06-06-2023, 12:32 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-11-2023, 09:04 AM by Aneeqs. Edited 1 time in total.)
My job forgot I existed for the time being, so I have time to actually write my thoughts down again this season! Huzzah! As you may have seen in the fantasy server already, the SFWG did take a stab at fantasy rankings this season (in case you missed it, you can see the consensus rankings here). However, I wanted to put a more personal touch on my rankings article. This rankings article will only include my rankings along with the explanations as to why I ranked them the way I did. And when you lose this season because you followed my advice, just remember that you could have followed consensus instead (I may be enthusiastic, but I'm not exactly ... good).
Anyway, onto the rankings!
Quarterbacks
1) Nova Montagne (S41 finish - QB2)
The Honolulu offense is just on another level. Montagne herself is maxed out, her two top receivers are maxed out (or just about there, give or take regression), and the Hahalua's maxed out running back is a receiving weapon out of the backfield. Montagne will have passing volume, efficiency, and scoring. What more do you want?
2) Preston Beatz (S41 finish - QB3)
Beatz continues to grow, as do his receivers. Beatz has just hit his build cap going into this season, his WR1 Rocky Moreaux will be maxed out shortly (if he isn't already), and WR2 Shane Turnbull will hit 1k TPE this season. Baltimore posted the second most pass attempts in the league in S41 after posting the most pass attempts in the league the season prior, so volume isn't a concern. With volume and TPE on his side, Beatz looks like a lock for yet another high scoring season. The only potential hiccup is Baltimore's trade for RB Ceti Pyxis. I doubt the Hawks suddenly become a run heavy squad as their passing game still sports better potential on paper, but you do have to wonder if the 1-2 punch of Pyxis and Money Tolliver in the backfield is enough to temper Beatz's outrageous volume a bit.
3) Willier Miller (S41 finish - QB1)
It's almost like Carter Knight never left. Rookie Willier Miller steps in and immediately lights the fantasy world on fire, finishing his rookie season as the QB1. This despite having a low TPE total and few weapons worth mentioning. Clearly Sarasota figured something out that simply works, but at the end of the day Miller's TPE is still on the low side for an ISFL QB and his weapons are just kinda average. The potential is there, but so is some risk.
4) Queen Elizabeth II (S41 finish - QB13)
You may be wondering, "why in the hell is Tuba ranking the defending QB13 as the QB4?!" Well, quite frankly, that QB13 finish was a ridiculous outlier. If you look at the previous three seasons, QEII finished as the QB5, QB2, and QB1 for fantasy purposes. Elizabeth's career averages prior to S41 included 4738 yards, 29 TDs, and 10 INTs. She finished S41 with just 3803 yards, 18 TDs, and 13 INTs. I don't know what happened, but I don't think it's happening again. QEII herself is just shy of being maxed thanks to regression, but isn't missing anything major. Her two top weapons are also maxed. Austin's running backs are just good enough that the Copperheads may not feel pressure to throw the ball all the time, but this offense should still be pass-centric and generally effective. Maybe Austin's offense is broken and they don't figure things out in S42, but based on history I'm betting on a major rebound for the zombie monarch.
5) Owen Farrell (S41 finish - QB4)
Unlike the QBs listed above, Farrell does not have a plethora of elite weapons, nor is he overly sim blessed. What he does have, however, is a lot of TPE, an elite WR1, and little in the way of RB talent to compete with for volume. San Jose enters S42 with much the same setup as they did in S41, and that clearly treated Farrell quite well given his QB4 finish. Expect more of the same from the Sabercat QB.
6) Blaine Falco (S41 finish - QB9)
A rookie in S41, Blaine Falco made the third fewest pass attempts in the league as New York opted to lean on their dynamic running game instead. However, star running back Michaelangelo McTurtle is really starting to feel the brunt of regression right as the Silverbacks receiving corps is hitting its stride. New York is unlikely to suddenly air the ball out every play, but a little more volume combined with continued improvement on Falco's part could result in some surprising numbers on middling volume.
7) Creg Jerrith IV (S41 finish - QB6)
With a couple seasons of experience under his belt, Jerrith has very nearly maxed out his build. His weapons aren't exactly elite, but they aren't bad either. Neither is his protection from the best offensive lineman in the league. So where's the problem? Well, it's with who's lining up behind Jerrith in Cape Town's backfield. The Crash already had the fewest pass plays in the league in S41, and since then star running back Jarvis Harbinger-Marjin has done nothing but improve while RB2 Nakiri Ayame has become a weapon in her own right. Jerrith is a fine QB and I expect great efficiency out of him, but the lack of volume is going to severely limit his fantasy upside.
8) Donovan Winters III (S41 finish - N/A)
The heir to Arizona legend Wendell Sailor, Winters enters S42 as the Outlaws' new rookie QB. Thanks to Sailor's graceful aging, Winters had the opportunity to really grow and thrive in the DSFL before getting called up, so he should hit the ground running. However, his situation is very similar to Cape Town's Creg Jerrith IV. Winters has solid weapons to throw to, but Arizona is clearly going to lean on the dynamic backfield duo of Danny Nedelko and Sherwin Blue Jr. Winters should be efficient, but expect a lack of volume to prevent the rookie from being great.
Special Note: Wolfie McDummy Jr
No, McDummy is not my QB9 (though close at QB10). However, I think McDummy's situation is worth calling out. Wolfie McDummy Jr enters the league amid some turmoil. Colorado made it quite clear entering this offseason that they were looking to tear down and rebuild. They've been selling pieces left and right, but notably the one thing that they have not touched is the passing game. This leaves the Yeti with a roster barren of talent except for a very low TPE QB and some surprisingly respectable weapons to throw to. It's not unreasonable to expect Colorado to find themselves airing the ball early and often, and it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if McDummy ended this coming season with the most pass attempts in the league. However, keep in mind that A) Colorado is still looking to move pieces, and B) I cannot understate how low McDummy's TPE is compared to a typical ISFL QB. It's a high risk/high reward proposition, but if you're feeling lucky McDummy might just be the late round sleeper that could win you the league.
Running Backs
1) Bean Delphine Jr (S41 finish - RB1)
It may come as a surprise to most of you that Bean, not JHM, was the RB1 last season. Bean may not be the engine of Honolulu's offense the same way JHM is the heart of Cape Town's, but she's still the unquestioned workhorse running back of one of the best offenses in the ISFL. Unlike JHM, Bean doesn't have a strong RB2 breathing down her neck to risk splitting touches with.
2) Jarvis Harbinger-Marjin (S41 finish - RB2)
As noted above, JHM is the heart and soul of the Crash's offense. Normally I'd say you're perfectly fine taking either one of JHM or Bean and it's just luck of the draw for who ends up on top. However, there is a little bit of risk involved for JHM this season. With RB2 Nakiri Ayame really coming into her own, JHM may find himself splitting some touches. Cape Town still boasts a powerhouse offense and JHM is still the lead back, but beware the risk of a committee backfield.
3) Pete Zuh (S41 finish - RB3)
Pete Zuh may not be the most impressive running back in the league, but he's a solid workhorse for the perennially relevant Sarasota offense. His receiving work in particular was a massive boost last season, and with the Sailfish's WR2 and TE1 both facing regression that role is unlikely to fade.
4) Danny Nedelko (S41 finish - RB4)
You may be sensing a theme of minimal turnover in the RB ranks. Still, it's hard to put Nedelko anywhere else. Arizona's offense is ridiculously efficient and Nedelko is the maxed out running back leading the charge, but he's still stuck in a committee with Sherwin Blue Jr. The Outlaws' committee approach will limit Nedelko's ceiling, but consider him a safe bet to be fantasy relevant.
