AFFL Team Pre-Draft Preview '15: Magnum Sev.i

Magnum Sev.i owners Danny and Sevag

For the next twelve days, the AFFL will give you a break down of each manager and preview their 2015 Fantasy season. We will take a look at what the team has done up to this point, their current keeper situation, and take an early look at how the difficulty of their schedule. Teams will be previewed in reverse draft order, starting with 12 and ending at 1. You can further see more about each manager and team by clicking on the teams tab and visiting each team page.

3. Magnum Sev.i

History:

• Last team to Join AFFL 2010
• Made playoffs twice in five years (2nd and 3rd place finishes)
• 3 seasons with less than six wins.
• Life time record of around 50% (32-33)
• Historically in the playoff hunt until the last week of season
• Sneaky trader. Takes risks and they pay off.

Respecting the 'stache isn't given, it's earned. Magnum Sev.i earned the respect of the AFFL after they reached the finals in their inaugural year in the league, a feat that only four other teams could claim to have done.  After a down year in 2011, they returned to the post-season in 2012, losing in the semi-finals and finishing in third place, joining three other teams to have a finals appearance and at least a third place finish within three seasons: Bomba, Awesomeness, and Prime Time. That's pretty good company to be with. Sev.i's strong start has slowed down quite a bit of late, as the team has failed to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The young franchise is still making a name for itself, and should they once again manage to finish in the top three or win-it-all in 2015, they will surely be considered to be one of the premier teams in the league.

The MSi brand is built around a conservative approach with timely risk. You won't find MSi selecting players that aren't proven or don't come close to a sure thing. When drafting, the team will often find players that have the biggest upside with low risk (Knowshon Moreno in the 13th anyone?) However, during the season, MSi waits until just the right moment to pull off a trade that will propel him into the postseason. In middle of the 2014 season, the team was struggling to stay relevant.  With a 3-4 record and in dire need of a victory to stay alive in the playoff race, MSi opted to trade their big ticket Calvin Johnson for Emmanuel Sanders despite heavy ridicule from other managers. The trade resulted in a win for MSi that week, and spurred a three game win streak, keeping MSi relevant until the end. It was a move that many managers wouldn't make because of the "name" status of a guy like Calvin Johnson, but MSi has shown he is all about production not personality.

The league considers MSi a formidable team with managers that know what they are doing, but it seems to be an all or nothing proposition with them. If history is our guide, the team will either finish in the top three or have a miserable season. There is no in-between. Having failed to make the playoffs the past two years, MSi is looking to stop the downward spiral and return to their winning ways in 2015. Four teams have gone three seasons or more without making the playoffs (Vosgee, HBK, Cobra, and Grabbers) and we're fairly certain that MSi doesn't want to be included in that group.

As the MSi book is being written, it remains to be seen which title will be headlining the 2015 chapter. Will it be the 'stache is back with a playoff comb or the stache' gets snipped for the third time in a row? With all due respect, we await the answer.

2015 Preview

Potential Keepers = Poor

• E. Sanders #27

Schedule = Difficult

• x2 = Grabbers and Prime Time

Draft

MSi doesn't have many options when it comes to keepers. Most all of their players would be overvalued if they were kept. Other AFFL teams will have the luxury of building from a solid core of keepers that have great value, but MSi will need to build their team from the ground up. Emmanuel Sanders provides moderate value in the third round, but nothing exceptional. Having the WR locked up in the third, MSi would still be expected to go WR or RB in the first round. The team could elect to draft Aaron Rodgers if they feel comfortable with Sanders as their top wide-out. Selecting third in the draft will also mean that they will get pick number fifteen, as snake drafting doesn't start until at the end of the second round. There will be plenty of great RB/WR combo's avail to the team as well as TE. Fortunately for MSi, they should have enough top talent avail to them at the start of the draft to offset not having many keepers. Of course, the latter rounds are where a teams money is made, and it will be crucial for their draft to be solid until the end to offset a lack of value at the top.

Schedule

MSi faces one of the more grueling division schedules of any team in the AFFL. Both Grabbers and Prime Time were playoff teams last season and enter the 2015 year with great keepers. MSi will need a strong draft in order to ensure that the team can compete against these two squads as both teams should be very formidable. Week 7 is the only week when byes will effect the Grabbers match-up, and MSi will be without Sanders that week while both keepers will be avail for Grabbers. Grabbers has the early advantage. Neither one of the match-ups against Prime Time will effect keepers for either team. We will know more about these rosters as it pertains to bye weeks, but it looks like wins will have to be earned for MSi in the four games he plays within the division this year.

AFFL Team Pre-Draft Preview '15: Hangin' & Bangin'

Hangin' and Bangin' owners Dre and Avo

For the next twelve days, the AFFL will give you a break down of each manager and preview their 2015 Fantasy season. We will take a look at what the team has done up to this point, their current keeper situation, and take an early look at how the difficulty of their schedule. Teams will be previewed in reverse draft order, starting with 12 and ending at 1. You can further see more about each manager and team by clicking on the teams tab and visiting each team page.

4. Hangin' and Bangin'

History:

• One of the founding teams of the AFFL
• Made playoffs 4 of last 6 seasons
• 51-53 Lifetime AFFL record (49%) 0-5 in playoffs
• 5 seasons with 6 wins or less including one 4 win season
• Historically involved in the most games decided by less than a point
• Great foresight to trade for great keepers this year: Hill (4th), Evans (5th)

Welcome to team Enigma. After changing there franchise name more than any other team (7 times in 9 years), Team Bangin' remains a mystery. The franchise has had some success in recent seasons, making the playoffs every year between '09-'11, and four of the past six seasons. Only a few teams could claim such a feat. Even after a down year in 2012, the team bounced back to make the playoffs in '13, only to be eliminated in the first round. There in lies the problem. Despite the many playoff appearances the team has yet to win in the post-season. They are the only team with more than two playoff appearances that has zero post-season wins.  Incredible. This ultimately leaves H&B to feel more like a "paper tiger" than a true fantasy lion. Their resume looks great at times, but feels empty. Thus begins the mystery of what this team really is. Are they a winner or a loser? Seems like they are somewhere in-between.

H&B has had the misfortune of being involved in many of close wins and losses in the AFFL, more so than any other team. Nay a season goes by without a scoring change of some kind to a H&B match-up that would lead to a win/loss . In '07, a stat correction helped Bangin' win by less than three-tenths of a point against HBK. In '08 the team beat Varout by .6 points. In '09, a last second dump off to Wes Welker helped H&B beat Bomba by .9. In '12, BDiddy defeated H&B by .64. The list goes on. The narrow losses during these years often cost the team playoff opportunities, which would have drastically changed their image. Instead, H&B remains a team that is either unlucky or merely unable to manage their way to AFFL stardom. We don't believe in curses, but if the team continues to make the post-season and fail to win, we would have to wonder if they are indeed cursed. After all, that was their team name in '07.

Where Hangin' makes their mark is in the trading department. While injuries and other mishaps have happened during a season, the team has done a great job of trying to pick-up via free agency or trade for the right player to remain competitive. The most recent evidence of this is their foresight to trade for Jeremy Hill and Mike Evans last season in hopes of having two great keepers in 2015. The gamble could pay off in a big way, as Hangin' is positioned at the front of the draft and has two great keepers along with three picks in the first three rounds. The knock on the team is that H&B teams fall apart as the season progresses. If they can maintain proper management through the second half of a season and use their foresight to bolster their team just before the playoffs, they could well be on their way to their first post-season victory. The league has been waiting for their arrival for sometime.

2015 is a crucial year for Hangin' if they wish to change their teams image from one of pretender to contender. What exactly will define team Hangin'? Will it be the close losses? Will it be bad luck? Or will it be a new era of success built on smart play? Ladies and gentleman, I present to you.. the enigma. We're waiting to solve the mystery.

