Ultimate Team Newsletter October 1, 2021
The season-long, weekly blueprint to navigating Ultimate Team updates, breakdowns, walkthroughs and releases.
Madden NFL 22
Happy Friday, MUT fam! TJ here, aka the Young Alge Cumpler aka the Young Game-Time Decision, back with another full-to-the-brim newsletter.
There were a ton of releases this week and we’ll be covering each item drop. As always, we’ll reveal this week’s legends. My top five today is dedicated to my favorite position in football: the fullback. Let’s get to talking MUT!
In This Edition
- Release Recap
- Team Of The Week
- LTD
- Heroes
- Player of The Week
- Elites
- Wildcard Wednesday: Heavyweights
- LTDs
- Gridiron Guardians
- Champions
- Heroes
- High Elites
- Team Of The Week
- Legends Reveal
- TJ’s Top 5: Funky Fullbacks
- Creator Content of The Week
Release Recap
Team of The Week
- Player of The Week
- Josh Allen (BUF, QB, 91 OVR)
- Josh Allen threw for 358 yards last week, a feat he’s only bested three times in his four-year career. Allen completed 32 of 43 passes, threw four touchdowns and ran for another, all without an interception. He’s rightfully the player of the week after this unreal effort in a 43-21 win over the Washington Football Team!
- Josh Allen (BUF, QB, 91 OVR)
- LTD
- Heroes
- Elites
Wildcard Wednesday: Heavyweights
- Ryan Kelly (IND, C, 90 OVR)
- If you’re looking for an elite pass protector to gum up the middle of the offensive line, look no further than Ryan Kelly. Maybe you’re up against an elite interior pass rusher such as Fletcher Cox or Warren Sapp. This Kelly item is a great answer, with 90s in pass blocking power and finesse.
- Taylor Moton (CAR, RT, 89 OVR)
- This Moton item is about as versatile as offensive line items get right now. He’s rocking both an 89 run blocking and 91 pass blocking, surely making him a staple on your offensive line.
- Andrew Norwell (JAX, LG, 89 OVR)
- One of the more underrated guards in the league, Norwell has never been selected for a Pro Bowl. Yet, he’s a rock-solid veteran who helped pave the way for Jaguars HB James Robinson’s breakout rookie season. Run blocking an 88, pass blocking a 90, this item is worthy of a starting spot in your lineup.
- Michael Pierce (MIN, DT, 89 OVR)
- Pierce was sorely missed last season by the Vikings, but in 2021, this 340-pound bulldozer is already on pace for a career year. This item clocks in with an 89 strength and 90 block shedding. When Pierce is on the field, your opponent running the football will surely prove to be a fool’s errand.
- Ndamukong Suh (TB, RE, 89)
- o Suh’s playing his eleventh NFL season and you’d be hard-pressed to find signs he’s slowing down. In 2020, he finished with his highest sack total in five years. Suh’s 90 strength and 87 power moves make him lethal against both the pass and run.
LTDs
- Kareem Jackson (DEN, SS, 92 OVR)
- Jackson’s in his eleventh season in the league, and proves every day that you indeed can teach an old dog new tricks. He’s bounced around defensive back positions and made each role look easy. In his storied career, Jackson has made 588 solo tackles, 20 interceptions, forced seven fumbles and scored four touchdowns. Jackson joins Ed Reed and Divine Deablo as the fastest strong safeties in the game with 90 speed ratings. He has a 90 zone coverage and 90 hit power, making this item downright scary for your opponents to see on the field.
- Robert Woods (LAR, WR, 92 OVR)
- Woods is 29 years-young and sneakily sitting on a fantastic NFL career. A former 2nd-round pick out of USC, he spent his first four seasons in Buffalo, never surpassing 700 yards. However, when he got back to Los Angeles, something clicked. In his first four seasons as a Ram, Woods has averaged more than 1,100 yards and nearly six touchdowns per year. His 91 catch in traffic and 92 short route running make this card a weapon in short-yardage situations, but his 90 speed can easily stretch the field.
Gridiron Guardians
Champions (92 OVR)
- Fred Warner (SF, MLB)
- Aaron Rodgers (GB, QB)
- Christian McCaffrey (CAR, HB)
- Jalen Ramsey (LAR, CB)
Heroes (90 OVR):
- Tre’Davious White (BUF, CB)
- Mike Evans (TB, WR)
- DeForest Buckner (IND, DT)
- Amari Cooper (DAL, WR)
- Mike Gesicki (MIA, TE)
- Stephon Gilmore (NE, CB)
- Alvin Kamara (NO, HB)
- Jamal Adams (SEA, SS)
High Elites (86 OVR):
- Cody Whitehair (CHI, C)
- Joe Mixon (CIN, HB)
- Jarvis Landry (CLE, WR)
- Orlando Brown Jr (BAL, LT)
- Grady Jarrett (ATL, DT)
- Shaquill Griffin (JAX, CB)
- Chris Boswell (PIT, K)
- Corey Bojorquez (BUF, P)
- Patrick Peterson (ARI, CB)
- Blake Martinez (NYG, MLB)
Legends Reveal
- Joe Thomas (CLE, LT, 93 OVR)
- Here you have it folks, the highest-rated offensive lineman in MUT, and justifiably so! Joe Thomas is undoubtedly one of the best offensive linemen of all time. He was a force to be reckoned with, the lone bright spot in a rather underwhelming 10 years for the Cleveland Browns. Between 2007 and 2016, Thomas played in every single game and made the Pro Bowl each year. One of my favorite stories of his, he told Graham Bensinger, was when the Browns were winning in the fourth quarter by a large margin (he admits it didn’t happen often) a backup came in to check Thomas out of the game. Thomas, at that time, was working on a streak of most consecutive offensive snaps played, and told the backup to get off the field. Classic football guy material right there. His 93 strength, 93 pass blocking and 93 run blocking suit the legend well.
