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Andy Richardson

Best-Ball Draft recap (Rounds 11-24)

Looking for depth and deep sleepers

On Monday I posted the first 10 rounds of a best-ball draft I'm participating in. Here now are the next 14, which will be it -- the draft actually went 28 rounds, but nobody really needs to see all the 3rd kickers and defenses and 4th quarterbacks. (I will answer questions about the final four rounds in the comments if necessary.)

This is a PPR league with TE-premium scoring (1.5 points per reception for that position), and it has 2 flex spots (RB-WR-TE). Further details in my initial post, right here. My picks are in bold, and I'll discuss them as we go.

PickPlayerPos
11.1Juwan JohnsonTE
11.2Matthew GoldenWR
11.3Aaron JonesRB
11.4Kyler MurrayQB
11.5Brenton StrangeTE
11.6Jordan AddisonWR
11.7Hunter HenryTE
11.8Chig OkonkwoTE
11.9Xavier WorthyWR
11.10Malik WillisQB
11.11Jonah ColemanRB
11.12Zach CharbonnetRB
12.1Keaton MitchellRB
12.2Jayden HigginsWR
12.3Cam WardQB
12.4Tyrone TracyRB
12.5Sam DarnoldQB
12.6Romeo DoubsWR
12.7Jacory Croskey-MerrittRB
12.8KC ConcepcionWR
12.9Stefon DiggsWR
12.10C.J. StroudQB
12.11Dalton SchultzTE
12.12Chris RodriguezRB

My first three wide receivers (A.J. Brown, Jaylen Waddle, DK Metcalf) are established veterans, while Golden (pictured) certainly isn't that. He had a quiet rookie season with an injury and a crowded receiving corps helping to keep him that way. But he's also a first-round talent on team that let a couple of veterans (Doubs, Wicks) go on their merry way, and there's path to being the No. 1 or 2, depending on how Christian Watson and Jayden Reed fare (injuries have slowed both at times). I considered Jordan Addison, ranked higher; I think he's safer, but there's a little more upside potential with Golden. But close.

Schultz is my third tight end and a pretty easy pick as the 21st one selected in this scoring system. He was the 7th-best player at the position last year, catching 82 balls, and not much has changed in that regard.

PickPlayerPos
13.1Daniel JonesQB
13.2Fernando MendozaQB
13.3Jordan MasonRB
13.4Khalil ShakirWR
13.5Jalen CokerWR
13.6T.J. HockensonTE
13.7Brandon AubreyPK
13.8Tyjae SpearsRB
13.9Greg DulcichTE
13.10Gunnar HelmTE
13.11HOU Team DefenseDF
13.12Woody MarksRB
14.1Rashid ShaheedWR
14.2Kenyon SadiqTE
14.3Tyler AllgeierRB
14.4Bryce YoungQB
14.5Isiah PachecoRB
14.6AJ BarnerTE
14.7DEN Team DefenseDF
14.8Dylan SampsonRB
14.9LAR Team DefenseDF
14.10Jacoby BrissettQB
14.11Brian RobinsonRB
14.12Cameron DickerPK

As discussed elsewhere at the site, I don't expect Kirk Cousins to keep Mendoza out of the lineup for long. Regardless he's my 3rd quarterback and I probably won't need much out of him, but the second half of the season, especially if Burrow or Shough gets hurt, his running potential might get him in my lineup once or twice.

Some No. 2 running backs went earlier than I took Atlanta's other B.Robinson, some later. Maybe I could have waited a couple more rounds, it's hard to say. But peace of mind is worth a lot and if Bijan does get hurt, Brian should be a three-down back. If you draft a franchise running back in the first round of a best-ball draft, I believe it is worth prioritizing his backup if it's clear who that player is.

