. He has deep connections in the league, and that can’t be understated. His bank is respectable, and should work well to get him where he needs to be. And he’s by far the highest TPE player in the tight end position. There isn’t anything not to like here.
Looking at the play this season, Back was by far the top dog in Norfolk. That can be good and bad, as it means they didn’t have much of a deep ball option to draw coverage away and Back was faced with a lot of difficulty finding space and making plays. It also means that he was able to highlight his long reach and great hands, which is ultimately what happened. Back was a big factor in Norfolk’s offense, with his great blocking abilities as well as his ability to get yards after the catch. He’s a powerful runner who can make plays happen, and he had an amazing success rate with nearly 65-percent of his receptions going for a first down. He can drive play forward down the field and keep the offense moving well, which is very impressive when on a team struggling to create a downfield threat.
Back is the clear number one to me, though there can be a debate there. He has everything asked for, even the intangibles with his SHL history as well. He should be the first tight end off the board, and I would expect to see it in the first round.
2. Dee Walt, KCC
212 TPE, $103,755,055 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 1320)
Receiving Statistics: 44 Receptions, 653 Yds, 14.8 YPR, 8 TD, 3 Drops, 25 Pancake Blocks
So the debate revolves around Walt’s bank versus Back’s TPE. Back is ahead of Walt by nearly 40 TPE, which is a difficult mountain to climb. If Walt were closer, it becomes a pretty tough debate to have. Walt has one of the four biggest banks in this draft class, and that is a highly impressive feat. A lot of that comes from the past player, but many people with past players haven’t held on to that kind of funding. His former player was a high TPE killer, and so you know he understands how to be successful in this league. While he is the number two on the board due to his TPE being a bit lower than hoped for, he is still a great option for any team.
Walt shows that while Back was relied on heavily and took advantage, when you’re not the primary option, you can get a bit more creative with how you add to the team. Walt didn’t really drive the first downs as much, but being the third option behind Troy Abed and Andy Fantuz meant he was really more so there to draw defenses in and keep them from covering the deep ball. He was pretty successful in that, and found space underneath to really create for the offense. Meanwhile, he rarely had drops and was a big component of the running game with his 25 pancake blocks. Walt has all around skill, and the ability to make an impact on every single down. That is amazingly valuable, and as he continues to develop, he should only get better and better at creating space for himself and others in a way that only the best in the tight end position can do.
Walt would be a clear number one if not for Back, which is unfortunate for him but extremely fortunate for whatever team is able to pick him up in the draft. Walt should be a great addition to any team, and with his big bank and rich history, he will be a major asset to acquire. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him go fairly early in the draft still, though probably second round, and think he has a shot to become the best tight end in the class down the road.
3. Rex Crenshaw, TIJ
188 TPE, $7,450,000 Bank, 0 Former Players
Receiving Statistics: 42 Receptions, 313 Yds, 7.5 YPR, 2 TD, 8 Drops, 28 Pancake Blocks
We’ve reached the part of this group that is barely identifiable against each other. None of them have really set themselves apart at any point, which is disappointing to some level, but fine still. We’ll start with Rex Crenshaw, who is the third highest TPE player from the tight end class here and has the third largest bank. He has been a slow and steady earner, doing some point tasks with the PBE Affiliation, but not hitting on all of them. If a team can get him consistent in putting in that affiliate link, he could be a great asset to a team. That is putting the onus on the general manager, but it isn’t the most difficult thing to do and does give him added value at the position.
On the field, Crenshaw was overshadowed in Tijuana this year. Gronku Muerto was a first round pick in the ISFL draft last season at tight end, and was a big part of the Tijuana offense. Jason Waterfalls on the outside was also a prime target. That left Crenshaw kind of on an island. He didn’t get many yards, and was mostly out on running downs instead where he was a good addition to the line to get the ball moving downfield with his 28 pancake blocks. However, the hope is definitely to see him grow further into the role for year two, and after being overshadowed so much, it should be no surprise to see him stepping it up next season. The talent is clearly there, he helped get a first down on nearly a third of his receptions, it’s just a matter of opportunity for this one that really needs to come around.
Crenshaw won’t be lighting the world on fire like the other two in the class, he is a clear step down in terms of value. However, that doesn’t mean he has no value. He should be a great addition to a team that just needs some help making room for their receiving corps. If you’re fine with slow and steady – which you should be – this is your guy and means you don’t have to worry that much about getting one of the top two guys if you can get him later in the draft. He should be a fine pick up, probably not going to make a pro bowler, but should be just what an offense needs to move the chains regularly.
