He Hate Me FF keeper league - year 9

The Game Room
61

*Fourth & Nineteen

  1. (4) Chris Johnson
    (Ten - RB)
  2. (25) Greg Jennings
    (GB - WR)
  3. (32) BenJarvus Green-Ellis
    (NE - RB)
  4. (53) Fred Jackson
    (Buf - RB)
  5. (60) Eli Manning
    (NYG - QB)
  6. (81) Dallas Clark
    (Ind - TE)
  7. (88) Johnny Knox
    (Chi - WR)
  8. (109) Austin Collie
    (Ind - WR)
  9. (116) Cam Newton
    (Car - QB)
  10. (137) Mike Williams
    (Sea - WR)
  11. (144) Darren Sproles
    (NO - RB)
  12. (165) Donald Brown
    (Ind - RB)
  13. (172) Joe McKnight
    (NYJ - RB)
  14. (193) Eddie Royal
    (Den - WR)
  15. (200) Detroit
    (Det - DEF)
  16. (221) Garrett Hartley
    (NO - K)*

A whole bunch of guys with high floors… and low ceilings. Well, except Johnson.

Manning is a perennially underrated fantasy quarterback. I’m always thrilled to draft him as a #2, and always pissed to have him as my starter.

Johnson/BJGE/Jackson can be plugged in and forgotten about. They won’t win you any games, but they won’t lose any. Good thing you took Sproles, because Brown and McKnight were both candidates to be cut during training camp and probably won’t see the field much.

Jennings - yay! Knox - oh dear. He’s in Mike Martz’ doghouse and won’t start, at least to begin the season. Fortunately, you have touchdown machine and walking head injury Austin Collie, because you’ll probably have cut Knox in 2 months. Royal is a sneaky backup pick.

Clark will do nicely.

Defense in Round 15 and a kicker in Round 16? Well done.

This draft gets a B.

I’ll do the rest at work tomorrow, I think. Right now, I’m off to wash the cat.

62

14 is a lot of reviews to right. I’ll start at the other end, and then if and when **RNATB **and I meet, we’ll each have the option to keep going or to stop there. Note that I’m not making an obligation to get all the way down to the 8th pick.

Edit: Christ, you go fast! I put way too much thought into these things and they take me forever. (That’s not backhanded boast or put-down or anything, I’m just saying I’m slow as shit.)
Baltimore Weirdos

  1. (14) Shonn Greene (NYJ - RB)
  2. (15) Drew Brees (NO - QB)
  3. (42) Cedric Benson (Cin - RB)
  4. (43) Anquan Boldin (Bal - WR)
    *5. (70) Peyton Hillis (Cle - RB) [SIZE=“1”]Keeper[/SIZE]
  5. (71) Mike Williams (TB - WR) Keeper
  6. (98) Miles Austin (Dal - WR) Keeper*
  7. (99) Lee Evans (Bal - WR)
  8. (126) Hines Ward (Pit - WR)
  9. (127) Rob Gronkowski (NE - TE)
  10. (154) New York (NYG - DEF)
  11. (155) Nate Kaefing (SD - K)
  12. (182) Jason Campbell (Oak - QB)
  13. (183) Tony Gonzalez (Atl - TE)
  14. (210) Carnell Williams (StL - RB)
  15. (211) Anthony Allen (Bal - RB)
    QB: Brees should be very good, he wasn’t taken too early, and with 6 point passing TDs good QB play is important. Campbell is a pretty good backup for someone who waited so long to take one (and doesn’t really need a backup anyway). Grade: A.

RB: I’m not a fan of Shonn Greene this year, and in any event he was taken at least a few picks too early. Cedric Benson is a sneaky-good RB2: yes, he basically sucks, but there’s no one else in Cincy, so he’ll get as many carries as almost any other back (300 carries at 3.5 per is 1,050 yards, while 200 carries at 4.5 per is 900; opportunity matters more than efficiency). Hillis of course is a great keeper in the 5th. Cadillac is, like, whatever; probably it’s better to take a potential keeper there. Grade: B+; Don’t like Greene in the 1st, but you nonetheless got 3 actual NFL starters who will get their carries.

WR: TB Mike and Austin are superb keepers, which is good since I hate every other WR. Boldin with the first pick in the 4th? He’s almost 31; he played 16 games last year and put up an 800/7, and he’s almost certain to do the same thing this year. Should’ve taken Britt or Lloyd, someone with at least a chance at a big season (even if it means a bigger chance of a bad one). Lee Evans is done and Hines Ward might be, and again neither has any real chance of putting up a big year, nor do they have any chance of being keepers. They’re just there. With two great starters locked in from keepers, you really should have taken some young upside guys, since probably all of your drafted WRs are backups for you this year. Grade: B+ for the unit, D+ for the non-keeper selections.

TE: Gronk & Gonzo are a nice tandem for someone who couldn’t get a top tier TE because his middle rounds were all keeper. Grade: B-.

DEF & K: 11th & 12th is too early for these positions, but both are nonetheless above average. Grade: B+.

Overall: A-. I’m not wild about some of the picks, but it’s still a very solid all-around team, and Dave is real threat to repeat.

63

Fightin’ Quakers

  1. (13) Steven Jackson (StL - RB)
  2. (16) Matt Forte (Chi - RB)
  3. (41) Stevie Johnson (Buf - WR)
  4. (44) Joe Flacco (Bal - QB)
  5. (69) DeMarco Murray (Dal - RB)
  6. (72) Delone Carter (Ind - RB)
  7. (97) Jacoby Ford (Oak - WR)
  8. (100) Stevan Ridley (NE - RB)
    9. (125) Jeremy Maclin (Phi - WR) Keeper
  9. (128) Brandon Pettigrew (Det - TE)
  10. (153) Chicago (Chi - DEF)
  11. (156) Andre Roberts (Ari - WR)
  12. (181) Chad Henne (Mia - QB)
  13. (184) Alex Green (GB - RB)
  14. (209) Mikel LeShoure (Det - RB)
  15. (212) Stephen Gostkowski (NE - K)
    QB: Without looking at the other rosters, I’m guessing this is the worst QB group in the league. Flacco at 4.2 is way early, and there’s no way he should have gone ahead of Schaub (I also would have taken Ryan and Eli ahead of him, and possibly a couple others). Henne, also, is a regrettable presence on any roster, and w/o an elite starter, a good backup is important. For my money you have the worst starter and second worst backup. Grade: D.

RB: Jackson is still a beast, Forte is still a guy who gets a lot of touches, and you got two pretty good keeper prospects in the 5th and 6th rounds. You also got two less good keeper prospect at the end of the draft (Green is high-upside, but there’s no way LeShoure goes into next year as the starter, and even primary backup is a stretch.) There’s a lot here. Grade: A- (including the keeper potential).

WR: A rough group. Maclin as a keeper in the 9th is good, but overall, Maclin-Stevie Johnson-Jacoby Ford is a decidedly un-terrifying group of starters, and you have no depth whatsoever, with only potential keeper Andre Roberts to round out the group. Grade: C-/D+.

TE: Pettigrew is ok, but nothing to get excited. I think there were better options, but for subjective reasons. Grade: C+.

DEF/Kicker: 1 of each, and Gostkowski is a very good find for someone who waited until the last round. Grade: B+.

Overall: C-. Tons of depth at RB, but not enough firepower to make up for the WRs, who suck, and the QBs, who really suck.

64

Spiritus Mundane

  1. (12) Calvin Johnson (Det - WR)
  2. (17) Frank Gore (SF - RB)
  3. (40) Ryan Mathews (SD - RB)
    4. (45) Mike Wallace (Pit - WR) Keeper
  4. (68) Jason Witten (Dal - TE)
  5. (73) Pierre Thomas (NO - RB)
  6. (96) Ben Tate (Hou - RB)
  7. (101) Jay Cutler (Chi - QB)
  8. (124) Robert Meachem (NO - WR)
  9. (129) Davone Bess (Mia - WR)
  10. (152) Ronnie Brown (Phi - RB)
    12. (157) Josh Freeman (TB - QB) Keeper
  11. (180) Taiwan Jones (Oak - RB)
  12. (185) Denarius Moore (Oak - WR)
  13. (208) Tampa Bay (TB - DEF)
  14. (213) Matt Bryant (Atl - K)

QB: Freeman seemingly does not have the potential to break out and put up huge numbers, but he’s solid enough if you can keep him in the 12th it makes sense to roll with him as your starter, get a decent backup, and spend your draft resources elsewhere. Spiritus had the right idea, but that misclick in the 8th Round may have really hurt him (I like Orton a lot more than I like Cutler). Still, an average fantasy starter and a slightly above average backup – we can work with this. Grade: B.

