Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary: "PPR Mock Draft Show" | June 27, 2019

Hosted by Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright, the Fantasy Footballers deliver expert insights and strategies to help listeners dominate their fantasy football leagues. In the June 27, 2019 episode titled "PPR Mock Draft Show," the trio delves into point-per-reception (PPR) mock drafts, league format discussions, and offers valuable news updates.

1. Introduction and Podcast Logistics

The episode begins with the hosts welcoming listeners and briefly discussing their upcoming live shows and podcast schedule. They mention an increase in their podcast frequency, highlighting an expansion to three shows a week in July and five from August through December, signaling the approaching NFL season.

Notable Quote:

• Mike Wright (03:10): "Today's show we got a mock draft. It's going to be a lot of fun. We're doing a full PPR mock draft on today's episode."

2. League Format Discussion: Point Per Carry (PPC) vs. PPR

The hosts engage in a comprehensive discussion about leagues that incorporate a point-per-carry (PPC) format. Jason Moore expresses concern over PPC skewing value heavily toward running backs, potentially diminishing the importance of wide receivers.

Key Points:

• Impact on Running Backs: PPC favors running backs, especially elite ones like Christian McCaffrey and Ezekiel Elliott, making them even more valuable.
• Flex Position Balance: Introducing PPC can balance flex positions by providing slight value to lower-tier players who receive occasional carries, preventing an over-reliance on top-tier running backs.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Moore (03:48): "I think a full point per carry is far too much. ... I like half point the best because once you get to the flex players, it really is kind of even between wide receivers and running backs."
• Brooks (05:13): "It just makes those the already most valuable player ... it just takes them to a whole new stratosphere where if you don't have a top six pick."

3. News and Updates

The hosts transition into recent NFL news affecting fantasy football, providing listeners with actionable insights.

Key Topics:

• Cincinnati Bengals' Offensive Line Injury: Left tackle Jonah Williams is likely to miss the entire 2019 season, raising concerns about the impact on Joe Mixon’s performance.

  Quote:

  • Jason Moore (08:25): "Does the news of the left tackle going down, how much does that affect Joe Mixon?"

• Chiefs' Tyreek Hill Suspension: Tyreek Hill faces a potential suspension, which could significantly alter the Chiefs' receiving corps dynamics.

  Quote:

  • Mike Wright (11:15): "If you're focusing entirely on the fantasy picture, the sooner you get information about something like this, the better for all parties involved."

• Ravens' Tight End Hayden Hurst Injury: Hayden Hurst is battling a hamstring injury, affecting his reliability and making Mark Andrews a key breakout candidate.

  Quote:

  • Mike Wright (12:25): "Mark Andrews is part of our ultimate draft kit as just a candidate for breakout this season."

• Other Notable Player Updates: Discussions on potential breakout candidates, player health updates, and strategic adjustments based on recent news.

4. PPR Mock Draft Overview

The core of the episode revolves around a live PPR mock draft. The hosts set up a 12-team league with a full PPR scoring system and a three wide receiver (WR) lineup format, drafting from the 10th position.

Draft Strategy Highlights:

• Early Rounds Emphasis on WRs: Given the PPR format and three WR starters, the hosts prioritize wide receivers early to secure high-reception players.
• Balance Between WR and RB: While WRs are heavily targeted, the need to reinforce the running back (RB) position persists to ensure depth and flexibility.

Notable Quote:

• Jason Moore (14:21): "This is a very common lineup, especially if you're in dynasty leagues."

5. Round-by-Round Draft Analysis

Round 1: Securing Elite Talent

The first round sees traditional RBs like Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and Ezekiel Elliott being drafted. The hosts acknowledge the value of top-tier RBs in both standard and PPR formats.

Quote:

• Mike Wright (15:23): "It's going to take a lot of the stuff that."

Rounds 2-3: Building WR Core and Addressing RB Depth

The hosts strategically select wide receivers such as Julio Jones, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Julian Edelman, emphasizing the importance of having a robust WR lineup in a PPR league.

