Yes, I Know, You Don't Care: This Year's Fantasy Football Draft

  Player                 TM         2022 2023

QB1 Jameis Winston NO         24 28

QB2 Matthew Stafford LAR 10 13

RB1 Damien Harris NE         22 26

RB2         C. McCaffrey         CAR 71 76

WR1 Stefon Diggs         BUF 45 50

WR2 CeeDee Lamb DAL 40 45

FX         David Njoku CLE 1 4

TE         George Kittle         SF         26 31

DEF Bengals         CIN         1 4

PK         Jake Elliot PHI         2 5

B1         Miles Sanders         PHI         18 22

B2         Allen Robinson LAR 21 25

B3         Devante Parker NE         6 9

B4         Michael Carter NYJ         1 4

B5         Kenneth Gainwell PHL 6 9

B6         Jarvis Landry         NO         1 4

Bolded players were protected.

Notes: I didn't get stuck with anyone I didn't want -- always a danger in an auction draft. If you don't bid up others, there's too much money in the pot and the guys that you want are going to have too many suitors. Especially in a keeper league where many of the best and brightest players are already owned and undervalued... I had first position and nominated McCaffrey, and would have paid $10-$15 more than I got him for. I just think he's going to be healthy, used, and in an offense that's league average, which is all he's ever needed... Kittle for $26 was about what I had budgeted. I'm usually not a fan of top tier TEs, and his injury history is concerning, but I have a pet theory about young QBs overvaluing their TE because it's an easier throw to make. 

Sanders is a candidate for TD regression, and if he's not long for the team, it could be better for me if Gainwell gets the gig. Robinson has been overvalued in drafts, but not this one. Parker is cheap for a WR1, and if Winston has a big year in NO, Landry might be serviceable. No one likes Carter's offensive line or situation, but he's good and young and still the RB1; for a buck late, that's a pretty great gamble. Cincy as a defense is going to start a season of streaming.

All in all, I think I'm a top third team, health permitting. Which never permits. But you do what you can and try not to lose a draft on draft day; might not have this time. We'll see.