NFL Observations: Beat Chris Liss 1

This article is part of our NFL Observations series.

The $200K grand-prize, NFFC Beat Chris Liss league took place tonight, and I drew the fifth pick. 

Here are the results:

To enlarge image, click here: 

1.5 Saquon Barkley -- I wanted Jonathan Taylor here and was against taking Derrick Henry (784 carries last two years including playoffs), so I needed a backup plan if Taylor went at four. I had Yahoo's Andy Behrens on the SXM show today and asked him what I should do in that case, and he suggested Saquon Barkley. In fact, he made the case so persuasively, I wasn't sure whether I should take Barkley over Taylor if both were available (I resigned to take Taylor.) But when Taylor went I didn't mind at all. Barkley also looks like he's recovering well from a torn ACL:

2.8 DeAndre Hopkins -- It was either Hopkins or Calvin Ridley here, and I narrowly went Hopkins. I usually like to go with the younger, up-and-coming player, but Hopkins had 115 catches last year despite not having much of an offseason with his new team, and he just turned 29, i.e., he's not old for a Hall of Fame-level receiver. Ridley is two and a half years younger, but he underwent foot surgery in the offseason, and he's not quite at Hopkins' level. Still, with Julio Jones gone, Ridley, like Hopkins, could vie for the league lead in targets, and Ridley's are often deep downfield. 

3.8 Terry McLaurin -- This was an easy call once Patrick Mahomes went off the board, and I probably would have taken McLaurin over him anyway. McLaurin is 208 pounds, runs a 4.35 and finally gets a viable QB throwing him the ball. 

4.5 Cooper Kupp -- He's two years younger and more efficient than Robert Woods, gets much more use near the goal line and sees a significant upgrade at quarterback in Matthew Stafford. Kupp has a fifth-round ADP, but I wanted to get my guys rather than risk getting snaked. If I were to take a back it would have been David Montgomery, but I trust Kupp more. 

5.8 Mark Andrews -- Kyler Murray went three picks before me, and when T.J. Hockenson went just ahead of me, I figured the run on Tier 2 TE was on. So I took Andrews narrowly over Kyle Pitts who was still on the board. I also considered DJ Chark, but he was more likely to come back to me in Round 6. 

6.5 Kyle Pitts -- Pitts had been going as high as the fourth round, so I didn't expect him to make it back, but once Chark was gone, it was a snap call. Rookie tight ends almost never pan out, but Pitts is the best tight end prospect of all time, and with Julio Jones gone should see plenty of targets. 

7.8 Trey Sermon -- Dalton Del Don is a 49ers guy, and he loves Sermon, so I was hoping to land him as my second back. Raheem Mostert will almost certainly begin the year as the starter, but Mostert is small and injury prone. (I was hoping to nab Mostert with my next pick, nonetheless.)

8.5 Jalen Hurts -- Mostert went at the 7-8 turn, so I was a little stuck here. I considered Zack Moss but he's still recovering from ankle surgery, and also AJ Dillon, but he doesn't catch passes. With the timer running down, I grabbed Hurts who has Kyler Murray-like upside if he pans out. 

9.8 AJ Dillon -- The Hurts pick cost me Antonio Brown, but I was happy enough to grab Dillon who should have a sizable role with Jamaal Williams gone. 

10.5 Devin Singletary -- I almost grabbed Tom Brady here, but I needed the back more, and given Moss's uncertain status, Singletary, who worked on his speed this offseason, could be the main guy. 

11.8 Trevor Lawrence -- Brady and Matthew Stafford went this round, so I grabbed my other QB in that tier. I would have liked more of a sure thing like Brady or Stafford to pair with Hurts, but I'm okay playing for upside. I didn't plan on it, but I landed both "generational" prospects in the 2021 draft in Lawrence and Pitts. 

12.5 Corey Davis -- The Jets gave him $37.5 million, so I'd expect him to get his chances. Rookie Elijah Moore has been the talk of camp, but he's more likely to cut into Jamison Crowder's role than Davis'. 

13.8 Chuba Hubbard -- I still felt a little light at running back, and 5-11, 205-pound Christian McCaffrey didn't fare well last year after a massive 2019 workload.

14.5 Buccaneers Defense -- They're one of the league's top defenses, and they'll have an easier division now that Drew Brees is gone, and the Falcons are also rebuilding. 

15.8 Terrace Marshall -- If Sam Darnold can prove competent in a new setting, there should be enough to go around for three receivers, and Marshall is a good prospect. 

16.5 Ravens Kicker -- Justin Tucker was a unicorn for so long, but now a good chunk of the league is catching up to him. Still, in Round 16, I was happy to take him, given the generous NFFC kicker scoring. 

17.8 Olamide Zaccheaus -- I was set to take the 49ers defense, given their Week 1 matchup (@Lions), but they went a few picks before me. Zaccheaus could be the Falcons' No. 2 WR if he can overtake Justin Gage. 

18.5 Wayne Gallman -- He was serviceable last year with the Giants, and anyone can thrive in the Kyle Shanahan system. If Mostert goes down, it might actually be Gallman and not Sermon who takes over. 

19.8 Elijah Mitchell -- The Niners' sixth-round pick runs a 4.33 40. Keep in mind Mostert was a nobody special teams player when he broke out two years ago. 

20.5 Donovan Peoples-Jones -- I took him narrowly over Darius Slayton because I think there's more opportunity to move up the depth chart in Cleveland. Odell Beckham is always hurt, Jarvis Landry is just a possession receiver, and Peoples-Jones can stretch the field. 

Roster By Position

QB Jalen Hurts/Trevor Lawrence

RB Saquon Barkley/Trey Sermon

WR DeAndre Hopkins/Terry McLaurin/Cooper Kupp

TE Mark Andrews

FLX Kyle Pitts

K Justin Tucker

D Buccaneers

Bench AJ Dillon/Devin Singletary/Corey Davis/Chuba Hubbard/Terrace Marshall/Olamide Zaccheaus/Wayne Gallman/Elijah Mitchell/Donovan Peoples-Jones