2015 Preview

Potential Keepers = Excellent

• Jermey Hill #40
  
• Mike Evans #56
  
• Travis Kelce #64
  

Schedule = Good

• x2 = Hartan and BDiddy
  

Draft

Jeremy Hill and Evans should be the two keepers kept by H&B. Hill is being drafted in the late first/early second, while Evans is going at the end of the second. Both keepers offer great value in the 4th and 5th round respectively. Kelce could be kept if the team so chooses, but we would think the better play is the RB and WR. With three picks in the first three rounds and two in the top 16 picks, H&B will have a hard time screwing this up. The team can go any direction in the first round, including QB. They will get a crack at the best WR and RBs available at pick 4. In the second round, their embarrassment of riches will give them a lot of versatility. They can grab their QB or TE there or elect to continue building depth at RB/WR. We expect H&B to walk away from the draft with a ridiculous core of players in their first five picks, potentially a top player at each position. Should they play their cards right, they could be very formidable in 2015.  

Schedule

H&B will face off against Hartan and BDiddy twice this season. Each team is radically different in how they enter 2015. Hartan will have ODBJ for a late round keeper and, most likely, Lesean McCoy in the first. BDiddy on the other hand doesn't have a keeper of any value, but has the first pick. Both teams should be solid, but initially, Hartan looks to be the stronger of the two by means of OBDJ. H&B wont get the benefit of bye weeks effecting match-ups against Hartan, as the two square off week 1 and week 12. Both teams will be at full strength those weeks. BDiddy on the other hand comes to town week 8, a week where DeMarco Murray is on bye, should they draft him #1 overall. It is likely however that both those games will not be effected by bye weeks. Week 6 has Mike Evans on bye, the week that H&B plays Bomba. Bomba will have Randle on bye that week, so both teams will lose one player as of now. Prime Time is the match-up when Jeremy Hill is on bye, week 7. PT doesn't have a keeper sitting that game out, so he begins that match-up with a slight advantage.

AFFL Team Pre-Draft Preview '15: Vosgereechee Gyank

Vosgee owner Mardig

For the next twelve days, the AFFL will give you a break down of each manager and preview their 2015 Fantasy season. We will take a look at what the team has done up to this point, their current keeper situation, and take an early look at how the difficulty of their schedule. Teams will be previewed in reverse draft order, starting with 12 and ending at 1. You can further see more about each manager and team by clicking on the teams tab and visiting each team page.

5. Vosgereechee Gyank

History:

• Only one winning season in 8 years ('08)
• Three straight seasons with four wins ('12-14)
• Lowest lifetime record of current AFFL teams 40-64.(38%)
• Historically involved in controversial trades.
• Perhaps the best 2015 keeper in Cj Anderson (7th round)

We love the Gyank franchise. It is one of the more uniquely themed brands in the league. However there is just no beating around the bush, it hasn't been a successful brand up until this point. The Gyank has struggled to find winning seasons since joining the league in '07. After making the playoffs with an 8-5 record in '08, the team hasn't been back to the post-season since. What is more disconcerting is the fact that team Gyank hasn't had more than four wins in a season in the last three years. Yikes. Last season marked the first time the team had finished higher than ninth place in five years. With a lifetime record hovering in the high thirties, team two-fist needs to string some winning seasons together or the Gyank brand will be doomed to be the doormat of the league.

While Gyank hasn't effected the league much records wise, the team has been quite a powerful game changer in the trade department. For many years Vosgee was somehow in the center of controversial trades which resulted in an uproar from league managers. Whether it was Pierre Thomas for a waiver spot, or trading Ray Rice for a variety of uninspiring pieces, Vosgee has managed to make his mark on many seasons in a manner that we're sure he never intended. His history of trading could be scrutinized and picked apart, but there are many other managers who have made trades that were worse than his (see Prime Time: Brady for Darryl Richardson). Trading is never a certainty, and at least Gyank isn't afraid to do what he feels is best for his team. Eventually the deals he makes will begin to skew in his favor if they hadn't done so in the past. The law of averages says so.

Despite the lack of success in past seasons, there is much to be optimistic about in 2015. Gyank has never drafted poorly. There have been many years where he exited the draft with a roster that many thought was one of the best in the league (last season was an example). Be it bad luck, injuries, or poor line-up choices,  those rosters never materialized into winning seasons. What gives us hope for Gyank this year is the exceptional value in his keeper and draft position. CJ Anderson in the seventh round is a wonderful get for the "golden knuckles," and he gets the benefit of drafting in the top six and getting two picks in the top sixteen. This sets up very nicely for the teams chances of success. 

We're still waiting on Vosgee to break-out and climb the ladder to the top of the mazoon division, but his time is coming. He may need to change his approach and try something new this year, but eventually, we have faith that Gyank will make his presence known and be a player for the playoffs. Vosgee in da hooouuse? We sure hope so.

 

2015 Preview

Potential Keepers = Excellent

• Aaron Rodgers #5
• Frank Gore #17
• C.J. Anderson #80

Schedule = Fair

• x2 = Bomba and HBK

Draft

Cj Anderson is one of the best keepers in the AFFL. His seventh round value is exceptional. We know that Gyank will surely keep him. As for his other option, Gyank could keep Aaron Rodgers at pick five and start his draft off with two studs at their respective positions. While the typical drafting strategy usually calls on teams to not select QB's in the first round, with keepers eliminating many of the options in the top 25, it makes sense that quarterbacks inch closer to the top of the draft. Factor in that the AFFL is a six point TD league for QB's and Rodgers as a keeper isn't far fetched at all. Gyank could elect to keep Gore in the second round along with Anderson and draft Rodgers, giving him three pieces. Gore is typically going around that pick, so the value won't be there, but his upside as a Colts Rb still will be. Assuming that Anderson is the only keeper, we would expect Gyank to go either Rodgers in the first or an RB. Demarco or Forte will be available. A WR will be available as well, but Vosgee could get those at any point, including the second round. This is all theory. We don't know what Gyank will do. In either case, he's set up quite nicely.

Schedule

Vosgerechee will square off against Bomba and HBK twice during the season. We don't think that Gyank's squad will be poor, so these match-ups will be battles. Bomba is a lottery team for the first time in six years. We would expect his team to be a tad upset about this and provide much resistance to any opponent. Bye weeks won't be a factor in the match-ups between these two, so we'll call the Gyank vs Bomba battle a push. Games against HBK are the same, full roster of keepers available to both teams. We project HBK to be a strong squad as well. Looking at the week CJ Anderson is on bye, week 7, Jaj Cousteau will have both Brown and Charles active, giving Gyank a slight disadvantage to start. All-in-all, the schedule doesn't seem too daunting for Gyank pre-draft.

AFFL Team Pre-Draft Preview '15: Atomic Bomba

Atomic Bomba manager Raffi

For the next twelve days, the AFFL will give you a break down of each manager and preview their 2015 Fantasy season. We will take a look at what the team has done up to this point, their current keeper situation, and take an early look at how the difficulty of their schedule. Teams will be previewed in reverse draft order, starting with 12 and ending at 1. You can further see more about each manager and team by clicking on the teams tab and visiting each team page.

6. Atomic Bomba

History:

• One of the original founding teams
• 4 AFFL titles ('06, '08, '10 '11)
• Finished top 2 in the league 6 of 9 seasons
• Highest AFFL lifetime win percentage 65-39 (62%), 12-3 (80%) playoffs
• 2 seasons with only five wins
• five different seasons with nine wins or more

If team Hartan was the placebo, then the Atomic Bomba is the ideal. The team that nobody likes to talk about is has had the most success out of any other in the league. Along with Awesomeness, Bomba is the only team to win multiple titles and hoist a back-to-back trophy ('10,'11). The Dynasty essentially began in 2008, when the Bomba won the title or finished second in five of six straight seasons ('08-'13). That sort of dominance hasn't been replicated and perhaps won't be for a long time. Bomba gives the rest of the league something to gun for, and gun for the Atomic one they have.  Much of the league's animosity is directed at the franchise in hopes of taking Bomba off the throne. Despite the animosity, the team has put together a lifetime record of 65-39, winning 62% of his games and amassing an 80% playoff win percentage. Quite impressive.

