2019 Fantasy Football Draft Prep: King's Classic 14-team PPR expert draft results

A deep league draft featuring some of the sharpest minds in Fantasy Football revealed who the most popular players are as of mid-August.

Dave Richard represented CBS Sports in the second-annual King's Classic, an industry two-league event featuring 14 Fantasy analysts from ESPN, Yahoo, Rotoworld, Pro Football Focus and more. The draft took place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. These are the results of the snake draft, completed on Aug. 17, 2019. 

Snake draft

You might dread picking fifth in a PPR league, but not me. I was resigned to my fate of either rolling the dice on Ezekiel Elliott ending his holdout eventually, or DeAndre Hopkins as the safest stud receiver being on my team. I was all but guaranteed one of them in this league analyst draft that involved people who definitely knew what they were doing. 

As if Elliott wasn't holding out at all, he was the fourth pick after the usual trio of Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara came off the board. That made my Round 1 decision easier — and it also simplified my draft strategy. I was prepared to build out my roster with pass catchers first, then find running backs starting in Round 4 or later unless a running back fell into my lap. The concept of going with the Zero RB strategy excited me because I'd have a dominant reception-heavy team in a deep league, but I wouldn't force it. 

When I was up in Round 2, the best-available players atop their respective positions in my rankings at the time were Leonard Fournette, Stefon Diggs and George Kittle (I say at the time because my rankings changed following the Vikings' second preseason game). I didn't have a good feel about who might make it back to me in Round 3 but assumed that because the drafters in Picks 1-4 already had one running back, maybe something at running back would slide my way with my next pick. Plus I love having an advantage at tight end, especially in a deep league. So I continued with the running back-less picking and took Kittle. 

If running backs were what I wanted in Round 3, the plan backfired. Five of the next eight picks made before my decision were running backs, making the best one on the board Chris Carson. Now I like Carson a lot but also liked the idea of waiting on a running back and filling my roster with pass-catchers. Plus, Diggs was my highest-rated receiver in Round 2 and was still there in Round 3. I guess I was a little scared to go with Amari Cooper given his foot injury but he should have been in consideration, too. 

So my plan was to start going after running backs in Round 4, but the same issue I had in Round 3 happened again -- of the 18 picks between my third and fourth choices, nine were running backs. Funny thing is, nine were receivers, so the best options were Phillip Lindsay or Calvin Ridley. 

But there was one other name out there, one I was mildly surprised to see: Patrick Mahomes. Fitting how I spent the past two months talking about waiting for a quarterback until you could steal one at a great value, and here I was eye-to-eye with the best one of the bunch available at 52nd overall. 

Should I have broken my rule about taking a tight end and a quarterback within my first five picks? Surely Mahomes would score more Fantasy points than either Lindsay or Ridley, but would taking him give me a decisive advantage over the other 13 managers who would undoubtedly find attractive quarterback values later on? 

Look, I just fell in love with the idea of having Mahomes, Kittle and Hopkins on the same team in a 14-team league. That was enough for me. Yes, drafting him felt like a massive bargain. As it turned out, I didn't regret it at all throughout the entire draft. 

The best part? Lindsay was still there when I was up in Round 5 (61st overall). I was thrilled to have him as my top running back given the rest of my team. 

My non-running back picks the rest of the way were Curtis Samuel (Round 6), the Bears DST (Round 11), T.J. Hockenson (Round 12), Miles Boykin and Marquise Brown of the Ravens (Rounds 14 and 15) and a kicker (Round 16). Not a lot to like here? That's because I had to spend the majority of my mid-round selections on running backs. 

I went with a warm body in Peyton Barber (Round 7), then loaded up on a couple of young guys (Darwin Thompson and Justin Jackson in Rounds 8 and 9) before settling for a potential early-season bridge back (Carlos Hyde, Round 10) and another rookie (Alexander Mattison, Round 11). 

Am I living dangerously by having deli-slice thin depth at receiver to go with my worst-in-class running back crew? No doubt, but it's the price I paid for having so many truly exciting players across the rest of my roster. I'll need them all to play well and strike some running back gold off waivers during the season if I'm going to take this league down. 

