I did my most important and (likely) final draft tonight, the $1800 buy-in NFFC Primetime. I drew the ninth pick.
Here are the results:
1.9 Malik Nabers — It was either he or Brian Thomas, though I considered whether I would take Christian McCaffrey if he fell (McCaffrey went 3rd overall, so I was quickly relieved of that potential dilemma.) Thomas went eighth, so Nabers was a snap call. I probably would have taken Nabers ahead of him anyway with no Travis Hunter to steal targets, but Nabers is dealing with a chronic toe injury that could flare up at some point.
2.4 Puka Nacua — I was all set to take Brock Bowers when I planned it out, but just yesterday had an epiphany that De’Von Achane (who I’ve faded all summer) had to be the pick. Yes, he had a calf injury that could flare up, but otherwise, he might catch 100 passes with Jonnu Smith gone. So my preference was Achane, then Bowers if someone jumped Achane a few picks. But in the back of my mind I told myself, that was only assuming that prior tier of receivers (Thomas, Amon Ra St. Brown, Nico Collins, Drake London and Nacua were gone.) Usually you’re looking at Derrick Henry, Chase Brown, Bowers or Achane with 2.4, but Nacua fell, and I pivoted. I’m ambivalent about doing so because I was excited to roll the dice on Achane, but I never would have considered Achane had I thought one of the WR would be there.
3.4 Garrett Wilson — I was considering TreVeyon Henderson here, but mercifully he got snapped up one pick ahead of me, and Wilson was an easy call. He’s so far and away the No. 1 receiver, the Jets don’t even have a No. 2 or a real TE. And he’s a good player and played with Justin Fields in college.
4.9 Davante Adams — I had faded Adams all summer, but opted for a share here ahead of Kenneth Walker and Courtland Sutton. I like Walker’s skills, got a share in my beat Alan Seslowsky draft, but I feel like I got talked into it by reading too many “sharps” who are “all in” on Walker. I don’t regret drafting him in Round 5 in that league, but I am not all in, so I passed. Sutton I have two shares of already, and I like but don’t love him. So I went with the ADP faller, Adams, who pairs nicely with Nacua. If either get hurt, the other should be a top-five WR for that stretch, and if Adams is old and washed up, Nacua will smash. Plus I knew I could get Matthew Stafford for free at the end for a playoff stack. In other words, it doesn’t hurt to start both, and I get the insurance for free.
5.4 Breece Hall — This was my target, and I might have taken him in the fourth had I not noticed his recent falling ADP, which made me think he’d be there in the fifth, especially as Joe Nowak (who again drafted 10th) already had three running backs. Hall is still just 24 years old, and every year coaches talk about getting the backups touches, then stick with their horse.
6.9 Tony Pollard — A perfect fit at this point, as he’s got the entire job with Tyjae Spears on IR. What if Cam Ward is good, and Tennessee is a league-average offense?
7.4 Stefon Diggs — It was he or Zach Charbonnet, and again, I feel like the “sharps” for whatever reason (coaching?) are in love with the Seattle backfield, and while I can see it, I’m not banking on it. I passed on Diggs for Matthew Golden in an earlier draft and felt some regret, so I took him here. I also opened up another stacking possibility as I like Drake Maye.
8.9 Mark Andrews — This was ahead of ADP and ahead of T.J. Hockenson who goes 15 picks ahead of him typically. I was in on Hockenson until I looked again at his career stats and realized he’s never really had that monster year. Andrews didn’t get enough targets last year, but he scored 11 TDs in his last 12 games, and he’s still only 29. I feel like Isaiah Likely is the LaDarius Green to Andrews’ Antonio Gates. There’s always that young prospect that’s hyped, but it’s very hard to kill off those top veteran tight ends. (Zack Ertz still has a starting job!)
9.4 Cam Skattebo — I watched a few plays from Skattebo, and he passed the eye test for me. Tyrone Tracy is okay, but I have to think Skattebo will get his chance, especially as a pass catcher. And the Giants offense might take a serious leap with the QB upgrade. The reason I reached on Andrews was I knew I was taking Skattebo, whose ADP was two picks lower, on the way back anyway.
10.9 Trey Benson — I thought about Maye, but it was about 16 picks early and figured if someone took him I’d pivot to Justin Fields. I needed to keep stockpiling backs, and Benson has upside if James Conner doesn’t hold up.
11.4 Drake Maye — Nowak jumped Fields about two rounds!, so I snapped called Maye who I like better anyway. I would have taken Tucker Kraft here (who fell a ton for whatever reason), but once Fields went, I had to get a stackable QB. And unlike Fields, Maye probaby wasn’t coming back to me.
12.9 Kyle Pitts — Just in case Andrews is washed I rolled the dice on Pitts who really should see opportunities in a thin Atlanta receiving corps.
13.4 Woody Marks — It was Marks or Will Shipley, but Shipley needs a Saquon Barkley injury to be useful, while Marks could just win the job if Nick Chubb is washed.
14.9 Tyjae Spears — I missed Isaac TeSlaa by two picks, so I took Spears to back up Tony Pollard. It’s almost better that he’s injured because Pollard gets the full snaps for six weeks, and then I still have his backup.
15.4 Elic Ayomanor — I told myself I had to get TeSlaa AND Ayomanor, but I only came away with one of them. It seems like he could be the No. 2 WR for Cam Ward before long, and how many times have we seen a good rookie take over for an aging veteran like Calvin Ridley by midseason?
16.9 Eagles Defense — It seemed like they slipped a bit, and you get a free look for the Thursday night game. (Though that requires you roster a second defense, which I had planned to do with my last pick.)
17.4 Kareem Hunt — A boring pick, but he’s the backup for now if anything happens to Isiah Pacheco.
18.9 Chiefs Kicker — Based Butker always gets a good home-cooked meal.
19.4 Matthew Stafford — Had to get my Rams stack.
20.9 Tre Harris — I had intended to get a second defense for the free look with the Eagles, but Harris’ ADP was 166, and for some reason he was still just hanging around. I figured take a chance on them getting to Dak Prescott behind a shaky line and get the player taken 55th overall in this year’s draft.
Roster By Position
QB Drake Maye
RB Breece Hall/Tony Pollard
WR Malik Nabers/Puka Nacua/Garrett Wilson
TE Mark Andrews
FLEX Davante Adams
K Chiefs
D Eagles
B Stefon Diggs, Cam Skattebo, Trey Benson, Kyle Pitts, Woody Marks, Tyjae Spears, Elic Ayomanor, Kareem Hunt, Matthew Stafford, Tre Harris