RADIO
The final week of June was Fantasy Sports & Gaming Draft Week on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. I participated in one of the featured league drafts, representing Rotoballer in the FSGA National Conference. This is a 14-team expert league in a PPR format with no trades. TD passes are worth four points and the starting lineup requirements are 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 FLEX, 1 TE and a defense and kicker.
I have shared my in-depth insights on each pick, including helpful strategies and tips to strongly consider throughout the draft. I explain the comprehensive thought process behind every selection. There is even a key recommendation for league commissioners as the crux of the analysis on my first-round selection. I was drafting from the third spot in this league.
Here is a look at how the draft played out for me. View the draft board and full coverage below.
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The King’s FSGA National Conference Draft Analysis
Watch the full FSGA National Conference Draft here!
Early Rounds
Round 1: Ezekiel Elliott - This first pick doesn’t need the obvious player analysis. Just be glad if you luck into one of the top three spots like I did here. You want to be in a position to get one of the very elite workhorse RBs, who dominate carries for their teams and are most likely to post superstar numbers. Having a random draw for draft choices is almost unfair to eight teams in the league, because it is a clear advantage to have a crack at the top-three RBs or Alvin Kamara.
In my redraft leagues, I always award the No. 1 pick to the best team that did not make the playoffs, the second pick to the second-best team that did not qualify, and so on. Consider recommending to your league that the top spots in the draft next season be earned or awarded properly, even through reverse order of last year’s records or to Toilet Bowl winners. You cannot make the changes for this season’s draft, but can fix this unfair problem for 2021.
Round 2: Lamar Jackson – Of course, I took heat in the draft room (you can watch above) because of the groupthink mentality that you should wait on a QB and Jackson will regress. But as I have stated several times this preseason, Jackson is the one QB I refuse to wait on if I am picking later in the first round or get a chance to take him in the second. No other player at the position offers the completely unique rushing upside of Jackson along with respectable passing production. You can’t wait on him because there is no one else like him, and there never has been anyone like him in fantasy football.
Even if his production regresses he will still give you distinctive RB type of production along with his satisfactory passing output at QB. He’s like a Willy Wonka Golden Ticket, except there is just one in this instance.
Round 3: Melvin Gordon III - I am seeing Gordon go as late as the fourth round, which is just too low. I have lucked into him as a RB2 in many early drafts and mocks. Gordon is going to own the workload at RB for Denver and re-emerge at least as a high-end fantasy RB2. I see no reason to not draft him as a top-12 range player at the position. We are forgetting how highly he was ranked just two years ago, and I would have him higher if not for the fact that he has only played one full season so far.
Round 4: DK Metcalf – I struggled with which Seattle WR to take here, or to go with DeVante Parker. But in a 14-team league, I took the high stakes type approach to go with upside. Metcalf is a totally unique combination of size and speed playing with an ideal QB for his skill set. He had a real breakthrough game in the playoffs last season and in a league of this size, he has the potential to be my best wideout and a difference-maker.
Full FSGA National Conference Draft board via RealTime Fantasy Sports
Round 5: Cam Akers – Parker and Tyler Lockett both were taken just before my slot, as neither one of them made it back to me in a four-pick window between selections. I never feel “sniped”, because I am always ready with several other players in my queue. Sensing a drop-off at WR after Parker and Lockett were gone, I simply went with the best available player and the top value choice that was jumping out at me. Having Akers as a flex will be a luxury as he posts quality RB2 numbers this season.
Round 6: CeeDee Lamb – After I drafted Akers, seven WRs in my queue were taken before I had a chance to pick again. That was the cost of going with Akers over my other considerations such as D.J Chark, Tyler Boyd, Terry McLaurin and others in Round 5. So I went for the most potential to exceed expectations at the position, even though rookie WRs usually are not consistent producers. But in a 14-team league of top experts you will never draft an ideal roster, so I took the wideout with the best instant breakout abilities and planned to build more good depth at WR later on.
