05-22-2023, 03:43 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-16-2023, 01:40 PM by TheRake. Edited 5 times in total.)
Hello ladies and gentlemen and pandas, welcome to the First Annual True Rookie™ of the Year Awards™ for S41, hosted by yours truly, TheRake. I hope all the rookies had as much fun this season as I had! We will be awarding Offensive & Defensive True Rookies™ of the year as well as the overall True Rookie™ of the Year, which will be ineligible to win either of the two former awards. If you didn't read the first article about True Rookies™, you can find the original article here. But I'll go through a quick primer so everyone is on the same page!
True Rookie™ definition: Any rooking in the ISFL playing in their 1st eligible season. In order to be considered a True Rookie™, your draft class season must match the current season of the ISFL. For instance, only ISFL players from the S41 class are eligible as True Rookies™ this season.
METHODOLOGY: I compiled a list of every True Rookie™ and their stats, I then calculated their percentile rank among others at their positions based on their fantasy points scored, which I call Fantasy Point Percentile Position Rank (F3PR)™. The higher the F3PR™, the more of a standout at your position you are. The Awards aren't necessarily based strictly on F3PR™ as not every position has the same impact on the team's chances of winning but F3PR™ is the main component of the criteria.
CAVEATS: I compared whatever the stated position of the player is in the TPE tracker and/or Index, not the position the played most if they played out of position. I also didn't group DEs and DTs as D Line or FS and SS as Safeties when doing the position rankings (mostly to make Rico Savage look better!). Additionally, I'm not really taking TPE earnings into account, this is based almost entirely on 'sim luck,' which makes it more unpredictable and thus more fun! Also, no Kickers! (shoutout @jdc4654).
Without further ado, here are your True Rookie™ of the Year Award™ nominees for Offense:
OL Great Khali (@crazylemire) - Drafted in the 5th round of the S41 ISFL draft by the Austin Copperheads, expectations were low for Khali but he was called up shortly after the draft and would make an immediate impact as a True Rookie™. In his first ISFL, Khali amassed 77 Pancakes and allowed only 3 sacks, good for 139 fantasy points which ranked 32nd out of 70 for OL giving him an F3PR™ of 54%. As far as I can tell, there are only two OL in the Hall of Fame (that's criminal!) and based on their rookie years, Great Khali had ~30% more pancakes than either of their rookie years (extrapolating for their 13 game seasons to current 16 game ones); however, Givussafare Rubbe only gave up 1 sack his entire 5 season ISFL career, whereas Khali had 3 mental lapses this season. Khali has plenty of room to grow but might be on a HOF trajectory if they keep their great work on the field.
TE Otto The Orange (@Greenbaynathan) - The only True Rookie™ Tight End this season, Otto put up some respectable numbers as a 4th round draft pick for the San Jose Sabercats. Otto hauled in 76 receptions for 605 yards and 2 TDs. He also made 24 pass rushers into Orange pancakes, allowing only 1 sack in the process. This translated to 129.5 fantasy points and a respectable F3PR™ of 41%.
WR Oliver Tolliver (@Memento Mori) - Drafted 9th overall to the Austin Copperheads, Oliver Tolliver had sky high expectations coming into the league this season and while he may not have finished highly in F3PR™, he had a very solid season and will look to build on it in the coming years. Ollie T. snagged 73 receptions for 879 yards and 5 TDs which was good for 154.4 fantasy points, which led all True Rookies™ on Offense. However, as hinted at earlier, Oliver's F3PR™ was 24% percentile among his position, which would put him 3rd overall among True Rookie™ F3PR™ on Offense.
WR Artemis Entreri (@entreri) - Another highly drafted WR going to Sarasota in the 2nd round, Artie Entreri was inserted into the starting lineup right away, rewarding the Sailfish with 55 receptions for 829 yards but only 1 TD. Compared to Oliver Tolliver, Artemis was more of a deep threat, averaging 25% more yards per reception. All of this equated to 116.4 fantasy points over the season with an F3PR™ of 15%. Entreri has plenty of opportunity ahead of him with S31 WR Nick Kaepercolin Jr. regressing hard, opening more opportunity for targets.
