Fantasy Football 2018 - First MOCK DRAFT of 2018!

Summary

Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary Episode: Fantasy Football 2018 - First MOCK DRAFT of 2018!
Release Date: March 22, 2018
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright

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1. Introduction to the First Mock Draft

The episode kicks off with hosts Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright welcoming listeners to “Mock Thursday,” their inaugural mock draft session for the 2018 fantasy football season. Emphasizing the significance of mock drafts in understanding the evolving fantasy landscape, Jason shares his preparations, joking about his secretive draft practices:

Jason Moore [01:19]: "I've done a couple mocks kind of… secret, private mock."

2. Discussing Players to Avoid

A significant portion of the episode revolves around identifying high-profile players who may not offer the expected fantasy value despite their reputations.

Marshawn Lynch: Jason advocates against drafting Lynch early, citing his uncertain role and competition with better running backs on his team.

Jason Moore [03:07]: "Marshawn Lynch will not be… he's not going to be there… he's going to be a fourth, fifth, sixth round guy."

Jordy Nelson: Andy expresses reservations about Nelson’s future performance, especially in a potentially mediocre offense.

Andy Holloway [05:06]: "Jordy Nelson is this year's Eric Decker. He will catch a few passes, but the offense is not going to be… you have rumors of the real Eric Decker possibly signing in Oakland."

Jarvis Landry: Mike critiques Landry’s move to the Cleveland Browns, highlighting the reduced target share and potential decline in fantasy output.

Mike Wright [06:14]: "Jarvis Landry will be okay, but he will not be the fantasy force that we have come to know and love."

3. NFL News Impacting Fantasy Decisions

Before diving deeper into the mock draft, the hosts briefly touch upon current NFL news affecting fantasy strategies:

• Eric Ebron’s Signing with the Colts: Jason initially expresses concern about Ebron sharing snaps with Jack Doyle but remains cautiously optimistic due to the new coaching staff’s history with tight ends.

Jason Moore [10:10]: "I have a glimmer of hope for Eric Ebron to be the number one tight end."

• Ryan Grant’s Contract: The trio discusses Grant’s inexpensive one-year deal with the Colts compared to his previous hefty contract with Baltimore, appreciating the financial flexibility it offers fantasy managers.

Jason Moore [12:34]: "Ryan Grant is betting on himself. Well, at least he…"

• Zay Jones’ Legal Issues: Andy addresses Zay Jones’ recent arrest, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness over making light of the situation.

Andy Holloway [15:06]: "Zay Jones cut his foot up and tried to jump out of a window and was not clothed."

4. The Mock Draft: Round-by-Round Breakdown

The core of the episode is the comprehensive mock draft, where the hosts simulate selecting players based on their strategies and available talent.

Draft Settings:

• Scoring: Half point per reception (PPR)
• Format: Snake draft
• Teams: 12
• Roster Requirements: 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 FLEX, DEF, K, and 5 Bench spots

Early Rounds:

• Picks 1-3: Locked in with Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara, and Antonio Brown.
• Pick 4: A critical decision between elite RBs and top WRs. Both Andy and Mike initially lean toward David Johnson over Ezekiel Elliott due to higher expected receptions.

  Jason Moore [21:18]: "I would personally lean towards David Johnson."

Notable Selections:

• David Johnson: Chosen for his high PPR potential.
• Christian McCaffrey: Secured as a top RB with immense dual-threat capabilities.
• Lamar Miller vs. Alex Collins: Jason opts for Lamar Miller despite concerns over volume, while Andy prefers Adam Thielen for his reception-heavy role.

Mid to Late Rounds:

• Wide Receivers: Emphasis on securing consistent PPR contributors like Ty Hilton and Demarius Thomas.
• Tight Ends: Greg Olsen is selected over the fluctuating value of Gronkowski, balancing reliability and potential upside.
• Quarterbacks: Priority is given to quarterbacks with high consistency and potential upside, such as Philip Rivers and Jameis Winston.

Bench and Late Picks:

• Pierre Garçon and Danny Amendola: Added for their experienced offensive roles.
• Chris Hogan and Tariq Cohen: Selected for their upside and potential breakout performances.

5. Draft Strategy Insights

Throughout the mock draft, the hosts provide valuable strategic insights:

• Prioritizing Running Backs: Due to their scarcity and high scoring potential, RBs are prioritized over other positions.
• Value-Based Drafting: Emphasis on selecting players based on available value rather than adhering strictly to conventional rankings.
• Flexibility and Depth: Building a versatile roster with depth at crucial positions to navigate the unpredictable nature of the NFL season.

Jason Moore [21:28]: "If you don't take a running back or wide receiver here, you're just screwing the pooch."

6. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the mock draft concludes, Andy reflects on the team's composition and the misses regarding key RBs like Joe Mixon and Jerick McKinnon. Despite some setbacks, the roster boasts strong RBs, reliable WRs, and a solid quarterback, positioning them well for the upcoming fantasy season.

Andy Holloway [59:09]: "If I could have had Joe Mixon or McKinnon instead of Lamar Miller, it would be night and day difference."

The hosts encourage listeners to engage via YouTube comments and Twitter, promising further analysis and strategies in upcoming segments.

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Notable Quotes Highlighted with Timestamps

• Jason Moore [03:07]: "Marshawn Lynch will not be… he's not going to be there… he's going to be a fourth, fifth, sixth round guy."

• Mike Wright [06:14]: "Jarvis Landry will be okay, but he will not be the fantasy force that we have come to know and love."

• Jason Moore [21:18]: "I would personally lean towards David Johnson."

• Jason Moore [21:28]: "If you don't take a running back or wide receiver here, you're just screwing the pooch."

• Andy Holloway [59:09]: "If I could have had Joe Mixon or McKinnon instead of Lamar Miller, it would be night and day difference."

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Final Roster Snapshot

Quarterback:

• Philip Rivers

Running Backs:

• David Johnson
• Christian McCaffrey
• Lamar Miller
• Tariq Cohen
• Isaiah Crowell

Wide Receivers:

• Ty Hilton
• Demarius Thomas
• Chris Hogan
• Pierre Garçon
• Danny Amendola

Tight End:

• Greg Olsen

Defense:

• Denver Broncos

Kicker:

• Mason Crosby

Bench:

• Tariq Cohen
• Greg Olsen
• Chris Hogan
• Pierre Garçon
• Danny Amendola

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This detailed mock draft session offered listeners an in-depth look into strategic fantasy football planning, highlighting the importance of flexibility, value-based selections, and positional depth. Whether you’re a seasoned fantasy manager or a newcomer, the insights provided by the Fantasy Footballers trio are invaluable for crafting a competitive roster for the 2018 season.

Transcript

[Andy Holloway]

To all you sports fans, did you know that you can stream this podcast on Spotify right now? It's easy. You open the app on your mobile device or desktop, click on the browse channel, then click on the podcast section. You can also stream it on your smart speaker. Now it is that much easier for you to stay up to date on all the latest and greatest in all things fantasy footballers and sports. Thanks to Spotify.

[Jason Moore]

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Callers Podcast coming to you from Draft.com Studios with your hosts, Andy Holloway, Jason Moore and Mike Wright.

[Andy Holloway]

Ah, welcome in Thursday, March 22, also known as Mock Thursday.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, baby.

[Andy Holloway]

We've got our first mock draft of 2018 on the show today, which means it's going to be a great exploration into 2018 hidden rankings of our heart. Jason.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, it really is. It really is true. I've done a couple mocks kind of.

[Andy Holloway]

In preparation, secret, private mock.

[Jason Moore]

I mean, just, you know, I've got the covers over my head, laptop in bed, and I'm.

[Andy Holloway]

What are you doing in there, honey? I'm mock drafted.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, mock drafted. Mind your business, Ma.

[Mike Wright]

He's back living at home.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, man.

[Mike Wright]

I told you to knock.

[Jason Moore]

Where's the meatloaf? But, yeah, but the point is, is that this is a real insightful look into the 2018 landscape. I was surprised. It's funny because I've actually done real drafts on, you know, draft. But when you can mock quickly and you do the whole entire draft in, you know, 30 minutes sitting there together, you really get an idea of what changes surprise you from 2017. Like, I'll say up front, I was shocked with the amount of running backs early that I kind of liked. And we'll get into that later when we mock. But things are changing. We get to find him out today.

[Andy Holloway]

Absolutely. It's going to be exciting, it'll be interesting and obviously a lot will change. We have the NFL draft coming up at the end of April, and based on where these rookies land, that's going to change the depth, you know, the tiers, and it's going to change which players are valuable. And so the rookies are kind of the one enigma of the mock draft taking place on March 22nd. Real quick, let's start off with a quick question is a good one. It comes in off of Twitter from MillionMiles77. He says, what big name fantasy star will you stay clear of? But others won't because of his name. So we're talking about what big name are you putting on your do not draft or probably not. Drafting list.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I'll take this one.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, wow. I hadn't seen yours.