Notable Decisions:

• Jason Moore (18:26): "I lean Julio over Odell. Although I have been rising more and more on Odell Beckham Jr."
• Mike Wright (21:03): "Juju Smith Schuster makes us the only team in this entire mock draft that went wide receiver, wide receiver to open the draft."

Rounds 4-5: Navigating Tight Choices

Choices between reinforcing RBs with players like Josh Jacobs and opting for additional WRs create strategic dilemmas. The emphasis remains on acquiring pass-catching RBs to complement the WR-heavy team.

Quote:

• Jason Moore (21:27): "Julian Edelman, who doesn't have the upside of AJ Green and then Robert Woods is very close to that tier."

Rounds 6-8: Balancing Depth and Upside

The hosts discuss the potential of players like Miles Sanders and draft towards securing reliable backups and high-upside players, navigating the delicate balance between immediate value and future potential.

Notable Picks:

• Mike Wright (42:29): "I would take him here too, because I want to reinforce the running back position."

Rounds 9-10: Finalizing Roster and High-Upside Players

The focus shifts to filling remaining spots with players capable of providing high weekly upside, such as Chris Thompson and Naim Hines, ensuring roster depth and flexibility.

Quote:

• Jason Moore (51:02): "In a full ppr, Chris Thompson is the forgotten man in Washington. He is always injured as apparently all Redskins are unfortunately."

6. Strategic Insights and Takeaways

WR-Heavy Approach in PPR: The mock draft underscores the strategic advantage of prioritizing wide receivers in a PPR format, especially with a three-WR lineup. Securing high-volume pass receivers like Julio Jones and JuJu Smith-Schuster provides consistent weekly points.

RB Depth with Pass-Catching Ability: When reinforcing the RB position, the focus is on players who contribute significantly in the passing game, such as Josh Jacobs and Miles Sanders, ensuring they can thrive in PPR scenarios.

Flex Position Flexibility: Leveraging the flex position with high-upside players like James White and Evan Ingram allows for strategic weekly lineups based on matchups and player performance.

Adaptability and Waiver Strategies: The hosts emphasize the importance of staying adaptable during the season, utilizing waiver wire pickups to address any roster weaknesses or capitalize on emerging player performances.

Notable Strategy Quote:

• Jason Moore (36:35): "When you're mock drafting, don't just listen to mock drafts. Go and do your own. It prepares you so well."

7. Conclusion and Final Roster

The mock draft concludes with the hosts solidifying their team composition, feeling confident in their wide receiver strength while acknowledging the need to monitor and potentially bolster their running back depth as the season progresses.

Final Roster Highlights:

• Wide Receivers: Julio Jones, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Julian Edelman, Marvin Jones, Dee Dee Westbrook
• Running Backs: Josh Jacobs, Lamar Miller, Miles Sanders, Naim Hines
• Quarterback: Jared Goff
• Tight End: Evan Ingram

Final Thoughts: The hosts express satisfaction with their roster's balance and depth, particularly emphasizing the strong wide receiver core. They remain vigilant about upcoming player performances and potential adjustments needed as the NFL season unfolds.

Final Quote:

• Mike Wright (59:47): "Tight end Evan Ingram, a lot of upside at tight end. I feel pretty good about this."

8. Post-Draft Discussions and Player Evaluations

After finalizing the draft, the hosts discuss various player potentials, highlighting Devonte Adams as a breakout candidate and evaluating speculative picks like Naim Hines and Chris Thompson for their PPR potential.

Notable Player Insights:

• Devonte Adams: Seen as a high-upside WR with significant target potential in Green Bay's offense.
• Naim Hines: Considered a strong pass-catching RB with breakout capabilities.
• Chris Thompson: Evaluated as a possible reliable TE option if he secures consistent targets.

This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions, strategies, and player evaluations presented in the Fantasy Footballers' "PPR Mock Draft Show." The insights provided aim to equip fantasy football enthusiasts with the knowledge to craft competitive and balanced teams in PPR leagues.