League Overview

This is my entry into the Lancaster Fighting Amish league. I change team names nearly every year, last year we were called BJ & Da’Bears. Unlike the actual Chicago Bears, we did not have a good season, finishing 3-11. I actually traded away a few players to contending squads, which netted me an extra pick in the fifth round of the draft and another extra pick in the sixth round.

This league is a twelve team league with a lot of roster flexibility. We have 16 roster spots, our roster consists of 1-3 QBs, TEs, Kickers & Defenses & 2-6 RBs & WRs. We can start 1 QB, 2-3 RBs, 3-4 WRs, 1-3 TEs, 1 K & 1 DEF.

This league allows us to keep up to three players at the previous draft position. For example, I drafted Caleb Williams in the eighth round before his rookie season, as long I keep him he will cost me my eighth round pick.

This league utilizes a snake draft, my preferred drafting method, 1-12, 12-1 etc.

My Draft

I drew the eighth draft slot, but due to keepers I had the third pick in the first round.

Round 1- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Round 2- Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Round 3- Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears

Round 4- Jaylen Waddle, WR, Denver Broncos

Round 5- Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears

Round 5- Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

Round 6- Jonathan Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers

Round 6- Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans

Round 8- Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears (keeper)

Round 9- Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Round 10- Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans

Round 11- Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears (keeper)

Round 12- Ka’imi Fairbairn, K, Houston Texans

Round 13- Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Round 14- Cam Ward, QB, Tennessee Titans

Round 15- Jacksonville Jaguars Defense

Running Backs

I had my first round pick earmarked for either Saquon Barkley, Ashton Jeanty or Omarion Hampton. Barkley went with the pick before and I valued Jeanty higher than Hampton, who will compete for touches in a crowded Chargers backfield. Jeanty should be the clear lead back for the Raiders, and may garner the second most targets in the passing game behind Brock Bowers.

Hampton nearly made it back to me in the second round, but he went the pick before me. My choice came down to two Arizona Cardinals: Trey McBride, who I had last year, or rookie running back Jeremiyah Love. I went with Love because I already had Colston Loveland, and while I’m not adverse to having two high end TEs, I felt it was too early to double up on the position. My feelings on RBs in fantasy football are well known, to me RB was the only pick here and I had Love atop my board.

Love may struggle early, as he deals with a crowded Arizona backfield, but I made this pick with an eye on the future. This being a keeper league, it’s nice to have the rights to a player that should become a superstar in the NFL.

With the first of my two picks in the fifth round, I went with Kyle Monangai. I didn’t really want another Bears offensive player, but I felt that Monangai offered decent value here. He’s quality depth and should be a decent spot starter for me.

In the sixth round I took a flyer on Carolina’s Jonathan Brooks. I really didn’t like the receiver options on the board, nor quarterback, and I already had two tight ends. Brooks was the most intriguing name on the board. His career has been marred with injury thus far, but he’s healthy now offers the most upside in the Panthers backfield.

I rounded out my RB corps by taking Woody Marks in the tenth round. I also drafted him in my other league, but I think I got even better value here.

My early focus was on RBs and I like the youth and upside I was able to acquire. All my RBs, except Jonathan Brooks, are rookies or entering their second season. Brooks, while technically a third year back, has barely played over his first two seasons due to injury. My hope is that Jeanty and Love establish themselves as true fantasy workhorse backs, if this happens I should have an excellent season.

Wide Receivers

I, once again, de-emphasized the WR position and it’s probably my weakest position group, but overall it’s a decent group.

Luther Burden III is decent value in the third round. I like him to have a breakout in his second NFL season.

I think Jaylen Waddle could have a big year in Denver. He’s the big play receiver they’ve been lacking. I was happy to snag him in the fourth round.

By the sixth round, the receivers were getting pretty picked over, so finding a potential WR1 in Carnell Tate was a coup. Tate also influenced my later selection of a backup QB.

Josh Downs offers valuable depth to my receiving corps, and he could provide some big weeks as a spot starter.

Xavier Worthy in the tenth round is a good example of the difference between a 12 team league and a 16 team league like I drafted last weekend. Worthy is my WR2 in the 16 team league, so landing him as my WR5, here, makes me very happy.

WR is probably my weakest group, by design, but it’s a decent group. Burden, Waddle and Tate all have WR1 potential and Downs & Worthy are both capable of big weeks.

Tight Ends

I’m entering this season of fantasy football firmly believing that TEs are viable flex plays. That’s why I didn’t shy away from taking a second TE early.

I took Kyle Pitts with my second fifth round pick, despite having a tight end already on my roster. Pitts showed signs of realizing his vast potential last season and I’m counting on that continuing.

I drafted Colston Loveland in the 11th round last year, and it turned out to be a steal. Going forward, I think Loveland only costing me an 11th round pick will pay huge dividends.

TE is maybe my strongest position. I envision starting both Loveland and Pitts many weeks.

Quarterbacks

I drafted Caleb Williams in the eight round before his rookie season, with the idea that he would be my long term fantasy quarterback. He started to pay dividends last year and I fully expect him to propel me to a playoff run this season. There’s a reason I named this team after him.

When it came time to think about a backup QB, I was shocked that Patrick Mahomes was still on the board, and I harbored some hope to pair him with Xavier Worthy on my bench. Alas, he was drafted before I went on the clock in the 13th round, but I still went with Worthy.

I then pivoted to Cam Ward, who I also drafted in my other league. I already had his rookie receiver and potential #1 target, Carnell Tate, so I like the pairing. I think Ward can make great strides this season under the tutelage of Brian Daboll.

Williams is my franchise player, this team is built around him. I expect him to be my starter every week except his bye week. With him and two of his primary targets on this roster, if the Bears offense reaches the heights I expect, I should have a playoff squad.

Kicker

I had Ka’imi Fairbairn on my roster last season and he was excellent. I had no problem making him the third kicker selected. Hopefully, he makes me protect him during his bye week like he did last season.

Team Defense

I’m a big believer in streaming fantasy defenses, when possible, based on matchups. I never finish a season with the defense I drafted and I usually cycle through a good 6-8 defenses throughout the season.

When the fifteenth round came, and my final pick was due, I had three team defenses I was looking at: Jacksonville vs Cleveland, LA Chargers vs Arizona & Las Vegas vs Miami. The Jacksonville Jaguars were my top choice and they were available when I went on the clock.

Here’s hoping they give me reasons to consider holding onto them for another week.

Roster Review

I like my draft, I don’t think I made any of the huge mistakes I made last year (Brian Thomas Jr in the first round!), and I focused my early attention on running backs and tight ends.

My receiver group, while my weakest position, does have considerable upside.

I did make a few mild reaches and I’m definitely heavy on the Bears offense, but I expect big things from the Ben Johnson led unit.

I can’t be as bad as I was last season, and I certainly expect to be in contention with this roster.