2018 CRFL Breakouts, Busts

NFL training camps are up and running. With preseason games starting this upcoming week, football has finally arrived. With that in mind, I decided to field some questions about predictions for breakouts, busts, etc in the NFL and CRFL. Scott, the owner of the Northern Lights, also joined in on the discussion. Time will tell if we nail any of these predictions (or miss completely).

Who will be the breakout player of the season?

Jeremy - I missed the mark with my Ameer Abdullah prediction last season. Hopefully I'm not jinxing Corey Davis, but the former #5 overall pick is my guess for breakout player of the year. Stealing new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur from the Rams should only bolster a potentially potent passing attack, and I think Davis benefits the most from it. He'll be a WR1 in 2018.

Scott - It's hard not to go with one of my guys, because I have been calling Kenny Golladay would be special since he entered the league, but I'll have to go with Dalvin Cook. Since Cook's injury, it seems like people have forgotten how much he turned things up before he got hurt. I think he could end up a Top 7 RB this year.

Who will be the biggest bust of the season?

Jeremy - I went with a big prediction last season and looked stupid for it, so I'll stick with a lukewarm take this time around. I think the addition of C.J. Anderson spells trouble for Christian McCaffrey owners this season. He'll continue to be pigeonholed into the mostly third down RB role that will prevent him from living up to the #8 overall draft slot he was selected in.

Scott - Though he ended as a top 10 RB last year, I'm gonna have to go with Mark Ingram. He is going to start the season with a 4 game suspension, which I think is bad news for him. I believe the Saints will realize Kamara is the only superstar they need, and Ingram will ultimately fall to his shadow.

Who will be the breakout rookie of the season?

Jeremy - Saquon Barkley is the low-hanging fruit, so I'll bypass on him and say Rashaad Penny. The Seahawks haven't invested in the RB position in a long time. This past spring they ended those woes with a huge statement is taking Penny in the first round. I expect him to be the bell-cow in an offense that is now refocused on running the football.

Scott - The obvious choice is Saquon Barkley. The Giants are losing their minds about him, and he is one of the best RB prospects we have ever seen, but don't sleep on DJ Moore. I think he will be the first great rookie WR we have had in a while.

Who will be the biggest disappointment among the rookies?

Jeremy - I could be completely off base, but I feel like the Royce Freeman hype has gotten slightly carried away. Some experts have basically written his name in ink for the, "next Kareem Hunt" category and I see him underwhelming compared to these lofty expectations.

Scott - I believe that will be Michael Gallup. I don't believe he is a special talent, and I think he was drafted to a team that spreads the ball now. I don't think he was drafted as Dez Bryant's replacement. I believe he is overrated and won't be anything more then another role player.

Who will be the surprise breakout team in the CRFL this season?

Jeremy - Huskerfan feels poised for a big year, but I'll go with Desert Dreamers here. Adding Aaron Rodgers was a huge boon for the team, and I think he alone keeps them in games every week and propels the Dreamers to a surprise wildcard berth.

Scott - After several years of living off of waiver wire pick ups, I believe Connell Conquistadors could look to try and contend. With Connell snagging Michel in the 2nd round, he has a good starting lineup, always finds some of the best depth in the league, and has picked up a top 3 defense for the past 2 years. Don't sleep on Connell.

Who will be the surprise bust in the CRFL this season?

Jeremy - Spokane Spartans has finished 2nd place and 3rd place in the last two seasons. Really! The LeSean McCoy debacle is just the first sign that this team is well overdue to come back to Earth.

Scott - I think after several seasons of contending, I believe Huskerfan will miss the playoffs. Husker drafted very badly in the early rounds, and has a starting line up full of players that have big question marks next to them in my opinion. He will also be playing in a harder division than the last couple of seasons.

Point blank: Who wins the CRFL in 2017 and why? 

Jeremy - I predicted Kaneohe Ikaika Warriors last season and missed by a mile. Ready for this crazy prediction? I'm doubling down and saying Kaneohe Ikaika Warriors wins this season. I think Cam Newton, Rex Burkhead, Greg Olsen, and Nick Chubb all have big seasons, adding depth to the core of LeVeon Bell, Lamar Miller, and Antonio Brown. Warriors get revenge for missing the playoffs last season after having dominated the league for years.

