PAFFL OG Roster Grades

Here are my annual post auction, roster grades…with a crucial caveat. I watch more football than most, I read advanced analytics, listen…

Here are my annual post auction, roster grades…with a crucial caveat. I watch more football than most, I read advanced analytics, listen to podcasts, I’ve written nearly a thousand published (albeit on my own blog) fantasy articles over the past two decades, and in that time I’ve convinced myself I was more knowledgeable about fantasy football than anybody else I knew. Then I hit 40, had a realization that luck is far more important than I had ever been willing to admit, my commitments to work, family and life left me far less time to focus on it and my performance took a huge hit. This is all just a rambling way of saying take all this with a grain of salt….it’s all for fun and what the hell do I know anyway. Not as much as it seems I can assure you of that fact alone.

Team Kitty

A perception of a haphazard approach to 1st-night bidding gave me a false sense that their team may need another year or two of seasoning. But this roster is actually sound with young, emerging talent. It lacks proven star power and depth but I have confidence they have the will and way to find their way to a season of relevance. The reality that they beat me in week one doesn’t hurt them here…this is a roster you want to face in weeks 4–10 when byes and injuries catch up with them :)

Auction Grade: B-
Best Value: TE O.J. Howard $3 — I can’t get over this guy’s talent, never, ever…
Guy, I Wish I Got: QB Kyler Murray $90 — price was too high and watching him school my 49’ers in week 1 is a factor in this selection.
Projected Record: 6–7

Isotopes 2.0

Absenteeism shouldn’t pay off but in this instance, it just may have. This squad has the right mix of stars, quality starters across the spectrum (Top Kicker, Tight End e.g.), lottery tickets, and depth to be more than just a contender.

Auction Grade: B+
Best Value: WR Keenan Allen $19 — this guy has been a perennial top 15 fantasy receiver and he’s in his prime.
Guy, I Wish I Got: RB Nyheim Hines $4 — and not b/c Mack is hurt…oh ok maybe :)
Projected Record: 8–5

Name TBD

This newbie demonstrated a strong sense of fantasy value, was highly present and active in bidding for literally dozens if not a hundred players. Which is why I was surprised to see such a thin bench. But irrespective of a lack of depth, this squad has a great backfield & stars, and a good dose of emerging talent to build for the future on.

Auction Grade: B
Best Value: WR John Brown $5 (or possibly David Johnson $45) — but I like Brown b/c he’s a $25 to $30 performer, a solid every week flex starter.
Guy, I Wish I Got: RB Saquon Barkley $101 — he went for more than I wanted to pay but I have a crush on his talent & upside potential :)
Projected Record: 7–6

Farris Ballers

Another new entrant to the league…they deployed the common, albeit risky strategy of targeting the best players to assemble a handful of franchise guys and little depth. CMC, Lamar Jackson, Chubb, Kittle, TY Hilton, and a few other guys make them dangerous every week. IF the stars stay healthy & live up to their talent, and they can make a move or two to give them some starting depth to handle injuries & bye weeks they’re a jankster cup contender.

Auction Grade: B
Best Value: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick $4 — if they can get a full season out of him this would be a home run…but all they need is 8 to 10 weeks to get through the meat of playoffs/injuries & buy time to make some additional roster moves.
Guy, I Wish I Got: WR Deebo Samuel $30 — I LOVE Deebo…but couldn’t pay that given I think Jimmy G is a piece of doggy you know what. Maybe recency bias is a factor but seriously what is the ceiling for a WR1 in a Jimmy G led offense?
Projected Record: 7–6

Horse Collar Tackle

Sometimes we get mired in perception and lose sight of reality. Tis’ the situation with this team. In reviewing this roster I’m impressed at its balance of stars, emerging talent, depth, and values. The sole constructive criticism is in its lack of high-end QB play…which usually is the kiss of death for true Jankster Cup contender-ship; but in this year of COVID and with this amount of bench talent, I predict they figure out a way to acquire a top 5 QB rental and shore up their one weakness.

Auction Grade: B+
Best Value: RB J.K. Dobbins $36 — THE Ohio state product is loved by literally all the scouts…the Ravens claimed they thought he was a top 1st rounder so they couldn’t let him drop past them in the 2nd. Based on week one it appears he’s their RB1…which means this is a great value for the foreseeable future.
Guy, I Wish I Got: RB Josh Jacobs $73 — I had Jacobs last year and he’s an absolute stud…if Gruden figures it out Jacobs will contend for top fantasy scorer this year.
Projected Record: 8–5

Los Chicharrones

This is one of my favorite rosters. Two top 6 QB’s, a top 10 player at every other position, depth, some potential superstar emerging talent, and really good values. The improvement section starts and ends with the RB position. With Le’Veon’s injury and lack of production outside of Pittsburgh…this team is Kamara or bust…but I bet they shore it up and are in the mix for a Jankster Cup this year.

Auction Grade: B+
Best Value: WR Courtland Sutton $24 — This guy lived up to his talent last year in delivering a top 15 fantasy season in his 2nd year in the league, and that was with abysmal quarterback play. So why did he go for 50% of his actual value?
Guy, I Wish I Got: WR CeeDee Lamb $19 — I’ve liked him since he was a TD machine at Oklahoma…if he wasn’t battling Gallop & Amari for targets I would have bid more.
Projected Record: 8–5

Naughty Thoughts

This is the best roster on paper after one week of the NFL season. Two top 15 QB’s & RB’s, 3 top 20 WR’s & a top 10+ TE & K, accompanied by plenty of emerging talent, depth, and good contractual values. From top to bottom this is a very strong team and a representation of how to nail an auction. Now they need to live up to their paper promise.

Auction Grade: A-
Best Value: QB’s Jared Goff ($48) & Matt Stafford ($52) — Naughty played this well…neither of these guys are sexy fantasy picks but they both play in passing friendly systems, with great offensive talent, in their primes = great values.
Guy, I Wish I Got: WR Tyler Lockett $21 — He’s locked into a great offense & quarterback, he’s hyper-efficient…and maybe he belongs in the best value section…in fact I think it’s so late at night that I got Naughty’s value & guy I wish I had flip-flopped.
Projected Record: 8–5

Sonoma County Cornhole Champions

Considering this owner was moving his physical address during the auction, they performed admirably. It’s never bad when you start off w/ Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Zeke, DHop you’re going to have a solid foundation. The constructive piece comes in the lack of depth…but that’s a small price to pay given what’s really important in life — a happy wife & home life.

Auction Grade: B-
Best Value: RB Jonathan Taylor $50 — This is a hindsight pick…Taylor is uber-talented but w/o Mack’s season-ending injury he wouldn’t be here.
Guy, I Wish I Got: QB Dak Prescott — Insane WR’s, average defense, super bowl aspirations, and potentially very innovative offensive play-caller.
Projected Record: 6–7

Take Mahomes Country Road

The brothers’ Foley teamed up to dream a squad composed almost entirely of Vikings, Patriots & 49’ers. Regardless of those restrictions, they managed to construct a roster with a firm floor and a relatively high ceiling. My concern is the players who can carry them may be past their prime (Cam Newton, S. Diggs, Gronk, J. Howard, Adrian Peterson, Fitzgerald, and Emanuel Sanders) and there is not a ready now class of studs. This was a very strong auction though in terms of emerging talent (Ruggs, Aiyuk, Jonnu Smith, A.J. Dillon).

Auction Grade: B-
Best Value: RB Jerrick McKinnon $4–49’ers offense turns copper into platinum…and supports 2 fantasy relevant RB’s. McKinnon is Kyle Shanahan’s personal pick. If Mostert misses time he’s a low-end RB1…if not he likely remains a flex-ish starter. At $4 that’s a good value.
Guy, I Wish I Got: QB Cam Newton — Patriots will be creative and Newton could have a late prime peak season…12 rushing TD, 23 passing TD’s and 4k+ combined passing/rushing yards.
Projected Record: 6–7

Team To Never Be Named

The 4th newcomer held up well, was one of the last penny pinching, dollar general buyers at the 8ish of the auction. To say I was impressed is an understatement. This roster is solid…although I worry about veteran leadership in the locker room. There literally is NONE. Michael Thomas & Baker Mayfield are the elder statesmen. That could work out really well with an emerging leader such as Joe Burrow able to carve out and build a strong new foundation…but it could lead to the inmates running the asylum too.

Auction Grade: B-
Best Value: QB Dwayne Haskins $12 — This is a bold call after watching 1 regular-season game. But I think we may have forgotten that this guy was a young rookie last year in a terrible situation…maybe he will be the guy we saw at Ohio State…and even if he’s just an average starter for the next couple of seasons this is a very nice value.
Guy, I Wish I Got: TE Mark Andrews $26 — I wanted this guy and got him in other leagues…but I was too gun shy when he came up and I’ll regret it all season long as he ascends to official Travis Kelce 2.0 stature.
Projected Record: 6–7

Thompson

This is a strong roster, I wouldn’t expect anything less from them. Good QB’s, RB’s, WR’s, and TEs. If week 1 is any indication, this roster is both deep but has some ascending guys who will have their peak seasons (e.g. Chris Carson anybody?) culminating in a Jankster cup title. This roster is a little old (Brady + Big Ben + Frank Gore) and it lacks depth but they’ve shown savviness for decades at this point so that’s not a concern I can bank on.

Auction Grade: B+
Best Value: QB Ben Roethlisberger $49 — Big Ben has the talent & situation to rebound as a top 10 fantasy QB this year and if he does, his absolute ROI will be in the top 5 for this season.
Guy, I Wish I Got: RB Chris Carson $41 — The price is fair…but there is an emotional attachment for me…he was a $1 find for me 3 years ago so I feel like he’s mine…and now after 1 week I am like the lover who left his mate too early only to realize that I made a horrible mistake, they are absolutely stunning and I must find a way to get them back.
Projected Record: 8–5

Beavercats (we need a rebranding before the #metoo movement calls us out)

I can’t objectively analyze my own roster and efforts…I am simply not woke enough for that. What I can say is I thought I executed my plan well with the major exception I didn’t get the quarterbacks I wanted, I didn’t get Saquon Barkley or Chris Carson, I didn’t get Mark Andrews or Deebo Samuel or a couple of dozen other guys I absolutely love. Other than that I am excited about my roster and the endless Sunday morning anguish over weekly lineup decisions.

Auction Grade: B
Best Value: RB Malcolm Brown $3 — The goal-line and possibly 3rd down back in one of the best running offenses in the NFL went for $3? We all overthought the Rams situation…This is not Gurley 2.0, they will use a committee but it appears Brown will be borderline RB2 in the cheap TD, between the chains role.
Guy, I Wish I Got: WR Tyreek Hill $57 — He’s just so explosive and fun to watch…and in the PAFFL scoring (.5 PPR / distance TD points) he’s a top 5 perennial performer. Plus paired with my favorite rookie (CEH) means I now watch every Chiefs game…yeah I get to be reminded of the super bowl loss every week, this is going to be awesome!
Projected Record: 7–6

PAFFL OG Roster Grades

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