The Order
Every team is split into four divisions: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. From those divisions, one team from each division is assorted into a pot labeled one through four. From there, the teams are then assigned a random number in that pot one through four in order to give their draft position. The draft order ended up as follows.
1) Edinburgh Knights
2) Galway Tribesmen
3) Barry Islanders
4) London Steelers
5) Dundee Spinners
6) Cork City Rebels
7) Nottingham Sheriffs
8) Swansea Smelters
9) Birmingham Bulls
10) Belfast Giants
11) Glasgow Pipers
12) Newport Coal Miners
13) Bristol Buccaneers
14) Cardiff Dragons
15) Dublin Brewers
16) Aberdeen Oilers
The Draft
And so, the 2022 Fantasy Football Draft begun, meaning the Edinburgh Knights were on the clock. The composition of teams is as follows. Each team must draft two quarterbacks, four running backs, five wide receivers, two tight ends, two defences and two kickers. The first pick was in a swift manner, and the foundations of fantasy were set up.
Pick 1: The Edinburgh Knights Select Jonathan Taylor, Running Back, Indianapolis
Points Last Year: 373.1 Points
Average Per Game: 21.9 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 1st
Last Year Rank NFL: 5th
Jonathan Taylor broke out last year with a staggering run of mid-season form. Never falling outside of being a top-10 running back for twelve straight weeks, Taylor became the out and out running back when Derrick Henry dropped down with injury. The highlight of the Colts offence, the Knights will be backing him to push for 100+ yard rushing games with the desire of a touchdown, converting 20 of 26 from inside the 5 yard line in 2021.
Pick 2: The Galway Tribesmen Select Cooper Kupp, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Rams
Average Per Game: 25.9 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 1st
Last Year Rank NFL: 1st
Cooper Kupp was a highlight beyond highlights being fed as the primary weapon for Matthew Stafford. Scoring 96 points more than the next nearest wide receiver, Kupp is the sort of player who single handedly changes fantasy football matchups. He is as reliable as the sun rising, and dynamic after the catch, continuing to make yard upon point scoring yard. The Tribesmen have an absolute gem on their hands and one which will see them be a threat in any fantasy matchup.
Pick 3: The Barry Islanders Select Christian McCaffrey, Running Back, Carolina
Points Last Year: 127.5 Points
Average Per Game: 18.2 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 38th
Last Year Rank NFL: 142nd
Injuries have been the name of the game curtailing the promise of Christian McCaffrey, a dual threat running back who on his day, becomes the fulcrum of the Carolina attack. It is a gamble though for the Barry Islanders who know they have to hope that not only there are no problems for a third straight season, but also a very messy quarterback carousel that leaves the passing game as questionable too. Just after the draft, Carolina picked up Baker Mayfield, which may be a silver lining for the Islanders.
Pick 4: The London Steelers Select Austin Ekeler, Running Back, Los Angeles Chargers
Points Last Year: 343.8 Points
Average Per Game: 21.5 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 2nd
Last Year Rank NFL: 8th
Traditionalists say to pick a running back in the first round and Austin Ekeler is seriously underrated. In a team known for passing numbers, Ekeler excels as a back option with a floor unmatched by any other option last year at 9.5 points. There will be a small concern that the 20 touchdown mark of last season can't be matched this season however for the London Steelers, it is a safe choice at pick four that will give them a solid foundation.
Pick 5: The Dundee Spinners Select Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver, Minnesota
Points Last Year: 330.4 Points
Average Per Game: 19.4 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 4th
Last Year Rank NFL: 11th
When everyone expected Adam Thielen to lead the attack over in Minnesota, I'm not sure anyone truly expected Justin Jefferson to burst out like an early Randy Moss. Leading in air miles in passes to a receiver, the Dundee Spinners lock down a really effective piece of the puzzle for seasons to come knowing full well that when Justin gets targets, he will be scoring points at a rapid rate.
Pick 6: The Cork City Rebels Select Ja'Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati
Points Last Year: 304.6 Points
Average Per Game: 17.9 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 5th
Last Year Rank NFL: 16th
It's almost funny to think that Ja'Marr's breakout rookie season could have been even more than it was. The legendary game against the Chiefs which netted a staggering 55.6 points in week 17. With a better offensive line and more time to be found on the pitch, Chase's 11.5 yards per catch average is a scary number for other teams and the Cork City Rebels could make a lot happen in this season.
Pick 7: The Nottingham Sheriffs Select Derrick Henry, Running Back, Tennessee
Points Last Year: 193.3 Points
Average Per Game: 24.2 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 22nd
Last Year Rank NFL: 78th
Nottingham pick up an absolute steal at 7. Derrick Henry was on track to put monster numbers up, potentially a 400 point season, which is doubly impressive as a running back were it not for injury. The brute force, stiff-arming ruler of the backfield, King Henry will be huge in getting his crown back. No doubts about it, Nottingham needed this as much as Tennessee need him fit.
Pick 8: The Swansea Smelters Select Najee Harris, Running Back, Pittsburgh
Points Last Year: 300.7 Points
Average Per Game: 17.7 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 3rd
Last Year Rank NFL: 18th
Najee Harris was Mr Dependable when it came to the Pittsburgh offence last season. Most time on the field out of all running backs, Najee's offence will have to slightly change from the check downs of Ben Roethlisberger to most likely Kenny Pickett who was first quarterback off in the 2022 NFL draft. Dependable to score at least 15 points on a good day, he will once again be the nucleus of offence and Swansea should be pleased by the pick.
