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USATSI

At a time when wide receivers are starting to dominate the early part of Fantasy drafts, is it smart to lean heavily on running backs, especially in a three-receiver, 0.5-PPR league? I attempted to find out picking from No. 11 overall in our latest mock.

It was easy to draft Jonathan Taylor in Round 1, although I would have had a tough decision if Cooper Kupp remained on the board. Thankfully, Kupp went at No. 10. I drafted Taylor, but then was surprised to see Tony Pollard still sitting there at No. 14 overall.

It's hard to argue with a backfield tandem of Taylor and Pollard in any format, and both could challenge to be the No. 1 overall player in Fantasy this season. In 2021, Taylor averaged 20.8, 0.5-PPR points per game as the No. 1 running back (No. 2 overall player behind Kupp), and he still has that potential after battling injuries in 2022.

Pollard averaged 14.3, 0.5-PPR points per game in 2022, but he had a three-game stretch last season where he scored at least 19.5, 0.5-PPR points in each outing, with Ezekiel Elliott missing two of those contests with a knee injury. As we all know, Elliott is no longer in Dallas (for now), giving Pollard immense upside.

In Round 3, I made the decision to pass on a wide receiver and select the No. 4 quarterback off the board in Lamar Jackson. Admittedly, this is too soon to draft Jackson, but I wanted to build a roster with an early-round quarterback. I drafted Jackson in the same round as Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen, and I wouldn't recommend that, even though Jackson might have the same upside as that trio with his rebuilt receiving corps.

The receivers available in Round 4 weren't the most appealing -- DeAndre Hopkins, D.J. Moore, Deebo Samuel, DK Metcalf, Keenan Allen and Christian Watson all have flaws -- and I would have drafted Allen in full PPR. I went with Hopkins with the hope that he does get traded from Arizona to a spot where he can still maximize his production (hello Kansas City).

In Round 5, I went with the best-player available with Joe Mixon. There's still a chance the Bengals could release Mixon, which is why he continues to fall in our early mocks. But if Mixon remains in Cincinnati by the time training camp starts then he will likely be drafted in Round 3 given his upside in a high-powered offense.

At this point, I decided to essentially punt on wide receiver. Now, that doesn't mean what it sounds like, after all it's a three-receiver league. But instead of reaching for a receiver in Round 6 like Kadarius Toney, Mike Evans, George Pickens or Diontae Johnson, I drafted Dallas Goedert instead.

The idea is to be strong or elite at five of the starting positions I focused on (quarterback, two running backs, tight end and flex), and I should have accomplished that with Jackson, Taylor, Pollard, Mixon and Goedert. And I still have Hopkins, who could be a top-10 Fantasy receiver if he's traded, or Kyler Murray (ACL) is healthy by Week 1 should Hopkins remain in Arizona.

With this plan in place, it was time to attack receiver, and six of my next seven picks were dedicated to the position with Jahan Dotson (Round 7), Jordan Addison (Round 8), Nico Collins (Round 9), Romeo Doubs (Round 10), Elijah Moore (Round 12) and K.J. Osborn (Round 13). There's plenty of upside with this group, but ideally these are receivers that fill out your bench, not two of your starting spots.

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Jahan Dotson
WAS • WR • #1
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REC35
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REC TD7
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Dotson could challenge Terry McLaurin to be the No. 1 receiver in Washington, and Collins should be the No. 1 receiver in Houston. Addison should be the best rookie receiver this season, and pairing him with Osborn gives me the "friendship strategy" we often talk about on our Fantasy Football Today podcast. Hopefully, one of these Minnesota receivers emerges as a weekly No. 3 Fantasy option, and both could benefit in a big way if Justin Jefferson ever suffered an injury.

Doubs should play a prominent role in Green Bay opposite Watson, and Doubs was better than Watson to start 2021. And I like the setup for Moore in Cleveland, where he should be No. 2 in targets behind Amari Cooper.

Again, it's not the sexiest wide receiver group, even with Hopkins. But given this roster build with a heavy emphasis on running backs, I like the way this team came together, and it should be competitive this season.

In this league, all touchdowns are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We also award 0.5 points for every reception. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE and FLEX (RB/WR/TE) with six reserves for a 14-round draft.

Our draft order is as follows:

1. Thomas Shafer, FFT Podcast Producer
2. George Maselli, Fantasy Editor
3. Heath Cummings, Senior Fantasy Writer
4. Zach Brook, FFT Social Media Coordinator
5. Jack Capotorto, FFT HQ Producer
6. Ben Gretch, Stealing Signals
7. Meron Berkson, CBS Sports HQ Producer
8. Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
9. Robert Thomas, FFT Facebook Moderator
10. Will Brinson, Pick Six Podcast Host
11. Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
12. Scott Fish, Scott Fish Bowl

Round By Round
Round 1
Pos Team Player
1 Thomas Shafer J. Jefferson WR MIN
2 George Maselli C. McCaffrey RB SF
3 Heath Cummings J. Chase WR CIN
4 Zach Brook A. Ekeler RB LAC
5 Jack Capotorto T. Kelce TE KC
6 Ben Gretch T. Hill WR MIA
7 Meron Berkson S. Barkley RB NYG
8 Dave Richard B. Robinson RB ATL
9 Rob Thomas J. Jacobs RB LV
10 Will Brinson C. Kupp WR LAR
11 Jamey Eisenberg J. Taylor RB IND
12 Scott Fish S. Diggs WR BUF
Round 2
Pos Team Player
13 Scott Fish C. Lamb WR DAL
14 Jamey Eisenberg T. Pollard RB DAL
15 Will Brinson D. Adams WR LV
16 Rob Thomas A. Brown WR PHI
17 Dave Richard G. Wilson WR NYJ
18 Meron Berkson J. Waddle WR MIA
19 Ben Gretch A. St. Brown WR DET
20 Jack Capotorto D. Henry RB TEN
21 Zach Brook B. Hall RB NYJ
22 Heath Cummings N. Chubb RB CLE
23 George Maselli T. Higgins WR CIN
24 Thomas Shafer R. Stevenson RB NE
Round 3
Pos Team Player
25 Thomas Shafer M. Andrews TE BAL
26 George Maselli P. Mahomes QB KC
27 Heath Cummings D. Smith WR PHI
28 Zach Brook C. Olave WR NO
29 Jack Capotorto T. Etienne RB JAC
30 Ben Gretch J. Gibbs RB DET
31 Meron Berkson N. Harris RB PIT
32 Dave Richard C. Ridley WR JAC
33 Rob Thomas J. Hurts QB PHI
34 Will Brinson J. Allen QB BUF
35 Jamey Eisenberg L. Jackson QB BAL
36 Scott Fish T. Hockenson TE MIN
Round 4
Pos Team Player
37 Scott Fish D. Cook RB NYJ
38 Jamey Eisenberg D. Hopkins WR TEN
39 Will Brinson K. Walker III RB SEA
40 Rob Thomas D. Moore WR CHI
41 Dave Richard A. Jones RB GB
42 Meron Berkson D. Samuel WR SF
43 Ben Gretch D. Metcalf WR SEA
44 Jack Capotorto K. Allen WR LAC
45 Zach Brook J. Fields QB CHI
46 Heath Cummings M. Sanders RB CAR
47 George Maselli C. Watson WR GB
48 Thomas Shafer J. Burrow QB CIN
Round 5
Pos Team Player
49 Thomas Shafer J. Dobbins RB BAL
50 George Maselli J. Jeudy WR DEN
51 Heath Cummings D. London WR ATL
52 Zach Brook A. Cooper WR CLE
53 Jack Capotorto C. Godwin WR TB
54 Ben Gretch G. Kittle TE SF
55 Meron Berkson T. McLaurin WR WAS
56 Dave Richard K. Pitts TE ATL
57 Rob Thomas C. Kirk WR JAC
58 Will Brinson M. Williams WR LAC
59 Jamey Eisenberg J. Mixon RB CIN
60 Scott Fish I. Pacheco RB KC
Round 6
Pos Team Player
61 Scott Fish D. Pierce RB HOU
62 Jamey Eisenberg D. Goedert TE PHI
63 Will Brinson D. Montgomery RB DET
64 Rob Thomas D. Swift RB PHI
65 Dave Richard C. Akers RB MIN
66 Meron Berkson D. Waller TE NYG
67 Ben Gretch J. Herbert QB LAC
68 Jack Capotorto R. White RB TB
69 Zach Brook K. Toney WR KC
70 Heath Cummings J. Conner RB ARI
71 George Maselli D. Harris RB BUF
72 Thomas Shafer A. Kamara RB NO
Round 7
Pos Team Player
73 Thomas Shafer M. Evans WR TB
74 George Maselli Z. Flowers WR BAL
75 Heath Cummings J. Williams RB DEN
76 Zach Brook G. Pickens WR PIT
77 Jack Capotorto D. Johnson WR PIT
78 Ben Gretch M. Pittman WR IND
79 Meron Berkson T. Lockett WR SEA
80 Dave Richard T. Lawrence QB JAC
81 Rob Thomas B. Aiyuk WR SF
82 Will Brinson M. Brown WR ARI
83 Jamey Eisenberg J. Dotson WR WAS
84 Scott Fish T. Burks WR TEN
Round 8
Pos Team Player
85 Scott Fish G. Davis WR BUF
86 Jamey Eisenberg J. Addison WR MIN
87 Will Brinson E. Engram TE JAC
88 Rob Thomas P. Freiermuth TE PIT
89 Dave Richard J. Williams WR DET
90 Meron Berkson A. Dillon RB GB
91 Ben Gretch J. Cook RB BUF
92 Jack Capotorto A. Richardson QB IND
93 Zach Brook D. Achane RB MIA
94 Heath Cummings D. Njoku TE CLE
95 George Maselli C. Okonkwo TE TEN
96 Thomas Shafer M. Thomas WR NO
Round 9
Pos Team Player
97 Thomas Shafer B. Cooks WR DAL
98 George Maselli S. Perine RB DEN
99 Heath Cummings J. Smith-Schuster WR NE
100 Zach Brook D. Kincaid TE BUF
101 Jack Capotorto B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS
102 Ben Gretch J. Smith-Njigba WR SEA
103 Meron Berkson O. Beckham Jr. WR BAL
104 Dave Richard K. Herbert RB CHI
105 Rob Thomas T. Allgeier RB ATL
106 Will Brinson R. Penny RB PHI
107 Jamey Eisenberg N. Collins WR HOU
108 Scott Fish J. Meyers WR LV
Round 10
Pos Team Player
109 Scott Fish R. Bateman WR BAL
110 Jamey Eisenberg R. Doubs WR GB
111 Will Brinson D. Schultz TE HOU
112 Rob Thomas Q. Johnston WR LAC
113 Dave Richard A. Mattison RB MIN
114 Meron Berkson C. Sutton WR DEN
115 Ben Gretch Z. Charbonnet RB SEA
116 Jack Capotorto J. McKinnon RB KC
117 Zach Brook J. Mingo WR CAR
118 Heath Cummings S. Moore WR KC
119 George Maselli E. Mitchell RB SF
120 Thomas Shafer D. Watson QB CLE
Round 11
Pos Team Player
121 Thomas Shafer I. Abanikanda RB NYJ
122 George Maselli A. Thielen WR CAR
123 Heath Cummings T. Tagovailoa QB MIA
124 Zach Brook C. Brown RB CIN
125 Jack Capotorto D. Mooney WR CHI
126 Ben Gretch A. Gibson RB WAS
127 Meron Berkson D. Prescott QB DAL
128 Dave Richard I. Hodgins WR NYG
129 Rob Thomas D. Foreman RB CHI
130 Will Brinson A. Lazard WR NYJ
131 Jamey Eisenberg D. Singletary RB HOU
132 Scott Fish R. Johnson RB CHI
Round 12
Pos Team Player
133 Scott Fish J. Williams RB NO
134 Jamey Eisenberg E. Moore WR CLE
135 Will Brinson T. Boyd WR CIN
