I recently participated in an Experts draft. It's a 14-team league, Standard (non-PPR) scoring, and I drew the 8th slot. Midway through the slow draft, it occurred to me that my team might need to apply for its AARP card.
I like young players with upside. I'd generally rather fill a roster with players whose best years are ahead of them, not behind them. But I'm also willing to go where the value is, and in this particular draft, a lot of the value fell with older guys, contract squabbles, and guys with uncertain injury status. At what point do we take chances on players with injury, age, or contract risks? At my pick, apparently.
The entire draft board can be seen right here. It's also presented in list form below, broken up into manageable chunks, with my picks in bold. Starting lineup: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE-PK-Def, 1 flex spot.
ROUNDS 1-4 | ||
---|---|---|
Pk | Player | Pos |
1.01 | Saquon Barkley | RB |
1.02 | Bijan Robinson | RB |
1.03 | Jahmyr Gibbs | RB |
1.04 | Ja'Marr Chase | WR |
1.05 | Derrick Henry | RB |
1.06 | Justin Jefferson | WR |
1.07 | Ashton Jeanty | RB |
1.08 | Josh Jacobs | RB |
1.09 | Christian McCaffrey | RB |
1.10 | Bucky Irving | RB |
1.11 | Chase Brown | RB |
1.12 | Nico Collins | WR |
1.13 | CeeDee Lamb | WR |
1.14 | Jonathan Taylor | RB |
2.01 | Malik Nabers | WR |
2.02 | Kyren Williams | RB |
2.03 | Omarion Hampton | RB |
2.04 | Brian Thomas | WR |
2.05 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR |
2.06 | Puka Nacua | WR |
2.07 | Tyreek Hill | WR |
2.08 | Drake London | WR |
2.09 | De'Von Achane | RB |
2.10 | James Cook | RB |
2.11 | Breece Hall | RB |
2.12 | Brock Bowers | TE |
2.13 | Lamar Jackson | QB |
2.14 | Ladd McConkey | WR |
3.01 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR |
3.02 | Kenneth Walker | SEA |
3.03 | Alvin Kamara | RB |
3.04 | Josh Allen | QB |
3.05 | A.J. Brown | WR |
3.06 | Mike Evans | WR |
3.07 | TreVeyon Henderson | RB |
3.08 | Joe Burrow | QB |
3.09 | James Conner | RB |
3.10 | Chuba Hubbard | RB |
3.11 | D'Andre Swift | RB |
3.12 | Jayden Daniels | QB |
3.13 | Garrett Wilson | WR |
3.14 | Trey McBride | TE |
4.01 | Jalen Hurts | QB |
4.02 | RJ Harvey | RB |
4.03 | Tee Higgins | WR |
4.04 | Courtland Sutton | WR |
4.05 | George Kittle | TE |
4.06 | DK Metcalf | WR |
4.07 | David Montgomery | RB |
4.08 | Marvin Harrison | ARI |
4.09 | DeVonta Smith | WR |
4.10 | Davante Adams | WR |
4.11 | Aaron Jones | RB |
4.12 | Zay Flowers | WR |
4.13 | D.J. Moore | WR |
4.14 | Jerry Jeudy | WR |
If you use our rankings and aren't picking in the top 5, you're probably going to be drafting Josh Jacobs. It was even more certain in a standard-scoring, running back-heavy first-round. Full-time back with no healthy, threatening backup on the roster. Easy pick.
Second round I took Tyreek Hill. Eh. There were other players I considered, I don't love the value, but I like the big-play potential (still), and the fact that he's the type of player who delivers long touchdowns and yards even if he doesn't catch 8 passes. In PPR, I would have gone with a different player. I don't love the pick in retrospect, but I also don't see anyone I wish I'd taken (maybe James Cook?), so we'll see. If he and Tua are healthy, I'll be fine. But I'll accept some criticism here.
The top QBs were starting to go and Burrow is our No. 1, so taking him as the QB3 looked fine. Fourth round, Montgomery as the 23rd running back off the board was just so-so. Definitely needed a 2nd running back and all that was left was tandem guys. Give me part of the tandem in one of the league's best offenses who might score 10-12 TDs. I look at the next 5-10 running backs off the board and don't see one I'd have considered instead of him.
