# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/61 "2012-09-03T14:25:25Z")
I have the #1 pick in my draft tonight. 10 teams. Yahoo! standard scoring, snake draft. Choice is between one of the top RBs or Rodgers. If I take Foster, my strategy would be to wait until RD 4 or 5 for a QB and hope someone like Schaub is still there. If I take Rodgers the RB pickings would be slim at #20. I should go RB at #1, right? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/62 "2012-09-03T15:53:51Z")
Yes, although I think I’d probably like my chances at a very nice quarterback option on that first return trip. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/63 "2012-09-03T16:02:38Z")
I can’t really argue with the selection of Manning. His numbers improve just about every year, he was the sixth most productive fantasy quarterback last season, and he’s the opposite of Stafford injury-risk wise (he’s never missed a start). The Giants also figure to throw a bit more in the red zone now that Jacobs is gone. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/64 "2012-09-03T16:21:08Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Yes, although I think I’d probably like my chances at a very nice quarterback option on that first return trip. I’m assuming the top 4 or 5 QBs will be gone by #20. If not it would certainly be an option. But if I can grab 1 great RB; 1 very good RB; and a very good WR or great TE with my first 3 picks I think I can still get good QB value at 40 or 41. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/65 "2012-09-03T16:26:53Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > 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. Stafford started all 16 games last year, but he missed 19 games over his first two seasons. Bradford missed 6 games last year but started all 16 as a rookie. ---
**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, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/66 "2012-09-03T16:43:58Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > 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. Stafford played in all 16 games last year, and had a higher completion percentage, threw for 200 more yards, 12 more touchdowns, and had the same amount of interceptions as Eli. ---
**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, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/67 "2012-09-03T16:45:05Z")
> [@brickbacon](#): > > 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? I like him, but I question his ability to stay healthy enough to make a huge impact. He’ll be running behind a not so good O line, but he is very talented. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/68 "2012-09-03T19:19:33Z")
I thought I’d pop in and post what my draft ended up like for my Big Money league a couple weeks ago. Here’s a few caveats, first we drafted back on August 14th so there was still a lot of uncertainty around the final depth charts and injuries. Second, it’s with a big group of guys who party pretty hard. The bar tab was enormous and we were forcing anyone who did anything stupid to do shots of Jameson, worst pick of the round, drafting already drafted players, clueless comments, whatever. So, the degree of difficulty increased with every round. As noted, we did the draft at the bar so there weren’t any computers to do research on. All in all, I think my team shaped up pretty well. I was drafting 4th overall, draft order decided based on the Kentucky Derby results which is a fun tweak, and was pretty worried I wouldn’t land one of the top QBs. The scoring/rosters in this league are a bit quirky. The most difficult thing for me to adapt to is there are positional limits. You’re only allowed a max of 4 RBs, 4 WRs, 2 QBs, TEs, Ks and DEFs. So, because of that you need to be judicious with taking high-risk high-reward gambles and there isn’t as much room for late round sleepers. You get .1 points for passing completions (not receptions) and there’s big bonuses for milestones, 100+ yard games, 40+ yard plays etc. The starting rosters are also a little atypical in that you start 1 QB, RB and WR and 2 WR/RB Flex spots, in years past having 3 stud RBS was pretty much a lock to get into the title game. So, because of all that QBs are super valuable and it’s important to get RBs and WRs who make big plays and stay healthy. When drafting I tried to take that into account. Here’s what I ended up with. Brady, Tom QB NE Luck, Andrew QB IND Peterson, Adrian RB MIN Gore, Frank RB SF Greene, Shonn RB NYJ Ridley, Stevan RB NE Thomas, Demaryius WR DEN Bowe, Dwayne WR KC Wayne, Reggie WR IND Floyd, Malcom WR SD Gresham, Jermaine TE CIN Olsen, Greg TE CAR TE Hanson, Jason K DET Bills DST BUF I landed Brady with my first pick, 4th overall, I was doing backflips. I think in this league anyone not taking one of the top 5 QBs is a fool. I especially think Brady is going to have huge numbers under McDanials and they will stretch the field more. I gambled with Adrian Peterson with my second pick. I’m doing this in a lot of leagues because I suspect that from week 3 to 14 he’ll play like the #1 overall pick he usually is. RBs were really picked over at this point because of the RB obsession in the league so this felt like a bit of a steal. I grabbed Gore on the way back around and Greene in the 4th round. Both guys have major question marks but all have huge upside. The Jets have looked like shit this preseason but Greene is pretty much the only game in town. Charles, Matthews, Richardson and S. Jackson came off the board between Peterson and Gore, I may end up regretting passing on Matthews or Charles for Peterson if he’s gimpy, but both those guys are gimpy too. After getting 3 RBs I went after WR and banged out Thomas, Bowe and Wayne with my next three picks. Probably reached a little on Thomas with Nicks, Colston, Bryant and Lloyd still on the board but I guess I’m giving Manning a vote of confidence. The Bowe and Wayne picks are steals I think. Defenses have a habit of going really early in this league and because of the roster limits many teams end up with 2. I took the Bills with my 8th pick in the middle of a run because I think that D-Line will put up real points and they get to play the Dolphins and Jets twice, two terrible offenses with terrible QB play. For backups I was happy with Ridley as a 4th RB, there was almost nothing left at this point and Vereen was looking like he was in the catbird seat, in retrospect this looks like a steal. Then again it’s always a gamble to own a Pats RB, but I’m thinking Ridley could be this years McGahee but healthier. Luck, like Peterson, is a guy I’m getting in several league because I’m buying the hype. Hopefully I won’t need him but once here, but I’m thinking it’ll be good that someone else doesn’t have him. Grabbed Olsen and Gresham back to back for my TE and I feel good there for how little I spent on the position. Would have preferred no backup, but the roster restrictions requires you to back up one of TE, K and DEF. All in all, I like my team and by week 2 or 3 I should know where I stand with those RBs, I’ll either be golden or dead meat. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/69 "2012-09-03T19:23:39Z")
I’m growing somewhat iffy on Brady. The Pats’ first-string offensive line looked _atrocious_ against my Bucs (who had the fewest sacks in the league last year and return basically the same front four). I mean, I’d still take him in the first round, but I’ve got Rodgers and Brees ranked well above him now where before it was basically a tossup. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/70 "2012-09-03T19:33:53Z")
My team, in a 12-team league with keepers and IDP, starting its very first season this year: QB - Matt Ryan RB - LeSean McCoy WR - Dwayne Bowe WR - Brandon Lloyd TB/WR - Jamaal Charles TE - Jacob Tamme DL - Justin Tuck LB - Derrick Johnson DB - Jairus Byrd PK - Matt Prater RESERVES - Benajarvus Green-Ellis, Peyton Hillis, Beanie Wells, Mike Williams (TB), Justin Blackmon (we get a free rookie keeper), Patrick Willis Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/71 "2012-09-03T19:42:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m growing somewhat iffy on Brady. The Pats’ first-string offensive line looked _atrocious_ against my Bucs (who had the fewest sacks in the league last year and return basically the same front four). I mean, I’d still take him in the first round, but I’ve got Rodgers and Brees ranked well above him now where before it was basically a tossup. Rodgers is clearly in a class of his own, but I’m much more concerned about Brees. I think the turmoil will have a legitimate impact. Payton had a ton to do with their success and Brees’ number will slip quite a bit. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/72 "2012-09-03T19:52:18Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > My team, in a 12-team league with keepers and IDP, starting its very first season this year: > > QB - Matt Ryan > RB - LeSean McCoy > WR - Dwayne Bowe > WR - Brandon Lloyd > TB/WR - Jamaal Charles > TE - Jacob Tamme > DL - Justin Tuck > LB - Derrick Johnson > DB - Jairus Byrd > PK - Matt Prater > > RESERVES - Benajarvus Green-Ellis, Peyton Hillis, Beanie Wells, Mike Williams (TB), Justin Blackmon (we get a free rookie keeper), Patrick Willis > > Thoughts? You’ve got questionmarks up and down your offense, but if all goes right your team could be virtually unbeatable on that side. I don’t really know anything about IDP leagues so I can’t help there. I like Mike Williams as a backup wideout _immensely_. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/73 "2012-09-03T20:00:02Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > My team, in a 12-team league with keepers and IDP, starting its very first season this year: > > QB - Matt Ryan > RB - LeSean McCoy > WR - Dwayne Bowe > WR - Brandon Lloyd > TB/WR - Jamaal Charles > TE - Jacob Tamme > DL - Justin Tuck > LB - Derrick Johnson > DB - Jairus Byrd > PK - Matt Prater > > RESERVES - Benajarvus Green-Ellis, Peyton Hillis, Beanie Wells, Mike Williams (TB), Justin Blackmon (we get a free rookie keeper), Patrick Willis > > Thoughts? I see a team with a 1st round talent and a bunch of guys with 4th round grades. I actually like most of them, but I think you reached on a few. I like Charles as a 3rd RB, less as a 2nd. Bowe and Lloyd make great WR2s but you don’t have a WR1. Ryan is what the 8th QB, great if you have first tier WRs but I feel like you made some mistakes at the top of the draft. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/74 "2012-09-03T21:00:41Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I see a team with a 1st round talent and a bunch of guys with 4th round grades. I actually like most of them, but I think you reached on a few. I like Charles as a 3rd RB, less as a 2nd. Bowe and Lloyd make great WR2s but you don’t have a WR1. Ryan is what the 8th QB, great if you have first tier WRs but I feel like you made some mistakes at the top of the draft. It was an auction, actually, and the prices went absolutely out of control on the top quarterbacks. Rodgers went for more than 50% of his team’s total budget. But your point is taken. I actually got Charles for a pittance, but I completely wussed out when the bidding for the top receivers got high. ---
**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, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/75 "2012-09-03T22:42:23Z")
Would you trade Mark Ingram for Trent Richardson? My gut says Richardson will have better numbers, but rookies seem to always disappoint. What do you all think? ---
**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:** [September 3, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/76 "2012-09-03T23:37:05Z")
Richardson will have more opportunity to do things. Ingram will have more opportunity to score and won’t be seeing stacked fronts. It depends on what you want them for. I’d rather have Richardson as a #1, but I’d rather have Ingram as a flex or #2. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/77 "2012-09-04T00:34:15Z")
Draft just ended. Here’s what I wound up with: QB – Eli Manning RB – Arian Foster RB – DeMarco Murray WR – Julio Jones WR – Mike Wallace WR – Dwayne Bowe TE – Jermichael Finley K – Rob Bironas D – NY Giants Bench QB – Philip Rivers RB – BenJarvus Green-Ellis RB - Ben Tate WR – Anquan Boldin WR – Alshon Jeffery TE – Owen Daniel ---
**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 4, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/78 "2012-09-04T00:38:31Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Draft just ended. Here’s what I wound up with: > > QB – Eli Manning > RB – Arian Foster > RB – DeMarco Murray > WR – Julio Jones > WR – Mike Wallace > WR – Dwayne Bowe > TE – Jermichael Finley > K – Rob Bironas > D – NY Giants > > Bench > QB – Philip Rivers > RB – BenJarvus Green-Ellis > RB - Ben Tate > WR – Anquan Boldin > WR – Alshon Jeffery > TE – Owen Daniel Is this a 6 person league? I really like your team. A bit heavy on high upside unprovens (Julio Jones, DeMarco Murray), but you have mixed that in with some nice depth (hell, you may end up starting both Foster and Tate) and solid contributors (Eli) and outright studs (Foster). Nice team. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/79 "2012-09-04T00:59:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Richardson will have more opportunity to do things. Ingram will have more opportunity to score and won’t be seeing stacked fronts. It depends on what you want them for. I’d rather have Richardson as a #1, but I’d rather have Ingram as a flex or #2. Interesting distinction. In my 12-team league, I have the following RBs: Ray Rice BJGE Ingram Jacobs Jaquizz Rodgers With Rice, BJGE, and Ingram starting I could probably get Richardson for Ingram. Would you pull the trigger on that deal? ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523/80 "2012-09-04T01:02:46Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Is this a 6 person league? > > I really like your team. A bit heavy on high upside unprovens (Julio Jones, DeMarco Murray), but you have mixed that in with some nice depth (hell, you may end up starting both Foster and Tate) and solid contributors (Eli) and outright studs (Foster). Nice team. Thanks. It’s 10 teams, but 5 are women… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-fantasy-football-general-discussion/630523.md?page=5)