The Draft as Fantasy Football Intended: Round 1

So on the 5th of July, the draft was completed. Sixteen teams put together their teams of seventeen in order to combat the season that lays ahead of them. As intended, the teams have all drafted based on ESPN's predictions and have followed as close to the letter as they possibly could. All that remains is to inform the people of the order and the results. Only one team will win the Super Bowl as ESPN inteded and one of these teams has managed it.

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

Points Last Year: 439.5 Points
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!

The Teams as Fantasy Intended

So the team names were released in February and I've been rather quiet on this front but today of all days is the 2022 NFL Draft, the greatest day for new players. It's a little different for my league however, because as fantasy intended, the NFL Draft indicates the first time anybody can perform a draft. As such, now is the perfect time to release the club crests for the 2022 season with artwork done by Althea Charlie. 

The Scotland Division

Edinburgh Knights

The Knights are based on the traditional visage of a knight; medieval and imposing. A player for the Knights are expected to do their duties without hassle and with the utmost chivalry. Edinburgh is famous for Arthur's Seat, an ancient volcano that the city is built behind and for the city, the Knights are defending the honour of the city.

Glasgow Pipers

The Pipers originate from a base of copper pipe makers, plying their trade around a busy city at the best of times. The hard grit and determination of the pipers makes for a good translation into fantasy football where the hard grit and determination of the players are matched by their fans who avidly watch in their droves.

Aberdeen Oilers

Every league at some point has an Oilers. The NFL had Houston. The NHL had Edmonton. Fantasy Football has the Aberdeen Oilers, based on the North Sea Oil Rigging and the trade that passes through. Slick trades and efficient point scores are the name of the game for this team looking to shine past the main two Scottish teams.

Dundee Spinners

Dundee has a long and storied history within Scotland but what many people don't realise is that their spinner name originates back to the fifteenth century. The knitting needles are a sign of patience needed to play the long game, while the wool represents the ever winding narrative that will be woven into shape.

The Wales Division

Cardiff Dragons

Cardiff is the central home of Wales and under the flag of the welsh is the dragon. Built with the fire and fury of the past, Cardiff wishes to protect it's horde of strong victories and world-beating players. If there is any time like the present, the sheer size and strength of the Welsh capital should bring plenty of patriotic supporters.

Newport Coal Miners

Newport is on the search for Coal and finding a couple of players who are pure engines will be an absolute must. Toiling for the right talent, the two pickaxes as constant reminders that hard work will always get rewarded with riches. The best thing is that the Coal Miners are not afraid to get their hands dirty, so be prepared to see them search deep for potential.

Swansea Smelters

Swansea has often been considered a graceful place in South-West Wales but behind a graceful visage comes the strength and rigidity of the Smelters. Their rise in the industrial revolution as copper smelters lent them well to a sense of purpose, duty, regiment and grand planning. Swansea are both the artist and the engineer in one team.

Barry Islanders

Barry Island, famous for launching the career of James Corden. While the trophy on the logo may indicate future victories, (on a scale of how much you like James Corden,) the Barry Islanders don't plan on being forgotten for much longer. No matter where you come from, anybody has a chance to win when it comes to Fantasy Football.

The Ireland Division

Dublin Brewers

Everyone has that one team that is just there for a good time. The Brewers are that team that signed up on a whim thinking that beginner's luck will take them far and just maybe they might learn something on the way. A lot of people live in the moment when it comes to fantasy football and never is that more on show with the Irish Capital's team.

Belfast Giants

The Giants name is synonymous with franchise sports and that gets carried over to Belfast, the Northern Irish side. Just like in Rugby, all of Ireland is classed as Ireland and the Giants will be hoping to take huge strides towards success. Named also after the Giant's Causeway, Belfast will be hoping that the other teams won't cause a giant killing.

Cork City Rebels

Sometimes it pays off to go against the grain, to experiment with different form and rebel from the normal. Cork City will be hoping to show that the unorthodox should become the normal and that the strategem and cunning will be rewarded early on in the season. Every league has to have a crazy gang, be it the Raiders, or famously Wimbledon. Cork City is that team.

Galway Tribesmen

Before everybody got reminded that Galway existed thanks to Ed Sheeran, Galway used to be a huge port of trade ruled by fourteen oligarchs in the middle ages. Trade is vital to winning fantasy football and the ultimate goal of any team is to wheel and deal into a better position than where they started. Galway might have the right ticket, or fourteen.

The England Division

London Steelers

London, commerce capital of the world but built as strong as steel. Their steel work is enough to quench the thirst of beam after beam and should make the elite players carrying the rest of the side a breeze. The Steelers know that while other teams may buckle, they will not break and their resolve will be crucial in the late phase of the season.

Birmingham Bulls

Charging head first and without a second thought, the Bulls will be hoping to rampage towards glory leaving a swathe of carnage behind them. The Bull has been a marquee of Birmingham for centuries, with their largest shopping district known as The Bullring. Sometimes going all in rewards a team and that may be the case with the Bulls.

Nottingham Sheriffs

We've all heard the tale of Robin Hood, who stole from the rich to give to the poor. That tale sums up the Nottingham Sheriffs as they embark on their campaign. By all accounts they don't have as much as the bigger teams like London or Cardiff but they will give to those who need it in Galway and Dundee. We all love an underdog and the Sheriffs are that team.

Bristol Buccaneers

Formerly the home to Blackbeard the pirate, Bristol has been a dockyard filled with important maritime history including the S.S Great Britain. While the team may attempt to parlay some good players, they will also be hoping that they can plunder the ultimate buried treasure chest in the form of victory. This may not be a team you want to cross swords with.

Drafting will take place a month before the start of the 2022 season which will last for 18 weeks. All content will be updated here and shared out through relevant mediums. Please also check out Althea Charlie's work out on Twitter at twitter.com/Altheacharlie3

Bring on 2022 and Fantasy Football as ESPN Intended!

How I won at fantasy in my first year!

It's four o'clock in the morning. Najee Harris breaks right out of the tackle for his biggest rush of the season to the house of 37 yards. The lead stretches in my game from five to fifteen points and is icing for what couldn't have been a better season of fantasy. 

I didn't expect after drafting my team that I would come away with the title. I am at this point still elated that I picked up the quote "fluff and beans bowl" crown. However for one night of victory, dubbed one again as a certified Tealand Tuesday moment, I want to impart some wisdom for what I did as champion, how I got to where I did and more crucially for those reading, give some helpful tools to go out and play the game to the best of your ability.

Sparey's guide to fantasy football

1) A good draft helps out a lot. You never truly know who is going to be electric immediately and who will become talented late into the season, but the one thing you can do early is lock down some key cornerstones in the draft that as points, you can price out from trading. For me, that player was Tyreek Hill. In my league he was a second round selection but someone who everyone knew going in had the capability to put astronomical performances up. Week 4 proved that when he put 47.6 up against the eagles. If you get the cornerstones of your team down early, you'll find a lot of leverage when it comes to players.

2) Relative value and the waiver wire. It's no secret that I traded my way to success, trading with 10 of the 13 players in my league for over double the amount of transactions as the next person. A lot of this came off of the back of a week 3 defeat where I sat down and honestly thought about what I wanted to do. I identified a player that was doing nothing for a team and offered this trade. Tyler Boyd and Kenyan Drake for Deebo Samuel and Alexander Mattison. Deebo vhanged how my team played overnight and was consistently my best player for the season. Mattison went immediately to the waiver wire where I promptly never saw him again as he played a key role when Dalvin Cook was injured. Without that first trade being a success, I don't go on a lunatic's frenzy trying to improve my team and don't improve projection from 125 to 140 in the space of 4 weeks.

Now when I say relative value, most of the deals I made had the same principal. Player I want, plus low rated fodder piece, for a slightly worse piece I want to trade away and a backup running back, wide receiver or tight end. The value in getting the player you want doesn't come from the player you traded for but more rather the fodder piece. Let's take Cedrick Wilson as an example. When I picked him up he was worth about six points and immediately cut him. The reason why is when I made the trade for him, there were much better options on the waiver wire. That six point player in escence has as much weight as 11 points depending on who is available. A trade deal that I try to make to be fair is to trade between even and minus three points if there is value in the waiver wire. It was how I managed to get Jalen Hurts, Stefon Diggs, Dalton Schultz and many others in my mad scramble for talent before the trade deadline. Knowing what value you have for a piece is vital to how you manouver and improve as a season progresses.

3) Finding gems on the wire. This is easier to do if you're down in the league a bit. My opponent who made the final for example was 2-4 and staring consolation but rallied to 7-7 with great positioning on the wire. I spent most of my season 14th and dead last on the wire, meaning great options were more likely to go elsewhere. I made three really good finds this season, firstly with my kicker Nick Folk. I frequent a YouTuber called Chiseled Adonis and the one thing he always does as a meme is berate the everloving clustertruck out of Nick Folk for missing his kicks. Memes aside, Nick was the number one kicker for most of the year and was a vital source of eight or more points more often than not. My second find was Emmanuel Sanders who consistently had been averaging 12 points a game and proved to be a very strong trade piece in the mid to late part of the season. The third? Khalil Herbert. Rookie at Chicago, he jumped into the team and for two weeks, was unstoppable. He was sured up firepower at a weaker running back position and I was able to pawn him off for a more solid option into the second half of the season. Finding one player on the wire that works brilliantly changes your entire outlook on the season.

4) A little bit of luck goes a long way. In week one, Darren Waller got 19 targets and put 26.5 points on the board for me to squeak my opening game. I was hooked at that point which led to week two, where Aaron Jones and D'Andre Swift clawed me out of a 50 point hole to steal my second game of the season. I should have been 0-3 to get my campaign off the ground but reality was that I was 2-1, unwilling to let that slip. I had losses, but also a team that through the first 11 weeks was averaging 130 points. After the trade deadline, I got hit by the injury bug and averaged around 110 points until the end of the season. I lost the one seed going into the playoffs, my team didn't score over 120 points in any playoff game, but fortune favours the brave and the title came home with me.

I scored the most points in the league, and also had the toughest schedule by points too. I got blown out 180 to 90 in week 14 to lose that seeding at a time where I didn't know how my team would perform. I had luck that Amari Cooper and Sterling Shepherd got iced out of the quarter finals. DaVante Parker put up an egg in the semi finals, and the most fitting end to a final ever, the player I tried to save on injured reserve, Antonio Brown, walks out mid-game leaving my opponent stranded on 5.6 points. You have no control over how players play, you just have to build a team with the best chance of success. It wasn't a pretty win at any point but it was victory enough to win overall.

A toxic player said to me after I got his trade vetoed that my victory would be hollow. Rule one of any game is you play to have fun, no fun, no play. I'm proud of the win, and next season should be a fun time for everyone involved!

2022: Fantasy as ESPN Intended

About three months ago, I was introduced to fantasy football as a concept. The goal is simple. 9 v 9, most points win. Fantasy has always had a problem with me in that a championship year is by season start to season end and once you're behind, there's not really a good way to catch back up to someone. Add a couple of divisions, wins and losses mattering and a playoff structure at the end; fantasy football suddenly lives rent-free in my brain.

I joined a 14 team fun league at the start of the NFL season, and immediately got hooked on the game when in week 1, down 25 going into the final game of the week with 1 player to go, who should turn up with 19 targets than Las Vegas Raiders' very own Darren Waller, scoring a touchdown with 4 minutes of regulation to win me the game. It got more crazy the next week as down 50 going into the last game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions with Aaron Jones and D'Andre Swift to play, Jones put 4 touchdowns on the board for 41.5 points and with some garbage time checkdowns, I was the most underserving 2 and 0 ever. But that thrill got my brain toiling. I'm now 9 and 2, top of my division and locked into the playoffs, turning a 125 point projected team into a 145 point projected team having been the most active player picking up players from free agency and waiver claims as well as trading pieces about. 

All that thought of trying to construct the perfect team got me to thinking though. If the goal each week with a roster of 17 is to create the most perfect team possible and to go and win the league, why don't we do some experimenting and see how ESPN, the system I found fantasy football with, would play a season of fantasy football if every decision was based off of ESPN's projections?

We shall call it the League of Projections!

Of course, a league is no good without its teams and conferences and as such, we need to establish some. This will be a 16 team, 4 conference championship with a 15 week regular season and a 3 week playoff structure. I've based the divisions off of the 4 nations in rugby. (Normally 6 but France and Italy can sit this one out.) The Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England divisions will all have 1 automatic playoff spot and then the final 4 wildcard slots are determined based on record. The teams will look as follows:

The Scotland Division

Edinburgh Knights

Glasgow Pipers

Aberdeen Oilers

Dundee Spinners

The Wales Division

Cardiff Dragons

Newport Coal Miners

Swansea Smelters

Barry Islanders

The Ireland Division

Dublin Brewers

Belfast Giants

Cork City Rebels

Galway Tribesmen

The England Division

London Steelers

Birmingham Bulls

Nottingham Sheriffs

Bristol Buccaneers

Now that the teams are created, it will be a long wait before the drafting process will take place in august. But rest assured, we will be covering a bit of ground before then such as the rules, what to look for at each position as well as some other tidbits along the way.

All that is left to say as of right now is that ESPN Fantasy Football, just how they intend it to be played should be obe very interesting experiment.