Congratulations all on finishing the league's first rookie draft! There were some interesting choices, and some unfortunate timeouts, but all in all things went pretty smoothly, and we finished in only three weeks! Now that the dust has settled, let's review how each team's draft ended up.
1.6: Will Fuller (WR)
1.9: Hunter Henry (TE)
2.1: Robert Nkemdiche (DL)
2.9: Kenyan Drake (RB)
3.1: Jeff Janis (WR)
4.1: Terrance West (RB)
5.1: Ty Montgomery (WR)
6.1: Cole Beasley (WR)
With only Ertz and Fleener at TE, it makes sense for the TDs to reach for Henry in the first round, though the defensive player two picks later seemed a bit premature. The Kenyan Drake pick was a solid one, with Miami seemingly not confident in Ajayi going forward. Sadly the team timed out at the 4.1 and 5.1, leading to back to back autodrafts. It could have gone worse, however, as it landed the team Montgomery, who complements the investment in Janis nicely.
Draft Grade: C-
I would have liked to see who the team would have preferred to take at 4.1 and 5.1, and the back to back reaches at 1.9 and 2.1 could prove costly.
3.2: Paxton Lynch (QB)
4.2: Carson Wentz (QB)
5.2: Connor Cook (QB)
6.2: Geronimo Allison (WR)
Holy quarterbacks, Batman! I know, I know...Matt Ryan. But still, four QBs in a single draft is definitely an all in strategy. Why no love for Hackenburg at the end, though? Probably Geronimo's badass name, I'm sure.
Draft Grade: D+
Seriously, four QBs! The market might be cornered in 5 years after the current elites retire, but I think the team had more pressing needs for the immediate future.
2.3: Devontae Booker (RB)
3.3: Tyler Boyd (WR)
4.3: Wendell Smallwood (RB)
5.3: Jalen Ramsey (DB)
6.3: Demarcus Robinson (WR)
The only team to keep all of their original picks and not acquire any in addition, and they did very well for themselves. Tyler Boyd is mocking in the first round, and the Runners were able to snag him in the third! Every report out of Philly has Smallwood carving out a role for himself, with a chance at fighting for the lead. Ramsey has his work cut out for him in Jacksonville, but he's thematically fitting on the Runner Runner roster, and clearly talented.
Draft Grade: A+
Seriously no glaring errors or reaches, and they took full advantage of what was available to them. This might be a lesson to the trade-happy teams, sometimes you can just make due with what you've got!
2.4: Leonte Carroo (WR)
3.4: Brian Quick (WR)
4.4: Pharoh Cooper (WR)
5.4: Tajae Sharp (WR)
6.4: Robert Griffin, III (QB)
With the exception of the last pick, Sicarios seemed to be planning for the long term, drafting all talented players that will take some time to develop into fantasy starters. Derrick Henry is the consensus RB2 in this draft class, though winding up behind Murray for at least the next year means he'll be sitting on the fantasy bench for a while. Carroo is a similar case, clearly very talented but found himself on a team where he'll be competing with Landry and Parker for targets. Quick was a reach since the Rams took plenty of WRs this year, but following it up with the Pharoh pick helps ensure that at least one of them should come out a producer. The RG3 pick is kind of a dart throw, but maybe he won't go the way of the Browns QBs that precede him.
Draft Grade: B+
Solid picks, though we may not see how solid for a number of years.
2.7: JJ Nelson (WR)
3.5: Paul Perkins (RB)
4.5: Keshawn Martin (WR)
5.5: Juwan Thompson (RB)
6.5: Marques Colston (WR)
Hmm, not sure what to make of the first two picks. After McCoy retires, each of the Williams on the team are likely to replace him before Gillislee would, and JJ has a while before he could overtake Fitz, Brown, and Floyd; but he is young enough to outlast them. The Perkins pick makes up for the first two, however, as he has a clear path to take the RB1 spot on the team by season's end.
Draft Grade: C
The timely picking during the draft is greatly appreciated! But possibly more time could have been spent looking into the rookies this year, at least for the first couple rounds.
3.6: Braxton Miller (WR)
4.6: Malcolm Mitchell (WR)
5.6: Rashard Higgins (WR)
6.6: Dwayne Allen (TE)
I think the Munnies might be taking the Patriots association a bit too far giving up their 1st round pick (and 2nd) and banking on superior foresight in the draft. Even so, they've made some decent picks, specifically grabbing Mitchell in the 4th in preparation for Edelman's eventual retirement. Braxton Miller was an interesting pick, but somebody should come out strong receiving opposite Nuk. Wither it's Fuller or Miller remains to be seen. Dwayne Allen flew under a lot of people's radars sitting in free agency until the last round.
Draft Grade: B+
If Langford does end up taking over the Forte role, then the 1st round sacrifice is well worth it, but that's a big question mark, especially since Fuller went in that draft slot which would have given the Munnies insurance in Houston.
3.7: Mike Thomas (WR)
3.9: Keith Marshall (RB)
4.7: Jermaine Kearse (WR)
5.7: Tre Mason (RB)
6.7: Brian Hartline (WR)
Tre Mason! Didn't think he'd find himself on a fantasy roster ever again. The first few picks more than make up for that random one, however. Sheppard gets more and more hype as the weeks go by, playing opposite Odell in an offense that's desperate to stop the double-teaming. The Rams invested heavily to get Goff, so it stands to reason some LA receiver should turn out a solid fantasy prospect. Whether that's Pharoh, Mike, or Brian remains to be seen.
Draft Grade: A-
That Tre Mason pick....just can't be ignored!
3.8: Sammie Coates (WR)
4.8: DeAndre Washington (RB)
5.8: Jordan Payton (WR)
6.8: Roberto Aguayo (K)
Julio and Friends suffered a little bit of buyers remorse halfway through this year's draft, regretting their purchase of West. Since their team is already a competitor, they could afford to spend their picks on prospects over immediate talent, and they came out way ahead in that endeavor. Jordan Howard looks to challenge Langford for the starting spot in Chicago, and Washington has the same opportunity to overtake Latavius in Oakland. The autopick in the third round was unfortunate, but the team lucked out with the player most likely to benefit from Martavis' suspension. Throw all that in with a Cleveland lottery ticket, and you have a pretty successful draft! Then they drafted a kicker. That one....I dunno. I mean I guess TB did trade up to get him in the 2nd round, so there's something.
Draft Grade: B+
The autodraft may have changed things, but regardless the team has helped their prospects at remaining a contender in the post-Jamaal future.
1.4: Josh Doctson (WR)
1.8: Michael Thomas (WR)
2.6: CJ Prosise (RB)
2.10: Ladarius Green (TE)
The team most active in the offseason dominated the first round, locking down the bellcow in Dallas his rookie year. The top 3 receivers are interchangeable as far as future potential, and Doctson in Washington got the best landing spot of them all. Saints receivers are extremely difficult to predict week to week, so the Michael Thomas pick could go either way. Rawls is the heir apparent in Seattle, but he may still have to fight to lock it down, and CJ could be up to that fight. Finally, a non-rookie in the 2nd round? The BgDkDdy's dropping Green after his transfer to Pittsburgh was quite the anomaly, and ACL couldn't let him slip further...
Draft Grade: A-
...except they could have taken Boyd instead. Whoops.
1.10: Kenneth Dixon (RB)
3.10: Myles Jack (LB)
4.9: Joey Bosa (DL)
4.10: Austin Hooper (TE)
5.9: Tyler Higbee (TE)
5.10: Jerrell Adams (TE)
6.9: Kam Chancellor (DB)
6.10: Colin Kaepernick (QB)
As I stated before, the top 3 WRs in this class can each be fairly argued as the best prospect, so trusting the NFL scouts and GMs makes just as much sense as anything. Coleman first WR in the NFL, and also in the Dynasty League. If RG3 returns triumphant, Coleman is the likeliest to take advantage. Kenneth Dixon....I think that might have been a name bias, justsayin. He could easily take over the backfield eventually, but Forsett and Buck aren't pushovers. So many tight ends! Barnidge is pretty old and unlikely to repeat his 2015 performance, so it makes sense to start the search for his replacement now. The team was already loaded on young receivers and backs, so investing in the other positions late also makes sense. The best LB in the class at the tail end of the third might be a slight reach, but an affordable one.
Draft Grade: A-
Three tightends and the team didn't even get the TE1 from the class plus a reach on Dixon, but they still had a consistent strategy going into the draft and made predraft moves to ensure they acquired their targets.
Now that the draft is finished, all remaining rookies and veterans are in the free agent pool. All FAAB budgets have been reset to $100, and waivers will begin processing. Waivers will process every Wednesday, just like during the season.
