We’re just days away from the start of the 2022 NFL season, which means we’re also in the midst of heavy fantasy football draft season. For some of us, that includes many industry analyst drafts, where some of the best minds in the world of fantasy football compete with each other for bragging rights. I was involved in such a draft, the FLEX (Fantasy League of Experts), which was created by Jake Ciely.
This 12 team, 0.5 PPR league requires a starting lineup that includes a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, two flex positions (RB/WR/TE), a tight end and a defensive/special teams unit. The scoring system is standard (no bonuses).
With so many people writing this week, I thought I’d give you an inside look at how I approached this draft turn by turn. That includes rounds where I had to call an audible – Omaha! – because the players I would have otherwise selected were drafted ahead of me and I had to make a last second change in my approach.
Here are my round-by-round thoughts during a draft chock full of fantasy “sharps”. You can consult the entire 16-round fantasy table at the bottom of the article.
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ROUND 11.4. Najee Harris, RB, Steelers: Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey and Austin Ekeler were the top three players off the board, so I went with Harris at No. 4. He’ll see another huge workload, including targets of Mitchell Trubisky and/or Kenny Pickett, and I’m not worried about the Steelers offensive line (it wasn’t great last season, either). I’m looking forward to another big season in the stat sheets.
TURN 22.21. Aaron Jones, RB, Packers: Only seven wide receivers have been selected to this point, so I decided to go with another running back knowing I would get a good wide receiver in the third round. That turn was Jones, who will be a big playmaker in the Packers offense this season. Even while in a projected backfield committee with AJ Dillon, I can still easily see him catching 50-plus passes with double-digit touchdowns.
TURN 33.28. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers: Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown and Mike Evans went ahead of me, but I was good at landing Allen on this lap. I actually ranked him ahead of Brown and Evans at the position, and catching passes from the best young quarterback in the league in Justin Herbert makes Allen much more of an asset. A virtual target hog, I’m banking on the veteran to see 150-plus looks this season.
TURN 44.45. Brandin Cooks, WR, Texans: I was definitely going with a wideout here, and Cooks was the best option on my board. He may not be the sexiest pick in fantasy drafts, but he’s reliable, consistent and the No. 1 option in the Texans’ offense. He has recorded over 1,000 yards in all but one season since 2015, and his 90 catches last year was a career best. Davis Mills will continue to look to Cooks often this season.
TURN 55.52. David Montgomery, RB, Bears: With two running backs and two receivers on the roster, he went with the best player on the board at each position this time around. It ended up being Montgomery. He was the RB21 a season ago, but actually ranked 12th in points per game among backs with at least 13 games played. The Bears will rely heavily on the run, and Montgomery will again be the top option.
TURN 66,69. T. J. Hockenson, TE, Lions: I don’t need to get an elite tight end in drafts, but I also don’t want one that’s going to knock me out on a week-to-week basis. With the first six tight ends on my board already taken, I decided to catch Hockenson. He was seventh at the position last season in points per game (minimum 11 games played), and averaged seven targets for the Lions. I expect more of the same this season.
TURN 77,76. Hunter Renfrow, WR, Raiders: I was hoping DeAndre Hopkins would fall to me here (I’ll eat the six games and have a stud wideout when I really need him), but he came off the board two picks before me. Knowing I needed to go with a wide receiver, I took Renfrow. Will the WR10 be back like it was a year ago? No. But the slot men have often performed well in coach Josh McDaniels’ offense.
TURN 88.93. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks: I was going with the top wideout on the board here, and that was Lockett. I accomplished 1,000-plus yards and eight scores is unlikely with Geno Smith under center, but Lockett should still be second in targets behind DK Metcalf and he is the No. 4 receiver on my team. Play matchups on a regular basis and sit out if Smith really stinks the joint this season.
TURN 99,100. Antonio Gibson, RB, Commanders: I have to start by saying that this project happened before Brian Robinson was involved in a shooting over the weekend. Of course, our thoughts and prayers are with the new talent to make a quick recovery and I hope that he will return to the field sooner rather than later. That being said, Gibson being on the board in Round 9 shows how his stock had fallen.
TURN 1010.117. Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams: When you’re in a quarterback league with a bunch of sharps, you can always wait for a quarterback and still get a star. I was hoping Tom Brady would fall to me, but he was picked six spots before my turn. As a result, I listened to Stafford. The QB6 from last season, the veteran is going to throw the ball a ton (again), and now he has Allen Robinson in the mix.
TURN 1111.124. Rondale Moore, WR, Cardinals: My plan this time around was to look for an upside player at either running back or wide receiver, and Moore was the best option on my board. He’s certainly a playmaker, and reports suggest the Cardinals want him to get more touches this season (at least until Hopkins returns from suspension).
TURN 1212.141. Aaron Rodgers, Packers: My quarterbacks might not be spring chickens, but Stafford and Rodgers both finished in the top six at the position last season. I’m expecting some regression from the latter of course, as he will be without Davante Adams in what will be a less productive passing attack. But Rodgers is still at least a low QB1.
TURN 1313.148. Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons: I feel pretty good about my running backs, so Allgeier was worth a roll of the dice. The Falcons backfield looks a little crowded with Cordarrelle Patterson and Damien Williams, but they are both in their 30s. As a result, it’s possible Allgeier gets a few more touches than expected.
