X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

RotoBaller Experts League - Dynasty League Recap (Rounds 11-17)

Last month, 12 RotoBaller writers came together to do a live dynasty league startup on the internet. This article is the next in a series that will evaluate draft results in order to give readers a look into current dynasty values, and discuss the best and worst values in the draft.

Today we take a look at rounds 11-17, and provide some draft analysis.

Editor's Note: Purchase a full season NFL Premium Pass (including Draft Kit + DFS Premium), and also get MLB Premium + DFS for free through October. Premium DFS lineup picks, expert lineups, tools and more - seven days a week. You can see screenshots of our NFL Premium and MLB Premium and DFS tools. What are you waiting for?

Editor's Note: RotoBaller’s Dynasty content delivers year-round dynasty fantasy football rankings, trade advice, rookie analysis, and player outlooks. Build a title-winning roster with sleepers, stash targets, and our full dynasty fantasy football guide.

 

Dynasty Draft Analysis - Rounds 11-17

The crucial middle rounds of a draft can make or break a team. This is especially true in dynasty formats, where you are committing to players long-term and may leave your team bereft of depth if you choose unwisely. This is also the time to take calculated risks in order to glean value from rookies or unproven players. Speaking of rookies, they were plentiful throughout this segment of the draft. The rookies started flying in round 10 and continued from that point on until the conclusion. A total of 21 rookies were selected in the 84 picks throughout these rounds.

In addition, quarterbacks began to fly off the board in much greater numbers. Whereas only five QB were taken in the first seven rounds, there were a total of 17 QB in rounds 11-17. I personally have been advocating for waiting on a signal caller in standard leagues, but found myself pulling the trigger on Cam Newton early on because of the dynasty format and a lack of more appealing options at my draft spot in rounds 3-4. Although only two of the writers appeared to truly embrace the Zero RB strategy, most teams padded their RB numbers equally in these rounds. 26 RB were picked in the first seven rounds, 29 RB came off the board in rounds 11-17. It will be interesting to see which group winds up being the higher performing one this season given the recent fluctuation in running back performance.

 

Best Pick - Charles Sims (RB, TB), 11.08 Overall

(Nathan Powell, @NPowellFF)

After waiting until the 10th round to take his first running back, Nathan Powell grabbed Sims next as part of a Zero RB strategy. He wisely grabbed this Gio Bernard clone three rounds later than the real thing and wound up with a player who totaled 1,090 yards from scrimmage and four TD in a part time role. His greatest asset is as a pass-catcher in a PPR format, as he tallied 51 receptions on 70 targets. Sims will deliver solid RB2-type value in a deep league such as this even if his role doesn't grow significantly.

Sims also makes a wise pick because of Doug Martin's injury history. If Martin should go down, Sims immediately vaults into a top-ten RB value. The Bucs will continue to help Jameis Winston along by keeping the short passing game a priority. Sims is entering his third year as a pro and could prove useful for many years to come. It doesn't hurt if you're a Tampa Bay fan either, right Nathan?

 

Worst Pick - Mike Wallace (WR, BAL), 12.12 Overall

(Chris Durell, @Jager_Bombs9)

Taking a 30 year-old receiver in a dynasty draft is questionable enough if you're not talking about a star player. Taking one that couldn't manage more than 473 yards and two TD last season and has seen his Y/R drop almost every year since 2010 is even more questionable. Taking a WR who is joining his third team in three years and failed his conditioning test less than a month ago is just baffling. For a player whose greatest asset was his downfield speed, it makes you wonder if Wallace even belongs on an NFL roster at this point.

In all likelihood, Wallace will have a role on the Ravens this season. After all, they are writing his paychecks at the moment. He may match his numbers from last season, but how much good will that really do? With Steve Smith due back, Breshad Perriman primed to become a primary target and Kamar Aiken returning as the most productive Ravens WR last year, Wallace figures to be fourth in line at best. Wallace didn't play in the first pre-season game and wasn't even targeted in the second game. This pick could have been better spent on a rookie like Tajae Sharpe or a young receiver due to actually improve, like Robert Woods.

 

Riskiest Pick - Martavis Bryant (WR, PIT), 14.02 Overall

(Justin Bales, @BalesSJustin)

Despite never being more than a WR2 on his own team and never playing for a full season, Bryant has the talent to be a dominant NFL receiver. Bryant has scored 14 TD in 21 games and posted a 17.3 AVG in his two seasons. That said, he continues to get in his own way and could become another casualty of the league's substance abuse policy. Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said it best, "He is at a crossroads of his professional life, and he needs to understand significant changes need to occur in his personal life if he wants to regain his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler."

A 14th round pick isn't too early to take a risk like this, but it remains a huge roll of the dice. For a player who is already guaranteed to miss the entire season, Bryant could become an empty WR spot on this team permanently if he doesn't conquer his personal demons first. Otherwise, every other owner will be jealous when Bryant is making big plays in 2017 as a 14th round pick the year before.

 

Biggest Upside Pick - Jared Goff (QB, LA), 17.03 Overall

(Matt Terrelle, @supermt)

This has to go to the #1 overall pick of the 2016 draft, QB Jared Goff. How much he plays this season remains to be seen, but this is obviously a long-term selection. This is also a risky pick, as evidenced by the brief careers of Tim Couch, David Carr and JaMarcus Russell (wow, haven't had to dredge up that name in a while). Fortunately, the list of recent QB successes is slightly longer, including Andrew Luck and Cam Newton among others. Goff obviously profiles closer to Luck than Newton, but with slightly less mobility. In three seasons at Cal, Goff completed 62.3% of his passes. In his junior year, he threw for an impressive 4,714 yards and a 43/13 TD/INT rate.

The Rams are still a rebuilding team, and I'm not talking about their stadium either. Todd Gurley is a stud in the backfield, but their top receiver is currently Tavon Austin. The rest of the receiving corps is either young and unproven or too inconsistent to count on. Eventually, fellow draft picks Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas and Tyler Higbee will give Goff a slew of options on the outside to complement the running game and recall the glory days of the Rams when Eric Dickerson, Jim Everett, Henry Ellard and Willie Anderson were running things. It was shocking to see such an obvious potential star last until the 17th round in a dynasty league where youth rules.

 

General Analysis

The middle of this dynasty draft was a true reflection of the current trends in fantasy football. In past years, nearly every draft-worthy running back would have been long gone by round 11. Instead, there was an equal quantity of runners taken and they may ultimately provide just as much value than those selected earlier. The quarterbacks represented the best value in these rounds by far, with veterans such as Tom Brady, Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Matthew Stafford all readily available in the double-digit rounds. Pairing a veteran QB in the middle rounds with a younger prospect later on could give fantasy owners a good balance between short and long term needs.

When the depth at certain positions such as receiver start to become questionable, pulling the trigger on a rookie becomes the norm. With so many changes and injuries year-to-year, last year's champ could easily become this year's chump. Dynasty owners always have to be forward-thinking and flexible. The more I reflect on these draft results, the more I am certain that this RotoBaller dynasty league is sure to be competitive for many years to come.

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Back in Action to Begin Second Half
Yordan Alvarez

Resumes Swinging -- Return Imminent?
Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF