Staff Fantasy Football Draft Recap: Analysis of Our 14-Team PPR League
Round 3
| Pick | Overall | Team | First Name | Last Name | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | Leo Howell | Larry | Fitzgerald | WR |
| 2 | 30 | Sam Hauss | Pierre | Garcon | WR |
| 3 | 31 | Ari Ross | Drew | Brees | QB |
| 4 | 32 | JJ Zachariason | Alfred | Morris | RB |
| 5 | 33 | Brandon Gdula | Andre | Johnson | WR |
| 6 | 34 | Michael Comerford | Rob | Gronkowski | TE |
| 7 | 35 | Galin Dragiev | Toby | Gerhart | RB |
| 8 | 36 | Sean Wirth | Frank | Gore | RB |
| 9 | 37 | Justin Thompson | Julius | Thomas | TE |
| 10 | 38 | Kenneth Cook | Roddy | White | WR |
| 11 | 39 | Matt Grasso | C.J. | Spiller | RB |
| 12 | 40 | Daniel Lindsey | Keenan | Allen | WR |
| 13 | 41 | Greg Bucki | Shane | Vereen | RB |
| 14 | 42 | AJ Weinberg | Victor | Cruz | WR |
The third round saw a couple of tight ends come off the board, the first since Jimmy Graham was taken in the first round. However, according to our cheat sheet, the value on Julius Thomas is better in the sixth round of a 14-team league with these settings, as he simply doesn't provide that much value over a potential replacement.
Gronkowski is less of a clear-cut reach, as 16 games of the New England tight end would lead to numbers resembling those of Graham, but at a reduced price. It's a gamble to be sure, but in a 14-team league, sometimes a gamble is required to stand out from the crowd.
Toby Gerhart makes an appearance here in the third round, and is right on par with his value according to our projections. The Jacksonville runner doesn't figure to light up the scoreboards, but he's going to be a solid pick for Galin's team as a workhorse back with plenty of volume every week.
My pick: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals - One old receiver wasn't enough, so I had to add another, picking up the veteran from Arizona to pair with Vincent Jackson. My first three picks have been fairly safe, taking players with predictable outcomes and limited upsides. In a 14-team league, I want to have a solid foundation before I start taking stabs at players who might be a bit riskier.
