08-07-2023, 04:52 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-07-2023, 10:57 PM by lemonoppy. Edited 3 times in total.)
The S43 DSFL season features a crop of premier backs, poised to make some noise for their clubs. I thought I’d do a friendly power-ranking of the DSFL’s top backs, with a handful of them already at the 250 TPE cap to begin the season.
1A - Oskar Clark (287 TPE) - - goblin jr.
This is a toss-up between Oskar Clark and Anakin Skywalker. With a single TPE difference, it really could go either way. Because I can’t in good faith put myself at the top of a list, I will concede to goblin jr. here. Clark is the only running back on Norfolk’s roster for the meantime. To add to the case for Clark, Norfolk is much more stable at the quarterback position, with a veteran starting week one.
Projection: Pro Bowl
1B - Anakin Skywalker (286 TPE) - - ForSucksFake
After being drafted by Baltimore, Skywalker has made an immediate switch from wide receiver to running back, a move that benefits not only Baltimore, but Kansas City as well. Kansas City is looking to return to the DSFL playoffs in S43, despite early media articles putting them near the bottom of their conference. With the departure of Jake Jefferson at quarterback, the Coyotes will probably look to lean on the running game as Leonard McRobinson develops early on. Should Jason West return from IA, production could dip slightly but Skywalker’s hands and receiving ability will open up more possibilities.
Projection: Pro Bowl
2 - Kyle Bessey (281 TPE) - - Pokecraft
Honestly you could put Bessey in the same tier as Clark and Skywalker. While there is another running back on the roster in Tatum Washington III, Beasley is clear and away RB1 for a strong Tijuana team. With a good quarterback on the roster, Bessey can make an impact on any game plan Tijuana chooses to go with.
Projection: Pro Bowl
3 - Bertie Mannering-Phipps (258 TPE) - - bernardhibou
Mannering-Phipps was drafted along with Skywalker to be the running back tandem of the future of the Baltimore Hawks. Despite having less TPE than Eldroh Kove, BMP gets the nod here due to being the clear cut number running back on his team, where the Pythons have two good backs.
Projection: Pro Bowl
4 - Eldroh Kove (270 TPE) - - Matteo
Kove had a fantastic season in S42, with 1300+ rushing yards and 10 rushing scores. Entering his third season, Kove is expected to build on his two consecutive 1000+ yards rushing seasons. Time will tell if the Portland game plan will see second-year RB Sean Aldrich gets more touches than last season. Either way, Kove is a bonafide monster at running back.
Projection: Pro Bowl
5 - Reginald Arceneaux (171 TPE) - - PSanchez55
A little behind his S43 running back classmates, Arceneaux could surprise as the Birddogs primary back. However, he will be pushed by two high-earning S44 rookies in the Birddogs running back stable. Time will tell if he closes out on the 250 TPE wall before season’s end.
Projection: Major improvement over rookie season (800-1000 yards)
6 - Sean Aldrich (146) - - slumped64
It’s really hard to say how Aldrich will perform this season. Eldroh Kove has had two immaculate seasons in Portland so far, and I can’t see his touches being eaten into too much in his third year. But I won’t be surprised to see Aldrich get close to 500 yards on the ground.
Projection: Slight improvement over rookie season (500-600 yards)
7 - Joe Bazooka (74 TPE) - - Bazooka_Joe
Sure, there are running backs with much more TPE than Bazooka has, but our favorite projectile has the distinction of being the only running back on the Royals roster. With Josh Patterson as the Royals’ seasoned quarterback, Bazooka could be a player to watch in the DSFL this year.
Projection: Respectable rookie season (600-900 yards)
8 - Tatum Washington III (117 TPE) - -KW1
Washington is quite far behind the rest of the S43 running back class, but there’s always hope for a TPE jump. However, with Bessey the Bell Cow firmly entrenched as Tijuana’s RB1, it will be tough for TW3 to make a huge impact, but 500 yards wouldn’t be a surprise.
Projection: On-Par with rookie season
9 - Ivan Ivanov (97 TPE) - - kmatt
Ivanov has been earning great heading into his rookie season, and with a longtime user putting in the work, he could be a darkhorse candidate for the Pro Bowl this year. He is the only running back on Minnesota’s roster, however it’s a conference full of quality running backs.
Projection: Solid rookie season (800-1000 yards)
10 - Maple Dogwood (94 TPE) - - dogwoodmaple
Maple Dogwood is a fantastic-earning rookie from an experienced user, but it’s hard to tell how his first season will go in a packed Dallas running back room. I’d be watching to see if Dogwood pushes Arceneaux for the starting spot. Either way, he’s probably RB2 and will see a decent amount of action.
