Fantasy football drafts are all about collecting the best possible values, but we all know those special players exist whom we badly want on our squad.
Whether it's the young, up-and-coming wide receiver on our favorite team, a sleeper running back no one is talking about or this season's big breakout at tight end, these players add an extra level of excitement to the roster construction process.
This round-by-round analysis will give you an idea of what's going through my head on draft day, headlined by those players I have circled on my cheat sheet.
Here it is, my recipe for a 2019 fantasy football championship:
The core
As always, I'll kick off with a discussion on draft positioning. If I get to choose my slot, I generally will go as early as possible. That's especially the case in 2019. Barkley was fantasy's top-scoring running back as a 21-year-old rookie, ranking no lower than third in carries, rushing yards, pass routes, targets, receptions, scrimmage yards and offensive touchdowns. I have the Giants workhorse ranked as the clear-cut No. 1 overall asset in fantasy.
If I don't land the top pick, Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara and Ezekiel Elliott (assuming he resolves his contract holdout) are terrific fallback options early in the round.
I've often found myself picking toward the middle of the first round this summer, which has led to a lot of exposure to Le'Veon Bell. Bell is fifth overall on my board and, though I have no qualms with those who would prefer a wide receiver or David Johnson, I see no issue rolling with a rare workhorse like Bell in this spot. Remember, from 2013 through 2017, Bell ranked fourth or better at running back in snaps (3,449), carries (1,229) and rushing yards (5,336) despite missing 18 of 80 possible games.
Round 2: Tyreek Hill or Antonio Brown
Draft slot will determine which of these players is a more logical target. If I'm picking in the 8-12 range, Hill -- like Odell Beckham Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster -- will be available at the turn and will be on my radar. The defending top-scoring fantasy wide receiver avoided a suspension and will return as one of Patrick Mahomes' top weapons in what could be the league's top-scoring offense even after regressing to the mean in several categories.
If I pick in the mid-to-late portion of the round, Brown is my top target, as he's generally available in the 18-22 range. Brown is 31 years old and on a new roster for the first time in his career, but heavy volume shouldn't be a problem in Oakland's new-look offense. Brown most recently failed to finish a season as a top-five fantasy wide receiver way back in 2012.
Two other Round 2 notes: 1. If Todd Gurley's ADP remains in the second round, I'll have him on several rosters. The 25-year-old's knee is a concern, yes, but all indications are he'll be ready for Week 1 and subject to only a minor role decrease. We know he has an elite ceiling, so I'm not afraid to take the discount. And 2. Yes, Travis Kelce is a perfectly viable Round 2 target. With Zach Ertz and George Kittle ticketed for reduced target shares, I have Kelce projected for 44 more fantasy points than any other tight end. That large gap between Kelce and the field is enough to make the three-time-defending top-scoring fantasy tight end a fringe first-round pick. You don't get much safer than Kelce.
Round 3: Kerryon Johnson or Amari Cooper
Round 3 is as loaded as ever with talent, with players such as Keenan Allen, T.Y. Hilton, Leonard Fournette and the aforementioned Ertz and Kittle sometimes (or often) available.
Though we certainly want to pounce on the best player on our board, I've found myself with lots of exposure to Johnson and Cooper.
Johnson's stock is on the rise following the somewhat surprising training camp release of Theo Riddick. Johnson was playing only half of Detroit's snaps last season but still sat 14th at the position in fantasy points before suffering a season-ending injury. With Riddick gone, 200-plus carries and 55-60 receptions is attainable. Johnson has RB1 upside.
Cooper is my top target here, if I'm looking to lock down a wide receiver. The 25-year-old was handling a career-high 25% target share and was fantasy's No. 9 scoring wide receiver from Week 9 on last season. It's possible we haven't seen his ceiling yet as he enters his first full season in Dallas.
Round 4: Josh Jacobs or Julian Edelman
I really like Round 4, with solid wide receiver targets such as Edelman, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods, as well as RB2 types like Jacobs, Derrick Henry and sometimes even Devonta Freeman available for the taking.
