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| Posted by: Guru
- [330592710] Sun, Aug 26, 2018, 16:30
We'll use the same process for collecting rationales as last year.
You have a choice. You may either post your rationale in the comment area next to the associated pick on the MFL draft page,
- or -
you may post each rationale in this thread. Anything posted here will take precedence over anything posted on MFL.
Regardless, each rationale is due no later than two rounds in arrears. I understand that, especially when queues are used, staying within two rounds will be difficult. However, please try to stay relatively current.
I will set up a master thread for all Rationales that will be organized in the proper draft sequence. So don't worry about the sequence here. |
| | | 2 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Sun, Aug 26, 2018, 18:47
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Draft Pick Selection #5:
When it was my turn to select, I had to choose #5 or #14. Ended up going with #5 because I thought I would be picking Zeke or DJ with Zeke being my primary target. I should've noticed wiggs ahead of me and known Zeke would never make it past him (he's a Cowboys fan like me). Turned out to be absolute worst case as nobody ahead of me took AB.
1.05 Antonio Brown, WR, PIT
Not thrilled with this pick, but do feel like it's the right one to make here. He's the last player on the top tier and has been the most consistent fantasy football player out there. Pitt is absolutely loaded on offense so good luck double teaming him. As long as he stays healthy, he'll pay off his position.
2.10 Jordan Howard, RB, CHI
Sneaky RB1 upside here. HC Nagy is a brilliant offensive mind and has said he plans on Howard playing all 3 downs. Cohen is more of a gadget back and I see him getting touches out of the slot. Looks like Howard will be the bell-cow in which should be a fun offense to watch.
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| | | 3 | Wiggs
ID: 20502821
Sun, Aug 26, 2018, 22:01
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draft selection .04
This decision was easy for me. I wanted a top 4 rb amd I got it
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| | | 4 | twolves
SuperDude
ID: 811161317
Sun, Aug 26, 2018, 22:56
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1.13. D. Cook RB
It was Beckham or Cook. Although Beckham was rated higher and looks like he will have a great year if healthy which it appears, I decided to take Cook as last one left In my first tier of RBs . From Minn reports he is healthy although doing nothing in preseason.
2.02. Keenan Allen. WR
Since Beckham gone, I liked WR better than available RBs. I had choice of Allen, Thomas, and T. Hill. It was more of coin flip as all are looking at possible outstanding seasons. With Allen good second half last year decided to take Allen.
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| | | 5 | youngroman
ID: 53713273
Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 04:14
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#9 pick
I thought that only RBs + Antonio Brown will go in the first 10 picks. I would have liked Brown, but I opted for the better pick in rounds 2 to 4. at worst I take a WR in round 1 and a RB in round 2. if not I do the opposite.
1.09 Melvin Gordon, RB, LAC
with Brown gone the obvious choice was a RB. since Barkley went at #6 my 4 man queue of RB-RB-RB-WR was down to a 3 RB's. Julio Jones went as well, so the #2 choice from my queue joined my team: Melvin Gordon. He is good for 1500 yards and double digit TD's. only Fournette is capable of doing the same. I would have been happy with him too.
2.06 Davante Adams
after going RB in the first round it was a given to go WR in the second. the top options available were: Adams, AJ Green and Tyreek Hill. Adams is the #1 receiver of the best QB in the game. he will get plenty of looks and he is a threat for double digit TD's. no need to look deeper into the other 2 options who have both questionmarks at QB.
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| | | 6 | SwinganaMiss
ID: 14720220
Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 06:27
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Draft Slot 06
Choices were limited to 5,6,14 when my pick was up. I really prefer to start w/ RB and 5 looked like AB, so I steered clear (I have a hard time rooting for Steeler success also, so that's another reason I didn't really want Brown). I prefer also to be in the middle of the rounds, so 14 was not ideal. Thus, 6 was the choice. Would have preferred ~9, had it been available.
1.06 Saquon Barkley, RB NYG
Choice here was between Barkley and Gordon primarily, with Kamara a 3rd choice. In the end, I went with the riskier pick of the rookie. Last year, Hunt and Fournette were solid rookies, so hoping for more of the same here. He has no viable competition (at least for carries). If he gets/stays healthy he can pay off.
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| | | 7 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 10:22
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3.10 Jamaal Williams, RB, GB
Maybe a tad early, but I think this kid is the real deal. He emerged the 2nd half of last year and showed what he's capable of. One knock on him coming out of college was his pass blocking ability. That is now no longer an issue. Aaron Jones is suspended for the first two games and I'm planning on Williams putting a strangle hold on the starting RB position. HC McCarthy has said he's poised for a big year. Works for me.
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| | | 8 | Demaryius_Targaryen
ID: 211131196
Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 10:57
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Draft Slot #10
Blessing and a curse getting to select my pick as early as I did. I wanted a RB in round 1, but ended up deciding against taking one of the big 4 in favor of getting a shot at better options round 2-4. I figured there would be enough of a run on RBs that I couldn’t count on getting someone I wanted if I went too late in round 1, so ended up settling in at 10.
1.10 – Leonard Fournette
This pick ultimately came down to Fournette and DeAndre Hopkins for me, since Melvin Gordon went just ahead. I wasn’t expecting Hopkins to be available at 10, but the run on RBs early feels especially strong this year. Ended up sticking with my initial draft plan to take a RB first, figuring the remaining RB1s I was targeting would go before my second pick came up, and felt I could find value at WR later on in the draft easier than I could at RB. Fournette is definitely a workhorse, and I think he has the potential to end up as high as RB5 overall if he stays healthy and continues to deliver. Hunt’s pass protection woes and Dalvin Cook’s return from injury placed them just below Fournette for me on the RB front.
2.05 – Rob Gronkowski
I reached (slightly) above ADP for Gronk here. I tend to be a sucker for elite tight ends, and I didn’t think Kelce would make his way back around to me in round 3. He’s in a league of his own at TE, and I will just hope and pray that he will have the consistency of 2017 Gronk and not 2016 Gronk. Probably would’ve taken Allen or Thomas had either been available, but both went shortly before me. I considered all three WRs that went right after me too (Adams / Green / Hill), of which I wanted Hill probably the most, but uncertainty due to new QB situation scared me off.
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| | | 9 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 17:33
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4.10 Brandon Cooks, WR, LAR
Several ways to go here, but decided on Cooks. The Rams didn't give him a 5 year $80M deal to use him as a decoy. Also worth noting Cooks and Goff share the same agent; and started working early in the offseason developing a rapport. HC McVay has been raving about his new toy. Big plays should be available off the play action and I expect Cooks to get plenty of those looks.
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| | | 10 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 19:25
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Draft Pick Selection #2
I rarely pick towards the front of the draft in RIFC: I tend to either choose a late pick to take advantage of the banzai format or I get stuck somewhere in the middle because of bad luck in the selection lottery.
This year, I was one of the first to choose, and I was pleased to have a full set of options. To me, there was a very clear top 5: Bell/Gurley/Elliott/Johnson/Antonio Brown.
I considered taking 5th (planning on Antonio Brown) and 13th (probably a WR/WR combo). I decided that I didn't trust David Johnson enough and I considered 3rd, but ended up taking the 2nd slot in the hopes of getting Le'Veon Bell. Additionally, I enjoy picking near the turn so that I have a better chance of predicting who will go in between my picks.
1.02 Le'Veon Bell, RB, PIT
I traditionally dislike taking RBs in the first round; due to the fact we only start 2, due to the RB-heavy tendencies of the RIFC leagues, and due to their relative volatility from year to year.
That said, Bell has everything I look for in a 1st round pick. Through his first 5 seasons of work, he has averaged 129 all purpose yards per game (and never fewer than 97 yards per game in a season). He is heavily involved in the passing game, and he stays heavily involved even if his team is winning or losing by a large margin. He is healthy, only 26 years old, and plays for a team with a solid offensive line and elite downfield receiving threats.
My only complaint is that I would feel a little more comfortable if he had already reported to the Steelers. He promised it would be his best season yet on Twitter, though, so I have no worries about him holding out.
2.13 Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB
Nobody really stood out here, so I went with Rodgers. I wouldn't say he's the unambiguous #1 QB option that he has been a few times in the past, but he has a long history of greatness and offers a very high floor.
He is 34 and got hurt last year, but that's not particularly old for a QB, and he had a 22 point game against the Panthers when he came back in week 17.
