Beat Chris Liss 1
I did my first NFFC draft today, a 12-team RotoWire Online. I drew the ninth pick, which was my second choice.
I live-streamed it here.
And here are the results:
1.9 Bijan Robinson — I mapped it out ahead of time, and it was either Robinson or CeeDee Lamb. Cooper Kupp being available was unexpected, but while I talked myself into Kupp a couple weeks ago, my gut still says pass. All things equal, it’s better to get a receiver there, but Robinson is a mega-prospect on a run-heavy team in an ideal system with a good offensive line. And rookie backs who get opportunities (which Robinson obviously will) are as often as good as they’ll ever be.
2.4 Saquon Barkley — He’s holding out, but assuming he’s in the fold at some point during training camp, he has 1.1 upside. Barkley was healthy last year, is healthy now and is finally in what should be an above-average offense in Brian Daboll’s second season as head coach. I considered Jonathan Taylor, but Barkley is in the better situation and the more prolific pass catcher.
3.4 DK Metcalf — I wanted to take Rhamondre Stevenson, but I had already mis-structured my team with RB-RB, and it was time to pivot. I’m slightly concerned Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a threat to his targets, but Metcalf is still just 25, an all-time great physical specimen and has a good rapport with Geno Smith.
4.9 Calvin Ridley — This was a gamble (pun intended), but Ridley was a star in Atlanta with a declining Matt Ryan, he’s contrite about his transgression, seems to be hungry to re-establish himself and should thrive with an improving Trevor Lawrence who lacks a true No. 1.
5.4 Christian Watson — I hope I didn’t let Alan Seslowsky talk me into this, but I wanted more WR depth, and Watson, who thrived in the second half last year with an uninspiring Aaron Rodgers, had the most upside.
6.9 George Kittle — I thought about JK Dobbins and Joe Mixon, who incidentally went with the next two picks, but Kittle was such a monster at the end of last year, and this was a great price for a guy who was neck and neck with Travis Kelce a couple years ago.
7.4 Kyle Pitts — I wanted Darren Waller, but he went two picks ahead of me, and I didn’t love any of the receivers or backs there. It’s odd to take two tight ends, but if Pitts blows up, he’ll be better than any seventh-round receiver or back I’d put in my flex.
8.9 Michael Thomas — He’s a broken down shell of his former self, but he caught 16 passes in three games last year, and he was healthy enough for OTAs. I’ll take nine games at that pace for this price.
9.4 Elijah Moore — He burned me last year, but he was handicapped by the Jets quarterbacks and for some reason wound up in the doghouse. He showed a spark as a rookie, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he surpassed Amari Cooper in Cleveland by season’s end.
10.9 Skyy Moore — He was bad last year, but the targets are wide open in Kansas City, and Year 2 is when receivers often take the leap.
11.4 Devon Achane — This was my first real error. I needed a third running back and thought it would be fun to have one with 4.3 speed in an innovative offense. But I lost sight of the fact it was pick 124, which meant if I wanted Danny Dimes — ADP 132 — (and I did) it was time to take him.
12.9 Aaron Rodgers — Not only did Dimes go, but so did Geno Smith and Jared Goff, as people were sweeping up second QBs. I took Rodgers who, it’s easy to forget, won two straight MVPs heading into last year. In other words, he was better than Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow before an injury-marred season without his top receiver.
13.4 Russell Wilson — Maybe I should have waited another round for my backup QB, but I bit on Wilson with Sean Payton taking over in Denver. Wilson was one of the league’s great quarterbacks for more than half a decade, so maybe he’ll bounce back from the dysfunction of last year’s Broncos’ offense.
14.9 Kareem Hunt — I needed another running back, and Hunt is a pass-catcher who could land a timeshare with third-down work somewhere. But maybe he’s washed up too.
15.4 Jeff Wilson — Wilson always seems to produce when healthy, and the Dolphins signed him to a two-year deal. Raheem Mostert is still there, but he’s always hurt, and I expect Achane to be used non-traditionally.
16.9 Marquez Valdes-Scantling — This was a panic pick. I thought Michael Gallup was still on the board and let the clock run down (I was also live-streaming and smoking a cigar), so I had to pick another player and grabbed MVS. I already have Moore, so it gives me another piece of the non-Kelce KC pass-catchers, but the odds MVS becames startable at this point in his career are long.
17.4 Matthew Stafford — Last year was a lost one, but Kupp should be healthy, and if Stafford’s arm is okay, I expect the Rams to be at least credible again under Sean McVay. I still think there’s upside here, and my other QBs are shaky.
18.9 The Team Defense — They play the Cardinals at home in Week 1.
19.4 Giants Defense — There’s upside for this unit, and they draw the Cardinals in Week 2.
20.9 Giants Kicker — Graham Gano is a good kicker, and the Giants offense should be good this year.
Team By Position
QB Aaron Rodgers
RB Bijan Robinson/Saquon Barkley
WR DK Metcalf/Calvin Ridley/Christian Watson
TE George Kittle
FLEX Kyle Pitts
K Giants
D The Team
B Michael Thomas/Elijah Moore/Skyy Moore/Devon Achane/Russell Wilson/Kareem Hunt/Jeff Wilson/Marquez Valdes-Scantling/Matthew Stafford/Giants Defense