Hair Optional League Start Up (2018) Draft
Draft Order
Sea of Japan
AXE Capital
KevinS’s Team
Skillfully Handsome
EatADickKevin 2.0
STEAMERS
80%Mental40%Physical
Brian’s Boss Team
Nothin Butt Fumble
Argos
Live Draft – August 23, 8:30pm Buffalo Wild Wings
Picking 1st Overall in a Start-Up 10 Team Dynasty Superflex PPR League
August 20, 2018
This is where I find myself drafting Thursday. The first overall pick in a superflex start up 10-Team dynasty fantasy football league. I am actually happy that we chose to make the draft later in August as opposed to earlier, some of the latest injuries could have crushed teams. A couple of the key league settings, 3 Wide Receivers, 1 superflex spot (QB/WR/RB/TE) and one flex spot (WR/RB/TE), 3 unique differences from most leagues. The first pick seems pretty straight forward, Todd Gurley. Then I sit and wait until the turn at 2.10, 3.1. My philosophy for most of this draft will be to wait on a quarterback and tight end, unless of course the value is there when I’m on the clock. I’ve approached almost every draft this season, MFL10, dynasty, redrafts with the same approach. After Gronk (ADP 21) and Kelce (ADP 27), I see a significant drop off in the tight end position. Most will argue to put Ertz and even Engram in the upper tier, I however will go best WR/RB on the board over these 2. At the end of the year will there be a substantial difference between TE3/4 and WR20 or RB20? I will roll the dice and take WR20 and RB20. If I leave the draft with 2 of the following, Ben Watson, Jake Butt, Eric Ebron or Austin Hooper, I will be better than A OK with it. When it comes to QB’s, I wouldn’t be at all shock if the likes of Rodgers and Watson were gone in round 2 or round 3 at the latest. Picking 2.10 and 3.1, it is impossible for me to go QB. I will be taking best available WR/RB here. Here I would be looking at Green, Adams, Freeman, Gronk, Evans based on ADP or Kelce, Evans, Green, Gronk, Hunt based on my projections. Getting any of the top 2 WR’s in either group would be a great top 3 with Gurley. I’m going to wish on the stars here, and hope that 2 guys in front of me reach for a QB and the likes of Cook or Allen could fall in this group. I am very high on both of these players going into the season, and will attempt to trade back up in round 2. Been shopping the idea for 2.10 and a 2019 2nd to move up. I haven’t had any luck yet but there hasn’t been a trade yet in this league, and I’m sure once the first trade is done, the flood gates will open, so let’s see how this goes.
About half the league I have drafted with before in a similar format, I’m still unsure if this is an advantage or a disadvantage. Some guys I can predict when they will reach and who they will reach for, some guys will have a strong opinion on what my moves might be. I won’t be hung up on youth and getting a top 5 quarterback, this will be my advantage as I will be able to shift and change gears as the draft transpires. This league is hosted on yahoo and the way that yahoo has buried Hunter Henry and Darrius Guice, I would love to grab these guys in the later rounds, 14th or later would be well worth the roster spot, which turns into an IR spot when the season starts, this league has 2 IR spots.
I look forward to what should be an exciting night of drafting. Updates will be posted weekly for this league.
Updated: August 20, 2018
Before I can even publish, I get an incising offer from the owner drafting 4th overall. He offers his 1.4 and 2019 2nd and 3rd for 1.1. Before I hit accept, I shop around my idea of trading 2.10 to move up and package that with a 2019 2nd to see if i can get a bite. I was able to get 2.4 for 2.10 and a 2019 3rd, my second round mission is accomplished at a much lower price. So I hit up the owner drafting 4th and take him up on that offer. Essentially trading Todd Gurley and 2.10 for one of Bell/Barkley or Johnson, 2.4 overall and a 2019 2nd round pick. This league just got a whole lot more fun.
Updated: August 22, 2018
Well it’s the night before the draft and things seem to be calm, guys at the top want to trade down, guys at the end want to move up. No one can find that market value. There have only been the 2 trades which involved myself 2 nights ago. Should be a fun next 24 hours, I would assume #10 will pony up and over pay to get in the top 3. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was for 1.1 which I traded. All I’ll do tonight is charge my laptop and wait for the text messages tomorrow. The update Friday should be a fun one to write.
Draft Recap
As expected, the text messages started flowing as draft time approached. 25 minutes prior to the first pick, it was traded yet again. This time Skillfully Handsome (who recently acquired the pick from myself) moved it to KevinS’s team for a modest upgrade in rounds 3 and 4. The trade was 1.3, 3.3 and 5.3 for 1.1, 3.4 and 5.4. It was more surprising that Kevin’s was able to acquire the pick as much as it was for skillfully to trade away. As Ekekiel Elliot went 2nd overall to Axe Capital, Team Argos had to get his hands on him. Although he couldn’t get him right away, he used his first pick, Odell Beckham Jr to put together a package. In the end it was Zeke, 9.2 and 10.9 in exchange for OBJ, 5.10 and 7.10.
Once the first round was concluded, the draft started to fly. The guys live were ready, the guys online were using their que’s to move the draft along.
Running backs dominated the first round, Gurley, Zeke and Barkley, the first 3 picks. The first wide receiver off the board was chosen by myself at 4th, Antonio Brown. A last second change at 5, saw Bell go just ahead of David Johnson. You could almost see Steamers dancing online as DJ fell in his lap at 5.
Draft Results
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | ||||||||||||||
| 1.1 | KevinS’s Team | Todd Gurley | RB | LAR | 2.1 | Argos | Odell Beckham Jr | WR | NYG | 3.1 | Sea of Japan | Mike Evans | WR | TB | ||
| 1.2 | Axe Capital | Ezekiel Elliott | RB | DAL | 2.2 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Julio Jones | WR | ATL | 3.2 | Axe Capital | AJ Green | WR | CIN | ||
| 1.3 | Skillfully Handsome | Saquon Barkley | RB | NYG | 2.3 | Ric Flair | Keenan Allen | WR | LAC | 3.3 | Skillfully Handsome | Deshaun Watson | QB | HOU | ||
| 1.4 | Sea of Japan | Antonio Brown | WR | PIT | 2.4 | Sea of Japan | Dalvin Cook | RB | MIN | 3.4 | KevinS’s Team | Russell Wilson | QB | SEA | ||
| 1.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Le’Veon Bell | RB | PIT | 2.5 | STEAMERS | Davante Adams | WR | GB | 3.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Stefon Diggs | WR | MIN | ||
| 1.6 | STEAMERS | David Johnson | RB | ARI | 2.6 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Rob Gronkowski | TE | NE | 3.6 | STEAMERS | Travis Kelce | TE | KC | ||
| 1.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Alvin Kamara | RB | NO | 2.7 | Skillfully Handsome | Leonard Fournette | RB | JAX | 3.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Devonta Freeman | RB | ATL | ||
| 1.8 | Ric Flair | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | HOU | 2.8 | KevinS’s Team | Aaron Rodgers | QB | GB | 3.8 | Ric Flair | Jerick McKinnon | RB | SF | ||
| 1.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Kareem Hunt | RB | KC | 2.9 | Axe Capital | Christan McCaffrey | RB | CAR | 3.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Jordan Howard | RB | CHI | ||
| 1.10 | Argos | Melvin Gordon | RB | LAC | 2.10 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Michael Thomas | WR | NO | 3.10 | Argos | Tyreek Hill | WR | KC | ||
| Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | ||||||||||||||
| 4.1 | Argos | Cam Newton | QB | CAR | 5.1 | Sea of Japan | Jarvis Landry | WR | CLE | 6.1 | Argos | Matthew Stafford | QB | DET | ||
| 4.2 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Amari Cooper | WR | OAK | 5.2 | Axe Capital | Josh Gordon | WR | CLE | 6.2 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Evan Engram | TE | NYG | ||
| 4.3 | Ric Flair | Zach Ertz | TE | PHI | 5.3 | Skillfully Handsome | Andrew Luck | QB | IND | 6.3 | Ric Flair | Tom Brady | QB | NE | ||
| 4.4 | 80%Mental40%Physical | TY Hilton | WR | IND | 5.4 | KevinS’s Team | Corey Davis | WR | TEN | 6.4 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Brandin Cooks | WR | LAR | ||
| 4.5 | STEAMERS | Royce Freeman | RB | DEN | 5.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Allen Robinson | WR | CHI | 6.5 | STEAMERS | Rashaad Penny | RB | SEA | ||
| 4.6 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Joe Mixon | RB | CIN | 5.6 | STEAMERS | Carson Wentz | QB | PHI | 6.6 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Jimmy Garoppolo | QB | SF | ||
| 4.7 | Skillfully Handsome | Juju Smith-Schuster | WR | PIT | 5.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Jay Ajayi | RB | PHI | 6.7 | Skillfully Handsome | Trey Burton | TE | CHI | ||
| 4.8 | KevinS’s Team | Adam Thielen | WR | MIN | 5.8 | Ric Flair | Kenyan Drake | RB | MIA | 6.8 | KevinS’s Team | Alshon Jeffery | WR | PHI | ||
| 4.9 | Axe Capital | Doug Baldwin | WR | SEA | 5.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Golden Tate | WR | DET | 6.9 | Axe Capital | Kerryon Johnson | RB | DET | ||
| 4.10 | Sea of Japan | Alex Collins | RB | BAL | 5.10 | Axe Capital | Demaryius Thomas | WR | DEN | 6.10 | Sea of Japan | Jamison Crowder | WR | WAS | ||
| Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | ||||||||||||||
| 7.1 | Sea of Japan | Derrick Henry | RB | TEN | 8.1 | Argos | Jimmy Graham | TE | GB | 9.1 | Sea of Japan | Nick Chubb | RB | CLE | ||
| 7.2 | Axe Capital | Drew Brees | QB | NO | 8.2 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Carlos Hyde | RB | CLE | 9.2 | Argos | Lamar Miller | RB | HOU | ||
| 7.3 | KevinS’s Team | Sammy Watkins | WR | KC | 8.3 | Ric Flair | Mark Ingram | RB | NO | 9.3 | KevinS’s Team | Derrius Guice | RB | WAS | ||
| 7.4 | Skillfully Handsome | Chris Hogan | WR | NE | 8.4 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Kirk Cousins | QB | MIN | 9.4 | Skillfully Handsome | David Kjoku | TE | CLE | ||
| 7.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Patrick Mahomes | QB | KC | 8.5 | STEAMERS | Mike Williams | WR | LAC | 9.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Ronald Jones | RB | TB | ||
| 7.6 | STEAMERS | Rex Burkhead | WR | NE | 8.6 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Robert Woods | WR | LAR | 9.6 | STEAMERS | Emmanuel Sanders | WR | DEN | ||
| 7.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Greg Olsen | TE | CAR | 8.7 | Skillfully Handsome | DJ Moore | WR | CAR | 9.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Devin Funchess | WR | CAR | ||
| 7.8 | Ric Flair | Larry Fitzgerald | WR | ARI | 8.8 | KevinS’s Team | Marvin Jones | WR | DET | 9.8 | Ric Flair | Ben Roethlisberger | QB | PIT | ||
| 7.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Marquise Goodwin | WR | SF | 8.9 | Axe Capital | Sony Michel | RB | NE | 9.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Derek Carr | QB | OAK | ||
| 7.10 | Axe Capital | LeSean McCoy | RB | BUF | 8.10 | Sea of Japan | Cooper Kupp | WR | LAR | 9.10 | Argos | Jordy Nelson | WR | OAK | ||
| Round 10 | Round 11 | Round 12 | ||||||||||||||
| 10.1 | Argos | Sterling Shepard | WR | NYG | 11.1 | Sea of Japan | Hunter Henry | TE | LAC | 12.1 | Argos | Baker Mayfield | QB | CLE | ||
| 10.2 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Tyler Eifert | TE | CIN | 11.2 | Axe Capital | Julian Edelman | WR | NE | 12.2 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Cameron Meredith | WR | NO | ||
| 10.3 | Ric Flair | Dion Lewis | RB | TEN | 11.3 | KevinS’s Team | Jared Goff | QB | LAR | 12.3 | Ric Flair | Jamaal Williams | WR | GB | ||
| 10.4 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Will Fuller | WR | HOU | 11.4 | Skillfully Handsome | Marcus Mariota | QB | TEN | 12.4 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Kyle Rudolph | TE | MIN | ||
| 10.5 | STEAMERS | Robby Anderson | WR | NYJ | 11.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Chris Carson | RB | SEA | 12.5 | STEAMERS | Jordan Reed | TE | WAS | ||
| 10.6 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Nelson Agholor | WR | PHI | 11.6 | STEAMERS | Marshawn Lynch | RB | OAK | 12.6 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Dak Prescott | QB | DAL | ||
| 10.7 | Skillfully Handsome | John Brown | WR | BAL | 11.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Matt Ryan | QB | ATL | 12.7 | Skillfully Handsome | Mike Gesicki | TE | MIA | ||
| 10.8 | KevinS’s Team | Tevin Coleman | RB | ATL | 11.8 | Ric Flair | Michael Crabtree | WR | BAL | 12.8 | KevinS’s Team | Randall Cobb | WR | GB | ||
