What kind of experts league would push away from the pier this early in August? The kind that seeks to benefit you, dear reader.
At 1:00pm Pacific Standard Time on August the 8th, 2025, the inaugural Fantasy Index Invitational put its first-ever drafter on the clock. A true 'we all remember where we were' moment, to be sure.
Ian Allan opened with the 'old school' RB double tap, while visiting dignitary Pat Fitzmaurice opted for the nouveau WR-WR start. Will Andy Richardson split the difference with a running back coming back around - or will he break the seal at one of the other positions? We'll find out shortly!
2nd Round
| Pick | Team | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.01 | Ben Prator | Ashton Jeanty | RB |
| 2.02 | Pat Fitzmaurice | Brian Thomas | WR |
| 2.03 | Ian Allan | Kyren Williams | RB |
| 2.04 | Boards | ||
| 2.05 | Luke Wilson | ||
| 2.06 | Moss | ||
| 2.07 | Sweet Lou | ||
| 2.08 | Andy Richardson | ||
| 2.09 | Tom Mignone | ||
| 2.10 | Todd Zola | ||
| 2.11 | TPats | ||
| 2.12 | Andrew S. |
2nd Round Commentary
- Fitz, looked like you had Nacua and Brian Thomas queued up and ready to go when the board got to you at 11 and 14, respectively. Having seen how the first round has played out, any regrets there or changes to your queue for the next two rounds?
Pat Fitzmaurice: No regrets, Luke. Did consider Jeanty but couldn't resist getting a pair of the top WRs because I don't love the talent drop-off that's going to happen at the position soon.
- ARSB and Jeanty at the turn Ben, nice. How much did those picks makes themselves?
Ben Prator: Tricky, really. You know I don't get gaga for rookies and the Raiders could be bad. There are backs I am a bit more confident about later, but I was sure as hell taking an RB here. Volume floor should protect me and the upside is there. Couldn't convince myself that Collins is a better bet for 9+ TDs than ARSB, but I tried.
Probably the only league where Jeanty falls into my lap this year, too.
- Ian, are you remotely surprised that you wound up with the RB-RB open? You're rather bullish on Nico Collins, but opted to leave him on the board here.
Ian Allan: I like Collins. Had I been going WR, he would have been my guy. With only 2 starting WR and the double flex, I thought best to just take the two biggest point scorers.
- Sweet Lou: Moss, loved the intestinal fortitude you showed drafting CMC.
Luke Wilson: You just want company on your one-way ticket to fantasy purgatory in our dynasty league if he goes belly up again.
Sweet Lou: Haha, no I tend to have CMC higher ranked than others. Or so I thought.
Luke Wilson: Gotta admit, I'm surprised at the appetite for risk on CMC in the first round. He is a weekly advantage if he plays 14+ games, sure, but he doesn't win you the league. But if he implodes before Halloween he can sure lose you a league like this (duh).
TPats: Historical season or no season. That's basically it, and honestly this was exactly the league in which to take that kind of risk.
Sweet Lou: Definitely a risk. But honestly, any RB drafted early can get injured. If CMC is healthy, he will be a huge part of that offense.
1st Round
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.01 | Andrew S. | Ja'Marr Chase | WR | |
| 1.02 | TPats | Saquon Barkley | RB | |
| 1.03 | Todd Zola | Bijan Robinson | RB | |
| 1.04 | Tom Mignone | Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | |
| 1.05 | Andy Richardson | Justin Jefferson | WR | |
| 1.06 | Sweet Lou | CeeDee Lamb | WR | |
| 1.07 | Moss | Christian McCaffrey | RB | |
| 1.08 | Luke Wilson | Derrick Henry | RB | |
| 1.09 | Boards | Malik Nabers | WR | |
| 1.10 | Ian Allan | Josh Jacobs | RB | |
| 1.11 | Pat Fitzmaurice | Puka Nacua | WR | |
| 1.12 | Ben Prator | Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR |
1st Round Commentary
- How much trepidation over who to take at two? What wound up being the deciding factor to go with Barkley?
TPats: None, I made up my mind yesterday. His situation is exactly the same as last year: Rinse, repeat.
- Justin Jefferson at five qualified as a mild surprise, Andy. What was your thought process there?
Andy Richardson: He's the second-best wide receiver. I was hoping one of the three running backs at 2-3-4 would fall, but they didn't; if Chase and those three running backs go in the top 4, as they did here and probably will in most drafts, then pick 5 is not the best draft position. Oh well, I still think Jefferson will be great.
- WHOA, our first bombshell of the draft and it is a doozy! Explain how you summoned the intestinal fortitude to take Christian McCaffrey at seven overall here Moss?!
Moss: If he plays, he is RB1 in all formats and a perennial top 2 pick. Home run swing to get the 1.01 at the 1.07, or I could just be Casey at the bat.
Andy Richardson:I think sometimes people fret too much about rankings when players are close. The difference in points in our projections between WR2 and WR8 is nine points. Over a full season. There's a margin of error in these things, so when looking at Lamb-Jefferson-Puka-etc., it's basically personal preference.
- I know you and I both had Nabers in our top 5 at the position. Were you more excited to get him at eight or more concerned to get forced off of RB?
Boards: Little bit of both actually. Realizing it's 2RB, I was debating taking an RB there who I have ranked higher than consensus, but ultimately opted to take someone I consider a top 3 WR talent and the unquestioned alpha on his team, regardless of the QB concerns. He was in a worse QB situation last year.
- Andy Richardson: Straight off his board, Ian would have drafted Jacobs as high as fifth overall. Would have been stunning if he selected anyone else.
—This article will be updated continuously in the coming days - stay tuned.