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If the idea of drafting a team, then forgetting about it for the whole season, but being able to go back at the end of the season and objectively rate how you did against others (with a cash reward for the winner even) sounds good to you, then you should look into MFL 10 drafts at My Fantasy League. There are other denominations, and you can also play a roster management option that allows waiver moves, trades, and lineup setting every week, but for those of us with too many leagues on our plate already, best ball gets the draft juices flowing and adds to your understanding of draft flow without the overhead of managing your team all season.
If Best Ball is a new format to you, don't worry, it's very easy to grasp. Every week your optimal lineup is automatically scored for you. No need to make hard choices in a weekly lineup. This skews the risk/reward cocktail players present, because you won't have to "time" big games or otherwise be smart enough to start your high variance players when they go off. On the other hand, you can't mitigate draft misses with waiver wire pickups or otherwise make in-season adjustments to address weaknesses. You have to build your depth into your lineup.
For this MFL 10, Pat Thorman (PFF) assembled a group of fantasy football twitter all-stars that we affectionately called "The MFL10 of Death" (Link to Draft). Evan Silva (@evansilva Rotoworld), JJ Zachariason (@lateroundqb - NumberFire), Rumford Johnny and Ryan Forbes (@rumfordjohnny @ryfo18 - 2MugsFF), James Todd and Shawn Siegele (@spidr2ybanana @FF_Contrarian Rotoviz), Denny Carter (@cdcarter13 - Draft Day Consultants), Mike Clay (@mikeclayNFL - PFF), Sal Stefanile (@2QBFFB - Sportable), and Rich Hribar (@lordreebs - XN Sports) made up the rest of the 12 team draft. They are all good follows on Twitter and they were a very tough group to draft against.
PARAMETERS
- 12 team/22 rounds/Best Ball
- Draft Slot: 11
- PPR Scoring
- Starters
- 1 QB
- 2 RB
- 3 WR
- 1 TE
- 1 RB/WR/TE Flex
- 1 K
- 1 D
STRATEGY
I tend to view Best Ball draft rankings through the lens of Top 10/Top 20 starts, downplaying the value of consistency and durability, and discounting risk. The ability to build a bench specifically to offset the shortcomings of your first 10 or so picks also makes drafitng for weekly upside more attractive. The MFL10 “winner take all” format only enhances the incentive to swing for the fences. No matter how deep your roster is in a best ball league, you won’t come in first without players who can put spectacular single-game point numbers.
Roster composition is more important in best ball. Your roster composition plan in a best ball league should be in pencil and really take shape after you see how your first 5-6 picks go. That will dictate whether you need a stronger WR or RB bench, which are positions that you can survive with minimal depth, and whether you need more weekly upside or a safe haven consistent “floor” players on your bench.
I am used to the ultra-thin 16 team, 20 roster spot survivor leagues from the “Mock Drafts R Us” forum at Footballguys.com, so 12 teams and 22 roster spots look luxurious.
My Initial Plan
- 2 QBs - With relative durability and the dubious value of QBs outside of the top 30 or so, two solid quarterbacks is the best intersection of roster spot value and depth. It should be very easy to get two quarterbacks who can combine for 10-12 QB1 scoring weeks at a reasonable price.
- 6 RBs - Ideally, I’ll want two picks in my first four to establish where my RB1 and RB2 scoring will come from in the majority of weeks and not have to chase more sporadic scoring prospects from overrated mid-round RBs. Six should be plenty to cover bye weeks and injuries and slumps, with a pick or two dedicated to pure upside or a handcuff.
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8 WRs - Wide receiver is such an up and down position, but the best ball format is the antidote to that. By throwing sheer numbers of roster spots at it, you can build layers of upside receivers to put up top 10 weeks and firewall receivers who can give you 8-10 PPR points in the event of injuries or busts. WR points are much cheaper than RB or TE points in best ball drafts because you can easily find contributors even in the very late rounds.
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2 TEs - I like to go early at TE in all formats and grab a later value backup, instead of going with a three-headed committee of less exciting options. Harvesting top 5 weeks at the position is crucial and TEs outside of the top 4, they are hard to find.
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2 PKs - I would normally take one durable kicker and use the value of the roster spot to buttress RB or WR, but with 22 roster spots and longer kicks being worth more points, this position could afford two picks.
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2 Defs - I’m open to going with a third defense because of the variance in weekly scoring and seemingly random nature of big weeks from bottom dwellers at times, but will likely go with two to strengthen RB/WR depth.
The 11 spot takes me out of the running for a top 4 RB and the form that knowledge would provide to my draft plan. I’ll likely start with Demarco Murray and a WR/Jimmy Graham. Murray is my #5 RB, and his injury risk can be offset easier in a best ball format. He’s consistently falling past the turn. Graham gives me elite weekly upside at TE that only Gronkowski can match, while a wide receiver or two like Julio Jones or Brandon Marshall will be a fallback for solid value if I miss out on one or both of Graham and Murray.
