2025 Post-Draft / Pre-Season Post:

Nazim Parupia
Sep 9
9 min read

DRAFT DAY

The Board Meeting was a success!

Good discussions and solid outcomes from the yearly meeting. I like the proposal to make this meeting occur during dinner Friday night instead of at draft time. If everyone can try to get in before like 7:00 if possible, we can make it happen! We might need to have a more formal presentation to the league cup winner and champion of the league too. Something to think about for future years. Additionally, if anyone has some other ideas they would like to see, please let me know and we can add it to our discussions, aka at the next board meeting!

The actual draft seemed to go smoothly, with minimal trades again. The future boards are looking less and less crazy… Some new changes should make things interesting with the new keeper rule, some adjustments to league cup, and the stakes going up. Make sure to look through the website for updates. Most of the changes are noted on the bottom of the rules page.

As we embark on this 2025 journey, a new season awaits us with a clean slate for everyone. A new champion will be crowned and a new punishment will be handed out. A season full of hope for all, but not everyone will be happy with the results. I do want to thank everyone who came out to the draft this year and made it truly memorable. I think seemed to be the best spot we’ve had and it seemed like everyone had a good time enjoying the place, so I am honestly so happy with how it went. The season is long, but always fun, so good luck to everyone!

Now on to the yearly analysis of the draft!

DRAFT ANALYSIS

Humza:

With some extra picks, I thought that Humza would’ve learned from the last go around and really capitalize on the draft capital, but did not make any additional moves. The offers were there for sure, but declined in all scenarios. I just wanted Bijan man… In any league… 6 leagues, no top 6 picks, no Bijan for me… Such is life I suppose. Anyways, picks wise, it looks like Humza went back to the known with Burrow, Monty, and a top TE. Served him well in the past, so why not. Although, I see each of them regressing from last year, so I feel their value was too high in this draft for me personally. Brown is a known quantity but is always solid. Ladd is in a stacked WR room but in a potent offense, so should produce. Breece is a big question mark. He has the potential to be a HR hitter but will lose goal line carries to Allen. Javonte is a decent flyer on a starting RB and Allgeier is a solid handcuff. Olave is a WR1 in an ugly offense so not sure what’ll happen there and I don’t trust the GB WR core to pick any one of them.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: J. Williams

Best Pick: B. Robinson

Worst Pick: T. Spears

Draft Grade: B-

Chris:

Rookie Central: Hampton, Henderson, Warren, Egbuka, Higgins, Burden… I think I know the draft strategy here. Surely, 50% will pop off and be successful, right? They can’t all be busts? I do like Hampton, Warren, Egbuka, and Higgins, though, so I’m a believer I guess. The Kyler/Lawrence QB combo is one that should service well. CeeDee will be a star as usual with an offense that will constantly be throwing the ball. BTJ will be okay, but more as a WR2 now that Hunter is in JAX. Too high of a draft pick for me personally. Worthy is a decent flyer but his numbers are bound to drop once Rice is back. Waddle has a chance to be the guy if the Miami offense returns to 2023 form and Ekeler could benefit greatly from the departure of Brian Robinson.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: J. Higgins

Best Pick: E. Egbuka

Worst Pick: R. Davis

Draft Grade: B

Yaseer:

My guy was taken away from me… As predicted, Yaseer has stolen another one. I desperately tried trading with Rimmel to get up to 11 and get my guy before Yaseer could, but ultimately, Rimmel refused, and Yaseer drafted C. Brown. My pick for RB#2 this year behind Bijan. My attempt to get both failed and I was left with scraps. Achane is the biggest question mark I have here since his success relies so heavily on the health of Tua and the Dolphins offense. Mahomes will do his thing again this year. Kittle I love this year to end as TE#1. Diggs and Hinter are interesting picks with high upside but we’ll have to wait and see how they fit into their offenses. Kupp, I don’t really like this year, playing a similar role to JSN, so I don’t see him producing that well. Mason is a good pick that could upend Aaron Jones and Gordon is a good handcuff. I don’t see much success likely for Harris, Palmer, or Thornton, but they’re deep picks with not much meaning.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: J. Mason

Best Pick: C. Brown

Worst Pick: C. Kupp

Draft Grade: A-

Nazim:

TBD

Draft Grade: TBD

Ali:

The go get your guy draft strategy. Ignore all rankings and proceed. When you know, you know. JJ falling to pick #6 was a steal to be honest. Bucky is a solid RB1 and Kamara is a solid RB2. Tet will take time to get there but I think he will eventually break out in that offense that is lacking receivers while Bryce continues to develop. That paired with stealing my QB in J. Fields is a solid foundation to success. Everyone seems to be on the Calvin Ridley train this year and as much as I don’t see it, the numbers are hard to argue with. Njoku has always been solid with Flacco at QB, so no reason this team should falter in the long run unless there’s injuries. H. Hunter and C. Williams are perfect TE/QB backups. J. Meyers always seems to get points no matter who’s at QB since there’s no other receivers there as well. The remainder flyers are decent shots.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: J. Meyers

Best Pick: J. Fields

Worst Pick: C. Ridley

Draft Grade: A

Alex:

This one is an interesting team put together and not sure how I feel about it. Puka will be good as long as Stafford can stay healthy, but that’s a big question mark to me. Jacobs will be solid as expected. Walker should be good, assuming his health. And Hurts will do his thing, as much as I hate him in fantasy for it. Pickens and Tracy, I’m not so sure about it, at the value they were drafted at. LaPorta should be solid though. Chubb will benefit from Mixon being out. Dobbins, I don’t suspect will hold up the whole year as Harvey takes over. Shakir is a decent flyer and Addison will have to wait for the suspension. Depth is shaky and I’m just not a fan of half these guys, so my opinion is a little skewed.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: N. Chubb

Best Pick: S. LaPorta

Worst Pick: T. Tracy

Draft Grade: B

Rimmel:

I should’ve had C. Brown… Instead you got Nabers and Amon-Ra; solid 1-2 punch at WR in the first two rounds, but left you vulnerable at the RB spot. I think the Detroit offense will regress this year and thus I don’t like Amon-Ra at a first round value. I also think Nabers won’t do so well as long as Russell is starting, but as soon as Dart comes in to replace him, he’ll pop off again. The Giants offense is just in need of a reset. James Connor is a solid starting RB, but Pacheco’s health and the RB depth in KC is a question mark for me. Considering the flyer rookie RB depth here, it’s a big risk. JSN will get his targets but I don’t have his value as high as most right now, so a RB in that draft spot would’ve really helped. Jeudy and Golden are good as back WRs with potential. Maye and Dak is an interesting two QBs to have. Maye I think will be decent in the backup role and Dak will have to throw a lot so it could work out. You can never really be wrong drafting Kelce and Goedert, but got to hope one of them returns to their former glory. In reality, you should get like a B-, but for not trading with me, I must give you a F.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: M. Golden

Best Pick: M. Nabers

Worst Pick: Q. Judkins

Draft Grade: F

Ahsan:

Lot so picks to go around here this year. I probably would’ve done some things different if I were in that situation, moving picks wise or drafting other players, but the one thing I cannot say here is that there is depth lacking. With a top heavy draft, every position is solidified. Now, players just have to perform, and the correct starters must be played. I believe the Chicago offense will take a step forward so I like DJ Moore and Loveland. Adams will be fully dependent on Stafford and their connection. At the value of the draft pick, I don’t like much. Bowers is a top TE so no miss there. Saquon, I think is due for a regression year; it’s hard to repeat as #1. James Cook has always been a HR hitter, so he’s boom/bust potential. J. Williams will rely heavily on the deep balls, and if the connection isn’t there or goes back a bit, as I suspect, it’ll be a tough play each week considering Zay Flowers is a solid start and will get his targets. Broncos DEF and Aubrey are the top at their positions so no miss there. Warren is a solid RB backup along with JCM, who I love this year to take that Brian Robinson role in WAS. Aaron Jones, I’m not a fan of, especially long term with Mason looming behind him. Nix and Love are good combo to have at QB.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: JCM

Best Pick: JCM

Worst Pick: A. Jones Sr.

Draft Grade: B+

Sean:

The top QB that carried Kyriacos has found a new home with Sean. Can he carry him too? We shall have to wait and see. Chase, the inevitable #1 pick, would not have been my choice here. Bijan was my pick at #1. There’s just too much WR depth out there to not get two top end RBs and secure your position. I think the drop-off for RBs in the draft was brutal, whereas WRs were stacked, even in late rounds. Considering the fact that the backups after Chubba and Etienne, which are decent starters, are Tuten, White, and Marks, it seems like a similar position to Rimmel. Then again, the WR depth isn’t that great either. After Metcalf and Jennings, it’s Downs and Bateman. There is Mixon on the IR, which is a prayer he comes back and to normal form. Hockenson and Kraft are fine TEs, but nothing special there. This is a top heavy team and they will have to carry the load.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: T. Kraft

Best Pick: C. Hubbard

Worst Pick: J. Downs

Draft Grade: B-

Parth:

I couldn’t tell if you liked the Broncos? Just the RB, WR, and TE. No QB, K, and DEF? I’m disappointed. Henry is my guy so can never hate there. Enjoy watching him get you points and pop off. It’s fun! Nico and Evans will be solid. Hill is a question mark. RB depth is tough past Henry though and with just Baker to carry, I don’t know if it’ll be enough.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: K. Johnson

Best Pick: D. Henry

Worst Pick: T. Hill

Draft Grade: C+

Kyriacos:

The big risk and question mark of the year: CMC. At that spot, it was the right move and the best pick. I would’ve done the same and lived with the results, but you have to take Brian Robinson later on and secure that position and handcuff. That was the mistake here. The rest of the roster was built decently. Daniels is a top end QB. Pitts is a fine flyer TE. The 3 S’s (Swift, Stevenson, Sampson) as the remaining RBs will be okay enough I think to fill that one gap spot. Although, I don’t personally like any of them this year. The WR room is filled with guys that will be significant in potent offenses but will ultimately come down to who can pop off and make the right play. Terry will be decent but slide back a bit with Deebo in the fold. Tee is a solid boom/bust player. Brown/Rice will work out in the long run. Smith is just always around and Allen/Coleman has potential. I feel like something will work there. You should be getting a grade like a B-, but not getting Robinson late pushes you down to a C-.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: K. Pitts

Best Pick: CMC

Worst Pick: D’Andre Swift

Draft Grade: C-

Colten:

For some reason, I always like Colten’s draft. It may not work out again, but the picks are solid. Can never go wrong with Lamar. Getting Sutton and Pearsall in the middle, I absolutely love. I’ve been drafting them both in my other leagues. Odunze has great potential to breakout in that offense by year’s end. The other WRs are fine flyers to sit on until they’re healthy, especially if Godwin can come back soon. I honestly just don’t know about Mark Andrews this year though, that’s a tough one, but Z. Ertz in the back is a great replacement if needed. The RB room is interesting. Gibbs will do okay, but he’s just not my guy. I think Kyren will be great if he stay healthy and Pollard will do well with Spears out. Taking Brian Robinson from Kyriacos is my favorite though. You love to see it. That alone pushes the grade from A- to an A.

Deep Picks with Value to Break Out: R. Odunze

Best Pick: Sutton/Pearsall

Worst Pick: B. Aiyuk

Draft Grade: A