Written by Cory Puffett
Published September 8, 2026
The 2026 AFL Draft is in the books and we have a shorter wait than usual for regular season action. The NFL kicks off Wednesday night this year as the Seattle Seahawks unveil their Super Bowl LX banner before facing the New England Patriots, the team they beat to earn it. A day later, the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers kick off down under in the NFL's first regular season game on the Australian continent.
We had a clean draft this year after last year's snafu. Of our 192 picks, 16 were involved in trades during the 2025 season, well down from the 24 and 33 picks that changed hands during the 2024 and 2023 seasons, respectively. Trading future picks is a tool managers commonly use to win now or set up for future success. It's worth remembering managers can trade picks more than one year out, as long as the manager giving up draft capital has paid league dues for the season before the pick being traded.
Rookies continue to see their value elevated in the draft, with several going well ahead of ADP, including a few players selected who are almost never drafted in leagues of our size. We've made a change to the rookie keeper system for this season, so be sure to refer to Rule 8.6 in our 2026 Rules document for those requirements.
Enough set-up -- let's get to this year's draft grades. I outsource these every year to avoid introducing my own biases. The gifs for each team come from RotoTrade’s analysis. FantasyPros supplies the steals and reaches -- players drafted 2+ rounds later or earlier than they’re valued -- as well as hindsight picks managers could have made to improve their team based on value still on the board in later rounds.
New this year, in lieu of publishing a separate keeper grades write-up, I've incorporated keeper analysis into this post. I think this might be a better way to analyze because we can look where managers' other keeper options were actually taken.
I tend to throw out "reaches" that only came one or two rounds early, since our keeper settings naturally push players up the board by at least a round. By the same standard, I count steals as any player taken at least 1 round later than value.
If we simply went by the 2+ round rule for steals, there were only three across our entire draft according to FantasyPros. Even the softer 1-round rule only yields three additional value picks across our draft.
As always, managers are listed in reverse order of projected standings, based on the average of FootballGuys’ and RotoTrade's projected playoff probabilities. Three years ago our winner, Brandon Saunders, had the lowest draft grade. The year before that, William Battle turned the second highest draft grade into a league title. The 2024 champion was Stephen April and he had the third highest draft grade. Last year, Brandon had the highest draft grade and wound up taking the crown.
As for recent Snyder Award winners, Eric Meyer was 2nd in the 2024 post-draft rankings while Cory Puffett was 10th last season. Ultimately, these grades really don't mean much; so much comes down to roster management and, of course, a bit of luck with injuries and scheduling. Still, it's fun to project how the season may turn out. Enjoy!
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: Jonathan Taylor at the 1.05 was a little surprising. Jeffery didn't give William many great keeper options, but Taylor almost certainly would have been there at the 1.05 as a non-keeper -- if William would have preferred a player like CMC or James Cook, he gave up the opportunity to get him.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Jaylen Waddle (3.04) could have been kept at the 5.05
Dalton Kincaid (8.07) could have been kept at the 10.08
Rico Dowdle (8.02) could have been kept at the 15.05
RotoTrade Analysis: "Your team is definitely on the weak side and your playoff chances are not looking great. Hopefully you can make some strong waiver pickups and/or good trades to improve your roster."
FootballGuys Rate Analysis: "Your quarterback group shines bright with an A grade, giving you a reliable foundation to build around. However, your running back depth is a concern, dragging your overall RB grade down despite a strong starting duo. Wide receivers show a fascinating split: starters underperforming but bench players packing a punch, which could be a hidden weapon."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: Of the highlighted experts on FantasyPros, Nick Raducanu of Dr. Roto is most optimistic about William's team. He really likes his selections of Patrick Mahomes, Tank Bigsby, and Jakobi Meyers -- too bad that optimism only amounts to a grade of 65 (D).
FantasyPros Hindsight: If William had taken A.J. Brown at 2.08 and Joe Burrow at 4.08 instead of Drake Maye and DK Metcalf, respectively, his team score of 587 (#11) would have gone up by 86 points, though it still would have landed him with the 11th highest team score.
FP Steals
Tank Bigsby (15.05) -> 4-round steal
Jordan Mason (8.08) -> 1-round steal
FP Reaches
Drake Maye (2.08) -> 3-round reach
Davante Adams (3.05) -> 3-round reach
DK Metcalf (4.08) -> 3-round reach
Draft Grade: F
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: William kept Josh Allen at the 2.02 and RJ Harvey at the 9.11 spots. Early second is very early for a QB, even in a league where they fly off the shelves. That said, given the second QB off the board went just six picks later, if William wanted the safest bet to finish as the QB1, he had to make the pick there. My main concern is that he probably could have just drafted Allen there at the 1-2 turn and gotten better value from his keeper.