RB: Gore slipped a little too far, but I don’t like taking Ryan Matthews in the 3rd, unless Spiritus knows something I don’t (which he might; he’s very smart). Pierre Thomas will likely have a role this year, but he’s still injured, and the pick just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If you’re stuck with the RB dregs that were left in the 6th, may as well take a guy with keeper potential, you know? Ben Tate is kinda more like it, but he is behind one of the few NFL RBs who isn’t gonna leave a lot of carries for his backup when healthy. I kinda like Ronnie Brown in the 11th; he can still play, was worth a shot. Grade: B-; at the end of the day, Gore + (whoever else winds up having a decent season) is not a disaster at RB in this league.

WR: Megatron and Mike Wallace make a great tandem, but I would have liked to see one guy just slightly better than Meachem/Bess to round out the group. You did get the obligatory one potential keeper WR who will probably be cut by Week 5. Grade: A-; those starters are too good to ignore.

TE: Witten, and not too early. Good job. Grade: A-.

DEF/Kicker: One of each. Bryant is fine, TB wouldn’t have been my choice, but it doesn’t matter, I assume you’ll be playing matchups anyway.

Overall: B. There’s a lot here that’s kinda underwhelming, but the team is solid enough all-around that it could win the league if enough things break right (the WRs live up to expectations, Mathews is treated like a starter, Ingram is not, Gore stays healthy, Foster does not).

65

Off Constantly

  1. (11) Maurice Jones-Drew (Jac - RB)
  2. (18) Roddy White (Atl - WR)
    3. (39) Jamaal Charles (KC - RB) Keeper
  3. (46) Matt Schaub (Hou - QB)
  4. (67) Julio Jones (Atl - WR)
  5. (74) C.J. Spiller (Buf - RB)
  6. (95) A.J. Green (Cin - WR)
  7. (102) Pierre Garcon (Ind - WR)
  8. (123) Rashad Jennings (Jac - RB)
    10. (130) Vernon Davis (SF - TE) Keeper
  9. (151) Ricky Williams (Bal - RB)
  10. (158) Matt Cassel (KC - QB)
  11. (179) James Jones (GB - WR)
  12. (186) Atlanta (Atl - DEF)
  13. (207) Mike Goodson (Car - RB)
  14. (214) Josh Brown (StL - K)

QB: Schaub seems like very good value in the 4th; I don’t know why he’s dropping so far this year (which, admittedly, is usually a sign that I’m behind the curve, so who knows). Cassel is a very nice backup (9th ranked QB last year, no reason he can’t repeat that). Grade: A-.

RB: MJD was allowed (by me) to slip further than he should have, and Charles is of course a great value in the 3rd. You got MJD’s handcuff, so that’s good, and Spiller is not horrible as a potential keeper. I do think, with those starters, you should have gone for RBs that have some keeper potential in the later rounds (Ricky Williams is old as shit, and Mike Goodson is behing two former 1st Rounders (good ones, too). (He’ll be the first guy you drop.) Grade: A.

WR: Roddy White is awesome. Then you took the two top rookie WRs in Green and Jones, which is fine as far as it goes, except (A) you wound up taking both Atlanta starters, which is always awkward, and (B) with the great start your team had (Schaub, MJD, Charles, White), I really think you should have focused more on this year’s production than on potential keepers. (Although, granted, there weren’t any alternative veterans who were, like, worlds better.) Basically, you got Roddy White and 4 total question marks; you need at least to one to be good and another to be ok. Grade: B+, including keeper potential, C without.

TE: Vernon is a good keeper there; people seem to be dinging him because of the offense he plays on, but he played on the same offense last year and was the #2 TE. Grade: A-.

DEF/Kicker: Waited to pick a defense until they were pretty much all the same. And you got a kicker. Grade: B-.

66

I’ll try and keep this short, because neither guy is on my team and there’s been more than enough SDMB hamster sweat spilled debating these two guys, but I think it’s mildly nuts to say that Orton is better than Cutler in this league. It’s easy to hate Cutler and Martz, but they will reliably throw the ball and Cutler will undeniably finish the season as the starter. Last year was a relatively terrible year for both of them and the Bears offense has gotten marginally better this year. The protection should be measurably better and the WRs should be better, albeit only slightly if Roy Williams is the bust he smells like.

More importantly, Orton has the look of a player who will be substantially worse as a fantasy QB this year. He traded McDaniels for John Fox which is a massive step up for the organization but a massive step down from a fantasy passing standpoint. Fox is going to run the ball a ton, especially in the red zone. Probably more pertinent is that the Broncos on the whole are a team in rebuilding mode. The Tebow threat might be on it’s last legs but if the Broncos are as bad as people are projecting Orton could once again benched midseason while the organization get Quinn or Tebow one last final look in live action.

67

All true enough, but Denver’s passing offense has been better than Chicago’s for, like, decades. You might be right, though; we’ll see.

68

*DrewBrees’sBirthmark

  1. (5) Rashard Mendenhall
    (Pit - RB)
  2. (24) Tim Hightower
    (Was - RB)
  3. (33) Marques Colston
    (NO - WR)
  4. (52) Joseph Addai
    (Ind - RB)
  5. (61) Ben Roethlisberger
    (Pit - QB)
  6. (80) Santana Moss
    (Was - WR)
  7. (89) Jimmy Graham
    (NO - TE)
  8. (108) Kyle Orton
    (Den - QB)
  9. (117) Javon Ringer
    (Ten - RB)
  10. (136) Philadelphia
    (Phi - DEF)
  11. (145) Donald Driver
    (GB - WR)
  12. (164) LeGarrette Blount
    (TB - RB)
  13. (173) New Orleans
    (NO - DEF)
  14. (192) Da’Rel Scott
    (NYG - RB)
  15. (201) Christopher Ivory
    (NO - RB)
  16. (220) David Buehler
    (Dal - K)*

An intriguing mix of genius and something that rhymes with genius here.

Like Eli, Big Ben is a consistently underrated fantasy quarterback and you drafted him right where you should have. Orton is a superb backup; I was going to take him if you hadn’t.

Drafting Hightower was smart. Drafting him this early wasn’t. He never produced consistently in Arizona, so there’s no reason to think he will in Washington - especially since the Ultimate Leader might bench him by Week 4 and start some other scrub in his place. I do think you spent too much on running backs - and I generally say you can never have too many running backs - considering that you had Blount as possibly the best keeper value in this whole draft. You could have taken a near-elite wideout with that second round pick, and still gotten Addai and a Michael Bush type. I have no idea who Da’Rel Scott is, and I have no idea why anyone would draft Chris Ivory. He’s hurt, he’ll be third on the depth chart when healthy (and Sproles will get all the third down work), and won’t be starting for anyone next year even if the top 25 running backs in the league contract kuru and die in the offseason.

Worrying selection of wideouts here. Santana Moss is always good for a thousand yards and a half dozen touchdowns - but he’s an old speed guy so he could fall off the map any day now. Colston is always good for ten touchdowns and six missed starts, and some of the former will come in weeks when you benched him because you were worried about the latter. Donald Driver barely topped 500 yards last year and I doubt he’ll manage even that much last year.

I love Jimmy Graham’s potential, and I was about to draft him if you hadn’t. However, he’s not an established starter; he’s a sleeper, who barely topped 500 yards last year. He’s probably going to put up much better numbers this year, but he’s not a plug-and-forget guy like, say, Witten. I would have drafted a decent insurance policy - you could have had Dustin Keller instead of either of the running backs you’ll be cutting once the bye weeks start.

New Orleans’ defense will put up some points, but I see no reason to draft them this early. Buehler is back to being the Cowboys’ kickoff specialist, so I see no reason to draft him at all.

I’ll give this draft a C. You didn’t go too far wrong anywhere, but you need a couple of guys to explode to win a fantasy league and this team just doesn’t have any breakout candidates.

69

Wow, I’m a pretty harsh grader this year.

*ViQueens

  1. (6) Larry Fitzgerald
    (Ari - WR)
  2. (23) DeSean Jackson
    (Phi - WR)
  3. (34) Mark Ingram
    (NO - RB)
  4. (51) Jermichael Finley
    (GB - TE)
  5. (62) Matthew Stafford
    (Det - QB)
  6. (79) Willis McGahee
    (Den - RB)
  7. (90) Danny Woodhead
    (NE - RB)
  8. (107) Malcom Floyd
    (SD - WR)
  9. (118) Kevin Kolb
    (Ari - QB)
  10. (135) Deji Karim
    (Jac - RB)
  11. (146) Baltimore
    (Bal - DEF)
  12. (163) Jacoby Jones
    (Hou - WR)
  13. (174) Derrick Ward
    (Hou - RB)
  14. (191) Danario Alexander
    (StL - WR)
  15. (202) Toby Gerhart
    (Min - RB)
  16. (219) David Akers
    (SF - K)*

This team, on the other hand, has an ass-ton of breakout candidates, but no effing running backs.

Stafford is a risk. Kolb is a risk. Stafford might be a top 5 scorer. Kolb might be a top 5 scorer. They go brilliantly together. On the other hand, you could have had Kyle Orton two rounds after Stafford and still gotten your breakout candidate in Kolb.

I would be upset about this running back corps even if we didn’t have a flex spot. Ingram will get about 50% of New Orleans’ carries, which makes him a decent #2. McGahee might be worth something in Denver with John Fox in charge, but they were a shitty rushing team last year and just changing coaches isn’t going to fix that. If Woodhead can hang on to all the touches he had last year, he just might be a serviceable flex player, but Kevin Faulk is coming back and the Pats have two rookies so I’m not at all sure he will. Your other backs- other than Gerhart- might not get carries even if the starters go down. Gerhart, on the other hand, is a superb value where you got him. If he figures out how to catch a pass, he might even be worth keeping next year.

You’re obviously set at wide receiver, but I’d be nearly as unhappy starting Floyd as my flex as I would starting your running backs. There’s a chance Jacoby Jones steps up and becomes a 1,000 yard guy this year, but I think that every year and it never happens.

Finley will probably be an elite tight end again. Of course, he’s coming off a serious injury, so he might not.

Baltimore’s defense is really, really old. David Akers is also really, really old and no longer plays for Philly.

This draft gets a D. I love the Kolb/Stafford strategy, just not where they were taken, because it really undermined the meat of your draft. If the #2 running back was a few spots better than McGahee - Michael Bush, Jonathan Stewart, James Starks - it might have gotten a B.

70

*Omni’s Omnipotents

  1. (7) Michael Vick
    (Phi - QB)
  2. (22) DeAngelo Williams
    (Car - RB)
  3. (35) Knowshon Moreno
    (Den - RB)
  4. (50) Kenny Britt
    (Ten - WR)
  5. (63) Brandon Lloyd
    (Den - WR)
  6. (78) Roy Helu
    (Was - RB)
  7. (91) Sidney Rice
    (Sea - WR)
  8. (106) Marion Barber
    (Chi - RB)
  9. (119) Sam Bradford
    (StL - QB)
  10. (134) Jared Cook
    (Ten - TE)
  11. (147) Plaxico Burress
    (NYJ - WR)
  12. (162) Ryan Torain
    (Was - RB)
  13. (175) Nate Burleson
    (Det - WR)
  14. (190) Jake Locker
    (Ten - QB)
  15. (203) Dallas
    (Dal - DEF)
  16. (218) Robbie Gould
    (Chi - K)*

I am in love with this draft.

Vick. Obviously, this is a big hell yes. Is he a risk? Sure. Who cares? Sam Bradford will do just fine as a backup. Not sure why you bothered with Locker. He’s going to take up a roster spot you’ll need for players you might actually start before 2014.

Williams and Moreno are obviously not elite backs, but Williams has been one before and will surely be better than last year with a healthy offensive line. Newton’s running ability will do a lot to keep defenses from keying on Williams, too, especially if Carolina is smart enough to fake the rollout whenever Newton does hand the ball off. Not thrilled about any of the guys after these two, but either Torain or Helu will probably get a decent number of carries this year. Not much in the way of RB keeper potential though. I guess there’s a chance that Chicago lets Barber go back to his original “closer” role, which he was pretty awesome at.

Brandon Lloyd led the league in receiving last year, and there’s no reason he can’t finish in the top 10. It’s a crime that he lasted as long as he did - and a bigger crime that you drafted him and made me take Wes Welker instead. Kenny Britt is a headcase with an iffy offense around him, but hey, Hasselbeck’s got to throw is to someone. I think Rice struggles to post 1,000 yards this season, but 800 is pretty good for a #3. One out of Burleson or Plax will probably be worth starting occasionally.

I would be pretty upset about having Jared Cook as my #1 (and only) tight end. Hasselbeck has never thrown to tight ends much, and I don’t care what Football Outsiders say.

You got an excellent defense and an excellent kicker and you got them where you should have.

You, sir, get an A. Iffy keeper potential (though if Lloyd posts the same numbers he did last year I don’t see how you could not keep him in the third round), but who cares?

71

*Moridwon (Hamlet)

  1. (8) Andre Johnson
    (Hou - WR)
  2. (21) Tom Brady
    (NE - QB)
  3. (36) Brandon Marshall
    (Mia - WR)
  4. (49) Ryan Grant
    (GB - RB)
  5. (64) Mike Tolbert
    (SD - RB)
  6. (77) Vincent Jackson
    (SD - WR)
  7. (92) Green Bay
    (GB - DEF)
  8. (105) Darren McFadden
    (Oak - RB)
  9. (120) Ryan Fitzpatrick
    (Buf - QB)
  10. (133) Marshawn Lynch
    (Sea - RB)
  11. (148) Greg Olsen
    (Car - TE)
  12. (161) Isaac Redman
    (Pit - RB)
  13. (176) Brandon Gibson
    (StL - WR)
  14. (189) Earl Bennett
    (Chi - WR)
  15. (204) Lance Kendricks
    (StL - TE)
  16. (217) Sebastian Janikowski
    (Oak - K)*

Pretty effin’ solid, although a lot of that comes down to your keepers.

Brady is obviously a set-it-and-forget-it kind of guy. Fitzpatrick is underrated and about all you need to spend on a backup for a guy like Brady.

McFadden and Lynch/Grant will make a pretty solid RB corps, and when Grant inevitably gets hurt and/or loses his job you have Fat Mike Tolbert and his 750/7. It’s not fair. You’ll surely be keeping DMC and Lynch again.

Johnson, Marshall and Jackson - oh my. I don’t like starting wideouts as flex players, but you probably will based on the matchups. Considering Marshall’s off-field issues and Johnson’s injury history Jackson probably isn’t a luxury pick. Bennett is a great pick and probably the Bears’ most likely candidate for 1,000 yards.

Greg Olsen’s not my idea of starting tight end anymore. Fortunately, you got Kendricks, who has been unstoppable in the preseason. I think you’ll have dropped Olsen by Week 6, but I wouldn’t have drafted Kendricks as a #1 anyway.

This draft gets an A+, although it’d probably be closer to a C if I wasn’t including keepers in the grade.

72

*9 Inch Neils (RNATB)

  1. (9) Michael Turner
    (Atl - RB)
  2. (20) Philip Rivers
    (SD - QB)
  3. (37) Jahvid Best
    (Det - RB)
  4. (48) Reggie Bush
    (Mia - RB)
  5. (65) Wes Welker
    (NE - WR)
  6. (76) Owen Daniels
    (Hou - TE)
  7. (93) Percy Harvin
    (Min - WR)
  8. (104) Jacquizz Rodgers
    (Atl - RB)
  9. (121) Braylon Edwards
    (SF - WR)
  10. (132) Thomas Jones
    (KC - RB)
  11. (149) Shane Vereen
    (NE - RB)
  12. (160) Donovan McNabb
    (Min - QB)
  13. (177) Marcedes Lewis
    (Jac - TE)
  14. (188) Arrelious Benn
    (TB - WR)
  15. (205) Cleveland
    (Cle - DEF)
  16. (216) Alex Henery
    (Phi - K)*

Not bad. And you’re handsome and witty! Honestly, this team is a mix of guys I love and guys I hate and didn’t want but didn’t really have a choice about. Plus Jacquizz Rodgers, on which more below.

