Photo: USA Today Sports

On July 27th, six members of the Footballguys staff, along with six highly regarded writers in the fantasy football community, got together to complete a 12-team, 20 round draft using the Footballguys Players Championship format. Before the draft, each of the participants answered questions regarding strategies, players they coveted and how they plan to attack the draft. Additional questions were asked after the draft based on the decisions they made. To top it off, Footballguys' Devin Knotts will provide an evaluation of each team's roster strengths and weaknesses, chronicling the strategies and decisions that were made by each participant.

The goal of this article is to give you a look into the minds of fantasy experts throughout the entire draft process. This includes preparation, decision-making, execution, and follow-up. What was their plan? Did they follow it? Why did they make the decisions they made? Some drafters had similar strategies and players of interest, but how they executed their plan and built their roster, varied from person to person.

We hope you will uncover or discover a strategy that might work for you in your draft(s) this year. Learn what players the experts are targeting and why. At Footballguys, when you win, we win! If we can help give you the tools and know-how to build a winning team, we've done our job.

LEAGUE PARAMETERS

• 12 teams
• 20 roster spots
• Starting Lineup
  • 1 quarterback
  • 2 running backs
  • 2 wide receivers
  • 1 tight end
  • 2 flex (either a running back, wide receiver, or tight end)
  • 1 Defense
  • 1 Kicker

LEAGUE SCORING

• Offensive Players Only
• 4 points - Passing Touchdown
• 6 points - Rushing/Receiving Touchdown
• 0.05 points - Passing Yard
• 0.1 points - Rushing/Receiving Yard
• 1.0 point - Reception (QB, RB, WR)
• 1.5 point - Reception (TE)
• -1 - Interception Thrown
• 2 - Two-Point Conversion (rush, pass or receive)
• 3 - Length of field goal made 0-29 yards
• 3 - Length of field goal made 30 yards and then 0.1 for every 1 yard after 30.
• 6 - Offensive recovery for Touchdown
• 6 - Number of Defensive and Special Teams Touchdowns
• Defense scoring
  • 2 points - fumble recovery
  • 2 points - interception caught
  • 1 point - sacked quarterback
  • 5 points - safety
  • 12 points - 0 points allowed
  • 8 points - 1-6 points allowed
  • 5 points - 7-10 points allowed
  • 0 points - 11-99 points allowed
  • 6 points - Defensive or Special Teams Touchdown

DRAFT PARTICIPANTS

1. Alex Miglio, Footballguys
2. Michelle Magdziuk, Ball Blast Podcast
3. Scott Bischoff, Footballguys
4. Dan Hindery, Footballguys
5. Kate Magdziuk, Ball Blast Podcast
6. Dan Clasgens, Sirius XM Fantasy
7. Russell Clay, Fantasy Guru
8. B.J. Vanderwoude, Footballguys
9. Chad Parsons, Footballguys
10. Justin Howe, Footballguys
11. Jen Ryan, Football Diehards
12. Pat Fitzmaurice, TheFootballgirl.com

DRAFT GRID

Completed Rosters

DRAFT SLOT 1

Alex Miglio, Footballguys, Bio

Follow @AlexMiglio

PRE-DRAFT QUESTIONS

1. Discuss drafting from the 1-hole. What will you do differently because of this draft slot?

It's likely drafting at the top of the draft means I will be taking running backs in two of the first three rounds, depending on who is available of course. My No. 1 player this year is Ezekiel Elliott, and he is one of several running backs at the top of most draft boards. I will also look to start positional runs instead of getting stuck with scraps at the end of one.

2. How will the dual-flex and tight end 1.5 PPR scoring format change how you approach this draft?

Unless something ridiculous like Travis Kelce falling to me in the second round happens, I will probably not be taking a tight end in the first few rounds. There are only three guys worth taking so early, even with the scoring bump. The second flex gives me some flexibility if people jump on the tight end position or start gobbling up running backs in the middle rounds. I will play off what the rest of the league is doing to fill those slots.

3. Name a few guys that you are looking to build your team around. What rounds do you expect to get them in?

It's tough to target specific players ahead of an entire draft because you never know what might happen. Aside from Zeke, though, I like the value that guys like Allen Robinson, Jimmy Garoppolo and Albert Wilson typically present

4. Do you have any trigger points (ie players A and B are gone therefore I am looking to grab player C the next time I pick)

If we are closing out a tier at any position that I am targeting, yes I do have triggers. Whether that means that I pivot to another position if the tier dried up or I snag one of the last guys in that tier, there is always a plan leading up to my picks. More broadly, though, I don't tend to lock in on players during drafts. Everything is fluid.

5. What's your approach to rookies, injured players, and/or suspended players that may not have a full workload to start the season?

If a rookie has a clear path to start, he is probably going to be overvalued. Sometimes it works out -- think Saquon Barkley -- but most of the time high-cost rookies tend to underperform. I try to look out for high-upside rookies who may not be starting but have a good shot to be on the field often. That goes especially for rookies on bad teams who may ascend to a starting roster spot earlier than they would on a good squad. As for injured or suspended players, their risk is typically baked into their ADP, so the cost is pretty fair. I won't necessarily avoid injured players unless they have a long comeback trail or have had multiple injuries in recent years.

6. What is your strategy for drafting a Defense/ST and kicker for this league?

As always, I am going to wait until the last few rounds to draft these positions. Especially in a non-best-ball league, where I will be streaming these positions most of the year.

7. Name five players you are targeting in the later rounds?

Albert Wilson, Malcolm Brown, Hakeem Butler, Duke Johnson Jr, and Lamar Jackson are some of my favorites.

DRAFT SELECTIONS

POST-DRAFT QUESTIONS

1. Holdouts and suspensions did not deter you from drafting specific players, namely Ezekiel Elliott 1.01, Melvin Gordon 3.01, and Golden Tate 9.01. Explain how these decisions can make or break you. What are your expectations for these players this season?

Zeke is my top player, and I'm not going to let a little holdout talk change my mind about that. Not yet, anyway. If he's still holding out mid-August, the pick would have been someone else. For now, though, I think most -- if not all -- holdouts will be reporting sooner than later. Hence, Gordon was a steal. He is normally a top-12 pick! As for Tate, I don't mind him in the ninth round as a bench player because he can contribute once we start hitting byes, and he is the de facto No. 1 receiver in New York. Someone's going to have to get targets!

2. You drafted Larry Fitzgerald with pick 6.12 (WR32). With all the attention on Christian Kirk and Kyler Murray, how does that affect Fitzgerald? Share your outlook for Fitzgerald this season.

I'm bullish on the Cardinals offense with Murray under center. How long has it been since Fitzgerald has had a quality quarterback throwing him the ball? He may be getting a bit long in the tooth, but Fitz is still a great player who will see a ton of targets in a much-improved offense. He has a high floor with the potential for a Top 15 fantasy finish at receiver, which makes him a great WR3 in my book.

Devin Knotts' EVALUATION

Strengths

Alex’s team did a tremendous job finding value early in the draft as he was able to get the steal of the draft in George Kittle at the end of the second round. After Kittle, he loaded up with value at the wide receiver in upside players with Tyler Lockett and Kenny Golladay. Alex also has the strongest tight end group in the league as he was able to supplement George Kittle with Jordan Reed and Kyle Rudolph likely indicating that he is planning on utilizing a tight end at the flex position.

Weaknesses

When spending two of your top three picks at the running back position, it is difficult to call the running back position a weakness, but with Melvin Gordon’s pending holdout, Alex’s second running back is in extreme question. With rumors that Kalen Ballage is potentially going to overtake Kenyan Drake, this could be a situation where Alex is struggling to get consistency out of the running back position.

How He’ll Win It All

As time continues to progress, the likelihood that Melvin Gordon will miss time in Los Angeles gets increasingly higher. For Alex to win this league, he will need either the Gordon situation to be resolved, or find a consistent producer at the running back position. Surviving the early weeks will be critical for Alex as Golden Tate faces suspension and with Gordon potentially out, he will have some tough choices in the first few weeks.

DRAFT SLOT 2

Michelle Magdziuk, Ball Blast Podcast

Michelle currently works as a nursing recruiter in Pittsburgh, PA. She has played fantasy football since she was 8 years old and decided it's finally time to share her knowledge. She's also a co-host of the BallBlast Podcast.

Follow @BallBlastEm

PRE-DRAFT QUESTIONS

1. Discuss drafting from the 2-hole. What will you do differently because of this draft slot?

In the 2nd spot, I plan to draft a studly RB and hopefully a 2nd very good RB in the 2nd round, while grabbing a very solid WR in the 3rd. With 2 great RBs to start, that will give me a ton of flexibility to draft any way I want the rest of the draft.

2. How will the dual-flex and tight end 1.5 PPR scoring format change how you approach this draft?

It isn't going to change my approach at all. I like going after the TEs going int he 5-6th round (Howard, Engram, Henry). If I don't get one of them being towards the turn, I am okay just waiting to draft a couple of older tight ends later in the draft.

3. Name a few guys that you are looking to build your team around. What rounds do you expect to get them in?

Zeke/CMC will be my first-round pick. I am hoping to Hilton or Thielen as my WR1 in the 3rd round. I am happy with that.

4. Do you have any trigger points (ie players A and B are gone therefore I am looking to grab player C the next time I pick)

If 2 out of Howard, Engram, Henry are gone, I would take the 3rd guy if I had the pick. If 2 out of Christian Kirk, Robby Anderson, and Pettis were gone - I would choose the 3rd. Same with Kyler, Murray, Cam Newton, Josh Allen.

5. What's your approach to rookies, injured players, and/or suspended players that may not have a full workload to start the season?

No rookie WRs. Hunt is not draftable. I am okay taking RBs in RBBC.

6. What is your strategy for drafting a Defense/ST and kicker for this league?

Wait until 2nd to last round for Def, last round for Kicker. I look at the early part of the schedule for Def.

7. Name five players you are targeting in the later rounds?

D'Onta Foreman, Curtis Samuel, Jimmy Graham, John Brown, Mark Andrews.

DRAFT SELECTIONS

POST-DRAFT QUESTIONS

1. You selected three running backs to begin the draft (McCaffrey 1.02, Dalvin Cook 2.11, and then Kerryon Johnson at 3.02. What made you go this route to begin the draft, especially Johnson in the third round and not a wide receiver like you planned?

I like a LOT of WRs later- For example Chris Godwin, Christian Kirk, Robby Anderson, Dante Pettis, Curtis Samuel, and John Brown. Kerryon Johnson will always be my 3rd round pick if he falls to me there. I would have gone with a wide receiver if Johnson was taken before me but I think he is a top 10 running back this year. It is so much easier to replace receivers on the waivers than it is running backs. I would prefer to go 2 RBs than 1 WR but if value comes to me, I will take.

2. I'm curious why you said you tend to shy away from drafting rookie wide receivers. One, is this only in this format? Two, what's your reasoning behind that strategy.

Almost always, rookie wide receivers do not start producing until mid-season. At that point, you already dropped them. In the late rounds when others are taking rookie receivers, I want to take guys that I know will produce. For example, Weeks 1 & 2, we will see if Marquez Valdes-Scantling will be the WR2 on Green Bay. We'll also see if Donte Moncrief will be the WR2 for Pittsburgh. Is Kalen Ballage being used as a lead back? I want to know right away, because I need to drop guys and pick up others off the waiver wire. I USE WAIVERS EVERY WEEK. That rookie receiver that is slowly learning the NFL is going to be dropped before he ever starts producing.

DEVIN KNOTT'S EVALUATION

Strengths

Michelle went with a running back heavy approach to start the draft and got herself 4 of the top 29 running backs in this draft indicating she is planning on utilizing a four running back strategy in the Flex positions. Michelle also did a tremendous job going out and grabbing a tight top end at a value as in the 1.5 PPR league, getting Hunter Henry was a steal in this draft.

