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Auction Draft Cheat Sheet – Fantasy Football 2021

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So much fantasy football advice is geared toward snake drafts and its ilk. Today though, I’m looking at auction, or salary cap, leagues and how I would approach them. Auctions can be so different depending on the room, so this is more about players to target and players I would not overpay for. 

Quarterback

I would not pay for Patrick Mahomes — I am not someone who pays up for the top QB (ever) in a single-quarterback league. On the other hand, if it’s a superflex league, I do want a top-eight quarterback:

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Quarterback ranks

(Considering likely salary)

Dak Prescott
Lamar Jackson
Josh Allen
Kyler Murray
Patrick Mahomes
Russell Wilson
Justin Herbert
Tom Brady
Joe Burrow
Matthew Stafford
Aaron Rodgers
Ryan Tannehill
Jalen Hurts
Trey Lance
Trevor Lawrence
Tua Tagovailoa
Justin Fields

Other positions

Guys to break the bank on 

(Considering likely salary)

Christian McCaffrey
Dalvin Cook
Davante Adams
Travis Kelce
Stefon Diggs
Tyreek Hill
Derrick Henry (move him over Hill and Diggs if it’s 0.5 PPR)

Austin Ekeler and Aaron Jones are RB1s you can get cheaper than the McCaffrey/Cook class. Antonio Gibson is right there with them as well, though I’m a little worried about third-down work. I would make the first two a priority if you miss out on one of the top-three backs.

I absolutely love Najee Harris unless you have a Pittsburgh fan who overbids.

Ezekiel Elliott and Alvin Kamara are not guys I would pay up for in auction, unless they somehow get undervalued (and they won’t). Instead, nominate them in hopes to get another manager or two out of the mix for the other RBs. I would keep nominating expensive players I’m not targeting to drain other managers’ banks. 

Here are the expensive guys I am OK with someone else paying the premium on:

Joe Mixon
DeAndre Hopkins
Patrick Mahomes
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
George Kittle
J.K. Dobbins
Nick Chubb (though I love him as a player) 
Saquon Barkley

Other player notes

Darren Waller is so unique and in his own tier, but I am fine punting the tight end position and getting guys like Gerald Everett and Irv Smith.

Calvin Ridley will likely go for a price that will make him a pass, even though he is a beast. 

Keenan Allen is always disrespected — you should be able to get him as your WR2. The same goes for Mike Evans.

Allen Robinson and Terry McLaurin are guys I draft a lot, but Amari Cooper is the guy I want in this tier if he is discounted (though it’s worth being aware if there are Cowboys fans in your draft). I love CeeDee Lamb, but he will be more expensive than Cooper

Running back notes

Player POS Thoughts
J.K. Dobbins RB Love his talent, not his price
Darrell Henderson RB Will prob let someone else pay for him
Chris Carson RB YES
Miles Sanders RB This team is going to suck, if he is not the passing down back, I can’t pay for him in auction
Josh Jacobs RB Meh
David Montgomery RB YES
Mike Davis RB Yes
Damien Harris RB YES – esp in .5
Kareem Hunt RB Meh
Javonte Williams RB YES
Chase Edmonds RB YES in PPR – OK in .5
Michael Carter RB Let someone else do it
Trey Sermon RB YES
Melvin Gordon RB OK
A.J. Dillon RB Could be a league winner if Jones gets hurt
Gus Edwards RB Great value compared to Dobbins in an auction
Leonard Fournette RB Sure
James Conner RB Yes
Zack Moss RB Sure
Sony Michel RB Yes
Ronald Jones RB YES
Tony Pollard RB (see AJ Dillon)
Jamaal Williams RB YES!
Kenyan Drake RB Yes
Devin Singletary RB Meh
Phillip Lindsay RB Meh

Value running backs

Wide receiver notes

Player Team Thoughts
Tyler Lockett SEA Yes
Tee Higgins CIN Yes
Adam Thielen MIN No
Ja’Marr Chase CIN Nah
Brandon Aiyuk SF Yes
Jerry Jeudy DEN Big yes
Odell Beckham CLV No
Chase Claypool PIT Sure
Kenny Golladay NYG Yes at his price
JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT Yes
Brandin Cooks HOU Sure
Courtland Sutton DEN Nah
Tyler Boyd CIN Yes
Will Fuller MIA Yes, you play to win the game!
Deebo Samuel SF No
Laviska Shenault JAX Big yes
DeVonta Smith PHI Yes
Michael Gallup DAL Yes
Antonio Brown TB Yes
Curtis Samuel WAS No
Corey Davis NYJ Yes
Mike Williams LAC Yes
D.J. Chark JAX No
Marvin Jones JAX Yes
Jaylen Waddle MIA Sure
Jarvis Landry CLV Yes, he’s an insane value in PPR
Darnell Mooney CHI Yes, he’s a stud
Elijah Moore NYJ Prefer in best ball, but yes
Rondale Moore ARI See above, but both Moore’s are targets
Mecole Hardman KC Probably won’t pay his price
DeVante Parker MIA Yes, if he’s cheap
Michael Pittman IND See above
Russell Gage ATL Yes in PPR only
Marquise Brown BAL Yes
Emmanuel Sanders BUF Better for best ball
Nelson Agholor NE YES
Jakobi Meyers NE Yes
Henry Ruggs LVR No
Sterling Shepard NYG Sure

Value wide receivers

Tight end

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