Blair Andrews breaks down a recent FFPC FantasyPros Championship draft, revealing how to navigate WR cliffs and overeager TE drafters to build a roster with explosive upside.

Last week I highlighted some of the best values in the FFPC FantasyPros Championship format. That contest features the same top payout as the Main Event, but costs only $350 to enter. The lower buy-in likely leads to a wider range of skill levels. Additionally, there’s at least some indication it may not fill. Those two elements combine to make it probably the most cost-effective opportunity to win $1 million playing fantasy football.

While identifying value discrepancies between different contest formats is crucial, the true test comes in applying these insights during an actual draft. Shawn Siegele and I recently participated in an FFPC FantasyPros Championship Draft. We never pass up an opportunity to go Zero-RB, and this draft didn’t necessarily thwart our standing plans. It did however present some unique challenges and some interesting decisions.

Pick 1.04 – CeeDee Lamb

CeeDee Lamb would be the clear 1.01 if not for his ongoing contract dispute. As it is, Bijan Robinson becomes a tempting pick at the 1.04. Going with Robinson would likely have changed how we approached some later picks, and may turn out to be the right move. But on the assumption that the Cowboys’ game of chicken is more bluff than tough, Lamb is an easy selection.

Pick 2.09 – Marvin Harrison Jr.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is almost certainly overvalued, even at a slight discount here. In Michael Dubner’s recent look at the impact of rookie receivers in best ball, he notes that we’ve never had a rookie receiver going as early as Harrison (or even as early as Malik Nabers). On the other hand, Harrison’s collegiate production and NFL pedigree are undeniable. He’ll be given every opportunity to succeed.

Pick 3.04 – Deebo Samuel

Incidentally we did discuss the possibility of taking both Harrison and Nabers. When Nabers went at the 3.02, we weighed both Nico Collins and Travis Etienne, but landed on Deebo Samuel. Collins has significant upside, but Houston offers cheaper ways to buy its passing game. Etienne’s role and talent offer RB1 potential, yet we favored early-round receiver firepower. Plus, Samuel’s stock may rise if Brandon Aiyuk exits in 2024.

Pick 4.09 – Stefon Diggs

We hoped George Kittle would fall to us, even with Samuel on our roster. Kittle’s selection one pick prior opened our options. We considered Tee Higgins, but Stefon Diggs’ relocation to Houston’s high-octane offense tipped the scales. The potential for Diggs, Collins, and Tank Dell to form a three-headed monster in the Texans’ passing game is more likely than the market realizes. Probably both Diggs and Dell are underpriced.

Samuel and Diggs both make the cut in Shawn’s look at 5 Players With Crazy Prices That Help You Capitalize on Our Superflex Cheat Code.

Pick 5.04 – Zay Flowers

Higgins, who would have been in play again, went one pick before ours. We considered reaching for Brock Bowers, knowing his ADP hovered around 6.09. We decided to gamble, hoping he’d make it back to us in the next round. Instead, we pivoted to Zay Flowers. The Baltimore receiver’s rookie efficiency and potential for a secondary breakout compelled our selection. The Ravens’ consistently potent offense offers a springboard for Flowers’ sophomore leap.

Speaking of breakouts, don’t miss Blair’s entire series on the most important concept in fantasy.

• These Second-Year WRs Are Going to Crush Expectations and Win Fantasy Titles
• It’s Easy to Get the Age Part Wrong: How to Exploit Misconceptions About Age and Fantasy Scoring
• The Best Thing You Can Ever Do Is Chase Star Players: Why Rookie Efficiency Foreshadows Greatness
• It’s Not Over When a Player Breaks Out: Why the Jump to Stardom Is the Last Big Exploitable Loophole