# 2012 Fantasy Football - general discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 5, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523 "2012-08-05T15:16:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/1 "2012-08-05T15:16:25Z")
I am starting this thread semi selfishly, I am playing in my first ever money league this year and I want to figure out ways to get an edge and I have gotten some solid fantasy advice here in the past. It’s good to bounce ideas off other people! That said, I draft tonight in that league it’s a PPR dynasty league and I have the #2 overall pick, but no 2nd round pick (and an extra 4th rounder, trades have happened). I am thinking of drafting Rodgers if he doesn’t go 1-1 (I think he will) and if he does I am thinking either Brady or Brees. Is that crazy? Starting a dynasty league with a proven QB that will be able to anchor my team for years to come even though it means that I will miss out on virtually all the stud RB’s and most of the stud WRs? That’s not crazy is it? Also, you know, general fantasy discussion is good too. Don’t feel like you need to answer my question only. Post your own, post your theories, post your stories. Let’s get and active thread going. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/2 "2012-08-05T21:53:41Z")
Nothin huh? Ok, general question then. Who should go 1-1 in most leagues this year? Arian Foster or Aaron Rodgers. I am seeing arguments on both sides. What does everyone here think? ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/3 "2012-08-06T03:57:13Z")
Well since I am talking to myself anyway I figure I will post the draft results from the dynasty draft tonight. Rodgers didn’t go 1-1 the guy with the first pick lied to me (read:changed his mind at the very last minute) and took Foster, so I grabbed Rodgers. Dilemma solved. I did then screw up by not noticing that MJD was still available in round 3 when I picked next. I assumed he would be gone by then and didn’t bother placing him on my players to look for list. Stupid. I took Greg Jennings that round who is…not as exciting. It’s a dynasty PPR league with a RB/WR/TE flex spot and a 10 player bench. Here is what my team looks like. (alphabetical by position group) Manning, Peyton DEN QB Rodgers, Aaron GBP QB Bradshaw, Ahmad NYG RB Goodson, Mike OAK RB Jackson, Steven STL RB Jones, Taiwan OAK RB Turner, Michael ATL RB Bess, Davone MIA WR Crabtree, Michael SFO WR Ford, Jacoby OAK WR Heyward-Bey, Darrius OAK WR Jackson, DeSean PHI WR Jennings, Greg GBP WR Johnson, Steve BUF WR Smith, Steve CAR WR Wayne, Reggie IND WR Gates, Antonio SDC TE Tamme, Jacob DEN TE Gostkowski, Stephen NEP PK New York Jets DST I picked up Manning in round 14, which is insane. I am hoping that he just lights the world up in the first two weeks and I can trade him for a stud RB. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/4 "2012-08-06T12:38:55Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > It’s a dynasty PPR league with a RB/WR/TE flex spot and a 10 player bench. > Here is what my team looks like. (alphabetical by position group) > > Manning, Peyton DEN QB > Rodgers, Aaron GBP QB > > Bradshaw, Ahmad NYG RB > Goodson, Mike OAK RB > Jackson, Steven STL RB > Jones, Taiwan OAK RB > Turner, Michael ATL RB > > Bess, Davone MIA WR > Crabtree, Michael SFO WR > Ford, Jacoby OAK WR > Heyward-Bey, Darrius OAK WR > Jackson, DeSean PHI WR > Jennings, Greg GBP WR > Johnson, Steve BUF WR > Smith, Steve CAR WR > Wayne, Reggie IND WR > > Gates, Antonio SDC TE > Tamme, Jacob DEN TE > > Gostkowski, Stephen NEP PK > > New York Jets DST > > I picked up Manning in round 14, which is insane. I am hoping that he just lights the world up in the first two weeks and I can trade him for a stud RB. I think you better hope to get a stud RB in trade, because I’m not really all that impressed with your team, especially as a dynasty league. Since I don’t quite get how much the talent pool is replenished each year (i/e is it only rookies who get drafted each year?), it could be salvageable, but there seems to be a complete lack of young studs on the team. Who was your 2nd round pick? I’m guessing it had to be Steven Jackson, but, if so, I think that’s way too early for a 29 year old RB who has taken a pounding each and every year. And you’re right, missing out on MJD in the third (hell, I’d taken him before Jackson in the 2nd) was a big mistake. I’m going out on a limb and guess that you’re a Raider fan. Am I right? Because Grabbing Goodson and Jones, Heyward Bey and Ford doesn’t make much sense to me unless it’s pure homerism. I like Goodson, but I don’t think he’ll ever be more than a fill in if McFadden goes down, and Jones won’t ever be “the guy”. And Heyward Bey and Ford are the same guy on the same team with the same QB who is old and, after this year or next, will have a new rookie QB to have to adjust to. Add in Gates, Wayne, and Smith standing on the precipice of old age fantasy irrelevance, and I’m not all that impressed with the team. I like Bradshaw, but he hasn’t made it through an entire season … well, ever. And where is David Wilson or Isiah Pead? If you have Jackson and Bradshaw, it makes more sense to me to grab their backups who may have much more long term potential in the NFL than Goodson and Jones. Of course, take all that for what it’s worth, just the opinions of some loser who likes fantasy football. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/5 "2012-08-06T14:03:37Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I think you better hope to get a stud RB in trade, because I’m not really all that impressed with your team, especially as a dynasty league. Since I don’t quite get how much the talent pool is replenished each year (i/e is it only rookies who get drafted each year?), it could be salvageable, but there seems to be a complete lack of young studs on the team. > > Who was your 2nd round pick? I’m guessing it had to be Steven Jackson, but, if so, I think that’s way too early for a 29 year old RB who has taken a pounding each and every year. And you’re right, missing out on MJD in the third (hell, I’d taken him before Jackson in the 2nd) was a big mistake. > > I’m going out on a limb and guess that you’re a Raider fan. Am I right? Because Grabbing Goodson and Jones, Heyward Bey and Ford doesn’t make much sense to me unless it’s pure homerism. I like Goodson, but I don’t think he’ll ever be more than a fill in if McFadden goes down, and Jones won’t ever be “the guy”. And Heyward Bey and Ford are the same guy on the same team with the same QB who is old and, after this year or next, will have a new rookie QB to have to adjust to. > Add in Gates, Wayne, and Smith standing on the precipice of old age fantasy irrelevance, and I’m not all that impressed with the team. I like Bradshaw, but he hasn’t made it through an entire season … well, ever. And where is David Wilson or Isiah Pead? If you have Jackson and Bradshaw, it makes more sense to me to grab their backups who may have much more long term potential in the NFL than Goodson and Jones. > > Of course, take all that for what it’s worth, just the opinions of some loser who likes fantasy football. I agree. People grabbed the rookies way earlier than I expected, usually going a pick or two before I reached for them in that same round. But Pead went in 4th (stupid early I think) and Wilson more reasonably in the 8th to the guy who picked right in front of me. Missing on MJD was my big mistake, and I kicked myself hard when I realized that I didn’t notice he was still on the board and picked Greg Jennings instead. I didn’t have a second round pick, I traded up to pick Rodgers in the first round. When I made the trade I knew I would have to build my team with the idea of trading into an upgrade or two as the season went on so that was my goal. We only draft rookies from here on out unless we add teams and we draft NFL style from here on too. So yeah, my team is old, but it’s built to trade and (hopefully) win now. I am a Raider fan, but homerism isn’t the reason I grabbed those guys. I picked them all up in and after the 15th round (right after I picked up Manning) as people I think are currently having a good camp and who I know well, but who I am willing to drop as other camp studs start to emerge. If all four of them are sill on my team when the season starts I did something wrong. Goodson is looking like he will be as good as Michael Bush was, but with more receptions. I think of that part of my bench as the “players people don’t know about yet” part of the bench. They are late round place holders. And hey, don’t worry about the criticisms. I like getting the feedback. I ended up getting a lot of old guys who (I think/hope) can still play like studs but that people were ignoring because they were targeting rookies unreasonably early. Almost all the rookie class worth taking was off the board by round 6. I picked up Antonio Gates in the 8th round, Reggie Wayne in the 11th, Steven Jackson in the 6th, Payton Manning in the 14th Michael Turner in the 12th. That’s all crazy late, and maybe I am a sucker for value. Maybe I overvalue them, but I think all four of them can be studs, and if only one hits I have an excellent trade chip. Anyway that was my thinking. I like fantasy too and think my biggest strength as a play is my willingness to think outside the box in terms of player value, but I would be lying if I said that this team didn’t make me a little nervous. I joked after the draft that I was drafting the best team of 2009. We will have to see how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/6 "2012-08-06T14:57:30Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > I didn’t have a second round pick, I traded up to pick Rodgers in the first round. When I made the trade I knew I would have to build my team with the idea of trading into an upgrade or two as the season went on so that was my goal. I love Aaron Rodgers. I think he’s fantastic, a great player for fantasy purposes, and would