NFL Off Season Moves Compared to 2016 Box Office Movies
I’m one of the creators and founders of the Fantasy Life App. Why the quick name drop? Because I am freaking proud of it. I’ve been in the app 16 hours a day for the last 500 days. I try to learn the personalities, likes, and dislikes of as many users as possible. You may be thinking “that’s the creepiest thing I’ve ever heard.” You might not be too far off. I don’t do it to be creepy. I do it so I can have the best view of what the FLA Community wants, needs, and expects out of the FL Team and app experience.
One thing I’ve learned is that the FLA community wants more valuable content. What is great about the community is they don’t only want informative fantasy content but they also want humor, freshness, and sarcasm. That is what the Fantasy Life Publication on Medium is all about. We are off to a great start and this is my mediocre attempt to contribute.
- Note: to count the player has to have changed teams or roll has significantly changed based on moves.
- Lamar Miller to the Texans: X Men: Apocalypse
Why am I comparing a young, low mileage (638 career carries) player who hasn’t been given a full workload with potential to be a top 5 RB to a storied movie franchise (8 blockbuster movies in the last 10 years)? It is simple. The main villain in this latest X-Men installment is the next star of Hollywood, Oscar Isaac. Oscar, like Lamar, has had some good roles already (Ex Machina and his small role in the latest Star Wars movie), but neither guy has shown their true potential. Lamar had over 200 yards and 2 total touchdowns against the Texans last year. Some claim Lamar wasn’t given the bell cow carries because he couldn’t handle it. I’ll call that bluff. Lamar will be a breakout star this coming season and should be a top 2nd round pick for anyone looking to go WR in the 1st. I guarantee Oscar Isaac will WOW you in the theaters this summer, and you will realize he is going to be one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
2. Brock to Texans: Nice Guys
Nice Guys is a crime dramedy with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. Gosling is a Hollywood charmer but hasn’t had a role yet where he has taken the box office by storm. Brock has only started 7 games as a pro, but he went 5–2. In my cocky opinion Brock was the superior QB on the Broncos last year and pretty much got screwed out of being a starting QB on a Super Bowl winning team. Russell Crowe is the Peyton Manning in this analogy. In their Prime both were all time greats. Now Crowe and Peyton are washed up, shells of themselves. I’m banking on Crowe and Manning taught Gosling and Brock how to be elite at their craft. Brock will be a top 10 QB next year throwing to Nuk and Lamar. Gosling will take his stardom to the next level while Crowe gives him the reigns to shine.
3. Demarco Murray to Titans: Suicide Squad
Can a non Avenger ensemble Super Hero movie dominate the box office? You bet your boots. Most people have given up on Will Smith after pedestrian roles in Focus and Concussion. Most people have given up on Demarco after his pathetic showing in Philadelphia. Demarco will be at worst a top 10 back next year. Mariota will open up the running lanes for Demarco similar to how Jared Leto (playing the Joker) will give Will Smith the avenue to take back super star status. My prediction is Suicide Squad is the biggest movie of 2016 and Demarco is the #1 back in fantasy next year. Boom!
4. Matt Forte to the Jets: Captain America: Civil War
Matt Forte hasn’t had a year under 1,200 total yards and is only 30 years old. Chris Ivory had a great year with the Jets and is now gone. What’s not to like? I would argue everything. The Marvel franchise with Avenger movies have been nothing but great the last few years. This movie pairs the 2 most likable characters with Iron Man and Captain America. What’s not to like?Again, I would argue everything. Forte’s YPC has been steadily declining over the last 5 years and the Bears didn’t want to touch him. The Jets have gambled on aging backs in the past. While those aging backs like LT had their moments early in the season, ultimately having poor finishes to the season. Civil War is going to be way too long and the Marvel juggernaut will start to collapse half way through the movie. It will be tempting to draft Forte early based on prior season play but be careful. I smell bust similar to another Marvel movie trying to make Bucky work. Bucky never works!
