2018 Fantasy Football Draft Prep: Drafting receivers in a three-receiver league
Jamey Eisenberg reviews our latest 12-team, 0.5 PPR mock draft, which features a starting lineup of three receivers.
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We went with a three-receiver lineup in our latest 12-team, 0.5 PPR mock draft because many of you like to use this format. And I wanted to see how it would change the approach to drafting receivers in this league.
Two owners started their teams going WR-WR with Adam Aizer (he drafted Antonio Brown and T.Y. Hilton) and George Maselli (he selected DeAndre Hopkins and Keenan Allen). But Michael Kiser took three receivers with his first three picks, getting Odell Beckham, Julio Jones and Larry Fitzgerald.
Kiser, who picked at No. 12, didn't draft his first running back until Round 4 with Royce Freeman, and he also added Dion Lewis in Round 5. The rest of his running backs are Isaiah Crowell, Giovani Bernard and Samaje Perine.
The strength of Kiser's team is his receiving corps since he also drafted Julian Edelman, Pierre Garcon, Anthony Miller and Paul Richardson. Matthew Stafford is his quarterback and David Njoku is his tight end.
We play a flex in this league, so either Edelman or Garcon should be solid in that spot. But I would have liked to see Kiser draft at least one more running back -- or maybe two as an upgrade over Perine.
For example, he could have had Marshawn Lynch, Marlon Mack, Rex Burkhead or Tevin Coleman in Round 6 instead of Edelman. And instead of Miller in Round 10, Kiser could have drafted James White, C.J. Anderson, Nick Chubb, Aaron Jones or Jordan Wilkins.
It's never a bad idea to have good receiver depth in a league where you can start up to four of them. But you also want balance, and Kiser could be in trouble if Freeman or Lewis struggle or get hurt.
I took a different approach by leaning on running backs in this league. This was done by design to see how my team would look by waiting on receivers.
Picking at No. 2 overall, my first four picks were Todd Gurley, Travis Kelce, Joe Mixon and Kenyan Drake. My first three picks were easy selections, but I struggled with Drake in the fourth round, especially since he could be sharing touches with Frank Gore this season.
I still expect Drake to be the best running back in Miami, and he's still worth drafting in Round 4 or 5. The reason I drafted him over a receiver was because my flex spot still counts as a starter, and he should outperform any receiver I picked at No. 47 overall.
My receiving corps ended up being Marquise Goodwin, Jamison Crowder, Cooper Kupp, Marquise Lee, Keelan Cole, DJ Moore and Chester Rogers. On paper (or the internet), that group is ugly. But I like it a lot.
Goodwin and Crowder are the No. 1 receivers on their teams, and both should have the chance for 120-plus targets and plenty of production. Kupp is still going to be in a prominent role with the Rams and should be a favorite target for Jared Goff. I have the top receivers in Jacksonville -- who doesn't covet those guys? -- and both could be fill-in starters when the matchup is right. Moore should be the best rookie receiver this year. And don't overlook Rogers as the No. 2 receiver for the Colts opposite T.Y. Hilton.
The strength of my team is my running backs, and I have Devontae Booker and Theo Riddick as reserves. Along with Kelce and Cam Newton at quarterback, this team could be fantastic if my receivers are better than average. But I'm counting on Goodwin, Crowder and Kupp to be quality starters all year, so I'm excited about this team.
In this league, all touchdowns are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We also award 0.5 point for every reception. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE, FLEX (RB/WR/TE), K and DST. There will also be six reserve spots for a 16-round draft.
