“After doing some mock drafts, the clear choice for the first overall pick is Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase. The ADP from Sleeper has him #1 overall.”
Summer is here, minicamps are wrapping up, and Scott Fish Bowl drafts have begun. If that didn’t sound exciting, we’re less than a month until the Hall of Fame Game (July 31st this year)! It may be too soon to be thinking about redraft leagues. However, when you’re researching for articles and commissioner of multiple leagues, you end up finding the time to mock draft. In my main league, or as some of you call it, a “home league”, I am going first this year. After doing some mock drafts, the clear choice for the first overall pick is Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase. The ADP from Sleeper has him #1 overall. Here is my thought process for a 10-team full point PPR league through the first five rounds:
Saying no to a Super Bowl Champion RB1?
Should I decide not to go WR, the next option would be RB Saquon Barkley. I’m passing on Saquon for a few reasons: For starters, he’s another year older. Secondly, the chance of a repeat performance is not as likely, especially because The Tush Push failed to be banned. With the infamous Brotherly Shove still allowed, I’d say the Eagles are more likely to use it while they can. Having Ja’Marr Chase as my first pick gives the incentive to wait for a round and draft his longtime teammate, Joe Burrow.
The combination of fantasy points between the two has been off the charts since they entered the League. If Burrow is unavailable, I could wait again for Patrick Mahomes or someone else. Regardless of who my QB could potentially be, selecting Barkley over Chase first overall seems like a mistake. Oh, and if you needed a third reason, he’s on this year’s Madden cover. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other RBs available in the next round or so.
Other Early Value at RB
Moving on to rounds two and three, let’s stick with the idea of drafting an RB1. Certain mock drafts had Bucky Irving still on the board. Some of my league mates are expecting this year to be his breakout season, and I’m inclined to agree. Adapting to the idea that he might be drafted before my next turn, there are still other RB1s available. Bucky’s ADP is 19, and the next RB is Josh Jacobs, whose ADP is 22. Jordan Love has too many mouths to feed in Green Bay.
So the potential lack of volume might not be worth the draft pick there. Bucky Irving and Josh might respectfully have good seasons, but other RBs on better offenses could score more. I could also look for a different veteran player. Not only are Alvin Kamara & David Montgomery ranked lower, but there’s a chance they’re still available after three rounds. We’ve seen what Sonic & Knuckles can do with this Dan Campbell offense. Monty scored at least 10 rushing TDs in the last two seasons. And as far as AK41 goes, who else in the Bayou is getting the ball?
Other young RB1s such as James Cook & Kyren Williams might have lower ADP but are in much better offenses. Since James Cook plays alongside a rushing QB in Josh Allen, I would personally draft Kyren Williams between the two. Much like Saquon Barkley & Jalen Hurts, it’s hard to predict who will outshine each week for fantasy. Thus, Williams should be getting the bulk of the carries, and handcuffing Blake Corum, later on, should be simple. While the options might seem plentiful, this amount of high-end Running Backs won’t be available in any other round.
“The whole reason Ja’Marr Chase is the number one choice in redraft leagues is because of his Burrow connection. The accumulated fantasy points between the two of them are off the charts.”
If I drafted an RB on that first loop, then realistically, I would need to draft a WR2. My goal is to end round 4 or start round 5 by drafting Joe Burrow. The whole reason Ja’Marr Chase is the number one choice in redraft leagues is because of his Burrow connection. The accumulated fantasy points between the two of them is off the charts. Assuming Joey B gets taken here, I’d be on the lookout for another explosive playmaker.
Ideally, that WR could be DK Metcalf. With him and Aaron Rodgers now in Pittsburgh under Mike Tomlin, this is gonna be quite the combo to watch. Metcalf might have multiple defenders chasing him nearly every game. That being the case, the targets he’s bound to have should exceed expectations. WR1s near this ADP, such as DJ Moore & Marvin Harrison Jr., may have previous experience with their QBs.
However, this is the first time Metcalf isn’t essentially fighting for the ball as he did in Seattle. More recently, Jonnu Smith has been signed by the Steelers and is now reunited with Arthur Smith. After his career year in Miami last year, can Jonnu bring that same level of football to the Steel City? Alongside Pat Freiermuth & Calvin Austin, the fantasy value within this receiving core lies within DK, especially with PPR points.
More Top NFL Fantasy Football IDP Advice!
Invest in TEs
There are two TEs who have a high enough ADP that might be worth drafting appropriately. Hard to believe, but I’m not referring to Travis Kelce nor Mark Andrews who are available in much later rounds. Those Tight Ends are Brock Bowers and Trey McBride. I know there has been somewhat of a Tight End curse in recent years, but these two will continue to get volume. Many mock drafts will have Trey McBride available at the end of round 2 with an ADP of 23. His receiving yards last year with the return of Kyler Murray exceeded 1,100. If he’s still on the board by the end of round two, he is absolutely worth drafting along with that RB1.
When I look for my second TE, I would skip out on both Kelce and Mandrews. Aside from their age and injury history, these are both offenses with too many pass catchers. If the Browns are starting Joe Flacco Week One, I’d feel very comfortable taking David Njoku. He’s by far the most consistent player among current Browns receivers. Other than Jerome Ford, Njoku is the only player on this offense who played with Flacco last time around. Unlike the Chiefs and Ravens, the Browns will likely have to play from behind.
This means more opportunities and targets for Njoku. Another viable option would be Evan Engram, who now lands in Denver. After relying heavily on Courtland Sutton a year ago, Bo Nix now has a new weapon in Sean Payton‘s offense. Engram might be a better value due to the uncertainty of the QB in Cleveland.
Practice Drafting!
Other than knowing how teams coordinate, one key strategy is drafting players that will unlikely be there by your turn. Playing out the first few rounds with Ja’Marr Chase first overall gives an idea of how a team can look. Yes, you should take the best available player, but hopefully, this article will help guide your decisions. It all depends on your opponents’ moves and how you wanna build your team.
While it’s only July, doing multiple mock drafts before the preseason starts can still prepare you for your actual draft. Whether you have the first pick or not, it’s worth taking the time to mock from other spots on the board. It’s a good way to adapt to your opponent’s next move, much like a game of chess. There are multiple draft guides and rankings available on IDPPlus.com. Have fun with those mock drafts and happy summer! It’s gonna be a scorcher as it’s been here in Northeast Ohio. Speaking of which…..
The Fantasy Football Expo in Canton, OH, is fast approaching. It’s an amazing opportunity to get to know those within the fantasy sports community, including multiple experts. There are live drafts, Q&A sessions, and more. Get your tickets today at thefantasyfootballexpo.com!
