Tag: fantasy football draft recap

FSGA National Conference experts draft recap

A pick-by-pick review of The Huddle’s team in a prominent industry league.

The Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA) organizes several industry expert leagues, with the 14-team “Champions League,” hosted by RTSports.com, being the crown jewel.

I had the honor of competing in the premier grouping for a decade, making the postseason six of my last eight years, including a close loss in the finals. Understanding the necessity to take calculated risks on draft day is among the reasons for my consistency. Being afraid to take a chance or reach for a player — especially in this 14-team variant filled with excellent drafters — is a fast-track to being demoted from the league. Yeah, demoted. The bottom four teams get relegated to the next league down the chain.

Thus, there is a need to take bold actions at a level unprecedented in arguably any other professional draft. In short, I much rather take a chance reaching for some players I covet than playing it too safe. Of course, there’s a nuanced blend of risk to work into a roster design, but it all comes down to making intelligent gambles.

[lawrence-related id=490205]

All of the FSGA leagues are performance-based PPR formats, and drafting a live league this early in the summer makes for a fun tightrope walk in some regards. Drafting in late June forces gamers to make a larger number of educated guesses on appropriate value of unsettled situations. These leagues do not allow trades, so the draft’s importance is paramount.

We have more than a quarter-century track record of creating fantasy football champs. Sign up for The Huddle today to gain an award-winning edge on the competition!

My aggressive nature didn’t work out in 2022, and I was relegated to the National Conference draft. Last year’s bid to return to the Champions League was off to a hot start, going 6-0 before the wheels came off and I stumbled to an 8-6 finish. A fresh start puts me right back into the same position, so let’s look at the foundation I get to work with in 2024.

Full roster by round

Ovrl Rnd Player Pos Tm
8 1:08 Amon-Ra St. Brown WR DET
21 2:07 Josh Jacobs RB GB
36 3:08 Cooper Kupp WR LAR
49 4:07 Dalton Kincaid TE BUF
64 5:08 Zack Moss RB CIN
77 6:07 Najee Harris RB PIT
92 7:08 Jared Goff QB DET
105 8:07 Courtland Sutton WR DEN
120 9:08 Quentin Johnston WR LAC
133 10:07 Chase Brown RB CIN
148 11:08 Darnell Mooney WR ATL
161 12:07 Dylan Laube RB LV
176 13:08 Will Levis QB TEN
189 14:07 Baker Mayfield QB TB
204 15:08 Miami Dolphins D/ST MIA
217 16:07 Greg Zuerlein PK NYJ

Pick-by-pick review

Check out the entire draftboard here!

1:08) WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: I probably would have taken my chances with Justin Jefferson and all that is Minnesota’s QB situation had he made it one more pick, but I’m in no way upset with Brown. He’s a PPR machine in an offense that will continue to feed him on all three downs.

2:07) RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers: While Jacobs comes with some durability concerns, he’s a workhorse who can contribute in the passing game and is the unquestioned starter in an offense that remains committed to the run. I expect a refreshed Jacobs looking to rebound from a down year.

3:08) WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: Round 3 feels maybe a tad early, but it’s a 14-team PPR format. I’m banking on a return to health and one more top-flight season from the veteran. Puka Nacua‘s emergence surely is a concern, but his numbers weren’t all that impressive when Kupp was on the field a year ago.

4:07) TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills: This could be the most pivotal pick of my draft. Kincaid will challenge for TE1 overall in 2024. Round 4 is earlier than I prefer to address the position, and it my prove to cost me dearly at running back. It cost me Rhamondre Stevenson, Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones and Zamir White as my RB2. I can live with that risk-reward decision.

5:08) RB Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals: After missing out on that aforementioned quartet of No. 2 running backs, I turned to Moss – one of my favorite contenders for a breakout season. He has limited talent behind him and flashed in prior stops. Cincinnati will feed him enough touches to post RB3 numbers as long as he’s remotely decent, but midrange No. 2 returns are in play.

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6:07) RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers: Many owners prefer Jaylen Warren over Harris, and it’s tough to argue against it, yet I opted for Harris instead. I briefly considered Austin Ekeler here, but Pittsburgh hiring Arthur Smith to run the offense solidified my decision to err on the side of caution after risking my RB2 spot on Moss. Even with Warren’s strong play, Harris managed an RB2 finish in 2024 and is entering a contract year.

7:08) QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: I was set on taking Brock Purdy but lost out on him by a couple of picks. It led me to stacking Goff with St. Brown. The Lions return just about everyone of note from last year’s prolific offensive showing, and the drop-off to the next QB on my list was significant.