WR Sean Robinson (@18situaseans) - The creative mind behind the Pumpin' Hands Podcast logo and my former Norfolk Seawooves teammated (Go Boats!), Sean Robinson was drafted in the 3rd round by the New York Silverbacks and immediately thrust into the ISFL as a starting WR. Unfortunately, Sean was unable to produce at a level he would have wanted, catching 45 passes for 479 and a single TD. His 76.4 fantasy points gives him an F3PR™ of 7%, well below O. Tolliver and A. Entreri. With solid TPE earnings and ample opportunity next season, I expect a big jump in production. Coo-coo ca-choo, Mr. Robinson!
WR Emile Charles (@Number 82) - The 3rd WR off the board of the S41 draft to the Berlin Fire Salamanders with pick 2.5, Emile Charles had a similarly disappointing rookie year without context, snatching only 24 passes for 251 yards and 1 TD. However, when you take a peak at the depth chart, Easy E was playing behind 3 entrenched starters on the Berlin offense. With only 43.1 fantasy points and an F3PR™ of 5%, it makes little sense why he was called up so early as he wasn't given a proper opportunity to showcase his talents. Even as a max earning player, Chuck, E will still be behind the same 3 WRs next season and without significant roster movement will have a hard time increasing his rookie numbers significantly.
RB Eilliot Berry (@titanfan34) - Last, but certainly not least, the only RB among the S41 True Rookie™ class is Sarasota Sailfish RB Eilliot Berry (sneaky 'i' placement!). Taken in the 5th round, expectations were low for the backup to star RB Pete Zuh, and Berry filled in admirably. Scampering 57 times for 198 yards while also hauling in 9 passes for 42 yards and 1 TD, E.B. put up 34.5 fantasy points this season, which seems low but when comparing his F3PR™ of 17% to his fellow True Rookies™, puts him in a respectable 4th place. With PZ hitting regression after next season, Berry should be able to carve out a nice role in the offense and give SAR a strong 1-2 punch.
And the winner of the First Annual Offensive True Rookie™ of the Year award goes to...GREAT KHALI! Congratulations! Given the dearth of OL players in the league along with so few in the ISFL HOF, it can't be understated how important the position is in the ISFL and Khali came in right away and made a huge impact with the highest F3PR™ among his True Rookie™ class.
RUNNER UP:
Otto The Orange
Here are your S41 True Rookie™ of the Year Award™ nominees for Defense:
CB Ezra Azazel (@baz1757) - The first (and arguably better) of the two first round picks by New Orleans in this year's draft at 5th overall, Ezra "The Invisible Man" Azazel was asked to come in start right away for the Second Line as the 2nd best CB on the roster. In response, Ez amassed 19 PD, 2 INTs, 1 FF, and 57 tackles. He was the only True Rookie™ CB to eclipse the century mark in fantasy points, accruing 106 of them, good for an F3PR™ of 33%. While NOLA is in the midst of a rebuild, they have a lockdown CB they can rely on for many seasons to come.
CB The Riddler (@MattBake12) - It's not a mystery why the Silverbacks drafted The Riddler with their 3rd round pick, one of their starting CBs is regressing while their nickelback is an IA player. This meant The Riddler was the final piece to their CB puzzle and he was able to carve out a role this season by leading all True Rookies™ in INTs, stealing 3 of them on the season. Additionally, Rids knocked down 11 PDs, had 1 sack (half as many as reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 1 forced fumble, 1 Def TD and 30 tackles totaling 76 fantasy points and a 26th percentile ranking in F3PR™. Given how much of a disadvantage True Rookie™ CBs are it when facing season WRs, The Riddler should look back on the season with much happiness.
CB Bill Cravy (@KlausGoatCasinos) - The Butchers took my teammate Bill Cravy with their 2nd round pick in order to re-build a secondary for the future. Playing behind premier CB Quendyn Quarterstorm and mercenary Apollo Program, the Cravy Train was still able to make an impact as a True Rookie™, making 44 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble along with 1 recovery, 3 sacks (50% more than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 3 PDs and a crucial Defensive TD which put him at 74 fantasy points on the year, right behind The Riddler, receiving a 24% F3PR™. With the likely departure of A. Program in the offseason, Billy Boy will be looking to tally some INTs next season and transform into Billbo Grabbins.
CB Kadarius Claypool II (@Weaves) - Another one of my Seawoove teammates, KC2 was drafted at the end of the 1st round by Ultimus runner ups the Yellowknife Wraiths. Getting drafted late in the 1st means you're going to a team who is already set at most positions, this meant K-Cizzle was playing nickelback and linebacker instead of on the outside where he belonged. All of this contributed to a lackluster season by his own standards, able to only get 37 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 sacks (the same amount as reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), and 5 PDs for 58 fantasy points and a meager 12% F3PR™. The good news is, both CBs ahead of Kadarius are regressing and he'll be put on the outside where he belongs sooner rather than later.
DE Bruce White (@toofpete) - The 2nd half of New Orleans' dynamic duo of 1st round picks in the S41 draft, 6th overall pick Bruce White came into the league with sky high expectations due to his trophy case full of DSFL awards including MVP and tying the single season sack record. That magical season is looking more and more like a fluke after being called up to the starting lineup as a True Rookie™. In 16 games, Brucie was only able to take down the opposing QB 2 times, well off his pace from a season ago and only 40% of the total of fellow True Rookie™ S Rico Savage's sack total. BW was able to contribute a little bit in some other areas, gathering 39 tackles and 1 forced fumble. Where Bruce really excelled at was in tackles for loss, where he tied for the lead among all DEs with 11. It has been heavily speculated that his 'see ball, hit ball' approach has been mistranslated at the ISFL level where Bruce got so focused on hitting RBs that he's doing it on every single play, thus re-affirming his moniker 'The Dumbass from Dumas.' Even with this deficiency, B. White collected 70 total fantasy points and finished the season with an astounding 72% F3PR™ putting him firmly in the running for a True Rookie™ of the Year Award™.
DT Dub Redd (@wizard_literal) - Dub "1st Overall" Redd was drafted by the New York Silverbacks at, you guess it, pick 1.1. With all the baggage of being the 1st overall pick and then being called up immediately to a team who needed DL help immensely, the DR put up a valiant effort in his True Rookie™ season. With a final stat line of 42 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks (50% more than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), Mr. Redd finished with 55 fantasy points and received an F3PR™ of 50%. Dub stepped right into the right into the fire this season and dropped a fantasy score better than half the DTs in the league. Pairing him with fellow youthful DT Lionel Scrimmage, New York will have a fearsome DL for the foreseeable future.
DT Damarcus Cole (@Hordle) - What does a draft pick 43 selections after 1 overall buy you in the ISFL draft these days? How about a DT who finished 1 fantasy point shy of the 1.1 in the draft? D'marc showed that it's not where you're drafted, it's what you do after the draft that matters. Accruing 47 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack (only 1 less than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!) gave Cole 54 fantasy points on the season, 1 shy of tying Dub Redd's mark, and an admirable F3PR™ of 46%.
DT Billy Jor-El (@LtHudz) - 3rd overall pick Billy Jor-El isn't Superman's dad, but Honolulu expected a Man of Steel to anchor their DL. Unfortunately, it seems like Billy suffered from premature call-up-ulation as he put up a paltry 15 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery but a very respectable 3 sacks (50% more than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!). With only 32 fantasy points and a 17th percentile F3PR™, it's very possible Billy Jorel was distracted by his Uptown Girl this season, but if he doesn't Start the Fire inside of him next season, we might see a direct contradiction to Only the Good Die Young as the Man of Tomorrow will become the Man of Yesterday.
DT Jason Steele (@FireworkFuse) - Speaking of the Man of Steele, Jason Steele that is. Taken by the Cape Town Crash in the mid 2nd round, was called up to provide depth along the DL and wasn't given much of an opportunity to excel behind star DT Christian Marciano. In that role, J.S. was only able to get 9 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery but also 4 sacks (twice as many as reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!). This gave Steele a grand total of 28 fantasy points which equates to a F3PR™ of 13%.
LB John Stark VIII (@UptownCord) - We've finally arrived at the LB portion of the nominees and what better way to kick things off than with the Orange County Otters 4th overall pick, Johnnie Stark. The Ironman of OCO, Stark led all True Rookies™ in tackles, securing 99 of them as well as 7 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 10 sacks (400% more than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 2 INTs, 6 PDs, and 1 safety. This massive pile of stats translated to 174 fantasy points and a great F3PR™ of 63%. By all measures, this was an outstanding first campaign for the King of the North South California.