Scott - Gem State Bruins. When Dalvin Cook is your depth at RB, and your other 3 RBs are all top 10 RBs, you have a team that is supposed to win every week. Gem State should take it home. But I'd like to think Northern Light will take this years title. But logically, I have to go with Gem State.

The Valley Bulls to Draft Saquon Barkley with #1 Pick

The 2018 CRFL Rookie/Free Agent Draft will begin this Saturday evening, located on the computers and phones of league owners. We can confirm that The Valley Bulls will draft New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley with the first overall pick. That isn't a stunning revelation, the Bulls made their intentions known long ago. The curiosity begins after the Bulls have made their selection of Barkley. Here is what we're hearing...

-The Desert Dreamers prefer Redskins running back Derrius Guice at 1.02, but are open to other players.

-The Tri-State Raptors will draft Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny at 1.03 if he is there.

-Wind River Bison is paranoid about Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, a former Wyoming Cowboy (Bison owner is a huge Wyoming fan), being selected before the Bison pick at 1.11. That is unlikely, but we're told they won't risk it and will select Allen at 1.04.

-Brucey's crew has given no indication of what they intend to do at 1.05. The first wildcard of the draft.

-The Northern Lights, 2017 runner-up, will pick between Carolina Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk. The Lights are very high on Kirk.

-The Dreamers are rumored to prefer a wide receiver with their 1.07 pick, but are still keeping their options open.

-The Gem State Bruins will select either Tampa Bay running back Ronald Jones or Detroit running back Kerryon Johnson at 1.08. Patriots running back Sony Michel and Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley might also be in consideration.

-Huskerfan, who will make back-to-back picks at 1.09 and 1.10, have not made their intentions known.

-Wind River Bison is targeting Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb with the 1.11 pick. Kerryon Johnson, Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, Broncos running Royce Freeman, and Christian Kirk are also in play.

-The Desert Dreamers are considering a free agent selection to close the first round.

-Connell Conquistadors, who traded out of the first round in a blockbuster trade earlier this off-season for Leonard Fournette, traded back to up 2.02 in the hopes that a top prospect slips.

-Gem State Bruins traded the 1.10 and 2.02 picks away for future picks due to the belief that the current 10 keepers on the roster are likely to retain their status next keeper deadline.

There are bound to be plenty of twists on Saturday. Nobody expected Kareem Hunt to fall to 2.04 last year, but he did. The Valley Bulls will kick off the draft frenzy at 5 PM PT on Saturday.

UPDATE: Friday May 4th 7:25 PM

We have a last minute trade into the first round. Kaneohe Ikaika Warriors traded Aaron Rodgers and a 2018 3rd round pick to the Desert Dreamers in exchange for Marcus Mariota and the 1.12 pick in tomorrow's draft. We're told Warriors is targeting Royce Freeman, Kerryon Johnson, Courtland Sutton, and Christian Kirk with their newly-acquired first round pick.

Final 2018 CRFL Mock Draft: Post-NFL Draft

The time has come. No need to mock the mock drafts anymore. The 2018 NFL Draft concluded over the weekend and now comes time to prepare for the CRFL Draft.

The Valley Bulls have been on the clock ever since the 2017 season concluded. That said, there hasn't been much drama surrounding this pick. The Bulls are very much expected to draft New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley. From there is where things become unexpected. Below is my final mock draft. My final, bound-to-be-wrong guess at how the first round of the 2018 CRFL Draft will play out...

2018 CRFL Mock Draft

1.01. The Valley Bulls select...RB Saquon Barkley NYG (Penn State)

The NFL draft has come and gone, and while the owner of the Bulls is disappointed that Barkley didn't end up with his favorite NFL team, the Cleveland Browns, he'll still have an obvious option here. Saquon Barkley is being hyped up to be potentially better than recent Top 5 RB picks Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette. VERY bold proclamation, but the Bulls will be hoping the hype is real. The Bulls might see some offers for the 1.01, but I expect him to decline them all. The Bulls have been a doormat in the CRFL. This pick begins the build to contender status.

