01-04-2022, 03:09 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-10-2022, 07:12 AM by Tesla. Edited 3 times in total.)
As someone who is technically a professional fantasy football analyst (I do get paid to write articles, let's just not talk about how little much), I wanted to take a shot at applying my methods to the ISFL fantasy draft. Precise rankings don't really fit this format as scheme tendencies readily change year to year, so we'll stick with tiered rankings. Essentially anyone in a given tier is more or less equivalent, so the order the names appear in is irrelevant.
With that little preamble, let's dig in!
QBs:
Tier 1:
Mattathias Caliban - COL
Gimmy Jaroppolo Jr. - BAL
Caliban is really starting to feel that regression setting in, but he's still a solid QB with elite weapons to throw to. Colorado appears set to once again throw at a ridiculous rate with a lack of talent in the running game, so Caliban should once again lead the league in pass attempts. We'll see if he can maintain his efficiency, but at the end of the day volume is king in fantasy.
Jaroppolo may not benefit from such a pass-heavy scheme since Baltimore features the best one-two punch in the league at running back, but just look at those receiving weapons. It doesn't matter who Gimmy throws to when every one of them is among the best in the league at their positions. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Jaroppolo is one of the better QBs in the league right now. The Hawks should be scoring in bunches in S33, and Jaroppolo will be at the center of it.
Tier 2:
Joliet Christ Jr. - HON
Dexter Zaylren - BER
It's remarkable how similar the situation is for these two QBs. Both teams feature a powerhouse QB-RB-WR triplet on offense with a decent TE as the only other notable weapon. Both teams also boast strong defenses that should regularly stifle opponents and give Christ and Zaylren more drives to work with. Oh, and these two are the highest TPE QBs in the league. They'll need to single handedly carry their offenses if they want to join the top tier of fantasy QBs, but they shouldn't be disappointing for anyone who ends up with them.
Tier 3:
Kazimir Oles Jr. - CHI
Ryan Negs - PHI
Jackie Daytona - AUS
Three QBs, three different reasons why they belong in this tier.
Oles is the lowest TPE QB of the bunch, but he's also supported by the deepest receiving corps of the trio. There is a risk that Chicago may opt to lean into star RB Madison Hayes rather than pass, but based on TPE spread Oles should see a fair number of pass attempts in a relatively balanced offense.
Daytona represents a clear step up in terms of QB talent, and he has an elite WR1 to throw to. However, Austin also boasts a powerful one-two punch in the running game. Daytona's upside would be realized if the Copperheads once again play a RB out of position as a WR to balance out the offense (a legitimate possibility given the youth in Austin's WR corps). His floor potential would come to fruition if Austin chooses to focus more on the run game this year.
Negs is the top talent of this tier and the only one who has no questions about his projected volume. Where Negs falls flat is supporting talent. Philadelphia's WR corps is among the weakest in the ISFL, with none of them even being within striking distance of the coveted 1000 TPE mark. His only 1k target is TE Borgo San Lorenzo, and even then only barely. Negs risks extreme inefficiency with so little surrounding talent to work with, but his projected volume alone should keep his floor reasonably high.
RBs:
Tier 1:
Goat Tank - BER
Lonnie Jackson - PHI
John Huntsman - SAR
Cobra Kai - HON
Zack Dinozzo - OCO
Yes, the top tier is pretty big. This is due to there being no "perfect" combination of talent and situation, but a lot of options who certainly have the opportunity.
Tank, Jackson, and Kai are all similar in that they are on teams that will likely run more balanced (or even pass-heavy) schemes, but they have no worthwhile competition in the backfield. All three should dominate touches out of the backfield, and one way or another they are one of their teams' better weapons.
Dinozzo and Huntsman, on the other hand, each stand a very good chance of leading the league in carries. Sarasota and Orange County both feature very young QBs who are still a couple seasons away from being able to carry their teams on their arms. It's very likely that both teams will lean heavily on their workhorse RBs to carry the load while their QBs develop.
