Team Capsules: Nagasaki Kamikazes

In a 12-part series, we take a look at each MFFL team, where they’ve been and where they’re going. We analyze the strength of their current roster build, what areas need improvement, and speculate what they might do in the coming months.

A look back

Nagasaki entered the 2019 offseason in terrific shape. With most of its roster filled out, including several top-level players under cheap contracts, the Kamikazes had among the most amount of cash to spend. They opened their pocketbook and offered an unprecedented $26 million to NFT running back David Johnson. Fortunately for Nagasaki, the Ewoks matched the offer and Johnson went on to bomb last year. The Kamikazes used that money elsewhere and benefited from it. After losing their Super Bowl rematch in Week 1 to the Scorpions, the Kamikazes rattled off six wins in a row and 9 in their next 10 games, losing only to the Grainers in a high-scoring Week 8 matchup. From there, the good times came to end. Nagasaki dropped four of its last five matchups to close the season. In fairness, one of those losses was a Week 12 tank job to Wake Island for strategic postseason positioning. But the Kamikazes dropped their regular season finale to Christmas Island — an omen of things to come. After a rematch victory over Wake Island in the wild card round of the playoffs, the Kamikazes suffered a four-point defeat in the Southeast Conference title game to the Crabs and then concluded with a defeat to Russia in the third-place game.

A look ahead

The Kamikazes have to feel snakebit by now. Their past three seasons have ended at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl champions — twice in the Super Bowl and once in the Southeast Conference title game. But the franchise is leaving no stone unturned. This offseason, the team has already acquired A.J. Brown and Deebo Samuel, and then flipped Samuel for All World receiver Michael Thomas — who, ironically, ended their 2019 season and had a hand in their 2017 demise as well. As if that wasn’t enough firepower, the Kamikazes also pried running back Ezekiel Elliott from Ecuador. After having nine draft picks last year, the Kamikazes have just two in the 2020 MFFL Draft, both of which are third-rounders. Nagasaki is clearly “all in” on the 2020 season and will likely feature a starting lineup of a potential Top 5 quarterback, a Top 2 tight end, two Top 5 wide receivers and two Top 10 running backs. The depth may be a little thin, but when you have a starting lineup consisting of those players, you pray for health and let the good times roll.

Quarterback analysis

The Kamikazes admittedly reached for Kyler Murray with the sixth-overall pick in the 2019 Draft, acknowledging that they’d have to pay him a high salary, but knowing the benefits that they’d receive. Murray finished as the No. 5 quarterback during his rookie campaign. And the scary thing is, he looks like he could fare even better in 2020. At $3.50 million, Murray already is the second-highest paid quarterback in the MFFL in just his second season, with salaries of $5.25 million and $7.00 million looming in the final two years of his rookie deal. The Kamikazes can worry about contract restructures later. For now, they’ll be aiming for that elusive title. The Kamikazes have no other quarterbacks under contract, so adding a minimum-wage backup is on the docket.

Running Back analysis

The Kamikazes had arguably the most valuable contract on their roster a season ago, paying running back Aaron Jones the league minimum, $0.25 million. Jones finished as the No. 3 running back and is under contract for one more season at league minimum. His low salary has enabled Nagasaki to take on larger salaries elsewhere. The Kamikazes added running back Ezekiel Elliott this offseason on a one-year EFT tag. The duo ought to position the Kamikazes for a title run as one of the best backfields in the league. Veteran running back Giovani Bernard is the only other back on the active roster and Benny Snell and Dexter Williams are in the Rookie Corral. The Kamikazes will want to add an additional backup or two at lower cost in the event one of their starters goes down.

Wide Receiver analysis

In addition to adding Michael Thomas via trade with Christmas Island, the Kamikazes also placed the EFT on Davante Adams, giving them one of, if not the best wide receiver tandem in the league. The Kamikazes also offloaded the salary of Stefon Diggs and received the financially favorable, minimum-wage contract of John Brown. Brown was a Top 20 receiver a season ago, and while his target share might take a hit in 2020, he still provides a valuable fourth option. It’s just a matter of time before the Kamikazes call up A.J. Brown from the Rookie Corral, who will slide into the No. 3 spot in the Kamikazes’ lineup. Second-year pro Diontae Johnson is a promising young prospect sitting in the Corral, who could earn a call-up this year if his projections pan out.

Tight End analysis

The Kamikazes have placed the NFT on Travis Kelce, who has been the top tight end in the league for the past few years. At an opening bid of $4.25 million, he’s certainly a bargain. Considering few, if any, teams would give up two first-round picks for him, he’s likely a lock to return to Nagasaki for 2020 — and possibly beyond. Second-year pro T.J. Hockenson had an up-and-down rookie season. After 29 opening-week points, Hock never topped 14 points the rest of the season, and only four times surpassed 10. Hockenson should be able to take a second-year step into TE2 territory and provide a steady backup should Kelce go down. The Kamikazes also acquired second-year pro Jace Sternberger in the Stefon Diggs trade. He is a deep sleeper for an uptick in production, but probably won’t factor much into the Kamikazes plans unless something bad happens.

“What could be…”

It would appear that the Kamikazes will enter the 2020 season as the odds on favorite to win the title. While games are played on the football field, not on paper, Nagasaki at least has one of the brightest outlooks. Health, of course, is the biggest factor because the depth is a little thin after the strong starting lineup. At present, the Kamikazes have just $23 million to spend on 7 roster spots, the fourth lowest cap space and cash average in the league. Whether NFTs Michael Thomas or Travis Kelce get any action in the auction will be the biggest question determining how much cap space the Kamikazes will have remaining to fill out their depth chart. Adding a backup quarterback and running back remain among the highest priorities for the Kamikazes entering the auction, but even if they didn’t make a single move from this point forward, they’re already strongly positioned to make a title run in 2020.

Next up: Ukraine Grainers