Editor's Note: Recenlty
members of the FFToday Board completed their annual June Mock draft.
This mock will be played out in a best ball format (no transactions,
no free agent pickups, no trades) ... properly named the "No-Hassle
League." View the round-by-round
results here. Below is the commissioner's analysis of each team.
Analysis: It came as no surprise when Hawkeye
made Christian McCaffrey his first pick in the draft. After a
few years of having to debate who the top pick should be, this
year it was a no-brainer and what Hawkeye did beyond that opening
selection was put together a team of veterans with a few young
receivers sprinkled in to give the team greater upside. This is
a fairly balanced team and having McCaffrey allowed Hawkeye to
address receiver at the 2/3 turn. There is an interesting reliance
on the Saints, as three projected starters (defense included)
are from that team including Olave and Kamara. It's an older team
until you get to the picks of Worthy and Brian Thomas Jr. in rounds
9 & 14. I am generally a fan of getting some of that upside
in place after a low ceiling pick like Ezekiel Elliott who made
sense in Round 11. The Hockenson pick is extremely interesting
also as the 1-2 punch of Kittle and Hock could be the league's
best in a best ball format. Overall, this is good-looking team
with a couple of steals that will be noted shortly.
Key to No-Hassle Success: The running back group
must stay healthy as Hawkeye went with only 4 RBs versus 6 WRs.
McCaffrey has proven to be durable since coming to San Francisco,
but his history of injury cannot be ignored. Kamara is in some
degree of decline, but the question is: how much? If Hawk can
get one more productive year out of him, the other pieces are
in place and have fewer question marks surrounding them. Sure,
we don't know exactly how Caleb Williams will impact D.J. Moore's
worth, but Moore is talented enough to likely do well no matter
who is under center. And, if one of the rookie receivers pops,
you've got production you weren't even counting on to be highly
successful. Overall, getting RB production alongside McCaffrey
is the biggest key to prosperity.
Favorite Pick: I alluded to "steals"
earlier and I can't help but feel that getting potential top-3
producers at QB and TE in the fifth and seventh rounds is substantial
value. Mahomes and Kittle are about as consistent as they come
and while neither will likely challenge for top scorer at their
respective positions, neither are likely to fall out of the top
five either. Hawkeye's draft was incredibly enhanced by what those
two longtime fantasy stand-outs bring to the table.
Least Favorite Pick: I am a little concerned
about all the mouths to feed in Houston this season and I think
Diggs's spot on the roster may impact Tank Dell in a negative
sense more than Nico Collins. Not a poor pick by any means, but
Dell is a guy I'm staying away from this season.
Overall Outlook: While I wonder about Kamara
and Dell, I must admit that I really loved this draft. Addressing
WR at the 2-3 turn after taking McCaffrey first overall just seems
like a sound strategy to me and then getting your QB and TE positions
filled with such top tier options was an added bonus. Health can
always derail a good-looking team, but that that may be the only
thing that would keep this team from being top 3-5 in overall
league play. You can argue that it may be the most balanced team
in the whole league as every position appears to be a strength,
including kicker. I am always a little concerned when fantasy
owners only have 4 RBs on the roster in a transaction-free league,
but Hawk was one of six guys who did that, so not exactly on an
island in that regard. Great job picking from the top.
Analysis: Remote really tracked with Hawkeye in terms of overall
team construction. Like Hawk, he grabbed a top tier RB first and
then shored up the receiving unit with two solid veterans in Evans
and Samuel. Whereas Hawk went QB at the 4/5 turn and then TE at
the 6/7, Remote flipped that strategy by addressing TE first and
then adding his signal caller later. But whereas Hawk chose young
wide receivers to fulfill his depth at that position, Remote went
with aging veterans like Cooks and Lockett. That duo represents
a lower ceiling than the Worthy-Thomas combo, but also a much
higher floor. All in all, this is a veteran team with guys like
Montgomery, Singletary, and Stafford adding to that vibe. Every
position is covered in such a way that weekly lineups are likely
going to be balanced and there is solid depth at every position
as well. In the end, Musgrave and Ray Davis represent a couple
of players with youth and upside, but this is by and large a safe,
solid team put together by a guy who generally likes to lean on
what is known. Never a No-Hassle champion, but almost always a
contender, Remote put his stamp on this team throughout the process.
Key to No-Hassle Success: It seems silly now how far Mike Evans
fell last season in redrafts. Most believed his best years were
behind him and that Baker Mayfield would struggle to get him the
ball. Remote is clearly banking on the fact that Evans still has
productive years in his future and has to also hope that Deebo
can stay healthy in spite of his physical style. If both veteran
WRs can match last year's production, there's little else to keep
this team from being a contender. The Denver running situation
is wide open, so getting something solid out of Javonte Williams
would be nice also, but honestly with Montgomery and Singletary
having solid floors, Williams not flourishing really wouldn't
hurt much. Evans is the most significant piece of the puzzle here.
