Recapping the 2017 MFFL Trade Deadline transactions November 1, 2017 The 2017 MFFL trade deadline featured a flurry of moves as teams made last-minute adjustments to their organizational planning. The 2017 MFFL trade deadline has passed and there was heavy action around the league right down to the final few hours. Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of the buyers, sellers, and contentment dwellers. Bangkok Blitz The Blitz stood pat at the deadline and watched the trade parade march by. And why wouldn’t they? They just came off a week scoring 180 points, they lead the league in scoring, sit in first place in the South Division, and are just a game out of the MFFL lead. The Blitz have used the past few games to get healthy and rest players during bye weeks, but all systems are a go in the weeks ahead. Bangkok is all-in on the 2017 season. They have two first-round picks next year, but only four players under contract. Ecuador Ewoks With the schizophrenic nature of star running back Ezekiel Elliott’s availability to the team, but right in the thick of the playoff hunt, the Ewoks were definitely buyers at the trade deadline. With the emergence of star rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, Ecuador shipped away injured veteran Aaron Rodgers, who is in the final year of his deal. They also traded away veteran tight end Rob Gronkowski in a separate deal. In exchange, the Ewoks received a pair of young playmakers on the rise in wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Devin Funchess as well as an insurance plan for Elliott in running back Darren McFadden. Despite playing for the 2017 season, the Ewoks also received some long-term help in rookie tight end O.J. Howard as well in wide receiver Cameron Meredith, both under contract for the 2018 season. Egypt Pharaohs Egypt was nowhere to be found at the trade deadline, opting to go with what they have moving forward. The Pharaohs have been one of the more interesting teams of the 2017 season, experiencing the highs and lows of a rollercoaster season. Their scoring performance has at times looked like an ECG chart, twice leading the league in weekly scoring and three times finishing dead last. It’s enough to drive an owner insane. Greenland Monsters Greenland has a bit of an identity crisis on its hands. Currently sitting in third place in the North Division but ranked 7th in points scored, the Monsters had a tough call to make at the trade deadline about whether to be buyers or sellers. It appears they’ve elected to ride the 2017 season out, though, as they made a pair of trades at the deadline. Greenland has trimmed the fat, so to speak, by shipping off running back Eddie Lacy — see what I did there? — and the elderly statesman Matt Forte, plus eliminated the bloated contract of wide receiver Dez Bryant. They also shipped away their 2018 first-round selection and quarterback Matt Ryan in exchange for quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Jordan Reed, among other assets. Jamaica Jerks The defending MFFL champions are exchanging their country’s green, black and gold flag for a solid white one as the Jerks were most definitely sellers at the trade deadline. Jamaica made three separate trades at the deadline with Turkey, Nagasaki, and Greenland as they sold off their assets for the 2017 season and prepared for their future rebuild. Among the players they jettisoned were quarterback Alex Smith, wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan, and tight end Jordan Reed. When the dust settled, the Jerks wound up with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who has a favorable $1.25 million contract through 2019, the rights to veteran receiver Allen Robinson, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason, and rookie wide receivers Zay Jones and ArDarius Stewart. Their biggest prize includes the possession of four 2018 first-round draft picks. Nagasaki Kamikazes Sitting at .500 and in need of boost in scoring, the Kamikazes were major players at the trade deadline. Nagasaki shipped away their 2018 first-round draft pick along with rookie receivers Zay Jones and ArDarius Stewart, plus emerging playmaker Devin Funchess and surprise breakout running back Chris Thompson, as well as disappointing wideout Terrelle Pryor in a series of three deals. In return, the Kamikazes wound up with the rights to injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers — who has an outside shot at returning to action should the Kamikazes make a deep playoff run — the favorable contract of the dynamic Devonta Freeman, the dependable Brandin Cooks, and up-and-coming rookie wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster. Nagasaki has assembled a formidable starting lineup in recent weeks — with more help possibly on the way from the injured Greg Olsen — and they have a favorable stretch of games remaining. Four of their five remaining games are against sub-.500 opponents. Russia Renegades Seeking reinforcements for their 2017 playoff push, the Renegades were buyers at the trade deadline and elected to move some future assets in the process. In need of a more consistent playmaker, the team acquired veteran tight end Rob Gronkowski from Ecuador. They shipped away the third-leading receiver in the process, Tyreek Hill, as well as rookie tight end O.J. Howard and receiver Cameron Meredith, currently on IR but under contract for 2018. The Renegades sit second in the North Division, are tied for third in the league overall, and are second in points scored. San Juan Scorpions The MFFL-leading Scorpions, who began the season with bad luck in losing top player David Johnson, have had good fortune on their side ever since, chalking up 6 wins in 8 games despite sitting 8th in total scoring. The Scorpions are one of only two teams to have a 2-0 divisional record, so they are sitting pretty in the West Division despite Ecuador chasing right behind them. San Juan remained quiet at the trade deadline and are rolling with the squad they have. Turkey Jerky Turkey pushed all their chips to the center of the table as they declared their intent to go for it all in 2017 with a flurry of moves at the trade deadline. In three separate trades, the Jerky shipped away their 2018 first-round draft pick, future quarterback prospect Jimmy Garoppolo and his cap-friendly deal, veteran quarterback Tom Brady, and running back Devonta Freeman and his attractive contract. In return, Turkey wound up with MFFL-leading quarterback Alex Smith and wide receivers Dez Bryant and Chris Hogan, among other pieces. The Jerky are coming off a big win over Russia, they currently sit in a virtual tie with Bangkok in the South Division, they’re tied for third overall in the league and are sixth in scoring. Ukraine Grainers Ukraine, toeing the line of preparing for the 2018 season but staying competitive in the 2017 race, found a way to do both with a few moves at the trade deadline. The Grainers shipped receiver Mike Evans to the Velociraptors but got some depth in return with running back Melvin Gordon and wide receiver Jarvis Landry, along with Vietnam’s second-round pick in 2018. They also acquired tight end Jimmy Graham from Wake Island for some lineup versatility and wound up shipping away their own second-round pick next year. The Grainers sit in a tie atop the MFFL as well as in sole possession of first place in the North Division with Russia nipping at their heels. They’re also third in total scoring, so are in good shape for the stretch run. Vietnam Velociraptors No MFFL team is victim to hard luck more than the Velociraptors. Vietnam has scored the fifth-most points in the league this season, but currently sits two games below .500. With a 2-0 divisional record and the kind of firepower they’ve displayed even in loss, the Velociraptors are definitely going for it in 2017. As such, the team swung a deal with Ukraine to land big time wide receiver Mike Evans in exchange for running back Melvin Gordon and receiver Jarvis Landry, among other pieces. Wake Island Wookiees The Wookiees are currently on track to own the coveted first overall pick in the upcoming 2018 MFFL Draft, but they weren’t wholesale sellers at the trade deadline. They did move one piece, however: tight end Jimmy Graham, whom they shipped to Ukraine for running back Jonathan Stewart and a 2018 second-round pick. The Wookiees will continue to fight this season, but it’s clear the best lies ahead, in the future, for the ballclub.