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On August 12th, the Footballguys staff completed a 12-team standard mock draft where touchdown passes are 6 points. No Flex. Below are the league's scoring format and bylaws.
League Parameters
- 12 teams
- 20 roster spots
- Starting Lineup
- 1 quarterback
- 2 running backs
- 3 wide receivers
- 1 tight end
- 1 place kicker
- 1 team defense
League Scoring
- Offensive Players
- 6 points - passing touchdown
- 6 points - rushing/receiving touchdown
- 0.05 points - passing yard
- 0.1 points - rushing/receiving yard
- -1 point - interception thrown
- Place Kickers
- 3 points - field goal from 0 to 39 yards
- 4 points - field goal from 40 to 49 yards
- 5 points - field goal from 50 to 99 yards
- Team Defense
- 6 points - return or special teams touchdown
- 2 points - turnover forced
- 5 points - safety
- 1 point - sack
- Points allowed
- 10 points: 0 points allowed
- 7 points: 1-6 points allowed
- 3 points: 7-14 points allowed
- 0 points: 15-99 points allowed
The Draft Order
The draft order was randomly generated. After the first round, the draft continues in a regular serpentine manner. Click here for the Full Draft, pick by pick
1.Will Grant
2. James Brimacombe
3. John Lee
4. Phil Alexander
5. Jeff Tefertiller
6. Jeff Haseley
7. Michael Brown
8. Chris Feery
9. John Mamula
10. Jene Bramel
11. Jason Wood
12. Justin Bonnema
Starting with Will Grant from the 1.01 spot, we will go over each person's selections in the mock draft.
Will Grant - Draft Position 1
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.01 | 1 | Luck, Andrew IND QB | It was Luck or Bell. Taking Luck means I don't have to worry about QB now and can pound RB/WR |
2.12 | 24 | Green, A.J. CIN WR | Green could be a top 10 WR, even in a Non PPR league. Landing him at the end of 2 is big value. |
3.01 | 25 | Jeffery, Alshon CHI WR | I wanted to get at least 1 RB at this turn, but I liked Green and Jeffery a lot more than I liked any of the RB options. |
4.12 | 48 | Morris, Alfred WAS RB | Morris is more of an RB2 than an RB1, but landing him at the end of the 4th round feels like he is good value. I am pretty happy with my QB/WR/WR start, so I think I can make up the difference with Morris |
5.01 | 49 | Murray, Latavius OAK RB | Considered Gurley here as well, but figured I'd take a shot on Murray. He could be a 1000 yard 7 TD back this season. |
6.12 | 72 | Bennett, Martellus CHI TE | I wanted Olsen, but Lee grabbed him 2 picks before me. Olsen/ Bennett / Kelce are in a second tier behind Gronk, so happy to land one of them here |
7.01 | 73 | LaFell, Brandon NEP WR | Lafell's injury makes me a little nervous, but he's out of the boot so I think it's worth the risk. |
8.12 | 96 | Floyd, Michael ARI WR | His injury makes him a question mark, but I have some depth there so I can take a chance here. He could still be an 800 yard 6 TD WR this year. |
9.01 | 97 | Freeman, Devonta ATL RB | Seems to be a theme - drafting guys with injuries here. But it's still early in the pre-season and Freeman should have plenty of time to heal. |
10.12 | 120 | Bridgewater, Teddy MIN QB | With Luck at QB, I only need a backup that is going to start. Bridgewater will definitely get his shot in Minnesota and early reports are that he's looking strong. |
11.01 | 121 | Johnson, David ARI RB | Since we don't have a flex, I won't need Johnson to be my starter right out of the gate. Here's hoping his hamstring injury heals quickly. |
12.12 | 144 | Baldwin, Doug SEA WR | A bit of a boring pick, but I need a little more depth at WR and boring but productive is OK. |
13.01 | 145 | Latimer, Cody DEN WR | Latimer is progressing well and moving into the #3 slot in the Denver rotation. His talent is good enough to draft him as a backup - he has some solid upside. |
14.12 | 168 | Bills, Buffalo BUF Def | I was only planning on taking 1 defense in this draft so I wanted to grab a solid one so I went after one a little early. |
15.01 | 169 | Gostkowski, Stephen NEP PK | Grabbing a PK in the 15th is probably a little early, but my next pick isn't until the end of 16 and there could be a few taken by then so I reach a little and get Gostkowski early. |
16.12 | 192 | Fleener, Coby IND TE | Needed a backup TE. Fleener will see some targets this year, and the ability to stack him with Luck that week doesn't hurt. I don't see him in my lineup much though. |
17.01 | 193 | Bailey, Stedman STL WR | Just adding depth at WR. Bailey had a couple decent games last season, so he may be useful at some point. St. Louis WR group still has question marks so maybe this pick works or maybe he is my first FA drop. |
18.12 | 216 | Flacco, Joe BAL QB | I really didn't need a 3rd QB with Luck as my starter, but Flacco is a reasonable backup as well. If Bridgewater doesn't really progress this season, Flacco is a solid backup. |
19.01 | 217 | Lee, Marqise JAC WR | More depth at WR. Not expecting much from him since Jacksonville WR are a crap shoot, but it's the second to last pick so It's more of a lottery ticket than anything. |
20.12 | 240 | Cowboys, Dallas DAL Def | I honestly didn't want to have a second defense, but when Lee snipped Jay Ajayi from me, I just decided to grab a second one with my last pick |
Overall Strategy:
Well-Rounded
Best Pick:
A.J. Green, WR11. The depth of premium receivers this year make the late second round ripe for someone like A.J. Green, Randall Cobb, or Mike Evans to be a clear target player. A down season in 2014 has Green poised to be a solid value with a bounce back campaign.
Worst Pick:
Teddy Bridgewater, QB17. While Bridgewater at QB17 is a solid value in a vacuum, Grant selected Andrew Luck at 1.01. A major perk of going with Luck early is foregoing a backup until the late rounds (which Grant did with Joe Flacco) to supplement other positions. Upside receivers like DeVante Parker, Marques Colston, and Dorial Green-Beckham of note were available.
Evaluation:
Grant has a dicey running back group, needing Devonta Freeman or David Johnson to be a solid RB3 and owned four running backs total. His third receiver spot will be a rotation between Brandon LaFell, Michael Floyd, and Doug Baldwin among others. Andrew Luck and Martellus Bennett give Grant high-floor weekly options at the other skill positions. A breakout season from Latavius Murray and a down-the-depth-chart receiver will go a long way towards a title berth.