Round 7: Diontae Johnson – This Steelers sleeper could end up being my WR2. I took Lamb over him because I believed Johnson had the better chance of making it back to my next turn. Ben Roethlisberger will return successfully and will start ramping up Johnson with an eye on him becoming Pittsburgh’s WR1 next season.
Round 8: Hayden Hurst – This was one of my favorite picks. When the top-seven or so TEs are gone, I want to take the shot on Hurst. He has all the same measurables as Austin Hooper, who played at a TE1 level for more than half a season last year. Both TEs check in at 6-4, and Hurst weighs 245 pounds, just nine less than Hooper. Hurst had a 4.67 40-yard dash time coming out of college, Hooper was at 4.73. Hurst will easily slide into the old Hooper role and post TE1 numbers this season, and could challenge for a top 5 finish at the position.
Round 9: Jalen Reagor: I now believe I may have the two best rookie WRs in this year’s class, and Reagor may have the best chance to become a WR1 for his team. If Lamb does not hit for me, I may be able to use Reagor as one of my prime starters. There is much potential for an exciting debut season for Reagor as a downfield threat for Carson Wentz.
Late-Round Values
Round 10: Joshua Kelley – I was absolutely thrilled to land Kelley this late in a 14-teamer. He is a possible flex type as he takes over a good chunk of the old Gordon role for the Chargers. Austin Ekeler has his defined role as an outstanding pass-catcher, but I would not be surprised to see Kelley become the primary ball carrier for the Chargers. I am not saying he will dominate the attempts, yet I expect him to get more rushing touches than Ekeler while being the goal line back in a timeshare.
Round 11: Allen Lazard – Continuing to build WR depth here as my RB picture looks great, Lazard is my choice to become Green Bay’s WR2 this year over Devin Funchess. The ceiling can be fantasy WR3 output.
Round 12: Carlos Hyde – Chris Carson is coming off a serious hip injury and Rashaad Penny is out until further notice. Hyde may have to start for the Seahawks at some point this season. A very good late-round flier.
Round 13: Irv Smith Jr. – He could become a bigger part of the Minnesota passing game this season. Adam Thielen also has trouble staying healthy and Justin Jefferson may not break out until at least 2021. Smith could at least be the third target for Kirk Cousins and a larger role cannot be ruled out. Sure, he’s on a run-first team, yet there may be a lot of two TE sets to ensure a quality amount of snaps and he is definitely worth the late ticket at the thinnest position in fantasy football.
Round 14: Cam Newton – This selection was made less than a week before he signed with New England. Now, I now have a potential top-10 quarterback as my backup. To think, I was criticized for spending a pick on a free agent... I did consider Jarrett Stidham here, but my gut told me to stick with Newton and it worked out for the best.
Round 15: Eagles Defense – There are only three or four units I would target for a full season or most of it. I draft the remaining defenses with the best combination of overall outlook and Week 1 matchup. I will likely stream all season at the position. The Eagles are strong up front, could be better on the back end and draw Washington in their season opener.
Round 16: Randy Bullock – He finished just outside the top-12 kickers last season and with Joe Burrow coming in to pump up the offense, he can emerge as a very good option in 2020. There could be a healthy amount of field goal attempts if the Bengals offense is inconsistent, and he may benefit from a few higher-scoring affairs when the rookie displays his better form. Bullock made 10 of 12 attempts from 40 to 49 yards last year, which makes him a solid choice in a league that awards bonus points for distance kicking. I may draft kickers in the final two rounds like everyone else, but I study their stats and tendencies instead of just throwing darts.
Summary: My RBs are strong, and having Jackson is almost like employing an extra one in the lineup. I am taking risks at WR. They are all upside plays, though, and there is enough depth to ensure a good chance of ending up with an exciting trio of starters. I am confident I will be set at TE and should have an advantage at flex. My success will hinge on if my WRs can reach expectations.
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