But success hasn't come without failure. There are some blemishes on Bomba's record. He has two seasons where he has had a record of five and eight, meaning that when the team is bad, it's bad. While he has been solid in the trade department over the years for the most part, he has made moves that cost him the playoffs in those lack-luster seasons. Last year, Bomba traded Emmanuel Sanders for rehabbing Calvin Johnson just before Sanders was set to play in a Thursday night game. Bomba was forced to watch as Sanders went bananas in the match-up, scoring four TDs and winning the fantasy match-up for Sev.i. It would end up costing the Bomba a chance at a playoff birth, something that he regrets to this day. And after bidding a heavy amount of FAAB for a Raider wide receiver in week 9 last season, its safe to say he's still figuring this new free agent system out.

Where the Bomba has made his bread and butter is the draft. Not afraid to take risks and draft in a manner others wouldn't, the dynasty of the Bomba is founded on the principle of "explosive players." The team has regularly found late round gems that have propelled the team to the top in many seasons (Ap rookie year, Deangelo, Hillis, Gordon). The team's draft strategies could include all possibilities, from drafting three WR's in the first three rounds ('09) or taking all the falcons offensive players in rounds one through  three ('12).

The Bomba failed to meet expectations last season for the first time in five years. Will he be held out of the playoffs for the first time in consecutive years? Odds are against it. History tells us that no matter what happens, you must always beware the Bomba.

 

2015 Preview

Potential Keepers = Good

• Carlos Hyde #31
• Joseph Randle #79

Schedule = Fair

• x2 = Vosgee and Hartan

Draft

Should Joseph Randle keep the reigns on the starting job in Dallas, he will most certainly be a member of the Atomic Bomba at a seventh round value. Hyde is a question mark, as his keeper spot doesn't really offer much value and perhaps could be had later in the round. It will be interesting to see what Bomba decides to do. Assuming he keeps both RBs, we'd expect the team to go WR in the first round. However, there could be a solid WR option at his second pick and the team could elect to draft RB/QB in the first, and pick up a top tier WR in the second. It will depend on how comfortable the team feels with Hyde and Randle or just Randle as the starting RBs. Having the sixth pick in the order will give Bomba the ability to control what happens in the draft. His choices in the middle round will effect what happens on both edges of the snake style selection process.

Schedule

The team will face Vosgee and Hartan twice during the season. Vosgee is a lottery team like Bomba, but has a very solid keeper. Hartan has one as well. Many would think that the Gyank could be a push-over given his history, but don't be so sure. With a solid keeper and early picks in the first two rounds, chances are his team will be strong. Furthermore, he'll face Bomba weeks one and thirteen, meaning both teams will be at full strength (granted Vosgee has a 1-9 record lifetime versus Bomba, but that's neither here nor there). Hartan has ODBJ as a keeper, but will face Bomba on a week when he is on bye. This will put his team at a slight disadvantage. Bomba could have an edge here. Looking at the weeks that SF and Dallas are off, weeks ten and six respectively, Bomba will face Hangin' who would presumably be without Mike Evans, and Jaj, who will be at full strength. Early on, it looks like the bye weeks help Bomba on two occasions.

AFFL Team Pre-Draft Preview '15: Hartan

Hartan owner Harout and Vartan

For the next twelve days, the AFFL will give you a break down of each manager and preview their 2015 Fantasy season. We will take a look at what the team has done up to this point, their current keeper situation, and take an early look at how the difficulty of their schedule. Teams will be previewed in reverse draft order, starting with 12 and ending at 1. You can further see more about each manager and team by clicking on the teams tab and visiting each team page.

7. Hartan

History:

• 2007 AFFL Champion (10 team)
• 4 straight playoff appearances. Inc. 3 straight semi-final games '11-'13
• Third highest AFFL lifetime win percentage 58-46 (55%)
• 3 straight years without a winning record '08-'10
• Draft strategy is very solid, with value based drafting
• One of the best keepers in '15, Odell Beckham Jr round 8.

