Okay, been meaning to do this since rosters locked, finally going to do a roster breakdown since I have the time:
http://subscribers.footballguys.com/contest/2018/108410.php
(The fraction in parenthesis on each line is active remaining of that player / original count of how many teams that player was on)
QB:
Roethlisburger $14: Used twice (430 / 1707)
Mahomes $11: Used 5 times (1857 / 4243)
Lamar Jackson $4: Used zero (81 / 295)
I planned on taking 2 guys who had potential for big games plus figured Jackson would take over late in the year and maybe be a difference maker if I survive until the end. Looks like Mahomes was much more than I bargained for, guy is a monster and carrying me and many others. 149 teams still alive with both Roeth and Mahomes, 4 of them have Jackson too.
RB:
Gordon $30: Used 6 times (405 / 1203)
Fournette $29: Used zero (398 / 2599)
Freeman $16: Used 3 times (1531 / 5303)
Chubb $10: Used twice (133 / 562)
Conner $4: Used 4 times (2295 / 5417)
Here I planned to build around 2 studs, Freeman as a 3rd guy to work as insurance, Chubb for late season upside, and Conner just as a bonus starter for who knows how long. Fournette has been a complete miss, but if I somehow keep surviving until he's healthy, he could be a big difference maker at the end... the talent is there as is the opportunity, he just needs to stop emulating Fred Taylor and toughen up. Gordon has been super reliable at least. Conner a pleasant surprise. Freeman, a little less than I hoped but he's pitched in. Chubb has stepped up when I've really needed it, and isn't highly owned, could be a big difference maker for me. I spent the majority of my funds at RB as I saw way better bargains in the WR bin than here. Only 32 teams left alive with Gordon and Fournette, only 3 of them with Chubb (other 2 have Gordon/Fournette/Chubb/Barber/Prosise and Gordon/Fournette/Chubb/Miller/Barber/Conner). Pretty glad I chose to avoid Barber, my thought was that he'd not be useful late season, and that still looks to be playing out.
WR:
Fuller $13: Used 4 times (380 / 1369)
Lockett $9: Used 5 times (668 / 2008)
Miller $7: Used zero (362 / 1241)
Kirk $7: Used 4 times (119 / 403)
Cole $7: Used 3 times (1775 / 5514)
Gallup $6: Used once (717 / 2281)
Ross $5: Used twice (1231 / 3693)
Washington $4: Used zero (330 / 1024)
Taylor $4: Used once (241 / 728)
Chark $3: Used zero (36 / 155)
Smith $3: Used once (430 / 1042)
For WR I decided to go with a bunch of cheap options that had potential for big games. So far Lockett has been a real hero, along with Fuller when he's on the field. Miller still has some potential in Chicago, but he hasn't done much yet. Kirk is getting a lot of use and will keep counting sometimes. Cole will have a game here and there. Gallup I dunno, maybe he counts another time or two, maybe not. Ross, I definitely picked the wrong cheap Cincy WR, at least thus far. Taylor might've been a waste of $4. Chark definitely was a waste of $3. Smith has only counted once, but he's now established as the #2 WR in New Orleans and will definitely count again in the future. Threw a bunch of stuff against the wall, and enough of it stuck that I'm pretty happy with this group overall. 66 with Fuller and Lockett. Only 2 left when you add in Kirk. That guy's team also has Cole in common with my WRs, but that's it. He does have Chris Godwin and John Brown, who were on my roster numerous times but not on the final one, which is something I'm still upset about.
TE:
Reed $16: Used 4 times (237 / 1177)
Njoku $12: Used 4 times (998 / 3035)
Howard $11: Used 5 times (148 / 542)
Vannett $3: Used zero (163 / 462)
For TE, I wanted 3 guys who could score but didn't break the bank. I think I'm pretty happy with them all, Reed is underperforming a bit but I have to figure Alex Smith will wake up to him being his best option for a pass at some juncture. Nojuku has come on the past 4 games, and Howard is turning into the stud he is supposed to become. Vannett appears to be a waste of money. FYI, a TE has been a flex scorer for me 6 separate times. There were only 2 teams in the entire contest that went Reed/Njoku/Howard, and the other was eliminated week 2 (Hi JoeT!)
K:
Succop $4: Used twice (102 / 384)
Hopkins $3: Used twice (357 / 1141)
Fairbairn $2: Used 3 times (1022 / 2770)
For TE I tried to get guys that don't have byes on weeks where I didn't have too much money already out, on teams who's offense can move the ball but are prone to stalling. Looks like I hit the mark on all 3, pleased with them. 3 teams had these kickers, the other two eliminated week 1 (that was 22 kicker guy) and week 6.
Defense:
Bears $5: Used 3 times (1409 / 3969)
Redskins: $3 Used twice (150 / 487)
Bucs $3: Used zero (137 / 510)
Browns $2: Used twice (1166 / 3351)
Also pretty happy with this group. Early byes (except cheap Brownies), they've put up double digits all but 2 weeks. 4 options really helps you get the most out of this position. I was the only person in the contest to roster these 4 defenses together.
So, overall construction was to build a team of 30 with a plethora of cheap, upside WRs, QBs/RBs who had upside and no conflicting bye weeks to maintain strength, hopefully 3 under-rated TEs with potential to score weekly, and a couple of guys who could be big difference makers late in the season (Jackson, Chubb). So far it is working, haven't been too close to the cut line despite my second most expensive player failing to count even once.
Week 1: 177.5 (147.3)
Week 2: 227 (164.15)
Week 3: 170.65 (152.65)
Week 4: 168.7 (156.2)
Week 5: 197.3 (149.3)
Week 6: 199.9 (166.35)
Week 7: 164.3 (142.8)
Outlook:
Next couple of weeks will be tough without Gordon... if I make it to week 10 I feel really good about my chances. Interesting thing, when Mahomes has his bye, the entire rest of my team does not, so I've got a decent chance at surviving the Mahomes cull coming week 12. L. Bell not coming back to the Steelers has been really helping my team out too, hopefully he stays away as long as possible. Anyways, I like the chances for my team at this point. Of course, now that I have posted this and jinxed myself, I'll be bounced next week, but so it goes. Good luck all.