Vegas Draft

As part of the RotoWire Vegas trip, we did some drafts, and I was in the QB-flex one, i.e., where you have an extra flex spot in which you can start a quarterback. Because quarterbacks consistently score the most points, you almost always want to have a second QB in that slot. There was also 1.5 PPR only for tight ends, boosting that position slightly too, and third-round reversal.

I drew the seventh pick, and five scotches deep (of course there was free booze at the event), I assembled the following team:

1.7 Kyler Murray — Sometimes you’ll see a run on running backs in a QB-flex and know you can get QBs at bargain prices, but not here. Five of the first six picks were QBs, so I had to take one. I don’t love Murray as a real-life player, but in fantasy he’s one of the two quarterbacks who gets a ton of pass attempts and rushes (Josh Allen, who went 1.1, is the other.) And unlike Jalen Hurts, Murray, who just got a huge contract, is not at risk of losing his job.

2.6 Dalvin Cook — I love Cook this year, and while I have Saquon Barkley ahead of him, there was a better chance Barkley fell to the third round.

3.6 Saquon Barkely — That worked out well. Barkley checks all the boxes, health, role, skills and team context, this year.

4.7 Travis Etienne — He seems fully recovered from his foot injury last year. I’d expect him to catch 60 or 70 passes at a minimum if he stays healthy. Think Austin Ekeler in the fourth round.

5.6 A.J. Brown — One of the league’s best and most explosive receivers, though it might take a few weeks for him to get up to speed on a new team.

6.7 Daniel Jones — He’s showed sparks while playing in abominably bad offensive systems and behind worse offensive lines. He has the weapons, an improved line and a credible offensive braintrust now.

7.6 Deshaun Watson — He’s a borderline first-round pick in this format if/when he finishes his suspension. Massage your draft lists accordingly.

8.7 Elijah Moore — Showed his skills in the second half of last year before getting hurt. I don’t worry about the competition for targets with him — he’s far and away the team’s best and most explosive receiver.

9.6 Kenneth Walker — I’m a believer in Rashaad Penny, but Penny never stays healthy for long, and the Seahawks will run the ball. (This is where the scotches hurt me because while I like Walker’s upside, I should have taken a tight end like Pat Freiermuth or Zach Ertz instead in 1.5 PPR.)

10.7 Christian Kirk — He’s Trevor Lawrence’s top receiver, got paid like it and showed enough skills in Arizona to merit the job. He actually reminds me of his veteran teammate Marvin Jones, who was overshadowed by A.J. Green in Cincinnati before breaking out in Detroit. Kirk had Hopkins in Arizona, and now he’s the guy in Jacksonville.

11.6 Kadarius Toney — He’s the Giants best receiver, and if Dimes and the offense click, Toney has top-10 upside in the unlikely event he stays healthy all year.

12.7 Ronald Jones — Clyde Edwards-Helaire is always banged up, and Jones is a good early-down between-the-tackles runner. He’d be a sneaky long-shot bet to lead the league in rushing TDs.

13.6 Hunter Henry — I needed a TE, and Henry is it. He’ll score TDs and should be a key target in the offense, which should improve with Mac Jones in Year 2.

14.7 Drew Lock — If he wins the job, he’ll have upside in QB-flex with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett catching his passes.

15.6 Robert Tonyan — If healthy, he could be one of the few targets Aaron Rodgers trusts. He scored 11 TDs in 2020.

16.7 Rob Gronkowski — He says he’s not coming back, but give it a month. If it’s true, I’ll drop him in September for someone on the waiver wire who will almost certainly be better than whoever I would have taken instead.

Full Roster:

QB Kyler Murray

RB Dalvin Cook/Saquon Barkley

WR AJ Brown/Elijah Moore/Christian Kirk

TE Hunter Henry

FLEX Travis Etienne

QB FLEX Daniel Jones

BENCH: Deshaun Watson/Kadarius Toney/Kenneth Walker/Ronald Jones/Drew Lock/Robert Tonyan/Rob Gronkowski

I also discussed the draft (and some players I’m targeting with Alan Seslowsky on the RotoWire podcast today: