FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

August 25th, 2022
Thursday Night Edition

Draft Day Has Returned

With the 2022 Fantasy Football season just two weeks away from kick-off, all across the country Draft days are taking place and on the clock. Stock the fridges, pick up a fantasy magazine, and print out your cheatsheet, it's time to make a pick.

Fantasy football is a special time of the year, where excitement, anticipation, and suspense collide. I myself will be participating in at least five drafts this year, maybe six (haha), sometimes you just can't get enough. 

Draft number one has already concluded and I have a few notes to share, not exactly hot takes or golden nuggets, but a few takeaways. Draft one is considered the big league of my neighborhood leagues (I play in 5 total) and probably the most fun. It's only a 10-team, but has the most cash involved and without question has the best league chemistry; a great bunch of guys who really enjoy fantasy and talking some good old fashioned trash.

This year I drew the second slot (every year we hold a draft lottery to select your draft position - I chose two). At the top end of the draft my thinking was clear, one of the available hero running backs (Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, Najee Harris, Christian McCaffrey, and Austin Ekeler), Jonathan Taylor was a keeper held over from last season.

Here's my opinion on this group, I really don't believe there is a wrong pick here. The only one I have a slight reservation about is McCaffrey's durability, because of injuries suffered the past couple of seasons). Cook was the guy I wanted. I think his usage in the passing game will increase this season and he'll be a monster in 2022.

Some of my early targets were Keenan Allen in the 3rd (12th receiver off the board) and Darren Waller in the 4th (5th tight end selected). Allen was the best available and a back-end WR1, so I was happy with this selection. He's ceiling may be a little lower this season than in the past, but his floor is higher than most. 

A tight is not something I usually take early in drafts, but Waller fell to me in the 4th, so I grabbed him. With the arrival of Davante Adams, I think this could be a big bounce back season for Waller; reminiscence of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce in Kansas City.

In 8th round after filling out my line-up with two running backs, a tight end, quarterback, and three wide receivers I selected DeAndre Hopkins; a steal if you ask me. He'll be back in week 7 and could easily finish as a top-end WR1 over the last 11 weeks of the season.

In this home league we play IDP and carry deep rosters (35 players), but only go 30 players deep on draft day, with a 25 round draft with five defensive keepers.

My two favorite picks in this draft came in 14th (Brian Robinson Jr) and 15th rounds (Davante Parker). 

After watching the Commanders first preseason game, it became clear to me Robinson has a chance to steal the starting job in the backfield. This is only a 10-team league, so in deeper 12 & 14 team leagues Robinson is going to go much earlier, as early as round 11 or 10 (in my opinion).

Parker was a late snag, my 7th receiver taken, and a receiver that I believe has top end WR2 talent, if not higher. He's a risk for sure, but as late as I took him, very little capital wagered and worth the gamble. Based on when I took him, he could very well go undrafted in 12 team leagues.

This was just a little peek into what went down in my first draft, what my thoughts were, and what the draft value was for the players I selected. Based on this first go round, there was some value left on the table, some potential gems found, but most of all a fun drafted completed.

That's my take!
~David G. Ortega