Underdog 40,000
The stir of infected winds howled as the Space Marine labored through the trenches. Once a place of deafening destruction and incessant frenzy was now hollow with mumbled groans and subdued anguish. The marine’s armor sunk deep into the blackened mud as he kneeled beside one of his comrades. The stricken soldier was immobile, albeit the frequent shudders of mind-numbing pain, often progressing into convulsions of indescribable agony. The fallen soldier’s skin was translucent and pale, as fragile as dead, soiled leaves. His body was covered with pockets of sunken yellowed sores. His milk-white eyes rolled restlessly as he clung to life until his labored breath came to an abrupt standstill.
Part 3 - TE & WR Hits, Misses, and Projections
The Green God
The stir of infected winds howled as the Space Marine labored through the trenches. Once a place of deafening destruction and incessant frenzy was now hollow with mumbled groans and subdued anguish. The marine’s armor sunk deep into the blackened mud as he kneeled beside one of his comrades. The stricken soldier was immobile, albeit the frequent shudders of mind-numbing pain, often progressing into convulsions of indescribable agony. The fallen soldier’s skin was translucent and pale, as fragile as dead, soiled leaves. His body was covered with pockets of sunken yellowed sores. His milk-white eyes rolled restlessly as he clung to life until his labored breath came to an abrupt standstill.
Every marine that lived through the initial onslaught and saw the Virus Bomb fall was now at various stages of the same affliction. Their forces overrun by Tyranids, the Imperium saw no alternative than to unleash their bioweapon upon the planet’s surface as the final solution. The bomb was dropped with one legion holding out as the final remnant of defense. No order of retreat was given to the soldiers. The weapon was designed to wipe out all non-human combatants instantly, which it did to great effect. Unfortunately, any member of the Imperium caught in the winds of its fallout suffered a maligned and drawn-out death.
“There is no honor in this,” the marine said as he stared at his dead comrade. “The Imperium has abandoned us. Forgotten by the Emperor Himself. What is left other than for us to vanish completely out of memory and into death?”
“Do not lose heart brother, all must come to rot and ruin before they can be reborn,” the dead soldier muttered with cold breath.
The Space Marine recoiled in horror, “What DEVILRY is this!?”
“Devilry? Ha!” the corpse laughed, its throat choking with phlegm. “My embrace is the most natural phenomenon in all of Creation. I welcome everyone into my home and to eat from my garden,” the dead soldier smiled.
“Who are you?”
“I am the caretaker of castaways, Lord of Decay, shepherd of the dead, and father of the TE.”
“HERESY! TEs are a pestilent position!” the Space Marine said spitefully. “A plague upon the Tournament of Mania!”
They are the first to suffer from any poor offense
(2024 = Sanders, Theo, Chig, Dissly)
So many are overshadowed by the other weapons on offense
(2024 = Jonnu, Goedert, Colby, Otton, Fant, Kmet, Gesiki, Schultz, Musgrave)
It’s only when the #1 receiver is hurt that they rise to championship-level production
(2024 = Bowers, Ferguson, Taysom, Freirmuth, Engram)
So often are they overlooked and misused by their coaches
2023 = Pitts, Dulcich, Chig, Gesicki, Fant (2024 = Freirmuth, Jonnu, Dulcich, Fant, Gesicki)
They can be overtaken by younger, more explosive backups
2023 = Ertz (2024 = Ertz)
Rarely do they become the top redzone option on offenses
2023 = Hunter, Musgrave (2024 = Ertz, Conklin, Bowers)
“And where do you find yourself, servant of the Imperium? Mere weeks ago, you were a proud Legion of the Emperor, feeding off of destruction. But now, as your body swells with foul disease and your wounds rip open to welcome new infections, you have become so much more glorious! You have found a greater purpose in your darkest hour.”
“Greater purpose?” the marine inquired.
“The Imperium may have dropped the bomb on this planet, but by whose power were your allies and enemies brought to putrescence? With every tragedy, you have fought against me, and with every hardship, I have been by your side. I have reached from the muck and mire to increase the weight of your burden, so that day by day you would grow stronger. This testing is the only way to become what all mankind fears most: death.”
“You are a daemon! Here to torture me in my final moments with your poisoned words!”
“I take no pleasure in such things son. I am a god of joy and laughter, not of doom or despair. My children know that each moment is a gift. That is why I have come. To show you.”
“Show me what?”
The dead soldier’s necrotic hand slowly reached toward the Space Marine’s face. The transition was instant. The marine was standing over his own dead body. “I am the Lord of Life and Rot,” said the voice in the soldier’s head. Time passed quickly in the vision. His once lustrous armor quickly browned with rust. “You wave my color green proudly in your banners. But the moment I bloom beneath your skin, you bleed me out.” His skin was alive with flesh-eating bacteria. “Red is the color of your wrath, but green is what your wrath leaves behind.” All that remained was a skeleton, worn down by time. “My decay shall strip your flesh. My verdigris in all of its shades and hues shall cover your skull. Everything you hold dear eventually comes back to me. In the end, I am an inevitability that all must face. All I need is time.”
Image created by T-Rock using Midjourney
“What do you want from me?” the marine asked.
“I want you to forget no insult or forgive any slight. Let your bitterness fester and your blood boil. Champion what they hate most. Become a steward of the TE and let your fury spread as a virulent plague across the galaxy. Or, you can spend what little time you have left, wallowing in pain and sorrow.”
The marine peeled his glare away from the Lord of Pestilence and stared down the entrenchment. He was the last living member of his legion. “What must I do?” he finally responded.
“You must:
Recognize the teams that funnel their offenses through their TE
(2024 = Andrews, Kincaid)
Foresee the offenses that are an RB injury away from a pass-heavy offense
(2024 = Ferguson, Kittle, Kincaid, Conklin, Bowers, Njoku, Musgrave, Conklin)
Not fear the aging veteran, but expect a steady volume
(2024 = Kelce, Andrews)
Count on steady volume from solid offenses
(2024 = Kelce, Andrews, LaPorta, McBride, Kincaid, Ferguson, Kittle, Pitts, Ferguson, Conklin, Freirmuth)
“Finally, you must entrust your spirit to me,” the Plaguefather continued. “I will take away all misery and all despair. I will raise your brothers from the dead and give them a new life, free of suffering.”
“Our enemies shall wither and die. The Imperium shall wither and die. The universe shall fall into corruption and from the rot and ruin the Lord of All shall rise,” replied the Plague Marine.
Weaknesses of the Flesh
A man can have anything if he is willing to sacrifice. No other place in the universe tests this principle greater than the Dark Prince’s Realm. Those who enter will not encounter grotesque adversaries of mammoth strength guarding its borders. Nor will they be forced to brave treacherous environments. Such overt obstacles of rebuff serve no purpose here. Instead, the God of Pleasure treats all visitors as honored guests, inviting them to indulge every hunger, gratify every lust, and pursue every whim of desire. A domain of excess and splendor, it draws in all those who wish to experience the spectacular heights of the WR position, and ensnares everyone who falls prey to its many pitfalls. To prove mastery over his flesh, the Primarch approached the first circle of corruption.
Trees of silver and tall fields of gold shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight as the Primarch walked by. Their metallic exteriors sang hypnotically as they swayed back and forth in the cool afternoon breeze. The precious flora grew from a soil of ruby that stretched for miles toward a horizon of sapphire peaks. Just as beautiful as this merchant’s paradise was the gentle voice in the wind that welcomed the Primarch.
“Ahh, a son of the Emperor. No one of your stature has ever graced my realm before,” she said elegantly. “Come with me and explore the treasure of my fields, Primarch. Store up for yourself riches beyond measure. With this wealth, one can truly pave their way in the Tournament with the backing of the WR.”
Spend up for the top options in high-performing offenses
(2024 = Lamb, Tyreek, Amon-Ra, Chase, AJ, Aiyuk, Nico, MHJ, Garrett, Pittman)
Do not worry about any offseason changes. You will have security in these elite options.
(2024 = Olave, Adams, Evans, McLaurin, DK, Amari)
Seek the WRs that can operate at all levels of the field as the major receiving option
(2024 = McLaurin, Olave)
“For many men, fortune is a sea that keeps them afloat during uncertainty. A tide that brings them to new ventures. But more often, it is treacherous swell, tossing them back and forth with its waves of worry, and seeking to pull men down under its crushing pressure,” replied the Primarch. His armored boots constantly kicked loose gemstones that lined the flawless diamond pathway.
