2020 CRFL Mock Draft: v1

The 2019 Columbia River Fantasy League season, like 2019 itself, is done and over with. The little trophy next to "Gem State Bruins" on Fleaflicker remains for another month, but trading has reopened and the 2020 draft season is already flowing. That means...mock draft time! As noted earlier, an unfortunate trade that went sideways for Brucey's crew means the Bruins are on the clock. What will they do with the #1 pick? What will Tri-State, Connell, and Spokane do with their multiple first round picks? Let's guess.

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For this initial mock draft, we'll base the selections off of Walter Football's first three-round mock draft of 2020. There are some projections here that would not make the fantasy community happy. As usual, this mock draft is suggesting what I think these teams should do, not what I think they'll do.

1. Gem State Bruins select...WR Jerry Jeudy NYG (Alabama)

This past spring, Brucey's crew traded away their 2020 first round pick to add an extra 2019 first round selection. Brucey would end up trading away that pick for running back Phillip Lindsay. Little did anyone know, Brucey's crew would have their worst season in CRFL history, meaning Gem State is picking 1.01. Ouch.

The Bruins acquired D.J. Chark last week, providing depth to an already string receiving crew. Still, BPA (best player available) has always been the approach for Gem State, and that won't change here. Jeudy has the chance to be a dynasty staple.

2. Wind River Bison select...RB D'Andre Swift MIA (Georgia)

The Bison had a shocking 2019 campaign. The addition of Keenan Allen didn't produce elite results, and the tandem of David Johnson and Alvin Kamara flopped. CeeDee Lamb is an option here, but running back is king in modern fantasy. Swift would have Josh Jacobs-like upside here.

3. Rockcliffe Bulls select...WR CeeDee Lamb LV (Oklahoma)

Speaking of teams who were plagued by injuries and underperformance. Injuries to Saquon Barkley and Adam Thielen, combined with Baker Mayfield bombing, hurt the 2019 Bulls. They'll bounce back by adding CeeDee Lamb, a potential star.

4. Vito's Vikings select...WR Justin Jefferson PHI (Louisiana State)

The Vikings found a gem in Chris Godwin and out-performed expectations, but still have a bunch of needs. Jefferson in Philadelphia is another potential WR1 situation, one the Vikings would benefit from should they draft a rookie.

5. Connell Conquistadors select...RB Chuba Hubbard NYJ (Oklahoma State)

I mentioned earlier some of these predictions from Walter Football are projecting future moves. Here's one of them. They project Le'Veon Bell to be moved elsewhere, and the Jets replace him with Day 2 selection Hubbard, who would instantly be a three-down back in this scenario.

6. Spokane Syber select...RB J.K. Dobbins TB (Ohio State)

The Spokane Syber have a solid foundation at quarterback and wide receiver, but running back is far and away their most pressing need, even after acquiring Kerryon Johnson. Dobbins was a superstar at Ohio State, rushing for over 2,000 yards his final season with the Buckeyes. He would be the clear starter for the Bucks an potential fantasy gold.

7. Tri-State Raptors select...RB Jonathan Taylor ATL (Wisconsin)

The Raptors had an amazing 2019 draft class, drafting A.J. Brown and Miles Sanders and acquiring Devin Singletary via trade. There is no clear need here, so BPA is the right call. Walter Football is guessing that the Falcons move on from Devonta Freeman. Taylor would be the starting back in Atlanta.

8. Emerald City Bucks...QB Joe Burrow CIN (Louisiana State)

The Northern Lights have packed their bags at the threat of global warming and are now in Seattle. The Bucks are absolutely stacked, but had some bad luck in 2019. The then Lights ranked dead last in the league (12th) in quarterback points. They might attempt to acquire a better quarterback than Wentz through trade, but if that doesn't work, Burrow is a real possibility here.

9. Connell Conquistadors select...RB Zack Moss KC (Utah)

The Conquistadors are on the clock again. They'll continue to stockpile running backs. Moss was selected in the third round in Walter Football's mock draft, but the possibility of Moss pairing with Patrick Mahomes is enticing from a fantasy perspective.

10. Desert Dreamers select...RB Travis Etienne BAL (Clemson)

The Dreamers broke out in 2019 as one of the league powers, and will follow Connell's lead by drafting based on situation. I personally don't think Travis Etienne falls to round 3 in the NFL Draft, but all the same Baltimore would be an amazing situation for Etienne.

11. Spokane Syber select...RB Najee Harris DET (Alabama)

Yet another scenario where a draft projection would suck for one of the CRFL teams. The Syber acquired Kerryon Johnson from Gem State for a third round pick. A shrewd move, that is if Johnson remains the lead back. Alabama's Najee Harris might fly up draft boards this spring, and in this scenario Syber drafts him in the hopes that one of the Detroit running backs breaks out.

