Season starts this Thursday night! Welcome to the 17th year of RFL Rogers Football League. There will be 12 teams in the league this year playing in head to head matchups. We have one new general manager this year as Brenton Gregory is now the GM of the New Yawk Pie, Not Pizzas (previously the RedBulls). We also have one team name change as the HopDevils are now called the Monster Mutts.
Quick overview: We have 12 teams in the league. 4 Divisions. 6 teams will make the playoffs…..which will be the four division winners and one wildcard per conference. Team with best record in conference will get a bye week and play the winner of the wildcard round. You can locate our site at ESPN Fantasy Football by following this link….ESPN RFL Fantasy League
After reading a ton of magazines and internet sites, I have formed my Fearless Predictions for our 2014 season. Predictions are done by the four divisions….with a final summary at the bottom of the page…..so good luck to everybody and once again thanks for playing.
Home Team Conference and Divisions
Harry Lion Conference and Divisions
2014 Team Preview, History and Predictions are done in order of their 2012 finish.
Pennsters (GM Bruce Rogers) established in 1998.
The Pennsters have been to the SuperBowl the last two years. They beat the Rampagers in 2012 but lost to the Rampagers last year. The Pennsters have made the playoffs 8 times over the years and missed them 8 times. They have reached the Final Four 5 times and the SuperBowl three times…with victories in 2006 and 2012.
The Pennster roster of 2014 looks pretty solid at QB (Peyton Manning and Tom Brady) and RB (Giovani Bernard, Reggie Bush). Although they have Brandon Marshall the rest of the receiving roster is pretty weak.
Prediction: When a team’s two quarterbacks are a combined age of 74…injuries are a concern. Pennsters have probably taken a step back as they look like a weaker team than division rival, The DropKickers. Look for the Pennsters to battle for a wildcard spot….but we do not see a third in a row Superbowl trip for the Pennsters.
Rampagers (GM Bryan Rogers) established in 1998.
The Rampagers went to their 4th SuperBowl in 2013 and beat the Pennsters to win their third title (2001 & 2003) in franchise history. The Rampagers have made the playoffs 9 times over the years and missed them 7 times. They have reached the Final Four 7 times in 16 years.
The defending champs have lost some serious talent from last years team. Based on projected 2014 points the Rampagers have the 5th best total. The Rampagers will again be depending heavily on Matt Ryan, Colin Kaepernick and Calvin Johnson. Highest profile new player on roster? Pierre Garcon…did you know he had the most receptions in 2013?
Prediction: Will not return to the SuperBowl this year. Will finish behind the Gurus in the division. Will get a wildcard spot but we see a quick playoff exit in 2014.
Crackberries (GM Debbie Rogers) established in 2010.
In 2013 The Crackberries failed to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They lost their division race by one game to the Dumbledores….while they were 4 games out of the wildcard spot. The Crackberries have been to 2 Final Fours with one trip to the SuperBowl…..they won the title in 2011.
The Crackberry roster of 2014 looks like the best one heading into the regular season. Based on projected 2014 points The Crackberries have the highest total. Team will be led by QB Drew Brees, WR Julio Jones, WR Percy Harvin and TE Julius Thomas. The biggest concern for the Crackberries is their RB tandem of Montee Ball and Ben Tate….both have been given starting jobs after being the backups on their teams.
Prediction: The Crackberries will not only return to the playoffs…but they will return to the SuperBowl and pick up their 2nd title in 5 years.
DropKickers (GM Chuck McDonnell) established in 2000.
The DropKickers earned a wildcard playoff spot last year and they reached the Final Four for the 8th time (the most in league history) last year. Like many of the past years, this is were their season ended (they are now 1-7 in the conference finals). The DropKickers have reached the playoffs 9 times times over the years and missed them 5 times. . Their only SuperBowl apperance was a loss to the Hammer franchise in 2007.