Do not overlook age as a significant factor
(2024 = Keenan, Diggs, Ridley, Hopkins, Lockett, Cooks)
Do not discount high-passing offenses with funneled targets
(2024 = Lamb, Amon-Ra, Chase, MHJ)
Do not underestimate line issues or quarterback injuries
(2024 = Nabers, McLaurin, Olave, Kirk, Chase, Amari, Palmer)
Do not overlook the unique and explosive players on amazing offenses
(2024 = Waddle, Worthy, Flowers)
It wasn’t long until the narrow road was littered with the remains of past visitors, who refused to let go of their prized possessions, and were crushed under the weight of their material greed.
The Primarch continued into the second circle, led by the heavenly aroma of smoked meat that wafted through the air. He entered a great hall, dimly lit by candlelight, where a solitary chair was seated at the head of a vast banquet table. Each plate of food was decadently presented, each dish masterfully executed, and each morsel perfectly balanced.
Image created by T-Rock using Midjourney
“Come and dine with me, son of the Imperium,” the voice invited. “Take your ease and eat from my table. Drink and bring gladness to your heart. You will need your strength in the Tournament.”
Enjoy these alpha receivers who excelled on less impressive offenses
(2024 = Jefferson, Adams, Nabers, DK, McLaurin, Amari, Pickens, Diontae, Sutton)
Delight in those who benefited from injuries to their WR teammates
(2024 = Aiyuk, Olave, Flowers, Pittman, Moore/Rome, Rice/Worthy, BTJ, Polk)
Look forward to offenses that will perform exceptionally well under new QBs
(2024 = DJ/Rome/Keenan, McLaurin, Pickens, London, Garrett)
“What are these foods compared to the dish served after a hard-fought battle? The meal enjoyed with comrades? The feast you prepare for your son on his name day?” he replied.
Anticipate WRs who emerge as focal points despite various challenges
(2024 = MHJ, Rome, Nabers, BTJ)
Avoid WRs with nagging injuries and fade on explosive offenses
(2024 = Waddle, Tank, Downs)
Prepare for some offenses to dip from the previous year and become less consistent
(2024 = Cooks, Curtis/Shakir, Amari, Evans/Godwin)
Some WRs will feast as the only weapon on struggling offenses
(2024 = Jefferson, Nabers, Diontae, Palmer, Polk)
The plating became increasingly chaotic and haphazardly prepared as the Primarch continued past the foul buffet. At the end of the long table, flickers of suspended chandeliers revealed flayed and charred flesh of an all-too-familiar form. Yesterday’s guest had become today’s meal for the next trencherman to gorge their voracious appetites.
Exiting the great dining hall, moonlight shined on the Primarch as he entered the grounds of a serene palace garden that stretched into the night sky. The royal garden was tremendous in scope, filled with an endless labyrinth of exotic greenery, tranquil pools, and discreet paths fit for a king to seclude themselves in meditation. The Primarch came to the edge of a grand staircase, overlooking the palatial backyard. At the foot of its steps was gathered a large host of the Imperium. Dressed in ceremonial uniform, his comrades and kin honored the Primarch’s triumphant entry with reverent applause. Descending the marble steps, he entered the massed throng of rank and nobility. Hidden amongst the faces of the crowd, the Lord of Excess whispered, “Well done, faithful son of the Imperium. You have brought great honor to your father, the Emperor. Your achievements will be immortalized forever through monuments and songs. Write your name in the stars and take your rightful place as the WR champion.”
Rely upon these secondary options in elite offenses
(2024 = Waddle, Deebo, DeVonta, Kupp, Diggs, Higgins, Cooks)
Be satisfied with these tertiary options
(2024 = Tolbert, Shakir, Robinson, Iosivas, Dortch, Gipson)
Celebrate these consistent receivers and their solidified roles
(2024 = DeVonta, DJ, Deebo, Keenan, Kupp, Godwin, Reed, Cooks, Downs, Curtis, DeMario, Wan’Dale, Boyd, Dortch, Gipson)
The Primarch replied, “These monuments are dust and these songs are merely words, soon forgotten. The calibre of a man runs reverse to their need to make their worth known. The strong are strongest alone!”
Their QB’s poor play will cap their potential
(2024 = Jefferson, Malik, Diontae, Ridley, Amari)
These WRs will struggle under the spotlight of the WR1 role
(2024 = Flowers, Keon, Pickens, Polk)
Inconsistency will hamper their 2024 campaign
(2024 = Waddle, Watson/Doubs/Reed, London, Sutton)
Disappointing offenses will unfairly label these WRs as busts
(2024 = Ladd, Keon, Legette, Franklin)
In an instant, the once lively party fell deathly silent. Each member of the multitude had become a statue of ash that soon collapsed under their weight, creating a vast plain of black soot. The pure white sculptures that once adorned the maze of vegetation had lost all luster. Their dignified poses twisted into horrifying expressions. The peaceful flow of fountains ceased. The venerable garden was now an unnerving graveyard.
The Primarch continued his journey and entered the dark woods at the edge of the decadent estate. With no glow from the moon filtering through the dense tree canopy, the path was lost in the pitch-black forest.
Image created by T-Rock using Midjourney
After hours of walking, the Primarch emerged from the cursed grove and gazed upon a magnificent ocean, caught in the solemnity of a twilight sky. The Primarch had reached the presumed last circle of the Dark Prince’s Realm. He wandered through the soft sands of its heavenly shores until he finally stopped to admire the sunrise in all of its glory as night departed. Caught in its rapture, the final temptation could be heard in between the crashing of the waves.
“Oh, devoted son of the Imperium. You have known nothing but war and sacrifice,” she said warmly. “Your body is spent and your soul is weary. You have nothing left to give. Come to me and I will take away all of your pain. Struggle will be but a distant memory. Unburden yourself of your heavy armor. Retire your arms from service. Your fight is over. Peace and rest is yours at last.”
Rest assured, these options will have little competition
(2024 = Olave, Nabers, McLaurin, Ladd/Palmer)
Look forward to these offenses taking a big leap forward with their receivers
(2024 = Colts, Bears, Cardinals, Falcons, Seahawks, Chiefs)
“Rest? We were not made to rest. I have no concern for home or hearth, such things are vanity. My privilege is the dirt, my birthright is suffering, and my freedom is war. Peace? There is no such thing amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter. Find someone else to enslave!” the Primarch laughed at the Thirsting God.
Expect these WRs to develop into excellent route runners on great offenses
(2024 = Amon-Ra, Puka, London, Pittman, Nico, DJ, Waddle)
Have confidence the head coach will transform these receivers into #1’s
(2024 = Pittman, Rice)
Their skillsets pair uniquely well with their upgraded QBs
(2024 = Garrett, London, McLaurin, Pickens)
Image created by T-Rock using Midjourney
instrumentum
Image created by T-Rock using Midjourney. Perfected by ATM
This series is dedicated to my brother Malik, the Hellhound Primarch
Underdog 40,000
Doubt. Remorse. Fear. These emotions are held back through relentless training and devotion to the Imperium. But in a soldier’s final breaths, the dam they built can come crashing down, flooding their minds with despair. These brief moments of anguish perpetuate into an eternity of torment as the Sea of Chaos sweeps away their souls into the WoRP. Once a peaceful realm, millennia of war and evil have corrupted the WoRP dimension into a hellish landscape, with each new resident being more vile than the previous.
Part 2 - RB & QB Hits, Misses, and Projections
The WoRP
Doubt. Remorse. Fear. These emotions are held back through relentless training and devotion to the Imperium. But in a soldier’s final breaths, the dam they built can come crashing down, flooding their minds with despair. These brief moments of anguish perpetuate into an eternity of torment as the Sea of Chaos sweeps away their souls into the WoRP. Once a peaceful realm, millennia of war and evil have corrupted the WoRP dimension into a hellish landscape, with each new resident being more vile than the previous.
Image created by T-Rock using Midjourney
Presiding over this underworld are the Gods of Chaos. Representing the four cornerstone positions, each god has inspired a cult following within the Imperium, and untold billions who have given their lives to the deities. Recognition from the gods as a champion of the faith is the highest honor for a follower. Their reward is a divine blessing of unnatural powers in life and rank among their demonic legions in death. But garnering attention from supreme beings is no easy feat. If ever allowed to kneel before their thrones, each soldier must recount every victory they fought for and every failure they suffered in the Tournament of Mania.