5) Armor Queen (S41 finish - RB8)
Finally, something different. Berlin's offense just couldn't figure itself out last season despite boasting considerable talent, and this ranking will probably be rather lofty if those struggles continue in S42. However, on paper you have a solid workhorse RB on a well rounded, solid offense that should get plenty of chances thanks to a stellar defense. The potential is there.
6) Frank Dux (S41 finish - RB12)
Despite facing minimal competition from aging veteran back Lalu Mohammed Zohri, Dux just couldn't get out of his own way in S41. His terrible 3.88 yards per carry limited him to a RB12 finish despite posting over 300 touches. The hope going into S42 is that Dux's own growth combined with that of the entire Butchers' offense is enough to improve that efficiency while also giving Dux more chances to score. Zohri is still there, but the TPE discrepancy should ensure that Dux remains the clear lead back.
7) Leandre Diarra (S41 finish - RB23)
That jump from RB23 to projected RB7 looks funny until you consider that Diarra spent the offseason slimming down to pick up some speed. Yes, the ISFL's last fullback has finally given and and switched to a power back archetype. He probably won't be a workhorse given the presence of the up and coming Tyler One, but Diarra should be the clear leader of the backfield.
8) Adebayo Akinfenwa (S41 finish - RB5)
Part of the Wraiths' monstrous backfield, Akinfenwa simply doesn't get the volume necessary to be a reliably elite fantasy running back. However, he does do an excellent job maximizing the touches he does get.
9) Michaelangelo McTurtle (S41 finish - RB7)
McTurtle's days of being New York's workhorse are sadly over. Backup Michael Touchback has officially forced his way into a committee backfield with McTurtle, severely limiting McTurtle's fantasy potential. Still, McTurtle is a dynamic threat both as a runner and receiver out of the backfield, and New York's offense has the potentially to be sneaky good this season with the amount of talent they've amassed.
10) Kumquat Archipelago (S41 finish - RB9)
The other half of Yellowknife's killer backfield tandem, Archipelago's usage tends to slightly trail Akinfenwa as the former has the skillset to split out wide more often. A useful talent given the dearth of receiving weapons the Wraiths currently possess, but not quite as lucrative for fantasy purposes.
11) Ceti Pyxis (S41 finish - RB6)
Now in a new home, Ceti Pyxis no longer finds herself as a workhorse back. However, Pyxis should still at least be the lead back of Baltimore's backfield, and the Hawks appear to have an up and coming juggernaut of an offense. Whether or not the volume is there, there should be plenty of efficiency and scoring opportunities to go around.
12) Sherwin Blue Jr (S41 finish - RB16)
Despite pretty evenly splitting the backfield work, Blue didn't hold a candle to Danny Nedelko's efficiency out of the backfield in S41. Given that Blue is now a 1k+ TPE running back himself, I would expect some positive regression on sheer talent alone.
13) Howard Coward (S41 finish - RB15)
Rookie Howard Coward was quite possibly the only Copperhead not affected by Austin's inexplicable offensive slump. Despite splitting time pretty evenly with backfield mate Jeff Newman, Coward walked away with an astonishing 14 rushing TDs on just 194 carries. Presumably those TDs will be a little more evenly split this season, but if the Copperheads' offense returns to form there should be plenty of scoring opportunities to go around.
14) Lord Farquaads (S41 finish - RB11)
Farquaads is a tricky one. On the one hand, he actually did better than this ranking last season despite having more competition in the backfield that he will in S42. On the other hand, he's a low TPE back mired in a committee backfield on a team that appears more geared to pass than run. Some major boom or bust vibes from Farquaads, but it's a gamble that could pay off in spades.
15) Kyle Crane (S41 finish - N/A)
Freshly called up from the DSFL, Crane immediately finds himself to be the workhorse back for New Orleans. Which would be a lot more impressive if the Second Line did things like "run the ball" or "score". NOLA threw a league leading 729 pass attempts last season against just 174 rush attempts, and they don't look like they're set to change that much. They also finished last in points scored with a scant 15.4 points per game, which also doesn't seem likely to change much.
16) Money Tolliver (S41 finish - RB10)
For a brief, shining moment, Tolliver appeared to be set to be the workhorse running back for the up and coming Baltimore offense. Then the Hawks traded for Ceti Pyxis. Now likely relegated to RB2 duties, Tolliver's ceiling is playing his way into an even timeshare with the higher TPE running back and hoping sim luck falls his way for scoring chances.
17) Jeff Newman (S41 finish - RB19)
The good news for Newman is that he managed a respectable S41 campaign despite ceding almost all scoring chances to backfield mate Howard Coward. If the sim decides to spread the wealth a little better in S42 and/or the Copperheads offense returns to form, Newman should be a much better fantasy asset.
18) Malik Brooks (S41 finish - N/A)
Rookie Malik Brooks is something of a wildcard. After a fire sale offseason for Colorado, the Yeti now appear poised to become a very pass happy outfit. What's more, the trade that sent Ceti Pyxis to Baltimore and made room for Brooks to step in as the lead back in Colorado also brought fellow rookie back Gucci Gurley to town. If Brooks wrangles away lead back duties and Colorado runs even a remotely balanced offense, Brooks will feast. If Colorado reverts to Yeeti form and Brooks is simply the lead back of a full blown committee, then the upside here is limited.
Wide Receivers
1) Johnny Blaze Jr (S41 finish - WR1)
Already the fantasy WR1 last season, Blaze enters S42 with more TPE, an improved QB, and regressing competition for targets. It doesn't get much safer.
2) Octavio Perez (S41 finish - WR6)
Perez took a backseat to fellow Hahalua wideout Leek Mai-Heinous last season and still managed to finish just outside the top 5. Now clearly the WR1 in Honolulu after Leek's regression, Perez should roll into S42 as the clear top target for one of the league's best offenses.
3) Rocky Moreaux (S41 finish - WR4)
At this point, Baltimore's offense is basically the same as Honolulu's, just a season or two behind. Much like Perez, Moreaux finds himself as the clear top weapon for one of the best offenses in the league.
4) PeePee Poop-Eater Sr. (S41 finish - WR2)
The potential is still there for Poop-Eater to blow away the competition like he did last season (50 point lead over WR3). New Orleans still figures to be an extremely pass happy offense with little in the way of weaponry outside of Poop-Eater. Be wary, though, that Poop-Eater required historical levels of target volume to achieve that. If the Second Line spread the wealth or lean more run heavy at all, Poop-Eater's fantasy production will tumble.
5) Leek Mai-Heinous (S41 finish - WR3)
Now Honolulu's likely WR2 after regression took a bite out of his total, Leek is likely set to produce similar numbers to Perez last season.
6) Sconnie McSix (S41 finish - WR9)
McSix had the catches and yards last season, but just couldn't quite find the end zone enough to really be a fantasy force. With even more of the Sabercats' offense funneling through the wideout this season as San Jose's weapons transition, McSix should be able to fix that issue in S42.
7) NCADV RAINN (S41 finish - WR12)
With previous WR1 Eeeeeeee phenssta both regressing and retiring, RAINN is sets to take the reins as Colorado's WR1. If the Yeti return to their old Yeeti ways as they seem set to do, the volume could be there for RAINN to have a monster season.
8) Delores Bickerman (S41 finish - WR21)
Man I'm going to look like an idiot if the Copperheads don't right the ship after their abysmal S41 campaign. Bickerman may be Austin's WR2, but for some reason the wideout always seems to slightly outproduce nominal WR1 Zaphod Beeblebrox. If the Copperheads figure their offense back out as I expect they should, Bickerman should be set for another solid campaign.
9) Mandrews McHollywood (S41 finish - WR5)
McHollywood resides in a strange place where all the factors point toward improved efficiency (maxed out player, improving QB, weakening backfield), but he was already absurdly efficient last year. He finished 5th in yards and T-4th in TDs despite only finishing 25th in catches. At the end of the day, the Silverbacks figure to be a more run focused offense, limiting the potential upside of McHollywood.
10) Zaphod Beeblebrox (S41 finish - WR30)
Nominally Austin's WR1, I don't think Beeblebrox has outscored Bickerman in any season the two were listed as the Copperheads' WR1 and 2. That fun little tidbit aside, please don't make me look like an idiot Austin GMs. This offense has too much TPE to be bad again.
11) Shane Turnbull (S41 finish - WR8)
Despite being Baltimore's WR2, Turnbull has the potential to be an elite fantasy wideout in his own right if the Hawks continue to emulate Honolulu's teambuilding approach. He's still just a tad lower in TPE for the time being, though.
12) Austin Morley (S41 finish - WR15)
The clear WR1 for the Butchers, Morley should benefit from improved QB play along with just a better offense in general as Chicago's young offense grows.
13) Derrick Prince (S41 finish - WR10)
Now Cape Town's WR1 as fellow wideout Erwin Kemp succumbs to regression, Prince will nevertheless be hampered by Cape Town's painfully low passing volume. He'll be efficient with his touches. Just don't expect that many of them.
14) Matthew Mara (S41 finish - WR14)
Forever just barely trailing fellow Silverback wideout Mandrews McHollywood, Mara slots in as a likely low volume by wildly efficient WR2 for New York. So pretty much exactly what he did last season.
15) Dick Grayson (S41 finish - WR13)
This is something of a risky pick. Grayson is nominally New Orleans' WR2, and the Second Line figure to continue their ridiculously pass heavy ways in S42. However, Grayson has some serious competition for targets from rookie Keanu Calhoun. Grayson is the better receiver for now, but Calhoun has made clear that he sees himself on a Hall of Fame trajectory and is almost certain to overtake Grayson in TPE in short order. There's upside here, but there's also a lot of risk.
16) Calvin Spiff (S41 finish - WR25)
Stuck on a team that much prefers to run the ball than pass, Spiff really hasn't seen much volume over the seasons. However, he's still the unquestioned WR1 for Yellowknife, and the Wraiths offense looks like it's one of the best in the league on paper. Volume is unlikely to increase much, but with just a little sim luck there should be enough scoring to go around.
17) Thomas Robinson (S41 finish - WR20)
Similar to Spiff, Robinson finds himself as the WR1 on a run centric team. Unlike Spiff, Robinson actually has some notable players to share targets with. No one is challenging Robinson for the WR1 role, but it could be enough to siphon away a few targets in an already low passing volume offense.
18) "Captain" Billy Stinkwater (S41 finish - WR22)
New QB, better RBs, and regression starting to leech the life out of him. Stinkwater remains Arizona's WR1, but given the Outlaws' propensity to run the ball that doesn't necessarily mean much.
Tight Ends
1) Mister Hogmally (S41 finish - TE1)
Mister Hogmally is the best receiving weapon on a Colorado team that figures to return to its old Yeeti ways. Sign me up for wide receiver numbers from my tight end.
2) Lucius Salem (S41 finish - TE3)
Salem might be regressing, but he's still the second target in Sarasota's persistent passing attack. He's still among the safest tight ends you could choose.
3) Walter McKinley (S41 finish - TE2)
S41 was a breakout campaign for McKinley, and he figures to once again feature as the second best receiving weapon for the Butchers. However, Chicago does have two up and coming wideouts that could start siphoning away targets as the season wears on.
4) Detective Crashmore (S41 finish - TE5)
Yeah, the Wraiths don't pass much, but otherwise Crashmore sits in a very similar situation as Salem and McKinley; he's the clear second target in Yellowknife's offense.
5) Big McLarge Huge (S41 finish - TE7)
Unlike the previous entries here, Big McLarge Huge doesn't quite have a stranglehold on the role of being the second target. He also is likely to suffer from Orange County's run heavy offense. However, the Otter tight end is growing quickly, and could end up the clear favorite behind WR1 Thomas Robinson by the end of the season.
6) Deshawn Penne (S41 finish - TE9)
The end of an era. The perennial fantasy all star suffered a double whammy of personal regression and team wide regression. Hopefully the team wide issue rebounds, but Penne himself continues to fall behind Austin's other receiving options.
7) American Boot (S41 finish - TE4)
Boot has been hanging on as a relevant fantasy tight end for a while, but regression is finally hitting. Combined with Cape Town's run centric offense, American Boot is likely to start declining quickly in the near future.
8) Waluigi Gronkowski (S41 finish - TE8)
Gronkowski is thoroughly buried in Honolulu's pecking order, but the offense is so wildly productive that the Hahalua tight end could snag a few TDs.
Offensive Linemen
1) Swantavius Payne (S41 finish - OL1)
At this point the king of this generation of offensive linemen is OL1 until someone else at least catches up in TPE.
2) Bengal Tigerheart (S41 finish - OL2)
The Hawks feature a powerhouse passing offense, with Tigerheart anchoring the offensive line. He'll have plenty of opportunities to earn them pancakes.
3) Remi Musgrave-Smythe (S41 finish - OL10)
The Yeti are very likely to jump from middle of the pack passing volume in S41 to league leading passing volume in S42. Their mauler left tackle will be plowing the way.
4) Brandon Mason (S41 finish - OL8)
Mason suffered along with the rest of Austin's offense in S41, but if the Copperheads can get their bearings back their left tackle stands to see some impressive production.
5) Franz Udo Culman-Kaiser (S41 finish - OL3)
Culman-Kaiser is unfortunately getting hit pretty hard by regression. Still, he figures to be the left tackle for the powerhouse Hahalua. He should be solid.
6) Dusty Wilson (S41 finish - OL5)
The Wraiths may not throw much, but Dusty Wilson has enough TPE to eat his fill of pancakes regardless.
7) Walrus Jones (S41 finish - OL6)
Copy paste Dusty Wilson, but one season behind.
8) Pan Cakes (S41 finish - OL4)
Cakes did remarkably well in S41 despite being lower TPE and on a run heavy team. It's unlikely they keep that up in S42, but there's still something to be said for being the left tackle of a sneaky good offense.
Kickers
No sense writing blurbs for everyone here. Kicker success is largely tied to success of the offenses they're attached to, with some smaller influence from the kicker's own TPE.
1) Swantavius King (S41 finish - K2)
2) Ray Baker (S41 finish - K4)
3) Double Doink (S41 finish - K5)
4) Bob Kickerson (S41 finish - N/A)
5) Orlando Doom (S41 finish - K3)
6) Known Acquaintance (S41 finish - K8)
7) Mike Makmur (S41 finish - K11)
8) Jayme Jayne Jay-Jamison (S41 finish - K14)
Defensive Linemen
1) Joseph Reed (S41 finish - DL1)
After a second consecutive season of absolutely outrageous production, it's clear Reed is hear to stay. The big DT anchor of Chicago's 3-4 front, Reed doesn't have much competition from the rest of the front seven for getting to into the backfield and causing havoc.
2) Raphael McTurtle (S41 finish - DL2)
Similar to Reed, McTurtle is the big DT anchor of Arizona's 3-4 defensive front. Also similar to Reed, McTurtle doesn't have much in the way of competition from the rest of the defensive line. The reason McTurtle falls behind Reed is because Arizona does boast the best linebacker corps in the ISFL, which somewhat limits Reed's potential.
3) Daron Arnold (S41 finish - DL4)
He's not quite left for dead yet, but this will likely be Arnold's last notable season before coasting to retirement. The defensive end remains the top player in the Wraiths' 3-4 front, but is starting to face serious competition on the defensive line.
4) Nathan Meaghor (S41 finish - DL10)
I have predicted a breakout every season for Meaghor and every season I am left disappointed. The Berlin DT checks most of the boxes I'm looking for based on trends I've seen among successful fantasy defensive linemen, but just can't seem to put it together.
5) Udo E Beaty (S41 finish - DL19)
Alright, so there are a few assumptions going into this one. First and foremost, Beaty appears poised to take over as the highest TPE defensive lineman in Cape Town. Second, the Crash look like they have the personnel to switch to a 4-3 base formation on defense, which greatly benefits defensive ends like Beaty over defensive tackles like fantasy stalwart Christian Marciano. Obviously this ranking is bunk if Cape Town continues to play more 3-4, but Beaty represents some intriguing potential.
6) Fat Jack (S41 finish - DL15)
Fat Jack doesn't quite dominate his fellow Sabercat defensive linemen in TPE, but he does lead the group. With San Jose likely to play a 3-4 base defense again, there's potential for Jack to rise.
7) Bridge Burner (S41 finish - N/A)
With Bridge Burner theoretically swapping to defensive tackle (you better not be lying to me @MMFLEX), Honolulu should have a new stalwart in the middle of their 3-4 defense. Even with the position swap penalty, Burner possesses substantially more TPE than the other Hahalua defensive linemen, though the presence of one of the league's best linebacker corps could dampen production a bit.
8) Iosefa Fuamatu-Ma'afala (S41 finish - DL5)
With the Otters once again set to run with a 4-3 defense, Fuamatu-Ma'afala is poised to wreak havoc from the edge for a second consecutive season. He's a bit lower TPE than you'd like to see so last season may have been something of a high water mark, but don't underestimate this defensive end.
Linebackers
1) Solace Avenger (S41 finish - LB1)
From what I've seen, the best linebackers tend to be 3-4 OLBs who blow away the rest of their team's front seven in TPE. Solace Avenger checks all boxes decisively.
2) Aqeel Steele (S41 finish - LB4)
The inactive Aqeel Steele has fellow Sailfish LB Fronky Fresh breathing down his neck, but Steele remains the top TPE linebacker in Sarasota for the time being. What's more, the defensive line in front of him isn't exactly filled with all stars. There's a reason Steele finished LB4 overall last season and that's unlikely to change in S42.
3) Cruella de Ville (S41 finish - LB2)
Cruella managed to separate herself from the rest of the San Jose LBs over the course of last season, and it showed as the Sabercat finished as the LB2 overall. San Jose does boast some talent on the defensive line that could marginally reduce Cruella's potential, but she still dominates the team's LBs in TPE and should feast in San Jose's 3-4 scheme.
4) Tank McGibbons (S41 finish - LB26)
Big bump for McGibbons here as his greatest competition for production among Austin's LBs is regressing hard. Tank should be a solid OLB in the Copperheads' 3-4 defense. There is some concern about the rest of the linebacker corps being at least solid along with the entire defensive line being downright elite, but it's worth mentioning that Austin's S42 defense looks a lot like Yellowknife's S39 defense that produced multiple fantasy relevant LBs despite having talent everywhere. McGibbons likely won't have high tackle totals buoying a safe floor, but he could very easily be set up to produce all kinds of TFLs and sacks.
5) Barry Badman (S41 finish - LB5)
Badman sits in an odd spot where it's not really clear what defensive scheme Cape Town plans to deploy. If the Crash play predominately 3-4, then Badman would immediately become an elite fantasy option. As it stands, it looks like Cape Town is more likely to focus on a 4-3 formation. Badman doesn't stand to reach quite as lofty of heights that way, but the sheer TPE difference between him and the rest of the Crash linebacker corps should be enough to make him productive anyway.
6) Kahn Cussion (S41 finish - LB16)
Cussion may be dropping from regression, but his greatest competition among the Yellowknife LBs is basically keeling over. Set to be the clear top LB in the Wraiths' 3-4 scheme, Cussion should find just a little more production left in the tank.
7) Akaki Akayre (S41 finish - LB10)
The lone survivor in Arizona's linebacker corps after regression whittled away at the group, Akayre stands as the top linebacker left in Arizona. However, the group is still wildly talented, which is likely to limit Akayre's overall production, even if he should be the best of the bunch.
8) Caleb Hayden (S41 finish - LB8)
With Bridge Burner theoretically swapping to DT, Caleb Hayden possesses a small but notable TPE lead over his fellow Hahalua linebackers. Very similar to the situation in Arizona, albeit at a lower tier of TPE.
Defensive Backs
1) Harley Andrews (S41 finish - DB22)
There appears to be a changing of the guard in Sarasota as Andrews has now overtaken King Zeus as the highest TPE CB on the team (and one of the highest TPE players in the entire league). If this pans out, Andrews will benefit from being targeted frequently as Sarasota's offense forces teams to pass to keep up.
2) Draft Steal (S41 finish - DB3)
Draft Steal has very nearly been surpassed by fellow Copperhead Zamir Kehla Jr, but for the time being it seems likely that Steal's experience should keep him in the CB1 slot for now. Even in a down season for Austin's offense, Steal managed an impressive DB3 fantasy finish. His opportunities should only improve if Austin's offense returns to form, forcing opponents to throw more often.
3) Charles Chapman (S41 finish - N/A)
The newly converted DT is losing a considerable amount of TPE to the position swap, but he should still be quite effective given the sheer amount of TPE he came in with. He should also gain the benefit of Baltimore's offense lighting up the scoreboard, forcing opponents to target him frequently in the hope of keeping pace.
4) Spottie O'Dopalicious (S41 finish - DB9)
Another CB1 just on the verge of losing the coveted designation, Spottie should be able to hold onto the title over fellow Arizona CB Outlaw Mode Sicko. Arizona's offense is poised to be efficient as ever, and their front seven makes the prospect of running against them nightmare inducing. Spottie should see plenty of chances for fantasy production.
5) Bonzi Buddy (S41 finish - DB16)
Finally poised to take over New York's CB1 role from long time incumbent Dax Dangerfield, Bonzi Buddy stands to benefit from New York's slowly improving offense. If they manage to make a leap this season, Buddy could rise to the ranks of the fantasy elite.
6) Ace McAlister (S41 finish - DB2)
Fresh off a stellar season, the Otters appear set to run it back in similar fashion. The one thing that could hamper a repeat performance is that Orange County really built up their secondary this offseason while their front seven continues to be rather mediocre. If opponents find it easier to run the ball than pass it against this lethal secondary, then McAlister's chances to make plays could plummet.
7) Quendyn Quarterstorm (S41 finish - DB12)
Chicago was surprisingly successful last season, but their offense didn't quite put the pressure on other teams that you want to see for defensive back production. However, the Butchers' offense is slowly improving and Quarterstorm is now one of the absolute best CBs in the entire league. A leap should be coming soon.
8) Charlie Thorson (S41 finish - DB31)
You want to talk about failing to put pressure on opponents, Berlin's offense did their defensive backs no favors for production. The Fire Salamanders haven't really changed anything on offense going into S42, but then on paper they never should have been that bad in the first place. With Thorson set to be Berlin's CB1, all the offense has to do is live up to their TPE totals to give Thorson a major rebound season.
Anyway, onto the rankings!
Quarterbacks
1) Nova Montagne (S41 finish - QB2)
The Honolulu offense is just on another level. Montagne herself is maxed out, her two top receivers are maxed out (or just about there, give or take regression), and the Hahalua's maxed out running back is a receiving weapon out of the backfield. Montagne will have passing volume, efficiency, and scoring. What more do you want?
2) Preston Beatz (S41 finish - QB3)
Beatz continues to grow, as do his receivers. Beatz has just hit his build cap going into this season, his WR1 Rocky Moreaux will be maxed out shortly (if he isn't already), and WR2 Shane Turnbull will hit 1k TPE this season. Baltimore posted the second most pass attempts in the league in S41 after posting the most pass attempts in the league the season prior, so volume isn't a concern. With volume and TPE on his side, Beatz looks like a lock for yet another high scoring season. The only potential hiccup is Baltimore's trade for RB Ceti Pyxis. I doubt the Hawks suddenly become a run heavy squad as their passing game still sports better potential on paper, but you do have to wonder if the 1-2 punch of Pyxis and Money Tolliver in the backfield is enough to temper Beatz's outrageous volume a bit.
3) Willier Miller (S41 finish - QB1)
It's almost like Carter Knight never left. Rookie Willier Miller steps in and immediately lights the fantasy world on fire, finishing his rookie season as the QB1. This despite having a low TPE total and few weapons worth mentioning. Clearly Sarasota figured something out that simply works, but at the end of the day Miller's TPE is still on the low side for an ISFL QB and his weapons are just kinda average. The potential is there, but so is some risk.
4) Queen Elizabeth II (S41 finish - QB13)
You may be wondering, "why in the hell is Tuba ranking the defending QB13 as the QB4?!" Well, quite frankly, that QB13 finish was a ridiculous outlier. If you look at the previous three seasons, QEII finished as the QB5, QB2, and QB1 for fantasy purposes. Elizabeth's career averages prior to S41 included 4738 yards, 29 TDs, and 10 INTs. She finished S41 with just 3803 yards, 18 TDs, and 13 INTs. I don't know what happened, but I don't think it's happening again. QEII herself is just shy of being maxed thanks to regression, but isn't missing anything major. Her two top weapons are also maxed. Austin's running backs are just good enough that the Copperheads may not feel pressure to throw the ball all the time, but this offense should still be pass-centric and generally effective. Maybe Austin's offense is broken and they don't figure things out in S42, but based on history I'm betting on a major rebound for the zombie monarch.
5) Owen Farrell (S41 finish - QB4)
Unlike the QBs listed above, Farrell does not have a plethora of elite weapons, nor is he overly sim blessed. What he does have, however, is a lot of TPE, an elite WR1, and little in the way of RB talent to compete with for volume. San Jose enters S42 with much the same setup as they did in S41, and that clearly treated Farrell quite well given his QB4 finish. Expect more of the same from the Sabercat QB.
6) Blaine Falco (S41 finish - QB9)
A rookie in S41, Blaine Falco made the third fewest pass attempts in the league as New York opted to lean on their dynamic running game instead. However, star running back Michaelangelo McTurtle is really starting to feel the brunt of regression right as the Silverbacks receiving corps is hitting its stride. New York is unlikely to suddenly air the ball out every play, but a little more volume combined with continued improvement on Falco's part could result in some surprising numbers on middling volume.
7) Creg Jerrith IV (S41 finish - QB6)
With a couple seasons of experience under his belt, Jerrith has very nearly maxed out his build. His weapons aren't exactly elite, but they aren't bad either. Neither is his protection from the best offensive lineman in the league. So where's the problem? Well, it's with who's lining up behind Jerrith in Cape Town's backfield. The Crash already had the fewest pass plays in the league in S41, and since then star running back Jarvis Harbinger-Marjin has done nothing but improve while RB2 Nakiri Ayame has become a weapon in her own right. Jerrith is a fine QB and I expect great efficiency out of him, but the lack of volume is going to severely limit his fantasy upside.
8) Donovan Winters III (S41 finish - N/A)
The heir to Arizona legend Wendell Sailor, Winters enters S42 as the Outlaws' new rookie QB. Thanks to Sailor's graceful aging, Winters had the opportunity to really grow and thrive in the DSFL before getting called up, so he should hit the ground running. However, his situation is very similar to Cape Town's Creg Jerrith IV. Winters has solid weapons to throw to, but Arizona is clearly going to lean on the dynamic backfield duo of Danny Nedelko and Sherwin Blue Jr. Winters should be efficient, but expect a lack of volume to prevent the rookie from being great.
Special Note: Wolfie McDummy Jr
No, McDummy is not my QB9 (though close at QB10). However, I think McDummy's situation is worth calling out. Wolfie McDummy Jr enters the league amid some turmoil. Colorado made it quite clear entering this offseason that they were looking to tear down and rebuild. They've been selling pieces left and right, but notably the one thing that they have not touched is the passing game. This leaves the Yeti with a roster barren of talent except for a very low TPE QB and some surprisingly respectable weapons to throw to. It's not unreasonable to expect Colorado to find themselves airing the ball early and often, and it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if McDummy ended this coming season with the most pass attempts in the league. However, keep in mind that A) Colorado is still looking to move pieces, and B) I cannot understate how low McDummy's TPE is compared to a typical ISFL QB. It's a high risk/high reward proposition, but if you're feeling lucky McDummy might just be the late round sleeper that could win you the league.
Running Backs
1) Bean Delphine Jr (S41 finish - RB1)
It may come as a surprise to most of you that Bean, not JHM, was the RB1 last season. Bean may not be the engine of Honolulu's offense the same way JHM is the heart of Cape Town's, but she's still the unquestioned workhorse running back of one of the best offenses in the ISFL. Unlike JHM, Bean doesn't have a strong RB2 breathing down her neck to risk splitting touches with.
2) Jarvis Harbinger-Marjin (S41 finish - RB2)
As noted above, JHM is the heart and soul of the Crash's offense. Normally I'd say you're perfectly fine taking either one of JHM or Bean and it's just luck of the draw for who ends up on top. However, there is a little bit of risk involved for JHM this season. With RB2 Nakiri Ayame really coming into her own, JHM may find himself splitting some touches. Cape Town still boasts a powerhouse offense and JHM is still the lead back, but beware the risk of a committee backfield.
3) Pete Zuh (S41 finish - RB3)
Pete Zuh may not be the most impressive running back in the league, but he's a solid workhorse for the perennially relevant Sarasota offense. His receiving work in particular was a massive boost last season, and with the Sailfish's WR2 and TE1 both facing regression that role is unlikely to fade.
4) Danny Nedelko (S41 finish - RB4)
You may be sensing a theme of minimal turnover in the RB ranks. Still, it's hard to put Nedelko anywhere else. Arizona's offense is ridiculously efficient and Nedelko is the maxed out running back leading the charge, but he's still stuck in a committee with Sherwin Blue Jr. The Outlaws' committee approach will limit Nedelko's ceiling, but consider him a safe bet to be fantasy relevant.
5) Armor Queen (S41 finish - RB8)
Finally, something different. Berlin's offense just couldn't figure itself out last season despite boasting considerable talent, and this ranking will probably be rather lofty if those struggles continue in S42. However, on paper you have a solid workhorse RB on a well rounded, solid offense that should get plenty of chances thanks to a stellar defense. The potential is there.
6) Frank Dux (S41 finish - RB12)
Despite facing minimal competition from aging veteran back Lalu Mohammed Zohri, Dux just couldn't get out of his own way in S41. His terrible 3.88 yards per carry limited him to a RB12 finish despite posting over 300 touches. The hope going into S42 is that Dux's own growth combined with that of the entire Butchers' offense is enough to improve that efficiency while also giving Dux more chances to score. Zohri is still there, but the TPE discrepancy should ensure that Dux remains the clear lead back.
7) Leandre Diarra (S41 finish - RB23)
That jump from RB23 to projected RB7 looks funny until you consider that Diarra spent the offseason slimming down to pick up some speed. Yes, the ISFL's last fullback has finally given and and switched to a power back archetype. He probably won't be a workhorse given the presence of the up and coming Tyler One, but Diarra should be the clear leader of the backfield.
8) Adebayo Akinfenwa (S41 finish - RB5)
Part of the Wraiths' monstrous backfield, Akinfenwa simply doesn't get the volume necessary to be a reliably elite fantasy running back. However, he does do an excellent job maximizing the touches he does get.
9) Michaelangelo McTurtle (S41 finish - RB7)
McTurtle's days of being New York's workhorse are sadly over. Backup Michael Touchback has officially forced his way into a committee backfield with McTurtle, severely limiting McTurtle's fantasy potential. Still, McTurtle is a dynamic threat both as a runner and receiver out of the backfield, and New York's offense has the potentially to be sneaky good this season with the amount of talent they've amassed.
10) Kumquat Archipelago (S41 finish - RB9)
The other half of Yellowknife's killer backfield tandem, Archipelago's usage tends to slightly trail Akinfenwa as the former has the skillset to split out wide more often. A useful talent given the dearth of receiving weapons the Wraiths currently possess, but not quite as lucrative for fantasy purposes.
11) Ceti Pyxis (S41 finish - RB6)
Now in a new home, Ceti Pyxis no longer finds herself as a workhorse back. However, Pyxis should still at least be the lead back of Baltimore's backfield, and the Hawks appear to have an up and coming juggernaut of an offense. Whether or not the volume is there, there should be plenty of efficiency and scoring opportunities to go around.
12) Sherwin Blue Jr (S41 finish - RB16)
Despite pretty evenly splitting the backfield work, Blue didn't hold a candle to Danny Nedelko's efficiency out of the backfield in S41. Given that Blue is now a 1k+ TPE running back himself, I would expect some positive regression on sheer talent alone.
13) Howard Coward (S41 finish - RB15)
Rookie Howard Coward was quite possibly the only Copperhead not affected by Austin's inexplicable offensive slump. Despite splitting time pretty evenly with backfield mate Jeff Newman, Coward walked away with an astonishing 14 rushing TDs on just 194 carries. Presumably those TDs will be a little more evenly split this season, but if the Copperheads' offense returns to form there should be plenty of scoring opportunities to go around.
14) Lord Farquaads (S41 finish - RB11)
Farquaads is a tricky one. On the one hand, he actually did better than this ranking last season despite having more competition in the backfield that he will in S42. On the other hand, he's a low TPE back mired in a committee backfield on a team that appears more geared to pass than run. Some major boom or bust vibes from Farquaads, but it's a gamble that could pay off in spades.
15) Kyle Crane (S41 finish - N/A)
Freshly called up from the DSFL, Crane immediately finds himself to be the workhorse back for New Orleans. Which would be a lot more impressive if the Second Line did things like "run the ball" or "score". NOLA threw a league leading 729 pass attempts last season against just 174 rush attempts, and they don't look like they're set to change that much. They also finished last in points scored with a scant 15.4 points per game, which also doesn't seem likely to change much.
16) Money Tolliver (S41 finish - RB10)
For a brief, shining moment, Tolliver appeared to be set to be the workhorse running back for the up and coming Baltimore offense. Then the Hawks traded for Ceti Pyxis. Now likely relegated to RB2 duties, Tolliver's ceiling is playing his way into an even timeshare with the higher TPE running back and hoping sim luck falls his way for scoring chances.
17) Jeff Newman (S41 finish - RB19)
The good news for Newman is that he managed a respectable S41 campaign despite ceding almost all scoring chances to backfield mate Howard Coward. If the sim decides to spread the wealth a little better in S42 and/or the Copperheads offense returns to form, Newman should be a much better fantasy asset.
18) Malik Brooks (S41 finish - N/A)
Rookie Malik Brooks is something of a wildcard. After a fire sale offseason for Colorado, the Yeti now appear poised to become a very pass happy outfit. What's more, the trade that sent Ceti Pyxis to Baltimore and made room for Brooks to step in as the lead back in Colorado also brought fellow rookie back Gucci Gurley to town. If Brooks wrangles away lead back duties and Colorado runs even a remotely balanced offense, Brooks will feast. If Colorado reverts to Yeeti form and Brooks is simply the lead back of a full blown committee, then the upside here is limited.
Wide Receivers
1) Johnny Blaze Jr (S41 finish - WR1)
Already the fantasy WR1 last season, Blaze enters S42 with more TPE, an improved QB, and regressing competition for targets. It doesn't get much safer.
2) Octavio Perez (S41 finish - WR6)
Perez took a backseat to fellow Hahalua wideout Leek Mai-Heinous last season and still managed to finish just outside the top 5. Now clearly the WR1 in Honolulu after Leek's regression, Perez should roll into S42 as the clear top target for one of the league's best offenses.
3) Rocky Moreaux (S41 finish - WR4)
At this point, Baltimore's offense is basically the same as Honolulu's, just a season or two behind. Much like Perez, Moreaux finds himself as the clear top weapon for one of the best offenses in the league.
4) PeePee Poop-Eater Sr. (S41 finish - WR2)
The potential is still there for Poop-Eater to blow away the competition like he did last season (50 point lead over WR3). New Orleans still figures to be an extremely pass happy offense with little in the way of weaponry outside of Poop-Eater. Be wary, though, that Poop-Eater required historical levels of target volume to achieve that. If the Second Line spread the wealth or lean more run heavy at all, Poop-Eater's fantasy production will tumble.
5) Leek Mai-Heinous (S41 finish - WR3)
Now Honolulu's likely WR2 after regression took a bite out of his total, Leek is likely set to produce similar numbers to Perez last season.
6) Sconnie McSix (S41 finish - WR9)
McSix had the catches and yards last season, but just couldn't quite find the end zone enough to really be a fantasy force. With even more of the Sabercats' offense funneling through the wideout this season as San Jose's weapons transition, McSix should be able to fix that issue in S42.
7) NCADV RAINN (S41 finish - WR12)
With previous WR1 Eeeeeeee phenssta both regressing and retiring, RAINN is sets to take the reins as Colorado's WR1. If the Yeti return to their old Yeeti ways as they seem set to do, the volume could be there for RAINN to have a monster season.
8) Delores Bickerman (S41 finish - WR21)
Man I'm going to look like an idiot if the Copperheads don't right the ship after their abysmal S41 campaign. Bickerman may be Austin's WR2, but for some reason the wideout always seems to slightly outproduce nominal WR1 Zaphod Beeblebrox. If the Copperheads figure their offense back out as I expect they should, Bickerman should be set for another solid campaign.
