While our main focus here at One Week Season is on the elements of game theory and deep understanding of our contests and competition, there is no question that player selection is an absolutely critical part of being successful in any realm of fantasy football. With that in mind, and with a week of the NFL preseason in the books, I put together this article outlining the three players at each position who I find myself drafting at a high rate and/or actively thinking about getting on my roster in optimal ways while I am drafting. Said another way, rankings are one thing, but when you are actually on the clock to make a selection there is often a “gravity” towards certain players that causes you to reach for them ahead of not only their ADP but also where you have them ranked….or in other scenarios they may fall in a draft and you abandon your previous strategy for that draft in order to roster them at a discount.
As we head into the heart of drafting season, these are the guys that I have the most conviction about and believe in with great confidence relative to where the field is valuing them.
Dak Prescott, DAL
In 2023, Dak was the QB1 from Week 6 to 18 as the Cowboys unleashed their passing attack and were clicking on all cylinders. Last season was a lost cause for Dallas as CeeDee Lamb held out through training camp, the team started off poorly in head coach Mike McCarthy’s lame-duck season, and they battled injuries which culminated in Prescott tearing his hamstring in Week 9. This year, the Cowboys enter the year with much less chaos, but a vulnerable defense and much-improved skill group. Dak is primed to resume slinging it to his two elite wide receivers, as the Dallas running game has a ton of question marks and he may challenge for the league lead in pass attempts. A return to form is in the cards.
J.J. McCarthy, MIN