ROUNDS 5-8 | ||
---|---|---|
Pk | Player | Pos |
5.01 | Sam LaPorta | TE |
5.02 | George Pickens | WR |
5.03 | Patrick Mahomes | QB |
5.04 | Xavier Worthy | WR |
5.05 | Brian Robinson | RB |
5.06 | Kyler Murray | QB |
5.07 | Tyrone Tracy | RB |
5.08 | Terry McLaurin | WR |
5.09 | Calvin Ridley | WR |
5.10 | Baker Mayfield | QB |
5.11 | Bo Nix | QB |
5.12 | Tetairoa McMillan | WR |
5.13 | Jameson Williams | WR |
5.14 | Jaylen Waddle | WR |
6.01 | Isiah Pacheco | RB |
6.02 | Mark Andrews | TE |
6.03 | Jaylen Warren | RB |
6.04 | Tony Pollard | RB |
6.05 | Rome Odunze | WR |
6.06 | J.J. McCarthy | QB |
6.07 | Joe Mixon | RB |
6.08 | Jared Goff | QB |
6.09 | Travis Etienne | RB |
6.10 | Stefon Diggs | WR |
6.11 | Rashee Rice | WR |
6.12 | Kaleb Johnson | RB |
6.13 | Jakobi Meyers | WR |
6.14 | Javonte Williams | RB |
7.01 | Rhamondre Stevenson | RB |
7.02 | Jordan Mason | RB |
7.03 | Deebo Samuel | WR |
7.04 | Travis Hunter | WR |
7.05 | Travis Kelce | TE |
7.06 | Chris Olave | WR |
7.07 | Jauan Jennings | WR |
7.08 | Michael Pittman | WR |
7.09 | Zach Charbonnet | RB |
7.10 | Chris Godwin | WR |
7.11 | David Njoku | TE |
7.12 | Evan Engram | TE |
7.13 | Drake Maye | QB |
7.14 | J.K. Dobbins | RB |
8.01 | Ricky Pearsall | WR |
8.02 | Khalil Shakir | WR |
8.03 | Rashod Bateman | WR |
8.04 | Jordan Addison | WR |
8.05 | Matthew Golden | WR |
8.06 | Najee Harris | RB |
8.07 | Dallas Goedert | TE |
8.08 | T.J. Hockenson | TE |
8.09 | Tyjae Spears | RB |
8.10 | Dak Prescott | QB |
8.11 | Tyler Warren | TE |
8.12 | Rachaad White | RB |
8.13 | Jayden Reed | WR |
8.14 | Brock Purdy | QB |
McLaurin is getting up there in years and there's a contract issue. I'm not concerned. Washington is going to make McLaurin happy, and if people are shying away worried they won't, I'll take him.
Mixon has a foot injury. And he's older. And yet, Houston hasn't confirmed he'll miss anytime at all. Sixth round of a 14-team standard league as the RB30, either it will be a blown pick or the steal of the draft. We'll see. No regrets in taking Mixon here; worth the risk. Michael Pittman, we're not big fans, but potential No. 1 WR as the 40th player at the position off the board, sure. It appears I'll have Dallas Goedert in every league this year.
ROUNDS 9-12 | ||
---|---|---|
Pk | Player | Pos |
9.01 | Emeka Egbuka | WR |
9.02 | Jake Ferguson | TE |
9.03 | Marvin Mims | WR |
9.04 | Cam Skattebo | RB |
9.05 | Keon Coleman | WR |
9.06 | Colston Loveland | TE |
9.07 | Tank Bigsby | RB |
9.08 | Cooper Kupp | WR |
9.09 | Josh Downs | WR |
9.10 | Austin Ekeler | RB |
9.11 | Bhayshul Tuten | RB |
9.12 | Quinshon Judkins | RB |
9.13 | Philadelphia Eagles | D/ST |
9.14 | Rashid Shaheed | WR |
10.01 | Braelon Allen | RB |
10.02 | Wan'Dale Robinson | WR |
10.03 | Jerome Ford | RB |
10.04 | Keenan Allen | WR |
10.05 | Darnell Mooney | WR |
10.06 | Tucker Kraft | TE |
10.07 | Trey Benson | RB |
10.08 | Jayden Higgins | WR |
10.09 | Caleb Williams | QB |
10.10 | Ray Davis | RB |
10.11 | Isaac Guerendo | RB |
10.12 | Luther Burden | WR |
10.13 | Brandon Aubrey | PK |
10.14 | Trevor Lawrence | QB |
11.01 | Kyle Pitts | TE |
11.02 | Dylan Sampson | RB |
11.03 | Dalton Kincaid | TE |
11.04 | Jaydon Blue | RB |
11.05 | Christian Kirk | WR |
11.06 | Hunter Henry | TE |
11.07 | Nick Chubb | RB |
11.08 | Zach Ertz | TE |
11.09 | Woody Marks | RB |
11.10 | Rico Dowdle | RB |
11.11 | Michael Penix | ATL |
11.12 | Denver Broncos | D/ST |
11.13 | Anthony Richardson | QB |
11.14 | Brandon Aiyuk | WR |
12.01 | Tyler Allgeier | RB |
12.02 | Quentin Johnston | WR |
12.03 | Demario Douglas | WR |
12.04 | Dont'e Thornton | WR |
12.05 | Joshua Palmer | WR |
12.06 | Jordan Love | QB |
12.07 | Justin Herbert | QB |
12.08 | Justin Fields | QB |
12.09 | Jaylen Wright | RB |
12.10 | Miles Sanders | RB |
12.11 | Tre Harris | WR |
12.12 | Alec Pierce | WR |
12.13 | Roschon Johnson | RB |
12.14 | Kyle Williams | WR |
I'm pretty cool on aging Cooper Kupp. But WR51? That's behind most No. 2 wide receivers. I'm not going to bang the drum for him too much but pretty good chance he outperforms that draft position. Trey Benson, I view as more than a quote unquote handcuff. I think Arizona is going to run a ton and it's going to be more of a 70-30 backfield last year. Either way, I needed another running back, and Conner always misses time to injury. Zach Ertz and Justin Herbert, I want to have solid No. 2 options at quarterback and tight end, and these guys will do nicely. Just scraps left at RB and WR at this point in a 14-team league.
ROUNDS 13-18 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Pk | Player | Pos | |
13.01 | Will Shipley | RB | |
13.02 | Brenton Strange | TE | |
13.03 | Xavier Legette | WR | |
13.04 | Isaiah Likely | TE | |
13.05 | C.J. Stroud | QB | |
13.06 | Romeo Doubs | WR | |
13.07 | Jonnu Smith | TE | |
13.08 | Cedric Tillman | WR | |
13.09 | Adam Thielen | WR | |
13.10 | Bryce Young | QB | |
13.11 | Tahj Brooks | RB | |
13.12 | Cam Ward | QB | |
13.13 | Jalen Coker | WR | |
13.14 | Kendre Miller | RB | |
14.01 | Darius Slayton | WR | |
14.02 | Jalen McMillan | WR | |
14.03 | Jack Bech | WR | |
14.04 | Elijah Arroyo | TE | |
14.05 | Pittsburgh Steelers | D/ST | |
14.06 | Minnesota Vikings | D/ST | |
14.07 | Baltimore Ravens | D/ST | |
14.08 | Roman Wilson | WR | |
14.09 | Justice Hill | RB | |
14.10 | Chigoziem Okonkwo | TE | |
14.11 | Houston Texans | D/ST | |
14.12 | MarShawn Lloyd | RB | |
14.13 | Tory Horton | WR | |
14.14 | DJ Giddens | RB | |
15.01 | Buffalo Bills | D/ST | |
15.02 | Marquise Brown | WR | |
15.03 | Matthew Stafford | QB | |
15.04 | Jake Bates | PK | |
15.05 | Kareem Hunt | RB | |
15.06 | Detroit Lions | D/ST | |
15.07 | Andrei Iosivas | WR | |
15.08 | Isaac TeSlaa | WR | |
15.09 | Darren Waller | TE | |
15.10 | Cameron Dicker | PK | |
15.11 | Seattle Seahawks | D/ST | |
15.12 | Chase McLaughlin | PK | |
15.13 | Sean Tucker | RB | |
15.14 | Michael Wilson | WR | |
16.01 | Juwan Johnson | TE | |
16.02 | Ty Johnson | RB | |
16.03 | Jaleel McLaughlin | RB | |
16.04 | Kyle Monangai | RB | |
16.05 | Mason Taylor | TE | |
16.06 | Jake Elliott | PK | |
16.07 | Blake Corum | RB | |
16.08 | Los Angeles Chargers | D/ST | |
16.09 | Wil Lutz | PK | |
16.10 | Jalen Tolbert | WR | |
16.11 | Keaton Mitchell | RB | |
16.12 | Geno Smith | QB | |
16.13 | New England Patriots | D/ST | |
16.14 | Chris Boswell | PK | |
17.01 | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | |
17.02 | Sam Darnold | QB | |
17.03 | New York Jets | D/ST | |
17.04 | Dameon Pierce | RB | |
17.05 | Harrison Butker | PK | |
17.06 | Green Bay Packers | D/ST | |
17.07 | Jalen Nailor | WR | |
17.08 | Ka'imi Fairbairn | PK | |
17.09 | Emanuel Wilson | RB | |
17.10 | Josh Reynolds | WR | |
17.11 | Jalen Royals | WR | |
17.12 | Harold Fannin | TE | |
17.13 | Cam Little | PK | |
17.14 | Brandon McManus | PK | |
18.01 | Arizona Cardinals | D/ST | |
18.02 | Raheem Mostert | RB | |
18.03 | Brashard Smith | RB | |
18.04 | Younghoe Koo | PK | |
18.05 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | RB | |
18.06 | Chicago Bears | D/ST | |
18.07 | Pat Freiermuth | TE | |
18.08 | Evan McPherson | PK | |
18.09 | Tyler Lockett | WR | |
18.10 | Cincinnati Bengals | D/ST | |
18.11 | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | |
18.12 | Matt Gay | PK | |
18.13 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | |
18.14 | Aaron Rodgers | QB |
Kickers, defenses, young fliers at running back and wide receiver, and veterans who seem like viable options. Why the person who drafted Kyren Williams didn't select Blake Corum before Round 16 is beyond me. (I didn't draft Josh Jacobs or Joe Mixon backups because no one actually knows who the No. 2 is and if they'll play in a committee anyway; that's not the case with Corum and the Rams.) Would TeSlaa being a viable wide receiver in Standard this year as a No. 3 or potential No. 2 be out of the question? I don't think so.
That's the team, please feel free to question, rip, or say who I should / you would have drafted instead, and I'll defend below.