| 10.9 | Argos | Calvin Ridley | WR | ATL | 11.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Isaiah Crowell | RB | NYJ | 12.9 | Axe Capital | Kelvin Benjamin | WR | BUF | ||
| 10.10 | Sea of Japan | Aaron Jones | RB | GB | 11.10 | Argos | Tarik Cohen | RB | CHI | 12.10 | Sea of Japan | Anthony Miller | WR | CHI | ||
| Round 13 | Round 14 | Round 15 | ||||||||||||||
| 13.1 | Sea of Japan | George Kittle | TE | SF | 14.1 | Argos | Justin Tucker | K | BAL | 15.1 | Sea of Japan | Jordan Wilkins | RB | IND | ||
| 13.2 | Axe Capital | Jameis Winston | QB | TB | 14.2 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Tyler Lockett | WR | SEA | 15.2 | Axe Capital | Ty Montgomery | RB | GB | ||
| 13.3 | KevinS’s Team | Delaine Walker | TE | TEN | 14.3 | Ric Flair | Jack Doyle | TE | IND | 15.3 | KevinS’s Team | Pierre Garcon | WR | SF | ||
| 13.4 | Skillfully Handsome | DeVante Parker | WR | MIA | 14.4 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Jacksonville | DEF | JAX | 15.4 | Skillfully Handsome | OJ Howard | TE | SF | ||
| 13.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Marqise Lee | WR | DAL | 14.5 | STEAMERS | Philadelphia | DEF | PHI | 15.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Corey Clement | RB | PHI | ||
| 13.6 | STEAMERS | Philip Rivers | QB | LAC | 14.6 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Greg Zuerlein | K | LAR | 15.6 | STEAMERS | Courtland Sutton | WR | DEN | ||
| 13.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Kenny Stills | WR | MIA | 14.7 | Skillfully Handsome | Andy Dalton | QB | CIN | 15.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Blake Bortles | QB | JAX | ||
| 13.8 | Ric Flair | Alex Smith | QB | WAS | 14.8 | KevinS’s Team | Marlon Mack | RB | IND | 15.8 | Ric Flair | Allen Hurns | WR | DAL | ||
| 13.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Eli Manning | QB | NYG | 14.9 | Axe Capital | Mitchell Trubisky | QB | CHI | 15.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Peyton Barber | RB | TB | ||
| 13.10 | Argos | Michael Gallup | WR | DAL | 14.10 | Sea of Japan | Minnesota | DEF | MIN | 15.10 | Argos | Los Angeles | DEF | LAR | ||
| Round 16 | Round 17 | Round 18 | ||||||||||||||
| 16.1 | Argos | Hayden Hurst | TE | BAL | 17.1 | Sea of Japan | Ryan Tannehill | QB | MIA | 18.1 | Argos | Mohamed Sanu | WR | ATL | ||
| 16.2 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Danny Amendola | WR | MIA | 17.2 | Axe Capital | Los Angeles | DEF | LAC | 18.2 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Carolina | DEF | CAR | ||
| 16.3 | Ric Flair | Kenny Golladay | WR | DET | 17.3 | KevinS’s Team | Case Keenum | QB | DEN | 18.3 | Ric Flair | Will Lutz | K | NO | ||
| 16.4 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Devontae Booker | RB | DEN | 17.4 | Skillfully Handsome | Harrison Butker | K | KC | 18.4 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Dan Bailey | K | DAL | ||
| 16.5 | STEAMERS | James Washington | WR | PIT | 17.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Geronimo Allison | WR | GB | 18.5 | STEAMERS | Antonio Callaway | WR | CLE | ||
| 16.6 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Houston | DEF | HOU | 17.6 | STEAMERS | D’Onta Foreman | RB | HOU | 18.6 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Eric Ebron | TE | IND | ||
| 16.7 | Skillfully Handsome | Josh Doctson | WR | WAS | 17.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Dede Westbrook | WR | JAX | 18.7 | Skillfully Handsome | Dez Bryant | WR | DAL | ||
| 16.8 | KevinS’s Team | Stephen Gostkowski | K | NE | 17.8 | Ric Flair | Denver | DEF | DEN | 18.8 | KevinS’s Team | Paul Richardson | WR | WAS | ||
| 16.9 | Axe Capital | Duke Johnson | RB | CLE | 17.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Matt Prater | K | DET | 18.9 | Axe Capital | Chris Godwin | WR | TB | ||
| 16.10 | Sea of Japan | Matt Breida | RB | SF | 17.10 | Argos | Rishard Matthews | WR | TEN | 18.10 | Sea of Japan | Joe Flacco | QB | BAL | ||
| Round 19 | ||||||||||||||||
