Now that we are almost halfway through the 2018 season, the 4th in
3GML history, there are some important players who will likely determine the
rest of the season and some that have already had a gigantic impact. Here are
the dozen players who will play the biggest role in the remainder of the year
and will determine the 3GML universe.
1. Dak Prescott, QB New England
So far Prescott has been the hands
down MVP of the league. He has two very solid simulated games, throws for a
ton of yards and has helped with his feet as well. He was mediocre last year
but skyrocketed up to the top of the charts for an undefeated team. If Prescott
can continue to play at an All-League or MVP level the Patriots have a chance
to hoist the Lombardi and make it 4 teams in 4 years from the AFC East.
2. Josh McCown, QB Buffalo
He’s not Aaron Rodgers, but with A-rod missing a few weeks McCown
needs to be solid and not turn the football over during the next 3 simulated
games. Through 2 weeks there has been no let down with McCown at the helm but
the next 3 games could very well determine the season for the Bills in the
tightly contested division. If McCown plays well enough to win at least 1, and
especially if he plays well enough to win 2 or 3 the Bills will likely make the
playoffs and they have as good of a chance as anyone of winning a championship
if they get in.
3. Aaron Donald, DT New York
Maybe this should be Lamar Jackson who is on fire with 3 player of
the week awards for an undefeated team, but Make no mistake, this team runs
through the defense and the league leading scoring defense is on pace to break
the NFL record for points allowed. The only way that’s possible though is if
Aaron Donald begins to play like the superstar he is. Constantly double teamed
and occasionally dropping into coverage means Donald’s production is way down.
If he doesn’t produce like a superstar in the sims, the Jets, who are riding a
79 ranked rookie toward the promised land, won’t be winning the division let
alone repeating as Champs.
4. Adam Gase, Coach Miami
So far though the sims, Gase hasn’t had the best game plans going
in and despite valiant efforts from the team they have fallen short in two
simulated games. They were too pass happy in a handful of cpu games and the
throwing around of the football and slow starts may have cost them both sims.
Not to mention the fake field goal that had no shot. If Gase can get back to
Dolphins football there is a chance this team sneaks into the playoffs and
knocks a top dog from the perch.
5. Marshon Lattimore, CB New England
This might come as a bit of a surprise that he’s this high but
hear me out. Lattimore is a top 10 corner in the league and while there are
maybe better defenders on his team he’s the most important. Right now there’s a
huge case to be made that Tyreek Hill is the most dangerous madden player on
the planet. Brandin Cooks has been dynamic for the Bills. Devante Parker has
done nothing to stop being a top 10 fantasy wide receiver this season and
Lattimore will have to try to slow them all down. While we are enamored with
stopping the run, these madden teams run through their stud receivers. If
Lattimore can hold them down, the Patriots will win the AFC East and likely the
Super Bowl.
6. Lamar Jackson, QB New York
We’ve touched on him already but he hasn’t played in a simulated
game yet. If he can play anything close to what he’s played like through his 5
normal starts the Jets will be ecstatic. The issues here in simulated games are
his accuracy and turnovers. He’s a big play waiting to happen every time he
touches it, but he has to learn to take the checkdown. If he does that in the
sims, the Jets will dominate the division. If he tries to be a homerun hitter
every time he touches the ball, the turnovers and losses could add up to an
early exit.
7. Casey Heyward, CB Buffalo
As much as Lattimore needs to play well, so does Heyward, whose
start to this season was an abject disaster. He’s improved over the past couple
games but he goes into a matchup with Julio Jones this week and it’s a gigantic
game. If he can even slow down Jones and Hill the Bills could at worst split
those matchups before Rodgers returns. If he can’t and they have 3 losses by
then, that might be too much to overcome even with a superstar coming back to
the helm.
8. Mike Gesicki, TE Miami
I don’t actually think Tannehill is that important to the Dolphins
but I do think getting production out of their offense can happen given the
right circumstances. Tannehill has been fine at QB for them this season. He has
two player of the week awards and his numbers are very solid. That said though
one of the things this team needs is balance offensively and they get that
through running and play action which is where the potential all league tight
end Gesicki comes in. If he can continue to play well in the pass game, and
make big strides as a run blocker, where so far in the games watched he’s been
better than advertised, this team could make some noise.
9. Tavon Austin, RB/KR/WR Buffalo
He’s been great for them so far and he was awesome in a sim, but
moving forward he’ll continue to have to carry a big load. Gurley has played
well but now the team needs its ancillary players to make plays while Rodgers
sits out. If he can keep making people miss and taking 5 yard gains and turning
them into 20 the Bills could continue to put up points, and do what they do
better than any team over the past 3.5 seasons, control the clock on offense.
10. Shaq Thompson, LB/DE Miami
Thompson has been all over the place for the Dolphins this year
and with the absence of Jones in the back half of this defense Thompson has had
to pick up the slack. The Dolphins need playmakers on a team that doesn’t have
the same talent the other trio in the division has. If Thompson can keep
playing sideline to sideline and making plays in the run and pass games then
those splash plays could steal a few simulated wins. If he can’t get that done,
there’s a shot that the Dolphins miss the playoffs for the first time in team
history.
11. Andrew Norwell, G New England
While this division does post a bevy of ridiculous pass rushers on
the edge in Garrett, Quinn, Bosa, Wake, Thompson among a half dozen others, its
the interior domination of Donald and Atkins that is the scary thing. If the
Patriots want to win the division and the championship they have to control the
interior and doing so against two of the best interior disruptors has to be
priority one. If Norwell and company can contain those guys it gives this team
an excellent opportunity. Right now they have the best record at 7-0 with 2
simulated wins and a head to head victory over the Dolphins, they have the MVP,
and they are relatively healthy. If Norwell can start their push by beating up
on Atkins this week the Patriots will get a plaque.
12. David Johnson, RB New York
Hill has been the most dynamic offensive skill player in the
league so far with 13 touchdowns through 7 games, but the most important moving
forward will be 2017 MVP David Johnson. The jets have ran all over the place so
far this season splitting carries with 4 players other than Johnson but to win,
they want to ride DJ to a league title. If he can be the player he was before
his injury last season the Jets can have a trio that can rival any in the
league with Gronk, Hill, and Johnson. If he’s only mediocre and the team
becomes one dimensional offensively, Lamar Jackson will have to play excellent
football for 7 more simulated games as a rookie. It’s a tall order for any
player, let alone one with 5 career starts.
Others receiving votes:
Jake Matthews, Ryan Tannehill, Tyreek Hill, Damon Harrison, Julio
Jones, Hunter Henry, Minkah Fitzpatrick