[Jason Moore]

You hadn't seen my name, but my name that I will not in any way, shape or form dragged. Despite the fact that he is contractually secure in his role. In fact, most of his money now has been turned into guaranteed money. But Marshawn Lynch.

[Andy Holloway]

I thought you were gonna say bitcoin like he converted it.

[Jason Moore]

Marshawn lynch will not be. We said guaranteed money will not be on any of my rosters. I mean, sure, if he was dropping into the 9th, 10th round, sure, I'll pick him up. He's going to have some touchdown opportunities, but he's not going to be there. He's going to be a fourth, fifth, sixth round guy. And he's going to play for a team where now with Doug Martin and the other better running backs that are on the team as well, you're not going to have the opportunity. And when they get down early, they're not going to be able to play 90 running backs. Yeah. Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington.

[Mike Wright]

DeAndre Washington's not playing well.

[Jason Moore]

He might not.

[Mike Wright]

He didn't play last year.

[Jason Moore]

Absolutely. That does not change my opinion that he is a better running back.

[Andy Holloway]

Okay, moving from there. I originally had Marshawn Lynch's name down.

[Jason Moore]

Really?

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. And I did not. Did not put it in there because I had a name I liked better. But I'm with you.

[Mike Wright]

You guys are going ages.

[Andy Holloway]

My Jalen Richard dynasty share took the wrong turn this offseason. Like I thought. Maybe Marshawn doesn't even get picked back up. They draft somebody and then Rashard gets to compete. Instead they go draft another older running back or, sorry, sign a running back in Doug Martin. Krampus. I'm going to stay on the same roster. I'm going with Jordy Nelson.

[Jason Moore]

Are we? You know who, I almost felt like it. You could go with just the Raiders.

[Mike Wright]

Raiders.

[Andy Holloway]

I like Cooper. Yeah, but wait, now you like him?

[Jason Moore]

What?

[Andy Holloway]

No. You don't like the draft price. I know, but on the last show, literally you said you didn't like him.

[Jason Moore]

Just so you remember, it's all cost to me.

[Andy Holloway]

Jordy Nelson is this year's Eric Decker. He will arrive, he will catch a few passes. He will be a piece of the offense. But the offense is not going to be. As Jason has said, as Mike has said, it's not likely to be a top 10 offense. So now you're looking at a secondary option. You even have rumors of the real Eric Decker possibly Signing in Oakland, you could have inception level, mediocre wide receivers on the, on the Raiders. Look, Jordy Nelson deserves all the credit in the world for the career he's had, but you no longer. You saw what he did without Aaron Rodgers last year, which did not bother Devonte Adams. And now you're going and you're going to pair him up with Derek Carr as a number two, not a number one. I don't want to pay the draft cost. I've seen him going much higher than I'm willing to pay.

[Mike Wright]

And I'm going to go with Jarvis Landry. I know we've talked about this kind of ad nauseam just with the move to the Cleveland Browns, but I wanted to break down some actual numbers and target share type of numbers. Jarvis landry had a 27% target share with Miami last year.

[Jason Moore]

Gigantic.

[Mike Wright]

Miami had the highest share of their targets going to wide receivers in the league, over 66%. Now he moves over to the Cleveland Browns, who, who this past year were 26th in terms of targets going to the wide receiver at under 52%. And then I also took a look at from the final five games because when Josh Gordon was back, what was happening with the ball and the running backs, the tight ends. So they're stable. They're not going anywhere. And then I just took Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman. That was over 86% of the targets. So you're talking, and I know numbers will change, but there's no way you're squeezing. No matter how much you compress and massage, you're not getting 27% of Cleveland's targets going to Jarvis Landry, which he needs that really, really high volume and targets. Jarvis Landry will be okay, but he will not be the fantasy force that we have come to know and love.

[Andy Holloway]

Which translates to not being worth the draft position. He'll have to go in. All right, Jordy Nelson, Marshawn Lynch, Jarvis Landry, the three big names that we're likely to avoid in the 2018 draft. I want to remind you guys of a few things. First of all, we have a show after the show on YouTube today. These two gentlemen, Jason and Mike, do not know what the topic is. I know what the topic is. I'm going to spring it on you live on the show after the show.

[Mike Wright]

My body is ready.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, well, let's see if your brain is ready. It's going to be difficult one. And so you can check that out on YouTube. All the shows are on YouTube. We're on Twitter @the ffballers the website, the fantasy footballers.com. and look, not every day do you walk into the office and there's a box full of shoehorns.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, my goodness, yes.

[Andy Holloway]

But today there was.

[Mike Wright]

So I tweeted earlier over the weekend because I got myself. I had to treat yourself with a, with a pair of fancy boots.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, okay.

[Mike Wright]

I treated myself and it came with a shoehorn and I looked at it, I hemmed and I hawed. And do I really.

[Andy Holloway]

Are you at that age? Well, you just had a birthday.

[Mike Wright]

Am I going to be old manish enough to use the shoehorn?

[Jason Moore]

I did.

[Mike Wright]

It was a delightful experience.

[Andy Holloway]

Tweeted about it.

[Mike Wright]

It was so great that I had to share it with all of my followers.

[Andy Holloway]

That's what they counted.

[Mike Wright]

Apparently. Hounds Bay, the shoe company, they make, you know, accessories such as shoehorns. They sent us all these premium shoe horns.

[Jason Moore]

Nice. You could kill a man with this shoehorn.

[Mike Wright]

I mean, it's huge. You could shoehorn while standing. So just.

[Andy Holloway]

It was a weapon.

[Mike Wright]

It was an unexpected surprise. So Hounds Bay, thank you so much.

[Andy Holloway]

Yes, we laughed.

[Mike Wright]

Thanks for supporting the show.

[Andy Holloway]

They were Arizona cardinal colored. Now, Mike, are you gonna reject it because it's not Viking color Now who.

[Mike Wright]

I. I might have to. I'll just paint it purple. Yeah, I'll, I'll take care of it.

[Andy Holloway]

Okay. So we had random shoehorn delivery. We got that covered on today's show. And reminder before we jump into the news that the ultimate draft kit is available for Pre sale. Ultimate DraftKit.com.

[Mike Wright]

Lowest price of the season.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

[Jason Moore]

News and notes from around the league.

[Andy Holloway]

So low, in fact, that we had a tweet yesterday, or was it this morning that said, oh, I thought it.

[Jason Moore]

Was going to be a lot more.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, it's only $25.

[Mike Wright]

Just saying, you got to let people know that this is the cheapest. You got to have a reason to pre order something.

[Jason Moore]

I mean, come on.

[Andy Holloway]

Marketing.

[Mike Wright]

And the reason is this is the cheapest. It will be.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

All right.

[Andy Holloway]

All right. News and notes. The Colts have signed tight end Eric Ebron A two year deal worth 15. Well, he can. It can be up to $15 million with incentives.

[Mike Wright]

We go live to the resident Eric Ebron Schruther on the fantasy footballers panel, Jason Moore.

[Jason Moore]

Yes.

[Mike Wright]

Give me your, give me your thoughts.

[Jason Moore]

So here are my thoughts because I love Eric Ebron's talent. Since he was drafted. I've got him in Dynasty. At first I was very disappointed, mostly because I wanted him to go to a great destination and not share tight end snaps with Jack Doyle. In general, we've seen Andrew Luck be able to sustain two streamers, you know, where you could have good games from Kobe Fleen, or you could have good games for Dwayne Allen, but neither guy could. You're not banking on a timeshare tight end. My only hope, my only glimmer of, hey, maybe, maybe Eric Ebron is going to be more than that. Because truly, Jack Doyle, I don't think Jack Doyle is a special talent. I don't think he was drafted.

[Mike Wright]

Jack Doyle doesn't think that he's a special talent.

[Jason Moore]

Jack Doyle benefited from, you know, other pieces leaving. Now they have gone out and signed Eric Ebron, but when I say they. This is a new head coach. This isn't the same Chuck Pagano system. This is Frank Reich, who's been good with tight ends, who, you know is coming from. You know, he has a history of having a number one tight end. So I guess I have a glimmer. I've got a little hint of like, maybe Eric Ebron will be their number one tight end.

[Andy Holloway]

You should have a glimmer.

[Jason Moore]

I'm a glass half full.

[Andy Holloway]

Eric Ebron should have a glimmer for two different. For multiple reasons. One, he's 25 years old. Two, he signed this contract, good amount of money. And I've always looked at Jack Doyle the way I looked at some of the resident tight ends that Baltimore had in years past. It wasn't a plan to have Jack Doyle that involved in the offense. It was a. An accident.

[Jason Moore]

That's.

[Andy Holloway]

And that doesn't. That doesn't disrespect Jack Doyle or his fantasy value. It wasn't part of the game plan. Okay. That's not total. And I don't think that it's a product of not having another tight end. It's a product of having not. No wide receiver, too. And so I do think there is a glimmer of hope for Eric Ebron to be the past catching tight end and to have. I would. I'll put it this way. I think Eric Ebron will have more value than Jack Doyle.

[Mike Wright]

I'm just.

[Jason Moore]

I completely agree.

[Mike Wright]

I'm just excited that we have baby hands and butter hands on the same.

[Jason Moore]

Little bitty baby butter hands.

[Andy Holloway]

Wow. That my. That is the observation.

[Mike Wright]

That's marketing.

[Andy Holloway]

You don't get that anywhere else. All right. Hey, leftovers. Colts have signed Ryan Grant, formerly of the Redskins, 2A1, formerly of the Ravens.

[Jason Moore]

I'm so happy that he.

[Andy Holloway]

Wow. I never saw the money I never saw the money. One year, $5 million contract.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

He took one third the money.

[Jason Moore]

It was a $29 million contract with 14 and a half million guaranteed.

[Andy Holloway]

In Baltimore.

[Jason Moore]

In Baltimore. But thankfully, he has healed his ankle in a matter of days and passed the physical with the Colts.

[Andy Holloway]

One year, five million.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. It's unfortunate Ryan Grant is betting on himself. Well, at least he.

[Andy Holloway]

That's Brooks money right there. I'll take it.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I'll bet.

[Mike Wright]

I say I'll take it.

[Andy Holloway]

You passed your physical.

[Jason Moore]

We're out of business.

[Mike Wright]

If you haven't been following Ryan Grant on Twitter, he's trying to take it in stride. His nat the bio now for his Twitter is. So let's get physical. Physical. Ryan Grant. Tip of the cap to you, my friend.

[Jason Moore]

It's funny because he's gone from like, two weeks ago. I was making fun of him a little bit. Scrooge McDuck because of the incredible contract he got. That really was not justified based on what he's already done to now like I am. I feel like the whole world is rooting for Ryan Grant.

[Andy Holloway]

Did he uncheck a few boxes on his. On his real estate portal, though? Was he shopping for houses and had to take off? A few.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

I mean.

[Jason Moore]

Sorry, Ma.

[Andy Holloway]

Welcome to the NFL.

[Jason Moore]

It's gonna be a couple more years.

[Mike Wright]

Before I get you that apartment life. It is.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. 11 year, 5 million Jags have released Alan Hearns. Yeah. Just like these two gentlemen beside me said was going to happen.

[Mike Wright]

The contract doesn't make sense. Or did it make sense for Jacksonville? After bringing in Moncrie for almost 10 million guaranteed, Alan Hearns is drawing serious interest out there in the free agent market. He should. I think he is a pretty good wide receiver, and he can. He can help out where he goes. There was a rumor of the Cowboys. You put Alan Hearns on the Cowboys, put some speed and a deep threat deal with Des. I think that would help things out a lot.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, just one more bit of news before we get into the mock draft because I want to spend the most time we can mock drafting and analyzing the picks. Zay Jones. He was arrested Monday night in Los Angeles and charged with felony vandalism. If you followed anything about this story, you know, Twitter was making light of a lot of it, and I'll choose to not do that just because obviously either mental health or substance abuse issues were happening. Zay Jones arrested. Significant issue going on there.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. I mean, it's just because there is video to this that's Just insane. Just an insane. It looks like a murder scene.

[Andy Holloway]

So, yeah, he cut his foot up and tried to jump out of a window and was not clothed.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I mean, it's only done. You've got. It's. He's not going to get cut from this. You know, coming off of his rookie year, he'll still be able to play. And we've seen in the past situations like this, if you're good enough, if your talent dictates that you're valuable to the team, things like this don't really matter in the sense that, you know, Chandler Jones, a few years ago, walked into a police station with his shirt off or nude, I don't remember, and he was high on a illegal substance or. Yeah, technically, I believe that was legal.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, it's one of those things where you.

[Mike Wright]

Bizarre.

[Andy Holloway]

Better to not have happened. And. And certainly one of those things where you hope it doesn't lead to repeat offenses. Repeat things like this. And he gets help and he gets on the right path and everything goes okay. I'm glad he's all right. I'm glad he didn't jump out the window, certainly.

[Jason Moore]

All right, before we kick off the mock draft. Yeah, yeah. I want to thank today's sponsor, Pristine Auction. Pristine Auction. Look, you've heard us talk about Pristine Auction for years now, and we don't just talk. We use it all the time. Left, right, and center. We're getting cool stuff on Pristine Auction, the best memorabilia site to go to for authentic signatures. And if you haven't yet checked it out, if you're sitting there and you're like, oh, Pristine again. I wonder. I'll have to check them out someday. Do it today. I was looking at this paper of literally items that sold on their auction yesterday. Mark Ingram, David Johnson, Todd Gurley, Le'Veon Bell jerseys signed by those players. Not one of them was over $100 on this list. They're stealing these signed jerseys?

[Andy Holloway]

Well, no, Pristine's not stealing them.

[Jason Moore]

No, but you can steal them. Warning, Warning. No, you can steal them from Pristine for the value that they should be. Check it out. Go to pristineauction.com p r I-S-T I n e auction.com make a free account and make sure you let them know that you came from the fantasy footballers.

[Andy Holloway]

They also have a ton of car parts.

[Mike Wright]

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[Andy Holloway]

Footballers all right, guys, are y'all. Are y'all warmed up? Are y'all stretched out?

[Jason Moore]

Oh, I feel good. The fantasy footballers mock draft.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, so good. Oh, all right, here's what we're doing, guys. First mock draft of 2018. Half point per reception scoring Snake draft. 12 teams. We're going to draft from number four, the number four spot. The roster will be one quarterback, two running back, two wide receivers, one tight end, one flex position, a defense, a kicker, and five bench. All right.

[Jason Moore]

Why do we have kickers?

[Andy Holloway]

I figured you would say that. And it is because I'm the one running the draft.

[Jason Moore]

Sure.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, let's.

[Mike Wright]

Five bucks. As we don't even talk about the kicker we draft.

[Andy Holloway]

No. We'll be reflecting on the more important positions. So we've kicked it off. The first three picks off the board. Number one, Todd Gurley. I think you're going to see this.

[Mike Wright]

Yes.

[Andy Holloway]

Everywhere.

[Jason Moore]

A lot. You won't see it on my team, but you'll see it a lot. Are either of you in the Todd Gurley one on one conversation? Like, would you not like. Okay with it. I'm okay with it, but I'm firmly levy on bell number one. Are either of you?

[Andy Holloway]

I am, actually. I'm right on the fence.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, so am I. Just because of knowing.

[Andy Holloway]

I just don't see what's changing for him this year with what they have on that roster to give me a reason to believe he's. And he's. He's been traditionally a Little healthier than Lev Bell, a little younger.

[Mike Wright]

And we won't have the situation of Todd Gurley's not going to hold out from training camp as far as I have heard.

[Jason Moore]

Sounds like more opportunity to get injured to me.

[Andy Holloway]

Or, or, or to come into camp not. Or come into the games not ready like Love Bell did before.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah. So that's why that's my argument for taking Todd Gurley one. Either way, you shape it up for me. It's Gurley and Bell are the one and two picks right now.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, well, Gurley and Bell were the number one and two picks and Antonio Brown went number three. You cannot argue with that. Here we are on the clock at number four and you're going to be staring down some decisions. You have last year's number one overall wide receiver and DeAndre Hopkins. You have Ezekiel Elliott, David Johnson and then the rest of the big running backs, Camara, Hunt, Fournette, and those are really the major considerations for us at this point. This is exciting for me. I'm realizing now because we haven't done this together yet this year. We've been like you said, you ran, you're under the sheets doing your secret mock drafts. But we haven't talked through all of this and we have, by the way, early positional ranking shows are next on the docket. So we're here, people. We're always here. But who do you want here? David Johnson.

[Mike Wright]

I am very conflicted.

[Andy Holloway]

Ezekiel Elliott and DeAndre Hopkins. Is there anybody outside of that realm in a half point PPR league outside of those three?

[Jason Moore]

Yes. I would say Odell.

[Andy Holloway]

Odell Beckham jr. Is the only other.

[Jason Moore]

Guy that would be worth it. So it's do you want a wide receiver running back? Usually I'm running back because there are so few. I'm looking at the wide receiver landscape this year and I'm like, goodness gracious. I. There's a couple elite guys and then I don't really like the next couple tiers.

[Andy Holloway]

So you're fading some of them. You're not feeling so excited.

[Jason Moore]

I'm not. But that being said, I think that guys like David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott are, you know, when you're at the elite of running backs, you score more than the elite of wide receivers. So I think I would be between those two guys and I would in a half point personally lean towards David Johnson.

[Andy Holloway]

I would lean David Johnson as well. Mike, you were talking about Zeke looking a little chubby.

[Mike Wright]

Just seen some more things of. I'm not trying to get on, but it Was clear that Zeke did not take last offseason as serious as he did entering his rookie year. You saw him being gassed a lot more on the field. He didn't have the same physique.

[Jason Moore]

It.

[Mike Wright]

It looks like we may be heading that direction again, so that's giving me a little bit of concerns. But David Johnson has the offensive concerns, and David Johnson.

[Andy Holloway]

The reason he's the pick for me is you probably got 50 more receptions than Zeke's gonna have. Yeah, that's 40, 50 receptions. So I would.

[Mike Wright]

I would draft David Johnson here, too.

[Andy Holloway]

Okay, so we're gonna end up with David Johnson, you know, new year. We gotta get. Gotta break it out. That was in the. That was in the chest. Locked away for most of the year.

[Jason Moore]

That's why it sounded bad coming out.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

Right off the bat.

[Andy Holloway]

Gotta warm it up here in March. All right.

[Mike Wright]

The ghost of David Johnson, guys.

[Andy Holloway]

Number five in this draft. Alvin Camara went number five. DeAndre Hopkins went too high. Six, Zeke, seven. Too high for you, Too high for me for Alvin and too high for me in light of this format. And I think I would take Zeke over Kamara, but Camaro, Hopkins, Elliott, then Michael Thomas, Odell Beckham Jr. Kareem Hunt, Julio Jones and Leonard Fournette round out the first round. Here we come back in the Snake draft. Mike Evans to the Leonard Fournette owner, Melvin Gordon at the second pick of the second round. And then Dalvin Cook at 203. Let's pause there. Dalvin Cook at 203. Is that too high?

[Mike Wright]

No, I don't think so.

[Jason Moore]

I mean, it's. It's a little too early to say definitively because we. We don't know how he's come back from injury yet.

[Andy Holloway]

This is over. Joe Mixon, McCaffrey, Howard Ingram, McCoy.

[Jason Moore]

What you saw last year on a per game basis when he was playing was a top five running backstood. And so if he comes back and he's there at training camp and he's playing in preseason, I'll have no problem drafting him. You know, at or above those. Those other guys you just mentioned. I really love what he did. You expect right now the Minnesota offense to be better than. Than last year with the upgrade at quarterback?

[Andy Holloway]

I look at Dalvin Cook as a bit of a gamble compared to a player like Lashon McCoy. Dalvin Cook, yes. He gave you a nice sample. His career consists of 74 attempts. You have a different quarterback, you have a different offensive coordinator. You have a recovery from injury. I view him as much more of a risk than LeSean McCoy, Mark Ingram, or even a guy like Christian McCaffrey.

[Jason Moore]

The risk is definitely there.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, I can agree with that.

[Jason Moore]

I won't disagree. But the risk reward, I think his upside is higher than those other guys.

[Andy Holloway]

Definitely love the pass catching ability of Dalvin Cook, A.J. green, Keenan Allen and Lashawn McCoy. The next three off the board, we're back on the clock.

[Jason Moore]

I was really hoping AJ Green would fall to this pick because he's kind of that last guy at wide receiver. After him, it just. I'm not inspired.

[Andy Holloway]

You have Tyreek Hill, and an argument could have been made that, you know, you got Adam Thielen in Tyreek Hill. You just made the case for Dalvin Cook in that offense. Adam Thielen's the number one in that offense. And then I kind of see what you're saying. I mean, you got. You have the chance on Josh Gordon. You have Jarvis Landry and Alshon Jeffrey, Ty Hilton. Ty Hilton and Brandon Cooks. Brandon Cooks is just kind of out there in the ether right now. To me, when I look at the landscape of what's being talked about in fantasy football, he's just there. Does anybody want to draft Brandon Cooks? Does anybody? Are we undervaluing what Brandon Cooks is and can do next year?

[Mike Wright]

I don't think we're undervaluing him because he's still going to be ranked as a fringe wide receiver. One, and he was sensational for parts of the year and then would absolutely just vanish. Very similar to what Brandon Cooks has always done. So he, you know that you're not going to get the consistency level that you would hope to get.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, I want to. I want to lay out. Yeah, go ahead, Jay.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, real quick. So this is what I was talking about with, you know, kind of not loving the wide receivers. I'm just curious. Let's say we go here with Tyree Killer. Sure.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, you're saying a wide receiver.

[Jason Moore]

Let's say we were to go with Tyree Kill or Adam Thielen, whoever you like the most. Do you like the David Johnson, Adam Thielen combo, or would you prefer something more like the Odell beckham and Christian McCaffrey combo? Which. Which one would you take in a trade?

[Andy Holloway]

You know, honestly, I would take the David Johnson, Christian McCaffrey combo. That's the one we have on the table for us right now. I would choose. I would choose to go the path we went and take two running backs. I would take McCaffrey or Mix in here.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, there's McCaffrey, Mixon and Mark Ingram. I really like all three of those guys. After looking up, I posted a poll on Twitter with those three yesterday because I see them going around each other and I researched it a little bit more.

[Andy Holloway]

How did it turn out?

[Jason Moore]

It turned out that the majority was McCaffrey and I agree with that right now. I mean, it could change based on the draft, but we're doing these drafts today. I think I would take McCaffrey.

[Andy Holloway]

People forget McCaffrey actually ended up the running back, 13 and a half point leagues and that was with the kind of up and down Jonathan Stewart involved. He hadn't found his way through.

[Mike Wright]

There's going to be a lot of insight for him. There will be someone else involved in the running game in Carolina.

[Andy Holloway]

Why don't you make the pick, Mike?

[Mike Wright]

It's Christian McCaffrey.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, really? Okay, so then he's off the board. So we got the combo I wanted.

[Jason Moore]

No, it's a great start. But what you're going to find as we continue on is it seems like as we continue, we're always going to not like the wide receivers on the board.

[Andy Holloway]

Well, let's find out what happened because we have a.

[Jason Moore]

This was.

[Mike Wright]

This was part of my gamble.

[Andy Holloway]

When you drafted four, you got a quick turnaround.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, the quick. I knew the quick turnaround was coming, So I wanted McCaffrey to be locked in and I knew that there was that this tier of wide receiver with Adam Thielen, Ty Hilton, Doug Baldwin, I'll even put Stefan Diggs in there. I knew that one of them would make it back or I felt comfortable that one of those players would make it back. And we've got all four of them here available to us. So I feel mighty fine with those two running backs and one of these guys is my one at wide receiver.

[Andy Holloway]

So Mark Ingram, or if you look, Mark Ingram went after McCaffrey. Josh zero wide receiver.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I know. I was like, we could also take.

[Andy Holloway]

Joe Mitchell mixing here, Mark Ingram, Josh Gordon, Jordan Howard, Tyreek Hill, Brandon Cooks and then Rob Gronkowski, the first tight end off the board. Let's talk about him briefly. He went at 303.

[Jason Moore]

That's great value.

[Andy Holloway]

I think you. You gotta like that.

[Mike Wright]

I would love.

[Andy Holloway]

I think some people probably were curious why we didn't bring him up at 209.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, it's worthy to bring him up there. I mean, usually coming off of one of his good years, he finds his way to the back of the first. And I think there was an assumption here where this year he'd be higher than, you know, sitting here at the 303. If he's, you know, if he had gotten one pick further to us, we would have. I would have taken him here without a doubt. And I feel like the, the retirement talk.

[Andy Holloway]

Yes.

[Jason Moore]

Has fed into his value being down this time of year because so many people are playing Dynasty and it matters that it's just kind of a. No one's excited for Gronk at this age with the retirement talk, but he's playing this year just a little bit. He's going to be the number I'm going to hot take. He's going to be the number one tight end.

[Andy Holloway]

It's like cookies and cream ice cream. Right. It's the best flavor, but if you eat it year after year after year, sometimes you just want. You grow fatigued.

[Mike Wright]

I'm fatigued without eating it at all.

[Andy Holloway]

Wait, you cannot hate on cookies and cream ice cream.

[Mike Wright]

It's fine.

[Jason Moore]

You may leave the building.

[Mike Wright]

It's fine.

[Andy Holloway]

Are you speaking to Jason?

[Mike Wright]

It's slightly better than vanilla.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, gosh. Well, you've got some fatigue is all I'm saying is Gronk's been around the block, he's been there. And the retirement talk, I think, is really what pushed him down. You're right. So here we are. We have the ability to draft pretty much other than Tyree Kill and Josh Gordon and Brandon Cooks who went off the board. We still have names. We like Adam Thielen, Ty Hilton. Look, Ty Hilton I still think is going to be one of the best values in fantasy drafts for 2018 anyway.

[Jason Moore]

If luck is healthy.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Yes. And I think he'll be healthy, therefore I think he'll be that value.

[Mike Wright]

But we're drafting with assumptions when you're doing a mock draft at the end of March. So let's say in this world we have Portal gunned. Andrew Luck is healthy. Are you taking Ty Hilton, Adam Thielen or Doug Baldwin?

[Jason Moore]

I know my answer.

[Andy Holloway]

I think I'm going to take. Because of our team's makeup. I think I'm going to take Adam Thielen. I'm going to go with the 80 to 90 reception guy over.

[Jason Moore]

Hooked on the Thiel.

[Andy Holloway]

Mostly because of that drop, though. Mike, are you on board with Thielen? Are you wanting to turn in the.

[Mike Wright]

World where I have Portal to an Andrew Lux healthy? I would take Hilton, but I am fine taking Thielen.

[Jason Moore]

Let's talk about. We don't live in that world.

[Andy Holloway]

We haven't drafted this year. People are not. If you're a new listener, maybe you're not aware of our philosophy and thought process regarding quarterbacks and you're saying, why hasn't. Why hasn't Aaron Rodgers name been brought up? You're at the fourth pick in the third round. Any thought to Aaron Rodgers here, Mike?

[Mike Wright]

Nope.

[Jason Moore]

No thought whatsoever. The names were dealing with Joe Mixon, Adam Thielen, Doug Baldwin, Ty Hilton. These are guys at positions where you play multiple. You play multiple of that position, and they are going to score so much more than the replacements you will get in that 8th, 9th, 10th round. If you don't take a running back or wide receiver here, you're just screwing the pooch. Whereas if you end up taking an Aaron Rodgers or someone like that, the replacement, you have to look within the position. 8th, 9th, 10th round, 11th, 12th round. You can find great value because there's only 12 quarterbacks that you need in a normal 12 quarterback league to start. So it's foolishness to spend such high capital away from the multiplayer positions and put them into the other position. Now, you could make the same argument, or you could try to make the same argument with Gronk, say, well, why there? The reason there is because once you get past those first few, when you go 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th round, you're grabbing a. Usually a garbage heap hopeful upside. That's probably going to be talking Eric Ebron. Right. And then you're going to be streaming.

[Mike Wright]

It's the replacement argument.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, Brooks, I am curious your opinion. If you were drafting right now, would you take Thielen or would you take Hilton? Ty. Well, you know what? I got the button. I'm going to jump in and I'm taking Ty Hilton.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, yeah.

[Jason Moore]

At least we got to drop in.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. And then get Diggs later, if you can. Oh, okay. You want both, huh? Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. We passed on Thielen. You want Diggs later. Well, you don't get that chance. We got a long wait, and that wait meant Diggs off the board. A lot of wide receivers off the board. Sorry, Jay, I just made a quick change there.

[Jason Moore]

That's all right, because I'm super happy where we're sitting right now.

[Andy Holloway]

You know Brook's approval is important to me.

[Jason Moore]

I do. I know. It's when he looks at me with.

[Andy Holloway]

That downcast, I'm disappointed in you look. You need Paul Giamatti staring at you and saying, you did a bad job.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. You need the approval of a judge. That's literally what they're there to say yay or nay. And with the gavel in hand.

[Andy Holloway]

Well, the person after us was happy. Adam Thielen went directly after Hilton and then DEZ Bryant off the board. I think third round is some unfamiliar Des Bryant territory. Here it is.

[Mike Wright]

I would be happy with that value.

[Andy Holloway]

Larry Fitzgerald, Doug Baldwin, Kenyon Drake off the board at 309.

[Jason Moore]

Larry Fitzgerald at the 3 7.

[Andy Holloway]

Finally got some.

[Mike Wright]

He only has to be 45 to get the respect.

[Jason Moore]

I am telling you this right now.

[Andy Holloway]

He went ahead of Baldwin.

[Jason Moore]

Jeffrey, come August, Larry Fitzgerald will not be going in the third round. He's gonna be a fifth round guy and I'm gonna scoop him up.

[Mike Wright]

I say he's gonna give you third round value.

[Jason Moore]

Yes. Yes. Oh, this is a fine spot to draft him. I'm just saying, every single year for the last, like, three, he's becoming the.

[Andy Holloway]

Danny Woodhead of the wide receiver.

[Jason Moore]

Exactly.

[Andy Holloway]

Always valuable. All right, Baldwin went after him in this draft. Jeffrey, super bowl hero Aaron Rodgers, off the board,311. I think that's fine. I mean, right at that fourth round.

[Mike Wright]

I wouldn't do it.

[Andy Holloway]

That's where I expect to see, like, if I took him there because I had built my team in a way where I had a wide receiver running back earlier.

[Mike Wright]

You haven't built your team, though. You have two players.

[Andy Holloway]

Okay, let me put it this way. Four.

[Mike Wright]

One slab of concrete.

[Andy Holloway]

We have three players, by the way. And second of all.

[Mike Wright]

But he would have been your third player if you took him at the back of the third.

[Andy Holloway]

Right. And we just made the decision not to do that if he were on the board now, though, at 4, 9. Any thought?

[Mike Wright]

Nope. Okay, not for me.

[Jason Moore]

Just make it not for me as well. Not because that's not a good spot, but specifically because who is still on the board. For instance, a guy I would have took a look at a while ago, Joe Mixon. I think with the improved offensive line in Cincinnati, he's still on the board.

[Andy Holloway]

He has dropped tremendously in this draft. Kenyon, Drake, Saquon, Barkley and Derek Henry all went off the board ahead of Joe Mixon. I would have taken mix in over. Well, I can't speak for Barkley because we don't know where he's going to land, but I would have taken him over Henry and Drake easily.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, that's fine.

[Andy Holloway]

So do we want to take him here as we will have a short wait. The fourth round was Amari Cooper, Travis Kelsey, Stefan Diggs, Derek Henry, Zach Ertz, Allen Robinson, Tom Brady, second quarterback off the board and then Marvin Jones.

[Mike Wright]

Marvin Jones going right in front of us stinks. But let's. So let's go through the wide receiver names. Assuming we are to take Joe Mixon. There's that short wait. But the guys at the top of the list.

[Andy Holloway]

By the way, we will post the entirety of this draft available for you to see on the website. The fantasy footballers.com and the video will have some cuts away to the draft board.

[Mike Wright]

So here's who was available available at the wide receiver position. Jarvis Landry, Demarius Thomas, Golden Tate. Now Juju is listed here as the wide receiver 25. I don't know if maybe that's all right. But then you have Crabtree, Jordy, Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods. There's a few of the names. Pierre Garcon. There's a few names in there that I'm okay if they're the wide receiver two on this team with three potential three down type of running backs.

[Andy Holloway]

Darius Thomas is the attractive wide receiver name there for me.

[Jason Moore]

I would love to have Keenum.

[Andy Holloway]

I'd like to have Demarius Thomas or.

[Mike Wright]

Drive Over Mixon is what you're saying.

[Andy Holloway]

No, no, I would like to take Mixon and see if we get Demarious to come back around of the wide. Jarvis Landry ends up going.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah, I think, I believe both Jarvis and Demarius will be gone even though it's a short turn. But I like. I mean let's do the same thing. So if, if we, if we lost to Marius Thomas, I'm fine with Golden Tate. You know that might not be my, my favorite but that's fine. If we lose Joe Mixon then we're looking at maybe like a Carlos high.

[Mike Wright]

Oh no, I'm good with Carlos. Hide as a running back too.

[Jason Moore]

So yeah, this is our running back three.

[Mike Wright]

If he's three, I'm perfectly fine with.

[Andy Holloway]

Jerick McKinnon is there. Oh, would you take McKinnon over mixing?

[Mike Wright]

McKinnon over mixing?

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Would you take.

[Jason Moore]

I know my answer.

[Mike Wright]

That's hot.

[Andy Holloway]

Take. Would you take.

