2013 Phoenix Uprising

The Uprising won their third championship in four years in 2013, picking up momentum mid season and riding it all the way through to the end. After three straight years of rating penultimate in total points, they took pole position by well over a hundred. Now they will have to try to repeat from the 14th and final slot on the draft board, picking on the turn. The only time they have chosen lower than 5th was in 2009 when they drafted 10th overall, and missed the playoffs for the only time in franchise history.

2013 FINAL ROSTER

















Team Owner: Kevin Grimes
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
2013 Record: 10-3 (2013 Champions)
2014 Draft Position: 14th

Week 12: *1. Phoenix 10-2 2196.80
Winners of seven straight, and assured a bye, the Uprising have scored 150 points more than their closest rival. With elite assets at nearly every position, they just have to hope to stay healthy and keep the run going. If they have an achilles heel, it is underwhelming DB play; They also lost their highly rated K Steve Hauschka in a surprise waiver claim to Toronto. 

Week 9: 1. Phoenix 7-2 1659.90
The Uprising have constructed a monstrous team, and have not suffered any tragic losses. They are tied for the league's best record, have not lost for a month, and are nearly a hundred points better than their next closest rival. With a week remaining before the deadline, they hold the number two waiver claim. Unless tragedy hits, the 2010 and 2011 champions have to be considered the favorite going forward. Toot.

Week 6: 4. Phoenix 4-2 1014.64
The Uprising breathe a sigh of relief after gutting out a win over Oakwood by MNF: Monday Night Fractions. They're the fourth team in four digits through six weeks, and look to have three startable RBs and four startable WRs to cover bye weeks. The best laid plans can always go awry- Calvin Johnson's uncertain health might be the first thread to come loose.

Week 3: 2. Phoenix  2-1 528.04
After a shaky start, the Uprising have put together two straight in dominant fashion. With solid depth and a defense anchored by JJ Watt, the team's ability to manage the bye weeks will depend on knowing when to hold em and when to fold em. Kenny Britt, Heath Miller, and Willis McGahee are all marquee names with high upside, but if they cannot cut the tie with options that are not working, they'll hamstring their roster.

2013 Season Preview

The Uprising are the oldest and most storied franchise in the LFL, the last remaining bastion of the league's origins in 2007. Besides their 2009 debacle, the team has finished in the top three every year, and has turned in the second highest point total for three years running. With a startling 10-2 playoff record all-time, the team prides itself on building for the long haul and finishing strong.

2013 Draft Picks:

• • Phoenix Uprising
     
  • A+
     
  • Report Card

Round	Pick	Player	Position
1.	(4)	Calvin Johnson	WR
2.	(25)	Matt Forte	RB
3.	(32)	J.J. Watt	DE
4.	(53)	Robert Griffin III	QB
5.	(60)	Matthew Stafford	QB
6.	(81)	Ryan Mathews	RB
7.	(88)	Mike Williams	WR
8.	(109)	Derrick Johnson	LB
9.	(116)	Kenny Britt	WR
10.	(137)	Rashard Mendenhall	RB
11.	(144)	Jordan Cameron	TE
12.	(165)	Jason McCourty	CB
13.	(172)	Joe Haden	CB
14.	(193)	Sean Lee	LB
15.	(200)	Colin McCarthy	LB
16.	(221)	Eric Berry	S
17.	(228)	Michael Floyd	WR
18.	(249)	Lance Briggs	LB
19.	(256)	Jacoby Jones	WR
20.	(277)	Steven Hauschka	K
21.	(284)	Zac Stacy	RB

AKA: The Fighting 54s, The Carousel of Doom, Red Storm

2013 Hill Valley McFlys

For the second year in a row, the McFlys went home from the Larkspur Bowl heartbroken. Nobody has won more regular season games over the past three seasons than Mike Verrino's club (28-11 record over that span) but they have been unable to get over the hump, going down in the playoffs every year since their inception. They have shown the skill and shrewdness to win, now they just need some luck; perhaps drafting 13th will counter their curse.

