Time for my team breakdown
QB - Patrick Mahomes - KC/6 - $27, Geno Smith - SEA/10 - $12
I went big with Mahomes, because I think he will throw for 5K and 40 TD's. The contest scoring is kind to passers - 6 per pass TD instead of 4, -1 per INT instead of -2, and 1 pt per 20 yds passing instead of 25 yds. I considered rostering only him, but even though his week 6 bye is early, over 63% of the teams will be eliminated by then. I went with Geno as my backup, but not because of his great week 6 matchup. In fact, he plays a tough SF D. I chose him because he stood out as a cheap guy with a nice receiving corps who I trusted more than the guys in his price range. In a perfect world I would only use Geno in week 6, but to expect nothing but great games from Mahomes is asking to be eliminated from the contest. In the end I wound up with the 11th most common QB (Smith - 1154) and the 16th (Mahomes - 641), and 1 of only 73 teams with the duo.
RB - Najee Harris - PIT/9 - $17, James Conner - ARI/11 - $17, Brian Robinson Jr. - WAS/14 - $13, Jerome Ford - CLE/10 - $11, J.K. Dobbins - LAC/5 - $8, Justice Hill - BAL/14 - $2
Harris is boring, but reliable. He and Mixon are the only 2 RB's to top 1200 combined in each of the last 3 seasons. Conner is a bit scary with his age/injury history but was priced well. Robinson isn't a complete dud in the passing game, and has nearly 30 pounds on his running mate. Ford is JAG, but does that really matter in FF when you are getting touches? I pivoted away from Chubb early on, when talk of his return kept getting pushed back. I pivoted towards Dobbins after a fellow poster provided video evidence of him in practice. He looked good, and Gus is not an obstacle for a healthy Dobbins. Lastly, I threw $2 at a guy who can play the 2023 Spears role. He may have only scored 8.5 FP on Thursday, but he outsnapped Derrick Henry, and was a big part of the passing game. My rarest RB is Najee, and even he has 741 followers.
WR - CeeDee Lamb - DAL/7 - $38, Malik Nabers - NYG/11 - $19, Rashee Rice - KC/6 - $13, Khalil Shakir - BUF/12 - $10, Jameson Williams - DET/5 - $10
Spent big on Lamb for 3 reasons. Reasons 1, 2, and 3 are Elliott, Dowdle, and Cook. When you can roster a WR who averaged 23.1 PPG in the contest last year, it's like you get to start an extra player. I chose the rookie Nabers when I realized I had no idea what other WR's were on the Giants roster. We all know Rice is discounted for the threat of suspension, but he'll avoid it until next year. I never really considered Curtis Samuel, but Keon Coleman did enter my mind. In the end, I stayed with my first hunch and chose Shakir as the WR to have from BUF. Also, I was part of the team that created the 18-20 player roster, and did not want the same WR's on my personal entry. Finally, any Shark Pooler who can read English must be rostering Jamo! I only rostered 5 WR's, because I trimmed off the fat. Even though my WR corps is common, I am 1 of only 3 with all 5.
TE - Jake Ferguson - DAL/7 - $17, George Kittle - SF/9 - $15, Taysom Hill - NO/12 - $8
Jake from State Farm was Dak's second favorite target last year, and that will be the case again in 2024. Kind of risky to spend $55 on a WR/TE combo from the same team, but their bye is early, and they are my only players off week 7. Kittle was priced as the TE9, and has bettered that the last 3 seasons. He hasn't finished below TE7 in PPG since his rookie season 7 years ago. Plus, I get to root for George Kittle! And here's a fun fact - no TE has more TD's over the last 4 years than Taysom Hill. If you can roster him as a TE, you do it. And if you can roster him as a TE in best ball, sit back and wait for the fireworks. Sure, he will put up a bunch of duds, but he will save your bacon from time to time. And if he gets extended play at QB, jackpot!
PK - Cameron Dicker - LAC/5 - $4, Joshua Karty - LAR/6 - $3
I did enough kicker research to realize there isn't a big difference in 2 cheapies versus 3, as long as they keep their jobs. And, as luck would have it, I found 2 cheapies with early byes I have faith in. Drafted rookie kickers are safer than you think. It's the undrafted ones, or the journeyman vets you have to worry about. As an added bonus, I got to make a homer pick of Dicker with a free dollar that was left over.
TD - Atlanta Falcons - ATL/12 - $3, Los Angeles Chargers - LAC/5 - $3
Playing against rookie QB's or turnover prone vets is really the only thing that matters in this scoring format. Sacks and INT's account for most of the D scoring, and they both have something in common - the opposing QB. Between these 2 teams, they get to feast on the following 6 QB's in the final 3 weeks - Gardner Minshew, Daniel Jones, Jayden Daniels, Baker Mayfield, Bo Nix, and Drake Maye.
to team 108353 ! Enjoy it while it lasts. If somehow that team survives week 6, it will likely have a great shot at surviving the rest of the season. 
ickle