The other time Rodgers returned from an injury-shortened season, he threw for 4386 yards and 38 TDs. I don't necessarily expect a repeat of that, but he has had at least 3800 yards and 28 TDs in every season of 10+ games, and I would be surprised if he doesn't continue that streak.
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| | | 11 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 23:38
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3.02 . S. Diggs WR
The running backs I wanted for this pick were all taken ahead of me. Felt WR offered best value for this pick and opted for Diggs who seems to be having a good connection with Cousins in local press. Other considerations were Kelce and JuJu Schuster.
4.02 . Jay Ajayi . RB
Wanted 2nd RB and choice was between K. Drake and Ajayi . My 10 y/o grandson who is a very big sportsfan favored Ajayi so that was the choice even if I was leaning bit toward Drake since I have him in another league.
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| | | 12 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Mon, Aug 27, 2018, 23:46
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3.13 Lamar Miller, RB, HOU
For 4 consecutive years, Lamar Miller has surpassed 1200 all purpose yards. His head coach just called him a three-down back. During games in which the Texans current 1st-string QB started last year, Miller averaged 13 fantasy points per game. He is only 27, he is reportedly in much better shape this year, and he has apparently looked great during training camp/preseason.
If the Texans have the excellent passing offense that many are predicting, I think Miller will flourish and finish in the RB5-RB10 range. Even if the Texans' offense disappoints, he should have the workload and the job security to be a solid RB2.
4.13 Bobby Wagner, LB, SEA
I was planning to take at least one elite defensive player with these two picks. A few offensive players were also on my radar: Tarik Cohen jumped out to me, but a 3rd RB here would have been too much of a luxury.
Some research showed that Fugazi has a history of drafting IDPs early and often, so I figured I should draft my top IDP here to be safe. Bobby Wagner was the one that I was most interested in: he was the #1 LB last year and the #2 LB in 2016. This year he could have even more tackle opportunities given everything that's happening regarding Seattle's defense.
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| | | 13 | youngroman
ID: 53713273
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 04:15
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3.06 Alex Collins, RB, BAL
it was not the plan to take Collins here, but I feared that I needed to fall back to him. with 7 picks to go before mine I set a 4-man-queue of: Rodgers, McKinnon, Diggs and Kelce. of course all 4 go within 5 picks. upon researching further I decided that Collins was the best remaining option. there won't be many RB workhorses left when the draft comes back to me and I did not like the WR options that are usually picked here (Cooper, Fitzgerald).
the question is how much Allen or Dixon cut into the workload of Collins. looking at how good Collins finished out last season there is hope that he should see a lot of touches. He also did not play much in the preseason so I guess they keep his stamina for the regular season. a 1000 yard season is expected.
4.06 Chris Hogan, WR, NE
last season Hogan established himself as the favorite wide receiver of Tom Brady. Brady will again throw a lot this season, therefore Hogan will receive a lot of targets. I hope it is as simple as that.
I also considered Larry Fitzgerald (long gone) and Allen Robinson (still out there) for this pick, but Hogan was my top choice out of the remaining WR's.
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| | | 14 | Demaryius_Targaryen
ID: 211131196
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 10:34
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3.05 – Adam Thielen
This came down to Collins and Thielen. Starting RB / TE in the first two rounds, I felt the need to go WR here or get priced too far out of the top tiers at the position. I missed out on Hilton / Diggs / Baldwin just before my pick, and I wasn’t totally enamored with the WR options here, but ended up liking Thielen best. He produced in 2017 with more consistency with Diggs (perhaps less upside though). Big question here is how the new QB situation will play out, but am hoping that is ultimately an upgrade in an already strong offense.
4.05 – Marvin Jones
I had wanted Royce Freeman here. I didn’t love any of the remaining RBs at value so I ended up shifting my focus to my WR2. Marvin Jones continues to show upside, improving in production in every season but one (due to injury) that he’s played in the league. I think he has a good chance to be the primary target in an offense with a solid QB, and led the league last year in yards per reception. While I don’t necessarily know he’ll repeat that feat, especially with more competition in the backfield, I felt more comfortable taking him on upside after securing Thielen and his consistency in the 3rd.
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| | | 15 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 13:36
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5.05 J.J. Watt, DL, HOU
Here. We. Go. The first of two picks that will likely make or break my season. Go big or go home. No guts, no glory. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Watt is a massive risk with a massive ceiling. The 3 time Defensive Player of the Year looks like he's ready to return to form (crushed conditioning test and is ready to roll Week 1). He says he's ready to return to form and who am I to argue. No selling point needs to be made if he is able to stay healthy. After back to back seasons cut short by injuries, here's to hoping the $41.6M in Hurricane Harvey relief his organization raised swings karma back in his favor.
6.10 Khalil Mack, DL, OAK
Another massive risk/massive ceiling pick, but for a different reason. Mack is currently in a holdout basically telling Oakland, "pay me or trade me." When you look at what he's done for the organization, can't really blame him. An absolutely gifted freak in his prime. MFL also has him listed at DL this year which is an added enormous bonus. I have to believe Mack and Oakland will get this squared away and soon. It doesn't benefit either to let this drag on into the season. Time will tell.
Can't elaborate too much right now, but the idea going Watts/Mack b2b was to corner the market on what I see as a thin position. If things work out how I hope, I'll have a major advantage. With RIFC rules requiring that you must start two DL, I'll gladly plug Watt/Mack into those two slots.
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| | | 17 | SwinganaMiss
ID: 14720220
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 17:11
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3.09 Amari Cooper, WR OAK
After RB/RB, I needed a WR. Looking for a bounce back from Cooper with the changes going on in OAK. He has the potential to dominate. I'm giving him one last chance after dropping him in a Keeper league. If it doesn't happen this year, I'm done with him. My next choice would have been Fitz.
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| | | 18 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 17:50
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7.05 Devin Funchess, WR, CAR
After spending a couple of picks on defense, back to offense for this one. Plethora of options, but settled on the #1 WR in Carolina. Funchess is a big body. Red zone target. Rookie Moore should at least keep defenses honest on the opposite side so no more shading to his side. Oh and it's a contract year for Mr Funchess. Yes, please and thank you.
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| | | 19 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 18:03
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5.13 . Deshaun Watson QB
Wanted Cam Newton but he got picked ahead of me. I considered Brees here instead but to win league need a few boom or bust candidates. I think if he can get back to 2017 form quickly he would be a real boom and definitely top 5 QB. I hope this is not s bust as he did not look very good last game for #1 QB.
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| | | 20 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 18:22
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5.02 Joey Bosa, DE, LAC
I was still without any WRs, but none of the top choices were standing out to me, so I was primarily debating Greg Olsen, Joey Bosa, and Luke Kuechly. If I had realized Tyler Lockett was likely to be drafted before my next pick, I would have debated taking him, but I think I would have ended up making the same decision.
Olsen has been a favorite of mine in past years for his dependability, but I couldn't convince myself that he is still a lock for 900+ yards. He is entering his mid 30s, coming off a significant injury, and Cam Newton just doesn't throw the ball enough to support 3 receiving options.
Kuechly is obviously high risk / high reward. I'm not sure that his ceiling is high enough to justify the injury risk when there are safer elite LBs who are likely to at least approach his per-game stats.
Bosa is the consensus top DL. He might not have the extreme upside of Watt or Mack, but he appears to have an extremely high floor: Bosa has averaged over 8 points per game in each of the past two seasons (something only he and Mack have done). At age 23, his career trajectory seems to be on the rise, and I can see him having a monster season.
I ultimately went with Bosa because he seemed like the one I could count on the most, and because of the position scarcity. I was confident I could find quality LBs in the mid-late rounds, but DL gets shallow quickly.
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| | | 21 | SwinganaMiss
ID: 14720220
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 18:59
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4.09 Tom Brady, QB NE
Not really my plan. I was most likely to grab another WR here. I was thinking Hogan might be available. Another consideration would have been Ingram. With 2 RB already, I could deal with his suspension. But, both those guys were gone.
So, Brady seems to have fallen more than I expected. In RIFC I am more often than not waiting for QB. But I thought he was the best value out there. (Since another QB didn't go until 5.12, maybe I could have had Brady at 5.06.) There were enough similar WR available, that I thought one would be available at 5.06.
