Drafting from: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
This is the first edition of our annual pick-by-pick series, and we changed it up a little this season. Instead of our usual two-man draft with my colleague Dave Richard, we made it a three-man league with Heath Cummings.
For those of you reading this series for the first time, this is an exercise we have done for the past several years at CBS Sports to give you a guide on how to draft from a particular draft slot in a 12-team league. Our first edition is for a standard league, and our PPR format will come out shortly. We'll also do another version of both formats during training camp.
We don't expect you to follow these teams exactly. I mean, you can if you like the rosters that much, but replicating them player for player is likely difficult. But you can see what players and, more importantly, what positions could be available in each round, depending on how you start your team.
We're starting at No. 1 overall here, and my No. 1 player is Le'Veon Bell. David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott are also in play at this spot in a standard league, but since Bell is healthy (he should be fine for training camp coming off groin surgery in March) and not dealing with a suspension, he has the highest ceiling of any player coming into this season.
We'll see how it works out, but the easy choice should be your first pick, even if you go with Johnson or Elliott over Bell since all three should be awesome. The tough choice is deciding on players at the Round 2-3 turn.
It's doubtful you'll get one of the top eight receivers at the end of Round 2, which includes Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, A.J. Green, Mike Evans, Jordy Nelson, Dez Bryant or T.Y. Hilton. Michael Thomas could fall to No. 24 overall, although it's doubtful, and you might not have a shot at Amari Cooper either.
The receivers you're likely choosing from are Doug Baldwin, DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Sammy Watkins, Demaryius Thomas, Terrelle Pryor or Allen Robinson. Rob Gronkowski could fall to this spot, and you also should have your choice of several running backs, including Todd Gurley, Leonard Fournette or Lamar Miller. And, if your league mates do the right thing and wait on quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady should also be available.
I wanted Baldwin or Gronkowski, but both went right before me at No. 22 and 23, respectively. I wasn't interested in a running back (Miller was the best available) or quarterback here, so my top choices at receiver were Hopkins and Adams. And I love this start since I now have arguably the best player in Bell and two top-15 receivers.
I recommend leaning toward receiver here unless Gronkowski is on the board or a standout running back lands in your lap, which could include Gurley or Fournette. You don't want to fall behind at receiver, and Hopkins has the chance to rebound this year thanks to (hopefully) improved quarterback play, while Adams had a third-year breakout campaign last season and should remain a standout Fantasy option in 2017.
Here is my team at No. 1 overall:
- 1.1 Le'Veon Bell, RB, PIT
- 2.24 DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU
- 3.25 Davante Adams, WR, GB
- 4.48 Golden Tate, WR, DET
- 5.49 Ameer Abdullah, RB, DET
- 6.72 Doug Martin, RB, TB
- 7.73 Kareem Hunt, RB, KC
- 8.96 Kyle Rudolph, TE, MIN
- 9.97 Quincy Enunwa, WR, NYJ
- 10.120 Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, TB
- 11.121 Kirk Cousins, QB, WAS
- 12.144 James Conner, RB, PIT
- 13.145 Justin Tucker, K, BAL
- 14.168 Steelers DST
You shouldn't panic at running back if you don't have a second one after your first three picks, and I went with another receiver in Round 4 with Tate. And now with my receiving corps in great shape with Hopkins, Adams and Tate, it was time to stockpile running backs, which I did with Abdullah, Martin and Hunt, starting in Round 5.
I love this running back corps, and I handcuffed Martin with Rodgers and Bell with Conner. I also waited on quarterback (Cousins) and tight end (Rudolph), and I'm excited about the outlook of this team.
Favorite pick: Doug Martin
Martin is suspended for the first three games, but the Buccaneers are still treating him as the starter heading into this season. And all the reports on him this offseason have been positive, which is great, because we've seen how good Martin can be when motivated (see his rookie year in 2012 and his contract year in 2015).
He was an easy selection in Round 6 given his upside and the need for my team, with only Bell and Abdullah on the roster at the time, and I made sure to get Rodgers as well. Tampa Bay should use Rodgers as the starter while Martin is out, and I'm hoping Martin is great from Week 4 on when his suspension is over.
Pick you might regret: DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins should improve this season simply with Brock Osweiler being gone and getting more consistent play at quarterback from either Tom Savage or Deshaun Watson. At least that's the theory. But you know the deal with Hopkins by now. In 2015, he was a Fantasy star with 111 catches for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns on 192 targets, but he struggled last year with 78 catches for 954 yards and four touchdowns on 150 targets.
I'm expecting him to be closer to 1,200 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, and he's worth drafting toward the end of Round 2 or beginning of Round 3, but there's always the risk that last year's woes continue to this year. I wanted Gronkowski at No. 24 overall, but Hopkins was the consolation prize. Hopefully, he delivers.
Player who could make or break your team: Ameer Abdullah
Heading into training camp, Abdullah is the starting running back with little competition.
Theo Riddick will steal playing time on passing downs, and someone out of Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington or Matt Asiata could work at the goal line. But Abdullah, who is healthy coming off last year's foot injury that cost him 14 games, should get the majority of work. And Detroit's offensive line should be improved with the free-agent additions of right tackle Rick Wagner and right guard T.J. Lang, even with left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) out for the start of the season.
I'm confident Abdullah can be a solid No. 2 Fantasy running back, but there's risk involved given his spotty track record over the past two years. The good news is I have Bell/Conner, Martin/Rodgers and Hunt to cover me, but this team could be excellent if Abdullah has a big year in 2017.
