Need a mulligan? Try this Perfect Draft

What if your league-mates offered you a second chance at your draft?

Would you have rolled the dice on a rebound year from DeAndre Hopkins instead of a “safe” pick like Amari Cooper or T.Y. Hilton?

Might you let Matt Ryan slide and grab Carson Wentz instead?

Perhaps pass up David Johnson for … well … anyone else?

Sadly, there are no do-overs in fantasy football. At least not in the season-long version that God and Pete Rozelle intended for us to play. But there sure is plenty of second-guessing. Yes, friends, it’s time to adjust our rearview mirrors as we explore what could have been with my oft-imitated, always-controversial, yet magically delicious Perfect Draft: Midseason Review. As usual, we start with a few key parameters: We will draft from the middle (fifth) position in a 10-team non-keeper league, meaning we won’t have a shot at Le’Veon Bell or Antonio Brown. We’ll use a standard scoring system that starts one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, and one tight end, flex, kicker and team defense.

Now, with the fifth pick of the 2017 Perfect Draft, we should have selected … Round 1: Todd Gurley, RB, Rams. Because Bell and Brown are already off the board, we’ll reach a round early to grab the dual-threat workhorse in the NFL’s (surprisingly) highestscoring offense. Round 2: Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars. We hate to pass up Rob Gronkowski, but if we don’t take the sensational rookie here, we’ll miss the opportunity to create a truly ferocious backfield. If you can assure me that Zeke Elliott won’t be suspended, then yes, he’s the preferred pick here. Round 3: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans. We waited a bit to take our first wideout and fantasy’s top receiver fell right in our lap. Round 4: Kareem Hunt, RB, Chiefs. The electrifying rookie hasn’t reached the end zone since Week 3, but he has amassed more than 100 scrimmage yards in every game he has played. Round 5: Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs. Hunt’s fellow playmaker embodies the cliche that he’s “a threat to score every time he touches the ball.” Round 6: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals. The old man continues to burnish his credentials for his first-ballot ticket to the Hall of Fame. Round 7: Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles. He’s Carson Wentz’s go-to target, which places him at the top of the heap at his position. Round 8: Chris Hogan, WR, Patriots. Hogan has stepped into the role vacated by Julian Edelman and produced consistently as one of Tom Brady’s most trusted targets. Round 9: Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles. Truth is, we could wait as late as the 13th round to nab him, but we have other long shots to target later. Round 10: Alex Smith, QB, Chiefs. Raise your hand if you thought Smith would be one of the top QBs in Fantasyland at the midpoint of the season? Yeah, sure you did. Round 11: Chris Thompson, RB, Washington. Thompson is especially valuable in PPR leagues and he, too, was available as a free agent. Round 12: Jaguars’ defense/ special teams. Jacksonville leads the league in sacks, defensive TDs, points against and — consequently — most fantasy points scored. Round 13: Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles. The third-year receiver is emerging as a threat in Philly’s high-octane offense. Round 14: Deshaun Watson, QB, Texans. The rookie has been absolutely sensational since he found his groove in Week 3, and he could lead many a fantasy owner to a title if he keeps up this pace. Round 15: Cameron Brate, TE, Buccaneers. We won’t start him as long as Ertz is available, but it will be good to keep Brate off an opponent’s roster. Round 16: Will Fuller, WR, Texans. Like Cris Carter from an earlier age, all he does is catch touchdowns. Round 17: Greg Zuerlein, K, Rams. Mopping up for the topscoring offense in the league helps makes you an elite fantasy kicker.

So, just how perfectly did you draft?