I can't stand to root for the Pats, particularly Brady. But, this will give me one, and only one, reason to do so.
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| | | 22 | SwinganaMiss
ID: 14720220
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 19:11
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5.06 Rex Burkhead, RB NE
When I said I would have only one reason to root for the Pats, I guess I was wrong.
With only 1 WR, I really expected to go with WR. But, I like the idea of having a 3rd RB too. So, this was a real dilemma. Mostly I was looking at Allen Robinson for this pick. Of the handful that I considered at my 4.09, he was the only one left here at 5.06.
Ultimately, I went back to the Pats for a second time. I like Burkhead to stay involved throughout the season, despite Michel (drafted 2 picks up---bizarre). I especially hope he's still contributing during bye weeks, and if Barkley/Mixon don't pan out. Will have to get serious about WR soon. But, there's another group of WR I like at 6.09, and I expect people to start hitting IDPs soon.
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| | | 23 | Slackjawed Yokel
ID: 547332821
Tue, Aug 28, 2018, 22:36
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1.12 DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Hou
I saw two sure things at RB coming up to my pick - Fournette and Hunt. So, queued them up. More options at WR on the way back. Two picks until mine.. Hopefully they won't both be picked - or I'll probably go with Hopkins and then get a rb on the turn. Sure enough, Fournette and Hunt were taken... so, went with Hopkins. He's an elite WR that has room for growth assuming he will be able to play a full year with a dynamic qb at the helm. Last couple of seasons, I picked toward the beginning of the draft. This time, I had an earlier selection to choose my draft position, and thought I'd go lower to take advantage of the bonzai format - while I was at it, I took the third from the end, which should allow me to earn some effective spots later in the draft by looking at the two ensuing manager's rosters on the way through the turn.
2.03 Devonta Freeman, RB, Atl
Already had decided to get a RB here. Still saw a couple good options - guys that have a lock at their position and stand to get 1000 yards and 7+ td's. Freeman seemed more the sure thing; also considered Jordan Howard, but felt Freeman had fewer question marks.
3.03 Travis Kelce, TE, KC
Had been eyeing T.Y. Hilton with this pick, and he came tantalizingly close. Decided to go more best available - decent options still around at RB, WR, but opted to take an elite TE off the board. Kelce is the only other TE close to Gronk - he had 1000 yrds and 8 td's last year. New QB in KC, but it's not uncommon that newer QB's look to the TE position as their safety blanket.
4.03 Kenyan Drake, RB, Mia
Looking to grab my second RB here - saw two decent candidates who should have locks on primary RB positions - Drake and Henry. May look at Ingram later if he continues to fall with his suspension.
5.12 Cam Newton, QB, Car
Surprised to see Deshaun Watson still available at the end of round 5 - especially seeing where he's been going in other drafts. However, I couldn't make myself pull the trigger on Watson over Newton. Went with less risk here - just can't see Watson putting up the numbers he did in the first half of last season for a full year.
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| | | 24 | youngroman
ID: 53713273
Wed, Aug 29, 2018, 04:02
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5.09 Evan Engram, TE, NYG
I am a little bit surprised of how many 3rd RB's are already gone. my plan is usually to take 5 of my offensive starters in the first 5 rounds and most of the time I then tend to the defensive side before coming back to backups with picks 10+. I don't yet know which route I go this year.
to Engram: after Brady went no other QB interested me for this pick. so it was down to WR or TE. my list included: Allen Robinson, Demaryius Thomas, Corey Davis and Engram. I valued Engram the most because of his position. And also because Eli likes to throw to his TE's. Engram is an exceptional talent which should result in him being a top 5 TE. as 4th TE taken this pick sounds about right. His current concussion symptoms seems to be gone any day, so he should be available for week 1. lets see if this is true or if I misjudged that.
6.06 Drew Brees, QB, NO
I would have taken Russell Wilson at 4.06, Tom Brady at 5.09 or Drew Brees at 6.06. the first 2 did not make it. Brees, for whatever reason did. in his 12 seasons with the Saints he always got more than 4300 yards and played in at least 15 games each season. if he can do that again I would be happy.
Brees is a threat for 300yds and 2 TD's any time he is out there.
7.09 Alexander Kwon, LB, TBB
on the offensive side I only need a WR starter. I saw too many options I would be ok with, so I finally turned to the defensive side. LB is the most valuable position (gets the most points) so I tried to get one of the top options. I filled my queue with Telvin Smith, CJ Mosley, Alexander Kwon, Deion Jones and Zach Brown. Only Kwon survived. They are all good for 90 solo tackles and 40 assists with some additional stats. not much that should differentiate them.
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| | | 25 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Wed, Aug 29, 2018, 07:25
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6.02 . Greg Olson TE
I like this spot for early top Defender but they got taken earlier, so decided to go for TE to round out offensive positions with G. Olson and Graham appearing to have best value of remaining TEs.
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| | | 26 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Wed, Aug 29, 2018, 09:18
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8.10 Tremaine Edmunds, LB, BUF
Back to defense we go for this pick. Roquan Smith is getting most of the publicity as #1 rookie IDP, but I would argue this kid is in the absolute best position to succeed out of the gate. He's locked into the coveted starting Mike linebacker position in Buffalo's 4-3 defense. Think Zach Brown except younger, faster, bigger and stronger (which should hopefully lead to better). If nothing else, he should wrack up tackles. Taking a rook to anchor a linebacking core may seem risky, but I'm very comfortable taking him. Buffalo has placed lofty expectations on his shoulders and I think he'll deliver.
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| | | 27 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Wed, Aug 29, 2018, 10:13
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7.13 . Lavonte David LB
With a flurry of LB going off board decided time for a LB. David has been very consistent over past years with consistent tackle numbers and do not expect too much different this year.
8.02 . Sean Lee . LB
This seemed like another good value for LB as he has been in top 10 past 2 years and near prime of career.
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| | | 28 | Demaryius_Targaryen
ID: 211131196
Wed, Aug 29, 2018, 10:51
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5.10 – Dion Lewis
Started getting nervous here about not having an RB2 yet. 8 backs went off the board in the 18 picks between my round 4 & round 5 pick, including 2 I had been targeting, Cohen & Burkhead. Definitely missed the run here, and I was left with really only 1 or 2 backs I was still interested in to fill the spot. Couldn’t be 100% sure those wouldn’t go before my round 6 pick, forcing me into using this spot to fill that need. That being said, I think Dion Lewis is talented, and can do a better job than Demarco Murray did in 2017 to carve himself a sizable share of the backfield in Tennessee.
6.05 – Jamison Crowder
Really struggled on this one. I had wanted Lockett here, and maybe could’ve had him and Lewis both if I had swapped the picks; obviously, will never know! Anyways, I was torn between WR3 and IDP. With 18 picks until my next turn and the IDP seal broken, if I skipped out here, I could once again miss the big run and not get my hands on one or two elite guys. Conversely, with the RB well tapped nearly dry, I was pretty sure WRs were about to fly off the board. I ultimately went with Crowder because of his punt return upside. Obviously betting a bit on a new QB situation, lingering groin injury, and a somewhat crowded receiving corps, but reportedly he established solid chemistry prior to preseason and is probable for week 1 at this point.
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| | | 29 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Wed, Aug 29, 2018, 14:24
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9.05 Patrick Mahomes, QB, TTU (oops, I mean KC)
Full disclose here --- I graduated from Texas Tech University and have massive bias with this pick. I had Mahomes circled as the guy I wanted to go to battle with at QB this year. Question all along was when to take him. Is this too early? Possibly. However, with 18 picks to go before I pick again and a QB run almost certainly on the doorstep of the draft, I wasn't going to chance him not making it back to me. I decided to plant my Texas Tech flag in the ground now.
What's not to like here? Mahomes two biggest physical strengths are his arm and ability to run. He also has the IT factor. That ability to walk into a huddle and have everyone looking at you buying in 100% on you as their leader. His dad played professional baseball so he was blessed with good genes. Add that to his relentless work ethic along with natural leadership skills and you have something special brewing.
Now let's look at the Chiefs. Andy Reid has a good track record with QBs. Mahomes has had a year to pretty much watch and learn. If he wants to show case his arm strength, he can throw bombs to Hill. He has one of the best security blankets in the league in Kelce. Also has the option to check down to one of the most dynamic backs in the league in Hunt. If all else fails, he can take off and run. I'm excited to see him light the league on fire this year. Also worth noting my homer pick last year, Dak Prescott, helped lead me to the RIFC-AA Championship last year....so homer picks can work out!
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| | | 30 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Wed, Aug 29, 2018, 22:51
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10.10 David Njoku, TE, CLE
Time to snag a TE and very pleased to see Njoku made it to me. There's quite a bit to like here. Njoku is a big physical freak who should be a favorite red zone target for whoever is throwing the ball (Taylor or Mayfield). With Gordon and Landry on the outside, Njoku will also have plenty of room to slice and dice the middle of the field. He's a coverage nightmare (too fast for most LBs and too big for most DBs). With a year under his belt, a breakout is a reasonable expectation here. Sneaky TE1 upside.
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| | | 31 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Thu, Aug 30, 2018, 01:13
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6.13 Julian Edelman, WR, NE
I had no WRs through five rounds, but finally somebody stood out to me. Of course, Edelman is suspended for the first four games, but when he returns, he should be a reliable option.
The last time Edelman was outside the top 10 in targets per game was 2012. The Patriots are short on receiving talent after the loss of Brandin Cooks, and despite playing 12 games (at most), I expect Edelman to approach 1,000 yards.
7.02 CJ Mosley, LB, BAL
I felt some pressure to take a second WR here because of how far behind I was. I looked into Devin Funchess, but everything I read suggested that he is more likely to lose targets this year than to gain them.
I considered Reshad Jones, but decided that Landon Collins and Adoree Jackson were almost as good and that at least one of them was likely to drop. I also looked into a pair of top DEs, Calais Campbell and Cameron Jordan. They both seemed like reliable options, even if I expect Campbell to regress from last year.
Mosley seems to have an even higher floor, though. 3 of his 4 seasons have been elite, and there is little competition for tackles in Baltimore. My only question was whether or not it was a good idea to draft 2 of the top 3 LBs when I had confidence that I could find other good ones later on. I ultimately decided that drafting a player who is very likely to produce at a high level took priority over positional scarcity.
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| | | 32 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Thu, Aug 30, 2018, 02:01
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8.13 Jordan Reed, TE, WAS
No DBs had been drafted, so I was ensured at least one of the top 3 would be there for my pick on the turn. WR was a priority but I still viewed it as a vast tier of 10+ players who didn't seem like they would be drafted anytime soon.
If I wanted a TE that I was happy to start, Jordan Reed looked like he could be my last remaining option. On a per-game basis, Reed finished 4th among TEs in 2017, 3rd in 2016, and 2nd in 2015. Of course, the emphasis on rate stats indicates his extensive injury history: Reed has missed 16 games during the past 3 seasons. At pick 111, though, I'll gladly take the injury risk even if it means I need to draft a stable backup TE.
9.02 Reshad Jones, S, MIA
I had my pick of all the DBs, and I decided on Jones fairly quickly.
I worry that Landon Collins will have more competition for tackles with the Giants' addition of Alec Ogletree, and with Beckham's health and the addition of Saquon Barkley, opposing offenses probably won't be dominating the time of possession or running as frequently. Adoree Jackson relies heavily on return yards, which is always dangerous, and he might not be targeted by opposing QBs as often this year. I think both of them are still likely to be excellent, but Reshad Jones seemed like the safest bet.
Jones was the #1 DB in 2015 and 2017, and he was on pace to be the #2 DB in 2016 before getting injured. He shouldn't decline too much at age 30, and I would be surprised if he doesn't finish in the top 3 again this year.
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| | | 33 | youngroman
ID: 53713273
Thu, Aug 30, 2018, 04:54
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8.06 Alex Ogletree, LB, NYG
since all of you are picking IDP's like crazy, all the WR options are still out there, so no need to rush picking any of those. thought shortly about adding a 3rd RB, but did not like the options that may get more carries than the rest. I better settle for some quality backups that may excel because the #1 sucks or gets injured.
This means back to picking LB's: Ogletree was slightly above the rest (like Tremaine Edmunds), so it was an easy choice. Did not yet think about a DB, because I don't want to be the first one to pick from tier 1 at that position
9.09 Keanu Neal, DB, ATL
still too many WR out there worth taking. not quite ready to take a backup RB. most of them have the same value and require an injury or ineffectivness of the #1. this is not the kind of gamble I'd like to take while I have that many starting slots available.
since I already took 2 LB's, I thought that a 3rd LB, although he would score more points, is not the right way to go. I looked a bit through the safeties and the tackle numbers of Neal stood out. If he keeps up this numbers he will be nearly as good as the LB's that went around this pick.
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| | | 34 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Thu, Aug 30, 2018, 08:33
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11.05 Harrison Smith, DB, MIN
I would've preferred my first DB pick be Keanu Neal or Budda Baker, but Smith is a nice consolation prize. A solid argument can be made that he's the best safety in the league. He's without a doubt the leader of the best defensive unit in football. Hoping for some solid steady numbers here.
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| | | 35 | Demaryius_Targaryen
ID: 211131196
Thu, Aug 30, 2018, 11:51
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7.10 - Blake Martinez
Wanted to go IDP here. 7 LBs off the board by this pick, and I wanted in on one of the top names, and knew they were going quickly. Blake Martinez is a bit of a gamble, given he’s only had one year of production where he was getting starting snaps due to a slew of injuries to the team around him. He managed to put up an impressive 96 solo tackles and 48 assists last year, and with GB losing a starting LB during preseason due to injury, he shouldn’t have too much competition to put up big numbers again this year.
8.05 - Calais Campbell
Went another IDP here, trying to get a top DE since a run on them was underway. I had been shooting for Chandler Jones, even with my 7th round pick, but got beaten to the punch. Can’t complain too much though with someone like Calais Campbell, one of the top producers in likely the best defense in the league. Was more uncertainty in him last year when transitioning to a 4-3, but he ended up with his best year of production to date. Age is certainly a concern, but I can see him having another big year with a solid shot at achieving double digit sacks for second year running.
9.10 - Aaron Donald
Third IDP pick in a row for me. Obviously holdouts are never reassuring, but I took a chance on him at a discount last year in a similar scenario and it paid off in spades. It helped that shortly before this pick, word was that a deal was “very, very, likely” to be reached this weekend, the most reassuring language I’ve heard used throughout the saga. Given that news, i figured he was likely to go off the board sooner than later and figured it was worth the gamble at this point.
10.05 - Adrian Peterson
Had been hoping to grab Cole or Kupp here, because I liked their value at this stage of the draft, but both went quickly after my last pick. Ended up taking the gamble on Peterson. The RB situation in Washington is pretty sad right now, and while I initially laughed when I heard they drafted AP, he put together some really nice runs against the Broncos defense in his preseason debut. Not expecting miracles here, but could end up paying off if he manages to secure the bulk of the work in their backfield.
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| | | 36 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Thu, Aug 30, 2018, 13:57
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9.13 . Marlin Mack RB
The defensive guy I had my eye on Aaron Donald was grabbed a few picks ahead of me, so went with offensive.
I liked Mack as RB from a team last year. He is one of few remaining potential starters left but health is a big concern.
10.2 Cameron Hayward DE
Plan was to take a Defensive end but no one jumped out but he has improved number in past 2 years.
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| | | 37 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Thu, Aug 30, 2018, 19:04
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12.10 Reuben Foster, LB, SF
After a relatively safe pick with Harrison Smith, back to high risk/high reward. Foster has all of the ability and instincts to be a #1 LB. He also plays the coveted Mike linebacker position in SF's 4-3 defense. Risk is that he is suspended two games for checkered off the field events and also sustained a concussion a few days back. He seems to have learned from the off the field stuff and I'm hoping he'll recover quickly from the concussion. Nothing else stood out so I'm rolling the dice here.
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| | | 38 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Thu, Aug 30, 2018, 22:31
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11.13 . Demario Davis LB
I like to have 3 LB and he had very good year last year and is coming into his prime. The unkonwn is that he is playing for a new team. If he were still playing for same team probably would have drafted earlier.
14.02 . Kevin Byard . S
Needed to round out defensive positions with a safety/CB. He appears to be rising as a safety playmaker.
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| | | 39 | Slackjawed Yokel
ID: 547332821
Fri, Aug 31, 2018, 00:07
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6.03 Marqise Goodwin, SF, WR
Top WR in San Francisco - he had some solid games with Garropolo late last season, and the two seem to be clicking this preseason. He only had 2 TD's last year which is concerning. He's not much of a red-zone target, but do expect more than 2 on long balls.
7.12 Christian Kirksey, LB, CLE
Hopping on the LB train. Had debated picking up a DL last time around - as an attempt to start a run, but it was too early. We just have 6 LB go off the board in the past 10 picks. Looked at who was available, and saw Kirskey as a step above the other options. Hoping he can continue the 135+ tackle seasons that he had the last two years.
8.03 Cameron Jordan, DL, NOS
Had Jordan on a team last year, and he was money all year long. When he wasn't putting up multiple sack games, he was still racking up tackles. Looking at his numbers, he's played all 16 games the last 7 seasons. Here's hoping he keeps up the consistency and durability.
9.12 Isaiah Crowell, RB, NYJT
These next two picks were tough. Wednesday, I had an offsite meeting for work in which we had a 1.5 hr bus ride that left at 5:45am. I figured I'd go RB-WR with the next pair of picks (probably as a reaction to going LB/DL last time around). So Tuesday night, I came up with a short list of 5-6 of each - knowing I wouldn't really have time to do any additional research when it got to me. As it turns out, the meeting was over and we were on the bus ride back when my picks came up. Ended up sticking to the plan - Crowell was actually the top name on the list of RB options. I did go RB first seeing as IAC already had 4 WR (of course, he picked another one, but twolves did not). A bit surprised to see Crowell had 1050 and 1300 yds from scrimmage last two years - definitely flew under my radar - and still only 25 - good solid 3rd rb for my team.
10.03 Nelson Agholor, WR, Phi
I had Garcon listed higher than Agholor - but, seeing as I already had Marqise Goodman, I didn't necessarily want to always have to rely on two receivers from the same team (although I did have flashbacks to the days when I had Harrison, Wayne, and Dallas Clark on my team). Plus news had just come out about Jeffery missing the first two weeks - setting Agholor up to be the main man, and hopefully build off of that.
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| | | 40 | Slackjawed Yokel
ID: 547332821
Fri, Aug 31, 2018, 00:08
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whoops. screwed up the formatting. my bad
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| | | 41 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Fri, Aug 31, 2018, 07:05
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13.05 Devante Parker, WR, MIA
Adding some WR depth here. Ideally, I'll only need to use Parker as a bye week filler. Someone is going to scoop up the whopping 161 targets Landry left behind when he was traded to Cleveland. Parker likely fell in the draft due to injury history AND currently recovering from a broken finger. At this point, the risk is worth the potential reward for me.
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| | | 42 | Demaryius_Targaryen
ID: 211131196
Fri, Aug 31, 2018, 11:21
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11.10 - Philip Rivers
One of the last to pick up my starting QB. I saw backups were starting to go off the board, so I didn’t want to miss out on my target tier of QBs in the 10-15 range. Rivers is a solid option - not going to put up elite numbers, but should deliver more or less consistently throughout the season. He also has a good track record of staying healthy - he’s played every game in the past two seasons, which is more than can be said for most these days.
12.05 - Alex Smith
Went immediately for my QB2 in Smith here. Easier to take a gamble on him with Rivers already in the lineup, and I like Smiths upside more than the remaining options. Ultimately, I decided I was willing to invest here to be able to play my QBs based on week to week matchups, rather than just have a set it and forget it starter with a less appealing backup.
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| | | 43 | youngroman
ID: 53713273
Fri, Aug 31, 2018, 11:43
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10.06 Budda Baker, DB, ARI
again: too many WR options out there to pick my 3rd one now. LB is filled and I still don't like a backup RB here. better take a 2nd top DB while one is out there. Budda Baker has a small sample size of success last year, but in the games he was starting he was above average. Since it seems he will start this year I got an above average DB. and there are not many such players because most of them are the same with the occasional outburst when they force a turnover or even score.
11.09 Jason Pierre-Paul, DL, TBB
I have 5 starting slots still to fill. 3 IDP's (2 DL), WR and PK. I still see enough options that I like for my 3rd and 4th WR and PK is a really low priority. Thought a bit about a 3rd RB but could not convince myself in picking any of the available options. looking through the IDP options Pierre-Paul seems like a good bet. He gets better and better on how to play with his hand limitation. I believe he is close to where he was before his accident, therefore he should be worth a 11th round pick.
12.06 Allen Hurns, WR, DAL
getting a #1 receiver in round 12 means that the player or the QB throwing to him have issues. I don't see an issue in Dak Prescott, other than him not being drafted yet (he went at 13.12). And I don't see an issue with Hurns as long as the other receivers on that team are #1, #3, Michael Gallup and whoever is in there at TE. Prescott needs to throw to someone and hopefully he looks into Hurns direction a lot. someone needs to catch balls for these 3000+ yards a QB usually throws in a year.
13.09 Bilal Powell, RB, NYJ
time for my 1st backup. looked around at RB and compared them with the WR's I had in mind for my last starting spot a round earlier. Powell could be on the better end of a timeshare. that can't be said for many still available RB's. I thought about Latavius Murray because I do not believe in Cook finishing out the season. thought about ...beep.... Also thought about ...beep.... In the end I decided for Powell because he has the most stable role right now. Will add some more RB's that have upside in case the #1 is out.
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| | | 45 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Fri, Aug 31, 2018, 13:43
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14.10 Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI
I remember cursing the TV on draft night when Philly traded up right ahead of the Cowboys and drafted Dallas (who was named after the Cowboys). He was the best TE in college last year and should fit in nicely in Philly's 2 TE sets. Good luck trying to cover him and Ertz. What a nightmare that will be for opposing defenses. Might be a tad early, but I thought I could wait on Godwin and watched him get picked. Taking no chances here.
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| | | 46 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Fri, Aug 31, 2018, 18:40
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10.13 Kelvin Benjamin, WR, BUF
With only Edelman so far, I was way behind the pack at WR, and Kelvin Benjamin stood out to me. Last year was disappointing, but he was hurt and only averaged 5.6 targets per game. That usage rate seems unlikely to happen again. The Bills' QB situation looks like a disaster, but who else are they going to throw to?
So far he has been a solid WR2 in even-numbered years and injured/mediocre in odd-numbered years. Hopefully that pattern will continue. At the very least, he should be a back-end WR3 who I can start and expect to get 6 or 7 points.
11.02 Jack Doyle, TE, IND
With the often-injured Jordan Reed as my TE1, I needed to draft a more reliable backup. The Colts' new TE addition does worry me a little bit, but that team has absolutely nobody to pass to besides TY Hilton, and they will probably need to pass a whole lot.
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| | | 47 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Fri, Aug 31, 2018, 19:24
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12.13 Chris Thompson, RB, WAS
I hadn't seriously considered a RB since locking up Le'Veon Bell and Lamar Miller during the first 3 rounds. I still needed a bye-week replacement and emergency option, though, and Thompson is somebody I trust to be at least serviceable each week while also having some upside.
He is locked into the passing downs, and last year that got him 4-8 rushes and 4-8 targets per game. Thompson took his 10 touches/game and turned them into 11.6 fantasy points/game before getting injured in week 10. I don't expect a repeat of such a silly and completely unsustainable efficiency level, but hey, that hasn't kept anybody from valuing Alvin Kamara as a top-10 pick...
13.02 Michael Gallup, WR, DAL
This was a bit of a reach, but his upside leaped out to me, and I wasn't sure he would last another 25 picks. This is another situation where the ball has to be thrown to somebody. The Cowboys' top two options are gone, and 219 targets are up for grabs. Nobody else seems to be stepping up.
Gallup played the most 1st-team snaps of any Dallas WR during the preseason and he has performed well. There is plenty of risk here, but his stock seems to be steadily rising, and I can easily envision Gallup becoming the primary target and finishing with 1000+ yards and 8+ TDs.
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| | | 48 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Sat, Sep 01, 2018, 00:47
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15.05 Jordan Wilkins, RB, IND
Once Godwin went off the board, I decided to open up my bag of tricks...err sleepers. First Goedert and now Wilkins. Wilkins has the inside track to start Week 1 if Mack can't go. Even if he can, Mack is not as talented as Wilkins. IMO, Wilkins is Indy's most talented RB. I expect him to take over the starting role sooner rather than later.
