I Crushed My $500 Auction Draft!
Last Saturday, we had the $500 buy in Fantasy Auction Draft in Chicago. This is the 22nd year of my primary league which is a feat in itself. It is a 10 team league starting 2 QBs and every owner gets $200 to spend. We have been doing the auction format since 2009 and I am a huge fan! I love the strategy of everyone having the same chance at every player.
How did I do? Let's break down my roster......
QB Joe Burrow ($24)
QB Tua Tagliavoa ($21)
QB Kirk Cousins ($6)
QB Bo Nix ($1)
This is a 5 point Passing TD league so that does help the non-running QBs some. All the top QBs went in the 40s. I am big on the Burrow bounce back this season and am fine with him as QB1. I did not originally plan on drafting Tua but $21 feels like fine value. With both of these guy being injury prone, I decided to bite the bullet on Cousins to have a solid #3 option. And I had snagged Nix for $1 at the end of the draft hoping he can be another 3rd option in Sean Payton's offense. I could see moving Tua at some point if Cousins & Nix break out.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs ($41)
RB James Cook ($26)
RB Zamir White ($7)
RB Zach Moss ($1)
This is a 1/2 point PPR league. I am huge on Gibbs in his 2nd year in the high powered Lions offense and have him as my #3 RB. He is dynamic both running & catching the ball plus got goal line carries down the stretch. The only concern is his hamstring has been flaring up some in camp. CMC went for $65 and the other top RBs all went for more than Gibbs so I am happy with the value.
James Cook went off down the stretch after OC Joe Brady took over for pass happy Ken Dorsey. I am also high on him with the one concern being Josh Allen stealing the rushing TDs. Buffalo is going to run the ball again in 2023. I was thrilled to get Zamir White & Zach Moss for depth. White had 400 yards rushing in the final 4 games and is the guy in Vegas. Moss & Chase Brown are battling in Cincy. Moss had big year in Indy last season and I like him to get at least 60% of carries and goal line.
WR Ja'Marr Chase $38
WR Amare Cooper $9
WR DJ Moore $11
WR Cortland Sutton $1
WR Khalil Shakir $1
This team is going to depend on Burrow & Chase. The value at $38 was amazing compared to all the other top WRs going for 40+. (Tyreek Hill $57 was highest). I am obviously a little concerned about Burrow staying healthy but if he does look out. Chase is also wanting a new contract and motivation will not be a problem.
I went value hunting with Amare at $9. He got over 40% of target share last year and is always underrated. DJ Moore FINALLY has a real QB for the first time in his career in Caleb Williams. DJ has still been solid for years even with abysmal guys throwing him the ball and is poised for a big year. Sutton is the top target in Denver and Shakir has big upside as the only returning WR in Buffalo.
TE Dalton Kincaid $12
Kincaid was the only guy in the draft I was not leaving without. I strongly feel he has a shot to be the #1 TE this year. He got a ton of targets down the stretch and Stefan Diggs is no longer in Buffalo. The sky's the limit here.
D Kansas City ($1)
The Chiefs have one of the top defenses in the league and play in a division with unproven QBs.
This is a 10 team league so the rosters are deeper but I am excited about the depth of this squad. I definitely am reliant on the Bengals & Bills but I have dealt with worse offenses.
Some of the guys I wanted and missed on were Terry McLauren, Xavier Worthy, & Austin Ekeler but you can't book 'em all!
Notable Players & Prices
CMC $65
Tyreek Hill $57
CeeDee Lamb $48
Breece Hall $47
Justin Jefferson $46
Jonathan Taylor $45
Jalen Hurts $45
Bijon Robinson $43
Ammon Ra St Brown $41
Patrick Mahomes $40
Lamar Jackson $40
Josh Allen $40
CJ Stroud $40
Derrick Henry $38
Anthony Richardson $37
Garrett Wilson $33
Jaylen Daniels $30
Looking back, not getting Mahomes at $40 could be a big mistake. Time will tell.....
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