I entered an NFFC $50 Best Ball Draft on August 3rd. It was a 30-round PPR League in which the quarterback gets 6 points per passing TD. Your starting lineup is your best quarterback, 2 RBs, 3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 Team Kicker, and 1 D/ST performance for the week. The draft is 30 rounds, and only the top 2 teams cash. There is no grand prize, so stacking can be done, but it is not important. I drew the 8th pick; let’s see what happened.
I was delighted to get Jefferson at 8 not only because I am a Viking fan but also because I think he is the best receiver in football. There is a worry that he might not have big numbers because of the Viking quarterback situation. Jefferson was third in fantasy points from when he returned from injury until the end of the season, and that was with quarterback Nick Mullens throwing the football. I think I am getting a steal here.
If you have read my articles, then you know that I love Pittman. He has 107 and 99 catches over the past two seasons. Who was throwing him the football? Hopefully, quarterback Anthony Richardson will stay healthy, but even if he were to go down, quarterback Joe Flacco is more than serviceable. Look for another 100-catch season and for his TDs to boost up to 8 plus. I am getting a receiver who is already what fantasy owners hope Drake London and Chris Olave hope to be.
I was shocked that White slid to me here. He was the best back left on my board, and I wanted him badly at this spot. Some pundits are worried about his usage, but he is a top pass-catching back and should have more yards on the ground with an improving Buccaneer offensive line. He’s an automatic weekly double-digit player with a huge ceiling.
I was hoping that either Josh Jacobs or James Cook would make it to me here, but they were nabbed just a few picks ahead of me. I decided on Mixon as the “safe” pick here. I had a plan for receiver in the 5th round and running back was dwindling.
My plan for the fifth round came through with Kirk on the board. I have been taking him in the fifth round every time he is available. He is the number one receiver, and I think he can get 100 catches if he stays healthy. My team has three receivers who can have 100 catches and my backs aren’t too shabby, so I like the direction my team is heading.
I have not been drafting a quarterback this early, but it is rare to see Richardson last this long. He has tremendous upside with his legs and has a chance to be the top-scoring quarterback if he stays healthy. Also, I did mention that stacking was not important, but I do have his number one receiver in Pittman, so I decided to click the button.
I was happy with my receiver group. I thought about a tight end, but I only have two backs, and the backs are becoming thin. Besides, there are three tight ends that I am eyeing, and maybe one will make it back to me. Swift offers upside in an offense that has a chance to be explosive.
Well, I made a mistake, as all three tight ends that I was eyeing are now off the board. I was too greedy, and it cost me here. Now it’s time to just punt tight end and take the next best available player, and to me, that was Pollard. I don’t think Pollard was 100% last season, and I think he will be more explosive this year. He rounds out my backfield well. I need to start thinking about stocking up on receivers now.
I could have taken a receiver here, but nobody wowed me. Quarterbacks were coming off the board at a fever pitch, and I figured Lawrence had much more upside than those who were left. I have Christian Kirk, so I took the stack option here.
It was time to get a receiver and I went with Thomas because I had just drafted Lawrence. Plus, he offers insurance in case Kirk suffers an injury like last season.
Odunze doesn’t last this long, and I decided to grab him in case he has a breakout rookie season. Plus, Keenan Allen seems to get injured a lot meaning Odunze could get a ton of playing time.
Dobbins should get plenty of action for the run-happy Chargers as long as he stays healthy. He is an upside pick in this round and should have solid weeks.
Miller’s stock dropped a bit because he is nursing a hamstring injury. He is another back who should see the field if he stays healthy.
I had to make sure I drafted several starting tight ends because I punted the position. Luke Musgrave, Cade Otton, and Jonnu Smith are going to have to get the job done. I slid in QB JJ McCarthy to go with my Jefferson, as I expect him to start at least after the bye week.
These are the rounds in which I must draft several kickers and team defenses while trying to find value and round out my team. I drafted Texan RB Dameon Pierce to handcuff Joe Mixon and felt that I didn’t need any more backs at that point. I loaded up on receivers, hoping some will shine during the season.
In conclusion, the only mistake I think I made was waiting at tight end. I wish I had drafted one in the 7th round but oh well. I have no weaknesses and have solid depth in all the other positions. I think most teams drafted well, and the only real criticism I have is for the teams that started drafting defenses in rounds 13-15, as there were solid position players still on the board.
