# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Stuff-N-Things](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Stuff-N-Things](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuff-N-Things)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/41 "2012-08-30T16:57:34Z")
> [@wmulax93](#): > > I drafted my team Tuesday (Aug 28) and I think I did well with it. I forgot to put in my keepers in time and was locked out by ESPN, so I had to start anew. Considering how bad my team was last year ( **Hamlet** utterly shredded my roster in the “Rate my Roster” thread), I have nowhere to go but up. > > This year I have: > QB Philip Rivers, SD > > RB Matt Forte, Chi > > RB Fred Jackson, Buf > > WR Calvin Johnson, Det > > WR Demaryius Thomas, Den > > TE Vernon Davis, SF > > FLEX Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oak > > D/ST 49ers D/ST > > K Mason Crosby, GB > > And my bench is: > > Robert Griffin III, Wsh QB > > Owen Daniels, Hou TE > > Shane Vereen, NE RB > > Michael Floyd, Ari WR > > Mikel Leshoure, Det RB (My 15th pick; I’m a hopeful Lions fan, but I didn’t see anyone better at RB still available when I picked him). > > So, **Hammie** , how bad is it this year? For reference, last year I had Matt Ryan, MJD, Peyton Hillis, and a bunch of shit I can’t remember. It was bad enough to take 6th in a 12 team league. What type of league is this? ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/42 "2012-08-30T17:03:20Z")
Standard head-to-head scoring with 2 keepers/year. ---
**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 30, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/43 "2012-08-30T17:17:08Z")
> [@wmulax93](#): > > Considering how bad my team was last year ( **Hamlet** utterly shredded my roster in the “Rate my Roster” thread), I have nowhere to go but up. I was right? Go figure. That happens all too rarely for me. > [@wmulax93](#): > > QB Philip Rivers, SD > > RB Matt Forte, Chi > > RB Fred Jackson, Buf > > WR Calvin Johnson, Det > > WR Demaryius Thomas, Den > > TE Vernon Davis, SF > > FLEX Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oak > > D/ST 49ers D/ST > > K Mason Crosby, GB > > And my bench is: > > Robert Griffin III, Wsh QB > > Owen Daniels, Hou TE > > Shane Vereen, NE RB > > Michael Floyd, Ari WR > > Mikel Leshoure, Det RB (My 15th pick; I’m a hopeful Lions fan, but I didn’t see anyone better at RB still available when I picked him). > > So, **Hammie** , how bad is it this year? For reference, last year I had Matt Ryan, MJD, Peyton Hillis, and a bunch of shit I can’t remember. It was bad enough to take 6th in a 12 team league. I like this team a ton better (I told you Hillis would suck). I’m assuming you got Calvin in the first, then Forte, Jackson, and Thomas, and Rivers next (or maybe Rivers then Thomas). That’s a good start to the draft. Personally, I don’t like Forte until the mid to late third round this year. He’s coming off injury, going to be sharing a lot more (including those goal line carries) with Bush, and he just doesn’t get into the end zone enough. But he’s safe and solid, and with Calvin in the first round, you have a nice start. I love Fred Jackson (if healthy), he was on a torrid pace last year before injury, and Demaryius Thomas has enough upside to take a shot. And Rivers should be better than last year (one would hope). But your depth leaves something to be desired. I kinda like Leshoure as a late round flyer for depth, and maybe Shane Vereen takes over from Ridley (I’ve never drafted a NE Patriot RB simply because it’s always a clusterfuck), but I wouldn’t want to have to start either. I don’t think RGIII or Michael Floyd will produce much this year (I don’t know your keeper rules, so they may have future value). And Heyward Bey is a perennial tease. There’s some upside to all those guys, but as far as startable depth … I’d be worried. Best of luck. ---
**Author:** ![Stuff-N-Things](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Stuff-N-Things](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuff-N-Things)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/44 "2012-08-30T17:41:49Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I was right? Go figure. That happens all too rarely for me. > > I like this team a ton better (I told you Hillis would suck). I’m assuming you got Calvin in the first, then Forte, Jackson, and Thomas, and Rivers next (or maybe Rivers then Thomas). That’s a good start to the draft. > > Personally, I don’t like Forte until the mid to late third round this year. He’s coming off injury, going to be sharing a lot more (including those goal line carries) with Bush, and he just doesn’t get into the end zone enough. But he’s safe and solid, and with Calvin in the first round, you have a nice start. I love Fred Jackson (if healthy), he was on a torrid pace last year before injury, and Demaryius Thomas has enough upside to take a shot. And Rivers should be better than last year (one would hope). > > But your depth leaves something to be desired. I kinda like Leshoure as a late round flyer for depth, and maybe Shane Vereen takes over from Ridley (I’ve never drafted a NE Patriot RB simply because it’s always a clusterfuck), but I wouldn’t want to have to start either. I don’t think RGIII or Michael Floyd will produce much this year (I don’t know your keeper rules, so they may have future value). And Heyward Bey is a perennial tease. There’s some upside to all those guys, but as far as startable depth … I’d be worried. > > Best of luck. I’ll agree about the start. Heyward Bey is always a question mark, but taking risks can win the league. I like RGIII. Floyd doesn’t have a QB to throw to him. Definitely a cluster in NE, but we’ll see what happens come the regular season. Your starters look good enough to carry you in the beginning, which should give you time to scout and maybe upgrade your depth at RB, depending on what your league rules are for adding players. Owen Daniels is a question mark for me. I would go for someone like Jared Cook personally. He should be a good target in the End Zone for Locker. That’s my 2 cents at least. ---
**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 30, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/45 "2012-08-30T22:21:49Z")
What Hamlet said. Fantastic starters - I’d be doing a happy dance if I drafted that team - but awful, awful bench (and flex). ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/46 "2012-08-31T02:32:30Z")
Just finished the draft in my league. Note that it is a 2 QB league with non-standard scoring. Weekly scores are usually over 150 fantasy points, and I think the league record is over 220 fantasy points. **The 2012 Darnassus Druids:** QB1: Peyton Manning QB2: Phillip Rivers WR1: Steve Smith WR2: Mike Wallace WR3: Lance Moore RB1: Adrian Peterson RB2: Reggie Bush TE: Jimmy Graham W/R/T: Mark Ingram BN1: Alex Smith BN2: Ryan Fitzpatrick BN3: Anquan Boldin BN4: Dustin Keller BN5: Ben Tate BN6: Austin Collie K: Matt Bryant D/ST: New Orleans ---
**Author:** ![PlanetCharlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c37758/32.png) [@PlanetCharlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlanetCharlie)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/47 "2012-08-31T03:06:31Z")
Do you really need two backup quarterbacks (4 total) in such a league? (Honest question, I’ve never played in a two QB league.) Also I’m curious, how many people are in this league? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/48 "2012-08-31T03:56:22Z")
> [@PlanetCharlie](#): > > Do you really need two backup quarterbacks (4 total) in such a league? (Honest question, I’ve never played in a two QB league.) Also I’m curious, how many people are in this league? It’s a 10 team league. I took the two backup QBs because both Manning and Rivers have the same bye week. I figure to trade one of the QBs not named Manning after that, unless Peyton’s dead or something. Secondary thought is that QBs sitting on my bench are not putting up points for my opponents. ---
**Author:** ![JCUBE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@JCUBE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCUBE)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/49 "2012-08-31T11:25:11Z")
I am in a 10 team PPR league with head to head matchups. With 2 Keepers we start 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 D/ST 1 K. Listed in order of my draft (which is 15 rounds snake order and I was 10th, as I won the league last year): Rd1 RB1 Ray Rice Rd2 QB1 Drew Brees RD3 RB2 Jamaal Charles Rd4 WR1 Marques Colston Rd5 WR2 Dawyane Bowe RD6 WR3 Steve Smith RD7 WR4 Brandon Loyd RD8 WR5 Pierre Garcon RD9 RB3 Green-Ellis RD10 DST1 Seahawks RD11 QB2 Daulton RD12 K1 Nugent RD13 DST2 Chiefs RD14 RB4 Helu RD15 WR6 Laurent Robinson QB: Brees, Daulton RB: Rice, Charles, Green-Ellis, Helu WR: Colston, Bowe, Steve Smith, Loyd, Garcon, Robinson DST: Seahawks, Chiefs K: Nugent Thanks!!! ---
**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 31, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/50 "2012-08-31T12:36:10Z")
> [@JCUBE](#): > > I am in a 10 team PPR league with head to head matchups. With 2 Keepers we start 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 D/ST 1 K. Listed in order of my draft (which is 15 rounds snake order and I was 10th, as I won the league last year): > > Rd1 RB1 Ray Rice > Rd2 QB1 Drew Brees > RD3 RB2 Jamaal Charles > Rd4 WR1 Marques Colston > Rd5 WR2 Dawyane Bowe > RD6 WR3 Steve Smith > RD7 WR4 Brandon Loyd > RD8 WR5 Pierre Garcon > RD9 RB3 Green-Ellis > RD10 DST1 Seahawks > RD11 QB2 Daulton > RD12 K1 Nugent > RD13 DST2 Chiefs > RD14 RB4 Helu > RD15 WR6 Laurent Robinson > > QB: Brees, Daulton > RB: Rice, Charles, Green-Ellis, Helu > WR: Colston, Bowe, Steve Smith, Loyd, Garcon, Robinson > DST: Seahawks, Chiefs > K: Nugent > > Thanks!!! In more than half his games, Andy Dalton threw for less than 200 yards, and in 10 he threw for one or less touchdowns. No way he should be on a fantasy roster in a 10 team league. And … And … Damn, I have no more. I really like your team. I’m absolutely stunned that Ray Rice would fall to 10. Are you drafting with a bunch of 8 year olds? Phillipino jail alai fans who have never seen American football? Dead people? Your wide receiver depth could use some work (I’m not sold on Bowe, but I like the upside of Garcon and Lloyd could have another amazing year in NE), but really, that’s just nitpicking. I want an invite to your league next year. ---
**Author:** ![JCUBE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@JCUBE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCUBE)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/51 "2012-08-31T12:54:39Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > In more than half his games, Andy Dalton threw for less than 200 yards, and in 10 he threw for one or less touchdowns. No way he should be on a fantasy roster in a 10 team league. And … > > And … > > Damn, I have no more. I really like your team. I’m absolutely stunned that Ray Rice would fall to 10. Are you drafting with a bunch of 8 year olds? Phillipino jail alai fans who have never seen American football? Dead people? > > Your wide receiver depth could use some work (I’m not sold on Bowe, but I like the upside of Garcon and Lloyd could have another amazing year in NE), but really, that’s just nitpicking. I want an invite to your league next year. Actually in our draft we are required to take 2 QB’s in the draft but we can dump them after. And since I have Brees, I will dump Dalton and pick up a sleeper that is still undrafted. As for Ray Rice, he was my keeper pick along with Brees. That is how I got him at 10. I wasn’t sold on Bowe either but in the 5th round I had to take him. My wide reciever core is one that could be stellar, or a flop, I am taking a chance!! That is what wins leagues. Thanks for the comments. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/52 "2012-09-02T15:36:14Z")
Whats the general thought on Mendenhall? My RBs are pretty week, Lynch and Richardson, then Mendenhall, and a couple piles of crap. my flex will be WR every week, so all I need is a third guy for bye and injury weeks. Byes don’t come till week 10 and 11, so I figure he will be healthy by then. Do you think he will be the starter when he gets healthy? I am debating if I should trade some of my WR depth to upgrade 3rd RB, but don’t know what kind of value I can get right now. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/53 "2012-09-02T16:19:48Z")
I did my first live draft in person in a long, long time. We had nine teams (???) but have since added a tenth and it was a snake draft and I drew 9, so I picked last and then first in the next round…so two picks at a time. Here’s what I ended up with: Eli Manning, NYG QB LeSean McCoy, Phi Steven Jackson, StL Isaac Redman, Pit RB Wes Welker, NE WR DeSean Jackson, Phi WR Vernon Davis, SF TE Eagles D/ST Mike Nugent, Cin K Bench: Mark Ingram, NO RB Jermaine Gresham, Cin TE Justin Blackmon, Jac WR Felix Jones, Dal RB Steve Smith, Car WR Matt Schaub, Hou QB Torrey Smith, Bal WR In all I think this is a pretty solid team. My lone Cincinnati conceits were to Gresham and Nugent the kicker, both of whom are solid fantasy plays in their own right anyway, especially since the Bengals struggle to score TD’s in the red zone so Nugent gets a lot of work! What do ya’ll think? ---
**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:** [September 2, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/54 "2012-09-02T16:40:12Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I did my first live draft in person in a long, long time. We had nine teams (???) but have since added a tenth and it was a snake draft and I drew 9, so I picked last and then first in the next round…so two picks at a time. > > Here’s what I ended up with: > > Eli Manning, NYG QB > > LeSean McCoy, Phi > > Steven Jackson, StL > > Isaac Redman, Pit RB > > Wes Welker, NE WR > > DeSean Jackson, Phi WR > > Vernon Davis, SF TE > > Eagles D/ST > > Mike Nugent, Cin K > > Bench: > > Mark Ingram, NO RB > > Jermaine Gresham, Cin TE > > Justin Blackmon, Jac WR > > Felix Jones, Dal RB > > Steve Smith, Car WR > > Matt Schaub, Hou QB > > Torrey Smith, Bal WR How in hell did LeSean McCoy fall to 9? And who did you reach for with your next pick? #10 is way to early for Wes Welker (unless it’s a full point per reception league). Did you trade up to get McCoy and have to give up your second round pick? > [@FGIE](#): > > In all I think this is a pretty solid team. My lone Cincinnati conceits were to Gresham and Nugent the kicker, both of whom are solid fantasy plays in their own right anyway, especially since the Bengals struggle to score TD’s in the red zone so Nugent gets a lot of work! It seems like a solid team, but I wouldn’t be all that excited. With only 9 drafters, you should have at least 3 real studs, and, to me, you have one in McCoy. Welker is fine, I guess, in PPR leagues, but I’d take higher upside guys like Fitzgerald, White, Jennings, Green, or Jones before him. That said, you have a good chunk of above average talent. I like Stephen Jackson and Eli is close to those studly QB’s, but DeSean and Torrey Smith are too inconsistent for me, and Redman is running behind a crappy O Line and is just filling time till Mendenhall gets back. I like your team, I just don’t see the firepower I’d want in a 9 team league. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/55 "2012-09-02T17:27:05Z")
Even though there were 9 original teams, only 6 people actually showed up, so there were 3 people we were assigned to draft for. We decided to initially go with BPA for the absent owners, which, according to our ESPN top 300 cheat sheet precipitated a small run on QB’s and somehow McCoy was available because the people present picked around him and above him (I think McCoy was ranked 3rd on that list). I didn’t want to be left without a decent QB as my wait for my next set of picks was so long so I took Eli at number 10 as he was the best QB available at that point. By doing so I narrowly missed out on AJ Green, who was going to be my next target, a WR, at pick number 26, which was my next pick. In retrospect I should have gone stud WR with #10 pick (The very best of whom were already taken) instead of QB. So Welker was the pick at 26, and I picked DeSean Jackson at 27. Steven Jackson was the next pick after that. I like my Desean Jackson pick because he’s got his new contract so is not playing disgruntled and our league rules allow me to double dip on TD’s if Jackson scores a punt return for a touchdown. I have Redman in the flex role right now but I will probably swap him out and put in a receiver there. I like this team. Eli is a good fantasy QB, other than maybe throwing a few too many picks. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/56 "2012-09-02T21:43:32Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I didn’t want to be left without a decent QB as my wait for my next set of picks was so long so I took Eli at number 10 as he was the best QB available at that point. I have Eli as my #7 QB, in a tier with Phillip Rivers, Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Peyton Manning, and Matt Ryan. I certainly don’t have him as a guy I need to have if those are available, and in a 10 team league, a top 10 QB should be there for you in rounds 4 or 5. Reaching for Eli was, to my mind, a mistake. > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > By doing so I narrowly missed out on AJ Green, who was going to be my next target, a WR, at pick number 26, which was my next pick. In retrospect I should have gone stud WR with #10 pick (The very best of whom were already taken) instead of QB. Yep, but I have a hard time concluding “the very best [stud WR’s] were already gone at 10”. If Foster and Rice were gone, and the top QB’s were gone (Brady, Rodgers, Brees, Stafford), that means there had to be at least one stud WR worth taking before Eli. Heck, if RB’s were so passed over, you might have thought about going McCoy/McFadden or McCoy/Johnson, then waiting on a WR and get Eli next around. > [@Foie Gras is Evil](#): > > So Welker was the pick at 26, and I picked DeSean Jackson at 27. Steven Jackson was the next pick after that. Makes sense, if it’s a PPR league. And Steven Jackson is nice value in the 5th. > [@Foie Gras Is Evil](#): > > I like my Desean Jackson pick because he’s got his new contract so is not playing disgruntled and our league rules allow me to double dip on TD’s if Jackson scores a punt return for a touchdown. I like Jackson, but mostly because I think he’s underrated at his ADP (which is the 6.9 pick in a 12 team league). He’s way too boom or bust for me, but that may make him a nice complement to Welker. > [@Foie Gras is Evil](#): > > I like this team. Eli is a good fantasy QB, other than maybe throwing a few too many picks. Eli is a “good” fantasy QB. I don’t like taking “good” fantasy players with the 10th pick. Especially when I have that “good” fantasy player in a tier with 6 other QB’s who are of about equal value. I think that would be my biggest problem with your team, missing out on a stud WR or a second could be stud RB in favor of a “good” QB. Best of luck! ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/57 "2012-09-02T22:09:18Z")
I don’t like the uncertainty surrounding many of the QB’s you listed. Cam Newton was gone or I would have taken him. Vick I wouldn’t take there due to injury history. There is uncertainty surrounding Manning, whom I was going to take as my backup in the round I selected Shaub but someone got to him first (speaking of which, if Manning returns to form, he’s an ELITE fantasy QB along with Rogers and Brees, isn’t he?). Ryan was available, I probably should have taken him instead but eh. I think that’s a wash there. And Rivers is coming off a bad year and I am not sold that the Chargers offense is going to be all that great this season due to age (and Norv Turner!). Adrian Peterson was still available when I picked 10th…but again: injuries and a bad team. I try to consider these things when I select a player, especially a RB on a bad offense as they get robbed of carries in the second halves of games due to constantly playing catchup. We used this list: [2012 Fantasy Football Top 300 Rankings - ESPN](http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=NFLDK2K12ranksTop300) to select players. By the time I picked, Foster, Rogers, Brady, Brees, Megatron, Fitzgerald, Johnson and Roddy White were all gone. When I realized McCoy was available with my first pick that was a no-brainer. Then I waffled a bit deciding whom to pick next. I could have gotten Chris Johnson, but was put off by the season he had last year, and the Titans aren’t very good and I doubt Johnson will ever again attain the numbers he got two years ago. No way I was picking MJD with his contract situation (and age and sucky team). Looking at the list from about 17 to 27, I banked on a stud WR being available by the time I picked again and decided to go QB with that pick because after I would have picked yet again, the drop off would have been enormous. So call it a reach, but there’s no way I take Mike Wallace, Marshawn Lynch, Jamaal Charles, Demarco Murray, Matt Forte, etc ahead of Eli in that scenario. The real temptation I had to avoid was taking either AJ Green there or Gronk. I figured it was unlikely that Gronk would get 17 TD’s again, and silently hoped Green would be available when I picked again and took steady, productive, durable Eli. Green was taken right before my next pick and Welker was still available, so I took him instead. Its not like he doesn’t get 100 catches a year or anything, and my league does reward a point per reception. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/58 "2012-09-03T11:29:18Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I don’t like the uncertainty surrounding many of the QB’s you listed. Cam Newton was gone or I would have taken him. Vick I wouldn’t take there due to injury history. There is uncertainty surrounding Manning, whom I was going to take as my backup in the round I selected Shaub but someone got to him first (speaking of which, if Manning returns to form, he’s an ELITE fantasy QB along with Rogers and Brees, isn’t he?). Ryan was available, I probably should have taken him instead but eh. I think that’s a wash there. And Rivers is coming off a bad year and I am not sold that the Chargers offense is going to be all that great this season due to age (and Norv Turner!). My point wasn’t that Eli wasn’t the best of that group (I don’t think he is), but rather that their production in fantasy football will be roughly comparable, and that I greatly dislike being the first to draft a guy in one of my tiers. I may think Eli is the best, but, to me, the step down from Eli to a “not Eli” QB in that tier, is much, much smaller than the step down from Chris Johnson to Steven Jackson. > [@FGIE](#): > > Adrian Peterson was still available when I picked 10th…but again: injuries and a bad team. I try to consider these things when I select a player, especially a RB on a bad offense as they get robbed of carries in the second halves of games due to constantly playing catchup. > > We used this list: [2012 Fantasy Football Top 300 Rankings - ESPN](http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=NFLDK2K12ranksTop300) to select players. By the time I picked, Foster, Rogers, Brady, Brees, Megatron, Fitzgerald, Johnson and Roddy White were all gone. When I realized McCoy was available with my first pick that was a no-brainer. Then I waffled a bit deciding whom to pick next. Two words: Matthew Stafford. If you had your heart set on the QB position and the top 3 are gone, grab the guy who is #4. I think Stafford is going to have a huge year, and have him in the tier above Eli and the rest. > [@FGIE](#): > > Call it a reach, but there’s no way I take Mike Wallace, Marshawn Lynch, Jamaal Charles, Demarco Murray, Matt Forte, etc ahead of Eli in that scenario. I think it’s a reach. But it’s your team and you like Eli. > [@FGIE](#): > > The real temptation I had to avoid was taking either AJ Green there or Gronk. I figured it was unlikely that Gronk would get 17 TD’s again, and silently hoped Green would be available when I picked again and took steady, productive, durable Eli. Green was taken right before my next pick and Welker was still available, so I took him instead. Its not like he doesn’t get 100 catches a year or anything, and my league does reward a point per reception. Welker is great in PPR (although I think he drops in production this year with a more vertical passing game with Lloyd and McDaniels in NE and with the emergence of Gronk and Hernandez), and is in a much better QB situation than AJ Green. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/59 "2012-09-03T12:24:36Z")
My issue with Stafford is that he’s never played a full season due to injuries…or is that incorrect? Maybe I’m thinking of Bradford. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/60 "2012-09-03T13:19:09Z")
How good to you all think Trent Richardson will actually be? Is he the next Mark Ingram (good, but disappointing), or will he have a breakout year? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523.md?page=4)