WHEN THE BRITISH naturalist George Shaw received a weird specimen from Australia in 1799 - one with a mole's fur, a duck's bill and spurs on its rear legs - he did what any skeptical scientist would do: He looked for the stitching and glue that would reveal it to be a hoax. "It was impossible not to entertain some distant doubts as to the genuine nature of the animal," Shaw wrote of the seemingly built-by-committee creature, which he eventually named "platypus".
Over the past few years, there have been two very popular articles written by our very own Chase Stuart that look at an interesting approach to building a fantasy team with late value picks. Based upon the theory of using both Strength of Schedule ("SOS") and taking two players as a combination to build one very good player, he has discussed both Team Defense by Committee ("TDBC") and Quarterback by Committee ("QBBC") as a general fantasy league strategy. In general I think that this is a wise move because very early on in fantasy drafts there are a ton of RB and WR prospects to go after to build a great team. While there are a few studs at QB and also a few choice defenses, I do not see a huge need in leagues to pursue either too hard in the beginning stages of a fantasy draft.
So with this in mind, I started to think about what else can be done with the committee approach. Tight end? Perhaps. Wide receiver? A possibility, but it might be better to look at third WR options than any other option. What about running back? Hmmm, that might work. What if I could put together all of this and make a total team using committees? Would that even be possible?
Yes, Virginia, there is a Team Platypus.
With all of these concepts discussed here:
- QBBC - Quarterback By Committee (Chase Stuart)
- RB2BC (PPR) - Running Back #2 By Committee (PPR) (Jeff Pasquino)
- WR3BC (PPR) - Wide Receiver #3 By Committee (PPR) (Jeff Pasquino)
- TEBC (PPR) - Tight End By Committee (PPR) (Jeff Pasquino)
- DTBC - Defensive Team By Committee (Chase Stuart)
I've taken a good shot at putting together an Ultimate Team By Committee (UTBC). For the Mike Hermans of the world, I hope you don't mind that I will pass on the kicker by committee. Leave that one for some else to think about.
Let's address what we need here in Rounds 5-12. We want to get RB2BC, WR3BC, TEBC and QBBC established. Looking back at the articles highlighted above we can now modify our earlier RB2BC and WR3BC recommendations if necessary in order to secure all the committee duos we want to roster.
If It Walks Like a Duck.....
So using the suggestions in the articles and some tweaks based on current ADP, here are the suggestions to build your very own version of Team Platypus:
Round | Pick Range | ADP | Selection |
1 | 1 to 12 | RB1 (w/early 1st rounder) or WR1 (w/late 1st rounder) | |
2 | 13 to 24 | WR1 (w/early 1st rounder) or WR2/RB1 (w/late 1st rounder) | |
3 | 25 to 36 | WR2 (w/early 1st rounder) or RB1/WR2 (w/late 1st rounder) | |
4 | 37 to 48 | RB2 or WR3 | |
5 | 49 to 60 | 59 | RB2BC #1 - Shane Vereen |
6 | 61 to 72 | 76 / 85 | QBBC #1 - Tony Romo / Russell Wilson |
7 | 73 to 84 | 82 / 95 / 102 / 89 | RB2BC #2 - Andre Brown / Mark Ingram / Danny Woodhead / DeAngelo Williams |
8 | 85 to 96 | 115 | WR3BC#1 - Emmanuel Sanders |
9 | 97 to 108 | 116 | WR3BC#2 - Justin Blackmon |
10 | 109 to 120 | 130 | TEBC #1 - Brandon Pettigrew |
11 | 121 to 132 | 141 | QBBC #2 - Sam Bradford (with Wilson) or Best Player |
12 | 133 to 144 | 149 | TEBC #2 - Jordan Cameron |
13 | 145 to 156 | Best Player Available | |
14 | 157 to 168 | 168 | QBBC #2 - Ryan Tannehill (with Romo) or Best Player |
