We are just days away from the start of the 2022 NFL season. That means we’re in the middle of an intense draft season in fantasy football. Among us are a number of industry analyst drafts pitting some of the best minds in the world of fantasy football against each other for bragging rights. Created by Jake Ciely FLEX (Fantasy League of Experts ), I was involved in one of the drafts.
This 12-team, 0.5 PPR league requires a starting lineup that includes quarterbacks, 2 running backs, 3 wide receivers, 2 flex positions (RB/WR/TE), tight ends, and defensive/special teams units is. The scoring system is standard (no bonuses).
With so many people drafting this week, I’d like to take an inside look at how I approached this draft, round by round. This includes rounds where audible tones had to be invoked – Omaha! – I had to change my approach at the last minute because the players I would otherwise have picked were drafted before me.
Here are my round-by-round thoughts during a draft chock full of fantasy “sharp things.” You can check out the entire 16-round fantasy draft board at the bottom of the article.
Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports
round 1
1.4. Nagy HarrisRB, and the Steelers: Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, and Austin Ekeler were the first three off the board, giving Harris 4th place. The Steelers offensive doesn’t care about his line (it wasn’t good last season either). The stat sheet expects another major season.
round 2
2.21. Aaron JonesRB, Packer: Only seven wide receivers were selected at this point, so I decided to go with another running back, knowing I would get a good wideout in the third round. That back was Jones, who will be a major playmaker in the Packers’ offense this season. You can see it catching.
Round 3
3.28. Keenan AllenWR, Charger: Tyreek Hill, AJ Brown and Mike Evans were ahead, but I was able to land Allen well this round. I actually rank him higher than Brown and Evans at that position, and catching a pass from Justin Herbert’s best young quarterback in the league makes Allen more of an asset. Virtual Target Pig, I rely on veterans to see over 150 looks this season.
round 4
4.45. Brandin CooksWR, Texans: I definitely chose wideouts here, but Cook was the best option for my board. He may not be the sexiest pick in the Fantasy Draft, but he’s reliable, consistent, and a top choice on the Texans’ offense. He’s logged over 1,000 yards and had a career-high 90 catches last year. Davis Mills will likely keep an eye on Cook this season.
round 5
5.52. David MontgomeryRB, bear: With two runners and two receivers on the roster, I went with the best player on the board at any position this round. It became Montgomery. He was RB21 one season ago, but among the backs who have played more than 13 games, the average score per game is tied for 12th. The Bears will rely heavily on runs, and Montgomery will again be the frontrunner.
round 6
6.69. TJ HockensonTE, Lions: I don’t need to get an elite tight end in the draft, but I also don’t want someone pissing me off week after week. . He averaged seven goals for the Lions last season, his seventh in points per game (minimum 11 appearances). We expect a similar development this season.
round 7
7.76. hunter renfroWR, Raiders: I was hoping Deandre Hopkins would fall into my hands here (I would eat six games and have a stud wideout when I really needed him), but he was my I got off the board before 2 picks. He knew he needed to use a wide receiver, so he took Renflow. Will he be a WR10 again like he was a year ago? But in Josh McDaniels’ offense, slotmen often do well.
Round 8
8.93. Tyler RocketWR, Seahawks: We were using the top wideout of the board here, which just so happened to be Rocket. With over 1,000 yards and his eight points, it’s hard to see Geno Smith under center, but the Rockets still believe he should be his second target behind DK Metcalf, and he’s a His fourth receiver on my team. I play matchups regularly and sit him down if Smith is really hurting his joints this season.
Round 9
9.100. Antonio GibsonRB, Commander: I have to start by saying this draft was made before Brian Robinson was caught in the shootings over the weekend. Hope to come back to That being said, Gibson’s joining the board in Round 9 shows how his stock has fallen.
round 10
10.117. Matthew StaffordQB, Rams: If you have a lot of sharps in a league with only one quarterback, you can always wait for a quarterback and still get a star. I was hoping Tom Brady would fall for me, but he was picked six ahead of him in my turn. As a result, Stafford was heard. Last season’s QB6, the veteran is looking to throw a ton of balls (again) and now has Allen Robinson in the mix.
round eleven
11.124. londale mooreWR, Cardinal: My plan for this round was to look for an upside player either at running back or wide receiver. Moore was the best option for my board. He’s certainly a playmaker, and reports say the Cardinals want to touch him more this season (at least until Hopkins returns from suspension).
round 12
12.141. Aaron Rogerspacker: My quarterback may not be a spring chicken, but Stafford and Rodgers were both in the top six at the position last season. He would, of course, expect a step back from the latter as he would be a less productive passing offense without Davante Adams. But Rodgers is still at least as low as he is in QB1.
round 13
13.148. Tyler AllgaierRB, Falcons: I’m pretty happy with my running back, so Allgeier was worth the dice roll. The Falcons’ backfield looks a little crowded with Cordarrell Patterson and Damian Williams, both in their 30s. As a result, Allgeier may make contact several times more than expected.
round 14
14.163. Cowboy Defense: Let me sound like a cowboy’s horn! This defense was the best in fantasy football a season ago. If the team has any chance of replicating his 12 wins last year, we recommend stepping up. With playmakers like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, I expect Big D to be a top 10 unit again.
round 15
15.170. Albert OkwegbunamTE, Broncos: Okwegbunam could have deep sleeper appeal in the Broncos’ offense, so he was a worthy late-round flyer in the draft. The team has already lost Tim Patrick this season, and Okwegbnam is a good pass catcher offensively. If he fails in production, he becomes abandoned fodder.
round 16
16.187. Van JeffersonWR, Rams: It was a dart throw (as they all are at this point), but why not throw that dart at an offense that could very well score a ton of points? Jefferson opens as the Rams’ third wideout. However, he will retain the role unless the team re-signs Odell Beckham Jr. (knee) at some point later in the season.
FLEX draft per round:
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Michael Fabiano award-winning fantasy soccer Analyst sports illustrated He is also a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all of his articles on SI fantasy.You can follow Michael twitter, Facebook, Youtube When Instagram For your latest fantasy news and the best analysis in business!