PickPlayerPos
15.1Pat FreiermuthTE
15.2Jalen McMillanWR
15.3Ka'imi FairbairnPK
15.4Emmett JohnsonRB
15.5Cade OttonTE
15.6Cam LittlePK
15.7Jauan JenningsWR
15.8Jason MyersPK
15.9SEA Team DefenseDF
15.10Tyler LoopPK
15.11Terrance FergusonTE
15.12NE Team DefenseDF
16.1Jake BatesPK
16.2Kaytron AllenRB
16.3Chase McLaughlinPK
16.4Deebo SamuelWR
16.5Tre TuckerWR
16.6Jalen NailorWR
16.7Aaron RodgersQB
16.8Geno SmithQB
16.9Antonio WilliamsWR
16.10Harrison MevisPK
16.11Omar CooperWR
16.12Nicholas SingletonRB

Hitting the wide receiver position again with a couple of young fliers. Tampa Bay's depth chart is pretty hazy, with Egbuka-Godwin probably the top 2 but Egbuka hurt/disappointing the second half of last year and Godwin a definite injury risk. McMillan hasn't been a picture of durability either but has been productive on the field.

Investing in the Jets passing game in general and a rookie in particular is kind of a longshot, but Cooper is a first-round pick going to a team with Garrett Wilson and a lot of questions. The passing game will be better with Geno Smith (it could hardly be worse), and maybe Cooper is a breakout rookie. It's Round 16, may as well take a stab or two. He's the 64th wide receiver selected. (I was hoping, however, to draft the Thicker Kicker Mevis here, taken one pick before.)

PickPlayerPos
17.1Harrison ButkerPK
17.2Will ReichardPK
17.3LAC Team DefenseDF
17.4Alvin KamaraRB
17.5Eddy PineiroPK
17.6Denzel BostonWR
17.7David NjokuTE
17.8Justice HillRB
17.9Tua TagovailoaQB
17.10PHI Team DefenseDF
17.11Cairo SantosPK
17.12Andy BorregalesPK
18.1Tank DellWR
18.2Trey SmackPK
18.3Chris BoswellPK
18.4Wil LutzPK
18.5MIN Team DefenseDF
18.6Evan McPhersonPK
18.7JAC Team DefenseDF
18.8Braelon AllenRB
18.9Nick FolkPK
18.10Mike GesickiTE
18.11Tyler BassPK
18.12PIT Team DefenseDF

Kickers went fast and furious these rounds. I trust Ian Allan's kicker rankings over all others; I don't know anyone who's spent more time analyzing the position. He ranked Reichard 6th, noting that Minnesota had the 2nd-most kicking points two years ago and was above-average even in last year's trainwreck offense. I'll take him at PK11.

Ian ranked Bass 20th, right where I took him. But this is a no-transactions best-ball league and 1-2 of the guys ranked ahead of him are facing camp battles making them risky picks (Trey Smack will probably be Green Bay's kicker, but it's not certain). I wanted a relatively safe veteran, and even though Bass didn't play last year, I'm comfortable he'll be kicking for Buffalo this season.

PickPlayerPos
19.1Malik WashingtonWR
19.2BUF Team DefenseDF
19.3Tank BigsbyRB
19.4Charlie SmythPK
19.5Jake ElliottPK
19.6Calvin RidleyWR
19.7Sean TuckerRB
19.8Travis HunterWR
19.9Mike WashingtonRB
19.10Ryan FlournoyWR
19.11Adonai MitchellWR
19.12Eli StowersTE
20.1MarShawn LloydRB
20.2Chad RylandPK
20.3BAL Team DefenseDF
20.4Jake TongesTE
20.5Ray DavisRB
20.6Colby ParkinsonTE
20.7Evan EngramTE
20.8Jerry JeudyWR
20.9Tre' HarrisWR
20.10Isaac TeSlaaWR
20.11George HolaniRB
20.12CHI Team DefenseDF

Might have waited too long on a defense. I don't tend to leap at them in best-ball because there's a lot of year-to-year fluctuation and this scoring system (sacks, takeaways, touchdowns) doesn't have a dramatic impact. Last year the difference between the No. 5 and No. 15 Defense was a point per week. So if you're not going to take one of the top 2-3, may as well wait. I did like Pittsburgh more than Buffalo and wish I'd taken them a pick earlier.

Holani in Round 20 feels good, I considered him a couple of rounds earlier. Until Charbonnet is healthy, Holani is the favorite for passing-downs work over Jadarian Price. I am aware that the fact that Price wasn't used as a receiver in college doesn't mean he can't do it, but until we see some actual evidence beyond optimistic speculation, I think it will be someone else getting those chances in Seattle's backfield.

PickPlayerPos
21.1Ryan FitzgeraldPK
21.2GB Team DefenseDF
21.3Joey SlyePK
21.4Demond ClaiborneRB
21.5CLE Team DefenseDF
21.6DET Team DefenseDF
21.7Troy FranklinWR
21.8Deshaun WatsonQB
21.9Jordan JamesRB
21.10Theo JohnsonTE
21.11KC Team DefenseDF
21.12NO Team DefenseDF
22.1De'Zhaun StriblingWR
22.2ATL Team DefenseDF
22.3Jaydon BlueRB
22.4Jake MoodyPK
22.5NYG Team DefenseDF
22.6TB Team DefenseDF
22.7James ConnerRB
22.8Michael MayerTE
22.9SF Team DefenseDF
22.10Mason TaylorTE
22.11Kimani VidalRB
22.12DAL Team DefenseDF

Green Bay wins the lottery as my second defense. Hopefully Micah Parsons is healthy early in the season.

The Chargers have a new offense and they signed explosive Keaton Mitchell. He'll probably be the change-of-pace behind Omarion Hampton. But Vidal was pretty productive filling in for Hampton a year ago, and I believe he's the correct bet to be lead runner if Hampton gets injured. Mitchell has had double-digit carries one time in his three-year career and (I think) will remain in a secondary role. Somebody drafted him 10 rounds earlier. This is best-ball, making a player like Mitchell more intriguing, but I like Vidal in the 22nd so much more than Mitchell in the 12th it's not even funny.

PickPlayerPos
23.1Dontayvion WicksWR
23.2Chris BrooksRB
23.3CIN Team DefenseDF
23.4Jason SandersPK
23.5IND Team DefenseDF
23.6Zane GonzalezPK
23.7CAR Team DefenseDF
23.8Ben SaulsPK
23.9Michael PenixQB
23.10Darnell MooneyWR
23.11Jaylen WrightRB
23.12Kirk CousinsQB
24.1Chris BellWR
24.2Ted HurstWR
24.3TEN Team DefenseDF
24.4WAS Team DefenseDF
24.5Rashod BatemanWR
24.6NYJ Team DefenseDF
24.7Shedeur SandersQB
24.8MIA Team DefenseDF
24.9Matt GayPK
24.10Tyquan ThorntonWR
24.11Oscar DelpTE
24.12Jaylin NoelWR

MarShawn Lloyd was selected four rounds earlier in this draft than Chris Brooks. Nothing against Lloyd, but I need to see something -- anything -- at the NFL level from Lloyd before assuming that Year 3 is the year he puts it all together. He's been injured for two full seasons. I'm similarly cool on Jonathon Brooks, frankly, but he was a better prospect (although I can't agree with his Round 8 selection in this draft). Anyhoo, Brooks in Round 23 seems good to me.

Delp is one of our own Luke Wilson's favorite rookie tight ends. He actually snuck him into his top 20 in the Experts Poll; crazy or crazy like a fox? Dunno, but Round 23 as the 39th TE drafted is a pretty low price tag.

The last four rounds include more kickers and defenses, unrostered veterans coming off serious injuries like Tyreek and Najee, and veterans who might chip in a good week or two. I grabbed a pair of functional wideouts (Cooper Kupp, Devaughn Vele), and another quarterback (Joe Flacco, who history suggests will put up decent numbers for Cincinnati should my top quarterback, Joe Burrow, get hurt); I rolled the dice on Blake Grupe, battling it out with Spencer Shrader in Indy, as my 3rd PK in Round 28.

Being honest, I'm lukewarm on my team. I should be fine at QB (Cincinnati) and WR (three No. 1s, and some good depth). Excellent at TE, potentially three top-15 guys. RB, I've got Atlanta's backfield anchoring one spot, but am otherwise reliant on a couple of modest veterans (Montgomery, Dowdle) and a bunch of backups who won't do much if the starters are healthy. We'll see.

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