- Ted Hendricks (LVR, ROLB, 93 OVR)
- Hendricks played 14 NFL seasons between 1969 and 1983. He was consistently rock-solid, playing nearly every game in those 14 seasons. He’s a four-time super bowl champion and an eight-time pro bowler. In those 14 seasons, he sacked the quarterbacks 60 times and intercepted 26 passes, coming into MUT with a pass coverage archetype. That’s part of what makes this card astounding. Hendricks was a towering six-feet seven-inches tall. That’s combined with an 89 speed, 88 strength and 93 block shedding. This combination of size, speed, power and finesse make him a playmaker at any position on the field.
Code Giveaways:
*These are one time use codes, and are available only on a first-come, first-serve basis.
PlayStation:
1. J43X-8LNK-94FA
2. AXJF-JTNF-4PFG
3. L9B2-3BN7-4C7Q
Xbox:
1. 4GP64-CVWWV-67YCJ-GQK2Y-XVW7Z
2. D3DJV-Q9V22-M6YP9-WJ6VQ-4CPGZ
3. KHK2F-VCKF2-H4JW2-6RF7F-XH27Z
TJ’s Top 5: Funky Fullbacks
Fullbacks are back like they never left. Today’s NFL features some versatile fullbacks who may not get the recognition they deserve, but play pivotal roles in their respective offenses.
In Madden, the use of a fullback is often polarizing. Are you sacrificing speed and too obviously showing the run? Or are they the ultimate smoke screen to dial up a quick pass?
Regardless, I love packages featuring fullbacks and think the options are endless for what you can dial up. Here are my top five MUT FBs.
5. Khari Blasingame (81 OVR, Superstars Elite)
An unsung hero in the Tennessee offense, Blasingame is tasked with blocking for Derrick Henry and does so at a high level. He’ll get the job done as a blocker with plenty of help from his speed rating. Blasingame’s 84 speed is bested by only one FB (who you’ll see on this list). With an 81 carrying and 83 trucking, I don’t hate the idea of working a FB dive or two into your gameplan with Blasingame. If your opponent sends a blitz, the FB is usually the last receiver to draw coverage, with Blasingame’s speed, you could make your opponent pay.
4. Andy Janovich (84 OVR, Superstars Elite)
This one-man wrecking crew is as fullback as fullbacks get. Janovich, in an interview, said he still drives his 2000 pickup truck because he “Doesn’t need an extra car payment.” If you search, “Fullback” in the dictionary, the definition is a Janovich jersey. He’s exactly what you’d expect in MUT. His capabilities as a blocker are endless. With an 86 lead block, 78 pass block, 78 run block and 79 strength, Janovich is exactly who I want lined up in front of my HB in an I-formation. Don’t be fooled, his 77 speed and 70 catching aren’t spectacular, but can absolutely get the job done if you want to throw your opponent off with a quick pass.
3. Keith Smith (84 OVR, Team Builders)
One of the most underrated FBs in the NFL right now, Smith has coined the phrase “Make Fullbacks Great Again.” That’s exactly what this item is doing in MUT. Smith’s extremely well-balanced. He has an 81 speed and 75 catching, making him a more-than-capable receiver in space. However, he’s also working with an 82 pass block and 84 lead block, which means you’ll want him on the field even when he’s not touching the football.
2. Kyle Juszczyk (85 OVR, Core Elite)
Just like real-life Juice Man, this Juszczyk item can do a bit of everything. Juszczyk has tallied at least 240 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in each of the past six years. He’s as consistent as they come from the FB position. His calling card is as a receiver. Juszczyk’s 78 short route running is far and away the top rating of all MUT FBs. He’s also rocking an 84 lead block, making his presence on the gridiron extremely unpredictable. Your opponent can’t run-commit, because the Juice Man will make quick work of a route to the flat. They can’t pass-commit because he’s a bulldozer as a blocker.
1. Larry Csonka (91 OVR, Legends LTD)
Alright, you saw this coming from a mile away. Larry Csonka was a generational talent at the fullback position and his effectiveness in MUT mirrors that talent. His 87 speed and 90 carrying are up there with most halfbacks. His 92 trucking is invaluable in short-yardage situations. Beyond that, he’s a bonafide stud without the ball. His 90 run blocking and 90 lead block will pave a path wide enough to make any serviceable HB look great.
Creator Content Of The Week
Lamar Jackson vs 3 ELITE SWEATS In Madden 22 Squads! - iMAV3RIQ
That’s it for this week’s MUT Newsletter! Best of luck playing and have a great weekend! See you next Friday.
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Madden NFL 22 is available now. Stay in the conversation by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and EA Forums. Sign up for the Newsletter today to receive updates on Madden, and other EA news, products, and events, all season long.