How does a 14-team league change your approach to a Fantasy Football draft? 12 teams is the most common league set up, and the Fantasy Football Today team has been doing mostly 12-teamers every week -- you can see Jamey Eisenberg's latest write-up of a SuperFlex mock draft we did on the FFT YouTube account here, and you can see all of our mock draft results on the Fantasy Football Draft Prep Guide page, here.
14 teamers shouldn't be that much different, right? It's just two more teams, right? Well, those two teams add up pretty quickly, especially at running back. You can kind of squint and see 24 or so running backs you would feel pretty good about starting this season -- Mike Davis and Travis Etienne are ranked 24th for Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, and Heath Cummings, and I would be fine with either of them in my lineup.
Things get a bit hairier when you try to stretch it to 28. Michael Carter, James Robinson, Javonte Williams … they could be viable starters, of course, but there are probably going to be at least a few teams in a 14-team draft that don't feel great about their stable of running backs.
So, you should focus on RB early in a 14-team draft, right? Well, that's not what I did in my draft Tuesday for the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association experts league. In fact, I didn't take my first running back until the sixth round -- 79th overall.
It wasn't an intentional strategy I had going into the draft -- I want to be flexible when I'm drafting, especially in the first round --, but when Travis Kelce -- my No. 3 overall player -- slipped to No. 6, I couldn't pass on him. I was willing to take an RB in the second -- especially with Austin Ekeler still, somehow, sitting out there after the 20th pick -- but when Ekeler was taken just before my pick, I couldn't pass on Michael Thomas.
By the time my third pick came around, the top running backs left were Chris Carson, J.K. Dobbins, and Josh Jacobs, and while I like all of those guys plenty, I decided at that point to lean into the zero-RB build, selecting Patrick Mahomes. That gave me a base with what I think is the clear No. 1 option at both tight end and quarterback, along with my No. 2 overall wide receiver. I followed that up with Julio Jones (my No. 14 WR) and Curtis Samuel (No. 27, and a favorite breakout of mine) before finally grabbing my No. 1 RB in Carter.
Do I love having an RB corps with Carter as my No. 1 RB and Jamaal Williams as my No. 2? Of course not! I spent late-round picks on Rashaad Penny, Chuba Hubbard, and Malcolm Brown, and that is clearly the weakest group at the position in the entire league. That might be a problem, obviously.
But I'm a pretty firm believer in the concept of the "RB Dead Zone," as coined by former CBS Fantasy analyst Ben Gretch. The idea is that, while early-round running backs are typically a very good investment, once you get past the first three rounds or so, your chances of hitting on a good starting RB are pretty slim. In fact, from 2016-2020, only 11 out of 80 running backs taken from the fourth through eighth rounds have finished as top-12 RB, and only 30/80 even finished as top-24 RB -- and only 15 of them topped 200 PPR points.
The simple fact of the matter is, running back is the most volatile position in Fantasy. That's less true for the truly high-end options at the position, but if you don't land one of those, you're taking a risk that you'll be throwing one of the most valuable assets you have -- an early-round pick -- away on a player who might lose his job in three weeks.
This is what you have to keep in mind when you go with a zero-RB or RB-light build. Your team may not win any projections contests because of how weak your backs look, but you have to remind yourself that those seemingly strong RB groups on other teams will end up pretty weak before long. That's just the nature of a position defined by attrition and fragility. You're starting out in a hole at running back, to be sure, but you won't be alone in that hole before long, and
Your mileage may vary, of course. The easiest way to get negative comments about a draft on social media is to come out of your draft light on running backs. But I've loaded my team up with elite non-RB as well as some of my absolute favorite sleepers/breakout candidates at WR like Jerry Jeudy, Mike Williams, and Rondale Moore. If Carter emerges as a must-start option -- not impossible given the relative lack of competition in New York -- and Williams' role is as robust as Anthony Lynn is hinting at, I'll be a force to be reckoned with.
If not … well, I'll definitely have my work cut out for me. But no team is guaranteed a championship coming out of the draft. You'll always have to work for it. At least now, I can be reasonably certain about what I need to fix from the beginning.
