Here we go,
QUARTERBACKS
Jackson almost picks himself this season. He’s had a full preseason under his belt and enters the year with a new head coach. He’ll also have a new, highly rated offensive coordinator calling plays for him. He’s a proven dual-threat quarterback, and with receiving options like Flowers, Andrews and rookie Lane around him, he makes for a really strong and potentially undervalued starting pick.
The bench QBs are really hard to pick this season and I don’t love having a non-playing guy, so I might do a shuffle to get the cash to put Deshaun Watson there. But Mendoza can be used as a loop early and potentially see playing time later.
RUNNING BACKS
Robinson and Gibbs are both cornerstones of the Atlanta and Detroit offences, respectively. Omarion Hampton is in for a big season with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in charge of that side of the ball. The Chiefs are going to love having a guy like Walker as their backfield bell cow. He wasn’t the Super Bowl MVP last season for no reason.
If I decide to bring in a playing quarterback on my bench, Bijan Robinson is the one likely to make way, with James Cook under consideration.
MarShawn Lloyd will get meaningful reps for Green Bay with Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, and it’s expected he’ll lead that backfield until Jacobs’ situation is resolved. Jeremiyah Love wasn’t drafted as highly as he was to play second fiddle in the Arizona backfield.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Chase doesn’t need much explanation; he’s the top receiving options for his team, with a more than capable quarterback who favours moving the chains through the air. Chris Olave formed a pretty strong connection with Tyler Shough as the Saints season progressed, and looks like he’s in for a big season. AJ Brown will love having Drake Maye throwing him the ball as the new No. 1 in New England. Watson is poised to break out with Jordan Love likely to have a go at calling some plays from under centre, while Jefferson should return to the top of the receiver tree with a new and capable quarterback in Minnesota once again.
I can’t decide between DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle, at the moment the spot belongs to Smith.
The wide receiver bench was one of the hardest for me to settle on. Concepcion has risen to the top of the depth chart in Cleveland. Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon and De’Zhaun Stribling are fighting it out for the last spot, and for now it’s Stribling’s.
TIGHT ENDS
Brock Bowers will be the X, Y, Z, Plan A, B, C, D in Las Vegas, with the Raiders’ offence set to rely on him heavily. Colston Loveland grew into one of the league's most productive tight ends last season and became one of Williams' favoured targets, a role that should continue this year.
I’m anticipating a key role for Isaiah Likely in New York, so he gets the bench spot.
KICKERS
At a position I’m not prepared to spend much money on, rookie Trey Smack is the Packers’ kicker and impressed with his ability to convert from range during the preseason. Drew Stevens is the only kicker on the Commanders’ roster and which makes him also too cheap to ignore.
DS/T
The Rams are too hard to ignore now they have Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett in the same lineup, but the Texans aren’t exactly easy to get around either with Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and Jadeveon Clowney. They could still make a late charge for the spot.
The Cowboys are absurdly cheap for a team that’s been a top fantasy defence in the past.
FLEX
Drake Maye led the NFL in completion percentage and yards per attempt, and finished second in the MVP race last season. His dual-threat ability, combined with a shiny new receiver room to throw to, gives Maye some insane value even at his hefty price of over $27m.
REMAINING SALARY