1.02. Desert Dreamers select...RB Derrius Guice WAS (Louisiana State)

The Cards very clearly entered the second half of the 2017 season with the intention of losing. That tanking was successful and landed them here at 1.02, with two more 1st round picks later in the round. Recently, the Cards changed owners and are now the Desert Dreamers. Much like the Bulls, the Dreamers are bad and should draft with the BPA (best player available) strategy in mind. There is a wild debate in the fantasy community about if there is a consensus in rookie drafts after Barkley. I'm not seeing one, but I've heard from a great source that the Dreamers prefer Guice. This is the first of three building blocks the Dreamers will select this round.

1.03. Tri-State Raptors select...RB Rashaad Penny SEA (San Diego State)

The Raptors traded Dak Prescott away in order to retain their original draft pick from Connell Conquistadors. The Raptors just might be the worst team in the league, but two early wins last season leave them picking at 1.03 for now. They won't complain too much, nabbing Rashaad Penny with this pick. Penny figures to be the workhorse RB for the Seahawks and will look to carry the Raptors out of the CRFL cellar.

1.04. Wind River Bison select (via Kaneohe Ikaika Warriors)...QB Josh Allen BUF (Wyoming)

The Bison had a shocking 2017 campaign. The loss of David Johnson killed the season, even with Alvin Kamara becoming a star. Jordan Howard was traded away to improve WR depth with T.Y. Hilton, but that position is still rather sketchy for Wind River. That said, sources tell us that the owner of the Bison, a huge Wyoming Cowboys fan, will not wait around and risk losing Josh Allen to another team. The Buffalo Bills QB is Wind River bound in fantasy land.

1.05. Brucey's crew selects...WR Calvin Ridley ATL (Alabama)

A quiet off-season in which the Crew forgot to set their keepers rankings correctly has suddenly set back one of the CRFL's few remaining original franchises. Brucey has since reemerged and while he typically autopicks, he tends to autopick rookies. Ridley feels like a Brucey type pick. Can Ridley and other WRs from this draft class end the rookie WR plague that has existed since the fame Mike Evans/Odell Beckham class?

1.06. Northern Lights (via Wind River Bison)  select...WR D.J. Moore CAR (Maryland)

The Lights from the North Pole traded away Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake to draft in this position. With the Dolphins drafting Kallen Ballage, that appears to be a wise move. I'm told the Lights are really high on Moore and would be ecstatic to have him still here with the sixth pick. Again, rookie WRs have been dreadful in recent years. The Lights will be hoping Moore restores some respect for young pass catchers.

1.07. Desert Dreamers select (via Spokane Spartans) select...RB Ronald Jones TB (Southern California)

The RB revolution continues for the Dreamers. After adding Guice with the second overall pick, they add Ronald Jones five picks later. This WR class is considered to be weak, and the Dreamers don't have any roster strengths, so they won't care about grabbing a second RB. Best player available. Guice and Jones immediately give the Dreamers a very solid pairing of RBs. Sony Michel is a possibility here as well.

1.08. Gem State Bruins (via Connell Conquistadors) select...RB Sony Michel NE (Georgia)

The Bruins were involved of the blockbuster trade of the off-season in the CRFL, sending Leonard Fournette to the Conquistadors for two 2018 1st round picks and one 2019 1st round pick. The Bruins traded away the later 2018 1st round pick out of fear that they wouldn't be able to keep all these young players long term due to the 10 player keeper limit. Ideally, the Bruins will want a WR, but the Bruins have become a juggernaut in the CRFL via the BPA approach. Michel is a top-tier talent and Bill Belichick selecting him in the first round speaks volumes of what they think of him.

1.09. Huskerfan (via Vito's Vikings) selects...RB Kerryon Johnson DET (Aurburn)

To this point, considering the dominance of rookie RBs like Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette, Huskerfan has to be a little disappointed with how Christian McCaffrey has played to this point. In fact, Huskerfan briefly put McCaffrey on the trading block before the deadline, but no deal was reached. The first round fantasy prospects are off the board, so this comes down to preference. I think the Huskers keep the RB wave moving and draft Kerryon Johnson.

