Here are some post-draft observations I had:
Mid-tier RB and WR draft prices were overinflated AGAIN. I think most of us started off timid again, with players like Amon-Ra ($61), CMC ($60), CeeDee ($59), Kenneth Walker ($55), Jeanty ($55), Derrick Henry ($48), and Drake London ($47) going for fairly reasonable prices. (For reference, last year the highest drafted players were JaMarr ($71), CeeDee ($69), Gibbs ($69), CMC ($66), Amon-Ra ($65), and Justin Jefferson ($64)) But when the RB2s and WR2s started getting nominated, the money started flowing: the cost for Javonte Williams ($40), David Montgomery ($34), Bhayshul Tuten ($32), Devonta Smith ($35), Tetairoa McMillan ($31), Tee Higgins ($26), and Ladd McConkey ($26) were surprising to me. I guess there just comes a point when you realize you don’t have any RBs or WRs so you pay up for what’s left. Maybe that’s something we won’t ever get over in an auction draft.
Yahoo Autodraft still sucks. Maybe ChatGPT says Aaron drafted 3rd best, but it’s probably a close cousin to Yahoo’s Autodraft AI, so I’ll attribute that to AIgroupthink. If at all possible, avoid Yahoo Autodraft. However, I would like to see Aaron prove me wrong.
Keeping top-tier players is still beneficial. The scarcity of RB1, WR1, and TE1s in this draft was very evident, and securing one without having to get into a bidding war provides a level of security that I think is worth it, even at or slightly above average draft cost.
The draft is just the 1st step. Last year, 5 of my top 6 post-draft ranked teams didn’t make the playoffs. Part of the reason was due to injuries, part of the reason was due to mismanagement, and probably part of the reason is a flawed Power Rankings system. But my actual point is that there’s a lot more FF season to be played, so just because a team looks bad now doesn’t mean it will end the season badly (shoutout to Eric, who was ranked #10 last year)
QB: 20%
WR: 35%
RB: 30%
TE: 10%
DEF / XF: 5%
On to the rankings!
1. The IR-Relevant Team (Jeff Lin)
QB: Lamar Jackson ($21), Trevor Lawrence ($6)
WR: A.J. Brown ($35), Luther Burden III ($18), Jameson Williams ($8), Alec Pierce ($4), Jordan Addison ($2)
RB: Jeremiyah Love ($42), Breece Hall ($23), Travis Etienne Jr. ($18), Rhamondre Stevenson ($4), MarShawn Lloyd ($2)
TE: Tyler Warren ($15), Greg Dulcich ($1)
DEF: Minnesota ($1)
Jeff Lin had the most balanced team after this year’s draft, in my opinion. Lamar Jackson is a top-tier, dual threat QB and Trevor Lawrence is a solid backup option. AJ Brown will likely have more production in New England, Luther Burden and Jameson Williams are top receiving options on high-octane offenses, and if Alec Pierce can get healthy, he could be a threat. Jeremiyah Love and Breece Hall ought to be bell cow RBs on their teams, and Etienne and Stevenson are currently #1 options on their teams as well. Plus Tyler Warren is a top-4 TE. While Minnesota D is probably Jeff’s weakest link, with his infamous in-season action, he’ll likely stream that spot on a regular basis so that is probably the least of his concerns. Jeff has set himself up for a bounce-back season if his players can stay healthy.
2. chinaballa (Andrew)
QB: Drake Maye ($6)
WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($37), Parker Washington ($18), Terry McLaurin ($16), Mike Evans ($12), Rashid Shaheed ($2)
RB: Ashton Jeanty ($55), Bucky Irving ($17), Jonathon Brooks ($12), J.K. Dobbins ($6), Chuba Hubbard ($3)
TE: Tucker Kraft ($11), Terrance Ferguson ($1), Kenyon Sadiq ($1)
DEF: Philadelphia ($3)
Andrew was able to make use of his JSN savings to build a deeper WR group. I like Parker Washington to emerge as the top receiving option in Jacksonville, Evans is old but a reliable vet for an injury-prone SF team, and McLaurin has shown he can be a big threat with a healthy Jayden Daniels. It’s not a flashy WR group, but it’s one of the more solid ones in our league. Jeanty is a great RB1, but Andrew might struggle at the RB2 position - I’m not sure if Bucky Irving can return to his rookie form, and Jonathon Brooks and his twice-torn ACL is a risky player to rely on. Andrew was smart to also draft Chuba, but he’s also never really been a reliable every-week RB2. I’m not sure why JK Dobbins is still in the league, but he is too injury prone to rely on. Drake Maye ought to ascend at QB, assuming he goes back to regular season form and not playoff form. And Tucker Kraft (when healthy) can be a beast. Philly should be a solid D, and bonus points for taking a few fliers on two young TEs.
