I had my first NFFC draft of the season Monday night, a 12-team online-championship with a $200K top prize. It's full PPR, 3-WR and a FLEX with 10 man benches. Quarterbacks get six points per passing TD and a point every 20 yards passing. Full rules are here. I drew the first pick.
Here are the results:
1.1 Saquon Barkley - If Ezekiel Elliott weren't a holdout risk, I think it would be close between the two bell cows. Elliott is on the better team, but Barkley is the better talent. In the end, I would have gone Barkley anyway, but the holdout risk made it a no-brainer.
2.12 Nick Chubb - He slipped a few spots below ADP as Team 3 took Pat Mahomes. Had Chubb gone to Team 3, I would have taken Mahomes, incidentally. Chubb should be an early down force in a good offense, and if Duke Johnson gets traded, the sky's the limit.
3.12 Leonard Fournette - Jim Coventry talked me back into him on the podcast, but at 36, I think Fournette is a good value. He's got a real QB this year and should still see a big workload if healthy.
4.1 George Kittle - With three RBs and a tight end, receiver will be a challenge, but I couldn't pass up the all-time record holder for TE receiving yardage in Round 4.
5.12 Tyler Boyd - I was hoping for Mike Williams, but I'm happy enough with Boyd who produced even when A.J. Green was healthy last year.
6.1 Jarvis Landry - This was possibly my worst pick. I like Landry as a slot receiver in a great offense, but Darrell Henderson and O.J. Howard both have far more upside. My problem was I had nowhere to play either of them, given my first four picks. That's probably not a great reason though given bye weeks and inevitable injuries.
7.12 Baker Mayfield - It's usually better to wait on QBs, but I want some Mayfield shares now that he's in Year 2 and paired with Odell Beckham.
8.1 Sterling Shepard - Like Landry, he should be involved enough to contribute in a full PPR.
9.12 Devin Funchess - I think he has a good chance to lead the Colts in receiving touchdowns, and if anything happens to T.Y. Hilton, there's top-15 upside.
10.1. D'Onta Foreman - Apparently he looks like a different player now that he's over the Achilles injury, and Lamar Miller shouldn't be too tough to beat out of a job
11.12 Mark Andrews - He could easily lead the Ravens in all the major receiving categories.
12.1 Jamison Crowder - He could be useful in PPR during bye weeks.
13.12 Tre'Quan Smith - He's likely the Saints No. 2 receiver, and Year 2 is when wideouts often break out.
14.1 Marquise Brown - One of the fastest receivers in the league, he could be the Ravens' top target if he ever gets healthy.
15.12 Ravens Defense - I remembered from my FSGA draft they had an easy Week 1 matchup. Turns out they're at Miami.
16.1 Greg Zuerlein - I was genuinely disappointed Justin Tucker went at 15.10, so I settled for Zuerlein.
17.12 Antonio Callaway - I have a Browns stack with Mayfield, Callaway, Landry and Chubb. Too bad I can't trade for Beckham.
18.1 Eagles Defense - I like having two solid defenses with which to play matchups.
19.12 Sam Darnold - He showed signs late last season, and I wanted a backup QB.
20.1 Terry McLaurin - Someone has to catch passes in Washington.
Roster By Position
QB Baker Mayfield
RB: Saquon Barkley/Nick Chubb
WR: Tyler Boyd/Jarvis Landry/Sterling Shepard
TE: George Kittle
FLEX: Leonard Fournette
K: Greg Zuerlein
D: Ravens/Eagles
Bench: Devin Funchess/D'Onta Foreman/Mark Andrews/Jamison Crowder/Tre'Quan Smith/Marquise Brown/Antonio Callaway/Sam Darnold/Terry McLaurin