Mock Draft Series: Live Blog Part 1

For the conclusion of the dynasty portion of this mock draft series, I am going to share the results from a league currently doing the startup draft (with rookies). People are not drafting the “chalk” so it required me to adjust my strategy pretty early.

This is a 12-team league, PPR scoring, 6 points for TD’s and -4 for INT’s. The rest of scoring is standard. The roster composition is 1 QB, 2 RB’s, 3 WR’s, 1 TE, 2 Flex, 1 Superflex with 18 bench spots. I will break up the analysis into 5 round segments and give my analysis in real-time. As always, if you have ideas for other mocks, feel free to send me a message on twitter (@HodgesHotTakes).

Round 1:

1. Team A: Patrick Mahomes
2. Team E (TRADE): Lamar Jackson
3. @HodgesHotTakes: Christian McCaffrey
4. Team D: Saquon Barkley
5. Team B (TRADE): Dak Prescott
6. Team F: Michael Thomas
7. Team G: Ezekiel Elliott
8. Team H: Kyler Murray
9. Team I: Russell Wilson
10. Team J: Deshaun Watson
11. Team K: Dalvin Cook
12. Team L: Alvin Kamara

Trade(s) Recap: Team E packaged 1.05, 2.08, 4.08 and 8.08 to get 1.02, 3.02. 5.02, and 10.11 from Team B. It basically became a pick swap in several rounds. I like the move for Team E as they secure a top QB and didn’t sacrifice major draft capital in order to achieve it.

My Pick: When I was randomly generated 1.03. I knew the decision would be easy, take the remaining player between Mahomes, Lamar, or CMC. I explored trading down but nobody was offering deals that I found close to fair in order to get the best RB in the league. I usually emphasize QB’s early in SF leagues but I will take CMC and worry about a QB next round (maybe).

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Best Pick: Michael Thomas is a clear top 5 pick in any format. When someone went away from the “status quo” and allowed Thomas to fall a spot, it became a no brainer. I don’t normally like picking middle picks, but #6 is a fun spot because you will get first shot at extreme value if the top 5 don’t fall as predicted.

Questionable Picks/Moves: The first off the board pick was Dak Prescott at 5. Not only was it early but the owner traded the opportunity to get Lamar Jackson in order to move to 5. It also caused a RUSH of QB’s to come off the board in round 1. Six QB’s in total went in first 10 picks! I could only make an argument for 3 of them going that high. It created a lot of immediate value at the end of the round. It also scrapped my plan of getting a QB early as I am not reaching when it comes back to me, no matter how many more come off the board. I quickly re-calibrated my draft plan.

Round 2:

1. Team L: Davante Adams
2. Team K: Tyreek Hill
3. Team J: DeAndre Hopkins
4. Team I: Joe Mixon
5. Team H: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
6. Team G: Josh Allen
7. Team F: Nick Chubb
8. Team B (TRADE): Jonathan Taylor
9. Team D: Chris Godwin
10. @HodgesHotTakes: Miles Sanders
11. Team B: J.K. Dobbins
12. Team A: Carson Wentz

Trade(s) Recap: 2.08 was another part of the Lamar deal. Let’s wait and see all the pieces selected in this draft deal before we give it a final grade.

My Pick: When I saw positional players fall, Miles Sanders was on the top of my list of “want” players. He fell to me at 2.10 and once again I didn’t have much to think about with my selection. I had him a cut above any other players still on the board. I draft him and continue my worry about QB’s into round 3.

Immediately after drafting Sanders, I was offered Michael Thomas in exchange for Miles and 3.03. It seemed like a fair offer but I think value is falling at RB/WR/TE and I want picks to grab them. Having the clear top RB/WR though was very enticing.

Best Pick: Chris Godwin at 2.09. I actually tried to engage in trade talks around 2.07 in order to acquire ANOTHER 2^nd round pick. My goal was to grab Godwin and Miles. I was willing to pay heavy rookie draft capital in order to do it, but trade talks never really developed. So far, this league is timid on trades. Hopefully I can change their minds in future rounds.

Questionable Picks/Moves: I picked on QB’s in round 1 and I expected more fallout in round 2. The result was reaches for Josh Allen and Carson Wentz in Round 2. If people keep grabbing these QB’s early, I will continue to take value at other positions and deal with QB later. J.K. Dobbins at 2.11 was also a reach with other good RB’s on the board. He offers tremendous upside, but the team runs the risk of sacrificing year 1 in order to be good in future years. I will be monitoring this team to see if I can get current selections in exchange for future picks, if that is his strategy.

Round 3:

1. Team A: Mike Evans
2. Team E (TRADE): Austin Ekeler
3. @HodgesHotTakes: D.J. Moore
4. Team D: Josh Jacobs
5. Team E: Aaron Jones
6. Team F: George Kittle
7. Team G: Travis Kelce
8. Team J (TRADE): Joe Burrow
9. Team I: Daniel Jones
10. Team H (TRADE): Derrick Henry
11. Team K: Kenyan Drake
12. Team L: Cam Akers

Trade(s) Recap: 3.02 was another part of the Lamar deal. Let’s wait and see all the pieces selected in this draft deal before we give it a final grade.

Team H packaged 3.08, 4.05, and 6.05 to get 3.10, 4.03, and 5.10 from Team J. Another pick swap, very fair trade. Team J jumped up 2 spots to get Joe Burrow so he was clearly concerned Team I was about to pull the trigger on him. His premonition might have been correct as Daniel Jones went right after him.

My Pick: I hesitated for a split second in grabbing another Carolina Panther. There is still great RB value and all TE’s available but I wanted to start building my WR core. D.J. Moore has the potential to be a top 5 WR for many years so I will take him and kick the can down the road at QB for at least another round.

Best Pick: While this isn’t a TE premium league, getting George Kittle in the middle of the 3^rd is great value. You have elite talent at the position for the next 7 years (at least). It’s not sexy, but it will pay dividends.

Questionable Picks/Moves: The reaching on QB’s continues. I am going to stand PAT and let this play out before being forced to take a QB. Burrow is understandable because he wasn’t lasting much longer but taking Daniel Jones when you already have Russell Wilson is a stretch. I promise to stop picking on these QB selections (unless they keep happening!). Additionally, I was the only one to take a WR in round 3?!?! I had to double check to ensure this was a PPR league and we are required to start at least 3 of them. There are TONS of WR’s left and I anticipate a big run coming in round 4, I will be happy to get a potential top 12 WR if they fall to me at the end of the 4^th.

Round 4:

1. Team L: Juju Smith-Schuster
2. Team K: D’Andre Swift
3. Team H (TRADE): Julio Jones
4. Team D (TRADE): A.J. Brown
5. Team J (TRADE): Tua Tagovailoa
6. Team G: Odell Beckham
7. Team F: Matt Stafford
8. Team B (TRADE): Baker Mayfield
9. Team I (TRADE): Mark Andrews
10. @HodgesHotTakes: Kenny Golladay
11. Team B: CeeDee Lamb
12. Team A: Leonard Fournette

Trade(s) Recap: 4.08 was another part of the Lamar deal. Let’s wait and see all the pieces selected in this draft deal before we give it a final grade. The 4.03 and 4.05 swap was a part of the Burrow move in round 3.

Team D traded 4.09 and 6.09 to swap 4.04 and 7.09. Another fair pick swap. No fireworks involving future picks (YET!). A.J. Brown makes sense as a target but the way value is falling, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see him fall to his original draft slot.

My Pick: Was thrilled when I didn’t have to consider a QB here. I was torn between Amari and Golladay as I have both as top 10 talents at the position. Would have snapped up either, decided to go with Golladay as he is still working for his next contract. Amari carries a slight risk of regression due to new contract and the added mouths to feed on offense. I was considering Golladay at 3.03 so this is a no-brainer.

I turned down an offer to acquire 4.05 and 7.09 in exchange for 4.10 and 5.03. I am not interested in pick swapping when there is so much value on the board. If anything, I will keep attempting to acquire more startup picks in exchange for 2021 rookie picks. With the aggressive pursuit of QB’s and rookies, players are falling into my lap with average ADP’s a round higher than they are going.

Best Pick: Juju starts off round 4. I was trying my hardest to get back into the end of the 3^rd, early 4^th for a chance at him but none of these teams are wanting to take rookie picks at this point. I wasn’t prepared to sacrifice more startup picks when I might need them to hoard late round QB’s if I continue to ignore the position. Juju is my WR #7 and a great addition to this team.

Questionable Picks/Moves: Team J went with Tua after previously grabbing Burrow and Watson. He now has 3 QB’s. Immediately upon drafting Tua, he announced to group chat everything was on the trade block. It looks like he will attempt to hoard assets and maximize trade value. Very risky proposition as this strategy backfires more often than not in my experience.

Grabbing CeeDee Lamb ahead of Amari shows us exactly what rookie fever can do to some owners. Why bypass a 25-year-old who constantly produces top 15 results? I am desperately trying to get someone to take my 2021 first round rookie, they won’t bite on this offer but will take CeeDee over Amari?

Round 5:

1. Team A: Devin Singletary
2. Team E (TRADE): Allen Robinson
3. @HodgesHotTakes: Amari Cooper
4. Team D: Aaron Rodgers
5. Team E: Cooper Kupp
6. Team F: Melvin Gordon
7. Team G: Jared Goff
8. Team H: Calvin Ridley
9. Team L (TRADE): Matt Ryan
10. Team H (TRADE): Drew Brees
11. Team K: Courtland Sutton
12. Team K (TRADE): Drew Lock

Trade(s) Recap: 5.02 was another part of the Lamar deal. Let’s wait and see all the pieces selected in this draft deal before we give it a final grade. The 5.10 was a part of the Burrow move in round 3.

Team L traded 6.01, 7.12, a 3^rd round rookie in 2021 for 5.09, 8.04, and the 2021 4^th round rookie from Team I. It was basically a pick swap with a 2021 round upgrade for Team I for the trouble. Team L used the jump up to grab Matt Ryan. Another well timed jump as the next pick was Drew Brees.

Team L goes back to trade well by shipping 5.12 and 9.12 to Team K for 6.02 and 8.02. Team K uses the pick to pair his last pick of Courtland Sutton with Drew Lock. It cost him a bit but I like the boldness and Team L picks up some good position. I like the thought process for both teams on this one.

My Pick: A little piece of me was hoping Amari would get scooped up so I didn’t have to take the no brainer. I actually set him as my autodraft option and didn’t check until I got the notification I made a pick. He is a top 12 WR and he is sitting as my #3 WR in a league that could allow me to start 6 WR’s if I feel so inclined. There is still so much value at WR so I expect I will face same issue when I come back in round 6.

Best Pick: Team H realized there is too much value at WR and stole Ridley in the middle of Round 5. I guess I can’t collect them all.

Questionable Picks/Moves: I wont belabor the point (more than I have). But 5 QB’s in round 5?!?! CMON! Instead, I question the move of grabbing Devin Singletary at the top of the round when studs like ARob, Amari, and Ridley were still on the board. You can potentially start 5 WR’s in this league so I don’t want to hear about drafting for “need.”

That’s it for Rounds 1-5. I will be back next week with Rounds 6-10. Will I finally get a QB? Have a completely lost my mind by sticking to best player available?

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