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The fellas discuss draft blunders, auction strategy, and top WRs and TEs.
In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL news, the biggest draft blunder ever, a discussion about the top wide receivers and tight ends, and some auction draft talk. So Huddle up, tune in, and get Blitzed!
The guys talk top quarterbacks and running backs and a look at their Scott Fish Bowl drafts.
In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL news, a discussion about top 12 quarterbacks and running backs, and a look at their Scott Fish Bowl drafts. So Huddle up, tune in, and get Blitzed!
Draft a late quarterback, but take your backup early.
Most fantasy leagues have quarterbacks as the highest-scoring players, but the reality is that most of the “good” ones turn in similar annual fantasy points. So naturally, they last until the middle of the drafts despite being one of your best weekly contributors. But – they do get hurt. They can fail to meet expectations for a myriad of reasons. And so, your second quarterback could matter – a lot.
Taking a second quarterback early is a very sound practice. At worst, it gives you two valid weekly options to build your team’s score. At best, you latch onto one of the surprises in the back half of the draft that delivers far in over expectations, if not better than the first quarterback you drafted. Taking both quarterbacks after the first dozen are gone can also work but requires careful mixing and matching at least until one proves superior.
The first dozen quarterbacks selected in a fantasy draft tend to be: Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford, and Aaron Rodgers. All proven veterans with previous seasons as elite fantasy options. Can you cobble together two quarterbacks that can deliver like one of those initial picks? Absolutely.
Kirk Cousins (Vikings) – Cousins rarely runs, and that lowers his fantasy scores, but he was a lock for 4,000 yards and 30+ TDs for the last few years and the Vikings intend to throw the ball more often. New HC Kevin O’Connell brings over a Rams-style passing attack to an offense stocked with receiving talent. Cousins ranked No. 9 and No. 11 the last two years and could be even better.
Trey Lance (49ers) – Likely the most exciting pick you could make because, hey, who knows what to expect? The 49ers have a solid offensive line, the No. 8 passing schedule, and plenty of talented weapons. Lance could be very raw since his last (only) season as a starter at North Dakota State was in 2019. But he passed for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns and ran for 1,100 yards and 14 more scores. He was best served mostly watching last year. If there is one quarterback that could shatter expectations, Lance is it. But – risk is there too.
Derek Carr (Raiders) – Carr has been like Cousins. He’s been good without ever being great and ranked the last two years a respectable No. 12 and No. 13 as a fantasy quarterback. His schedule is much rougher than last year, but everything went wrong in Las Vegas. Adding Davante Adams should be the tide that lifts all ships, and improve this passing offense. Despite the turmoil of 2021, Carr still passed for a career-best 4,804 yards.
Trevor Lawrence (JAC) – The first pick of the 2021 draft could not have ended up on a more dysfunctional, talent-challenged team. Aside from the distraction of Urban Meyer, Lawrence lost his best two running backs and top wideout. It was always a mess. And yet he still tossed two 300-yard games and totaled 3,641 passing yards. Just a dozen touchdowns though. But Travis Etienne is ready, and the Jags added Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram. The passing schedule ranks No. 5, and the offensive line is up to being average. If Lawrence can meet the sky-high expectations of a 1.01 pick, it starts this year.
Matt Ryan (IND) – After years of Top-10 performances, Ryan dropped to only No. 17 last year in Atlanta after Calvin Ridley made a surprise exit, and the offense lacked playmakers other than the rookie Kyle Pitts. Now Ryan has moved on to the Colts, who spin through fading quarterbacks each year. But – Ryan could surprise. Even Carson Wentz was the No. 14 quarterback there last year. Their passing schedule drops from No. 29 down to only No. 6 this season. Michael Pittman broke out last year. The Colts will run first, but Ryan may not be quite done yet.
Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) – Another quarterback in a much better situation for 2022 is Tagovailoa. The Dolphins’ passing offense was little more than the rookie Jaylen Waddle (104-1015-6) last year, but the Fins spent big on acquiring Tyreek Hill for a formidable pair of wideouts. The gaggle of running backs is more talented as well, even if the backfield will likely change every week. The Dolphin’s passing game should be significantly improved for this season.
Does Darnold have a long enough leash to fend off Corral?
When the Carolina Panthers hired Matt Rhule to be their new head coach after the 2019 season, they paid Baylor a $6 million buyout and handed a seven-year, $60 million deal to a coach who had spent only one season in the NFL — he was assistant offensive line coach for the New York Giants in 2012. Entering his third season on the job, Rhule is on the hot seat, having cobbled together a 10-23 mark with offenses that have finished 24th and 29th, respectively, in scoring.
As he steps into what could be a make-or-break season for his NFL future, Rhule will try to right the ship via the hiring of former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo as offensive coordinator and a selection of quarterbacks that includes Sam Darnold, third-rounder Matt Corral, and 27-year-old journeyman PJ Walker. In the words of Jim Carrey, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance.”
Acquired in April 2021 for a trio of draft picks, Darnold was off to a strong start, passing for 1,189 yards and five TDs in his first four games as the Panthers started the season 3-1. He further excited fantasy owners with his running efficiency, adding five rushing touchdowns in those four games — in hindsight that was almost certainly an aberration as the USC product has five rushing TDs combined across his other 46 NFL games.
The excitement was short lived.
While the loss of talented but injury-prone Christian McCaffrey was a blow to the offense, Darnold did nothing to make up for CMC’s absence and would struggle the rest of the way, getting injured as part of a disastrous showing against the New England Patriots in Week 9 during which he injured his shoulder. Darnold would return in late December to split time with Cam Newton, but nothing he showed over the final three weeks generated any enthusiasm for another year of Darnold at the helm.
Corral started his final two seasons at Ole Miss under former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin, who used an RPO system in which Corral excelled: He was the only FBS player to amass more than 3,300 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in both 2020 and 2021. That speaks to his athleticism and dual-threat potential where he has a live arm to make throws and the speed/shiftiness to excel as a runner.
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All of that athleticism is wrapped up in a 215-pound frame, however, and though he played through hard contact at the collegiate level, there’s no question the punishment will be ramped up in the NFL. There’s also room to grow with his progressions as Kiffin’s system contained built-in, predetermined reads. Emotional maturity was thought to be an issue in the lead up to the draft as well, but Rhule was said to be comfortable with Corral in that department.
If Darnold melts down or gets injured, and the team decides that playing Corral will do more harm than good, then you could see Walker get some snaps. He’s 2-0 in two starts for the Panthers under Rhule, but at best he’s a game manager with limited athleticism. This is “break in case of emergency” stuff.
At this juncture, you have to believe Darnold is the prohibitive favorite to open the season as Carolina’s starting quarterback. His strong play last September is something they can try to build on, and the fifth-year pro has had isolated success in his career. On another positive note, Carolina has ample weaponry in wide receivers D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson and Terrace Marshall Jr., along with a pass-catching monster in McCaffrey.
Corral feels like more of a developmental project, and his lack of size is a possible concern for a team that allowed 52 sacks (fifth most in the NFL) last year — they did spend the sixth overall pick on offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu to shore things up.
Neither player carries any draft-day appeal in traditional settings, though Corral’s dual-threat potential should make him an interesting target in dynasty leagues. Darnold is a fringe QB2 or much safer third in superflex designs.
A dozen rules fantasy footballers must follow for consistent success.
Our annual “draft prep” series mostly caters to novice players, but every once in a while a veteran player requires a refresher on basics we may take for granted.
These rules are in no particular order, and they apply to all levels of experience among fantasy owners. Just as important as the “what you should do” to create a winner in fantasy drafting, avoiding simple pitfalls is a must.
1) Living in the past: Assuming successes and failures from last year automatically will carry over to this year’s results is a quick trip to Loserville. Each year is brand new and requires a reset of the old memory bank.
2) Stay sober: While it may seem silly, don’t let one draft party of hard boozing affect an entire season of fantasy football. Party it up after the draft and celebrate your soon-to-be championship roster.
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3) No one likes a homer: Well, except for that Homer. Heavily drafting players from your favorite team tends to lead to an entire season of hangover-filled Monday mornings. This also includes taking a specific player over a better option just because that player is on your favorite team. Be objective.
4) Draft by the rules: Not knowing your league’s scoring structure, lineup composition, and/or bylaws generally results in utter failure. At a minimum, it translates into lost points.
5) Stretch it out: Flexibility in fantasy drafts is essential. Gamers with a rigid strategy miss out on key value due to their inability to zig when others are zagging.
6) No F.O.M.O.: All too often owners will see or sense a miniature run at a position and overreact out of the fear of missing out. Always having a sound backup plan alleviates concern in this area.
7) Mocking mock drafters: “I don’t need preparation!” declares the eventual last-place owner on draft day. Everyone needs practice. Look back at all of the things in life that required some repetitions before you improved. Don’t take my word for it … ask your significant other.
8) Bye week blues: This cuts both ways — getting caught up in not paying attention to bye weeks as well as outright passing on talent because it would create multiple players at the position on bye. Later in the year, bye weeks are easier — not harder — to overcome due to months of roster manipulation.
9) Leaving money on the table: Specifically for those who participate in auctions, leaving any amount of money on the table is inexcusable. Spend it all, even if you have to pay up at the end of the auction on an inconsequential player.
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10) Peer pressure: Let’s face it, even seasoned veterans of fantasy don’t enjoy being ridiculed by 11 mates after making a questionable pick. There’s a major difference between being laughed at for taking a kicker in Round 1 and reaching a round or two for a sleeper at a skilled position.
11) ADP obsession: Time after time, owners get hung up on what the average draft placement suggests. It is merely a guideline, and whenever a service offering ADP compiles the data, it is impossible to completely weed out all variations and nuance. Look for ADP charts that offer date ranges and flexible sorting. Use it for nothing more than a ballpark idea of when positional trends typically begin.
12) Drafting to trade: For some unknown reason, every year I have gamers asking me about which players to target solely for trading purposes. Drafting players for a potential trade bargaining piece down the line is unwise. Way too much can (and usually does) go wrong in this scenario. This is where strictly choosing the “best player available” can lead to unwanted consequences.
Fantasy football news, advice, and DFS recommendations for Super Bowl LVI.
In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL news and Super Bowl DFS plays. So Huddle up, tune in, and get Blitzed!
Fantasy football news, advice, and DFS recommendations for the conference championships.
In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL news, and Conference Championship “DFS Pay-ups, Stay-aways and Value Plays.” So Huddle up, tune in, and get Blitzed!
Fantasy football news, advice, and DFS recommendations for the Divisional Round.
In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL news, and playoff “DFS Pay-ups, Stay-aways and Value Plays.” So Huddle up, tune in, and get Blitzed!
Fantasy football news, advice, and DFS recommendations for Wild Card Weekend.
In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL news, and playoff “DFS Pay-ups, Stay-aways and Value Plays.” So Huddle up, tune in, and get Blitzed!
Week 18 fantasy football player news, DFS advice, and more!
In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL news, fantasy football resolutions, and “DFS Pay-ups, Stay-aways and Value Plays.” So Huddle up, tune in, and get Blitzed!
