The Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA) organizes several industry expert leagues, with the 14-team “Champions League,” hosted by RTSports.com, being the crown jewel.
I had the honor of competing in the premier grouping for a decade, making the postseason six of my last eight years, including a close loss in the finals. Understanding the necessity to take calculated risks on draft day is among the reasons for my consistency. Being afraid to take a chance or reach for a player — especially in this 14-team variant filled with excellent drafters — is a fast-track to being demoted from the league. Yeah, demoted. The bottom four teams get relegated to the next league down the chain.
Thus, there is a need to take bold actions at a level unprecedented in arguably any other professional draft. In short, I much rather take a chance reaching for some players I covet than playing it too safe. Of course, there’s a nuanced blend of risk to work into a roster design, but it all comes down to making intelligent gambles.
All of the FSGA leagues are performance-based PPR formats, and drafting a live league this early in the summer makes for a fun tightrope walk in some regards. Drafting in late June forces gamers to make a larger number of educated guesses on appropriate value of unsettled situations. These leagues do not allow trades, so the draft’s importance is paramount.
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My aggressive nature didn’t work out in 2022, and I was relegated to the National Conference draft. Last year’s bid to return to the Champions League was off to a hot start, going 6-0 before the wheels came off and I stumbled to an 8-6 finish. A fresh start puts me right back into the same position, so let’s look at the foundation I get to work with in 2024.
Full roster by round
Pick-by-pick review
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1:08) WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: I probably would have taken my chances with Justin Jefferson and all that is Minnesota’s QB situation had he made it one more pick, but I’m in no way upset with Brown. He’s a PPR machine in an offense that will continue to feed him on all three downs.
2:07) RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers: While Jacobs comes with some durability concerns, he’s a workhorse who can contribute in the passing game and is the unquestioned starter in an offense that remains committed to the run. I expect a refreshed Jacobs looking to rebound from a down year.
3:08) WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: Round 3 feels maybe a tad early, but it’s a 14-team PPR format. I’m banking on a return to health and one more top-flight season from the veteran. Puka Nacua‘s emergence surely is a concern, but his numbers weren’t all that impressive when Kupp was on the field a year ago.
4:07) TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills: This could be the most pivotal pick of my draft. Kincaid will challenge for TE1 overall in 2024. Round 4 is earlier than I prefer to address the position, and it my prove to cost me dearly at running back. It cost me Rhamondre Stevenson, Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones and Zamir White as my RB2. I can live with that risk-reward decision.
5:08) RB Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals: After missing out on that aforementioned quartet of No. 2 running backs, I turned to Moss – one of my favorite contenders for a breakout season. He has limited talent behind him and flashed in prior stops. Cincinnati will feed him enough touches to post RB3 numbers as long as he’s remotely decent, but midrange No. 2 returns are in play.
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6:07) RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers: Many owners prefer Jaylen Warren over Harris, and it’s tough to argue against it, yet I opted for Harris instead. I briefly considered Austin Ekeler here, but Pittsburgh hiring Arthur Smith to run the offense solidified my decision to err on the side of caution after risking my RB2 spot on Moss. Even with Warren’s strong play, Harris managed an RB2 finish in 2024 and is entering a contract year.
7:08) QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: I was set on taking Brock Purdy but lost out on him by a couple of picks. It led me to stacking Goff with St. Brown. The Lions return just about everyone of note from last year’s prolific offensive showing, and the drop-off to the next QB on my list was significant.
8:07) WR Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos: After going top-heavy at WR, I waited until the midpoint to address the position again. Sutton was the final receiver on the board with whom I had any real comfort in selecting as my third, and he isn’t without concerns. Nevertheless, someone has to catch the ball in Denver, even if it’s from a rookie quarterback.
9:08) WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers: A polarizing selection, Johnston gets a fresh start to showcase his skills after a disappointing rookie campaign. The new offensive design isn’t exactly conducive to a pass-heavy script, though the former first-rounder has a legit quarterback and a largely unproven cast of receivers to battle for the top spot.
10:07) RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals: This one is purely a handcuff selection. Let’s say I’m wrong about Moss breaking out … that creates a fine opportunity for Brown to exploit. The 2024 fifth-round selection displayed some chops as a rookie, albeit in extremely limited work (58 touches), and Brown has little behind him in the way of competition.
11:08) WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears: Meh. Mooney’s best days are behind him in all likelihood, though he can muster a few flex fill-in performances with Kirk Cousins at the helm. There’s a small chance for a regular role if Drake London were to get injured, and another Kyle Pitts letdown isn’t unfathomable.
12:07) RB Dylan Laube, Las Vegas Raiders: Laube injects youth into my offense and offers a pass-catching option not found ahead of him on the depth chart in Vegas. He has turned heads in OTAs and makes for a fine flier this late in a 14-teamer.
13:08) QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans: Levis has all the physical tools to excel. One of my favorite sleepers, the second-year pro has upgraded receivers and a quarterback-friendly offense being installed. Both running backs and the primary tight end can make splash plays in the passing game, too. Levis’ upside is too good to pass up.
14:07) QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Here’s where things get a little funky! Levis shares a bye week with my starter, Goff. Had it been a late-season bye I wouldn’t have batted an eye, but the Week 5 hiatus makes things a little precarious, hence the selection of a third QB. Mayfield, who faces Atlanta in Week 5, gives me added insurance if Levis struggles early on and/or Goff gets hurt. The takeaway here is embracing flexibility with your draft plans can lead you down unforeseen but profitable paths.
15:08) D/ST Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins: Despite lingering injuries and notable personnel losses across on three levels, Miami is a decent pick after waiting on the position in a 14-team draft in which owners started drafting DTs in the 12th and had seven off the board by Round 14. The early-season schedule is acceptable.
16:07) PK Greg Zuerlein, New York Jets: The last kicker off the board, Zuerlein is entirely expendable if he struggles early in the year. New York should be much more capable on offense with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. The big-legged booter offers distance value and is automatic inside 40 yards.