James Brimacombe - Draft Position 2
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.02 | 2 | Rodgers, Aaron GBP QB | 6 points per TD. What is not to like? Picks like this cause you to have to dig deep later in the draft. |
2.11 | 23 | Cobb, Randall GBP WR | I like Cobb's TD potential and figured I already had Rodgers by not pair the two together. |
3.02 | 26 | Miller, Lamar MIA RB | Going QB/WR early was looking at either Miller or Forsett here. Went the way of the Dolphins offense hoping for a step forward this year. |
4.11 | 47 | Hyde, Carlos SFO RB | Hyde is a tricky guy to predict as far as ADP goes. I personally think he is the entire 49ers offense this season and love him as my RB2. |
5.02 | 50 | Robinson, Allen JAC WR | All about upside, and pretty much riding the wave on the Robinson love. |
6.11 | 71 | Johnson, Charles MIN WR | Johnson has been quickly finding his way up my draft board with his high upside and rave reviews this offseason. The more upside type of guys I can get on my team the better. |
7.02 | 74 | Brown, John ARI WR | Brown is right there with Allen Robinson and Charles Johnson with all the arrows pointing up heading into the season. Brown is the perfect fit in that Arizona offense and has potential to see even more targets in his second season. |
8.11 | 95 | Garcon, Pierre WAS WR | With grabbing a handful of upside WRs I wanted to get a WR like Garçon coming off of a bra year thinking that his ADP is too low because of it and that he can rebound this season. |
9.02 | 98 | Adams, Davante GBP WR | Back to another young upside WR who play in a good offense. No pressure to start him right away but if he takes off or Nelson or Cobb are injured he is an instant WR2 type. |
10.11 | 119 | Rudolph, Kyle MIN TE | Rudolph is my guy at TE this year. I think him and Teddy Bridgewater become a great combo in the passing game this season. Because of past injuries Rudolph's stock has fallen. I like to use that to my advantage and grab a potential top 5 TE at a value as far as ADP goes. |
11.02 | 122 | Sims, Charles TBB RB | Sims is likely a shot in the dark to be much more than a flex spot start on most teams this season as he is fitting for more of a third down back role. That being said Martin hasn't looked right the past two seasons so why not take a shot on Sims? |
12.11 | 143 | Green-Beckham, Dorial TEN WR | Just continuing my obsession with drafting young WR with a big potential upside. |
13.02 | 146 | Helu, Roy OAK RB | Very thin at the RB position so hoping the Raiders find a way to use Helu near the goal line and he can become a worthy RB3 type this season. |
14.11 | 167 | Harvin, Percy BUF WR | I drafted Harvin in the same light as I did with Garçon. Nice to have a guys ADP fall off the board completely and take a chance on him with very little risk late in a draft. |
15.02 | 170 | Robinson, Denard JAC RB | I am very light at the RB position so just taking a shot here with Robinson. He showed a lot last year in a bad offense but now will have to fight for carries with TJ Yeldon. |
16.11 | 191 | Panthers, Carolina CAR Def | The Panthers defensive line is always a fun one to watch as they use their size and speed to get to the QB. They also seem to play in lower scoring games so thought they were a top 10 defense and jumped on them. |
17.02 | 194 | Tucker, Justin BAL PK | Tucker always seems to be money as far as kickers go. It is very rare he misses a field goal and he gets a lot of chances from a long ways out. |
18.11 | 215 | Griffin III, Robert WAS QB | I could afford to gamble on RG3 as I went all in with Rodgers as my 1st round pick. Griffin is merely a what if pick and will likely be trade if he plays well or dropped if he falls on his face early in the year. No risk in round 18. |
19.02 | 218 | Rodgers, Richard GBP TE | Rodgers offers some upside at the TE position playing in the Green Bay offense alone. He is a nice option late in drafts to put on your bench behind one of the TEs not named Gronkowski or Graham. |
20.11 | 239 | Strong, Jaelen HOU WR | Strong is one rookie WR that is really going overlooked in redraft leagues. I will take him every time he is there in round 20. |
Overall Strategy:
Packers for the Win
Best Pick:
Davante Adams, WR43. Adams is the ideal receiver to have stashed on the bench. He is a boom-bust WR4 even without an injury to Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb in front of him. If Brimacombe loses Cobb (Round 2 selection), Adams will step right in with high-WR2 or better projections to fill the gap.
Worst Pick:
Kyle Rudolph, TE12. After waiting until Round 10 at tight end, there is little incentive to jump at tight ends the rest of the way. Rudolph was selected before Jason Witten (Round 12), Owen Daniels (Round 13), and Josh Hill (Round 14) in the following rounds.
Evaluation:
Carlos Hyde is a tenuous RB2, but Roy Helu and Charles Sims are secondary options with a decent floor through the pass game even if Latavius Murray and Doug Martin maintain starting jobs. Brimacombe snared plenty of upside receivers capable of emerging as weekly options.
John Lee - Draft Position 3
Pick | Ovr | Selection | Comments |
1.03 | 3 | Bell, Le'Veon PIT RB | Can't believe Bell fell to me here...any time you can get Bell with the third pick in the draft, jump on it! |
2.10 | 22 | Hilton, T.Y. IND WR | Getting the #1 WR for the Colts in a year where their offense should be unstoppable felt good at the backend of the second round. |
3.03 | 27 | Forsett, Justin BAL RB | Forsett averaged 5.4 YPC last year and will be the bell-cow RB for the Ravens this season. With Forsett, I now have a great 1-2 RB crew with Le'Veon Bell. |
4.10 | 46 | Marshall, Brandon NYJ WR | It's somewhat scary drafting a receiver on the Jets, but Marshall has been OK with Josh McCown and Chad Henne, so I think he'll be fine with whomever the Jets throw out there on Sundays. |
5.03 | 51 | Wilson, Russell SEA QB | I'm guessing some will question this pick at this spot, particularly because this is a 6-point (passing) TD league, but I got him a full round later than his ADP. At this point, the RB's and WR's that were available were no longer 'elite' options, so I felt compelled to play it safe with a QB that I know will put up solid numbers most weeks. |
6.10 | 70 | Olsen, Greg CAR TE | After Gronk and Kelce were taken (I am avoiding Jimmy Graham in most drafts until I see how the Seahawks use him), only Olsen was left amongst the heavily-used tight ends. Getting him at the end of the 6th round when his ADP is 5.05 felt like a win. |
7.03 | 75 | Ivory, Chris NYJ RB | I seem to be getting Ivory in most of my drafts this season. Ivory's metrics last year were off the charts, despite playing on a bad team with limited usage; this year, he will run behind one of the better run-blocking lines and will not be pressured by Bilal Powell or a hobbled Stevan Ridley for the starting gig. |
8.10 | 94 | Fitzgerald, Larry ARI WR | With Carson Palmer back at the helm, I look for an uptick in Fitzgerald's production this year...particularly with questions about Michael Floyd's fingers and the unpredictability of the Browns (Jaron and John). |
9.03 | 99 | Cruz, Victor NYG WR | I was not crazy about drafting Cruz here, if I'm being honest, but Pierre Garcon didn't make it back to me on the short turn (Brimacombe took him); I know I was weakest at the WR position, so I needed to stick with the next best option. If defenses are forced to focus their attention to Odell Beckham, Cruz could be the beneficiary. |
10.10 | 118 | Winston, Jameis TBB QB | Winston is my favorite quarterback sleeper this season for two reasons: 1) He made the transition from high school to college with no hiccups (only lost one game in two seasons), and 2) His receiving options could possibly make me look like an NFL quarterback. With Russell Wilson as my primary QB, I likely will not use Winston often, but I think he is a great backup with significant upside. |
11.03 | 123 | Cobb, David TEN RB | The former Golden Gopher will likely get an opportunity behind Bishop Sankey this season if Sankey continues to struggle (3.7 YPC last season). In his first preseason effort, Cobb ran 11 times for 53 yards...I think he is a good risk in the 11th round, where he is generally being drafted. |
12.10 | 142 | Aiken, Kamar BAL WR | Aiken is another guy who I seem to be getting in most of my drafts. Steve Smith is 36 years old and did not log a 100-yard game after Week #6 last year. The Ravens drafted Breshad Perriman to inherit the #1 WR role, but he still has yet to practice. Aiken is healthy and entering his fifth year in the league--if the Ravens give him the opportunity, I think he could put up solid WR2 numbers this season. |
13.03 | 147 | Daniels, Owen DEN TE | Peyton Manning tight ends tend to perform well, so I have no problem drafting a veteran tight end to back up Greg Olsen. If Daniels comes on strongly, I could legitimately have two top-end tight ends. |
14.10 | 166 | Herron, Dan IND RB | I love Frank Gore this season, but Dan Herron did nothing to deserve losing playing time. He performed admirably after the Trent Richardson experiment died last season in Indy; I think the Colts will find a way to get him into the game throughout the season and he could be a great contributor if Frank Gore were to get injured. |
15.03 | 171 | Texans, Houston HOU Def | J.J. Watt? He will be asked to carry a heavier load this year with the questions at RB and QB...and, if anybody can do it, he just might be that man. |
16.10 | 190 | Dunbar, Lance DAL RB | Joseph Randle will get first dibs to run behind this monstrous offensive line, but Lance Dunbar will be the next guy in line (because I absolutely refuse to believe that Darren McFadden will contribute to this offense). In the 16th round, Dunbar is a great security blanket. |
17.03 | 195 | Wilson, Marquess CHI WR | With Alshon Jeffery in a walking boot and Kevin White possibly sidelined for the year, guys like Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson are suddenly in play. In the 17th round, I love taking flyers on guys who could be solid contributors--Wilson reflects that type of player. |
18.10 | 214 | Packers, Green Bay GBP Def | Playing at Lambeau in the winter gives the Packers' defense an edge that other defenses do not experience; as a backup to the Texans' defense, I'm OK playing matchups with Houston and Green Bay (DEF4 and DEF7, respectively). |
19.03 | 219 | Hauschka, Steven SEA PK | Because I had to draft a kicker... With Russell Wilson as my primary QB, I like having a kicker from the same team for my redraft leagues; if the QB fails to score, my kicker often benefits. Upside is sometimes limited with this approach, but I like the consistency it tends to confer. |
20.10 | 238 | Ajayi, Jay MIA RB | Ajayi was an absolute stud at Boise State and I'm not 100% convinced that his success will translate to the NFL level, but with my last pick, I'm fine taking a flyer on talent. If Lamar Miller were to go down, I believe that Ajayi will get a chance to perform in this plus offense. |
Overall Strategy:
High-Leverage Collector
Best Pick:
Russell Wilson, QB3. While Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers went first and second overall in this enhanced quarterback format, Wilson remained until Round 5. With a rushing advantage over Luck-Rodgers and Jimmy Graham aiding his red zone prowess, Wilson has strong odds to eat up the four-round difference in cost.
Worst Pick:
Brandon Marshall, WR21. The Jets have all the signs of a middling-at-best passing game. Marshall is on the wrong side of the age curve and Eric Decker and Jace Amaro are functional NFL secondary targets. Without a stranglehold on elite targets, Marshall projects as a low WR3 in a poor offense.
Evaluation:
In the opening seven rounds Lee had a balanced result with 1QB, 3RB, 2WR, 1TE. Roster construction like this leads to a solid outlook with no glaring holes. Lee is iffy beyond his core players, however, with few legitimate breakout candidates. Health and living up to their draft position will be keys from Lee’s core players as a result.
Phil Alexander - Draft Position 4
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.04 | 4 | Charles, Jamaal KCC RB | I have Charles as my number two back after Le'Veon Bell. Thought about Peterson here, but decided to stay true to my board. |
2.09 | 21 | Nelson, Jordy GBP WR | DeMarco Murray was the last running back I would have considered with this pick. When he came off the board at 2.05, the choice came down to Nelson and A.J. Green. All else being equal, I'd rather have Nelson, to gain a share of the Packers' offense. |
3.04 | 28 | Hopkins, DeAndre HOU WR | Hopkins has been one of my favorite players to draft all summer, and I'm not coming off my stance due to Arian Foster's injury. He's going to be peppered with targets, and like Josh Gordon before him, Hopkins has the talent to overcome a lousy QB situation. |
4.09 | 45 | Ellington, Andre ARI RB | I like Ellington so much this year, I thought about him in the third. Yes, this isn't PPR, but Ellington was the RB10 in standard scoring through Week 12 last season. He's a steal at RB20. |
5.04 | 52 | Spiller, C.J. NOS RB | Although there's no flex, running back depth is important and I had Spiller in a tier above any of the receivers that were still on the board. Had I known he'd have knee surgery two days later, I may have gone in a different direction - probably Martavis Bryant, or Mike Wallace. |
6.09 | 69 | Manning, Peyton DEN QB | Manning is still my QB3 despite some warning signs he may be headed for statistical decline. In a 6 point passing TD league, I felt good about getting him as the QB5. |
7.04 | 76 | Maclin, Jeremy KCC WR | The hate's gone too far on Maclin. If he stays healthy, he should be good for reliable WR2 numbers as the top target for Andy Reid and Alex Smith in KC. Might have taken the home run swing on John Brown here had Brimacombe not snagged him two picks prior. |
8.09 | 93 | Perriman, Breshad BAL WR | It would be nice if he could start practicing soon, but I'm sticking with my post-draft take on Perriman for now. There's a ton of targets up for grabs in Baltimore, and the Ravens drafted Perriman in the first round to soak a bunch of them up. |
9.04 | 100 | Sankey, Bishop TEN RB | Sankey is a clear-cut starting running back. That's more than most teams can say for their RB4. |
10.09 | 117 | Randle, Rueben NYG WR | I've already got three wide receivers I feel pretty good, plus Perriman. Randle is another upside play, who has had a good offseason, and will see favorable coverage lined up opposite Odell Beckham, Jr. |
11.04 | 124 | Johnson, Stevie SDC WR | I shouldn't have to use Johnson most weeks, but I expect him to see enough volume in San Diego to be usable for byes, or as injury replacement. Solid glue guy as my WR6, and insurance in case I whiffed on both Randle and Perriman. |
12.09 | 141 | Walker, Delanie TEN TE | Walker is a sure-fire Top-10 tight end based on his target volume. Last year, he was one of only six tight ends to see more than 100 targets. Since I waited on the position, I felt very fortunate to land him here in the 12th. |
13.04 | 148 | Woodhead, Danny SDC RB | The Chargers' first preseason game should serve as a reminder Woodhead is going to have a significant role on passing downs and in the red zone. Even in a non-PPR league, Woodhead will have usable weeks. |
14.09 | 165 | Palmer, Carson ARI QB | Wasn't thrilled with the remaining skill players, so I decided to grab Palmer, who should be good for a Top-15 season as long as his health cooperates. |
15.04 | 172 | Artis-Payne, Cameron CAR RB | Jonathan Stewart has been injury prone as a platoon back. It's no guarantee he'll hold up under a starter's workload, making Artis-Payne a nice speculative grab this late in the draft. |
16.09 | 189 | Dolphins, Miami MIA Def | Would have preferred the Jets, but the Dolphins defense will also be an improved unit this season. |
17.04 | 196 | Starks, James GBP RB | The Packers are going to score about 30 points per game. Starks is in a great spot, if anything happens to Eddie Lacy. |
18.09 | 213 | Matthews, Chris SEA WR | I felt like it was worth a flier to see if the chemistry we saw between Matthews and Russell Wilson in the Superbowl was real. He was mixing in with the first team prior to suffering a sprained AC joint (which happened after this draft). |
19.04 | 220 | Bolden, Brandon NEP RB | Maybe Bolden becomes the Pats' passing down back, but it's more likely they use a platoon to fill the role vacated by Shane Vereen. It was either him or a kicker. |
20.09 | 237 | Amendola, Danny NEP WR | Amendola is one of my favorite late round fliers this year. His playing time increased during the Pats' Superbowl run, and he was productive. I just realized I didn't draft a kicker on this team, so in reality I'd be dropping either Amendola or Bolden in advance of Week 1 to field a valid roster. |
Overall Strategy:
Shoot for the Moon
Best Pick:
C.J. Spiller, RB24. Alexander paid Spiller’s production floor in Round 5, securing the New Orleans pass-catcher after options like Carlos Hyde, Latavius Murray, and Alfred Morris around the Round 4/5 turn.
Worst Pick:
Peyton Manning, QB5. After his dismal showing late in 2014, Manning is not the locked-and-loaded weekly high-floor option of recent seasons. Paying QB5 prices for a signal-caller should come with legit No.1 overall potential. The odds are razor thin Manning challenges Andrew Luck or Aaron Rodgers as a true difference-maker this season.
Evaluation:
The name value of Alexander’s draft is sky-high. Peyton Manning, Jeremy Maclin in Rounds 6-7 are highlights. Steve Johnson, Rueben Randle, Delanie Walker, and Danny Woodhead all have productive stretches in recent seasons from Alexander’s later rounds. C.J. Spiller is an enviable RB3 and Bishop Sankey is the projected Week 1 starter in Tennessee as the RB4.
Jeff Tefertiller - Draft Position 5
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.05 | 5 | Peterson, Adrian MIN RB | Peterson is my top player in non-PPR. Happy to see him fall to 1.05. |
2.08 | 20 | Forte, Matt CHI RB | Last of the elite RB tier. Sure, not having PPR hurts, but Forte is a stud RB2 in any scoring. He will be relied upon by new coaching staff. |
3.05 | 29 | Benjamin, Kelvin CAR WR | Really wanted Hopkins but Benjamin should be a redzone threat in Carolina. The lack of a running game (outside of Stewart) could mean more scores for Benjamin. |
4.08 | 44 | Kelce, Travis KCC TE | Like Kelce's opportunity for catching touchdowns. Alex Smith prefers to check the ball down versus throwing deep. Kelce benefits. |
5.05 | 53 | Gurley, Todd STL RB | I realize there is no flex, but Gurley in the 5th of non-PPR was too much to pass up. I can afford to let him sit until healthy. In non-PPR, RB depth is king. |
6.08 | 68 | White, Roddy ATL WR | I waited on WR2 with the league not scoring points per reception. More than happy with White as WR2 in this format. |
7.05 | 77 | Jackson, Vincent TBB WR | Came back for WR3 (Jackson) after taking Roddy White last round. White and Jackson are good options in non-PPR |
8.08 | 92 | Brady, Tom NEP QB | Waited a long time for QB1 and was happy to see Brady last this long. At this point, my plan was to use a QB committee and Brady/Eli/Rivers were my aim |
9.05 | 101 | Stafford, Matthew DET QB | Given the 6 points passing, chose Stafford over Newton. Not really a Stafford fan, but the scoring/rules forced my hand toward Brady/Stafford over Newton and other QBs. |
10.08 | 116 | Boldin, Anquan SFO WR | Boldin is a depth WR I target in every draft. He is the ideal WR4 who can start any given week and produce WR2 numbers. |
11.05 | 125 | Seahawks, Seattle SEA Def | In non-PPR, I wanted a great weekly defense. |
12.08 | 140 | McKinnon, Jerick MIN RB | With only three star RBs, I wanted the handcuff with highest upside, McKinnon. He could be special when AP retires. |
13.05 | 149 | Royal, Eddie CHI WR | Love Royal this late. He has received rave reviews in Chicago and is a passable depth WR with upside as Bears WR2 |
14.08 | 164 | Donnell, Larry NYG TE | Like Donnell as a TE2 with upside in non-PPR leagues. He has a chance to score TDs in the pass-happy (this year) Giants offense |
15.05 | 173 | Huff, Josh PHI WR | Huff was just a late flier on an upside WR in an upside offense |
16.08 | 188 | Bailey, Dan DAL PK | In non-PPR, getting a decent kicker is a smart move and Bailey should get plenty of scoring opportunities in Dallas |
17.05 | 197 | Funchess, Devin CAR WR | Not really a Funchess fan but he is worth a pick this late, especially in leagues that do not reward PPR. |
18.08 | 212 | Sanchez, Mark PHI QB | Just like Boldin before, I usually take a swing on Sanchez. I have little faith in Bradford's ability to remain healthy. |
19.05 | 221 | Williams, Damien MIA RB | Williams is growing on me every day Ajayi misses practice. Give the lack of faith shown in Miller by the coaching staff, Williams has an opportunity to put up fantasy RB2 numbers |
20.08 | 236 | Jackson, Fred BUF RB | Late flier on proven RB in run-oriented offense. |
Overall Strategy:
Reverse the Age Curve
Best Pick:
Todd Gurley, RB25. Gurley is the ideal RB2/3 with the potential of elite production for the stretch. In Round 5, Gurley has little pressure with Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte anchoring the starting spots.
Worst Pick:
Kelvin Benjamin, WR14. Tefertiller did not have many value loss selections. After an RB-RB start, Benjamin is a dicey WR1. Alshon Jeffery and DeAndre Hopkins were selected within four spots of Tefertiller in the mid-third round. Brandin Cooks and Jordan Matthews were notable receivers still available.
Evaluation:
Tefertiller drafted plenty of prime historical prime options. Among them are Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte, Roddy White, Vincent Jackson, Tom Brady, and Anquan Boldin. More than projecting top seasons, maintaining starting caliber production is the name of the game in their twilight. If more than half keep their edge, Tefertiller is in good shape.
Jeff Haseley - Draft Position 6
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.06 | 6 | Anderson, C.J. DEN RB | Normally I look for a wide receiver in the first round for the 6th draft slot, but with this being a standard scoring league, I locked up my RB1 in CJ Anderson, my 4th ranked RB. |
2.07 | 19 | Evans, Mike TBB WR | I didn't want to take Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb here, because they both share the same bye Week 7 as my first pick - Anderson. Mike Evans is a good consolation prize who can get me double digit touchdowns this year. |
3.06 | 30 | Johnson, Andre IND WR | This is a little high for me to take Andre Johnson, but I love the situation in Indianapolis. He should give me plenty of point production this year. |
4.07 | 43 | Matthews, Jordan PHI WR | Jordan Matthews locks up my WR3. I like this value in the mid-fourth round. No bye week conflicts either with Matthews. |
5.06 | 54 | Watkins, Sammy BUF WR | I could've taken my RB2 here, but I like the value for RBs later in the draft. It's hard to pass up a talent like Sammy Watkins here. If Andre Johnson or Jordan Matthews falters, I have a backup who should see plenty of targets in Watkins. |
6.07 | 67 | Blount, LeGarrette NEP RB | There is no flex in this draft, so I locked up my RB2 in the sixth round. Not too bad, but be sure to plan for Blount's suspension in Week 1. |
7.06 | 78 | Bernard, Giovani CIN RB | Getting Gio Bernard in the 7th round is a good value, even if this is a standard league. He should see plenty of touches in the Bengals offense. He's my RB3. I can start him in a pinch if needed. |
8.07 | 91 | Thomas, Julius JAC TE | The praise has been high for Julius Thomas in camp and preseason so far. He should see a fair share of targets in the Jaguars offense. He also is a high threat to score in the red zone. |
9.06 | 102 | Newton, Cam CAR QB | I was the last team to select a quarterback. Surprisingly Tom Brady was selected ahead of Newton. I'll ride Newton and target a comparable quarterback as my backup. |
10.07 | 115 | Allen, Dwayne IND TE | I love getting Dwayne Allen in the 10th or 11th round. He should see a lot of scoring chances in the Colts offense and Luck loves throwing to his tight ends. The Colts are looking to use more of a 3-WR base offense this year which will keep one tight end on the bench more often. I believe that will be Coby Fleener, while Allen gets more snaps. Allen could be a Top 10 tight end easily and he's my TE2. Love Allen in the 10th, especially as my TE2. |
11.06 | 126 | Parker, DeVante MIA WR | This is a flier pick. Players like Mike Evans, Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry were flier picks last year. They turned out great. I'm hoping Parker overcomes his foot injury and rises to the occasion in the rising Dolphins offense. |
12.07 | 139 | Kaepernick, Colin SFO QB | Colin Kaepernick will back up Cam Newton. I like this pick because Kaepernick can run, plus the 49ers could see an uptick in pass attempt this year. Icing on the cake that Kaepernick worked with Kurt Warner on his throwing in the offseason. |
13.06 | 150 | Allen, Javorius BAL RB | If Justin Forsett were to go down with an injury, Javorius Allen becomes a wanted man. I also think Allen could steal some goal line carries from Forsett. I like this value in the 13th round. |
14.07 | 163 | Riddick, Theo DET RB | Theo Riddick is one of my target running backs in the later rounds this year. He assumes the Reggie Bush role and he also has the ability to get some third down rushes. He could line up as the Lions slot receiver, which would give him a reception boost. A safe estimate is 30-35 catches, but he could get more. Detroit loves to throw to their backs. |
15.06 | 174 | Thompson, Juwan DEN RB | Handcuff pick. The word in Denver is that Juwan Thompson is looking like he could earn the backup role behind C.J. Anderson. I'll take a chance on him in the 15th round. (Comments Added Wed Aug 12 11:24:08 p.m. ET 2015) |
16.07 | 187 | Williams, DeAngelo PIT RB | I just guaranteed my replacement of LeGarrette Blount for Week 1 against New England. Williams assumes a big role if something were to happen to LeVeon Bell. Great value here for Williams in the 16th round. |
17.06 | 198 | Patriots, New England NEP Def | I love the Patriots Defense. They play JAC, NYJ, WAS, BUF, TEN at home this year. I'm expecting their defense to feast on those opposing quarterbacks, especially at home |
18.07 | 211 | Barth, Connor DEN PK | The Denver kicker (Barth) should see plenty of kicking opportunities. He's not my first kicker choice, but he'll do. |
19.06 | 222 | Miller, Heath PIT TE | Heath Miller is my third tight end so there's no rush to get him in my lineup. He'll serve as a bye week filler if needed. Pittsburgh is projected to be one of the best offenses in the league this year. Miller could get 5 touchdowns. |
20.07 | 235 | Fuller, Corey DET WR | Flier pick. The Lions love what they see in Corey Fuller. I can see him earning the WR3 role for the team and getting a fair share of long targets due to his deep speed. |
Overall Strategy:
Time the Breakouts
Best Pick:
DeVante Parker, WR52. Ryan Tannehill is poised for a breakout season and despite adding Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings in free agency (plus having Jarvis Landry) Miami took Parker in the top-half of Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Parker, while slow to start his regular season ramp-up, has Odell Beckham-light upside as the season progresses with a quality quarterback and few depth chart speed bumps curbing his playing time.
