Lance's 2021 Near-Zero WR Draft Strategy

Back in June I wrote an article titled “Lance’s Fantasy Football Draft Tips” and in it I had a “When to Focus on each Position” section. If you missed that article you can click on the article title in the first sentence and it will take you to it. One of the big things I mentioned was not wasting multiple picks on Receivers early in the draft. I talked about how so many people talk up using the zero RB strategy, but by the stats, a near-zero Receiver strategy would be more beneficial. By near-zero, I mean that statistically it would benefit you to try and land a top 15-20 Receiver, but after that you can stockpile guys in that 21-40 range and be fine. Doing that with RBs hurts you because the point differential between top 15 RBs and guys in that 21-40 range is much larger.

Other things from my article that I focused on were targeting a top QB and TE early on, waiting on a Kicker until the end of the draft, and taking a top defense in the 9th or 10th round.

Of course talking about it is one thing, putting it into action is another. So, I did exactly that in my work league. As I suggested in the article, I tried to target a top 15 WR in one of the first three rounds, and then I ignored the position until round 7. I really enjoyed the outcome of this draft.

This is my third year in the league. It’s a standard half-point PPR league. After a 3rd and 2nd place finish in my first two years, I think I have a real shot at winning it all, and taking home the cash prize. There are 12 teams and I picked seventh. It’s also important to keep in mind that this strategy as it’s laid out here really only works for a redraft league. Things become a little more complicated if you’re doing a franchise league, but there would be ways to make it work for that as well. Here’s who I took in each round:

1) RB Jonathan Taylor (IND)

Chubb was still available when I made this pick, but I’ve got this gut feeling that Taylor is going to have a phenomenal season and like I said in my Draft Tips, always go with that gut feeling.

2) RB Antonio Gibson (WAS)

Gibson was the top back left on my board. I’m really hoping the news that Rivera and Turner want to use him the same way they did CMC in Carolina is the truth.

3) WR Chris Godwin (TB)

One of two picks that I’m most nervous about, but I think now that he’s healthy he’ll be in line for a massive bounce back. Hopefully his 3 catch, 84 yard, 1 touchdown game in the final week of preseason is a demonstration of that.

4) TE T.J. Hockenson (DET)

Kelce, Kittle and Waller were all gone and I had a feeling I wouldn’t get one of the top TEs on my board if I didn’t grab Hock here. I would have been right too, Pitts and Andrews both went in the next nine picks.

5) QB Aaron Rodgers (GB)

I’ve never seen Quarterbacks fly off the board the way they did in this draft. Mahomes, Allen, Murray, Jackson and Wilson were all gone in the first 44 picks, leaving me feeling like I had to jump on Rodgers here. (Prescott went eight picks after I made this one)

6) RB Javonte Williams (DEN)

He’s my RB3 in all three of my leagues. I love the potential he offers and think he’ll be the primary ball carrier for the Broncos by mid-season.

7) WR Robby Anderson (CAR)

D.J. Moore went before Anderson and personally I think that was a mistake. Anderson excelled in his first year in Joe Brady’s system with nearly 100 receptions and over 1,000 yards receiving. I think he’s going to do even better this year with his old buddy throwing him the ball.

8) WR Laviska Shenault Jr. (JAX)

His connection with Lawrence has looked good this preseason and he figures to be used in a number of creative ways by Urban Meyer. He may end up being my steal of the draft.

9) Washington Defense

The Rams, Pitt, Tampa, and Baltimore were already off the board. That worked for me though as Washington was my #2 defense. Their line is an unstoppable force and their secondary, while not on that same level, is good enough to hold their own.

10) WR Darnell Mooney (CHI)

I was going between Mooney and Michael Thomas, ultimately choosing the healthy, ready for a big year 2, Mooney, and thinking about taking Thomas later if he was still available. He went the pick after this one if I remember right, so we’ll see how Mooney pans out.

11) QB Trevor Lawrence (JAX)

Lawrence showed good growth through his three preseason performances and he gives me the hook-up with Shenault. I almost took Mac Jones here, hopefully I don’t regret that.

12) WR Elijah Moore (NYJ)

Another gut feeling. I loved Moore in college and I think he’s going to have a great pro career, I’m just hoping it starts out with a great rookie season.

13) K Rodrigo Blankenship (IND)

He was a beast last year, the only concern I have is that Rivers is no longer running the offense. The big names were gone though, so I jumped on Specs.

14) TE Adam Trautman (NO)

Callaway looked good in preseason, Kamara’s going to catch plenty of passes, but who else does this offense have outside of Thomas when he comes back? Trautman should get his fair share of targets.

15) RB Eno Benjamin (AZ)

He’s been my sleeper RB in all three of my drafts. I know it’s wrong to hope for injury or poor play from a starter on the depth chart, but all Benjamin really needs is one opportunity to show he can be better than Edmonds and Conner (and I do think he can).

We use Yahoo for housing the league and their grading system has me projected to finish 6th with a 7-7 record. There’s the ever present factors of bad luck, bad player evaluation, and injuries that can derail a season, but I feel pretty good about my evaluations, so we’ll have to see how my injury luck pans out. I will post a weekly update on how my game went and any transactions I make.