Nimrods's Draft Report Card

--hidden-- | Drafted Round 22, Pick 218
A+ Grade
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Mark Guth's Dandy Team Drafts Their Way to the Top with an A+ Grade and Projected 1st Place Finish

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In the highly competitive 2023 RAH Memorial Poly FF league, Mark Guth's Dandy Team proved that they are a force to be reckoned with. Despite picking third in the draft order, they managed to assemble a powerhouse roster across 22 rounds. Their A+ draft grade speaks volumes about their strategic prowess, leaving other teams green with envy. With a projected record of 13-2-0, it's clear that Mark Guth's Dandy Team is destined for greatness. They are set to dominate the league, leaving their opponents trembling in fear.

One of the standout moments of the draft was when Mark Guth's Dandy Team snagged Cooper Kupp at the 18th pick, despite an ADP of 9. This steal of a pick shows that they have a keen eye for talent and aren't afraid to go against the grain. However, not every pick was a home run. The selection of James Conner at 38, with an ADP of 58, raised a few eyebrows. But hey, even the best teams have their off moments. It's all part of the game, right? Despite this minor hiccup, Mark Guth's Dandy Team still managed to draft three players from the same team, Dalvin Cook, C.J. Mosley, and Allen Lazard. It seems they're going all-in on team chemistry, hoping it will lead them to victory. With their stellar draft and a team name that exudes confidence, Mark Guth's Dandy Team is poised to conquer the league and make their mark in fantasy football history.

ADP Analysis

Pick Number

Bars above zero indicate a pick was selected later than a player's ADP. Bars below zero show players that were taken earlier than their ADP.

Inside the Draft

Player Outlooks

- Round 1, Pick 3 - Bye 14

2023 Rank: 13 - 2022 Rank: 13

There are very few players in NFL history who compare to Ekeler, and aside from maybe Jahmyr Gibbs, none are in the league today. Among active players Ekeler is one of a kind, and the Chargers offense would be in a lot of trouble without him. Ekeler has reached volume/efficiency thresholds as a pass catcher otherwise only matched historically by Marshall Faulk, so when a pass catcher that productive adds 25 rushing touchdowns over two years it's unsurprising that Ekeler is now a consensus first-round fantasy pick. Ekeler is too small to hold up with a big rushing workload (that's why he's not Faulk), but his per-carry returns are excellent and his effectiveness as a runner should never be questioned. As much as Ekeler might be vulnerable to rushing touchdown regression, it won't occur on the basis of ability - if the touchdown carries are there for the taking, Ekeler is still a great bet to claim them. After a brief contract standoff earlier in the offseason, Ekeler raised the white flag and clarified that he will report for training camp.

- Round 2, Pick 18 - Bye 10

2023 Rank: 47 - 2022 Rank: 47

The Rams offense was a mess last year, largely due to offensive line issues as well as the lack of a rushing attack. Also, free agent addition Allen Robinson didn't work out for the team, and all they really had to lean on at that point was Kupp. From a production standpoint, he mostly picked up where he left off in 2021. He had at least nine targets in all but one game. He also had at least 122 yards in four of eight games. Kupp also had at least 79 yards in seven of the eight games he played. However, he suffered an ankle injury that cost him the last eight games of the season. Other than missing eight games in 2018 as well, he had a very healthy career to date. Even though Kupp's entering his age-30 season, there appeared to be no sign of decline last year. He still should be a very high floor and high ceiling fantasy option. and Kupp should be an obvious first-round draft pick in most leagues. But keep your eye on an in-practice hamstring injury that Kupp suffered in early August.

- Round 3, Pick 23 - Bye 7

2023 Rank: 11 - 2022 Rank: 11

The 17th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Lamb's numbers have climbed steadily through his first three seasons. He emerged as Dak Prescott's clear top option in 2022 after Amari Cooper was traded to the Browns. Lamb's production really took off last year once Prescott put a thumb injury behind him, and after the Cowboys' Week 9 bye, the wideout averaged nearly 90 yards a game through 11 regular-season and postseason contests while finding the end zone seven times. That breakthrough was more impressive considering the Oklahoma product was essentially a one-man show downfield for Dallas last year, as the front office never found an adequate replacement for Cooper, but that shouldn't be an issue in 2023. Lamb's supporting cast got a significant boost in the spring with the addition of Brandin Cooks, whose ability to stretch the field should open things up underneath on the routes where Lamb thrives. While it is hard to project Lamb's target volume to increase much beyond the 9.2 passes per game he saw in 2022, his efficiency might find another gear if Cooks can draw attention from defenders.

- Round 4, Pick 38 - Bye 14

2023 Rank: 59 - 2022 Rank: 59

Conner overcame a rough team situation for the second year in a row to post excellent production. In 13 games, He totaled 1,082 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite terrible run blocking from the Cardinals, he was able to produce due to a 73rd percentile broken tackle rate and 72nd percentile yards after contact. His 4.3 yards per carry equaled his best total since 2018 when he was running behind a strong offensive line in Pittsburgh. He continues to be an excellent receiver, recording 65th percentile yards after the catch rate. His 46 receptions represented the second most of his career. Of course, Conner will miss time. He's missed between two and six games over the last six seasons, but as the running back position goes, that's not terrible either. He continues to be disrespected in fantasy drafts. it's likely that people overrate his injury history. It's also possible that they remember the weak start to the season that he had last year. But going into his age-28 season, he still should have another year of solid production. and as long as you're prepared for him missing some time, drafting him to be an RB2 makes sense.

- Round 5, Pick 43 - Bye 9

2023 Rank: 72 - 2022 Rank: 72

Lawrence made a second-year leap under new coach Doug Pederson, posting a 25:8 TD:INT after mustering a 12:17 mark during his forgettable rookie season. The first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft enters his third season as an established top-10 fantasy QB, but Lawrence's ceiling is higher than that, as he still has a few obvious areas for further improvement. Lawrence's 7.0 YPA in 2022 ranked a pedestrian 18th, and the underrated runner mustered only 291 yards on the ground after rushing for 334 as a rookie, though Lawrence increased his rushing TD total from two to five. He'll also be working with an improved supporting cast in 2023, as the Jaguars added WR Calvin Ridley - who had 1,374 receiving yards for the Falcons in 2020 but sat out 2022 entirely due to a gambling suspension - while retaining their top four skill position players from last season (WRs Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, TE Evan Engram and RB Travis Etienne). Playing in the underwhelming AFC South could be both a blessing and a curse for Lawrence. While the Jaguars are favored to repeat as division champs, they will likely spend the majority of their six games against the Titans, Colts and Texans playing from a lead, thus potentially limiting Lawrence's volume after he attempted 670 passes last year - sixth-most in the NFL.

- Round 6, Pick 58 - Bye 13

2023 Rank: 54 - 2022 Rank: 54

Injuries put a damper on Waller's numbers over the last two seasons, but in the two years prior to that he established himself as one of the NFL's most dangerous tight ends. Only Travis Kelce had more receiving yards at the position in 2019 and 2020. Injuries weren't the only things that seemed to limit Waller's production in 2022 though. He took a back seat to Davante Adams in the Raiders' offense, and Waller had trouble finding a fit in Josh McDaniels' scheme. An offseason trade to the Giants gives Waller a fresh start. While he's arguably the most talented pass-catcher quarterback Daniel Jones has ever had to work with, Brian Daboll's scheme has even less of a track record of TE production than McDaniels' offense. Waller will turn 31 in September, and while he could return to elite status this season as Jones' top option, he'll also carry a lot of risk even if he manages to stay healthy.

- Round 7, Pick 63 - Bye 11

2023 Rank: 68 - 2022 Rank: 68

After racking up 1,082 yards on 129 targets in 2021, Pittman dipped to 925 yards on 141 targets last season. The decline in efficiency can be attributed to abhorrent quarterback play by the combination of Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles. Entering his fourth NFL season, Pittman once again profiles as the clear No. 1 WR for the Colts, but the team's QB situation remains murky. Indianapolis signed Gardner Minshew and drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Minshew probably represents an upgrade over the options throwing Pittman the ball last year, but Richardson will likely claim the starting job before long, and the question marks about Richardson's accuracy coupled with his running ability could lead to declines in both passing volume and efficiency. Still, the Colts could find themselves playing from behind often, and the lack of established targets behind Pittman suggests the 25-year-old wide receiver should remain busy after ranking 12th league-wide in targets last season despite missing one game.

- Round 8, Pick 78 - Bye 13

2023 Rank: 94 - 2022 Rank: 94

Herbert was used sparingly during the first two years of his career. Despite significantly out-producing teammate David Montgomery on a yards-per-carry basis, he had just 129 rushing attempts last year. His 5.7 yards per carry was earned on a 90th percentile broken tackle rate and 94th percentile yards after contact. Despite playing in nine games in which he had 10 or fewer carries, he still ended up with more than 50 rushing yards in seven games. He was very seldom used as a receiver. However, that may have much to do with Montgomery having been a strong receiver for the team. After the team added D'Onta Foreman in free agency and Roschon Johnson in the fourth round of the draft, Herbert's role is uncertain. It would seem that at best, he'll be an early-down change of pace along with work on receiving downs. The worst-case scenario would have him seeing a handful of touches each week. A reasonable expectation is that he'll see 5-10 carries and 1-4 targets in most games.

- Round 9, Pick 83 - Bye 7

2023 Rank: 142 - 2022 Rank: 142

Cook had strong season numbers last year, but as the season wore on, he began to look like a running back in decline. Although he started the season with six games between 90 and 119 rushing yards in Weeks 1 through 10, he only had two games with at least 72 yards in his last nine games (including playoffs ). His 69 rushing yards per game was his lowest total since 2018. He also lost his explosive element. He only rushed for more than 20 yards on 1.8 percent of his carries. After the Vikings released him in June, Cook signed with the Jets in August to provide depth behind Breece Hall. But Hall is coming off a torn ACL and might not be ready for Week 1. If not, then Cook would step into the lead-back role. Even when Hall is healthy, Cook should siphon a fair amount of touches. But Cook's best days are likely behind him, and a committee role would lower his fantasy value along with his declining skills.

- Round 10, Pick 98 - Bye 10

2023 Rank: 1139 - 2022 Rank: 1139

Bolton was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and has quickly proven to be a force in the middle of the defense. As a rookie, he registered 112 tackles as a part of a rotation amongst the linebacker corps. In his second campaign, Bolton topped 1,000 snaps and increased his production to a whopping 180 tackles (108 solo). As would be expected, his primary assignment is to sit in the middle of the field, leaving him with limited sack upside. On the other hand, the next step in Bolton's career could be his work in coverage, as he picked off two passes in 2022 and also logged three passes deflected. Overall, he should rank among the most sought-after IDP options.

- Round 11, Pick 103 - Bye 5

2023 Rank: 55 - 2022 Rank: 55

Evans is coming off an odd season. The numbers ended up where they needed to be, as his 1,124 receiving yards were his most since 2019. In addition, his 77 receptions and 127 targets were his most since 2018. With touchdowns being unpredictable, the fact he scored six, which was his fewest since 2017, was understandable. From a week-to-week standpoint, his performance was frustrating. He had eight games with two-to-four receptions. And over his last eight games, he surpassed 60 yards twice. And he really had just two big games all year, though one of those was in Week 17, and it may have helped win leagues, as he surpassed 200 yards with three TDs. With Tom Brady gone and Baker Mayfield in, that may not be optimal. But having shown that he hasn't slowed down entering his age-30 season, if he gets reasonable QB play, he should have a chance for a top-20 season.

- Round 12, Pick 118 - Bye 5

2023 Rank: 116 - 2022 Rank: 116

After throwing 34 touchdowns in 45 career games, Smith threw 30 touchdown passes last year. Before throwing for 4,282 yards last year, his best prior season was his 2013 rookie season when he threw for 3,046. He was an incredible success story after being written off as a fantasy option, and he didn't even win the Seahawks starting job until the last game of the preseason. For most of last season, Smith was very consistent. He threw multiple touchdowns in 10 of 11 games between Weeks 3 and 14. However, Smith ended the season slowly. He threw exactly one touchdown pass in three of his last four games while also throwing for 215 or fewer yards in each of his last three games. There's always concern about paying up for a career year in fantasy football, and with Smith's career year coming at age 31, it raises a lot of red flags. However, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron's offense requires a strong processor at quarterback, and Smith has always been that. In addition, he has excellent wide receiver weapons along with a good running game. Seattle also addressed their offensive line last season, so that it was no longer a liability. Overall, Smith is definitely in position to succeed with another strong season. It's also possible the stars aligned perfectly and his great prior season may see him regress back to career form. Since he is typically being selected outside the top quarterback options in fantasy drafts, there isn't a lot of risk in selecting him.

- Round 13, Pick 123 - Bye 7

2023 Rank: 1282 - 2022 Rank: 1282

Entering his ninth NFL season, Mosley has emerged as one of the most consistent tacklers in the league, topping 100 stops on six occasions. However, he's particularly blossomed under coach Robert Saleh in the last two years, posting his two highest tackle-total seasons and totaling 326 stops. Even at a relatively advanced age of 31, Mosley has recently shown the ability to improve his skills. He tallied seven passes defensed in 2022, his highest mark since the 2017 season. Given the wear and tear on his body, there will be some risk that Mosley will either lose a step or lose out on playing time due to injury in 2023 and beyond. However, it's hard to argue with his track record until he shows tangible signs of slowing down.

- Round 14, Pick 138 - Bye 13

2023 Rank: 107 - 2022 Rank: 107

Kincaid was selected as the No. 1 tight end off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft, No. 25 overall, by virtue of his pass-catching chops. Dawson Knox is already established as a red zone threat and capable blocker, and he's spent years building chemistry with Josh Allen, meaning it could be difficult for Kincaid to get a foothold out of the gate. Of course, the draft capital invested in Kincaid solidifies him as Buffalo's future, and though rookies at his position usually get off to a slow start, Kincaid is a rare talent. He could be capable of taking the field at the same times as Knox on occasion, by virtue of operating out of the slot, as long as he's able to get up to speed at the NFL level early. Buffalo's offense is high-octane enough to feed multiple mouths, but in the end, it's more likely that Kincaid emerges down the stretch than in the early weeks of the season.

- Round 15, Pick 143 - Bye 13

2023 Rank: 177 - 2022 Rank: 177

Bass has proven to be one of the league's most accurate kickers since joining the Bills as a sixth-round pick back in 2020. He's logged back-to-back seasons with at least an 87 percent field-goal conversion rate, with 57, 51 and 48 PATs over the last three years. The weather conditions in Buffalo aren't ideal for a kicker, but Bass makes up for it in opportunities within one of the top offenses in the league. He's converted either 27 or 28 in each of his pro seasons.

- Round 16, Pick 158 - Bye 9

2023 Rank: 536 - 2022 Rank: 536

- Round 17, Pick 163 - Bye 6

2023 Rank: 1858 - 2022 Rank: 1858

- Round 18, Pick 178 - Bye 11

2023 Rank: 554 - 2022 Rank: 554

Grant had a modest rookie season, playing nearly as much on special teams as he did on the Falcons' defensive unit. However, he took a major step forward after winning a starting job in 2022 and became a near-every-down player. That allowed him to total 123 tackles, seven pass defenses, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery across 17 games. Despite that production, the Falcons added Jessie Bates to their secondary this offseason, creating competition for Grant. Specifically, he will have to compete with Jaylinn Hawkins for the starting strong safety job. The end result could be a rotation at the position, so Grant comes with significant risk to take a step back from his 2022 production.

- Round 19, Pick 183 - Bye 6

2023 Rank: 132 - 2022 Rank: 132

Wilson's first season in Denver was a disaster of inconceivable proportions, especially since he was stepping into an offense that was pre-stocked with on-paper talent. The consensus assumption was that Pete Carroll and the Seahawks had held Wilson back for so many years, so the scale of disappointment is difficult to put into words. Luckily for Wilson and the Broncos offense, they'll be replacing one of the worst coaches of recent memory with one of the best, and one specifically noted for building high-octane offenses. Not all of Wilson's 2022 struggles can be blamed on the since-fired Nathaniel Hackett, but the distance between Hackett and new hire Sean Payton is enormous. If Payton can get Wilson back in his element then the Broncos skill position players will be in position to produce more like what was expected going into 2022. There's depth at all of running back, wide receiver and tight end, so Wilson almost has to bounce back from last year's brutal total of 16 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.