Worst Pick:
Julius Thomas, TE7. Thomas at TE7 is fair value in a vacuum, however, Haseley missed on Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford between Thomas’ Round 8 selection and being left with Cam Newton come mid-Round 9.
Evaluation:
Haseley’s start of C.J. Anderson and Mike Evans, plus Jordan Matthews and Sammy Watkins within the opening five rounds provides five quality shots at a production uptick from 2014. Anderson and Evans have No.1 overall upside at their respective positions. Matthews and Watkins are entering their second season with strong historical rookie production already under their belt. DeVante Parker is yet another potential difference-maker from the later rounds. A few of these players hitting with strong production will carry the team deep into December.
Michael Brown - Draft Position 7
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.07 | 7 | Lynch, Marshawn SEA RB | I originally went in assuming all of the elite backs would go before my turn. I'll gladly take the guy with the highest floor in the league. Plus you just KNOW he's getting every touch inside the 5-yard line now... |
2.06 | 18 | Johnson, Calvin DET WR | It was either Calvin or Matt Forte here. If the league had a flex spot, I may have gone with the back. But with just 2 RBs, it made sense to grab the elite WR. |
3.07 | 31 | Randle, Joseph DAL RB | I may have reached a bit, but he wasn't making it back to me on the next turn. And of all the backs still available at this point, he's got by far the most upside to reach the Top-10 |
4.06 | 42 | Allen, Keenan SDC WR | After essentially a lost season, it's tough to rely on Allen as my WR2. But a year ago this would have been considered value for him, and the improved San Diego offense and a return to health for Allen give me hope. I really wanted Jimmy Graham here, but missed out by 2 picks |
5.07 | 55 | Jackson, DeSean WAS WR | The explosive Jackson offers me by far the most upside at this spot. There were a few good WRs on the board still, but I rounded out my WR corps by taking a WR2 as my WR3 |
6.06 | 66 | Foster, Arian HOU RB | Without a glaring hole at the skill spots, I figured this was a worthwhile place to take a chance on Foster coming back sooner than expected. A top-10 RB for the playoffs in the 6th round sure comes in handy. |
7.07 | 79 | Edelman, Julian NEP WR | Edelman tumbled well past his ADP, and I couldn't justify leaving him on the board for another round. |
8.06 | 90 | Rivers, Philip SDC QB | This was probably a mistake. I anticipated the huge quarterback run that happened this round, and I was targeting Eli Manning. But when he went just before my turn, I probably should have addressed another position (or taken Cam Newton). But I am high on Rivers, and barring injury he should live up to this ADP in his sleep. |
9.07 | 103 | Ertz, Zach PHI TE | I was fortunate that Ertz fell to me here. In retrospect, I should have snagged him a round earlier as he was the last TE on my second tier and I had to sweat this one out. |
10.06 | 114 | McFadden, Darren DAL RB | I'm not particularly high on McFadden, but he's almost a must-draft if you're taking Randle in the early rounds. |
11.07 | 127 | Colston, Marques NOS WR | The rumors of Colston's demise are greatly exaggerated. He's still one of Drew Brees' favorite targets, and now all of those red zone looks to Jimmy Graham are going to go elsewhere. |
12.06 | 138 | Quick, Brian STL WR | Not much strategy went into this pick, other than to take the best available skill guy out there. I had my QB and TE, it was way too early to take a K or a D, and Quick was next on my board. |
13.07 | 151 | Green, Ladarius SDC TE | Just in case Ertz disappears into the background (he's still not starting over Brent Celek just yet), I can be pretty sure Green will make his presence felt early on. It's not necessarily wise to start three guys from one team, but I think the Chargers are one of the exceptions in that the offense very rarely just falls apart entirely. |
14.06 | 162 | Mariota, Marcus TEN QB | With Rivers having a relatively late bye week, I can afford to roll the dice on the high upside of Mariota. I'll give myself 2+ months before I need to use him anyway, by which point I'll have enough evidence to know if I need to make a waiver claim for a new backup or if Mariota is a fantasy godsend. |
15.07 | 175 | Williams, Andre NYG RB | It was between DeAngelo or Andre Williams here. DeAngelo is the one who is guaranteed playing time while Le'Veon Bell is out, but after that his value is almost nil. Andre Williams, however, should have touchdown value all season long. |
16.06 | 186 | Robinson, Khiry NOS RB | Probably a reach pick here, but CJ Spiller and Mark Ingram have never been the healthiest of players. A newfound commitment to the run game coupled with a few injuries, and Robinson would be in line for a much bigger role. |
17.07 | 199 | Michael, Christine SEA RB | If you're drafting Marshawn Lynch and you want to handcuff, it's either Michael or Robert Turbin. I'm not a huge believer in Turbin's talent and he's also coming off surgery, so I'd lean towards the youngster here. |
18.06 | 210 | Ravens, Baltimore BAL Def | Not a lot of brainpower in this one. They were the next highest ranked defense on my board. |
19.07 | 223 | Novak, Nick SDC PK | We have to take a kicker right? Well, this ensures that on the occasions that my quarterback gets into the red zone and fails to score a touchdown, I'll take solace in at least usually getting a field goal out of it. |
20.06 | 234 | Toon, Nick NOS WR | I like Toon's talent, and he's a Colston injury away from a starting role on one of the pass-happiest teams in league history (even if they do go more run-oriented in 2015). It's also Colston protection, which helps. |
Overall Strategy:
Go Big or Go Home
Best Pick:
Marques Colston, WR53. Brandin Cooks is projected to be the primary receiver in New Orleans, but Colston has WR3 or better upside remaining in his fantasy lifetime. With uncertainty between unproven commodities like Brandon Coleman and Nick Toon for the No.3 receiver role, Cooks and Colston mark the stable targets for Drew Brees through the air. At a minimum, Colston has 8-10 touchdown upside even if the yardage is not there with Jimmy Graham out of the picture.
Worst Pick:
Marshawn Lynch, RB5. Lynch has put on a historic string of health and production since arriving in Seattle. Will 2015 see the offense open up with Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett on the scene? Can Lynch continue his run? Eddie Lacy was available at running back and Antonio Brown is a high-floor choice in the mid-first round as alternatives.
Evaluation:
Brown took significant swings at difference-making upside. Calvin Johnson in Round 2 is a calculated risk with a long track record of big seasons. Joseph Randle, RB13, and DeSean Jackson, WR24, followed by Arian Foster at RB30 mark a string of make-or-break selections in the middle rounds. The potential of this trio is offset with more stable options like Philip Rivers, Keenan Allen, and Julian Edelman, coming together like a dinner and wine pairing.