Our draft order is as follows:
- Chris Towers, Senior Editor, Fantasy
- Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
- Meron Berkson, CBS Sports HQ Producer
- Adam Aizer, Podcast Host
- Heath Cummings, Senior Fantasy Writer
- Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
- Will Brinson, NFL Writer
- George Maselli, Fantasy Editor
- Tom Fornelli, College Football Writer
- R.J. White, NFL Editor
- Andrew Baumhor, CBS Sports HQ Producer
- Michael Kiser, Director, Video Production
Round 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos | Team | Player |
1 | Dan Schneier | J. Chase WR CIN |
2 | Meron Berkson | B. Robinson RB ATL |
3 | Heath Cummings | S. Barkley RB PHI |
4 | Rob Thomas | J. Jefferson WR MIN |
5 | Joel Cox | J. Gibbs RB DET |
6 | Brandon Howard | C. Lamb WR DAL |
7 | Jake Grogins | A. Jeanty RB LV |
8 | Jamey Eisenberg | D. Achane RB MIA |
9 | Adam Aizer | N. Collins WR HOU |
10 | R.J. White | P. Nacua WR LAR |
11 | Dave Richard | M. Nabers WR NYG |
12 | Thomas Shafer | C. McCaffrey RB SF |
Round 2 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
13 | Thomas Shafer | A. St. Brown WR DET |
14 | Dave Richard | D. Henry RB BAL |
15 | R.J. White | B. Thomas Jr. WR JAC |
16 | Adam Aizer | A. Brown WR PHI |
17 | Jamey Eisenberg | D. London WR ATL |
18 | Jake Grogins | B. Irving RB TB |
19 | Brandon Howard | J. Taylor RB IND |
20 | Joel Cox | B. Bowers TE LV |
21 | Rob Thomas | L. McConkey WR LAC |
22 | Heath Cummings | T. Higgins WR CIN |
23 | Meron Berkson | K. Williams RB LAR |
24 | Dan Schneier | J. Jacobs RB GB |
Round 3 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
25 | Dan Schneier | T. Hill WR MIA |
26 | Meron Berkson | J. Smith-Njigba WR SEA |
27 | Heath Cummings | T. McBride TE ARI |
28 | Rob Thomas | C. Brown RB CIN |
29 | Joel Cox | B. Hall RB NYJ |
30 | Brandon Howard | J. Williams WR DET |
31 | Jake Grogins | J. Allen QB BUF |
32 | Jamey Eisenberg | J. Cook RB BUF |
33 | Adam Aizer | J. Mixon RB HOU |
34 | R.J. White | K. Walker III RB SEA |
35 | Dave Richard | D. Adams WR LAR |
36 | Thomas Shafer | M. Evans WR TB |
Round 4 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
37 | Thomas Shafer | M. Harrison Jr. WR ARI |
38 | Dave Richard | C. Hubbard RB CAR |
39 | R.J. White | O. Hampton RB LAC |
40 | Adam Aizer | R. Harvey RB DEN |
41 | Jamey Eisenberg | T. McLaurin WR WAS |
42 | Jake Grogins | G. Wilson WR NYJ |
43 | Brandon Howard | T. Henderson RB NE |
44 | Joel Cox | L. Jackson QB BAL |
45 | Rob Thomas | D. Moore WR CHI |
46 | Heath Cummings | A. Kamara RB NO |
47 | Meron Berkson | D. Metcalf WR PIT |
48 | Dan Schneier | R. Rice WR KC |
Round 5 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
49 | Dan Schneier | C. Sutton WR DEN |
50 | Meron Berkson | X. Worthy WR KC |
51 | Heath Cummings | J. Daniels QB WAS |
52 | Rob Thomas | G. Kittle TE SF |
53 | Joel Cox | D. Smith WR PHI |
54 | Brandon Howard | J. Hurts QB PHI |
55 | Jake Grogins | C. Ridley WR TEN |
56 | Jamey Eisenberg | T. Hunter WR JAC |
57 | Adam Aizer | J. Burrow QB CIN |
58 | R.J. White | J. Conner RB ARI |
59 | Dave Richard | J. Jeudy WR CLE |
60 | Thomas Shafer | P. Mahomes QB KC |
Round 6 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
61 | Thomas Shafer | D. Montgomery RB DET |
62 | Dave Richard | C. Godwin WR TB |
63 | R.J. White | Z. Flowers WR BAL |
64 | Adam Aizer | I. Pacheco RB KC |
65 | Jamey Eisenberg | S. LaPorta TE DET |
66 | Jake Grogins | G. Pickens WR DAL |
67 | Brandon Howard | M. Andrews TE BAL |
68 | Joel Cox | J. Waddle WR MIA |
69 | Rob Thomas | A. Jones RB MIN |
70 | Heath Cummings | D. Swift RB CHI |
71 | Meron Berkson | T. McMillan WR CAR |
72 | Dan Schneier | T. Pollard RB TEN |
Round 7 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
73 | Dan Schneier | K. Johnson RB PIT |
74 | Meron Berkson | T. Kelce TE KC |
75 | Heath Cummings | C. Kupp WR SEA |
76 | Rob Thomas | T. Tracy Jr. RB NYG |
77 | Joel Cox | C. Olave WR NO |
78 | Brandon Howard | M. Golden WR GB |
79 | Jake Grogins | J. Warren RB PIT |
80 | Jamey Eisenberg | Q. Judkins RB CLE |
81 | Adam Aizer | J. Addison WR MIN |
82 | R.J. White | R. Odunze WR CHI |
83 | Dave Richard | B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS |
84 | Thomas Shafer | J. Jennings WR SF |
Round 8 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
85 | Thomas Shafer | R. Pearsall WR SF |
86 | Dave Richard | D. Njoku TE CLE |
87 | R.J. White | T. Hockenson TE MIN |
88 | Adam Aizer | S. Diggs WR NE |
89 | Jamey Eisenberg | K. Shakir WR BUF |
90 | Jake Grogins | T. Spears RB TEN |
91 | Brandon Howard | J. Blue RB DAL |
92 | Joel Cox | J. Meyers WR LV |
93 | Rob Thomas | D. Samuel WR WAS |
94 | Heath Cummings | J. Downs WR IND |
95 | Meron Berkson | J. Williams RB DAL |
96 | Dan Schneier | J. Reed WR GB |
Round 9 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
97 | Dan Schneier | M. Pittman WR IND |
98 | Meron Berkson | R. Stevenson RB NE |
99 | Heath Cummings | L. Burden III WR CHI |
100 | Rob Thomas | B. Mayfield QB TB |
101 | Joel Cox | Z. Charbonnet RB SEA |
102 | Brandon Howard | S. Williams WR GB |
103 | Jake Grogins | M. Brown WR KC |
104 | Jamey Eisenberg | C. Skattebo RB NYG |
105 | Adam Aizer | E. Engram TE DEN |
106 | R.J. White | N. Harris RB LAC |
107 | Dave Richard | T. Etienne RB JAC |
108 | Thomas Shafer | D. Mooney WR ATL |
Round 10 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
109 | Thomas Shafer | A. Ekeler RB WAS |
110 | Dave Richard | C. Williams QB CHI |
111 | R.J. White | K. Murray QB ARI |
112 | Adam Aizer | T. Harris WR LAC |
113 | Jamey Eisenberg | K. Coleman WR BUF |
114 | Jake Grogins | W. Robinson WR NYG |
115 | Brandon Howard | I. Likely TE BAL |
116 | Joel Cox | B. Aiyuk WR SF |
117 | Rob Thomas | E. Egbuka WR TB |
118 | Heath Cummings | J. Bech WR LV |
119 | Meron Berkson | B. Nix QB DEN |
120 | Dan Schneier | R. White RB TB |
Round 11 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
121 | Dan Schneier | C. Loveland TE CHI |
122 | Meron Berkson | D. Prescott QB DAL |
123 | Heath Cummings | T. Bigsby RB JAC |
124 | Rob Thomas | J. McMillan WR TB |
125 | Joel Cox | B. Tuten RB JAC |
126 | Brandon Howard | B. Allen RB NYJ |
127 | Jake Grogins | E. Mitchell RB KC |
128 | Jamey Eisenberg | J. Mason RB MIN |
129 | Adam Aizer | C. Kirk WR HOU |
130 | R.J. White | J. Smith TE PIT |
131 | Dave Richard | I. Guerendo RB SF |
132 | Thomas Shafer | K. Williams WR NE |
Round 12 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
133 | Thomas Shafer | T. Allgeier RB ATL |
134 | Dave Richard | J. Wright RB MIA |
135 | R.J. White | J. Higgins WR HOU |
136 | Adam Aizer | R. Davis RB BUF |
137 | Jamey Eisenberg | C. Tillman WR CLE |
138 | Jake Grogins | D. Douglas WR NE |
139 | Brandon Howard | R. Bateman WR BAL |
140 | Joel Cox | D. Sampson RB CLE |
141 | Rob Thomas | R. Shaheed WR NO |
142 | Heath Cummings | K. Allen WR LAC |
143 | Meron Berkson | T. Warren TE IND |
144 | Dan Schneier | B. Purdy QB SF |
Round 13 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
145 | Dan Schneier | D. Kincaid TE BUF |
146 | Meron Berkson | M. Mims WR DEN |
147 | Heath Cummings | A. Richardson QB IND |
148 | Rob Thomas | T. Benson RB ARI |
149 | Joel Cox | D. Goedert TE PHI |
150 | Brandon Howard | D. Hopkins WR BAL |
151 | Jake Grogins | K. Mitchell RB BAL |
152 | Jamey Eisenberg | J. Fields QB NYJ |
153 | Adam Aizer | J. Dobbins RB DEN |
154 | R.J. White | N. Chubb RB HOU |
155 | Dave Richard | T. Kraft TE GB |
156 | Thomas Shafer | K. Pitts TE ATL |
Round 14 | ||
Pos | Team | Player |
157 | Thomas Shafer | J. Ferguson TE DAL |
158 | Dave Richard | J. Goff QB DET |
159 | R.J. White | J. McLaughlin RB DEN |
160 | Adam Aizer | T. Lawrence QB JAC |
161 | Jamey Eisenberg | D. Maye QB NE |
162 | Jake Grogins | J. Johnson TE NO |
163 | Brandon Howard | J. Milroe QB SEA |
164 | Joel Cox | C. Ward QB TEN |
165 | Rob Thomas | B. Corum RB LAR |
166 | Heath Cummings | Z. Moss RB CIN |
167 | Meron Berkson | X. Legette WR CAR |
168 | Dan Schneier | C. Stroud QB HOU |
Dan Schneier | ||
---|---|---|
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 1 | J. Chase WR CIN |
2 | 24 | J. Jacobs RB GB |
3 | 25 | T. Hill WR MIA |
4 | 48 | R. Rice WR KC |
5 | 49 | C. Sutton WR DEN |
6 | 72 | T. Pollard RB TEN |
7 | 73 | K. Johnson RB PIT |
8 | 96 | J. Reed WR GB |
9 | 97 | M. Pittman WR IND |
10 | 120 | R. White RB TB |
11 | 121 | C. Loveland TE CHI |
12 | 144 | B. Purdy QB SF |
13 | 145 | D. Kincaid TE BUF |
14 | 168 | C. Stroud QB HOU |
Meron Berkson | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 2 | B. Robinson RB ATL |
2 | 23 | K. Williams RB LAR |
3 | 26 | J. Smith-Njigba WR SEA |
4 | 47 | D. Metcalf WR PIT |
5 | 50 | X. Worthy WR KC |
6 | 71 | T. McMillan WR CAR |
7 | 74 | T. Kelce TE KC |
8 | 95 | J. Williams RB DAL |
9 | 98 | R. Stevenson RB NE |
10 | 119 | B. Nix QB DEN |
11 | 122 | D. Prescott QB DAL |
12 | 143 | T. Warren TE IND |
13 | 146 | M. Mims WR DEN |
14 | 167 | X. Legette WR CAR |
Heath Cummings | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 3 | S. Barkley RB PHI |
2 | 22 | T. Higgins WR CIN |
3 | 27 | T. McBride TE ARI |
4 | 46 | A. Kamara RB NO |
5 | 51 | J. Daniels QB WAS |
6 | 70 | D. Swift RB CHI |
7 | 75 | C. Kupp WR SEA |
8 | 94 | J. Downs WR IND |
9 | 99 | L. Burden III WR CHI |
10 | 118 | J. Bech WR LV |
11 | 123 | T. Bigsby RB JAC |
12 | 142 | K. Allen WR LAC |
13 | 147 | A. Richardson QB IND |
14 | 166 | Z. Moss RB CIN |
Rob Thomas | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 4 | J. Jefferson WR MIN |
2 | 21 | L. McConkey WR LAC |
3 | 28 | C. Brown RB CIN |
4 | 45 | D. Moore WR CHI |
5 | 52 | G. Kittle TE SF |
6 | 69 | A. Jones RB MIN |
7 | 76 | T. Tracy Jr. RB NYG |
8 | 93 | D. Samuel WR WAS |
9 | 100 | B. Mayfield QB TB |
10 | 117 | E. Egbuka WR TB |
11 | 124 | J. McMillan WR TB |
12 | 141 | R. Shaheed WR NO |
13 | 148 | T. Benson RB ARI |
14 | 165 | B. Corum RB LAR |
Joel Cox | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 5 | J. Gibbs RB DET |
2 | 20 | B. Bowers TE LV |
3 | 29 | B. Hall RB NYJ |
4 | 44 | L. Jackson QB BAL |
5 | 53 | D. Smith WR PHI |
6 | 68 | J. Waddle WR MIA |
7 | 77 | C. Olave WR NO |
8 | 92 | J. Meyers WR LV |
9 | 101 | Z. Charbonnet RB SEA |
10 | 116 | B. Aiyuk WR SF |
