Congratulations, you’ve got the No. 1 overall pick in your upcoming 2021 best ball draft. Now it's time to dominate and take home the ‘ship.
This article is part of PFF’s inaugural Best Ball DraftKit, wherein I've made it my mission to offer readers as close to an exact go-to draft guide based on pick number in upcoming best-ball drafts. This way, we have a plan of attack as soon as we learn our draft slot. Along the way, we'll identify player targets and team stacks based on real-life ADP, while letting our opponents frantically search draft boards once the action commences.
Of course, drafts can be wild — I just wrapped up an Underdog best ball draft where Sam Darnold went in the sixth round — so we need to remain fluid. But that’s why this crash course (and handy flow chart) offers a collection of different options to help guide you to a championship-caliber roster.
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As you’ll soon discover, having the first overall pick offers the chance to stack Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars at will — and all are fine routes to pursue with the coveted 1.01.
Without further ado, here is a guide to selecting at 1.01 in 2021 best ball drafts.
Editor's Note: Dive into PFF's 2021 Best Ball Draftkit for everything you need to win it all at the end of the year!
1.01: RB TIER 1
CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, CAROLINA PANTHERS
Don’t get cute with the first overall pick. Christian McCaffrey averaged 30.1 fantasy points per game and 24.1 expected fantasy points per game in his three starts last season — both ranked No. 1 at his position.
2.12: WR TIER 1/2, TE TIER 1 OR RB TIER 2
CALVIN RIDLEY, ATLANTA FALCONS
Calvin Ridley’s stock continues to rise as the Julio Jones trade rumors heat up. I’ve seen him go as early as the 1.11 in some best ball drafts, but there’s a non-zero chance that he’s available at the 2-3 turn. As the only remaining receiver from my WR Tier 1, he’s a great pick in this spot.
Ridley averaged a 30% target share (11 per game) and nearly 20 fantasy points per game last season without a healthy Jones in the lineup.
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