Team Capsules: Christmas Island Crabs

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

It started during the offseason. The Christmas Island Crabs formed a trade package to acquire the free agent rights to receiver Michael Thomas from Russia, setting in motion a plan that would ultimately lead them to championship glory. The Crabs followed that up with the selection of Miles Sanders with the third pick in the 2019 draft. The duo joined a talented core of players including quarterback Russell Wilson, wide receivers Kenny Golladay and Tyler Lockett, and tight ends Dallas Goedert and rookie Noah Fant. “The plan” did not unfold well initially, as the Crabs got off to a rocky start, winning just three of their first seven games. Prior to the trade deadline, the Crabs acquired running back Austin Ekeler and wide receiver D.J. Moore to add more firepower to their team. And after that initial 3-4 start, the Crabs went on to win 8 of their final 9 games of the season and secure the 2019 MFFL Championship. The victory was a team accomplishment, no doubt. But the MVPs were surely Wilson, the steady veteran quarterback, and those two key additions during the 2019 offseason: Sanders and Thomas. The rookie running back gained steam as the season progressed, scoring 108.4 points (40% of his season total) in the final four games of the MFFL season. Thomas, meanwhile, was out of this world, averaging 29.2 points per game while scoring 114.8 points during the three playoff games alone.

A look ahead

The Crabs will look to venture where few teams before them have ever gone before: winning back-to-back titles. To do so, it’ll require finding the same kind of offensive spark that led them to a second-half run a season ago. The Crabs have had a busy offseason molding their team while wheeling and dealing. Seeking extra running back depth, the team acquired the free agent rights to running back Leonard Fournette, only to trade him away almost four months later. They also acquired receiver DeVante Parker, who had a breakout season in 2019. They shipped away backup tight end Noah Fant for some extra draft picks. Then they did the unthinkable and traded away their 2019 team MVP, Michael Thomas, to Nagasaki. The trade landed them a first-round pick as well as second-year pro Deebo Samuel. After all the moves they made, the Crabs trimmed the fat and shaved down their roster to the bare essentials, leaving them with a solid foundation from which to build their 2020 team.

Quarterback analysis

After signing him to a three-year deal in 2017, the franchise decided they just weren’t quite done with Russell Wilson yet. The Crabs placed the EFT on the veteran quarterback, keeping him around for at least one more season. Wilson finished in the Top 5 among MFFL quarterbacks a season ago and is still atop his game. He’s scheduled to make $3.25 million for the 2020 season, ranking him second in that category among quarterbacks under contract. The Crabs have no other quarterbacks under contract, thus they’ll be on the lookout for an inexpensive backup option via the auction. The Crabs also have two picks in the middle of the second round, which might afford them the opportunity to draft a rookie quarterback should they choose to do so.

Running Back analysis

The Crabs enter the 2020 season with two highly-ranked running backs on cheap contracts in Miles Sanders and Austin Ekeler, putting them in terrific position to spend some money elsewhere. Ekeler had a fantastic season as the featured running back last year, finishing in the Top 6 in running back scoring. He’s expected to maintain that featured back role and could be in for another strong campaign. Sanders, meanwhile, is looking to expand on his rookie season, even going so far as to declare he’s headed for an “MVP season.” Beyond those two, the Crabs have third-year pro Jordan Wilkins sitting in the Rookie Corral enjoying the view. The Crabs will likely add a few more pieces to the depth chart this offseason.

Wide Receiver analysis

Christmas Island has a strong core of receivers under contract for the 2020 season. Third-year pro D.J. Moore will head up the group and he’s projected to make a major leap this season. The Crabs have him under his rookie contract for two more seasons, making him a valuable piece. Moore is joined by DeVante Parker and Tyler Lockett, two veterans who are also locked up for two more seasons under favorable contracts. At some point after the start of the new league year, the Crabs will activate Deebo Samuel from the Rookie Corral and he will make their receiver depth chart four-strong. All four receivers are currently ranked in the Top 30. Christmas Island also has third-year pro Deon Cain sitting in the Corral.

Tight End analysis

Christmas Island received great production from its young tight ends a season ago. Dallas Goedert, originally a third-round pick in the 2018 MFFL Draft, finished in the Top 10 in tight end scoring and he returns for Year 3 of his cheap rookie deal. Second-year pro Noah Fant had a solid rookie season, finishing in the Top 15 among tight ends, but the Crabs shipped him to Bangkok this offseason. Goedert is currently the only tight end under contract and the Crabs will be seeking to add depth via the auction.

“What could be…”

The Crabs find themselves in good position ahead of the 2020 season, both financially and from a talent perspective. The team has 8 players under contract on the active roster, with Deebo Samuel expected to be the ninth. And all 9 players are expected to contribute immediately. The team has a Top 5 quarterback and defense to go with its two fringe RB1’s and borderline TE1, plus its four-deep receivers. With this cast alone, they can compete. But that doesn’t even take into consideration the two first-round draft picks they own — picks 8 and 10 — as well as the $51.50 million of cap space they possess, second-most in the league. The Crabs surely can make a splash in the auction to add extra firepower to their roster while also possibly adding some immediate contributors via the draft. By all measures, the Crabs are reloading for the 2020 season and have every intention of entering the rarified air of repeating as Super Bowl champions.