Jamey Eisenberg went all-in on a wild strategy in his 10-team, half-PPR mock draft Friday, snagging Brock Bowers in Round 2. This wasn’t some casual pick, either; Eisenberg openly targeted Bowers, then followed up by grabbing Josh Allen in Round 4. This aggressive approach at quarterback and tight end is a huge gamble, especially in a shallower league where every manager is gunning for an all-star roster. He knew he was passing on other talent early, betting big on a positional advantage.
Jamey’s Bold Bet: Early QB/TE Payoff?
Eisenberg’s core belief is that in a 10-team format, you gotta find a way to stand out. His method? Lock down elite QB and TE talent even if it means waiting on other positions. By drafting Bowers and Allen, he expects a major leg up at those spots. His receiving corps includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Matthew Golden, and Jalen Coker. For running backs, he’s got Cam Skattebo, David Montgomery, Jonathon Brooks, Jaylen Warren, Mike Washington Jr., Kaelon Black, and Emmett Johnson. Eisenberg himself admits his running backs might look a little weak on paper for a 10-team league. But if Allen, Bowers, and his top three receivers ball out like expected, he thinks he’s set up for success. It is a bold move, but if it hits, it could reshape how we think about early-round drafting in smaller leagues.
Derouen’s Playoff-Caliber Blueprint
Not everyone is going to land the top quarterback and tight end in the same draft, and Clinton Derouen showed a different path to an impressive roster. Drafting from the No. 3 spot, Derouen built what’s described as a “playoff-caliber roster” by landing Lamar Jackson in Round 6 and Colston Loveland in Round 4. He even added Mark Andrews to his tight end stable. Derouen’s running backs are stacked with Saquon Barkley, Travis Etienne, Tony Pollard, Woody Marks, and Jonah Coleman. His receiver room is equally loaded, featuring Ja’Marr Chase, Nico Collins, Rome Odunze, Brian Thomas Jr., Josh Downs, and Makai Lemon. Derouen played it smart, getting his top QB and TE at fair value, which allowed him to build incredible depth at running back and receiver. It shows there’s more than one way to skin this fantasy cat.
Dark Link Goes Heavy on RB and WR
Another strategy, showcased by Dark Link from the No. 2 spot, was to absolutely load up on running backs and receivers, hoping sheer talent wins out. Link’s running back corps is insane: Bijan Robinson, Javonte Williams, Bhayshul Tuten, Kenneth Gainwell, Tank Bigsby, and Braelon Allen. And the receivers are just as dominant, with Justin Jefferson, Malik Nabers, Luther Burden III, Chris Godwin, and Quentin Johnston. Link still landed Jalen Hurts at quarterback and has Dallas Goedert and Isaiah Likely at tight end. This approach banks on having so much firepower at the skill positions that it overshadows any slight weakness elsewhere. It is a roster that screams “I’m coming for the championship.”
These mock drafts reveal the different paths to building a winning fantasy roster in a 10-team league. Do you swing for positional advantage early like Eisenberg, or build a balanced juggernaut like Derouen? Or maybe you just overwhelm the league with talent like Dark Link? The regular season is kicking off, and these strategies are about to be put to the test when your draft goes live. What path are you taking?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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