QB - Patrick Mahomes - KC/10 - $25
QB - Jordan Love - GB/6 - $9
RB - Christian McCaffrey - SF/9 - $34
RB - Alvin Kamara - NO/11 - $15
RB - Ezekiel Elliott - NE/11 - $7
RB - Zack Moss - IND/11 - $4
RB - Ty Chandler - MIN/13 - $3
WR - Ja'Marr Chase - CIN/7 - $36
WR - Jaxon Smith-Njigba - SEA/5 - $13
WR - Zay Flowers - BAL/13 - $10
WR - Jayden Reed - GB/6 - $7
WR - Kendrick Bourne - NE/11 - $4
WR - Jalin Hyatt - NYG/13 - $4
WR - Tank Dell - HOU/7 - $3
WR - Puka Nacua - LAR/10 - $3
WR - Michael Wilson - ARI/14 - $3
TE - Travis Kelce - KC/10 - $35
TE - Luke Musgrave - GB/6 - $6
TE - Jake Ferguson - DAL/7 - $6
PK - Cameron Dicker - LAC/5 - $4
PK - Brandon McManus - JAX/9 - $4
PK - Cairo Santos - CHI/13 - $3
TD - Atlanta Falcons - ATL/11 - $3
TD - Los Angeles Chargers - LAC/5 - $3
TD - Tennessee Titans - TEN/7 - $3
TD - Carolina Panthers - CAR/7 - $3
26 players (my past avg: 29.3), including 4 who cost $25+ (my past avg: 3.5)
Higher prices this year, especially on the cheap guys, led me to get my tied-for smallest roster ever at 26 (same as in 2019; others years I've gone 29 or 30). Got a top 2 projected player at all 4 main positions (in most cases top 1), spending a few extra bucks rather than trying to get clever at guessing who will be this year's top guys. They're joined by a whole bunch of cheap guys, with just a few midrange guys (just 3 in the whole $10-$24 range). That's basically my usual distribution - go big on a few studs, fill up the roster with cheap contributors, the middle gets squeezed out.
QB: 2 for $34 (my past avg: 3.0 for $26)
Went with 2 QBs, as
I argued for. One stud, one cheap guy. Was looking at some other guys in both categories, but I like both of these two and their
stackmates. Also considered going for 2 midrange guys like Tua, Richardson, Rodgers, but decided the savings weren't worth giving up on the much better chance at huge production that you get from a top QB.
RB: 5 for $63 (my past avg: 4.8 for $79)
Generally I like to get 1 stud RB, and to try not to spend too much on the position since I want my flexes to come from elsewhere. Hoping these 5 will be enough, though was tempted to add another cheap back (Chris Evans or Kyren Williams). I'm very thin wk11, and pretty thin until Kamara comes back.
WR: 9 for $83 (my past avg: 9.4 for $83)
Chase won out over Tyreek & Jefferson just due to byes - wk7 is much better than wk10 (shared with KC) or wk13. JSN & Flowers are two midrange guys who I was willing to get, because they're very underpriced (IMO) and have plenty of late-season upside. Reed probably wouldn't have made my roster if I wasn't going with Love (though would've been in my "also strongly considered" list). Then five cheap guys, including some who should be among the most rostered guys in the contest (Dell & Wilson). Would've liked to fit Tutu Atwell in too. Most of these guys are rookies.
TE: 3 for $47 (my past avg: 4.1 for $42)
Went big with Kelce to stack with Mahomes, and got two of the most obvious plays of the contest, one of whom stacks with Love. Was also tempted by Tyler Conklin, Sam LaPorta, and Dalton Kincaid. If Kelce's injury is more significant than the initial reports suggest then I may have to blow up this roster and give up the chance at Joe's bonus prize. But I'm willing to bet on making it through early-season absences from Kelce, Kamara, and perhaps JSN & Moss.
PK: 3 for $11 (my past avg: 3.8 for $9)
Usually like the $3 guys, but for an extra dollar each I get better offenses and more job security. I miss the glory days of $2 kickers & defenses.
DEF: 4 for $12 (my past avg: 4.3 for $10)
Lots of cheap guys, as usual. They (almost) never miss a game, and any one can turn a pick 6 into a spike week. Playoff round opponents include HOU (2x), CHI, DEN, ATL, and CAR.
-QG