Rivers is another set-it-and-forget-it guy. 4,000 yards and 28+ touchdowns for three straight years, despite missing his star TE and wideout and various points. McNabb has much better weapons and a much better line this year than last, and unless something goes horribly wrong I’ll start him once or twice at most.

I’m really, really happy with my running backs. Turner has averaged 91 yards and 0.9 touchdowns per game since getting to Atlanta, and though he’s seven years in he never carried the ball more than 100 times in his first four seasons. Best and Bush will probably be boom/bust guys most of the year - 150 total yards and 2 scores one week, 14 rushing yards and 10 receiving yards the next. I’m fine with that, and I expect both to produce at least 1,000 total yards. I couldn’t believe Thomas Jones was still sitting there in round 10, and even if KC goes to a true 50/50 carry split he’ll still be a fine bye-week fill in. I only drafted Jacquizz Rodgers because I had him queued already to take in the 14th round and things moved faster than I expected when I went out to smoke. I had planned to take Stevan Ridley there. Vereen is obviously a flier; I don’t think he’ll be #2 on the depth chart this time next year, let alone #1- but there are always carries to go around in NE.

I’m less happy about my wideouts. I don’t like Welker and I don’t trust him to stay healthy. Would much rather have had Brandon Lloyd there. Harvin will probably put up 900 yards receiving and 100 rushing again, which is pretty much par for a #2, and he would definitely have been gone by the seventh had I not kept him. Edwards has the potential to be San Fran’s #1, especially with Crabtree dinged up, but that isn’t saying much. Benn is dinged up, and is mostly there for his keeper potential.

Owen Daniels is now more than one year removed from the ACL tear that sidelined him in ‘09. Some may recall that he was by far the most productive TE in the league through the first 8 games of the ‘09 season. I do. I think he’s going to have a huge year. I expect Marcedes Lewis to score lots of touchdowns again this year, because the Jags still don’t have any big wideouts.

Cleveland plays Cincinatti in Week 1, and that’s all I have to say about that. Henery plays for the Eagles, where David Akers was the highest scoring fantasy kicker last year, and that’s all I have to say about that.

I’m gonna give myself a B+. I’m good everywhere, but not great anywhere. It would have been an A if I had Brandon Lloyd and a bit more keeper potential.

73

Thanks Varlosz - I ppreciate the fast draft feedback.

Actually, I like Cutler better than Orton this year by a fair margin. I think he has far more upside, which is why he popped first in my rankings when it was time for my QB pick. The only problem is he shares a bye with Freeman, which makes him a bad choice for 1 week of the year. Because of that, I would swap him for Orton (or 1 or 2 others in teh same tier, but Orton was still on the board). If I can’t work a trade, then I plug in a matchup for week 8 and move on with life.

I like Matthews quite a bit this year, actually;I think his rankings suffer from overly high expectations last year dashed by a high ankle sprain. Yes, Tolbert will leach goal line carries, but Matthews still has all the upside in this equation. Considering the next backs off the board were Benson, Bush, Grant, and Addai I am very happy having Matthews as my RB2. In a different league, he rates high RB3, but the pool here got shallow very quickly. Agree with you on Thomas - calculation there is “if Ingram stumbles, who picks up the slack?” Bush is gone, Ivory is PUP, so Thomas slid up my board. I had such confidence in him that I used my next pick on Tate, who also has the keeper potential you mention. Agree with teh B- overall, though. Too many strong RB’s on keeper lock to do any better once I used my RD2 pick on Megatron.

No argument, except that think more higly of Denarius Moore than you do. I expect Moore & Ford to be the Raiders starting WR combo next year. Then again, I find myself liking the Raiders much more this year than any year in memory, so I am probably wrong.

[/quote]

Thank you.

I’d go B+, mostly because I believe Matthews is the starter, but that is why they play the game. If Foster’s hammy continues to make twitter highlights, I vault up to A in a flash.

74

Damn, so weird grading going on. You’re going to give a team with Britt, Helu, Barber, Sidney Rice (have you seen his QB?), Cook (ditto), Burress (did you see him this preseason?), Burleson, Torain and Locker an A? Really?

And give the team with the massive upside of Stafford, Fitz, Jackson, Woodhead, Baltimore D, plus Floyd, Karim and Jones a D?

Are you on crack?

Kyle Orton will be solid for half the season until Denver is 2-7 and decide to go with Tebow the rest of the way.

That ‘really really old’ D in Baltimore? 3rd best in the league last year in points allowed. The scoring scheme for this league means Defense is considerably more valuable than in regular (standard scoring) leagues. 16 points for a shutout! That’s 6 more than a standard league. 8 points for up to 13 is 4 more. You do remember that Baltimore gets to play Cleveland twice (2nd worst in points scored), Cincinnati (no QB), Seattle (ditto), Jacksonville, San Francisco…

Akers was 3rd in the league last year in FGs made, including 9-11 from over 40 yards, and he goes from having outdoor games in the winter in Philly, NY, Washington to games in San Francisco, Arizona, and St Louis.
I’d take my group over Omni’s every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Yes, some weakness at RB, but I only need one of Woodhead, Ingram and Karim to out-perform, because I’m essentially set at QB, WR, TE and D.

Damn, just gimme the trophy now :smiley:

75

I too am in love with my draft. I mentioned this in the chat, but it’s wildly inconsistent with what I’d expected to end up with and it features a ton of players who under normal circumstances would have been on my avoid list. But I think I did a very good job of not being emotional and as a result landed some outstanding values and managed to have a high upside team with balance and depth.

I’m a Vick hater and I think it’s pretty likely that he’ll regress compared to last year quite a bit, however anyone who’s listened to the ESPN Fantasy talk, notably TMR, has heard a ton of reasons why Vick could and maybe should be the #1 overall pick in every draft. Getting him 7th is somewhat of a steal. Having Bradford as a keeper makes the Vick injury gamble justifiable, if I only get 12 games from Vick this season I’ll still be in great shape. I decided that Bradford would be a shaky option as a starter, even though he could breakout, and getting a stud in this league is big with a 6 point TD setting. Locker is a pet of mine and I love him as a keeper. I don’t expect to ever have him as a starter, but I think Hasselbeck has a fork sticking out of his back. If (read: when) Hasselbeck gets benched/hurt at some point this season Locker will get the reins, I think he has Matt Stafford level upside next year and the year after which means I’ll always have my backup QB locked up for the next 2 years after this. Sure carrying 3 QBs will be a burden that might bite me if injuries build up but in the 14th round there weren’t any RB keeper options left and the WR crop was way more uncertain than Locker.

I expected to be in much shakier shape at RB than I ended up being in after going QB in the first round. I don’t love DeAngelo but as the 22nd pick in a keeper league he’s kinda awesome, I’m riding him in the Dynasty league too so he and I will be sharing a lot of time together this year. The Panthers paid Williams a ton so there’s going to at least be some pressure to make him the bell cow that he never was before, maybe he’s got less upside than he did in those prime years under Fox but he might be a more steady contributor. The rest of the Panthers offense worries me a lot more than J-Stew does. Knowshon is one of “my guys” this year. Last year he was still the 18th highest scoring RB in this league and he missed 3 games and was dinged up in 3 others. He could miss just as much time again, but he’s traded up a lot with Fox calling the plays. There’s a real chance he’ll have a vintage DeAngelo type year. Getting him 35th strikes me as an insane value in this RB lusted league. Risk on both yes, but huge reward and modest cost.

I think Helu is the guy that gets the Shanahan touch this year, he was hand picked in the draft to be his guy. While I worry about Hightower and Torain benefiting from Shanny’s hatred of fantasy owners, Helu has the most upside by far and could be a keeper star if he’s the next Clinton Portis. Getting Torain to pair with him mitigates the risk. I like my chances to have a Shanahan back as my Flex all year, even if there might be a lot of guessing early in the season about which it will be. I think there’s a good reason why Hightower didn’t stick in RB starved Arizona and the early excitement over him might be ill placed, it seems to me that the Shanahan guy to have is never the one you expect after week 3 of the preseason. I like Barber as a safety net. He’ll be the goalline option in Chicago and considering how shabby Forte is around the goalline that could be a valuable option. In preseason he looks like the Beast again and if he stays healthy I’ll have a guy I can feel good about plugging in on bye weeks. Low upside and almost no keeper value, but he’s got more guaranteed touches coming his way than any other options from a 5th RB and that’s what I need considering the 4 guys I have ostensibly ahead of him on the roster.

