Not all industry drafts are created equal. The FFPC Pros vs. Joes competition is a special one to be a part of, in part because it attracts some of the best in the fantasy industry but also because of what is at stake. Six industry analysts (Pros) compete against six veteran (and usually highly successful) FFPC players (Joes) in a free best-ball competition for the privilege of gaining a free entry ($2,000 value) into the FFPC Main Event the following season. New this year … the team that scores the highest out of the seven drafts (six live and one slow) will also win a beautiful belt from Trophy Smack.

The biggest difference from a typical fantasy league is that it is a winner-takes-all format. If ever there was a time to cite the immortal Ricky Bobby, Pros vs. Joes is the ultimate "if you ain't first, you're last" competition. Pros vs. Joes is the brainchild of Fantasy Mojo's Darren Armani.

Below is a list of the competitors and the order in which we drafted. Players without a site affiliation next to their name are "Joes.”

Pros vs. Joes Draft Board

1. John Rozek
2. Theo Gremminger - Fantasy Points
3. Nate Modisette
4. John Paulsen - 4for4
5. Nick Thompson
6. Darren Armani - FantasyMojo
7. Scott Schonewolf
8. Michael Nazarek
9. Eric Young
10. Doug Orth - FFToday
11. Todd Aron
12. Jim Coventry - RotoWire

FFPC Rules & Scoring

The FFPC uses tight end premium scoring (1.5 points per reception), so Brock Bowers and Trey McBride will go even earlier than they usually do in typical PPR drafts. Most teams want to have at least one tight end in place by around the sixth round.

Please click on the draft board link here or above so you can follow along. (It beats having to type out 240 names and/or posting 12 20-man teams on this page.) This draft - the last of six live drafts in this competition - was held on Tuesday, July 29.

Starting lineup requirements (eight starters): QB (1), RB (2), WR (2), TE (1), RB/WR/TE Flex (2)

1. John Rozek

What I like: It is hard to argue against Bijan Robinson at 1.01. There is also a very likely scenario in which Josh Downs (WR45) and Chris Godwin (WR46) greatly outperform their draft slot. It is hard to argue doubling up at tight end at the 4-5 turn with Sam LaPorta (TE4) and T.J. Hockenson (TE5) in a tight end-premium draft. With that duo already in his pocket, Rozek could afford to take an upside swing at 11.01 with Kyle Pitts. Considering he waited until the 10th round to draft a quarterback, he did well to come away with a duo like Caleb Williams (QB14) and Bryce Young (QB24). Rozek also did well to land spike-week potential at receiver in the late rounds with Dont'e Thornton (WR71) and Calvin Austin (WR79) at 16.12 and 19.01, respectively.

What I did not like: While I like his first four receivers in a vacuum, I would not want all of his primary ones on the same team. Tyreek Hill (WR12) has huge upside but is not a receiver I want to bet on staying happy (or healthy?) all season. Tee Higgins (WR13) has missed at least five games in each of the last two seasons. Josh Downs (WR45) also struggled with injuries since becoming a pro. Chris Godwin (WR46) will be entering the season at less than 100 percent and may struggle to find his pre-injury form all year. The cost of going TE-TE at the 4-5 turn was solidifying his RB2 slot. While David Montgomery (RB25) has greatly outperformed his draft slot in each of the last two seasons, I worry about his upside now with former OC Ben Johnson in Chicago and the offensive line beginning to fall off a bit.

2. Theo Gremminger - Fantasy Points

What I like: Gremminger is one of the sharpest minds in the industry and proved it in this draft. With the exception of maybe one pick (Joe Burrow at 4.11), he took the same player I would have drafted in his spot with each of his first 14 selections. Considering he waited until the third round to take his first running back and 6.11 to take his second, I would argue he came away with one clear RB1 in Chase Brown (RB10) and a potentially high-end RB2 in RJ Harvey (RB24) if he ends up with the Alvin Kamara role in Denver's offense. Even if Harvey does not meet expectations, the combination of Ja'Marr Chase (WR1) and Ladd McConkey (WR11) makes Gremminger's team hard to beat. DeVonta Smith (WR23) will likely be one of the better flex options in this league, while the pairing of Evan Engram (TE8) and Tyler Warren (TE12) should give his team more TE1 weeks than not. Tyjae Spears (RB39) and Braelon Allen (RB51) were players I strongly considered with my picks in the 10th and 12th rounds, respectively.