136 Rob Thomas C. Kmet TE CHI
137 Dave Richard J. Metchie III WR HOU
138 Meron Berkson J. Wilson RB MIA
139 Ben Gretch K. Miller RB NO
140 Jack Capotorto W. Robinson WR NYG
141 Zach Brook T. Patrick WR DEN
142 Heath Cummings E. Elliott RB NE
143 George Maselli A. Rodgers QB NYJ
144 Thomas Shafer J. Warren RB PIT
Round 13
Pos Team Player
145 Thomas Shafer A. Pierce WR IND
146 George Maselli T. Bigsby RB JAC
147 Heath Cummings K. Cousins QB MIN
148 Zach Brook P. Campbell WR NYG
149 Jack Capotorto J. Hyatt WR NYG
150 Ben Gretch R. Mostert RB MIA
151 Meron Berkson T. Hill TE NO
152 Dave Richard Z. Jones WR JAC
153 Rob Thomas C. Edmonds RB TB
154 Will Brinson J. Downs WR IND
155 Jamey Eisenberg K. Osborn WR MIN
156 Scott Fish T. Spears RB TEN
Round 14
Pos Team Player
157 Scott Fish G. Smith QB SEA
158 Jamey Eisenberg C. Edwards-Helaire RB KC
159 Will Brinson H. Renfrow WR LV
160 Rob Thomas R. Rice WR KC
161 Dave Richard D. Chark WR CAR
162 Meron Berkson G. Everett TE LAC
163 Ben Gretch C. Hubbard RB CAR
164 Jack Capotorto K. Murray QB ARI
165 Zach Brook V. Jefferson WR LAR
166 Heath Cummings L. Fournette RB TB
167 George Maselli T. Thornton WR NE
168 Thomas Shafer G. Dulcich TE DEN
Team by Team
Thomas Shafer
Rd Pk Player
1 1 J. Jefferson WR MIN
2 24 R. Stevenson RB NE
3 25 M. Andrews TE BAL
4 48 J. Burrow QB CIN
5 49 J. Dobbins RB BAL
6 72 A. Kamara RB NO
7 73 M. Evans WR TB
8 96 M. Thomas WR NO
9 97 B. Cooks WR DAL
10 120 D. Watson QB CLE
11 121 I. Abanikanda RB NYJ
12 144 J. Warren RB PIT
13 145 A. Pierce WR IND
14 168 G. Dulcich TE DEN
George Maselli
Rd Pk Player
1 2 C. McCaffrey RB SF
2 23 T. Higgins WR CIN
3 26 P. Mahomes QB KC
4 47 C. Watson WR GB
5 50 J. Jeudy WR DEN
6 71 D. Harris RB BUF
7 74 Z. Flowers WR BAL
8 95 C. Okonkwo TE TEN
9 98 S. Perine RB DEN
10 119 E. Mitchell RB SF
11 122 A. Thielen WR CAR
12 143 A. Rodgers QB NYJ
13 146 T. Bigsby RB JAC
14 167 T. Thornton WR NE
Heath Cummings
Rd Pk Player
1 3 J. Chase WR CIN
2 22 N. Chubb RB CLE
3 27 D. Smith WR PHI
4 46 M. Sanders RB CAR
5 51 D. London WR ATL
6 70 J. Conner RB ARI
7 75 J. Williams RB DEN
8 94 D. Njoku TE CLE
9 99 J. Smith-Schuster WR NE
10 118 S. Moore WR KC
11 123 T. Tagovailoa QB MIA
12 142 E. Elliott RB NE
13 147 K. Cousins QB MIN
14 166 L. Fournette RB TB
Zach Brook
Rd Pk Player
1 4 A. Ekeler RB LAC
2 21 B. Hall RB NYJ
3 28 C. Olave WR NO
4 45 J. Fields QB CHI
5 52 A. Cooper WR CLE
6 69 K. Toney WR KC
7 76 G. Pickens WR PIT
8 93 D. Achane RB MIA
9 100 D. Kincaid TE BUF
10 117 J. Mingo WR CAR
11 124 C. Brown RB CIN
12 141 T. Patrick WR DEN
13 148 P. Campbell WR NYG
14 165 V. Jefferson WR LAR
Jack Capotorto
Rd Pk Player
1 5 T. Kelce TE KC
2 20 D. Henry RB TEN
3 29 T. Etienne RB JAC
4 44 K. Allen WR LAC