12. Tri-State Raptors select...WR Laviska Shenault DEN (Colorado)

The slide ends for Shenault. Shenault is selected in the top 20 of Walter Football's mock draft, but to the Denver Broncos, who already have a WR1 in Courtland Sutton. Still, it is hard to deny Shenault's ability, and the Raptors who take a flier on him here.

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Draft season is just beginning. I'll attempt to do a few more mock drafts leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft in late April. Much is bound to change. Until then....fantasy football season never stops.

Gem State Bruins win league, draft update, Northern Lights relocation

The 2019 Columbia River Fantasy League season came to a conclusion last week as the #2 seeded Gem State Bruins knocked off #1 seeded Huskerfan 124.04 - 94 in the championship game. It completes the three-peat for the Bruins, who were also champions in 2017 and 2018.

Huskefan was largely let down by a meager performance from Jameis Winston, who picked a bad week to have an 11-point stinker. Patrick Mahomes and Mark Andrews (who has since been traded to the Tri-State Raptors) came up big for the Bruins.

In a cruel twist of fate, the Gem State Bruins will also be drafting from the 1.01 position in the 2020 CRFL Draft, thanks to Brucey's crew swapping their 2020 first round pick for an extra 2019 first round pick last April.
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The Northern Lights are no more. After a disappointing 2019 season plagued by injuries and bad luck, owner Scott Rodrigues felt a change of scenery was necessary. The North Pole located Lights are moving to Seattle and rebranding as the Emerald City Bucks.

The Eskimos and penguins are furious, threatening retaliation. Time will tell if Rodrigues and his team will find new energy in Seattle and if he'll escape violence.

2019 CRFL Draft Grades: Waiver Position 12-7

The CRFL was founded in 2011 with the hope that it would blossom into a thriving keeper fantasy football league. While it largely has, one of the lessons learned over the years is that even with solid engagement, there will always be winners and losers in the league. That's mostly how the 2019 CRFL Draft played out: the savvy teams got better, the struggling teams not so much. Here is a brief overview about how each team in the lower half did.

Waiver Position 12: Vito's Vikings (3-10 in 2018)

Nothing had to happen in the CRFL Draft for the worst team in the league to feel silly. Despite drafting at 1.02, the Vikings could not bask in prime draft position, considering they should have additionally been drafting at 1.01. A terrible trade in the 2018 off-season that involved Dez Bryant meant Huskerfan instead drafted first overall. Vikings watched Josh Jacobs go elsewhere, while Vito's team auto-drafted running back Damien Williams at 1.02. Not an awful pick, but not a smart one either. Vito would pick Robby Anderson at 2.01, an excellent selection with big upside. Drafting Robert Foster at 3.07 was also a solid pick. Latavius Murray at 3.01 was not. A mixed bag of free agents defined Vito's draft and while I do think this team improved, he once again completely ignores the value of rookies. Do not be stunned if the Vikings are in the 1.01 hole again in 2020. Here's hoping he hasn't traded that pick too. Grade: C

Waiver Position 11: Aloha State Warriors (4-9 in 2018)

The once proud Aloha State Warriors are paying for their "win now" strategy of the past. Once again, the Warriors traded away their first round pick in a previous off-season. This time, however, the consequence was heavy. The Warriors could have used their 1.02 pick to bolster an aging roster, but instead watched that pick be used by Vikings. From there, an auto-drafted nightmare pursued. Marvin Jones in the 2nd round was a blah pick, while Curtis Samuel is a decent add. No rookies were added as the Warriors stars get another year older. Positive: all of the Warriors' 2020, 2021, and 2022 picks are accounted for, so the bleeding has stopped, but the future of this team is depending on the longevity of ex-Steelers Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Grade: D

Waiver Position 10: Brucey's crew (4-9 in 2018)

Bruce has always been engaged in this league, but results have been up-and-down. A surprising low was reached in 2018 that landed them in the 1.03 draft spot. Brucey had multiple first round picks, sending their 2020 first round pick to Gem State Bruins for an additional 2019 first, but immediately swapped that pick for Phillip Lindsay. Bruce took Jimmy Garoppolo at 1.03. Very high for Jimmy G, but Bruce found his quarterback of the future. Selecting the Bears DST in the 4th round also felt like a reach. Value picks of James Washington and Damien Harris could prove to be shrewd moves, but Brucey's team has an uphill climb to making sure that 2020 first round pick they traded away doesn't prove to be a high pick. Grade: C

Waiver Position 9: Connell Conquistadors (6-7 in 2018)

