Fantasy Footballers Podcast Summary: Special Mock Draft – Zero RB vs Heavy RB
Release Date: July 18, 2020
Episode Title: Special Mock Draft: Zero RB vs Heavy RB
Hosts: Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, Mike "The Fantasy Hitman" Wright
Guest: Jay Grizz
1. Introduction and Show Context
[00:00 – 01:56]
Mike Wright kicks off the episode by welcoming listeners to a special mock draft edition of the Fantasy Footballers Podcast. With Andy Holloway celebrating his wedding anniversary, the show is co-hosted by Mike and Jason Moore, alongside their mascot, Jay Grizz.
Mike outlines the unique format of this mock draft episode:
"Today is a mock draft show and it is a special mock draft show because usually you hear our thought process on picks breaking down our draft strategy, but this one, we are going with a predetermined draft strategy." [01:56]
Jason adopts a Heavy RB (Running Back) strategy, believing it suits the current season's dynamics, while Mike opts for a Zero RB (0 RB) or a modified version, aiming to prioritize other positions early in the draft.
2. Fantasy Football Tips and Insights
[02:54 – 06:17]
Jason and Mike delve into strategies to elevate fantasy football performance.
Jason's Advice:
- Mock Drafts: "If you are someone that is newer... my tip would be to do mock drafts. Mock drafts help you be prepared for your draft." [03:12]
- Offseason Engagement: Stay engaged with player news and game watch even if your team falters late in the season to stay ahead for the next year.
Mike's Echo:
- Stay Plugged In: "It's really just echoing what Jason had said. It's paying attention. It's not being on autopilot." [04:58]
Both emphasize the importance of proactive engagement over passive management, recommending resources like Roto World and their own Ultimate Draft Kit as invaluable tools.
3. News and Notes
[06:18 – 12:04]
The hosts discuss the latest news impacting fantasy football:
-
A.J. Green's Franchise Tag:
"A.J. green signed his franchise tag... he wants to play four more years." [06:23]
While optimistic, Jason expresses doubt about Green's longevity in fantasy formats. -
Ronald Jones’ Improvement:
"He has added six to eight pounds of muscle... he's ready for the workload." [08:31]
Mike highlights Jones’ enhanced physical condition, and Jason shares his evolving perspective on Jones, moving from skepticism to recognizing potential fantasy value.
"I am genuinely having a bit of a change of heart." [08:31]
Jason discloses adjusting his rankings, now favoring Jones over previously higher-ranked options like Keyshawn Vaughn, due to Jeffrey Jones' off-season work and increased readiness.
4. Mock Draft: Zero RB vs Heavy RB Strategies
[14:50 – 65:52]
The core segment involves a side-by-side mock draft where Jason follows a Heavy RB strategy, while Mike adheres to a Zero RB approach. Jay Grizz participates by making occasional comments.
4.1. Early Rounds
Round 1:
-
Picks: Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley are selected off the board quickly.
-
Jason (Pick 3): Selects Ezekiel Elliott [15:30]
Believes Elliott offers a high floor and aligns with his RB-heavy strategy."I am super stoked about that." [15:30]
-
Mike (Pick 4): Chooses Michael Thomas [16:40]
Prioritizes wide receivers to secure high-upside positions early."I'm going with Michael Thomas. He just feels like the safest possible wide receiver." [16:40]
Round 2:
- Jason Early Round:
-
Pick: Clyde Edwards-Helaire [20:43]
Targets a high-upside RB to build a strong foundation. -
Mike (Second Pick):
Selects George Kittle [19:13]
Seeks positional advantage at tight end.
"There's still a lot of wide receivers who are... excellent players. But the positional advantage of tight end, I can't pass up on Kittle here in the second." [19:13]
-
4.2. Mid to Late Rounds
Round 3 to 10:
Both hosts navigate through various positions, with Jason focusing on building a robust RB corps while Mike fills his roster with a mix of WRs and RBs to compensate for his 0 RB strategy.
Key Picks and Decisions:
-
Jason's Strategy:
-
David Johnson over other RBs like Mark Ingram [21:15]
-
Terry McLaurin and Calvin Ridley for WR depth.
-
Alexander Madison as a high-upside RB backup [44:15]
"I think Ronald Jones will have fantasy value this year." [11:17]
-
-
Mike's Strategy:
- Emphasizes safe WR picks like DJ Moore and Tyler Lockett.
- Prioritizes RB depth later with selections like Raheem Mostert and Antonio Gibson.
- Opts for Carson Wentz as his QB choice [30:27]
Notable Strategies:
-
Jason:
Focused on securing top-tier RBs to capitalize on their consistent weekly production, preparing for potential injuries by stacking RB and WR from the same team (e.g., Ezekiel Elliott and Michael Gallup). -
Mike:
Embraces the 0 RB methodology by opting for elite WRs and TE early, betting on later-round RBs to provide value as the season progresses.
Quotes Highlighting Strategies:
Jason: "This is why you want to stay water, my friends..." [08:54]
Mike: "So I'm going with Tyler Lockett here with a very specific hope of a wide receiver that comes back to me after a quick turn." [28:18]
4.3. Late Rounds and Final Picks
As the draft progresses, both hosts make strategic selections to round out their teams:
-
Jason:
- Adds depth with RBs like Alexander Madison and WRs such as Jerry Judy.
- Finalizes with a solid defense: Baltimore Ravens.
-
Mike:
- Completes his roster by selecting DeSean Jackson, ensuring his WR slot is filled.
- Chooses Antonio Gibson to bolster his RB depth.
- Concludes with wide receiver and TE picks, focusing on high-upside players and reliable backups.
Final Team Rosters:
-
Jason’s Team:
- QB: Carson Wentz
- RB: Ezekiel Elliott, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, David Johnson, Alexander Madison
- WR: Tyler Lockett, Terry McLaurin, Michael Gallup, Marvin Jones, Jerry Judy, Preston Williams
- TE: Mike Kasicki
- Defense: Baltimore Ravens
-
Mike’s Team:
- QB: Kyler Murray
- RB: Mark Ingram, Raheem Mostert, Antonio Gibson
- WR: Michael Thomas, DJ Moore, George Kittle, DJ Chark, DeSean Jackson
- TE: Jared Cook
- Defense: Kansas City Chiefs
5. Closing Remarks
[65:00 – End]
Mike and Jason wrap up the mock draft, highlighting the effectiveness of their respective strategies. They encourage listeners to explore different drafting methodologies through mock drafts to discover what best suits their team dynamics.
Mike signs off with:
"Hope you gleamed some information. Hope you learned a few things. Make sure you're staying safe out there, everybody. We'll see you next time." [65:26]
Jason adds a reminder about their sponsors and resources:
"Don't forget, SimpliSafe's got everything you need to protect your home..." [65:52]
6. Key Takeaways
-
Draft Strategy Matters:
Heavy RB strategies focus on securing consistent weekly performers early, while 0 RB approaches prioritize high-upside players at other positions, banking on later-round RB value. -
Flexibility and Adaptation:
Both hosts adjusted their strategies based on draft flow, emphasizing the importance of staying flexible during live drafts. -
Player Evaluation:
Continuous assessment of player conditions and offseason improvements can significantly impact draft decisions, as seen with Ronald Jones’ re-evaluation. -
Depth vs. Starters:
Building depth is crucial, especially in strategies that rely on later RB picks, ensuring resilience against injuries and bye weeks.
7. Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
Jason Moore on Mock Drafts:
"Mock drafts help you be prepared for your draft." [03:12] -
Mike Wright on Positional Advantage:
"But the positional advantage of tight end, I can't pass up on Kittle here in the second." [19:13] -
Jason Moore on Ronald Jones:
"I am genuinely having a bit of a change of heart." [08:31] -
Mike Wright on DJ Chark's Value:
"DJ Chark is as close to an A lock, fourth round, fifth round lock for my team as you can get." [26:53] -
Jason Moore on DJ Moore:
"DJ Moore will be great this year." [23:57]
8. Final Thoughts
This mock draft episode effectively showcases the contrasting strategies of Zero RB vs. Heavy RB, providing listeners with insightful analysis and practical applications for their own drafts. By following Mike and Jason's draft journey, fantasy managers can better understand the nuances of different drafting philosophies and how to adapt them to their league settings.