Every science test must have a placebo. A constant. Something to act as a baseline for which all things can be measured. In the AFFL, with teams that can go from conservative to wild, Hartan is team consistent. They are the AFFL's placebo. Their history is full of 8th place finishes and consistent playoff production. Four straight seasons making the post-season with three fourth place finishes is evidence of this. Sprinkle in three straight seasons before that where the team finished in 8th place every year, and you have predictability with consistency. AFFL's Ph 7.4? I give you, team Hartan.

While many teams may opt to reach for rookies or high risk players, Hartan's teams typically center around low risk moves. Theirs is a conservative approach centered around proven production, veterans with a track record. That doesn't mean that they don't take risks, but will often mitigate their risk with strength at the position they are taking a gamble on. Their draft strategy has been successful in recent years, as they have reached the playoffs the last four seasons, finishing in fourth place three of those years.

Hartan has fairly solid in-season management, with solid pick-ups that help maintain depth. When it comes to trading, they are always active, but at times have miscalculated their own teams needs. In 2013, Hartan was struggling at the QB position as Matt Ryan was failing to live up to expectations. In need of help at the position, they traded Jamaal Charles for Drew Brees. While the players were comparable in value, they were not when it comes to their value in respect to their position. Losing a top Rb wasn't worth the QB help, as other Qb's could have been had for cheaper. Granted, the team did make the semi's but eventually lost to the team they traded with.

What is often not mentioned is that Hartan is an AFFL champion, winning the league crown during the 2007 season. However, that was in a 10 team format, and team two-face hasn't been back to the finals since. We may have to ask whether or not Hartan will ever return to the finals. Are they just a team that will always be good and not great? Having two managers can at times be more of a burden than a benefit. When two cooks are in the kitchen there is a greater chance that the stew can be ruined. It's fair to wonder if there have been times when the team would have gone all the way but didn't because of a decision compromised due to Hartan not seeing eye-to-eye.

With their level of consistency and proven track record, it's safe to put Hartan in the top four of AFFL teams, and one could argue that they could be higher. With a solid keeper in Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2015 season, team two-face is set-up nicely to have a successful run at their first twelve team title. That is if they can make sure to get out of their own way.

2015 Preview

Potential Keepers = Excellent

• LeSean McCoy #7
• Odell Beckham Jr #91

Schedule = Fair

• x2 = Hangin' and Bangin' and Bomba

Draft

LeSean Mccoy and Odell Bekcham Jr are the two most likely keepers for Hartan. While it is conceivable that McCoy could be released back into the draft pool, Odell Beckham will certainly be kept. With great value out of ODBJ as an eighth round keeper, Hartan can go any which way he wants in the early rounds. Typically, they have held off on QB in the early rounds and will more than likely take the best RB/WR avail with their 2nd round pick. You can almost rest assured that they will do the same in the fourth round. With pick seven Hartan will be able to choose twice before the person behind him, Grabbers, picks at all. This is a nice advantage to have. We don't think that Hartan can do much of anything wrong in the draft given their position, but it will be interesting to see if they remain conservative in their player approach or take more risk being that they are already a leg up with ODBJ.

Schedule

Hartan gets two match-ups against two teams that may have better-than-you-thought chances of doing things in 2015. Hangin' has two very good keepers along with two picks in the top sixteen. Bomba is the most successful franchise in the AFFL and has earned the right to be labeled a threat in any season. Both these teams will be formidable, which makes the four games that Hartan has to face between these two a mixed-bag. Looking at the bye weeks, Hangin's match-ups don't fall on any bye weeks, so they'll be at full strength. Bomba gets a week five and eleven tilt versus Hartan. While week five won't effect either teams keepers, week eleven is the week OBDJ is on bye. Hartan will lose a keeper for that week. The team will also lose McCoy week 8 where Hartan plays Vosgee. Vosgee will have all keepers available.