3. Terrific (Taylor’s Version) (David)
QB: Jalen Hurts ($8), Malik Willis ($1)
WR: Justin Jefferson ($57), Rashee Rice ($18), Josh Downs ($3), Michael Pittman Jr. ($1), Khalil Shakir ($1)
RB: Jahmyr Gibbs ($67), Jadarian Price ($13), Jaylen Warren ($11), RJ Harvey ($2), Chris Rodriguez Jr. ($1)
TE: Kyle Pitts Sr. ($9), Chig Okonkwo ($1)
DEF: Jacksonville ($2)
David put together a solid team but there are a few glaring question marks in his WR group that makes me hesitate to bump him higher in the rankings. Justin Jefferson is one of the best WRs in the game, but will he have a decent enough QB to throw him catchable balls? Rashee Rice can be a league-winner if he’s on the field, but how many games will he actually play? Will Josh Downs step into a significant role in Indy? Will MPJ adjust to his new team? I’m most worried about Rice, but if things are favorable for David’s WRs, he could have a strong team. There’s no better player than Jahmyr Gibbs to carry this team, and Jadarian Price is a very interesting rookie prospect in Seattle who I’m bullish on. Atlanta paid Kyle Pitts the big bucks, and Jalen Hurts should be better with a new offensive coordinator. Jacksonville D also has a really easy schedule to start the season (that’s who I was targeting in the draft before David sniped them). Overall, a really nice draft for David.
4. I am not sacko! (Jeff Chen)
QB: Josh Allen ($36), Matthew Stafford ($2)
WR: Nico Collins ($38), Carnell Tate ($7), Jayden Reed ($1), Romeo Doubs ($1)
RB: James Cook III ($40), David Montgomery ($34), Kyren Williams ($24), Woody Marks ($1)
TE: Harold Fannin Jr. ($9), Juwan Johnson ($1), Oronde Gadsden ($1), Hunter Henry ($1)
DEF: Seattle ($4)
Jeff Chen ended up with a pretty decent team, in spite of overpaying (in my opinion) for Josh Allen and David Montgomery. Allen will likely be the top QB in FF again, so at least Jeff has secure production at that position. At RB, I like James Cook and Kyren Williams (who I think Jeff got for a good deal to balance out the Montgomery splurge). Picking up Marks as insurance for Montgomery was smart as well. It would have been smarter to secure Corum to pair with Kyren, but I think Jeff ran out of money by then. Jeff’s WR room is where he lacks depth. Nico Collins is a great WR1 option, but Carnell Tate’s success will depend on whether Cam Ward can take a step forward, and Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs are part of crowded receiving rooms in Green Bay and New England. I do think Fannin is a decent start at TE, but Jeff has 3 backup TEs in case things don’t work out (or for that last Flex spot). Seattle has one of the best Ds in the league, so that should be a weekly lock at the DEF position as well. Jeff could have done worse, but the lack of depth at WR will give him some headaches.
5. 第六 (Abraham)
QB: Joe Burrow ($11)
WR: DeVonta Smith ($35), Malik Nabers ($27), George Pickens ($26), Michael Wilson ($3), Denzel Boston ($2), Tre' Harris ($1)
RB: Christian McCaffrey ($60), TreVeyon Henderson ($12), Cam Skattebo ($10), Tank Bigsby ($1), Tyrone Tracy Jr. ($1), Tyjae Spears ($1)
TE: Dallas Goedert ($9)
DEF: Buffalo ($1)
Abraham has a pretty good team on paper right now. His WR room is very strong - I think DeVonta Smith could take a huge leap this year as the top WR in Philly, George Pickens has proven he can produce even with CeeDee on the field, and Michael Wilson flashed last year. I’m a bit concerned about Malik Nabers with his injury and a new offensive coordinator, but he still has the talent to be great. CMC staying healthy is obviously a big concern, but even assuming he remains on the field this season, Abraham will have trouble figuring out who to start at RB2. My initial thought is Cam Skattebo but I wonder how much the team will ease him back in after his gruesome injury. Securing Tyrone Tracy was smart for insurance purposes. TreVeyon currently isn’t even the workhorse back in New England, but he’s shown he can produce when given the opportunity. I just don’t know if he’ll get enough of those opportunities, especially to start the season. I like Burrow to excel this season, though, and Goedert should be above average at TE as well.
6. ToInfinityandBijan! (Eric)
QB: Justin Herbert ($4), Jordan Love ($2)
WR: Chris Olave ($36), DJ Moore ($18), Brian Thomas Jr. ($10), Jakobi Meyers ($6), Wan'Dale Robinson ($2)
RB: Bijan Robinson ($61), Javonte Williams ($40), Jacory Croskey-Merritt ($8), Aaron Jones Sr. ($5), Blake Corum ($3), Brian Robinson ($1)
TE: Dalton Kincaid ($3)
DEF: Green Bay ($1)
Bijan will need to carry Eric’s team again if he hopes to threepeat. While he doesn’t have a terrible team, there are definitely some holes. Olave is an ok WR1, and while I think DJ Moore will be a good enough WR2 option, he’s also disappointed in the recent future, so continued regression is a possibility. I still think Parker Washington will end up being the primary target in Jacksonville, which means Brian Thomas Jr and Jakobi Meyers may be disappointments for Eric. If Cam Ward steps up in Tennessee, Wan’Dale could be relevant, but I wouldn’t bank on it. At RB, Eric probably has the best RB duo besides maybe Gabs. Bijan and Javonte should be as reliable as it gets. After that, there is some significant dropoff. I suppose JCM, Blake Corum, or Aaron Jones could be Flexed in a pinch but it won’t feel good. And Brian Robinson is purely an insurance back. So past RB2, Eric lacks reliable depth at RB. Herbert / Love is a great QB duo, and Kincaid is just an average TE in my opinion.
7. Spider Pig (Luke)
QB: Patrick Mahomes ($2), Brock Purdy ($1)
WR: Drake London ($47), Puka Nacua ($47), Garrett Wilson ($28), Travis Hunter ($1), Jaylin Noel ($1), Tre Tucker ($1)
RB: Saquon Barkley ($51), Tony Pollard ($7), Keaton Mitchell ($3), Alvin Kamara ($1), Ray Davis ($1)
TE: Sam LaPorta ($8)
DEF: Detroit ($1)
Besides Aaron’s ridonkulous WR group, Luke has the best WR corps in our league. Puka, London, and Garrett Wilson is about as good of an WR trio as it gets. However, his RBs are lacking big-time. Even if Saquon stays healthy and doesn’t continue to regress (which is a possibility), Pollard is a sad RB2 option, and Keaton Mitchell, Alvin Kamara, and Ray Davis are no more than insurance backs. Luke better hope Saquon stays healthy, or else he might have to get in on some trade action. Mahomes probably won’t be vintage Mahomes after his ACL injury, but at least Luke has Purdy to fall back on if needed. And Sam LaPorta should be a reasonable every-week starter at TE. Luke could have done worse for the first time drafting in a long time - it was good to have him back, even though having the ghost of Justina join us was cool too.
8. Ben Johnson is GOAT (Haji)
QB: Caleb Williams ($6), Jared Goff ($2)
WR: CeeDee Lamb ($59), Jaylen Waddle ($29), Rome Odunze ($12), Chris Godwin Jr. ($11), Stefon Diggs ($4), Matthew Golden ($1), Deebo Samuel Sr. ($1)
RB: De'Von Achane ($34), D'Andre Swift ($21), Zach Charbonnet ($1)
TE: Colston Loveland ($12), George Kittle ($4)
DEF: Denver ($3)
The Chicago Bears - sorry, I mean Haji’s team - is banking on some major offensive progress in Chicago to carry his team. Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift, and Colston Loveland all on one fantasy team is wild. I see it either going really well or really poorly, and I’m not sure if there’s an in-between. But actually: Loveland will be a top-TE and Haji has a great backup option in Kittle (or Flex-worthy as well), and his WR room is pretty solid, both in quality and depth. CeeDee and Jaylen Waddle are definitely one of the better WR duos in our league. Haji’s other WRs are players where a path could emerge for excellent production, but there are still some questions that need to be answered: Will the Chicago offense actually take another step forward and will Rome Odunze emerge as the top receiving option in that offense (and stay healthy?); Does Chris Godwin still have juice left in the tank to provide meaningful production? Same for Stefon Diggs? Same for Deebo Samuel? Can Matthew Golden separate himself in Green Bay’s crowded WR room? I think at least one of those players will be Flex-worthy for Haji. He’ll need that depth because he is definitely lacking RB depth. Achane is a good RB1 option, and Swift is decent at RB2, but there isn’t much insurance behind those two. I think Chicago’s defense is still on the waiver wire - he might as well go pick them up too.
9. Unicorn QueenZ (Tim)
QB: Tyler Shough ($3), Baker Mayfield ($1)
WR: Tetairoa McMillan ($31), Emeka Egbuka ($25), Jordyn Tyson ($4), Jalen Coker ($3), Jayden Higgins ($2), De'Zhaun Stribling ($2)
RB: Kenneth Walker III ($55), Omarion Hampton ($42), Kenny Gainwell ($3), Kimani Vidal ($1)
TE: Trey McBride ($26), Brenton Strange ($1)
DEF: Los Angeles Chargers ($1)
I really like my RB duo - I think Kenneth Walker and Omarion Hampton will produce big numbers this season, but I also lack a lot of RB depth after those two. While my WR room looks mediocre on paper, I like the youth I have on my bench, and I’m banking on one or two of those panning out, either to Flex or as trade fodder in case I need more depth at RB. McBride should continue to help me win games, but I dropped the ball at QB. Not only did I draft 2 divisional rivals for the Panthers, but I’m not even sure Shough is any good. Oh well.
10. Run It Back! (Gabs)
QB: Dak Prescott ($6), Jaxson Dart ($2)
WR: Davante Adams ($17), Marvin Harrison Jr. ($12), Christian Watson ($11), DK Metcalf ($5), Courtland Sutton ($5), Makai Lemon ($4)
RB: Jonathan Taylor ($52), Derrick Henry ($48), Rico Dowdle ($18), Rachaad White ($4)
TE: Isaiah Likely ($9), Mark Andrews ($1)
DEF: Houston ($3)
Gabs ended up with 2 top-tier RBs, but I think the rest of his roster suffered as a result of playing things a little too slow. Maybe I’m too skeptical about his WRs, but Davante Adams as a WR1 doesn’t feel great given his age and inevitable TD regression (but I could be wrong). Marvin Harrison Jr feels like a overhyped letdown on a bad offense who might not be able to get enough touches compared to Trey McBride and Michael Wilson. Christian Watson can be Green Bay’s WR1 but has had a significant injury history. DK and Courtland Sutton are starting to feel like has-beens. And Makai Lemon will probably take a while before he develops into a reliable threat. That’s why I gave Gabs’s WRs the lowest grade in the league - I just don’t have much confidence in them. I also am skeptical about Isaiah Likely on a new team / system, and Mark Andrews has lost a step. Houston should have a great defense, and don’t discount Gabs - he’s surprised us more than once with an underwhelming team on paper but surprise production during the year, hence the higher DEF / XF grade.
11. Maybabyboo (Laura)
QB: Jayden Daniels ($7), Bo Nix ($3)
WR: Ladd McConkey ($26), Zay Flowers ($17), Quentin Johnston ($5), KC Concepcion ($3)
RB: Bhayshul Tuten ($32), Chase Brown ($31), Josh Jacobs ($29), Quinshon Judkins ($16), Kyle Monangai ($6), Jordan Mason ($6)
TE: Travis Kelce ($4), Jake Ferguson ($3)
DEF: Los Angeles Rams ($6)
I know Chase Brown would have gone for more if Laura had not kept him, but it’s wild to me that Bhayshul Tuten cost Laura more to draft than Chase Brown. Staying at RB, I do think Laura has a fairly strong RB room. Chase Brown is a good RB1 option, Josh Jacobs should serve as a solid RB2, and she’s got plenty of Flex options between Tuten, Quinshon Judkins, and Jordan Mason, with Monangai as a good wait-and-see option if something happens to DAndre Swift. She also has two dynamic QBs in Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix, so she’s pretty set at those positions. However, her WRs are a little shakier. I guess between McConkey and Quentin Johnson, one of those players should emerge as a top receiving option in LA, and I know Laura really likes Zay Flowers, who is a solid WR2 option, but I don’t see a current reliable WR1 for Laura at the moment. Also, I doubt Kelce will be relevant at TE, and I think Laura will likely be relying more on Ferguson throughout the year. The Rams should have a great D though, especially if they can woo Aaron Donald back from retirement. Laura’s team has promise and potential, but may take some time before they prove themselves.
12. choubacca (Aaron)
QB: Kyler Murray ($1), Daniel Jones ($1)
WR: Ja'Marr Chase ($66), Amon-Ra St. Brown ($61), Tee Higgins ($26), Xavier Worthy ($1), Jalen McMillan ($1), Jalen Nailor ($1), Adonai Mitchell ($1)
RB: Tyler Allgeier ($1), Jonah Coleman ($1), Dylan Sampson ($1)
TE: Brock Bowers ($36), AJ Barner ($1)
DEF: New England ($1)
Yes, Aaron does have an elite WR room. He will obviously be double-flexing WRs, and even having to choose between Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, Jalen Nailor, or Jalen McMillan at the 2nd Flex spot isn’t terrible. Brock Bowers at TE is also the best of the best, and Kyler might be a serviceable QB. However, having to figure out which 2 RBs to start between Tyler Allgeier, Dylan Sampson, and Jonah Coleman in Week 1 will be hilariously sad. And so Aaron finds himself in a similar situation as last year: a loaded WR and TE room but no startable RB. In case you forgot what happened to Aaron’s team last year, let me remind you: SACKO. Will we see a repeat?
