2017-2018 King of The Shack Draft Grades

2017-2018 King of the Shack Draft Grades

The 2017-2018 season has officially begun as this years King of the Shack draft has now been completed. Team owners are now scrambling to look over their rosters, determining which players might need to be traded down the road, and which players they are going to ride and die with all the way into the playoffs. With the addition of two new owners, a few rule changes and all the makings of one of the greatest seasons for Fantasy Football, this year is sure to be full of intrigue and rivalry as the quest for the Shack Daddy Trophy begins!

Again, this year the King of the Shack Fantasy Football League was able to host a live draft at Matt Kippley’s which allowed for old and new friends to reminisce on past fantasy football losses, and the seasons that “could have been.” We must never forget the time Luke picked Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson in the same year, both of whom missed the entire season. Or perhaps, Nathan missing out on a potential championship when he forgot to play Thomas Rawls who would go on to score 34 points that week. As the draft commenced it was the Commish himself, with the #1 pick in the draft, looking for a change in his fantasy strategy, which failed him miserably last season. The top commodities were gone in a matter of rounds, meaning that the 2017 season will be filled with the unknowns, the handcuff running backs, and the rookie sensations that make their mark this NFL season.

At the closing of the draft, it was clear that wide receivers were again the hottest ticket on the market, but interestingly enough, it was solid running backs that seemed the hardest to come by. Below are the draft grades and analysis for each team that participated in this year’s draft, ranking from best overall draft to worst. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly of each team’s roster heading into the 2017-2018 season. In a few short weeks, the owners will put their management skills to the test and prepare for what is to be a long hard fought season for the Shack Daddy trophy. Stay tuned!

(A) Team Prime-Tyler Prime #5 Overall

The 2016 Champion is back and ready to accomplish a feat that very few can overcome. Defending his title & laying the foundation for a dynasty to emerge in the King of the Shack Fantasy Football League. The Good has to be the Keepers that Tyler was able to secure this season. Melvin Gordon & LeSean McCoy will look to be the two headed…oh wait, there is one more, rookie Christian McCaffrey will look to be the three headed…wait..are you for real!? Odell Beckham Jr will also join this squad to be one of the most powerful rosters this league has ever seen. Tyler has drafted a PPR monster squad and will look to silence any challengers. The Bad looks to be Team Prime’s depth at WR. Pierre Garcon and Martavis Bryant are proven route runners and will put up solid numbers if both can stay on the field, but if Odell Beckham goes down at any point during the season, it could spell trouble for Team Prime & Co. The Ugly Dallas Cowboys & Jacksonville Defense? Team Prime will have to work around this throughout the season and play the matchups the best he can. Jacksonville has no offense and will have to lean on their defense all year long, while the Cowboys just lost their star middle linebacker severely hurting both their run defense and pass coverage. Player to Watch: Dwayne Allen TE.

(A-) RUDY WAS OFFSIDES-Luke Drachenburg #7 Pick

Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! Luke Drachenberg is back and ready for another strong push at the Shack Daddy trophy! After a 9-4 record leading to a 3^rd place finish during the 2016-2017 season, Luke builds off an impressive draft with the likes of Le’Veon Bell & Michael Thomas as his 2017 Keepers. The Good is that Rudy Was Offsides is loaded with potential and proven success in the RB position. Devonta Freeman will lead the way as one of the highest scoring players in his respective position, while Jamaal Williams of the Green Bay Packers looks poised to take over in the PPR game as a pass catcher for Aaron Rodgers. The Bad is the depth of WR for Luke this season. DeAndre Hopkins will again be the top WR for the Houston Texans, while Michael Thomas proved last year to be a favorite target of Drew Brees, but from then on out, John Brown, Donte Moncrief and Josh Doctson will all have to make their presence known on the field in order for Rudy Was Offsides to have some flexibility. The Ugly has got to be the overall health of Rudy Was Offsides’ squad. Andrew Luck will begin the season on the bench with a shoulder injury, Le’Veon Bell has yet to show up for a preseason game after his holdout from cap, and Doug Martin is hooked on drugs!? If Rudy is going to make the championship, he’ll have to cross his fingers and hope for no injuries. Player to Watch: Jamaal Williams RB.

(B+) O’Brees Wan Kenobi-Juan Dominguez #2 Overall

Juan enjoyed the 2016 season from the bottom looking up as he narrowly missed the playoffs with a 6-7 record, but finished strong in the Losers Bracket to find himself with the 2^nd overall pick in the 2017 King of the Shack Draft. Questions loom around whether this roster will be championship caliber, but nevertheless, O’Brees Wan Kenobi drafted a strong and deep team this season, given some good team management, it could finally be his year. The Good is the PPR points. Travis Kelce, Antonio Brown and De’Marco Murray will all get their fair share of points throughout the season, no matter who is throwing the ball to them, Kelce has proven to be a QB’s favorite target, while Antonio Brown is simply…Antonio Brown. The Bad is the question marks that are all over O’Brees Wan Kenobi’s roster this season. Marshawn Lynch has not had a solid fantasy season in three years, Tyler Eifert has only played 60% of games since being drafted and no one knows if Allen Robinson will ever be an elite threat again since the debacle down in Jacksonville. Juan made a lot of hopeful picks, which is always a win/lose situation. Things are looking up for now but if the season starts trending downhill, Juan will be looking for some trades. The Ugly, Eddie Lacy. We don’t quite know yet whether we will get the rookie workhorse Lacy, or the Golden Corral Lacy, it was a risky pick, given the injury history of the entire Seahawks backfield, Lacy could be in the mix for more reps, or he could be sitting at the buffet all season long. Player to Watch: Cooper Kupp WR

(B) Game of Jones-Nathan Fritschler #3 Overall

Nathan comes into the 2017 season with a much improved roster from a year ago, where he went 5-8 landing himself in the consolation spot for the Loser’s Bracket. It was evident during Friday night that Game of Jones did his scouting and is now ready to get back into the mix of playoff teams in 2017. The Good Julio Jones. He highlights a explosive offense at the WR position this year for Nathan. Travis Benjamin is one of the biggest sleepers in a high powered Chargers offense, while Eric Decker & Jordan Matthews will look to be the #1 WR with their new teams. Overall Game of Jones has a lot of targets coming his way throughout the 2017 season. Now add in some solid TE’s such as Greg Olson and Kyle Rudolph and you are combining high percentage targets with red zone touchdowns. A winning combination. The Bad is question marks looming above the running back position. Jay Ajayi had a breakout season last year surpassing 200 yards on the ground multiple times, but what is to become of his production with Jay Cutler now at the reins? Jamaal Charles looked iffy Saturday night during preseason play and came off grabbing that same knee that has been bothering him for years. Game of Jones will really have to rely on on Ajayi & Crowell to be his workhorse running backs this season. The Ugly is wondering if Brandon Marshall & Eli Manning can connect and stay healthy. Marshall has been pretty poor as of late, granted his quarterbacks were Geno Smith & Ryan Fitzpatrick, but now mixed within a loaded receiving corps, will Manning and Marshall find a medium to get targets and receptions? Player to Watch: Travis Benjamin WR

(B-) Hernandez Hitmen-Noah Ballweg #1 Overall

A year removed from reigning Shack Daddy Champion, Hernandez Hitmen found himself in an utter disaster in 2016 when 3-10 in the regular season, all but ending his hopes of repeating as champion. Noah was humbled by this 2016 season, vowing to never return to that dark last place dungeon. This season will be different! The Good overall depth looks terrific for Hernandez Hitmen coming into the 2017 season, at RB he has solid options in David Johnson, PPR monster Ty Montgomery & now up and coming rooking Kareem Hunt (thanks again Juan!). In the WR slots, Hernandez Hitmen boasts a solid lineup of Brandin Cooks, Golden Tate & Kelvin Benjamin, all who will look to build off significant 2016 season. The Bad is the question of where are the points all going to come from. With multiple options and each position, there are no true players other than David Johnson that Noah can rely upon to put up big numbers each week to carry his team to victory. The Ugly is the common trend of TE’s. Austin Hooper had a prolific season with the Falcons last year when their record setting offense scorched defenses, but will this year be different? Jesse James is in the mix of Pittsburg TE’s and no one is sure of the health or mentality of Big Ben this coming season. Player to Watch: Kareem Hunt RB

(B-) TFuchs-Tyler Fuchs #12 Overall

King Of The Shack welcomes Tyler Fuchs into the league as he joins fellow newcomer Logan Diehl, while Tyler has already displayed immense multi-tasking by drafting sleeper picks while hitting home runs, we will see if this translate into a winning success for the rookie owner. The Good. TFuchs is completely loaded at WR, if there was ever a doubting question about talent and production it was answered during the draft. With the PPR format, look for Doug Baldwin, Sammy Watkins and DeVante Parker to put up career numbers, while youngster Robby Anderson could be the sleeper of the draft. Oh and did we mention a healthy Rob Gronkowski? The Bad is the cluster of unknown rookie running backs mixed with hot & cold veterans. Joe Mixon could be hell in a handbasket for Tyler as the rookie back will look to erase a dark college past, amidst one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. Which Todd Gurley will come out to play this season? Will he be the fantasy factory he once was a few years ago, or will this season truly prove the explosiveness is lost. Terrance West & Duke Johson have proven to be workhorse running backs, but where will the fit among the deep roster that TFuchs has assembled. The Ugly. Dolphins defense…Player to Watch: Sammy Watkins WR

(C+) Juan Too Many- Josh Bruckert #6 Overall

After finishing the regular season with a 7-6 record, Juan Too Many got HOT and raced into the championship game against Team Prime, where he came up just short against. Josh used keen insight in the 2016 draft, preparing him for another run in the 2017 season and his drafting abilities showed on Friday night that he is hungry for the title. The Good to start off with is Tom Brady in the 4^th round, Juan Too Many was able to keep Brady, as well as rising WR, Mike Evans who should be in touch with one of the hottest quarterbacks coming into the start of the 2017 season. Josh was also able to acquire some great rising PPR assets in RB Dalvin Cook, Jacquizz Rodgers and Jordy Nelson. Each should have breakout seasons if they remain healthy and productive. The Bad is handcuffs. Mark Ingram, Thomas Rawls and Chris Thompson all are in a systematic backfield with options ahead of them and options behind them. Juan Too Many will have to keep a close eye on their health, as well as the number of touches they are getting in order to set up a productive lineup. The Ugly is Cameron Meredith and the TE situation. Josh will be looking for another WR as Meredith was just diagnosed with a MCL & ACL tear, all but ending his season. An early blow, but Juan Too Many should be able to bounce back from this. At TE, cross your fingers, Charles Clay & Zach Ertz will be hit or miss, so lets hope for the hit! Player to Watch: Dalvin Cook Rb

(C) Gronkemon Go-Justin Rubenstein #9 Overall

After an 8-5 regular season finish in the 2016 season, Gronkemon Go was upset in the first round of the playoffs, all but ending his hopes of reaching the elusive Shack Daddy Trophy! Could this year be the year!? Justin drafted near the bottom of the draft again, which seems to be his area of expertise, at first glance Gronkemon Go has a very well balanced roster to begin the season, there are a few question marks  in regards to durability, but Justin should be able to zig and zag his way to victories throughout the season. The Good. Running backs should not be an issue with Gronkemon Go this season. Rex Burkhead is going to surprise everyone this year, will get a majority of the carries in a crowed New England backfield, but from a PPR standpoint he will shine. Bilal Powell & Carlos Hyde are a few lone stars on their teams roster this year, both should get a majority of the carries and both are involved in the passing game. Hmm…Justin really did his homework on those picks. The Bad. We are unsure what to make of the WR position for Justin. Dez Bryant and Larry Fitzgerald had incredible seasons last year, but the longevity of their production is certainly in question. With Ezekiel Elliot out for an extended period of time, will teams have more flexibility to double Bryant for the first half of the season? Demaryius Thomas’ health has also been in question for the last few seasons, he has missed games or played injured greatly hampering his performance. The Ugly is unfortunately the quarterback situation for Gronkemon Go, Ben Roethlisberger is a “hot or not” quarterback, and with back to back seasons with crucial injuries, its best to stay away from him this season. Cam Newton put up statistically one of his worst career seasons in 2016, is the shoulder healthy? Will Ron Rivera make Cam stay in the pocket, or will he still be a dual threat quarterback come crunch time? Only time will tell, but for now it’s a risk that Justin will have to deal with. Player to Watch: Bilal Powell

(C) Martellus All About It-Logan Diehl #11 Overall

Hey Rookie! Welcome to the NFL! King of the Shack welcomes Logan Diehl into the 2017-2018 season, and by the look of it, Martellus All About It is ready to make some serious noise this season. Friday’s draft night proved that Logan had done the necessary research, and given the solid Keepers he was granted, look for Martellus All About It to charge into the 2017 playoffs this year in search of finding the championship game. The Good, Logan is loaded at the TE position. Experts are predicting that Martellus Bennett is the next Jermichael Finley without the injury and double the upside. A 10 TD season could be in the making which would make Martellus All About It nearly impossible to take down. Look for Coby Fleener to be Drew Brees check down target, racking up the PPR points. The Bad is that production at the WR level could be hard to come by. 5 of Logan’s WR’s will be in the hands of a new QB this season, raising skepticism around who Martellus All About It can count on. Can Jarvis Landry make a rapport with Jay Cutler? Will Luck & Hilton be on the field together? Time will tell. The Ugly. Aside from the prospects of Leonard Fournette, there will be no promises of production for Martellus All About It in the RB department. Tevin Coleman is handcuffed by Devonta Freeman, Ameer Abdullah has yet to prove he can stay healthy and an aging Darren Sproles is all Logan has left to lean on. Make your trade requests now, or else it could be a long year. Player to Watch: Leonard Fournette

(C-) BALLZ DEEP!-Matt Kippley #10 Overall Pick
With his clever team name and his witty drafting expertise, Ballz Deep! went 8-5 last season, but took an early exit in the King Of The Shack Playoffs when he lost in the first round. 2017 aims to be much different for Matt as he will look to rebound from a dissapointing inaugural season. With some solid draft picking in 2017, using the old "pen & paper" technique, this season will unfold the mysteries that lie waiting amid Kipp's roster. The Good is undoubtedly Ballz Deep! depth at wide reciever, Amari Cooper will look to continue his dominance with quarterback Derek Carr, while Jamison Crowder, Keenan Allen & Adam Thielen all are PPR monsters ready to breakout this season. Look for Ballz Deep! to use 4 WR in his lineup each week as he attempts to dominate the PPR matchups. The Bad is the 2017 injury bug. Can Keenan Allen avoid another devastating season ending injury this season? Spencer Ware went down this weekend with a PCL injury sidelining him for weeks, while both Jared Cook & Zach Miller have had a history of not being able to stay healthy. The Ugly looks to be the running back position, Frank Gore looks to be on his last legs with Indianapolis, with young talent chomping at the bit, he will be relied on in the endzone but look for extended rest and a decrease in usage in the passing game. James White looks to be lost among the talent NE backfield with Burkhead, Lewis and Gillislee. All eyes will then be on Rob Kelley & Samaje Perine two backs that will handcuff one another, but still having potential nonetheless.

(D+) Silly Nannies-Jake Strohkirch #4 Overall

After his inaugural season in 2016, Silly Nannies had a rude awakening to the season after a few season ending injuries cost Jake the season and landed him a 4-9 record to finish the season in last place. Silly Nannies is back again, focused on getting revenge for a lost 2016 season and ready to prove that he belongs in the King of the Shack Fantasy Football League. The Good. Aaron Rodgers is ready to take the Green Bay Packers to one more Super Bowl, prepare to see Rodgers put up 25+ points a week as he makes Silly Nannies one happy camper in the quarterback position. Watch for Darren McFadden to take advantage of his opportunities with Elliot out for an extended period of time, while Danny Amendola is sure to step up in Bill Belichick offense with Julian Edelman out for the season. The Bad is the TE situation for Jake. While there are no players that are going to hurt Silly Nannies, age is a question for Jason Witten & Vernon Davis, who will start to see a decrease in playing time as their longevity decreases. The Ugly is that aside from Darren McFadden, there are absolutely no guarantees for Silly Nannies’ running backs. Alfred Morris will backup McFadden who will backup Elliot when he returns. Adrian Peterson will likely share time with Mark Ingram before being passed up for Kamara and C.J Spiller will likely see the field only a handful of times this season. Player to Watch: Tyreek Hill WR.

 (D) I Can’t Think Of Anything Clever Yet-Zac Fiske #8 Overall

Get a new name! After a disappointing finish in the 2016 King of the Shack Playoffs, owner Zac Fiske is back with a new name and a new draft strategy. While first glance at his roster does no boast any standout performers that will guarantee some wins, Zac has proven to be an excellent manager of his roster and as always will be in the mix for the 2017 playoffs. The Good is that from a PPR standpoint, Fiske’s running backs should hold their own against the competition, as Theo Riddick and Lamar Miller have proven to be excellent in the passing game as well as in between the tackles. If they remain healthy they should be a great option for Zac down the stretch. The Bad starts with Ezekiel Elliot, suspended currently for 6 games, with a 7^th week as a BYE, this was a huge risk for Zac to take, but he was thinking big picture on Elliot. If the suspension drops, he will be a genius, if not, it will be tough sledding. The Ugly is the WR corps that I Cant Think Of Anything Clever Yet assembled. Davante Adams looks to be building off his stellar 2016 season, but skeptics are claiming last year was a fluke, and with the arrival of Martellus Bennett and a healthy Jordy Nelson, the targets and TD’s could drop significantly. Kenny Britt joins a weak Cleveland offense that will warrant targets, but a rookie quarterback will prove tough to rely on for accurate PPR numbers, lastly it will be up to Willie Snead in his second season to avoid the sophomore slump as he navigates a crowded depth chart with the New Orleans Saints. Player to Watch: John Ross WR