8:07) WR Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos: After going top-heavy at WR, I waited until the midpoint to address the position again. Sutton was the final receiver on the board with whom I had any real comfort in selecting as my third, and he isn’t without concerns. Nevertheless, someone has to catch the ball in Denver, even if it’s from a rookie quarterback.

9:08) WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers: A polarizing selection, Johnston gets a fresh start to showcase his skills after a disappointing rookie campaign. The new offensive design isn’t exactly conducive to a pass-heavy script, though the former first-rounder has a legit quarterback and a largely unproven cast of receivers to battle for the top spot.

10:07) RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals: This one is purely a handcuff selection. Let’s say I’m wrong about Moss breaking out … that creates a fine opportunity for Brown to exploit. The 2024 fifth-round selection displayed some chops as a rookie, albeit in extremely limited work (58 touches), and Brown has little behind him in the way of competition.

11:08) WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears: Meh. Mooney’s best days are behind him in all likelihood, though he can muster a few flex fill-in performances with Kirk Cousins at the helm. There’s a small chance for a regular role if Drake London were to get injured, and another Kyle Pitts letdown isn’t unfathomable.

12:07) RB Dylan Laube, Las Vegas Raiders: Laube injects youth into my offense and offers a pass-catching option not found ahead of him on the depth chart in Vegas. He has turned heads in OTAs and makes for a fine flier this late in a 14-teamer.

13:08) QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans: Levis has all the physical tools to excel. One of my favorite sleepers, the second-year pro has upgraded receivers and a quarterback-friendly offense being installed. Both running backs and the primary tight end can make splash plays in the passing game, too. Levis’ upside is too good to pass up.

14:07) QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Here’s where things get a little funky! Levis shares a bye week with my starter, Goff. Had it been a late-season bye I wouldn’t have batted an eye, but the Week 5 hiatus makes things a little precarious, hence the selection of a third QB. Mayfield, who faces Atlanta in Week 5, gives me added insurance if Levis struggles early on and/or Goff gets hurt. The takeaway here is embracing flexibility with your draft plans can lead you down unforeseen but profitable paths.

15:08) D/ST Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins: Despite lingering injuries and notable personnel losses across on three levels, Miami is a decent pick after waiting on the position in a 14-team draft in which owners started drafting DTs in the 12th and had seven off the board by Round 14. The early-season schedule is acceptable.

16:07) PK Greg Zuerlein, New York Jets: The last kicker off the board, Zuerlein is entirely expendable if he struggles early in the year. New York should be much more capable on offense with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. The big-legged booter offers distance value and is automatic inside 40 yards.

Roster composition

Pos Player Team Bye
QB Jared Goff DET 5
QB Will Levis TEN 5
QB Baker Mayfield TB 11
RB Josh Jacobs GB 10
RB Zack Moss CIN 12
RB Najee Harris PIT 9
RB Chase Brown CIN 12
RB Dylan Laube ® LV 10
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown DET 5
WR Cooper Kupp LAR 6
WR Courtland Sutton DEN 14
WR Quentin Johnston LAC 5
WR Darnell Mooney ATL 12
TE Dalton Kincaid BUF 12
PK Greg Zuerlein NYJ 12
DT Miami Dolphins MIA 6

Fantasy football mock draft series: May takeaways

Is it too early to pick up on trends in fantasy football mock drafts?

It is mid-May, and fantasy football drafts are gaining steam. A recent industry mock is the source for this recap. Out of respect for the hosts of this draft, no reference will be made to its identity so the content remains fresh on their end, nor will the entire draft results be published here.

The blurbs about my team below were provided to the draft host and will appear in a magazine as part of a larger evaluation of the draft. Before getting into my individual picks (we didn’t have to select kickers or defensive teams), here are a few general observations from a 12-team, PPR draft.

