In Part 1 of this series I discussed my pre-draft trades, where my main goal was to acquire as many draft picks as possible. In smaller leagues I’d normally try and trade up for earlier picks, but in a league this deep (32 teams, 53 man rosters) the hit rate for each pick becomes so low that I see it as a better option to have a higher quantity of picks. I also wanted to have more picks because the salaries of rookies are lower than what I will have to pay in free agency, so I will use that to fill out the depth on my roster.

When it came to my strategy for the draft itself I had a very clear plan: go all-in on defense. Even though I didn’t know the drafting habits of the other people in the league, defensive players are always under drafted compared to offensive players, so I felt fairly certain that I could get good value on most of my picks. The downside to defensive players is that they are typically more inconsistent, but they are also more likely to make an impact as rookies (RBs are the only players on offense that make a similar impact). Last year Darius Leonard was far and away the best LB in fantasy and scored almost 25% more points than the second best, Derwin James finished as the 2nd highest scoring safety, furthermore, 3 rookie LBs finished in the top 9 and 3 rookie safeties finished in the top 12, so the chances of finding a top player at these positions should be much easier than at WR where Calvin Ridley was the best rookie in 2018 and he finished 25th at the position (only 3 rookie WRs finished in the top 53). In contrast, 3 rookie TEs finished in the top 19 (although fewer players are started at this position) and 3 CBs finished in the top 24.

15th overall pick: Devin Bush – Linebacker – Pittsburgh Steelers

My first pick in the draft was 15th overall and only offensive players had come off the board at this point. I was basically choosing between Devin Bush (LB) and Devin White (LB) at this point, but Devin Singletary was also in consideration because I’m very weak at RB. I think both LBs could finish in the top 10 as rookies, so I see that as much better value than Singletary, who I realistically think could just sneak into the top 30. I have Bush and White ranked almost equally so it was a tough choice, but I eventually went with Bush because I think he has slightly higher upside.

47th overall pick: Ryquell Armstead – Runningback – Jacksonville Jaguars

I think there are far more talented running backs in this class, but Armsteads road to playing time is shorter than most. Leonard Fournette seems to always get hurt, and Armstead should be able to beat Alfred Blue and Thomas Rawls to the primary backup spot.

Josh Oliver (TE) and Jonathan Abram (S) had been my primary targets with this pick, but both were selected right ahead of me.

78th overall pick: Jachai Polite – Linebacker – New York Jets

The Jets had a need at outside linebacker and filled it with Polite in the draft, so I think he’s going to see significant playing time very early in his career. His draft stock fell because of a horrible combine, but I don’t believe that makes him a worse player when he’s already produced on the field. I had hoped he would be a defensive end in fantasy, because it’s a bigger need for me and because he will be playing more as an edge rusher, which limits his potential number of tackles. However, I think the fact that he’s going to see the field early makes him a decent value in the 3rd round.

79th overall pick: Marquise Blair – Safety – Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks lost Earl Thomas in free agency and Blair appears to have been drafted as the long term replacement. Neither Tedric Thompson nor Delano Hill have impressed in their first 2 seasons, so I think Blair will take over at some point in his rookie season and hopefully become a full time started from 2020. From a fantasy perspective he will be depending on big plays because he’ll play as free safety, so he won’t get the tackle numbers of a starting strong safety.

106th overall pick: Sean Bunting – Cornerback – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Starting spots in the entire Buccaneers’ secondary seems to be up for grabs (perhaps except for one starting cornerback spot that in occupied by Vernon Hargreaves) and hopefully Bunting can cement his place as a starter on the outside. Rookie corners will often be targeted heavily, which would give him a high fantasy ceiling, but at this point in the draft most players are longshots to contribute much from day 1.

111th overall pick: Maxx Crosby – Defensive End – Oakland Raiders

Crosby will have to compete with second year player Arden Key (who by no means impressed as a rookie) to start opposite 4th overall pick Clelin Ferrell, so he should have potential to contribute as a rookie, on what is a big position of need both for the Raiders and for my fantasy team.

125th overall pick: Trysten Hill – Defensive Tackle – Dallas Cowboys

I’ll openly admit that I only drafted Hill because of his draft pedigree. The Cowboys must see something in him when they drafted him with their first pick of the draft (in the 2nd round), but they have a strong defensive line so I don’t have hopes for him to contribute any time soon.

139th overall pick: Jimmy Moreland – Cornerback – Washington Redskins

I had Moreland as the best pick of the 7th round in the draft and hopefully he can also become the best pick in the last round of this fantasy draft. The Redskins have a weakness at cornerback and Moreland was one of the better slot corners in this years draft. If he becomes a starter he should see plenty of targets as a 7th round rookie.

Overall I was very happy with what I got from this draft, in spite of not have any extra picks in the early rounds. I think I executed my strategy as well I could have wanted and I mostly got players that I have a very optimistic outlook on.