If you want to win your Fantasy Football league than you need to start with having a solid Draft. I am a big believer in the saying, " Hitting on Your 1st round draft pick won't Win you a Fantasy Championship but busting out on your 1st round draft pick will definitely lose it for you."
With that being said , I am of the philosophy that the Middle to Late round draft picks is where you Win a Fantasy Football Championship. That's where the Average Draft Positions come into play . It's where you find Value. The Diamonds in the rough. If I can get a Starting Running Back in the Mid to Late rounds I will draft that player no matter what their projections are. I know in the NFL and in Fantasy football that anything can happen any given week and all I have to do is win 1 week at a time. A starting player can help me do that . I don't draft based on hype or Popular Names . I draft based on a Players Target Opportunities. Their is more to Drafting a Fantasy Football Championship Team than taking ESPNs next best Players ADP Ranking that is available on the board. If that is your approach you will never win a Championship in a knowledgeable Fantasy league. If that's the case just put the Computer on Auto Draft and give me your money .
I construct teams through the draft and Wire . I do not have to worry about relying on another player for a Trade . In order to achieve this success you have to let the draft call to you and have a solid understanding of every NFL teams situation, personnel and Schemes. It all goes back to Legit Opportunities. I look for Running Backs behind Above Average Offensive Line play . The RB depth chart is very important because RBs tend to get injured often. Plus RB is a young man's position so don't be scared of a breakout year for a rookie . I like Dalvin Cook in 2017. He has good chance to start and the Offense is good enough that he will see TD ops. Fantasy Gurus will tell you that you can't predict TDs. To a point I agree but I can foresee RZ/TD Opportunities based on productivity of offense and players abilities. For example, The Patriots leaned on Blount in RZ last year because he is a Bull and The Pats are always in the Red Zone which equals TD production . Who is the Goal Line Back ? This year I like Dalvin Cooks DAP and situation in Minnesota. He is a 3 down back who can do it all. Minnesota's offense is good enough that he will see a fair amount of TD opportunities. The good thing is the QB and WR is just good enough to get into Red Zone but not great at converting through the air in the End Zone with their WRss so I foresee Cooks ability to catch and line up in slot or pound the rock between the tackles to be Minnesota's best asset in the Red Zone. Minnesota has some good fantasy personnel in 2017 beyond Dalvin Cook also.
When I analyze WRs I look for Targets and who is their QB. I would rather have Aaron Rodgers number 2 WR Devante Adams than The Browns #1 WR last year in Pryor. I like WRs in Pass first offenses. I can draft a Stefon Diggs late who is a slot machine who creates YAC like a Punt Returner. He will consistently get the Offense up and down the field with a decent QB which they now have in Sam Bradford. It seems Bradford is being rejuvenated in Minnesota. I also look for Big Deep Post Route WRs who excel in RZ also. Martavis Bryant fits that profile . He offers a 3rd round ADP and will straight up help you Win weeks . Their is plenty of players who will help win you weeks with late round ADPs . They are not on ESPNs radar yet . That's the difference.
I will not reach for a Tight End either. I look for a Athletic TE who will be a safety Blanket for a QB . You can select Drew Brees TE Fleener with a 160 ADP. Andrew Lucks TE Doyle will be available around Fleeners ADP as well . I can take Rivers TE Hunter Henry around the same tier . My breakout TE candidate in 2017 is The Ravens Maxx Williams . He will have his opportunities on a struggling offense with a Rookie/Backup QB under center . They will rely on him to move the chains and in the End Zone. Maxx will be on the Wire . That's the funny part . I am not desperate for a TE.
As far as drafting a QB I will also wait until later rounds where I can select Ben Roethlisberger , Phillip Rivers , Eli Manning or Matt Stafford in the same tier at 94 ADP. They are the 13-14-15-16 QBs off the board. All of them are Gunslingers who can throw for 30 + TDs and 4500 yards . They all have weapons. I will be just fine .
I will not draft a Defense nor a kicker in my drafts . I will draft 2 extra RB/WR until week 1 rolls around and then I will stream those positions week to week. Anything can happen in pre season or camp so injuries will happen . That's my insurance.
I will give you some nuggets for reading and supporting the article. My favorite RBs are Of coarse with the # 1 overall pick David Johnson. He is the best RB in NFL. I am staying away from LevBell in 2017. Just my opinion. I am high on Melvin Gordon. He is my # 2 RB in 2017. My mid round RBs are Dalvin Cook , Gillisee , Lynch , CJ Anderson , Powell, Kelley and Woodhead . I like Henry , Coleman , Lacy and AP are all mid round RB 2 Cuffs primed for more opportunity. 2017 the RB position is deep. Their are tons of Depth chart battles going on right now . You will find solid handcuffs with Starting potential on the Wire in 2017. DeAngelo Henderson and James Connor are 2 handcuffs I like that will be on Wire.
The WR position is interesting in 2017. I believe AntonioBrown will Lead the NFL in Yards . I like Julio & Adams this year but they will cost a 1st round pick . I would not draft AJ Green in 1st round in 2017. JS. I am high on Mike Thomas, Doug Baldwin, Tyreek Hill , Martavis Bryfant , Brandon Marshall , Stephon Diggs, Willie Snead , Cam Meredith, Kelvin Benjamin and Rishard Matthews . Their a bunch of WRs who can win me a week who will be available late. I like JJ Nelson , Taylor Gabriel and Tyler Lockett as late round hits.
As I said I will wait on TE but wouldn't mind having Bennett. That's as high as I would draft TE. I will wait for Fleener , Hunter , Doyle and Gates . Very late round value is their in Cam Brate & Maxx Williams . I can stream YEs if I want .
Well that wraps up some of my thoughts on the 2017 Fantasy Football Draft .