Here's what my full roster looks like in this league where you start one QB, two RB, three WR, one TE, a FLEX, a K, and a DST:
OVERALL | PICK | PLAYER |
6 | 1.6 | Travis Kelce, KC, TE |
23 | 2.9 | Michael Thomas, NO, WR |
34 | 3.6 | Patrick Mahomes, KC, QB |
51 | 4.9 | Julio Jones, TEN, WR |
62 | 5.6 | Curtis Samuel, WAS, WR |
79 | 6.9 | Michael Carter, NYJ, RB |
90 | 7.6 | Jerry Jeudy, DEN, WR |
107 | 8.9 | Jamaal Williams, DET, RB |
118 | 9.6 | Mike Williams, LAC, WR |
135 | 10.9 | Jalen Reagor, PHI, WR |
146 | 11.6 | Rondale Moore, ARI, WR |
163 | 12.9 | Rashaad Penny, SEA, RB |
174 | 13.6 | Chuba Hubbard, CAR, RB |
191 | 14.9 | Malcolm Brown, MIA, RB |
202 | 15.6 | Jacksonville Jaguars, JAX, DST |
219 | 16.9 | Matt Gay, LAR, K |
And here are the full results, along with who took part in the draft:
- Trevis Waters / Anthony Carson - DFS Karma
- Dan McKenna - Gaming Talent
- Howard Bender - Fantasy Alarm
- Mat Sposta / Derek Siskin - Hall Of Fantasy League
- Barry Golombek / Mike Patch - Fantasy Data
- Chris Towers - CBS Sports
- Matt Walsh / Jay Dryburgh - Trophy Smack
- Michael Graben / Mike Lazarus - Yahoo Sports
- Denny Carter - NBC Sports Edge
- Adam Wexler / Dylan Cooper - PrizePicks
- Mark Taylor / Ryan Hallam - Fanjections
- Jason Lisk / Seth Trachtman - TeamRankings
- Scott Swanay - Sherpa Fantasy Sports
- Kevin Vela - Vela Wood
OVERALL | PICK | PLAYER | TEAM |
1 | 1.1 | Christian McCaffrey, CAR, RB | DFS Karma |
2 | 1.2 | Dalvin Cook, MIN, RB | Gaming Talent |
3 | 1.3 | Nick Chubb, CLE, RB | Fantasy Alarm |
4 | 1.4 | Alvin Kamara, NO, RB | Hall Of Fantasy League |
5 | 1.5 | Saquon Barkley, NYG, RB | Fantasy Data |
6 | 1.6 | Travis Kelce, KC, TE | CBS Sports |
7 | 1.7 | Derrick Henry, TEN, RB | Trophy Smack |
8 | 1.8 | Jonathan Taylor, IND, RB | Yahoo Sports |
9 | 1.9 | Tyreek Hill, KC, WR | NBC Sports Edge |
10 | 1.1 | Ezekiel Elliott, DAL, RB | PrizePicks |
11 | 1.11 | Aaron Jones, GB, RB | Fanjections |
12 | 1.12 | Davante Adams, GB, WR | TeamRankings |
13 | 1.13 | Stefon Diggs, BUF, WR | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
14 | 1.14 | Joe Mixon, CIN, RB | Vela Wood |
15 | 2.1 | DeAndre Hopkins, ARI, WR | Vela Wood |
16 | 2.2 | Cam Akers, LAR, RB | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
17 | 2.3 | Darren Waller, LV, TE | TeamRankings |
18 | 2.4 | Najee Harris, PIT, RB | Fanjections |
19 | 2.5 | Calvin Ridley, ATL, WR | PrizePicks |
20 | 2.6 | Antonio Gibson, WAS, RB | NBC Sports Edge |
21 | 2.7 | Justin Jefferson, MIN, WR | Yahoo Sports |
22 | 2.8 | Austin Ekeler, LAC, RB | Trophy Smack |
23 | 2.9 | Michael Thomas, NO, WR | CBS Sports |
24 | 2.1 | Miles Sanders, PHI, RB | Fantasy Data |
25 | 2.11 | A.J. Brown, TEN, WR | Hall Of Fantasy League |
26 | 2.12 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC, RB | Fantasy Alarm |
