RADIO
In the offseason and preseason, as soon as the NFL Draft is over, I eagerly jump into slow fantasy football drafts. I am a big fan of the slow draft format. It extends the fun over many days and always gives me something to look forward to throughout the day. Waking up to find out “You’re On the Clock” is a great way to start the morning.
I recently completed two slow drafts in two of my longer-running Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) dynasty leagues. These were a pair of rookie/free-agent drafts in the Superflex Best Ball format. My analysis and rundown of the picks can apply to other dynasty drafts.
In these two drafts, I did not own first-round picks in either league. In one of them, I dealt a first-rounder in my quest to win a recent championship, and was successful. Not having a first-rounder in either league forced me to focus on the subsequent rounds, and the review here features players you can target as dynasty drafts progress past the early stages.
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FFPC Dynasty League One Rookie/Free-Agent Draft
Round 3
They passed on a QB at 6th overall and will ride with Drew Lock + Daniel Jones heading into this season along with Malik Nabers & Co. — we look at the state of the #NYGiants post- #NFLDraft:#NFL pic.twitter.com/y2PQ3T7E9P
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) May 1, 2024
This was a worthy risk pick in a Superflex dynasty draft, as Jones was a top-10 fantasy football QB just two years ago. I also had Drew Lock rostered entering the draft, so I have the Giants’ QB situation locked up, which is not a bad approach considering Malik Nabers and Jalin Hyatt both can help improve the passing game. Jones finally has a more respectable receiving crew to work with, and if he fails, Lock could be a deep sleeper tossing downfield bombs to Nabers and Hyatt.
Ja'Lynn Polk: This was my second of three third-rounders. Polk should quickly emerge as the No. 1 WR for Drake Maye. He doesn’t have stiff competition on the depth chart and can win on contested catches while functioning as a frequent target in key passing situations.
Gus Edwards: I expect him to be the most productive runner for the Chargers this season, especially from the TD perspective. I needed more quality RB depth and won’t hesitate to make a pick that can help me win this season, even if the longer-term outlook isn’t favorable.
Round 4
Javon Baker: In a best ball format, it made sense to nab both of New England’s top two projected WRs. Baker can complement Polk well as a downfield threat. At least one of the two new Patriots WRs should ascend early in their careers, so I liked getting both of the prime two targets. The New England passing game can progressively improve over the next few seasons.
Round 5
Devontez Walker: He is the type of big-play target that the Ravens need at WR. I believe Baltimore should have addressed the position sooner than the fourth round, as it has long been an area of underachievement during the Lamar Jackson era and he deserves better. Walker is a sizable upside target, though, and he might be able to make some noise in best ball leagues early in his pro career as a complement to Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews.
Round 6
Dylan Laube: The first-year Las Vegas running back has the potential to eventually contribute as a significant pass-catching threat out of the backfield. Laube may become a third-down guy over time for the Raiders, and he is a viable later target because of his possible PPR contributions.
Round 7
If Erick All’s body is up for it in the NFL, Joe Burrow just found the monster pass-catching TE he’s been looking for.
All was a late-R3 guy on my board.
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) April 27, 2024
This is one of my favorite value picks. Injuries have been a major concern for All, but if he can stay healthy more often in the pros, I can see a path to fantasy success. I am not taking any more chances on the Mike Gesicki breakout that will never happen, and All has the craftiness and yardage-after-the-catch abilities to become the impact pass-catching tight end the Bengals have been missing. In the FFPC TE premium format, All is a nifty later target.
Round 8
A.T. Perry: Perry seems to be a widely forgotten second-year guy who might prove to be a productive late pick. He caught three TD passes in his final three games last season and may have a ceiling of emerging as the No. 2 WR for the Saints this season. Perry is a 6-foot-5 target who can become a true TD threat for New Orleans. He also has some promise as a downfield playmaker.
FFPC Dynasty League Two Rookie/Free-Agent Draft
Round 2
Jaylen Wright: He and De'Von Achane are the future of the Miami backfield, and the future could arrive sooner for Wright because Achane and Raheem Mostert are noted injury risks. The former Tennessee star is an ideal fit for the Dolphins offense because of his speed, and Wright can also function as more of an inside runner than Achane. Wright is an upside target that I wanted and landed after the first round was over.
Round 3
Malachi Corley: I like Corley a lot in the shorter and longer terms. The Jets WR room was paper-thin behind Garrett Wilson last year. Now, Corley can complement Wilson and Mike Williams in his first NFL season if Williams can stay healthy. If the former Charger misses time again, Corley could be in line for many targets. Williams is on a one-year deal, so the incoming Jets WR might be a firm second target for whoever is at QB for the Jets by his second year.
Round 4
EDC says this is why Devontez Walker is a good fit for Charm City: pic.twitter.com/UuCNy0lP8n
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 3, 2024
I moved for Walker sooner here, as every draft is different and the WR pool was thinner by the fourth round in this draft. Also, I was not going to veer away from picking Walker here because I had him in the other league. Unless I am playing in a large number of the same type of high-stakes leagues, I treat every draft as an individual one. The results from one league have nothing to do with another. If you play in lots of similar league formats on one platform, though, a DFS “diversification” approach is more applicable.
Round 5
Ezekiel Elliott: Not every single dynasty pick I execute is going to be made with the future in mind. I needed RB depth for the 2024 season and Elliott appears ticketed for a significant role in his return to Dallas. In best ball formats, I can get at least a few quality weeks out of him in a good offense.
Round 6
Dylan Laube: I did not land Laube in two leagues by design, but will draft some of the same players in more than one draft if they are preferred targets. Laube projects to be a possible top complement to Zamir White at some point in the next few years.
Round 7
A.T. Perry:
AT Perry is the best contested catch receiver the Saints have had in a while. Excited to see what a bigger role brings for him next season @atorian_perry pic.twitter.com/EzpHeK3GHu
— Joe Horns Cell Phone (@JoeHornsPhone) January 9, 2024
At this point, I am just seemingly repeating myself on three picks. But I am also clearly doubling and tripling down on my stance that every league draft should be its own individual venture. I may target Perry as a final-round pick in seasonal leagues. He might prove to be a hot early-season waiver wire pickup.
Round 8
Jawhar Jordan: This versatile RB may push for the No. 2 RB job in Houston as soon as this season. Jordan could be a Joe Mixon injury away from quality playing time. The RB selections were very thin by this point, so I decided to take the shot on Jordan to be an important depth guy for Houston.
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