What I did not like: If we believe that Burrow can match or exceed what he did last season, then Burrow is a great pick at 4.11. With that said, it is exceedingly hard for a quarterback to hang with the likes of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen when he is not a huge threat with his legs. While I understand Burrow was not going to make it back to him if he had passed on him at 4.11 and 5.02, will Burrow average more than three or four points per game more than players such as Dak Prescott and Baker Mayfield? That is the only way to justify taking Burrow more than two rounds ahead of them. Gremminger's RB2 slot should be fine when all is said and done, but Harvey and Jordan Mason (RB32) - both of whom I like a lot this year - are two players who might be the 1B backs in their real teams' offenses. Same with Tyjae Spears (RB39).

3. Nate Modisette

What I like: Modisette and Gremminger followed the same position pattern through eight rounds. (First-round receiver, second-round receiver, third-round running back and so on.) I like Gremminger's version a bit more, but no one would be surprised if Justin Jefferson (WR2) and A.J. Brown (WR10) end up being the best 1-2 punch at receiver in the league. Breece Hall (RB11) could easily end up performing like a first-round pick if he proves to the new coaching staff in New York that he deserves to be the bell-cow. Modisette likely picked up at least a round of value by selecting Jalen Hurts (QB4) at the 4.10 - more than a full round after Josh Allen (3.06) and Lamar Jackson (3.07). Even if the Eagles pass just a little bit more this year, Hurts stands a good chance of going toe-to-toe with those players. Tight end depth also does not figure to be a problem with Mark Andrews (TE9) and Hunter Henry (TE18) being good values at 7.03 and 11.03, respectively.

What I did not like: While I was being a bit nitpicky with Gremminger's RB2 options earlier, Modisette's RB2 options could be a problem for him. There is a real chance Tony Pollard (RB23) loses significant touches to Tyjae Spears this year, while Travis Etienne (RB31) could be fighting with two backs for playing time. (Modisette could have landed Spears if he passed on Keon Coleman and Jayden Higgins in Rounds 9 and 10, respectively.) Modisette's depth at receiver after Jefferson, Brown and DK Metcalf (WR24) is also lacking, as I have my doubts whether Coleman and Higgins can pack much of a punch in his final flex slot.

4. John Paulsen - 4for4

What I like: Paulsen is another one of the best minds in the fantasy industry, so it comes as little surprise that I think he nailed at least his first seven picks. He will regularly have Chuba Hubbard (RB18) and Rome Odunze (WR35) occupying his two flex spots. Not bad. Brock Bowers (TE1) should give him a significant edge over at least 10 managers in the league at a position where it is annually hard to get elite production. Paulsen also opted to wait until the 10th round to draft his first quarterback in Jordan Love (QB13), who has top 10 upside. He came back in the next round to land Jared Goff, who is coming off a QB6 finish in this format last season. Geno Smith (QB27) could end up being a strong QB2 option in what should be a fast-paced offense and Paulsen got him as his third quarterback.

What I did not like: Paulsen's Green Bay bias was on display in the middle rounds, as he selected Jayden Reed (WR44), Matthew Golden (WR48) and Love in succession in Rounds 8-10. While Reed and Golden should be fine WR4s, this competition rewards players who can drastically outperform their draft slot. I'm not sure either of the Green Bay receivers will do that. (He added Dontayvion Wicks in the 20th round for good measure.) While their talent suggests that Travis Hunter (WR34) and Odunze should be solid WR2s this year, I don't think Paulsen has the firepower at receiver to make up for it if they fail to do so.