27 | 2.13 | David Montgomery, CHI, RB | Gaming Talent |
28 | 2.14 | D'Andre Swift, DET, RB | DFS Karma |
29 | 3.1 | D.K. Metcalf, SEA, WR | DFS Karma |
30 | 3.2 | George Kittle, SF, TE | Gaming Talent |
31 | 3.3 | Mike Davis, ATL, RB | Fantasy Alarm |
32 | 3.4 | Keenan Allen, LAC, WR | Hall Of Fantasy League |
33 | 3.5 | Terry McLaurin, WAS, WR | Fantasy Data |
34 | 3.6 | Patrick Mahomes, KC, QB | CBS Sports |
35 | 3.7 | Allen Robinson, CHI, WR | Trophy Smack |
36 | 3.8 | Chris Carson, SEA, RB | Yahoo Sports |
37 | 3.9 | Amari Cooper, DAL, WR | NBC Sports Edge |
38 | 3.1 | J.K. Dobbins, BAL, RB | PrizePicks |
39 | 3.11 | CeeDee Lamb, DAL, WR | Fanjections |
40 | 3.12 | Robert Woods, LAR, WR | TeamRankings |
41 | 3.13 | Josh Jacobs, LV, RB | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
42 | 3.14 | Chris Godwin, TB, WR | Vela Wood |
43 | 4.1 | Myles Gaskin, MIA, RB | Vela Wood |
44 | 4.2 | Mike Evans, TB, WR | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
45 | 4.3 | Tee Higgins, CIN, WR | TeamRankings |
46 | 4.4 | Diontae Johnson, PIT, WR | Fanjections |
47 | 4.5 | Brandon Aiyuk, SF, WR | PrizePicks |
48 | 4.6 | Cooper Kupp, LAR, WR | NBC Sports Edge |
49 | 4.7 | Josh Allen, BUF, QB | Yahoo Sports |
50 | 4.8 | Kyler Murray, ARI, QB | Trophy Smack |
51 | 4.9 | Julio Jones, TEN, WR | CBS Sports |
52 | 4.1 | Courtland Sutton, DEN, WR | Fantasy Data |
53 | 4.11 | Kyle Pitts, ATL, TE | Hall Of Fantasy League |
54 | 4.12 | Kenny Golladay, NYG, WR | Fantasy Alarm |
55 | 4.13 | Tyler Lockett, SEA, WR | Gaming Talent |
56 | 4.14 | Adam Thielen, MIN, WR | DFS Karma |
57 | 5.1 | Mark Andrews, BAL, TE | DFS Karma |
58 | 5.2 | D.J. Moore, CAR, WR | Gaming Talent |
59 | 5.3 | Ja'Marr Chase, CIN, WR | Fantasy Alarm |
60 | 5.4 | Travis Etienne, JAX, RB | Hall Of Fantasy League |
61 | 5.5 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT, WR | Fantasy Data |
62 | 5.6 | Curtis Samuel, WAS, WR | CBS Sports |
63 | 5.7 | Chase Claypool, PIT, WR | Trophy Smack |
64 | 5.8 | Deebo Samuel, SF, WR | Yahoo Sports |
65 | 5.9 | T.J. Hockenson, DET, TE | NBC Sports Edge |
66 | 5.1 | Lamar Jackson, BAL, QB | PrizePicks |
67 | 5.11 | James Robinson, JAX, RB | Fanjections |
68 | 5.12 | Kareem Hunt, CLE, RB | TeamRankings |
69 | 5.13 | Melvin Gordon, DEN, RB | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
70 | 5.14 | Chase Edmonds, ARI, RB | Vela Wood |
71 | 6.1 | D.J. Chark, JAX, WR | Vela Wood |
72 | 6.2 | Odell Beckham Jr., CLE, WR | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
73 | 6.3 | Javonte Williams, DEN, RB | TeamRankings |
74 | 6.4 | Justin Herbert, LAC, QB | Fanjections |
75 | 6.5 | Ronald Jones II, TB, RB | PrizePicks |
76 | 6.6 | Dak Prescott, DAL, QB | NBC Sports Edge |
77 | 6.7 | Raheem Mostert, SF, RB | Yahoo Sports |
78 | 6.8 | Leonard Fournette, TB, RB | Trophy Smack |
