Written By Jason Feiner
Fantasy is a year-round entity as each participant strives to gain an edge over their opponents. Now with OTAs starting and the 2019 NFL draft in the rearview mirror, the fantasy season is alive and kicking. It may be early and rankings are almost certain to change come August, but Blitzalytics is here to provide some groundbreaking strategies that could help win a championship. This week's Mock Draft Monday was done from the second overall pick in a snake style draft. Each week will be a mock draft from a different position in the draft and will be done using Fantasy Pros’ Mock Draft Wizard, and the roster settings for today’s mock are as follows: 1QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1TE, 1Flex (RB/WR/TE), D/ST (team defense), and K, with 0.5 PPR.
Final Roster:
QB: Carson Wentz (PHI)
RB: Christian McCaffrey (CAR)
RB: Devontae Freeman (ATL)
WR: Keenan Allen (LAC)
WR: AJ Green (CIN)
WR: Cooper Kupp (LAR)
TE: OJ Howard (TB)
FLX: Tarik Cohen (SEA)
DST: Minnesota Vikings
K: Greg Zuerlein (LAR)
Bench:
RB: Tevin Coleman (SF)
WR: Marquise Lee (JAX)
WR: Keke Coutee (HOU)
RB: Darrell Henderson (LAR)
QB: Tom Brady (NE)
TE: Jordan Reed (WAS)
Fantasy has been a large part of the sport for a long time and numerous strategies have been built to countless individuals to the promised land. Seeing how rankings will change as we progress closer to the season, it is important to gauge how drafts will play out. The .5 PPR format is one to keep an eye on as it isn’t essential to completely draft players based on receptions, as it would be in the full point PPR formats. However, it is still highly relevant when drafting a team. Due to our specific .5 PPR three-receiver set, finding capable receivers to fill my need was a primary course of action. With the second and third selection, Keenan Allen and AJ Green made the most sense. When healthy, both players are dominant number 1 options in fantasy. Each player is the top option on their respective teams and will be relied upon to help win games in 2019. In 2018 Allen and Green averaged 14.1 and 14.0 points per game in the half-point per reception fantasy formats and that production should continue in 2019. My third receiver is coming off an injury and likely fell to the top of round 5 because of it. Kupp is scheduled to make a full recovery and should resume his role as the safety valve in the Rams high flying offense. He is Jared Goff's favorite target and when healthy, he can be one of the top slot receivers in the game. The middle rounds is tight end territory. Without reaching for one of the three top options at the position in round 2, OJ Howard was sitting pretty at the bottom of round 6. Value at its finest. OJ Howard figures to be a top 5 fantasy tight end next season, especially with Bruce Arians calling the shots in Tampa Bay. Before his injury, Howard was recording 9+ points per game.
Although this format calls for three solid receivers, forgoing the running back position would be a grave mistake. The shallow pool of producing backs is vast. One of my go and get players in 2019 is my first overall pick, Christian McCaffrey. With Todd Gurley still dealing with a knee injury and Zeke Elliot facing potential charges from the league, CMac was the best option available. Coming off a 326 touch workload (107 receptions), McCaffrey is one of the most talented backs and the best dual-threat back in the league. His 107 receptions a-lot for an extra 53.5 points on his season total. The workhorse back in Carolina is primed to repeat his outstanding 2018 production. Luck may have stricken, as it is unlikely Devontae Freeman lasts until the late 4th round of the draft. He is coming off an injury and that is certain to have impacted his draft stock; however, with Tevin Coleman out of town Freeman is in line to take full control of the Atlanta backfield. He is in line for an uptick in touches and should once again show why he is a top 12 back in fantasy.
The selections of Tarik Cohen and Tevin Coleman are great depth additions too. Cohen has a large role already carved out and shouldn’t see David Montgomery take too many touches away from his 2018 workload. The Human JoyStick should see plenty of opportunity in Chicago's backfield. Tevin Coleman is reuniting with his former offensive coordinator in Kyle Shannahan and should have the first crack at short yardage work. San Francisco’s backfield is heavily crowded, but Tevin Coleman is the early favorite to win goal-line work. Marquise Lee is a heavy sleeper coming off a season-ending injury that kept him out of the entire 2018 campaign, but with Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole failing to produce last year, the door has opened for Lee to take the top spot back.
These two elements of my draft strategy drastically decrease my need and desire for a quarterback. It is always best to sit and wait for the best opportunity to present itself. Carson Wentz is scheduled to make a full recovery and participate in offseason practices this year. With that in mind and the threat of Soulless Nick Foles in Jacksonville, Wentz has regained full command of the Philadelphia offense. If he can regain his 2017 form, snagging a potential fantasy MVP in the 9th round is the icing on the cake. However, this is a gamble; Wentz hasn’t been fully healthy in almost two years. Due to the risk, another quarterback needed to be selected, and when Tom Brady fell to the end of round thirteen, the value and potential were too good to pass up. First off, this an absolute travesty. There is no way Tom Brady is falling to round 13. Since 2014, Brady has placed outside the top 10 in points per game at the fantasy position just once, and that season came last year. There is a good chance Brady ends up starting for me sooner rather than later.
At the end of the draft, it is always important to draft at least one high upside player, and Darrell Henderson fit the bill. Todd Gurley is still struggling with a Knee injury that kept him out of action at the end of the season and limited him throughout the playoffs. If Gurley goes down, Henderson would immediately become an RB2 with RB1 upside. He is one of the top handcuffs in fantasy this year.
This draft went very well. I was very pleased with the turnout of this draft. I have accumulated three starting-caliber receivers, a high end and low-end RB1, a top-five TE, two excellent plays at quarterback, a top defense and kicker, and solid overall depth. The large hole in this roster is a lack of receiver depth considering Allen and Green both have injury histories that could put a damper on my season. However, with my depth at RB a trade is not inevitable. This team has the makings of a championship, but the season is not one through the draft.
