Editor's Note: Recenlty
members of the FFToday Board completed their annual June Mock draft.
This mock will be played out in a best ball format (no transactions,
no free agent pickups, no trades) ... properly named the "No-Hassle
League." View the round-by-round
results here. Below is the commissioner's analysis of each team.
Analysis: Back in the day, putting together
a fantasy football contender often meant going RB-RB with your
first two picks at a position where value was scarce. This is
a throw-back to that philosophy and it's easily justifiable based
on the fantasy comeback that rushers enjoyed last season. The
choice of Robinson was not clear cut but certainly respected as
conventional wisdom is just to pick the top RB from the year before
and be done with it. The gamble that Wonder took in constructing
this team became obvious then the moment Brock Bowers came off
the board at 3.01. That meant that 47 picks were going to come
and go before a wide receiver was added to this roster. Still,
the strength of this team (rushing) was further bolstered by getting
Alvin Kamara to begin the fifth round. Even in a non-PPR draft,
that seemed like a huge steal to me. In a best ball format, no
team is likely to outscore this one from the RB spot barring an
injury. The question becomes whether or not enough support is
present from players at other positions.
Key to No-Hassle Success: When you wait until
10.12 to grab your first quarterback, getting production from
that position would normally be noted as a key to success, but
I think the duo of Fields and Purdy will be sufficient in the
No-Hassle format and so I think Wonder has three of the four main
positions in a good place coming out of this draft. It's just
going to come down to whether or not the receiving corps drags
the rest of the team down, and I'm not saying that they will.
Rice is coming off injury, but that's not the only question mark
to consider. Calvin Ridley has a new/rookie QB throwing him the
ball, Travis Hunter is a rookie himself, and Stefon Diggs is coming
off an injury and on a new team. Finally, Keenan Allen doesn't
even have a team at the moment. That group may have potential,
but there's also some disaster potential there.
Favorite Pick: There were two picks in the draft
that I really loved. First, Alvin Kamara fell too far in this
draft. Yes, the Saints are likely to be awful, but what a RB3
to have on your roster. Based on last season, I think there's
still gas left in that tank and even if New Orleans ends up signing
another veteran RB this summer, Kamara is a bargain at 5.01. Also,
as Wonder predicted, I did love the QB combo that he ended up
with. Fields and Purdy are a very nice pairing in a best ball
format with one having a high ceiling and the other a high floor.
Least Favorite Pick: Breece Hall scares me this
season with a new coaching staff in place and no commitment having
been granted yet beyond this season. I probably would have passed
on him at 2.12. I also think Diggs comes with lots of risk, so
he's a do-not-draft guy for me.
Overall Outlook: I really like this team overall.
I don't think it's my favorites (more on that later), but I do
think on the weeks that the receivers hit, Wonder is going to
be top-3 in scoring. Some might think drafting Hunter is something
of a desperation move, it's also the kind of pick that can catapult
a team into much greater success, especially when points are not
based in receiving volume. The second half of this draft saw Wonder
pick a lot of guys who are past their prime and I'm always a little
wary of that, but the first half of the draft was the opposite.
All in all, this could be a formidable group and it will be fun
to see how they perform together.
Analysis: Shovel had to feel good about Saquon Barkley dropping
to 1.02 and it probably took mere seconds after he saw him available
to type in his name as the pick. Beyond Barkley, there were picks
that I questioned -- not so much for the quality of the player,
but the draft spot used to take them. The QB duo is certainly
top tier, but is Joe Burrow worth a second-round pick, particularly
with Mahomes and Mayfield having lasted until the seventh round
and Lamar Jackson still available? Further, the RBs on the roster
behind Barkley aren't going to scare anyone. RJ Harvey is in a
timeshare with J.K. Dobbins and while rookies often take over
as the season wears on, Dobbins could prove difficult to overtake
if he can stay healthy. Further, D'Andre Swift is a tenuous RB2
in my estimation as Chicago's coaching staff may take things in
a different direction. And, the only RB beyond Harvey and Swift
is Sampson who may rarely see the field. Taking Burrow so early
may have handcuffed this team. That said, there were things I
liked, which I will get into in a bit.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Burrow and Herbert are going to shine
more weeks than not as the duo at the top of Shovel's roster.
Like Wonder, though, this team's second WR was not taken until
the end of the sixth round, which seems late to me. That forces
Terry McLaurin to be a true WR1 for fantasy purposes and I don't
think McLaurin can carry that water. But, if I am wrong and McLaurin
has a career year, this team could be just fine. It's the selections
of McLaurin and Swift that will make or break this team. Both
have dynamic offensive coaching guiding the process and there's
a lot to be said for that. Addison also needs to avoid an early
season suspension for off-field conduct to keep the cupboard stocked
at wide receiver.
Favorite Pick: Getting the top running back from the previous
year makes the first-round pick one of value, but I also felt
the 9/10 picks for Shovel were fantastic. Shakir has Josh Allen's
trust and I can't help but think he'll pick up 6-8 catches per
week this year with a number of touchdowns thrown in. Further,
I think there will be several weeks where Herbert is the QB with
the most points on this roster. And even though he comes with
plenty of unknowns, Harvey was good value at 7.02.
Least Favorite Pick: This was too early for Joe Burrow. I can't
really fuss about it too much as Burrow has a chance to throw
for 5,000 yards and a ton of TDs, but Mahomes or Mayfield in the
seventh would have allowed Shovel to add another star at RB or
WR.
Overall Outlook: When Barkley has a big week, this team will
perform well, but there's a lot of pressure on him to do that.
There no clear-cut WR1 on the roster and it's debatable whether
Addison and Reed can even be serviceable as WR3s. In the end,
does Burrow's early selection give this team that many more fantasy
points than what Wonder will get out of Fields/Purdy? Maybe, but
maybe not. Counting on McLaurin and Swift for big roles is risky.
Then again, maybe all McLaurin ever needed was something great
at the QB position. Shovel has put an interesting plan in place
here. We'll see how it works out.
Analysis: Considering that Jahmyr Gibbs and Josh Allen are sure
things in terms of being top-3 at their respective positions,
I like how this draft started out for Worm. One could argue that
since I wasn't high on the selection of Burrow at 2.11, I shouldn't
be excited about the pick of Allen at 2.10, but I do think Josh
is in a different tier based on his ability to run and score on
the ground. Beyond Gibbs and Allen, it's sort of a mixed bag.
Once again, I am always a wary of taking too many players whose
career arch is on its way down and that could describe both Tyreek
Hill and Aaron Jones. However, Hill is and always has been a freak
of nature and a bounce back year for him remains well within the
realm of possibility. As for Jones, his career is likely in twilight,
but he's also running behind an elite offensive line and that
should help his YPC stay strong. Further, Worm did a great job
of mixing in youth and upside with a few proven, high-floor vets.
Quinshon Judkins, Matthew Golden, and Michael Penix Jr. represent
the former while Jakobi Meyers and Austin Ekeler define the latter.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Two players stand out to me. The first
is Hill who many have going much later than 3.03 after a somewhat
disgruntled off-season. The second is Judkins who could end up
a massive steal at his draft position given that Nick Chubb has
signed with the Texans. If neither Hill nor Judkins pan out, I
think this is probably a middle-of-the-pack team given its other
components. If one hits and one misses, cracking the top five
then becomes more probable. If, Hill ends up a top 6-8 guy once
again AND Judkins finishes in the 10-15 range in terms of points
scored by RBs, this team is a title contender. There were too
many other quality picks whose value is safe to suggest otherwise.
Favorite Pick: Worm’s picks at 6.10 (Judkins) and 7.03
(Xavier Worthy) felt like a place where he separated from the
pack. How Worthy could fall to 7.03 seems insane to me after what
we witnessed at times from him last year. I regretted not taking
Worthy in Round 6. I also really liked the selections of Penix
and Ekeler late. That duo isn't going to win you a title by any
means, but the consistency both are likely to achieve makes each
of them valuable. Tight ends on this team are well paired also.
Least Favorite Pick: I thought both Hill and Sutton might have
been taken a bit early and would have likely taken other WRs in
those spots, but it's hard to argue with either pick, given history
and present-day opportunity. Honestly, it was hard to find a pick
made by Worm that I didn't like.
Overall Outlook: This is one of my favorite teams coming out
of this draft and I know the early selection of Allen could prove
costly if Hill and Jones don't pan out, but something tells me
that both guys have something left in the tank. If they do, the
Allen/Gibbs/Jones/Hill quartet could be formidable with Worm leading
the league in weekly scoring on multiple occasions. Truth be told,
even if you think Hill and Sutton went a bit early as I do, Worthy
and Meyers are such fantastic depth at the position that it should
all work out from a No-Hassle standpoint. There is no such thing
as a perfect team coming out of such a competitive draft, but
this team that worm assembled is about as close as you can get.