  • Drafting in the middle of Round 1 wasn’t a detriment. The placement afforded the ability to build either two strong running backs, a blend of prominent RBs and receivers, or loading up on a pair of wideouts. Flexibility is key, and it’s tough to go wrong picking fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh in 2024.
  • It’s not too often, even in an experts league, no quarterbacks come off the board in the first three rounds. Personally, I love to see it, and that’s how gamers should draft … in an ideal world. I suspect the delay in addressing the position is a byproduct of gamers being burned by the rash of QB injuries in 2023.
  • Eight of the first 24 picks were running backs in this PPR format, which isn’t a huge surprise, but the notable takeaway here is this draft went all the way until the 32nd pick before a different position came off the board.
  • Six of the 19 total quarterbacks who were drafted came in Rounds 4 and 5 alone, which shows the ability to wait on the position if you don’t buy into a top-heavy position.
  • Five TEs going in the first six rounds is normal, though the eight who went over the following four rounds are mostly interchangeable. Much like with quarterback, gamers should make a predraft decision about whether they prefer to invest early or wait, and a good deal of these trends are due to the RB and WR selection spree atop the draft.
  • The positional breakdown is as follows: 19 QBs, 60 RBs, 79 WRs, and 18 TEs.

Here’s a snapshot of the first 10 rounds broken down by number of positional picks:

1st: 4 RBs, 8 WRs
2nd: 4 RBs, 8 WRs
3rd: 6 RBs, 4 WRs, 2 TEs
4th: 2 QBs, 3 RBs, 6 WRs, 1 TE
5th: 4 QBs, 2 RBs, 6 WRs
6th: 1 QB, 7 RBs, 2 WRs, 2 TEs
7th: 1 QB, 2 RBs, 6 WRs, 3 TEs
8th: 7 RBs, 3 WRs, 2 TEs
9th: 4 RBs, 7 WRs, 1 TE
10th: 4 RBs, 6 WRs, 2 TEs

Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

My team

We were asked to write 35 words per pick to give a little insight as to our draft thoughts:

  • RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: I considered Ja’Marr Chase, but Robinson has RB1 overall upside and will anchor my roster. The do-all Texas product no longer will be hampered by the silly utilization games played by former head coach Arthur Smith.
  • WR Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans: I’m banking on one last big season from the well-seasoned veteran with a final huge payday at stake. Houston didn’t acquire him to be a decoy. This loaded offense can support multiple top-flight fantasy targets.
  • RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers: If he can stay healthy, Jacobs has RB1 written all over him in Green Bay. The Packers paid a hefty sum for his services, and the versatile veteran will command the lion’s share of this backfield’s touches.
  • WR Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns: There’s no question that I am skeptical about Cooper staying healthy and Deshaun Watson rebounding, but the only real-life WR1 remaining I considered was Zay Flowers. My strong RB corps leaves me comfortable with Cooper as my WR2.
  • QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: I wasn’t inclined to land a QB here, but the value of Hurts in Round 5 was far too tantalizing to ignore. Between a stacked receiving corps and his rushing talents, Hurts will challenge for QB1 overall.
  • RB Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders: I’m comfortable with Ekeler as a third back, and he has upside in PPR since Brian Robinson Jr. is more of a two-downer. Being reasonable, the former Charger is probably a matchup play instead of a lock.
  • WR Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs: As my third receiver, Hollywood catching passes from Patrick Mahomes is exciting and will make up for a lack of volume. Rashee Rice could miss games — perhaps the entire year — giving Brown serious upside.
  • WR DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans: Despite crossing my fingers in hopes of Christian Watson coming back to me, Nuk is a WR4 with viable weekly lineup consideration – a nice consolation. I’m expecting enough work to go around in this revamped offense.
  • TE T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings: I gambled on Jake Ferguson lasting, missing out by a few picks. While Hockenson might rest early, rookie QBs tend to lean on TEs, and this selection had a playoff push in mind.
  • RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons: Expecting a lesser role than last year’s 209 utilizations, the sole purpose here was to insure my Round 1 selection of Bijan Robinson. Nothing more, nothing less.
  • TE Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans: T.J. Hockenson was a strategic gamble two rounds ago, and Schultz will be a stop-gap if he misses action as well as an insurance policy should the former Detroit Lion not regain form in 2024.
  • WR Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons: A late-round flier who could rebound after falling on hard times the last two years, Mooney gets a QB upgrade and a friendlier system. He has even more value if TE Kyle Pitts doesn’t pan out again.
  • RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rookie RBs who are an injury away from a No. 1 role always enter my late-round draft plans. Irving even could muster enough action for a fill-in role if Tampa chooses to scale back Rachaad White‘s workload.
  • QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: Even though the retooled receiving corps isn’t as appealing on paper, volume alone puts Lawrence into the top-12 conversation. A likely QB1 as my backup in Round 14? Sign me up!
Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Bonus draft recap!

As part of the magazine mock draft participation agreement, we also took part in a non-PPR version. Here’s my team review for that one:

1) RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: I briefly considered Saquon Barkley, but Taylor’s fantasy scoring and TD upside is greater in non-PPR. There’s top-3 potential from the former rushing champ.

2) RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers: I was hoping for Derrick Henry here, but Jacobs is a quality consolation prize. He should threaten RB1 status as my No. 2 in a Green Bay offense that will ride its new bell cow.

3) WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: While he’s not a value buy this year, and regression is a real risk, double-digit TD potential remains high. Evans is a so-so WR1.

4) QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: I really wanted Cooper Kupp here, but Hurts’ rushing TD upside was far too tempting in non-PPR. This is much earlier than I tend to draft a QB, and the scoring system made the difference here.

5) WR George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers: He’s one of my favorites for a true breakout season, and I’ll be surprised Pickens doesn’t finish as a borderline WR1. There’s some concern with Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith, however, but talent usually wins out.

6) RB Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals: I’m higher on him than most, but there’s legit 10-TD potential in sight as my third back. Moss has flashed starting-caliber ability at times in his career, and he now gets a chance to run away with the gig.

7) TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: Was this a reach? Maybe. If Pitts cannot ascend in 2024, all hope is lost for his future. I’m optimistic that Kirk Cousins and a better offensive system will work wonders.

8) WR Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos: Denver is lacking receiving options, and rookie QB Bo Nix has the collegiate experience to hit the ground running. He should be good for WR3 or flex utility more often than not.

9) WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers: There’s tremendous upside in Watson if the hammy can hold up for more than 30 minutes. That said, he could get lost in the mix some weeks if the deep receiving corps plays to its potential.

10) RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks: We saw enough from the former as a rookie to suggest he’ll be involved in this new offense. As my RB4, Charbonnet is a decent flier for RB2 returns if Kenneth Walker goes down.

11) WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers: Let’s face it, Johnston was abysmal in 2023, but LA needs a WR to step up, and why not him? He has the QB and offensive line to create damage with limited targets.

12) QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: Aside from a bye week, Goff probably won’t see my lineup, but he’s awesome insurance for Hurts.

13) TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints: Mike Gesicki was a consideration, but Johnson has a clearer path to scoring fantasy points. If Pitts is solid, Johnson won’t crack my lineup often anyway.

14) RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Irving is a worthy flier for a late-round RB5 gamble, and he has weekly flex worth if Rachaad White gets injured.

FSGA National Conference experts draft recap

A pick-by-pick review of The Huddle’s team in a prominent industry league.

The Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA) organizes several industry expert leagues, with the 14-team “Champions League,” hosted by RTSports.com, being the crown jewel.

I had the honor of competing in the premier grouping for a decade, making the postseason six of the past eight years, including a close loss in the finals. Among the reasons for my consistency is understanding the necessity to take calculated risks on draft day. Being afraid to take a chance or reach for a player — especially in this 14-team variant filled with excellent drafters — is a fast-track to being demoted from the league. Yeah, demoted. The bottom four teams get relegated to the next league down the chain.

Thus, there is a need to take bold actions at a level unprecedented in arguably any other professional draft. In short, I much rather take a chance reaching for some players I covet than playing it too safe. Of course, there’s a nuanced blend of risk to work into a roster design, but it all comes down to making intelligent gambles.

Unfortunately, my aggressive tendencies came back to haunt me last year, and I drafted a clunker that couldn’t be salvaged via the waiver wire. These leagues do not allow trades, so the draft’s importance is exaggerated.

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All of the FSGA leagues are performance-based, PPR scoring format, and drafting a live league this early in the summer makes for a fun tightrope walk in some regards. Drafting even into mid-July — mind you, this used to take place a month prior — forces gamers to make educated guesses on appropriate value of unsettled situations.

Since I was booted from the top league, my team now will compete in the “National Conference” league and have a chance to win my way back into the Champions group next year.

Full roster by round

Ovr Rnd Pos Player Tm
8 1:08 RB Bijan Robinson ATL
21 2:07 WR Garrett Wilson NYJ
36 3:08 WR Tee Higgins CIN
49 4:07 RB Alexander Mattison MIN
64 5:08 TE Kyle Pitts ATL
77 6:07 WR Kadarius Toney KC
92 7:08 RB Brian Robinson Jr. WAS
105 8:07 QB Aaron Rodgers NYJ
120 9:08 WR Van Jefferson LAR
133 10:07 WR Romeo Doubs GB
148 11:08 RB Tyjae Spears TEN
161 12:07 QB Jared Goff DET
176 13:08 RB Zamir White LV
189 14:07 WR Darius Slayton NYG
204 15:08 D/ST Miami Dolphins MIA
217 16:07 K Jake Moody SF

Pick-by-pick review

1:08) RB Bijan Robinson, ATL: I’m pleased Robinson was available at this point of the draft, and I expect a dual-threat role from the coveted rookie. Atlanta’s line is legit, and quarterback Desmond Ridder will do enough to keep defenses honest. I prefer to gamble on a breakout season from a talented rookie in a run-heavy offense rather than hope a proven veteran can hold up once again to the rigors of being a workhorse back (think Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs).