TURN 1414.163. Cowboys Defense: Let me be a bit of a Cowboys horn! This defense was the best in the fantasy football world a season ago, and it better step up if the team has any chance of duplicating its 12 wins from last year. With playmakers like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, I’m banking on Big D to be a top-10 unit again.
TURN 1515.170. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Broncos: Okwuegbunam could have some appeal for deep sleepers in the Broncos’ offense, so he’d be worth a late-round pick in the draft. The team already lost Tim Patrick for the season, and Okwuegbunam is a good pass catcher in the offense. If it fails to produce, it will become fodder for giving up.
TURN 1616.187. Van Jefferson, WR, Rams: This was a dart throw (at this point they all are), but why not throw that dart into an offense that is very likely to score a ton of points? Jefferson will start as the Rams’ No. 3 wideout, and he’ll keep that role unless the team re-signs Odell Beckham Jr. (knee) at some point much later in the season.
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Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst at Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all of his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for your latest fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!
What round should I draft a defense?
Usually, it is recommended to wait until one of the last two rounds in your draft to pick a defense. See the article : Athlon Sports says two Michigan football players will be running away in 2022.
Should I write the defense or kicker first? If, despite all your efforts, you cannot reason with the powers that be and the kickers remain in your league, write them with your last choice. Even if you are almost sure that your deepest sleep will be here in the final round, do not risk it, take them before spending the capital of the project in a kicker.
What round should I pick a kicker and defense?
This is the most important rule of all, simple but crucial: don’t write a kicker until the end of your draft. The last time is ideal, but never before the last time or two. Don’t try to be cheap and draft the best kicker in the seventh round.
What order should I draft players in fantasy football?
Drafts should plan their first pick with groups of players in mind, and line them up before the time of making the first pick. So if you have the choice No. Read also : The 10 Best Collectibles in Video Games, Ranked. 6, line up your first six players and then simply take the top player still available when it’s your turn.
What is the most popular fantasy football format?
Not only did the survey results dictate that PPR scoring was the preferred scoring method by fantasy fans, but almost all major and national tournaments also use PPR scoring. To see also : The most unbroken sports records still being chased: Jerry Rice, Wilt Chamberlain, Wayne Gretzky stand out. It has become the current fantasy football standard.
Is standard or PPR more popular? PPR scoring now seems to be actually more popular than standard scoring, because players have realized how bad standard scoring is to play. Some players argue that PPR doesn’t properly simulate real football because receptions don’t reward valuable teams like yards or touchdowns.
What is the best fantasy football roster settings?
Do it yourself and create the best list you think you can. However, it is outside the box and far from the norm, so for a typical league, my recommendation with the SuperFlex is: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 WR/TE Flex, 1 Flex, 1 SuperFlex, 1 DST (if you don’t want a SuperFlex place, at least add a second Flex).
Which fantasy sport is most popular?
And 75% of sports bettors played fantasy sports in 2018.
- 78% of fantasy participants play fantasy football.
- 39% play fantasy baseball.
- 19% play fantasy basketball (NBA)
- 18% play fantasy hockey (NHL)
- 14% play fantasy football.
- 13% play fantasy golf.
- 11% play fantasy sports.
- 5% participate in the fantasy Bachelor.
How do you play fantasy football?
Select your own team of players, set a lineup each week. So, watch them run, pass, catch and score touchdowns, which are all worth fantasy points. Each week, you are paired with someone else in your league, and whoever has the most fantasy points that week, wins!
What is fantasy football and how does it work? Fantasy football is a game in which participants serve as owners and general managers of virtual professional American football teams. Competitors select their rosters by participating in a draft in which all relevant National Football League (NFL) players are available.
How do you play fantasy football step by step?
How to play Fantasy Football
- Step 1: Get a Group of Friends Together and Name a Commissioner. …
- Step 2: The Draft. …
- Step 3: Selecting players during the Draft. …
- Step 4: Lineup and position. …
- Step 5: Scoring in a Standard League. …
- Step 6: Scoring in a PPR League. …
- Step 7: Free Agents and the Waiver Wire. …
- Step 8: Players in the Bye Week.
How do you start a fantasy football?
Open the ESPN Fantasy app and tap the Football icon at the top. Tap Create New League. Enter the League Name, tap the league size (4-20) and select the default settings for your league. NOTE: You can customize virtually every aspect of your league later via League Setup and/or LM Tools (web only).
Is Yahoo fantasy PPR or standard?
His deck calls for starting a QB, two RBs, two WRs, a TE, a K and a D/ST. Yahoo! it’s a half-point PPR format. If you have never done PPR half or full point, it applies to all positions equally. Players with more receptions get more points, so adjust accordingly.
Is Yahoo PPR or standard? Yahoo Fantasy Football Standard Scoring System The standard scoring format for Yahoo is PPR.
What type of fantasy league is Yahoo?
Yahoo Public Prize Leagues are paid, public fantasy leagues run by Yahoo. Compete with other fantasy players to win cash prizes.
Is Yahoo fantasy PPR?
Although Yahoo has defaulted to the PPR midpoint and ESPN is going with the standard, there are some intriguing differences between the two sites’ top rankings.
How do I know if my Yahoo fantasy football league is PPR?
Go to the home page of the league:
- League.
- Scoring and Settings.
- If there is value for the receivers (not receiving yards), then you are in a PPR.