Analysis: After looking at two teams who selected a QB early,
we are back to a team who waited to grab signal callers and stockpiled
some great talent at RB and WR as a result. It's hard not to see
the similarities between this team and Wonder's team given that
both went RB-RB to start and then added a third RB in the 5th
round who profiles more as an ideal RB2 than a RB3. Despite Ashton
Jeanty being taken so early and being a rookie, the trio of Jeanty,
Bucky Irving, and Kenneth Walker is just as strong as Wonder's
trio. And, it's hard not to argue that Matt out-did Wonder in
assembling WRs with London and Moore looking more like legit WR1
and WR2 prospects than Rice and Ridley. The primary difference
is that Wonder did pick up the consensus top TE (Bowers) while
Matt has perhaps the weakest TE duo in this league. A lesser TE
room doesn't always harm overall output, but it is something to
keep an eye on. As for the Dak/Caleb combo at QB, I think that
may end up working out great.
Key to No-Hassle Success: First, Jeanty will have to live up
to the hype -- that being a 300-touch RB who can find the end
zone more weeks than not. I know he looks like a "can't miss"
player, but until the flower actually blooms, it's just a seed.
Elsewhere, one has to wonder if D.J. Moore can hold off Rome Odunze
for top spot in a revamped Chicago offense. Adding Loveland and
Burden to the mix could also dilute Moore's value. Finally, Walker
needs to stay healthy and one of either George Pickens or Jerry
Jeudy needs to out-play their draft position. All of that represents
a wider range of outcomes than the first three teams noted, but
the upside of this group is largely undeniable.
Favorite Pick: How can you not love getting Drake London at 3.04!
I was stunned that he fell that far. London could easily be a
top-5 WR this year and I can't help but wonder if Shovel and Worm
will regret passing on him to select McLaurin and Hill. Further,
I really like the QB duo that Matt ended up. The Cowboys, given
their unwillingness to seriously address the RB position, are
going to have to throw a ton this season and Caleb Wiliams has
enormous upside in Ben Johnson's offensive scheme.
Least Favorite Pick: I am skeptical about whether or not Tucker
Kraft (9.04) can have the impact that he had last season. I think
Kraft and Strange represent the weakest TE duo in the No-Hassle
league.
Overall Outlook: I expect good things out of
this team if a couple of the keys to success end up panning out.
Bucky Irving has hardly been mentioned, but I like him as a RB2
much more than Breece Hall and I also like London as a WR1 much
more than Tyreek Hill or McLaurin. Would I rather have Barkley,
Robinson, or Gibbs at RB as opposed to Jeanty? Of course, but
Jeanty does represent a player whose ceiling cannot be projected
yet and it will be exciting to see how high that ceiling ends
up being. While there are minor concerns here, I really like Matt's
team overall and expect he'll be a contender for another No-Hassle
title if health holds up.
Analysis: The foundation of this team are two players with the
same name (Chase) on the same team (Cincinnati). An argument could
be made, even in a non-PPR league/draft, that Ja'Marr Chase should
be the top overall pick given that the presence of Tee Higgins
keeps defenses honest. Chase is in prime of his career and it's
hard not to love what he will do when the match-up greatly favors
the Bengals offense. As for Chase Brown, 2.08 seemed a bit early,
but his closing stretch last year was impressive. All in all,
this is not one of my favorite RB rooms as Joe Mixon carries a
lot of miles into this season and has Chubb challenging him for
touches. Throw in Rhamondre Stevenson's lack of efficiency and
you've got a RB group that's miles behind what Matt and Wonder
have in place. That said, Lamar Jackson makes up for a lot of
inefficiencies and he seems like such a steal here. There is a
good overall mix of youth and experience beyond those early picks.
Key to No-Hassle Success: With Lamar at QB and Chase as the ultimate
WR1, the running backs on this team don’t have to be special
in order to enjoy great success. That said, they do have to remain
in the 5-8 range in terms of production at the position. I am
also not sold on the best ball capabilities of the WR corps beyond
Chase. DeVonta Smith is boom-or-bust most weeks and Cooper Kupp's
ability to still be productive is a question mark. While Darnell
Mooney made a lot of sense late, he is more high-floor than high-ceiling
and there is no guarantee Kyle Williams will achieve anything
as a rookie. Jackson and Chase are fantasy superstars, but the
supporting cast on this team has me more than a little concerned.