I’m flat out shocked by the quality I got at WR. I waited way longer than I’d hoped to here and I think the position is painfully shallow this year. Britt is a guy I love, he’s a headcase but so long as he doesn’t get locked up or suspended he’s going to get a bunch of catches. He was the 22nd WR last year in 10 games with a much, much worse QB situation around him last year. Hasselbeck made the fat Mike Williams look pretty awesome last season and he could do even more with Britt, and if I’m right about Locker Britt will be the guy to benefit from his gunslinging. If Hasselbeck’s body breaks down and Locker is the bust people on this board seem to think he is I’ll be in trouble, but he also could be a top 3 WR this year. Lloyd is a guy I dislike, I’ve talked a lot about how I think Fox will impact the Denver offense and I think both Orton and Lloyd benefited a ton from McDaniels system, but with where I got him he’s a goldmine. He was the #1 overall WR in this league last season for Pete’s sake, and it’s not like Fox hasn’t made the most of a #1 WR before. It’s very possible that Lloyd could still have a monster year while the rest of the Denver passing attack goes downhill.

I hate Sidney Rice because of Tarvaris Jackson, this is the consensus and rightfully so. WR however is a really sparse position this year and Rice is a pretty darn solid option as a WR3 in the 7th. The most heartening point is that I’m actually pretty confident that Charlie Whitehurst is going to be starting in Seattle pretty damn soon. I see this as a good thing since Charlie has looked much better throwing the ball this preseason than Jackson, he’ll make way more mistakes but he’ll get the ball downfield to Rice and I don’t give a shit how many picks Whitehurst throws, just that he’s putting it up deep. Plax as WR4 in the 11th is another insanely good value. Sure, he might get hurt or amount to nothing but he’s going to get a shitload of attempts to start the season. For better or worse the Jets have hitched their wagon to him. He’s looked to be in top form this preseason. Sanchez sucks, but last year in this exact same role Braylon Edwards was the 21st WR in this league. Edwards might be a little better than Plax, but he’s not that much better. Burleson is ideal as a WR5. People love the upside of Stafford and the Detroit offense this year and Burleson would have to see some of that if it turns out to be true. Burleson even has keeper potential if all that potential finally clicks ala Brandon Lloyd. Maybe he falls down the depth chart to Titus Young, but the value was right.

Jared Cook is a mystery. He’s getting a lot of love from the media, I’m not convinced personally but I didn’t like my other options at TE. I got scooped on Jimmy Graham and Aaron Hernandez earlier in the draft and the option at TE were looking awfully thin. I might end up playing TE roulette but I’ve done that before, and in Cook there’s at least some chance that he explodes into a legitimate star. You’re wrong about Hasselbeck, he loves TEs, it’s just that in Seattle he always spread it around to 3 of them every season. All signs in Tennessee point to Cook being the guy. Chris Palmer’s offense will be something of an unknown but his coaching tree traditionally leans on the TE a lot and you’d think Munchak will be a little bit old school too. The Titans will probably run a ton of play action to the TE this year with CJ2K.

I wanted the San Diego defense this year and was just on the wrong side of the Defense run in the 13th round. I got scooped again on Detroit by the fucking autodrafter when Wilson logged out in the 15th round. Dallas is a fine consolation prize though. Wade Phillips in gone, but they still have Demarcus Ware. Unfortunately they also still have Mike Jenkins. I’m actually a little higher on Dallas under Rob Ryan than Phillips and if I’m wrong, well it’s the 15th round. Dallas does get to face Mark Sanchez, Alex Smith, Rex Grossman to start the season which is nice. I got a kicker too, I usually shoot for dome guys but Gould is the hometown guy and a really good one. If the Bears struggle again in the redzone Gould should benefit. It’s the 16th round, it’s not like I had a ton of options and I at least got a guy i’ll be happy to cheer for.

There’s a lot of players I dislike some. There’s a couple guys I dislike a lot. There’s a handful of guys who seem like terrible people who you’d never invite over for dinner, of I had Cedric Benson I’d have the market cornered on jail time. But, this is a rock solid team for this deep league. I don’t have an obvious hole anywhere and there’s more than a couple guys on this team who could flat out dominate. Giddy up!

76

If his team only had Britt, Helu and Sidney Rice, and yours just had Stafford, Fitz and Jackson, then the grades would probably be reversed. But he drafted three guys before them that you conveniently forgot to mention- and those guys will start every week.

What “upside” does Woodhead have? He massively overachieved last season and the simple truth is that no Patriots running back produces starters’ numbers unless a ton of people get hurt. Green-Ellis just barely made it to 1,000 yards last year, and that was only because Fred Taylor and Kevin Faulk got hurt. If Woodhead produces more than 600 rushing yards I’ll print this draft report card and eat it. Same thing goes for Karim - I love the guy, but he’s the third back on Jacksonville’s roster and they are hardly an offensive juggernaut.

Considering Tebow has dropped to #3 on the depth chart, there is zero chance he gets to start this year absent injuries.

I’ll give you Akers. I hadn’t thought that one all the way through.

I’m not saying Baltimore’s defense is bad. I’m saying it’s not worth drafting before others. Not only is it aging, it also lost Kelly Gregg and pretty much the entire starting secondary minus Ed Reed. Also, 16 points for a shutout is nice, but… the Ravens didn’t actually shut anyone out last year.

You only need one of your three running backs to put up starter-type numbers? Really? You have to start two - and you really should be starting three. Unless you manage to pick up somebody who wins a job in midseason on waivers, there is no way you can win the league with those backs. None.

77

DRAFT REVIEW. DRAFT REVIEW. GETCHUR DRAFT REVIEW HERE!!!

First, our Reigning Champion, Weirddave:

  1. (14) Shonn Greene
  2. (15) Drew Brees
  3. (42) Cedric Benson
  4. (43) Anquan Boldin
  5. (70) Peyton Hillis
  6. (71) Mike Williams
  7. (98) Miles Austin
  8. (99) Lee Evans
  9. (126) Hines Ward
  10. (127) Rob Gronkowski
  11. (154) New York
  12. (155) Nate Kaeding
  13. (182) Jason Campbell
  14. (183) Tony Gonzalez
  15. (210) Carnell Williams
  16. (211) Anthony Allen

Best Pick: Tony Gonzalez is outstanding value in the 14th and will be a better start than Gronkowski.

Worst Pick: AFC North homerism. Doubling up on Ravens WR’s, Bengal’s Benson too early, Anthony Allen is a bruiser, but not fast enough for the NFL, and Ward is drunk, stupid, and old. I’m not sure grabbing the offensive players in a division known for its defense was the wisest move.

Strengths: A good balance of youth and experience. Williams, Greene, and Austin to a point are all young guns with a shot this year to really shine. I don’t think they will, but they have the chance. And Greene/Hillis/Benson is a relatively solid RB crew.

Weaknesses: Experience (which is a polite way of saying old guys) with Boldin, Ward, Gonzo, Cadillac, and Benson are on the downside of their careers. Of those, only Gonzo and maybe Ward weren’t reaches.

Overall: I don’t think Greene will have a breakout season, Benson is high mileage/low upside, Boldin and Evans are all but done (Smith and Doss have upside in Baltimore though), but Brees is outstanding and if Mike W. can avoid the sophomore slump, there is hope. Personally though, I think mediocrity is the most likely outcome.

Next, our reigning Salutatorian, Fighting Quakers

  1. (13) Steven Jackson
  2. (16) Matt Forte
  3. (41) Stevie Johnson
  4. (44) Joe Flacco
  5. (69) DeMarco Murray
  6. (72) Delone Carter
  7. (97) Jacoby Ford
  8. (100) Stevan Ridley
  9. (125) Jeremy Maclin
  10. (128) Brandon Pettigrew
  11. (153) Chicago
  12. (156) Andre Roberts
  13. (181) Chad Henne
  14. (184) Alex Green
  15. (209) Mikel LeShoure
  16. (212) Stephen Gostkowski

Best Pick: Andre Roberts. He’s the (listed) #2 WR for the Cards and will have room to work with LarryFitz taking almost all the attention. He’s one of those guys who has both the keeper potential, and the ability to score this year too. Great Pick.

Worst Pick: Not a pick but an ideal. I can understand using picks on rookie RB’s with upside, but grabbing three of them at the cost of your WR crew is very risky. With the glaring exception of Ridley, I like the guys, but they were taken too early and too often.

Strengths: Young RB’s with upside. Murray is well liked by Jerry Jones, Delone Carter has a chance to pass Brown for the backup gig in Indy, and LeShoure has high upside next year.

Weaknesses: Won’t compete this year. With all the young RB’s taken too early, Jacoby Ford, LeShoure eating a roster spot, and an unproven WR crew with almost no depth this team is built to compete… in 2012.

Overall: I think this team is planning for next year, because I’m not sold on it’s ability to put up numbers this year. Mortgaging this year for next may work out, but there is too much reaching for potential going on for my liking.

With one breath, I give you Spiritus Mundane

  1. (12) Calvin Johnson
  2. (17) Frank Gore
  3. (40) Ryan Mathews
  4. (45) Mike Wallace
  5. (68) Jason Witten
  6. (73) Pierre Thomas
  7. (96) Ben Tate
  8. (101) Jay Cutler
  9. (124) Robert Meachem
  10. (129) Davone Bess
  11. (152) Ronnie Brown
  12. (157) Josh Freeman
  13. (180) Taiwan Jones
  14. (185) Denarius Moore
  15. (208) Tampa Bay
  16. (213) Matt Bryant

Best Pick: Frank Gore in the second round. Sure he’s brittle, but his upside is undeniable and, when healthy, he can be a stud. Great Value (although you really messed up grabbing average WR Davone Bess instead of Kendall Hunter). I also love Denarius Moore as a high upside late round pick.

Worst Pick: Outside of not getting Hunter, I think Pierre Thomas was a reach, as was Mathews. But at least Mathews has upside. I’m also not sold on Tate running against scrubs.

Strengths: A lot of potential mixed with a good amount of studs. Megatron and Wallace may give you the best starting WR crew outside of mine, and Gore and Mathews could be amazing. This team has the chance to really explode this year.

Weaknesses: QB. I don’t think Freeman is a solid fantasy QB, although I do agree with Omni that Cutler has a higher upside than Orton this year (if you don’t mind interceptions and him getting hit all the time). With 6 points per TD, QB is kinda important.

Overall: I really like this team, despite questions at QB. If Freeman continues to develop and Cutler stops throwing to the other team, this team will make the playoffs. Sure it needs a little luck (Gore to stay healthy, Mathews to get out of the doghouse, and some upside to develop), but I like it’s chances. Good draft.

Unfortunately for his girlfriend, he’s Off Constantly

  1. (11) Maurice Jones-Drew
  2. (18) Roddy White
  3. (39) Jamaal Charles
  4. (46) Matt Schaub
  5. (67) Julio Jones
  6. (74) C.J. Spiller
  7. (95) A.J. Green
  8. (102) Pierre Garcon
  9. (123) Rashad Jennings
  10. (130) Vernon Davis
  11. (151) Ricky Williams
  12. (158) Matt Cassel
  13. (179) James Jones
  14. (186) Atlanta
  15. (207) Mike Goodson
  16. (214) Josh Brown

Best Pick: Damn that’s a nice first four rounds. MJD - great value. Roddy White - great value. Schaub - great value. Outstanding job of building your core of studs.

Worst Pick: The reaching after that. You had built a nice core of stud players, and then overdrafting Jones, Green,and Spiller was a disappointment. And Reshad Jennings may have been a complete waste.

Strengths: Those studs are studly. I’d put those 4 up against any first 4 selections in the draft. I also loved the mix of high upside players (Jones, Green, Spiller) with more solid players (Ricky Williams, James Jones, Matt Cassel).

Weaknesses: Too much praying for injuries. Garcon is too inconsistent unless Collie/Wayne/Clark get injured. Ricky W may need Rice to go down, Jones needs Driver to get older, and Goodson needs 2 guys to get hurt.

Overall: Another team I really like. Studs win championships, and there’s enough firepower and upside to make a serious run at the playoffs. Watch out off these guys.

Don’t nap on VarlosZzzzzzz

  1. (10) Aaron Rodgers
  2. (19) Felix Jones
  3. (38) Antonio Gates
  4. (47) Dwayne Bowe
  5. (66) Jonathan Stewart
  6. (75) James Starks
  7. (94) Michael Crabtree
  8. (103) Mike Sims-Walker
  9. (122) Greg Little
  10. (131) Kendall Hunter
  11. (150) Mario Manningham
  12. (159) Dexter McCluster
  13. (178) Colt McCoy
  14. (187) Kansas City
  15. (206) Neil Rackers
  16. (215) Jonathan Baldwin

Best Pick: Kendall Hunter in the 10th. I think Hunter grabbed the #2 RB job in SF. With Gore’s history, that position has value, and Hunter has shown flashes of ability. He may lose goal line carries to Dixon, though, but still, he’s great value in the 10th.

Worst Pick: Felix Jones as your #1 RB? I suppose, in a 6 pt. QB league, I can forgive passing on MJD for Rodgers, and I do like his upside this year, but he’s still only shown flashes and has trouble staying healthy. He’s on a tier with a lot of questionable other RB’s, and I think you reached to get him.

Strengths: Upside. Upside. Upside. Baldwin, Little, Sims Walker, Hunter, Starks, Crabtree, McCluster all have very nice potential.

Weakenesses: It’s just potential. Looking for the next big thing, you drafted a QB/WR from the Browns, and you have 3 Kansas City Chiefs WR’s. Not what I would have done. There’s very little proven production on this team.

Overall: Unless he finds not just one but at least two or three diamonds in the rough, it could be a long season. The RB crew is poor, the WR crew is unproven, and there’s no history of scoring on this team. But Aaron Rodgers can make a team look great. A lot needs to go this teams’ way to make the playoffs.

78

Is it a team name, or a porn name? 9 Inch Neils (RNATB)

  1. (9) Michael Turner
  2. (20) Philip Rivers
  3. (37) Jahvid Best
  4. (48) Reggie Bush
  5. (65) Wes Welker
  6. (76) Owen Daniels
  7. (93) Percy Harvin
  8. (104) Jacquizz Rodgers
  9. (121) Braylon Edwards
  10. (132) Thomas Jones
  11. (149) Shane Vereen
  12. (160) Donovan McNabb
  13. (177) Marcedes Lewis
  14. (188) Arrelious Benn
  15. (205) Cleveland
  16. (216) Alex Henery

Best Pick: Braylon Edwards and Marcedes Lewis. Two guys with high upside and low cost. With Crabtree hurt, Edwards can make a nice name for himself if he gets his head together. Lewis was good value that late.

Worst Pick: ‘Quizz Rodgers in the 8th. Like with Arian Foster, Turner has two backups, Snelling and Quizz. So taking a handcuff that isn’t really a handcuff when you’re so weak at WR was a mistake.

Strengths: I really like the RB crew. I think Turner has another great year in the tank. Best and Bush are in the same situation, they are their team’s #1 RB and have special skills, but need to be healthy and learn to run between the tackles better to really shine. If just one of the two take off, that’s great. Thomas Jones was a low cost backup, which you want in the 10th round. Hate the Vereen pick, though. And you have Phillip Rivers, which is nice.

Weaknesses: As much as I like the RB crew, I don’t like the WR’s. Welker and Harvin are fine WR’s … if healthy and not “game time decision”, and I like Edwards’ value, but there’s no depth and no upside keepers.

Overall: A pretty good team. I look at the roster, and I like what I see, but it doesn’t have that something special to get me excited (or nervous as a competitive owner). Best, Bush, Welker, and Harvin have a ton riding on them, and I like them, but I don’t love them. I want to say something nicer about this team, but I just can’t get on board.