2013 FINAL ROSTER

Team Owner: Mike Verrino
Hometown: Hill Valley
2013 Record: 9-4
2014 Draft Position: 13th

Week 12: *4. Hill Valley 8-4 2000.54
The McFlys have shrugged off adversity, broken the 2,000 point plateau, and could clinch the #2 seed with a win, and some help from Silver City. Nick Foles has been a revealation, and might retain his starter's role if he can keep slinging it with perfection. A bye week would be a huge advantage for informing their decision behind center, as they would have a week to audition Rodger's health before having to make a call with all the chips on the table.

Week 9: 8. Hill Valley 5-4 1395.27
It's been a cursed season for the McFlys, with Reggie Wayne and Justin Blackmon out for the season, and Aaron Rodgers and Arian Foster perhaps joining them on injured reserve. Each loss came on the heels of upgrade trades that sapped Hill Valley's depth. And yet, shrewd moves keep the team on the cusp, hanging around and refusing to give up. It's the sort of survivor's story that can buoy a team and make them more than the sum of their parts- plenty of their young players have not yet reached their limits, and could push the parameters of their potential. Hill Valley needs that now.

Week 6: 8. Hill Valley 3-3 959.01
The McFlys have faced adversity and had some bad luck, but they have battled back to .500 and have set themselves up for a big time second half. Upside runs deep on this team, and while everyone is healthy and off bye, their roster will have one or two players on the bench that would start for all thirteen other teams in a given week. Rest assured, that wealth will be turned into more front line talent, as the McFlys round into form. Josh Gordon and Justin Blackmon are the keys- if they maintain their early returns, this team is a juggernaut, bitch.

Week 3: 8. Hill Valley 2-1 485.04
Hill Valley's robust trading resume grew again today, as he spun off a 3 for 3 that I'll review shortly. His team has amassed a glut of dependable WR2s (Nicks, V-Jax, Wayne, Gordon, Hartline) and high upside WR3s (Blackmon, Broyles) that has severely impeded his ability to deal with early onset bye weeks. Look for aggressive shopping, as the LFL's Ari Gold tries to turn his quanitity into quality- a 2 for 1 could give a scuffling team much needed depth. The team's RB duo of Sproles and Rice should start every week they are capable; Fred Jackson and Law Firm provide solid, if unexciting depth. Aaron Rodgers rounds out a roster that will score way more than it has so far.

2013 Season Preview

The McFlys have made the playoffs in each of their four years, and are amongst the league's perennial elite, putting up big numbers and winning nineteen of their last twenty six regular season games. A Larkspur Bowl championship has proven elusive, as regular season success has not translated into landing the big one, but no one would deign to ever count them out. 

2013 Draft Picks:

• • Hill Valley McFlys
     
  • B
     
  • Report Card

Hill Valley McFlys
1.	(9)	Ray Rice(Bal - RB)
2.	(20)	Aaron Rodgers(GB - QB)
3.	(37)	Reggie Wayne(Ind - WR)
4.	(48)	Darren Sproles(NO - RB)
5.	(65)	Hakeem Nicks(NYG - WR)
6.	(76)	Mike Wallace(Mia - WR)
7.	(93)	Jermichael Finley(GB - TE)
8.	(104)	Lavonte David(TB - LB)
9.	(121)	Patrick Willis(SF - LB)
10.	(132)	Tim Jennings(Chi - CB)
11.	(149)	Julius Peppers(Chi - DE)
12.	(160)	Fred Jackson(Buf - RB)
13.	(177)	Harrison Smith(Min - S)
14.	(188)	Justin Blackmon(Jac - WR)
15.	(205)	Brian Hartline(Mia - WR)
16.	(216)	Jacquizz Rodgers(Atl - RB)
17.	(233)	DeMeco Ryans(Phi - LB)
18.	(244)	Ryan Broyles(Det - WR)
19.	(261)	Rod Streater(Oak - WR)
20.	(272)	Dan Bailey(Dal - K)
21.	(289)	Chris Harris(Den - CB)

AKA: Yo Adrian I Did It, Run to the Hillis, 
the Fighting 54s +1

2013 Silver City FC

Ajay Patel's walk backed up his talk in 2013, as his team won big and won often. They made it as far as the second round in year two, before going down to perpetual bridesmaid Hill Valley. The team has had a charmed life at QB the past two years with Peyton Manning under center; In 2012 they failed to move quality backup Cam Newton and failed to make the playoffs. In 2013 they succeeded in moving quality backup Nick Foles and made the playoffs. It will be interesting to see if they employ a similar gamble for a third year running.