4. Sal Ami, NOR
200 TPE, $2,128,500 Bank, 0 Former Players
Receiving Statistics: 35 Receptions, 467 Yds, 13.3 YPR, 3 TD, 2 Drops, 10 Pancake Blocks
Speaking of overshadowed, Ami in Norfolk definitely had a tough hand dealt to him. Firstly, being on a team with Nick L. Back meant he was effectively guaranteed to be the second best tight end on his team at best. Meanwhile, he has been a steady earner, who has hit the 200 TPE mark at this point. His bank is fairly low, which is where I’ve raised the flag a bit and had him barely below Crenshaw, though since I started working on this he has been putting out some media in an effort to build that back up. If that’s able to be consistent, he may see his stock rise in time for the draft and could easily surpass Crenshaw as the third man on the list.
Like I was saying though, Ami was overshadowed as well this season on the field. Back was the guy for Norfolk pretty clearly, and for good reason, but it leaves Ami in an awkward position. He was able to get a fair amount of receptions, and his nearly 500 yards was a big asset to the team. While Back was getting first downs on a lot of his catches, Ami was doing the same on the opposite side and drove play forward on a surprising rate for somebody that wasn’t the primary option. He wasn’t the threat for the team, but he was a big threat on the field every time he stepped on it. He was a steady blocker as well, and really helped to open up the offense a lot for Norfolk. Ami may not be the flashiest player, but he got down and dirty and did everything he needed to to make a difference.
Like I said, Ami may be surpassing Crenshaw on this board pretty soon with the media coming out now and the bank likely to build back up. There is always concern with low banks, as many players don’t ultimately do anything about it and just live off that contract money. That just isn’t good enough usually, and so it is a fair concern to raise. Thankfully, we’re seeing Ami take that into his own hands before the draft and that’s great initiative. I could see Ami getting taken in the second round potentially, which would be a great pick up for any team.
5. Travis Scott, BBB
131 TPE, $2,430,220 Bank, 0 Former Players
Receiving Statistics: 17 Receptions, 133 Yds, 7.8 YPR, 1 TD, 2 Drops, 16 Pancake Blocks
Scott was a very late addition to the class, and is going to be overlooked in a lot of ways because of it. That’s unfortunate, as he could arguably be the third best tight end in this class as well. This group is ultimately a difference of opinion, and I slide Scott down a bit just because of the bank. However, after joining at about the halfway point of the season, Scott has been on fire with getting tasks done, training regularly and building himself up well. If he could get some more money in the bank, he would be a no brainer pick to make as someone that definitely will be overlooked but deserves to go way higher.
Looking at these statistics versus everyone else makes it seem a little … depressing, I guess. However, if we keep in mind that he only played in seven games this season, Scott had a pretty good run for a team that wasn’t really lighting the world on fire either. His receptions went for a first down about a third of the time, and he was able to help drive play forward. The big addition here was to the running game, as the sixteen pancake blocks are insane for a seven-game stretch, and reminiscent of offensive linemen in the league ultimately. He was able to be a big contributor offensively in a short time, and that is somewhat to be expected. While labelled a tight end, Scott doesn’t have much speed to burn with. He has good hands, and is able to make tough grabs, but he won’t really race by anybody and so he has to work a little differently than others. His strong body is going to get him opportunities, and he just has to lean into them a bit.
Scott is in an interesting position here, as he’s primed to be a late bloomer that gets picked up in the later stages of the draft and ends up blowing up. He is the perfect “steal” candidate, super under the radar. However, he is going to need some more bank to make that happen and so there is the clear red flag that needs to be cared for. Once that is though, it won’t take much for him to leapfrog up this board and we could see Crenshaw fall to this fifth spot pretty easily. It is a tight class, even as there’s a clear top two. Nobody should be slept on here.
OFFENSIVE LINE
There is an argument to be had about the most important part of an offense. The quarterback drives the play, but would not be able to do what they do without talent around them. That talent includes this position, as the offensive line is responsible for keeping that quarterback upright, giving space for running backs to run or effectively buying time for receivers and tight ends to run their routes. In some ways, the offensive line is the most important position in football.
1. Bernie Sanders, OT, BBB
208 TPE, $14,385,931 Bank, 2 Former Players (Max TPE 1309, Min TPE 1246)
Statistics: 48 Pancake Blocks, 0 Sacks Allowed
This is the epitome of pedigree in some ways, and shows an insane level of consistency between players as Sanders seems practically guaranteed to be a 1300 TPE player himself. He may not have the most remarkable bank, but it’s a good nest to keep him moving along and can work alright with contract money for some time. His TPE is the second highest among offensive linemen in the draft, though not by a big margin. Really, the thing to bring him up here is that pedigree.
Sanders is an impressive offensive lineman. At tackle, he’s one of the most important parts of the passing protection to be able to set the edge and maintain it. He’s the biggest defense the quarterback has, and is a clear leader on the line to help set the protection and help with communication from the sidelines in. Sanders is an interesting one, as he’s a little big for a normal tackle, but was extremely successful still. With his 6’5” frame and being over 300 pounds, it is very likely at the ISFL level he could be moved over to the interior as he has a lot of power behind his punches and can bulldoze his way forward – perfect for the run game leader. He also has the intelligence to lead the line and be the primary communicator with the quarterback under center. Ultimately, Sanders is a likely generational talent on the line, who could play any position and really excel at it.
What matters here is that pedigree shows Sanders is almost guaranteed to be a great player in the future. There is no reason to believe he won’t be a huge piece for whoever drafts him, the question really becomes who is taking an offensive lineman in the draft and when. I know of bot linemen in this league, and so I don’t really understand the added value of a real player on the line, but I am sure there is value. I just have a hard time finding the place for linemen on the board, ultimately.
2. Pepelegs Johnson, OT, BBB
209 TPE, $22,891,240 Bank, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 750)
Statistics: 53 Pancake Blocks, 0 Sacks Allowed
There is a pedigree here, as Johnson has previously had a very solid player. He has the higher TPE, by one so not really significant, and the higher bank. The argument to say he could be the best offensive lineman in the draft is not an unfounded one. It would be up to personal preference. To me, the only difference is that he has not reached the same peaks as Sanders. However, this is a situation you aren’t really displeased with either option. They’re both great.
Johnson is a little different from Sanders at the tackle position. He produced more pancake blocks, and I have to wonder if that would be because he’s better aligned to play the tackle position. At 6’7”, he has the wingspan to compete with edge rushers a little better. You may not think two inches is a lot, but when you have a massive beast running at you and trying to find a way around, those two inches and the corresponding wingspan may be the difference that makes or breaks your pass blocking. Similarly, he has the ability to get that extra step or so on a run to the outside to help drive forward. He could be the difference in making it that extra yard, and that yard turns into a lot.
Johnson could be the first lineman off the board if a team feels more confident in him, but I expect him to be second to go in the draft. He will be a great addition to whatever team it is that selects him.
3. Madison Beer, OT, MINN
146 TPE, $13,355,341 Bank, 3 Former Players (Max TPE 460, Min TPE 322)
Statistics: 59 Pancake Blocks, 0 Sacks Allowed
This is a difficult one to place, as three and four on this list could be practically identical in terms of their values. The question of higher tpe versus higher bank, and ultimately the pedigree of the users. I settle on pedigree when I don’t know how to settle a debate otherwise, and so Beer ends up in the third spot. While they haven’t exactly been spectacular with former players, they seem to be pretty consistent as 300 TPE is the low end of their ability and they have the bank already in place to likely make it there as well. You know what you’re getting with this one, and that’s able to be a major asset.
Beer is similar to Sanders to me, the frame fits more for the interior of the line but plays on the tackle position based mostly on need. Everybody wants to protect the quarterback the most, and so here we are with a long list of tackles in the draft even if they may fit better elsewhere at the ISFL level. Beer had the highest number of pancake blocks among draftees this season, and was very successful in pass protection still. Ultimately, I expect Beer to move around similar to how I anticipate it for Sanders, though I think Beer is better placed at guard long term and not further inside to center.
Beer is an interesting prospect, and places third here mostly due to the pedigree of having a relatively successful player in the past. I don’t foresee Beer going early in any way, but at the least can be a help to whatever team does pick him up.
4. Clifford Wilson, OT, NOR
170 TPE, $6,500,000, 1 Former Player (Max TPE 173)
Statistics: 28 Pancake Blocks, 1 Sack Allowed
Wilson is hurt in this ranking from having a former player that busted at about this point. However, that sometimes is just uncontrollable. I don’t foresee it being a massive hinderance, at least in terms of draft position. I could easily see him going in a similar spot even if he didn’t. He has the lowest bank of the offensive linemen, and second lowest in TPE. That means he wouldn’t be really the sought after lineman, but doesn’t mean he isn’t a worthwhile prospect to target still. He has potential, and if he applies himself for it, he can build a fine lineman.
One thing I find interesting is that this is the first lineman in the draft to allow a sack. That is a bit surprising to me, the build for him at 6’7" is more fitting of a tackle and typically would be somebody more aligned to pass protection. Though, it is still remarkable to go an entire season and only allow one sack the entire time. He wasn’t the best lineman statistically by any means, but he definitely showed a lot of promise and a lot of talent for the position. It wouldn’t be all that shocking to see him grow into a tackle in the future, though he seems better aligned for the right side most likely.
At this point, Wilson is a project pick to me. First not knowing the value of offensive linemen that well, and secondly knowing his history in the league. However, it shouldn't deter anybody from targeting and drafting him. He could be a fantastic later round pick up for a team willing to take the bit of risk that would be associated.
Please continue to post 2.