LeSean McCoy will go early in any NFL Fantasy draft. (Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports)
THE EXPERTS RATE THEIR WORK
An esteemed group of 14 national fantasy football experts took part in a Lindy’s Sports mock draft on May 20. They used yardage-league settings (no points-per reception, four points per TD pass) and filled rosters with 10 starters and four reserves. The results of their serpentine draft are below. For individual team rosters and analysis from each of the distinguished 14, see below.
**(Round each player was selected is given in parentheses)
MARK STOPA
Rotowire @MarkStopa
STARTERS
QB Colin Kaepernick (7)
RB LeSean McCoy (1; Top overall pick) RB Shane Vereen (4)
WR Jordy Nelson (2) WR Randall Cobb (3) WR Torrey Smith(5)
TE Dennis Pitta (6)
FLEX Tavon Austin (9)
K Matt Prater (13)
DEF San Francisco (8)
RESERVES
WR Danny Amendola (10) RB David Wilson (11) RB Marcus Lattimore (12) RB Knile Davis (14)
YOUR STRATEGY? Take the best player available (regardless of position), avoid any embarrassing picks from being published in this magazine, and not be “that guy” who slows down the whole draft by picking too slowly.
PICK TO PROMOTE: Marcus Lattimore has a decent shot of out-performing a 30-year old, soon-to-be washed-up Frank Gore. Everything about Gore 2014 reminds me of Steven Jackson 2013, and we all saw how that turned out. The Niners run a lot playing with the lead, too. Lattimore has upside (and so does Carlos Hyde).
PICK OF REGRET: I didn’t like Colin Kaepernick much more than the 2-3 QBs who went after him, but picking at the end of the snake, I feared I’d lack a top QB if I waited. As it turned out, I’d have arguably been better off with Russell Wilson in Round 9. Of course, this is reason 5,438 why auctions are better than drafts.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? I never bet against Scott Pianowski in any league. But I like Brad Evans and Andy Behrens here. Ertz, Randle, and Cutler are three guys I liked at those values. Johnny Manziel has nice upside as a bench QB until we see what happens in Cleveland.
JOHN HANSEN
FantasyGuru.com @Fantasy_Guru
STARTERS
QB Robert Griffin III (7)
RB Adrian Peterson (1; No. 2 overall pick) ( RB Trent Richardson (5)
WR Keenan Allen (3) WR Cordarrelle Patterson (4) WR Brandin Cooks (8)
TE Julius Thomas (2)
FLEX Maurice Jones-Drew (6)
K Phil Dawson (13)
DEF Arizona (12)
RESERVES
WR Cecil Shorts (9) WR Jordan Matthews (10) RB Ahmad Bradshaw (11) RB Shonn Greene (14)
YOUR STRATEGY? I have to hold off on drafting a QB and target as many elite talents and fantasy producers as possible, regardless of position. That’s why I grabbed TE Julius Thomas as early as I did.
PICK TO PROMOTE: If Robert Griffin III is healthy, and his knee was in much better shape this spring than last, then he’ll be a steal in a pass-happy offense and with myriad weapons to throw to.
PICK OF REGRET: I’m actually not sold on Cordarrelle Patterson fully breaking out this year, so drafting him in the fourth was a bit of a stretch. That said, the talent was dwindling at WR, and Patterson is a freakish talent, plus this is a larger 14-team league and talent is hard to come by.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? Other than my team, I like Brad Evans’ squad the best. He’s thin at WR, but I liked his aggressive approach.
MATT LOWE
Lindy’s @MattLowe777
STARTERS
QB Peyton Manning (1; No. 3 overall pick)
RB Frank Gore (2) RB Arian Foster (3)
WR T.Y. Hilton (4) WR Marques Colston (5) WR Sammy Watkins (6)
TE Martellus Bennett (8)
FLEX DeAngelo Williams (9)
K Alex Henery (13)
DEF Seattle (7)
RESERVES
RB Tre Mason (10) WR Jacoby Jones (11) WR Kenny Britt (12) TE Coby Fleener (14)
YOUR STRATEGY? I like drafting players who play in good offenses in weak divisions with my top choices. I also like taking great athletes who can score from anywhere on the field. I wanted a good defense that I could start week-in, week-out and I got the NFL’s best.
PICK TO PROMOTE: T.Y. Hilton’s got a great rapport with Andrew Luck, and he could be in line for a monster year playing the slot position in the Colts’ high-powered offense. He’s an electric player who is only going to get better.
PICK OF REGRET: If Arian Foster has another injury- plagued season, then my running back position could be problematic. But without an elite passing game, Foster will be heavily involved in the offense, I would imagine.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? Andy Behrens has a solid team with a number of playmakers. Bob Lung has a quality squad as well.
SIGMUND BLOOM
Football Guys @SigmundBloom
STARTERS
QB Ben Roethlisberger (11)
RB Jamaal Charles (1; No. 4 overall pick) RB C.J. Spiller (2)
WR Percy Harvin (5) WR Dwayne Bowe (6) WR Mike Wallace (7)
TE Rob Gronkowski (3)
FLEX Toby Gerhart (4)
K Ryan Succop (14)
DEF N.Y. Jets (13)
RESERVES
WR Anquan Boldin (8) RB Darren McFadden (9) WR Kelvin Benjamin (10) WR Cody Latimer (12)
YOUR STRATEGY? In non-PPR, the running back is king. I was going to definitely start RB-RB, and probably take a third running back by the fifth round. With 14 teams, the already thin supply of reliable weekly RB plays gets stretched even thinner. I was confident that depth at WR would make it easy to stock that position in the mid-rounds. I decided to either go big early on TE or wait for sleepers late.
PICK TO PROMOTE: C.J. Spiller at 2.11. It’s easy to forget that Spiller put up historic numbers in 2012. In 2013, a high ankle sprain hampered him for almost the whole season. When he did have a week’s rest, he was back to his dominant self. The Bills led the league in rushing attempts, and the offense can only improve. He was touted as a top-five running back last year, and circumstances haven’t really changed.
PICK OF REGRET: Rob Gronkowski at 3.4. Not that I don’t love Gronk’s upside, and I’m willing to absorb the risk of missed early games like last season, even though this is an early pick, but seeing Jordan Cameron and Vernon Davis fall to the mid-sixth made me wish I had waited a little longer before pulling the trigger on a TE.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? I wouldn’t start WR-WR in a non-PPR, but Scott Pianowski made it work with four straight solid RB picks in rounds 3-6 after a Green/ Marshall combo from the first two frames. Not overspending on QB and still getting Nick Foles in the eighth, and a nice high ceiling/high floor late TE combo of Ladarius Green and Delanie Walker is the cherry on the sundae.
BOB LUNG
FFConsistency.com @ffconsistency
STARTERS
QB Aaron Rodgers (3)
RB Matt Forte (1; No. 5 overall pick) RB Ray Rice (4)
WR Antonio Brown (2) WR Reggie Wayne (5) WR Mike Evans (7)
TE Jason Witten (6)
FLEX Darren Sproles (8)
K Justin Tucker (11)
DEF Houston (10)
RESERVES
WR Odell Beckham (9) WR Denarius Moore (12) RB Jordan Todman (13) WR Marqise Lee (14)
YOUR STRATEGY? In the first six rounds, my strategy is to draft the most historically consistent players available in the draft. My top three picks were all ranked in the top three in consistency in 2013.
PICK TO PROMOTE: Reggie Wayne has fallen from grace due to last year’s injury. He was ranked as the second-most consistent receiver in 2012. So, he’s a great value in the fifth round as the receiver 28th coming off the board.
PICK OF REGRET: Because I lean toward more consistent players, I usually don’t draft a rookie receiver as my WR3, so taking a flyer on Mike Evans makes me a little edgy.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? Matt Lowe has a very solid starting lineup with Peyton, Gore, Foster, Hilton and Colston. If these players stay healthy and perform at their normal levels, he’ll have a team heading toward the playoffs.