One more stellar year from him puts this team in great shape.
Favorite Pick: Most mocks have McCaffrey going first overall
and then a series of top WRs get taken before the RB position
is re-addressed. Kudos to Remote for doing things his way with
the selection of Robinson - a player whose potential appears to
be vast with a different head coach calling the shots. I loved
that pick and I was also fond of Marquise Brown with little to
lose and lots to gain. Favorite pick, though, was Devin Singletary.
While it wasn't sexy, he is going to get some serious touches
in that offense. Very undervalued player right now.
Least Favorite Pick: I am struggling to find a pick that I don't
like, but feet to the fire, I am going to stay away from all things
Denver this season in fantasy football. That includes Williams
who failed last year to seize that job despite mediocre competition.
Overall Outlook: It is difficult for me to differentiate this
team from Hawkeye's as they were both built in an almost identical
fashion, particularly during the first half of the draft. Remote's
formula for success has typically included the selection of established
veterans and this offering is no different in most respects. One
player that hasn't been mentioned by name yet is Dak Prescott
and given that Dallas is going to be throwing the ball a lot in
2024, I think Remote may get wildly solid production out of him
that exceeds Mahomes even though he lasted two rounds beyond where
Patrick was picked. At WR, do you like Evans and Deebo or Olave
and Moore better? That's probably what is comes down to in evaluating
outlook vs. Hawk's draft. Whatever the case, this is a well-built
team with a potential superstar at the RB1 spot. Good stuff.
Analysis: After the 1-2 picks of McCaffrey and Robinson, Ray
turned to WR to put the foundation of his team in place. RBs used
to dominate redraft leagues in the first round, but WRs have continued
to rise in value over the years even in a non-PPR league like
this one. But, while Ray added Aiyuk in the second round, he didn't
address the position again until late in the eighth round and
Rice could be facing some league discipline for misconduct. So,
while this team has receiving prowess, it may lack some depth
at the position which makes health for both Hill and Aiyuk imperative
heading into the season. Elsewhere, there was further departure
from Hawk/Remote's veteran drafts as Ray chose not one, not two,
but three rookie running backs. Brooks, Benson, and Lloyd don't
all have to do well in order for this team to compete, but at
least one of them does need to pop. At least Ray can say that
he has the No.1 scoring QB from 2023 and the No.1 scoring WR.
It allowed him the liberty of rolling the dice and taking some
chances down the road. Not picking a RB until 4.10 really puts
stress on a team, but Ray is hoping his "zero" strategy
pans out well since it allowed him to strong at other positions.
Very interesting draft here as is always the case with Ray.
Key to No-Hassle Success: There is always a chance that Aiyuk
gets traded before the start of the season, although I think the
49ers would be foolish to do that. If Aiyuk remains in San Francisco,
he should continue to flourish and Ray will be fantastic from
the 1-2 spots at WR. That leads to what I think is pivotal - Is
Rashee Rice going to miss time? If not, getting Rice at 8.10 wasn't
just a bargain, it was a mega-bargain. Also, the RB group must
produce top-8 numbers for this team to compete for a No-Hassle
title. That's a low bar (only having to be eighth best out of
twelve), but it represents the strength of other positions on
this team. Finally, I am a little concerned about Josh Allen's
scoring this season as a passer. Losing your top two targets is
never a good thing. Fortunately, his rushing abilities should
keep him top-3 at QB even with a thin receiving corps.
Favorite Pick: D'Andre Swift would have been a top-5 RB last
year had Jalen Hurts not gotten all the goal line work, so I think
he was an absolute steal at 6.10. I'm not sure any player fell
farther in this draft than he should have than Swift. I was concerned
about Ray's run game after the selection of Brooks and Harris,
but I think Swift shores things up. I also thought Pitts and Addison
were nice value picks as we're finally going to see what Pitts
can do minus Arthur Smith and Addison would explode if Jefferson
were to miss time.
Least Favorite Pick: This one's easy for me. I thought Jonathan
Brooks went too soon. For one, he's coming off a major injury
in college. Second, he's on a really bad team with a couple other
veterans competing for carries. If Brooks ends up better than
Swift in terms of production, I'll be surprised.
Overall Outlook: Over the years, I have really enjoyed having
Ray in this draft. His approach is rarely conventional and he's
easily the least predictable drafter in this whole bunch. This
team would scare me, but if Rice ends up playing a full season,
is there a better team in this league at WR than Ray with Hill-Aiyuk-Rice
in the fold? Probably not. Truth be told, I am fascinated by this
team as while the backfield quality might trip them up, the upside
is undeniable. Who else would have the guts to draft three rookies
at one position? Who else was willing to take the first quarterback
off the board despite not yet having any running backs at that
time? Only Ray. The outlook doesn’t hold the same optimism
than what I see from Hawkeye and Remote's team, but the journey
will be fun.
Analysis: Back to the blueprint that Hawkeye and Remote introduced,
Wonder got his RB1 in the form of Breece Hall and then proceeded
to address the WR position while also grabbing a high upside TE
as well as an unproven, but intriguing RB2. What Wonder did not
do is address the QB position with the same intensity as Hawk
and Remote and ended up with a rookie as his likely QB1 for now.
Taking Justin Herbert as a "backup" serves as a near
perfect safety net for the high-upside Daniels selection. More
like Ray than the previous two drafters, Wonder was willing to
go with youth at several spots and not just with the selection
of Daniels. Two rookie wide receivers with enormous upside will
look to make their stamp on the No-Hassle season alongside two
additional second-year players (Kincaid, Reed) and a backup TE
who is also a rookie. Wonder got a little Charger heavy down the
stretch, but that's a fascinating place to draw fantasy water
from given all the coaching and philosophy changes that are underway
there. This is a big upside team. Not as safe as many, but talented
on a rare scale for a 12-team draft.
Key to No-Hassle Success: The chances of Marvin Harrison Jr.
having a big rookie year are nearly 100%, so the key for Wonder's
season probably lies in his running mates at that position. Talent
wise, Adams is a first rounder, but questions surrounding who
will be throwing him the ball dropped him to the late second.
If that gets worked out and Jayden Reed assumes the WR1 role in
Green Bay, this team could be scary good at WR and that's not
even taking Nabers's opening NFL act into consideration. This
is Zamir White's chance to prove himself in the NFL and his development
will be an important part of the story for this team as Wonder
used quite a bit of draft capital to obtain him. If he's not up
to it, Pollard, Dowdle, and/or Dobbins must fill in that gap.
Favorite Pick: I thought it was crazy that no one took a chance
on Marvin Harrison Jr. prior to 3.04. Maybe that's because I think
there's very little risk and the potential for top-5 WR production.
As such, that pick stands out like a sore, but awesome thumb as
my favorite for Wonder. I also thought Kincaid fell too far given
his likely target volume and while Wonder lamented not getting
Trevor Lawrence to pair with Daniels, I actually think Herbert
is better suited for that role.
Least Favorite Pick: I thought the 4/5 picks of White and Reed
were a bit premature, but not by any sort of substantial margins.
I also would have taken CeeDee Lamb over Hall, but there's no
denying Hall's potential to explode in the Jets' offense if he
remains healthy.
Overall Outlook: I think Adams and Harrison could and maybe should
have been early second round picks. I actually thought about both
at 2.02 as possibilities. For Wonder to land them both and still
possess a projected top-3 RB just seems a bit unfair to me. Yes,
the risks for this team in having a rookie QB are obvious. And,
I'm not terribly fond of what this team has at RB beyond Hall.
But, none of those concerns overrides the potential I feel this
team has to be great. To come out of the first three rounds with
Hall, Adams, and Harrison would make me ecstatic. What happened
beyond that dampens things a little bit, but no so much that I
don't think contention is possible- maybe even likely. I think
Wonder has put something together here that serves some significant
notice.
Analysis: Lather, rinse, repeat. For the first six rounds, Worm
alternated between WR and RB until he had three of each. At that
point, he turned to quarterback and tight end, but there's little
doubt that the repetition initiated in rounds 1-6 gained him plenty
of depth at those two positions. The selection of back-to-back
Seahawks (Metcalf, Walker) in rounds 3 & 4 was a bit curious
given that Seattle doesn't have an elite offense with Geno Smith
running the show, but if he can find a way back to his 2022 form,
both guys could exceed expectations. On the whole, this team looks
solid, but maybe not spectacular. How I feel about Metcalf and
Walker clouds my judgement, but I will concede that the depth
on this team at all the major positions is fantastic. I'm just
not sure the starting eight stacks up with some of the other teams
analyzed so far. But, in a best-ball format, the outlook for this
team improves as will be discussed further below. Coleman and
Shaheed certainly have upside at WR and I like those picks in
cohesion with what else is in place. This isn't a favorite team
for me, but it is thoughtfully constructed.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Who is Stefon Diggs at this point in
time? Is he a declining malcontent who will begin to distract
the moment he feels that C.J. Stroud isn't looking his way enough?