Jacobs might seem like a risky bet, considering he has yet to play an NFL down, but consider this: Of the 11 running backs selected in the first round of the seven drafts spanning 2012-18, seven finished their rookie campaign top 10 at the position in fantasy points. The four exceptions were Rashaad Penny (backup), David Wilson (backup), Melvin Gordon (missed two games) and Sony Michel (missed three games). Jacobs will not be a backup and, in fact, is expected to be the Raiders' clear No. 1 back. He'll defer some passing-down work to Jalen Richard, but Jacobs is well positioned for a run at RB1 numbers as a rookie.
Edelman is 33 and durability is not his strong suit (two career 16-game seasons), but there's no doubting his standing as Tom Brady's No. 1 target (he has finished no worse than 17th among wide receivers in fantasy points per game each of his past five seasons). Edelman is an undervalued, high-floor WR2 target.
Round 5: Sony Michel
I'm not really in love with the menu in Round 5, but it's possible -- perhaps likely -- that someone appealing from the fourth round will fall into our lap here.
If not, Michel and Patriots teammate James White (in PPR leagues) are both intriguing options. Michel, who ran for 1,267 yards and 12 touchdowns in 16 games (including the playoffs) won't do much as a receiver, but is a sleeper to lead the NFL in rushing this season. White, on the other hand, offers very little as a rusher but was fantasy's No. 7 scoring running back last season thanks to an 87-751-7 receiving line.
The likes of Chris Carson, Tyler Boyd and especially Cooper Kupp are also on my radar here.
The middle rounds
Round 6: O.J. Howard
OK, so the core of my team is in place. It's time to start filling gaps and adding depth. I obviously want players with upside, but I also want guys I feel comfortable putting in my Week 1 lineup. This isn't the time to select high-ceiling handcuffs such as Darrell Henderson or Latavius Murray. We'll save the fliers for later.
The sixth round has settled in as the best area to attack the tight end position. That's particularly the case if we're choosing late in the round and one of Howard, Evan Engram, Hunter Henry or perhaps even Jared Cook is available.
Though Engram is the safest of the group considering the Giants really have no choice but to make him a featured target, Howard is oozing with upside and breakout potential. The third-year tight end has struggled with injuries, but he has led the position in yards per target and yards per reception each of his two NFL seasons and finished sixth in fantasy points per game in 2018. Howard's massive ceiling has my full attention.
Round 7: Robby Anderson or Derrius Guice
If my league has a flex spot, this is about the point where I'm going to fill it. Anderson will need to deal with what is arguably the league's toughest CB slate this season, but the contract-year receiver showed a terrific connection with Sam Darnold in the final month of 2018 and should still get enough work to allow WR3 production. He's a solid get in the middle rounds.
Guice is riskier, of course. The 2018 second-round pick missed his rookie season because of a torn ACL but is healthy and positioned for lead-back duties in 2019. Chris Thompson and Adrian Peterson are both threats for touches, but Guice is fully expected to be "the man" if he's up to the task. That puts the 22-year-old in position for around 250 touches and on a short list of second-year breakout candidates. It's hard to find a potential feature back in Round 7, so Guice's upside makes him worth the pick.
Will Fuller V, Miles Sanders and Matt Ryan also catch my eye in this area. Austin Ekeler is a name to monitor with Gordon holding out.
Round 8: Sterling Shepard
Continuing our exploration of the WR3/flex market, Shepard is a player who is always on my radar in the middle rounds.
Particularly with Golden Tate facing a four-game suspension, Shepard is positioned as the Giants' clear No. 1 wide receiver. Shepard has been a starting-caliber fantasy receiver when Beckham has missed time in recent seasons thanks to more targets downfield and near the goal line. Beckham is, of course, in Cleveland now, which opens the door for Shepard to take his game to the next level. Shepard broke his finger during training camp but was catching passes the next day and is expected back for Week 1.
Round 8 is a strong zone for attacking at wide receiver, as several among Courtland Sutton, Dede Westbrook, Keke Coutee and undervalued Marvin Jones Jr. tend to be available.
Round 9: James Washington
The ninth round has been a popular zone for quarterback runs this offseason, but there is so much depth at the position (more on that shortly) that I'm fine to wait and instead aim for some upside.
Though I have plenty of options here, Washington is the most intriguing target. The 2018 second-round pick did little as a rookie, but, with Brown gone, could move as high as second in terms of target priority in a Steelers offense that was pass-heaviest in the league while setting a franchise touchdown record in 2018. Washington is obviously a bit of a wild card, but he has the upside we're looking for once our starting lineup is full.
The likes of Ronald Jones, Donte Moncrief, Devin Funchess, as well as teammates Geronimo Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, are also on the board in this range.
Round 10: Cam Newton or Ben Roethlisberger
OK, fine. Let's talk quarterbacks.
Mahomes in Round 3? Too early. Deshaun Watson or Aaron Rodgers in Round 6? Not terrible, but over guys like Alshon Jeffery or Howard? Nah. Newton or Roethlisberger in the double-digit rounds? Absolutely.
Before a late-season injury, Newton had Carolina's offense humming last season. The Panthers put up two-plus offensive touchdowns in every game ahead of Week 15, and Newton finished eighth or better in fantasy points per game for the seventh time in eight seasons. If Newton is healthy, he'll be a steal in 2019 drafts. Roethlisberger paced the NFL in passing yards and was fantasy's No. 3 quarterback last season. Both of these guys being available this late is a testament to the super-obvious "wait at QB" strategy.
If I can afford (or have the will that day) to wait even longer at quarterback, rookie wide receiver DK Metcalf can be had here. He's the top rookie wideout on my board, with offseason hype suggesting he could start opposite Tyler Lockett. Yes, Seattle operates a super run-heavy offense, but a shaky group of pass-catchers sets up the second-rounder with major opportunity for playing time. A modest target share mixed with a handful of long connections with deep-ball specialist Russell Wilson would make Metcalf a nice value.
The late-round fliers
Round 11: Emmanuel Sanders or Nyheim Hines
Sanders is making a quick recovery from a torn Achilles tendon and is expected back for Week 1. Considering he was WR14 before last season's injury, Sanders' ADP figures to rise as the season draws closer. Still, as long as he can be had in the double-digit rounds, the 32-year-old is worth our attention.
I've found myself staring at Hines' name as the best player available when I'm on the clock in this range in many mocks/drafts this offseason. Despite carrying the ball only 85 times, Hines was RB27 as a rookie thanks to a 63-425-2 receiving line. His ceiling is a bit limited with Marlon Mack in the picture, but Hines is a heavily-used change-of-pace back in a very good offense.
LeSean McCoy and Peyton Barber are generally available in this area. Neither is exciting, but it's not often we can find a starting running back in the late rounds.
Round 12: Delanie Walker or Dak Prescott
This is an area where I'm generally looking to take a flier on a young potential breakout player, but if I waited it out at tight end or quarterback, Walker and Prescott are my favorite targets, respectively.
Walker missed all but one game because of a broken ankle last season, but before that, he had produced three consecutive top-five fantasy campaigns. The 34-year-old is expected to remain a substantial piece of the Titans' offense and could prove to be the steal of the year at tight end.
Prescott has never finished worse than 11th in fantasy at quarterback. He has produced 28-plus touchdowns in each of his three seasons in the league and now has Cooper, Randall Cobb and Jason Witten at his disposal. Prescott is especially appealing to streamers as his schedule to open the season is exceptionally light (Giants, Redskins, Dolphins).
Round 13: Michael Gallup
Speaking of Dallas, Gallup is a second-year breakout candidate receiving little hype despite a solid rookie campaign. The third-round pick's upside might be capped some in a low-volume, run-first offense, but Gallup has the talent to demand six-plus targets per game. Also, Dallas' aforementioned early-season schedule, coupled with primary shadow coverage on Cooper, sets up Gallup with mouth-watering September matchups against rookie Deandre Baker, Quinton Dunbar and Eric Rowe.
Fellow youngsters Parris Campbell, N'Keal Harry and Lamar Jackson are also available in this range.
Rounds 14-16: High-ceiling handcuffs and breakout candidates
We're assuming a 16-round draft here, so this is the point where league rules come into play. If we're drafting here at ESPN, we'll be forced to select both a defense and a kicker (I'll cover my favorite targets at those spots later).
However, if there's flexibility here, this is a spot where we can gain a leg up on the competition. Most of our leaguemates are going to select at least one kicker and defense and let them rot on their roster until Week 1.
Why? I have no idea. Don't do that.
In lieu of those positions, I will gather up handcuffs at other positions (especially running back) and wait for injuries to strike during the preseason. If I have the Ravens defense rostered and David Johnson suffers a season-ending injury, I have the Ravens defense. If I have Chase Edmonds rostered and David Johnson suffers a season-ending injury, I have a solid RB2. Oh, and I can always drop two players and pick up a defense with a good matchup and a decent kicker just prior to Week 1. By the way, if your league is hosted here at ESPN (why wouldn't it be?), one way around the draft room restrictions is to cut your kicker and defense after the draft in favor of adding high-upside stashes.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, here are the players I will be considering with my final few picks:
Quarterback fliers: I generally select one quarterback, but if I'm looking to throw a dart at a breakout candidate or sleeper available this late, Darnold and Derek Carr are atop the list.
Running back handcuffs: I won't go too in depth here, as I already ranked each team's handcuffs situation 1-32, but the headliners available this late include Giovani Bernard, Jamaal Williams, Edmonds, C.J. Anderson and Mike Davis. Passing-game specialists Jalen Richard and Chris Thompson are also on my radar in PPR.
Wide receiver veterans: With teams using more wide receivers than ever before, there are always notable, high-floor veteran wideouts available late. These players are most valuable in deeper leagues, as they'll be in the flex conversation most weeks. I have my eyes squarely on Jamison Crowder, Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, Adam Humphries, Mohamed Sanu and Paul Richardson.
Wide receiver rookie fliers: Despite the comfort of a safe veteran receiver, I'm typically aiming for more upside here. That said, one or two among second-year receivers DJ Chark, DaeSean Hamilton and Tre'Quan Smith, as well as rookies Deebo Samuel, Marquise Brown, A.J. Brown, Mecole Hardman and Andy Isabella generally end up on the end of my bench.
Tight end options: Did you fade tight end this season? If so, hope remains in the form of some aging veterans. Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham and Kyle Rudolph can all be had in the final few rounds and it wouldn't be surprising if any of them posted another top-10 campaign. If I'm aiming for youth, Mark Andrews, Mike Gesicki, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant and Will Dissly are the headliners.
Defense/special teams
Chicago's D/ST remains our top option at the position, but as history has taught us over and over again, we should never reach on D/STs (or kickers for that matter). In fact, the Jaguars were the hot "reach" at D/ST last season and ended up finishing ninth in fantasy points. Be smart. Just don't do it.
The Bears, Jaguars, Bills, Rams and Vikings top my D/ST rankings, but since I like to stream, I'll also be looking at the Browns (vs. Titans), Eagles (vs. Redskins) and Ravens (at Dolphins), since each has a relatively light Week 1 opponent.
Kicker
This is as simple as picking the top guy left on the board. Greg Zuerlein, Justin Tucker, Wil Lutz, Harrison Butker and Stephen Gostkowski are the best five options, but don't reach on any of them.
So, there you have it. My game plan for the first step toward a 2019 fantasy football championship. Remember, this piece should not serve as your only draft board. It's simply the players I've found myself targeting and, with ADP in mind, that I would love to have on my squad this season.