2:07) WR Garrett Wilson, NYJ: I entertained the idea of drafting Derrick Henry, but the 14-team format compelled me to acquire a true No. 1 receiver, and I didn’t see that being likely if I waited until Round 3. The decision paid off as no one else was left when I picked next that I would have offered top-10 possibility.

3:08) WR Tee Higgins, CIN: Higgins is an excellent No. 2 target, and he’s a surefire WR1 if Ja’Marr Chase were to miss time again. I probably would have gone with Terry McLaurin had he not been selected one pick before me, and the other consideration was Detroit Lions rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

4:07) RB Alexander Mattison, MIN: This one could be a pivotal selection as my RB2. Mattison takes over as the primary back following Dalvin Cook‘s release and has basically no proven competition for touches. I’m lukewarm on Minnesota’s offensive line, but any back with a chance for this kind of volume in an offense that has a dangerous passing game should produce at least No. 2 results.

5:08) TE Kyle Pitts, ATL: Maybe I’ve invested too heavily in Atlanta’s offense, but I expect this to be the surprise team of the NFC and perhaps the entire league. Pitts returns to health and should offer top-five results at the position. I wouldn’t be shocked if he challenges for the No. 2 spot behind Travis Kelce, either. With Drake London being the only other proven option, Pitts should shine. The other option was to wait and target Dalton Schultz later, which would have offered more value, but I preferred getting a share of Pitts after having already landed the Houston tight end in several drafts.

6:07) WR Kadarius Toney, KC: A true gamble, especially this early, Toney was the best boom-or-bust option remaining with enough upside to challenge for a WR1 finish. He has the talent and game-changing athleticism and is in a prolific offense with an elite quarterback, so the rest is on Toney to stay healthy.

[lawrence-related id=477731]

7:08) RB Brian Robinson Jr., WAS: Robinson was the last remaining back I was comfortable with as a No. 2 in case one of my starters went down for a long stretch. While he’s far from being a lock, there’s an opportunity, and Antonio Gibson hasn’t impressed me. The offensive line is shaky, and there’s a questionable quarterback situation, but Robinson gets a full offseason to make his mark.

8:07) QB Aaron Rodgers, NYJ: I agonized over Deshaun Watson vs. Rodgers with this pick. I’m confident in the former Green Bay star’s situation. The line is decent enough, his weapons are deep and diverse, and Rodgers has a chip on his shoulder. The 39-year-old not staying healthy is my biggest fear for his outlook.

9:08) WR Van Jefferson, LAR: A fourth receiver who has some upside for more, Jefferson was one of the few remaining options who jump out as a viable gamble for WR3/flex worth. LA has basically just TE Tyler Higbee behind Cooper Kupp in the aerial pecking order, which bodes well for the now-healthy Jefferson to pick up where he left off in 2021 prior to an injury-dampened 2022 flop.

10:07) WR Romeo Doubs, GB: Jordan Love has to throw the ball to someone, and Christian Watson can’t do it all alone. Doubs is an interesting possession receiver who could threaten 1,000 yards and should be good for roughly six or so TD grabs. As a fifth wideout, one could do much worse.

11:08) RB Tyjae Spears, TEN: I missed out on my Robinson handcuff of Tyler Allgeier by eight picks, which stinks, but Spears is an exciting consolation prize. He’s already in the No. 2 hole behind Derrick Henry, an aging workhorse with an absurdly high odometer. One serious injury striking down the king and Spears could be a weekly starter.

12:07) QB Jared Goff, DET: Goff is good for a handful of starts if Rodgers is absent, and I wouldn’t be in a terrible spot if the former LA Ram had to enter my lineup for extended action. There’s nothing sexy about this one, but if Rodgers goes down, Goff is at least stable.

13:08) RB Zamir White, LV: While White is among the top handcuff options in the league, he’s also a strong standalone RB5 since Josh Jacobs unhappy with his contract coming off a massive workload.