- Round 20, Pick 198 - Bye 6

2023 Rank: 111 - 2022 Rank: 111

Warren's performance during his college years was unremarkable, and his athletic testing ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft was average. Nonetheless, he quickly made an impact with the Steelers after signing as an undrafted free agent last spring. He not only earned a roster spot but also surpassed two fourth-round picks from previous drafts on the Pittsburgh depth chart, becoming Najee Harris's backup and playing mostly in passing situations. At 5-8, 215, Warren's low center of gravity and reliable hands made him a nuisance for defenses on check-down throws. Although he's a valuable complementary player for Pittsburgh, he won't necessarily become a high-volume starter even if Harris misses time. Warren struggled to average 5.0 YPC in college, and though he achieved 4.9 YPC in 2022, it was partially due to the Steelers limiting his carries to low-stakes situations or snaps where the defense was expecting a pass. He does appear secure in his spot on the depth chart, as the Steelers still have little in the backfield beyond Harris and Warren.

- Round 21, Pick 203 - Bye 5

2023 Rank: 96 - 2022 Rank: 96

Only 23, Moore has already been on quite a journey in the NFL. The 34th overall pick in 2021 emerged as the Jets' top receiving threat by the second month of his rookie season, averaging 67.4 receiving yards and scoring six touchdowns over a seven-game stretch before a quadriceps injury kept him sidelined for the final five weeks. Moore then struggled last year in his sophomore campaign and eventually was demoted to third on the depth chart, at one point missing a game because of conflict with the coaching staff and his desire to be traded. The Jets acquiesced, though not until the offseason, dealing Moore to Cleveland in March for a Day 2 pick swap. His combination of 4.35 speed and agility could help Deshaun Watson get back on track in his second year with the Browns, but first Moore will need to compete for snaps with Donovan Peoples-Jones, a returning starter whose size/speed combination makes him useful as a deep threat and blocker. Moore reportedly was one of the standouts of Cleveland's offseason program, and he conceivably could finish second or third on the team in targets even if he doesn't play quite as many snaps as fellow WRs Amari Cooper and Peoples-Jones.

- Round 22, Pick 218 - Bye 7

2023 Rank: 156 - 2022 Rank: 156

Lazard joins quarterback Aaron Rodgers in moving from Green Bay to New York this season. Garrett Wilson is the clear No. 1 option for the passing game, and while no obvious No. 2 wideout stands out, Lazard has the likely inside track following the abrupt retirement of Corey Davis in August. Mecole Hardman will give him his biggest challenge with only Randall Cobb among the top-4 WR. Lazard is a uniquely superior blocker among the Jets' receiving corps, which should guarantee him a sizeable weekly snap share. His connection with Rodgers also shouldn't be overlooked as a mere narrative, as his 6-foot-5 frame and 14 touchdowns the last two seasons are proof that he's trusted by his QB in the red zone. Lazard's four-year, $44 million contract is also incentive to get him involved early and often.

Team Forecast

Bye Week Points Lost

Points

Each bar represents the total projected season points for each player that's on bye that week. This chart shows any potential bye week issues.

Schedule by Opponent Points

Week

Week-by-week schedule with each opponent's projected season points. This chart shows any difficult or easy stretches in the schedule.

Nimrods
1. (3) Austin Ekeler
2. (18) Cooper Kupp
3. (23) CeeDee Lamb
4. (38) James Conner
5. (43) Trevor Lawrence
6. (58) Darren Waller
7. (63) Michael Pittman Jr.
8. (78) Khalil Herbert
9. (83) Dalvin Cook
10. (98) Nick Bolton
11. (103) Mike Evans
12. (118) Geno Smith
13. (123) C.J. Mosley
14. (138) Dalton Kincaid
15. (143) Tyler Bass
16. (158) Talanoa Hufanga
17. (163) Cameron Heyward
18. (178) Richie Grant
19. (183) Russell Wilson
20. (198) Jaylen Warren
21. (203) Elijah Moore
22. (218) Allen Lazard

Best Draft

Best Draft is awarded to the team with the most projected season points based on weekly optimal starting lineups.

League Draft Grades

Draft Day Projected Standings

Draft Day Power Rankings

Power Rankings are based on projected points for the remainder of the season.