Weaknesses

Depth at wide receiver. Michelle took some bold chances in this draft by taking some high upside, low floor receivers ahead of their average draft position in Dede Westbrook in the 8th, Josh Gordon in the 12th round, and Antonio Callaway in the 15th. All three are extremely talented players but have been inconsistent throughout their careers.

How She’ll Win It All

If Michelle can get enough production out of her second-wide receiver she has a chance in this league. Josh Gordon’s pending reinstatement hearing will be a big outcome for her if Gordon is deemed eligible to play early on in the season. If Gordon is out for the year, relying on Westbrook and a bunch of waiver wire type players will make it difficult for Michelle.

DRAFT SLOT 3

Scott Bischoff, Footballguys, Bio

Follow @Bischoff_Scott

PRE-DRAFT QUESTIONS

1. Discuss drafting from the 3-hole. What will you do differently because of this draft slot?

There is little to think about in terms of the first pick as it will be a running back. I am hoping that a running back falls to me in the second round (perhaps Todd Gurley), but I am open to taking a wide receiver or tight end in Round 2. I will have to pay attention to how the two teams drafting in front of me are putting their rosters together, and I hope to be able to exploit what they are doing to my advantage. For example, if I am looking at quarterback in the middle of the draft, I will check out their rosters to see if they have taken one yet. If so, I can pass in the even rounds, extracting value and grabbing the player I would have drafted anyway, just a touch later.

2. How will the dual-flex and tight end 1.5 PPR scoring format change how you approach this draft?

The tight end scoring will force me to prioritize the position and grab a stable group of pass-catching tight ends. If I miss on the position early, I will have to take multiple tight ends in the middle of the draft to ensure that I have some stability, and I may have to reach on tight ends that I like. The dual-flex system means I will likely be selecting only two players at the quarterback, kicker and team defense position, leaving 14 players at running back, wide receiver and tight end.

3. Name a few guys that you are looking to build your team around. What rounds do you expect to get them in?

I like Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in Round 9, but the quarterback position is fluid and is dependent on what others in the league are doing. I like Lions running back Kerryon Johnson but will have to reach a touch in Round 3 as I do not think he will fall to me in the fourth round. Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (Round 4) and Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Round 9) are players I would like to build around.

4. Do you have any trigger points (ie players A and B are gone therefore I am looking to grab player C the next time I pick)

I suppose I only have that approach when it comes to the quarterback position. I will start paying attention to the position when most owners already have a starting quarterback.

5. What's your approach to rookies, injured players, and/or suspended players that may not have a full workload to start the season?

It is tough to count on rookies to produce at a high rate so I generally will not draft them into starting positions on my roster. When it comes to injured/suspended/players holding out, I take it on a case-by-case basis. I will reach on this type of player if he can be a productive player right away, but that also means I will have to adjust on the fly and make sure I can survive at the position until the player returns. For example, Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is holding out, and there is no clarity on when he will return to the team. I would select Gordon in this format, but that also means I will prioritize the selection of Chargers running backs Austin Akeler and Justin Jackson, jumping on them earlier than normal.

6. What is your strategy for drafting a Defense/ST and kicker for this league?

I am waiting until the last rounds for defense and kicker. Generally, I am looking at a defense that has good pass rushers and a kicker that plays indoors.

7. Name five players you are targeting in the later rounds?

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, Texans wide receiver Keke Coutee, and Patriots tight end Ben Watson.

DRAFT SELECTIONS

POST-DRAFT QUESTIONS

1. You drafted four key players (starters) with a Week 12 bye. Is that a concern for you? How much emphasis do you put into bye weeks when drafting in this format?

Having four starters on the same bye week is certainly a concern but having 20 players on the roster will help here. I will have to be judicious in free agency in the weeks leading up to Week 12 to make sure I am covered. I would have avoided players with a Week 12 by if there were fewer roster spots, but I am less inclined to be concerned with byes when it comes to leagues with expanded rosters. However, that does not mean I can ignore the fact that Week 12 presents issues.

2. You selected Austin Ekeler with pick 7.03. What kind of expectations do you have for him this season and when should people be looking to draft him?

Ekeler is currently a value as an all-purpose running back in a very potent offense, but that value gets diminished when running back Melvin Gordon returns. I selected him to be an early-season starting running back on my roster as I feel Gordon will miss time, and he should be able to produce at a fairly high level while assuming a starting role for the Chargers. Ekeler will be a strong backup with upside when Gordon returns, and he will bring value throughout the season in that role, but Gordon tends to miss time already and might be more at risk due to his contract dispute. I selected Ekeler as RB31 in this league and I think that is right about where he should be drafted, if not a touch sooner. Ekeler should come off the board right when backups start to get selected as he is one of the better backup options at the position.

DEVIN KNOTT'S EVALUATION

Strengths

Scott nailed the start of the draft as he has one of the more balanced teams in the league this season as he started the draft off by going with two running backs and then was quickly able to get values on both Stefon Diggs and Chris Godwin. Austin Hooper had a tremendous year in this format last year with the 1.5 PPR and Scott received excellent value with him being the 10th tight end off the board in this format.

Weaknesses

The big question for Scott is at the quarterback position. Scott waited until the 12th round to take his first quarterback and will have to decide between Philip Rivers and Jimmy Garoppolo each week which will not be a lot of fun for Scott this season. The other concern for Scott’s team is that he mailed it in at the end of the draft taking two kickers and two defenses in a non-Best Ball league. Taking a deep shot at a rookie wide receiver or running back who may fall into the job due to a pre-season injury likely would have been the better approach in this one.

How He’ll Win It All

If Scott avoids injury, he will be a tough competitor this season as the top of his draft is as good as anyone in the league. He will have to keep a close eye on the matchups as he will have a decision to make each week at the quarterback, defense, and kicker positions, but if he can master those decisions he will have a great chance to win this league.

DRAFT SLOT 4

Dan Hindery, Footballguys, Bio

Follow @Hindery

PRE-DRAFT QUESTIONS

1. Discuss drafting from the 4th hole. What will you do differently because of this draft slot?

The 4th spot was the ideal draft spot to land but the risk of Ezekiel Elliott holding our for an extended period complicates things. I’m hoping someone takes him in the top three so I do not have to make that choice. In addition to guaranteeing a top running back, having two more picks in the top-30 overall helps you build a strong foundation. The only negative is the lack of standout options near the 4-5 turn. It feels like there is a tier break after the top 40 with a big group of players with ADPs of 40 through 65 that are tough to rank. It makes for some difficult decisions after the first few picks.

2. How will the dual-flex and tight end 1.5 PPR scoring format change how you approach this draft?

I’ve mostly avoided Zach Ertz and George Kittle near the 2/3 turn in drafts this season. However, in this format with the extra 0.5 PPR, it gives both of those players a big boost. If either makes it to my pick at 2.09, I would have to strongly consider them. Aside from pushing those two up my board, I am not going to change my approach very much. The tight end position is deep, so I am not going overreact and bump guys up much more than half a round compared to their standard ADP even though they become slightly more attractive as flex options.

3. Name a few guys that you are looking to build your team around. What rounds do you expect to get them in?

I’m hoping Alvin Kamara makes it to 1.04. Some of the players I’m most interested in near the 2-3 turn are Todd Gurley, Damien Williams, T.Y. Hilton, and A.J. Green. Cam Newton and Kyler Murray are two of my favorite QB1 targets and I would look at them in the 8th-10th round range.

4. Do you have any trigger points (ie players A and B are gone therefore I am looking to grab player C the next time I pick)

Not really. However, the one position I want to monitor more closely than normal is tight end. Sometimes there is a bit of an overreaction to the 1.5-point per reception scoring and tight ends get pushed further up the board than they should. If that is the case in this draft, I may have to pick a spot to reach a little bit just so I don’t get completely shutout.

5. What's your approach to rookies, injured players, and/or suspended players that may not have a full workload to start the season?

I love targeting these players who could score higher late in the season whenever there is a discount. In this format, those late-season weeks have a much bigger impact on your bottom line than do the early weeks. With the TE-premium scoring, I have my eye on Chris Herndon. His ADP has plummeted since the announcement of his 4-game suspension and if he slides into the 12th round, he makes for a nice target.

6. What is your strategy for drafting a Defense/ST and kicker for this league?

I am looking for a strong defense with a favorable early schedule. Dallas and Baltimore both have strong early fantasy schedules according to FBG’s strength of schedule metrics. Giorgio Tavechio of Atlanta stands out for the same reasons. It doesn’t hurt that the Falcons play indoors the entire first half of the season. I don’t believe in drafting these positions before the final few rounds but I may draft both defense and kicker before the last round to get ahead of the runs.

7. Name five players you are targeting in the later rounds?

• Tony Pollard: I think he can instantly step into a Theo Riddick type of role for the Cowboys and his upside should Ezekiel Elliott holdout or get injured is huge.
• Ted Ginn Jr Jr. The battle for the WR2 spot between Ginn and Tre’Quan Smith should be close. It is worth rolling the dice on Ginn given his late-round ADP.
• Deebo Samuel: I am a believer in his talent and think he will instantly carve out a solid role in the San Francisco offense.
• Marquise Brown: Despite getting a late start due to injury, Brown has to be considered the favorite to be the WR1 for the Ravens. Even in a bad passing offense, that is an attractive proposition in the final rounds.
• Tyrell Williams: Williams won’t last until the very end of the draft like these other guys but is a player I hope to target in the 12th or 13th round. He should get targets as the clear #2 in Oakland and has always been a fantastic producer on a per-target basis.

DRAFT SELECTIONS

POST-DRAFT QUESTIONS

1. You drafted A.J. Green on the night he hurt his ankle in training camp. You selected him with pick 4.09. What advice would you give to others who are looking to draft him? When is the sweet spot and what can we expect from him this season?

I am extremely optimistic about Green’s prospects this season if he can just stay healthy. He was the WR7 and on pace for 90 catches, 1,374 yards, and 12 touchdowns when he went down with a foot injury halfway through 2018. The recent ankle injury doesn’t look to be too serious and he should be ready to play Week 1. However, it does serve as a good reminder that Green is no sure bet from a health perspective. He has missed significant time in two of the last four seasons. His recent injury history and his age (31-years old) puts him in a slightly higher injury-risk category that could serve as a tie-breaker against him when making some of those tough calls in the early-mid 3rd round.

Even with the injury concerns, Green belongs in the 3rd round. If he falls to the end of the 3rd or into the 4th (like he did in this draft), he is a fantastic option because you know a WR1 finish is likely if he can stay on the field for 16 games.

2. The draft fell well for you. You were able to get several players that you targeted. How important is it to have a plan of action heading into a draft, particularly based on the draft slot that you receive? How much different would your strategy have been if you were slotted 10th, 11th or 12th?

Knowing your draft spot allows you to map out a general plan in advance. You can at least predict which groups of players and positional tiers you’re likely to be choosing from with your first few picks. Thinking through the most likely scenarios gives you more confidence and allows you to make quicker decisions while on the clock but you still have to adjust to the unexpected.

Drawing a top-4 draft slot opens the door to a modified “Single RB” strategy like I used in this draft. It’s especially attractive in these large tournaments because you know going in you probably need to hit on a late-round RB to put together an elite team that can really compete for the big money. Locking down an elite RB1 with that first pick gives you the freedom to go heavy at wide receiver and tight end with the rest of your premium picks before circling back and taking some shots in the mid-late rounds on upside plays to hopefully fill the RB2 spot.

If drafting 10th-12th, a similar strategy is possible but you have less control and may have to take what the board gives you near the 3-4 turn. If a wide receiver run happens early in the 3rd-round, you probably are best served switching gears and scooping up whichever running back falls as opposed to reaching at wide receiver.

DEVIN KNOTT'S EVALUATION

Strengths

The value that Dan got on his wide receivers was the story of this team. Not being concerned about A.J. Green’s injury, Dan went out and got what could be a steal in the fourth round. At the wide receiver p