Tier 1.5:
Madison Hayes - CHI
Jay Cue Jr. - ARI
Jim the Vampire - AUS
All of these guys have clear paths to reaching that tier 1 status, but aren't necessarily guaranteed to make it.
Hayes is the undisputed workhorse RB for Chicago, but whether that means elite status or just "OK" status depends heavily on how the Butchers deploy their rising talent in the passing game. QB Kazimir Oles has a smattering of solid weapons to target, making a Colorado-esque air raid offense a legitimate possibility. So long as Hayes sees reliable usage, though, he should be a solid fantasy asset.
Cue doesn't face the same scheme balance questions. Arizona features two strong RBs and very little talent in the passing game. They are going to run the ball as much as the sim allows. Cue's question mark comes from the fact that the Outlaws boast two strong RBs. It's unlikely that Cue will operate as a true workhorse back as Deadly Memes will undoubtedly force some sort of committee backfield. It's not unheard of for the volume to still be there - Cue did just record 300 carries last season in Berlin despite operating as the RB2 - but banking on that kind of volume is a risky proposition.
Jim the Vampire is currently dealing with a strange combination of those issues. Jim has to deal with the legendary Zoe Watts as strong backfield competition, and Austin certainly can pass effectively with a strong QB and WR1. However, last season Jim was used as a WR due to the lack of talent the Copperheads had in their WR corps, leaving Watts to post an elite fantasy season as the workhorse back. Austin faces a similar situation this season, and could easily use Watts outside just as they did Jim in S32. Of course, Jim's elite hands could push him outside once again while Watts makes one more run as the workhorse back. Jim has elite fantasy upside, but he's very tough to place due to the uncertainty of his role.
Tier 2:
Busch Goose - BAL
Deadly Memes - ARI
Goose doesn't figure to command a workhorse role as Baltimore's RB1 thanks to strong competition from Dante King, but he's still the RB1 on what should be the most loaded offense in the ISFL this season. Volume might be an issue, but efficiency won't be.
Memes is the polar opposite. Clearly the RB2 behind Jay Cue Jr., Memes will rely on what should be the most run-heavy offense in the ISFL to give him plenty of volume in the Outlaws' committee approach. He won't be elite, he might not be particularly efficient, but he will see a fair number of carries.
Tier 2.5:
Zoe Watts - AUS
As noted with Jim the Vampire above, Watts faces a very unusual situation that could go many different directions. The worst case scenario is a balanced offense where Watts simply operates as the committee RB2 behind Jim. This might give Watts some flex value, but that's about it. The middle-of-the-road option would be if Watts and Jim swap roles from S32. Jim was used exclusively as a wideout last season to fill a talent void at WR. Austin attempted to patch that up this offseason, but it will still be a couple seasons before they get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. If Watts fills in that WR2 role, he'd likely achieve a fairly high floor thanks to the projected receiving volume, though his ceiling would still be limited. The best case scenario would be if Jim continues to fill in as the WR2 while Watts once again commands the backfield. This might look weird on paper due to Jim's noticeably higher TPE, but it's critical to remember that Jim is a receiving back archetype with hands comparable to most actual WRs. If the Copperheads run back last year's setup, Watts could easily become a fantasy league winner. The uncertainty in the situation leaves Watts on a lower tier, but the potential payout for those willing to take the risk is astounding.
Tier 3:
Dante King - BAL
Drip Dad - COL
Brandon Price - NYS
Here's where we start digging up some riskier plays. All three face unique situations with plenty of risk to balance out their potential upsides.
King is a solid RB, and he would be the unquestioned workhorse on half the teams in the league. Unfortunately for him, he's stuck behind Busch Goose on an offense that doesn't even project to be that run heavy. So why draft him at all? Baltimore should have the highest scoring offense this year by a wide margin, and King is good enough that he should be able to force himself into a timeshare with Goose. His volume will be very low, but the potential to vulture plenty of TDs can't be ignored.
Drip Dad is starting to get up there in TPE, and is the unquestioned workhorse back for Colorado. The problem is that "workhorse back" doesn't mean much when applied to the most pass-happy team in the league. It should be noted that the Yeti are dealing with age regression across their entire passing game so the opportunity is starting to present itself for a rise, but for the time being it's unlikely Colorado will lean much more into the run.
Price is unlikely to deal with such a pass heavy approach as the Silverbacks are trotting out one of the worst QBs in the league this season. However, Price is not such a hot talent himself, and he does have competition in the New York backfield. A workhorse role is unlikely, but even a RB1 role in a run-heavy committee offense provides some upside.
WRs:
Tier 1:
Troy Abed - BER
Bayley Cowabunga - AUS
Eleven Kendrick-Watts - HON
All three of these receivers have something in common; they are the clear WR1's for elite QBs. None of these teams should be overly run-heavy, and whatever passing production there is should funnel through the top receiving weapons. These three have talent, good QBs, and good situations. The ideal trifecta of what you want in an elite fantasy producer.
Tier 2:
Mike Hunt - CHI
Raphael Delacour - COL
Mark Walker - YKW
Quinton Crash - NOLA
Zach Crossley - SJS
Out of the trifecta mentioned above, these receivers all have two of the three critical factors checked. Hunt and Delacour face stiff competition from the rest of their WR corps, but both headline what should be relatively pass-heavy teams with decent QBs. Walker, Crash, and Crossley, meanwhile, are all the clear WR1's on teams with mediocre QBs but awful running games. The lack of viable RBs should push their respective teams to be more pass-focused that one would normally expect with weaker QB play, and whatever production those teams manage should go through their clear top receiving weapons.
EDIT - Tier 2.5:
Luke Quick - BAL
Luke Quick is an elite receiver and the WR1 for what should be the best offense in the ISFL this season. However, he faces stiff competition from the rest of the WR corps (and TE) and might see limited volume as the Hawks are perfectly capable running the ball as well. He is absolutely capable of bumping up into the Tier 2 category depending on Baltimore's scheme (or maybe even Tier 1), but his volume is more at risk than you would normally like to see.
Tier 3:
Cole Maxwell - COL
Jake Fencik - PHI
Tugg Speedman - NYS
Here's where paths to relevance start getting muddied.
Maxwell faces no volume concerns as the Yeti figure to once again pace the league in pass rate. However, Maxwell is stuck as the WR2 behind Raphael Delacour, limiting his potential ceiling.
Fencik is the top WR for the Liberty, a fact which he rode to the 3rd most receiving yards in the league last season. However, he's well past his prime at this point, as evidenced by TE Borgo San Lorenzo is outshining him as Philadelphia's best target. He'll see volume as the top wideout for one of the best QBs in league, but it's fair to question how efficient he'll be at this point.
Speedman is fresh off a season where he placed either first or second in every major receiving category. However, this season he has to deal with a brand new QB, one who will be one of the worst in the ISFL. Even if New York allows their young signal caller to cut it loose, there's no guarantee Speedman will see quality targets. Speedman has the talent to be the best WR in the league, but his situation this season will likely prevent him from showing it.
Tier 4:
Sam the Onion Man - BAL
Rejoignez LOrdreSombre - CHI
Saleem Spence - SAR
Squidward Tentacles - NOLA
Welcome to the land of the WR2's. Sam, LOrdreSombre, and Tentacles are all WR2's on their own teams, which severely limits their upside for fantasy purposes. However, all three have a reasonable chance at production nevertheless. Sam might get lost in a sea of elite weapons with Baltimore, but the Hawks' loaded offense should score in spades. His role as the WR2 could earn him plenty of TDs. Chicago could very well be running a Colorado-lite offense. If they do embrace the air raid, LOrdreSombre stands to benefit from the increased volume. Tentacles is clearly the least talented of the bunch, but New Orleans figures to be more pass heavy thanks to a complete dearth of talent in the running game. Again, volume is king, and there is a clear path for Tentacles to see it.
The odd receiver out here is Spence. Much like Tugg Speedman, Spence is an elite talent who will likely be held back this season by bad QB play. Unlike Tuggman, however, Sarasota actually has a good RB worth mentioning. The Sailfish are much more likely to lean into their running game, limiting the overall passing volume. Spence should see the vast majority of whatever Sarasota does through the air, but that still only makes him a big fish in a small pond.
TEs:
Tier 1:
Borgo San Lorenzo - PHI
There's really no contest here. San Lorenzo is the clear top target for one of the better QBs in the league. No other TE has that luxury, or is even close to it.
Tier 2:
Buffalo Hunter - YKW
OK, I kinda lied. Hunter is kinda close. He does have to contend with similarly skilled WR1 Mark Walker, and the Wraiths don't have nearly the same level of QB play as Philly. However, Yellowknife should still be a more pass-heavy team and Hunter figures to be a strong second target.
Tier 3:
Makoa Mahi'ai - BAL
Gronku Muerto - BER
Mario Messi - SAR
Sal Ami - HON
And the hoi paloi. Much like their real life counterparts, TE is not a high scoring position in the ISFL. There's also minimal variance outside of the few exceptional cases. All of these options have potential paths to relevance due to some combination of their own talent level and their team situations, but none are likely to win you your fantasy league.
OL:
Offensive line is unique as far as ISFL fantasy goes. The top scorers are among the league leaders and the variance is huge, so it is absolutely worth paying up to snag an elite option. However, it can be rather tricky trying to discern who the elite options are. The single most important stat is the exact position a lineman plays. Specifically, if you don't draft a tackle, you're going to have a bad time. With that in mind, here are the highest TPE lineman who played as offensive tackles in S32 (just make sure to double check when the season begins!):
Tier 1:
Stumpy Jones - SAR
Jaja Ding Dong - SJS
Adam Mellott - NOLA
Tier 2:
Alexander Franklin - PHI
Icebox Riposte - CHI
Beniri T'Chawama - HON
Emperor de Pengu - COL
Mark Hamel - NYS
Conner Quigley - AUS
Brent Silva - ARI
K:
Unlike offensive line, kickers are pretty straightforward. Typically among the lowest TPE positions in the league, there's very little variance both in terms of talent and scoring. Your best bet is usually to ignore the kickers themselves and look at which team is likely to score the most.
Tier 1:
EDIT - Paul Monitor Daybe Downbad- BAL
Baltimore has the clear top offense going into S33, at least on paper. Whoever kicks for them should have plenty of work ahead. Originally it looked like it would be Monitor, but I have since been informed that Monitor is switching positions and that Daybe Downbad will be taking over kicking duties. Downbad carries a bit more risk being very low TPE, but still should have enough opportunity to warrant the top kicker slot.
Tier 2:
Lux Opal - COL
Jean-Jacques Leroy - AUS
Freddy Bly - HON
Izuku Campbell - BER
All four of these teams should be offensive powerhouses in S33. Colorado once again boasts impressive offensive firepower, while the other three will be led by very strong triplets (or quadruplet, in Austin's case). None should have any issues marching up and down the field.
Tier 3:
Levy Tate - CHI
Ikick Ballz - PHI
Cade York - ARI
These teams should have decent offenses, but for one reason or another they are unlikely to be dominant. Ideally you'd want to pick a better kicker, but at least these guys should have some potential.
DEF:
Tier 1:
Honolulu
Honolulu has the best defense in the league on paper. They also play in the comparatively weak ASFC, a division plagued by young offenses that don't appear ready to compete yet. They should feast.
Tier 1.5:
Arizona
Arizona's defense isn't quite as well rounded as the Hahalua (specifically they could really use some help at safety and depth on the defensive line). However, they are still plenty talented, and also get to play in the weaker ASFC.
Tier 2:
Berlin
Philadelphia
Austin
Berlin and Philadelphia certainly have the talent to go toe-to-toe with Arizona, but the NSFC boasts superior offensive talent this season. Having to play each team there twice will likely limit their upside. Austin is a step behind, but plays in the ASFC which should make up the difference.
Tier 3:
Baltimore
Chicago
Sarasota
New Orleans
Orange County
Here's where things get pretty wishy-washy. The Hawks, Butchers, and Sailfish all have respectable defenses, but there is a legitimate question of whether they can keep up with the powerhouse offenses in the NSFC. The Otters and Second Line are clearly a step behind, but get the softer ASFC schedule.
With that little preamble, let's dig in!
QBs:
Tier 1:
Mattathias Caliban - COL
Gimmy Jaroppolo Jr. - BAL
Caliban is really starting to feel that regression setting in, but he's still a solid QB with elite weapons to throw to. Colorado appears set to once again throw at a ridiculous rate with a lack of talent in the running game, so Caliban should once again lead the league in pass attempts. We'll see if he can maintain his efficiency, but at the end of the day volume is king in fantasy.
Jaroppolo may not benefit from such a pass-heavy scheme since Baltimore features the best one-two punch in the league at running back, but just look at those receiving weapons. It doesn't matter who Gimmy throws to when every one of them is among the best in the league at their positions. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Jaroppolo is one of the better QBs in the league right now. The Hawks should be scoring in bunches in S33, and Jaroppolo will be at the center of it.
Tier 2:
Joliet Christ Jr. - HON
Dexter Zaylren - BER
It's remarkable how similar the situation is for these two QBs. Both teams feature a powerhouse QB-RB-WR triplet on offense with a decent TE as the only other notable weapon. Both teams also boast strong defenses that should regularly stifle opponents and give Christ and Zaylren more drives to work with. Oh, and these two are the highest TPE QBs in the league. They'll need to single handedly carry their offenses if they want to join the top tier of fantasy QBs, but they shouldn't be disappointing for anyone who ends up with them.
Tier 3:
Kazimir Oles Jr. - CHI
Ryan Negs - PHI
Jackie Daytona - AUS
Three QBs, three different reasons why they belong in this tier.
Oles is the lowest TPE QB of the bunch, but he's also supported by the deepest receiving corps of the trio. There is a risk that Chicago may opt to lean into star RB Madison Hayes rather than pass, but based on TPE spread Oles should see a fair number of pass attempts in a relatively balanced offense.
Daytona represents a clear step up in terms of QB talent, and he has an elite WR1 to throw to. However, Austin also boasts a powerful one-two punch in the running game. Daytona's upside would be realized if the Copperheads once again play a RB out of position as a WR to balance out the offense (a legitimate possibility given the youth in Austin's WR corps). His floor potential would come to fruition if Austin chooses to focus more on the run game this year.
Negs is the top talent of this tier and the only one who has no questions about his projected volume. Where Negs falls flat is supporting talent. Philadelphia's WR corps is among the weakest in the ISFL, with none of them even being within striking distance of the coveted 1000 TPE mark. His only 1k target is TE Borgo San Lorenzo, and even then only barely. Negs risks extreme inefficiency with so little surrounding talent to work with, but his projected volume alone should keep his floor reasonably high.
RBs:
Tier 1:
Goat Tank - BER
Lonnie Jackson - PHI
John Huntsman - SAR
Cobra Kai - HON
Zack Dinozzo - OCO
Yes, the top tier is pretty big. This is due to there being no "perfect" combination of talent and situation, but a lot of options who certainly have the opportunity.
Tank, Jackson, and Kai are all similar in that they are on teams that will likely run more balanced (or even pass-heavy) schemes, but they have no worthwhile competition in the backfield. All three should dominate touches out of the backfield, and one way or another they are one of their teams' better weapons.
Dinozzo and Huntsman, on the other hand, each stand a very good chance of leading the league in carries. Sarasota and Orange County both feature very young QBs who are still a couple seasons away from being able to carry their teams on their arms. It's very likely that both teams will lean heavily on their workhorse RBs to carry the load while their QBs develop.
Tier 1.5:
Madison Hayes - CHI
Jay Cue Jr. - ARI
Jim the Vampire - AUS
All of these guys have clear paths to reaching that tier 1 status, but aren't necessarily guaranteed to make it.
