Drafting from the 1.02 Spot in FFPC's $350 Big Gorilla Tournament

I participated in a $350 FFPC Big Gorilla slow draft last week, drafting from the 1.02 spot.

Use this link to get $25 off your own Big Gorilla team.

1.02 - Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Bijan Robinson finished as the fantasy RB4 in 2024, racking up 1,456 rushing yards, 431 receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns while averaging 17.6 half-PPR points per game. He saw a big jump in usage and efficiency with a more consistent offensive structure under Zac Robinson, and now he’ll enter 2025 with Michael Penix Jr. under center. While young quarterbacks can be volatile, Penix’s downfield ability could help open up space underneath for Robinson in both the run and pass game. The Falcons didn’t add serious backfield competition, so Bijan should once again be in line for 300+ touches. With a playcaller committed to using him as a true three-down weapon, Robinson is locked in as a top-five fantasy back with a realistic path to finish as the overall RB1.

I've been forcing myself to take a WR in the first round because the drop off at WR is more severe to the 2/3 turn. So this pick led to an interesting first three picks.

2.11 - Bucky Irving, Buccaneers

Bucky Irving finished RB16 on the year, so uninformed drafters may view him as a fantasy RB2, but he’s a clear, rock-solid RB1 in my book thanks to his productivity after the first month of the season. He started seeing more touches in Week 6, and from that point on, he was the fantasy RB8. He had the fourth-highest PFF rush grade in that span, and was fifth in yards after contact per attempt on the season. HC Todd Bowles told The Athletic that he “expects greatness” and that Irving’s “opportunities are likely to increase substantially.” He’s a baller and has a great future ahead of him.

3.02 - Garrett Wilson, Jets

Garrett Wilson finally broke through in 2024, finishing as the WR10 after a WR30 campaign the year before. He managed the jump despite playing with a diminished version of Aaron Rodgers for most of the season, which makes his breakout all the more impressive. Wilson caught 96 passes for 1,242 yards and seven touchdowns on 157 targets.

Matt Harmon of Reception Perception called Wilson “one of the best separators in the NFL,” and expects big things from new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. Harmon notes that if Engstrand brings over the design philosophy from Detroit, “Wilson’s deployment is going to get a profound and much-needed shift.” That could lead to even better efficiency, especially if new quarterback Justin Fields is able to replicate the rapport he had with D.J. Moore in Chicago (92 yards and 0.67 touchdowns per game in 12 contests with Fields). Fields may not be a prolific passer, but he's shown the ability to support a true WR1 — and Wilson certainly fits the bill.

I'm a little worried about the Jets' passing attack right now, but hopefully they get it going by Week 1.

4.11 - Sam LaPorta, Lions

Sam LaPorta’s steep decline in targets per game (7.1 to 5.2) in his second season was surprising, as Jameson Williams (91 targets) took over as the team’s No. 2 target. LaPorta will likely settle in as a perennial top 5 fantasy tight end, but perhaps lacks the overall TE1 target upside with a healthy Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown in the mix. Among tight ends, he finished 11th in YAC/rec and 12th in yards per route run, so the efficiency was there. He finished strong, seeing at least six targets in his final eight games and was the TE5 in that span. Hopefully, we’ll look back on his early-season struggles as just a blip in his career as a fantasy producer.

5.02 - D.J. Moore, Bears

After a WR7 finish in 2023 with Justin Fields under center, D.J. Moore took a step back last season, finishing WR21 overall and WR32 on a per-game basis as the Bears’ passing game struggled to find consistency. Despite the dip in production, Moore still flashed his big-play ability, ranking 20th in YAC per reception among 110 qualified receivers. With Keenan Allen no longer in the picture and Ben Johnson taking over the offense, Moore’s outlook is looking brighter. Johnson orchestrated one of the league’s most creative and productive passing attacks in Detroit, and if he can replicate even a portion of that success in Chicago, Moore stands to benefit. He is still the top dog in the Bears’ receiving room, and if the offensive upgrade materializes, he could return to midrange WR2 territory with WR1 upside in spike weeks.

6.11 - David Montgomery, Lions

David Montgomery continues to be a reliable fantasy option in Detroit’s high-powered offense, finishing as the RB17 in 2024 despite missing three games—he was the RB13 on a per-game basis. That followed a strong 2023 campaign where he finished RB14 overall and RB8 in per-game scoring. As Jahmyr Gibbs' role grew, Montgomery’s touches dipped slightly from 16.8 per game in 2023 to 15.8 in 2024, but he made up for it with a larger receiving role—jumping from 16 receptions to 36 year-over-year.

Efficiency-wise, he remains a tough, physical runner: he ranked 36th in yards before contact but 15th in yards after contact and 4th in broken tackles per attempt. His 16th-place PFF rushing grade was solid, reinforcing his reputation as an above-average grinder who can get the tough yards and score touchdowns. Montgomery’s weekly upside is somewhat TD-dependent, but his consistent workload and role near the goal line make him a dependable RB2, even as Gibbs becomes the flashier fantasy asset. If Gibbs were to get injured, Monty would have top-five upside.

7.02 - Jauan Jennings, 49ers

Jauan Jennings was 14th in yards per route run (per PFF). Deebo Samuel is gone and Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from a torn ACL/MCL isn’t expected to play until midseason. Jennings has proven to be a rock-solid option for Brock Purdy and actually performed a bit better with Aiyuk in the lineup last season, so I’m not worried about the timing of Aiyuk’s return. He also outscored Aiyuk 10.8 to 7.8 in the six non-injury games they played together. In the five games that both Samuel and Aiyuk played, Jennings averaged 2.8 catches on 46 yards and zero touchdowns on 4.8 targets per game. In the 10 games that either (or both) Samuel and Aiyuk missed, Jennings averaged 6.3 catches for 75 yards and 0.6 touchdowns on 8.9 targets per game.

Those are low-end WR1 numbers, folks. Looking at the last two seasons, when Jennings has played at least 70% of the snaps, he has averaged 5.3 catches (on 7.6 targets) for 66 yards and 0.50 touchdowns per game. That works out to 12.2 fantasy points per game, or low-end WR2 numbers. Jennings has slid down the projections this summer thanks to a nagging calf injury, but if he can get that sorted by Week 1, he should return good value at his ADP.

I think this calf injury may be overblown since he's "holding in" for a new contract.

8.11 - Jayden Reed, Packers

Jayden Reed followed up a WR26 rookie campaign with a WR25 finish last season, continuing to produce despite modest usage in the Packers’ balanced, spread-it-around passing attack. His targets dipped from 5.9 per game to 4.4, but he became more involved in the run game (20 carries for 163 yards and a score), and his efficiency remained strong—he finished 18th in yards per route run and 10th in YAC/rec.

Even with Christian Watson recovering from a torn ACL and rookie Matthew Golden stepping in, Reed's role likely won’t change much. He still only plays around 60% of the snaps since he’s not typically on the field in two-WR sets. As a result, he projects for another high-end WR3 finish with occasional spike weeks, but it’s hard to get too excited about his ceiling unless LaFleur unexpectedly features him more prominently.

9.02 - Chris Godwin, Buccaneers

Chris Godwin turned down a reported $20 million to re-sign with the Bucs. He’s recovering from a major ankle injury but was expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2025 season, though in July it was revealed that he underwent a second, planned surgery. He might start the season on PUP. At the time of his injury, Godwin was the overall fantasy WR2 through seven games after a WR33 finish in 2023. Godwin ran nearly 62% of his snaps out of the slot, which was a big jump from his 37% mark in 2023 (and certainly helped his overall fantasy production).

The arrival of Emeka Egbuka (81.1% slot usage) could impact Godwin’s slot usage, but he was so effective last year that the Bucs would be wise to let him cook. Godwin is typically underappreciated in fantasy circles so given his injury and his elite production in early 2024, he should be a good value on draft day, provided that his ankle is ready to go.

If Godwin is healthy for the stretch run, I think I'll have a good WR corps in the fantasy playoffs.

10.11 - Braelon Allen, Jets

Braelon Allen’s rookie year didn’t exactly move the needle—he turned 92 carries into 334 yards (3.6 YPC) and two touchdowns, while adding 19 catches for 148 yards and another score through the air. His advanced metrics backed up the surface stats: he was generally mediocre across the board, lacking the burst or tackle-breaking chops to stand out. Still, there’s reason for cautious optimism. The Jets reportedly want to model their offense after Ben Johnson’s scheme in Detroit, with Breece Hall in the Jahmyr Gibbs role and Allen handling the David Montgomery duties.

If that plan sticks, Allen could find himself in a valuable early-down and goal-line role in what should be a more efficient offense in 2025. With an ADP in the RB50s, Allen offers intriguing upside if the Jets’ coaching staff follows through on their vision—and if he proves capable of handling the Montgomery role. In Hall’s lone missed game, Allen turned 15 touches into 81 total yards. He’s a worthwhile late-round flier with low-end RB2 potential if things break right.

11.02 - Hunter Henry, Patriots

Hunter Henry quietly posted a TE12 finish in 2024, turning 88 targets into a 66-674-2 receiving line. While the arrival of Stefon Diggs and rookie Kyle Williams could squeeze his target share, the Texans' wide receiver room still lacks depth behind Diggs and Williams, so there should be plenty of work left for Henry as a reliable underneath option. Henry enters his age-30 season, but tight ends tend to age well, and he should still have a year or two of productive football left. Drake Maye should take a step forward in his second season, which could lift the entire offense and keep Henry firmly in the low-end TE1 mix. He doesn’t offer huge weekly upside, but his role and red zone usage give him a solid floor in tight end-premium formats.

12.11 - Jared Goff, Lions

Every fantasy discussion about Jared Goff has to begin with his home/away splits. From 2023 to 2024, Jared Goff’s location splits were really stark: 21.3 fantasy points per game at home versus just 13.9 per game on the road. Those splits narrowed to 21.4 vs. 17.7 last season, so over the last two seasons he has averaged 21.5 at home versus 16.1 on the road. That’s basically the difference between Baker Mayfield (21.5) and Justin Herbert (16.1) last year, so it’s still pretty stark. Goff has 10 dome games in 2025, and his final six games are indoors. Start Goff at home, and start him in favorable (shaky defense) indoor road matchups. As Marcas Grant said on our pod last summer, “he’s an inside cat.”

13.02 - Marvin Mims, Broncos

Marvin Mims is an intriguing receiver going in the WR5/WR6 range. He’s entering his third season after a strong finish in 2024. From Week 11 to Week 18, he averaged 4.0 receptions for 62 yards and 0.86 touchdowns on 4.7 targets per game. He only played 33% of the snaps in that span, and he isn’t likely to keep up that touchdown production without a bump in snaps, but he deserves to play more. In that span, he had the 18th-highest PFF receiving grade and posted the highest yards per route run (4.54). If his snaps don’t increase, he’s unlikely to become a major fantasy factor, but more playing time could result in fantasy-starter type numbers. Mims’ snap rate with the starters increased significantly in the first preseason game.

14.11 - Jordan Love, Packers

Call me a homer, but Jordan Love is a value as the QB17 off the board. He was the fantasy QB17 last year, and quarterback is deep, so I get the ADP, but he dealt with multiple injuries and still was QB13 on a per-game basis after finishing as the fantasy QB5 in 2023. Sure, the Packers were more run-heavy with Josh Jacobs in the offense, but the Packers drafted two receivers in the first three rounds, and that signals an emphasis on improving the passing game in 2025. The run/pass splits were probably impacted by Love’s injuries. Considering he was already the QB13 on a per-game basis last season, if he can improve from there and perhaps get back to his top-five production, he would be a massive value at his current ADP.

I normally would recommend drafting only one quarterback, but most of the starters were drafted, so there won't be a whole lot out on the waiver wire early in the season. With Goff/Love, I can start the player with the better matchup each week.

15.02 - Nick Chubb, Texans

In his prime, Nick Chubb was arguably the best pure runner in football, topping 5.0 yards per carry in each of his first six seasons. His career trajectory changed after a 2023 torn MCL and damaged ACL—on the same knee he injured in 2015—and he struggled to regain form last year, averaging just 3.3 YPC on 102 carries before a fractured foot ended his season.

Reports from camp have been mixed, with some noting diminished burst, while others offer more optimistic assessments. With Joe Mixon’s return from a foot injury uncertain—though the team hopes he’ll be ready for Week 1—Chubb will get the first shot at RB1 duties. Remember, Chubb was so good that he doesn’t need to be 100% of his former self to be a fantasy starter. He profiles as a two-down grinder with touchdown upside, while rookie Woody Marks should handle most of the passing-down work.

Mixon is on my "do not draft" list, and I think Chubb in the 15th is a great value despite the so-so camp reports.

I rounded out my Big Gorilla team with the Minnesota defense, Kendre Miller and Justice Hill–both one injury away from a big role–and Romeo Doubs to round out my Packers stack. Jason Sanders is a nice value at kicker.

Check out the full draft board here.