love to have him on any of my teams. But giving up your first round and second round picks for him was to my mind, inane, especially in a dynasty draft, where you have guys for the rest of their careers. While he is amazing, there is, and always will be, somebody who will be just a bit less productive who wouldn’t cost you a first and a second. The price, as your old, iffy RB corp indicates, was simply too high. > [@NAF1138](#): > > We only draft rookies from here on out unless we add teams and we draft NFL style from here on too. So yeah, my team is old, but it’s built to trade and (hopefully) win now. I never, ever want to have to count on a trade to win anything, because you end up getting taken to the cleaners. You simply aren’t going to get a young stud RB for Peyton Manning, no matter how good he does this year. > [@NAF1138](#): > > And hey, don’t worry about the criticisms. I like getting the feedback. I ended up getting a lot of old guys who (I think/hope) can still play like studs but that people were ignoring because they were targeting rookies unreasonably early. Almost all the rookie class worth taking was off the board by round 6. I picked up Antonio Gates in the 8th round, Reggie Wayne in the 11th, Steven Jackson in the 6th, Payton Manning in the 14th Michael Turner in the 12th. That’s all crazy late, and maybe I am a sucker for value. Maybe I overvalue them, but I think all four of them can be studs, and if only one hits I have an excellent trade chip. I agree that you got good to great value for those guys, and that’s the same strategy I took when we drafted our dynasty league. But waiting until round 4 to draft a RB (and a brittle one at that, assuming it was Ahmad Bradshaw), taking Jennings over MJD, and giving up too much for Rodgers put you in a hole I don’t think you can get out of. > [@NAF1138](#): > > Anyway that was my thinking. I like fantasy too and think my biggest strength as a play is my willingness to think outside the box in terms of player value, but I would be lying if I said that this team didn’t make me a little nervous. I joked after the draft that I was drafting the best team of 2009. We will have to see how it goes. We will see. Best of luck. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/7 "2012-08-06T17:13:51Z")
Thanks. Missing that MJD was still on the board was a huge mistake, but I am hoping that I can recover from it. There is always a player or two no one expected to break out, I just need to be sure that I am on top of things enough to catch that guy. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/8 "2012-08-06T17:20:31Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Thanks. Missing that MJD was still on the board was a huge mistake, but I am hoping that I can recover from it. There is always a player or two no one expected to break out, I just need to be sure that I am on top of things enough to catch that guy. If you’re drafting 3rd stringers like Taiwan Jones and never-will-be’s like Davonne Bess, I would think that breakout player is already on somebody’s roster. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/9 "2012-08-06T18:28:25Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > If you’re drafting 3rd stringers like Taiwan Jones and never-will-be’s like Davonne Bess, I would think that breakout player is already on somebody’s roster. Good luck. So you knew to draft Victor Cruz and DeMarco Murray last year? How about Peyton Hillis the year before? Winning is about more than the draft. And I am not sure why you felt that last barb was necessary. We were just talking. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/10 "2012-08-06T20:49:15Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > So you knew to draft Victor Cruz and DeMarco Murray last year? How about Peyton Hillis the year before? Those players were drafted. His point is that it’s extremely rare to have a breakout player be completely undrafted in a league where dregs like Taiwan Jones and Davonne Bess are also drafted. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/11 "2012-08-06T21:33:32Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Those players were drafted. His point is that it’s extremely rare to have a breakout player be completely undrafted in a league where dregs like Taiwan Jones and Davonne Bess are also drafted. Ah okay then. Maybe I am being overly sensitive. It’s been a weird day. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/12 "2012-08-06T22:39:07Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Ah okay then. Maybe I am being overly sensitive. It’s been a weird day. It happens, especially when trying to justify a risky fantasy team (I’ve been there). You just have to realize how risky things are, and that multiple risky moves are multiplied, not added. I especially agree that in a dynasty team, you’ll have very little luck moving a successful Manning for a stud RB, should Manning return to glory. The only shot you’d have is if you’re out of contention and the team you’re trading with is a QB away from winning. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/13 "2012-08-06T23:33:59Z")
Ah well, live and learn. I am on a learning curve with this league since it is both ppr and dynasty, formats that I haven’t played with before really. I played in Oaks league last year but a family emergency caused me to miss the draft so I was never really in it. My only real experience with anything similar is in a baseball league and Roto baseball really isn’t the same thing. On the plus side, the NFL style draft of the rookie classes means that if I am way out of it I can always rebuild a little more quickly. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/14 "2012-08-07T15:43:58Z")
OK, what are your guys feelings on Doug Martin? I have someone with a thin WR lineup asking for Steve Johnson, he offered Kevin Smith which is crazy low, but I though Doug Martin would be fair. He also has Issac Redman on his team which seems like a fair deal too, but Martin seems to have more upside if he is willing to let him go. I am really high on Johnson this year, so I don’t want to sell low. Is Martin over-hyped? I also noticed that there was a different fantasy football general thread that I didn’t see when I started this one so I am going to ask the mods to change the title. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/15 "2012-08-08T13:59:44Z")
Is this a 12 team league? I wouldn’t trade for Martin all things being equal. The talking heads _predict_ that he will win the starting job in Tampa, but LeGarrette Blount is starting the first preseason game and I suspect at best he’ll end up in a Bradshaw/Jacobs type of situation. You have plenty of wideout depth, though, so I don’t see why you wouldn’t make the deal. As far as Isaac Redman… um, what? Even assuming he starts in place of Mendenhall, he’s got all of one NFL start and hasn’t done much. I would rather have Dwyer, who has every-down potential, but I wouldn’t trade an established star for either of them. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/16 "2012-08-08T14:35:47Z")
For Redman I was thinking it would be Redman and something, but after looking into Redman more I don’t know that I can even do that. He isn’t the long term solution in Pit, and so he doesn’t really help my team with its age problem. I think I am not going to get a deal done with this guy since he and I don’t have close to the same opinion of Johnson’s value. He turned down the Martin proposal saying he likes Martin’s upside better. That’s fair I guess. I offered him DHB for Redman and got a no on that too. He said he is going to make a pass at another offer, so we’ll see. He approached me looking to get WR depth so, maybe something will happen. Yeah, 12 team PPR dynasty. I potentially have someone who wants to trade for Turner since his team is nothing but young guns and he wants a safety valve. I’ll let you know how that works out. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/17 "2012-08-08T14:52:54Z")
I wouldn’t trade Turner for anything short of a starting RB/starting WR combo. He’s your only sure thing at running back, and in my book a 1200/10 TD guarantee is worth its weight in gold, even in PPR. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/18 "2012-08-08T14:57:34Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I wouldn’t trade Turner for anything short of a starting RB/starting WR combo. He’s your only sure thing at running back, and in my book a 1200/10 TD guarantee is worth its weight in gold, even in PPR. That’d good to know. The PPR format is throwing my gut off a bit. I was going to ask for Eric Decker or Antonio Brown, but that sounds like too little to me now ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/19 "2012-08-08T15:02:35Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > That’d good to know. The PPR format is throwing my gut off a bit. I was going to ask for Eric Decker or Antonio Brown, but that sounds like too little to me now :eek: When in doubt, familiarize yourself with a Top 100 list from any reputable fantasy website like ESPN or Yahoo, and stop focusing on an insulated league rule like PPR. Yes, PPR is a huge factor - but it’s not the only factor. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/20 "2012-08-08T15:14:30Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > :eek: > > stop focusing on an insulated league rule like PPR. Yes, PPR is a huge factor - but it’s not the only factor. Yeah, this is probably what I need to pay most attention to. Believe it or not I am actually pretty good at this usually, but I am feeling disoriented in this league partially due to the setup and partially due to the players who are all more experienced than I am (a little because this is earlier in the year than I am used to having a drafted team.) I need to stop thinking about it like it is any different than my other league. Thanks for settling me down. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523.md?page=2)