Or, is he still a star receiver paired with an ascending QB who
never should have slipped to the fifth round of this draft? I
think the key to Worm contending probably lies within that paradigm
although there are other questions to be answered as well. First,
will David Njoku be productive without Joe Flacco throwing him
the ball? Flacco made Njoku a fantasy stud down the stretch last
season. And, can a team contend with Isiah Pacheco as its top
running back? Pacheco is the perfect complement to a high-end
RB1, but I am not sure he's going to produce like a RB1 more weeks
than not. Questions abound, but answers could be encouraging.
Favorite Pick: I have CeeDee Lamb at No.2 overall on my board,
so I feel like Worm sort of stole him to begin his draft. Beyond
Lamb, I really wasn't in love per se with any of the picks, but
I will concede that in a non-PPR league, Kenneth Walker shouldn't
fall this far. Walker is probably going to finish top 10-12 at
the RB spot and to get a player of that caliber in Round 4 seems
a little obscene. Later picks of Coleman, Shaheed, and Ty Chandler
were also very solid.
Least Favorite Pick: What Raheem Mostert did last season was
incredible, but I must admit that I'm not sold on him this season
for reasons outside of his control. I would have probably waited
until the seventh round to consider him, but I get the pick based
on what he did a year ago.
Overall Outlook: I hate to give any draft middle-of-the-road
status, but if I had to project what I see in this team initially,
that's probably where I go with the projection. That said, there
is a high floor here and if Metcalf and Diggs live up to their
abilities, what a tremendous trio of wide receivers this team
would have. I think the duo of Goff/Lawrence also could be stellar
more so in a best ball format and that's kind of a theme that
I see for this team. That value in my mind, increases quite a
bit for a best ball format given how well the players on the team
complement each other, scoring-wise. Given that, I do not see
why this team could not be a major contender. Lamb is the team's
only star initially, but the supporting actors have promise.
Analysis: The expression "outside of the box" refers
to unconventional approaches and while selecting a RB in Rounds
1, 2, and 3 is hardly unprecedented, it definitely fits within
the framework of unusual. There's little doubt that this team
could lead the league in rushing points given just how strong
its top three options are at that position. Shovel even managed
to land a top-5 QB (Stroud) in my estimation with his fifth-round
pick giving him a lineup from the waist up that few others will
be able to match. From the waist down, this team could be a bit
dicey, but no more so than any other team in this draft had they
gone RB-RB-RB to begin the proceedings. The fact that Shovel grabbed
six WRs made sense given how stacked the RB position is. It remains
to be seen whether or not this specific half-dozen at WR will
be enough to give the team a balanced scoring attack. George Pickens
at a WR1 might make perfect sense if his talent matches up with
his function in a conservative offense. Likewise, Calvin Ridley
could be just the receiver Will Levis needs to elevate his game.
This draft was a bit of a wild ride, but there is cool quirkiness
to it all.
Key to No-Hassle Success: In a best ball format, this running
game is going to punish. Cook and Mixon won't be "on"
every week, but combined with the volume from Taylor, should be
enough to give this team its foundation. While rushing is this
team's bread and butter, it is not the key to its success. That
lies in what was shared above: Can you get enough production out
of a team who took one WR/TE in the first five rounds to be competitive?
My guess: Maybe. There are three prominent rookies on this team
in the form of Williams, Odunze, and Bowers. If none of them turn
out to be impactful, success could be hard to come by. But, if
one, two, or even three of them have coming out parties as rookies,
this team will reap the benefits.
Favorite Pick: The two Texans on this squad look to me like solid
values where Shovel grabbed them. Mixon isn't likely to get much
competition from Dameon Pierce and I really believe he could be
a top-10 back by season's end. Throw in Stroud's tremendous upside
with a top notch WR corps and I think Shovel made great choices
in Rounds 3 & 5. The three back-to-back-to-back rookies taken
in Rounds 9-11 took some guts and should give this team some intrigue
and upside that other teams may lack.
Least Favorite Pick: 2.07 is too rich for James Cook. I know
he has the job mostly to himself, but much like Saquon Barkley,
you have to wonder how many goal line opportunities there will
be in an offense in which the QB runs for 10+ scores. Also, Jameson
Williams went early.
Overall Outlook: Experimentation can be a lot of fun, and this
team is certainly an experiment. White Wonder tried the RB-RB-RB
strategy in last year's draft and it didn't pay off, but each
year is its own thing and each trio of running backs represents
a different dynamic. One theory in fantasy football is that teams
that are great at either RB or WR are better than teams who are
just so-so at both and Shovel clearly had this in mind when he
assembled a run-heavy unit. Assuming the RBs can stay healthy,
at least a WR or two should emerge from the pack here to give
support. The TE duo isn't inspiring, but should also be a complement
to what Stroud and the three horsemen get done. Like Ray's team,
I don't have a strong feeling about this team one way or another,
but the unorthodox approach is going to make for some fun tracking
come fall.