Chris Feery - Draft Position 8
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.08 | 8 | McCoy, LeSean BUF RB | Run on RBs and knew I had to snag one. Judgment call between McCoy and Lacy, went with McCoy based on the fact that he will receive all the carries he can handle in the Bills offense. |
2.05 | 17 | Murray, DeMarco PHI RB | Confident I could wait on a WR and be happy with the results. Love the upside for Murray in the Chip Kelly offense. Feel a lot better with 2 RBs I'm high on in the bag, can focus on adding a WR next. |
3.08 | 32 | Cooks, Brandin NOS WR | Best WR available in my eyes, also think a lot of people are sleeping on the Saints offense going into 2015. Look for Brees to come out with a little chip on his shoulder and for Cooks to be one of the main beneficiaries. |
4.05 | 41 | Cooper, Amari OAK WR | Elite talent, great upside but a questionable offense. I'm actually pretty high on the Raiders chances of having a productive offense this year and will happily take my chances with Cooper in the 4th round. |
5.08 | 56 | Landry, Jarvis MIA WR | Landry remains the top option in Miami and could be a PPR machine. If Tannehill can put together a solid top 10 season, Landry is money in the bank. |
6.05 | 65 | Coleman, Tevin ATL RB | Little bit of a risk with a rookie RB but I'm comfortable taking the chance with McCoy and Murray already solidifying the position. Big fan of Coleman in college, he has the potential to make some serious noise at the pro level. |
7.08 | 80 | Vereen, Shane NYG RB | RBs were getting pretty scarce at this point but I still saw plenty of options at the other positions. Pulled the trigger on Vereen, should fit in very nicely with the Giants. |
8.05 | 89 | Manning, Eli NYG QB | Wanted a top 10 QB and Eli fits the bill for 2015 in my mind. Second year in the Ben McAdoo offense and quietly closed out 2014 playing very well. |
9.08 | 104 | Smith, Steve BAL WR | This was a bit of a reach in hindsight. Felt it was too early to pull the trigger on a TE as the ones that were left I viewed as pretty close in production. Let's hope he closes out his career with a bang. |
10.05 | 113 | Seferian-Jenkins, Austin TBB TE | Tossup between ASJ and Allen for my 1st TE. While I think Allen will be the more productive TE in Indy, Fleener does eat into his upside. Like ASJ as a safety net for Winston in his rookie season, could see a big uptick in receptions. |
11.08 | 128 | Carr, Derek OAK QB | Oakland finally has a QB. Carr quietly put together a solid rookie season in 2014 and I expect him to take a leap forward this year, especially with Cooper in the mix. |
12.05 | 137 | Witten, Jason DAL TE | I was ready to lock up my TE2 and Witten was still on the board so I pounced. Say what you will about age etc. but he remains one of the top options for Romo. The Cowboys will be passing more this year and Romo looks like a safe bet to be a top 10 TE. |
13.08 | 152 | Wheaton, Markus PIT WR | Locked in a battle with Bryant for WR2 duties in Pittsburgh. Regardless of who wins out, there will be plenty of balls to go around in 2015. Very high on the Pittsburgh offense and think they finish in the top 5. |
14.05 | 161 | Jones, Matt WAS RB | Should be the third-down back in Washington unless the wheels fall off in camp. Looks like he'll have a steady role from Week 1 forward. |
15.08 | 176 | Hurns, Allen JAC WR | Locked in as the WR2 for the Jaguars who I think will be slightly better on offense than most are anticipating. |
16.05 | 185 | Coates, Sammie PIT WR | Lot of potential and should have a role as the WR4 for the Steelers. Options were getting thin at WR, went with an offense that I'm high on for 2015. |
17.08 | 200 | Broncos, Denver DEN Def | Time to draft a D and the Broncos were the best available in my eyes. |
18.05 | 209 | Amaro, Jace NYJ TE | Expecting him to take a leap forward in his second-year, but overall a pretty speculative play. Does fit well with Chan Gailey's system, so now would be the time to develop. |
19.08 | 224 | Carpenter, Dan BUF PK | Needed a K, whatever points McCoy doesn't get on the ground will fall on Carpenter's shoulders. |
20.05 | 233 | White, James NEP RB | Late round flier. I liked White coming out of college and expect him to eventually have a role in the New England backfield. |
Overall Strategy:
Change of Scenery
Best Pick:
Shane Vereen, RB34. Vereen is quality depth at low-RB3 prices. The upside is there for be a top-15 PPR option, especially if Rashad Jennings misses time.
Worst Pick:
LeSean McCoy, RB6. The Bills may be the worst quarterback situation in the NFL and McCoy is exiting the position’s prime age production window plus a fertile offense in Philadelphia. McCoy was drafted ahead of Eddie Lacy, plus all the top wide receivers at eight overall.
Evaluation:
Feery has significant investment in players on new teams in 2015. LeSean McCoy and DeMarco Murray are coming off polar opposite 2014 seasons compared to expectations. Amari Cooper is Feery’s WR2, Tevin Coleman is a rookie wildcard in a murky Atlanta backfield, and Shane Vereen enters the Giants backfield with, at minimum, high-reception upside. Uncertainty looms beyond Brandin Cooks at wide receiver, making Amari Cooper, a repeat performance from Jarvis Landry, or Steve Smith having one more season in the sun paramount to Feery’s ultimate success.
John Mamula - Draft Position 9
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.09 | 9 | Lacy, Eddie GBP RB | With 6 RBs already off the board, I see a big drop off after Eddie Lacy. I have Lacy as my 4th highest ranked RB, so I consider getting him at 9 overall a success. |
2.04 | 16 | Thomas, Demaryius DEN WR | After selecting Lacy in the 1st, I was targeting a stud WR with my 2nd pick. If I wait to take a WR, my team will be without a true #1 stud WR. Demaryius Thomas was the that made it through the turn so he was my selection. |
3.09 | 33 | Gordon, Melvin SDC RB | I was targeting Brandin Cooks with this pick but Chris sniped him from me. I saw a drop off at WR after Cooks so I was forced to select a RB. I was between Melvin Gordon and Frank Gore. I went with Melvin Gordon because RB is a young man's game. |
4.04 | 40 | Graham, Jimmy SEA TE | Very happy to snag Jimmy Graham in the fourth round! Graham typically is being drafted in the 2nd-3rd round so I felt this was a steal. Graham should be a red zone machine this season in Seattle. |
5.09 | 57 | Agholor, Nelson PHI WR | With two solid RBs, a #1WR, and a stud TE, I felt that I needed to add another WR with my 5th round selection. I went with Nelson Agholor because of the upside that he provides in Chip Kelly's offense. I think Agholor assumes the Jeremy Maclin role in this offense by the mid-point of the season. |
6.04 | 64 | Roethlisberger, Ben PIT QB | I was not enamored with any of the top ranked RB/WR remaining. With 6 points per passing TD, I took my top ranked QB, Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh will need to pass to win games this season as their defense is still below average. Pittsburgh's front office has done a good job surrounding Roethlisberger with young talented WRs. |
7.09 | 81 | Bell, Joique DET RB | Ameer Abdullah has been getting all the hype this pre-season, but as long as Joique Bell plays he will get touches in this offense. I see Abdullah as the better play in PPR leagues but Bell will get the majority of the goal line work. |
8.04 | 88 | Smith, Torrey SFO WR | I felt that I needed to add a 3rd WR with this pick. I took Torrey Smith because he should be the #1 target in SF offense. I expect SF to be playing from behind often this season which should provide Smith with plenty of opportunities. |
9.09 | 105 | White, Kevin CHI WR | I went with Kevin White because of the upside that he provide as my WR4. A couple of days after I drafted White, news broke that he will miss a minimum of 6 games and possibly the season. This is a good example why you should hold off drafting until after the pre-season is completed. |
10.04 | 112 | Mathews, Ryan PHI RB | When selecting backup RBs, I am looking for guys that can slot in as a RB1 if the starter goes down. Ryan Matthews is one Demarco Murray injury away from being an every week started in the high scoring Philadelphia offense. |
11.09 | 129 | Rams, St. Louis STL Def | So far I have 1QB, 4 RBs, 4 WRs, and a TE. I felt this was a luxury pick rather than a need pick so I went with the Rams defense. This defense is loaded with talent and I think they take a giant leap forward in 2015. |
12.04 | 136 | Williams, Terrance DAL WR | I took Terrence Williams as my RB5 because of the potential that he provides in the Dallas offense. If Dez Bryant goes down with an injury, Williams will be an every week starter. |
13.09 | 153 | Patterson, Cordarrelle MIN WR | I was set to take Markus Wheaton with this pick until Chris sniped him! Not having a backup player in mind, I settled with Cordarelle Patterson. This is a good example to be ready with a couple of players every round just in case you get sniped. |
14.04 | 160 | Ball, Montee DEN RB | Similar to Ryan Matthews, I drafted Montee Ball because of the potential that he would provide if C.J. Anderson would go down with an injury. Ball would immediately step into the bell cow role in the Denver offense and be an every week starter. |
15.09 | 177 | Bowe, Dwayne CLE WR | I drafted Dwayne Bowe as my WR7 because he should be the number one target in Cleveland. That has to account for something, right? If not, he will likely become waiver wire fodder within a few weeks. |
16.04 | 184 | Ridley, Stevan NYJ RB | I feel the Jets are going to try to grind teams with the running game and defense this season. It will probably be a RB committee but I drafted Ridley just in case he is the main guy. |
17.09 | 201 | Crosby, Mason GBP PK | With four kickers already off the board, I felt comfortable landing a reliable every week kicker rather than playing the waiver wire game with kicker. Mason Crosby is a reliable kicker every season. |
18.04 | 208 | Davis, Vernon SFO TE | Will this be the season that Vernon Davis lives up to his potential? I am locked in with Jimmy Graham as my every week TE but I wanted to have someone backing him up just in case Graham goes down with an injury. |
19.09 | 225 | Cutler, Jay CHI QB | I regret waiting to select my QB2. I am not thrilled to have Jay Cutler, but he is the best of the remaining QBs. I will try to improve my QB2 position through the waiver wire or trade in this league. |
20.04 | 232 | Austin, Tavon STL WR | Remember when it took WRs three seasons before they broke out? This was the norm before phenoms like Odell Beckham Jr. and Mike Evans. Perhaps this is Tavon Austin's year to break out. |
Overall Strategy:
Lean on Top Offenses
Best Pick:
Joique Bell, RB35. Bell’s stock has been beaten to a pulp this offseason. He is one of the few running backs with double-digit touchdown and 30+ reception upside. Ameer Abdullah struggled between the tackles in college and Bell should dominate goal line opportunities. Bell insulates Mamula from Melvin Gordon underperforming, who was selected four rounds earlier.
