2020 Amateur Hour Draft Recap

Welcome to the RFFA for those of you who are new and welcome back those of you who are looking for some better luck this year. The Champions’ League went heavy on QB and the 2 Minor Leagues both slow-played the position. It’s always fun to see how the new blood tackles this league. Good luck to everyone.

This league treated the QB similar to the Minor Leagues with good value still available in round 5. Overall, I think this league has the most even competition across the teams. I had to really split hairs between a lot of the teams to determine where they would finish. After going through the first time I only had two teams in the Amateur Hour League. So, if I put you there, know it is by the slimmest of margins.

Straya Vegemites – 1st Pick Prediction – Minor Leagues (No Playoffs)

If we did promotion/relegation based on the team name, I would predict the Vegemites to be relegated to the dumpster next year. Since we are doing it by fantasy scoring, I have them fighting for a playoff spot and coming up just short. The top two WRs are on the same team. This is going to make for a more consistent year with fewer ups and downs. It puts pressure on the other positions to deliver week winning performances. McCaffrey and Kittle can certainly provide those big weeks, but outside of those two, this team lacks the big firepower. I see this team just above 500 but just out of the playoffs.

America McAfee – 2nd Pick Prediction – Minor Leagues (No Playoffs)

McAfee prioritized filling out WR over RB which has left this team with 3 strong WRs and a little bit of a question at the RB2 position. Singletary, Breida, and Lindsay are all in a committee. This will leave some tough decisions for Team America (**** Yeah) each week to try to determine who will be the best starter. Roethlisberger late could be a great value pick to fill the QB2 spot. There isn’t a lot to like in the late rounds. A couple could catch fire but McAfee will probably be active on the waiver wire. The RB2 choice each week will determine if McAfee is in the playoffs or just quietly being promoted.

The Mamanator – 3rd Pick Prediction – Minor Leagues (Playoffs)

Starting with RB and QB early has given this team a solid core. There was still plenty of WR value when the Mamanator decided to fill those positions with JuJu, Parker, and Green. I also really like the pairing of Jonathan Taylor with Mark Ingram. I expect Taylor’s production to increase through the season while Ingram decreases. This should give the Mamanator a fantastic RB2 all season. There is also some nice late-round value with a 3rd QB, pollard, and some boom-bust hopefuls. Lookout Minor Leagues, She’ll be back!

Team Hubbard – 4th Pick Prediction – Amateur Hour League

I’m not sure if this is a fortunate auto draft or if the owner just missed the superflex rules. The only QB on this team is Tannehill. Every other position is well stocked as you would expect. I don’t think a team can really be successful without at least 2 QBs. This leaves the question of how much value can Hubbard get for one of his excess players. A good trade could put this team in the playoffs where a bad one would just shoot himself in the foot. Or he can wait for an injury or for a QB to get benched. Either way, I don’t see this team in the playoffs but I see some potential. Without any work, this team is going to stay in the Amateurs.

Onside Chick – 5th Pick Prediction – Minor Leagues (Playoffs)

A great start to the draft addressed each position with 1 stud first. This chick filled out the roster with solid RBs, WRs, and then Baker who can hopefully bounce back this year. The team really won the draft with rounds 9, 10, and 11 getting Hunter Henry, Preston Williams, and Antonio Gibson. Before long we could see all three putting up big numbers in the starting lineup. There are upside and depth on this team and I expect to see them as a strong contender in the playoffs.

DC Half Smokes – 6th Pick Prediction – Minor Leagues (Playoffs)

Taking tight end early and waiting to fill the RB2 spot until the 6th round usually leads to some questions. The Half Smokes did a good job answering those questions with Kareem Hunt and D’andre Swift. Both of these players can put up RB2 numbers or more. I like these picks with the rest of the team composition. 3QBs and solid players up and down make this team look pretty good. If the two rookies, Swift and Helaire, can contribute early, we should see this team doing very this year.

Bearly Good – 7th Pick Prediction – Minor Leagues (No Playoffs)

I like the RB-RB start and still getting Godwin in the 3rd. I think these Bears could have gone back to RB a little sooner. James White could put up good numbers again, but there are a lot of unknowns with the NE offense. Will Fuller could also be a league winner if he stays healthy. It is more likely though that he kills this team one week and spends the rest of the year on IR. The rest of the lineup doesn’t offer a lot starting the season. Some could show some value if things break right, but for now, I think this team is going to be missing a starter each week and that keeps them out of the playoffs.

Meath Royals – 8th Pick Prediction – Amateur Hour League

Every year there is a player that looks great on draft day and then loses lots of value by week 1. This year that is Leonard Fournette. He might recoup some of that value, but for now, Meath Royals is essentially playing without a third-round pick. Oddly enough, for the second time in the RFFA, the team that drafted Fournette also drafted Rojo. This essentially caps the maximum value this team will see. This team needs Darrel Henderson to capture the lead in LA and for one back to emerge in TB. Both seem unlikely to me so I am sorry to say the Royals will not be advancing this year.

LJ Fresh – 9th Pick Prediction – Minor Leagues (Playoffs)

Lamar Jackson in the 9th pick feels pretty good. This team then employed an interesting strategy of selecting three more QBs in the 9th, 10th, and 11th rounds. Minshew, Burrow, and Bridgewater are all viable QBs. This team must be looking to make a trade in the middle of the season when some other teams become QB needy. LJ did a good job rounding out the team with high upside RBs and a good stable of WRs. The late-round picks also offer great value if a couple of lead backs were to go down to injury. Overall this is a well-structured team that should find value throughout the year.

Ducks Fly Together – 10th Pick Prediction – Amateur Hour League

After starting QB then RB, the Ducks went heavy on WR picking up 4 straight. This leaves some concerns at the RB2 spot. Mostert and Dobbins are all that’s really available and they have a wide range of outcomes. They could both have multiple RB1 weeks, but they could also put up a bunch of stinkers. We also waited a long time to see the QB2 addressed in Jimmy G. Tua does provide some upside off the bench though. Just a bit curious why this team decided to pick up 4 WRs before a second RB and 5 WRs in total before the QB2 or TE. This team will need some in-season maintenance to keep the ship upright. But when the wind blows hard and the sky is black, Ducks Fly Together. Quack! Quack! Quack!

West Coast Bias – 11th Prediction – Amateur Hour League

These RBs make me very nervous. Hunt just signed an extension which makes me think the backfield is a full committee in Cleveland. Then RB2 is currently Kerryon, Tevin Coleman, or Ryquel Armstead. None of those inspire a lot of confidence in me. We do see some more strength in WR, QB, and TE, but not enough to make me comfortable with the gaps at RB. Later in the draft there are also aren’t a lot of upside plays that could be traded or slotted into the starting lineup if things break right. I expect to see this team on the waiver wire early and often to try to improve this team.

G’ville Bad Boys – 12th Prediction – Minor Leagues (No Playoffs)

Goodville Bad Boys. It does sound better when you put the apostrophe in. Let's start with what makes them bad. Dwayne Haskins as the QB2 is definitely an optimistic play. It could be the best value QB in the draft if he can play decent but I think this will be a problem area for the team. A pair of TEs in rounds 7 and 8 gives up a lot of draft capital for two old TEs when only one will probably ever be played. Now to put the Good in G’ville. Double RB start with two RBs I like. Jordan Howard and Deebo in the 9th and 10th add a starting RB and a WR2 late in the draft. This might just cover up some of the bad areas. I think it all averages out to just the Decent Boys.