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| | | 49 | Demaryius_Targaryen
ID: 211131196
Sat, Sep 01, 2018, 04:26
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13.10 - Deone Bucannon
Bit of a risk as he’s been injured a bit during preseason and is adjusting to a new scheme. He seems on track for week 1 though, and If he stays healthy, I think he’ll be a solid every week option.
14.05 - Chris Godwin
I have not been a good judge so far on having players I want fall back around to me, and with 18 picks before my next, I pulled the trigger. Godwin’s been getting a good amount of first team snaps, and looks like he may be getting the start ahead of DeSean Jackson. With Evans likely drawing top coverage, Godwin could get a lot of looks.
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| | | 50 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Sat, Sep 01, 2018, 09:18
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13.13 E Griffen . DE
Need to fill out defense and was looking for one of the 2 Vikings if there. I hhink both Griffen if healthy and recovered from foot problems he will be good although Hunter may be better this year. I would have considered Ansah if Griffen were gone.
14.02 . Ted Ginn, JR.
Need to fill out WR and difficult to pick as they are beginning to get more hit or miss at this stage. He had a good year in 2017 and has good QB throwing but is only probaly 3rd of 4th option a best.
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| | | 51 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Sat, Sep 01, 2018, 14:07
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16.10 Denzel Perryman, LB, LAC
Perryman can fly sideline to sideline and will be the starting Mike (middle) linebacker in Gus Bradley's 4-3 defense. He's explosive, high energy and has the instincts you need to be a top tier LB. Also worth noting Bradley has a good track record with MLBs in his scheme (Bobby Wagner and Paul Posluszny).
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| | | 52 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Sat, Sep 01, 2018, 14:14
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17.05 Kenny Vaccaro, DB, TEN
Just a month ago, Vaccaro was looking for a job. With Cyprien blowing his ACL, Tennesse signed Vaccaro. It's a good landing spot for him as the Titans front 7 is a disaster (should lead to plenty of tackle opportunities for the safeties). I don't need him to be a world beater. Just looking for some decent production here.
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| | | 53 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Sat, Sep 01, 2018, 14:38
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14.13 Randall Cobb, WR, GB
Heading into this pair of picks, I knew I wanted Derek Carr and a WR. Fugazi already had 2 QBs, so I could safely wait and take Carr on the turn.
WR was a much harder decision. There were a few options I liked, and the main area of interest was in Green Bay. Rodgers has pretty consistently made at least two WRs useful for fantasy purposes. With Jordy Nelson gone, Cobb moves back to being the #2 WR, and therefore should benefit. That said, it just seems like the Packers want to get rid of him. They appear to be shopping him around, and they might decide to cut him if they don't get any offers. I'm a little more intrigued by Geronimo Allison, the clear #3 WR at the moment. Of course, it's tough to trust somebody who has yet to break 300 yards in a season.
Ultimately, I decided to go with Cobb, who had already dropped several rounds lower than in the AAA/AA leagues and was doubtful to make it back around to me. In addition, I am expecting my next pair of picks to arrive before any potential surprise cut of Cobb, so I think Geronimo is likely to still be available.
Cobb's last two years have been lousy, but as the 3rd option, he was targeted significantly less frequently than he had been in the past. If he stays on the team and is the WR2, he should have a useful season. As long as Rodgers targets him 100+ times, he should be a tolerable WR3, likely finishing with 800-1000 yards and 4-7 TDs. Of course, he could also be cut by 4pm today.
15.02 Derek Carr, QB, OAK
After really struggling with my last pick, this one was easy. We were running low on QBs, and Carr was my best remaining option by a whole lot. Carr finished as a top 10 QB in 2015 and 2016, then was drafted as QB #5 last year. He (like the rest of the Raiders) disappointed: it seemed like the team couldn't handle the sky-high expectations. The Raiders' offense appears to be somehow even more loaded this year, and yet the expectations are much lower.
I expect a bounce-back year: Carr has 3 high-quality WRs to throw to, multiple explosive 3rd-down backs, and a passable receiving TE. He has the same bye week as Aaron Rodgers, but I drafted Carr more as a fallback option or potential mid-season trade bait than as a bye week fill-in.
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| | | 54 | twolves
SuperDude
ID: 811161317
Sat, Sep 01, 2018, 17:41
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15.13. Davonte Booker RB
Needed to fill in RBs. And he may not start regularly , he hopefully will play well.
16.02. Andy Dalton QB
Needed backup QB and decided on consistent/low risk although not high ceiling. Did look at Winston and Tannehill and a couple of the rookies but seemed more unpredictable. Had wanted Keenan but he got taken earlier.
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| | | 55 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Sat, Sep 01, 2018, 19:36
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18.10 Josh Doctson, WR, WAS
I'm not sure if Docston has come down with the bubonic plague or what, but I'll take him at this point. He's yet to tap into his potential fully, but he's entering his 3rd year in the league...which is usually the magic number for WRs. He was a standout at TCU (watched him torch Tech plenty of times) so he can be viable if he is able to finally unleash that potential. Perhaps the QB switch will help. Time will tell.
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| | | 56 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Sat, Sep 01, 2018, 21:54
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16.13 Geronimo Allison, WR, GB
In lieu of high-quality WRs, I will take a whole lot of them and hope I can get 3 to stick.
In Aaron Rodgers' last 4 full seasons, he has thrown an average of 3026 yards and 29 TDs to his WRs. No matter how great Davante Adams does, there will be plenty of room left. My Cobb/Allison combo should result in at least one viable starter.
17.02 Tahir Whitehead, LB, OAK
My plan was to take James Conner here as a handcuff to LeVeon Bell, but youngroman drafted him with pick 216. I'm assuming that he believes there is a realistic chance that Bell won't report and has played his last game for the Steelers, because Conner is still undrafted in both of the AAAs and went in the 21st round in AA (as a handcuff). Needless to say, I was irritated by this unexpected development.
I had already been considering Tahir Whitehead and Bruce Irvin among my top remaining IDP options: after news of the Khalil Mack trade broke, I was trying to decide who would benefit more. Though the extra tackles available should help both, I expect Whitehead to get at least as much as Irvin, and I worry that Irvin will be less effective at getting sacks now that teams will be more focused on him.
Irvin's DL eligibility was tempting, but Whitehead seemed like the more reliably good option. He has averaged over 8 points per game for the Lions each of the past two years, and it seems like his situation has stayed about the same or even slightly improved this year.
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| | | 57 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 00:01
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19.05 Jordan Hicks, LB, PHI
Another middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense (in case you haven't noticed, I like that). Hicks is basically a stopgap until Foster comes back from suspension. He does have the potential to stick with the team for the long haul.
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| | | 58 | Demaryius_Targaryen
ID: 211131196
Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 07:20
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15.10 - Derwin James
Once I missed out on jones and Collins, I knew I was waiting a while to take a safety. Starting off with a rookie is a definite gamble, but he has started off strong in preseason, picking off a pass in his 3rd play on the field. There is upside here, hopefully he continues to deliver.
16.05 - John Brown
His time in Arizona was a mess, but a lot of buzz has been coming out of camp with regards to his chemistry with Flacco. His health is an obvious concern, so I don’t think he’ll quite make a return to his 2015 performance, but he could be a valid flex option if things go right this season.
17.10 - Javorius Allen
Sure wish I had had the McKinnon news at the time of this pick. Adding depth to my RB bench here. I believe in Collins so I don’t see him ceding the majority of the work in Baltimore, but Allen should be fairly established as the 3rd down back in a typically run heavy offense.
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| | | 59 | SwinganaMiss
ID: 14720220
Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 12:52
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I messed up the Bernard rationale in MFL....please use this one.
Giovani Bernard, RB CIN
There were enough DE still that I thought I could hold off at that position. This is primarily a handcuff for Mixon, though Bernard can have standalone value in his own right. Hopefully I won't need to use him.
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| | | 60 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 13:15
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20.10 Kalen Ballage, RB, MIA
The next Alvin Kamara. In all seriousness, his skill set looks awfully similar to how Kamara's did coming out of college (excellent pass catcher, big enough to be an every down back, runs so smooth you forget how fast he's running). If Drake gets hurt or is not effective, my bet is Ballage gets a shot. Some would argue Gore is next in line, but I don't think that's reality.
