03-27-2024, 09:39 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-27-2024, 12:30 PM by lemonoppy. Edited 2 times in total.)
*Hi Graders, 2x on this please if the HOF media boost is still active*
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the DSFL Player Power Rankings for the S47 season!
I decided I wanted a media project for this season, something that I could work on throughout the season that would allow me to do a more in depth and repeatable analysis of players in the DSFL, rather than producing a load of rambling and disconnected media pieces. The idea was this project would provide users in the DSFL, and those scouting from the ISFL, with valuable data on how players were performing across the season, with updates throughout the season to keep readers updated given the dynamic nature of the league.
The concept I settled on for this project was positional power rankings, with a planned process based on producing a ranking of the best performing players at each position across the DSFL. This would start with a pre-season ranking, and would then be updated at the mid-season mark and at the end of the regular season (to ensure no bias towards players on teams who made an extended playoff run).
Now this is where things got a little complicated, as I didn't want this to just be a ranking of the top TPE earning players, but neither did I want this to just be a 'most passing yards', 'most receiving yards' list, because that's not very interesting to produce or to read as it just becomes a list of statistics. I also felt these measures didn't reflect the dynamic nature of the league, as the top TPE earners aren't likely to change much over a season given all players generally have the same opportunities for earning. Basing the rankings solely off statistics also meant that, for example, a player could start really strongly but then drop off, but their statistics would likely still look strong for a number of weeks before other players caught them, or vise versa.
For the initial rankings, as there was no game data to work with, I decided to use a combination of Total TPE and subjective expectation of achievement in the league this season. In order to accomplish this, I first listed all players by Total TPE and grouped them by position. I then allocated a numerical score to each player based on their Total TPE compared to the rest of the class. In order to not unfairly bias those with a high TPE, I decided the fairest way to do this would be based on a banded system, with all players within a certain range of Total TPE receiving the same score. The bands used are as follows:
Band 1 (2 points) 50-90 TPE
Band 2 (4 points) 91-140 TPE
Band 3 (6 points) 141-200 TPE
Band 4 (8 points) 201-249 TPE
Band 5 (10 points) 250+ TPE
Given the DSFL cap of 250 TPE, I didn't think it made sense to give players with much more than the DSFL maximum TPE applied a big boost in TPE Score given the additional TPE will not lead to a better performance in game.
This will be referred to as 'TPE Score' from now on, in an attempt to limit confusion.
For the next part of the pre-season power rankings I wanted something to act as a pre-existing set of stats, given the absence of stats prior to the start of the season. For this I decided on a more subjective measure based on expected performance in the coming season. The issue I had with this was trying to get a legitimately unbiased opinion on how players were going to perform this year. I didn't want to ask players as a whole, as I figured a number of players would skew positively in their own favour. In an attempt to limit bias, I decided to survey the DSFL GMs for the players they were expecting to be the biggest contributors in the coming season. In order to further limit bias, I wanted representation from all 8 teams.
In order to maximise responses, I gave the GMs the option of listing their top 5 players at each position, failing that a top 3, and failing that their singular top player at each position as a last resort. Out of the 13 GMs I surveyed, 7 of them responded. 5 of the 7 respondents gave me a top 5, while another gave me a top 3 and 1 provided me with their single top pick at each position. Fortunately, I did not get a response from at least one of the GMs for all 8 DSFL teams, with only 7 teams represented in the vote.
Despite my efforts, team bias was not entirely removed. This was particularly evident with a certain respondent, who shall remain nameless, who was the only GM to list their own teams QB as the top QB for the coming season. Across the other surveyed GMs, said QB was ranked a high of 4th.
I have since had a few ideas to limit bias in future renditions of this project. Firstly, I would ideally have more respondents, and a larger player base, meaning this project may be better suited to the ISFL in the future. Secondly, a larger surveyed pool would allow me to prevent GMs from voting for players on their own team. This would remove this as a source of bias entirely, but, with an increased pool of respondents, I would still have the volume required to produce a valid consensus. These are both measures I will look at implementing in the future.
Once I had the responses from the GMs, I needed to process the data to produce an overall consensus on expected performance over the coming season. This process ended up being slightly convoluted, but I think it ended up working. I started by assigning points to each vote a player may receive. If they were ranked number 1 at their position they would receive 5 points, ranked number 2 they would receive 4 points, and so on for the top 5. I then totalled the overall number of points each player received, and this gave me a consensus positional ranking. This allowed me to assign each player a 'Ranking Score'.
The 'Ranking Score' was assigned as follows. The player that was the consensus number 1 at his position received 10 points, the consensus number 2 received 9 points, and so on until number 10 received 1 point.
I then combined the 'Ranking Score' and the 'TPE Score' to give me a 'Power Score' for all eligible DSFL players that would, finally, allow me to produce the inaugural Pre-Season DSFL Positional Power Rankings. I will then analyse the top 5 at each position in the form of a Power Ranking.
QBs:
We're going to start this off by taking a look at the DSFL signal callers.
This was a close and well-contested contest between the top QBs in the DSFL, with the top 6 all well over the 250 TPE limit and separated by just 58 TPE total. The big difference in the Quarterback class was on the GM voting, as there were 2 clear favourites based on expected performance in the coming season.
1 - Puddles O'Duck (TIJ)
Coming in at the top of the inaugural Positional Power Rankings is none other than last season's Offensive MVP, Tijuana's own Puddles O'Duck.
O'Duck had an impressive Rookie year last time out, compiling 3926 passing yards and 34 passing TDs, while completing 63.6% of passes. His INT numbers were likely higher than he would have liked last season, but that didn't slow him down on his way to finishing 2nd in MVP voting and taking home the Offensive MVP Crown. To top off an ultimately impressive first year in the league that saw Puddles lead the Luchadores to a 10-4 record and the top seed in the South, O'Duck was drafted to the ISFL Champion Arizona Outlaws with the 42nd overall pick.
O'Duck was one of the GM darlings at the quarterback position going into the coming season, and it's easy to see why. While Puddles is the 2nd highest TPE earner at the position in the entire league at 352, it's easy to see why people are projecting big things from him this season when you look at the supporting cast surrounding him. Without spoiling the rest of this article, Tijuana boast some BIG play makers at all 3 skill positions putting O'Duck in the best position possible to follow up his strong preliminary year in the league with a monster second outing this time round.
2 - Bugs (BBB)
The other darling of the GM vote, Buccaneer Bugs is expected to be a big contributor in the DSFL in the coming season. Bugs is top 3 when we look at TPE earners in the QB class, and will look to make a strong start to rival O'Duck for the top spot at the midway mark.
Bugs is coming off a big year last year that saw him put up the 3rd most total yards of any QB last year, the 2nd most of returning signal callers, and over 30 total touchdowns.
Bugs has proven he can be an effective passer, completing 60% of his passes last season, but his true value comes from the threat he brings to the table on the ground. Bugs outgained all other QBs in the DSFL on the ground last season, and also lead the position in Rushing TDs. This threat only looks to be even more potent this year as Bondi Beach have strengthened their offensive line through the draft, creating the potential for even more production from the QB run game.
The concerns about Bugs' production in the coming season are focused around one key issue: weapons, the Buccaneers are lacking truly elite weapons to go with their electric QB.
Not a single weapon on the Buccaneers is sat at max TPE at this moment, and they will be relying on rookie Seer Ial to step into a big hole at WR2 if this offense is to be productive through the air. On the ground, Bugs is Bondi's only real threat with the only RBs on the roster lacking the TPE to be real contributors.
Ultimately, Bugs is as good a prospect as ever, especially from a fantasy perspective, but the Buccaneer offense is going to place a lot of pressure on him to be productive for the unit to function.
After the clear cut 1 and 2, this is where the QB class started getting a bit dicey as the remaining 4 players at the DSFL TPE cap were separated by just 6 points total on the GM vote.
3 - Scuddl McDiddl (LON)
Despite not getting any 1st or 2nd place votes, London Royals WB Scuddl McDiddl amassed enough 3rd and 4th place votes to secure the number 3 spot in the inaugural Positional Power Rankings.
McDiddl was productive last year, racking up nearly 4000 total yards amd almost 30 total TDs while leading the Royals to an 8-6 record and an Ultimini appearance that was good enough for 5th place in the MVP voting.
McDiddl is in a position to produce this year woth a solid cast around him. A WR and a receiving RB at the DSFL TPE limit go a long way to helping a QBs production. To back up this top 3 core of producers, London have some depth at both WR and TE that should serve as nice secondary targets for McDiddl.
On a strong team, with difference makers catching the ball, McDiddl is poised to build of a pretty strong showing last year and make a push for the MVP conversation.
4 - Elijah Dyson (NOR)
Finishing just 1 point behind McDiddl, Norfolk Seawolves QB Elijah Dyson was arguably the most divisive quarterback in this class as GMs just could not agree on what his projected production for this season looked like.
Dyson is coming off a monster season last time out, recording more combined yards and more total TDs than any other QB in the DSFL in a campaign that earnt him 3rd in the MVP vote and 2nd in the Offensive MVP vote.
The Seawolves offense is a bit of an enigma going into the coming season. Dyson, an elite RB and a solid WR form a reliable core of players on the offensive side of the ball, however Norfolk will likely require some rookies to step up and contribute in a meaningful way if they are to be productive and reliable on offense this season, and I'm assuming this is where the difference in expectation for Dyson specifically comes from.
Ultimately, Dyson is a quality starter in the league, and if the rookie weapons fresh from the draft can step up to fill the supporting roles, I see no reason why he can't be productive again.
5 - Billy Van Goff (POR)
And its Portland Python Billy Van Goff who sneaks his way to the final spot on the top 5, completing out inaugural QB Power Ranking.
If we're being honest, I would imagine Van Goff will be disappointed with his stat line from last season. How much of that was his fault is difficult to say, as Portland struggled across the board last season resulting in the worst record in the DSFL and the number 1 pick in the draft.
Van Goff will once again be reliant on his TE and speed WR as his main targets on offense, as the slew of Python rookies aim to plug the gaps and give them some presence on the ground.
Ultimately, Van Goff is tough to project this year, but Portland fans and staff alike will be hoping for a general improvement in fortunes across the board as they look to right the ship this season.
QB Shoutout: Greg Hirsch (MIN)
Rookie QB Greg Hirsch looks to step into the starting role on a strong Minnesota team that always have high expectations. With a strong and varied supporting cast, it will be interesting to see how Hirsch gets on this season. He splashed at times during the prospect bowl, will that carry into the regular season?
RBs:
A broad and varied RB group, votes were generally more wildly spread with 8 different backs receiving at least one GM vote. Once again, perhaps unsurprisingly, the players at or beyond the DSFL TPE cap dominated the top of the rankings
1 - Brandon Johnson (TIJ)
Is this the start of a trend? Another Tijuana Luchadore finds himself at the top of the inaugural DSFL Positional Power Rankings. Following the loss of last season's lead back Corey Trevor, Brandon Johnson suddenly finds himself poised for a massive breakout year.