[Jason Moore]

Then I'm hot because I would take.

[Mike Wright]

I think I would.

[Jason Moore]

I think McKinnon.

[Andy Holloway]

So let's take a wide receiver or let's take an Evan Ingram.

[Jason Moore]

How about let's get Demarious Thomas and.

[Mike Wright]

Then see if McKinnon.

[Andy Holloway]

You don't want land. So Landry or Demarius Thomas.

[Jason Moore]

You don't.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, Thomas.

[Jason Moore]

He said Landry was his name. He's not drafting.

[Andy Holloway]

But there's three of us, Jason.

[Jason Moore]

Sure.

[Andy Holloway]

And when I look at A guy like Ty Hilton, who is a big play player, not a high PPR guy. And I look at Jarvis Landry, the greatest PPR player in the league. It's a. I just explained why he won't be. He will still be a force.

[Jason Moore]

But Demarius is also a PPR player. Demarius is a volume get up 90 plus.

[Andy Holloway]

Let's do it. Demarius Thomas.

[Jason Moore]

And he's got a Pro bowl quarterback now.

[Andy Holloway]

Bad news, boys. Jerick McKinnon and Joe Mixon both went off the board in the next six picks, as did Carlos Hyde, which is perfect for draft mock draft purposes. It would be disastrous in the live draft. We made a calculated risk that one of those two would drop through and we have been thwarted by these wise owners. Landry McKinnon, Schuster, Tate Mixon and then Carlos Hyde. And now I'm staring at this roster, seeing Crabtree available and Sammy Watkins and Pierre Garcon, another PPR force. And I'm saying I wish so badly I had McKinnon or Mixon on this roster.

[Jason Moore]

Oh yeah, that would have been. I mean our roster would have looked hot.

[Andy Holloway]

I am so upset about that.

[Jason Moore]

I guess here's the lesson to learn. You know we always.

[Andy Holloway]

Do you want Evan Ingram now in the. In the middle of the fifth round. When you look at the options we have at running back. Duke, Johnson, Jai, Alex Collins, Dion Lewis, Lamar Miller, I don't know, Burkhead and then Crabtree, Nelson, Watkins, woods funches. I'm leaning Ingram.

[Jason Moore]

I think Hunter Henry has a better year than Ingram personally. Greg Olson will have grab the fire extinguisher. Jimmy Graham will score touchdowns. I don't think that we need Graham.

[Mike Wright]

Make me vomit.

[Jason Moore]

Over or under eight touchdowns?

[Mike Wright]

Under.

[Jason Moore]

Okay, I would take the over, but I.

[Mike Wright]

Nonsense.

[Jason Moore]

You know, my point is just. I think there is still value to get late there. We've spoke about how I believe Kyle Rudolph. No, I agree in the lesson.

[Andy Holloway]

There's a reverse. There's a revert pick button.

[Jason Moore]

The lesson to learn is that when you are looking at. Okay, there's a couple guys I like at at wide receiver and a couple guys I like at running back. And so I could lose one of each or two of each. Lean the side of the running back.

[Andy Holloway]

Even in a situation where you had two running backs already and only one wide receiver.

[Jason Moore]

I think. Yes, exactly. I think that is the right.

[Andy Holloway]

I'm so sad. McKinnon actually went before mix in there. So right after we said we'd take him before he went before.

[Jason Moore]

There are still Look, Lamar Miller, I'm throwing his name out there in the sense that when he played with Desean Watson, he was the number eight running back. He's only 26 years old now. Lamar Miller scares the heck out of me. He could be cut as likely as he could be, you know, a star back. Now his contract is they're able to get out of some money, but I don't think he will be cut. I think he'll be given the starting opportunity.

[Andy Holloway]

He's still Russell Wilson, Last year's number one overall quarterback available at 504.

[Mike Wright]

No, thank you.

[Andy Holloway]

And boy, I'm still reeling. I'm going to give this pick.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, don't draft Hilt.

[Andy Holloway]

Who wants to pick. Which of you guys wanted to make this pick? I want.

[Mike Wright]

I want to hear what Jason would.

[Andy Holloway]

Do here because I don't want to make it.

[Mike Wright]

I'll just talk through my process real quick. I don't. I don't know if I would take Evan Ingram here. But having said that, the next, you know, ranked guys in this draft, which, tip of the day, use the draft rankings in front of you as a weapon and not your crutch, right. Use them to get into other people's heads. Use your own rankings. It's very important to do because the next highest ranking ranked tight ends here, Greg Olson, Jimmy Graham, Kyle Rudolph, Hunter, Henry Delaney, Walker, Doyle, Howard. I like Evan Ingram more than those guys by a substantial margin. So I feel like if we don't get Ingram, we're waiting for Trey Boo Boo. Maybe Jordan Reed becomes an extreme value. George Kittle, you're looking at those times type of swings here if we don't take Ingram. So Jason, with that weighing on your shoulders, as I said, I will. I don't know if I would take him.

[Jason Moore]

I mean, the reality is, if this is truly my pick, I'm not taking Ingram. But there's a pre party, sure.

[Mike Wright]

No, no, no, no, it's not. This is one party.

[Jason Moore]

So this is just my pick.

[Mike Wright]

Andy and I are deceased.

[Andy Holloway]

I know who he's going to take.

[Mike Wright]

You're running the draft.

[Andy Holloway]

I'm going to write this down.

[Jason Moore]

I don't know who I'm going to take.

[Andy Holloway]

I'm going to write it down right now. Jason, you figure out who you're picking. I'm gonna show Mike.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, all right.

[Andy Holloway]

I'm gonna show. Yeah. Unfortunately, the podcasters will not see this.

[Mike Wright]

You can hold it up to the.

[Andy Holloway]

Camera if you're on YouTube. This is who I think Jason's going to take.

[Mike Wright]

That's not bad. That's not bad.

[Andy Holloway]

I think that's what he's gonna do.

[Mike Wright]

Okay.

[Jason Moore]

All right. Now I feel like, am I. Am I drafting who I really want, or am I drafting who I think and he thinks I want? It's. It's a tough world out there. I am going to lean there.

[Andy Holloway]

Brooks, show the camera against. I wrote it a little bigger.

[Mike Wright]

All right, here we go, Jason.

[Jason Moore]

All right. I'm going to throw a name out there that I like, that I know you guys won't, but I think Devin Funches at this spot is absolutely fine. I think he could maybe come back to the next round. So I'm going to stick with running back.

[Mike Wright]

Oh.

[Jason Moore]

I'm between Lamar Miller and Alex Collins, who I believe in, and I am. I'm going to do it. I'm going to take Lamar Miller.

[Andy Holloway]

Oh, so close.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, was it Alex Collins?

[Andy Holloway]

So close. Alex Collins is the name I wrote down.

[Mike Wright]

And what I actually wrote down over here was, if Jason picks Devin Funches, I'm leaving the podcast. Devin Funches.

[Andy Holloway]

Well, hey, we gave him a pick. We went with Lamar Miller. I was pretty sure Alex Collins was going to come off the board. A lot of picks have gone. I'm going to just give you the highlights. Wilson and Wentz both went back to back 509, 510. Chris Thompson. Maybe you forgot about him. You shouldn't. He's going to be good this year.

[Jason Moore]

For a couple games.

[Andy Holloway]

5, 11.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Sammy Watkins off the board at 512. Let me ask you a quick question. Sammy Watkins at 512 or Tyree Kill at 301? Because in this draft, Tyreek went at 301. Sammy Watkins went right about.

[Mike Wright]

That's a.

[Andy Holloway]

Into the fifth round. If you go pick, you had to keep one at that value.

[Mike Wright]

What do you want, man, with them both? Both on the Chiefs brand? I would take Sammy back.

[Andy Holloway]

I would take Sam.

[Jason Moore]

Wow.

[Andy Holloway]

Over Tyreek with the value built in.

[Mike Wright]

That is a. That is a huge paradigm shift for a man who I love. Tyreek. Tyree Kill.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. But you bring in a very capable red zone wide receiver that still has.

[Jason Moore]

Ceiling great deep routes with Pat Mahomes arm.

[Andy Holloway]

Give me. Give me the better value when you're talking two rounds. Now, if you were talking 301 and 306. Yeah, I'm going to take Tyreek. Like, heads up. I'm taking Tyreek, but in this situation, I take Watson.