2013 FINAL ROSTER

Team Owner: Ajay Patel

Hometown: Silver City

2013 Record: 9-4

2014 Draft Position: 11th

Week 12: *8. Silver City 8-4 1815.03
The FC from SC has enjoyed a charmed season, backing into a playoff spot in week eleven. As a result, they protected their lineup, resting their bye weekers without finding substitutes, and folded it in early, foregoing the inside track they had on a first round bye. They could still snag it with a win and some help from Flint, but they have made it a lot tougher on themselves as they enter crunch time.

Week 9: 5. Silver City  7-2 1447.23
Silver City has won three straight, and is tied for the best record in the LFL through nine games. Their mediocre power ranking is a product of two absolute clunkers, that appear to be more outliers than regression. The team's ceiling continues to be capped by its limited WR potential beyond Alshon Jeffrey- but TE Jordan Reed has been a godsend, replacing Jermichael Finley's production without skipping a beat. Projections like Silver City to split its final four games, which should put them in the conversation for a first round bye- they control their own destiny to that end.

Week 6: 5. Silver City 4-2 989.71
FC is as up and down as a team can be, scoring 153, 175, 193, and 240 (!) in its victories, but 128 and 97 (!!) in its defeats. A lot of that variance can be attributed directly to the team's WRs, who have all been of the boom or bust variety- Steve Smith, Alshon Jeffrey, Stevie Johnson, and Brian Hartline have all had single digit point totals at least three times- Emmanuel Sanders only twice, with two ten point efforts. It's a weekly game of slots, and when they don't line up cherries, the team is at a stark disadvantage, regardless of Peyton Manning.

Week 3: 3. Silver City 3-0 522.72
SCFC won their third game in dramatic fashion, at the very end of MNF, and it took all three actives to do so; I watched as Kevin Burnett's forced fumble brought him to the lead, and if not for Sebastian Janikowski's subsequent PAT, Peyton Manning (the prime reason for FC's early run) would have given back the lead on his double clock killing kneel downs. Deja vu- Ajay's talented but depth deficient roster hinges upon his ability to move Mike Vick. If he can get a solid RB2 to plug in for the struggling Stevan Ridley, he ought to pull the trigger.

2013 Season Preview

The Football Club from Silver City had a winning debut in 2012, although they just missed the playoffs in the League's most competitive season to date. Year two will be a good barometer of where they figure into the league's hierarchy.

2013 Draft Picks: 

• • SilverCityBerlusconi
     
  • B
     
  • Report Card

SilverCityBerlusconi
1.	(8)	LeSean McCoy(Phi - RB)
2.	(21)	Peyton Manning(Den - QB)
3.	(36)	Stevan Ridley(NE - RB)
4.	(49)	Jason Witten(Dal - TE)
5.	(64)	Steve Smith(Car - WR)
6.	(77)	Stevie Johnson(Buf - WR)
7.	(92)	Daryl Washington(Ari - LB)
8.	(105)	DeMarcus Ware(Dal - LB,DE)
9.	(120)	Devin McCourty(NE - CB)
10.	(133)	Mario Williams(Buf - DE)
11.	(148)	Michael Vick(Phi - QB)
12.	(161)	Ryan Kerrigan(Was - LB)
13.	(176)	Reshad Jones(Mia - S)
14.	(189)	Janoris Jenkins(StL - CB)
15.	(204)	Emmanuel Sanders(Pit - WR)
16.	(217)	Sebastian Janikowski(Oak - K)
17.	(232)	Alshon Jeffery(Chi - WR)
18.	(245)	Johnathan Franklin(GB - RB)
19.	(260)	Greg Hardy(Car - DE)
20.	(273)	Ronde Barber(TB - S)
21.	(288)	Kevin Burnett(Oak - LB)

AKA: Silver City Berlusconis, Dangling Dingleberries

2013 Toronto LTP

Stu Ferguson loses his co-pilot in 2014, as Mike Hart is now the Manager of the South Park Cows. Les Tres Petites becomes a 100% Canadian run organization. Toronto finished fourth in 2012; As the four seed they ousted #5 Orgrimmar in the first round before falling to eventual champion Phoenix by just over half a point. After two years in the league, Toronto sits at a round .500% so this year will be indicative of their ability to sink or swim in the LFL.