79 | 6.9 | Michael Carter, NYJ, RB | CBS Sports |
80 | 6.1 | DeVonta Smith, PHI, WR | Fantasy Data |
81 | 6.11 | Russell Wilson, SEA, QB | Hall Of Fantasy League |
82 | 6.12 | Robby Anderson, CAR, WR | Fantasy Alarm |
83 | 6.13 | Matthew Stafford, LAR, QB | Gaming Talent |
84 | 6.14 | David Johnson, HOU, RB | DFS Karma |
85 | 7.1 | Aaron Rodgers, GB, QB | DFS Karma |
86 | 7.2 | Michael Pittman Jr., IND, WR | Gaming Talent |
87 | 7.3 | Zack Moss, BUF, RB | Fantasy Alarm |
88 | 7.4 | Tyler Boyd, CIN, WR | Hall Of Fantasy League |
89 | 7.5 | Will Fuller, MIA, WR | Fantasy Data |
90 | 7.6 | Jerry Jeudy, DEN, WR | CBS Sports |
91 | 7.7 | Brandin Cooks, HOU, WR | Trophy Smack |
92 | 7.8 | Jarvis Landry, CLE, WR | Yahoo Sports |
93 | 7.9 | Antonio Brown, TB, WR | NBC Sports Edge |
94 | 7.1 | Michael Gallup, DAL, WR | PrizePicks |
95 | 7.11 | Jaylen Waddle, MIA, WR | Fanjections |
96 | 7.12 | Laviska Shenault Jr., JAX, WR | TeamRankings |
97 | 7.13 | James Conner, ARI, RB | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
98 | 7.14 | Noah Fant, DEN, TE | Vela Wood |
99 | 8.1 | Jalen Hurts, PHI, QB | Vela Wood |
100 | 8.2 | Damien Harris, NE, RB | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
101 | 8.3 | Kenyan Drake, LV, RB | TeamRankings |
102 | 8.4 | Trey Sermon, SF, RB | Fanjections |
103 | 8.5 | Nyheim Hines, IND, RB | PrizePicks |
104 | 8.6 | Gus Edwards, BAL, RB | NBC Sports Edge |
105 | 8.7 | Corey Davis, NYJ, WR | Yahoo Sports |
106 | 8.8 | Dallas Goedert, PHI, TE | Trophy Smack |
107 | 8.9 | Jamaal Williams, DET, RB | CBS Sports |
108 | 8.1 | Devin Singletary, BUF, RB | Fantasy Data |
109 | 8.11 | Tony Pollard, DAL, RB | Hall Of Fantasy League |
110 | 8.12 | Phillip Lindsay, HOU, RB | Fantasy Alarm |
111 | 8.13 | Tevin Coleman, NYJ, RB | Gaming Talent |
112 | 8.14 | DeVante Parker, MIA, WR | DFS Karma |
113 | 9.1 | Marquise Brown, BAL, WR | DFS Karma |
114 | 9.2 | J.D. McKissic, WAS, RB | Gaming Talent |
115 | 9.3 | Darnell Mooney, CHI, WR | Fantasy Alarm |
116 | 9.4 | Logan Thomas, WAS, TE | Hall Of Fantasy League |
117 | 9.5 | Robert Tonyan, GB, TE | Fantasy Data |
118 | 9.6 | Mike Williams, LAC, WR | CBS Sports |
119 | 9.7 | Christian Kirk, ARI, WR | Trophy Smack |
120 | 9.8 | Tyler Higbee, LAR, TE | Yahoo Sports |
121 | 9.9 | Elijah Moore, NYJ, WR | NBC Sports Edge |
122 | 9.1 | Irv Smith Jr., MIN, TE | PrizePicks |
123 | 9.11 | Hunter Henry, NE, TE | Fanjections |
124 | 9.12 | AJ Dillon, GB, RB | TeamRankings |
125 | 9.13 | Mike Gesicki, MIA, TE | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
126 | 9.14 | Henry Ruggs III, LV, WR | Vela Wood |
127 | 10.1 | Tom Brady, TB, QB | Vela Wood |
128 | 10.2 | T Y Hilton, IND, WR | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
129 | 10.3 | Joe Burrow, CIN, QB | TeamRankings |
130 | 10.4 | James White, NE, RB | Fanjections |