LB Craig Brand (@ElMerchanto) - Forum favorite Craig "Name" Brand avoided being the Great Value version of a LB this season after being selected 7th overall by the Colorado Yeti. Trailing only John Stark in tackles among True Rookies™, CB put up 90 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, an astounding 16 sacks (it would take reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete 8 seasons to match this total at his current pace!), and 10 PDs on his way to 178 total fantasy points and a top F3PR™ of 65%. Like a fine Scotch, Brand will only get better with age and could potentially start of his career with an award-winning season!
LB Lukas van Ness (@Ajax) - NOLA 3rd round pick Lukas van Ness has been a quiet sensation on the league's worst team. While high draft cap rookies John Stark and Craig Brand collect all the attention, NOLA may have found a huge discount in price without a huge drop off in production in LvN. In his rookie campaign, he amassed 75 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 4 sacks (double the total of reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 1 INT, and 10 PDs for a respectable 136 fantasy points and an F3PR™ of 37%. NOLA will need more cheap picks to pan out like Lukas if they want to make their rebuild as short as possible.
LB Liath Squirrel (@LiathTheSquirrel) - Honolulu's surprise run as top team in the AFSC shouldn't really surprise anyone who has been following along with their draft picks. 3rd round pick Liath Squirrel is a big part of that success on defense, getting 74 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 4 sacks (reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete prays for a 4 sack season!), 1 INT, and 10 PDs as the 4th LB for a playoff squad. Their 114 fantasy points definitely has had an impact for the Hahalua even if the F3PR™ is only 27%.
LB Loose Cannon (@Jumbo) - In one of the biggest surprises on draft day, Loose Cannon, a widely predicted 1st round pick, fell to New York's pick at 2.1 and was considered one of the best steals of the draft. After the conclusion of S41, we may have overstated how big of a steal it was. While L.C. had a respectable season, only securing 50 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 sacks (tying reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 6 PDs, and 1 blocked punt is ultimately a bit of a letdown. An underwhelming 80 fantasy points and F3PR™ of 14% only confirm that is the case. Even with this bump in the road, Cannon is one of the highest TPE earners in the S41 True Rookies™ class and I have no doubt the sim gods will reward him in the future.
LB Rodney Rosadino (@jross) - The 2nd of NOLA's LB picks from the draft, 5th rounder Rodney Rosadino failed to make an impact in his first season in the ISFL. With a stat line of 33 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 PD, R^2 accounted for only 37 fantasy points and a pitiful F3PR™ of 4%, the lowest score in the entirety of the S41 True Rookies™ class. RR hopefully takes this season as a learning experience and comes back better next season.
S Rico Savage (@TheRake) - Lastly and leastly, the player near and dear to my heart, Rico Savage. Selected 12th overall by the Chicago Butchers, Rico Suave was asked to immediately lend his talents to the Windy City Defense. That faith in him was not misplaced, as Rico tallied 57 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 5 sacks (2.5 times the amount of sacks that reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 2 INTs, and 6 PDs for 99 fantasy points and an astounding 67th Percentile F3PR™. These stats put him squarely in the conversation for Defensive True Rookie™ of the Year.
And the winner of the First Annual Defensive True Rookie™ of the Year award goes to...Craig Brand! Congratulations! Even though Rico Savage had a slightly higher F3PR™, it's undeniable the impact of a good LB has in this league whereas the SS position just does not. With that important fact in mind, Mr. Brand was the obvious choice, edging out LB John Stark by 4 fantasy points.
RUNNERS UP:
Rico Savage
John Stark VII
Which means the First Annual Overall True Rookie™ of the Year goes to...Bruce White! I know I have denigrated Bruce's good name throughout the article, over and over again, but even though he lacked the sacks this season, his impact on the field as a True Rookie™ is very impressive. Playing out of position and still being top 7 in fantasy points at his position is a laudable feat. I don't think there's any doubt based on his TPE earning that Bruce has a shot at being a DPOY candidate in his future.
RUNNER UP:
Craig Brand
And that's all, folks. Your First Annual True Rookie™ of the Year Awards™ are now concluded. I want to thank all the nominees this year and hope next season's class has as many great call ups as S41 had. Moving forward, every season I plan on doing a preseason article previewing all the True Rookies™ when call ups are finalized, then a midseason update after Week 8, and then finally the end of season awards. Only ~25% of the rookies from the S41 draft were brought into the ISFL as True Rookies™ and I think it's important (and fun!) to highlight how they fared so I look forward to keeping track. I'd also like to start a wiki page for it so if anyone can let me know how to get approval for a new wiki page, that would be much appreciated! Until next season, TheRake out!