15 | 169 to 180 | 185 | DTBC #1 - Pittsburgh Steelers |
16 | 181 to 192 | Best Player Available | |
17 | 193 to 204 | Best Player Available | |
18 | 205 to 216 | Kicker |
Table 1: The Ultimate Team By Committee (UTBC) Blueprint for PPR Leagues – Option 1
Round | Pick Range | ADP | Selection |
1 | 1 to 12 | RB1 (w/early 1st rounder) or WR1 (w/late 1st rounder) | |
2 | 13 to 24 | WR1 (w/early 1st rounder) or WR2/RB1 (w/late 1st rounder) | |
3 | 25 to 36 | WR2 (w/early 1st rounder) or RB1/WR2 (w/late 1st rounder) | |
4 | 37 to 48 | RB2 or WR3 | |
5 | 49 to 60 | 58 | RB2BC #1 - Montee Ball |
6 | 61 to 72 | 76 / 85 | QBBC #1 - Tony Romo / Russell Wilson |
7 | 73 to 84 | 89 / 95 / 102 | RB2BC #2 - DeAngelo Williams / Mark Ingram / Danny Woodhead |
8 | 85 to 96 | 115 | WR3BC#1 - Emmanuel Sanders |
9 | 97 to 108 | 116 | WR3BC#2 - Justin Blackmon |
10 | 109 to 120 | 130 | TEBC #1 - Brandon Pettigrew |
11 | 121 to 132 | 141 | QBBC #2 - Sam Bradford (with Wilson) or Best Player |
12 | 133 to 144 | 149 | TEBC #2 - Jordan Cameron |
13 | 145 to 156 | Best Player Available | |
14 | 157 to 168 | 168 | QBBC #2 - Ryan Tannehill (with Romo) or Best Player |
15 | 169 to 180 | 185 | DTBC #1 - Pittsburgh Steelers |
16 | 181 to 192 | Best Player Available | |
17 | 193 to 204 | Best Player Available | |
18 | 205 to 216 | Kicker |
Table 2: The Ultimate Team By Committee (UTBC) Blueprint for PPR Leagues – Option 2
Round | Pick Range | ADP | Selection |
1 | 1 to 12 | RB1 (w/early 1st rounder) or WR1 (w/late 1st rounder) | |
2 | 13 to 24 | WR1 (w/early 1st rounder) or WR2/RB1 (w/late 1st rounder) | |
3 | 25 to 36 | WR2 (w/early 1st rounder) or RB1/WR2 (w/late 1st rounder) | |
4 | 37 to 48 | RB2 or WR3 | |
5 | 49 to 60 | 60 | RB2BC #1 - Eddie Lacy |
6 | 61 to 72 | 76 / 85 | QBBC #1 - Tony Romo / Russell Wilson |
7 | 73 to 84 | 82 / 102 / 95 | RB2BC #2 - Andre Brown / Danny Woodhead / Mark Ingram |
8 | 85 to 96 | 115 | WR3BC#1 - Emmanuel Sanders |
9 | 97 to 108 | 116 | WR3BC#2 - Justin Blackmon |
10 | 109 to 120 | 130 | TEBC #1 - Brandon Pettigrew |
11 | 121 to 132 | 141 | QBBC #2 - Sam Bradford (with Wilson) or Best Player |
12 | 133 to 144 | 149 | TEBC #2 - Jordan Cameron |
13 | 145 to 156 | Best Player Available | |
14 | 157 to 168 | 168 | QBBC #2 - Ryan Tannehill (with Romo) or Best Player |
15 | 169 to 180 | 185 | DTBC #1 - Pittsburgh Steelers |
16 | 181 to 192 | Best Player Available | |
17 | 193 to 204 | Best Player Available | |
18 | 205 to 216 | Kicker |
Table 3: The Ultimate Team By Committee (UTBC) Blueprint for PPR Leagues – Option 3
Some of you may notice that there's a bit of inconsistency in Rounds 5 through 12. That's a good observation, and I can explain. Based on the combinations of QB, WR, RB and TE committees I had to tweak the selections to fit everyone onto the roster. I'll go over these tweaks, position by position, including the comments.
- Running Back - (RB2BC): This is, by far, the most complicated pair to form your Ultimate Team By Committee. The first running back you take in Round 5 is going to determine what you do in Round 7 for your second selection, and there are three options here. First, the preferred running back this year is Shane Vereen, who has an ADP of 59. That means he might not make it to you if you have a later Round 5 pick – but do not worry, there are many different pairs that form a solid duo – and I will outline them all. If Vereen is gone, take Montee Ball (ADP of 58), as he gives the next best choices after Vereen for good RB2BC options. Option 3 is not the preferred one according to the projections, but I am still a fan of it, and that means taking Eddie Lacy (ADP of 60).