And yet, it's among the best Zero RB teams I've ever drafted, particularly in such a deep PPR league. I dig it and I hope you do too.

Final team

QB Patrick Mahomes, KC (4.10)
RB Phillip Lindsay, DEN (5.05)
RB Peyton Barber, TB (7.05)
WR DeAndre Hopkins, HOU (1.05)
WR Stefon Diggs, MIN (3.05)
TE George Kittle, SF (2.10)
FLEX Curtis Samuel, CAR (6.10)
FLEX Justin Jackson, LAC (9.05)
K Mason Crosby, GB (16.10)
DST Bears (12.10)
BENCH Darwin Thompson, RB, KC (8.10)
BENCH Carlos Hyde, RB, KC (10.10)
BENCH Alexander Mattison, RB, MIN (11.05)
BENCH T.J. Hockenson, TE, DET (13.05)
BENCH Miles Boykin, WR, BAL (14.10)
BENCH Marquise Brown, WR, BAL (15.05)

Full draft results

Round 1
Andy Behrens	Saquon Barkley, RB1
Colby Conway	Christian McCaffrey, RB2
Bob Harris	Alvin Kamara, RB3
Corey Parsons	Ezekiel Elliott, RB4
Dave Richard	DeAndre Hopkins, WR1
Jeff Ratcliffe	David Johnson, RB5
Brian Owens	Davante Adams, WR2
Mike Clay	Michael Thomas, WR3
Dom Cintorino	Le'Veon Bell, RB6
Jim Coventry	Odell Beckham, WR4
Curtis Patrick	JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR5
Bob Lung	Julio Jones, WR6
Pat Daugherty	Joe Mixon, RB7
Brad Evans	Tyreek Hill, WR7
Round 2
Brad Evans	Dalvin Cook, RB8
Pat Daugherty	Antonio Brown, WR8
Bob Lung	Mike Evans, WR9
Curtis Patrick	Travis Kelce, TE1
Jim Coventry	Nick Chubb, RB9
Dom Cintorino	James Conner, RB10
Mike Clay	Todd Gurley, RB11
Brian Owens	Kerryon Johnson, RB12
Jeff Ratcliffe	Keenan Allen, WR10
Dave Richard	George Kittle, TE2
Corey Parsons	Damien Williams, RB13
Bob Harris	Leonard Fournette, RB14
Colby Conway	Devonta Freeman, RB15
Andy Behrens	Zach Ertz, TE3
Round 3
Andy Behrens	Aaron Jones, RB16
Colby Conway	Josh Jacobs, RB17
Bob Harris	Adam Thielen, WR11
Corey Parsons	T.Y. Hilton, WR12
Dave Richard	Stefon Diggs, WR13
Jeff Ratcliffe	Marlon Mack, RB18
Brian Owens	Amari Cooper, WR14
Mike Clay	Brandin Cooks, WR15
Dom Cintorino	Kenny Golladay, WR16
Jim Coventry	David Montgomery, RB19
Curtis Patrick	Julian Edelman, WR17
Bob Lung	Chris Carson, RB20
Pat Daugherty	Robert Woods, WR18
Brad Evans	Derrick Henry, RB21
Round 4
Brad Evans	Melvin Gordon, RB22
Pat Daugherty	Mark Ingram, RB23
Bob Lung	Sony Michel, RB24
Curtis Patrick	Tyler Lockett, WR19
Jim Coventry	Chris Godwin, WR20
Dom Cintorino	Tevin Coleman, RB25
Mike Clay	James White, RB26
Brian Owens	DJ Moore, WR21
Jeff Ratcliffe	Cooper Kupp, WR22
Dave Richard	Patrick Mahomes, QB1
Corey Parsons	Allen Robinson, WR23
Bob Harris	Tyler Boyd, WR24
Colby Conway	Mike Williams, WR25
Andy Behrens	Calvin Ridley, WR26
Round 5
Andy Behrens	Miles Sanders, RB27
Colby Conway	AJ Green, WR27
Bob Harris	Lamar Miller, RB28
Corey Parsons	Austin Ekeler, RB29
Dave Richard	Phillip Lindsay, RB30
Jeff Ratcliffe	Josh Gordon, WR28
Brian Owens	Tarik Cohen, RB31
Mike Clay	Alshon Jeffery, WR29
Dom Cintorino	Jarvis Landry, WR30
Jim Coventry	Royce Freeman, RB32
Curtis Patrick	Robby Anderson, WR31
Bob Lung	Jordan Howard, RB33
Pat Daugherty	Vance McDonald, TE4
Brad Evans	Christian Kirk, WR32
Round 6
Brad Evans	OJ Howard, TE5
Pat Daugherty	Sterling Shepard, WR33
Bob Lung	Evan Engram, TE6
Curtis Patrick	Kenyan Drake, RB33
Jim Coventry	Hunter Henry, TE7
Dom Cintorino	Latavius Murray, RB34
Mike Clay	Jared Cook, TE8
Brian Owens	Will Fuller, WR34
Jeff Ratcliffe	Rashaad Penny, RB35
Dave Richard	Curtis Samuel, WR35
Corey Parsons	Duke Johnson, RB36
Bob Harris	Derrius Guice, RB37
Colby Conway	Eric Ebron, TE9
Andy Behrens	Larry Fitzgerald, WR36
Round 7
Andy Behrens	Marvin Jones, WR37
Colby Conway	Deshaun Watson, QB2
Bob Harris	Sammy Watkins, WR38
Corey Parsons	Matt Ryan, QB3
Dave Richard	Peyton Barber, RB38
Jeff Ratcliffe	Darrell Henderson, RB39
Brian Owens	Kalen Ballage, RB40
Mike Clay	Dede Westbrook, WR39
Dom Cintorino	Corey Davis, WR40
Jim Coventry	Ronald Jones, RB41
Curtis Patrick	Matt Breida, RB42
Bob Lung	DeSean Jackson, WR41
Pat Daugherty	Dante Pettis, WR42
Brad Evans	M. Valdes-Scantling, WR43
Round 8
Brad Evans	Nyheim Hines, RB43
Pat Daugherty	Baker Mayfield, QB4
Bob Lung	Carson Wentz, QB5
Curtis Patrick	Justice Hill, RB44
Jim Coventry	Aaron Rodgers, QB6
Dom Cintorino	Dion Lewis, RB45
Mike Clay	Courtland Sutton, WR44
Brian Owens	Jaylen Samuels, RB46
Jeff Ratcliffe	Donte Moncrief, WR45
Dave Richard	Darwin Thompson, RB47
Corey Parsons	Geronimo Allison, WR46
Bob Harris	Devin Singletary, RB48
Colby Conway	Jamison Crowder, WR47
Andy Behrens	Keke Coutee, WR48
Round 9
Andy Behrens	Anthony Miller, WR49
Colby Conway	DK Metcalf, WR50
Bob Harris	Devin Funchess, WR51
Corey Parsons	Mark Andrews, TE10
Dave Richard	Justin Jackson, RB48
Jeff Ratcliffe	Damien Harris, RB49
Brian Owens	Austin Hooper, TE11
Mike Clay	LeSean McCoy, RB50
Dom Cintorino	Andrew Luck, QB7
Jim Coventry	Emmanuel Sanders, WR52
Curtis Patrick	John Brown, WR53
Bob Lung	Golden Tate, WR54
Pat Daugherty	Ty Montgomery, RB51
Brad Evans	Michael Gallup, WR55
Round 10
Brad Evans	Kyler Murray, QB8
Pat Daugherty	Kenny Stills, WR56
Bob Lung	Tyrell Williams, WR57
Curtis Patrick	Cam Newton, QB9
Jim Coventry	David Njoku, TE12
Dom Cintorino	James Washington, WR58
Mike Clay	Adam Humphries, WR59
Brian Owens	CJ Anderson, RB52
Jeff Ratcliffe	Delanie Walker, TE13
Dave Richard	Carlos Hyde, RB53
Corey Parsons	DaVante Parker, WR60
Bob Harris	Lamar Jackson, QB10
Colby Conway	Gio Bernard, RB54
Andy Behrens	Adrian Peterson, RB55