14:07) WR Darius Slayton, NYG: The entire receiving corps situation is a mess in New York, and Daniel Jones is far from a complete product as a passer. With that, Slayton is established as a capable vertical weapon but could see Jalin Hyatt cut into his work during the year. Either way, this pick is all upside with no risk.

15:08) Def/ST Miami Dolphins, MIA: This defense has dramatically improved in the offseason, and while the division will be a slog, matchups with New England, Denver, Carolina, Las Vegas, Washington and Tennessee present strong opportunities for success.

16:07) PK Jake Moody, SF: Rookie kickers rarely fare well, yet here we are … the offense is the main reason for choosing Moody. He has kicked several clutch field goals in college (8-for-8 on game-winning kicks in the last two years). His leg isn’t typically regarded as being huge, but a 59-yarder in the 2022 national semifinal shows he has plenty of distance. If it turns out that I’m wrong on him, he’s a kicker, after all.

Roster composition

Pos Player Team Bye
QB Aaron Rodgers NYJ 7
QB Jared Goff DET 9
RB Bijan Robinson ATL 11
RB Alexander Mattison MIN 13
RB Brian Robinson Jr. WAS 14
RB Tyjae Spears TEN 7
RB Zamir White LV 13
WR Garrett Wilson NYJ 7
WR Tee Higgins CIN 7
WR Kadarius Toney KC 10
WR Van Jefferson LAR 10
WR Romeo Doubs GB 6
WR Darius Slayton NYG 13
TE Kyle Pitts ATL 11
PK Jake Moody SF 9
DT Dolphins MIA 10

Fantasy football mock draft series: June takeaways

Recapping a recent fantasy football PPR draft and more!

It is well into June, and fantasy football drafts are churning along. A recently hosted industry live draft is the source for this recap. Out of respect for the hosts of this draft, no reference will be made to its identity so the content remains fresh on their end, nor will the entire draft results be published here.

The blurbs about my team below were provided to the draft host and will appear in a magazine as part of a larger evaluation of the draft. Before getting into my individual picks, here are a few observations from a 12-team, PPR draft.

  • In last year’s iteration, Round 1 saw nine running backs, two receivers and a tight end come off the board. This time out, we saw seven running backs and five receivers, including Cooper Kupp going at No. 2 and Justin Jefferson as the third selection.
  • Six RBs came off the board in Round 2 in 2021’s draft, followed by one fewer receiver and another tight end. This year was no different.
  • The first QB came off the board in Round 3 last year, and Josh Allen was taken with the opening pick of Round 5 this time around. Justin Herbert went just two picks later, and only a pair of passers came off the board in the next 31 selections (Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes).
  • In the first 100 picks, eight QBs, 38 RBs, 45 WRs and nine TEs — no significant changes from the May version when six QBs, 39 RBs, 45 WRs and 10 tight ends.
  • This was the first time I had selected from the No. 1 hole, and there’s one and only choice to be made to create a stress-free situation.
  • Having the first pick meant my second and third selections were chosen consecutively, which effectively means the order is irrelevant. Coming out of the first three rounds with at least two running backs is almost always my plan when selecting in the first four spots. Wide receiver is so ridiculously deep that gamers can hold off, making the preferred strategy is to come out of the first three rounds with a single wideout.
  • Quarterback remains quite deep, too, with a viable starter being available into the 13th round. Tight end remains a little top-heavy, just like last year. Following the consensus top-six TEs — all of whom went in the first five rounds — the position gets really dicey. If you’re not comfortable playing the matchups, make sure to secure one of Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, Kyle Pitts, George Kittle, Darren Waller or Dalton Schultz.
  • I was not entirely sure what to expect for my first receiver entering the draft, since many owners in this league tend to favor wideouts early, but it worked out nicely as you’ll read in a moment.

Here’s a snapshot of the first 10 rounds broken down by number of positional picks:

1st: 7 RBs, 5 WRs
2nd: 6 RBs, 5 WRs, 1 TE
3rd: 7 RBs, 4 WRs, 1 TE
4th: 2 RBs, 8 WRs, 2 TEs
5th: 2 QBs, 4 RBs, 5 WRs, 1 TE
6th: 2 QBs, 1 RB, 7 WRs, 2 TEs
7th: 1 QB, 4 RBs, 5 WRs, 2 TEs
8th: 3 QBs, 6 RBs, 3 WRs
9th: 2 QBs, 3 RBs, 7 WRs
10th: 2 QBs, 5 RBs, 4 WRs, 1 TE

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My team

We were asked to write 35 words per pick to give a little insight as to our draft thoughts: