2021 Team Capsules: Russia Renegades

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

The Renegades had a 2020 vision (see what I did there?) planned out during the 2019 offseason. The moves they made that offseason were geared toward competing for a title in 2020 rather than 2019. But during that season, following the emergence of several second-year players including Lamar Jackson, Courtland Sutton, D.J. Moore, Michael Gallup, and Calvin Ridley, the Renegades depleted some of their youth via trade and brought in some veteran talent to help them make a title run a year earlier than expected. Unfortunately, the additions couldn’t put them over the top and they finished the season with a victory in the third-place game. The can got kicked down the road a year as the Renegades restocked last year with five first-round draft picks. The goal instead was to compete for the 2021 season as it surely would take a while for the 2020 rookies to step up and be prepared to play. There were some good performances from Justin Herbert, CeeDee Lamb and Tee Higgins, and a breakout year from Justin Jefferson, but the plan was always fixed upon the 2021 season. Despite the long-term plan, the Renegades once again finished the season with a victory in the third-place game, hoping to use it as a springboard for what’s to come.

A look ahead

With 17 players currently on the roster and their starting lineup complete, the Renegades are poised to make some noise in 2021. And possibly beyond that, too. The Renegades are built mostly through the draft and have several players on their rookie contracts who are signed beyond this season. They have the lowest amount of cash, but don’t have any huge holes to fill. They have two first-round draft picks and five within the first 25 picks. And they have two players in the Rookie Corral who could get the call-up to active duty if they make strides in their sophomore seasons. The Renegades are hoping the depth sustains them throughout the season when injuries can otherwise derail a team’s fortunes. But that depth also makes for some tough lineup decisions for the head coach. The league’s switch from the RB2 position to an additional FLEX only makes things more complicated as it adds more bodies to the weekly lottery drawing. For their sake, the hope is one or two players outperform expectations and make the starting lineup more decisive from week to week. The Renegades could be in the toughest division in the MFFL in 2021, as the Grainers are a perennial powerhouse and the Squirrels look to be much improved this year. Competing for the North Division crown should be a goal, but getting back to the championship has to be the top priority.

The Stock Report

Stock Up: Justin Herbert, QB/LAC; David Montgomery, RB/CHI; Calvin Ridley, WR/ATL; Justin Jefferson, WR/MIN.
Stock Down: Miles Sanders, RB/PHI; Josh Jacobs, RB/LV; Hunter Henry, TE/NE; O.J. Howard, TE/TB.

Quarterback analysis

In 2019, Lamar Jackson took the league by storm and finished as the highest-scoring quarterback. But between his slight regression last year and the rapid ascension of rookie Justin Herbert, the two quarterbacks gave the coaching staff a weekly headache by midseason. Jackson and Herbert are both presently ranked in the Top 8, and both are in their rookie contracts, with Jackson entering the final year. Jackson should be the starter this season with Herbert on standby if needed. The Renegades have second-year pro Tua Tagovailoa developing in the Rookie Corral. He had a rocky rookie season but was surrounded by extra weapons this offseason and could make some good progress this coming year. It’s quite possible the Renegades could again address the quarterback position with one of their draft picks, but it’s certainly not a need at this point. If Jackson can show flashes of what he did in 2019, he could help offset some of the tough lineup decisions that are looming at the running back position.

Running Back analysis

The Renegades had two running backs finish last season as RB1s in Josh Jacobs and Kareem Hunt. The former benefitted from 12 touchdowns despite an anemic 3.9 yards per carry. The latter benefitted from an injury to Nick Chubb and a few weeks as the featured back. Both backs have slid down the offseason rankings and are slotted as RB2s. That fact paired with shallow depth at the position led the Renegades to make a pair of offseason trades to bring in reinforcements. The Renegades traded second-year pro Jerry Jeudy for third-year back David Montgomery, and then traded receiver Courtland Sutton and two second-round picks for Miles Sanders. Montgomery had a great second-half of 2019 and finished as the RB4 while injuries slowed down Sanders to a low-end RB2. Both players are projected somewhere in the RB2 range giving the Renegades four at the position. Deciding on a weekly basis which player gives them the best chance to win will be a problem for the coaching staff unless they distinguish themselves as the season goes on. The Renegades have no backs developing in the Rookie Corral, but could explore selecting one in this year’s draft.

Wide Receiver analysis

Russia spent all five of their first-round picks last year on receivers. With three quality veterans already on the roster in Calvin Ridley, Allen Robinson and Courtland Sutton, that made for a logjam at the position. Ridley, Robinson, and rookie Justin Jefferson all finished in the Top 7 at the position last year while Sutton missed almost the entire season with a knee injury. As mentioned, the Renegades shipped off Sutton and Jerry Jeudy for Sanders and Montgomery, easing the jam at the receiver position for 2021. Ridley, Robinson and Jefferson likely will get the start this year with second-year pros CeeDee Lamb and Tee Higgins vying for FLEX duty. The Renegades also have Michael Pittman developing in the Rookie Corral, and he could possibly get the call-up to the Active Roster if he shows good growth in his second season. The Renegades have flexibility in the draft to select the best available player, and if it happens to be a receiver, they’ll add some more depth to the position.

Tight End analysis

The Renegades have spent big at the tight end position in recent years, but face a little bit of a dilemma heading into the 2021 season. The team carried four tight ends a year ago until they shipped off Evan Engram midway through the season. They still finished with two TE1s in Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry, but both players have seen a backslide in the rankings this offseason due to changing circumstances. Gesicki is still ranked as a low-end TE1, but Henry has slid into TE2 territory. O.J. Howard is third on the depth chart and is presently ranked as a high-end TE3. He missed most of last season with an injury but was looking good prior to getting hurt. Gesicki should get the start for the Renegades but if Henry or Howard plays well, it could make things interesting at the position. There are a number of options available on the market and a few in the draft if the Renegades choose to solidify the position.

Biggest Objective

Russia has what it needs to compete in 2021, including the depth to sustain them should injuries occur. Their biggest objective is to flesh out their lineup. Without a currently-ranked RB1, they could try to get their hands on one. RB1s, of course, are the hottest commodity and they don’t come cheaply. But between their depth and their draft pick arsenal, they could explore their options. Wide receiver is a little bit easier at the moment. Their three-headed monster will get the start with Lamb and Higgins vying for FLEX duty. Quarterback and tight end will be a more difficult decision to make on a weekly basis. They could seek an upgrade at tight end, but juggling the weekly lineup could prove to be difficult. The Renegades could choose to play the auction conservatively as they have done in years past, or they could splurge with the little they have left to find one more big piece to the puzzle.

“What could be…”

The past two seasons have seen the Renegades compete for the playoffs and conclude their season with a victory in the consolation third-place game. With improvement from within, the Renegades are hoping not just to get a peek at the top of the mountain once more, but to get over it. There will be some tough competition, to be sure. The defending champion Scorpions will be standing in the way. The Grainers and Kamikazes will once more be formidable foes. The culmination of the Blitz’s rebuild is at hand. And as they say, “on any given Sunday…” In the MFFL, you have to have good players, relatively few injuries, and a whole lot of good fortune to reach the ultimate prize. And MFFL owners can only control the first one of those three. The Renegades hope they’ve built a strong enough base over the past two seasons and hope for good health and fortune to go with it.

Next up: Nagasaki Kamikazes