[Mike Wright]

Very interesting.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. And then Andrew Luck went to start the sixth round, maybe a little surprising, and we had three wide receivers, Crabtree Funches Woods, DeSean Watson off the board. Another player to remember and another player that will be drafted on the hopes and dreams that he is what he was. Because if you are what you were in his case, that's very, very good for fantasy owners. And then Dion Lewis, Delaney, Walker. So we are back on the board. I like the looks of Pierre Garcon value at the end of the sixth round here. It's interesting to see. Maybe you roll the dice and you're looking to find the running back in Green Bay at this point and taking a shot on an Aaron Jones or Jamal Williams. Maybe you handcuff Lamar Miller with Deontay Foreman.

[Jason Moore]

No. What?

[Andy Holloway]

Or look to do that next round.

[Jason Moore]

With the turnaround couple rounds from now.

[Mike Wright]

I'm with you. I think that Pierre Garcon, he's not.

[Andy Holloway]

A real cuff, though he'd be. You'd be looking. It'd be looking at it like Freeman, Coleman in years past. And you're saying I just want to make sure I have the best player on what a good team will be.

[Jason Moore]

I agree with that because we don't Dr. In the draft portion of the year. We don't usually draft handcuffs, but Freeman could come out and be.

[Mike Wright]

Now, I like Pierre Garcon. Eight targets a game.

[Andy Holloway]

You meant Foreman.

[Jason Moore]

Foreman, yes.

[Mike Wright]

Eight targets a game for Pierre Garcon in half a season. The upside hope of Corey Davis and Robbie Anderson here is interesting.

[Andy Holloway]

I feel like we have a very aged wide receiving core. If you draft Garcon here with demarius Thomas. Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

Then Hilton. Hilton and Thomas are still in their prime.

[Andy Holloway]

I would not consider the way that the Thomas has played. I don't think he's in his prime.

[Mike Wright]

Well, the way he's played with the quarterbacks that he has been given, I think he's done very well.

[Andy Holloway]

Well, Mike, you make the pick. We got to start flying through these rounds here.

[Mike Wright]

So there's a running.

[Andy Holloway]

We do have Greg Olson, Jimmy Graham on the board, Hunter Henry, Jason's Evan.

[Jason Moore]

I love Hunter Henry.

[Andy Holloway]

That's fine. That's a fine take. So I don't think it's a bad take to say hunter, you made me look funny.

[Jason Moore]

Right?

[Andy Holloway]

I mean, I made a funny look when you said you thought about it.

[Jason Moore]

And you realize I'm right.

[Andy Holloway]

No, you might be right.

[Jason Moore]

All right.

[Andy Holloway]

Not right.

[Jason Moore]

All right.

[Mike Wright]

I'm going to throw one more name out. I don't want to extend this too much. Well, this guy, that's the running back I'm looking at. But the one more Wide receiver who is going to be really hard to gauge his value because when he played he was in fuego with Deshaun Watson and that is Will Fuller. At what point do you take the fuego Flyer on the upside of Will Fuller? Because you've seen what the upside is later.

[Andy Holloway]

Much, much.

[Mike Wright]

I don't think you're going to get him later.

[Jason Moore]

I agree with both of those takes.

[Andy Holloway]

So I would not touch him now.

[Mike Wright]

Okay.

[Andy Holloway]

Now with Lamar Miller on your roster.

[Jason Moore]

As my third wide receiver, I wouldn't want him that high.

[Andy Holloway]

Garcon is third wide receiver.

[Jason Moore]

I feel like I need to be able to bank on.

[Mike Wright]

Take Pierre Garcon.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, we're taking Pierre Garcon and he is the first quote unquote bench spot, maybe fighting with Lamar Miller for that flex spot, depending on what happens. Cam Newton, Kyle Rudolph, Drew Brees, Robbie Anderson, Kirk Cousins, Corey Davis off the board. Probably disappointing to see both of those big names. Corey Davis, Robbie Anderson fall off in that six picks. Do you take a shot at Rex Burkhead here?

[Mike Wright]

Yes.

[Andy Holloway]

What about Greg Olson? I'm going to take Greg Olson.

[Mike Wright]

That's not.

[Andy Holloway]

It's not my pick here. I'm going Greg Olson.

[Mike Wright]

I was just trying to hold off the Carolina Panthers at tight end.

[Andy Holloway]

The Carolina Panthers have added very little to the receiving.

[Mike Wright]

Hey, they've added Jerry's right.

[Jason Moore]

They got the guy and Tory Smith.

[Andy Holloway]

Those guys are primed to contribute 33.

[Mike Wright]

Total catches forming the Panthers offense of. What was it, three years ago.

[Andy Holloway]

I think Greg Olson, if he's on the field, thousand yards will be great. And now you're looking.

[Jason Moore]

I agree with that. But I do worry big time. I think Greg Olson is going to re injure the foot. It's the same injury that every single guy, Sammy Watkins, Julio Edelman, all of them that had this injury, they get the surgery and they re injure it once they get the second surgery and they're good to go. He is on surgery one. So you didn't do the second one? Not to my knowledge. I'll vet that and make sure that I'm correct that he's only had the single surgery. But it scares me for re injury even when he came back.

[Andy Holloway]

He has a lot of time, though. A lot more time in the way that it shook out. He came back and yes, he had some foot problems but didn't need the second surgery after those. See if you. If you came back and had a couple issues and they determined you don't need it, I'm feeling pretty good about him.

[Jason Moore]

All right.

[Andy Holloway]

And we're presuming health here on the show.

[Mike Wright]

Sure.

[Andy Holloway]

So Greg Olson off the board, possibly against Jason's will. Now you're coming around a couple more quarterbacks off the board. Stafford and roethlisberger in the seventh round. Josh dockson leaves edelman at 7:10. Interesting. Not interesting about. Right?

[Mike Wright]

It's. It's definitely interesting.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. This is the spot in the draft where you start looking for some upside of players that have dropped. Edelman certainly has that in the sense that he's got that Wes Welker role, which really, you could just say the Edelman role now.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah.

[Jason Moore]

And he's been great. He's fully recovered or he's had time to where when the season starts, he should be absolutely healthy. So the upside is there. I mean, you know, but is his upside the same upside that Will Fuller's upside is if they both hit?

[Mike Wright]

No, we've seen what Will Fuller's upside is and it's.

[Jason Moore]

Well, he's not going to have 36.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. You just blink and it was over. I mean, he has been in the league for a couple of years and the consistency is in question. Here's the question on the board for us right now. We're at the ninth pick of the eighth round and I see Deontay Foreman, where, hey, we can ensure Alamar Miller or just take Marshawn lynch here. Marshawn seems like the obvious easy pick here in the back of the eighth. I would feel so comfortable he's dropped.

[Mike Wright]

To the round you talked about, Jason.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, this is where I feel the round. I mean, this is still the starting running back for the Oakland Raiders. No reason not to take him out of value.

[Jason Moore]

I might, but there's still players. I don't believe that Marshawn lynch will be a guy that you can usually start confidently because I think his workload is going to be split up. So I, you know, I'm out on Marshawn lynch here.

[Andy Holloway]

He ended the year so well. He did for. Okay.

[Jason Moore]

He was getting the carries, 4.3 a carry. I don't think he is done. I just don't think the volume is going to be there for him.

[Mike Wright]

Now what I want to point, there.

[Andy Holloway]

Could be no volume for Deontay.

[Mike Wright]

So we are in the back of the eighth round. Eleven teams have taken their quarterback, so some teams may start to grab a backup. But I just want to read off.

[Andy Holloway]

It is getting tighter.

[Jason Moore]

But there's so many names.

[Mike Wright]

I love Handsome Jimmy Garoppolo, Jared Goff, Dak Prescott. Who Is still an enigma. He was great for half a year and terrible for half year. Philip Rivers, perennial quarterback. 1 Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Patrick Mahomes. The list is humongous.

[Andy Holloway]

The list is humongous. But is there one or two guys in a tier above.

[Jason Moore]

Yes.

[Andy Holloway]

That you want to just snag right now?

[Jason Moore]

There's two guys. Philip. Philip Rivers. James. Winston Rivers. Yeah. It would go Philip Rivers, then James Winston. I hope to grab one of those guys.

[Andy Holloway]

So we have a short wait until the next pick. So let's wait for one of those guys to go and take the other one.

[Mike Wright]

Fair.

[Jason Moore]

Sure.

[Andy Holloway]

And in this case, Mike make a pick. We are. We got to get through it.

[Mike Wright]

All right, I'm going to take.

[Andy Holloway]

I vote Marshawn Lynch. Jason, who do you vote?

[Jason Moore]

I think I would vote Edelman.

[Andy Holloway]

He's off the board.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, he's. I thought we were just talking about him.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah, he went off the board at 7:10.

[Jason Moore]

Given that our team has Pierre Garcon, Demarius Thomas, Ty Hilton. I'm looking for an upside wide receiver.

[Mike Wright]

I just talked about one, and he's still there.