11 | 125 | B. Tuten RB JAC |
12 | 140 | D. Sampson RB CLE |
13 | 149 | D. Goedert TE PHI |
14 | 164 | C. Ward QB TEN |
Brandon Howard | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 6 | C. Lamb WR DAL |
2 | 19 | J. Taylor RB IND |
3 | 30 | J. Williams WR DET |
4 | 43 | T. Henderson RB NE |
5 | 54 | J. Hurts QB PHI |
6 | 67 | M. Andrews TE BAL |
7 | 78 | M. Golden WR GB |
8 | 91 | J. Blue RB DAL |
9 | 102 | S. Williams WR GB |
10 | 115 | I. Likely TE BAL |
11 | 126 | B. Allen RB NYJ |
12 | 139 | R. Bateman WR BAL |
13 | 150 | D. Hopkins WR BAL |
14 | 163 | J. Milroe QB SEA |
Jake Grogins | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 7 | A. Jeanty RB LV |
2 | 18 | B. Irving RB TB |
3 | 31 | J. Allen QB BUF |
4 | 42 | G. Wilson WR NYJ |
5 | 55 | C. Ridley WR TEN |
6 | 66 | G. Pickens WR DAL |
7 | 79 | J. Warren RB PIT |
8 | 90 | T. Spears RB TEN |
9 | 103 | M. Brown WR KC |
10 | 114 | W. Robinson WR NYG |
11 | 127 | E. Mitchell RB KC |
12 | 138 | D. Douglas WR NE |
13 | 151 | K. Mitchell RB BAL |
14 | 162 | J. Johnson TE NO |
Jamey Eisenberg | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 8 | D. Achane RB MIA |
2 | 17 | D. London WR ATL |
3 | 32 | J. Cook RB BUF |
4 | 41 | T. McLaurin WR WAS |
5 | 56 | T. Hunter WR JAC |
6 | 65 | S. LaPorta TE DET |
7 | 80 | Q. Judkins RB CLE |
8 | 89 | K. Shakir WR BUF |
9 | 104 | C. Skattebo RB NYG |
10 | 113 | K. Coleman WR BUF |
11 | 128 | J. Mason RB MIN |
12 | 137 | C. Tillman WR CLE |
13 | 152 | J. Fields QB NYJ |
14 | 161 | D. Maye QB NE |
Adam Aizer | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 9 | N. Collins WR HOU |
2 | 16 | A. Brown WR PHI |
3 | 33 | J. Mixon RB HOU |
4 | 40 | R. Harvey RB DEN |
5 | 57 | J. Burrow QB CIN |
6 | 64 | I. Pacheco RB KC |
7 | 81 | J. Addison WR MIN |
8 | 88 | S. Diggs WR NE |
9 | 105 | E. Engram TE DEN |
10 | 112 | T. Harris WR LAC |
11 | 129 | C. Kirk WR HOU |
12 | 136 | R. Davis RB BUF |
13 | 153 | J. Dobbins RB DEN |
14 | 160 | T. Lawrence QB JAC |
R.J. White | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 10 | P. Nacua WR LAR |
2 | 15 | B. Thomas Jr. WR JAC |
3 | 34 | K. Walker III RB SEA |
4 | 39 | O. Hampton RB LAC |
5 | 58 | J. Conner RB ARI |
6 | 63 | Z. Flowers WR BAL |
7 | 82 | R. Odunze WR CHI |
8 | 87 | T. Hockenson TE MIN |
9 | 106 | N. Harris RB LAC |
10 | 111 | K. Murray QB ARI |
11 | 130 | J. Smith TE PIT |
12 | 135 | J. Higgins WR HOU |
13 | 154 | N. Chubb RB HOU |
14 | 159 | J. McLaughlin RB DEN |
Dave Richard | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 11 | M. Nabers WR NYG |
2 | 14 | D. Henry RB BAL |
3 | 35 | D. Adams WR LAR |
4 | 38 | C. Hubbard RB CAR |
5 | 59 | J. Jeudy WR CLE |
6 | 62 | C. Godwin WR TB |
7 | 83 | B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS |
8 | 86 | D. Njoku TE CLE |
9 | 107 | T. Etienne RB JAC |
10 | 110 | C. Williams QB CHI |
11 | 131 | I. Guerendo RB SF |
12 | 134 | J. Wright RB MIA |
13 | 155 | T. Kraft TE GB |
14 | 158 | J. Goff QB DET |
Thomas Shafer | ||
Rd | Pk | Player |
1 | 12 | C. McCaffrey RB SF |
2 | 13 | A. St. Brown WR DET |
3 | 36 | M. Evans WR TB |
4 | 37 | M. Harrison Jr. WR ARI |
5 | 60 | P. Mahomes QB KC |
6 | 61 | D. Montgomery RB DET |
7 | 84 | J. Jennings WR SF |
8 | 85 | R. Pearsall WR SF |
9 | 108 | D. Mooney WR ATL |
10 | 109 | A. Ekeler RB WAS |
11 | 132 | K. Williams WR NE |
12 | 133 | T. Allgeier RB ATL |
13 | 156 | K. Pitts TE ATL |
14 | 157 | J. Ferguson TE DAL |