1.10. Huskerfan (via Gem State Bruins) selects...RB Nick Chubb CLE (Georgia)

The Bruins traded out of this spot in favor of an additional 2020 1st rounder. Huskerfan makes back-to-back selections and will be happy to grab Chubb, a second round select to the Browns, with this pick. Sure, the Huskers could split the difference and take Sutton or Kirk here, but I think he'll hoard RBs. The acquisitions of Chubb and Johnson put the Huskers in a good position to make that jump to compete for the CRFL title.

1.11. Wind River Bison (via Northern Lights) select...RB Royce Freeman DEN (Oregon)

The Bison drafted Josh Allen with the 4th overall pick of this round, not wanting to risk losing the Wyoming QB to another team. Freeman appears to be the last of the top RB crop of this class. He has very little resistance to becoming the starting RB in an offense that might surprise.

1.12. Desert Dreamers (via Gem State Bruins) select...WR Christian Kirk ARI (Texas A&M)

Their name is spot on, cause the Dreamers couldn't have dreamed of a better first round /rim shot. After selecting Guice and Jones earlier in the round, it's time to add some balance and draft a WR. This comes down to who the Dreamers prefer between Courtland Sutton, Christian Kirk, Dante Pettis, and Anthony Miller. I'll guess Kirk here as the first round closes.

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Looking ahead to 2019...

The draft is half the fun when it comes to fantasy football. You can bet that the likes of the Bulls, Dreamers, and Raptors have no intention of picking this high again come spring 2019. That said, sometimes rebuilding takes a few years. In this case, I'm predicting that Huskerfan will be drafting 1.01 next spring.

Hold up, I'm not predicting a fall 2018 meltdown for the Huskers. I think they draft here because of the 2019 first round pick they've acquired from Vito's Vikings. Vito's roster has gotten worse and the Dez Bryant acquisition was ill-advised. I unfortunately see them struggling big time and not having the pick to dig themselves out.

2018 CRFL Mock Draft 3.0: Desert Takeover

The Cards are no more. After laying the groundwork for an important 2017 1st round, the Cards have left the CRFL. The Desert Dreamers take over the dreadful squad, but do have three 1st round picks to play with. Another change: the Northern Lights have traded into the 1st round, and Huskerfan now owns the 10th overall pick.

For this fantasy mock draft, I've chosen to base each player's chosen landing spot on the USA Today's post-combine seven-round NFL mock draft

2018 CRFL Mock Draft

1.01. The Valley Bulls select...RB Saquon Barkley CLE (Penn State)

A lot can and will change between now and the Cinco de Mayo CRFL draft day, including who might be picking #1 overall. What is unlikely to change is who will be taken #1 overall. Saquon Barkley is being hyped up to be potentially better than recent Top 5 RB picks Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette. VERY bold proclamation, but the Bulls will be hoping the hype is real. The Bulls would likely see a lot of offers for the 1.01, but whoever owns this pick should stick with it and draft Barkley. Draft Wire has Barkley going #4 overall to the Browns in this mock draft, a trendy pick now that Jets have moved up, likely forcing the Browns to draft a QB with the first pick.

1.02. Desert Dreamers select...RB Derrius Guice BAL (Louisiana State)

The Cards very clearly entered the second half of the 2017 season with the intention of losing. That tanking was successful and landed them here at 1.02, with two more 1st round picks later in the round. This week, the Cards changed owners and are now the Desert Dreamers. Much like the Bulls, the Dreamers are bad and should draft with the BPA (best player available) strategy in mind. Draft Wire is projecting Derrius Guice to be drafted 16th overall, much earlier than most expect. The fantasy world is once again rules by RBs, and the Dreamers would gladly draft Guice with this pick should be truly be drafted that high in the NFL draft. 

1.03. Tri-State Raptors select...WR D.J. Moore DAL (Maryland)

The Raptors traded Dak Prescott away in order to retain their original draft pick from Connell Conquistadors. The Raptors just might be the worst team in the league, but two early wins last season leave them picking at 1.03 for now. They won't complain too much, nabbing D.J. Moore with this pick. The combination of Moore + the current QB depth (Garoppolo, Luck, Winston) should help the Raptors be semi-competitive early on. The Prescott-to-Moore combination would be cunning. 

