How my first round of my fantasy football draft would go!

Let’s look at a 12-team ideal first round when it comes to top picks and where to start your draft around:

1. Ja’Marr Chase

2. Bijan Robinson 

3. Jahmyr Gibbs

4. Saquon Barkley

5. CeeDee Lamb

6. Justin Jefferson

7. Malik Nabers

8. Brian Thomas

9. Amon-Ra St. Brown

10. Derrick Henry

11. Nico Collins

12. Christian McCaffrey

These should be the 12 players who are drafted within the first round with a few changes at the end of the draft. Chase and Robinson are the two main names we see at the top of the draft board. They are elite players who are highly used in their offenses and have proven they are valuable.

I think a combo of Gibbs, Barkley, and Lamb is next. Gibbs finished as RB #3 last year with 1,412 yards, 20 TDs, and 310.9 fantasy points. He splits time with Montgomery but is starting to take more of the load. Barkley was RB #1 last year and is talented but the workload last year seems hard to reach this year which makes me nervous to go with him. I have Lamb over Jefferson at the moment because Jefferson is a little banged up. That could change before week one but Lamb gets a core of the targets. Jefferson is projected to be WR2 behind Chase and I think he can do it but we will have to see if his connection with McCarthy pans out. He finished with 1,533 yards last year and can go further this year.

I currently love drafting from 7-9 because you can walk away with one of Nabers, Thomas, or St. Brown. Nabers finished with 1,204 yards and 7 TDs with a mediocre QB. They have many options this year at QB so his stock has gone up in my book. Brian Thomas and St. Brown have similar stock when I am doing my draft. I think Thomas has more upside because he is the clear weapon on the team and St. Brown has more tools to take production away from him. You can’t go wrong either way with these picks in my book.

Now the last 3 can change but when we think about upside and who is there these three names have to ping. Henry, Collins, and CMC. Derrick Henry was RB 2 last year and can continue that work because he is TD-heavy and can get through. Nico goes up and down on my list, in some drafts, I will take him at 11 or 12, and in some, I avoid him and see where he falls. It all depends on who else is available in the draft, but he does have some upside with a strong QB with whom he has a connection. He does have some injury questions which is why I tend to avoid him but other people are okay with him. The last player is Mr injury himself, Christian McCaffrey. He scares me a lot but if I can get a top RB and fantasy player as the last pick in the first round I might have to. You can still adjust your other picks around him and maybe take an extra RB who can start if he happens to go down. 

Now I think there is room for people switching around and moving and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ashton Jeanty, A.J. Brown, or Puka Nacua go in the first round. I do think Puka has a super high ceiling but he has injury problems and Matthew Stafford might be more hurt than what is being reported which makes his stock a red flag for me. Your first pick determines how your whole draft will go depending on what you are looking for so be smart and pick the right player that fits your gut and system.