9) Mandrews McHollywood (S41 finish - WR5)
McHollywood resides in a strange place where all the factors point toward improved efficiency (maxed out player, improving QB, weakening backfield), but he was already absurdly efficient last year. He finished 5th in yards and T-4th in TDs despite only finishing 25th in catches. At the end of the day, the Silverbacks figure to be a more run focused offense, limiting the potential upside of McHollywood.
10) Zaphod Beeblebrox (S41 finish - WR30)
Nominally Austin's WR1, I don't think Beeblebrox has outscored Bickerman in any season the two were listed as the Copperheads' WR1 and 2. That fun little tidbit aside, please don't make me look like an idiot Austin GMs. This offense has too much TPE to be bad again.
11) Shane Turnbull (S41 finish - WR8)
Despite being Baltimore's WR2, Turnbull has the potential to be an elite fantasy wideout in his own right if the Hawks continue to emulate Honolulu's teambuilding approach. He's still just a tad lower in TPE for the time being, though.
12) Austin Morley (S41 finish - WR15)
The clear WR1 for the Butchers, Morley should benefit from improved QB play along with just a better offense in general as Chicago's young offense grows.
13) Derrick Prince (S41 finish - WR10)
Now Cape Town's WR1 as fellow wideout Erwin Kemp succumbs to regression, Prince will nevertheless be hampered by Cape Town's painfully low passing volume. He'll be efficient with his touches. Just don't expect that many of them.
14) Matthew Mara (S41 finish - WR14)
Forever just barely trailing fellow Silverback wideout Mandrews McHollywood, Mara slots in as a likely low volume by wildly efficient WR2 for New York. So pretty much exactly what he did last season.
15) Dick Grayson (S41 finish - WR13)
This is something of a risky pick. Grayson is nominally New Orleans' WR2, and the Second Line figure to continue their ridiculously pass heavy ways in S42. However, Grayson has some serious competition for targets from rookie Keanu Calhoun. Grayson is the better receiver for now, but Calhoun has made clear that he sees himself on a Hall of Fame trajectory and is almost certain to overtake Grayson in TPE in short order. There's upside here, but there's also a lot of risk.
16) Calvin Spiff (S41 finish - WR25)
Stuck on a team that much prefers to run the ball than pass, Spiff really hasn't seen much volume over the seasons. However, he's still the unquestioned WR1 for Yellowknife, and the Wraiths offense looks like it's one of the best in the league on paper. Volume is unlikely to increase much, but with just a little sim luck there should be enough scoring to go around.
17) Thomas Robinson (S41 finish - WR20)
Similar to Spiff, Robinson finds himself as the WR1 on a run centric team. Unlike Spiff, Robinson actually has some notable players to share targets with. No one is challenging Robinson for the WR1 role, but it could be enough to siphon away a few targets in an already low passing volume offense.
18) "Captain" Billy Stinkwater (S41 finish - WR22)
New QB, better RBs, and regression starting to leech the life out of him. Stinkwater remains Arizona's WR1, but given the Outlaws' propensity to run the ball that doesn't necessarily mean much.
Tight Ends
1) Mister Hogmally (S41 finish - TE1)
Mister Hogmally is the best receiving weapon on a Colorado team that figures to return to its old Yeeti ways. Sign me up for wide receiver numbers from my tight end.
2) Lucius Salem (S41 finish - TE3)
Salem might be regressing, but he's still the second target in Sarasota's persistent passing attack. He's still among the safest tight ends you could choose.
3) Walter McKinley (S41 finish - TE2)
S41 was a breakout campaign for McKinley, and he figures to once again feature as the second best receiving weapon for the Butchers. However, Chicago does have two up and coming wideouts that could start siphoning away targets as the season wears on.
4) Detective Crashmore (S41 finish - TE5)
Yeah, the Wraiths don't pass much, but otherwise Crashmore sits in a very similar situation as Salem and McKinley; he's the clear second target in Yellowknife's offense.
5) Big McLarge Huge (S41 finish - TE7)
Unlike the previous entries here, Big McLarge Huge doesn't quite have a stranglehold on the role of being the second target. He also is likely to suffer from Orange County's run heavy offense. However, the Otter tight end is growing quickly, and could end up the clear favorite behind WR1 Thomas Robinson by the end of the season.
6) Deshawn Penne (S41 finish - TE9)
The end of an era. The perennial fantasy all star suffered a double whammy of personal regression and team wide regression. Hopefully the team wide issue rebounds, but Penne himself continues to fall behind Austin's other receiving options.
7) American Boot (S41 finish - TE4)
Boot has been hanging on as a relevant fantasy tight end for a while, but regression is finally hitting. Combined with Cape Town's run centric offense, American Boot is likely to start declining quickly in the near future.
8) Waluigi Gronkowski (S41 finish - TE8)
Gronkowski is thoroughly buried in Honolulu's pecking order, but the offense is so wildly productive that the Hahalua tight end could snag a few TDs.
Offensive Linemen
1) Swantavius Payne (S41 finish - OL1)
At this point the king of this generation of offensive linemen is OL1 until someone else at least catches up in TPE.
2) Bengal Tigerheart (S41 finish - OL2)
The Hawks feature a powerhouse passing offense, with Tigerheart anchoring the offensive line. He'll have plenty of opportunities to earn them pancakes.
3) Remi Musgrave-Smythe (S41 finish - OL10)
The Yeti are very likely to jump from middle of the pack passing volume in S41 to league leading passing volume in S42. Their mauler left tackle will be plowing the way.
4) Brandon Mason (S41 finish - OL8)
Mason suffered along with the rest of Austin's offense in S41, but if the Copperheads can get their bearings back their left tackle stands to see some impressive production.
5) Franz Udo Culman-Kaiser (S41 finish - OL3)
Culman-Kaiser is unfortunately getting hit pretty hard by regression. Still, he figures to be the left tackle for the powerhouse Hahalua. He should be solid.
6) Dusty Wilson (S41 finish - OL5)
The Wraiths may not throw much, but Dusty Wilson has enough TPE to eat his fill of pancakes regardless.
7) Walrus Jones (S41 finish - OL6)
Copy paste Dusty Wilson, but one season behind.
8) Pan Cakes (S41 finish - OL4)
Cakes did remarkably well in S41 despite being lower TPE and on a run heavy team. It's unlikely they keep that up in S42, but there's still something to be said for being the left tackle of a sneaky good offense.
Kickers
No sense writing blurbs for everyone here. Kicker success is largely tied to success of the offenses they're attached to, with some smaller influence from the kicker's own TPE.
1) Swantavius King (S41 finish - K2)
2) Ray Baker (S41 finish - K4)
3) Double Doink (S41 finish - K5)
4) Bob Kickerson (S41 finish - N/A)
5) Orlando Doom (S41 finish - K3)
6) Known Acquaintance (S41 finish - K8)
7) Mike Makmur (S41 finish - K11)
8) Jayme Jayne Jay-Jamison (S41 finish - K14)
Defensive Linemen
1) Joseph Reed (S41 finish - DL1)
After a second consecutive season of absolutely outrageous production, it's clear Reed is hear to stay. The big DT anchor of Chicago's 3-4 front, Reed doesn't have much competition from the rest of the front seven for getting to into the backfield and causing havoc.
2) Raphael McTurtle (S41 finish - DL2)
Similar to Reed, McTurtle is the big DT anchor of Arizona's 3-4 defensive front. Also similar to Reed, McTurtle doesn't have much in the way of competition from the rest of the defensive line. The reason McTurtle falls behind Reed is because Arizona does boast the best linebacker corps in the ISFL, which somewhat limits Reed's potential.