Damn you, Leonard Fournette. The Conquistadors traded for Fournette to the tune of three first round picks. THREE! Obviously in the hopes that the Jaguars running back would be a super star. While there is still hope that he will be, Connell finished fourth from last largely due to Fournette's inconsistency. Connell frustratingly watched Gem State Bruins draft N'Keal Harry in the Conquistador's draft slot, having seen that pick be moved between multiple teams. Connell wouldn't pick until 3.11, where they found an excellent value pick in Andy Isabella. Kansas City running back Darwin Thompson was also a solid dark horse addition. Connell did what they could with what they had and will hope to have better fortune this season. Grade: B-

Waiver Position 8: Desert Dreamers (6-7 in 2018)

Yes, yes. While having multiple early draft assets is great, the Dreamers deserve some grief for trading Patrick Mahomes away before he blew up. That aside, the Dreamers utilized their picks well. A perfect sequence of events that saw two free agents go at 1.02 and 1.03, followed by Gem State selecting wide receiver N'Keal Harry at 1.04 meant the Dreamers had their pick of rookie running backs, Josh Jacobs aside. They selected David Montgomery, who instantly becomes one of the team's best players. Montgomery and Derrius Guice could be the 1-2 tandem to boost the Dreamers into the conference race. The Dreamers also nabbed Kansas City wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who could be the successor to the disgraced Tyreek Hill. Noah Fant and Justice Hill also joined the rookie gang in the Desert. Tarik Cohen, another Dreamers selection, also offers spot start upside. The Dreamers took a big step towards making the postseason. Grade: A-

Waiver Position 7: Wind River Bison (6-7 in 2018)

The owner of the Bison is healing up from surgery and missed the draft, so his early selections were a combination of cheat sheet picks and later selections were auto-drafted. We'll cut him some slack on the grades. The Bison had some hard luck in 2018 and are way too talented to be picking at 1.06, but at 1.06 the Bison added Baltimore wide receiver Marquise Brown. A reach to some, the Bison were adamant in adding a young wide receiver talent. The off-season addition of Keenan Allen should make this team a title contender, but the rest of the Bison's draft was fairly dull. This is a team in win-now mode hoping for better luck this season. Grade: N/A

UPDATE: Josh Jacobs likely to be #1 pick

The 2019 CRFL Rookie/Free Agent Draft will take place Saturday, located mostly in Spokane, Washington, as well as many other locations in the United States. Unlike last year's selection of Saquon Barkley by The Valley Bulls, who would rebrand to the Elmhurst Bulls, there is no obvious #1 overall pick for rookie drafts in the fantasy community. It is playing out that way for Huskerfan, who obtained the 1.01 pick from Vito's Vikings during the 2018 off-season.

Here are some draft rumors going around...

• We're hearing talk that Huskerfan is actively attempting to trade out of the #1 pick. We'll continue to update as info becomes available. The Northern Lights are dangling Devonta Freeman in a possible swap. Update: As of Thursday evening, we're hearing the Huskers intend to draft Josh Jacobs at 1.01 should a trade not occur. If the Lights are able to move up to 1.01, they too intend to draft Jacobs. Jacobs will go first overall, but to who? UPDATE: As of late Thursday night, the trade is dead. Northern Lights reportedly offered Huskerfan Devonta Freeman, two 2019 2nd round picks, a 2020 2nd round pick, and a 2020 3rd round pick.

• Vito's Vikings and Brucey's crew tend to keep their agenda to themselves, and that hasn't changed this fall. The 2017 selection of Zay Jones is the only rookie selection Vito has ever made in the CRFL.

• The 2018 CRFL champions are on the move. After trading up into the first round at 1.07 earlier in the off-season, the Gem State Bruins have moved up again, this time to 1.04. The Bruins sent a 2019 4th and 2020 2nd to Tri-State Raptors, who now pick at 1.07. Bruins are rumored to be targeting one of N'Keal Harry, David Montgomery, or Miles Sanders. 

• Desert Dreamers are hoping for a running back at 1.05, feeling that's the team's primary weakness. Whether that's a rookie running back or free agent is TBD.

• The owner of Wind River Bison is in a rehab hospital after surgery and will not attend the draft, but will have auto-picks ready. Bison are rumored to be targeting Ravens rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown.

• Tri-State Raptors moved back to 1.07 with a purpose: to gain assets knowing very well the player they're targeting is likely to still be available at 1.07: Seahawks rookie wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.

• Elmhurst Bulls exploded in 2018 off the backs of rookies Baker Mayfield and Saquon Barkley. They'll likely target a wide receiver with talk that Doug Baldwin is retiring. 

We'll update this blog as info becomes available. 

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.