Upside of the team as a whole appears limited.
Favorite Pick: If you had told me before the draft I could land
Chase and Lamar at 1.05 and 3.05, I would have been ecstatic.
No matter how I feel about the rest of this team, it is difficult
to imagine two better outcomes for those two selections. Further,
I know he's on a bad NFL team, but Cam Skattebo impressed the
daylights out of me in the NCAA playoffs last year. That may turn
out to be a bargain pick that yields surprising results. Finally,
if Chubb ends up being a non-factor, then getting Mixon at 4.08
will be quite the bargain as well.
Least Favorite Pick: I wasn't a big fan of the 6/7 turn as Travis
Kelce is mostly cooked and Rhamondre Stevenson's role in 2025
will be greatly diminished. Throw in Kupp in the 8th and you have
three players who have peaked long ago, at least in Kelce and
Kupp's cases. I also would have taken Matthew Stafford over Bryce
Young, but that's just me.
Overall Outlook: I recognize the greatness that defines this
team (Lamar, Chase), but it isn't one of my favorites and that's
OK since ICEMAN has been wildly successful in this league over
the years and doesn't need my approval. On the weeks Lamar and
Chase shine, there will be a sense that this team could contend
for a title, but some weeks it could get rough, particularly if
the WR group misses. The saving grace could be Skattebo who I
think is being massively undervalued. ICE's track record over
the years in this decade speaks for itself and I would trust his
interpretation of this draft over mine quite frankly.
Analysis: Keeping in mind that this is a non-PPR league, it's
hard not to like the sledgehammer that Derrick Henry and Josh
Jacobs represent at the RB position. For some reason, Jacobs is
not seen as a sexy pick, which results in him falling much further
than he should in redraft leagues. Just the fact that you could
grab such a dynamic non-PPR RB duo and then follow it up with
three excellent WRs and then add a top-5 QB and TE just seems
ridiculous in a draft where bargains don't come around all that
often. Hawkeye essentially completed his starting lineup sans
D/ST and kicker after seven rounds, and it’s difficult to
argue that a better lineup exists coming out of this draft. With
Adams and Metcalf finding new homes in the offseason, there is
some risk that the WR group doesn't pan out (more on that in a
moment), but all in all, this is a well-balanced team with no
glaring weaknesses. RB depth may lack upside, but that is certainly
not the case at the other positions. This is a team I would be
excited to have.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Two of the biggest off-season changes
were Davante Adams to LA and DK Metcalf to Pittsburgh. You would
be hard pressed to find more established stars being moved and
while these two have enjoyed good to great careers to date, receivers
changing teams represent risk. With such a tremendous RB duo anchoring
this team, both Adams and Metcalf probably don't have to excel
for the team to be great, but one of them excelling vs. neither
is probably significant. The rest of this team looks steady and
proven, particularly at QB and TE. And even though McConkey is
a second-year player, his role in the Charger offense looks stable
and secure. With several stars on this team being grizzled vets,
health is likely the biggest key of all.
Favorite Pick: Three picks to me stand out as great value. First,
I thought Jacobs (2.07) fell too far for reasons already noted
as did Davante Adams (4.07). I had a difficult time choosing between
Jonathan Taylor and Jacobs at 2.06 and I experienced the same
dilemma in the fourth round with Tee Higgins and Adams. In the
end, if I had gotten Jacobs and Adams instead of Taylor and Higgins,
I still would have been pleased. As for the third pick, Patrick
Mahomes at 7.06 is a steal. The Super Bowl loss was the best thing
that could have happened to him fantasy-wise and his receiving
corps should be much improved.
Least Favorite Pick: There weren't many picks that I didn't love
as this is easily one of my favorite teams coming out of the draft.
I'm a little frightened about Metcalf in Pittsburgh as if they
don't get a better partner for him on the other side of the field,
double coverages will be plentiful.
Overall Outlook: If the veterans Henry, Jacobs, Adams, Metcalf,
and Hockenson can stay healthy, I absolutely love this team. If
you play in keeper or dynasty leagues, it would be easy to look
at this team and feel some age danger, but this is a redraft league
and putting those goggles on, it's easy to get excited about this
squad in 2025. Jauan Jennings proved to be very valuable last
season as a member of Robb's title team and I think while Aiyuk
is out early in the season, he'll have a couple of huge games
that will propel Hawkeye to big overall weeks. If we look back
on 2025 and this team wasn't in serious contention for a No-Hassle
title, I will be thoroughly surprised.
Analysis: I was proud of myself for not always making the consensus
pick as I tend to do that too much in mock drafts and even real
drafts at times. My basic strategy was to take the best available
player by my estimation for the first eight rounds and then transition
into picking according to need. Certainly, Jefferson (1.07) and
Taylor (2.06) were seemingly the best players available by many
metrics at the spots I took them as was Tee Higgins in the fourth
round. But, Kittle, Williams, and Kaleb Johnson weren't slam dunks
at their spots, particularly the latter (Williams, Johnson). Getting
Odunze as a WR4 gave me one of the best receiving corps in this
league with TE thrown into that equation. There are RB concerns
however as taking the best available player through eight rounds
left my cupboard beyond Taylor a little light. J.K. Dobbins can
still play, but he's better drafted as a RB4 than a RB3 just as
Kaleb Johnson represents more RB3 value than RB2. That said, I
was pleased with all other aspects of this team's construction
including the overall depth.
Key to No-Hassle Success: I am confident in my WR group and I
think Mayfield and Kittle will hold down the fort at their spots,
so success is likely going to boil down to Jonathan Taylor staying
upright (an injury to him could be catastrophic) and the rest
of RBs performing at a solid level. That group includes both Trey
Benson and Isaac Guerendo who could have anywhere from high impact
to almost no impact with both being simply insurance policies.
Also, there is always risk in taking Tua in a league where you
can't change him out when he gets hurt, so that was a fingers-crossed
pick for sure. The RBs on this team don't have to be special to
secure good weekly scores, but they need to be impactful just
the same.
Favorite Pick: I was very excited about the RB value that fell
in this draft to the 2.06 spot and at WR at the 4.06. I find getting
Taylor so late in a non-PPR draft to be very satisfying just as
I could hardly believe that Tee Higgins was still there in the
mid-fourth. Higgins is not only the ideal WR2 in the NFL world,
but he also fulfills that role in fantasy football. After Odunze,
the rest of my draft fell a little flat.
Least Favorite Pick: I loved getting Baker and Rome in the seventh
and eighth rounds, but choices have consequences and ending up
with J.K. Dobbins as my RB3 with a rookie in tow at the RB2 spot
wasn't what I would have preferred. Not sure what I would have
done differently, but that part of my roster is troublesome.
Overall Outlook: Nobody is going to draft a team executing a
specific strategy and then trash it afterwards and I won't do
that here, but I do recognize that this team has holes, especially
at RB beyond Taylor. Moreover, if the Colts don't get improved
QB play this season, it's fair to wonder what kind of running
lanes Taylor will enjoy in the first place. I do think this team
can contend and I do think Hawk and I really lucked out getting
Mahomes and Mayfield in the spots that we did, but there will
be some nervous moments initially seeing how Johnson and Dobbins
look at RB and whether or not my hunches about Jameson Williams
and Odunze turn out to be right. Nervous, but excited as well.
Analysis: One thing I found immensely interesting about this
draft is that I was drafting beside someone I had no draft history
with. As such, each pick Pole made was difficult for me to project
ahead of time and in the end, he surprised me a time or two while
also meeting expectations for what an experienced, highly competent
drafter would do. Pole was one of two drafters to go all in on
wide receivers in the first two rounds and in adding another in
the fifth. Also, utilizing the common patience in selection of
a quarterback, the running back position is well stocked even
with receiver being the only position targeted prior to Round
3. Considering RB value seems to drop off quite a bit this season
after the top 5-6 guys, Pole seemed to read the temperature correctly
from this spot in terms of seeing where value was relative to
the various positions. One could rightfully question whether or
not he's strong enough at QB and TE to earn a title with this
team, but there's no question that RB and WR are positions of
strength with a little upside sprinkled in.
Key to No-Hassle Success: While the selections of Waddle, Robinson
and Javonte Williams were solid, none of the three represents
a great deal of upside which means that the explosive element
to this team will have to come from elsewhere. Explosive no longer
applies to A.J. Brown either, so finding success via explosive
scoring will most likely fall on the shoulders of James Cook and
Omarion Hampton. Cook was probably an enormous steal at 3.08,
but he is so unhappy with his current contract situation that
his fall was justified. Still, if a new contract comes about and
he's playing with security in that offense, he could have a career
year. As for Hampton, anything is possible... including a breakout
rookie season. If this team is to contend, I think both Cook and
Hampton have to shine.
Favorite Pick: On a team with a lot of players who don't move
the needle for me (Waddle, Robinson, Williams, Pitts, Thielen,
Sanders), it was nice to see Pole swing for the fences a bit with
the selection of Hampton. He gives this team an element it desperately
needs with upside capped in other pockets of the roster. I also
think Rashid Shaheed could be a sneaky best ball/No-Hassle diamond
in the rough this year if he can stay healthy. He's less valuable
in a PPR league, certainly, but possibly quite a pleaser in this
format.
Least Favorite Pick: Considering I have Drake London ranked well
above A.J. Brown, I wasn't a huge fan of that pick. I thought
Williams (7.08) went a little high and it's hard for me to get
excited about Kyle Pitts as a starting fantasy TE.
Overall Outlook: While I don't initially see this team as a strong
title contender based on overall composition, that could change
with a breakout year for Hampton or an unexpected surge in production
from Kyler Murray. CeeDee Lamb and A.J. Brown will fulfill their
WR1 and WR2 roles with precision, but they'll need at least one
other WR and RB to be dynamic to keep this team in the running.
I'm not in love with the upside of this team as I think Brian
Robinson Jr. and Jaylen Waddle have lower ceilings than most people
estimate and won't raise the bar most weeks. That said, maybe
there's enough steady production to be found that one surprising
surge from a player will be all this team needs to do good things.
Analysis: One of the most enjoyable aspects of this draft is
drafting alongside Dan -- a guy who clearly knows his stuff, but
rarely tips his hand during the draft. For example, who would
dare draft a wide receiver in the first round from a generally
poor offensive team? Further, who would draft two Arizona Cardinals
back-to-back in Rounds 3 and 4? And, who takes two rookie RBs
who may or not have any prominent role in their teams' gameplans?
In Dan's case, he did all of the above and it's the kind of quirkiness
I have come to expect and enjoy from him. Ultimately, I am not
quite sure what to make of this team, but that's par for the course
as far as Dan is concerned. He is potentially very strong at WR
and TE, but the two Chris' are also coming off injuries and Olave
may be playing with a greener-than-green rookie QB. Kyren Williams
is a solid low-end RB1, but Isiah Pacheco looked bad last season
after returning from injury.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Most people expected more from Marvin
Harrison Jr. last season and it would be fair then to call his
rookie season a mild disappointment. I think for this team to
ultimately contend, Harrison has to take a significant step forward
and become the "can't miss" player that he was projected
to be. Nabers will likely see an uptick in his numbers simply
by way of the Giants having to play from behind and if Harrison
does make that leap, what a duo of sophomore receivers that will
be. Elsewhere, Bo Nix has to duplicate his numbers from last season
to make the confidence Dan has placed in him worthwhile. Stroud
was an excellent safety net at that position, but Nix was drafted
to be “the guy" more weeks than not.
Favorite Pick: While none of Dan's first four picks could be
considered a steal, they are all players who are very much still
ascending with respect to their young careers. Kyren Williams
should get a new contract before the start of the season, and
I think that commitment will carry over into heavy usage in 2025.
Likewise, the contract signed by Trey McBride expresses a belief
on the Cardinals' part that he is a special talent. His touchdown
numbers should be so much better and that makes him a dangerous
asset. I loved the value of Stroud at 11.09.
Least Favorite Pick: I am not sold on Isiah Pacheco returning
to form. I thought the back-to-back picks of him and Olave were
mediocre at best and I would have taken Conner at 5.09 instead.
Overall Outlook: There are things I like about this team. The
thought of Nabers and Harrison asserting themselves as the new
faces of their position within the realm of fantasy football is
exciting. And even if Olave flops, Chris Godwin should be an outstanding
fall back if he can return to near full health. But, I find the
RB room on this team a little concerning even with the late-round
youth that was infused into the group. Further, I would not be
as at peace with Bo Nix as my starting QB as I think some second-year
growing pains are forthcoming. Can Dan contend for a No-Hassle
title? Sure. Do I think he will? I have less certainty about that.
Analysis: Can our defending champion can put together back-to-back
championship seasons from the 10-spot? Robb was able to find a
great deal of success last season from the 1.09 draft slot and
with that pick in 2024, he chose... Amon-Ra St. Brown. Obviously,
he's done the same this season, but opted to roll the riskiest
dice of them all in the form of Christian McCaffrey in Round 2.
Beyond the top two picks, Robb bounced back and forth between
tantalizing young players (Daniels, McMillan) and longstanding
veterans like Evans and Conner. There will be a day in which Evans
and Conner lose a step, but that day did not come last year. After
Round 6, there are plenty of questions. What will Evan Engram's
role actually be in Denver? Can Jaylen Warren continue to receive
double-digit touches in a game? What will Deebo's role be in Washington?
Some new faces in new places to be sure.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Christian McCaffrey is the biggest
wild card in redrafts this season. It is so difficult to ascertain
whether or not peak McCaffrey is long gone or still hanging in
there. If his health becomes a problem again, it's worth noting
that Robb only has four running backs on his roster, so the viability
of Warren and Jordan Mason (now in Minnesota) will be sorely tested.
One could argue that drafting McCaffrey alongside an older back
like Conner must prioritize RB depth and not two kickers on the
roster. It's a small thing, but the two-kicker strategy will be
a fun to track and debate what impact it ultimately has on Robb's
standing in the league.
Favorite Pick: The 3/4 and 5/6 turns were a thing of beauty.
To get the immense upside of Daniels paired with the absolute
rock-solid consistency of Evans was a great way to utilize those
picks and then to snag Conner so late and pair him with the dynamic
possibilities of McMillan was again tremendous. If Robb were to
repeat this season, I think he'll end up scoring on that four-pick
stretch. I also thought Pearsall was outstanding value where he
was taken in Round 11.
Least Favorite Pick: Feet to the fire, I don't take McCaffrey
at 2.03. Give me Taylor, Jacobs, or Kyren Williams instead. I
respect the guts it takes to pull the trigger on a guy who has
been feast or famine throughout his career due to injury, but
it's too much risk for me. I also question what Engram will be
in Denver and whether that pick was worth it at that juncture.
Overall Outlook: If McCaffrey is healthy and productive, this
is probably a top-3 team in the No-Hassle format. The quarterback
could end up being the top guy at the position and the top two
wide receivers are as steady as it gets. Throw in some exciting
young receivers like McMillan and Pearsall and you've got a high-upside
machine. But, what if McCaffrey misses time? Is a RB room of Conner
alongside Jaylen Warren and Jordan Mason really enough to stay
in contention? I would say it's doubtful and that's why McCaffrey
is the lynchpin holding this entire team in place. There is great
potential for this team, but there's danger lurking around the
corner also.
Analysis: In case you are reading this and are wholly unfamiliar
with the participants in this draft, Vikes is the guy who has
had the most success over the years including four No-Hassle titles.
And, his formula for doing so is usually pretty familiar: Wait
on selecting a QB and TE until about halfway through the draft
and stockpile the best running backs and wide receivers that you
can find up until that point. 2025 is lather, rinse, and repeat
and the result is a dynamic trio at WR (perhaps the best in this
league, although Ray might differ) and solid depth at RB behind
the ascending Achane. This team should be able to score in waves
as long as the QB room doesn't get Vikes in trouble. I think waiting
on a QB is a smart strategy nearly all of the time, but I also
confess I would rather have Fields/Purdy or Prescott/Caleb Williams
than Jared Goff and J.J. McCarthy especially with Goff playing
outside more this season. In the end, that's about all the fault
I can find with this group.
Key to No-Hassle Success: This team feels safe to me outside
of quarterback. Achane is not likely to fall off and could actually
see an uptick. Nacua, JSN, and Wilson are the undisputed top targets
on their respective teams, and I don't see any scenario out there
where they disappoint outside of an injury. Further, David Montgomery
isn't a sexy pick, but who would you trust more to give you a
solid 8-12 points a game in non-PPR than him? So, that brings
us back to QB. If Goff can be top 6-8 at that position and/or
McCarthy becomes an instant star, this team's road to success
will be well paved. But, struggles by one or both could result
in Vikes coming up short this season.