Based on projected 2014 stats The DropKickers have the 4th best roster in the league. DropKickers might have the best fantasy player in the league (LeSean McCoy) Although The DropKickers dropped their longtime Giant combo of Eli Manning and Victor Cruz they are bringing back some heavy hitting fantasy stars…RB LeSean McCoy and Eddie Lacy (both Top 5 RBs), QB Andrew Luck and WRs Randall Cobb and Antonio Brown (both Top 12 WRs).
Prediction: Will battle the Pennsters all year long for division title….and eventually they will win the division title. Then we see them advancing to the Final Four for the 9th time but losing to the Banjies.
Jesters (GM Tyler Siebrass) established in 2002.
The Jesters were the hard luck losers of 2013. They actually tied for the best record in the league (9-4) but because of tiebreakers they did not make the playoffs. That was the first time that has ever happened in ANY fantasy leauge that I have ever been involved in. The Jesters have reached the playoffs 3 times times over the years and missed them 9 times. Jesters have one Final Four appearance and one SuperBowl apperance in their franchise history. Their one SuperBowl appearance ended with a loss to the Pennsters in 2006.
According to 2014 projected stats The Jesters look like the 9th best team in the league. The Jesters might be completly dependent on RG3….in 2012 he was awesome and The Jesters made the playoffs…in 2013 he was pretty bad and The Jesters failed to make the playoffs….what will he do in 2014? Jesters added Marshawn Lynch, Reggie Wayne, and Johnny Football (he has already been cut) to the roster this year.
Prediction: Not seeing a return to the playoffs for the Jesters….this is due to the fact of the tough division they live in…..last year that division had a combined 27-12 record. Both the Rampagers and The Gurus look like serious contenders in 2014…which leaves the Jesters out again in 2014. I do know what prediction that will come true…the Jester GM will be one of the most active GMs in the league.
Banjies (GM Scotty Rogers) established in 1998.
The Banjies won their division last year with a 08W 05L season. They were quickly eliminated in the playoffs in the wildcard round by the DropKickers for the second year in a row. The Banjies have reached the playoffs 10 times over the years and missed them 6 times. Banjies have six Final Four appearance and 3 SuperBowl apperances in their franchise history. The Banjies won the title in 2008….and runner up spots in 2002 and 2005.
The Banjies acquired Aaron Rodgers in the off season. That gives them one of the best QBs out there, one of the best RBs out there (Jamaal Charles) and one of the best WRs out there (A.J. Green). Based on 2014 projected stats The Banjies are the 3rd best team in the league but the best team in their conference.
Prediction: Banjies look to have an excellent chance to repeat as division winners and earn their 11th playoff appearance. With the best talent in their division and their conference….we see The Banjies making it to their 4th SuperBowl appearance in 2014. Sadly for them we see them losing to the Crackberries in the big game.
Hammers (GM James Hammer) established in 2000.
Last year the Hammers were tied for the 2nd worst record in the league (5-8) and failed to make the playoffs. The Hammers have made the playoffs 7 times over the years and missed them 7 times. The Hammer franchise has five Final Four appearances and 3 SuperBowl apperances in their franchise history. This franchise has titles in 2002 and 2007….and a runner up spot in 2008.
The Hammer roster of 2014 is one of the weaker rosters in the league according to 2014 projected stats (they are 11th of 12 teams). The Hammer roster is filled with former fantasy stars…..but can players like Arian Foster, Frank Gore, Andre Johnson, Alex Smith, and Rob Gronkowski stay healthy enough to put up quality fanasty points?
Prediction: Last year the Hammer’s GM was a rookie and they started out with a 1-7 record…..a 4-1 finish might be an indicator that the GM has gotten the Hammers on the right track….we see an improved record…but division rivals The Pennsters and The DropKickers will keep the Hammers from the playoffs in 2014.
Gurus (GM Brian Foxworth) established in 2010.
The Gurus had their best season ever in 2013. They ended up tied for the best record in the league….they earned the Top Seed and they got to the Final Four for the first time in franchise history. Sadly for them The Rampagers stopped their SuperBowl run with a Conference Final loss. This franchise has only been around since 2010 but the GM has built a very solid team. The Guru franchise has reached the playoffs 2 time and missed them 2 times over the last four years.
According to projected 2014 stats The Gurus are the second best team in the league. The Gurus are loaded with talent QBs Matthew Stafford and Cam Newton, RB Adrian Peterson, and WRs Dez Bryant and WR Demaryius Thomas. The Gurus did lose TE Jimmy Graham in the off season….and that will not help their SuperBowl run in 2014.
Prediction: The Gurus should return to the playoffs and the Final Four this year. We see a very tight came between the Gurus and Crackberries….with a slight edge to the Crackberries…..but we could also see the Gurus in the SuperBowl for the first time as well….they are serious contenders in 2014.
Fishheads (GM Brandon Ashley) established in 1999.
The Fishheads did not make the playoffs in 2013 and have only made the playoffs once since they won the SuperBowl in 2009. Overall the Fishheads have made the playoffs 10 of the 15 years that they have been in existence. They have made the Final Four 7 times and the SuperBowl 5 times. After 4 failed attempts (1999, 2000, 2003 & 2004) in the SuperBowl they finally got their first ever title in 2009.
The Fishhead roster of 2014 looks like the 6th best team according to 2014 projected stats. Their big move in the off season was getting rid of Tom Brady and bringing in Tony Romo. Besides Romo…their next biggest stars are RB Matt Forte, RB Doug Martin and QB Andy Daulton. They will have to deal with Wes Welker missing the first 4 games of the 2014 season.
The New Yawk Pie, Not Pizzas franchise did something that had never happened before…they went the entire season without a victory. So after their 0-13 season the franchise got a new GM and a team name. The New Yawk Pie, Not Pizzas have made the playoffs 4 of the 15 years that they have been in existence. That is one of the worst % in the league. They have made the Final Four 3 times and the SuperBowl 2 times. They won a title back in 2004 and were the runnerups in 2001.
Dumbledores (GM Katelyn Anderson) established in 2002.
The Dumbledores won their division in 2013…but lost to the Rampagers in the wildcard round. Overall the Dumbledores have made the playoffs 6 times over the years and missed them 6 times. They have made the Final Four 3 times and the SuperBowl 2 times. They won a titles in 2005 and in 2010.
The Dumbledore roster of 2014 will be without Aaron Rodgers for the first time in many years as he was traded away in the off season. Vincent Jackson, Russell Wilson and Vernon Davis did arrive in that monster deal. Others that the Dumbledores will be depending on in 2014 will be Jordy Nelson, T.Y. Hilton, DeMarco Murray and Ryan Matthews.
Prediction: Dumbledores will battle the Crackberries for division….but we do not see them overtaking the Crackberries….that leaves them to battle the Rampagers for the wildcard spot. We give the edge to the Rampagers there as well…..so we are saying the Dumbledores will miss the playoffs in 2014.
MonsterMutts (GM Trevor Basile) established in 1998.
This franchise will have it’s fourth name change this year. Overall this franchise has made the playoffs 6 times and missed them 10 times. They have 5 Final Four appearances and 4 SuperBowl appearances….with titles in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
The MonsterMutt roster of 2014 is ranked as the 10th best or 3rd worst team in the league according to 2014 projected stats. The team has some young talent…Nick Foles, LeVeon Bell, Mike Evans and Keenan Allen. They will also be hoping that Brian Hoyer, Alfred Morris and Michael Crabtree can contribute.
Prediction: Probably the 2nd best team in the division…and the 4th best team in conference…which translates to another year in which this franchise will miss the playoffs.
Division Winners
DropKickers
Crackberries
Gurus
Banjies
Wildcard Teams
DropKickers
Rampagers
Final Four Matchups
Crackberries beat the Gurus
Banjies beat the DropKickers
SuperBowl XVII Matchup.
Crackberries beat the Banjies