ANDY BEHRENS
Yahoo Sports @andybehrens
STARTERS
QB Drew Brees (2)
RB Marshawn Lynch (1; No. 6 overall pick) RB Rashad Jennings (5)
WR Vincent Jackson (3) WR Roddy White (4) WR Emmanuel Sanders (6)
TE Greg Olsen (7)
FLEX Jeremy Hill (8)
K Robbie Gould (14)
DEF Carolina (13)
RESERVES
WR Rueben Randle (9) TE Zach Ertz (10) QB Jay Cutler (11) RB Danny Woodhead (12)
YOUR STRATEGY? This mock was not the first in which I’ve selected Lynch and Brees at the top, picking from a similar spot. So it would be accurate to say that my priority at the top was to select elite players who’ve proven to be durable and consistent over multiple seasons. From there, it’s tough to screw up a draft. I managed to select a couple of high-ceiling/low-floor guys here (Rueben Randle and Jeremy Hill) without putting myself in a position where I need either player to do anything special. That’s the key with boom/bust candidates: Make sure your team will be OK if they fail. Also, while I never maintain a list of specific players to target, it’s now clear to me (after several mocks) that I place a higher value than most drafters on Roddy White, Emmanuel Sanders and Greg Olsen.
PICK TO PROMOTE: Jay Cutler remained on the board for far too long. I had zero need for him, having drafted Brees, but it’s ridiculous in my eyes that he was still available in the 11th round of a 14-team draft. He clearly has a top-eight fantasy setup. Cutler is at the controls of an offense that led the NFC in scoring last season, and he has Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Matt Forte at his disposal. I mean, just look at where this group of experts drafted Jay’s receivers, then tell me he wasn’t a filthy steal.
PICK OF REGRET: As Round 2 flipped to Round 3, I was beginning to think I had a shot at Arian Foster. His long fall was somewhat mysterious. Foster remains a featured back in an offense that should be … well, less terrible. He’s been a yardage/touchdown beast over several seasons, too. He shouldn’t have a difficult time earning third-round value. I’d have gladly taken him over Vincent Jackson, my Round 3 selection.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? I’d happily go to war (fantasy- wise) with Erin Skelley’s team. There are no obvious weaknesses in that starting lineup; Joique Bell has a clear shot at a big season. I might have given the nod to Mark Stopa’s team, were it not for his unfortunate quarterback situation. If we were to play this thing out, he’s the guy who’d be hitting me with Jay Cutler trade offers in Week 2.
KEVIN PAYNE
Rotowire @KCPayne26
STARTERS
QB Cam Newton (7)
RB Giovani Bernard (2) RB Chris Johnson (5)
WR Calvin Johnson (1; No. 7 overall pick) WR Larry Fitzgerald (3) WR Michael Crabtree (4)
TE Charles Clay (10)
FLEX Josh Gordon (6)
K Greg Zuerlein (14)
DEF Buffalo (12)
RESERVES
RB Carlos Hyde (8) WR Greg Jennings (9) RB Andre Williams (11) RB Lache Seastrunk (13)
YOUR STRATEGY? My strategy is always to try to take the best value. This could include players who were hurt, at risk of being suspended or rookies. I did plan on waiting to take a quarterback as I think after the top three there are a lot of players who I have ranked pretty close together.
PICK TO PROMOTE: If he didn’t have a suspension hanging over his head, Josh Gordon is easily a first- round pick. Getting him in the middle of the sixth round of a 14-team draft knowing the Browns will appeal and the NFL is looking at changing the suspension rules makes me think he’ll be around for half the season. I like that value, especially from a fresh wide receiver who can pay off in the fantasy playoffs.
PICK OF REGRET: It’s weird to suggest that having Larry Fitzgerald as your No. 2 wide receiver or that taking him in the middle of the third round might be a regret. However, the defenses in the division are ridiculous and despite his history, he hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season in the last two and only had double-digit touchdowns once in the last four seasons.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? Sigmund Bloom’s team would be extremely tough to beat. He has two running backs that have the upside to finish as the top two, let along the top five. Gronkowski has the upside to be the top tight end and all three of his wide receivers are legit No. 1’s who could each be the weekly top wide receiver.
ERIN SKELLEY
HoustonTexans.com @ErinSkelley
STARTERS
QB Andrew Luck (4)
RB Eddie Lacy (1; No. 8 overall pick) RB Joique Bell (5)
WR Alshon Jeffery (2) WR Wes Welker (3) WR Kendall Wright (6)
TE Jordan Reed (7)
FLEX Jarrett Boykin (8)
K Matt Bryant (14)
DEF Cincinnati (11)
RESERVES
WR Rod Streater (9) RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (10) WR Jarvis Landry (12) QB Ryan Tannehill (13)
YOUR STRATEGY? I tend to avoid risk in the first 3-4 rounds. That means I ignore players who are injured, old, unproven, unlawful or unstable. Rounds 5 and beyond, I’ll take more chances.
PICK TO PROMOTE: Despite missing a lot of football last season, Jordan Reed posted impressive numbers in his eight games. I’m expecting a big year for Reed with Jay Gruden’s arrival, putting him in my top five at tight end.
PICK OF REGRET: I was thinking Rod Streater could be a super sleeper, but now I’m having buyer’s remorse. I’d rather have Marvin Jones or Kenny Stills, taken right after Streater.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? I like Andy Richardson’s squad. His top three picks — Zac Stacy, Alfred Morris and Ryan Mathews — give him strength and depth at RB, which you always need.
BRAD EVANS
Yahoo Sports @YahooNoise
STARTERS
QB Matt Stafford (3)
RB Montee Ball (1; No. 9 overall pick) RB Le’Veon Bell (2)
WR DeSean Jackson (4) WR Golden Tate (5) WR Eric Decker (7)
TE Vernon Davis (6)
FLEX Terrance West (8)
K Nick Novak (14)
DEF New Orleans (13)
RESERVES
WR Marvin Jones (9) RB Bernard Pierce (10) WR Aaron Dobson (11) QB Johnny Manziel (12)
YOUR STRATEGY? Given the lack of workhorse running backs in this passing age of the NFL, I feel it’s imperative to grab a beast of burden in Round 1, no matter where I’m picking. From that point on, it’s all about value-based drafting.
PICK TO PROMOTE: Terrance West, Round 8. Don’t knock him for playing at the FCS level. Anyone who compiles 2,767 total yards and 42 combined touchdowns in a single season is a certifiable wrecking ball. Plus, a gentle wind could injure Ben Tate. In Kyle Shanahan’s run-heavy system, it would be no surprise if West garners at least five starts and finishes well inside the RB top 30 in per-game average.
PICK OF REGRET: Like his god-awful reality show, I’m no fan of Eric Decker. However, sipping margaritas in the undrafted pool through six rounds, he was a quality value pick in Round 7.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? Kevin Payne’s team is one to fear. He scored incredible value on Cam Newton in Round 7. And his WR combo of Megatron/Fitzgerald/Crabtree and, if available, Gordon, is downright nasty. I question Chris Johnson as a RB2, but if Gore succumbed to injury, Carlos Hyde would have all the makings of a back-end RB1.
