Recently, the @DFF_Redraft crew joined up for a redraft mock draft. The format was: start 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 2 Flex, 6 bench spots, and PPR scoring. It was the first time this offseason that we did a mock with three starting wide receivers, so I was curious to see how that small change affected my strategy and the other drafters’ strategy.
Overall Strategy and Draft Highlights
As usual, I adopted my typical strategy when doing a mock or any other type of draft. I didn’t come into the draft with a set plan, choosing instead to let the flow of the draft dictate how I built my team. In this case, starting with the 1.03 pick, I knew before the draft began that my first pick would be a running back, likely Ezekiel Elliott.
However, I wasn’t sure what direction I would take after that. Generally, I usually like to take running backs early, trying to get two in the first three rounds. Still, remaining flexible is the most important part of drafting a fantasy team.
Early Rounds
I did end up selecting Elliott with the 1.03 pick, giving me a stud running back to start my team. When Travis Kelce fell to the 2.10, I couldn’t pass on him, as Kelce is my 12th overall player in my PPR redraft rankings. All of my top tier running backs were off the board by the 2.06 when Austin Ekeler was picked.
After selecting Kelce, I found myself in a similar spot at 3.03. Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the highest running back on my board, but I decided to go with Odell Beckham Jr. instead. Edwards-Helaire came with too much risk for that price and picking Beckham Jr. gave me one running back, one wide receiver, and one tight end after three rounds. I hoped that some of the next tier running backs would fall to 4.10 or 5.03.
Run of Wide Receivers
Unfortunately, running backs continued to fly off the board. My last Tier 6 running back, David Johnson, went off at 4.08, two picks before me. At that point, I realized that I was going to end up with a WR-heavy team, as all the top players on my board were WRs. I picked Cooper Kupp at 4.10 and Courtland Sutton at 5.03 to complete my starting three wide receivers. Considering that it’s also a PPR format, I had no problem passing on running backs like Cam Akers, Devin Singletary, or D’Andre Swift in favor of Kupp and Sutton.
I wanted one of my next tier of running backs to drop down to 6.10, but I got sniped. The last three of those players, Raheem Mostert, Akers, and J.K. Dobbins, were taken with the three picks right before mine. I still needed to fill two flex spots, and A.J. Green was my 51st overall player. Therefore, I had to pick him. Similarly, when Stefon Diggs fell to 7.03, I couldn’t pass on him. Diggs is my 55th overall player, and he slotted in as my final flex spot.
Running Back Fliers
After picking Green and Diggs, I knew that I needed to force myself into picking running backs, even if the value wasn’t there. However, most of the other owners had picked so many running backs that they needed to begin to fill their three WR starters. Because of that situation, I managed to grab four running backs in a row: Tarik Cohen, Tevin Coleman, Darrell Henderson, and Latavius Murray.
Cohen and Coleman provide a decently safe floor, as each has a guaranteed path to touches in their offense. Cohen will serve as the Bears’ PPR back, and he’s my RB31 in my redraft rankings. While I believe that Coleman will serve as Raheem Mostert’s backup, Kyle Shanahan always rotates his running backs. Therefore, Coleman will get 8-12 touches per game, allowing me potentially to use him based on matchups.
Henderson and Murray represented a different type of running back flier. Both provide low floors, as they sit behind starters Cam Akers and Alvin Kamara. However, each player has immense upside, as they both play in high-powered offenses. Henderson could challenge Akers for the starting role, so if he somehow wins the job, he’d be a massive value. When Murray replaced Kamara for the two weeks Kamara missed in 2019, he was the RB1 overall. Having two high-upside running backs behind Cohen and Coleman allows me a good variety of running back options to ensure I find a weekly RB2 in 2020.
The Final Rounds
At 12.10, I decided to select Aaron Rodgers as my quarterback. I always recommend waiting on a quarterback until the final few rounds, but I felt that 12.10 was a fair price for my 10th-ranked quarterback. Given the alternative options, securing a potential year-long starter was worth the draft cost.
I closed out the draft with Darrynton Evans, Denzel Mims, and Ryquell Armstead. Evans is a handcuff for Derrick Henry. The Titans are a run-first offense and have no other options behind Henry, so Evans could provide some value if Henry goes down. Also, Evans profiles as a pass-catcher, one of Henry’s weaknesses. Evans might have a bit of PPR value even if Henry remains fully healthy for the entire season.
Mims has a chance to be the top receiver on the Jets. With 3 WR starters, I felt that taking a sixth receiver was a decent move, and Mims has upside. I think it’ll be clear after Week 1 whether Mims is genuinely a starter based on his targets and snap counts. If he doesn’t break out in the first two games, I’ll probably cut bait.
As for Armstead, I might even cut him before the season. I’ve drafted him a couple of times in previous mocks as a hedge against Leonard Fournette. While it’s unlikely, the Jaguars could cut Fournette before the 2020 season, saving over $4 million in cap space. The Jaguars already tried to trade Fournette this offseason, so even if there’s only a 15-20% chance he’s moved, it’s worth holding Armstead. If we enter Week 1 with Fournette on the Jaguars’ roster, Armstead will not enter the season on my roster.
End Result and Final Thoughts
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Tarik Cohen, Tevin Coleman, Darrell Henderson, Latavius Murray, Darrynton Evans, Ryquell Armstead
WR: Odell Beckham Jr., Cooper Kupp, Courtland Sutton, A.J. Green, Stefon Diggs, Denzel Mims
TE: Travis Kelce
I’m pretty happy with this roster. I have a stud tight end and depth at the wide receiver position plus a stud running back. I managed to grab a mix of safe and high-upside running backs later on, so I feel that I built a balanced, strong team. Even though I usually don’t recommend going light at running back, the draft presented too much wide receiver value to pass up. To me, this draft shows that any strategy can succeed, considering how far I departed from my usual RB-heavy approach.
Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.