Just talking about Moridwon (Hamlet)

  1. (8) Andre Johnson
  2. (21) Tom Brady
  3. (36) Brandon Marshall
  4. (49) Ryan Grant
  5. (64) Mike Tolbert
  6. (77) Vincent Jackson
  7. (92) Green Bay
  8. (105) Darren McFadden
  9. (120) Ryan Fitzpatrick
  10. (133) Marshawn Lynch
  11. (148) Greg Olsen
  12. (161) Isaac Redman
  13. (176) Brandon Gibson
  14. (189) Earl Bennett
  15. (204) Lance Kendricks
  16. (217) Sebastian Janikowski

Best Pick: I loved my keepers (McFadden, Jackson, and Lynch), but I also liked a couple of my late round fliers (which I better, I picked them). I was thrilled to get Redman that late, and I really like Gibson and Kendricks’s upside in a Josh McDaniels offense.

Worst Pick: Homerism. I reached badly for the Packers’ defense (altough in my defense I think there is a big trough of nobodies at that point in the draft), and grabbed two Rams because I live there now and have developed an affinity for the team. Hopefully it will work out.

Strengths: I have the best WR crew bar none. I know I’m higher on Marshall than most, but I still love my mix of studs and potential.

Weaknesses: That WR crew came at a price, I need to stay healthy at RB. Grant and McFadden are my top 2 running backs, and they both have injury history that could cripple me as a team. I like Tolbert as a flex/fill in option, but Lynch is a starter in name and not much else.

Overall: I need to stay healthy. If McFadden can play 16 (Hah!), Grant can comeback from injury, nobody sits on Brady’s head, and I don’t lose anyone for the year, I like my team. But, again, I’d better. It’s going to be a risky year.

Omni’s Omnipotents wants you to tell him “Go Packers!!!”

  1. (7) Michael Vick
  2. (22) DeAngelo Williams
  3. (35) Knowshon Moreno
  4. (50) Kenny Britt
  5. (63) Brandon Lloyd
  6. (78) Roy Helu
  7. (91) Sidney Rice
  8. (106) Marion Barber
  9. (119) Sam Bradford
  10. (134) Jared Cook
  11. (147) Plaxico Burress
  12. (162) Ryan Torain
  13. (175) Nate Burleson
  14. (190) Jake Locker
  15. (203) Dallas
  16. (218) Robbie Gould

Best Pick: Very good WR value throughout the draft. Lloyd, Rice, Burress, and especially Burleson were excellent value picks each time they were taken. I hate the lot of them and think they’ll suck this year, but they were outstanding value.

Worst Pick: Jake Locker. Even if you have an irresistable crush on the guy, you already have a high upside QB who has better pedigree and great keeper potential in Sam Bradford. Why draft Locker? You’re giving up a roster spot and not improving your team much at all.

Strengths: Quarterback. Vick. I read the Talented Mr. Roto’s draft manifesto and it was intriguing. The argument that he made was that Vick is the only person in the draft who can carry your entire team if he plays like he did last year. Not a stud RB or WR, or even a stud QB, but Vick, if he can repeat what he did last year. I don’t think he will, but it was a good argument. Add in Bradford and this team has some serious potential at QB.

Weaknesses: Lots of question marks at RB. I love DeAngelo, and he was the best back on the board by far when selected, but he has question marks. As does Moreno, Helu/Torain, and Barber. If Williams returns to form and Moreno finally lives up to his potential, he’ll be fine. But I’m not sold.

Overall: If I ignore how I personally feel about the guys he drafted, he had a very good draft. Great value at WR. Vick as a difference maker. Potential breakout stars in Britt, Cook, Helu, and Burress. Some keeper potential in there too. But the problem is I hate those guys. I think Vick will regress to the mean and likely get hurt, I think Moreno is a tease, there’s too many Titans, Lloyd will fall back to who he is, Burress will disappoint, and Shannahan’s rep for RB won’t help. If you like those guys, it’s a great team. I just don’t.

If Diogenes could see you now, ViQueens

  1. (6) Larry Fitzgerald
  2. (23) DeSean Jackson
  3. (34) Mark Ingram
  4. (51) Jermichael Finley
  5. (62) Matthew Stafford
  6. (79) Willis McGahee
  7. (90) Danny Woodhead
  8. (107) Malcom Floyd
  9. (118) Kevin Kolb
  10. (135) Deji Karim
  11. (146) Baltimore
  12. (163) Jacoby Jones
  13. (174) Derrick Ward
  14. (191) Danario Alexander
  15. (202) Toby Gerhart
  16. (219) David Akers

Best Pick: Malcom Floyd. The #2 WR on a high powered offense. He has trouble staying healthy, but is capable for having a breakout year. I also liked Ward in the 13th, great value backup RB.

Worst Pick: Where is a starting running back? The main reason I felt comfortable enough reaching for a stud WR in the first round was that I already had two starting RB’s as keepers. You didn’t have that luxury, and after you went WR in the first, the talented RB’s all ran out. Now you’re stuck praying for injuries. Ingram is shared time, McGahee is a nice pick, but a reach in the 6th round, Woodhead is shared and unpredictable, and the rest are backups.

Strengths: I like Fitz and DeSean, so WR is likely set. I like Stafford to have a good year, and Kolb was a great backup value pick.

Weaknesses: Again, running back. You need someone, or more likely lots of someone’s to get injured.

Overall: Ugh. I think you made a mistake grabbing Fitz there, and it just snowballed from there. If Thomas and Sproles get injured, Moreno goes down, MJD and Arian Foster can’t play, All Day breaks a leg, and 4 other RB’s on NE suddenly get ill, you’ve got a helluva team there. If not, however, I think you are doomed.

79

Stop making fun of DrewBrees’sBirthmark

  1. (5) Rashard Mendenhall
  2. (24) Tim Hightower
  3. (33) Marques Colston
  4. (52) Joseph Addai
  5. (61) Ben Roethlisberger
  6. (80) Santana Moss
  7. (89) Jimmy Graham
  8. (108) Kyle Orton
  9. (117) Javon Ringer
  10. (136) Philadelphia
  11. (145) Donald Driver
  12. (164) LeGarrette Blount
  13. (173) New Orleans
  14. (192) Da’Rel Scott
  15. (201) Christopher Ivory
  16. (220) David Buehler

Best Pick: Driver just keeps chugging along, although I think this may be the year he drops off. Even though, he’s still the #2 on a great offense and has looked good in the preseason. Great value in the 11th round.

Worst Pick: Chris Ivory is a 4th stringer who is on the PUP and has Bell breathing down his neck, but he’s in the 15th round, so no biggie. Hightower, however much I love him, was a reach at 24. With Shanny, Tim’s fumbling problem, and his below average history I don’t think he’ll be a top 15 back in the NFL.

Strengths: Mendenhall and Blount should be solid RB corps, and there are a lot of Saints, but no Drew Brees who makes it all go.

Weaknesses: Another team that has no Wow! factor to me. Mendenhall is fine, I guess, as is Blount. And Ben should have a good year, and Addai is a starter, and Moss is a #1. Just a bunch of average guys to me.

Overall: If it is a Steeler v. Saints Super Bowl, this team will have had a good year. But I think there is a major lack of studs on this team. And it’s hard to win without studs. In his defense, picking 5th kinda really sucks this year.
Better than Fourth and Twenty, it’s Fourth & Nineteen

  1. (4) Chris Johnson
  2. (25) Greg Jennings
  3. (32) BenJarvus Green-Ellis
  4. (53) Fred Jackson
  5. (60) Eli Manning
  6. (81) Dallas Clark
  7. (88) Johnny Knox
  8. (109) Austin Collie
  9. (116) Cam Newton
  10. (137) Mike Williams
  11. (144) Darren Sproles
  12. (165) Donald Brown
  13. (172) Joe McKnight
  14. (193) Eddie Royal
  15. (200) Detroit
  16. (221) Garrett Hartley

Best Pick: Good value throughout. Jennings, Jackson, Manning, Brown, Sproles, Royal, most of the guys drafted were good value and have the opportunity to really succeed thi syear.

Worst Pick: BenJarvus. I hate, hate, hate drafting New England running backs. You never know who is going to score, and, when the running game has a good year last year, Bellicheck goes ahead and drafts two more runningbacks. I think 32 was a reach for a guy who is likely to lose carries, and touchdowns, this year.

Strengths: There is solid depth well mixed with some studs here. Fred Jackson, Eddie Royal, Donald Brown, Darren Sproles, and even BGE are all solid players you can start week to week. And CJ is a stud, as is Jennings (although Jennings may have a dropoff with Finley back from injury).