CHET GRESHAM
The Fake Football @Chet_G
STARTERS
QB Tony Romo (8)
RB Ben Tate (3) RB Steven Jackson (5)
WR Demaryius Thomas (1; No. 10 overall pick) WR Julio Jones (2) WR Pierre Garcon (4)
TE Jordan Cameron (6)
FLEX Chris Ivory (7)
K Dan Bailey (14)
DEF Kansas City (13)
RESERVES
WR Kenny Stills (9) RB Isaiah Crowell (10) RB Christine Michael (11) RB C.J. Anderson (12)
YOUR STRATEGY? With a pick later in the first round, I figured the safest bet would most likely be wide receiver unless a running back I liked fell to me. So I started off with Demaryius Thomas and then Julio Jones, which made me quickly plan to take multiple running backs with upside. And one of those plans pushed by my partner in crime Jeff Brubach is to grab Steven Jackson late, at value, and then Devonta Freeman as a high-upside backup. But I was scooped on by Daugherty and will never forgive him.
PICK TO PROMOTE: I like Jordan Cameron quite a bit this season, especially if Josh Gordon is suspended for the whole year. He has shown the ability already and I think Hoyer or Manziel will rely on him in the red zone.
PICK OF REGRET: Chris Ivory was probably my most regretful pick. I wanted to stack up on upside running backs since I went with receivers early in the draft, but was caught in limbo and probably made a poor decision.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? That’s a tough one. I Iike the upside of Pianowski’s and Bloom’s teams, but of course that means plenty of possible downside. When it comes down to it I’d probably lean toward Skelley’s team because it feels balanced. Luck, Lacy, Jeffery, Welker and Reed anchor each position well.
PATRICK DAUGHERTY
Rotoworld @RotoPat
STARTERS
QB Russell Wilson (9)
RB Doug Martin (1; No. 11 overall pick) RB Andre Ellington (3)
WR Michael Floyd (4) WR Jeremy Maclin (5) WR Terrance Williams (6)
TE Jimmy Graham (2)
FLEX DeAndre Hopkins (7)
K Blair Walsh (14)
DEF New England (13)
RESERVES
RB Devonta Freeman (8) RB Lamar Miller (10) TE Tyler Eifert (11) WR Steve Smith (12)
YOUR STRATEGY? Non-PPR, I decided to go old- fashioned and come away from the first rounds with at least two running backs. I also made a conscious decision to wait on quarterbacks this season. That’s not something I usually do, but it’s a 14-man league, and I liked essentially all the top 14 quarterbacks.
PICK TO PROMOTE: Despite being literally my size (5-9, 190 pounds), I think Andre Ellington is worth the breakout hype. He’s just such an explosive player with a coach who knows how to utilize explosive players.
PICK OF REGRET: Definitely Doug Martin in the first round. It was a bit of a panic pick. Running back is so muddled this year after the unfathomable amount of disappointments in 2013. Strong chance that pick backfires on me which … is not a good thing seeing as it’s my first-round pick.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? Sigmund Bloom got really good value from top to bottom. He’s also an extremely smart guy.
SCOTT PIANOWSKI
Yahoo Sports @scott_pianowski
STARTERS
QB Nick Foles (8)
RB Reggie Bush (3) RB Bishop Sankey (4)
WR A.J. Green (1; No. 12 overall pick) WR Brandon Marshall (2) WR Hakeem Nicks (7)
TE Ladarius Green (9)
FLEX Knowshon Moreno (5)
K Stephen Gostkowski (13)
DEF St. Louis (11)
RESERVES
RB Pierre Thomas (6) WR James Jones (10) TE Delanie Walker (12) RB Donald Brown (14)
YOUR STRATEGY? I’m just going for the most bankable studs I can get early and for the most part ignoring positions. In the old days, no one wanted to start off with two non-RB picks, but given how most teams spread touches these days, the middle of the fantasy draft offers plenty of interesting choices. The early- round exception comes at quarterback; with so many good ones, I didn’t feel the need to target one of the first-level options. (To be clear, I would have taken a running back with an early pick, but I was slotted to the outside — hello, Plan B.)
PICK TO PROMOTE: I realize Nick Foles has only done it once, but he’s surrounded by intriguing skill players and a brilliant head coach. I felt like I won the lottery near the end of the eighth round.