Analysis: It is interesting contrasting Matt's team and Shovel's
just previous to him as while Shovel went RB in Rounds 1-3, Matt
waited until the 8th round for his second RB and then the 10th
round for his third. On top of that, Matt went with six WRs to
only four RBs in spite of WR being his deepest and most potent
position. Jefferson, Waddle, and DeVonta Smith all have one thing
in common. They got new contracts in the off-season and WRs that
feel loved and committed to often have their best years. When
you throw in Diontae Johnson and JSN as depth options, it's easy
to see what Matt was shooting for here - a team that is potentially
great at a position rather than just being so-so at several. The
question is: How well is this run game going to hold up? Etienne
is the lead runner for his team, but none of the other running
backs fill that role and upside is hard to see unless an injury
or two create unforeseen opportunities. QB is also a position
of uncertainty with Murray looking to resurrect his career and
Young seeking to have a career in the first place. Easy to see
where Matt was going with this, but WRs need to be truly great
to keep the boat afloat.
Key to No-Hassle Success: No one doubts that Waddle and DeVonta
Smith are very good WRs - even for fantasy purposes - but the
fact remains that they are not the alphas on their own teams.
They are merely high-end WR2s for real world purposes. That places
a lower ceiling on their values. When A.J. Brown or Tyreek Hill
draw a dominant corner in coverage, Smith and Waddle should thrive,
but they will likely have some quiet weeks too, as the big dogs
eat. That means Jefferson must be healthy and highly productive
all season long for this overall unit to work. Anything less than
top-2 at the position from him and the WR corps goes from great
to good. And someone from the RB trio of Robinson, Corum, and
Miller must emerge. And, I do mean MUST.
Favorite Pick: I have my doubts about Waddle and Smith and I
certainly have concerns about the back-to-back selections of Cardinals
not named Marvin Harrison Jr., but it's hard to find a team I
liked better after two rounds. The combo of Jefferson and Etienne
is really stellar and I think Matt will end up being glad he paired
them together. Also, while I am concerned about this team's RB
depth, I thought the Blake Corum pick was solid. Just because
he doesn't fit the prototype at RB doesn't mean he can't be very
good. After all, neither did Emmitt or Barry.
Least Favorite Pick: There wasn't really one particular pick
per se, as I liked most of these picks individually. I just thought
this team could have used another RB and should have grabbed more
than one player at that position in the first seven rounds.
Overall Outlook: Hawkeye's team mirrors Remote's in my opinion.
Ray and Wonder have some elements in common. And this team to
me looks like Shovel's team, but inverted. There is strength and
depth in obvious form at one of the key positions, but also glaring
weakness at the other. I like Shovel's QB strength a lot better
than Matt's, but I think Matt has the better tight end. All in
all, the concerns I have about this team make it another "middle-of-the-road"
unit for me, but Matt has won multiple No-Hassle titles in recent
years with teams that didn't necessarily look like championship
contenders coming out of the gate. As such, this is a team I trust
based on the track record of the guy who did the picking, even
if they aren't an obvious contender from my point of view.
Analysis: The narrative for this draft and most of Vikes’
drafts over the years has been value based drafting in its purest
form. Vikes tends to be a patient drafter who accumulates value
picks throughout a draft that he ends up with a team that can
compete for titles year in and year out. Taking this into consideration,
there is little doubt that he got value in terms of ADP on each
of his top six picks and then got tremendous value on both of
his QBs. It seemed like every time a value tier was about to disappear,
Vikes came along and grabbed the last guy in that tier. It happened
with Jacobs, Pittman, Cooper, Flowers, and Love and while most
teams had their QBs before Vikes did, few could argue that the
Love-Tua combo at that position could be formidable in a best
ball format. Simply put, this team is deep and balanced. There
are some question marks surrounding the running backs and Vikes
did not opt for five at that position alongside several other
drafters making it a position that needs to be good with what's
there. As the league's only four-time champion, Vikes has earned
his reputation as a top collector of fantasy prowess. This team
fits that bill yet again.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Kyren Williams wasn't even drafted
in many leagues last year and until a RB has achieved a high level
of success in two consecutive seasons, there's always risk that
he was a one-hit wonder. As a drafter of Lamar Smith in 2001,
this is something I am keenly aware of. In addition, Josh Jacobs's
YPC last season was not good. The duo of Williams and Jacobs could
be among the league's best in a perfect world, but I can understand
why some might be concerned about one or both. To win a title,
Vikes will need both to be top-12 and for one of the two to be
top-6. Anything short of that probably leaves him short of a fifth
crown. I also think Zay Flowers needs to take a big step forward.
