I have been campaigning to do an auction draft for three years now. Well, be careful what you wish for. Below I’ll highlight my leaguemates’ best and worst picks (IMO), and then I’ll stack rank their overall drafts.

I wrote the write ups and my thoughts on if the teams would make the playoffs before comparing. That’s why I might say “I think this team makes the playoffs” then rank them 7-9 later after further review.

After that, I made an initial stack rank. From there, I did head-to-head matchups to finalize the end stack rankings.

Best & Worst Picks

Adam Michael Dziuk III

Favorite pick: Cooper Kupp $17 and grabbing Davante Adams and Deandre Hopkins

If Cooper Kupp can stay healthy, this is some pretty solid value as a receiver of his caliber could likely have fetched ~$25+.

Auction is all about grabbing elite (or at least top 50 players; so why didn’t I do that?), Adam grabs two elite receivers early on.

Least favorite pick: Kenny Golladay $5

It’s only $5, but I think Kenny G is washed and likely to be fucked by his hamstring. Honestly, I don’t think Adam made too many bad picks. Ekeler at $51 could prove valuable or could be what sinks his team.

Team needs: a true RB2; RB depth

Most similar team: his Sacramento childhood friend by way of investing budget heavily in a few guys; much different team comps though

Prediction: playoff team; if his starters can stay healthy, can win it all

Ankur Sekhri

Favorite pick: Josh Jacobs $21 or Kyle Pitts $12

I was checking other tabs during this bidding process and definitely would have bid on Jacobs at $22 had I not been technically inept at the moment. While I don’t love Jacobs, $21 is solid value. I personally hope Mike Davis $17 and/or Chase Edmonds $15 outperforms Jacobs.

Pitts at $12 might be a waste, but I doubt it. Pitts could finish as high as TE3 imo and you might as well aim high. $12 isn’t much money either–really like this pick.

Ridley for $44 is also a nice pick IMO as I think he has WR3 overall upside.

Least favorite pick: Aaron Jones $52 or Noah Fant $6

Aaron Jones is tricky because we don’t exactly know what to expect from GB. The good news: Jamaal Williams is gone. $52 seems high, but I guess most RB1s went for ~$50. I think everyone overpaid, but I didn’t get an RB1 (so maybe I’m the one who didn’t pony up enough dough).

Fant at $6 isn’t bad in and of itself, but Pitts is likely better. I don’t like rostering two TEs and this will likely end up being a headache. Maybe Ankur starts Fant as Pitts acclimates. I guess it’s not that bad of a pick, but I don’t love it.

Team needs: a QB (WTLF!). Baker Mayfield!? Luke, jump in here, this is crazy right? Also, a true flex. Fant might work out here, but I think a better RB or WR is FLEXier.

Prediction: pretty balanced team without massive gaps. I’d say this team has a chance to make the playoffs.

Boston Yavorski

Favorite pick: TJ Hockenson $15 or Jerry Jeudy $13

Hockenson should deliver at least TE6 overall value. Experts were scattered on being super high on him or him being hype. I think $15 to ensure top 6 TE production is solid.

I was bummed to miss out on Jeudy as he was one of my top WR targets. $13 to grab a strong WR3 with WR2 upside is solid IMO.

Least favorite pick: Nick Chubb $50 or Robert Woods $31

Chubb for $50 seems high when other RB1s I had ranked higher went for similar or a few dollars more. If he stays healthy and Hunt gets injured, Chubb could probably put up RB4-6 overall numbers.

Woods for $31 was high, but if he delivers WR1 numbers then this could turn out being a steal.

Team needs: this one is pretty clear: WRs; also a better QB

Most similar team: Patrick’s?

Prediction: if RBs overperform and he can find WRs on the WW, has a chance to make the playoffs. Otherwise, this team is consolation bound.

Akshay Open

Favorite pick: Tyler Lockett $21 or Jonnu Smith $1

I’m not sure if I was busy or out of money, but I would’ve been happy to bid Lockett up to $22. Lockett is a WR1.5 (if he can repeat what he did last year). I’m hoping for Eskridge to take the middle/horizontal game away from Lockett, but I doubt it happens.

Jonnu Smith has TE1 potential and was grabbed for free (basically). Jonnu was someone I wanted to target, but I got Kelce.

Least favorite pick: Brandin Cooks $10

This could work out, but the Texans are going to be so bad I’m not sure this will work.

Team needs: true WR1; starters to stay healthy; Jonnu to work out at TE

Prediction: if his team can stay healthy, fringe playoff team. Likely will beat me Week 1 😭

Me

Favorite pick: Travis Kelce $43, Rondale Moore $2, or Elijah Moore $1

I wanted to grab at least 2 “elite” players and as the WR1s came off the board I started to worry. I was happy to get Justin Jefferson <$40, but I wanted to pair him with 2 other top 15 WRs. That didn’t work out, so I grabbed another “WR1” in Kelce. I originally thought Kelce would go for ~$50. Kelce has the potential to outperform Hopkins ($43) and Diggs ($48).

Moore has been talked up as a perfect fit in Kingsbury’s high tempo offense. I am hoping he or Elijah Moore can work their way up to be my WR3. Only now realising they share the same last name.

Least favorite pick: Rodgers $10, Pollard $7, Eskridge $4

My biggest regret is burning so much on my bench ~$16. That money could have grabbed a proper player or been dumped on to upgrade one of my 3 RBs.

My other regret is bidding on a non top 5 QB. I think I should’ve bid on Brady or Herbert (or probably just bid $2 on someone like Hurts). I hope Rodgers does well this season but wouldn’t be surprised with a QB10-12 year.

Team needs: true RB1 and true WR3; injuries to top RBs (Zeke, Cook, etc.)

Most similar team: Ben2 and Dan2’s team

Prediction: if one of my lottery tickets pans out and/or top RBs get injured, this team can make a deep playoff run.

Sam Rica

Favorite pick: Antonio Brown $9 or Michael Gallup $2

Cheating a bit here, but Antonio went off last night and $9 seems like a colossal steal. Yes, it’s Antonio. He’s old. He’s erratic. If he can behave and stay healthy, he has high WR2 upside. I think his body or behavior will sabotage him though.

Not a huge Gallup fan, but I do think Dallas has the ability to produce three 1,000 yard receivers this year. $2 for a guy getting 1,000 yards would be great value.

Least favorite pick: Mike Evans $23, Kareem Hunt $16, or Tannehill $2

Cheating again here, but Mike Evans was someone I wanted to avoid this year. At $23 I would have much preferred someone like Lockett here.

Hunt was someone I wanted to target heavily going into the draft, but paying more for a trailing RBBC than other lead RBBC backs is a bad move IMO. This is one I could definitely be wrong about.

I understand the move to bid $2 to prevent someone getting a free QB, but rostering two similarly talented QBs is going to be a headache and waste of a roster spot IMO.

Team needs: a true RB2 and true WR2; Antonio Brown to continue producing like week 1; a domestic owner

Prediction: variables could push this team either way; envisioning a team on the cusp of playoffs 6th/7th

Alcott

Favorite pick: Najee $40

I liked that Patrick went big and invested the bulk of his salary in a few top guys. I think he overpaid on Najee, but I also think Najee has top 5 RB potential. Time will tell.

Least favorite pick: $42 DK or Sutton $6

DK is a WR1. I don’t think he’s better than guys like Justin Jefferson who went for less, so I think some overpaying happened. I also expect regression from Russ and all SEA receivers this year (besides Dee Eskridge of course).

Pa didn’t have much budget left but to use the bulk of his remaining on Sutton is a little baffling to me. I prefer Jeudy and possibly even Hamler.

Team needs: true wr2, better flex, better TE

Most similar team: Yavo’s due to shallow WRs

Prediction: between Mahomes, Najee, Cook, and DK, I think this team can make the playoffs. Injuries to any of the aforementioned players would derail his team’s season

Dhruv in Michigan

Favorite pick: Ja’Marr Chase $8 or Trey Sermon $9

I slept on Chase (and likely didn’t have much $ left) and missed out. I think Chase has WR3-2 upside and for <$10 bid this likely will have positive returns.

I also wanted Sermon but didn’t have the $ to stay in the bids. Wouldn’t be shocked with an RB2 return. This was one of my favorite picks of the draft.

Least favorite pick: Zeke $61

At $61 I think we’re paying for a top 4 overall RB. I think Zeke will return RB1 numbers due to depth alone but will finish closer to RB12 than RB3.

Team needs: a true RB2; Gesicki to put up TE10+ numbers; new team name…it’s 2021

Most similar team: Adam’s team? Strong WR corps and RB1 but weak RB2 and RB depth

Prediction: unless Zeke turns it around, I see this team missing the playoffs

New Ben(s)

Favorite pick: Darren Waller $32 or Javonte Williams $8

I heard Krab (who I recently learned is Italian and has an Italian middle name) was mad Stefanopolis bid $32 for Darren. I almost kept bidding here as I thought Waller is worth at least $35 and is basically a WR10-15 overall IMO. I like it.

Javonte is in a similar position as Trey Sermon. He will likely become the team’s lead back and return RB2ish numbers…all for $8.

Least favorite pick: Jarvis Landry $7 or Gus Edwards $18

Did not understand the Landry pick at all. Especially when you could’ve picked TONY POLLARD for $7.

Gus Edwards really baffles me. Why would you bid on someone with a torn ACL? Jokes aside, I preferred guys like Mike Davis ($17) here.

Team needs: a true RB1, a much better RB2 (you know, that scores positive points), and someone FLEXier; great team name though

Most similar team: mine actually; elite TE, strong WR1, and middling RBs

Prediction: needs some things to go their way/turn around, otherwise will find themselves consolation bound

Granderson

Favorite pick: Brady $4 or Laviska Shenault $5

Basically getting a top 7ish QB for free isn’t bad. He’s old, but I guess he just keeps throwing the thing and people catch it in the endzone.

Shenault has a lot of upside playing with Trevor Lawrence. I guess this WR corps is crowded with MJJ and Chark, but there’s a lot of upside to be had at $5.

Least favorite pick: Allen Robinson $36 or Thielen $19

I was high on AR, but then I read an article to avoid. I think ARob will have a good season, but while Dalton is throwing the pork thing, it will not be tight for him.

Thielen at $19 might be great value, but I foresee further regression with Thielen this year. Plus JJeff will probably have close to 95% target share this season *wink*

Team needs: honestly, not much. RBs to stay healthy and one his starting WRs to consistently put up WR2 numbers; Logan Thomas to replicate or grow his previous season

Prediction: this team should make the playoffs; how far they go will depend on how they play the WW and health (and consistency) of starters

Daniel 1

Favorite pick: Hurts $3 or Henry $48

I think Hurts was one of the lower QB1 guys I would’ve targeted had I not bid higher on someone like I did. If Hurts can replicate last season, he has top 6 overall QB upside.

Mixed feelings about Henry from the analysts, but he went for less than Chubb and barely more than Najee. Henry should finish somewhere between RB4-6, this seems like a more-than-fair price at $48.

Least favorite pick: DJ Moore $18

Not a terrible pick but not who I’d want as my 4th best guy. I think there may have been better receivers available at the time or had he waited. DJ Moore could prove me wrong, but I think he’ll regress from last season.

Team needs: true WR3, someone FLEXier; to not leave a 29 point-scoring TE on their bench

Most similar team: Pa’s sort of, in that they went big on their first 4 guys and have 2 elite RBs

Prediction: if a few players outperform or things go his way, I could see just making the playoffs. Until then, I’m going to say consolation bound.

Shy Guy

Favorite pick: Michael Thomas $8, DeVonta Smith $4, or TJJ $1

If Michael Thomas can be 70-80% of himself for the final 10ish games, $8 is a steal. I wish I bid more to stay in the game for him.

DeVonta Smith likely has at least WR3ish upside. At $4, what do you really have to lose. He’ll be especially good because we play PPR.

TJJ was someone I wanted to grab, but I already had enough RBs at the time. I came into the draft wanting to aggressively target Murray, but then he was released. This is a great handcuff/lottery ticket–and it was free.

Least favorite pick: Mostert $11 or Corey Davis $8

Mostert should have a monster game this week, but he’s bound for injury and to get leapfrogged by Sermon ($9). I would’ve preferred this $11 targeted at Sermon. Maybe Mostert will have a monster week 1 and Shy can flip him in a trade and sell high.

I’m not a Corey Davis guy. He burned me in 2019 and followed that up with a pretty solid 2020. I don’t see him succeeding in NY where I see Crowder and Elijah Moore doing the work.

Team needs: a true WR1 and WR depth; CMC, Kittle, and Russ to all stay healthy

Most similar team: Yavo or Pa’s based on RB strength and shallowness at WR; strong QB like Pa

Prediction: if CMC, Kittle, and Russ can all stay healthy, this team should make the playoffs. How far they go in the playoffs will depend on how many 40+ point games CMC can line up

Ranking the drafts

Last place: Boston Legoland

While RBs (and Flex/RB3) and TE are strong, WR depth is quite shallow and QB leaves something to be desired.

11th: Blade Runner 1982

One of the top WR corps and a top 4 QB are strengths, but weak RB2, TE, questionable FLEX (and a struggling Zeke) land the low ranking.

10th: Papa Pa

Elite QB, RB1s, and WR1, but after that the WR corps is extremely shaky. Robert Tonyan at TE does not inspire confidence.

9th: NYC Pre

Elite RBs and WR1 with a solid QB. Depth falls off quite a bit after those three though.

8th: AnkUdit

Just eked out 8th over Pre based on their bench–was v close otherwise. Solid WR corps, solid RB1, above average TE and RB2. The “QB” and flex drag this team down.

7th: The Guy who’s going to beat me week 1

Above average QB, mid-end WR corps, mid-end RBs; no elite players outside of Saquon (who might be injured). If Godwin puts up 23+ points/week, then this team can do whatever. If Julio can stay healthy, this team’s stock goes up, too.

6th: El Notario (“Commissioner”)

The best WR corps, top 2 QB, and a nice RB1. After that, RB2 and depth is p shallow. Should make the playoffs barring injuries to his studs.

5th: Shy Guy

Top 5 QB, top 3 TE, RB1 overall, and pretty good depth. However, WR corps is far from solid. The return of Michael Thomas should only help. Health of studs key to playoff run.

4th: The Hairy Guys

Their team comp was my team, so I had to rate them high *wink*. Top 4 QB, above average WR corps with a top 3 WR, middling RBs, and an elite TE. Will need to work out their FLEX situation.

3rd: The Author

TE1, usable WR corps, RB2s-ish with upside, and a bench full of lottery tickets. This team is antifragile and will want as much chaos as possible. Stars getting hurt and rookies doing well will dictate how far this team can go.

2nd: Carlos Alvarado Quesada

On draft night, I thought this was one of the worst teams, but I’ve come around. Don’t love 2 QBs, but both are good and playable. Solid RB1, decent RB2, top 6 TE, workable WR corps, and depth to FLEX. Based on prior events, Sam should make it to at least the semifinal before everything implodes 😉

1st: Cape Cod Potato Chip Company, LLC

Good value grabbed throughout draft: top 10 QB, strong WR corps, true RB1 and true RB2, top 7 TE, and depth to FLEX. Don’t fuck it up.

Final Thoughts

Again, I wrote out my initial thoughts. Then I made an initial stack rank. Finally, I did head-to-head matchups to finalize the ultimate stack rank.