Embedded Files
Thomas Hughes
June 2025
NOTE: TNL (The Ninja League) is a fantasy Ninja Warrior league hosted on the simulator "Ninja Machine", which is made by Alex Cunningham. Photo via Ohio State University Athletics
Yes, Ezekiel Elliott is a competitor available on "Ninja Machine". Despite never having competed on a Ninja Warrior course, he's an available character on the simulator and has been electric this season. On June 18, he found a new home, being traded to the Sacramento Shadows in a massive four player, 13-player trade.
Here's the full trade details below:
SAC Shadows receive: Ezekiel Elliott '14
LV Jackpot receive: Iliann Cherif, James McGrath '13, Zach Toussaint, Keitaro Yamamoto, Felipe Camargo, Cal Plohoros, Adam Burnett
TB Thunder receive: Kevin Carbone, Thomas Stillings
SF Sentinels receive: Dillon Gates, Katsuhide Torisawa '95, Daniel Gerber
Why is this so important?
Why is this so important?
Both Tampa Bay and San Francisco give up and receive little, so this deal largely centers on Sacramento and Las Vegas. The Shadows walk away with the best player in the deal by far. Elliott '14 has been a force all season, currently sitting fourth in the MVP standings — just ahead of his new teammate, Noah Meunier. With Elliott now anchoring Stage Three, Sacramento boasts arguably the strongest late-stage duo in the league, if not the outright best.
That’s not to say Las Vegas lost this trade. Far from it.
By moving Elliott at peak value, the Jackpot are prioritizing depth and long-term flexibility, two assets that rival star power in a grueling season. Vegas picked up seven players in the deal, headlined by Iliann Cherif, a key contributor to Sacramento’s Season 9 championship run and its Season 8 finals appearance.
James McGrath '13 and Keitaro Yamamoto bring immediate stability. Both are capable plug-and-play options on Stages One or Two, and Yamamoto, despite an early-season misstep on Stage Three in Portland, remains a viable piece. He was waived, picked up by Tampa Bay and now lands in Vegas with breakout-caliber potential.
Beyond that, the Jackpot gain valuable lineup versatility and insurance in a season where penalties and subpar performances can derail even the most talented rosters. The move also creates space for more talent to grow without the shadow of a Stage Three superstar — a forward-thinking pivot for a retooling franchise. Elliott raises Sacramento’s ceiling. But Las Vegas walks away with options, upside and an identity shift that could pay off when it matters most.
Elliott runs the ball in a November 2015 game against then-No. 10 Michigan (Ohio State University athletics).
How has each team fared so far to begin Season X?
How has each team fared so far to begin Season X?
Sacramento has lived up to the billing of a champion, erupting for a magnificent 12-1 start 13 games in. The Shadows sit No. 2 in the standings at the time of writing, narrowly behind first-seeded Oakland. Ironically, the Invaders were the team that Sacramento defeated last season, a four-game sweep that gave the Shadows their first championship. Elliott '14's acquisition could be the move that lands Sacramento championship No. 2.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas is in a rocky place. The Jackpot sit in 22nd, with a 6-7 record. Though jettisoning Elliott '14 may be a mistake, the silver lining is that it lands the team additional depth, something they'll need for the future.
As trade add-ons, Tampa Bay and San Francisco are both in solid spaces. The Thunder currently sit fith at 9-4, while San Francisco is one spot below the postseason cutline in 13th. However, the Sentinels have shown flashes of playoff success, claiming a pair of Gauntlet berths. If they can continue that performance, they'll likely be in the postseason picture until the very end.
One thing to note with the Shadows: Elliott '14's status as a star player is very much up in the air, due to him being a Sportsman competitor. Since he doesn't compete in ninja competitions, there's a sizable chance that his stats on the simulation get heavily nerfed. This is a make-or-break move for the Shadows.
Cherif competes in Ninja Warrior France 6.
The next round of TNL is Round 14, scheduled for June 19 on WNL 2020.
Google Sites
Report abuse