1.04. Wind River Bison select (via Kaneohe Ikaika Warriors)...QB Josh Allen NYG (Wyoming)

The Bison had a shocking 2017 campaign. The loss of David Johnson killed the season, even with Alvin Kamara becoming a star. Jordan Howard was traded away to improve WR depth with T.Y. Hilton, but that position is still rather sketchy for Wind River. That said, sources tell us that the owner of the Bison, a huge Wyoming Cowboys fan, will not wait around and risk losing Josh Allen to another team.

1.05. Brucey's crew selects...WR Calvin Ridley ARI (Alabama)

A quiet off-season in which the Crew forgot to set their keepers rankings correctly has suddenly set back one of the CRFL's few remaining original franchises. Assuming Bruce reemerges, he'll be thrilled with this development. Calvin Ridley at 1.05 is robbery, especially in this scenario where he's the first WR drafted. He falls here because of the Allen and Moore selections. I went Moore over Ridley for Raptors because Moore lands in the better situation. 

1.06. Northern Lights (via Wind River Bison)  select...RB Sony Michel TB (Georgia)

The Lights from the North Pole traded away Dolphins RB Kenyan Drake to draft in this position. The Lights won't be a fan of this edition of Draft Wire's 7-round mock. Good news? Courtland Sutton is available! Bad news? He's been drafted into the suddenly crowded Browns receiving corps. The Lights already have Jarvis Landry, they wouldn't add another Browns WR. Christian Kirk, another favorite of the Lights, goes to the Bears. Also not an ideal landing spot after the Bears just signed Allen Robinson. In this freakish scenario Draft Wire has presented, the Lights are forced to draft a RB. After drafting Joe Mixon in the 6 slot in 2017, they draft Buccaneers RB Sony Michel in this edition. 

1.07. Desert Dreamers select (via Spokane Spartans) select...RB Ronald Jones WAS (Southern California)

The RB revolution continues for the Dreamers. After adding Guice with the second overall pick, they add Ronald Jones five picks later. This WR class is considered to be weak. Add in these unfortunate landing spots (Sutton to Cleveland, really?), and the RBs will fly off the shelves. The Dreamers don't have any roster strengths, so they won't care about grabbing a second WR. Best player available. 

1.08. Gem State Bruins (via Connell Conquistadors) select...WR Equanimeous St. Brown SF (Notre Dame)

The Bruins were involved of the blockbuster trade of the off-season in the CRFL, sending Leonard Fournette to the Conquistadors for two 2018 1st round picks and one 2019 1st round pick. This is the earliest of those picks. Courtland Sutton continues to fall?! Yup. Draft Wire's projection isn't reality of course, but we're playing by their projections so...in this case, Sutton joins a crowded Browns WR room. I'd rather draft Equanimeous St. Brown and hope he's Jimmy Garoppolo's go-to WR for the next forever. 

1.09. Huskerfan (via Vito's Vikings) selects...WR Courtland Sutton CLE (Southern Methodist)

To this point, considering the dominance of rookie RBs like Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette, Huskerfan has to be a little disappointed with how Christian McCaffrey has played to this point. In fact, Huskerfan briefly put McCaffrey on the trading block before the deadline, but no deal was reached. Cleveland landing spot aside, he'll be ecstatic that a talent of Sutton's caliber is available this late.

1.10. Huskerfan (via Gem State Bruins) selects...RB Nick Chubb IND (Georgia)

The Bruins traded out of this spot in favor of an additional 2020 1st rounder. Huskerfan makes back-to-back selections and will be happy to grab Chubb, a second round select to the Colts, with this pick. The acquisitions of Chubb and Sutton put the Huskers in a good position to make that jump to compete for the CRFL title.

1.11. Wind River Bison (via Northern Lights) select...RB Bo Scarbrough SEA (Alabama)

The Bison drafted Josh Allen with the 4th overall pick of this round, not wanting to risk losing the Wyoming QB to another team. Scarbrough is an interesting flier with this pick. Draft Wire has him as a 4th round pick to Seattle. It's not often that 4th round RBs go this early in a rookie/free agent draft, but he could genuinely start for Seattle in this projected scenario. The Bison will risk it and hope he revives the Seahawks' running game.

1.12. Desert Dreamers (via Gem State Bruins) select...WR Christian Kirk CHI (Texas A&M)

Their name is spot on, cause the Dreamers couldn't have dreamed of a better first round /rim shot. After selecting Guice and Jones earlier in the round, it's time to add some balance and draft a WR. I'd be willing to wager that Courtland Sutton and Christian Kirk land in better situations than what Draft Wire has projected, but in this scenario the Dreamers land Kirk.

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Disclaimer: yes, yes...I know. Everything will change by May 2018, but this is a fun exercise in the time being. I'll update this mock draft as the draft nears. The Valley Bulls are still on the clock...

2018 CRFL Mock Draft 2.0: Post-Combine

The combine has come and gone. Saquon Barkley stunned attendees. Players like D.J. Moore and D.J. Chark improved their stock. Calvin Ridley created some doubters, but of course the combine is only a part of the evaluation process. The Valley Bulls are still drafting first overall in the CRFL Draft, but with that likely being a formality, the real question is: what do the Cards do with the 2nd pick?

For this fantasy mock draft, I've chosen to base each player's chosen landing spot via Bleacher Report's post-combine seven-round NFL mock draft. Matt Miller is plugged in on the happenings of draft possibilities, and provides one of the more thorough, well-thought out mocks on the web.

2018 CRFL Mock Draft

1.01. The Valley Bulls select...RB Saquon Barkley CLE (Penn State)

A lot can and will change between now and May 2018, including who might be picking #1 overall. What is unlikely to change is who will be taken #1 overall. Saquon Barkley is being hyped up to be potentially better than recent Top 5 RB picks Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette. VERY bold proclamation, but the Bulls will be hoping the hype is real. The Bulls would likely see a lot of offers for the 1.01, but whoever owns this pick should stick with it and draft Barkley. Miller has Barkley going #1 overall to the Browns in this mock draft, a trendy pick nowadays. 

1.02. Coldwater Cards select...WR Calvin Ridley BAL (Alabama)

The Cards very clearly entered the second half of the 2017 season with the intention of losing. That tanking was successful and lands them here at 1.02, with two more 1st round picks later in the round. Much like the Bulls, the Cards are bad and should draft with the BPA (best player available) strategy in mind. While Ridley did struggle at the combine, Miller still has Ridley as the second non-QB fantasy eligible rookie in this mock draft. Ridley will serve as the base for the Cards rebuilding project. 

1.03. Tri-State Raptors select...RB Derrius Guice NYG (Louisiana State)

The Raptors traded Dak Prescott away in order to retain their original draft pick from Connell Conquistadors. The Raptors just might be the worst team in the league, but two early wins this season leave them picking at 1.03 for now. They won't complain too much, nabbing Guice with this pick. The combination of Guice + the current QB depth (Garoppolo, Luck, Winston) should help the Raptors be semi-competitive early on. 

1.04. Wind River Bison select (via Kaneohe Ikaika Warriors)...QB Josh Allen DEN (Wyoming)

The Bison had a shocking 2017 campaign. The loss of David Johnson killed the season, even with Alvin Kamara becoming a star. Jordan Howard was traded away to improve WR depth with T.Y. Hilton, but that position is still rather sketchy for Wind River. That said, sources tell us that the owner of the Bison, a huge Wyoming Cowboys fan, will not wait around and risk losing Josh Allen to another team.

1.05. Brucey's crew selects...RB Ronald Jones OAK (Southern California)

The Crew aren't a weak team, but could stand to add depth at RB and WR. Ronald Jones as the successor to Marshawn Lynch in Oakland's offense is an enticing scenario. Jones comes across as a bigger Jamaal Charles to me. This would be an excellent pickup in the five slot.

1.06. Wind River Bison selects...WR Christian Kirk CHI (Texas A&M)

The Bison secured favorite Josh Allen with the fourth overall pick. David Johnson and Alvin Kamara are a fearsome RB tandem, so expect the Bison to go WR with this pick. Kirk, in my opinion, will be this year's Alvin Kamara. Scouts/experts will be scratching their heads as to how he was available in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft.

1.07. Coldwater Cards select (via Spokane Spartans) select...WR Courtland Sutton BUF (Southern Methodist)

The Cards already grabbed Calvin Ridley with the second pick in this draft. The fantasy world belongs to RBs right now, but I think grabbing Courtland Sutton with this pick will be too much to ignore for the Cards. Both first round WRs end up on the same team.

1.08. Gem State Bruins (via Connell Conquistadors) select...WR Deon Cain SF (Clemson)

The Bruins were involved of the blockbuster trade of the off-season in the CRFL, sending Leonard Fournette to the Conquistadors for two 2018 1st round picks and one 2019 1st round pick. This is the earliest of those picks. I like D.J. Moore more than I like Deon Cain, but in this mock draft Cain becomes Jimmy Garoppolo's future go-to target. I can't ignore that.

1.09. Huskerfan (via Vito's Vikings) select...RB Kerryon Johnson DET (Auburn)

To this point, considering the dominance of rookie RBs like Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette, Huskerfan has to be a little disappointed with how Christian McCaffrey has played to this point. In fact, Huskerfan briefly put McCaffrey on the trading block before the deadline, but no deal was reached. He'll draft Johnson here and hope this improves depth.

1.10. Gem State Bruins (via Huskerfan) select...WR Simmie Cobbs DAL (Indiana)

Yup, I passed on Moore again. I really like him, he'll probably feature as a pick by Gem State sometime this off-season (and maybe even the CRFL Draft), but Miller has him going to Cleveland (bleh). I think the Cowboys cut Dez Bryant, and suddenly Cobbs becomes the potential #1 WR for Dak Prescott. 

1.11. Wind River Bison (via Northern Lights) select...WR D.J. Moore CLE (Maryland)

The Bison, however, will be ecstatic to see the fourth fantasy-eligible rookie among RBs and WRs available with the eleventh pick. The Bison and Cards, in this mock draft, account for all first four off the NFL Draft board.

1.12. Coldwater Cards (via Gem State Bruins) select...RB Mark Walton TB (Miami)

The Cards, like the Bison, are picking for a third time in this 1st round. This is the pick acquired in the Fournette trade back in the early fall. There are plenty of options available here, but the RB fever will catch the Cards this time around. Walton, in this case, looks to become the featured RB for the Bucs. 

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Disclaimer: yes, yes...I know. Everything will change by May 2018, but this is a fun exercise in the time being. I'll update this mock draft in a month or so. The Valley Bulls are still on the clock...

2018 CRFL Mock Draft 1.0

Several few weeks ago, the 2017 CRFL season concluded with the Gem State Bruins defeating the Northern Lights 130.02-99.24 in the 7th annual CRFL championship game. As is usual with keeper leagues, when the fantasy season ends, draft season begins. It didn't take long for shifting in the 1st round of the 2018 CRFL Draft to take place, and more changes are sure to come before draft day, but we'll debut our post-season CRFL Mock Draft in January. The Valley Bulls are on the clock...

For this fantasy mock draft, I've chosen to base each player's chosen landing spot via Bleacher Report's first two-round NFL mock of draft season. Matt Miller is plugged in on the happenings of draft possibilities, and this mock draft should include an accurate list of players now that the deadline to declare has passed. Miller indicated earlier that Bryce Love might be returning to school.

2018 CRFL Mock Draft

1.01. The Valley Bulls select...RB Saquon Barkley CLE (Penn State)

A lot can and will change between now and May 2018, including who might be picking #1 overall. What is unlikely to change is who will be taken #1 overall. Saquon Barkley is being hyped up to be potentially better than recent Top 5 RB picks Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette. VERY bold proclamation, but the Bulls will be hoping the hype is real. The Bulls would likely see a lot of offers for the 1.01, but whoever owns this pick should stick with it and draft Barkley.

1.02. Coldwater Cards select...WR Calvin Ridley ARI (Alabama)

The Cards very clearly entered the second half of the 2017 season with the intention of losing. That tanking was successful and lands them here at 1.02, with two more 1st round picks later in the round. Much like the Bulls, the Cards are bad and should draft with the BPA (best player available) strategy in mind. ESPN's Mel Kiper was quoted as saying that Ridley is far and away the best WR in this draft. Ridley will serve as the base for the Cards rebuilding project. 

1.03. Tri-State Raptors select...RB Derrius Guice SEA (Louisiana State)

The Raptors traded Dak Prescott away in order to retain their original draft pick from Connell Conquistadors. The Raptors just might be the worst team in the league, but two early wins this season leave them picking at 1.03 for now. They won't complain too much, nabbing Guice with this pick. The combination of Guice + the current QB depth (Garoppolo, Luck, Winston) should help the Raptors be semi-competitive early on. Guice could blow up in Seattle too.

1.04. Wind River Bison select (via Kaneohe Ikaika Warriors)...WR Courtland Sutton BAL (Southern Methodist)

The Bison had a shocking 2017 campaign. The loss of David Johnson killed the season, even with Alvin Kamara becoming a star. Jordan Howard was traded away to improve WR depth with T.Y. Hilton, but that position is still rather sketchy for Wind River. Courtland Sutton could be this year's Corey Davis and ascend into the top 10 of the NFL draft. In this scenario, he becomes Joe Flacco's go-to WR.

1.05. Brucey's crew selects...RB Ronald Jones PIT (Southern California)

The Crew aren't a weak team, but could stand to add depth at RB and WR. In Miller's mock draft, this wild scenario means that Le'Veon Bell has picked up his football and gone elsewhere. Jones would become the do-it-all RB for the Steelers.

1.06. Wind River Bison selects...WR Christian Kirk DAL (Texas A&M)

The Conquistadors have been a dreadful team since joining the league, but are well-managed. Maybe too well-managed. This team is poor, but occupies to the 1.06 spot thanks to said solid management. Chubb wouldn't be a bad consolation prize with Jay Ajayi now in Philadelphia. 

1.07. Coldwater Cards select (via Spokane Spartans) select...RB Sony Michel OAK (Georgia)

The Cards already grabbed Calvin Ridley with the second pick in this draft. Here they balance out their haul with a RB. Michel was part of the dominant RB tandem at Georgia with Nick Chubb, and he could very well be this year's Kareem Hunt. Oakland would be a great landing spot. 

1.08. Gem State Bruins (via Connell Conquistadors) select...WR DJ Moore CHI (Maryland)

The Bruins were involved of the blockbuster trade of the off-season in the CRFL, sending Leonard Fournette to the Conquistadors for two 2018 1st round picks and one 2019 1st round pick. This is the earliest of those picks. Moore would look to become Mitchell Trubisky's primary target, and the Bruins would hope he becomes the heir to A.J. Green on the fantasy roster.  

1.09. Huskerfan (via Vito's Vikings) select...RB Kerryon Johnson IND (Auburn)

To this point, considering the dominance of rookie RBs like Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette, Huskerfan has to be a little disappointed with how Christian McCaffrey has played to this point. In fact, Huskerfan briefly put McCaffrey on the trading block before the deadline, but no deal was reached. He'll draft Johnson here and hope this improves depth.

1.10. Gem State Bruins (via Huskerfan) select...QB Josh Rosen NYG (UCLA)

We're running out of skill position players for this mock draft (especially at RB and WR). The Bruins are really high on Rosen and take a flier on the UCLA Bruin in the hopes that he can become an asset to the Gem State Bruins.

1.11. Wind River Bison (via Northern Lights) select...QB Josh Allen NYJ (Wyoming)

The Bison achieved their draft goals of improving their WR spot. Mission accomplished. They'll use this pick to draft a favorite of theirs: Wyoming's Josh Allen.

1.12. Coldwater Cards (via Gem State Bruins) select...RB Mark Walton SF (Miami)

The Cards, like the Bison, are picking for a third time in this 1st round. This is the pick acquired in the Fournette trade back in the early fall. Walton is the last remaining RB available from the first two round of Miller's mock draft. Ridley, Michel, and Walton would be a crazy good haul.

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Disclaimer: yes, yes...I know. Everything will change by May 2018, but this is a fun exercise in the time being. The Valley Bulls are still on the clock...