If you follow fantasy football, you have surely heard of tight end Brock Bowers.

Bowers, the 13th overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, dominated the NFL last season with an outstanding 112 catches for 1,194 yards and 5 TDs.

Bowers set the rookie fantasy record (PPR) at the tight end position for receptions, yards per game, targets, and fantasy points per game.

And that was with a quarterback duo of Gardner Minshew and Aiden O’Connell all season.

Bowers is ranked as the TE1 in every fantasy draft board, and as high as 10th overall on some boards.

Bowers had a target share of 23.6% last season, has Gino Smith as his new quarterback, and if he’s not selected in the late first round of your fantasy draft room this season, he will surely be gone by round two.

Bowers is Travis Kelce in 2018, Rob Gronkowski in 2011, and Jimmy Graham in 2013.

Which is why I’m taking Trey McBride – and winning my league again this season.

If you haven’t heard of Trey McBride, good! That’s the point!

McBride plays for the Arizona Cardinals, the team that no one pays attention to. He caught 111 passes for 1,146 yards, he led all tight ends in target rate last season (28.4%), and while all your friends are drafting RB2s and WR2s in the third round, McBride should be sitting there quietly, just as we planned.

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy.

Wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb rank near the top in all Fantasy Football draft boards, but I would suggest going with a number one running back with your first overall pick.

The depth at the wide receiver position suggests that you should be able to grab a quality WR1 in round two, while the starting running back position fades quickly.

Credit via ESPN

I like Saquon Barkley, Bijon Robison, Jahmyr Gibbs, Derrick Henry, and Ashton Jeanty in that order if available. Stay clear of Christian McCaffrey as his injury history is too questionable to risk an entire season on.

I like Gibbs. 1,412 yards rushing, 16 TDs, 52 receptions, and the Lions like to score points.

For the second round we can assume that Chase, Jefferson, and Lamb are gone. But I’m guessing that either Malik Nabers, Puka Nakua, Amon-ra St. Brown, Nico Collins, or Brian Thomas Jr are still around. And somebody is going to reach for Bowers and I don’t blame them.

I’ll take Thomas Jr and hope no one noticed that he had 87 catches last season for 1,282 yards and 10 TDs last season, with a lot of Mac Jones throwing him the ball.

The third round is where fantasy drafts are won and lost. Most will go with a solid RB2 like Bucky Irving or Chase Brown, while others will need a WR2 and Ladd McConkey or Mike Evans. Jumping to a running quarterbacks and taking Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson is one possibility, but I am suggesting Trey McBride.

Credit via Athlon Sports

With Brock Bowers most likely gone, McBride is the biggest difference maker on the board at this spot. In 2024 McBride was third in fantasy points but only had 2 receiving TDs. I would be shocked if that touchdown number isn’t 7 or more this season. Ranked as roughly the 19th best player in Fantasy, odds are he’ll be there for you in round three.

Since McBride is a glorified wide receiver, at least went it comes to scoring fantasy points, in the fourth round it’s time to find your RB2. Give me any running back on the board that is their team’s RB1. Alvin Kamara, Kenneth Walker, or Breece Hall could work.

I’ll take Buffalo’s James Cook if available. Cook had 1,009 yards rushing, 32 catches, and an impressive 16 TDs.

Credit via Newsweek

The smart move in round five is to get your WR2, or RB2 if you’re not there yet, but I’m taking quarterback Joe Burrow here if available. The top four quarterbacks of Allen, Jackson, Daniels, and Hurts are pretty obvious. But Burrow is alone in that next tier. Otherwise, at receiver, George Pickens, Xavier Worthy, or Chris Olave are probably around.

Give me Calvin Ridley if Burrow is gone at this spot. Ridley quietly has recorded back-to-back 1000-yard seasons and will surely benefit from having Cam Ward at quarterback.

If Burrow wasn’t available in round five, there is no rush to grab a quarterback in this round. Either Bo Nix, Brock Purdy, Kyler Murray, or Dak Prescott will be available in round nine if you’re patient. Look for more help at the RB or WR position, as you can never have enough depth.

Round six, seven, and eight are all about running backs and receivers. The running back selection isn’t the best but try adding Minnesota’s Jordan Mason or Kansas City’s Isiah Pacheco. As for wide receivers, I’m guessing Courtland Sutton, DK Metcalf, Terry McClaurin, even Rome Odunze will still be around.

Credit via Denver Broncos

And I like drafting my defense one round before most. Denver led the league in sacks last season, don’t have many shootouts, and improved their defensive roster. To me, that’s a touch more important than a WR7 who probably won’t ever start.

Finally, find a backup QB, a backup TE, and a kicker from a high-scoring team, and here is hoping that all your fantasies come true.

Images via YouTube, Athlon Sports, Newsweek, ESPN, Denver Broncos

Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship