Another football season is upon us, as the Books Boss League is set to begin its ninth season this year! The office of the BBL could not be more thrilled to get back into it, starting with this draft recap and primer for the weeks ahead!
The 2022 BBL Draft was held on Saturday, August 27, with nine managers attending the draft live in person to experience an atmosphere unlike any other. Additionally, Andrew Erk drafted virtually from Pittsburgh and retired manager Nick Martin joined in on the festivities. The draft of course was a success and great times were had. Lots of predictions were made.
Since the BBL plays on Yahoo, year after year we are graced with automated report cards detailing success and fails, as well as projections from the draft. I am going to highlight those insights below as we prepare for the 2022 season.
Let’s get after it!
GalensWinningWinners: A-
Behind a terrific backfield, GWW has an elite squad with championship hopes.
Earning the highest draft grade of the league, Galen picked from the sixth position and selected Dalvin Cook. Yahoo has lofty expectations for this team, projected to finish 12-2. Straight from Yahoo,
Drake may have complained about ‘trust issues’ but GalensWinningWinners should never have. After a great draft, this is a team poised to win it all.
That’s high praise from Yahoo. It also says that Galen has one of the easiest strength of schedules in the league and will look to improve from his sixth-place finish last year. After finishing last in back-to-back seasons in 2018 & 2019, GWW has made the playoffs the last two years and will look to make it three straight.
Alpine Avalanche: B
Led by a terrific set of running backs, Alpine Avalanche can compete with anyone.
The Alpine Avalanche had the second highest grade in the BBL with a B. Andrew Erk had the first overall pick and promptly selected Jonathan Taylor to kick off the draft. They are projected to finish second with a 10-4 record. Straight from Yahoo,
Trust but verify. That pretty much describes a draft of Alpine Avalanche. The playoffs are in reach, and so is the championship if things break right.
Andrew will look for some success this season and improve from his seventh-place finish last year. Since joining the league in 2017, Erk has made one playoff appearance in five seasons.
Tundra Icecaps: B
Buoyed by some values, Tundra Icecaps will battle every week.
Projected to finish 9-5, good enough for 4th place, the Icecaps are primed for another playoff run. With the 9th pick in the first round the Icecaps selected Joe Mixon. Unfortunately, Yahoo used the same line about the Icecaps that they used for the Avalanche about trust. Where’s the originality Yahoo? Come on now.
Finishing second on the heartbreak of Kevin Stefanski and Nick Chubb last year, the Icecaps will begin another quest for a title. The Icecaps were less than two points away from repeating as champion last year, which adds to the legend of what if for this team. For all we know this team could have four championships with proper roster management. The Icecaps have one title earned in 2020.
Amazon Piranhas: B-
Fueled by a few steals, Amazon Piranhas won’t be easy to beat.
Projected to go 10-4 with a third place finish this season, the Piranhas are looking to change their misfortune from last year which saw them finish last. With the second overall pick, they went back to the well and drafted Christian McCaffrey. Straight from Yahoo,
Trust is earned not owed. Amazon Piranhas has some work to do but they have drafted enough pieces to make a run this season.
The Piranhas have an opening matchup with Ben Hipple, a rematch of the last place game last year. The BBL recently switched to a free agent acquisition budgeting system for free agents which will impact this squad the most. In the record books for the most waiver wire moves in one season (110), I’d be surprised if they even get close to that amount. Then again, the season hasn’t even started yet, and this team has already made six moves.
Everglade Squatches: B-
In spite of a few steals, Everglade Squatches aren’t anything to get excited about.
Ok Yahoo. The Squatches are projected to miss the playoffs and finish in seventh place with a 7-7 record. With the eighth overall pick they selected Najee Harris. Bold pick of the draft, the Squatches picked Travis Kelce in the second round. Let’s hope that one pays off because Yahoo didn’t like that pick.
The Squatches will look for more this season after their third-place finish last season. In six years the Squatches have made the playoffs in five of them, including a championship in 2018. Always a contender, this team will look to prove yahoo wrong.
Hurts so Good: B-
Despite a set of monster running backs, Hurts so Good has a solidly average roster.
Projected to go 8-6 for a sixth-place finish, Hurts so Good took Derrick Henry seventh overall. Arriving late to the draft because of working a 12-hour day, he got his man drafting Jalen Hurts in the fourth round. That’s a relief because if he didn’t he would have to get a new team name. Bullet dodged.
HSG will look to make a podium this year after placing fourth last year. Despite missing the playoffs in his first four seasons, this team has quietly rattled off four straight postseason appearances and will look to make it five this year.
Hot Chubb Time Machine: C+
In spite of some value picks, Hot Chubb Time Machine can only improve from here.
I’ll tell you one thing I’m not looking forward to writing out Hot Chubb Time Machine every time I mention Blake in these articles. Just once I want him to pick a normal team name. Certainly, it won’t be this year but next year we can only hope.
Even as the defending champion, Blake’s projected to finish ninth going 2-12. Blake had the 10th overall pick and selected Ja’marr Chase. Also of note, he was the last team to select a quarterback with Derek Carr in the fifth round.
As mentioned, Blake is the defending champion and will look to repeat as the first repeat winner in league history.
Mistreated Misfits: C+
Led by a pair of Buccaneers, Mistreated Misfits won’t go down without a fight.
Let’s hope yahoo is right about that one, as Ben is projected to make the playoffs with an 8-6 record. Taking Cooper Kupp with the third overall pick, Ben will look for Mahomes and Brady in addition to Kupp to anchor his team. Really nowhere to go but up for this team considering the circumstances. Enough said there.
In two years in the league Ben has a combined record of 8-24 and has played in the last place game in both seasons.
Sahara Sandstorms: C
Despite an exciting set of receivers, Sahara Sandstorms need to get to work.
Also bonus Yahoo quote,
Mayonnaise, middle of the road, mediocre, all words that describe this draft. We have to trust that the Sahara Sandstorms will make trades and player adds if they are to reach the playoffs.
Taking multiple attempts to get the right words out when on the clock, Logan eked out the words Austin and Ekeler when making his selection with the fifth overall pick. They are projected to miss the playoffs with a 4-10 record.
Some say that the Sandstorms missed an opportunity last season to finish on the podium, let alone raise a banner after drafting the MVP of the fantasy season Cooper Kupp.
Logan has two playoff appearances in six seasons, two coming within the last three years. Will he make it three out of the last four?
Tropical Thunder: D+
Despite a formidable group of receivers, Tropical Thunder should have auto drafted.
Also bonus Yahoo quote,
Let’s just say there is work to do. A lot of work. With some effort (and a bunch of new players), Tropical Thunder just might earn the trust of their manager.
Brutal. Just brutal. This happens every year. Historically speaking I cannot remember a time where I had a good draft in Yahoo’s eyes. Consistently at the bottom of projections, I did it again this year with a ridiculously historic 0-14 projected record.
Yahoo didn’t stop either, lighting up my picks and taking aim at my team, including this gem of a comment,
We’ve heard of stars-and-scrubs, but is there such a thing as scrubs-and-scrubs? Combined, the top players from each position on Tropical Thunder are slated to tally the lowest point total in the league. Unfortunately, the rest of the roster isn’t any better, as those players are expected to put up a point total that would rank as the lowest.
Well thanks yahoo. For the record, I had the fourth overall pick and selected Justin Jefferson in the first round. I for one, am really hoping to prove Yahoo wrong.
Tropical Thunder missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years last season and this projection makes it look like it will be two years in a row. But who’s to say?
Week 1 Matchups
Sahara Sandstorms vs. Alpine Avalanche
Tundra Icecaps vs. Hurts so Good
Tropical Thunder vs. Everglade Squatches
GalensWinningWinners vs. Hot Chubb Time Machine
Amazon Piranhas vs. Mistreated Misfits
Conclusion
I for one am looking forward to this season and am excited for yet another year of the Books Boss League! Enjoy the opening night of the NFL and stick along for the ride ahead.
Cheers!
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