[Andy Holloway]

That's amazing how. It's amazing. More. How many more people. I would take over Fuller here. I would take Hogan Cup. Lee.

[Mike Wright]

Hogan is fair. I will go with Chris Hogan here, who was a. He was a monster when he played.

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. When he played Chris Hogan.

[Mike Wright]

Off the board, the one name I just want to highlight. He went at 8.1. It's a name I don't think we've really talked about because you're just assuming that the Colts are going to bring someone else in, but at this point, they have not. That's Marlon Mack, if you're getting the starting running back for the Indianapolis Colts. And Marlon Mack is electric.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah. I loved every time this guy explodes.

[Andy Holloway]

He went in the eighth round there.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Mike Wright]

Because we. People don't know what to do with him. I just wanted make sure people are.

[Andy Holloway]

Remembering that if they don't add to.

[Mike Wright]

The piece that Marlon Mack is gonna shoot way up.

[Andy Holloway]

So here they are. They are gonna add somebody but that.

[Mike Wright]

And that's the thought process. If everyone's gonna. Well, of course they're gonna add.

[Jason Moore]

Yes.

[Mike Wright]

But at what level of a running back do they add?

[Jason Moore]

So in that eighth and ninth round, no quarterback came off the board. We're not ready to take the next one. Marshawn lynch still there. But here's a good example of a guy I would prefer over Marshawn lynch is Tyreek Cohen.

[Mike Wright]

Oh, Tariq Cohen, just take the upside.

[Jason Moore]

Tariq Cohen's upside to me is, you know, he could be a weekly. Must have a P, you know, because of his involvement in the passing game with Matt Nagy, I really love what he could become versus what I think I know. And no upside there, but I'm cool with it.

[Andy Holloway]

I like Tariq Cohen and I drafted him. He's off the board. Here a run back of our roster as we close out the draft. David Johnson, Christian McCaffrey, Ty Hilton, Demarius Thomas, Greg Olson, Lamar Miller, Pierre Garcon, Chris Hogan and Tariq Cohen on the bench. I think we needed Tariq Cohen to just bring the. Bring the age up a little bit. Here we are sitting. You've got Isaiah Crowell still on the board, not off the, you know, the starting running back. First and second down running back of the New York Jets.

[Jason Moore]

This is great. I mean, in the ninth, you know, if you're talking about the 10th round.

[Andy Holloway]

No quarterbacks have gone off the board. To add to Mike's point, where 11 teams have already drafted them. One of the advantages of waiting, we have two bench spots and a quarterback.

[Mike Wright]

Now at this point, would you want to take Philip Rivers to ensure you have your favorite?

[Jason Moore]

Because we're on the short turn? I would still wait one more in case only one of them goes because Philip Rivers and Jameis Winston, I'm just as happy with.

[Andy Holloway]

I think that's very fair. So from, you know, Isaiah Crowell to me, looks like a good pick here. I agree. I think we could also. You could take it. You could take a shot on somebody like. Well, no, I think I lean that way. Isaiah Crowell, wow. You can make the pick.

[Mike Wright]

I would not take Croat. We. How many running backs total do we have?

[Andy Holloway]

We have four total and I believe.

[Jason Moore]

We have four wide receivers. Usually we prefer to be more running back heavy on a roster.

[Mike Wright]

If I'm going to skew one way. If I'm not perfectly even, I want it to be on the running back side.

[Jason Moore]

You got time, Montgomery. Isaiah Crowell. Still some good options here at running back.

[Andy Holloway]

3, 2.

[Mike Wright]

You can take Crowell one. I would probably take someone like Kenny Stills right here.

[Jason Moore]

Isaiah Crowell.

[Andy Holloway]

Crowell off the board and then the quick turn. No other quarterbacks off the board. We're here at the middle of the 11th round. Are you wanting to take Philip Rivers here?

[Mike Wright]

Yes.

[Jason Moore]

Yeah.

[Andy Holloway]

Because we have a long wait.

[Jason Moore]

Yes.

[Andy Holloway]

So let's snag him and look, if we have. If we end up with the ability to stack him and jameis Winston, would you do it? I don't have a problem with it.

[Jason Moore]

But usually in the. In the draft portion of the year, I would prefer to have more running back wide receiver flyers on my team. If Winston ends up on waivers, I can just pick him up from there.

[Andy Holloway]

All right, we are back around to our final pick of the draft because I'm not counting the defense and kicker. So we have Ronald Jones, who has not obviously been drafted by a team sitting on the board.

[Mike Wright]

Yeah, rookies are tough, right?

[Andy Holloway]

Yeah. You have LeGarrett blunt.

[Mike Wright]

I was going to say so process.

[Andy Holloway]

If people are forgetting about CJ Process.

[Mike Wright]

By the way, I think that CJ Pro size is a great buyer pick with your last bench spot.

[Jason Moore]

If.

[Mike Wright]

If I had known that we could have gone Kenny Stills and then legarrett Blunt instead of Isaiah Crowell, whoever we get here, I would have much preferred to do that.

[Jason Moore]

Just, Just.

[Mike Wright]

Just for me to be on.

[Jason Moore]

Okay, so let me. Let me throw out two names at running back. Three names at running back that I'm curious what you would prefer. So you like LeGarrett blunt. Andy, you brought up CJ Pro size, but you also have. Kenneth Dixon is intriguing to me, and I also like the upside of Corey Clement. All the other running backs in Philly have kind of, you know, LeGarrett Blunt is gone and Aaron Sprouls.

[Andy Holloway]

Let me speak to Dixon real quick.

[Jason Moore]

Sure.

[Andy Holloway]

We talk a lot about the last pick in your draft and the fact you need to recognize the fact that if you're taking a shot on a guy, you need a guy that can perform in week one.

[Mike Wright]

Right.

[Andy Holloway]

Kenneth Dixon or cut. The reason I don't like Kenneth Dixon pick here, even though I'd love to have him on my roster, is I don't think you're going to see it in week one. I think Alex Collins has that job in week one, and it's something that Dixon's going to have to take over over a longer period of time. And therefore, you're going to have to.

[Mike Wright]

Commit to holding Dixon for a while.

[Andy Holloway]

So I want to take. Exactly. So I want to take a player that I am willing, that I want to see. Does he have it week one like an Amendola in Miami? Right. Maybe you took Amendola and He picks up 11 receptions in week one.

[Jason Moore]

Oh, oh, he's the New Jersey.

[Andy Holloway]

He's got a PPR guy there.

[Jason Moore]

That's a good point.

[Andy Holloway]

I think I'd rather go that direction and I'd rather not take another running back here. That'd be my vote.

[Mike Wright]

That's fine. So make the pick.

[Andy Holloway]

All right. Danny Amadola. Welcome to the roster. That'll wrap things up for our team. Jason, why don't you read it back and I'll pick us a defense and a kicker.

[Jason Moore]

Sure. So, quarterback Philip Rivers, late. We got David Johnson, Christian McCaffrey, Lamar Miller, Tariq Cohen and Isaiah Crowell at running back. At wide receiver, we have Ty Hilton, demarius Thomas. We've got. Who else? We got Chris Hogan, Pierre, Ghost Garcon and Danny Amendola. And then Greg Olson at tight end. What defense and kicker do we grab?

[Andy Holloway]

We grabbed the Broncos and Mason Crosby.

[Jason Moore]

Now, exactly who I wanted.

[Andy Holloway]

This draft was okay. I love going into the season and I will feel very confident with reliable wide receivers like Hilton and Thomas mixed with elite performers at running back, a position that matters the most of all with David Johnson and Christian McCaffrey. So I feel great. If I could have had Joe McMisson or McKinnon instead of Lamar Miller, it would be night and day difference. Yes. So one move, one risk, one chance. That one didn't work out, I still felt we built a little bit of depth up. It's an interesting first mock draft. You guys can weigh in on YouTube comments, you can weigh in on Twitter and wherever else you listen. I'll just be thinking about the McKinnon pick all day. So any other final thoughts, guys, before we wrap up the show? We obviously have the early rankings soon.

[Jason Moore]

I'm just looking forward to this show. After the show, I'm excited to get the question. I don't know.

[Andy Holloway]

It's going to be very entertaining.

[Mike Wright]

If you're looking to do some best ball way too early best ball drafts, you can go to draft.comballers otherwise, it ain't too early. Now check out the YouTube show after the show or we'll see you next time.

[Andy Holloway]

Goodbye.

[Mike Wright]

Goodbye.

[Jason Moore]

Thank you for listening to another episode of the Fantasy Footballers podcast. Join our fantasy football community on jointhefoot.com and follow us on Twitter thef F Ballers.