In an offense that is expected to be productive, lead by MVP favourite WB Puddles O'Duck, Johnson has absolutely zero competition for touches out of the backfield as the only RB on the roster. In, what looks to be, a more pass heavy attack, Johnson's 'Power Back' archetype looks to benefit in short yardage situations especially, but stands to be a key part of what is expected to be one of the most productive offenses in the league over the coming season.
2 - Soul King Brook (MIN)
3 - Dominic Reynolds (MIN)
Coming in back to back, ranked at numbers 2 and 3 in the RB Power Rankings are the Minnesota Grey Ducks tandem of Soul King Brook and Dominic Reynolds.
2 TPE capped RBs with complimentary styles, sharing a backfield with a rookie QB sounds like a dream scenario for any fantasy players out there. These two guys are both quality standalone backs, but the true secret to their perceived future success here comes from their complementary styles.
Soul King Brook figures to be the workhorse back for the Grey Ducks. A power back that put up nearly 1000 yards on the ground in a crowded backfield last year, I'd expect Soul King Brook to get a lot of the work on early downs.
Dominic Reynolds looks to be one of the strongest RB2s in the DSFL this coming season. A receiving back who is at the DSFL TPE limit himself, I would expect to see Reynolds getting a lot of looks in 3rd down situations where his pass blocking and receiving capabilities can really shine. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if Minnesota found ways to work him into the standard rotation with Soul King Brook as a change of pace back in more of a running back by committee kind of approach , and I could even see them designing some fun packages to get both playmakers on the field at the same time.
With an interception-prone rookie QB under center, I would expect the Grey Ducks to favour the run this season, as a strong backfield like this allows you as a team to control the clock and take some of the pressure off your rookie signal caller.
4 - Worsethan Blaze (NOR)
Coming in at number 4 on the RB Power Rankings is the only FB in the entire DSFL, Norfolk Seawolf Worsethan Blaze. Sat at the very top of the DSFL TPE rankings, Blaze should see plenty of action this season as the clear lead back in Norfolk.
Blaze was pretty efficient with the ball in his hands last year, averaging nearly 4.5 yards per carry across the season as the Seawolves RB2. Going into S47 Blaze should see a much higher carry share, splitting the load with a solitary rookie back who excels more as a receiving threat. After some careful and well considered TPE allocation this off-season, Blaze will look to be a more explosive threat over the coming season.
The main competition for Blaze's carries is likely to be mobile QB Dyson, however how many of Dyson's carries will be designed runs rather than scrambles once the play has broken down remains to be seen.
5 - Lane Wilson (LON)
Rounding out the RB Power Rankings at this point of the season is London Royals receiving back Lane Wilson. The number 2 receiving weapon on what looks to be a productive offense, and the only real contender for RB1 from a carries perspective, Wilson should get plenty of opportunities to prove he is the dynamic playmaker we are expecting him to be over the coming season.
With a pocket passer at QB, and a lot of TPE invested in the passing game, Wilson should see a plethora of opportunities through the air. A convert from WR this offseason, he has the skills to make the most of those opportunities, having amassed 898 yards on 68 catches and 8 TDs. Wilson will look to use these receiving skills as he projects as a mismatch out of the backfield over the coming season.
Furthermore, given the lack of mobility at QB, and very little competition for touches from the rest of the RB room, Wilson should also get plenty of chances on the ground. Even if he is less efficient on the ground than through the air, Wilson looks to be a breakout candidate in his sophomore season in the DSFL.
RB Shoutout: Zigzag Zipstep (LON)
Rookie Zipstep looks like a solid prospect coming into the DSFL, and on the right team could be a solid contributor on the ground and as a pass catcher. The issue is, he slots in right behind Lane Wilson on the depth chart, a stronger player with the same skillset looks to dominate the snap count.
WRs:
There was a clear 1 and 2 in the WR group, with one player receiving 5 first place votes, and a second recieving 4 second place votes as well as a nunber if 3rd and 4ths.
1 - Andre Benn (TIJ)
At this point, I don't think we can deny the trend here, as we see another Luchadore atop the Positional Power Rankings going in to week 1. It certainly looks like Tijuana have built a 3 headed monster on the offensive side of the ball.
Andre Benn is expected to be the top WR across the league in S47 of the DSFL, following up a strong campaign last time out. Benn is coming off an 89 catch, 1589 yards season that saw him absolutely feast in the redzone, compiling 18 TD catches.
We saw earlier in this article that Puddles O'Duck is favourite for DSFL MVP this season as he topped the QB Power Rankings, and if O'Duck is going to put up the type of season the league is expecting him too, someone is going to have to catch a lot of passes. Benn projects as the clear WR1 in what should be a strong offense, with his only true competition for targets coming from the TE position.
2 - Chopper Donquixote (LON)
Slot Receiver Chopper Donquixote of the London Royals was the clear favourite for number 2 WR in the Power Rankings going in to S47.
One of the top TPE earners across the entire DSFL, Donquixote is coming off a year that saw him finish top 5 in receiving yards with 11 TD catches. Donquixote compiled these stats while splitting targets with new Orange County Otter Hollywood Tez. These two combined for over 2600 yards last season, and with Tez returning for another season defenses can't just sell out to stop Donquixote.
With pocket passer Scudl McDiddl expected to have a strong season, Donquixote is in prime position to have another productive showing on an offense that clearly has more TPE committed to the passing game.
3 - Jonathon Irons (POR)
Coming in as the clear favourite for the number 3 spot is speed merchant Portland Python, Jonathon Irons.
Jonathon Irons was the number 2 receiving option on the Pythons last year, and with Brad Woof taking the step up to the ISFL to help out the struggling Honolulu offense, he looks poised for a larger role in the Portland passing attack this coming season. While not expected to be a league leader, the Python's offense should still be reasonably productive in season 47.
Irons' number 1 competition for targets is everyone's favourite Yap God, TE Tyle Higbee II. However, as TEs don't historically do very well statistically in the simulation, someone is going to have to be the volume guy for Van Goff and I see no reason why this wouldn't be Irons. He should get plenty of opportunities this season.
4 - Julian Rose (MIN)
Coming in at number 4 in the WR Power Rankings is Minnesota Grey Ducks receiver Julian Rose.
Rose had a strong year for the Grey Ducks last time out, reaching the 1000 yard threshold as a number 2 option for new ISFL QB TurnDaBallOva.
Season 47 projects to be a different type of season on offense for the Grey Ducks. After losing their starting QB to the ISFL, and number 1 receiver from S46 KrustyKrab Pizza swapping sides of the ball to play LB in the coming season, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a change in identity on the Minnesota offense as they look to a more run heavy gameplan.
While Julian Rose is a really solid player at WR, he projects to have pretty limited opportunities in an offense centred around 2 high powered RBs and a mobile, rookie QB. I expect him to be productive off the opportunities he does get, but the likely limited role puts a ceiling on his production in S47.
5 - Meo Stickyhands-McGee (BBB)
Rounding out our top 5 WRs is speedy Bondi Beach Buccaneer, Meo Stickyhands-Mcgee.
Stickyhands-Mcgee is the only returning receiver from last season on the Buccaneers roster, after Maria De La Rosa took the next step up to the ISFL with the Baltimore Hawks over the off-season. While he thrived as a rookie in the number 2 role in S46, Bondi will be reliant on Stickyhands-Mcgee taking the next step going into the coming year while rookie Seer Ial will look to take on the number 2 role.
Any offense with a MVP contending scrambling QB as the main focus looks to benefit from defenses committing players to contain him. While opposing defenses sell out to defend the dual threat signal caller Bugs, Stickyhands-Mcgee should find himself regularly 1-on-1 on the outside where he can utilise his blazing speed to take advantage of and make the most of these opportunities.
WR Shoutout: Lawrence Crawford (TIJ)
Rookie Lawrence Crawford steps into the best situation he could hope to be in as a first year wideout; on what should be a high powered offense, catching passes from an MVP favourite. Yes, Crawford will have a lot of competition for targets in a star studded offense, but if he can carve out a role for himself he could be a real contributor in his rookie DSFL campaign.
TEs:
Moving on to everyone's favourite neglected offensive position, Tightends!
1 - Tyler Higbee II (POR)
I know this isn't gonna help anyone who ever has to interact with him, because he ego does not need any kind of boost. With that in mind, number 1 in the pre-season DSFL Power Rankings is none other than the Yap God himself, Tyler Higbee II!
Higbee II was the consensus for number 1 in these Power Rankings, and was the clear favourite with 4 first place votes and 2 seconds from the GMs.
Higbee II is coming off a strong rookie season in which he lead all TEs in yards and scores with 523 yards and 5 TDs including an electric 80 yarder that he will not let anyone forget.
With the loss of number 1 target Brad Woof, the Portland Pythons offense will look to make up for his absence meaning there will be a decent target share available. It remains to be seen whether Higbee can step up and fill this space, but the opportunity for him to expand his role further is definitely there in S47.
2 - Bob Kronkowski (TIJ)
Coming in at number 2, and probably getting a bit tired of being pipped to the post by Higbee II at this point, is Tijuana's own Bob Kronkowski. Yes, that's right, after topping the Power Rankings through the 3 positions covered so far, Tijuana find themselves in another top spot on offense in these rankings.
Kronkowski was impressive last season, carving out a role for himself in a star studded offense with a lot of competition for targets, although he failed to find the endzone through the 14 game regular season. Despite all of that, he still managed to amass 522 yards on 71 catches, just 1 yard short of Higbee II for the league lead at the position.
Kronkowski should be a contender for TE1 this season as one of the highest TPE TEs in the entire DSFL on an offense that looks poised to be productive throughout. The concerns about Kronkowski come from the crowded offensive locker room in Tijuana, but if he can establish himself in the mix he should be decently productive once again.
3 - Hex Waters II (MIN)
Number 3 on the Power Rankings rounds out the returning TEs from last season. Hex Waters II was a role player on the Minnesota offense last time out, and in an offense that looks poised to turn to the run game, there doesn't look to be much scope for an increased role in S47.
While Waters II is a good player at the TE position, I just can't see the receiving opportunities being there for him to have a truly productive year stats wise this coming season. The Grey Ducks will look to utilise Waters II's skills as a blocker as they look to pound the rock on the ground.
4 - Steve Austin (NOR)
The first of our rookie TEs, new Norfolk Seawolf Steve Austin comes in at number 4 on the Rankings.
Although at low TPE at this point in his career, Austin comes straight in to the Seawolves offense as the starting TE and should be a role player in an offense led by last season's yard and TD leader at QB. This should mean Austin gets opportunities, even as a rookie TE, and if he can make the most of those he should put up some reasonable stats this coming season.
5 - Kurt Wagner (POR)
Finishing off the TE Power Rankings is another rookie in Portland Python Kurt Wagner. I like Wagner as a prospect, and at 75 TPE he has been a decent earner so far in his young career.
The issue with Wagner this year is competition, as he comes in to an offense that features the leagues number 1 ranked TE in Tyler Higbee II. While I can't see Portland running many 2 TE sets, Wagner projects as a vertical threat so may get the odd downfield shot when he does see the field.
I think Wagner has more likely been brought in to the Portland offense as future cover for Higbee II, who is expected to take the step up to the ISFL at the end of this season. In Wagner, the Pythons have a ready made replacement, and if he can learn under Higbee II this season he could be a really solid option by the end of the season and looking forwards to S48.
OL:
To finish off the offensive side of the ball we're going to talk about the big boys up front, the ever under appreciated offensive linemen.
1 - Gustav Farkas (DAL)
Kicking off the pre-season Offensive Line Power Rankings is none other than Dallas Birddog rookie (yes, rookie!) Gustav Farkas.
A rookie at the top of the rankings, who would have guessed that going in to this exercise? I certainly didn't. Representing the S48 class, Gustav Farkas has earnt TPE at an impressive rate early in his career and looks to cement the Birddogs offensive line as they look to repeat in the Ultimini.
With a rookie QB and strength in the RB positions you would imagine Dallas will look to run the ball a lot early in the coming season. As a mauler, this should play into Farkas' strengths and give him plenty of opportunities to pancake defenders.
2 - Taylor Swift (MIN)
The top TPE earner on the offensive line in the DSFL, and the only returning OL in the league, Taylor Swift comes in at number 2 on the Power Rankings.
An athletic lineman, Swift will have to adapt their gameplay this season as the Grey Ducks change the focus of their offense from the air to the ground. I don't see Swift having any issues with this assignment, as their athleticism should lend itself to blocking in space and getting to the second level just as well as it lent itself to 1-on-1 pass blocking last season.
3 - Stone Wall (BBB)
Coming in at number 3 is Stone Wall, the newly Australian-speaking mauling rookie OL in Bondi.
With Bugs as your QB, the line between pass blocking and run blocking situations isn't as clear as it usually is as his scrambling abilities allow any drop back to potentially turn into a gain on the ground. An absolute mauler blocking for ball carriers, Stone Wall should thrive on a line in front of Bugs.
4 - Acutiramus Bohemius (DAL)
Rounding out our offensive line rankings is another rookie in Dallas, Acutiramus Bohemius.
Bohemius has the potential to form a monstrous partnership on the line with number 1 ranked Gustav Farkas. If these two guys can settle and learn how to play with each other quickly, Dallas could be set on the line for the next couple of seasons. A potentially dominant tandem in the run game, the Birddogs are likely to depend on these guys to set up a productive ground game as their rookie QB settles into the league.
DL:
Moving on to the best side of the ball, we'll start at the front of the defense with the defensive line.
1 - Dunkler Sowerwine (MIN)
Kicking off our defensive line Power Rankings is the big, bad Nose Tackle in the centre of the Minnesota front, Dunkler Sowerwine.
Sowerwine was the clear favourite in the GM surveys, ranked as the number 1 DL player for the coming season more than half of the time. One of the top TPE earners in the DSFL on the defensive side of the ball, Sowerwine is coming off a strong rookie season that earnt him a first round pick in the ISFL Draft this offseason. A future member of the Cape Town Crash line, Sowerwine will look to be the anchor in the centre of a strong Minnesota front 7 that will look to get physical with opposing offenses.
Sowerwine racked up 7 sacks playing DE last season. While a solid number, I wouldn't expect him to repeat this total now playing NT but he is still favoured to have a strong season in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball.
2 - Maurice 'Mo Money' Gunner (LON)
Another mountain of a man at Nose Tackle, coming in at number 2 is London Royal Maurice Gunner.
Over his rookie campaign last season, 'Mo Money' was an absolute force against the run racking up 12 TFLs through 14 games and he will look to continue this trend going in to his sophomore campaign. Although Gunner is much less of a factor as a pass rusher, his ability to plug multiple gaps and take on double teams should allow his teammates at DE to get much more favourable matchups on passing downs.
With obvious depth issues in the secondary, London will look to get as much pressure as they can with a strong front 7 and Gunner should be able to assist, at least in a supportive role as a minimum, in this capacity. The Royals are going to need big performances from their D line this year, as if they can't get pressure quickly, opposing QBs will pick their depleted secondary apart though the air.
3 - Garlic Jr (DAL)
Garlic Jr is the highest TPE player on the defensive line in the entire DSFL, but was not voted for as highly as some of the other players available.
A strong contributor in his rookie year, with 6 TFLs and 6 sacks, Interior Rusher Garlic Jr will look to back this up with an even more impressive second campaign. With a new rookie NT on the line, Garlic Jr should get even more opportunities the rush the passer 1-on-1, potentially further increasing his production.
With the only players in the secondary minimum TPE rookies, offenses facing the Birddogs are likely to focus their attack through the air. This should allow plenty of pass rushing opportunities for Garlic Jr meaning, while the pass defense may struggle as a unit, I wouldn't be surprised if Garlic Jr posts a monster individual season from a sack and pass rush perspective.
4 - Anthony Simmons III* (MIN)
Coming in at number 4 on the Power Rankings is another member of the stacked Minnesota Grey Ducks front, Anthony Simmons III.
With 2 strong DTs on the roster, I was expecting one of Simmons III and Sowerwine to be an Interior Rusher, but instead they are both Nose Tackles. I'm not sure how well this will work out in game, as I feel they may lack some interior pass rush that may be further emphasised by the lack of DEs on the roster.
With that said, Simmons III posted a solid, if not spectacular, rookie season last time out and will be looking to follow that up with a step forward in his sophomore campaign. A strong Grey Ducks secondary should discourage opposing offenses from approaching matchups too pass happy, and this should lean into Sowerwine's and Simmons III's strengths against the run.
5 - GCBWRNW Princess Donut* (DAL)
Rounding out the top 5 with our first rookie on defense, Princess Donut is another mammoth of a football player at Nose Tackle for the Birddogs.
Donut has a real chance as a rookie to develop a strong tandem in the centre of the Dallas line with fellow DT Garlic Jr. With one strong against the run, and the other excelling as an Interior Rusher, these two could form a monstrous defensive interior dominating the trenches over the coming season for the Birddogs.
The same issues I mentioned above for Garlic Jr apply to Donut aswell, but are likely more pronounced due to the fact that Princess Donut is more of a factor in the run defense than as a pass rusher. This means that Donut may have limited opportunities to splash as a rookie but should be at least a solid contributor.
DL Shoutout: Roman Alexander (LON)
With DTs dominating the Top 5, I wanted to put a spotlight of the top DE in the rankings. Roman Alexander of the London Royals narrowly missed out on the top 5, but looks in good shape to have a productive year in S47. Lining up outside of number 2 ranked DT Maurice Gunner, Alexander should have plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities to use his power to plow through opposing Tackles.
LBs:
Moving on to the best position in all of football, and the absolute stat gremlins of simulation dot football land: Linebackers.
Linebackers was by far the most split vote from the GM vote perspective, with 12 players receiving at least 1 vote. It is also the strongest position from a TPE perspective, with 9 players at least at the DSFL TPE cap for the coming season.
1 - Speed Hawk (BBB)
The number 1 ranked LB going into this season is Bondi Beach Buccaneer Speed Hawk.
Speed Hawk is coming off a huge rookie season last time out that saw him rack up 105 tackles, 11 TFLs and 9 sacks. The Buccaneer defense is pretty back heavy, with the strength of the unit concentrated in the LB corps and the secondary. The strong players at CB and S will likely encourage opposing offenses to run the ball, and the strong coverage ability of the unit will likely lead to opposing QBs holding onto the ball for longer. Speed Hawk will likely get a lot of pass rush opportunities in these scenarios, due to a weak defensive line.
These factors imply Hawk is poised for another monster year, and if he can improve on his stats from the last campaign he could find himself right in the mix for Defensive MVP. A second strong season in the DSFL could help springboard Hawk into the ISFL, allowing him to make the adjustment quickly and be a contributor from day 1.
2 - Grzegorz Winnicki (TIJ)
In comparison to their consistent presence at the top of the Power Rankings on the offensive side of the ball, Grzegorz Winnicki is the only Luchadore to feature in the top 5 across the defensive positions in the DSFL.
Winnicki is a strong contender at LB, one of the highest TPE earners at the position in the DSFL and had a strong rookie season last time out. Winnicki put up 95 tackles, 12 TFLs, 6 sacks and 2 INTs in a campaign that truly showed how versatile he can be in the centre of a defense.
The challenge for Winnicki going into the coming season is the lack of depth generally across the defensive side of the ball in the Tijuana locker room. While there is decent depth at LB, the defensive secondary and line could both use some reinforcements. However, despite this Winnicki should still get plenty of opportunities to make plays as, with the firepower they have on offense, opposing teams are likely to find themselves playing from behind and therefore having to turn to the pass. This should allow Winnicki to get plenty of pass rush opportunities where he can really show what he's about.
3 - Bean Beanmann III (MIN)
Coming in at 3rd on the LB Rankings is Minnesota Grey Duck Bean Beanmann III.
No disrespect to Beanmann III, but he was a surprise inclusion for me on this list. It didn't surprise me at all to see a Minnesota linebacker in the mix given the strength of their unit going into the season. What surprised me is that his teammate, KrustyKrab Pizza, who is also a LB but has nearly 200 TPE more than Beanmann III, wasn't the choice of voters.
Regardless of this, the LBs on the Grey Duck defense look poised to have huge years from a production stand point as the unit as a whole is favourite to be the strongest defense in the DSFL this season.
Beanmann III is coming off a decent rookie year for Minnesota, having racked up 96 tackles, 9 TFLs, 5 sacks and 3 turnovers, and I imagine it is the known commodity that has lead GMs to vote for Beanmann III over Pizza, as Pizza is a new transfer to the position.
4 - Huge Yakman* (DAL)
Huge Yakman had to feature in the DSFL LB Power Rankings for S47, as he is the only returning player to receive Defensive MVP votes last campaign.
Yakman was a turnover machine last season for the Birddogs, forcing the ball out on 5 different occasions on his way to a 96 tackle campaign. He also lived in opposing offense's backfields, compiling 13 TFLs and 6 sacks through the 14 game regular season.
I can't see any reason for Yakman to regress this season, as the main pass rush threat for the Dallas defense looks likely to come from the LB corps due to an absence of DEs on the roster. The complementary profiles of the internal duo of Garlic Jr and Princess Donut should keep opposing offensive linemen busy, giving pass rushing LBs Yakman and Retriever good match ups on the outside.
A team built to run the ball on offense, rival teams may be forced to throw the ball more in order to balance the control of the clock the Birddogs are likely to have. This should give Yakman even more opportunities to pin his ears back and get after opposing QBs.
5 - Upceti Spaghetti* (POR)
Rounding out a competitive group at LB is Portland Python Pass Rusher, Upceti Spaghetti.
