2019 MFFL Team Previews

Bangkok Blitz

Projected Record: 8-5
Projected Points Per Game: 146.14
Super Bowl Odds: 12-1
Over/Under Win Total: 7.5
Key Returners: Baker Mayfield (QB/CLE), Todd Gurley (RB/LAR), DeAndre Hopkins (WR/HOU), Stefon Diggs (WR/MIN)
Key Additions: Delanie Walker (TE/TEN)
Outlook: The Blitz return several key players from the team that went 7-6 last year and just missed the playoffs. The South Division is up for grabs and Bangkok’s new ownership intends to take it.
If the glass is half-full… The Blitz win the division behind strong performances from their receiving corps, Baker Mayfield lives up to expectations and Todd Gurley’s knee stays healthy.
If the glass is half-empty… Baker is a bust and the Blitz have no other option to turn to. Gurley’s knee is as unstable as many fear.

Christmas Island Crabs

Projected Record: 6-7
Projected Points Per Game: 136.15
Super Bowl Odds: 16-1
Over/Under Win Total: 6.5
Key Returners: Russell Wilson (QB/SEA)
Key Additions: Michael Thomas (WR/NO), Damien Williams (RB/KC), Kenny Golladay (WR/DET), Tyler Boyd (WR/CIN), Tyler Lockett (WR/SEA)
Outlook: The Crabs made a flurry of moves this off season and were busy during the auction trying to round out their team and stay competitive with the Kamikazes in the East.
If the glass is half-full… The Crabs’ receiving corps, highlighted by Michael Thomas, carries them to many big victories.
If the glass is half-empty… Damien Williams does not live up to expectations and the pair of Tylers fail to match their 2018 outputs.

Ecuador Ewoks

Projected Record: 8-5
Projected Points Per Game: 140.78
Super Bowl Odds: 12-1
Over/Under Win Total: 7.5
Key Returners: Mitch Trubisky (QB/CHI), Ezekiel Elliott (RB/DAL), Chicago Bears (DST/CHI)
Key Additions: David Johnson (RB/ARI), Jarvis Landry (WR/CLE),
Outlook: The defending West Division champs want to build off last year’s success and will need every bit of production they can get from their returners and newcomers to compete with the Super Bowl champion Scorpions.
If the glass is half-full… David Johnson pairs with Ezekiel Elliott to form one of the best backfields in the league. Trubisky’s arm catches up with his legs and launches him into top quarterback status.
If the glass is half-empty… The Bears defense regresses and does not score as many points. David Johnson’s production doesn’t come close to matching his salary. The receiving corps fails to support the backfield.

Egypt Pharaohs

Projected Record: 3-10
Projected Points Per Game: 130.99
Super Bowl Odds: 32-1
Over/Under Win Total: 3.5
Key Returners: Patrick Mahomes (QB/KC), Phillip Lindsay (RB/DEN), Mark Ingram (RB/BAL), Sterling Shepard (WR/NYG)
Key Additions: David Njoku (TE/CLE), Rams Kicker (K/LAR)
Outlook: The Pharaohs defied expectations last year and won the South Division crown thanks to the MVP season of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Egypt will need that same output from him this year in a tougher division race.
If the glass is half-full… Mahomes goes nuts again and continues outputting video game numbers. Ingram, Lindsay and LeSean McCoy help carry this team to the playoffs.
If the glass is half-empty… Ingram and McCoy show their age and are bested by younger teammates. Mahomes returns to earth and puts up similar numbers to his competitors.