Worst Pick:
Melvin Gordon, RB14. Gordon does not project as a strong goal line option. Plus, his pass blocking is already coming into question. With Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver likely to take receptions away, Gordon is left with low-leverage touches, needing big plays to justify his high-RB2 price.
Evaluation:
Mamula sought out top quarterbacks with a majority of his selections, creating a strong floor of proficiency. Nelson Agholor, Torrey Smith, and Terrance Williams create a murky rotation at No.2/3 receiver beyond Demaryius Thomas from Round 2. Joique Bell emerging from the negative buzz this preseason to secure goal line and early-down work in Detroit would be a big RB2 boost.
Jene Bramel - Draft Position 10
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.10 | 10 | Gronkowski, Rob NEP TE | Didn't expect Rodgers or Luck to fall to this pick, but I'll happily take the monster relative advantage I get at tight end with Gronk. |
2.03 | 15 | Hill, Jeremy CIN RB | Hill will be the foundation back for the Bengals and only has to deal with fades to A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert at the goal line. Expect a minimum of 10 TDs. |
3.10 | 34 | Gore, Frank IND RB | Gore is a great fit in Indy and has little competition. This offense will still run through Andrew Luck, but Gore will be productive. |
4.03 | 39 | Sanders, Emmanuel DEN WR | Thought about Jordan Matthews here, but Sanders should see lots of targets again and is a threat for multi-TD weeks. |
5.10 | 58 | Bryant, Martavis PIT WR | Considered Bryant alongside Sanders in the early fourth. His TD upside is a no-brainer here. I think he's a half-tier higher than the other wideouts going in this range. |
6.03 | 63 | Jennings, Rashad NYG RB | Most might choose WR over a RB3 in a non-flex league, but I stick to my tiers. None of the WRs stand out here and the only other back in Jennings' range is Arian Foster, who I'm not ready to draft until the 7/8 round. |
7.10 | 82 | Decker, Eric NYJ WR | Plenty of wide receivers left in my WR3 tier. Going with Decker based on likely targets and underrated TD possibilities. Expecting to run a WR3BC at this point anyway, which will be much easier to do with Gronk. |
8.03 | 87 | Ryan, Matt ATL QB | No rush to take a QB but there's a long run of picks between here and my late 9th round selection. Rivers, Brady, Newton still on the radar, but I like Ryan's weapons a hair better. |
9.10 | 106 | Stills, Kenny MIA WR | Calf injury and inability to generate chemistry with Ryan Tannehill is driving down his ADP, but Stills has a shot at 6-8 TDs. Good WR3BC option in 9th round. |
10.03 | 111 | Mason, Tre STL RB | Best of the remaining backs with a shot at 15 touches a week. May not amount to much if Todd Gurley hits his stride by midseason, but Rams aren't pushing their rookie. |
11.10 | 130 | Dalton, Andy CIN QB | Didn't want to pass up one of the remaining quartebacks with 30 TD potential here. Considering TE2, WR5 here, but Dalton has a better chance at contributing with my roster thus far. |
12.03 | 135 | Jones, Marvin CIN WR | Still looking at WR3BC options here. May as well go with a high variance, matchup option I can stack with my QB2 if needed. If he stays healthy, Jones could be even more. |
13.10 | 154 | Sproles, Darren PHI RB | PPR backs get the short straw in standard TD-only leagues, but Chip Kelly's offense leaves room for pass-catching backs to see multiple weekly targets and Sproles' open-field ability gives him a shot at scoring on any touch. |
14.03 | 159 | Gates, Antonio SDC TE | I won't need a backup tight end with Gronk on the roster so Gates' suspension doesn't bother me. If and when I need him, Gates is a proven red zone threat. |
15.10 | 178 | Floyd, Malcom SDC WR | 15th round for Floyd? Yeah he's retiring and the Chargers have other options. He's also a deep threat Philip Rivers is happy to target at least once a game. Yards don't matter in this league. TDs do. |
16.03 | 183 | Vinatieri, Adam IND PK | Wouldn't touch a PK this early in other setups. But without a clear skill position need, a consistent kicker on a high scoring offense in a dome? I'll take it. |
17.10 | 202 | Eagles, Philadelphia PHI Def | Looking for TD upside here. Good returners, decent corners, strong pass rush. I missed out on other mid-range targets (HOU, STL) and the best streaming option for W1 (NYJ), but PHI isn't a bad backup plan. |
18.03 | 207 | Hardy, Justin ATL WR | Not much to see here. Slot receiver with ability to do more in a strong passing offense. If Roddy White struggles with knee soreness or breaks down, Hardy could be more than a flyer. |
19.10 | 226 | Turbin, Robert SEA RB | Don't necessarily need this depth at RB in a non-flex league, but I'm okay streaming DST and Turbin has a good shot at backing up Marshawn Lynch and being productive if that happens. |
20.03 | 231 | Paul, Niles WAS TE | Considered lots of other players here, but took Paul as a hedge against a Gronk injury and Gates lost time to Lardarius Green. Might have chosen differently a few minutes earlier or later. |
Overall Strategy:
Balance with a Floor
Best Pick:
Martavis Bryant, WR27. For an owner securing Rob Gronkowski and two running backs before hitting wide receiver, Bryant is a quality WR2 with high-upside. With Eric Decker, Kenny Stills, and Marvin Jones behind him, Bryant is a critical upside bet for Bramel.
Worst Pick:
Rashad Jennings, RB28. Andre Williams is a talented early-down thumper and Shane Vereen is a better back in space and receiver, eating away at Jennings’ potential upside on both fronts.
Evaluation:
Bramel rounded out his roster in the first eight rounds with 1QB, 3RB, 3WR, 1TE and the only questionable profile of production of the bunch is Martavis Bryant. A sophomore breakout from Bryant or Emmanuel Sanders logging a repeat performance of his 2014 career year are key components to Team Bramel’s ultimate success.
