2018 MFFL Auction Grades

Grades and analysis are largely based upon statistical projections with a touch of subjective reasoning sprinkled throughout.

Criteria for grading includes total projected points purchased in the auction, points per projected starter, points per skill position players (which leaves out kickers and defenses, as their points-per-dollar cost deceptively inflate metrics), and the overall number of projected starters added to a roster.

Christmas Island Crabs — A
The Crabs were aggressive with their money and landed five potential starters in Melvin Gordon, Dion Lewis, Mike Evans, Ryan Succop, and the Chicago Bears. Their dollars-per-projected point total for their skill position players is highly favorable. They finished first in dollars-per-point projections, second in projected points per starter, and second in skill position projections.

Ecuador Ewoks — A-
The Ewoks went all-in last year and unfortunately came up short. With no draft picks and not a lot of cash, the Ewoks made highly efficient signings and landed six potential starters, including Golden Tate, Marquise Goodwin, Tarik Cohen, Josh Doctson, Trey Burton, and the New England Patriots. They may not be the highest scoring team in the MFFL in 2018, but did wonders with their budget, ranking first in total starters acquired, first in projected points for starters, and first in projected points among skill position players.

Bangkok Blitz — B+
Had it not been for the budget-busting signing of Todd Gurley, the Blitz might have graded even higher. But few teams did as well with less cash — after the Gurley signing — than did the Blitz. Not only did they retain one of the highest-projected starters in Gurley, they hauled in some great buys in Andrew Luck, Jordy Nelson, Julian Edelman and Rex Burkhead, finishing second in total projected points and fourth among dollars-per-point.

Jamaica Jerks — B
The Jerks raked in the second-highest projected dollars-per-point total in the auction — and third-most for offensive skill players — and secured four potential starters in LeSean McCoy, Tyreek Hill, Jimmy Graham and Josh Lambo — all of whom came in under market value, assuming some level of accuracy in their projected point totals.

Ukraine Grainers — B
Ukraine finished with the highest projected point total among auction buys, and they added four potential starters in Jarvis Landry, Delanie Walker, Jerick McKinnon (only later to be revealed as out for the season with an ACL injury), and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Grainers’ best value came in their depth with the addition of players like Matthew Stafford and Aaron Jones for $0.75 apiece, Nelson Agholor for $1.50, and tight end Vance McDonald for $1.

Wake Island Wookiees — B
Wake Island made a strong case for comeback team of the year after landing the first-overall pick in the draft and then having a very strong auction. The Wookiees landed six potential starters in Julio Jones, Kenyan Drake, Greg Olsen, Brandin Cooks, Wil Lutz, and the New Orleans Saints. Their dollars-per-point average was one of the lowest in the league (11th) but their projected point total ranked them fourth.

Turkey Jerky — B-
Turkey landed five potential starters in Philip Rivers, Chris Thompson, Amari Cooper, Josh Gordon and Jake Elliott. They also bought key reserves in Chris Hogan, Mark Ingram and Carlos Hyde. They purchased the third-most projected points and third-most starters.

Switzerland Squirrels — C+
The Squirrels landed five potential starters in Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Larry Fitzgerald, Devin Funchess, and Mason Crosby. The grade might have been higher had it not been for two of the lowest recorded dollars-per-point projected totals in the league for Gronkowski and Fitzgerald.

San Juan Scorpions — C+
The bulk of San Juan’s work included retaining their players from last year’s squad. The Scorpions spent big bucks re-signing Alshon Jeffery, A.J. Green, T.Y. Hilton and Justin Tucker. Green and Hilton lowered their dollars-per-point projection among starters, but their dollars-per-point average for all signed players ranked fifth. They spent their remaining roster slots on minimum-wage additions at the end of the auction, which brought up their dollars-per-point average among skill position players, ranking them fourth in that category.

Nagasaki Kamikazes — C+
The Kamikazes finished 8th in projected dollars-per-point as well as 8th in points per projected starter. They also took a lot of swings on players with questionable roster status. But they retained two of the best players in the league by spending $40.75 on Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, which gave them a passing grade. They finished fifth in dollars-per-point average for starting players.

Russia Renegades — C-
The Renegades were the least busy of all franchises during the auction, signing just four players including three potential starters in Odell Beckham, Sebastian Janikowski and the Tennessee Titans. The Renegades had to spend big bucks to secure Beckham, which considerably brought down their dollars-per-point average. They ranked third in dollars-per-point projections among starters, but dead last in total projected points.

Egypt Pharaohs — D+
Egypt had a rough night in the auction, overbidding on Aaron Rodgers before trading him away and eating half his salary. Egypt signed just three potential starters in Marshawn Lynch, Greg Zuerlein and the Los Angeles Rams, possibly overpaying for the latter two. Egypt finished last in dollars-per-point projection and 10th in both total projected points and points for projected starters.