Offense Stats
![[Image: dPcxoHo.png]](https://i.imgur.com/dPcxoHo.png)
Defense Stats
![[Image: 8jEyH0E.png]](https://i.imgur.com/8jEyH0E.png)
True Rookie™ definition: Any rooking in the ISFL playing in their 1st eligible season. In order to be considered a True Rookie™, your draft class season must match the current season of the ISFL. For instance, only ISFL players from the S41 class are eligible as True Rookies™ this season.
METHODOLOGY: I compiled a list of every True Rookie™ and their stats, I then calculated their percentile rank among others at their positions based on their fantasy points scored, which I call Fantasy Point Percentile Position Rank (F3PR)™. The higher the F3PR™, the more of a standout at your position you are. The Awards aren't necessarily based strictly on F3PR™ as not every position has the same impact on the team's chances of winning but F3PR™ is the main component of the criteria.
CAVEATS: I compared whatever the stated position of the player is in the TPE tracker and/or Index, not the position the played most if they played out of position. I also didn't group DEs and DTs as D Line or FS and SS as Safeties when doing the position rankings (mostly to make Rico Savage look better!). Additionally, I'm not really taking TPE earnings into account, this is based almost entirely on 'sim luck,' which makes it more unpredictable and thus more fun! Also, no Kickers! (shoutout @jdc4654).
Without further ado, here are your True Rookie™ of the Year Award™ nominees for Offense:
OL Great Khali (@crazylemire) - Drafted in the 5th round of the S41 ISFL draft by the Austin Copperheads, expectations were low for Khali but he was called up shortly after the draft and would make an immediate impact as a True Rookie™. In his first ISFL, Khali amassed 77 Pancakes and allowed only 3 sacks, good for 139 fantasy points which ranked 32nd out of 70 for OL giving him an F3PR™ of 54%. As far as I can tell, there are only two OL in the Hall of Fame (that's criminal!) and based on their rookie years, Great Khali had ~30% more pancakes than either of their rookie years (extrapolating for their 13 game seasons to current 16 game ones); however, Givussafare Rubbe only gave up 1 sack his entire 5 season ISFL career, whereas Khali had 3 mental lapses this season. Khali has plenty of room to grow but might be on a HOF trajectory if they keep their great work on the field.
TE Otto The Orange (@Greenbaynathan) - The only True Rookie™ Tight End this season, Otto put up some respectable numbers as a 4th round draft pick for the San Jose Sabercats. Otto hauled in 76 receptions for 605 yards and 2 TDs. He also made 24 pass rushers into Orange pancakes, allowing only 1 sack in the process. This translated to 129.5 fantasy points and a respectable F3PR™ of 41%.
WR Oliver Tolliver (@Memento Mori) - Drafted 9th overall to the Austin Copperheads, Oliver Tolliver had sky high expectations coming into the league this season and while he may not have finished highly in F3PR™, he had a very solid season and will look to build on it in the coming years. Ollie T. snagged 73 receptions for 879 yards and 5 TDs which was good for 154.4 fantasy points, which led all True Rookies™ on Offense. However, as hinted at earlier, Oliver's F3PR™ was 24% percentile among his position, which would put him 3rd overall among True Rookie™ F3PR™ on Offense.
WR Artemis Entreri (@entreri) - Another highly drafted WR going to Sarasota in the 2nd round, Artie Entreri was inserted into the starting lineup right away, rewarding the Sailfish with 55 receptions for 829 yards but only 1 TD. Compared to Oliver Tolliver, Artemis was more of a deep threat, averaging 25% more yards per reception. All of this equated to 116.4 fantasy points over the season with an F3PR™ of 15%. Entreri has plenty of opportunity ahead of him with S31 WR Nick Kaepercolin Jr. regressing hard, opening more opportunity for targets.
WR Sean Robinson (@18situaseans) - The creative mind behind the Pumpin' Hands Podcast logo and my former Norfolk Seawooves teammated (Go Boats!), Sean Robinson was drafted in the 3rd round by the New York Silverbacks and immediately thrust into the ISFL as a starting WR. Unfortunately, Sean was unable to produce at a level he would have wanted, catching 45 passes for 479 and a single TD. His 76.4 fantasy points gives him an F3PR™ of 7%, well below O. Tolliver and A. Entreri. With solid TPE earnings and ample opportunity next season, I expect a big jump in production. Coo-coo ca-choo, Mr. Robinson!