JAson Wood - Draft Position 11
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.11 | 11 | Brown, Antonio PIT WR | Standard league aside, Brown stands to be better than the 11th player overall. Double digit scores and 1,500 yards are quite possible. |
2.02 | 14 | Beckham, Odell NYG WR | I knew after taking Brown that I would go WR/WR with Dez , Julio and Beckham still on the board. ODB could have 1,800 and 15 this year but even a portion of that makes this pick a no brainer. |
3.11 | 35 | Ingram, Mark NOS RB | Going WR/WR to start mean I had to get a bit lucky and have two RBs I like left on the board. Ingram is an ideal consolation prize in standard leagues given the Saints newfound commitment to the ground game. |
4.02 | 38 | Yeldon, T.J. JAC RB | I was one pick away from Abdullah but didn't mind Yeldon instead. He's got the clear path to being a 3-down workhorse although I worry his supporting cast will limit his TD opportunities. |
5.11 | 59 | Tate, Golden DET WR | Tate was my top rated RB/WR left on my board and without the league having a flex spot I wanted a high quality third receiver. |
6.02 | 62 | Crowell, Isaiah CLE RB | I like Crowell in standard leagues more than PPR leagues. A fine RB3 considering it's the 3rd round. |
7.11 | 83 | Cameron, Jordan MIA TE | I've vacillated about Cameron this preseason but have come back around on him. He will miss games but should be good for 7-10 TDs in this offense. |
8.02 | 86 | Romo, Tony DAL QB | It was now or never to roster a quarterback in my Top 8. |
9.11 | 107 | Johnson, Duke CLE RB | This was a smart handcuff to Crowell. One of these backs is going to be a stud, and it's possible Johnson displaces Crowell; now I'm protected. |
10.02 | 110 | Bradford, Sam PHI QB | I shocked myself with this pick but realistically Bradford was the only QB2 left with top 5 upside of things go perfectly. |
11.11 | 131 | Crabtree, Michael OAK WR | Crabtree has looked great in camp, is in shape, has a chip on his shoulder, and is playing for a contract. I expect his numbers will approximate Amari Cooper's. |
12.02 | 134 | Blue, Alfred HOU RB | Blue is slotted to start in Arian Foster's absence. I don't think much of his talent, but his situation can't be denied. |
13.11 | 155 | Gray, Jonas NEP RB | We have no clarity about the Patriots running back plans, but Gray profiles as the most capable breakout if Blount struggles. |
14.02 | 158 | Dorsett, Phillip IND WR | Dorsett is one Hilton or Johnson injury away from being a starting receiver for the leagues top passing attack. |
15.11 | 179 | Cardinals, Arizona ARI Def | I needed a defense. |
16.02 | 182 | Beasley, Cole DAL WR | Beasley has been lights out in camp and Terrance Williams struggled last year. I wouldn't be surprised if Beasley ends up the second best receiver on the Cowboys. |
17.11 | 203 | Parkey, Cody PHI PK | Top five kicker. |
18.02 | 206 | Ebron, Eric DET TE | Replacement pick made by Commissioner |
19.11 | 227 | Vikings, Minnesota MIN Def | Second defense and a solid pair with the Cardinals. |
20.02 | 230 | Coleman, Brandon NOS WR | Late round lottery pick. I'm in the camp that Brees still throws 4,600+ yards and 30+ touchdowns. There are targets to be had beyond Cooks, Colston and Spiller. Coleman is having a good camp and could be that missing link. If he's not, I cut him early in the season for a waiver wire add. |
Overall Strategy:
Ride the Wave
Best Pick:
Antonio Brown, WR1. At 11 overall, Brown is arguably the best value of Round 1. Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, plus two quarterbacks aided Wood’s selection of Brown outside the top-10.
Worst Pick:
Isaiah Crowell, RB27. The drafting of Duke Johnson tempers any PPR upside hope for Crowell, who will now rely on volume and goal line looks exclusively to be a flex or better option.
Evaluation:
Wood has one of the youngest core rosters exiting the draft, looking for players on the upswing rather than declining talents hoping to hold on. Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham form a powerful tandem of 20+ points-per-game upside receivers with a WR1-level floor. Wood continued the strategy with quality flyers late like Jonas Gray, Eric Ebron, Brandon Coleman, and Phillip Dorsett over the second half of the draft.
Justin Bonnema - Draft Position 12
Pick | Overall | Selection | Comments |
1.12 | 12 | Bryant, Dez DAL WR | Standard scoring be damned, Dez Bryant is a high-floor/high-ceiling luxury at 1.12, especially when the entire first tier of running backs is gone. |
2.01 | 13 | Jones, Julio ATL WR | I'm still struggling between which player I like more: Bryant or Jones. Fortunately, I didn't have to make that decision in this draft. I generally try to maintain a balance in the early rounds but I couldn't pass on an opportunity to select a pair of players that might finish WR1/WR2 in the standings. |
3.12 | 36 | Stewart, Jonathan CAR RB | Like Wood, after a WR/WR start I needed a lead back, and Stewart finally gets the Carolina backfield to himself (hopefully). |
4.01 | 37 | Abdullah, Ameer DET RB | Okay, I've caught the Abdullah fever. He might be the most exciting rookie in all of football this year. |
5.12 | 60 | Martin, Doug TBB RB | By selecting Martin as my third running back I'm confident that I've justified my WR/WR start and like the way this roster is shaping up. |
6.01 | 61 | Wallace, Mike MIN WR | It's hard to project Wallace this season but it's easy to fall in love with his situation. There isn't a lot of clarity with the Vikings offense other than Teddy Bridgewater, who looks like he might become one of the best young QBs and can really take advantage of Wallace as a deep threat. |
7.12 | 84 | Brees, Drew NOS QB | Drew Brees ADP has plummeted more than can be justified. I'll take him at the end of the 7th every time. |
8.01 | 85 | Tannehill, Ryan MIA QB | It was between Tannehill, Romo and Eli Manning here. I'll take a wildcard with Tannehill and not worry about QBs for the rest of the draft. |
9.12 | 108 | Wright, Kendall TEN WR | I like Wright a hole lot more in PPR leagues but I'm happy to take him above the other wide receivers available in this range. His skill-set meshes perfectly with that of his rookie quarterback. |
10.01 | 109 | Eifert, Tyler CIN TE | Eifert is an unknown but a good excuse to wait on tight ends. |
11.12 | 132 | Davis, Knile KCC RB | I don't usually play the handcuff game but my running back situation leaves me with some discomfort. We've seen what Davis can do. All he needs is opportunity. |
12.01 | 133 | Bush, Reggie SFO RB | Again, I need running backs and the opportunity to draft those that will be at least somewhat involved in the weekly game-plan is running short. Bush isn't a sexy pick by any means but he could still provide Sproles like volume. |
13.12 | 156 | Moncrief, Donte IND WR | I want a part of the Colts offense. Here's to hoping Moncrief earns a weekly role. |
14.01 | 157 | Hill, Josh NOS TE | There is no Jimmy Graham replacement. In fact, the Saints might role out a tight end by committee approach. Still, I'll gamble a 14th round pick on Hill and hope he gets more than half of Graham's production. |
15.12 | 180 | Jets, New York NYJ Def | Even though there are five rounds to go, it was time to land a defense I can have confidence in. |
16.01 | 181 | Bengals, Cincinnati CIN Def | In reality, I wanted this pick to be the Dolphins but they have the same bye week as the Jets. Truth is, two defenses is probably unnecessary. |
17.12 | 204 | Rice, Ray FA* RB | I'm gambling that he finds a job and earns a big role. |
18.01 | 205 | Johnson, Chris ARI RB | Another "what the heck" pick. If he signs with the Cardinals he could return value. If he doesn't, I drop him Week 1. |
19.12 | 228 | Lockett, Tyler SEA WR | The Seahawks offense maybe changing with addition of Graham and they traded up to get Lockett. I don't mind him riding my bench while we wait and see how his role develops. He also adds some benefit returning kicks. |
20.01 | 229 | Bryant, Matt ATL PK | I waited until the last round to draft a kicker. Nothing to see here (I do like the Falcons offense to move the ball and stall, giving Bryant plenty of opportunities). |
Overall Strategy:
Roll the Running Back Dice
Best Pick:
Tyler Lockett, WR80. No other receiver offers as much situational upside for such a low cost. Lockett enters a wide open Seattle depth chart, with a quality quarterback, and a strong college production track record.
Worst Pick:
Jonathan Stewart, RB17. In addition to Stewart being held together with duct tape and a huge risk inside the top-40, Bonnema failed to secure Cameron Artis-Payne in the double-digit rounds, opting for the likes of Reggie Bush and a second tight end instead.
Evaluation:
After a powerful receiver pairing of Dez Bryant and Julio Jones at the opening turn, Bonnema took swings at running back upside with oft-injured Jonathan Stewart, buzz-collecting Ameer Abdullah, and comeback-seeking Doug Martin. While each have former draft pedigree and depth charts working in their favor, the trio has a real possibility of coming up snakes eyes as anything more than a frustrating committee. On the flip side, Bonnema mined value down the wide receiver depth chart with high-floor Kendall Wright and upside shots in Donte Moncrief and Tyler Lockett.
Questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com