2021 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

The Kamikazes have now had their season ended by the eventual Super Bowl champions in four straight years, three of which have come in the championship. I’m not saying they’re the Buffalo Bills of the ‘90s, but they sure have to be feeling snakebit. Last year might have been particularly difficult given the way their team was constructed. They led the league in scoring while rostering the No. 1 overall quarterback, the No. 1 tight end, the No. 1 defense, two Top 7 running backs, two Top 4 receivers and three other Top 25 receivers. As the old expression familiar to long-time MFFL veterans goes: “What are you, playing by yourself?” The Kamikazes didn’t even have star receiver Michael Thomas for most of the season, which could have certainly helped in the championship. In the end, though, the Kamikazes just ran into a juggernaut in the championship, proving once more that talent only takes you so far before health and fortune kick in. The Kamikazes have owned the East Division, winning the title the past four seasons. They’ve also dominated the Southeast Conference, claiming three of the past four conference crowns. Until someone else is ready to step up and bump them from their perch, they’re poised to make another run in 2021.

A look ahead

With several expiring contracts of players on cheap and/or short deals, it just wasn’t going to be feasible for the Kamikazes to return the same loaded lineup from last year. Gone are starting running backs Aaron Jones and James Robinson, who were traded during the offseason. Also jettisoned was wide receiver Michael Thomas, who took his league-high $23 million salary, played in 7 MFFL games, and skipped town. The team is still returning Kyler Murray and Travis Kelce, the best at their respective positions from a year ago, as well as three projected Top 6 receivers. The running back position could be a little more sketchy this year, but the team did acquire D’Andre Swift from rival Christmas Island for two first-round picks and a second-rounder. The Kamikazes also have three first-round picks in this year’s draft, two of which are within the first three overall. They could explore selecting one, if not two running backs there. Depending on the speed of the rookie progression, they could start two running backs by midseason, or use the MFFL’s new third FLEX position to play a wide receiver-heavy offense instead. Either way, with the talent they have returning and the fact that the Crabs appear to be throwing in the towel on 2021, the path to a fifth-straight East title is wide open. They’ll make another strong push to be Southeast Conference representatives in the Super Bowl as well.

The Stock Report

Stock Up: Kyler Murray, QB/ARI; D’Andre Swift, RB/DET; Davante Adams, WR/GB; A.J. Brown, WR/TEN; Travis Kelce, TE/KC.
Stock Down: Cole Beasley, WR/BUF.

Quarterback analysis

The Kamikazes knew they had something special when they selected Kyler Murray with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 MFFL Draft, which is why they didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger and pay him his high ascending salary. Murray’s $6.9 million salary is by far the most for any quarterback in the league — and it’s only going to get worse next season in the final year of his rookie contract, unless they restructure his deal this year. But he’s a projected Top 3 quarterback and can explode any given week, which gives them an ROI they can better stomach. After a promising rookie season, Murray exploded last year during his sophomore campaign and led the league in scoring. It’s not common for players to repeat at the heads of their positions, but there’s no reason Murray can’t finish near the top again. The Kamikazes don’t have any other quarterbacks on the Active Roster and nobody developing in the Rookie Corral, so they’ll look to explore that depth via the auction or during the draft.

Running Back analysis

With their two starters from a season ago now gone, the Kamikazes will be sporting a new-look backfield in 2021. Headlining that group will be former third-overall pick, D’Andre Swift, who spent one year with the Crabs before they shipped him off to Nagasaki. Swift is locked up for three more years under his rookie contract, making him a very attractive asset. He’s currently projected to be a mid-to-high RB2, but he comes with RB1 talent and figures to be used heavily this year. Like their quarterback position, the Kamikazes have no other running backs on the Active Roster and none developing in the Rookie Corral. There are three strong running backs in this year’s draft class and the Kamikazes are likely to select at least one of them with their two picks in the Top 3. The Kamikazes are about in the middle of the pack in available cash, but have the second lowest cash average with 8 roster spots to fill. With most of their starting lineup filled out, they can afford to be aggressive after a star free agent or two. Whether they choose to go that route during the auction to fill out their running back depth chart remains to be seen.

Wide Receiver analysis

The Kamikazes have 7 wide receivers on their Active Roster, which ties them for the league lead at that position. Davante Adams will play under the EFT for the second-straight season while DeAndre Hopkins will enter the NFT auction for the second consecutive year. A.J. Brown enters the third year of his rookie contract and is a major bargain. He’s projected to be a Top 5 receiver this year. Beyond the “Big 3,” the Kamikazes also have third-year pro Diontae Johnson and second-year pro Chase Claypool, both of whom are on league-minimum deals and are ranked as high-end WR3s at the moment. Despite a WR27 finish last year, Cole Beasley has fallen off the map and is ranked all the way down at WR58. Tyler Johnson enters his second year as an afterthought. He’s just a warm body at the moment unless he shows progress in Year 2. Unless the Kamikazes land a second starting running back, the team figures to trot out an offense heavy at wide receiver.

Tight End analysis

Travis Kelce has been a mainstay in the Kamikazes’ offense for years now and has consistently been the top tight end in the league during his tenure. He scored 40 more points than TE2 Darren Waller last year and a whopping 164.95 points more than TE3 Logan Thomas. He’s the third-highest paid tight end in the MFFL, but his production makes his salary look like a bargain. Backing up Kelce is Robert Tonyan, who had a breakout season a year ago and is projected to once again be a TE1 this season. Tonyan is entering the final year of a league-minimum deal, making this a critical season for him. If he can prove last year was no fluke, he’s bound to receive a big payday next offseason. If not, he’ll fade away into obscurity. Who throws him the ball this coming season will be a big determinant in his finish. The team has no need to add extra depth at the position, but can explore sleepers and rookies if they so choose.

Biggest Objective

With the team returning several key pieces from a season ago, the Kamikazes just have to round out the depth chart to make another run at a title in 2021. The primary objective is to solidify the running back position, which has just D’Andre Swift locked in at the moment. The experts might just be a little unfair to Swift. With a new, old-school coaching staff in place, a very strong offensive line, and a ragtag group of receivers, Swift ought to receive a heavy load in his sophomore season. But who will complement him on the Kamikazes roster? Every indication says it’ll either be Najee Harris or Travis Etienne. It’s difficult to imagine receiver Ja’Marr Chase falling out of the Top 3, so unless Chase goes No. 1 overall, it’s hard to see the Kamikazes walking away with two top rookie running backs. Despite their depth at the receiver position, Chase would make a great addition and the team could always move one of its veterans for more help at running back. Adding another quarterback to the roster is also a big objective. Outside running back and quarterback, the team is well-stocked and ready for the upcoming season.

“What could be…”

It’s only fitting that the name of this section is “what could be…,” as it serves to emphasize how much luck and timing goes into having success in the MFFL. In 2017, the Pittsburgh Steelers benched their starters in a blowout in the fourth quarter, ensuring the Kamikazes lost to the Renegades in the Super Bowl. In 2018, tight end Zach Ertz caught 12 of 16 passes for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Scorpions edged the Kamikazes by 6 points in the title game. In 2019, kicker Kai Forbath and the Buffalo Bills defense scored a combined 44.2 points as the Crabs edged the Kamikazes by 4 points in the Southeast Conference title game. And as for last year, do we even need to bring up the 13 combined touchdowns from Alvin Kamara, Stefon Diggs, and Josh Allen that buried the Kamikazes in the Super Bowl? This entire section is built upon the premise of what could happen if paper played games. And at present, the Kamikazes are a flying billboard of a cautionary tale about what “any given Sunday” really means. But all you can do is keep plugging away, putting forth the best lineup possible, and hoping for good health and fortune from week to week. Given the current state of their roster and what more they can add via the auction and draft, the Kamikazes — in all likelihood — will be playing meaningful football the weekend of the Southeast Conference title game in 2021.

Next up: San Juan Scorpions