WR Emile Charles (@Number 82) - The 3rd WR off the board of the S41 draft to the Berlin Fire Salamanders with pick 2.5, Emile Charles had a similarly disappointing rookie year without context, snatching only 24 passes for 251 yards and 1 TD. However, when you take a peak at the depth chart, Easy E was playing behind 3 entrenched starters on the Berlin offense. With only 43.1 fantasy points and an F3PR™ of 5%, it makes little sense why he was called up so early as he wasn't given a proper opportunity to showcase his talents. Even as a max earning player, Chuck, E will still be behind the same 3 WRs next season and without significant roster movement will have a hard time increasing his rookie numbers significantly.
RB Eilliot Berry (@titanfan34) - Last, but certainly not least, the only RB among the S41 True Rookie™ class is Sarasota Sailfish RB Eilliot Berry (sneaky 'i' placement!). Taken in the 5th round, expectations were low for the backup to star RB Pete Zuh, and Berry filled in admirably. Scampering 57 times for 198 yards while also hauling in 9 passes for 42 yards and 1 TD, E.B. put up 34.5 fantasy points this season, which seems low but when comparing his F3PR™ of 17% to his fellow True Rookies™, puts him in a respectable 4th place. With PZ hitting regression after next season, Berry should be able to carve out a nice role in the offense and give SAR a strong 1-2 punch.
And the winner of the First Annual Offensive True Rookie™ of the Year award goes to...GREAT KHALI! Congratulations! Given the dearth of OL players in the league along with so few in the ISFL HOF, it can't be understated how important the position is in the ISFL and Khali came in right away and made a huge impact with the highest F3PR™ among his True Rookie™ class.
RUNNER UP:
Otto The Orange
Here are your S41 True Rookie™ of the Year Award™ nominees for Defense:
CB Ezra Azazel (@baz1757) - The first (and arguably better) of the two first round picks by New Orleans in this year's draft at 5th overall, Ezra "The Invisible Man" Azazel was asked to come in start right away for the Second Line as the 2nd best CB on the roster. In response, Ez amassed 19 PD, 2 INTs, 1 FF, and 57 tackles. He was the only True Rookie™ CB to eclipse the century mark in fantasy points, accruing 106 of them, good for an F3PR™ of 33%. While NOLA is in the midst of a rebuild, they have a lockdown CB they can rely on for many seasons to come.
CB The Riddler (@MattBake12) - It's not a mystery why the Silverbacks drafted The Riddler with their 3rd round pick, one of their starting CBs is regressing while their nickelback is an IA player. This meant The Riddler was the final piece to their CB puzzle and he was able to carve out a role this season by leading all True Rookies™ in INTs, stealing 3 of them on the season. Additionally, Rids knocked down 11 PDs, had 1 sack (half as many as reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 1 forced fumble, 1 Def TD and 30 tackles totaling 76 fantasy points and a 26th percentile ranking in F3PR™. Given how much of a disadvantage True Rookie™ CBs are it when facing season WRs, The Riddler should look back on the season with much happiness.
CB Bill Cravy (@KlausGoatCasinos) - The Butchers took my teammate Bill Cravy with their 2nd round pick in order to re-build a secondary for the future. Playing behind premier CB Quendyn Quarterstorm and mercenary Apollo Program, the Cravy Train was still able to make an impact as a True Rookie™, making 44 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble along with 1 recovery, 3 sacks (50% more than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 3 PDs and a crucial Defensive TD which put him at 74 fantasy points on the year, right behind The Riddler, receiving a 24% F3PR™. With the likely departure of A. Program in the offseason, Billy Boy will be looking to tally some INTs next season and transform into Billbo Grabbins.
CB Kadarius Claypool II (@Weaves) - Another one of my Seawoove teammates, KC2 was drafted at the end of the 1st round by Ultimus runner ups the Yellowknife Wraiths. Getting drafted late in the 1st means you're going to a team who is already set at most positions, this meant K-Cizzle was playing nickelback and linebacker instead of on the outside where he belonged. All of this contributed to a lackluster season by his own standards, able to only get 37 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, 2 sacks (the same amount as reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), and 5 PDs for 58 fantasy points and a meager 12% F3PR™. The good news is, both CBs ahead of Kadarius are regressing and he'll be put on the outside where he belongs sooner rather than later.