Pick 9: The Birmingham Bulls Select Davante Adams, Wide Receiver, Las Vegas
Points Last Year: 344.3 Points
Average Per Game: 21.5 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 2nd
Last Year Rank NFL: 7th
Davante Adams is an interesting stab for the Birmingham Bulls as teams erred on the side of caution with the new Raider. Moving from Aaron Rodgers to Derek Carr is always a risk but with Davante linking up with the Quarterback he had in college at Fresno State, it shouldn't take long for all cylinders to be firing. There are going to be some questions around the team on how many targets will be handed out with Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow already elite options, somewhere, there will have to be a drop in production.
Pick 10: The Belfast Giants Select Dalvin Cook, Running Back, Minnesota
Points Last Year: 206.3 Points
Average Per Game: 15.9 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 16th
Last Year Rank NFL: 66th
5 missed games last season didn't do much to help a distinctly average season which showed promise initially for Dalvin Cook. Firmly the lead option in Minnesota, the Belfast Giants will have to hope that the elite production of the prior three seasons comes back so that the points can flow through. It is in that regard slightly early to reach for Dalvin but barring any more injuries, there is certainly room for another great season yet.
Pick 11: The Glasgow Pipers Select Stefon Diggs, Wide Receiver, Buffalo
Points Last Year: 285.5 Points
Average Per Game: 16.8 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 7th
Last Year Rank NFL: 23rd
Stefon Diggs is a very consistent accruer of points who's subtle drop in stats from 2020 didn't really get much notice. Diggs though will have to be weary around cornerback matchups as his volume of targets increased to keep the numbers up however what might help him surprisingly is the increasing stature of Gabriel Davis could leave more opportunities to shine in 2022 for the Pipers.
Pick 12: The Newport Coal Miners Select Deebo Samuel, Wide Receiver, San Francisco
Points Last Year: 338.96 Points
Average Per Game: 21.2 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 3rd
Last Year Rank NFL: 9th
Deebo can do anything. Deployed as both a running back and a wide receiver, he even threw a touchdown during the season. Boosted by a completely decimated running core last season, any doubts on his points haul should be put to rest knowing his production worked both as a primary target and as a primary runner. Even better for his numbers is the bullet arm of Trey Lance which should give Deebo more yards for less work. Newport have an incredible option at 12.
Pick 13: The Bristol Buccaneers Select Tyreek Hill, Wide Receiver, Miami
Points Last Year: 296.5 Points
Average Per Game: 17.4 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 6th
Last Year Rank NFL: 21st
Tyreek Hill was the definition of a "feast or famine" wide receiver with the Kansas City Chiefs last season. some weeks he could dominate for over 40 points while others he would be marked out of the game with only 4. The switch to Miami also leads to some interesting discussions around Tua Tagovailoa and his abilities to find one of the scariest deep threats in the game. Having spent most of last season checking and being elusive, Bristol have a controlled gamble with the 13th pick.
Pick 14: The Cardiff Dragons Select D'Andre Swift, Running Back, Detroit
Points Last Year: 208.9 Points
Average Per Game: 16.1 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 15th
Last Year Rank NFL: 63rd
There were times last season where D'Andre Swift was the only option on the field for the Detroit Lions and four games missed late in the season curtailed what could have easily been a top ten season. Both a running and passing option, the dual threat nature mixed with Jared Goff for his first season leaves a lot of promise for the Cardiff Dragons who's shrewd pickup early may be a sign of things to come for them.
Pick 15: The Dublin Brewers Select Joe Mixon, Running Back, Cincinnati
Points Last Year: 287.9 Points
Average Per Game: 18.0 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 4th
Last Year Rank NFL: 22nd
The Dublin Brewers find Joe Mixon almost in their lap and snap him up with the 15th pick overall. having only 4 scores last season in single digits, the floor looks great for solid points moving through the season. Bostered O-Line help will also make more room for him in the run game, potentially elevating his skills to gain more yards per attempt. Dynamic in terms of usage too, the Brewers know Cincinnati is not just a pass first team and will be hoping for an even stronger 2022.
Pick 16: The Aberdeen Oilers Select Alvin Kamara, Running Back, New Orleans
Points Last Year: 234.7 Points
Average Per Game: 18.1 Points
Last Year Rank Position: 8th
Last Year Rank NFL: 44th
Aberdeen gamble with the exempt list around Alvin Kamara and his battery case. As of publication of the first round, the August 1st court date will be telling for not only Kamara's season but also how much time he could lose depending on what happens. Outside of that, 4 games missed due to injury in the middle of the season stalled a very good season in spite of missing Drew Brees. With Jameis Winston at quarterback, the Oilers will be hoping for two things. To be fed the ball and to avoid any sanction or suspension.
With the first round completed, let's break down some of the statistics for how each team has picked.
By Position:
Running Back: 9
Wide Receiver: 7
By NFL Team:
Minnesota: 2
Cincinnati: 2
Indianapolis: 1
Los Angeles Rams: 1
Carolina: 1
Los Angeles Chargers: 1
Tennessee: 1
Pittsburgh: 1
Las Vegas: 1
Buffalo: 1
San Francisco: 1
Miami: 1
Detroit: 1
New Orleans: 1
Round 2 will be released soon so please keep an eye on this space for more updates about Fantasy Football as ESPN Intended. Artwork was done by Althea Charlie and I cannot wait for the season to commence!
No comments:
Post a Comment