The burden to repeat after last season's run is a a heavy one, but this draft is designed to lead the way. The Yahoo assigned B- is a far better mark than last season's D, even if tied for 2nd lowest in the league. We have set up to construct a deep and talented team capable of proving Yahoo graders wrong once again. To recap, we will go through positions like last season's recap.
QB
Peyton Manning
The record setting QB came to La Flama Blanca via the 11th overall selection. Coming off a massive year in the NFL's best offense, Peyton is primed for another high scoring season. Some regression is to be expected after such lofty totals but we believe he is in line for another big year. Without a backup currently in place, we are relying on an aging Manning to stay healthy. However, he would start essentially every week anyway, so a backup will have to wait.
RB
LeVeon Bell
Zac Stacy
Alfred Morris
Ben Tate
Ahmad Bradshaw
Depth is the name of the game here. Without a RB from the top two rounds, and choosing at the tail end of the 3rd, the goal was to assemble a deep RB corps to make up for the lack of a top selection. LeVeon Bell lead off the party, the talented Steelers RB is counted on to lead LFB's backfield as well as the Pittsburgh one. With a high pedigree (2nd round NFL draft choice), impressive size and ability, and a heavy workload, Bell will be given opportunities to thrive in the Steel City. Next, the Vanderbilt alum Zac Stacy from my beloved St. Louis Rams. Zac is coming off a big end to last season and is primed to lead a rushing attack STL plans and will need to lean on with Bradford out and less than ideal replacements. Alfred Morris has been a steady contributor in the run game for Washington since his arrival, even is there is still room to improve in the passing game. We will rely on him for steadiness and hope for a breakout year with a healthier RGIII and new offensive scheme. Ben Tate flashed talent in his years backing up Arian Foster in Houston and now has the lead role in Cleveland. Tate carries some injury risk (hopefully he is fine for next week) and must adjust to being the top dog. However, the talent and workload should be there. If he can avoid the curses of Cleveland he has a shot at a big year. Finally, Ahmad Bradsaw completes the RB unit. The ex-Giant backs up the underwhelming Trent Richardson for now, but hopes to see more time as the season goes on. He is supposedly healthy after neck surgery (always scary) and younger than one might expect. The talent is there if the opportunity and health cooperate.
WR
Demaryius Thomas
Reggie Wayne
Jeremy Maclin
Sammy Watkins
Justin Hunter
Markus Wheaton
Demaryius Thomas has a heavy burden as the top draft choice and undisputed leader of this WR corps. Playing with Manning in that Denver offense should do much to ease the burden. An athlete freak with solid hands playing with a legend QB, Thomas should be in line for a massive season. He will be counted on to produce week in and week out. Reggie Wayne, the old steady veteran, was the next choice after a run on RBs. Returning from a knee injury last season, Wayne hopes to return to Andrew Luck's favorite target status. Indy will wing the ball around a good amount (no matter how much they want to be a running team), and Wayne has little competition in his role. Even if he has to ease into it, a bounce back season is expected. Jeremy Maclin also returns from a knee injury. Maclin has the benefit of returning to a Chip Kelly offense as potentially the top target. A dynamic playmaker, Maclin needs to stay healthy. If he can do so, he has the talent and scheme to put up some major numbers. Sammy Watkins comes next as the leader of LFB's young WRs looking to break out. The Bills bet their future on Watkins to a large degree and he is out to prove them correct. A freak athlete, Watkins is likely already the top target for Buffalo in his rookie year. If he can stay healthy and overcome some rookie obstacles he could prove to be a special one. Justin Hunter is another explosive young WR. Part of a blossoming WR group in Tennessee, Hunter has gamebreaking ability. The biggest concern is Jake Locker at QB, both in his ability and ability to stay healthy. The tools are there for Hunter to do big things. Finally, Markus Wheaton rounds out this group. Another explosive athlete, Markus looks to capitalize on the loss of Emmanuel Sanders as well as Pittsburgh's increased passing focus. If LFB teammate Bell can get the ground game humming, Wheaton could have even more opportunities. He is in line to get his shot, now he must thrive.
TE
Greg Olsen
Ladarius Green
The hope is for Olsen to perform more like last season's early acquisition at TE (Julius Thomas) and less like the drafted TE from last year (Brandon Myers). As arguably the top receiving target in Carolina, Olsen should see plenty of balls thrown his way from Cam Newton and co. Olsen has shown in the past that he knows how to maximize his targets and will need to this season for Carolina and LFB to shine. To back up Greg, we brought Ladarius Green late in the draft. Still a bit raw, Green is an incredible athlete. After spending time learning from the old master, Antonio Gates, Green hopes to outperform Gates this season and help Phillip Rivers to another big year. The talent is there for a huge season from the TE spot, its time to make due on the promise.
Kicker
Greg Zuerlein
Greg the Leg will look to kick LFB to success. Owner of arguably the biggest leg in the league and playing his home games indoors, Greg will look to bomb away again this season. A ferocious pass rush for the defense should hopefully lead to some extra opportunities and an offense built around the run game should move the ball but maybe not enough to rack up TD's. When drives stall, Greg is ready to finish them. Anything across midfield is in his range, he just needs the chances.
DEF
Buffalo Bills
The Bills lost two big pieces to their defense in DC Mike Pettine and FS Jarius Byrd but return a good group of players and look to repeat a solid effort from last season. Despite their promises, LFB has moved on to Tampa Bay by the time of this writing, hoping the addition of Lovie Smith can turn a defense with many talented players can take off this season.
Overview
A deep and talented roster looking to make its way through the long and arduous journey that is the NFL/MFFL season. It will take some fortunate bounces for a repeat, but we are ready to give ourselves the best chance possible.
