Checking in on the Fantasy Index Experts Leagues which ran in our preseason Annual this week. We looked at the Draft League on Wednesday, where there are four teams within a handful of games of each other atop the standings. In the Auction League, our own Ian Allan has a sizable lead.
This is a best-ball, no transactions league where you get the best starting lineup from your roster each week, and it's a play-all schedule. Top score each week goes 11-0, 2nd-highest score goes 10-1, and so on. Allan, at 96-25, has a 15 1/2 game lead on the next best team.
It's not hard to see the area where Allan's purchases paid off. Kyler Murray at quarterback, certainly, but a remarkably strong group of wide receivers (even with Deebo Samuel being hurt all year). Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Calvin Ridley and Terry McLaurin make for a tough foursome in this 3-WR start league. That's helped to overcome a running back group that's dealt with injury (Chris Carson, David Johnson) and unproductiveness (the Buffalo tandem). Nyheim Hines has chipped in some good weeks.
Matt Schauf of Draft Sharks is 2nd, and he got there slightly differently than Allan. A couple of strong wide receivers (Davante Adams, Robert Woods) but a strong running back duo of Alvin Kamara and Aaron Jones have been key. Schauf was saved by his No. 2 quarterback investment. He has Dak Prescott, who's been out for the year for some time, but backup Justin Herbert picked up right where Prescott left off.
David Dodds of FootballGuys is currently 3rd, with a balanced roster featuring a strong performer at each spot. Carson Wentz is having a lousy NFL year, but a good fantasy one (in leagues that don't penalize for turnovers like this one). Derrick Henry and Ronald Jones at running back, and a wide receiver group not far behind Allan's: Mike Evans, Amari Cooper, both Titans wide receivers and Tee Higgins.
Current standings are below. Full rosters can be seen in our magazine or by searching for the Fantasy Index Mock Auction League at RealTime Fantasy Sports.
FANTASY INDEX EXPERTS AUCTION LEAGUE | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T |
Fantasy Football Index | 96 | 25 | 0 |
Draft Sharks | 80 | 40 | 1 |
FootballGuys | 73 | 45 | 3 |
RotoWire | 70 | 51 | 0 |
YouRulz.com | 67 | 53 | 1 |
Perfect Season Fantasy Football | 62 | 56 | 3 |
Big Guy Fantasy Sports | 58 | 62 | 1 |
Yahoo! Sports | 52 | 67 | 2 |
FantasyData | 49 | 70 | 2 |
Fantasy Index Blackout | 48 | 72 | 1 |
The Huddle | 35 | 84 | 2 |
Extra Point Press | 28 | 93 | 0 |
--Andy Richardson