Blood & Bone
The distinct rev of chainswords and cries of battle were all around the solider. Man versus Demon. Apostate against Mutant. The RB Truthers were locked in an eternal skirmish under a crimson sky, from which a ceaseless torrent of skulls rained down. Stretching into the horizon were hills of decaying faces surrounded by an endless ocean of bone and flesh. These were the trophies claimed by the RB Truthers in the Tournament of Mania for their god. He loomed in the distance, as large as a mountain underneath the falling cascade of ivory and marrow upon a throne of brass and skulls. With gauntlets of blackened armor, the figure raised a colossal sword and brought it crashing down upon his bloodstained court, initiating the dreadful proceedings for the newly departed soldier.
Image created by T-Rock using Midjourney
“BREAK! RIP! TEAR!” the god’s voice roared. “With shoulders of iron, charge the enemy lines! With unbridled strength, hold back the enemy's advance! With ravenous anger, trample underfoot every foe in your path!!!”
Then came a great shout from the battlefield, “Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!”
The Blood God bellowed in laughter as he slowly turned his attention to the latest reinforcement for the perpetual conflict. “And YOU! What spoils do you bring ME?!”
“God of War!” the soldier shouted. “I have done great honor to the RB in the Great Tournament!”
I sought out consistent, central fixtures of offenses
2023 = CMC & Henry (2024 = Henry, Kamara)
I raised up the dual-threat weapon that operated in the top offenses and received ample opportunities
2023 = CMC & Kyren (2024 = CMC & Jacobs)
I foresaw backups usurping starters
2023 = Hubbard (2024 = Spears & Dowdle)
I can envision workhorses who control the entire backfield on successful offenses
(2024 = CMC, Breece, Saquon, Henry, JT, Jacobs, Pacheco, Mixon, ETN, White)
I project little goal-line opportunities for a team that will look to pass in the redzone
2023 = Packers (2024 = Bears)
Finally, I expect the following RBs to play well in rotation and profit from goal-line touches
(2024 = Montgomery, Ray Davis, Gus Edwards)
“MORE! I NEED MORE!!!” barked the god in anger. “Here, there is no peace, only the time wasted between battles. And you have wasted my time with your failures to build my throne!”
Could you not foresee the deterioration of an offense?
(2024 = Singletary, Edwards)
Did you believe this RB could handle being the Bell-Cow?
(2024 = Zamir)
Why didn’t you anticipate injury or lost touches to talented backups?
(2024 = Gibbs, Kyren, Conner, Mostert, A. Jones, Swift)
With so few WRs, could you not count on a run-heavy offense?
(2024 = Breece, Henry, Cook, Kamara, Najee, Rhamondre, Robinson, Pollard, Singeltary, Chuba)
You didn’t prioritize goal-line opportunities on the top offenses?
(2024 = CMC, Henry, Montgomery, Mostert, JT, Jacobs, Mixon, Kyren)
You lost faith these RBs could not compensate for their rushing inefficiency with their catching prowess?
(2024 = ETN, Cook, Jacobs, Kamara)
You were not ready for the age cliff?
(2024 = Mostert, Ekeler, Conner, Kamara, Mixon)
You couldn’t discern the wide talent gap between the backup and the starter?
(2024 = Charbonnet, Ekeler, Kendre)
You fell victim to Preseason hype?
(2024 = Steele, Wright, Vidal)
Did you misjudge his potential role in an ambiguous backfield?
(Chase Brown, Zeke)
“Master! Allow me to return to the Tournament of Mania! With this knowledge, I will spill more blood for your battlefield and claim more skulls for your throne,” the soldier cried out with his fist clenched.
“There are none who can stand in our way. None who can match our power. None who are feared more on the battlefield,” the Blood God boiled. “But you do not seek destruction, nor do you revel in gore you coward!” he snapped. “Wrath, fury, strength… these are the weapons my warriors use to wage war and shake the foundations of the WoRP! You are not fit to champion the way of the RB,” he said pointing at the soldier.
“But master!” the soldier cried out as he was descended upon by the demonic servants forged in the hellscape.
Unworthy of the warrior’s paradise, the soldier’s soul was tossed into the infinite void of the WoRP stream, where he would be feasted upon for the rest of time.
The Maze of Madness
“How long have we wandered this labyrinth?” the reflection inquired. “Years? Days? Millennia?” asked the figure in the crystal walls. “Who are you again? Help me to recollect.”
The Commander gritted his teeth and dared not to look at his reflection in the mirrored walls of the maze. “Through trial comes triumph,” he constantly recited. It was the latest in an endless loop of tormenting visions and living nightmares meant to tear the mind asunder. Such is the price when entering the Realm of the Sorcerer in pursuit of infinite knowledge. Nowhere else in the universe does chaos exist more purely than in the dimension of change, the domain of the Great Mutator.
“You’re not really here. This place is just a figment of your imagination,” the shadow continued. “You’re probably wandering through the trenches of a forgotten battlefield, raving to yourself like a shell-shocked maniac, waist-deep in corpses. You’ll never survive the Tournament of Mania!”
“I shall pass out of darkness and reach the light,” the Commander said to himself.
Turning a corner, the high-ranking soldier finally reached what he long sought. The ninth and final gate would grant passage out of the Crystal Labyrinth and into the Impossible Fortress. Hidden deep inside the castle was the legendary Hidden Library, where every truth, thought, reality, and possibility existed as written catalogs. The imperial officer inched closer to the portal, ablaze in pink and blue WoRPfire. Hanging over the large doorway floated a large disembodied mouth.
Image created by T-Rock using Midjourney
“The Changer of Ways bids thee welcome,” smiled the grotesque mouthpiece, widening the gashes in its lips.
“Guardian of the Maze, the Weaver of Destinies has brought me here before you, to follow the ambitious path of the QB. I seek their sorcerous powers to bend fate to my will and reshape reality. I vow to reject error, cast out ignorance, and eradicate impurfection. I understand in the Tournament of Mania:
QBs that have a strong cast of redzone pass-catchers , as well rushing upside, have the strongest potential
(2024 = Hurts, Kyler, Caleb)
The elite rushers have the safest floors and highest ceilings
(2024 = Lamar, Richardson, Daniels)
Some will outperform their ADP because of their surrounding talent
(2024 = Geno, Baker, Rodgers, Carr)
And some will elevate their subpar environments
(2024 = Daniels, Russell)
“Ahhh, you boast of perfection, son of the Imperium!?” chomped the gatekeeper. “But the Raven God is both the Lord of Change and Entropy. What are the heights of enlightenment compared to the inescapable chasms of darkness? To know what waits in the shadows and screams in the night. To be a Dark God is to understand the deepest depths of fear itself.”
“Please lord, let me gaze upon these hidden secrets!” said the Imperium Commander.
The mouth grinned, flashing its pointed yellow teeth and black gums. “Very well.”
Offenses significantly decline from a lack of explosive weapons
2023 = Mahomes (2024 = Allen, Herbert)
Some QBs have excellent rushing upside, but struggle with processing
2023 = Fields (2024 = Levis)
There are QBs we are still waiting on to operate at their potential
(2024 = TLaw, Watson)
Some teams become top passing offenses that few anticipated
2023 = Cowboys, Packers (2024 = Bengals)
Few offenses are built to make the jump from good to elite
2023 = Lions (2024 = Falcons)
Rookie QBs on projected weak teams are often underestimated
(2024 = Maye, Nix)
Low expectations for high passing volume and a career resurgence can spell value
2023 = Baker (2024 = Russell, Young, Darnold)
The Commander stared into the void of the portal as the Guardian’s abominable speech slowly entered his mind. A deep sorrow washed over him as distant and forgotten memories came back into thought. These recollections were slowly remade into new, foreign images, as if his psyche were being corrupted by an outside force. On instinct, he closed his eyes to shield himself from the mental bombardment, but this only quickened the perverse nightmare he was suffering. Unable to fathom the primordial horrors that had invaded his soul, the soldier cried out in terror. A tentacled tongue burst out of the commander’s mouth, wrapping itself around his face. Soon, hairy arachnid appendages and insect antennae ripped through his skin as he transformed. Beginning in his mind and shifting to his body, the metamorphosis was complete. The Imperial Officer was now another loyal spawn for the Great Conspirator to puppet, fulfilling what the deceiving god had fated long ago.
instrumentum
Image created by T-Rock using Midjourney. Perfected by ATM
This series is dedicated to my brother Malik, the Hellhound Primarch