5. Coby Fleener to the Saints: Ghostbusters
Nostalgia is going to play part in the excitement of this movie and Fleener. Can Coby take on that Jimmy Graham role in a Drew Brees/Sean Payton offense? Can Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy bring back the glorious humor that Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray had oh so long ago? As disappointing as this may sound, both will be MAJOR let downs. Coby Fleener has spent most of his career playing like a girl and this new cast of Ghostbusters is played by girls. Now I am a big fan of Kristen Wiig, but McCarthy and the rest of the group are nothing but flat with their humor. Coby has shown flashes but his soft play will not translate to being a focal point of a pass happy offense. As an avid Colts fan, I warn you to stay away.
6. Jeremy Langford to the Bears: WarCraft
Making a movie based on arguably the most popular video game of all time makes sense. A running back who had 80 yard TD runs and catches in his rookie year who is now given the keys to the kingdom makes sense too. Let’s take a step back and look at it more closely. The people who play WarCraft would rather go on a 24 straight hour bender of playing the actual game than go see the movie. Langford only had 3 games last year where he averaged more than 4 YPC. That is even when teams didn’t have film on him to gameplan. Defenses now have all offseason to prepare for this kid. I caution expectations for both. Now WarCraft could end up being entertaining but if you are looking to go all in in Fantasymovieleague.com with it you should be weary. Langford has a great combo of size and speed with soft hands. I’m not going to claim bust, but I won’t be reaching for him either.
7. Chris Ivory vs Yeldon: Batman vs. Superman
Let’s be honest, this one is a stretch. Affleck has been a star in Hollywood since he was 20 and Henry Cavill (Superman) has been a flop of an actor besides his decent good looks. Chris Ivory had one great season with the Jets and was a utility back for the Saints before that. Yeldon is a coming off of an underrated rookie campaign that was primed to have a breakout season before Ivory came in. Where is the comparison? There is going to be too much going on for all parties involved to have any value. BVS has been hyped for the last couple years but ultimately with the poor reviews, the Super Hero overload, and the Easter Sunday opening weekend I expect a huge flop.
8. Thomas Rawls to the Seahawks: Assassin’s Creed
There are some parallels here to my #6 but the subtle differences take me from hesitant to bullish. First and foremost, is the raw talent. Michael Fassbender plays the main character. Fassbender has killed it in every role he takes. From Steve Jobs to young Magneto. Thomas Rawls had several games he averaged over 5 YPC and only 2 games he averaged less than 4. He always fought for that extra yard and rarely ran out of bounds. He runs with an edge to him. Fassbender brings that edge to all his characters too. Assassin’s Creed’s story is original, fresh, and gritty. Thomas Rawls runs with a freshness and grittiness I haven’t seen since AP’s rookie year. The arrow is pointing up for both and don’t be surprised is Assassin’s Creed shocks the box office similar to Deadpool. The December release date shows me Fassbender is a dark horse to win him an Oscar too.
9. Golden Tate to the Lions: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Harry is gone and so is Calvin. Can Rowling and Tate prove they can handle life without their bread butterer? When Calvin was hurt during the 2014 season Tate put up WR1 numbers. Rowling created Harry not the other way around. I think both live up to the hype. Eddy Redmayne has proven his acting chops and think this movie hits big. It is my dark horse for most money made at the box office for 2016. I say Golden Tate is worth a 4–5 round pick and has WR2 floor.
10. Martellus Bennett to the Patriots: Central Intelligence
Martellus is known as eccentric guy in the NFL. He likes to goof off and make jokes. Based on his short stints with the Cowboys, Giants, and Bears I see a guy that teams get tired of. On the plus side, Martellus is a physical freak who has shown a knack for the end zone. Same could be said for Kevin Hart. He is an eccentric, talented guy who has been around the block, but eventually in every movie people get sick of him in the end. Hart is now paired with true a Hollywood superstar in Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Martellus is paired with superstar Gronk. Some are saying Hart and Martellus are best suited for side kick to the superstar. I’m not buying it from a production standpoint. The Rock, as always, will deliver from a comedic timing and charisma standpoint and same could be said about Gronk. Martellus could have a good game or two but ultimately like Hart flutter off at the end of the season.
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