2013 FINAL ROSTER

Team Owners: Stu Ferguson
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario (CANADA!)
2013 Record: 8-5
2014 Draft Position:Twelfth

Week 12: *3. Toronto 7-5 2040.41
LTP has suffered an identity crisis at QB, and will be in trouble if either of their slight feature backs go down, with none in reserve. But they've made the playoffs as a wild card, and with tactical know-how and fortitude, are equipped to optimize their lineup well enough to defeat any team, any given week. DeSean Jackson might be the X-Factor: With juicy matchups down the stretch, he will be relied upon to exceed expectations. 

Week 9: 2. Toronto 6-3 1566.77
Toronto has never had trouble scoring, and this year it is coming to fruition. Coming off of a loss to Flint, LTP has a very good chance of hanging a loss on Phoenix this week, coming out with guns blaring. If things hold, it could very well be a preview of the Larkspur Bowl. Their season's last month is a gauntlet, with matchups against Hill Valley, Chicago, and Pawnee rounding out their schedule; At worst, this team should split the final month, safely securing a slot in the dance.

Week 6: 2. Toronto 4-2 1064.42
Les Tres Petites are right on the cusp, licking Orgrimmar's heels in the power rankings after being the first to tarnish their record. This is a team without any obvious weakness in its starting lineup- this week should be a good test of their wherewithal, as their top seven offensive players have no prime matchups to exploit. Their WR carousel continues to roll, with six startable wideouts currently wearing Toronto's Cardinal and Silver; If Doug Martin kicks it into gear, look out.

Week 3: 6. Toronto  2-1 508.39
LTP has its first ever winning record, after 16 regular season games in the LFL! Boasting impressive depth, this team should be in every matchup it plays this season, and should still be able to swing an upgrade via trade in the near future. Each of their top five WRs has scored more than 50% of their points in one of their three weeks, which makes playing the right trio imperative.

2013 Season Preview

The first Larkspur Bowl team from north of the border underachieved in its first year, scoring well enough to make the playoffs, but due to some less than fortuitous scheduling they faced their gauntlet was the toughest in the league. (Most points against in 2012.) Whatever could go wrong did go wrong, so expecting some regression in the bad luck department will mean some inherent progression in the great white north's sophomore year.

2013 Draft Picks:

• • Les Tres Petites
     
  • C
     
  • Report Card

Les Tres Petites
1.	(3)	Doug Martin(TB - RB)
2.	(26)	Cam Newton(Car - QB)
3.	(31)	Reggie Bush(Det - RB)
4.	(54)	Darren McFadden(Oak - RB)
5.	(59)	Antonio Brown(Pit - WR)
6.	(82)	DeSean Jackson(Phi - WR)
7.	(87)	Anquan Boldin(SF - WR)
8.	(110)	Tavon Austin(StL - WR)
9.	(115)	Paul Posluszny(Jac - LB)
10.	(138)	Chad Greenway(Min - LB)
11.	(143)	Karlos Dansby(Ari - LB)
12.	(166)	Tyler Eifert(Cin - TE)
13.	(171)	DeAngelo Hall(Was - CB)
14.	(194)	Rueben Randle(NYG - WR)
15.	(199)	Eric Weddle(SD - S)
16.	(222)	Muhammad Wilkerson(NYJ - DE)
17.	(227)	Keenan Lewis(NO - CB)
18.	(250)	Daryl Richardson(StL - RB)
19.	(255)	A.J. Hawk(GB - LB)
20.	(278)	Greg Zuerlein(StL - K)
21.	(283)	Alex Smith(KC - QB)

AKA: Les Tres Petites