Hayes is the undisputed workhorse RB for Chicago, but whether that means elite status or just "OK" status depends heavily on how the Butchers deploy their rising talent in the passing game. QB Kazimir Oles has a smattering of solid weapons to target, making a Colorado-esque air raid offense a legitimate possibility. So long as Hayes sees reliable usage, though, he should be a solid fantasy asset.
Cue doesn't face the same scheme balance questions. Arizona features two strong RBs and very little talent in the passing game. They are going to run the ball as much as the sim allows. Cue's question mark comes from the fact that the Outlaws boast two strong RBs. It's unlikely that Cue will operate as a true workhorse back as Deadly Memes will undoubtedly force some sort of committee backfield. It's not unheard of for the volume to still be there - Cue did just record 300 carries last season in Berlin despite operating as the RB2 - but banking on that kind of volume is a risky proposition.
Jim the Vampire is currently dealing with a strange combination of those issues. Jim has to deal with the legendary Zoe Watts as strong backfield competition, and Austin certainly can pass effectively with a strong QB and WR1. However, last season Jim was used as a WR due to the lack of talent the Copperheads had in their WR corps, leaving Watts to post an elite fantasy season as the workhorse back. Austin faces a similar situation this season, and could easily use Watts outside just as they did Jim in S32. Of course, Jim's elite hands could push him outside once again while Watts makes one more run as the workhorse back. Jim has elite fantasy upside, but he's very tough to place due to the uncertainty of his role.
Tier 2:
Busch Goose - BAL
Deadly Memes - ARI
Goose doesn't figure to command a workhorse role as Baltimore's RB1 thanks to strong competition from Dante King, but he's still the RB1 on what should be the most loaded offense in the ISFL this season. Volume might be an issue, but efficiency won't be.
Memes is the polar opposite. Clearly the RB2 behind Jay Cue Jr., Memes will rely on what should be the most run-heavy offense in the ISFL to give him plenty of volume in the Outlaws' committee approach. He won't be elite, he might not be particularly efficient, but he will see a fair number of carries.
Tier 2.5:
Zoe Watts - AUS
As noted with Jim the Vampire above, Watts faces a very unusual situation that could go many different directions. The worst case scenario is a balanced offense where Watts simply operates as the committee RB2 behind Jim. This might give Watts some flex value, but that's about it. The middle-of-the-road option would be if Watts and Jim swap roles from S32. Jim was used exclusively as a wideout last season to fill a talent void at WR. Austin attempted to patch that up this offseason, but it will still be a couple seasons before they get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. If Watts fills in that WR2 role, he'd likely achieve a fairly high floor thanks to the projected receiving volume, though his ceiling would still be limited. The best case scenario would be if Jim continues to fill in as the WR2 while Watts once again commands the backfield. This might look weird on paper due to Jim's noticeably higher TPE, but it's critical to remember that Jim is a receiving back archetype with hands comparable to most actual WRs. If the Copperheads run back last year's setup, Watts could easily become a fantasy league winner. The uncertainty in the situation leaves Watts on a lower tier, but the potential payout for those willing to take the risk is astounding.
Tier 3:
Dante King - BAL
Drip Dad - COL
Brandon Price - NYS
Here's where we start digging up some riskier plays. All three face unique situations with plenty of risk to balance out their potential upsides.
King is a solid RB, and he would be the unquestioned workhorse on half the teams in the league. Unfortunately for him, he's stuck behind Busch Goose on an offense that doesn't even project to be that run heavy. So why draft him at all? Baltimore should have the highest scoring offense this year by a wide margin, and King is good enough that he should be able to force himself into a timeshare with Goose. His volume will be very low, but the potential to vulture plenty of TDs can't be ignored.
Drip Dad is starting to get up there in TPE, and is the unquestioned workhorse back for Colorado. The problem is that "workhorse back" doesn't mean much when applied to the most pass-happy team in the league. It should be noted that the Yeti are dealing with age regression across their entire passing game so the opportunity is starting to present itself for a rise, but for the time being it's unlikely Colorado will lean much more into the run.
Price is unlikely to deal with such a pass heavy approach as the Silverbacks are trotting out one of the worst QBs in the league this season. However, Price is not such a hot talent himself, and he does have competition in the New York backfield. A workhorse role is unlikely, but even a RB1 role in a run-heavy committee offense provides some upside.
WRs:
Tier 1:
Troy Abed - BER
Bayley Cowabunga - AUS
Eleven Kendrick-Watts - HON
All three of these receivers have something in common; they are the clear WR1's for elite QBs. None of these teams should be overly run-heavy, and whatever passing production there is should funnel through the top receiving weapons. These three have talent, good QBs, and good situations. The ideal trifecta of what you want in an elite fantasy producer.
Tier 2:
Mike Hunt - CHI
Raphael Delacour - COL
Mark Walker - YKW
Quinton Crash - NOLA
Zach Crossley - SJS
Out of the trifecta mentioned above, these receivers all have two of the three critical factors checked. Hunt and Delacour face stiff competition from the rest of their WR corps, but both headline what should be relatively pass-heavy teams with decent QBs. Walker, Crash, and Crossley, meanwhile, are all the clear WR1's on teams with mediocre QBs but awful running games. The lack of viable RBs should push their respective teams to be more pass-focused that one would normally expect with weaker QB play, and whatever production those teams manage should go through their clear top receiving weapons.
EDIT - Tier 2.5:
Luke Quick - BAL
Luke Quick is an elite receiver and the WR1 for what should be the best offense in the ISFL this season. However, he faces stiff competition from the rest of the WR corps (and TE) and might see limited volume as the Hawks are perfectly capable running the ball as well. He is absolutely capable of bumping up into the Tier 2 category depending on Baltimore's scheme (or maybe even Tier 1), but his volume is more at risk than you would normally like to see.
Tier 3:
Cole Maxwell - COL
Jake Fencik - PHI
Tugg Speedman - NYS
Here's where paths to relevance start getting muddied.
Maxwell faces no volume concerns as the Yeti figure to once again pace the league in pass rate. However, Maxwell is stuck as the WR2 behind Raphael Delacour, limiting his potential ceiling.
Fencik is the top WR for the Liberty, a fact which he rode to the 3rd most receiving yards in the league last season. However, he's well past his prime at this point, as evidenced by TE Borgo San Lorenzo is outshining him as Philadelphia's best target. He'll see volume as the top wideout for one of the best QBs in league, but it's fair to question how efficient he'll be at this point.
Speedman is fresh off a season where he placed either first or second in every major receiving category. However, this season he has to deal with a brand new QB, one who will be one of the worst in the ISFL. Even if New York allows their young signal caller to cut it loose, there's no guarantee Speedman will see quality targets. Speedman has the talent to be the best WR in the league, but his situation this season will likely prevent him from showing it.
Tier 4:
Sam the Onion Man - BAL
Rejoignez LOrdreSombre - CHI
Saleem Spence - SAR
Squidward Tentacles - NOLA
Welcome to the land of the WR2's. Sam, LOrdreSombre, and Tentacles are all WR2's on their own teams, which severely limits their upside for fantasy purposes. However, all three have a reasonable chance at production nevertheless. Sam might get lost in a sea of elite weapons with Baltimore, but the Hawks' loaded offense should score in spades. His role as the WR2 could earn him plenty of TDs. Chicago could very well be running a Colorado-lite offense. If they do embrace the air raid, LOrdreSombre stands to benefit from the increased volume. Tentacles is clearly the least talented of the bunch, but New Orleans figures to be more pass heavy thanks to a complete dearth of talent in the running game. Again, volume is king, and there is a clear path for Tentacles to see it.
The odd receiver out here is Spence. Much like Tugg Speedman, Spence is an elite talent who will likely be held back this season by bad QB play. Unlike Tuggman, however, Sarasota actually has a good RB worth mentioning. The Sailfish are much more likely to lean into their running game, limiting the overall passing volume. Spence should see the vast majority of whatever Sarasota does through the air, but that still only makes him a big fish in a small pond.
TEs:
Tier 1:
Borgo San Lorenzo - PHI
There's really no contest here. San Lorenzo is the clear top target for one of the better QBs in the league. No other TE has that luxury, or is even close to it.
Tier 2:
Buffalo Hunter - YKW
OK, I kinda lied. Hunter is kinda close. He does have to contend with similarly skilled WR1 Mark Walker, and the Wraiths don't have nearly the same level of QB play as Philly. However, Yellowknife should still be a more pass-heavy team and Hunter figures to be a strong second target.
Tier 3:
Makoa Mahi'ai - BAL
Gronku Muerto - BER
Mario Messi - SAR
Sal Ami - HON
And the hoi paloi. Much like their real life counterparts, TE is not a high scoring position in the ISFL. There's also minimal variance outside of the few exceptional cases. All of these options have potential paths to relevance due to some combination of their own talent level and their team situations, but none are likely to win you your fantasy league.
OL:
Offensive line is unique as far as ISFL fantasy goes. The top scorers are among the league leaders and the variance is huge, so it is absolutely worth paying up to snag an elite option. However, it can be rather tricky trying to discern who the elite options are. The single most important stat is the exact position a lineman plays. Specifically, if you don't draft a tackle, you're going to have a bad time. With that in mind, here are the highest TPE lineman who played as offensive tackles in S32 (just make sure to double check when the season begins!):
Tier 1:
Stumpy Jones - SAR
Jaja Ding Dong - SJS
Adam Mellott - NOLA
Tier 2:
Alexander Franklin - PHI
Icebox Riposte - CHI
Beniri T'Chawama - HON
Emperor de Pengu - COL
Mark Hamel - NYS
Conner Quigley - AUS
Brent Silva - ARI
K:
Unlike offensive line, kickers are pretty straightforward. Typically among the lowest TPE positions in the league, there's very little variance both in terms of talent and scoring. Your best bet is usually to ignore the kickers themselves and look at which team is likely to score the most.
Tier 1:
EDIT - Paul Monitor Daybe Downbad- BAL
Baltimore has the clear top offense going into S33, at least on paper. Whoever kicks for them should have plenty of work ahead. Originally it looked like it would be Monitor, but I have since been informed that Monitor is switching positions and that Daybe Downbad will be taking over kicking duties. Downbad carries a bit more risk being very low TPE, but still should have enough opportunity to warrant the top kicker slot.
Tier 2:
Lux Opal - COL
Jean-Jacques Leroy - AUS
Freddy Bly - HON
Izuku Campbell - BER
All four of these teams should be offensive powerhouses in S33. Colorado once again boasts impressive offensive firepower, while the other three will be led by very strong triplets (or quadruplet, in Austin's case). None should have any issues marching up and down the field.
Tier 3:
Levy Tate - CHI
Ikick Ballz - PHI
Cade York - ARI
These teams should have decent offenses, but for one reason or another they are unlikely to be dominant. Ideally you'd want to pick a better kicker, but at least these guys should have some potential.
DEF:
Tier 1:
Honolulu
Honolulu has the best defense in the league on paper. They also play in the comparatively weak ASFC, a division plagued by young offenses that don't appear ready to compete yet. They should feast.
Tier 1.5:
Arizona
Arizona's defense isn't quite as well rounded as the Hahalua (specifically they could really use some help at safety and depth on the defensive line). However, they are still plenty talented, and also get to play in the weaker ASFC.
Tier 2:
Berlin
Philadelphia
Austin
Berlin and Philadelphia certainly have the talent to go toe-to-toe with Arizona, but the NSFC boasts superior offensive talent this season. Having to play each team there twice will likely limit their upside. Austin is a step behind, but plays in the ASFC which should make up the difference.
Tier 3:
Baltimore
Chicago
Sarasota
New Orleans
Orange County
Here's where things get pretty wishy-washy. The Hawks, Butchers, and Sailfish all have respectable defenses, but there is a legitimate question of whether they can keep up with the powerhouse offenses in the NSFC. The Otters and Second Line are clearly a step behind, but get the softer ASFC schedule.
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