5. Nick Thompson

What I like: At least among the teams on the left side of the board, Thompson may have left the draft with the best 1-2 punch at running back in Saquon Barkley (RB2) and Jonathan Taylor (RB12). While I would not say that his receiver group is imposing (Drake London, Mike Evans, Courtland Sutton and Chris Olave), each of them stands a good chance of outperforming their draft slot (WR9, WR22, WR25 and WR33, respectively). With his group of receivers, he had the luxury of taking upside shots on Rashid Shaheed (WR55) and Brandon Aiyuk (WR57).

6. Darren Armani - FantasyMojo

What I like: While it is not usually advisable to go with a one-team mega stack, managers could do a lot worse than going heavy on the 49ers this year. Christian McCaffrey (RB3) would have likely been my pick at 1.10 had he lasted that long. George Kittle (TE3) is the last likely option at tight end who is capable of going to battle with Brock Bowers and Trey McBride. Armani doubled down on San Francisco players in the 10th and 11th rounds with Brock Purdy (QB11) and McCaffrey handcuff Isaac Guerendo (WR41). Josh Allen (QB1) requires little analysis, although his selection to this team gives Armani the possibility of having the best fantasy player at three different positions (McCaffrey, Kittle and Allen).

What I did not like: The cost of going with Kittle and Allen in the second and third rounds, respectively, is what it does to a team everywhere else. Terry McLaurin (WR21), George Pickens (WR26), Jaylen Waddle (WR32) and Jerry Jeudy (WR36) will probably outperform their draft slots, but McLaurin will need good touchdown luck for a second straight year to be a serviceable fantasy WR1. Otherwise, I see three good WR2s and one decent WR3. While the selection of Guerendo was a smart move to lock up San Francisco's backfield, I am not sure Armani's RB2 combination of Jaylen Warren (RB30) and Tyrone Tracy (RB33) is strong enough to keep him competitive at that spot. Combined with his collection of likely WR2s, his first three picks will need to have some of the best years of their careers for Armani to win the league title.

7. Scott Schonewolf

What I like: Considering Jahmyr Gibbs (RB4) went no later than 1.04 in the three previous Pros vs. Joes drafts, Schonewolf had to be thrilled that the Detroit running back fell into his lap at 1.07. Brian Thomas Jr. (WR8) was someone I was considering at 2.03 and Lamar Jackson (QB2) could have easily been my selection at 3.10, so Schonewolf maximized the value with each of his first three picks in my mind. The same could probably be said for Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR20), who might end up being the best receiver selection of the fourth round. I am also a big fan of Stefon Diggs (WR37) occupying the second flex spot in a two-flex league.

What I did not like: My two biggest concerns with Schonewolf's team are what he did in the fifth and sixth rounds. Zay Flowers (WR27) will probably finish higher than his draft slot and makes sense as a stacking partner with Jackson, but the Ravens' top receiver does not see a lot of usage in the red zone, which limits his upside - especially in a format like this one. My other problem is with Swift. Yes, I am aware of his history of finishing inside the top 24 fantasy running backs, but where is the upside? Do we believe that new HC Ben Johnson will feature him or even use him much differently than when the two were together in Detroit in 2022? I doubt he sees much work in the red zone either. Cam Skattebo (RB29), Zach Charbonnet (RB34) and Rachaad White (RB42) were all fine upside swings after Round 7, but I don't think any of them are RB2 material if Swift isn't what many expect him to be this year. While Colston Loveland (TE16) was a great value where he was selected, I would not want him as my TE1 in a tight end premium league - at least not as a rookie in an otherwise loaded offense. Loveland is a fine selection if the rest of the team is bursting with high floors, but that is not the case here.

8. Michael Nazarek - FF Mastermind

What I like: This is one of my favorite teams so far, along with Gremminger's and Paulsen's. This team possesses a lot of upside and is built to withstand an injury at each position. It is hard for me to find fault with any of Nazarek's first seven picks. CeeDee Lamb (WR3) and Nico Collins (WR7) are as good of a 1-2 punch at receiver as there is in this league. I also cannot quibble with his selections of Kyren Williams (RB13), James Conner (RB16) or Alvin Kamara (RB19) in the next three rounds. All of them are threats to deliver an RB1 performance in a week and finish as a top 12 fantasy back at the end of the year. Baker Mayfield (QB7) probably will not be able to repeat his overall QB3 finish from last season, but I will not have any qualms about him being my QB1 on a team where I spent the first 5-6 rounds loading up at running back and receiver. I also very much like his upside swings of Trey Benson (RB38), Elijah Arroyo (TE23), Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB67) and Keenan Allen (WR77). Each of those players was very much in consideration with my picks in the same round they were selected (if not before).

What I did not like: David Njoku (TE7) seems to be underappreciated every year and this year is unlikely to be any different. With that said, there are enough questions in Cleveland that I would not take him in the sixth round over Evan Engram or Mark Andrews - each of whom were selected a round later. With that said, he did well to balance that risk with his choice of Dallas Goedert (TE14) and Elijah Arroyo (TE23) in the ninth and 14th rounds, respectively.

9. Eric Young

What I like: The strength of this team is obvious, as no other manager can claim he walked out of this draft with three receivers capable of being WR1s. Malik Nabers (WR4), Puka Nacua (WR6) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR15) all could attract 150-plus targets if they can stay healthy. Jayden Daniels (QB3) is in the same class as Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, while Tucker Kraft (TE11) could easily end up being a steal at 8.04 in a tight end premium league. Jauan Jennings (WR31) will likely be one of the better second flex options in this league as well.

What I did not like: Young's running back room is built on hopes and prayers. TreVeyon Henderson (RB20) could soon become a fantasy RB1, but it is a stretch to hope he can fill that role as a rookie on a fantasy team - even for a manager going with a Zero RB approach. Brian Robinson Jr. is a passable RB2, but his job security could be on shaky ground if the hype around one of my favorite Day 3 picks (Croskey-Merritt) proves to be true. I suppose Bhayshul Tuten (RB37) could emerge from the Jacksonville backfield and be this year's Bucky Irving, but the Jaguars' backfield could also easily end up being a frustrating three-way committee all year long, too. (To Young's credit, he locked up another third of that backfield two rounds later with Tank Bigsby (RB47) in the 12th.) Browns team owner Jimmy Haslam was quoted earlier in the day (July 2) that he is optimistic that Quinshon Judkins (RB43) will play this season, which makes him a complete wildcard. Even if Joe Mixon (RB35) can get his ankle right before the season, he also appears likely to open the season in a three-way committee. At quarterback, it is likely Daniels or bust for Young. Cam Ward (QB25) should be passable, but I would have liked to see Young get a third quarterback just to be on the safe side.

10. Doug Orth - FFToday

What I like: For perhaps the first time in all of my years in this competition, receiver should be a strength. It might end up being a ridiculous strength. While I expect Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR5) and Tetairoa McMillan (WR28) to start every week, the thought of having four legit receivers with huge upside (Jameson Williams, Khalil Shakir, Emeka Egbuka, and Michael Pittman Jr.) competing for my two flex spots each week excites me. Trey McBride (TE2) going at the 1.10 in a tight end premium league was also a nice bonus. I fully expected Omarion Hampton (RB14) and Kenneth Walker (RB15) to be off the board by the time I was on the clock at 3.10, so it was a nice surprise to land both of them. At that point, I did not think there was a chance McMillan would fall into my lap at 5.10 (and I did not want to go with Detroit wideouts with my first two receiver selections), so I was stunned when the rookie fell in my lap.

Although I am not thrilled that Rhamondre Stevenson (RB44) is my RB3, I consider him no worse than a middling flex who has unrealized upside in what could be an offense that is more ground-and-pound than what most people expect. He was the only remaining running back whom I believed had much of a chance to serve as an RB3. At that point, I shifted into filling out my running back room with as many contingent upside running backs as I could get. Ray Davis (RB54), Will Shipley (RB55) and DJ Giddens (RB57) are all running backs that only need something to happen to the starter on the depth chart to be every-week fantasy options. I also plan to draft a lot of Kyle Monangai (RB74), who is my bet to be this year's Jamaal Williams (circa 2022, during his 17-touchdown season). While I do not expect Kyler Murray (QB10) or J.J. McCarthy (QB17) to set the world on fire, both possess the kind of running ability I want with my fantasy quarterbacks. The same can be said for Daniel Jones (QB29).

