Welcome to For Reals Guys League 2022
Here comes the 2022 NFL season, and with it the 15th
(maybe) annual For Reals Guys League. This league has seen many changes
throughout its history, and this year is no different. We have two new managers
this year, Brian and Steve. They are taking the places of Ory and Cone, who we
wish well.
This year had a huge amount of superstars get traded or
change teams, which has led to a lot of question marks in a lot of places. Judging
by this draft, this was the least confident I have felt for any player in the
first few rounds in a long time. This year I was able to go to Stockton to
attend a draft party with a few members of the league, hopefully we can make
more in-person drafts a consistent thing going forward, really adds to the fun.
The draft report card I write up here is based on a special
algorithm that I really just like to consider personal opinion. It is bias. I
write these and I don’t give anyone the right to impartial analysis, if you
want that then I’m always open to someone adding onto these posts. This year is
a bit different, instead of just giving you a ranking of A+ to D-, I am going
to now rank you against the other teams. That’s right, grades are earned
competitively and I will be applying them to your groups. That means all QB groups
ranked against each other, all WR groups ranked against each other, all RB
groups ranked against each other, and all TEs ranked against each other. Your
overall draft grade will then be an average of these rankings. So, let’s begin.
DRAFT REPORT CARDS
Nic
The perfect draft.
QB – A+
·
Trey Lance SF, Justin Fields CHI
o
Upside galore, downside galore, but either can
finish as the QB12 or the QB1.
RB – A+
·
Javonte Williams DEN, Dameon Pierce HOU, James
Cook BUF, and Isaiah Pacheco KC.
o
The only issue here is one is a player for the
Broncos and one is a player for the Chiefs.
WR – A+
·
Davante Adams LV, AJ Brown PHI, Gabe Davis BUF,
Mike Williams LAC, Allen Lazard GB, DeVante Parker NE, George Pickens PIT, and Julio
Jones TB
o
They say if you go WR heavy in a draft you want
to aim to have 4 top 14 receivers. I think this group can meet that mark.
TE – A+
·
Cole Kmet CHI
o
He looks so good in the preseason, and someone
say TD regression.
Overall Average – A+
Yuriy
QB – D-
·
Tom Brady TB, Russell Wilson DEN
o
Two old QBs. Tom Brady has retired and then come
back already. Russell Wilson joined a team what can only be considered the
worst team in the NFL, and this is too much draft capitol in your QB group.
RB – A-
· Joe Mixon CIN, Leonard Fournette TB, Clyde
Edwards-Helaire KC, Miles Sanders PHI Jerick McKinnon KC, Rachaad White TB, and
Samaje Perine CIN.
o
This is one of those groups that looks kinda
gross but is probably gonna be good-to-great. I think your biggest worry here
is going to be the health of Mixon, Sanders and Fournette. You did draft their “handcuffs”
but I don’t think they’re nearly as good. CEH is super meh, I do think Pacheco takes
away a lot of his work. Do you feel at
all worried about stacking Tom Brady and Fournette?
WR – C-
·
Michael Pittman Jr. IND, Tee Higgins CIN, Jerry
Jeudy DEN, Russell Gage TB, and Skyy Moore KC
o
Neither super high upside or super great depth.
Tee and Jerry both might be WR2s in their offense. Pittman is good but how much
of an upgrade is Matt Ryan compared to Carson Wentz? Gage is basically a non-factor now that Godwin is back, but Moore
could have some hidden potential.
TE – D-
·
Noah Fant SEA
o
Well, that’s bad.
Overall Average – D-
Daniel
QB – C
·
Patrick Mahomes KC, Trevor Lawrence JAX
o
What if Trevor Lawrence just really is a huge
NFL bust? I don’t like Mahomes and I
think it’s an overpay, but it’s a strategy.
RB – B-
·
Austin Ekeler LAC, Cam Akers LAR, Travis ETN
Jax, Mark Ingram II NO, and Sony Michel LAC
o
This group is high-key risky. Austin Ekeler is
great no doubt, but there are GIANT question marks for Etienne and Akers. Akers looked so slow during
the playoffs last year, and Etienne red shirted. Of course, Etienne could be
the next thing, he has the profile to be good, he just has to pass James Robinson,
someone in a similar situation to Akers this year. So it’s a vote for and against
those recovering from achilles injuries.
WR – D-
·
JuJu Smith-Schuster KC, DeVonta Smith PHI, Chase
Claypool PIT, Van Jefferson LAR, and Jamison Crowder BUF
o
This is a group I see with low floors and pretty
low ceilings. That’s a combination that’s dangerous. You’ll need whatever two
you start to be the best, and that’s not hard with this group. You have three
that are realistically top 24 potential players, and I think that’s their ceiling.
TE – A-
Darren
Waller LV, Mike Gesicki MIA and Travis Kelce KC
That’s
a lot of draft capitol.
Overall Average – C
Val
QB – D
·
Joe Burrow CIN, Geno Smith SEA
o
I’m so happy you actually took Geno. I have a hot
take on the Bengals, I think they regress and that they never make the superbowl
with this core again. With that said, Burrow could have like an old school Rodgers
year. That means like QB7 or something. That’s okay.
RB – C
·
Derrick Henry TEN, James Conner ARI, Rhamondre
Stevenson NE, and Kenneth Walker III SEA
o
I think people really did forget how dominant
Henry was last season before the injury. He was still RB1 for like 4 weeks
after he went down. Hard to bet against him. Conner on the other hand is risky,
especially if the Cardinals regress and he loses some TDs. Stevenson also figures
to be the RB2 on an offense coached by… Matt Patricia? Really? Wtf.
WR – D+
·
Diontae Johnson PIT, DK Metcalf SEA, Brandon
Aiyuk SF, DeAndre Hopkins ARI, and Robbie Anderson CAR
o
There is one player that I would feel pretty
good about in this group, and that is actually DK Metcalf. The rest are fringe
players. Also, this deserves a bad score simply for having Robby (oops I mean
Robbie) Anderson on it.
TE – A
·
Kyle Pitts ATL, Dallas Goedert PHI, and Pat Freiermuth
PIT
o
Pitts was who I wanted if I had an earlier pick,
but I did not. What does confuse me is, why did you back him up with two more
TEs?!?! Ship Em out my man, get you some WRs.
Overall Grade – C-
Andy Alex
QB – A
·
Lamar Jackson BAL
o
Can he get back to being the best version of
himself? Will contract disputes impact his play on the field? Will the Ravens
pay the former MVP? We may never know.
RB – A
·
D’Andre Swift DET, AJ Dillon GB, Damien Harris
NE, Michael Carter NYJ, and Darrell Henderson Jr LAR
o
Weirdly similar to my backfield last year, I’m
just upset about the AJ Dillon pick. He was mine! But it taught me a valuable
lesson, he doesn’t look good in a starting lineup 😉.
Swift has good potential, and the rest are just hopeful for okay points output
week-to-week.
WR – B-
· Elijah Moore NYJ, Ja’Marr Chase CIN, Mike Evans
TB, Courtland Sutton DEN, Wan’Dale Robinson NYG, DJ Chark DET, Randy Cobb GB,
Romeo Doubs GB, and KJ Osborn MIN
o
You gotta drop one for your kicker. I can tell
because this took forever to type out. Real talk, do you actually believe in
Chase to be a top 5 WR? I think with Higgins back they eat at each other so
much that they’re both WR2s. Sutton seems to be expected to be Metcalf in Denver,
but that analysis is lazy. Metcalf is a much better receiver with much better
athleticism. Does the QB make the WR?
TE – D
·
David Njoku CLE
o
His signing was a big deal because of how much
money they gave him. It made CLE appear to have faith in Njoku. Then we
realized they’ll give money to any bum out there.
Overall Grade – A
Brian
QB – A-
·
Josh Allen BUF, and Aaron Rodgers GB
o
I know this sounds silly, but drop Rodgers. You’ll
never need him. I had to find pictures of Josh Allen so many times last year it
was disgusting.
RB – D
·
Alvin Kamara NO, Breece Hall NYJ, Cordarrelle Patterson
ATL, Eno Benjamin ARI, and Tyler Allgeier ATL.
o
Kamara shouldn’t get suspended, but if he does…
What happens? Breece is anyone’s guess, he has the skills and ability to be
good but landed as the second RB on the Jets. The Jets, by the way, are
starting Flacco at QB week 1. Cordy was fire last season but now he’s playing
with Mariota who is mobile enough to not throw as many passes his way. Allgeier
has potential I guess.
WR – D
·
Hunter Renfrow LV, Christian Kirk JAX, Garrett
Wilson NYJ, Treylon Burks TEN, and Nico Collins HOU
o
Look I love Renfrow. I think he is legitimately
one of the best WRs in the league. That was an amazing reach. 3rd
round Renfrow is just something special. Your team looks like it could be a PPR
machine, lots of catches and you don’t have to worry about the yardage or the
TDs. On the other hand, it might lack yardage and TD producers.
TE – B-
·
George Kittle SF, Irv Smith JR MIN, and Evan
Engram JAX
o
As we have discussed on Discord, Kittle is unfortunately
already hurt. Smith is unfortunately already hurt (he looks better now but still)
and Engram exists only as a fragment of our imagination.
Overall Grade – D+
Andrew
QB – C+
·
Kyler Murray ARI
o
Enjoy Kyler while you can. Once Call of Duty
ships he is done for. I have experience with this phenomenon, that’s right it
even happened after Vanguard came out.
RB – D+
·
Dalvin Cook MIN, Chase Edmonds MIA, Raheem
Mostert MIA, and Alexander Mattison MIN
o
Well, you locked up two teams backfields. Good
thing too as Edmonds is already hurting. I think we’ll see you have to start Mostert
and Mattison this year, which just means your same backfield but worse (Mostert
lowkey might be better).
WR – A-
·
Allen Robinson II LAR, Stefon Diggs BUF, CeeDee
Lamb DAL, Chris Godwin TB, Michael Thomas NO, Michael Gallup DAL, and Curtis
Samuel WSH
o
This is a group with high high potential. I want
to be snarky but honestly, I just like it. Michael Thomas remains my most
likely player to quit the NFL halfway through the season. Allen Robinson burned
you last year, so he either gets a redemption or he gets the most painful “fooled
you twice.” There is risk here sure, but I can’t see at least two of these
working out for you.
TE – B
·
Dawson Knox BUF, and Mo Alie-Cox IND
o
Knox just got paid huge. Secured the bag. Will
he put up after getting paid or will he disappear?
Overall Grade – B+
Jake
QB – C-
·
Kirk Cousins MIN
o
He’s like Derek Carr but he throws TDs. So this
guy has Jefferson, Thielen, Osborn, and Cook. He’s gotta be good right? Just
don’t play him during primetime games, he’s taken the mantle from Andy Dalton.
RB – B+
·
Najee Harris PIT, Aaron Jones GB, Antonio Gibson
WSH, Ezekiel Elliott DAL, JD McKissic WSH, Kenneth Gainwell PHI, and Brian Robinson
WSH
o
Harris was phenomenal with Ben throwing 6 trillion
makes, can he keep it up if that volume decreases? Good job picking up Brian
Robinson. I don’t care how good Gibson does, he cannot take that backfield from
a man that got shot in the knees after being named the starter. I don’t feel great about Zeke, and Jones is
either going to have a gigantic year or be supplanted by Dillon.
WR – C+
·
Brandin Cooks HOU, Amari Cooper CLE, Tyler Boyd
CIN, Rashod Bateman BAL, Rondale Moore ARI, and Kenny Golladay NYG
o
I like Cooks and Bateman a lot, I think they’ll produce
above their value. Real talk, separating everything in Cleveland out of the picture,
how do you feel about Cooper being able to produce? Brissett throwing the ball
for 11 weeks, and then Watson after a two+ year hiatus? That’s not to mention
Amari’s fading skills.
TE – C
·
TJ Hockenson DET
o
This guy, he was good. Will he still be good?
Can the Lions support like 4 good pieces?
Overall Grade – C+
Matt
QB – D+
·
Dak Prescott DAL
o
The Dallas Cowboys qb after they’ve lost Cooper,
after they’ve lost Smith. Bold move. He can be pretty good for fantasy I guess,
but you have to watch the Cowboys.
RB – C-
·
Saquon Barkley NYG, Josh Jacobs LV, Kareem Hunt
CLE, Melvin Gordon III DEN, Zamir White LV, and Matt Breida NYG
o
That Josh Jacobs reach was major. It was quite
literally the last pick I expected at that point in the draft. Personally I
hope Jacobs is good this year because that means the Raiders are scoring a
bunch of TDs. Third round though? Yikes. Saquon has been a “what if?” pick
since his rookie year, so what if he’s healthy and gets 1,000,000 carries?
After that you have the timeshare guys, both on one year contracts with little
money. That shows a lot of faith in their skills.
WR – C
·
Darnell Mooney CHI, Justin Jefferson MIN, DJ
Moore CAR, Robert Woods TEN, Jakobi Meyers NE, Marvin Jones Jr. JAX, and Jalen
Tolbert DAL
o
Justin Jefferson is dope so I’ll leave him out
of this. Look at the QBs of these WRs: Justin Fields, Baker Mayfield, and Ryan
Tannehill. Does that leave a lot of confidence?
TE – C+
·
Dalton Schultz DAL
o
It’s the nice stack of Schultz and Dak. It’s
hard to feel too confident in Dalton, but he has as much upside as anyone.
Overall Grade – D
Steve
QB – B+
·
Justin Herbert LAC, and Derek Carr LV
o
Just drop Carr, if you find yourself using him
you’ve made a mistake. I think these bench spots are far more important than a
backup or bye week replacement this early in the season.
RB – D-
·
Christian McCaffrey CAR, Devin Singletary BUF, and
JK Dobbins BAL
o
Now this is a terrifying RB room. CMC is the best,
but this is the most unsettling backup to him I have seen. JK is already hurt,
and Devin is in a committee that has been begging to replace him for years. If
CMC goes down and one of these other two doesn’t step up I have no clue what
would happen to you.
WR – B
·
Chris Olave NO, Tyreek Hill MIA, Terry McLaurin
WSH, Tyler Lockett SEA, Kadarius Toney NYG, Jahan Dotson WSH, Joshua Palmer
LAC, and Mecole Hardman KC
o
Tyreek is still one of the worst people to play
football. He’s interesting this year because you get to see if it was Mahomes
or him that made the offense so special. With that said, I hope they both fail.
Toney is the most skilled receiver I have ever seen play at least one game at
the position. He’s so wildly fast and he makes the grossest cuts. But will he
ever actually be healthy? McLaurin and Lockett are fantastic talents with scary
situations, and the rest are all good enough dart throws. This WR room could be
pretty strong if at least one of the darts hits.
TE – B+
·
Mark Andrews BAL, and Gerald Everett LAC
o
Andrews really came on strong after he got paid
last year. If he pulls a whole year out like that there is no doubt he’ll be
TE1 in my mind. Everett is a great player to drop after week 1.
Overall Grade – B
Pender
QB – B
·
Matthew Stafford LAR, and Tua Tagovailoa MIA
o
Tua could be the beneficiary of the 5 new
weapons on his offense and really ball out. I mean if we were expecting Waddle,
Hill, and Edmonds to all be high finishers this year then Tua is gonna be
awesome. Not much to say about Stafford except hope his arm stays intact the
whole year.
RB – C+
·
Nick Chubb CLE, David Montgomery CHI, Tony
Pollard DAL, Rashaad Penny SEA, and Jamaal Williams DET.
o
Nick Chubb and Monty are the least sexy picks
that are likely to finish in the RB1/high RB2 range. Chubb doesn’t catch and
Monty just doesn’t look good while doing any of it, but they’re solid. They can
help a strong WR corp take off, or they can middle out with a mediocre WR corp.
Let’s see what we have.
WR – A
·
Marquise Brown ARI, Cooper Kupp LAR, Jaylen
Waddle MIA, Adam Thielen MIN, Marquez Valdes-Scantling KC, and Jarvis Landry NO
o
How many years in a row have you had Jarvis? I like this group a lot. Kupp of course is
gonna ball out. I cannot believe he went 6th. If I had 1st
pick I would have taken him. Everyone is worried about him repeating but I just
honestly cannot figure out why. Waddle is only worrisome because Hill showed up
in town, but they play different roles completely. Waddle could be the Kelce in
that offense. Hollywood Brown played with Kyler in college and has the WR room
to himself for the first 6 weeks. It’s a strong group, if Thielen is the
weakest link you’re doing pretty well for yourself.
TE – C-
·
Hunter Henry NE, and Tyler Higbee LAR
o
Hunter Henry bought the house next to Mac Jones
and they’re good friends. This pick may be worth it for that aspect alone.
Overall Grade – A-
Gary
QB – B-
·
Jalen Hurts PHI, and Matt Ryan IND
o
Jalen is a super mediocre QB that scores a bunch
of fantasy points. That’s a fine asset to have. I can’t imagine rostering Matt Ryan
for an extended period of time though.
RB – B
·
Jonathan Taylor IND, Elijah Mitchell SF, James
Robinson JAX, Nyheim Hines IND, and Jeff Wilson Jr SF.
o
The number one pick by consensus. He’s pretty
good I guess. Eli Mitchell is also a pretty good RB that I would have zero
trust in staying healthy. I love James Robinson but he tore his Achilles late
into the season last year, I just don’t see how he can do well this year. Past
that your handcuffs of Hines and Wilson are unfortunately not really handcuffs.
I think if the starter gets injured they’ll rely on someone else instead of
these guys.
WR – B+
·
Keenan Allen LAC, Amon-Ra St. Brown DET, Deebo
Samuel SF, Drake London ATL, Alec Pierce IND, and Christian Watson GB.
o
Deebo is your x-factor. If he can put together
anything even remotely like last year this corp is good. If not, it has the
possibility to be middling. Middling is a scary thing to be. I like the youth
on this team, you’ve fallen for the rookie WRs.
TE – D+
·
Zach Ertz ARI, and Robert Tonyan GB
o
Zach Ertz should have an opportunity with Hopkins
out. But that’s exactly when Ertz likes to disappear. Tonyan is either going to
be completely a bust or catch 20 TDs.
Overall Grade – B-
POWER RANKINGS
- Nic (Draft Grade: A+)
- Alex (Draft Grade: A)
- Chris (Draft Grade: A-)
- Andrew (Draft Grade: B+)
- Steve (Draft Grade: B)
- Gary (Draft Grade: B-)
- Jake (Draft Grade: C+)
- Dan (Draft Grade: C)
- Val (Draft Grade C-)
- Brian (Draft Grade: D+)
- Matt (Draft Grade: D)
- Yuriy (Draft Grade: D-)