131 | 10.5 | Nelson Agholor, NE, WR | PrizePicks |
132 | 10.6 | Darrell Henderson, LAR, RB | NBC Sports Edge |
133 | 10.7 | Marvin Jones, JAX, WR | Yahoo Sports |
134 | 10.8 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET, WR | Trophy Smack |
135 | 10.9 | Jalen Reagor, PHI, WR | CBS Sports |
136 | 10.1 | Ryan Tannehill, TEN, QB | Fantasy Data |
137 | 10.11 | Tarik Cohen, CHI, RB | Hall Of Fantasy League |
138 | 10.12 | Mecole Hardman, KC, WR | Fantasy Alarm |
139 | 10.13 | Zach Ertz, PHI, TE | Gaming Talent |
140 | 10.14 | Cole Beasley, BUF, WR | DFS Karma |
141 | 11.1 | Trevor Lawrence, JAX, QB | DFS Karma |
142 | 11.2 | Emmanuel Sanders, BUF, WR | Gaming Talent |
143 | 11.3 | Carson Wentz, IND, QB | Fantasy Alarm |
144 | 11.4 | Deshaun Watson, HOU, QB | Hall Of Fantasy League |
145 | 11.5 | Russell Gage, ATL, WR | Fantasy Data |
146 | 11.6 | Rondale Moore, ARI, WR | CBS Sports |
147 | 11.7 | Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT, DST | Trophy Smack |
148 | 11.8 | Latavius Murray, NO, RB | Yahoo Sports |
149 | 11.9 | Alexander Mattison, MIN, RB | NBC Sports Edge |
150 | 11.1 | Matt Ryan, ATL, QB | PrizePicks |
151 | 11.11 | Baltimore Ravens, BAL, DST | Fanjections |
152 | 11.12 | John Brown, LV, WR | TeamRankings |
153 | 11.13 | Tua Tagovailoa, MIA, QB | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
154 | 11.14 | Jonnu Smith, NE, TE | Vela Wood |
155 | 12.1 | Sterling Shepard, NYG, WR | Vela Wood |
156 | 12.2 | Kirk Cousins, MIN, QB | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
157 | 12.3 | Justin Fields, CHI, QB | TeamRankings |
158 | 12.4 | Parris Campbell, IND, WR | Fanjections |
159 | 12.5 | Rashod Bateman, BAL, WR | PrizePicks |
160 | 12.6 | Giovani Bernard, TB, RB | NBC Sports Edge |
161 | 12.7 | Breshad Perriman, DET, WR | Yahoo Sports |
162 | 12.8 | Denzel Mims, NYJ, WR | Trophy Smack |
163 | 12.9 | Rashaad Penny, SEA, RB | CBS Sports |
164 | 12.1 | Jared Cook, LAC, TE | Fantasy Data |
165 | 12.11 | Jerick McKinnon, KC, RB | Hall Of Fantasy League |
166 | 12.12 | Sam Darnold, CAR, QB | Fantasy Alarm |
167 | 12.13 | Baker Mayfield, CLE, QB | Gaming Talent |
168 | 12.14 | Kadarius Toney, NYG, WR | DFS Karma |
169 | 13.1 | Los Angeles Rams, LAR, DST | DFS Karma |
170 | 13.2 | Washington FB Team, WAS, DST | Gaming Talent |
171 | 13.3 | Indianapolis Colts, IND, DST | Fantasy Alarm |
172 | 13.4 | Justin Tucker, BAL, K | Hall Of Fantasy League |
173 | 13.5 | San Francisco 49ers, SF, DST | Fantasy Data |
174 | 13.6 | Chuba Hubbard, CAR, RB | CBS Sports |
175 | 13.7 | Younghoe Koo, ATL, K | Trophy Smack |
176 | 13.8 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers, TB, DST | Yahoo Sports |
177 | 13.9 | Rhamondre Stevenson, NE, RB | NBC Sports Edge |
178 | 13.1 | Harrison Butker, KC, K | PrizePicks |
179 | 13.11 | Ben Roethlisberger, PIT, QB | Fanjections |
