It’s only been a week since Best Ball Mania V (BBMV) opened, and 35,000 teams have already been drafted. Underdog also opened up a smaller stakes tournament called the Mini Schnauzer. That contest filled all 37,000 entries in just two days. It’s safe to say that Best Ball Summer is fully underway.
We may only be a week into Best Ball Summer, but things are changing drastically. More specifically, player ADPs have been flying over the last seven days. If you’re planning on drafting Best Ball teams throughout the summer, paying attention to changes in the market is critical. As drafters adjust how they value certain players, we must adjust how we view that player and our general draft strategy.
Right after BBMV opened, I wrote a piece about players that were values at their current prices. This article highlighted names like Ezekiel Elliott, Ladd McConkey, and Keon Coleman.
The reasoning behind many of these players being values was that these player’s ADPs were set to skyrocket. In a not-so-shocking turn of events, all three of these players have shot up at least three rounds. In an effort to not be repetitive, these players will not be covered here.
RISERS
XAVIER WORTHY, WR KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Previous ADP: 94, Current ADP: 62
Xavier Worthy is shooting up draft boards after hitting the jackpot in terms of a landing spot. The speedy wideout landed with none other than Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs actually traded up in the first round to land Worthy with the 28th overall pick. Best Ball drafters are absolutely loving this selection.
This landing spot doesn’t get much better than KC, but drafters are also excited about Worthy for another reason. Amid some off-field drama, there is concern that Rashee Rice will miss an extended portion of the 2024 season.
If Rice does in fact miss half of the season, Worthy will prove to be a tremendous value at pick 62.
This situation will be monitored throughout the offseason. Until there is more clarity, it seems like it’s in our best interest not to take too strong a stance on Worthy or Rice.
BEN SINNOTT, TE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Previous ADP: 216, Current ADP: 163
After being the second tight off the board at the NFL Draft, it’s not too shocking that Ben Sinnott is flying up in BBMV drafts. Previously going undrafted in many Best Ball drafts, drafters are now interested after the Washington Commanders selected the Kansas State product in the second round.
It’s clear why drafters are interested in Sinnott. First, we have the draft capital. A second-round selection for a tight end indicates that a team is a huge fan of the player.
Second, we have the competition. The Commanders’ TE room features two primary competitors for the TE 1 spot: Sinnott and Zach Ertz. Ertz, while one of the better TEs of the last decade, is nearing the end of his career and not the talent he once was. Just last year, we saw Ertz go down with a quad injury in Week 7 and be fully replaced by Trey McBride.
With a washed-up veteran in front of him and no true target earners in Washington outside of Terry McLaurin, Sinnott has an opportunity to carve out a role in this offense. Coupled with a TE19 price, Ben Sinnott is an intriguing draft selection.
ZAMIR WHITE, RB LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Previous ADP: 101, Current ADP: 80
Zamir White handled the RB1 role in Las Vegas after Josh Jacobs was injured last season. It’s clear that Raider’s head coach, Antonio Pierce, liked what he saw in White. Jacobs left in free agency, leaving White as the RB1 heading into the draft. Vegas left the draft with a 6th round pass-catching RB Dylan Laube.
After both free agency and the NFL Draft, White is the clear top option at RB in Las Vegas. Before we get too much further, let’s make one thing clear. Alexander Mattison is not a threat.
White is a player who I expect to continue to rise throughout the offseason. His talent is questionable, so I am looking to get my shares of him while he is still available in the 7th or 8th round of drafts.
FALLERS
ADONAI MITCHELL, WR INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Previous ADP: 78, Current ADP: 108
Adonai “AD” Mitchell was highly debated among draft analysts leading up to the NFL Draft. Many people, myself included, thought there was a good chance that Mitchell would land with one of the WR-needy teams in the late first or early second rounds. Mitchell ultimately fell to the Indianapolis Colts in the back half of the second round.
Mitchell’s pre-draft ADP had a lot to do with people anticipating first-round draft capital or a jackpot landing spot like Buffalo. Neither of those things occurred, so a slip-down draft board is expected.
With a dip in price, I’m looking to scoop up AD Mitchell’s talent when he slips.
The Colts have a young, up-and-coming offense that I want to invest in. Mitchell won’t be the featured receiver in Indy, but he still has tremendous upside as the Colts’ deep threat.
BROCK BOWERS, TE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Previous ADP: 77, Current ADP: 93
Brock Bowers is another rookie whose fantasy value was absolutely crushed during the NFL Draft. Many expected Bowers to benefit from playing with Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. Instead, Bowers ends up in Las Vegas with Gardner Minshew as his quarterback.
This move from the Raiders is strange in general, as tight end was not a position they needed. Drafting the best player available is common, but the Raiders added TE Michael Mayer with the 35th overall pick just last season. Double-dipping at TE with valuable picks just doesn’t paint a picture of success for the Raiders in the future.
Although we might not be fans of the pick, it is the reality. Bowers must now compete with Mayer, Jakobi Meyers, and one of the league’s premier target hogs, Davante Adams.
Bowers’ new price sees him coming off the board as the TE10 in drafts. This price seems to be fair, given his talent and landing spot. It will be interesting to see if Bowers continues to fall in drafts. If he slips past the TE1 threshold, it will be difficult to pass on the upside of one of the best TE prospects this century.