Favorite Pick: I loved the Garrett Wilson pick (4.02) as I think
he's a top-5 talent at the position and could thrive with improved
QB play in New York. Second, David Montgomery fell too far and
I almost picked him at 5.07 (kind of wish I did). And last but
not least, if you want to talk about falling too far, Mark Andrews
is the poster child. The fact that he was still available at 7.11
seems criminal, particularly since DeAndre Hopkins was the only
guy Baltimore added to the WR room this off-season. Talk about
a trio of value picks!
Least Favorite Pick: I often struggle to find fault with a Vikes'
draft, but I am uneasy about this QB duo. I could easily see Goff
struggling to crack the top-15 and McCarthy struggling to crack
the top-20. My lowest ranked QB duo in this draft is right here.
Overall Outlook: This team has to be a favorite heading into
the 2025 No-Hassle season. The depth at WR and RB is superb as
is the veteran duo at tight end that includes Dallas Goedert.
Nacua and Michael Pittman Jr. do sometimes struggle with injuries,
so I suppose there is some risk there, but that is true of half
of the players in the league. Picking at 1.11 causes a drafter
to miss out on the top studs at both RB and WR, but if you're
going to pick from this spot, I think it would be hard to do it
much better than what Vikes did in this instance.
Analysis: As is the case with Vikes, it's hard to pick at the
end of the first round as the top tier at both RB and WR have
been emptied. As such, RLLD had a choice to make -- double up
on one of those positions or grab one of each and go from there.
Ray ultimately chose to nab two top-8 wide receivers and while
each has a few yellow flags (Travis Hunter impact, Can Collins
stay healthy?), it is hard to argue with the choices that were
made. What was surprising was that Ray didn't double up then at
RB in Rounds 3 & 4, opting to grab Jalen Hurts as the final
QB in the top tier of signal callers. That leaves Chuba Hubbard
as the RB room leader and a rookie (Henderson) as the RB2. Will
that ultimately be enough to find the pot of gold at the end of
2025 rainbow? Looking at rosters in this league without the RB
position included would make RLLD's quartet of Hurts, Thomas,
Collins, and Flowers hard to top. If you're going to pick from
the 11- or 12-hole in a redraft league, be great at something.
That's what Ray's WR corps has the potential to be.
Key to No-Hassle Success: Chuba was fantastic last season, but
Rico Dowdle is an underrated back and I didn't think Dallas should
have been so nonchalant in letting him go. As such, Hubbard being
a solid RB2 is somewhat in doubt and no one knows what Tre'Veyon
Henderson's contributions are going to be. Getting weekly production
from the RB spot is going to be the absolute key to this team
doing well. Also, with Brandon Aiyuk being essentially a dead
roster spot for the first month or two of the season, that top-shelf
WR corps has to stay healthy. Finally, Jonnu Smith was fantastic
in Miami last season, carving out a fantasy relevant role. But,
he'd never done that before and it wouldn’t be a surprise
if 2024 was his career year. A repeat though, would give Ray a
huge boost.
Favorite Pick: I am not sure why Zay Flowers (5.12) seems to
slip in every draft I've been in the past couple of years, but
that happened again in this draft and like Montgomery taken one
pick before him, I saw Flowers as one of the draft's bigger steals.
I also like the dice roll on Tyler Warren at 12.01, especially
if Daniel Jones sees significant time at QB. Warren projects as
a high-volume target on a team with no other alphas catching passes.
Paired with Jonnu, Ray could have a talented and productive TE
duo on his hands at low cost.
Least Favorite Pick: Given all the uncertainty surrounding Aiyuk,
I would have waited on him and grabbed Jennings or Pearsall instead.
In addition, Hurts is rock solid, but after going WR-WR to open
his draft, I think going RB-RB at the 3/4 turn might have been
the smarter play.
Overall Outlook: Considering the position Ray found himself in,
I thought he did an absolutely masterful job of taking what was
available and making it into something potentially dynamic. I
think he and Vikes may fight all year as to whose WR trio is best
and while I was critical of the Hurts pick, he is obviously a
stabilizing force on a fantasy roster. It used to be (dating myself
here) that having one of the bottom four RB rooms in your fantasy
league was a recipe for a middle-of-the-pack finish, but those
days are largely gone and WR-centric, QB-driven teams like this
one often do well. This team will be fun watch, particularly if
the RBs end up surprising.