Weaknesses: A lot riding on the Mannings. Getting both Clark and Collie could be a problem if Peyton is off, and Eli, while good value there, is a fantastic backup QB, but not what I want as a starter. And Hartley won’t be your kicker. Go get Kasay.

Overall: If CJ2K gets up to speed quickly, this team has a really solid chance of making the playoffs. I expect guys like Fred Jackson (still the #1), Johnny Knox (he’ll get his job back), Mike Williams, and Sproles to overperform their draft spot. If they do, this team could make a good run.

Can we all just try to cheer up the Crabby Hermits

  1. (3) Ray Rice
  2. (26) Tony Romo
  3. (31) Beanie Wells
  4. (54) Brandon Jacobs
  5. (59) Chad Ochocinco
  6. (82) Michael Bush
  7. (87) Steve Smith
  8. (110) Jerricho Cotchery
  9. (115) Pittsburgh
  10. (138) LaDainian Tomlinson
  11. (143) Aaron Hernandez
  12. (166) Deion Branch
  13. (171) Antonio Brown
  14. (194) Mason Crosby
  15. (199) Jason Snelling
  16. (222) Tashard Choice

Best Pick: Michael Bush. He’s a talented, hard running, possible TD machine, with an injury risk ahead of him. I’m not sure why you took a fourth RB when you only had one iffy WR, but hey, it pissed me off, so you must have done something right. Romo was a good pick also, the last of the tier (although I hope you regret not taking Manning), as was Beanie, who I like this year. And Hernandez.

Worst Pick: Waiting so long on WR. Bush as a 4th RB is fine, but now you’ve crushed your WR position with has beens and wild dreams. OchoCinco, Smith, Cotchery, and branch are all well past their primes, and, while he’s worth a late round flier, you really can’t count on Brown.

Strengths: RB depth is outstanding. Ray Rice is a stud, Wells has a shot to really do something this year if he stays healthy, Bush is a solid backup as you could want, and LT, Snelling, and Choice are all backups who could step up if needed. I think you were looking for some trade bait.

Weaknesses: Again, the WR crew is atrocious.

Overall: If the WR position in fantasy football isn’t too important, this team has the horses to compete. I like Hernandez’s upside and Browns’ chances, and of course the RB position here. I will learn a lot watching how this team does. Good Luck, though, I think you might need it.

He’s not lying when he says he’s New York Fanboys

  1. (2) Arian Foster
  2. (27) Peyton Manning
  3. (30) Dez Bryant
  4. (55) Ahmad Bradshaw
  5. (58) Santonio Holmes
  6. (83) Jerome Harrison
  7. (86) Danny Amendola
  8. (111) Hakeem Nicks
  9. (114) New York
  10. (139) Mark Sanchez
  11. (142) Steve Smith
  12. (167) Dustin Keller
  13. (170) New England
  14. (195) Zach Miller
  15. (198) Victor Cruz
  16. (223) Nick Folk

Best Pick: Zach Miller is a talented TE who has the chance to really do well if Newton can throw him the ball. And it was fantastic value in the 14th round. I also like Bradshaw and getting him at 55 was nice.

Worst Pick: I say it every year: Homerism. Mark Sanchez. My distaste for him as a fantasy QB is legion. Smith - he’s still injured and only the 3rd best on his team. Holmes wasn’t the BPA, nor was Keller.

Strengths: I like the potential upside of Dez Bryant and teaming him with Nicks is a nice starting WR crew. And, of course, I like Arian Foster to have a good year.

Weaknesses: If you take a chance on Manning, for Og’s sake draft a backup earlier and one better than Sanchez. It could be a rough start to your year.

Overall: It’s like watching ESPN, full of a lot of stupid East Coast bias. With Manning’s neck, Foster’s hammy, Steve Smith’s leg, and a whole lot of bye week issues, I think this team is headed for the basement. Of course that could be because I’m a midwesterner.

I’ve always wanted to play Hungry Hungry Haruspex, but I’m afraid of Etruscans

  1. (1) Adrian Peterson
  2. (28) LeSean McCoy
  3. (29) Reggie Wayne
  4. (56) Matt Ryan
  5. (57) Daniel Thomas
  6. (84) Lance Moore
  7. (85) Mike Thomas
  8. (112) Kellen Winslow
  9. (113) Bernard Scott
  10. (140) Jordy Nelson
  11. (141) Montario Hardesty
  12. (168) Emmanuel Sanders
  13. (169) San Diego
  14. (196) Dion Lewis
  15. (197) Carson Palmer
  16. (224) Lawrence Tynes

Best Pick: I liked getting Mike Thomas in the 7th, he’s got a chance to be special if he can stay healthy and Garrard can throw to him. I also think Winslow was great value, and Hardesty and Sanders were great high upside/good value when drafted.

Worst Pick: Carson Palmer? Really? You’ll be dropping him quite soon. I’m also think Ryan is a tad overrated this year, so you should have gotten another high upside QB to work with him.

Strengths: All Day and McCoy can win you a week on their own. I like the candidates you have who could break out this year, like Thomas, Moore, Scott, Nelson, Hardesty, and Sanders. You gave yourself a great chance.

Weaknesses: Unreliability outside of the RB position. I don’t think you can consistently count on Ryan, Wayne, Thomas, Moore, etc. to get you necessary points.

Overall: This team has the potential to do very well. But it will need a fair amount of help from it’s long list of sleepers to do it, I think. You can’t count on them, but you can’t count them out either. Should be a fun team to watch.

80

*Varlos’ Zzzzzzz

  1. (10) Aaron Rodgers
    (GB - QB)
  2. (19) Felix Jones
    (Dal - RB)
  3. (38) Antonio Gates
    (SD - TE)
  4. (47) Dwayne Bowe
    (KC - WR)
  5. (66) Jonathan Stewart
    (Car - RB)
  6. (75) James Starks
    (GB - RB)
  7. (94) Michael Crabtree
    (SF - WR)
  8. (103) Mike Sims-Walker
    (StL - WR)
  9. (122) Greg Little
    (Cle - WR)
  10. (131) Kendall Hunter
    (SF - RB)
  11. (150) Mario Manningham
    (NYG - WR)
  12. (159) Dexter McCluster
    (KC - WR,RB)
  13. (178) Colt McCoy
    (Cle - QB)
  14. (187) Kansas City
    (KC - DEF)
  15. (206) Neil Rackers
    (Hou - K)
  16. (215) Jonathan Baldwin
    (KC - WR)*

Not sure how I feel about this team.

Rodgers is obviously a stud. Is he a stud you needed to take in the first round? Probably not. He was the second-highest-scoring fantasy quarterback last year, and the highest scoring one was still on the board. I hope for your sake Rodgers stays healthy, because while I think McCoy is a fine NFL quarterback he has nobody to throw to.

That really cost you on running backs, because while Felix the Cat is a superb #2 he’s not a very good #1. Jonathan Stewart is one of the few #2 backs you can plug in as an every-week starter, but unless Williams gets hurt he’s not going to improve on last year’s 870 yards. Starks is a big questionmark; he might be starting by midseason, but Grant might keep his job and Alex Green might be the guy. Presumably he’ll get third down snaps but I’d want a big more opportunity from a guy you’re drafting that high. McCluster will presumably be Kansas City’s #2 back at some point - but why would you want somebody’s #2? Hunter is a much more worthwhile pick since Gore is bound to miss a game or three.

Wide receiver isn’t really a position of strength, but it’s certainly a position of depth. Bowe and Manningham are both set-and-forget players, and somebody out of Crabtree, Sims-Walker and Little is bound to be productive. Baldwin is a wasted pick - an injured rookie on a crappy passing offense.

Antonio Gates is awesome… but is he so awesome you’d draft him in the third? Witten offers nearly equal production two rounds later.

Kansas City’s defense is fine, and gets to play the AFC West, which is finer. Rackers is also fine.

I’m giving this one a C-. Stockpiling mediocre wideouts is a problematic strategy because starting wideouts based on matchups is problematic. Playing matchups for running backs makes sense, because run defense is based on stopping one guy at a time. Pass defense is based on stopping lots of guys, and maybe Shitty Defense X decides to double cover your guy all game and maybe the double somebody else. There’s also a keeper problem here - even if Little and Sims-Walker explode, are you really going to be keeping them in Rounds 6 and 7? Doubtful.