| 19.1 | Sea of Japan | Jake Butt | TE | DEN | ||||||||||||
| 19.2 | Axe Capital | Ben Watson | TE | NO | ||||||||||||
| 19.3 | KevinS’s Team | Baltimore | DEF | BAL | ||||||||||||
| 19.4 | Skillfully Handsome | Atlanta | DEF | ATL | ||||||||||||
| 19.5 | EatADickKevin 2.0 | Corey Coleman | WR | BUF | ||||||||||||
| 19.6 | STEAMERS | Jake Elliot | K | PHI | ||||||||||||
| 19.7 | 80%Mental40%Physical | Sam Darnold | QB | BUF | ||||||||||||
| 19.8 | Ric Flair | Austin Ekeler | RB | LAC | ||||||||||||
| 19.9 | Nothin Butt Fumble | Keelan Cole | WR | JAX | ||||||||||||
| 19.10 | Argos | Tyrod Taylor | QB | CLE | ||||||||||||
Some notable decisions, skillfully handsome has 4 of the youngest tight ends on their team and defiantly seemed to be drafting with the future in mind. The strangest turn was at 9, 10. Argos went Jordy Nelson and Sterling Shepard. A questionable older receiver and what could be option 4 for the giants. These picks were made with Fuller, Anderson, Agholor and even Edelman on the board. Will be curious to see how this turns out. Probably the most surprising result of the draft, was myself going zero quarterback in a superflex league. My intent the entire draft was wait on QB, and look for Rivers, Eli and/or Dalton late. Rivers and Eli went what I thought was early, 13th round and to teams as 3rd quarterbacks. This is when I gave up on a QB and would look to trade for one after the draft. I drafted Flacco and Tannehill in the 17th and 18th rounds. I’m not sold on Lamar Jackson playing this year. I’ll be streaming and studying the wire almost all season now for a quarterback. Josh Allen is a notable free agent. Kevin going back to back quarterback very early (2nd – Rodgers, 3rd – Wilson) seemed to surprise everyone at the draft. We all figured Aaron Rodgers would be picked early, but would the manager drafting Rodgers actually take a QB with their next pick. So he’s top 4 picks were Gurley, Rodgers, Wilson, Mixon, RB, QB, QB, RB. He’ll start the season with Allen Robinson and Alshon Jeffrey as his starting wide receivers. Axe Capital pulled what I will call the steal of the draft. In a superflex league he was able to drive Drew Brees in the 7thRound, I have extreme high expectations for Brees this season. Hosted on Yahoo, Yahoo likes to send out report cards, the defending back to back champion, Ric Flair was given an A. Take that for what it’s worth as some of us did not draft a kicker and/or defense.
Leading up to Week 1
The day after the draft, I basically sent out quarterback offers for the Eli and Rivers owners. I was able to get the Eli owner to bite. It might have a cost a bite much for me. Flacco and a 2019 3rd for Eli. It was important to me to try and grab one of these QB’s before the season started. I couldn’t risk an injury to a QB and the waiver wire being depleted.
I was able to pull off another deal. This time it was for TY Hilton and Matty Ice. I sent Mike Evans and Anthony Miller the other way. I finally have 2 quarterbacks I can ride most of the year.
In another blockbuster trade, OBJ saw himself join a 3rd team before we even got to week 1. This time Axe Capital packaged OBJ, Shady McCoy, Newly waiver acquisition AP and a first Round pick in 2019’s Rookie draft to KevinEatsDick 2.0 for Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs. Many in the league thought this was a giant steal for KevinEatADick 2.0, I loved the move for Axe Capital. He essential moved OBJ and 2 Running backs who could be playing their last year for a WR1 and RB1 with tons of upside. I think where this first round pick falls will decide the real winner.
In a smaller trade that was completely over shadowed by the OBJ trade, KevinEatADick 2.0 was involved in another. This time he sent Patrick Mahomes to Steamers straight up for Carson Wentz. In a superflex league it’s not the norm to see this many quarterbacks traded before week 1. This trade really boiled down to one GM not having any confidence that Wentz would be healthy and the other willing to take that risk. 1 week later, it’s announced that Wentz will not play Week 1.