- Whether you get Vereen, Ball or Lacy, you have at least three running backs from a group of four players for Round 7 – Andre Brown (ADP of 82), DeAngelo Williams (89), Mark Ingram (95) and Danny Woodhead (102). Some of these players do not work with Lacy, Ball or Vereen because they have the same bye week, but you do have multiple choices no matter who you take in Round 5. Tables 2 and 3 list the players in order of best RB2BC options for Montee Ball (Table 2 – Option 2) and Eddie Lacy (Table 3 – Option 3). Of course, the original RB2BC article (linked above) has the chart to use for any backs you select in Round 5.
- Quarterback - (QBBC): For QBBC the good news is that Chase Stuart identified a ton of options. I am a fan of the “Get the last Top 12 guy” strategy this year, and that screams Tony Romo based on the ADP lists. Romo is likely to be there in Round 6 given his ADP of 76, so take him and do not look back. If he is gone, just take Russell Wilson (ADP of 85) to start your QBBC approach. I have provided two quarterbacks that pair well with either Romo or Wilson in Table 1. Just stick with the plan of getting Romo and Ryan Tannehill (Round 14) or Wilson and Sam Bradford (Round 11), however the draft unfolds, to set yourself up with a very formidable committee.
- Wide Receiver - (WR3BC): For WR3BC the original plan holds true – Emmanuel Sanders and Justin Blackmon are still the recommended best pair. Give some consideration as to who you want here if you have an early eighth round pick and think about flipping the order (taking Justin Blackmon first). Blackmon dominates the WR3BC approach this year, so securing him affords you multiple choices for your second wide receiver. If you have consecutive (or close) picks at the 8/9 turn, take Sanders and Blackmon with ease.
- Tight End - (TEBC): The tight end story is pretty straightforward - but not exactly as the original script. Take Brandon Pettigrew in Round 10 and hope that Jordan Cameron is still there in Round 12. I say it like that because, even though Cameron’s ADP is 149, he could get scarfed up early as his stock is rising quickly. The good news is that you have multiple options to pair with Pettigrew if Cameron is gone – but hope you get him. If you think this is a concern and you have an earlier Round 12 pick, consider moving Cameron up to Round 11 and taking either Bradford (if you took Wilson) in Round 12 instead. If all else fails, Dwayne Allen or Coby Fleener should still be there for you in Round 13, so all will not be lost if you do not get Cameron.
- Team Defense - (DTBC): The team defense duo is still Cleveland and Buffalo, and the good news is that all of the desired committee players are available above Round 14 - so taking Buffalo and Cleveland in the final three rounds (along with a kicker) are still a strong option. Cleveland has an ADP of 249, so Round 18 or 19 is the place to take them. Buffalo is even deeper (ADP over 270, likely undrafted in most leagues), so they can be Round 19 or 20. That all said, the example I give in Table 1 is for 18 rounds or fewer – and here I would just take the best defense that I like in Round 15 and be done with it. Pittsburgh’s ADP is 185 in PPR, so a Round 15 selection is warranted. With only 18 roster spots, one defense makes more sense – and given that Pittsburgh is part of three of the four best duos from the DTBC article (BUF-PIT is #1, MIA-PIT #2, CLE-PIT #4) I would take Pittsburgh and either use Miami (ADP over 264, likely undrafted), Buffalo or even Cleveland off of the waiver wire when I needed them.
The good news is that we have numerous options this year to form the Ultimate Team By Committee (UTBC). The top TEBC options are available, and the WR3BC is exactly as we first had it. RB2BC will take a little adjustment to afford a solid QBBC, but the overall team has an excellent structure and projects to have high fantasy production.
No plan is infallible, so that is why we have so many alternate backup scenarios planned out before the draft. Eliminate surprises and plan for contingencies. That's what we do - we adapt. Darwin would be proud.
Best of luck this year.
As always, questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome to pasquino@footballguys.com.