Jamaica Jerks

Projected Record: 8-5
Projected Points Per Game: 145.07
Super Bowl Odds: 12-1
Over/Under Win Total: 7.5
Key Returners: Jared Goff (QB/LAR)
Key Additions: Melvin Gordon (RB/LAC), Dalvin Cook (RB/MIN), Leonard Fournette (RB/JAX), James White (RB/NE), Keenan Allen (WR/LAC), Julian Edelman (WR/NE)
Outlook: Jamaica’s rebuilding year hit a snag in 2018, but it helped them land some key offseason pieces, which will launch them into competition in perhaps the best division in the MFFL, the West.
If the glass is half-full… The Jerks’ explosive running game dominates competition and launches them into the division title.
If the glass is half-empty… Gordon continues his holdout long into the season. Cook’s and Fournette’s troubled injury histories return to haunt the team.

Nagasaki Kamikazes

Projected Record: 11-2
Projected Points Per Game: 160.83
Super Bowl Odds: 8-1
Over/Under Win Total: 10.5
Key Returners: Le’Veon Bell (RB/NYJ), Joe Mixon (RB/CIN), Davante Adams (WR/GB), JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR/PIT), Travis Kelce (TE/KC)
Key Additions: Kyler Murray (QB/ARI), Aaron Jones (RB/GB), Chris Carson (RB/SEA)
Outlook: The Kamikazes strategically acquired cheap stars and paid down their contracts to enter the season with a low cap number and lots of cash for pieces. After falling short in the Super Bowl two years in a row, their time to strike is now.
If the glass is half-full… The star-studded lineup, particularly the running back crew, dominates on a weekly basis. The wide receivers (and Travis Kelce) prove difficult to contain. Kyler Murray becomes a stud.
If the glass is half-empty… A devastating injury or two derails the plan. Bell is not the player he was before his holdout last year.

Russia Renegades

Projected Record: 2-11
Projected Points Per Game: 127.48
Super Bowl Odds: 40-1
Over/Under Win Total: 2.5
Key Returners: Carson Wentz (QB/PHI), Kerryon Johnson (RB/DET), D.J. Moore (WR/CAR), Hunter Henry (TE/LAC)
Key Additions: Derrick Henry (RB/TEN), Calvin Ridley (WR/ATL), Allen Robinson (WR/CHI)
Outlook: The Renegades unloaded a trio of stars in the offseason (Michael Thomas, Odell Beckham, David Johnson) and chose to go with a youth movement, which will set them back a season and make 2019 a roller coaster ride.
If the glass is half-full… The Renegades’ stable of second-year pros show exponential growth and become stars in the making.
If the glass is half-empty… Few young players emerge as playmakers. Hunter Henry doesn’t return fully recovered from his knee injury.

San Juan Scorpions

Projected Record: 9-4
Projected Points Per Game: 148.08
Super Bowl Odds: 10-1
Over/Under Win Total: 8.5
Key Returners: Alvin Kamara (RB/NO), Nick Chubb (RB/CLE), Marlon Mack (RB/IND), T.Y. Hilton (WR/IND), Alshon Jeffery (WR/PHI), A.J. Green (WR/CIN), Zach Ertz (TE/PHI)
Key Additions: None
Outlook: The Super Bowl champions return one of the deepest rosters in the league. All San Juan had to do was hold down the fort and add a few complementary pieces because their core from 2018 was already under contract.
If the glass is half-full… San Juan picks up where it left off last season lighting up the scoreboard and racking up victories. Their trio of running backs and stable of receivers (including Ertz) prove difficult to beat each week.
If the glass is half-empty… Father Time catches up with the Scorpions. Green doesn’t fully return from injury. Jeffery loses targets to a fully loaded team. Hilton misses his quarterback.

Switzerland Squirrels

Projected Record: 3-10
Projected Points Per Game: 132.29
Super Bowl Odds: 32-1
Over/Under Win Total: 3.5
Key Returners: Adam Thielen (WR/MIN), Cooper Kupp (WR/LAR)
Key Additions: Cam Newton (QB/CAR), James Conner (RB/PIT), Robert Woods (WR/LAR)
Outlook: Switzerland was dealt a devastating blow when newly-signed Lamar Miller was lost for the season with an injury. The Squirrels will have to find a way to fill the hole at their second running back position.
If the glass is half-full… Thielen and Woods carry the Squirrels to many victories. Newton’s legs win a lot of games. Kupp rebounds from his injury quite nicely.
If the glass is half-empty… James Conner does not reproduce last year’s numbers. The RB2 slot is a hole that doesn’t get filled. Jimmy Graham fails to live up to high expectations.

Turkey Jerky

Projected Record: 4-9
Projected Points Per Game: 134.09
Super Bowl Odds: 20-1
Over/Under Win Total: 4.5
Key Returners: Devonta Freeman (RB/ATL), Tevin Coleman (RB/SF), Antonio Brown (WR/OAK), Amari Cooper (WR/DAL)
Key Additions: Aaron Rodgers (QB/GB), Sony Michel (RB/NE), David Montgomery (RB/CHI)
Outlook: Turkey finished 2-11 in 2018 and wound up, through a series of trades, selecting David Montgomery first overall. The Jerky hope to be more competitive in 2019 and will rely on their running back crew to get it done.
If the glass is half-full… Freeman stays healthy and Montgomery lives up to his billing. Brown’s production continues to remain high and Rodgers and Michel prove to be valuable assets.
If the glass is half-empty… Brown’s change of scenery cause a big drop in production. Freeman never quite gets back to his 2015-16 production. Coleman’s NFT price exceeds his production.

Ukraine Grainers

Projected Record: 10-3
Projected Points Per Game: 155.97
Super Bowl Odds: 9-1
Over/Under Win Total: 9.5
Key Returners: Deshaun Watson (QB/HOU), Christian McCaffrey (RB/CAR), Chris Godwin (WR/TB), George Kittle (TE/SF)
Key Additions: Odell Beckham (WR/CLE), Tyreek Hill (WR/KC), Mike Evans (WR/TB)
Outlook: The Grainers have been acquiring assets and building their franchise through draft picks and young pieces, and they finally cashed those in this offseason to make a run at the 2019 crown.
If the glass is half-full… Perhaps the strongest wide receiver corps in the MFFL dominates on a weekly basis. McCaffrey picks up where he left off last season and remains a dual threat. Watson and Kittle prove to be two of the best at their respective positions.
If the glass is half-empty… Beckham’s injury history haunts him. Godwin doesn’t match his hype. Hill runs into more off-field problems. The RB2 hole proves troublesome.

Wake Island Wookiees

Projected Record: 6-7
Projected Points Per Game: 140.02
Super Bowl Odds: 16-1
Over/Under Win Total: 6.5
Key Returners: Drew Brees (QB/NO), Saquon Barkley (RB/NYG), Julio Jones (WR/ATL), Brandin Cooks (WR/LAR), Eric Ebron (TE/IND)
Key Additions: Frank Gore (RB/BUF), Donte Moncrief (WR/PIT), Taylor Gabriel (WR/CHI)
Outlook: The Wookiees return much of the same roster that led them to the third-most points in the MFFL in 2018 and a 7-6 record, good enough for the playoffs.
If the glass is half-full… Barkley continues to dominate the league and proves to be an unstoppable beast. The Wookiees’ receiving corps stays healthy and puts up top flight numbers.
If the glass is half-empty… Father Time catches up with the Wookiees’ elderly quarterback room. Eric Ebron misses his quarterback, who propelled him to success in 2018. Kenyan Drake doesn’t pan out and the Wookiees can’t fill the RB2 hole.

Predicting the Final Standings

Playoff Predictions

NORTHWEST WILD CARD ROUND
Ukraine defeats Ecuador
San Juan defeats Jamaica

SOUTHEAST WILD CARD ROUND
Nagasaki defeats Christmas Island
Bangkok defeats Wake Island

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ukraine defeats San Juan

SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Nagasaki defeats Bangkok

SUPER BOWL
Nagasaki defeats Ukraine