To open, obviously the MIA/TB players are a premium. Their prices include the risk of a week 11 bye when cuts are critical. To take that drawback away gives them inherent value at their pre-generated costs. I also wanted to make sure that no more than $50 of solid scorers were on bye on any week (I could deal with the cheap guys pushing me over that if it wasn't too bad), and that my stud QB(s), RBs and WRs were not on the same byes.
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Jameis Winston $17
Sam Bradford $7
Jared Goff $6
QB: The more options at a guaranteed scoring position you have (like QB or TD), the better the chance to raise the floor (the more money spent for better options may also raise the ceiling). I wanted three or four QBs to give me a better chance at a solid floor every week, but also want the potential for high scores. Originally went with Carr/Stafford/Kizer, then played with the Rivers/Manning/Kizer (Rivers/Manning per the
ultimate QBBC article), then after Irma news settled with this set. Winston has a strong week 14-16 schedule, no bye, and costs less than an equivalent early bye week QB. Bradford and Goff should give a decent first week showing to cover Winstons "bye", and I think they both provide decent floors with upside. Wanted Kizer (I think he gets lots of garbage time points), but went homer on other less critical positions instead.
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DeMarco Murray $26
Doug Martin $15
Derrick Henry $13
James White $11
Kareem Hunt $10
Jacquizz Rodgers $9
Tarik Cohen $3
RB: My approach was to take a stud core set of RBs out of the early byes (5, 6, or 7) then pepper with value. I don't consider single RBs, I consider the unit and the costs since RBs are the most injured position typically. I considered Dallas (zeke/mcfadden/morris) until I saw that it was a possibility that a 4-6 week suspension may happen late in the year. I was ready to accept the risk to be unique with a first half suspension, but not a possibility of a latter half. That left TEN and ATL, both squads that are effective running the ball and whose handcuffs can provide flex value. I settled on TEN due to lower cost, though Freeman/Coleman may have been the better play for points. For RB2, I had Powell originally, but the TB value/no-bye draw was too strong so Martin/Rodgers joined. I think Hunt is a good value since he was priced while Ware was around and KC does it's RBs right. I felt like I needed a solid 4th, and White, I think, is the best NE PPR bet, though I had Burkhead is several iterations. I picked Cohen as a flyer instead of Smallwood, really more as a choice between PPR and standard.
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Mike Evans $29
DeVante Parker $14
Ted Ginn $9
Tyler Lockett $8
Taylor Gabriel $7
Cooper Kupp $5
Chris Hogan $5
WR: Originally I was taking the WR out of the early bye week that I didn't take my RB core out of. WR1 choice were initially either Baldwin or Thomas depending on Dallas or Atlanta RB crew. After Irma news came out though, I switched to Evans. I had MBryant for my WR2 in all iterations until that news also, at which point I went for Parker. After that I wanted long ball speedsters with decent QBs (Ginn, Lockett, Gabriel), and value (Kupp, Hogan). Some of the WRs that didn't make the cut were on the value end: Zay Jones, Golladay, Anderson, Richardson, Maclin. I think the value/speedster guys can help carry me past week 1 cuts, which are generally easy as long as you're paying attention throughout the preseason and adjusting your roster accordingly.
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Jimmy Graham $18
Zach Ertz $13
Austin Seferian-Jenkins $6
TE: Had Walker instead of Graham originally, but decided to play TE like a glorified WR position. Graham (early bye) and Ertz should see volume and red zone opportunity. ASJ is my flyer pick instead of Anderson on the Jets. Hopefully he doesn't squander the chance.
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Adam Vinatieri $4
Caleb Sturgis $3
Zane Gonzalez $2
PK: Went homer here. I'm from Indiana, live in Cleveland, and chose Philly to round off my teams. Wanted three to raise average floor. Different bye weeks.
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Jacksonville Jaguars $5
Philadelphia Eagles $5
TD: I had all the $2 originally to provide a solid floor (defense doesn't often win your week in this and is too erratic), but ended up going with the
Defense by committee approach that the FBG site outlined and grabbed Jags/Eagles. The schedule (home games, bad team opposition) argument was what hooked me, not that these defenses are spectacular.
