NFL Week 9 FTN Staff Bets
FTN Staff
Let me start off by saying — and I can not stress this enough — this article is not intended to outline an optimal draft strategy. Instead, this piece is a reminder that at the end of the day, fantasy football should be fun.
Sometimes for the sake of fun it’s acceptable to throw logic out the window. Whether it’s for a lower stakes league, or simply to break a tie between two players, every once in a while it’s OK to draft simply to put a smile on your face.
In this exercise, I didn’t actually “draft” my All-Fun Team, but instead I selected the most entertaining player in each round based on Sleeper’s ADP (assuming a 12-team league) and built a team based on the answer to one simple question – “Which of these players will be the most fun to watch on Sundays?” There was minimal care for roster balance or maximizing fantasy points, but when all was said and done, the end result was still a formidable lineup.
Round 1: Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
The same reason it was so fun watching Usain Bolt at the Olympics is the same reason we love watching Tyreek Hill. There’s something breathtaking about watching someone outclass the field when it comes to speed.
There were many questions about how Hill would produce without Patrick Mahomes last year, but he showed he’s an elite receiver no matter who’s throwing him the ball. He’s a superstar talent with a superstar personality, and watching him throw up the peace sign as he zooms past defenders en route to the end zone is sure to make your football watching experience more enjoyable.
Round 2: Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
Is there anyone in recent memory with a more fun highlight reel than Derrick Henry? The stiff arms, broken tackles and big plays that Henry puts on tape week in and week out are exactly why we love the game of football. Sure, he’s approaching the daunting running back age cliff, but if we’re drafting strictly for fun here, there’s no one more entertaining than the guy who looks like The Incredible Hulk when he gets the ball in his hands.
Round 3: Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
If you didn’t get the chance to watch Chris Olave much during his rookie year, I highly recommend tuning in for year two. Olave wasted no time establishing himself as one of the league’s best route runners, and when describing his game, the first word that comes to mind is “smooth.” He dominates defenders with a combination of blazing speed and a craftiness in his route running that would suggest he’s been in the league for a decade. Toss in a quarterback upgrade with Derek Carr under center this year, and Olave’s going to be must-watch TV in 2023.
Round 4: Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
When it comes to players who are fun with the ball in their hands, there may be no one better than Deebo Samuel. His “wingback” position is unique and allows him to beat defenses from anywhere on the field. Plus, when he scores, he has a tendency to do it from distance by generating explosive plays, and there’s nothing more fun to watch than that, right?
Round 5: Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans
Watching Dameon Pierce play is like a blast from the past when football was commonly described as “smashmouth.” He runs with violent intentions and seems to view opposing defenders as bowling pins that he needs to knock down with extreme force. You don’t see much wiggle in Pierce’s game, and he may not be an elite talent, but the physical nature of his running style will surely get your heart pumping.
Round 6: Darren Waller, TE, New York Giants
Last year the Giants were a frisky team who drastically outperformed expectations on offense. They lacked a true No. 1 receiver, and this year they brought in Darren Waller to essentially play that role. One of the most exciting parts of Year One of the Brian Daboll Era was how creative he was with his offensive schemes. With a moveable chess piece like Waller now in the equation, Daboll now has the opportunity to take that creativity to another level. He’ll work to get Waller lined up all across the formation in order to exploit mismatches, and Waller’s fantasy managers will be on the edge of their seats every time they see him lined up against a slower linebacker or smaller corner.
Round 7: George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
This one’s pretty simple. George Pickens can do this…
Round 8: Kadarius Toney, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
“Fun” is certainly an interesting word to describe Kadarius Toney’s playstyle. I’m sure over the past few years, another F-word may be more commonly associated with Toney’s fantasy output due to his inability to stay healthy.
When Toney suits up on Sundays though, the on-field product is electric. He’s one of the most elusive receivers in the game, and he has a knack for making anyone who tries to bring him down in the open field look foolish. Drafting Toney for the sake of fun would be a high-risk move, but the joy of watching him perform when he is healthy could wind up being worth the risk.
Round 9: Rashaad Penny, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
When I think of Rashaad Penny’s style of play, “BOOM” is the first word that comes to mind. While injuries have had a severe negative impact on Penny’s career thus far, his performance on the field has consistently been explosive. He’s an elite talent who averages nearly 6 YPC over his career, and when healthy, he’s going to absolutely dominate running behind the Eagles offensive line. Even if the injury bug strikes again, the elite talent you’ll get for a couple games and the entertainment value that comes with it will be well worth the cost of a 9th round pick.
Round 10: Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
Waiting on quarterback wasn’t necessarily a strategy I had in mind for this draft. Luckily after drafting some extremely exciting skill position players with my first nine picks, one of the most entertaining players in the sport was still available in Round 10.
Even at age 39, Aaron Rodgers is still a magician out there on the football field. His arm talent is unmatched, and it seems that every week he makes a few throws that make you question the laws of gravity. Throw in all the fun drama that will come from his first year in New York, and this was a no-brainer pick.
Round 11: Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants
No, the fun part about this pick isn’t the ability to see both your quarterbacks play when you’re visiting The Big Apple. Last year, the Giants’ offense made major strides in Brian Daboll’s first year as head coach. Daboll frequently utilized Daniel Jones as a weapon on the ground which not only helped improve their output, but also added a much-needed element of excitement. Much like the previous selection of Darren Waller, the newfound creativity of the Giants offense will make Jones a fun player to watch on Sundays… Plus stacks are always fun, and having Jones on your team will only make those Waller touchdowns sweeter.
Round 12: Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers
Remember all the offseason hype surrounding Romeo Doubs? It didn’t exactly come to fruition in his rookie year, but at least a portion of that can be attributed to injury. If Doubs can make a jump in year two though, he’s the exact archetype of a receiver who’s worth changing the channel for.
Much of the hype around Doubs last year came from his ability to make impressive catches in the preseason. He’s got a real opportunity to translate those skills to the regular season this year, and if he pulls it off it’ll lead to some highlight reel-worthy plays.
Round 13: San Francisco 49ers Defense
It’s time we show some love to the other side of the ball!
This may be a copout answer, but I’d wager that rooting for the 49ers to dominate on defense all year will be more entertaining than any individual players you snag this late in the draft. The combination of Nick Bosa – the league’s reigning DPOY – Fred Warner and Talanoa Hufanga means this defense has exciting playmakers at every level of the field.
Round 14: Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders
If you haven’t noticed by now, I love the players who line up all over the formation, and Curtis Samuel plays that Deebo role in Washington’s offense. Watching him line up out wide on one play, in the backfield on the next, and then in an orbit motion the play after constantly keeps defenses on their heels, and if you’re a fantasy manager, it’ll likely keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’re a fan of footballs X’s and O’s, Samuel’s usage alone makes him an entertaining pick in the final round.