Round 11
Andy Behrens	Tony Pollard, RB56
Colby Conway	Zay Jones, WR61
Bob Harris	Jordan Reed, TE14
Corey Parsons	Kareem Hunt, RB57
Dave Richard	Alexander Mattison, RB58
Jeff Ratcliffe	Daseasn Hamilton, WR62
Brian Owens	Trey Burton, TE15
Mike Clay	Parris Campbell, WR63
Dom Cintorino	Jimmy Graham, TE16
Jim Coventry	Marquise Goodwin, WR64
Curtis Patrick	Kyle Rudolph, TE17
Bob Lung	Jack Doyle, TE18
Pat Daugherty	Dontrelle HIlliard, RB59
Brad Evans	Chris Thompson, RB60
Round 12
Brad Evans	Jalen Richard, RB61
Pat Daugherty	Andy Isabella, WR65
Bob Lung	Mike Davis, RB62
Curtis Patrick	Chase Edmonds, RB63
Jim Coventry	Nathan Peterman, QB11
Dom Cintorino	Jared Goff, QB12
Mike Clay	Deebo Samuel, WR66
Brian Owens	Mitch Trubisky, QB13
Jeff Ratcliffe	Russell Wilson, QB14
Dave Richard	Chicago, DST1
Corey Parsons	Dallas Goedert, TE19
Bob Harris	Darren Waller, TE20
Colby Conway	Ito Smith, RB63
Andy Behrens	Jalen Hurd, WR67
Round 13
Andy Behrens	Drew Brees, QB15
Colby Conway	Josh Allen, QB16
Bob Harris	Kirk Cousins, QB17
Corey Parsons	Chris Conley, WR68
Dave Richard	TJ Hockensen, TE21
Jeff Ratcliffe	Big Ben, QB18
Brian Owens	Dak Prescott, QB19
Mike Clay	Tom Brady, QB20
Dom Cintorino	Cole Beasley, WR69
Jim Coventry	Quincy Enunwa, WR70
Curtis Patrick	N'Keal Harry, WR71
Bob Lung	Mohamad Sanu, WR72
Pat Daugherty	Terry McLaurin, WR73
Brad Evans	Philip Rivers, QB21
Round 14
Brad Evans	Trey Quinn, WR74
Pat Daugherty	Chris Herndon, TE22
Bob Lung	Sam Darnold, QB22
Curtis Patrick	Jamaal Williams, RB64
Jim Coventry	Justin Tucker, K1
Dom Cintorino	Jerick McKinnon, RB65
Mike Clay	Greg Zuerlein, K2
Brian Owens	Wil Lutz, K3
Jeff Ratcliffe	Tre'Quan Smith, WR75
Dave Richard	Miles Boykin, WR76
Corey Parsons	Dallas, DST2
Bob Harris	Ted Ginn, WR77
Colby Conway	Noah Fant, TE22
Andy Behrens	LA Chargers, DST3
Round 15
Andy Behrens	Harrison Butker, K4
Colby Conway	Baltimore, DST4
Bob Harris	LA Rams, DST5
Corey Parsons	Jake Elliott, K5
Dave Richard	Marquise Brown, WR78
Jeff Ratcliffe	Buffalo, DST6
Brian Owens	Minnesota, DST7
Mike Clay	Malcolm Brown, RB66
Dom Cintorino	Jacksonville, DST8
Jim Coventry	Philadelphia, DST9
Curtis Patrick	Cleveland, DST10
Bob Lung	New England, DST11
Pat Daugherty	Seattle, DST12
Brad Evans	New Orleans, DST13
Round 16
Brad Evans	Robbie Gould, K6
Pat Daugherty	Brett Maher, K7
Bob Lung	Kai'imi Fairbaim
Curtis Patrick	Stephen Gostkowski
Jim Coventry	Paul Richardson, WR79
Dom Cintorino	Giorgio Tavechio
Mike Clay	Jets D/ST
Brian Owens	Benny Snell
Jeff Ratcliffe	Kaare Vedvik
Dave Richard	Mason Crosby
Corey Parsons	Randall Cobb, WR80
Bob Harris	Michael Badgley
Colby Conway	Adam Vinatieri
Andy Behrens	Jimmy Garoppolo, QB23