2023 MLR Fantasy Draft Results: Grades & Playoff Probabilities

By: John Fitzpatrick
Feb 14, 2023 - 3:30am

Draft Night Recap

The Fantasy Ruckers held its 2023 MLR Fantasy Draft on Friday night.

After 15 rounds and nearly four hours later, we now have the answer for how each roster looks heading into the the first week of the regular season.

A few questions still remain: who had the best draft and what are the playoff probabilities for each league member?

We'll answer those questions and more as we breakdown the 2023 MLR Fantasy Draft.

Draft Grades & Playoff Probabilities

Ruck’N’Roll

Draft Grade: A

Playoff Probability: 90%

• It's safe to say that Matty will wipe away the stain of carrying the poop emoji all offseason. You wonder how many mock drafts he conducted - and sticky notes he burned through - to craft the best draft of the night. Matty is looking good to make the postseason, but can he handle the pressure?

  Does the author really think Matty had the best draft or is he just messing with his head!?

Feral Hippies

Draft Grade: B+

Playoff Probability: 70%

• Oh boy, Stephen sure is high on his Houston SaberCats...he is a hippie after all. Still, a solid draft puts the Feral Hippies in a good spot to find a home in the playoffs.

Dankest Anchors

Draft Grade: B+

Playoff Probability: 70%

• If the San Diego Legion light up the scoreboard like they did in the preseason, then it's smooth sailing into the playoffs for this squad.

Lads on Tour

Draft Grade: B

Playoff Probability: 60%

• The defending champ had a solid draft, but the lack of depth at flyhalf could derail his (re)victory tour. You can count on the champ to make some quality waiver wire selections during the season.

MLR Stats

Draft Grade: B

Playoff Probability: 60%

• MLR Stats sure loves his Toronto Arrows, and is betting on a bounce-back season from the squad. Lots of depth in the front and second row, but he'll need to do some number-crunching if he wants to make the playoffs.

Eagles Overseas

Draft Grade: B

Playoff Probability: 50%

• Solid picks through the first three rounds, plus nabbing Christian Dyer in the 5th round sets up Eagles Overseas to be competitive. Staying true to form, it’ll be interesting to see how well this squad does with a reliance on the USA Men’s Eagles.

MLR All Access

Draft Grade: B

Playoff Probability: 50%

• MLR All Access goes as the Seattle Seawolves go. Can MLR All Access get past the regular-season bouncer and into the postseason VIP section? We shall see.

The Rucking Goat

Draft Grade: B-

Playoff Probability: 40%

• The Rucking Goat will have a much improved side compared to last year. Can this team become a ram and outmaneuver the other sheep? Let's find out.

Rugby Morning

Draft Grade: B-

Playoff Probability: 40%

• Rugby Morning took a big risk taking Billy Meakes in the third round considering his status with the Chicago Hounds is up in the air. Last I stalked Billy's Instagram account, he was on a flight to Australia...

Rugby Wrap Up

Draft Grade: C+

Playoff Probability: 10%

League Rosters

Rugby Morning

Front Row

• Kaleb Geiger, New York Ironworkers

• Facundo Gattas, Old Glory DC

Second Row

• Justin Basson, Rugby ATL

Back Row

• Ronan Foley, Seattle Seawolves

• Cory Daniel, Old Glory DC

Scrumhalf

• Michael Baska, Chicago Hounds

Flyhalf

• Rodney Iona, NOLA Gold

Center

• Willian Talataina, Old Glory DC

• Billy Meakes, Chicago Hounds

• Tyler Fisher, Utah Warriors

Back Three

• Ed Fidow, New York Ironworkers

• Joey Mano, Utah Warriors

• Avery Oitomen, Toronto Arrows

• Filimoni Waqainabete, San Diego Legion

Team Defense/Set Piece

• Houston SaberCats

MLR All Access

Front Row

• Hugh Roach, Chicago Hounds

• Sama Mololo, San Diego Legion

Second Row

• Jurie van Vuuren, Utah Warriors

Back Row

• Devin Short, NOLA Gold

• Conrado Roura, Dallas Jackals

• Sam Golla, Dallas Jackals

• Lucas Rumball, Toronto Arrows

Scrumhalf

• JP Smith, Seattle Seawolves

Flyhalf

• AJ Alatimu, Seattle Seawolves

Center

• Tiaan Loots, San Diego Legion

Back Three

• JP Eloff, Chicago Hounds

• Martin Iosefo, Seattle Seawolves

• Marcel Brache, San Diego Legion

• Nick Feakes, New York Ironworkers

Team Defense/Set Piece

• Seattle Seawolves

Rugby Wrap Up

Front Row

• Dylan Fawsitt, New York Ironworkers

• Nic Mayhew, New York Ironworkers

Second Row

• Nate Brakeley, New York Ironworkers

• Luke White, Chicago Hounds

Back Row

• Benjamin Bonasso, New York Ironworkers

• Wian Conradie, New England Free Jacks

• Danny Barrett, Houston SaberCats

Scrumhalf

• Dillon Smit, Houston SaberCats

Flyhalf

• Jack Heighton, New York Ironworkers

Center

• Tavite Lopeti, Seattle Seawolves

• Ben Lesage, New England Free Jacks

• Paul Lasike, Utah Warriors

Back Three

• Caleb Makene, Utah Warriors

• Gerrie Labuschagne, Houston SaberCats

• Eric Napoksi, Dallas Jackals

Team Defense/Set Piece

• Didn’t draft one.

MLR Stats

Front Row

• James Malcolm, Seattle Seawolves

• Alex Maughan, Rugby ATL

• Lolani Faleiva, Toronto Arrows

Second Row

• Cam Dolan, NOLA Gold

Back Row

• Matt Heaton, Rugby ATL

• Joe Johnston, New England Free Jacks

• Nathan Den Hoedt, Houston SaberCats

Scrumhalf

• Ross Braude, Toronto Arrows

• Niall Saunders, Utah Warriors

Flyhalf

• Sam Malcolm, Toronto Arrows

Center

• Mark O’Keefe, Chicago Hounds

• Te Rangatira Waitokia, Rugby ATL

Back Three

• Peni Lasaqa, Old Glory DC

• Mika Kruse, Utah Warriors

Team Defense/Set Piece

• San Diego Legion

Feral Hippies

Front Row

• Dean Muir, Houston SaberCats

• Tomas Baravale, Dallas Jackals

Second Row

• Saia ‘Uhila, Utah Warriors

Back Row

• Hanco Germishuys, Houston SaberCats

• Jason Damm, Rugby ATL

Scrumhalf

• Damian Stevens, NOLA Gold

• Pedro Imhoff, Dallas Jackals

Flyhalf

• Tito Diaz Bonilla, Old Glory DC

Center

• Fa'asiu Fuatai, New York Ironworkers

Back Three

• Kurt Baker, Old Glory DC

• Junior Sau, Old Glory DC

• Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Houston SaberCats

• Adriaan Carelse, Dallas Jackals

• Lauina Futi, Seattle Seawolves

Team Defense/Set Piece

• Utah Warriors

Dankest Anchors

Front Row

• Andrew Quattrin, New England Free Jacks

• Tiaan Erasmus, Rugby ATL

Second Row

• Mike Sheppard, Toronto Arrows

Back Row

• Moni Tongauiha, NOLA Gold

• Tevita Tameilau, San Diego Legion

• Christian Poidevan, San Diego Legion

Scrumhalf

• John Poland, New England Free Jacks

• Jason Higgins, San Diego Legion

Flyhalf

• Luke Burton, Chicago Hounds

• Sam Windsor, New York Ironworkers

Center

• Will Leonard, Rugby ATL

• Dan Kriel, Seattle Seawolves

Back Three

• Harley Wheeler, NOLA Gold

• Matias Freyre, San Diego Legion

Team Defense/Set Piece

• NOLA Gold

Ruck’N’Roll

Front Row

• Henry Bell, Utah Warriors

• Jack McRogers, Toronto Arrows

Second Row

• Johan Momsen, Rugby ATL

Back Row

• Brendon O’Connor, New York Ironworkers

• Mitch Eadie, Toronto Arrows

Scrumhalf

• Nate Augspurger, San Diego Legion

• Conor McManus, New York Ironworkers

Flyhalf

• Reece McDonald, New England Free Jacks

• Jayson Potroz, New England Free Jacks

• Kurt Coleman, Rugby ATL

Center

• JP du Pleiss, NOLA Gold

Back Three

• Duncan Matthews, Seattle Seawolves

• Connor Mooneyham, Seattle Seawolves

Team Defense/Set Piece

• New York Ironworkers

The Rucking Goat

Front Row

• Peter Malcolm, Seattle Seawolves

• Mzamo Majola, Seattle Seawolves

Second Row

• Stan South, Old Glory DC

• Ryno Herbst, Seattle Seawolves

Back Row

• Lance Williams, Utah Warriors

Scrumhalf

• Luke Campbell, NOLA Gold

Flyhalf

• Joel Hodgson, Utah Warriors

• Will Hooley, San Diego Legion

Center

• Le Roux Malan, New England Free Jacks

• Jason Emery, New York Ironworkers

• Drew Wild, Houston SaberCats

• Ma’a Nonu, San Diego Legion

Back Three

• Andrew Coe, New York Ironworkers

• Cliven Loubser, Utah Warriors

Team Defense/Set Piece

• Rugby ATL

Lads on Tour

Front Row

• Sean McNulty, San Diego Legion

Second Row

• Ben Mitchell, San Diego Legion

Back Row

• Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Old Glory DC

• Mitch Jacobson, New England Free Jacks

• Tom Florence, NOLA Gold

• Bailey Wilson, Utah Warriors

Scrumhalf

• Danny Tusitala, Old Glory DC

Flyhalf

• Luke Carty, Chicago Hounds

Center

• Louritz van der Schyff, Houston SaberCats

• Tei Walden, New York Ironworkers

• Wayne van der Bank, New England Free Jacks

Back Three

• Mikey Teo, San Diego Legion

• Paula Balekana, New England Free Jacks

• Rewita Biddle, Rugby ATL

Team Defense/Set Piece

• Chicago Hounds

Eagles Overseas

Front Row

• Jack Iscaro, Old Glory DC

• Tuvere Vugakoto, Utah Warriors

• Chance Wenglewski, New York Ironworkers

Second Row

• Josh Larsen, New England Free Jacks

• Ben Landry, Seattle Seawolves

Back Row

• Riekert Hattingh, Seattle Seawolves

• Sam Fischli, New England Free Jacks

Scrumhalf

• David Coezter, Houston SaberCats

• Ryan Rees, Rugby ATL

Flyhalf

• Calvin Whiting, Utah Warriors

Center

• Christian Dyer, Houston SaberCats

• Bryce Campbell, Chicago Hounds

Back Three

• Mitch Wilson, New England Free Jacks

• Dougie Fife, NOLA Gold

Team Defense/Set Piece

• New England Free Jacks