Projection: Respectable rookie season (500-700 yards)
1A - Oskar Clark (287 TPE) - - goblin jr.
This is a toss-up between Oskar Clark and Anakin Skywalker. With a single TPE difference, it really could go either way. Because I can’t in good faith put myself at the top of a list, I will concede to goblin jr. here. Clark is the only running back on Norfolk’s roster for the meantime. To add to the case for Clark, Norfolk is much more stable at the quarterback position, with a veteran starting week one.
Projection: Pro Bowl
1B - Anakin Skywalker (286 TPE) - - ForSucksFake
After being drafted by Baltimore, Skywalker has made an immediate switch from wide receiver to running back, a move that benefits not only Baltimore, but Kansas City as well. Kansas City is looking to return to the DSFL playoffs in S43, despite early media articles putting them near the bottom of their conference. With the departure of Jake Jefferson at quarterback, the Coyotes will probably look to lean on the running game as Leonard McRobinson develops early on. Should Jason West return from IA, production could dip slightly but Skywalker’s hands and receiving ability will open up more possibilities.
Projection: Pro Bowl
2 - Kyle Bessey (281 TPE) - - Pokecraft
Honestly you could put Bessey in the same tier as Clark and Skywalker. While there is another running back on the roster in Tatum Washington III, Beasley is clear and away RB1 for a strong Tijuana team. With a good quarterback on the roster, Bessey can make an impact on any game plan Tijuana chooses to go with.
Projection: Pro Bowl
3 - Bertie Mannering-Phipps (258 TPE) - - bernardhibou
Mannering-Phipps was drafted along with Skywalker to be the running back tandem of the future of the Baltimore Hawks. Despite having less TPE than Eldroh Kove, BMP gets the nod here due to being the clear cut number running back on his team, where the Pythons have two good backs.
Projection: Pro Bowl
4 - Eldroh Kove (270 TPE) - - Matteo
Kove had a fantastic season in S42, with 1300+ rushing yards and 10 rushing scores. Entering his third season, Kove is expected to build on his two consecutive 1000+ yards rushing seasons. Time will tell if the Portland game plan will see second-year RB Sean Aldrich gets more touches than last season. Either way, Kove is a bonafide monster at running back.
Projection: Pro Bowl
5 - Reginald Arceneaux (171 TPE) - - PSanchez55
A little behind his S43 running back classmates, Arceneaux could surprise as the Birddogs primary back. However, he will be pushed by two high-earning S44 rookies in the Birddogs running back stable. Time will tell if he closes out on the 250 TPE wall before season’s end.
Projection: Major improvement over rookie season (800-1000 yards)
6 - Sean Aldrich (146) - - slumped64
It’s really hard to say how Aldrich will perform this season. Eldroh Kove has had two immaculate seasons in Portland so far, and I can’t see his touches being eaten into too much in his third year. But I won’t be surprised to see Aldrich get close to 500 yards on the ground.
Projection: Slight improvement over rookie season (500-600 yards)
7 - Joe Bazooka (74 TPE) - - Bazooka_Joe
Sure, there are running backs with much more TPE than Bazooka has, but our favorite projectile has the distinction of being the only running back on the Royals roster. With Josh Patterson as the Royals’ seasoned quarterback, Bazooka could be a player to watch in the DSFL this year.
Projection: Respectable rookie season (600-900 yards)
8 - Tatum Washington III (117 TPE) - -KW1
Washington is quite far behind the rest of the S43 running back class, but there’s always hope for a TPE jump. However, with Bessey the Bell Cow firmly entrenched as Tijuana’s RB1, it will be tough for TW3 to make a huge impact, but 500 yards wouldn’t be a surprise.
Projection: On-Par with rookie season
9 - Ivan Ivanov (97 TPE) - - kmatt
Ivanov has been earning great heading into his rookie season, and with a longtime user putting in the work, he could be a darkhorse candidate for the Pro Bowl this year. He is the only running back on Minnesota’s roster, however it’s a conference full of quality running backs.
Projection: Solid rookie season (800-1000 yards)
10 - Maple Dogwood (94 TPE) - - dogwoodmaple
Maple Dogwood is a fantastic-earning rookie from an experienced user, but it’s hard to tell how his first season will go in a packed Dallas running back room. I’d be watching to see if Dogwood pushes Arceneaux for the starting spot. Either way, he’s probably RB2 and will see a decent amount of action.
Projection: Respectable rookie season (500-700 yards)