What I did not like: Although one of the hosts (Dave Terpoilli) was highly complimentary of my team during the live show (and that means something given his success in the FFPC format), this team does have a potential fatal flaw. While most dynasty managers fell over themselves to land Terrance Ferguson (TE33) in their rookie drafts, I would have preferred him as a TE3 and not as a TE2. Perhaps I should have doubled up with Darren Waller (TE36), but I felt there was more value in taking what I thought was the last decent QB3 option on the board in Jones. Considering how things played out, the pick I regret the most is probably Shakir … but only because I did not expect Egbuka and Pittman to make it back to me. That 7.10 pick would have been a great time to take Jake Ferguson or Tucker Kraft.

11. Todd Aron

What I like: Aron's first three selections at running back were excellent. Regardless of the order he picked them in, Aron muscled up with his selections of Ashton Jeanty (RB5) and De'Von Achane (RB8) as "safe" RB1 selections with massive upside. In my opinion, J.K. Dobbins (RB36) is one of the most mispriced running backs in fantasy this summer. He should be a priority for Zero RB drafters in all formats. I was desperately hoping Travis Kelce (TE6) was going to survive the 5-6 turn to give my team an enviable pair of 90-catch tight ends in McBride and Kelce, but Aron snagged him four picks before my turn in the sixth round.

What I did not like: While I was generally a fan of Armani's mega stack of 49ers earlier, Aron's mega stack of Chiefs struck me in a much different way. I cannot justify selecting Xavier Worthy (WR16) before Davante Adams (WR17) and passing on someone like Marvin Harrison to take a receiver in Rashee Rice (WR19) who is likely to miss multiple games due to suspension. Patrick Mahomes (QB6) is a decent value in the sixth round, but the Kansas City offense will have to revisit the days when Mahomes was throwing to Tyreek Hill and Kelce in their primes for these draft selections to pay off. I would struggle with having Ricky Pearsall (WR39) or Deebo Samuel (WR40) as my second flex option in this format, but one of them will likely be Aron's first flex option most weeks. Aron also leaned heavily on aging veterans in this draft, grabbing 30-somethings in Kelce, Cooper Kupp (WR50), Austin Ekeler (RB45), Zach Ertz (TE19) and Matthew Stafford (QB21).

12. Jim Coventry - RotoWire

What I like: It is difficult to gain any kind of real edge picking at No. 12 each year, so balance typically has to be the goal. From that perspective, it is hard to fault anything Coventry did with his draft. I particularly like his running back room, as Derrick Henry (RB6) is a very good RB1 and Josh Jacobs (RB7) is a solid RB2 at worst. There is a real chance Kaleb Johnson (RB21) takes over the Pittsburgh backfield at some point during the season as well. Davante Adams (WR17) could easily have at least one more WR1 season left in him and DJ Moore (WR18) is likely being undervalued due to a lot of speculation about things that happened before new HC Ben Johnson arrived. Calvin Ridley (WR29) is a near-lock to outperform where he was taken in this draft (6.01) and was another consideration for me at 6.03. Jake Ferguson (TE10) is a great bet to bounce back, while the combination of Dak Prescott (QB8) and Justin Fields (QB9) comes with a ton of "safe" upside.

What I did not like: Coventry is one of my best friends in the industry and perhaps the best "real football guy" I know. He is not going to care too much about the ADP from the previous five Pros vs. Joes' drafts and it showed with his selections of Henry and Jacobs. With that said, Henry went no earlier than 2.04 in any of the first five drafts and Jacobs went no earlier than 2.07. It is difficult to ding him too much for anything else that he did, although I don't see a path for Jonnu Smith (TE15) to outperform Colston Loveland or Hunter Henry - each of whom went a half-round or later than Smith.