Harvey was the only rookie keeper option available to William, and interestingly he wound up sandwiched right between his backfield mates, as J.K. Dobbins went in the 8th and rookie Jonah Coleman went in the 10th. Given the way our league values rookies higher, it's quite possible Harvey could have been had at least a round later than his keeper value.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Chris Olave (2.09) could have been kept at the 6.02
Dallas Goedert (7.11) could have been kept at the 10.02
Ka'imi Fairbairn (12.02) could have been kept at the 14.02
Of note, Goedert and Fairbairn were both drafted by William, and he used that 10.02 pick to select another TE, Hunter Henry.
RotoTrade Analysis: "Your team is definitely on the weak side and your playoff chances are not looking great. Hopefully you can make some strong waiver pickups and/or good trades to improve your roster."
FootballGuys Analysis: "Your team’s built with a strong foundation at quarterback and running back, which is a classic recipe for fantasy success. The league’s standard roster settings with one QB, two WRs, and two flex spots mean your depth and flexibility will be tested, especially with your WR group showing some struggles."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: Of the highlighted experts on FantasyPros, 9 of 10 gave William's draft a grade of D or worse. Brad Beatson of Bandit Fantasy Football, however, is a little more optimistic -- he likes William's selections of Rico Dowdle, Jameson Williams, and Michael Wilson, and gives his team a grade of 71 (C-) coming out of the draft.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If William had taken Marvin Harrison Jr. at 6.02 and Malik Willis at 13.11 instead of Matthew Stafford and Keenen Allen, respectively, his team score of 562 (12th) would have gone up by 44 points and would rank 11th.
FP Steals
Rico Dowdle (8.02) -> 2-round steal
Keaton Mitchell (15.11) -> 4-round steal
FP Reaches
Michael Wilson (5.11) -> 4-round reach
Matthew Stafford (6.02) -> 5-round reach
Draft Grade: F
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: Bo Nix at the 12.10 is great value. He was a top-flight QB in fantasy last year without a reliable deep threat, and now he's got Jaylen Waddle.
Tory Horton at the 16.10, though, wasn't a wise call. I'm certainly not going to suggest Sean should have kept Tyler Loop, his only other eligible rookie keeper, in the 11th round, but Horton would have gone undrafted and is unlikely to have much relevance this year. In the 16th round it doesn't really matter, but Sean gave up the chance to pick between him and any other player he might've preferred to take a shot on.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Javonte Williams (3.10) could have been kept at the 9.03
Hunter Henry (10.02) could have been kept at the 13.03
Wan'Dale Robinson (9.04) could have been kept at the 15.03
Romeo Doubs (10.03) could have been kept at the 16.10
RotoTrade Analysis: "This is a slightly below average team, but making the playoffs isn't out of the question. Making some good pickups throughout the season and possibly a smart trade or two would significantly increase your chances to make the playoffs."
FootballGuys Analysis: "This 12-team redraft league with standard roster settings and some unique scoring quirks like first down bonuses and return yards means every yard counts, and your team’s construction reflects a smart approach to maximizing those points. Your projected starters are putting up a respectable 106 points per week, with bench depth adding a nice boost to your overall scoring potential. Your team’s wide receiver group shines bright, while your tight end and kicker spots are dragging you down."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: Experts are all over the map with Sean's squad. While half of the highlighted experts on FantasyPros gave his draft a score of 68 or worse, the other half gave him a score of 92 or better. The must bullish of the bunch is Judy Adabie of Fan Girl Football, who gives Sean's draft a score of 98, highlighting Kyren Williams, A.J. Brown, and Rome Odunze as picks she loves.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Sean had taken Jordan Addison at 8.10 and Zach Charbonnet at 15.03 instead of Aaron Jones and Ja'Kobi Lane, respectively, his team score of 739 (#9) would have gone up by 32 points, and would rank 6th.
FP Steals
Woody Marks (14.10) -> 5-round steal
FP Reaches
Courtland Sutton (7.03) -> 3-round reach
Draft Grade: C
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: Keeping Chase Brown at the 1.12 was a little surprising to me, given Kyren Williams was available to him in the 8th round. Brown is a good back, but he or a similar caliber player would have been there at that spot in the draft anyway.
While Colston Loveland was Ant's only rookie keeper option, that 13th-round price was golden for his squad. I highly doubt he would've lasted even to the sixth round in our draft.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Kyren Williams (3.03) could have been kept at the 8.01
Matthew Stafford (6.02) could have been kept at the 10.01
Michael Wilson (5.11) could have been kept at the 10.01
RotoTrade Analysis: "You have some good players that might give you a chance to compete this year, as long as you stay healthy. If you can make a trade that upgrades a starter or two, that would boost your playoff chances."
FootballGuys Analysis: "Their projected points and grades suggest a team with a sturdy foundation but some areas that could use shoring up, especially at running back depth."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: Like Sean, Anthony has a wide range of opinions from experts on FantasyPros. Two of them give his draft an F, but Brian Hartman of QB List gives him a 90 and an A-, citing Chase Brown, Tyjae Spears, and Jayden Reed among the players he really likes from this draft.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Ant had taken Malik Willis at 14.01 and the Kansas City Chiefs at 16.01 instead of the Baltimore Ravens and Fernando Mendoza, respectively, his team score of 719 (#10) would have gone up by 32 points, and would rank 9th.
FP Steals
Tyjae Spears (15.12) -> 4-round steal
FP Reaches
Trevor Lawrence (6.01) -> 3-round reach
Michael Pittman (7.12) -> 3-round reach
Draft Grade: C
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: It cost him some draft capital, and there's certainly risk with his off-the-field antics, but trading for Puka Nacua as an 8th-round keeper was a solid move for Alex. He's typically gone within the first four picks in drafts -- maybe six with the threat of discipline hovering -- but that risk is baked into the 8th-round keeper cost.
Bill Croskey, meanwhile, is a solid value in the 11th as a rookie keeper. He was Alex's only option, but the value is certainly there.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Zay Flowers (3.01) could have been kept at the 5.10
Jake Ferguson (10.10) could have been kept at the 13.10
Seattle Seahawks (11.11) could have been kept at the 14.03
Quentin Johnston (7.02) could have been kept at the 15.10
Note: Flowers would have actually needed to be kept in the 4th round by Alex, since he traded away his fifth-round pick to Stephen April (who then sent it to Eric Meyer). Flowers might have been a decent trade piece, though.
RotoTrade Analysis: "You have some good players that might give you a chance to compete this year, as long as you stay healthy. If you can make a trade that upgrades a starter or two, you would help your chances of making the playoffs."
FootballGuys Analysis: "Your team’s construction leans on traditional positional balance, which you’ve mostly nailed. Your projected points hover near 110 from starters, with a bench that’s no slouch either, giving you a nice safety net. This report dives into your team’s strengths, like that sparkling tight end group, and some areas that could use a little polish, especially at running back."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: While a handful of experts on FantasyPros gave Alex a thumbs down with low scores, it seems like most of them think he'll at least field an average team. The most bullish of them is Adam Murfet of 5 Yard Rush, who looks at the skill trio of Javonte Williams, Denzel Boston, and Sam LaPorta as a strong group of picks at their draft costs.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Alex had taken Marvin Harrison Jr. at 6.03 and Malik Willis at 14.03 instead of Baker Mayfield and Dontayvion Wicks, respectively, his team score of 782 (#3) would have gone up by 45 points, though it still would have landed him with the 3rd highest team score.
FP Steals
Sam LaPorta (7.09) -> 2-round steal
Javonte Williams (3.10) -> 1-round steal
Tony Pollard (6.12) -> 1-round steal
FP Reaches
Baker Mayfield (6.03) -> 8-round reach
Romeo Doubs (10.03) -> 3-round reach
Denzel Boston (13.10) -> 3-round reach
Draft Grade: B
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: The traditional keeper decision Brandon faced was an interesting one. Clearly his top two were Puka Nacua in the 8th and Malik Nabers in the 12th. Both carry risk -- Nacua's off-the-field antics could lead to discipline from the league, while Nabers is coming back from an injury that cost him much of his 2025 season. Brandon ultimately traded Nacua to Alex Kincaid for draft capital. Nacua's value is much higher in the short term, but Nabers will be a 9th-round keeper next year, so this may have been a long-term play (with maybe a dash of homerism).
Brandon had a league-high seven rookie keeper options available to him. He landed on the obvious choice of Ashton Jeanty, whom he drafted in the 1st round last year but who had a 14th-round keeper value thanks to his status as an every-week starter last year.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
George Pickens (2.07) could have been kept at the 5.09
DeVonta Smith (2.11) could have been kept at the 5.09
Jaylen Warren (5.12) could have been kept at the 8.04
Kyle Monangai (9.03) could have been kept at the 12.04
Trevor Lawrence (6.01) could have been kept at the 13.09
Jaxson Dart (10.01) could have been kept at the 14.04
Harold Fannin (7.04) could have been kept at the 15.09
RotoTrade Analysis: "You have an above average roster that should compete this season. Barring too many injuries, you have a strong chance to make the playoffs and possibly do some damage."
FootballGuys Analysis: "This team leans heavily on strong wide receiver and tight end play to carry the load. Their projected points and grades reflect a team that’s competitive but has some glaring holes, especially at running back."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: Some experts really hate Brandon's team, but at least five give him a score of 97 or higher. Among them is Stacy Perez of Fan Girl Football, who particularly liked his DJ Moore pick along with the value of his two keeper selections.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Brandon had taken A.J. Brown at 2.04 and TreVeyon Henderson at 6.04 instead of Jeremiyah Love and De'Zhaun Stribling, respectively, his team score of 759 (#7) would have gone up by 97 points, and would rank tied for 1st.
FP Steals
Chris Rodriguez (11.09) -> 3-round steal
Terrance Ferguson (16.04) -> 2-round steal
FP Reaches
Terry McLaurin (3.09) -> 3-round reach
Caleb Williams (4.04) -> 3-round reach
Draft Grade: C+
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: There's been some concern from experts this offseason surrounding Bucky Irving with the arrival of Kenneth Gainwell in Tampa, but as the last pick in the 12th round, you can't fault Will for this choice at all. The only question is whether Irving would have been among the first 14 running backs selected, as Christian Watson was selected ahead of the RB15 and could have been kept at the same position.
A round earlier, Will made Cam Skattebo his rookie keeper, two rounds later than his traditional value would have placed him. Considering his alternative was Tez Johnson, I'd say Will easily chose correctly.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Travis Etienne (4.02) could have been kept at the 7.10
Juwan Johnson (8.11) could have been kept at the 11.01
Christian Watson (4.05) could have been kept at the 12.12
RotoTrade Analysis: "You have a slightly above average team and could make the playoffs if one or two players outperform their expectations. You are likely not strong enough to seriously compete for a title, but if you can make the playoffs, anything can happen."
FootballGuys Analysis: "The starting lineup grades show promise, especially at QB and WR, but the bench depth, particularly at RB and TE, could use some shoring up."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: Nobody among the FantasyPros experts hates Will's team. A few are lukewarm, but not Kyle Senra of Going For 2 -- he gives Will's squad a 99, highlighting Zay Flowers and David Montgomery as picks he loves where Will took them, along with Cam Skattebo's strong keeper value.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Will had taken Tre Tucker at 14.12 and Cairo Santos at 16.12 instead of Chris Boswell and Germie Bernard, respectively, his team score of 856 (T-#1) would have gone up by 30 points, and would rank 1st.
FP Steals
Isaiah Likely (9.01) -> 2-round steal
J.K. Dobbins (7.10) -> 1-round steal
FP Reaches
Jordyn Tyson (10.12) -> 4-round reach
Chris Boswell (14.12) -> 10-round reach
Draft Grade: A+
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: A lot of buzz from Patriots camp has been singing Rhamondre Stevenson's praises, so the question is whether it's all smoke or whether Cory got a 9th-round steal.
The real highlight for Cory was the 14th-round rookie keeper value for Tetairoa McMillan, boosted by his every-week starter status from what would have been a 4th-round value as a traditional keeper.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
None
Rome Odunze (4.10) could have been kept at the 6.07
Cory would have had to keep Odunze in the 5th since he'd traded the 6.07 to Stephen April
RotoTrade Analysis: "You have an above average roster that should compete this season. Barring too many injuries, you have a strong chance to make the playoffs and possibly do some damage."
FootballGuys Analysis: "With a balanced roster that leans heavily on a strong running back group and a reliable quarterback, this team is well-positioned to make a playoff push. ... Your team’s overall grade reflects a sturdy starting lineup with some bench gems waiting to be unleashed. But don’t get too comfortable just yet — there are some glaring holes, especially at tight end, that could trip you up down the stretch."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: While one expert notably gives Cory's draft an abysmal score of 39, there are many more optimistic outlooks. Chief among them is that of Chew Russell of Going For 2, who highlights Christian McCaffrey, George Pickens, and Tetairoa McMillan as his favorite picks from Cory's draft.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Cory had taken Javonte Williams at 3.04 and Mike Evans at 5.04 instead of Jaylen Waddle and MarShawn Lloyd, respectively, his team score of 778 (#4) would have gone up by 32 points, and would rank 2nd.
FP Steals
Dalton Kincaid (8.07) -> 2-round steal
Tyler Allgeier (12.07) -> 3-round steal
Emmett Johnson (15.06) -> 3-round steal
FP Reaches
Carnell Tate (5.06) -> 3-round reach
Draft Grade: A-
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: Eric had some good options for his traditional keeper. Either Jahmyr Gibbs or even CMC would have been defensible to protect at the 1.07, as would Brock Bowers in the 2nd round. Ultimately, he chose JSN in the 3rd round and that was almost certainly the right choice.
Only one rookie keeper option was available to Eric -- Bhayshul Tuten. As a 14th-round keeper, that's a solid value and still left the door open for other late-round flyers.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Rashee Rice (3.12) could have been kept at the 7.07
Justin Herbert (5.09) could have been kept at the 9.07
RotoTrade Analysis: "You have a solid team that should be right in the playoff mix this year. A few breaks and you could make a deep run."
FootballGuys Analysis: "Your team’s approach shows a savvy mix of star power and depth, especially at quarterback and wide receiver, but the running back group and bench depth present some challenges."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: Interestingly, one expert from FantasyPros gives Eric's draft a 54 without even pointing out which picks he doesn't like. No matter -- Bart Wheeler of Hail to Fantasy Football loves Eric's draft, giving him a score of 93 while highlighting Garrett Wilson and Mike Evans, along with rookie keeper Bhayshul Tuten, as his favorite value picks.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Eric had taken Jaxson Dart at 9.07 and Jakobi Meyers at 10.06 instead of KC Concepcion and Kyler Murray, respectively, his team score of 764 (#6) would have gone up by 10 points, and would rank tied for 5th. Notably, this was the only change FantasyPros recommends from Eric's draft, so he did about as much as he could with the picks he had, according to the site.
FP Steals
Brenton Strange (15.07) -> 4-round steal
TreVeyon Henderson (6.06) -> 1-round steal
Kyle Pitts (7.07) -> 1-round steal
FP Reaches
Josh Downs (8.06) -> 3-round reach
Draft Grade: B-
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: Alex continues to keep De'Von Achane on lock, this year as a 6th-round keeper. There's some risk there -- the Dolphins offense is presumably going to be Achane, Achane, and more Achane, which carries a high probability of injury for the talented back. Hopefully, by preserving his first five picks, Alex has built enough talented to absorb that loss if it happens while capitalizing on the upside Achane offers if he stays healthy.
Alex only had one rookie keeper option, but it was an excellent one, with Tyler Warren being protected for him in the 10th round.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Caleb Williams (4.04) could have been kept at the 12.05
RotoTrade Analysis: "You have a solid team that should be right in the playoff mix this year. A few breaks and you could make a deep run."
FootballGuys Analysis: "Your team construction shows a clear focus on strong starters, especially at RB and defense, which is a smart way to rack up consistent points. Your projected starter points are looking good, and your bench depth shines particularly at QB and TE, giving you some nice insurance and trade chips. ... The Legion’s approach leans on a balanced attack with a sturdy defense and kicker combo, but there are some glaring bench weaknesses at RB and WR that could bite you if injuries strike."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: Analysis of Alex's draft runs the gamut, but Shaun Evans of FantasyNow+ particularly likes his selections, giving him an overall grade of 98 while highlighting De'Von Achane, Nico Collins, and Tyler Warren as his favorite value picks.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Alex had taken Rashee Rice at 3.08 and D'Andre Swift at 4.05 instead of Breece Hall and Christian Watson, respectively, his team score of 774 (#5) would have gone up by 10 points, and would rank 3rd.
FP Steals
Brian Robinson Jr. (16.05) -> 4-round steal
Tucker Kraft (5.08) -> 1-round steal
FP Reaches
Jordan Love (9.08) -> 4-round reach
Draft Grade: B
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: Stephen must have been tired of having a Gungan for a mascot as he turned away from Ja'Marr Chase now that his value has leapt to the first round. Instead he hopes for a Year 3 rebound from Jayden Daniels, whom he kept in the 12th round. Eric Meyer kept Daniels as a 16th-round TAXI keeper last year before trading him to Stephen mid-season.
Of his three rookie keeper options, Stephen settled on Quinshon Judkins. While he cost an 8th-round pick and is coming off an injury, neither of his other two options was drafted at all, so if either of them was worth it, Stephen at least knows he made the right choice. Interestingly, Judkins was a rare situation where his rookie keeper value was lower than his traditional keeper value, which would have put him in the 10th round.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Michael Pittman (7.12) could have been kept at the 11.09
Sam Darnold (11.03) could have been kept at the 14.09
RotoTrade Analysis: "You have some good players that might give you a chance to compete this year, as long as you stay healthy. If you can make a trade that upgrades a starter or two, you would help your chances of making the playoffs."
FootballGuys Analysis: "Your team’s construction leans heavily on a powerhouse running back group, which is clearly your crown jewel ... while your wide receiver corps and tight end room leave some room for improvement."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: One expert gave Stephen the second-lowest draft score any of our managers received from any FantasyPros expert this year. Rudy Gamble of Razzball begs to differ -- he gives Stephen a 97 as his draft grade. Ironically, the three players he loves most at their draft cost -- Kenneth Walker, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Chris Olave -- are exactly the three players disliked the most by his biggest hater.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Stephen had taken A.J. Brown at 2.06 and Tony Pollard at 6.07 instead of Kenneth Walker and Alec Pierce, respectively, his team score of 757 (#8) would have gone up by 34 points, and would rank 3rd.
FP Steals
Rachaad White (11.07) -> 3-round steal
Zach Charbonnet (15.04) -> 4-round steal
D'Andre Swift (4.09) -> 1-round steal
FP Reaches
Alec Pierce (6.07) -> 3-round reach
Wan'Dale Robinson (9.04) -> 4-round reach
Brandon Aubrey (10.09) -> 4-round reach
Draft Grade: B-
Puffett's Keeper Analysis: I'll switch up my order here and start with the rookie keeper, because I love Evan's decision to keep Omarion Hampton in the 13th instead of Luther Burden in the 15th. Hampton has been going earlier in most drafts, and Burden has a lot of competition for targets on a franchise that still has never had a 4,000-yard passer. As a traditional keeper, Hampton would have cost a 2nd-round pick for Evan.
As for his traditional keeper, I continue to find Evan's choices puzzling. This year he went with Emeka Egbuka in the 5th, which represented no more than one round's worth of value while leaving other options -- better options, in my opinion -- to be drafted by other managers.
Keepable Players drafted 2+ rounds ahead of value:
Ladd McConkey (4.01) could have been kept at the 6.11
Luther Burden (4.03) could have been kept at the 10.11
Drake Maye (2.08) could have been kept at the 12.11
Matthew Golden (10.04) could have been kept at the 16.11 as a rookie keeper
Matthew Golden could have been a good trade piece to a manager without a good rookie keeper option, such as Sean Kennedy -- who only had Tory Horton available -- or William Kellogg.
RotoTrade Analysis: "You have an above average roster that should compete this season. Barring too many injuries, you have a strong chance to make the playoffs and possibly do some damage."
FootballGuys Analysis: "This team’s draft results reflect a well-balanced approach, with particular strength in the running back group and solid depth at wide receiver. ... While the starters shine, the bench shows some glaring weaknesses at QB and RB, which could be a concern if injuries strike. The team’s depth chart darling tag is well-earned thanks to a strong WR bench, but bye week conflicts and kicker reliability are areas to watch."
Read More (and try the Roast or Praise options for more fun): Rate My Team
FantasyPros Expert Optimism: Only one expert gave Evan a grade lower than a C, while at least five gave him grades no lower than 98! Topping the list of experts who love his draft is Luke Renton of Redzone Demon, who gave Evan a 99 while giving him props for his two keeper selections as well as DeVonta Smith.
FantasyPros Hindsight: If Evan had taken Sam LaPorta at 7.02 and Jayden Reed at 8.11 instead of Quentin Johnston and Juwan Johnson, respectively, his team score of 856 (T-#1) would have gone up by 20 points, and would rank 1st.
FP Steals
Mark Andrews (11.02) -> 2-round steal
FP Reaches
Quentin Johnston (7.02) -> 3-round reach
Rashid Shaheed (10.11) -> 3-round reach
Draft Grade: A-
With that, we are ready to begin our 14th season of play! Good luck to everyone this season, and be sure to come back every week for our league recaps, where I'll cover noteworthy performances and add historical context for our league, dating all the way back to its inception in 2013.