180 | 13.12 | Zach Wilson, NYJ, QB | TeamRankings |
181 | 13.13 | Evan Engram, NYG, TE | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
182 | 13.14 | Keke Coutee, HOU, WR | Vela Wood |
183 | 14.1 | Rodrigo Blankenship, IND, K | Vela Wood |
184 | 14.2 | Tre'Quan Smith, NO, WR | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
185 | 14.3 | Jamison Crowder, NYJ, WR | TeamRankings |
186 | 14.4 | Adam Trautman, NO, TE | Fanjections |
187 | 14.5 | Buffalo Bills, BUF, DST | PrizePicks |
188 | 14.6 | Ryan Fitzpatrick, WAS, QB | NBC Sports Edge |
189 | 14.7 | Marlon Mack, IND, RB | Yahoo Sports |
190 | 14.8 | Josh Reynolds, TEN, WR | Trophy Smack |
191 | 14.9 | Malcolm Brown, MIA, RB | CBS Sports |
192 | 14.1 | Wil Lutz, NO, K | Fantasy Data |
193 | 14.11 | Kansas City Chiefs, KC, DST | Hall Of Fantasy League |
194 | 14.12 | Anthony Firkser, TEN, TE | Fantasy Alarm |
195 | 14.13 | Josh Palmer, LAC, WR | Gaming Talent |
196 | 14.14 | Tyler Bass, BUF, K | DFS Karma |
197 | 15.1 | Austin Hooper, CLE, TE | DFS Karma |
198 | 15.2 | Ryan Succop, TB, K | Gaming Talent |
199 | 15.3 | Gerald Everett, SEA, TE | Fantasy Alarm |
200 | 15.4 | Kenneth Gainwell, PHI, RB | Hall Of Fantasy League |
201 | 15.5 | Le'Veon Bell, KC, RB | Fantasy Data |
202 | 15.6 | Jacksonville Jaguars, JAX, DST | CBS Sports |
203 | 15.7 | Sammy Watkins, BAL, WR | Trophy Smack |
204 | 15.8 | Salvon Ahmed, MIA, RB | Yahoo Sports |
205 | 15.9 | New England Patriots, NE, DST | NBC Sports Edge |
206 | 15.1 | Terrace Marshall Jr., CAR, WR | PrizePicks |
207 | 15.11 | Robbie Gould, SF, K | Fanjections |
208 | 15.12 | Greg Zuerlein, DAL, K | TeamRankings |
209 | 15.13 | Cleveland Browns, CLE, DST | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
210 | 15.14 | New Orleans Saints, NO, DST | Vela Wood |
211 | 16.1 | Tyrell Williams, DET, WR | Vela Wood |
212 | 16.2 | Matt Prater, ARI, K | Sherpa Fantasy Sports |
213 | 16.3 | Denver Broncos, DEN, DST | TeamRankings |
214 | 16.4 | Allen Lazard, GB, WR | Fanjections |
215 | 16.5 | Javian Hawkins, ATL, RB | PrizePicks |
216 | 16.6 | Daniel Carlson, LV, K | NBC Sports Edge |
217 | 16.7 | Jason Sanders, MIA, K | Yahoo Sports |
218 | 16.8 | Joshua Kelley, LAC, RB | Trophy Smack |
219 | 16.9 | Matt Gay, LAR, K | CBS Sports |
220 | 16.1 | Nico Collins, HOU, WR | Fantasy Data |
221 | 16.11 | Mark Ingram, HOU, RB | Hall Of Fantasy League |
222 | 16.12 | Joey Slye, CAR, K | Fantasy Alarm |
223 | 16.13 | Carlos Hyde, JAX, RB | Gaming Talent |
224 | 16.14 | Justin Jackson, LAC, RB | DFS Karma |
So which sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target and fade? And which QB shocks the NFL with a top-five performance? Visit SportsLine now to get Fantasy cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called Josh Allen's huge season, and find out.
