Eliminate the Suck

Photo: , USA Today Sports

Let me start off by saying this article is likely going to ruffle some feathers. Like all things in life, there are winners and losers. And some of you homers are rooting for teams and players that simply suck.

Value-Based Drafting shows you that every player has value. But we all know that really isn't the case. You can't load up with players from Miami, Buffalo, and Tennessee (even if they are value picks) and expect to win your league. Suck In...equals guess what...Suck Out.

In an effort to eliminate the suck from my Top 300 players, I have chosen to implement the following rules:

1. All players on the worst eight offenses have been eliminated. Worst offenses are calculated looking at my team projections using standard PPR scoring. These teams did not make the cut in 2019: Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, and the New York Jets. Conversely, the top eight offenses (New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots) keep their players on the abbreviated draft list.
   
   
2. Of the remaining 16 teams, the four with the worst playoff matchups (Week 14-16) have been removed. Say goodbye to the Dallas Cowboys (who play at CHI, vs LAR and at PHI), Green Bay Packers (vs WAS, vs CHI, and at MIN), San Francisco 49ers (at NO, vs ATL, and vs LAR), and the Oakland Raiders (vs TEN, vs JAC, and at LAC) on the abbreviated cheatsheet.
   
   
3. Players with average draft positions (ADP) 40+ points higher than my rank get the ax too. Let's face it, you were never getting these guys anyway so why clutter your mind with these overpriced options.
   
   
4. Old players suck. They get hurt a lot and offer minimal upside. Some of these players are still pretending to have skills, but many will likely disappoint.
   
   
5. Unless you are in a league that does not allow transactions, you should not be drafting multiple kickers and defenses. Go ahead and cross off kickers and defense outside of the top 12.
   
   
6. I am going to add back any player where I rank him 50 points higher than his average draft position.
   
   
7. And finally, the Top 20 players on my board are exempt. Even on bad teams and bad situations, the stars usually get their stats.

Instead of highlighting possible steals, I have grayed out those that suck.

Here's to not sucking on draft day...

Of course, the very best rosters never follow an extremely rigid draft plan as outlined above. But many of the grayed out players will indeed underperform. Minimizing these types of players can go a long way in fielding a competitive roster.

Here is my sample draft from the sixth hole with one deviation. Note: All picks taken at or before their ADP

1. Rd 1 - Pick 6 - RB David Johnson, ARI/12
2. Rd 2 - Pick 19 - WR Mike Evans, TB/7
3. Rd 3 - Pick 30 - RB Damien Williams, KC/12
4. Rd 4 - Pick 43 - WR Kenny Golladay, DET/5
5. Rd 5 - Pick 54 - WR Tyler Boyd, CIN/9
6. Rd 6 - Pick 67 - RB Austin Ekeler, LAC/12
7. Rd 7 - Pick 78 - RB Duke Johnson, HOU/10
8. Rd 8 - Pick 91 - TE Vance McDonald, PIT/7
9. Rd 9 - Pick 102 - RB Peyton Barber, TB/7
10. Rd 10 - Pick 115 - QB Lamar Jackson, BAL/8 (Exception)
11. Rd 11 - Pick 126 - TE Kyle Rudolph, MIN/12
12. Rd 12 - Pick 139 - WR Golden Tate, NYG/11
13. Rd 13 - Pick 150 - WR Michael Gallup, DAL/8
14. Rd 14 - Pick 163 - RB Chris Thompson, WAS/10
15. Rd 15 - Pick 174 - QB Matthew Stafford, DET/5
16. Rd 16 - Pick 187 - WR Kenny Stills, MIA/5
17. Rd 17 - Pick 198 - RB Mike Davis, CHI/6
18. Rd 18 - Pick 211 - WR Zay Jones, BUF/6
19. Rd 19 - Pick 222 - Top defense left
20. Rd 20 - Pick 235 - Top kicker left