I thought it might be fun to look at what a “Jesus Draft” might have looked like to this point in the year. Using what we know currently about production and injuries, after 9 games, who might have been looking most likely to win it all had the draft gone a little differently.
To determine how differently things could have gone, I’m going to look at three different teams and what they did vs. what they should have done. I’m gonna do this by subbing out players who were similarly projecting in the range of that pick, and see might have been.
For the three teams, I will be looking at the previously 5-0 CTan vs. The World, Kronner’s Mallrats, and Jason’s Murphy Inn-ies.
ROUND 1
Let’s start with the first round, who did they take;
3. Mallrats – Zeke Elliot
4. Murphy Inn-ies – Michael Thomas
8. C Tan vs. The World – Alvin Kamara
So how are these working out?
Well, Zeke had been steady, but never spectacular this year. Since Dak went down though, he’s put up below-average numbers. Jason took Michael Thomas with the 4th pick, which was shrewd considering at the time there were rumors of Kamara holding out, which could have put Thomas on pace to break even more records. But instead, Thomas got hurt, and then suspended – and after 9 weeks, he’s got only 108 total points. That’s no so good.
So how could it have looked?
Well, at #3 I was debating between Zeke and Kamara, but got scared off by the holdout talk. So had I gone the other way and taken Kamara, how does that affect what comes next? Well, maybe Jason takes Zeke? Or perhaps he still wants a WR and he takes Adams? Maybe then Zeke falls to SECOND DECK and Jones grabs Michael Thomas. Then Derick Henry sticks with Kyle, and Tan takes Cook instead of Kamara?
3. Mallrats – Alvin Kamara
4. Murphy Inn-ies – Davante Adams
5. SECOND DECK – Zeke Elliot
6. Sc4_Skippers – Michael Thomas
7. The Tim Bradys – Derick Henry
8. C Tan vs. The World – Dalvin Cook
What does this do?
The Mallrats are certainly stronger, and while it wouldn’t have affected those first 2 losses, they likely would have beat the Dutchmen in Week 8, and still beaten Tan in Week 6, as that is the game Cook got hurt in. Adams has almost 1400 points in just 6 games, compared to the numbers from Thomas, I have a feeling Murphy might be better than 1-8. As for Tan, Cook is the only back better than Kamara so far this year.
ROUND 2
Who did they take?
17. C Tan – Aaron Jones
21. Murphy – J. Jacobs
22. Mallrats – A. Ekeler
So how are these working out?
To this point A. Jones is the 7th best RB in the league, and he was the 10th RB drafted, so seems like good value. The next two RBs selected are when Murphy and the Mallrats grab Jacobs and Ekeler later in the round. Jacobs is the 9th best RB to this point, and he was the 11th taken. That’s a solid pick, but Ekeler had only a couple of good games before getting hurt, so that’s the pick we’ll change here.
So how could it have looked?
This scenario sees Chris and Jason stick to their established strategy and stay with the same players. Kronner however was planning to go with a pass catcher until SECOND DECK grabbed Kenny G. What happens if they stuck to that plan?
17. C Tan – Aaron Jones
21. Murphy – J. Jacobs
22. Mallrats – T. Kelce
23. TIMMO – A. Thielen
24. Flying Dutchmen – George Kittle
What does this do?
The ripple effect on the end of the 2nd round here sees Ekeler as the best player left when the Dutchmen pick, and we very well could have seen both of his first two picks on the IR. Meanwhile, Kelce and Kamra here, subbed out for Elliot and Hayden Hurst is enough to put the Mallrats at 8-1.
SO…
Without breaking down every round, here’s a look at what these teams might have looked like through seven rounds. I tried to stick with same position group for the most part.
Red Bank Mallrats
1. (3) Ezekiel Elliott (Dal – RB) Alvin Kamara
2. (22) Austin Ekeler (LAC – RB) Travis Kelce
3. (27) DJ Moore (Car – WR) James Conner
4. (46) Terry McLaurin (Was – WR)
5. (51) Danielle Hunter (Min – DE) Myles Garrett
6. (70) Kyler Murray (Ari – QB)
7. (75) Kareem Hunt (Cle – RB)
Murphy Inn-ies
1. (4) Michael Thomas (NO – WR) Davante Adams
2. (21) Josh Jacobs (LV – RB)
3. (28) Kenyan Drake (Ari – RB) Todd Gurley II
4. (45) Courtland Sutton (Den – WR) Calvin Ridley
5. (52) Raheem Mostert (SF – RB) David Johnson
6. (69) Stefon Diggs (Buf – WR)
7. (76) Tyler Boyd (Cin – WR)
C Tan vs the World
1. (8) Alvin Kamara (NO – RB) Dalvin Cook
2. (17) Aaron Jones (GB – RB)
3. (32) JuJu Smith-Schuster (Pit – WR) Tyler Lockett
4. (41) Amari Cooper (Dal – WR) DK Metcalf
5. (56) Cooper Kupp (LAR – WR)
6. (65) Russell Wilson (Sea – QB)
7. (80) Zach Cunningham (Hou – LB)
How different is the landscape of the league here? Change 3 or 4 picks in a 20 round draft and you’re looking at a whole different team. The Dutchmen in this scenario trades out Kelce and Calvin Ridley for Kittle and Sutton. That would have put 4 of Trigger’s first 6 picks on the IR. I just thought it would be interesting to take a peek at. Ultimately, we won’t know who the best picks are until the season is over.
SC League Forever 