Spaghetti is one if the strongest pass rushers in the DSFL, coming off a campaign that saw him rack up 9 sacks, ties for 3rd most in the league. Spaghetti had the most sacks for returning defensive players over the last campaign, and will look to hit double digits during this coming season after narrowly missing out last time round.
The issues that come with projecting Spaghetti's production in the coming season is the relative lack of TPE in the Portland defensive locker room. Spaghetti is the only defensive player for the Pythons that is at the DSFL TPE cap, with the next closest 90 TPE away. While Portland were able to pick up a couple of strong prospects in the draft this off-season, the defense as a unit is going to look to Spaghetti as a leader and will be reliant on him contributing across the board if they are to be successful in S47.
LB Shout-out: Rookie LB Class
There are a number of other strong players at LB I could have given a shout-out here, but I wanted to take the opportunity to do something a little different here and highlight the rookie LB class as a whole.
A generally large LB class, there are some really promising prospects in the group. Namely:
Willeh Strong (POR) - 1.01 in the DSFL draft and everyone's 2nd favourite yapper, Strong is set up for a big rookie year for the Pythons
Mac Mannheim (NOR) - Another DSFL draft 1st rounder, Mannheim has proven himself an active and capable earner and was recently made Defensive Captain of the Seawolves
Robot Sunfish (NOR) - Another addition to the Seawolves' defense, ever-reliable Sunfish is poised to play a big role for Norfolk this year
Mako Mendonca Jr (TIJ) - A prospect bowl standout and solid TPE earner, Mendonca Jr will look to make an impact under vet Winnicki on the Luchadore defense
CBs:
Up next we have the ego-centric, divas of the DSFL, the Cornerbacks.
1 - Walter Yensid (BBB)
Walter Yensid stock is high right now, going into his second campaign after being drafted number 3 overall in this off-seasons ISFL Draft. The future Fire Salamander was easily the GMs favourite player at CB, consistently ranked either first or second on GM player rankings. This, combined with the fact that he has the most TPE at the position in the DSFL, meant he was the obvious choice for the top of the Power Rankings going into S47.
Yensid was a beast in coverage last campaign, racking up well over 1 pass break up per game, as well as recording 2 INTs. The only cause for concern surrounding Yensid's production this year is the rest of the Buccaneer defense.
Bondi Beach have a very strong secondary, with an elite CB2 opposite Yensid and some good rookie depth at S, however, the front 7 is weak. Aside from an elite LB, there isn't much star power or depth to talk about in the front 7, meaning opposing offenses are likely to favour the run when facing the Buccaneers. This would limit the opportunities Yensid would get to show what he is all about, but ultimately I think he is the strongest CB in the league and is well deserving of the 1 spot in the pre-season Power Rankings.
2 - Mooty Poop-Eater (LON)
The clear number 2 in the CB Power Rankings is the creatively named Mooty Poop-Eater.
Poop-Eater had an enormous year last time out, and was a force in both coverage and when contributing to the run defense. He racked up 75 tackles, which for a CB is wildly impressive, and also recorded 26 PDs and 3 INTs when in coverage. A versatile outside corner, Poop-Eater is poised to have another strong year this time out.
Poop-Eater is likely to benefit from the strengths of the Royals defense, as the roster is generally strong up front and weaker on the back end, as outside of Poop-Eater they have little depth in the defensive secondary. The disparity between these parts of the roster will likely encourage teams to turn to the pass when facing the London defense, which should mean Poop-Eater has plenty of opportunities to make plays on the ball.
3 - South West (NOR)
Coming in at number 3 in the CB Power Ranking is Norfolk Seawolves' South West. A versatile athlete who was an absolute force in the run game in S46 racking up 98 tackles as a LB, West has made the transition to CB for S47 after being drafted by the Orange County Otters in Round 3 of the ISFL Draft.
West will look to benefit from a re-vamped and updated Norfolk defense, after the Seawolves brought in 4 news bodies on the defensive side of the ball. With most of the reinforcements brought into the front 7, Norfolk are clearly looking to add some talent up front in an attempt to stop the run and get pressure on opposing QBs. This should suit West, as all of this should encourage opposing offenses to pass more, and to release the ball more quickly, which should give West plenty of opportunities to make plays on the ball. His background as a LB should help him contribute to the run game as well, meaning we ahould see West making plays across the field for Norfolk this season.
4 - Terry Keller (KCC)
The number 4 CB in the Power Rankings sees the first appearance of a Kansas City Coyote in the rankings in Terry Keller.
Keller is coming off a pretty respectable stat line in his rookie season, having amassed 19 PDs in coverage. He was also a bit of a turnover machine, recording 3 INTs and 4 FFs across a campaign that proved he really has a nose for the football.
The Coyote defense is unusual in that it is quite top heavy, with 62.5% of defensive players over 150 TPE. These players are spread out pretty evenly across the defensive side of the ball, with meaningful contributors at every level. I'm not sure what to project for the Coyote defense, if their high TPE players can contribute early this could be a really strong unit, but if they struggle to make an impact out of the gate Kansas City don't have the depth to make up for that. Either way, Keller should be at minimum a solid contributor to the KC defense, and has a ceiling much higher than that.
5 - Edith Nickelback (POR) /Matt Wilkins (BBB)
Our first tie in the DSFL Power Rankings sees Python Edith Nickelback and Buccaneer Matt Wilkins share CB spot number 5.
Nickelback received a solid number of votes from GMs for a lower TPE player, as GMs expect clearly expect them to build off their 14 PB rookie season and become the true cover corner their potential indicates they can be.
While Wilkins didn't receive as many votes as Nickelback, his higher TPE made up the difference to give them an equal 'Ranking Score'. Wilkins is a convert to CB having started at LB for the whole of last season. The Buccaneers will be hoping his history as a run defender will bring some physicality and edge to their secondary.
CB Shout-out: Sam Coverdale (TIJ)
I'm gonna go back to giving the rookies a bit of attention on this one.
Sam Coverdale is the personification of the diva CB stereotype and is going to be an absolute nightmare for opposing WRs to line up against, as much because he will annoy them with his incessant waffle as anything to do with his coverage skills. On the latters front, Coverdale is fluid in coverage and stood out during the prospect bowl for his ability to stick with even the fastest receivers through their transitions.
S:
Finishing off the defensive side of the ball with the second half of the secondary unit, there are some strong Safetys going into this year.
1 - PeePee Poop-Eater Jr (MIN)
PeePee Poop-Eater Jr was the top choice in the GM vote, as every time hw was included in a GMs ranking he was put at number 1.
The roaming centre fielder of the Grey Ducks secondary, Poop-Eater Jr will look to build on an impressive S46 that saw him frequently around the football. This knack for being in the right place at the right time led to him recording 4 turnovers through a combination of INTs and fumble recoveries in a varied campaign that saw him record a stat in almost every major tracked category (only missing a TFL).
Poop-Eater Jr has shown he can be a play maker all over the field from the safety position, and will be used as a chess piece for what is expected to be a strong Minnesota defense. I'm expecting another strong showing from him this time out.
2 - Lasse Ziegler (NOR)
Sitting at one of the highest TPE values of the entire DSFL, Zeigler was ever present in the top 3 of GM votes. Not a single respondent to the survey ranked him lower than 3rd, that's seriously impressive.
Last season's defensive Captain for the Seawolves, Ziegler had an impressive campaign last time out showing some serious talent coming downhill to support in the run game and compiled 56 tackles last time out. This was especially impressive for Ziegler as he came out of college with more of a reputation as a ball hawk, and splashed at times in this manner last season as well.
With a Boat-load (pun intended) of reinforcements landing on the Norfolk defense, some of the pressure should be taken off Ziegler this season, allowing him to sit deep and play the ball more often. I'm expecting an increase in his production this year given the expected step-up across the board from the Norfolk defense.
3 - Tony Scaletta (MIN)
Coming in at number 3 on the Safety Power Rankings is new convert from LB, Tony Scaletta.
With the addition of 2 new max TPE LBs to the Minnesota defense, in the form of KrustyKrab Pizza and Dason Dehorn, Scaletta was the odd one out in the LB room and so has made the transition to Safety for S47.
Scaletta was impressive in coverage for a LB during his rookie campaign, recording 5 PDs and showcasing impressive sideline-to-sideline range. This should lend itself well to S as he fills the second safety slot behind number 1 ranked Poop-Eater Jr, as part of an impressive secondary unit that should compose just part of what looks like a dominant defense for the Grey Ducks in S47.
4 - Eric Beaty Jr (KCC)
Number 4 is Eric Beaty Jr, the second Coyote on the Power Rankings that further showcases the strength of the secondary in Kansas City.
An athletic centre fielder, Beaty Jr is just 1 TPE short of the DSFL cap and should have the freedom to play the ball more in a secondary that also features one of the top ranked CBs in Terry Keller.
Beaty Jr showed he has a real knack for making plays on the ball last year, managing to snag himself 2 INTs and a FF. The ceiling on Beaty Jr's production this season is likely to be the lack of talent up front on the KC defense as the Coyotes boast just 1 player in the front 7 over 200 TPE. This implies teams will run aggressively when facing Kansas City and may limit the opportunities Beaty Jr gets.
5 - Honorius Salvator (LON)
The final defensive player in these rankings is London Royal safety Honorius Salvator.
Salvator boasts an impressive physical profile and really showcased this as a true enforcer during a strong London campaign last time out. Despite an upset loss early in the playoffs, Salvator had an impressive showing as a SS racking up 70 tackles.
As one of the focal parts of a top heavy secondary, Salvator will hope he can benefit off a strong London defensive front and showcase more of his playmaking abilities in what is likely to be his final season in the DSFL.
S Shoutout: Alexandros Sotiris (TIJ)
Narrowly missing out on the top 5 before he's even taken a step onto the field in a DSFL game, Alexandros Sotiris has clearly made a strong impression on GMs early in his career. The athletic centre fielder will look to make a splash early as he aims to impress ISFL teams on the lookout for reinforcements for their secondary.
K/P:
I'm not going to go into much detail on the special teamers as this was pretty cut and dry.
1 - Wynn Jenkins (BBB)
The clear leader in TPE and the only K/P who is at the DSFL limit, Jenkins was the only choice for the 1 spot in the Power Rankings. This was backed up by the GM vote where he was put number 1 across the board. Jenkins is widly expected to be the most accurate kicker across the league this season.
2 - Cameron Oswald-Newton (MIN)
The only other returning K/P in the league, and comfortably 2nd in TPE, Oswald-Newton was ranked 2nd in over 80% of GM votes. While not a standout leg in terms of power, Oswald-Newton has plenty of accuracy to make the most of the opportunities he is likely to get in a strong offense for the Grey Ducks.
3 - Daniel Kenny (TIJ)
Our only rookie K/P, Kenny lands in a strong spot and should get plenty of opportunities as the kicker for an offense that is expected to league the DSFL this season.
If any of you guys made it this far, I hope you enjoyed. This took a fair amount of work and research so hopefully you guys enjoyed the insight into some of the top DSFL Players for the coming season.
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the DSFL Player Power Rankings for the S47 season!
I decided I wanted a media project for this season, something that I could work on throughout the season that would allow me to do a more in depth and repeatable analysis of players in the DSFL, rather than producing a load of rambling and disconnected media pieces. The idea was this project would provide users in the DSFL, and those scouting from the ISFL, with valuable data on how players were performing across the season, with updates throughout the season to keep readers updated given the dynamic nature of the league.
The concept I settled on for this project was positional power rankings, with a planned process based on producing a ranking of the best performing players at each position across the DSFL. This would start with a pre-season ranking, and would then be updated at the mid-season mark and at the end of the regular season (to ensure no bias towards players on teams who made an extended playoff run).
Now this is where things got a little complicated, as I didn't want this to just be a ranking of the top TPE earning players, but neither did I want this to just be a 'most passing yards', 'most receiving yards' list, because that's not very interesting to produce or to read as it just becomes a list of statistics. I also felt these measures didn't reflect the dynamic nature of the league, as the top TPE earners aren't likely to change much over a season given all players generally have the same opportunities for earning. Basing the rankings solely off statistics also meant that, for example, a player could start really strongly but then drop off, but their statistics would likely still look strong for a number of weeks before other players caught them, or vise versa.
For the initial rankings, as there was no game data to work with, I decided to use a combination of Total TPE and subjective expectation of achievement in the league this season. In order to accomplish this, I first listed all players by Total TPE and grouped them by position. I then allocated a numerical score to each player based on their Total TPE compared to the rest of the class. In order to not unfairly bias those with a high TPE, I decided the fairest way to do this would be based on a banded system, with all players within a certain range of Total TPE receiving the same score. The bands used are as follows:
Band 1 (2 points) 50-90 TPE
Band 2 (4 points) 91-140 TPE
Band 3 (6 points) 141-200 TPE
Band 4 (8 points) 201-249 TPE
Band 5 (10 points) 250+ TPE
Given the DSFL cap of 250 TPE, I didn't think it made sense to give players with much more than the DSFL maximum TPE applied a big boost in TPE Score given the additional TPE will not lead to a better performance in game.
This will be referred to as 'TPE Score' from now on, in an attempt to limit confusion.
For the next part of the pre-season power rankings I wanted something to act as a pre-existing set of stats, given the absence of stats prior to the start of the season. For this I decided on a more subjective measure based on expected performance in the coming season. The issue I had with this was trying to get a legitimately unbiased opinion on how players were going to perform this year. I didn't want to ask players as a whole, as I figured a number of players would skew positively in their own favour. In an attempt to limit bias, I decided to survey the DSFL GMs for the players they were expecting to be the biggest contributors in the coming season. In order to further limit bias, I wanted representation from all 8 teams.
In order to maximise responses, I gave the GMs the option of listing their top 5 players at each position, failing that a top 3, and failing that their singular top player at each position as a last resort. Out of the 13 GMs I surveyed, 7 of them responded. 5 of the 7 respondents gave me a top 5, while another gave me a top 3 and 1 provided me with their single top pick at each position. Fortunately, I did not get a response from at least one of the GMs for all 8 DSFL teams, with only 7 teams represented in the vote.
Despite my efforts, team bias was not entirely removed. This was particularly evident with a certain respondent, who shall remain nameless, who was the only GM to list their own teams QB as the top QB for the coming season. Across the other surveyed GMs, said QB was ranked a high of 4th.
I have since had a few ideas to limit bias in future renditions of this project. Firstly, I would ideally have more respondents, and a larger player base, meaning this project may be better suited to the ISFL in the future. Secondly, a larger surveyed pool would allow me to prevent GMs from voting for players on their own team. This would remove this as a source of bias entirely, but, with an increased pool of respondents, I would still have the volume required to produce a valid consensus. These are both measures I will look at implementing in the future.
Once I had the responses from the GMs, I needed to process the data to produce an overall consensus on expected performance over the coming season. This process ended up being slightly convoluted, but I think it ended up working. I started by assigning points to each vote a player may receive. If they were ranked number 1 at their position they would receive 5 points, ranked number 2 they would receive 4 points, and so on for the top 5. I then totalled the overall number of points each player received, and this gave me a consensus positional ranking. This allowed me to assign each player a 'Ranking Score'.
The 'Ranking Score' was assigned as follows. The player that was the consensus number 1 at his position received 10 points, the consensus number 2 received 9 points, and so on until number 10 received 1 point.
I then combined the 'Ranking Score' and the 'TPE Score' to give me a 'Power Score' for all eligible DSFL players that would, finally, allow me to produce the inaugural Pre-Season DSFL Positional Power Rankings. I will then analyse the top 5 at each position in the form of a Power Ranking.
QBs:
We're going to start this off by taking a look at the DSFL signal callers.
This was a close and well-contested contest between the top QBs in the DSFL, with the top 6 all well over the 250 TPE limit and separated by just 58 TPE total. The big difference in the Quarterback class was on the GM voting, as there were 2 clear favourites based on expected performance in the coming season.
1 - Puddles O'Duck (TIJ)
Coming in at the top of the inaugural Positional Power Rankings is none other than last season's Offensive MVP, Tijuana's own Puddles O'Duck.
O'Duck had an impressive Rookie year last time out, compiling 3926 passing yards and 34 passing TDs, while completing 63.6% of passes. His INT numbers were likely higher than he would have liked last season, but that didn't slow him down on his way to finishing 2nd in MVP voting and taking home the Offensive MVP Crown. To top off an ultimately impressive first year in the league that saw Puddles lead the Luchadores to a 10-4 record and the top seed in the South, O'Duck was drafted to the ISFL Champion Arizona Outlaws with the 42nd overall pick.
O'Duck was one of the GM darlings at the quarterback position going into the coming season, and it's easy to see why. While Puddles is the 2nd highest TPE earner at the position in the entire league at 352, it's easy to see why people are projecting big things from him this season when you look at the supporting cast surrounding him. Without spoiling the rest of this article, Tijuana boast some BIG play makers at all 3 skill positions putting O'Duck in the best position possible to follow up his strong preliminary year in the league with a monster second outing this time round.
2 - Bugs (BBB)
The other darling of the GM vote, Buccaneer Bugs is expected to be a big contributor in the DSFL in the coming season. Bugs is top 3 when we look at TPE earners in the QB class, and will look to make a strong start to rival O'Duck for the top spot at the midway mark.
Bugs is coming off a big year last year that saw him put up the 3rd most total yards of any QB last year, the 2nd most of returning signal callers, and over 30 total touchdowns.
Bugs has proven he can be an effective passer, completing 60% of his passes last season, but his true value comes from the threat he brings to the table on the ground. Bugs outgained all other QBs in the DSFL on the ground last season, and also lead the position in Rushing TDs. This threat only looks to be even more potent this year as Bondi Beach have strengthened their offensive line through the draft, creating the potential for even more production from the QB run game.
The concerns about Bugs' production in the coming season are focused around one key issue: weapons, the Buccaneers are lacking truly elite weapons to go with their electric QB.
Not a single weapon on the Buccaneers is sat at max TPE at this moment, and they will be relying on rookie Seer Ial to step into a big hole at WR2 if this offense is to be productive through the air. On the ground, Bugs is Bondi's only real threat with the only RBs on the roster lacking the TPE to be real contributors.
Ultimately, Bugs is as good a prospect as ever, especially from a fantasy perspective, but the Buccaneer offense is going to place a lot of pressure on him to be productive for the unit to function.
After the clear cut 1 and 2, this is where the QB class started getting a bit dicey as the remaining 4 players at the DSFL TPE cap were separated by just 6 points total on the GM vote.
3 - Scuddl McDiddl (LON)
Despite not getting any 1st or 2nd place votes, London Royals WB Scuddl McDiddl amassed enough 3rd and 4th place votes to secure the number 3 spot in the inaugural Positional Power Rankings.
McDiddl was productive last year, racking up nearly 4000 total yards amd almost 30 total TDs while leading the Royals to an 8-6 record and an Ultimini appearance that was good enough for 5th place in the MVP voting.
McDiddl is in a position to produce this year woth a solid cast around him. A WR and a receiving RB at the DSFL TPE limit go a long way to helping a QBs production. To back up this top 3 core of producers, London have some depth at both WR and TE that should serve as nice secondary targets for McDiddl.
On a strong team, with difference makers catching the ball, McDiddl is poised to build of a pretty strong showing last year and make a push for the MVP conversation.
4 - Elijah Dyson (NOR)
Finishing just 1 point behind McDiddl, Norfolk Seawolves QB Elijah Dyson was arguably the most divisive quarterback in this class as GMs just could not agree on what his projected production for this season looked like.
Dyson is coming off a monster season last time out, recording more combined yards and more total TDs than any other QB in the DSFL in a campaign that earnt him 3rd in the MVP vote and 2nd in the Offensive MVP vote.
The Seawolves offense is a bit of an enigma going into the coming season. Dyson, an elite RB and a solid WR form a reliable core of players on the offensive side of the ball, however Norfolk will likely require some rookies to step up and contribute in a meaningful way if they are to be productive and reliable on offense this season, and I'm assuming this is where the difference in expectation for Dyson specifically comes from.
Ultimately, Dyson is a quality starter in the league, and if the rookie weapons fresh from the draft can step up to fill the supporting roles, I see no reason why he can't be productive again.
5 - Billy Van Goff (POR)
And its Portland Python Billy Van Goff who sneaks his way to the final spot on the top 5, completing out inaugural QB Power Ranking.
If we're being honest, I would imagine Van Goff will be disappointed with his stat line from last season. How much of that was his fault is difficult to say, as Portland struggled across the board last season resulting in the worst record in the DSFL and the number 1 pick in the draft.
Van Goff will once again be reliant on his TE and speed WR as his main targets on offense, as the slew of Python rookies aim to plug the gaps and give them some presence on the ground.
Ultimately, Van Goff is tough to project this year, but Portland fans and staff alike will be hoping for a general improvement in fortunes across the board as they look to right the ship this season.
QB Shoutout: Greg Hirsch (MIN)
Rookie QB Greg Hirsch looks to step into the starting role on a strong Minnesota team that always have high expectations. With a strong and varied supporting cast, it will be interesting to see how Hirsch gets on this season. He splashed at times during the prospect bowl, will that carry into the regular season?
RBs:
A broad and varied RB group, votes were generally more wildly spread with 8 different backs receiving at least one GM vote. Once again, perhaps unsurprisingly, the players at or beyond the DSFL TPE cap dominated the top of the rankings
1 - Brandon Johnson (TIJ)
Is this the start of a trend? Another Tijuana Luchadore finds himself at the top of the inaugural DSFL Positional Power Rankings. Following the loss of last season's lead back Corey Trevor, Brandon Johnson suddenly finds himself poised for a massive breakout year.
In an offense that is expected to be productive, lead by MVP favourite WB Puddles O'Duck, Johnson has absolutely zero competition for touches out of the backfield as the only RB on the roster. In, what looks to be, a more pass heavy attack, Johnson's 'Power Back' archetype looks to benefit in short yardage situations especially, but stands to be a key part of what is expected to be one of the most productive offenses in the league over the coming season.
2 - Soul King Brook (MIN)
3 - Dominic Reynolds (MIN)
Coming in back to back, ranked at numbers 2 and 3 in the RB Power Rankings are the Minnesota Grey Ducks tandem of Soul King Brook and Dominic Reynolds.
2 TPE capped RBs with complimentary styles, sharing a backfield with a rookie QB sounds like a dream scenario for any fantasy players out there. These two guys are both quality standalone backs, but the true secret to their perceived future success here comes from their complementary styles.
Soul King Brook figures to be the workhorse back for the Grey Ducks. A power back that put up nearly 1000 yards on the ground in a crowded backfield last year, I'd expect Soul King Brook to get a lot of the work on early downs.
Dominic Reynolds looks to be one of the strongest RB2s in the DSFL this coming season. A receiving back who is at the DSFL TPE limit himself, I would expect to see Reynolds getting a lot of looks in 3rd down situations where his pass blocking and receiving capabilities can really shine. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if Minnesota found ways to work him into the standard rotation with Soul King Brook as a change of pace back in more of a running back by committee kind of approach , and I could even see them designing some fun packages to get both playmakers on the field at the same time.
With an interception-prone rookie QB under center, I would expect the Grey Ducks to favour the run this season, as a strong backfield like this allows you as a team to control the clock and take some of the pressure off your rookie signal caller.
4 - Worsethan Blaze (NOR)
Coming in at number 4 on the RB Power Rankings is the only FB in the entire DSFL, Norfolk Seawolf Worsethan Blaze. Sat at the very top of the DSFL TPE rankings, Blaze should see plenty of action this season as the clear lead back in Norfolk.
Blaze was pretty efficient with the ball in his hands last year, averaging nearly 4.5 yards per carry across the season as the Seawolves RB2. Going into S47 Blaze should see a much higher carry share, splitting the load with a solitary rookie back who excels more as a receiving threat. After some careful and well considered TPE allocation this off-season, Blaze will look to be a more explosive threat over the coming season.
The main competition for Blaze's carries is likely to be mobile QB Dyson, however how many of Dyson's carries will be designed runs rather than scrambles once the play has broken down remains to be seen.
5 - Lane Wilson (LON)
Rounding out the RB Power Rankings at this point of the season is London Royals receiving back Lane Wilson. The number 2 receiving weapon on what looks to be a productive offense, and the only real contender for RB1 from a carries perspective, Wilson should get plenty of opportunities to prove he is the dynamic playmaker we are expecting him to be over the coming season.
With a pocket passer at QB, and a lot of TPE invested in the passing game, Wilson should see a plethora of opportunities through the air. A convert from WR this offseason, he has the skills to make the most of those opportunities, having amassed 898 yards on 68 catches and 8 TDs. Wilson will look to use these receiving skills as he projects as a mismatch out of the backfield over the coming season.
Furthermore, given the lack of mobility at QB, and very little competition for touches from the rest of the RB room, Wilson should also get plenty of chances on the ground. Even if he is less efficient on the ground than through the air, Wilson looks to be a breakout candidate in his sophomore season in the DSFL.
RB Shoutout: Zigzag Zipstep (LON)
Rookie Zipstep looks like a solid prospect coming into the DSFL, and on the right team could be a solid contributor on the ground and as a pass catcher. The issue is, he slots in right behind Lane Wilson on the depth chart, a stronger player with the same skillset looks to dominate the snap count.
WRs:
There was a clear 1 and 2 in the WR group, with one player receiving 5 first place votes, and a second recieving 4 second place votes as well as a nunber if 3rd and 4ths.
1 - Andre Benn (TIJ)
At this point, I don't think we can deny the trend here, as we see another Luchadore atop the Positional Power Rankings going in to week 1. It certainly looks like Tijuana have built a 3 headed monster on the offensive side of the ball.
Andre Benn is expected to be the top WR across the league in S47 of the DSFL, following up a strong campaign last time out. Benn is coming off an 89 catch, 1589 yards season that saw him absolutely feast in the redzone, compiling 18 TD catches.
We saw earlier in this article that Puddles O'Duck is favourite for DSFL MVP this season as he topped the QB Power Rankings, and if O'Duck is going to put up the type of season the league is expecting him too, someone is going to have to catch a lot of passes. Benn projects as the clear WR1 in what should be a strong offense, with his only true competition for targets coming from the TE position.
2 - Chopper Donquixote (LON)
Slot Receiver Chopper Donquixote of the London Royals was the clear favourite for number 2 WR in the Power Rankings going in to S47.
One of the top TPE earners across the entire DSFL, Donquixote is coming off a year that saw him finish top 5 in receiving yards with 11 TD catches. Donquixote compiled these stats while splitting targets with new Orange County Otter Hollywood Tez. These two combined for over 2600 yards last season, and with Tez returning for another season defenses can't just sell out to stop Donquixote.
With pocket passer Scudl McDiddl expected to have a strong season, Donquixote is in prime position to have another productive showing on an offense that clearly has more TPE committed to the passing game.
3 - Jonathon Irons (POR)
Coming in as the clear favourite for the number 3 spot is speed merchant Portland Python, Jonathon Irons.
Jonathon Irons was the number 2 receiving option on the Pythons last year, and with Brad Woof taking the step up to the ISFL to help out the struggling Honolulu offense, he looks poised for a larger role in the Portland passing attack this coming season. While not expected to be a league leader, the Python's offense should still be reasonably productive in season 47.
Irons' number 1 competition for targets is everyone's favourite Yap God, TE Tyle Higbee II. However, as TEs don't historically do very well statistically in the simulation, someone is going to have to be the volume guy for Van Goff and I see no reason why this wouldn't be Irons. He should get plenty of opportunities this season.
4 - Julian Rose (MIN)
Coming in at number 4 in the WR Power Rankings is Minnesota Grey Ducks receiver Julian Rose.
Rose had a strong year for the Grey Ducks last time out, reaching the 1000 yard threshold as a number 2 option for new ISFL QB TurnDaBallOva.
Season 47 projects to be a different type of season on offense for the Grey Ducks. After losing their starting QB to the ISFL, and number 1 receiver from S46 KrustyKrab Pizza swapping sides of the ball to play LB in the coming season, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a change in identity on the Minnesota offense as they look to a more run heavy gameplan.
While Julian Rose is a really solid player at WR, he projects to have pretty limited opportunities in an offense centred around 2 high powered RBs and a mobile, rookie QB. I expect him to be productive off the opportunities he does get, but the likely limited role puts a ceiling on his production in S47.
5 - Meo Stickyhands-McGee (BBB)
Rounding out our top 5 WRs is speedy Bondi Beach Buccaneer, Meo Stickyhands-Mcgee.
Stickyhands-Mcgee is the only returning receiver from last season on the Buccaneers roster, after Maria De La Rosa took the next step up to the ISFL with the Baltimore Hawks over the off-season. While he thrived as a rookie in the number 2 role in S46, Bondi will be reliant on Stickyhands-Mcgee taking the next step going into the coming year while rookie Seer Ial will look to take on the number 2 role.
Any offense with a MVP contending scrambling QB as the main focus looks to benefit from defenses committing players to contain him. While opposing defenses sell out to defend the dual threat signal caller Bugs, Stickyhands-Mcgee should find himself regularly 1-on-1 on the outside where he can utilise his blazing speed to take advantage of and make the most of these opportunities.
WR Shoutout: Lawrence Crawford (TIJ)
Rookie Lawrence Crawford steps into the best situation he could hope to be in as a first year wideout; on what should be a high powered offense, catching passes from an MVP favourite. Yes, Crawford will have a lot of competition for targets in a star studded offense, but if he can carve out a role for himself he could be a real contributor in his rookie DSFL campaign.
TEs:
Moving on to everyone's favourite neglected offensive position, Tightends!
1 - Tyler Higbee II (POR)
I know this isn't gonna help anyone who ever has to interact with him, because he ego does not need any kind of boost. With that in mind, number 1 in the pre-season DSFL Power Rankings is none other than the Yap God himself, Tyler Higbee II!
Higbee II was the consensus for number 1 in these Power Rankings, and was the clear favourite with 4 first place votes and 2 seconds from the GMs.
Higbee II is coming off a strong rookie season in which he lead all TEs in yards and scores with 523 yards and 5 TDs including an electric 80 yarder that he will not let anyone forget.
With the loss of number 1 target Brad Woof, the Portland Pythons offense will look to make up for his absence meaning there will be a decent target share available. It remains to be seen whether Higbee can step up and fill this space, but the opportunity for him to expand his role further is definitely there in S47.
2 - Bob Kronkowski (TIJ)
Coming in at number 2, and probably getting a bit tired of being pipped to the post by Higbee II at this point, is Tijuana's own Bob Kronkowski. Yes, that's right, after topping the Power Rankings through the 3 positions covered so far, Tijuana find themselves in another top spot on offense in these rankings.
Kronkowski was impressive last season, carving out a role for himself in a star studded offense with a lot of competition for targets, although he failed to find the endzone through the 14 game regular season. Despite all of that, he still managed to amass 522 yards on 71 catches, just 1 yard short of Higbee II for the league lead at the position.
Kronkowski should be a contender for TE1 this season as one of the highest TPE TEs in the entire DSFL on an offense that looks poised to be productive throughout. The concerns about Kronkowski come from the crowded offensive locker room in Tijuana, but if he can establish himself in the mix he should be decently productive once again.
3 - Hex Waters II (MIN)
Number 3 on the Power Rankings rounds out the returning TEs from last season. Hex Waters II was a role player on the Minnesota offense last time out, and in an offense that looks poised to turn to the run game, there doesn't look to be much scope for an increased role in S47.
While Waters II is a good player at the TE position, I just can't see the receiving opportunities being there for him to have a truly productive year stats wise this coming season. The Grey Ducks will look to utilise Waters II's skills as a blocker as they look to pound the rock on the ground.
4 - Steve Austin (NOR)
The first of our rookie TEs, new Norfolk Seawolf Steve Austin comes in at number 4 on the Rankings.
Although at low TPE at this point in his career, Austin comes straight in to the Seawolves offense as the starting TE and should be a role player in an offense led by last season's yard and TD leader at QB. This should mean Austin gets opportunities, even as a rookie TE, and if he can make the most of those he should put up some reasonable stats this coming season.
5 - Kurt Wagner (POR)
Finishing off the TE Power Rankings is another rookie in Portland Python Kurt Wagner. I like Wagner as a prospect, and at 75 TPE he has been a decent earner so far in his young career.
The issue with Wagner this year is competition, as he comes in to an offense that features the leagues number 1 ranked TE in Tyler Higbee II. While I can't see Portland running many 2 TE sets, Wagner projects as a vertical threat so may get the odd downfield shot when he does see the field.
I think Wagner has more likely been brought in to the Portland offense as future cover for Higbee II, who is expected to take the step up to the ISFL at the end of this season. In Wagner, the Pythons have a ready made replacement, and if he can learn under Higbee II this season he could be a really solid option by the end of the season and looking forwards to S48.
OL:
To finish off the offensive side of the ball we're going to talk about the big boys up front, the ever under appreciated offensive linemen.
1 - Gustav Farkas (DAL)
Kicking off the pre-season Offensive Line Power Rankings is none other than Dallas Birddog rookie (yes, rookie!) Gustav Farkas.
A rookie at the top of the rankings, who would have guessed that going in to this exercise? I certainly didn't. Representing the S48 class, Gustav Farkas has earnt TPE at an impressive rate early in his career and looks to cement the Birddogs offensive line as they look to repeat in the Ultimini.
With a rookie QB and strength in the RB positions you would imagine Dallas will look to run the ball a lot early in the coming season. As a mauler, this should play into Farkas' strengths and give him plenty of opportunities to pancake defenders.
2 - Taylor Swift (MIN)
The top TPE earner on the offensive line in the DSFL, and the only returning OL in the league, Taylor Swift comes in at number 2 on the Power Rankings.
An athletic lineman, Swift will have to adapt their gameplay this season as the Grey Ducks change the focus of their offense from the air to the ground. I don't see Swift having any issues with this assignment, as their athleticism should lend itself to blocking in space and getting to the second level just as well as it lent itself to 1-on-1 pass blocking last season.
3 - Stone Wall (BBB)
Coming in at number 3 is Stone Wall, the newly Australian-speaking mauling rookie OL in Bondi.
With Bugs as your QB, the line between pass blocking and run blocking situations isn't as clear as it usually is as his scrambling abilities allow any drop back to potentially turn into a gain on the ground. An absolute mauler blocking for ball carriers, Stone Wall should thrive on a line in front of Bugs.
4 - Acutiramus Bohemius (DAL)
Rounding out our offensive line rankings is another rookie in Dallas, Acutiramus Bohemius.
Bohemius has the potential to form a monstrous partnership on the line with number 1 ranked Gustav Farkas. If these two guys can settle and learn how to play with each other quickly, Dallas could be set on the line for the next couple of seasons. A potentially dominant tandem in the run game, the Birddogs are likely to depend on these guys to set up a productive ground game as their rookie QB settles into the league.
DL:
Moving on to the best side of the ball, we'll start at the front of the defense with the defensive line.
1 - Dunkler Sowerwine (MIN)
Kicking off our defensive line Power Rankings is the big, bad Nose Tackle in the centre of the Minnesota front, Dunkler Sowerwine.
Sowerwine was the clear favourite in the GM surveys, ranked as the number 1 DL player for the coming season more than half of the time. One of the top TPE earners in the DSFL on the defensive side of the ball, Sowerwine is coming off a strong rookie season that earnt him a first round pick in the ISFL Draft this offseason. A future member of the Cape Town Crash line, Sowerwine will look to be the anchor in the centre of a strong Minnesota front 7 that will look to get physical with opposing offenses.
Sowerwine racked up 7 sacks playing DE last season. While a solid number, I wouldn't expect him to repeat this total now playing NT but he is still favoured to have a strong season in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball.
2 - Maurice 'Mo Money' Gunner (LON)
Another mountain of a man at Nose Tackle, coming in at number 2 is London Royal Maurice Gunner.
Over his rookie campaign last season, 'Mo Money' was an absolute force against the run racking up 12 TFLs through 14 games and he will look to continue this trend going in to his sophomore campaign. Although Gunner is much less of a factor as a pass rusher, his ability to plug multiple gaps and take on double teams should allow his teammates at DE to get much more favourable matchups on passing downs.
With obvious depth issues in the secondary, London will look to get as much pressure as they can with a strong front 7 and Gunner should be able to assist, at least in a supportive role as a minimum, in this capacity. The Royals are going to need big performances from their D line this year, as if they can't get pressure quickly, opposing QBs will pick their depleted secondary apart though the air.
3 - Garlic Jr (DAL)
Garlic Jr is the highest TPE player on the defensive line in the entire DSFL, but was not voted for as highly as some of the other players available.
A strong contributor in his rookie year, with 6 TFLs and 6 sacks, Interior Rusher Garlic Jr will look to back this up with an even more impressive second campaign. With a new rookie NT on the line, Garlic Jr should get even more opportunities the rush the passer 1-on-1, potentially further increasing his production.
With the only players in the secondary minimum TPE rookies, offenses facing the Birddogs are likely to focus their attack through the air. This should allow plenty of pass rushing opportunities for Garlic Jr meaning, while the pass defense may struggle as a unit, I wouldn't be surprised if Garlic Jr posts a monster individual season from a sack and pass rush perspective.
4 - Anthony Simmons III* (MIN)
Coming in at number 4 on the Power Rankings is another member of the stacked Minnesota Grey Ducks front, Anthony Simmons III.
With 2 strong DTs on the roster, I was expecting one of Simmons III and Sowerwine to be an Interior Rusher, but instead they are both Nose Tackles. I'm not sure how well this will work out in game, as I feel they may lack some interior pass rush that may be further emphasised by the lack of DEs on the roster.
With that said, Simmons III posted a solid, if not spectacular, rookie season last time out and will be looking to follow that up with a step forward in his sophomore campaign. A strong Grey Ducks secondary should discourage opposing offenses from approaching matchups too pass happy, and this should lean into Sowerwine's and Simmons III's strengths against the run.
5 - GCBWRNW Princess Donut* (DAL)
Rounding out the top 5 with our first rookie on defense, Princess Donut is another mammoth of a football player at Nose Tackle for the Birddogs.
Donut has a real chance as a rookie to develop a strong tandem in the centre of the Dallas line with fellow DT Garlic Jr. With one strong against the run, and the other excelling as an Interior Rusher, these two could form a monstrous defensive interior dominating the trenches over the coming season for the Birddogs.
The same issues I mentioned above for Garlic Jr apply to Donut aswell, but are likely more pronounced due to the fact that Princess Donut is more of a factor in the run defense than as a pass rusher. This means that Donut may have limited opportunities to splash as a rookie but should be at least a solid contributor.
DL Shoutout: Roman Alexander (LON)
With DTs dominating the Top 5, I wanted to put a spotlight of the top DE in the rankings. Roman Alexander of the London Royals narrowly missed out on the top 5, but looks in good shape to have a productive year in S47. Lining up outside of number 2 ranked DT Maurice Gunner, Alexander should have plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities to use his power to plow through opposing Tackles.
LBs:
Moving on to the best position in all of football, and the absolute stat gremlins of simulation dot football land: Linebackers.
Linebackers was by far the most split vote from the GM vote perspective, with 12 players receiving at least 1 vote. It is also the strongest position from a TPE perspective, with 9 players at least at the DSFL TPE cap for the coming season.
1 - Speed Hawk (BBB)
The number 1 ranked LB going into this season is Bondi Beach Buccaneer Speed Hawk.
Speed Hawk is coming off a huge rookie season last time out that saw him rack up 105 tackles, 11 TFLs and 9 sacks. The Buccaneer defense is pretty back heavy, with the strength of the unit concentrated in the LB corps and the secondary. The strong players at CB and S will likely encourage opposing offenses to run the ball, and the strong coverage ability of the unit will likely lead to opposing QBs holding onto the ball for longer. Speed Hawk will likely get a lot of pass rush opportunities in these scenarios, due to a weak defensive line.
These factors imply Hawk is poised for another monster year, and if he can improve on his stats from the last campaign he could find himself right in the mix for Defensive MVP. A second strong season in the DSFL could help springboard Hawk into the ISFL, allowing him to make the adjustment quickly and be a contributor from day 1.
2 - Grzegorz Winnicki (TIJ)
In comparison to their consistent presence at the top of the Power Rankings on the offensive side of the ball, Grzegorz Winnicki is the only Luchadore to feature in the top 5 across the defensive positions in the DSFL.
Winnicki is a strong contender at LB, one of the highest TPE earners at the position in the DSFL and had a strong rookie season last time out. Winnicki put up 95 tackles, 12 TFLs, 6 sacks and 2 INTs in a campaign that truly showed how versatile he can be in the centre of a defense.
The challenge for Winnicki going into the coming season is the lack of depth generally across the defensive side of the ball in the Tijuana locker room. While there is decent depth at LB, the defensive secondary and line could both use some reinforcements. However, despite this Winnicki should still get plenty of opportunities to make plays as, with the firepower they have on offense, opposing teams are likely to find themselves playing from behind and therefore having to turn to the pass. This should allow Winnicki to get plenty of pass rush opportunities where he can really show what he's about.
3 - Bean Beanmann III (MIN)
Coming in at 3rd on the LB Rankings is Minnesota Grey Duck Bean Beanmann III.
No disrespect to Beanmann III, but he was a surprise inclusion for me on this list. It didn't surprise me at all to see a Minnesota linebacker in the mix given the strength of their unit going into the season. What surprised me is that his teammate, KrustyKrab Pizza, who is also a LB but has nearly 200 TPE more than Beanmann III, wasn't the choice of voters.
Regardless of this, the LBs on the Grey Duck defense look poised to have huge years from a production stand point as the unit as a whole is favourite to be the strongest defense in the DSFL this season.
Beanmann III is coming off a decent rookie year for Minnesota, having racked up 96 tackles, 9 TFLs, 5 sacks and 3 turnovers, and I imagine it is the known commodity that has lead GMs to vote for Beanmann III over Pizza, as Pizza is a new transfer to the position.
4 - Huge Yakman* (DAL)
Huge Yakman had to feature in the DSFL LB Power Rankings for S47, as he is the only returning player to receive Defensive MVP votes last campaign.
Yakman was a turnover machine last season for the Birddogs, forcing the ball out on 5 different occasions on his way to a 96 tackle campaign. He also lived in opposing offense's backfields, compiling 13 TFLs and 6 sacks through the 14 game regular season.
I can't see any reason for Yakman to regress this season, as the main pass rush threat for the Dallas defense looks likely to come from the LB corps due to an absence of DEs on the roster. The complementary profiles of the internal duo of Garlic Jr and Princess Donut should keep opposing offensive linemen busy, giving pass rushing LBs Yakman and Retriever good match ups on the outside.
A team built to run the ball on offense, rival teams may be forced to throw the ball more in order to balance the control of the clock the Birddogs are likely to have. This should give Yakman even more opportunities to pin his ears back and get after opposing QBs.
5 - Upceti Spaghetti* (POR)
Rounding out a competitive group at LB is Portland Python Pass Rusher, Upceti Spaghetti.
Spaghetti is one if the strongest pass rushers in the DSFL, coming off a campaign that saw him rack up 9 sacks, ties for 3rd most in the league. Spaghetti had the most sacks for returning defensive players over the last campaign, and will look to hit double digits during this coming season after narrowly missing out last time round.
The issues that come with projecting Spaghetti's production in the coming season is the relative lack of TPE in the Portland defensive locker room. Spaghetti is the only defensive player for the Pythons that is at the DSFL TPE cap, with the next closest 90 TPE away. While Portland were able to pick up a couple of strong prospects in the draft this off-season, the defense as a unit is going to look to Spaghetti as a leader and will be reliant on him contributing across the board if they are to be successful in S47.
LB Shout-out: Rookie LB Class
There are a number of other strong players at LB I could have given a shout-out here, but I wanted to take the opportunity to do something a little different here and highlight the rookie LB class as a whole.
A generally large LB class, there are some really promising prospects in the group. Namely:
Willeh Strong (POR) - 1.01 in the DSFL draft and everyone's 2nd favourite yapper, Strong is set up for a big rookie year for the Pythons
Mac Mannheim (NOR) - Another DSFL draft 1st rounder, Mannheim has proven himself an active and capable earner and was recently made Defensive Captain of the Seawolves
Robot Sunfish (NOR) - Another addition to the Seawolves' defense, ever-reliable Sunfish is poised to play a big role for Norfolk this year
Mako Mendonca Jr (TIJ) - A prospect bowl standout and solid TPE earner, Mendonca Jr will look to make an impact under vet Winnicki on the Luchadore defense
CBs:
Up next we have the ego-centric, divas of the DSFL, the Cornerbacks.
1 - Walter Yensid (BBB)
Walter Yensid stock is high right now, going into his second campaign after being drafted number 3 overall in this off-seasons ISFL Draft. The future Fire Salamander was easily the GMs favourite player at CB, consistently ranked either first or second on GM player rankings. This, combined with the fact that he has the most TPE at the position in the DSFL, meant he was the obvious choice for the top of the Power Rankings going into S47.
Yensid was a beast in coverage last campaign, racking up well over 1 pass break up per game, as well as recording 2 INTs. The only cause for concern surrounding Yensid's production this year is the rest of the Buccaneer defense.
Bondi Beach have a very strong secondary, with an elite CB2 opposite Yensid and some good rookie depth at S, however, the front 7 is weak. Aside from an elite LB, there isn't much star power or depth to talk about in the front 7, meaning opposing offenses are likely to favour the run when facing the Buccaneers. This would limit the opportunities Yensid would get to show what he is all about, but ultimately I think he is the strongest CB in the league and is well deserving of the 1 spot in the pre-season Power Rankings.
2 - Mooty Poop-Eater (LON)
The clear number 2 in the CB Power Rankings is the creatively named Mooty Poop-Eater.
Poop-Eater had an enormous year last time out, and was a force in both coverage and when contributing to the run defense. He racked up 75 tackles, which for a CB is wildly impressive, and also recorded 26 PDs and 3 INTs when in coverage. A versatile outside corner, Poop-Eater is poised to have another strong year this time out.
Poop-Eater is likely to benefit from the strengths of the Royals defense, as the roster is generally strong up front and weaker on the back end, as outside of Poop-Eater they have little depth in the defensive secondary. The disparity between these parts of the roster will likely encourage teams to turn to the pass when facing the London defense, which should mean Poop-Eater has plenty of opportunities to make plays on the ball.
3 - South West (NOR)
Coming in at number 3 in the CB Power Ranking is Norfolk Seawolves' South West. A versatile athlete who was an absolute force in the run game in S46 racking up 98 tackles as a LB, West has made the transition to CB for S47 after being drafted by the Orange County Otters in Round 3 of the ISFL Draft.
West will look to benefit from a re-vamped and updated Norfolk defense, after the Seawolves brought in 4 news bodies on the defensive side of the ball. With most of the reinforcements brought into the front 7, Norfolk are clearly looking to add some talent up front in an attempt to stop the run and get pressure on opposing QBs. This should suit West, as all of this should encourage opposing offenses to pass more, and to release the ball more quickly, which should give West plenty of opportunities to make plays on the ball. His background as a LB should help him contribute to the run game as well, meaning we ahould see West making plays across the field for Norfolk this season.
4 - Terry Keller (KCC)
The number 4 CB in the Power Rankings sees the first appearance of a Kansas City Coyote in the rankings in Terry Keller.
Keller is coming off a pretty respectable stat line in his rookie season, having amassed 19 PDs in coverage. He was also a bit of a turnover machine, recording 3 INTs and 4 FFs across a campaign that proved he really has a nose for the football.
The Coyote defense is unusual in that it is quite top heavy, with 62.5% of defensive players over 150 TPE. These players are spread out pretty evenly across the defensive side of the ball, with meaningful contributors at every level. I'm not sure what to project for the Coyote defense, if their high TPE players can contribute early this could be a really strong unit, but if they struggle to make an impact out of the gate Kansas City don't have the depth to make up for that. Either way, Keller should be at minimum a solid contributor to the KC defense, and has a ceiling much higher than that.
5 - Edith Nickelback (POR) /Matt Wilkins (BBB)
Our first tie in the DSFL Power Rankings sees Python Edith Nickelback and Buccaneer Matt Wilkins share CB spot number 5.
Nickelback received a solid number of votes from GMs for a lower TPE player, as GMs expect clearly expect them to build off their 14 PB rookie season and become the true cover corner their potential indicates they can be.
While Wilkins didn't receive as many votes as Nickelback, his higher TPE made up the difference to give them an equal 'Ranking Score'. Wilkins is a convert to CB having started at LB for the whole of last season. The Buccaneers will be hoping his history as a run defender will bring some physicality and edge to their secondary.
CB Shout-out: Sam Coverdale (TIJ)
I'm gonna go back to giving the rookies a bit of attention on this one.
Sam Coverdale is the personification of the diva CB stereotype and is going to be an absolute nightmare for opposing WRs to line up against, as much because he will annoy them with his incessant waffle as anything to do with his coverage skills. On the latters front, Coverdale is fluid in coverage and stood out during the prospect bowl for his ability to stick with even the fastest receivers through their transitions.
S:
Finishing off the defensive side of the ball with the second half of the secondary unit, there are some strong Safetys going into this year.
1 - PeePee Poop-Eater Jr (MIN)
PeePee Poop-Eater Jr was the top choice in the GM vote, as every time hw was included in a GMs ranking he was put at number 1.
The roaming centre fielder of the Grey Ducks secondary, Poop-Eater Jr will look to build on an impressive S46 that saw him frequently around the football. This knack for being in the right place at the right time led to him recording 4 turnovers through a combination of INTs and fumble recoveries in a varied campaign that saw him record a stat in almost every major tracked category (only missing a TFL).
Poop-Eater Jr has shown he can be a play maker all over the field from the safety position, and will be used as a chess piece for what is expected to be a strong Minnesota defense. I'm expecting another strong showing from him this time out.
2 - Lasse Ziegler (NOR)
Sitting at one of the highest TPE values of the entire DSFL, Zeigler was ever present in the top 3 of GM votes. Not a single respondent to the survey ranked him lower than 3rd, that's seriously impressive.
Last season's defensive Captain for the Seawolves, Ziegler had an impressive campaign last time out showing some serious talent coming downhill to support in the run game and compiled 56 tackles last time out. This was especially impressive for Ziegler as he came out of college with more of a reputation as a ball hawk, and splashed at times in this manner last season as well.
With a Boat-load (pun intended) of reinforcements landing on the Norfolk defense, some of the pressure should be taken off Ziegler this season, allowing him to sit deep and play the ball more often. I'm expecting an increase in his production this year given the expected step-up across the board from the Norfolk defense.
3 - Tony Scaletta (MIN)
Coming in at number 3 on the Safety Power Rankings is new convert from LB, Tony Scaletta.
With the addition of 2 new max TPE LBs to the Minnesota defense, in the form of KrustyKrab Pizza and Dason Dehorn, Scaletta was the odd one out in the LB room and so has made the transition to Safety for S47.
Scaletta was impressive in coverage for a LB during his rookie campaign, recording 5 PDs and showcasing impressive sideline-to-sideline range. This should lend itself well to S as he fills the second safety slot behind number 1 ranked Poop-Eater Jr, as part of an impressive secondary unit that should compose just part of what looks like a dominant defense for the Grey Ducks in S47.
4 - Eric Beaty Jr (KCC)
Number 4 is Eric Beaty Jr, the second Coyote on the Power Rankings that further showcases the strength of the secondary in Kansas City.
An athletic centre fielder, Beaty Jr is just 1 TPE short of the DSFL cap and should have the freedom to play the ball more in a secondary that also features one of the top ranked CBs in Terry Keller.
Beaty Jr showed he has a real knack for making plays on the ball last year, managing to snag himself 2 INTs and a FF. The ceiling on Beaty Jr's production this season is likely to be the lack of talent up front on the KC defense as the Coyotes boast just 1 player in the front 7 over 200 TPE. This implies teams will run aggressively when facing Kansas City and may limit the opportunities Beaty Jr gets.
5 - Honorius Salvator (LON)
The final defensive player in these rankings is London Royal safety Honorius Salvator.
Salvator boasts an impressive physical profile and really showcased this as a true enforcer during a strong London campaign last time out. Despite an upset loss early in the playoffs, Salvator had an impressive showing as a SS racking up 70 tackles.
As one of the focal parts of a top heavy secondary, Salvator will hope he can benefit off a strong London defensive front and showcase more of his playmaking abilities in what is likely to be his final season in the DSFL.
S Shoutout: Alexandros Sotiris (TIJ)
Narrowly missing out on the top 5 before he's even taken a step onto the field in a DSFL game, Alexandros Sotiris has clearly made a strong impression on GMs early in his career. The athletic centre fielder will look to make a splash early as he aims to impress ISFL teams on the lookout for reinforcements for their secondary.
K/P:
I'm not going to go into much detail on the special teamers as this was pretty cut and dry.
1 - Wynn Jenkins (BBB)
The clear leader in TPE and the only K/P who is at the DSFL limit, Jenkins was the only choice for the 1 spot in the Power Rankings. This was backed up by the GM vote where he was put number 1 across the board. Jenkins is widly expected to be the most accurate kicker across the league this season.
2 - Cameron Oswald-Newton (MIN)
The only other returning K/P in the league, and comfortably 2nd in TPE, Oswald-Newton was ranked 2nd in over 80% of GM votes. While not a standout leg in terms of power, Oswald-Newton has plenty of accuracy to make the most of the opportunities he is likely to get in a strong offense for the Grey Ducks.
3 - Daniel Kenny (TIJ)
Our only rookie K/P, Kenny lands in a strong spot and should get plenty of opportunities as the kicker for an offense that is expected to league the DSFL this season.
If any of you guys made it this far, I hope you enjoyed. This took a fair amount of work and research so hopefully you guys enjoyed the insight into some of the top DSFL Players for the coming season.