3) Daron Arnold (S41 finish - DL4)
He's not quite left for dead yet, but this will likely be Arnold's last notable season before coasting to retirement. The defensive end remains the top player in the Wraiths' 3-4 front, but is starting to face serious competition on the defensive line.
4) Nathan Meaghor (S41 finish - DL10)
I have predicted a breakout every season for Meaghor and every season I am left disappointed. The Berlin DT checks most of the boxes I'm looking for based on trends I've seen among successful fantasy defensive linemen, but just can't seem to put it together.
5) Udo E Beaty (S41 finish - DL19)
Alright, so there are a few assumptions going into this one. First and foremost, Beaty appears poised to take over as the highest TPE defensive lineman in Cape Town. Second, the Crash look like they have the personnel to switch to a 4-3 base formation on defense, which greatly benefits defensive ends like Beaty over defensive tackles like fantasy stalwart Christian Marciano. Obviously this ranking is bunk if Cape Town continues to play more 3-4, but Beaty represents some intriguing potential.
6) Fat Jack (S41 finish - DL15)
Fat Jack doesn't quite dominate his fellow Sabercat defensive linemen in TPE, but he does lead the group. With San Jose likely to play a 3-4 base defense again, there's potential for Jack to rise.
7) Bridge Burner (S41 finish - N/A)
With Bridge Burner theoretically swapping to defensive tackle (you better not be lying to me @MMFLEX), Honolulu should have a new stalwart in the middle of their 3-4 defense. Even with the position swap penalty, Burner possesses substantially more TPE than the other Hahalua defensive linemen, though the presence of one of the league's best linebacker corps could dampen production a bit.
8) Iosefa Fuamatu-Ma'afala (S41 finish - DL5)
With the Otters once again set to run with a 4-3 defense, Fuamatu-Ma'afala is poised to wreak havoc from the edge for a second consecutive season. He's a bit lower TPE than you'd like to see so last season may have been something of a high water mark, but don't underestimate this defensive end.
Linebackers
1) Solace Avenger (S41 finish - LB1)
From what I've seen, the best linebackers tend to be 3-4 OLBs who blow away the rest of their team's front seven in TPE. Solace Avenger checks all boxes decisively.
2) Aqeel Steele (S41 finish - LB4)
The inactive Aqeel Steele has fellow Sailfish LB Fronky Fresh breathing down his neck, but Steele remains the top TPE linebacker in Sarasota for the time being. What's more, the defensive line in front of him isn't exactly filled with all stars. There's a reason Steele finished LB4 overall last season and that's unlikely to change in S42.
3) Cruella de Ville (S41 finish - LB2)
Cruella managed to separate herself from the rest of the San Jose LBs over the course of last season, and it showed as the Sabercat finished as the LB2 overall. San Jose does boast some talent on the defensive line that could marginally reduce Cruella's potential, but she still dominates the team's LBs in TPE and should feast in San Jose's 3-4 scheme.
4) Tank McGibbons (S41 finish - LB26)
Big bump for McGibbons here as his greatest competition for production among Austin's LBs is regressing hard. Tank should be a solid OLB in the Copperheads' 3-4 defense. There is some concern about the rest of the linebacker corps being at least solid along with the entire defensive line being downright elite, but it's worth mentioning that Austin's S42 defense looks a lot like Yellowknife's S39 defense that produced multiple fantasy relevant LBs despite having talent everywhere. McGibbons likely won't have high tackle totals buoying a safe floor, but he could very easily be set up to produce all kinds of TFLs and sacks.
5) Barry Badman (S41 finish - LB5)
Badman sits in an odd spot where it's not really clear what defensive scheme Cape Town plans to deploy. If the Crash play predominately 3-4, then Badman would immediately become an elite fantasy option. As it stands, it looks like Cape Town is more likely to focus on a 4-3 formation. Badman doesn't stand to reach quite as lofty of heights that way, but the sheer TPE difference between him and the rest of the Crash linebacker corps should be enough to make him productive anyway.
6) Kahn Cussion (S41 finish - LB16)
Cussion may be dropping from regression, but his greatest competition among the Yellowknife LBs is basically keeling over. Set to be the clear top LB in the Wraiths' 3-4 scheme, Cussion should find just a little more production left in the tank.
7) Akaki Akayre (S41 finish - LB10)
The lone survivor in Arizona's linebacker corps after regression whittled away at the group, Akayre stands as the top linebacker left in Arizona. However, the group is still wildly talented, which is likely to limit Akayre's overall production, even if he should be the best of the bunch.
8) Caleb Hayden (S41 finish - LB8)
With Bridge Burner theoretically swapping to DT, Caleb Hayden possesses a small but notable TPE lead over his fellow Hahalua linebackers. Very similar to the situation in Arizona, albeit at a lower tier of TPE.
Defensive Backs
1) Harley Andrews (S41 finish - DB22)
There appears to be a changing of the guard in Sarasota as Andrews has now overtaken King Zeus as the highest TPE CB on the team (and one of the highest TPE players in the entire league). If this pans out, Andrews will benefit from being targeted frequently as Sarasota's offense forces teams to pass to keep up.
2) Draft Steal (S41 finish - DB3)
Draft Steal has very nearly been surpassed by fellow Copperhead Zamir Kehla Jr, but for the time being it seems likely that Steal's experience should keep him in the CB1 slot for now. Even in a down season for Austin's offense, Steal managed an impressive DB3 fantasy finish. His opportunities should only improve if Austin's offense returns to form, forcing opponents to throw more often.
3) Charles Chapman (S41 finish - N/A)
The newly converted DT is losing a considerable amount of TPE to the position swap, but he should still be quite effective given the sheer amount of TPE he came in with. He should also gain the benefit of Baltimore's offense lighting up the scoreboard, forcing opponents to target him frequently in the hope of keeping pace.
4) Spottie O'Dopalicious (S41 finish - DB9)
Another CB1 just on the verge of losing the coveted designation, Spottie should be able to hold onto the title over fellow Arizona CB Outlaw Mode Sicko. Arizona's offense is poised to be efficient as ever, and their front seven makes the prospect of running against them nightmare inducing. Spottie should see plenty of chances for fantasy production.
5) Bonzi Buddy (S41 finish - DB16)
Finally poised to take over New York's CB1 role from long time incumbent Dax Dangerfield, Bonzi Buddy stands to benefit from New York's slowly improving offense. If they manage to make a leap this season, Buddy could rise to the ranks of the fantasy elite.
6) Ace McAlister (S41 finish - DB2)
Fresh off a stellar season, the Otters appear set to run it back in similar fashion. The one thing that could hamper a repeat performance is that Orange County really built up their secondary this offseason while their front seven continues to be rather mediocre. If opponents find it easier to run the ball than pass it against this lethal secondary, then McAlister's chances to make plays could plummet.
7) Quendyn Quarterstorm (S41 finish - DB12)
Chicago was surprisingly successful last season, but their offense didn't quite put the pressure on other teams that you want to see for defensive back production. However, the Butchers' offense is slowly improving and Quarterstorm is now one of the absolute best CBs in the entire league. A leap should be coming soon.
8) Charlie Thorson (S41 finish - DB31)
You want to talk about failing to put pressure on opponents, Berlin's offense did their defensive backs no favors for production. The Fire Salamanders haven't really changed anything on offense going into S42, but then on paper they never should have been that bad in the first place. With Thorson set to be Berlin's CB1, all the offense has to do is live up to their TPE totals to give Thorson a major rebound season.