We're a little behind on our draft reviews -- it's mid-WK1 -- but better late than never! It was a thrilling draft as two owners were traveling in Asia during the whole thing, but the commissioners got it done in time. There was talk of re-alignment or just collapsing CTDB into one big division, but that'll have to wait for next season. Let's take a quick look at what 2019 will look like for our teams heading into the season. [
Draft Board 2019 |
Marvel draft review ]
Fat Jubas (5-8)
The worst team in the league last season — tied with Battle Angel actually — has all the makings of a bounce back season. Keepers David Johnson, Chris Carson, Mike Evans, Adam Thielen, and old man Alshon Jeffery are good enough, they just need a leader! Enter Baker Mayfield, soon to be NFL MVP and thrower of many touchdowns to Odell Beckham Jr. (Yes, I saw WK1, but for Eric’s sake, let’s keep believing in Baker…)
The best news is that
Jubas won the Toilet Bowl last season, earning him the first pick, which he used on consensus number one running back Josh Jacobs. Jacobs is exactly the infusion of young legs this backfield needs and by drafting pass catching Tevin Coleman in RD2 and the a pair of deep threats in Josh Gordon and Will Fuller, Jubas should be ready to fly this year. Old favorite Emmanuel Sanders — a Jubas’ keeper from 2014-16 — is back too. After two seasons with a combined nine wins, it’s time for Fat Jubas to turn the beat around!
Battle Angel (5-8)
One year after winning the Capcom division and making it all the way to the Super Bowl, Vu’s team collapsed in 2018 to the tune of five measly wins. With two of the best TEs in the game in Travis Kelce and George Kittle, plus Alvin Kamara at running back, all Vu needed was someone else to help out in the backfield because Marlon Mack was just a borderline keeper. So Battle Angel welcome two new rookies to the fold: RB David Montgomery and WR N’Keal Harry with his first two picks. Montgomery has the green light in the Bears running attack and if he can start quickly, Battle Angel will be back to their winning ways.
If not, there are are few old hands on here, but most of them have seen their best days. I mean, Robby Anderson and Matt Breida are probably young but they don’t have much fantasy upside do they? If sophomore runner Ronald Jones II can show anything more than he did last year though, he might be a nice pickup in RD7. Oh right, Russell Wilson is around to sling the football, and Brandin Cooks is the lead — and only — keeper receiver alongside Kelce and Kittle.
Crunch Bunch (6-7)
One of our three new owners, Eddie emerged from the dispersal draft with Melvin Gordon, Dalvin Cook, Amari Cooper, Michael Thomas, and Kenny Golladay. Looking to make an instant impact on the win loss column, Eddie locked up Austin Ekeler in RD3 as Gordon’s handcuff during his holdout and also grabbed Packers’ runner Aaron Jones with his RD1.4 pick for additional backfield insurance.
There’s a chance DJ Moore gets way better in his sophomore year, but even if he doesn’t, the receiving core is in good hands already — plus super vet Larry Fitzgerald at RD7. A mid-round gamble on Rashaad Penny seemed wise and then add in the duo of QB Jared Goff and TE Jared Cook and Crunch Bunch appears to have no weaknesses. Despite taking over from a franchise that casts a long shadow, Crunch Bunch should be ready to make their own mark on CTDB very quickly.
Philadelphia Phreaks (7-6)
Armed with last season’s MVP, Patrick Mahomes, the Phreaks continued extended their postseason streak to seven years in a row — and eight of the last nine. However, playoff success has been tough to come by as they’ve yet to hit a Super Bowl in franchise history. Could this finally be the year? JuJu Smith-Schuster should inherit the number one role in Pittsburg while Keenan Allen is a top receiver. Zach Ertz is here for his Eagle bonafides, but we have to question if keeping Carson Wentz — over say, Devonta Freeman — was really the move here in a ten team league.
With no running backs entering the draft, GM Ping grabbed as many as he could, starting off with Eagles’ rookie Miles Sanders, Derrius Guice, Tarik Cohen, and Darrell Henderson with his first four picks. Add in Dion Lewis, Jaylen Samuels, and Dare Ogunbowale late and that’s a potpourri of runners. We have no idea which will hit but let’s hope for the Phreaks sake that two of them do. We like Sterling Shepard as a RD5 pickup, and the receiving game should be in good hands overall, especially with Mahomes slinging the ball.
Gang Green (7-6)
For these two-time champs, winning has never been a problem, but putting a face to the franchise has been. Their biggest star of the past, well, forever, has been maybe a Brandon Marshall, a Davante Adams, or maybe Peyton Manning? Gang Green has never had the best player in fantasy but that’s all changed with Christian McCaffrey on board. Now he’s one of the best players, if not the best, in fantasy. After two seasons out of the playoffs, Gang Green upset their way
all the way to the Super Bowl — for the fourth time — and despite a loss there, it was a hugely successful 2018 for Greg.
Armed with Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake in the backfield alongside the multi-faceted McCaffrey, GM Greg went heavy on the receivers to complement Davante Adams. Drafting via proxy from China, Greg added Calvin Ridley, Allen Robinson, Dede Westbrook, TE Austin Hooper, Jamison Crowder, and Devin Funchess. Each of them of has breakout potential and we’re thinking Deshaun Watson — or Dak Prescott -- will enjoy all his new targets to throw to. It’s time for Gang Green to push their star power around and re-take control of the Capcom division.
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