Round 1: Best Available… But Watch RBs Closely
Go “best player available” in the first round, but if you have a shot at an elite running back, take it. The RB pool dries up fast. In a 12-team league, there are 24 starting spots at minimum, and several managers will flex an RB too. By the time you’re looking past the top 24, you’re in uncertainty territory — think the Giants, Cowboys, or Jaguars backfields, where no one knows who will hold the job all year.
That’s why my early priority is to secure two, ideally three, strong RBs before the talent cliff hits.
WR: Depth for Days
The top WRs are elite, but this position is loaded. You can find quality starters well after round five. Even outside the top 24, you’ll see names like Zay Flowers, Jameson Williams, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Jacoby Meyers, Calvin Ridley, Stefon Diggs, and Jerry Jeudy — plenty of upside without an early-round price tag.
With that in mind, I’ll bulk up on WRs later, aiming for high-upside flyers like Keon Coleman or Luther Burden in the late rounds. Both have breakout potential if the situation breaks their way.
TE: The Shallow End of the Pool
Tight end is top-heavy. If you wait until the very end, you’re staring at Tyler Warren, Dallas Goedert, or Dalton Kincaid — decent players, but not difference-makers. Unless you’re punting the position entirely, grab one before the drop-off.
QB: Depth That Lasts All Draft
Quarterback is the opposite story — it’s deep. Even after backups are taken, you can still find intrigue. Drake Maye could deliver with his rushing ability and the Patriots’ upgraded offense. JJ McCarthy is another late-round lottery ticket.
Here’s the case for McCarthy: Sam Darnold — yes, that Sam Darnold — finished as a top-10 fantasy QB last year in Minnesota. Now McCarthy, a first-round pick with legit mobility, steps into that same offense. Risk? Sure. But top-10 upside is there.
Bonus Rule Change: Reward the 60+ Yard Bombs
Kicker scoring hasn’t caught up to the modern game. Right now, most leagues give:
- 3 points for 0-39 yards
- 4 points for 40-49 yards
- 5 points for 50+ yards
That made sense when 50-yarders were rare. Now they’re routine. We’re seeing 60+ yarders regularly — even a 70-yarder from Cam Little this preseason.
My fix: make 50-59 yards worth 5 points, and add a 60+ yard category worth 6 points. It would boost the value of big-leg kickers from afterthoughts to potential draft targets.
The Stain Sports 