PICK OF REGRET: I don’t think Knowshon Moreno is a bad player, but I’m realistic; I know much of his breakout season came against offenses dead-set on defending the Broncos passing game. Life will be very different in Miami.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? Sigmund Bloom’s upside roster gets your attention quickly, no doubt on that. I also liked what Andy Behrens and Mark Stopa procured here, strong and consistent values. Guru John Hansen built a strong contender as well, though just seeing Trent Richardson’s name in print makes me angry.
ANDY RICHARDSON
Fantasy Football Index @FantasyIndex
STARTERS
QB Tom Brady (5)
RB Zac Stacy (1; No. 13 overall pick) RB Alfred Morris (2)
WR Julian Edelman (4) WR Riley Cooper (6) WR Brian Hartline (8)
TE Kyle Rudolph (7)
FLEX Ryan Mathews (3)
K Mason Crosby (14)
DEF Denver (11)
RESERVES
RB Mark Ingram (9) WR Markus Wheaton (10) QB Philip Rivers (12) RB Ka’Deem Carey (13)
YOUR STRATEGY? I hate to say I didn’t have one, but I pretty much go through drafts taking the best players available on my board and not getting too hung up about filling a certain position. Injuries happen, matchups are favorable or unfavorable, and I want to have plenty of good options at each spot. For the most part, that worked out.
PICK TO PROMOTE: The Chargers leaned heavily on the ground game the second half of last season, with Ryan Mathews leading the way. I think they’ll do so again this season, so I was pleasantly surprised to land him at 3.13. I’ve never been a Mark Ingram fan, but I like him as a late-round flier.
PICK OF REGRET: Dez Bryant went one pick before I’d have taken him; he’d certainly look better atop my receiving corps than Julian Edelman. Had I foreseen Mathews falling, I’d have taken a wideout instead of Morris regardless, probably Jordy Nelson.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? Maybe it’s because they were picking in the middle spots of a 14-team draft, but the Erin Skelley and Kevin Payne teams look best to me. Great quarterback value, great receiving tight ends, good backs and receivers. Except for the Josh Gordon pick.
SETH KLEIN
Razzball @SethDaSportsMan
STARTERS
QB Matt Ryan (8)
RB DeMarco Murray (1; No. 14 overall pick) RB Stevan Ridley (5)
WR Dez Bryant (2; No. 15 overall pick in the snake draft; draft then went back up to the above player and continued that way) WR Andre Johnson (3) WR Victor Cruz (4)
TE Eric Ebron (9)
FLEX Fred Jackson (6)
K Steven Hauschka (14)
DEF Baltimore (13)
RESERVES
RB Khiry Robinson (7) WR Justin Hunter (10) RB Vick Ballard (11) WR Stevie Johnson (12)
YOUR STRATEGY? Even though it was non-PPR league, my strategy was to draft 2-3 top WRs with my first four picks. Despite not getting bonuses for catches, I almost guarantee myself at least one multiple-TD/100-yard game each week. It’s more difficult to predict a RB’s performance than a WR’s on a week-to-week basis and they really screw you when they put up a dud.
PICK TO PROMOTE: Khiry Robinson was a bit of a reach, but I felt he had more upside than any of the remaining RBs on the board. He led the Saints in carries in two of their last three games, and with Darren Sproles gone, he’ll only have the under-whelming Mark Ingram and the aging Pierre Thomas to compete with for snaps. He has a good shot to be a solid RB2.
PICK OF REGRET: I was really upset when Knowshon Moreno was taken two picks before me in the fifth round. I had my eye on him and would’ve enjoyed slotting him next to DeMarco Murray in my starting backfield. Instead, I had to settle for Stevan Ridley, who is a bounce-back candidate in my opinion, but lacks the pass-catching ability of Moreno, which limits his overall production.
WHO’S THE FAVORITE? I really like Sigmund Bloom’s team. He went RB/RB to start the draft and was still able to add Rob Gronkowski, Percy Harvin, Dwayne Bowe and Anquan Boldin to his receiving corps. Landing Mike Wallace in the seventh round was a steal.
