Tomorrow is the big day, and I got to say. I am JACKed. Let's take a little preview.
The #1 Pick
For the first time since 2015, Hunt is not receiving the #1 pick. That honor belongs to Mr. Consolation Winner 2017, Jordan. The only shock with this pick would be if Jordan somehow decides to not pick Todd Gurley. Gurley was the #1 overall scorer last season, and as a Rams diehard, how could he pick anyone else? But hey, you never know.
Here's how the former #1 selections did:
Here's what snagging the actual #1 performer can look like:
Average Draft Position
Gurley is trending #1 according to the average PPR drafter, followed closely by Le'Veon. The WR getting drafted on average is Antonio Brown, surprise, surprise, but not until the 5th pick. There's only two WRs in the Top 10 ADP, DeAndre Hopkins being the 2nd, which signals the return of the running back. Last year, for example 6 WRs went in the Top 10 in the IFL.
A TE doesn't show up in the ADP until 21st, Gronk, and QB, Rodgers, doesn't show up until 31st.
Consensus Expert Rankings
Now, where is player is drafted on average doesn't mean that's necessarily their true value, and you can't get a better sense of a player's true projected values than by looking at Fantasy Pros Consensus Expert Rankings.
To the right is the Top 20 from that list. As you can see, the experts are higher than the average drafter on WRs, with 4 in the top 10 as opposed to 2.
Of the Top 20, experts are highest on A.J. Green relative to the ADP, having him at 15th, despite an average draft pick of 20. Experts are lowest on Fournette and Dalvin Cook, placing them both 5 spots below their average draft pick, which is quite a feat for a Jaguar to be overvalued.
Drafters to Watch
The #1 Drafter last year, according to IFL coaches, was Jordan, and with the #1 pick, he is an obvious coach to look out for.
Jack has put together two great drafts in two seasons of being with the league, and after a dominating championship season last year, his 2018 draft maneuvers will be watched like the eyes of a thousand hawks trained to specifically watch Jack.
Drew, Jesse, and Scallon had excellent drafts last year, according to IFL coaches, and at the 3rd, 4th, and 16th picks respectively, they need be paid attention to.
The best pick historically is 10th, having never placed below 4th, and this year that pick belongs to Brat10, who hasn't had a winning season since 2015. The man has to be hungry, and with a favorable spot, needs to be reckoned with.
Ewoldt and Curtis
You may not recall, but in 2017, Ewoldt and Curtis made an interesting trade, with Ewoldt giving up the dynamic Tyreek Hill in exchange for Curtis' Marshawn Lynch and Derek Carr, as well as Curtis' 2018 1st round draft pick. Ewoldt gave Curtis his 2018 2nd round draft pick. Curtis smartly selected as low as he could 15th, and Ewoldt got the 12th pick.
All that to say that Ewoldt has both the 12th and the 15th pick, and Curtis has the 18th and the 21st pick. So Ewoldt, if he plays his cards right, could land two Top 15 monsters.
And Curtis starts the draft off with a slight handicap, but with the Mexi Turbo having the 2nd highest winning percentage in IFL history, he'll make it work.
Can TC not screw it up this time?
TC had a rough start to his IFL career. As you well remember, he started off 0-9 last year. If Fridrich Nitzsche is correct, and "That which does not kill us makes us stronger," than TC should be an unstoppable force this year.
See you at draft.