5 53 C. Godwin WR TB
6 68 R. White RB TB
7 77 D. Johnson WR PIT
8 92 A. Richardson QB IND
9 101 B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS
10 116 J. McKinnon RB KC
11 125 D. Mooney WR CHI
12 140 W. Robinson WR NYG
13 149 J. Hyatt WR NYG
14 164 K. Murray QB ARI
Ben Gretch
Rd Pk Player
1 6 T. Hill WR MIA
2 19 A. St. Brown WR DET
3 30 J. Gibbs RB DET
4 43 D. Metcalf WR SEA
5 54 G. Kittle TE SF
6 67 J. Herbert QB LAC
7 78 M. Pittman WR IND
8 91 J. Cook RB BUF
9 102 J. Smith-Njigba WR SEA
10 115 Z. Charbonnet RB SEA
11 126 A. Gibson RB WAS
12 139 K. Miller RB NO
13 150 R. Mostert RB MIA
14 163 C. Hubbard RB CAR
Meron Berkson
Rd Pk Player
1 7 S. Barkley RB NYG
2 18 J. Waddle WR MIA
3 31 N. Harris RB PIT
4 42 D. Samuel WR SF
5 55 T. McLaurin WR WAS
6 66 D. Waller TE NYG
7 79 T. Lockett WR SEA
8 90 A. Dillon RB GB
9 103 O. Beckham Jr. WR BAL
10 114 C. Sutton WR DEN
11 127 D. Prescott QB DAL
12 138 J. Wilson RB MIA
13 151 T. Hill TE NO
14 162 G. Everett TE LAC
Dave Richard
Rd Pk Player
1 8 B. Robinson RB ATL
2 17 G. Wilson WR NYJ
3 32 C. Ridley WR JAC
4 41 A. Jones RB GB
5 56 K. Pitts TE ATL
6 65 C. Akers RB MIN
7 80 T. Lawrence QB JAC
8 89 J. Williams WR DET
9 104 K. Herbert RB CHI
10 113 A. Mattison RB MIN
11 128 I. Hodgins WR NYG
12 137 J. Metchie III WR HOU
13 152 Z. Jones WR JAC
14 161 D. Chark WR CAR
Rob Thomas
Rd Pk Player
1 9 J. Jacobs RB LV
2 16 A. Brown WR PHI
3 33 J. Hurts QB PHI
4 40 D. Moore WR CHI
5 57 C. Kirk WR JAC
6 64 D. Swift RB PHI
7 81 B. Aiyuk WR SF
8 88 P. Freiermuth TE PIT
9 105 T. Allgeier RB ATL
10 112 Q. Johnston WR LAC
11 129 D. Foreman RB CHI
12 136 C. Kmet TE CHI
13 153 C. Edmonds RB TB
14 160 R. Rice WR KC
Will Brinson
Rd Pk Player
1 10 C. Kupp WR LAR
2 15 D. Adams WR LV
3 34 J. Allen QB BUF
4 39 K. Walker III RB SEA
5 58 M. Williams WR LAC
6 63 D. Montgomery RB DET
7 82 M. Brown WR ARI
8 87 E. Engram TE JAC
9 106 R. Penny RB PHI
10 111 D. Schultz TE HOU
11 130 A. Lazard WR NYJ
12 135 T. Boyd WR CIN
13 154 J. Downs WR IND
14 159 H. Renfrow WR LV
Jamey Eisenberg
Rd Pk Player
1 11 J. Taylor RB IND
2 14 T. Pollard RB DAL
3 35 L. Jackson QB BAL
4 38 D. Hopkins WR TEN
5 59 J. Mixon RB CIN
6 62 D. Goedert TE PHI
7 83 J. Dotson WR WAS
8 86 J. Addison WR MIN
9 107 N. Collins WR HOU
10 110 R. Doubs WR GB
11 131 D. Singletary RB HOU
12 134 E. Moore WR CLE
13 155 K. Osborn WR MIN
14 158 C. Edwards-Helaire RB KC
Scott Fish
Rd Pk Player
1 12 S. Diggs WR BUF
2 13 C. Lamb WR DAL
3 36 T. Hockenson TE MIN
4 37 D. Cook RB NYJ
5 60 I. Pacheco RB KC
6 61 D. Pierce RB HOU
7 84 T. Burks WR TEN
8 85 G. Davis WR BUF
9 108 J. Meyers WR LV
10 109 R. Bateman WR BAL
11 132 R. Johnson RB CHI
12 133 J. Williams RB NO
13 156 T. Spears RB TEN
14 157 G. Smith QB SEA