RADIO
There are two types of popular fantasy drafts that participants are engaging in right now, as players build their rosters in both dynasty and best ball formats. In the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC), I combined the best of both league types in my dynasty best ball league, which also includes a Superflex position. The league is heading into its third season, so we recently completed our annual draft of rookies and free agents. Reviewing and analyzing my results can hopefully help you in any upcoming best ball and dynasty drafts.
FFPC starting lineups consist of one QB, two RBs, two WRs, one RB/WR/TE flex, one QB/RB/WR/TE flex (which is usually a QB), one TE, 1 K and one defense. In the FFPC, TEs receive 1.5 points for a reception and all other skill position players receive one point for a reception. The FFPC rookie/free agent drafts are not done in snake/serpentine style.
My dynasty approach is not to look five-plus years down the line. Too much changes between the upcoming season and even two to three years from now. I want to win this year while also building for the future.
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The King’s 2022 FFPC Dynasty Roster
I was set at quarterback going into the draft with Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins, with Kellen Mond as a future possible starter for the Vikings. At running back, Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry were the crux of my 2020 championship team, and I will realistically expect another two to three good seasons out of them. I won’t look to replace them immediately, but my eye is also on the future at RB. Additionally, I had Devin Singletary and will hopefully get James Robinson back in good health at some point for further depth.
Amari Cooper and Michael Pittman Jr. anchor the wide receiver corps. I like Cooper a lot in Cleveland with Deshaun Watson, and his upside can be a real plus in a Best Ball format. Pittman should continue to improve with Matt Ryan at quarterback this season. The future outlook is less apparent after Ryan exits, but I can take it one year at a time with Pittman.
Tight end was definitely a concern for me heading into the draft. Rob Gronkowski’s return is uncertain, and I needed to get someone for the future there at some point.
Here are my picks in all 10 rounds, from the fifth position unless otherwise noted.
Fantasy Football Rookie Draft Results
Round One: Garrett Wilson – The Jets rookie was the third wide receiver off the board and gives me the further quality depth I was looking for at the position. Wilson may prove to be the best all-around wide receiver in the 2022 draft class, and he is the potential No. 1 receiver the Jets really needed. There may be some inconsistency in his first season, but Wilson should provide enough productive games to help me in the best ball format. By his second or third season, Wilson and Pittman could be a formidable duo at WR.
Round Two: Jahan Dotson – I did strongly consider Zamir White, who went at 3.7, and Desmond Ridder, who was taken at 3.12. I believe White has a good chance to be the starting RB for the Raiders by the 2023 season, and Ridder might beat out Marcus Mariota quite quickly for a starting job. But Dotson was the best overall player left on the board, and now my wide receiver group was four quality players deep already by the first two rounds of the draft. We have two flex positions in the FFPC dynasty format, so rostering two proven WRs with two top rookies at the position can increase my chances of producing good totals for those lineup slots on a consistent basis.
Round Three: (Pick Two via trade) – Tyrion Davis-Price – I did not have a third-round pick, and wanted to stay in the drafting mix as much as possible, so I traded a second-rounder in 2023 to move to the front of the third round. I can focus on getting a second-rounder back in another deal next year.
I was considering Irv Smith Jr., and maybe should have taken him to fill a need. He was picked at 3.8 when I passed on him. But the potential impact running backs were also drying up fast. The 49ers prefer to utilize more than one RB, and obviously drafted Davis-Price to be a key part of their backfield group. He could even be the starter at some point if Elijah Mitchell continues to be a durability concern. Davis-Price can be a significant fantasy contributor in any given week in a best ball format.
The #49ers saw teams stack the box and Elijah Mitchell average 1 ypc in the NFC Title Game and said, “enough is enough.”
Tyrion Davis-Price says hello? pic.twitter.com/VYk7UGg3XN
— Sterling Bennett (@49ers_Access) April 30, 2022
Round Four: Drew Lock – I was fully intending to take Zach Ertz at this point, but when Marcus Mariota went off the board at 4/1, and Sam Darnold was taken at 4/4, I had to nab Lock as my necessary third QB for bye weeks and any potential injuries, as just about every other possible starting QB was gone. Geno Smith went undrafted, and if he does appear to have a chance of beating out Lock to start, I will go after him on free agency as my third QB.
Round Five: Austin Hooper – After I picked Lock, three tight ends went off the board quickly, as Ertz was taken at 4/6, Hayden Hurst at 4/7, and David Njoku at 4/9. Njoku could be a nifty pick working with Watson. While I would have rather had Ertz a round earlier, I like Hooper to be a good value pick for this season. He did not meet expectations in Cleveland but can bounce back in Tennessee, where the Titans lost their top wide receiver, and Ryan Tannehill has shown he can have a radar for his TE. Jonnu Smith had eight TD catches as a Titan in 2020.
Round Six: Hassan Haskins – This was the perfect move for now and the future in any dynasty format where Henry is rostered. Haskins should immediately become the top backup for Henry, and he can also succeed him as the featured power back for Tennessee.
Round Seven: K.J. Hamler - He is the fourth WR on the Denver depth chart, but I will take a shot on Hamler’s upside for a few good outings in a best ball format. He is reportedly recovering well from knee and hip injuries and can be the best pure deep threat for one of the top downfield passers in the game, Russell Wilson.
Round Eight: Cade Otton – He should be the future No. 1 tight end for the Buccaneers, and might make an impact as soon as the 2023 season in fantasy football. This late in the draft, in a TE premium format, Otton was a good pick to make for the longer term. Tampa Bay drafted him with their future at the position in mind.
Round Nine: Snoop Conner - There could be a potential path to playing time for Conner as soon as this season. Travis Etienne and James Robinson have health concerns, and at the very least, Conner might be ia part of an RB committee in Jacksonville. Robinson is also a restricted free agent after the 2022 season. We could see an Etienne/Conner timeshare in the future.
Round 10: Younghoe Koo – I needed a second kicker for my Best Ball squad.
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