While Cooper and Pittman are solid, neither has a ceiling like
Flowers does.
Favorite Pick: The possibilities are endless as this is my favorite
team coming out of the draft, but I think the trio of Jacobs,
Flowers, and Love take the cake for me in terms of overall value.
Jacobs likely could be snatched up in the late second round and
no one would bat an eye, but getting him in the third even with
his YPC woes last year seems fortunate. Yes, he and Love are on
the same ship, but anyone who saw that offense destroy Dallas
in the playoffs last season can see its potential. I think Vikes
stole several players in this draft.
Least Favorite Pick: It's not that Evan Engram can't do what
he did last year, or even improve on it. I just think there are
lots of mouths to feed in Jacksonville and regression for him
is a real possibility. This isn't one of my favorite teams in
terms of the TE position as a whole.
Overall Outlook: What I have to say about this team has largely
already been said. Vikes got maximum value out of the No.8 spot.
That value came right at the beginning as I have a hard time thinking
Chase will be around in most drafts at 1.08 given that Burrow
should be healthy again and that gives him an edge in many people's
thoughts over Justin Jefferson. For every question mark on this
team, there appears to be a safety net or backup plan. Barring
catastrophic injuries, I think contending is definitely in this
team's future. My only caution, and it's a small one, is that
sometimes players drop in drafts for a reason and if you collect
too many of them, upside becomes an issue. No team in the league
has a higher floor, but a few could have slightly higher ceilings.
Analysis: This is a team marked by extraordinary WR depth, a
star QB, and upside at the RB position. It is also a team that
could struggle with consistent production at running back and
may not have the RB depth or TE production to ultimately overcome
its peer produced units. Robb ultimately sought balance with this
group as he had a full starting lineup minus kicker and defense
by the end of Round 6. He then added two depth WRs (Hopkins, Sutton)
who could be the top options on their respective teams. The reason
both fell so far is that some don't trust their QBs to actually
get them the ball consistently. Still, when DeAndre Hopkins and
Courtland Sutton are your No.4 and No.5 wideouts, you have amassed
some serious depth and talent at that position. In truth, it's
hard not to like this team given that every position is solid
even as RB contains some risk. Again, I am always a little nervous
about a team that has no running backs through two rounds, only
one through five, and then doesn't add a fifth RB for depth. But,
this team is so solid at QB and WR that the running game doesn't
have to be great in order for the team to contend. Much like what
was said about Matt's group, there just needs to be production
that doesn't fall into the last third in stature.
Key to No-Hassle Success: There was plenty of debate about the
selection of Drake London and while London has plenty of upside,
the skepticism surrounding him is understandable. After all, he's
never done anything worthy of being pick 2.04. That makes him
and Achane the outright keys to how Robb's season ultimately unfolds.
Achane, like London, has enormous potential and flashed that several
times last season, but he's also never been given a big workload
and I think most probably see him as an ideal, high-upside RB2
versus your RB1. Lamar and St. Brown are proven commodities. Achane
and London are not. Robb will likely thus go as far as his second
and third round picks take him.
Favorite Pick: Hopkins and Sutton were both terrific picks that
they earn "favorite" status by way of a tie. I thought
Robb had a middle-of-the-pack team prior to that, but it really
solidified his team for me as having a wealth of riches at least
at that one position. It's such a difficult debate trying to figure
out if WR2s on strong NFL teams like Waddle/Miami and Smith/Philadelphia
are worth more in fantasy than WR1s on lesser offenses like Hopkins
and Sutton. In the end, a case can be made for the latter and
Robb really smacked those mid-round picks out of the park.
Least Favorite Pick: I like Drake London to take a big step forward
this season, so I didn't mind that pick even though I wouldn't
have grabbed him quite that soon. Instead, I am a bit concerned
about Stevenson and McLaurin. Below average offenses, rookie QBs...count
me out on that.
Overall Outlook: Robb has put together a group of receivers that
is going to kill it in the best ball format and he will add to
that big games from Lamar to formulate a very formidable scoring
base. The RB and TE positions don't thrill me, but Achane's potential
makes him the ultimate wildcard in the whole prognostication process.
I think the analysis of this team is by far the most straightforward
of any of the twelve teams assembled via this mock. Excellence
vs. failure is on the shoulders of Achane and London. There's
just no way around that. For Robb's sake, I hope both picks turn
up roses because there are other pieces in place that would allow
for serious title contention should that come about.
Analysis: And now we arrive at the draft facilitated by our defending
champion. ICE decided to be "old school" in the sense
of going RB-RB right off the bat as one of only two guys to do
that (Shovel was the other). In this day and age, going RB-RB
leaves you with a noticeably thin receiving corps, but in ICE's
case, he was able to land both Cooper Kupp and Tee Higgins and
even snuck in a pick of Travis Kelce. Throw in Joe Burrow in the
sixth round and Keenan Allen in the seventh and you've got a full
starting lineup with plenty of juice at every position. It's very
much a veteran group outside of Gibbs and that makes health an
imperative given Burrow, Kupp, and even Barkley have extensive
injury histories. Still, it's hard to find fault with finding
players who at one time or another have been the best fantasy
player at their respective positions and ICE grabbed several of
those. During the second half of his draft, ICE did grab one rookie
(McConkey), but mostly stayed the course with steady, proven players.
All in all, I think this has to be one of the better teams starting
out as long as guys like Kupp, Kelce, and Allen don't see a major
drop-off in production due to age. Champions gonna champion.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Kupp, Kelce, and Allen are right on
the line for significant regression due to their ages. And, how
content will Tee Higgins be without a long-term commitment from
the Bengals? Let me put it this way: If Kelce can remain top-3
at TE, Kupp top-12 at WR, and Allen top-20, this team could be
unstoppable. That's because a healthy Gibbs-Barkley duo is easily
one of the best in this league and Zack Moss was an excellent
find at the RB3 spot. I always get a bit concerned when I see
too many players on a roster who have already peaked with respect
to their fantasy value. I would struggle having this team in a
dynasty league, but this isn't a dynasty team - it’s a redraft.
And, in that sense, it's very well built if guys don't get hurt.
Favorite Pick: I know Hurts is going to steal a bucket load of
TDs around the goal line from Barkley, but 2.03 did seem like
great value for him. I actually had him ranked one spot ahead
of Derrick Henry, but didn't want to double up on Eagles after
taking A.J. Brown in the first round. As such, Barkley fell into
ICE's lap. I also thought the Zack Moss pick later on was savvy.
At the time he was picked, I had him as the last RB in a value
tier and he just seems like an ideal RB3 for fantasy purposes.
Overall, the backfield ICE assembled is my favorite in this draft.
Least Favorite Pick: There's not a pick here that I ultimately
disliked, but I was glad that ICE took Cooper Kupp so I didn't
have to consider doing it. Kupp is a real asset when he's healthy,
but unfortunately, that's too often not the case.
Overall Outlook: I have pointed out some concerns with this team,
but don't let that persuade anyone that I don't really like what
ICE put together. Many of the players do have question marks and
that's why they fell beyond their levels of talent in terms where
they were drafted. It is in many ways a draft much like Vikes'
as it just seemed like ICE took what came to him VBD-wise without
overthinking it. If most of the guys on the team (Burrow in particular)
can stay upright this season, I see no reason why ICE can't contend
for a title. That said, with a strong emphasis on Bengals on this
team, Burrow suffering another health setback would also make
both Higgins and Moss less valuable and place enormous pressure
on Gibbs & Barkley to be ultra-dynamic. It will be fun to
see how this risk-reward unit turns out in the end.
Analysis: I am not a huge fan of the 11-spot this year as I really
wanted something more similar to what ICE got out of the 10-spot
before me, but I did really like the 3-4 and 5-6 turns in this
draft which makes me overall fairly optimistic about the team's
potential. Coming out of the first two rounds, I would likely
trade my first two picks for almost any and every duo in this
league and that's never a good thing. The team is ultimately very
balanced but taking the first tight end off the board cut into
my RB2 or WR3 being stronger. LaPorta looks like the real deal
to me and I think he'll easily equal last year's production when
all is said and done. My receiving corps is a bit suspect as Godwin
and Mike Williams are aging and Watson can't seem to stay healthy,
but the thinking on that is that the sum of the group outweighs
the individual parts. Nick Chubb is obviously a gamble coming
off of such a devastating injury, but the plan was always to grab
Jerome Ford immediately afterwards as protection. Overall, I like
the mix of veterans and youth with upside on this team and was
pleased to recover from two opening picks that honestly didn't
have me all that excited.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Derrick Henry and Aaron Jones are transitioning
to new teams this fall and there is always mystery abounding in
terms of how such changes will work out. If both end up being
top 10-15 in overall touches, I think the team will benefit, particularly
Jones as his YPC projects better than Henry at this stage in their
careers. Anthony Richardson is also a huge wild card as he flashed
his great potential last season only to see injury cut his season
short. Anyone who says they know what Richardson is going to be
this season is lying. Simply put, he's still high risk/reward
until we see otherwise. Beyond those three players, the team looks
fairly stable so those three are going to make or break this team.
Favorite Pick: Feet to the fire, I liked the 5-6 turn best. QB
is deep this season and that fact alone allowed for the Richardson
pick. Just as Wonder knew that taking Jayden Daniels was going
to work out in terms of securing a high-quality back-up, I knew
that Richardson would have someone behind him that I could trust
if he struggles. As for Aaron Jones, I was honestly shocked to
see him fall where he did and I'm excited about him being my RB2.
Least Favorite Pick: This is probably a tie between Derrick Henry
and Christian Watson. In a draft in which maneuverability was
an option, I would have traded out of the 2.02 spot and looked
for something different where I chose Henry. Watson is a risk
also as last year was a wasted year for him.
Overall Outlook: While I am not confident that this team is top
2-3 coming out of this draft, I feel highly confident that it
ranks in the top half. There are solid, proven veterans alongside
some young dynamic players like Richardson, LaPorta, and Nico
Collins. I am pleased with the depth this team possesses and I
believe that in a best ball format, that could make a significant
difference as the season wears on. I just don't know if Henry
has another year left in him in terms of carrying a fantasy team
as a legit RB1. But, I'm not sure any RB this season has much
assurance of being that outside of McCaffrey. It's not a position
of strength this season and that was evident throughout this draft
and with respect to the commentary that accompanied it. We'll
see how it all unfolds soon enough.
Analysis: Last year, Dan picked from the 1 spot, so he's getting
used to making back-to-back picks all draft long. The third drafter
to go WR-WR with his opening picks (Ray and Robb were the others),
Dan likely saw the same drop-off in value that I saw after Jahmyr
Gibbs and decided to make the WR position his strength. Then,
Dan became the second person in this draft to go after a QB, so
he basically insured that he'd be top notch at two of the three
primary positions. Anytime three of your first four picks are
non-RBs, including each of the first two, you're banking on a
ground game that doesn't have to carry your team, but instead
simply has to not hinder it. Enter Rachaad White and James Conner.
Neither guy is likely to scratch his way into the top ten, but
if they can both produce in that 11-15 range from a scoring standpoint,
they will be an asset nevertheless. Ekeler and Edwards could prove
to be valuable as well, but overall, this is one of the weakest
running back groups in the league alongside Robb and Ray. Fortunately
for Dan, he looks strong in other areas and that strength only
needs a little help to become the driving force for what happens
this season.
Key to No-Hassle Success: When you go WR-WR to open your draft,
the assumption is that both guys are can't miss. In this case
however, neither is that, in reality. Garrett Wilson looks like
a true alpha at WR... a guy capable of putting up top-5 numbers.
The only problem is: He’s never actually done that before.
His high-ranking status is thus based on what looks obvious with
our eyes, but not as obvious in the stat sheet. In Nacua's case,
the stat sheet from last season doesn’t lie and he passed
the eye test. But, can he do it again? Especially with Cooper
Kupp presumably back at full strength. I think the running game
for this team is underwhelming, but steady with a solid floor.
That means the key to success is all about ceilings and Wilson
and Nacua need to push that ceiling. If they can't, there will
be struggle.
Favorite Pick: Jalen Hurts as a fourth-round pick just seems
like a steal to me. I know most guys in this draft try to wait
on selecting their first QB, but Dan had to be super pleased that
Hurts was an option for him at that spot. He really gives this
team a solid foundation and allows for Dan to have two positions
of strength. I also thought the back-to-back TE picks of Kmet
and Freiermuth was extremely solid. If you're going to wait on
picking a TE, make sure you pick a second quickly after the first.
Dan did just that.
Least Favorite Pick: I have absolutely no idea who is going to
emerge in Jacksonville this season in terms of being fantasy relevant
as a receiver and/or tight end. Will it be Christian Kirk? Thomas?
Engram? Gabe Davis? As such, I thought Christian Kirk was taken
much earlier than I would have.
Overall Outlook: This a good-looking team. In the fantasy eras
of the past, sporting a backfield of White and Conner would be
the kiss of death, but in the year 2024, it can work with the
other positions being well fortified. Besides, Washington wants
a more versatile RB and Jim Harbaugh is going to see to it that
the Chargers are a smash-mouth team, so the foursome that Dan
has at running back may actually blend extremely well in the No-Hassle's
best ball format. Picking at the turn in the first/second round
generally leaves you without one of the true "studs"
from a fantasy perspective, but how many studs are really out
there the way we used to define that term? Not many. There are
multiple ways to win fantasy championships now and bolstering
two main positions with high-end talent is a good way to give
chase. Solid job by Dan as always.