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| | | 61 | youngroman
ID: 53713273
Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 14:19
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14.06 Rishard Matthews, WR, TEN
there are not many receivers left that are expected to reach more than 800 yards. Matthews is one of them. but only if he is healthy. until a few days ago he was on PUP, now it seems that he might be available for week 1. since he is my 4th WR I may not need him immediately, so I am ok if he comes along slowly, as long as he will be a contributor when I need him.
thought a lot about this pick and whom I would like to get in the next few rounds. have some players in my mind, but did not pull the trigger just yet. lets see if my plans are any good or if all those players are picked earlier than I thought.
15.09 Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC
2 words: insurance policy.
I usually fail to get the backups to the RB's I select in the first 3 rounds. This time I did not fail. I don't know if this is because I reached for Ekeler or if this round is just about right for him. he seems to be one of the more talented backups, so as soon as the first backups went it was time to think about him. this was a round ago. WR was more of a priority back then, but not this time. hopefully I won't need to play him all year.
16.06 James Conner, RB, PIT
Le'Veon Bell is still holding out. it seems that he will do the same as last year, so he should report any day from now. against all odds, if he does not show up, I got a starting RB in round 16. And if Bell is out for whichever additional reason (injury, suspension) I have a starting RB as well. I believe this pick is worth the gamble. I don't see many more available RB's that would be the clear #1 of the current starter would be out.
17.09 DeSean Jackson, WR, TBB
I thought about taking Bortles here but saw that only IAC is missing a backup QB and there is good chance that he makes it back to me. So I took DeSean Jackson instead. He isn't getting younger and his 2017 simply sucked, but he looked good in the pre-season and why not take a gamble on him being a productive #2 receiver ahead of youngster Chris Godwin.
18.06 Blake Bortles, QB, JAX
IAC got lucky with the injury of McKinnon and grabbed both potential replacement on the turn. If the draft would have progressed faster it could have been me.
The intended pick here was Bortles. IAC picking 2 RB's and no QB maybe helped me in getting his services. he is the 26th QB off the board and I believe the last one that is capable of regularly throwing for 300+ yards with more TD's than INT's. in week 6 (bye of Brees) he plays the Cowboys which isn't a bad matchup either.
19.09 Chase Edmonds, RB, ARI
he is the clear cut #2 behind David Johnson. If he ever misses some time Edmonds will be the man. the only other RB that I valued this high was John Kelly who went a few picks earlier. I doubt that I will add more RB's in the future, unless there is a McKinnon-like incident.
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| | | 62 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 14:34
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17.13 . Desmond King CB
Filling out s/cb position and this CB had good rookie year. Hopefully his numbers will stay up as he does get tackles and even had a few sacks. Always harder to predict CB numbers.
18.02 . DJ Moore WR
Rookie who could have a good season was too interesting to pass up at this stage with need for another receiver.
19.13 C. Littleton . LB
Hoping for a big jump potentially taking over for Ogletree.
He has good defense in front of him. A bit of a flyer but hopefully by time needed he will have established himself. .
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| | | 63 | Demaryius_Targaryen
ID: 211131196
Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 17:44
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18.05 - Darron Lee
looking to round out my LBs. He averaged a respectable 7.5 pts last year and has looked really solid through preseason. Had been looking at him, Jamie Collins and Kiko Alonso here or the prior turn, and the decision got made for me.
19.10 - Clayton Geathers
Once again, Guru grabbed the guy I was targeting for this round a few picks before. Geathers has hardly played in 2 years, but if he is good to go and stays healthy, he doesn’t have a ton of competition for tackles and could put up respectable numbers
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| | | 64 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 21:16
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21.05 Mitchell Trubisky, QB, CHI
Mahomes or bust. If I end up needing Mitch for more than his Week 12 Thanksgiving day matchup against the Lions, I'm probably in trouble. With that said, it's nice to get a QB with some upside this late. I think working with HC Nagy is going to be great for Trubisky's development.
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| | | 65 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 10:58
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20.02 . Dede Westbrook WR
Still filling our WR position and hopefully has some upside with Lee out.
21.13 . M. Gesecki . TE
With Greg Olsen having a 4th week bye needed a TE fill in early. He is unknown as rookie but reports indicate he will likely start and has good potential as pass catcher. Did consider Sefarian-Jenkins my grandson's choice.
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| | | 66 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 17:07
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22.10 Harrison Butker, K, KC
Finally time for a kicker and a solid argument could be made that he's the best.
Young, strong leg, accurate and kicking for a high powered offense. Kickers are a bit of a crapshoot, but I'm pleased to grab Butker here.
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| | | 67 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 17:13
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23.05 Cole Beasley, WR, DAL
My draft wouldn't be complete without a Dallas Cowboy on my team. My hope is that I never need to use Beasley. If I do, my next hope is that him and Dak can rekindle the rapport they once had. He should be able to become Dak's security blanket with Witten retired.
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| | | 68 | twolves
ID: 316312520
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 19:41
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22.02 . Chris Ivory RB
If L. McCoy is unable to go, Ivory would benefit. However, with rookie QB, rushing yards may be hard to come by since teams will likely fill the box and dare him to pass.
23.13 . Robbie Gould PK
Needed place kicker and was down to Gould or Boswell depending if one got taken ahead of me. Picked Gould because of last half of season with Grappolo his numbers went up.
24.02 J. Casey DE/DT
Filled in another defensive player and hope he continues his 2017 play.
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| | | 69 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 20:30
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18.13 Akiem Hicks, DE, CHI
I was debating between Hicks and Frank Clark. Hicks seemed like the safer option, as Clark needs to translate his stats to a much larger snap count.
Last year, Hicks was DL#12 by points and DL#18 on a per-game basis. In 2016, he was DL#18 by points and DL #21 on a per-game basis. He seems likely to be a reliable DL2 for my team, and the Bears' addition of Khalil Mack should give him some more 1-on-1 matchups this year.
19.02 Spencer Ware, RB, KC
I was thinking about only drafting 3 RBs, but Fugazi's Dez Bryant pick (I would have likely taken him as my 7th WR if he was still available towards the end of the draft) and the continuing holdout of Bell led me to take a 4th RB.
I don't trust Kareem Hunt, so Ware was somebody I knew I'd be targeting before I did any research this year. I don't necessarily expect an injury, but Hunt was really hot-and-cold last year, including a stretch of 9 consecutive games where he averaged under 48 rushing yards and was held without a TD. If something like that happens again this year, I expect Ware to at least force a timeshare.
Ware's 2016 was almost as good as Hunt's 2017: he had 1368 yards in 14 games. If Ware earns a timeshare, he should be useful. If Hunt gets injured or disappoints and Ware takes over completely, he will likely become a RB1.
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| | | 70 | ttucowboy
ID: 545112110
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 20:45
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24.10 Jaylen Samuels, RB, PIT
Deep deeeeeeeep sleeper...because....that's what you are supposed to do with your last pick, right!?! The Bell situation is getting ugly. He's more likely to be my first cut than a difference maker, but I'll take a shot here.
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| | | 71 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 20:47
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20.13 Vontaze Burfict, LB, CIN
There were other LBs I was considering here (most notably Raekwon McMillan), but Burfict has both the biggest upside and the highest per-game floor, so I went with him.
Burfict has averaged 9.7 points per game over the past 3 years, which is clear LB1 territory. He has frequently been suspended or injured, though, and he is currently suspended for the first 4 games while also nursing an injury. As my LB4, I won't need him for those first 4 weeks, and he should be completely healed well in advance of his return.
21.02 Frank Clark, DE, SEA
Clark has put up 19 sacks over the past two seasons while playing only 2/3 of his team's snaps. With Seattle's defense being decimated, Clark has a full-time job this year.
It remains to be seen whether or not he can approach the same pace with a heavier workload and with more attention being paid to him. Additionally, he has been very big-play-dependent, barely making any tackles. As my 3rd DL, though, I can afford to take the chance.
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| | | 72 | Slackjawed Yokel
ID: 547332821
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 21:04
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11.12 Roquan Smith, LB, Chi
Saw that the highest ranked linebackers available (according to my primary sources) were rookies and second year players. Opted to go to Smith who was the 8th overall selection in the 2018 draft. Hoping he quickly gets acclimated to the NFL game and can produce in line with the experts are saying.
12.03 Penny, Rashaad SEA RB
After first deciding to pick a couple of tight ends that it turns out were picked many rounds ago, went back to Penny. First round selection in the NFL draft (a surprise to many) - let's give him a shot here as my fourth RB. Could be a sleeper.
13.12 Prescott, Dak DAL QB
Already a number of solid backup option at the QB position started to come off the board. Saw another drop-off after Prescott - so decided to grab him here - primarily as insurance for Newton who will likely be a lock in my starting lineup unless he's hampered by injury.
14.03 Hyde, Micah BUF S
Still hadn't filled any defensive back slots, and Hyde stood out as a solid option. A top playmaker with 5 picks and 13 passes defended last year.
15.12 Howard, O.J. TBB TE
Friday night, a bit buzzed, and on the clock in two drafts. Checked rosters, found I was behind in WR, and drafted a TE…. Didn't care so much for the top WR available, and Howard really stood out from the TE position. Looks to be very high potential, and put up good numbers as a rookie. Looks like a solid wr/te backup.
16.03 Buckner, DeForest SFO DT
Still have some starting positions to fill, and DL is one of the more shallow positions in this league. Saw Buckner as a good source of tackles - and as I read up on him, I saw he may get some opportunity to play some DE this year. So, may have more opportunity for sacks as well.
17.12 Weddle, Eric BAL S
At this point, I still need to round out my starting lineup. Still need a stating DB and LB - checked rosters of the two managers that go before my next pick and they both need DB's as well. Weddle is getting up there in age, but has still been putting up solid numbers via tackles and turnovers.
18.03 Alonso, Kiko MIA LB
My third starting linebacker position goes to a familiar name. He had 115 tackles each of the past two seasons, and I expect something similar this year. Of course, he made a huge splash as a rookie, and then suffered through some injuries.
19.12 Ross, John CIN WR
Looked at positional needs and bye weeks, and saw I have a lot of players with a week 11 by week. Only have 3 WR, so receiver became a priority with this pick. Checked out who was available and Ross stood out as someone who has the WR2 position on his team locked up. A bit of an unknown because he effectively missed his entire rookie season because of an injury.
20.03 Gallman, Wayne NYG RB
Fishing here... had him in G24 last year, and he was a good situational start. Here, it's a hold for value in case Barkley gets banged up. RB is certainly a position in which it can often help in stocking up on options/backups just in case.
21.12 Leonard, Darius IND LB
Another rookie LB (added Roquan Smith as a 'starter' much earlier). Second round pick - is expected to land the starting weakside linebacker gig. May be another rough year for the Colts, so, he may get plenty of opportunity for tackles.
22.03 Bryant, Matt ATL PK
Surprised that the top four kickers went rounds ago. Kind of hoping that this would start another run, but it did not. I actually looked at last two seasons to see where I drafted kickers, and it was early in the 23rd round. Because I don't pick until the end of the 23rd, decide to go ahead and grab Bryant here. Dome team, veteran kicker.
23.12 Martin, Doug OAK RB
Didn't really overthink this one. Thought about depth really - can't have too many quality RB/WR - and checked MFL's ranking and ADP - Doug Martin was highest rated. Still name recognition, perhaps? Looks to be the second option in Oakland to Lynch.
24.03 Dorsett, Phillip NEP WR
Still only had 4 WR, so decided to go that direction. It's always tricky to see who will emerge as the top producers in New England at the RB/WR position - so worth using this pick on Dorsett. With Edelman starting the year on suspension - it'll give Dorsett a chance to step up.
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| | | 73 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 21:13
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22.13 D'Onta Foreman, RB, HOU
We have an IR slot, so I might as well use it by handcuffing Lamar Miller with his only talented backup.
23.02 Danny Amendola, WR, MIA
I'd been watching a group of 7 target WRs for seemingly forever, waiting for it to dwindle down far enough where I'd be forced to make a decision. That group included Amendola, Mike Williams, Cameron Meredith, Josh Doctson, Kenny Golladay, Quincy Enunwa, and (undrafted).
I still had no DBs standing out to me, and the group of WRs was down to 4, so I made myself choose one. I went with the most boring option, with an eye on "most likely to have a substantial role".
Amendola is old, he has never broken 700 yards in a season, and Jalen Ramsey has some strong negative opinions about him. That said, he has been great on a per-snap basis and pretty good on a per-game basis, and he seemed to be the most likely WR remaining to rack up targets.
During the last 3 years, Jarvis Landry has ranked 6th, 15th, and 4th in targets from that particular slot position, and none of Miami's primary WRs seem to be in line for any serious time in the slot. Amendola's role should be clear pretty quickly, so he will likely be one of my first drops if he's not getting 7+ targets per game.
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| | | 75 | mmikulka
ID: 237262718
Mon, Sep 03, 2018, 21:42
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24.13 Eric Berry, S, KC
I won't be drafting a kicker, but I will have an extra roster slot available after I move D'Onta Foreman to the IR, so I'll add one in the next few days.
If Berry was healthy, he probably would have gone several rounds ago. Last year, after complaining of a sore heel in the preseason, he tore his Achilles tendon in week 1. His heel is sore again now, and he is iffy for the first game. It looks bad, and I'm expecting to drop him this weekend for an active DB. As a last rounder, though, I might as well go for the upside in case he actually does start. Maybe everybody is just being extra cautious because of what happened last year.
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| | | 76 | Demaryius_Targaryen
ID: 211131196
Tue, Sep 04, 2018, 03:02
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20.05 - Wil Lutz
Have come to regret this pick here. It was unnecessary, I’m sure I could’ve waited until the next round for this or equivalent but clearly couldn’t wait on Yeldon as handcuff.
21.10 - Corey Grant
When Yeldon isn’t available... considered snagging someone else’s handcuff here, but arguably grant stands to benefit just as much as Yeldon in the event of a fournette injury, which hopefully does not happen.
22.05 - Courtland Sutton
Obligatory Bronco pick. Who knows how many targets / passes he actually catches this year, but he’s an exciting young prospect on a team that can utilize some pass catching depth, something he hopefully can deliver on in the future.
23.10 - BJ Goodson
Solid when healthy! He’s still really young, hopefully he plays more this year and can keep up with last years numbers when he does.
24.05 - Marshon Lattimore
Last pick! Phew. I don’t usually target cornerbacks, but Lattimore had an excellent rookie season last year. Who knows how the rookie corner rule will play out and his production could certainly drop off, but if not, he has some viability week to week based on matchup.
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| | | 77 | youngroman
ID: 53713273
Tue, Sep 04, 2018, 05:26
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20.06 Jared Cook, TE, OAK
thought about a LB or a backup TE here. I see that too many everydown LB's I am comfortable with are still available and most teams, until I am up again, already have 3, so at least one of them should make it back to me. TE options are getting thinner and I don't know how many want to carry a 2nd TE into the season. it could be that some go until I am up again, so I better pick one now than too late.
as a 2nd TE I considered: Cook, Watson, McDonald and Butt. took Cook who was rated the highest of them.
21.09 Malcolm Smith, LB, SF
I wanted a 3rd LB into the IDP slot. penciled down the LB's that are everydown players. narrowed that number down to players that were productive in the past or that are expected to provide above average tackle numbers this year. The end result were 3 guys: Smith, Cunningham and McMillan. So Smith joined my team. it doesn't hurt that his bye-week does not interfere with the bye weeks of my other IDP's.
22.06 Zach Cunningham, LB, HOU
the last 3-down LB I considered picking. bye-week fills in nicely with all my other IDP's. not much more to say. probably the first player dropped in favor of the hot waiver add in week 1.
2 picks left and still missing: starting DL and starting PK.
23.09 Jabaal Sheard, DL, IND
we need to start 2 DL's every week. There is not much difference between most DL's. often the difference lies in the matchup and if it offers better opportunities for sacks.
Sheard had a high snap count in 2017 and was in for 84% of all defensive plays. this means he is top 10 in volume of opportunity. If he makes the most of these opportunities he could be a valuable DL. if not, I will ride the weekly matchup.
24.06 Mason Crosby, PK, GB
most kickers score the same over a season. they have peaks in performance and depend on how good their offense is in either getting the yards but don't score the TD, or score the TD. if you have the kicker of a team that scores a lot of TD's, the kicker won't score as much as when you have the kicker of a team that consistently fails in the red zone. too bad that this can't be really predicted.
for now I took a kicker where the offense is led by the best QB in the league. this should automatically give him opportunities. lets see if this are FG or XP opportunities.
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