DE Bruce White (@toofpete) - The 2nd half of New Orleans' dynamic duo of 1st round picks in the S41 draft, 6th overall pick Bruce White came into the league with sky high expectations due to his trophy case full of DSFL awards including MVP and tying the single season sack record. That magical season is looking more and more like a fluke after being called up to the starting lineup as a True Rookie™. In 16 games, Brucie was only able to take down the opposing QB 2 times, well off his pace from a season ago and only 40% of the total of fellow True Rookie™ S Rico Savage's sack total. BW was able to contribute a little bit in some other areas, gathering 39 tackles and 1 forced fumble. Where Bruce really excelled at was in tackles for loss, where he tied for the lead among all DEs with 11. It has been heavily speculated that his 'see ball, hit ball' approach has been mistranslated at the ISFL level where Bruce got so focused on hitting RBs that he's doing it on every single play, thus re-affirming his moniker 'The Dumbass from Dumas.' Even with this deficiency, B. White collected 70 total fantasy points and finished the season with an astounding 72% F3PR™ putting him firmly in the running for a True Rookie™ of the Year Award™.
DT Dub Redd (@wizard_literal) - Dub "1st Overall" Redd was drafted by the New York Silverbacks at, you guess it, pick 1.1. With all the baggage of being the 1st overall pick and then being called up immediately to a team who needed DL help immensely, the DR put up a valiant effort in his True Rookie™ season. With a final stat line of 42 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks (50% more than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), Mr. Redd finished with 55 fantasy points and received an F3PR™ of 50%. Dub stepped right into the right into the fire this season and dropped a fantasy score better than half the DTs in the league. Pairing him with fellow youthful DT Lionel Scrimmage, New York will have a fearsome DL for the foreseeable future.
DT Damarcus Cole (@Hordle) - What does a draft pick 43 selections after 1 overall buy you in the ISFL draft these days? How about a DT who finished 1 fantasy point shy of the 1.1 in the draft? D'marc showed that it's not where you're drafted, it's what you do after the draft that matters. Accruing 47 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack (only 1 less than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!) gave Cole 54 fantasy points on the season, 1 shy of tying Dub Redd's mark, and an admirable F3PR™ of 46%.
DT Billy Jor-El (@LtHudz) - 3rd overall pick Billy Jor-El isn't Superman's dad, but Honolulu expected a Man of Steel to anchor their DL. Unfortunately, it seems like Billy suffered from premature call-up-ulation as he put up a paltry 15 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery but a very respectable 3 sacks (50% more than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!). With only 32 fantasy points and a 17th percentile F3PR™, it's very possible Billy Jorel was distracted by his Uptown Girl this season, but if he doesn't Start the Fire inside of him next season, we might see a direct contradiction to Only the Good Die Young as the Man of Tomorrow will become the Man of Yesterday.
DT Jason Steele (@FireworkFuse) - Speaking of the Man of Steele, Jason Steele that is. Taken by the Cape Town Crash in the mid 2nd round, was called up to provide depth along the DL and wasn't given much of an opportunity to excel behind star DT Christian Marciano. In that role, J.S. was only able to get 9 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery but also 4 sacks (twice as many as reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!). This gave Steele a grand total of 28 fantasy points which equates to a F3PR™ of 13%.
LB John Stark VIII (@UptownCord) - We've finally arrived at the LB portion of the nominees and what better way to kick things off than with the Orange County Otters 4th overall pick, Johnnie Stark. The Ironman of OCO, Stark led all True Rookies™ in tackles, securing 99 of them as well as 7 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 10 sacks (400% more than reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 2 INTs, 6 PDs, and 1 safety. This massive pile of stats translated to 174 fantasy points and a great F3PR™ of 63%. By all measures, this was an outstanding first campaign for the King of the North South California.
LB Craig Brand (@ElMerchanto) - Forum favorite Craig "Name" Brand avoided being the Great Value version of a LB this season after being selected 7th overall by the Colorado Yeti. Trailing only John Stark in tackles among True Rookies™, CB put up 90 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, an astounding 16 sacks (it would take reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete 8 seasons to match this total at his current pace!), and 10 PDs on his way to 178 total fantasy points and a top F3PR™ of 65%. Like a fine Scotch, Brand will only get better with age and could potentially start of his career with an award-winning season!
LB Lukas van Ness (@
LB Liath Squirrel (@LiathTheSquirrel) - Honolulu's surprise run as top team in the AFSC shouldn't really surprise anyone who has been following along with their draft picks. 3rd round pick Liath Squirrel is a big part of that success on defense, getting 74 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 4 sacks (reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete prays for a 4 sack season!), 1 INT, and 10 PDs as the 4th LB for a playoff squad. Their 114 fantasy points definitely has had an impact for the Hahalua even if the F3PR™ is only 27%.
LB Loose Cannon (@Jumbo) - In one of the biggest surprises on draft day, Loose Cannon, a widely predicted 1st round pick, fell to New York's pick at 2.1 and was considered one of the best steals of the draft. After the conclusion of S41, we may have overstated how big of a steal it was. While L.C. had a respectable season, only securing 50 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 sacks (tying reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 6 PDs, and 1 blocked punt is ultimately a bit of a letdown. An underwhelming 80 fantasy points and F3PR™ of 14% only confirm that is the case. Even with this bump in the road, Cannon is one of the highest TPE earners in the S41 True Rookies™ class and I have no doubt the sim gods will reward him in the future.
LB Rodney Rosadino (@jross) - The 2nd of NOLA's LB picks from the draft, 5th rounder Rodney Rosadino failed to make an impact in his first season in the ISFL. With a stat line of 33 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 PD, R^2 accounted for only 37 fantasy points and a pitiful F3PR™ of 4%, the lowest score in the entirety of the S41 True Rookies™ class. RR hopefully takes this season as a learning experience and comes back better next season.
S Rico Savage (@TheRake) - Lastly and leastly, the player near and dear to my heart, Rico Savage. Selected 12th overall by the Chicago Butchers, Rico Suave was asked to immediately lend his talents to the Windy City Defense. That faith in him was not misplaced, as Rico tallied 57 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 5 sacks (2.5 times the amount of sacks that reigning DSFL MVP and DSFL single season sack tie-er @toofpete had this season!), 2 INTs, and 6 PDs for 99 fantasy points and an astounding 67th Percentile F3PR™. These stats put him squarely in the conversation for Defensive True Rookie™ of the Year.
And the winner of the First Annual Defensive True Rookie™ of the Year award goes to...Craig Brand! Congratulations! Even though Rico Savage had a slightly higher F3PR™, it's undeniable the impact of a good LB has in this league whereas the SS position just does not. With that important fact in mind, Mr. Brand was the obvious choice, edging out LB John Stark by 4 fantasy points.
RUNNERS UP:
Rico Savage
John Stark VII
Which means the First Annual Overall True Rookie™ of the Year goes to...Bruce White! I know I have denigrated Bruce's good name throughout the article, over and over again, but even though he lacked the sacks this season, his impact on the field as a True Rookie™ is very impressive. Playing out of position and still being top 7 in fantasy points at his position is a laudable feat. I don't think there's any doubt based on his TPE earning that Bruce has a shot at being a DPOY candidate in his future.
RUNNER UP:
Craig Brand
And that's all, folks. Your First Annual True Rookie™ of the Year Awards™ are now concluded. I want to thank all the nominees this year and hope next season's class has as many great call ups as S41 had. Moving forward, every season I plan on doing a preseason article previewing all the True Rookies™ when call ups are finalized, then a midseason update after Week 8, and then finally the end of season awards. Only ~25% of the rookies from the S41 draft were brought into the ISFL as True Rookies™ and I think it's important (and fun!) to highlight how they fared so I look forward to keeping track. I'd also like to start a wiki page for it so if anyone can let me know how to get approval for a new wiki page, that would be much appreciated! Until next season, TheRake out!
Offense Stats
Defense Stats
"...TheRake may be the most controversial new player of the S41 class. Notorious not only for shamelessly tampering but also for confidently arguing his broadly incorrect NFL opinions, TheRake has managed to navigate the dangerous waters of controversy fairly well—which is no small feat!" - aeonsjenni
![[Image: phatair210.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/phatair210.gif)
![[Image: cwAUFYO.png]](https://i.imgur.com/cwAUFYO.png)
![[Image: jZiqO11.png]](https://i.imgur.com/jZiqO11.png)
![[Image: 49rZtUA.png]](https://i.imgur.com/49rZtUA.png)
![[Image: wizard_literal.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/wizard_literal.gif)
