Instant Replay: 12-Team, PPR, Best Ball Draft Review

Instant Replay: 12-Team, PPR, Best Ball Draft Review

Best ball drafts are the number one way to put your ranks to the test in a dollars-on-the-line scenario WAY before you’re on the clock in your home league. And, I mean… we have to fill time while waiting for training camps to start anyway, right?

I’ve walked through one of my best ball drafts below, highlighting my thoughts on the player I took and throwing out a few alternatives who were still available. This is not my favorite draft. As you’ll see, I made at least one bonehead move.

Let me know you think about the draft and if you’d like to see more draft breakdowns like this. Leave a comment or hit me up on Twitter @NFLClark!

Here we go, picking from the 10 spot:

1. DeAndre Hopkins (Texans) – The draft opened with seven running backs coming off the board, then Davante Adams and Odell Beckham going 8th and 9th. The choice for me here is should I take Nuk or go ahead and take David Johnson...I’m glad I decided to take Hopkins as Johnson fell to me in Round 2.

2. David Johnson (Cardinals) – Notables on the board: Travis Kelce, Mike Evans

Joe Mixon, James Conner, and Dalvin Cook all went off the board before David Johnson here. I’m over the moon with getting Johnson here.

3. Devonta Freeman (Falcons) – Notables on the board: Stefon Diggs, Brandin Cooks

I’m betting on Freeman coming back strong from injury. The sky is the limit if Freeman returns to his bellcow form on this high-flying Falcons offense.

4. Robert Woods (Rams) – Notables on the board: Kerryon Johnson, Mark Ingram

Woods is a relatively expensive piece of a Rams offense I expect to once again vie for the NFL’s top offense. I’d feel a lot better if I’d taken Kerryon or maybe Josh Jacobs here.

5. Robby Anderson (Jets) – Notables on the board: Jarvis Landry

Looking back, I think I’d take Jarvis Landry here instead. With Anderson, though, we have an incredibly talented receiver who has flashed top-10 wide receiver talent, but never put it together for more than a few games per year. Crossing my fingers that Darnold and Jets take a big step forward with Adam Gase at the helm.

6. Hunter Henry (Chargers) – Notables on the board: Evan Engram

Last year, a lot of folks—including your truly—were salivating over Henry as the next big thing at tight end. I am just going to hit the reset button on the Henry hype train.

7. Will Fuller (Texans) – Notables on the board: LeSean McCoy, Deshaun Watson

This is a swing for the fences pick with Fuller. Fuller has been unbelievable in his few starts playing with Watson. Classic ‘if he stays healthy’ wish and a prayer here.

8. Doug Baldwin (Retired) – Notables on the board: Larry Fitzgerald, Marvin Jones

To avoid drafting players who are retired, make sure you always have a few players in your draft queue, and don’t forget to pay attention.

Oy vey…

9. Nyheim Hines (Colts) – Notables on the board: N’Keal Harry, D.K. Metcalf

Instead of betting on a rookie wide receiver, I add a little running back depth plus a player I really like in general. I’m betting on the Colts as the best fantasy offense this year, and I can get a piece of that with a little PPR sweetener here with Hines.

10. Jared Goff – Notables on the board: Carson Wentz, Lamar Jackson, Cam Newton

I made Goff the 11^th QB taken here, and then six QBs went off the board in the next 15 picks. Ending up with Goff and Rivers seems like I don’t have a lot of upside at quarterback. If I could do it all over again, I’d rather have Carson Wentz or Lamar Jackson paired with a safer floor QB like Rivers.

11. Phillip Rivers (Chargers) – Notables on the board: Jimmy Garoppolo, Mitchell Trubisky

It feels like Phillip Rivers is consistent, but not remarkable. A quick look at the past five years shows Rivers has indeed been consistent, but not remarkable. The Chargers offense didn’t lose any key pieces in the offseason, and they at least took a swing at upgrading their offensive line.

Most of the time I’m going to look to end up with two later-round QBs, similar to what I’ve done here.

12: Greg Olsen (Panthers) – Notables on the board: Dion Lewis

I’ve taken Olsen as my TE2 in 4/5 drafts so far this year. At this point in the draft, the remaining TEs are giving you 500 yards and 5 TDs if they have a great year. The hope here is that Olsen returns to his old form after a tough injury.

13: John Brown (Bills) – Notables on the board: Tre’Quan Smith

The last thing we saw with Brown was his Houdini impression after Lamar Jackson became the Ravens QB. That memory is creating some value. With Josh Allen’s penchant for the deep ball, I think we’ll get great production out of Smokey compared to who is left on the board.

14: Peyton Barber (Buccaneers) – Notables on the board: Devin Singletary

The upside isn’t through the roof with Barber, but I think he’s the best running back on the Buccaneers roster right now. Barber had six double-digit scoring games in PPR, five where he bested 14 points last year. That isn’t amazing production, but I’ve taken Barber in three of five drafts completed before this article. He’s been around in the 14^th in most of these drafts, and I think this is great, late RB value.

15: Marquez Valdes-Scanting (Packers) – Notables on the board: Giovani Bernard -

At the end of the draft, taking another shot on what I expect to be a high-powered offense. The Packers receiver corps is indecipherable at the moment, so I’m picking a young guy and hoping he breaks out. I feel like getting Gio Bernard would have been a better pick here, giving me a little running back insurance and letting me pick a WR higher.

16: Mohamed Sanu (Falcons) – Notables on the board: Adrian Peterson, Tyler Eifert

At this point in the draft, you’re balancing guys who may break out (like Marquise Brown), low ceilings and high floors. I’m hoping Sanu can get me a couple of good games on that potent Atlanta offense.

17: Marquise Brown (Ravens) – Notables on the board: Andy Dalton, Justice Hill

I believe in Lamar Jackson, and while I don’t like to bet too much on rookie wide receivers, I feel like I should get a few good games out of the rookie speed-demon who may end up as the WR1 for Baltimore. I really like this pick here.

18: Washington DST – Notables on the board: Seattle, New England

19: Buffalo Bills DST – Notables on the board: Panthers, Falcons

I took the 13^th and 20^th DSTs off the board here. I was getting a little worried with the DST run coming my way in round 18, and I feel okay about pulling the trigger a little early getting Parker in the 20^th.

20: DeVante Parker (Dolphins) - 4^th-year first-rounder with a new coach, new QB, and the closest thing to a clear No. 1 in the receiver room is Kenny Stills.

Final round by round breakdown: