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The deepest mock draft we had done up to this point was a 12-team Rotisserie with no bench. That's 276 total players drafted. For this one, we not only expanded to 15 teams (the format popularized by high-stakes competitions like NFBC) but also included a six-man bench, bringing the total number of players drafted to 435.

How deep is that? Enough to make you go cross-eyed. Filling out those last few bench spots becomes an exercise in imagination.

For the most part, the results can speak for themselves, but I will highlight a few key moments by way of bullet points. First, though, the introductions ...

1) Phil Ponebshek, Patton & Company
2) Eric Ray, lucky reader who got to join in
3) Clay Link, RotoWire (@claywlink)
4) Zach Steinhorn, Creativesports (@zachsteinhorn)  
5) Chris Mitchell, FantasyData (@CJMitch73)   
6) Scott White, CBS Sports (@CBSScottWhite)  
7) Frank Stampfl, CBS Sports (@Roto_Frank)  
8) Jake Wiener, Prospects1500 (@GatorSosa)  
9) Tim McLeod, Prospect361
10) Al Melchior, The Athletic (@almelchiorBB)
11) Raymond Atherton (@RaymondAtherton)
12) Tim Kanak, Fantasy Aceball (@fantasyaceball)  
13) Garrett Atkins, Fake Teams (@13atkins13)  
14) Vinnie D, lucky reader who got to join in
15) Nick Mimikos, Stack Attack podcast (@NMimi)

It's impossible to come away from a draft like this feeling like you've checked every box. I went starting pitcher with two of my first three picks, taking advantage of a discounted Shane Bieber, and felt like I was playing catch-up in the power categories the rest of the way. My efforts to make up ground there left me with Nestor Cortes as my fifth starting pitcher -- who I like, but who isn't even being drafted in standard 12-team leagues. I can't tout speed as a strength either given my intentionally unintentional approach to stolen bases this year. Fair to say, then, my team has more vulnerabilities than I'd like.

Stacking it up against other teams, though, that's clearly the norm. Ultimately, it comes down to whether the players we've drafted actually perform, because there won't be much of a waiver wire to speak of.

Here are a few of my thoughts/observations:

  • Ronald Acuna is creeping back into the first round, it looks like, possibly because of positive reports about his recovery from a torn ACL. They're still vague reports, though, and until I see him play in an actual game, I'm not at all confident in how soon he'll return.
  • The lack of assurances at third base continues to propel Austin Riley up draft boards. This time he went 32nd overall, ahead of the aforementioned Bieber.
  • Liam Hendriks and Josh Hader went back to back in the middle of Round 3, which is about as early as I've ever seen a relief pitcher go. The demand for saves is always inflated in this format and is especially so when so many roles are yet to be determined. But it is just one category and happens to be the one with the lowest correlation between cost and benefit.
  • Furthering the point, Emmanuel Clase and Raisel Iglesias both went in Round 4, and in fact, at least one closer was taken in every round through 12. I stuck with the quality-over-quantity approach with Camilo Doval in Round 12, Scott Barlow in Round 15 and Dylan Floro in Round 19. Hopefully, at least two of them keep the job.
  • Justin Verlander and Joey Votto, two older players who I feel like aren't getting their due, went 90th and 108th, respectively, in this draft. On average, they're the 105th and 145th players off the board, according to FantasyPros.
  • I'm continually astonished by the gap between Myles Straw and Nicky Lopez, two slap-hitting steals specialists who can actually do some good in this format. Lopez is the better bet for batting average between the two, and his elite defense also makes him a safer call to keep his job. But he went in Round 14 here while Straw went in Round 9, and on average, they're being drafted 99 spots apart.
  • One thing the deeper format allows me to do is capitalize on some of the sleeper picks that are barely in my periphery in a standard 12-team league. In the case of this draft, I'm specifically referring to Connor Joe in  Round 17 and Rafael Ortega in Round 20. Shout out also, though, to Gavin Sheets in Round 23, who I think is criminally overlooked.
  • Rather than settling for assured mediocrity toward the end of the draft, many of us saw fit to invest in prospects, hoping for a bigger payoff later in the year. Among those drafted were Bobby Witt (Round 7), Adley Rutschman (13), Spence Torkelson (13), Julio Rodriguez (14), Riley Greene (19), Josh Jung (19), Vidal Brujan (22), Jose Miranda (22), Hunter Greene (24), Grayson Rodriguez (25), Nolan Gorman (25), Nick Lodolo (26), Triston Casas (27), Nick Pratto (27), Sixto Sanchez (28) and Gabriel Moreno (29).

That's enough to whet your palette. Here's how it all went down ...

Round By Round
Round 1
Pos Team Player
1 Anthony Tucker
2 Chris Towers
3 Anthony Kates
4 Scott White
5 Frank Stampfl
6 Chris Rossi
7 Chris Mitchell
8 Neil Mills
9 Michael Polidoro
10 Nick Francis
11 Nick Fox
12 Jeremy Heist
13 Zach Steinhorn
14 B_Don
15 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 2
Pos Team Player
16 Doc Eisenhauer
17 B_Don
18 Zach Steinhorn
19 Jeremy Heist
20 Nick Fox
21 Nick Francis
22 Michael Polidoro
23 Neil Mills
24 Chris Mitchell
25 Chris Rossi
26 Frank Stampfl
27 Scott White
28 Anthony Kates
29 Chris Towers
30 Anthony Tucker
Round 3
Pos Team Player
31 Anthony Tucker
32 Chris Towers
33 Anthony Kates
34 Scott White
35 Frank Stampfl
36 Chris Rossi
37 Chris Mitchell
38 Neil Mills
39 Michael Polidoro
40 Nick Francis
41 Nick Fox
42 Jeremy Heist
43 Zach Steinhorn
44 B_Don
45 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 4
Pos Team Player
46 Doc Eisenhauer
47 B_Don
48 Zach Steinhorn
49 Jeremy Heist
50 Nick Fox
51 Nick Francis
52 Michael Polidoro
53 Neil Mills
54 Chris Mitchell
55 Chris Rossi
56 Frank Stampfl
57 Scott White
58 Anthony Kates
59 Chris Towers
60 Anthony Tucker
Round 5
Pos Team Player
61 Anthony Tucker
62 Chris Towers
63 Anthony Kates
64 Scott White
65 Frank Stampfl
66 Chris Rossi
67 Chris Mitchell
68 Neil Mills
69 Michael Polidoro
70 Nick Francis
71 Nick Fox
72 Jeremy Heist
73 Zach Steinhorn
74 B_Don
75 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 6
Pos Team Player
76 Doc Eisenhauer
77 B_Don
78 Zach Steinhorn
79 Jeremy Heist
80 Nick Fox
81 Nick Francis
82 Michael Polidoro
83 Neil Mills
84 Chris Mitchell
85 Chris Rossi
86 Frank Stampfl
87 Scott White
88 Anthony Kates
89 Chris Towers
90 Anthony Tucker
Round 7
Pos Team Player
91 Anthony Tucker
92 Chris Towers
93 Anthony Kates
94 Scott White
95 Frank Stampfl
96 Chris Rossi
97 Chris Mitchell
98 Neil Mills
99 Michael Polidoro
100 Nick Francis
101 Nick Fox
102 Jeremy Heist
103 Zach Steinhorn
104 B_Don
105 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 8
Pos Team Player
106 Doc Eisenhauer
107 B_Don
108 Zach Steinhorn
109 Jeremy Heist
110 Nick Fox
111 Nick Francis
112 Michael Polidoro
113 Neil Mills
114 Chris Mitchell
115 Chris Rossi
116 Frank Stampfl
117 Scott White
118 Anthony Kates
119 Chris Towers
120 Anthony Tucker
Round 9
Pos Team Player
121 Anthony Tucker
122 Chris Towers
123 Anthony Kates
124 Scott White
125 Frank Stampfl
126 Chris Rossi
127 Chris Mitchell
128 Neil Mills
129 Michael Polidoro
130 Nick Francis
131 Nick Fox
132 Jeremy Heist
133 Zach Steinhorn
134 B_Don
135 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 10
Pos Team Player
136 Doc Eisenhauer
137 B_Don
138 Zach Steinhorn
139 Jeremy Heist
140 Nick Fox
141 Nick Francis
142 Michael Polidoro
143 Neil Mills
144 Chris Mitchell
145 Chris Rossi
146 Frank Stampfl
147 Scott White
148 Anthony Kates
149 Chris Towers
150 Anthony Tucker
Round 11
Pos Team Player
151 Anthony Tucker
152 Chris Towers
153 Anthony Kates
154 Scott White
155 Frank Stampfl
156 Chris Rossi
157 Chris Mitchell
158 Neil Mills
159 Michael Polidoro
160 Nick Francis
161 Nick Fox
162 Jeremy Heist
163 Zach Steinhorn
164 B_Don
165 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 12
Pos Team Player
166 Doc Eisenhauer
167 B_Don
168 Zach Steinhorn
169 Jeremy Heist
170 Nick Fox
171 Nick Francis
172 Michael Polidoro
173 Neil Mills
174 Chris Mitchell
175 Chris Rossi
176 Frank Stampfl
177 Scott White
178 Anthony Kates
179 Chris Towers
180 Anthony Tucker
Round 13
Pos Team Player
181 Anthony Tucker
182 Chris Towers
183 Anthony Kates
184 Scott White
185 Frank Stampfl
186 Chris Rossi
187 Chris Mitchell
188 Neil Mills
189 Michael Polidoro
190 Nick Francis
191 Nick Fox
192 Jeremy Heist
193 Zach Steinhorn
194 B_Don
195 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 14
Pos Team Player
196 Doc Eisenhauer
197 B_Don
198 Zach Steinhorn
199 Jeremy Heist
200 Nick Fox
201 Nick Francis
202 Michael Polidoro
203 Neil Mills
204 Chris Mitchell
205 Chris Rossi
206 Frank Stampfl
207 Scott White
208 Anthony Kates
209 Chris Towers
210 Anthony Tucker
Round 15
Pos Team Player
211 Anthony Tucker
212 Chris Towers
213 Anthony Kates
214 Scott White
215 Frank Stampfl
216 Chris Rossi
217 Chris Mitchell
218 Neil Mills
219 Michael Polidoro
220 Nick Francis
221 Nick Fox
222 Jeremy Heist
223 Zach Steinhorn
224 B_Don
225 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 16
Pos Team Player
226 Doc Eisenhauer
227 B_Don
228 Zach Steinhorn
229 Jeremy Heist
230 Nick Fox
231 Nick Francis
232 Michael Polidoro
233 Neil Mills
234 Chris Mitchell
235 Chris Rossi
236 Frank Stampfl
237 Scott White
238 Anthony Kates
239 Chris Towers
240 Anthony Tucker
Round 17
Pos Team Player
241 Anthony Tucker
242 Chris Towers
243 Anthony Kates
244 Scott White
245 Frank Stampfl
246 Chris Rossi
247 Chris Mitchell
248 Neil Mills
249 Michael Polidoro
250 Nick Francis
251 Nick Fox
252 Jeremy Heist
253 Zach Steinhorn
254 B_Don
255 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 18
Pos Team Player
256 Doc Eisenhauer
257 B_Don
258 Zach Steinhorn
259 Jeremy Heist
260 Nick Fox
261 Nick Francis
262 Michael Polidoro
263 Neil Mills
264 Chris Mitchell
265 Chris Rossi
266 Frank Stampfl
267 Scott White
268 Anthony Kates
269 Chris Towers
270 Anthony Tucker
Round 19
Pos Team Player
271 Anthony Tucker
272 Chris Towers
273 Anthony Kates
274 Scott White
275 Frank Stampfl
276 Chris Rossi
277 Chris Mitchell
278 Neil Mills
279 Michael Polidoro
280 Nick Francis
281 Nick Fox
282 Jeremy Heist
283 Zach Steinhorn
284 B_Don
285 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 20
Pos Team Player
286 Doc Eisenhauer
287 B_Don
288 Zach Steinhorn
289 Jeremy Heist
290 Nick Fox
291 Nick Francis
292 Michael Polidoro
293 Neil Mills
294 Chris Mitchell
295 Chris Rossi
296 Frank Stampfl
297 Scott White
298 Anthony Kates
299 Chris Towers
300 Anthony Tucker
Round 21
Pos Team Player
301 Anthony Tucker
302 Chris Towers
303 Anthony Kates
304 Scott White
305 Frank Stampfl
306 Chris Rossi
307 Chris Mitchell
308 Neil Mills
309 Michael Polidoro
310 Nick Francis
311 Nick Fox
312 Jeremy Heist
313 Zach Steinhorn
314 B_Don
315 Doc Eisenhauer
Round 22
Pos Team Player
316 Doc Eisenhauer
317 B_Don
318 Zach Steinhorn
319 Jeremy Heist
320 Nick Fox
321 Nick Francis
322 Michael Polidoro
323 Neil Mills
324 Chris Mitchell
325 Chris Rossi
326 Frank Stampfl
327 Scott White
328 Anthony Kates
329 Chris Towers
330 Anthony Tucker
Round 23
Pos Team Player
331 Anthony Tucker
332 Chris Towers
333 Anthony Kates
334 Scott White
335 Frank Stampfl
336 Chris Rossi
337 Chris Mitchell
338 Neil Mills
339 Michael Polidoro
340 Nick Francis
341 Nick Fox
342 Jeremy Heist
343 Zach Steinhorn
344 B_Don
345 Doc Eisenhauer
Team by Team
Anthony Tucker
Rd Pk Player
1 1
2 30
3 31
4 60
5 61
6 90
7 91
8 120
9 121
10 150
11 151
12 180
13 181
14 210
15 211
16 240
17 241
18 270
19 271
20 300
21 301
22 330
23 331
Chris Towers
Rd Pk Player
1 2
2 29
3 32
4 59
5 62
6 89
7 92
8 119
9 122
10 149
11 152
12 179
13 182
14 209
15 212
16 239
17 242
18 269
19 272
20 299
21 302
22 329
23 332
Anthony Kates
Rd Pk Player
1 3
2 28
3 33
4 58
5 63
6 88
7 93
8 118
9 123
10 148
11 153
12 178
13 183
14 208
15 213
16 238
17 243
18 268
19 273
20 298
21 303
22 328
23 333
Scott White
Rd Pk Player
1 4
2 27
3 34
4 57
5 64
6 87
7 94
8 117
9 124
10 147
11 154
12 177
13 184
14 207
15 214
16 237
17 244
18 267
19 274
20 297
21 304
22 327
23 334
Frank Stampfl
Rd Pk Player
1 5
2 26
3 35
4 56
5 65
6 86
7 95
8 116
9 125
10 146
11 155
12 176
13 185
14 206
15 215
16 236
17 245
18 266
19 275
20 296
21 305
22 326
23 335
Chris Rossi
Rd Pk Player
1 6
2 25
3 36
4 55
5 66
6 85
7 96
8 115
9 126
10 145
11 156
12 175
13 186
14 205
15 216
16 235
17 246
18 265
19 276
20 295
21 306
22 325
23 336
Chris Mitchell
Rd Pk Player
1 7
2 24
3 37
4 54
5 67
6 84
7 97
8 114
9 127
10 144
11 157
12 174
13 187
14 204
15 217
16 234
17 247
18 264
19 277
20 294
21 307
22 324
23 337
Neil Mills
Rd Pk Player
1 8
2 23
3 38
4 53
5 68
6 83
7 98
8 113
9 128
10 143
11 158
12 173
13 188
14 203
15 218
16 233
17 248
18 263
19 278
20 293
21 308
22 323
23 338
Michael Polidoro
Rd Pk Player
1 9
2 22
3 39
4 52
5 69
6 82
7 99
8 112
9 129
10 142
11 159
12 172
13 189
14 202
15 219
16 232
17 249
18 262
19 279
20 292
21 309
22 322
23 339
Nick Francis
Rd Pk Player
1 10
2 21
3 40
4 51
5 70
6 81
7 100
8 111
9 130
10 141
11 160
12 171
13 190
14 201
15 220
16 231
17 250
18 261
19 280
20 291
21 310
22 321
23 340
Nick Fox
Rd Pk Player
1 11
2 20
3 41
4 50
5 71
6 80
7 101
8 110
9 131
10 140
11 161
12 170
13 191
14 200
15 221
16 230
17 251
18 260
19 281
20 290
21 311
22 320
23 341
Jeremy Heist
Rd Pk Player
1 12
2 19
3 42
4 49
5 72
6 79
7 102
8 109
9 132
10 139
11 162
12 169
13 192
14 199
15 222
16 229
17 252
18 259
19 282
20 289
21 312
22 319
23 342
Zach Steinhorn
Rd Pk Player
1 13
2 18
3 43
4 48
5 73
6 78
7 103
8 108
9 133
10 138
11 163
12 168
13 193
14 198
15 223
16 228
17 253
18 258
19 283
20 288
21 313
22 318
23 343
B_Don
Rd Pk Player
1 14
2 17
3 44
4 47
5 74
6 77
7 104
8 107
9 134
10 137
11 164
12 167
13 194
14 197
15 224
16 227
17 254
18 257
19 284
20 287
21 314
22 317
23 344
Doc Eisenhauer
Rd Pk Player
1 15
2 16
3 45
4 46
5 75
6 76
7 105
8 106
9 135
10 136
11 165
12 166
13 195
14 196
15 225
16 226
17 255
18 256
19 285
20 286
21 315
22 316
23 345