LEAGUE FORMAT:
30 ROSTER SPOTS
BESTBALL SCORING (2QB, 3RB, 4WR, 2TE, 2FLX, 1DST)
WEEKLY WAIVERS
FULL DRAFT BOARD BELOW:
A FEW POST-VID NOTES
JUSTICE HAYNES / LUCKY SUTTON (~4:00min) — When discussing the Justice Haynes over Lucky Sutton pick I think I got sidetracked… in this league because of the roster size and bestball scoring format, there is a premium on players who have higher upside; with Sutton, last season his highs were constrained to around 20 points, which is good, but the lack of receiving value in his profile does hinder him.
Haynes on the other hand has evidence of that receiving dynamic in his game through his Michigan game log and also has multiple 30+ point games already in his history to provide evidence that he can reach those highs, albeit with a different program.
I’m not wild about the idea of either of those two players in the second round in this format given that I have concerns about Haynes’ ceiling as well (wrote an article about him the other week). He was the one I disliked the least between the two.
BYRUM BROWN TRANSLATING UP (~17:00min) — A common comparison is OU’s John Mateer last year, but in that case Mateer came over with just his OC, into a program with a very problematic OL, and Mateer as a player is more of a typical QB who also has running ability.
Brown, to me, is more so an apex athlete who just happens to play QB, and is a much more dynamic runner than Mateer is. Regardless, whether it is passing or running Brown will have a harder time in the SEC compared to the G5, but I do think he is better positioned for success due to the amount of familiar infrastructure around him (HC, OC, WRs, TE, RB), compared to Mateer who came with just his OC and who is more of a traditional QB.
Byrum Brown has huge bust potential and is not the type of player I am prioritizing in most league formats, however in this league he is worth the risk in my opinion.
PLAYERS I MISSED OUT ON:
Run of WRs at the right end in rounds 8/9: Tre Richardson, Jordan Shipp, Sean Wilson — if any of these guys were still available at round nine I would have had a decision to make with Carlos Del Rio Wilson. Kudos to Nate (@CFFNate on X) and Benjamin (@Siceveryone2027).
Run of three RBs right before my second pick: would have preferred any of Nate Sheppard, Will Henderson, or even Jy Turner instead of Haynes. Eric Froton (@CFFroton) taking Jaiden Thomas in the third before he made it back to me also hurt. I wanted Adam Mohammed more than Kendrick Raphael, but I thought the chances of Mohammed making it back to me were higher so I gambled.
WR Isaiah Horton: I am starting to like his profile more as the offseason goes on. He is an injury away from potentially being the WR1 in a program that is replacing a CFF star in KC Concepcion from a year ago. Horton also profiles as a TD guy which is important in this league. Kudos to Jay (@katyjay1970)
Quinn Henicle (ODU QB): I like Benjamin’s QB selections this draft but Henicle was one in particular I was hoping to pick up—waited too long evidently.
TE: I decided to just tank TEs and wait to the very end to see what was available. I find the general hit rate on that position (and especially mine) is very low and every year in this league I end up rostering waiver TEs anyways.
That being said, I did want to take Jeremiah Hasley in around the range that he was taken by Elliot Mays (@Baconfueled). Luke Dehnicke in the 19th was also a consideration as the draft went on, as was Hunter Andrews and Decker DeGraaf.
If Grant Hollier was still there in the 13th I might have decided to go with him instead of RB.
A few other late round QBs I thought about a lot: Malachi Singleton, Michael Hawkins, Brock Lowry, Cameron Brown, DJ Lagway, Beau Pribula and Anthony Colandrea.
MTSU Pair: I did also heavily consider Roman Gagliano to pair with MTSU RB Antonio Martin. Waited too long. Kudos Mark (@MarkReagan1)
All in on Auburn OFF for week 1: also considered Jeremiah Koger but didn’t like him enough to draft him where he was taken. Kudos John Laub (@Gridironscholar91)
Andrew P. Katz and I are evidently very aligned in which QBs we want to select in this format. Almost every one he drafted was one I was hoping to get as well. the Chris Jimerson pick late is an interesting lottery ticket to scratch.
Sacramento State RB Jamar Curtis was one that I wanted to take during the late run of three straight RBs in rounds 18-20, but was taken by Mark before I got a chance. Settled For Sam Brown.
Henri took some late WRs that I considered: Josiah Freeman and JV Gibson.
DRAFT STATS:
17 of the first 24 picks were spent on a RB. 38 of the first 52 picks were spent on RBs.
Almost every manager drafted 11 RBs, with a few at 10, and only John (Gridiron Scholar) at 9. VP had the max at 12.
Overall, a very tight distribution on number of RBs rostered, though there was some variance in where those RBs were selected (VP acquired 8 of his 12 in the first 14 rounds; Nate drafted five of his 11 at round 20+).
The minimum number of QBs drafted was five, which a few managers opted to do. Most acquired six, with Katz maxing out at seven.
The number of TEs drafted ranged from 1 (VP) to 4 (multiple). Most left with three TEs.
WRs drafted ranged from 8 (Jay, Aceholes, Katz) to 12 (VP). Like RB, most had 10 or 11.
Have questions? Paid subs can post in the comment section below.
Cheers,
VP