If I can’t get Graham, then Jordan Cameron at the 3-4 turn would be my next hope at tight end. Otherwise, wide receiver, or possibly CJ Spiller/Andre Ellington will be my plan at the 3-4 turn. I’ll look for cheaper RB points and WR weekly upside at the 5-6 and 7-8 turns, with QB likely getting filled out in the 9-12 range. The rest of the draft will be dictated by what I have done to that point, with defense and kicker picks coming in the last 4-5 rounds.
My Picks
1.11 Jimmy Graham, TE, NO - I’ll chance Murray falling to 2.2. With five wide receivers gone, AJ Green was a consideration, but I prefer to build WR with later picks since weekly upside is easier to obtain there.
2.2 Demarco Murray, RB, DAL - As expected, Murray was part of my first pair of picks. He gives me Charles/McCoy weekly upside, minus the higher weekly floor and with more durability worries. Murray was extremely good at staying in the top 25 or so when he suited up last year, so that adds value, too.
3.11 Vincent Jackson, WR, TB - Andre Ellington went one pick before my selection to Denny in a crucial fork in the road of my early draft. WIth Ellington I would have felt very secure at RB2 and probably ignored the position until at least the 7th or 8th round. Jackson was my consolation, a receiver who should give me at least 4-5 WR1 weeks with good durability and a solid WR3/Flex weekly floor.
4.2 DeSean Jackson, WR, WAS - DeSean is a little less durable than Vincent, but presents the same promise of 4-5 top 5 weeks, with the lower weekly floor being the reason he’s going here instead of a round or two earlier. The Jackson two should be mainstays in my lineup and allow me to focus on gathering more WRs with WR1 weekly potential and flex depth in exchange for my investment.
5.11 Trent Richardson, RB, IND - A best case scenario really since I had no RB2 picks yet. Richardson has weekly and year-long downside, but the Colts will stubbornly feed him, and he’ll notch some ok weeks in any scenario. He has the ability to be a steady RB2 with RB1 weekly upside, and the risk that he is a dud can be hedged with later “firewall” picks at RB. I was very relieved to get him after Shawn’s “5 RB in the first five picks” strategy caused an early exhaustion of depth that accelerated RBs in Richardson’s tier coming off of the board.
6.2 Percy Harvin, WR, SEA - I would perhaps prefer one of my first two WR picks to have a high weekly floor with Harvin in two as my WR3, but Harvin as a WR3 in the sixth is still a steal in best ball. Harvin gives me a real threat to have three top 10 wide receiver weeks in any given week and he fits perfectly in my overall strategy in best ball drafts.
7.11 Ray Rice, RB, BAL - Never did I contemplate the possibility of Rice being there at 7.11. I can’t say I was thrilled to take him, but with Richardson’s tendency to stall out, and Murray’s tendency to miss games, getting another starter, albeit one who will be suspended and coming off of his worst year as a pro by far, was a relief. Murray getting hurt or Richardson being a dud are real issues for my RB corps, the hope is that Rice’s suspension is over by the time either strikes.
8.2 Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC - Bowe adds another “floor” receiver to give me 8-10 pts at worst to cover bye weeks or a Harvin injury, while adding WR2 weekly upside. His arrow was pointing up coming out of the season, and he provides a very valuable weekly floor as a #1 receiver in his offense at a cheap 8th round price.
9.11 Nick Foles, QB, PHI - We want to outwait each other at QB, but at some point it becomes absurd. Foles was performing at a Brees/Rodgers/Peyton level last year once he started, and I’ll have a strong #2 to rely on if he regresses with QBs coming off of the board so slowly. Foles extra scoring potential as a runner and uptempo offense to create massive outbursts at times are tailor made for best ball.
10.2 Markus Wheaton, WR, PIT - I wanted Kelvin Benjamin’s potential for a touchdown in most weeks here, but I was sniped by Rich. Wheaton has longball speed and he will likely be a starter in a good to great pass offense, so he’ll provide bye week/injury depth and playmaking ability to provide the potential to break into (and elevate) my 3-4 scoring WRs in any given week.
11.11 Josh Gordon, WR, CLE - At this point, the compelling options at every position are long gone, so why not bet on some part of a season for Gordon? Even if Gordon is 16 week zero, the expanded rosters make it very easy to tolerate this risk. The winner take all format almost demands at least one pick like this that could give you an unfair advantage if it pans out.
12.2 Russell Wilson, QB, SEA - I would have preferred Tom Brady’s weekly upside, but Wilson is just fine. He’s both a safe #2 for bye/injury weeks, and an upside play with the running and passing ability to put up a top 6-8 week at any time. The Wilson-to-Harvin hookup could also propel me to a big week or two.
13.11 Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR - It’s easy to forget that Stewart has good hands, with 47 catches in 2011, and he has also had two double digit TD seasons with limited workloads. Rice and Richardson don’t give me the warm fuzzies, so Stewart could save my bacon if they implode and he actually stays healthy. I actually wanted Lance Dunbar here to offset Murray missed games, but Evan beat me to the punch.
14.2 Dexter McCluster, RB, TEN - A “firewall” pick at RB/Flex - as long as Whisenhunt is indeed seeing him as the Woodhead for this year’s offense in Tennessee, McCluster should get 5-10 PPR points most weeks, with a little bit of upside. He is an insurance policy against all of my risky RBs failing at once.
15.11 Rod Streater, WR, OAK - I’m very happy with my top 5 wide receivers, but Gordon could be a whiff, so Streater was a nice find this late to provide a floor at WR3/Flex. He didn’t miss a game last year, and had three or more catches in 13 of 16 games. He even has some upside as a third year player just coming into his prime. I felt pretty good about closing the book at WR if need be after landing a solid starter this late.
16.2 Tre Mason, RB, STL - Now it’s time to swing with my eyes closed. Mason will most likely be stuck behind Zac Stacy and not contribute. Still, a Stacy injury or Mason busting out in a way the Rams can’t deny could make this a pick that yields similar benefits to Stacy last year. It’s a longshot, but the size of the reward is more important than the odds it hits late in best ball drafts.
17.11 Scott Chandler, TE, BUF - He has to make the team, but as long as he does, Chandler should be a very good emergency tight end. He was actually top 15 in yards and catches among tight ends last year, and had six scores in each of 2011 and 2012. He’s in the second year back from ACL surgery, so he should be just as good as he was last year, if not better.
18.2 Matt Prater, K, DEN - At this point, I had my draft roster composition plan complete except for one WR and my four PK/DEF picks. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go with my non-PK/DEF pick, so I just punted and took a top kicker who has eight games in thin air while finishing for the best offense in the league.
19.11 Chicago D/ST - Nothing really jumped out elsewhere, so I took a Bears D/ST that can be good for a defensive orgy of destruction or three at Soldier Field every year.
20.2 Phil Dawson, K, SF - I locked down another top 10 kicker to maximize my scoring there.
21.11 NY Jets D/ST - Like the Bears, the Jets are a group known to have feeding frenzies on defense. Really any two defenses will do, but I actually like my combo and will forego a third.
22.2 Shonn Greene, RB, TEN - Holding two parts of the Titans backfield wasn’t a plan from the outset by any means, but Greene is silly value this late. He’ll at least get some goal line carries and relief work, but if Bishop Sankey is a miss, Greene will be part of my RB2BC.
Ranking the Other Teams
1. Mike - Locked in value just about everywhere. QB and TE committees should create multiple peaks and RB/WR groups are solid. Key Players: Giovani Bernard, Andre Johnson, Eddie Lacy
2. Sal - Terrific value at QB and TE, lacking an anchor RB and depth at WR. Vulnerable to WR injury, but potential winner if an RB or two hits. Perhaps a sixth WR would have been more valuable than third K/DEF Key Players: Shane Vereen, Pierre Thomas, Julio Jones
3. Denny - Wallace is a perfect WR3 in best ball, and value of both top RBs are enhanced. Only minor quibble is lack of weekly upside at TE. Key Players: Montee Ball, Andre Ellington, Dennis Pitta
4. Ryan - TE is a real sore spot and WR is dangerously lacking consistent proven performers. Have a good feeling about some of his WR, so sick RB trio (McCoy, Spiller, Foster) could carry this team far. Key Players: TY Hilton, Emmanuel Sanders, Jace Amaro, Austin Seferian-Jenkins
5. Pat - Locked in a lot of value at RB and a young trio on the rise at WR (Cobb, Allen, Crabtree) Key Players: Tony Romo, Martellus Bennett, Matt Forte
6. John - Big weekly upside at QB/TE, but at the expense of punch at RB/WR. One kicker and D/ST also introduces more volatility. Key Players: Toby Gerhart, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski
7. Rich - RB has limited upside compared to the rest of the league, but WR is stacked. Key Players: Tom Brady, Kyle Rudolph, Ben Tate
8. Evan - Wasted capital at already strong QB and TE will mean reliance on a dangerously thin WR corps and unproven RB corps. There is upside built into both groups, give him a puncher’s chance. Key Players: Bernard Pierce, Rueben Randle, Danny Amendola
9. JJ - WR group is dominant and has the Chase Stuart ideal QBBC, but RB and TE are depressing groups of names to look at. Key Players: Doug Martin, Antonio Gates, Coby Fleener
10. Shawn - The five RB in five rounds strategy could yield amazing numbers at RB, but the rest of the positions are vulnerable to collapse, and two of his top five picks will be non-factors most weeks unless a top three pick is a bust. QB and TE lack proven steady performers, and most of the WR corps is also green. Needs a lot of things to break right. Key Players: Hakeem Nicks, DeAndre Hopkins, Josh McCown
11. James - Most of the position groups look middling at best. Will have trouble notching top weeks at QB and TE, but no clear advantage at RB/WR. Key Players: Eric Decker, Reggie Bush, Joique Bell.