SDMB Fantasy Football Auction League

The Game Room
81

I turned trades to commission approval, by the way. Back when we had the Steven Jackson/David Carr incident a few years back, no one was willing to step up and object to that trade, and I doubt we’re going to get any trade offers more lopsided than that. So the vote feature seems unnecesary. That said, I’ll listen to discussion if anyone has objections to trade proposals, but any trade proposal made in good faith in an attempt by each owner to improve their own team, even if it’s misguided, should pass.

That said, we’ve got our first trade of the season - Quentin’s Jammers gives up Ray Rice and Braylon Edwards and RNATB gives up Steven Jackson and Nate Burleson. On the surface this trade looks stacked in favor of Jammers, but I’m not that high on Jackson and I’m pretty high on Rice so it may be a pretty good deal.

82

I suppose you’re right, but I’m willing to forgo accuracy for aesthetics in this case, and I think “LdT” just looks better. I’d sidestep the whole thing and just use “LT,” except there already is an LT, and anyone who uses those initials for Tomlinson is a football heathen and should be crushed by large stones.

Ironically, though, I also write “ADP” for Adrian Peterson – doesn’t everyone?

83

That’s an interesting trade. It could go either way (anyone here feel confident about how Edwards will do this year? How about Jackson?) but it’s a RB and WR for… an RB and WR. Traders, what was the reasoning behind this?

84

Different strokes. From a purely aesthetic perspective, I much prefer LDT. LdT makes my eyeballs bleed. Besides that, making the ‘d’ lower case emphasizes the ‘L’ and the ‘T’, which puts you dangerously close to being crushed by large stones.

There is no lower case ‘d’ anywhere in the name Complainian Tomlinson. Wait, what?

85

ὁ δὲ ἀνεξέταστος βίος οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ

“The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being”**

The Jackson Four (Hamlet)

$33 Brian Westbrook, Phi (33)
$29 Steve Smith, Car (22)
$22 Dwayne Bowe, KC (39)
$17 Larry Johnson, KC (71)
$16 Joseph Addai, Ind (60)
$16 Roy E. Williams, Dal (66)
$15 Donovan McNabb, Phi (70)
$14 Matt Schaub, Hou (82)
$10 Donald Driver, GB (103)
$8 Carson Palmer, Cin (74)
$7 LeSean McCoy, Phi (52)
$5 Laveranues Coles, Cin (115)
$4 Jeremy Shockey, NO (38)
$2 Nate Kaeding, SD (31)
$1 Jermichael Finley, GB (100)
$1 Dolphins D/ST, Mia (146)

QB

Donovan McNabb ($15), Matt Schaub $14, Carson Palmer $8

Me like. I really wanted Aaron Rodgers, and was willing to pay up to 30 for him, but beyond that would put too much strain on my other position’s budgets, so I missed out. But instead I got three QB’s who I thought were all undervalued. And they ended up costing me less than Brady or Brees. I trust myself enough to pick the right one to start each week and I really like Palmer’s and Schaub’s upside. I rock.

RB

Westbrook $33; Larry Johnson $17; Joseph Addai $16, LeSean McCoy $7

Again, I like. I paid a bit more than I’d like for Westbrook, but when I look at the prices of other RB’s, I don’t feel so bad. There’s an $8 drop off from Westbrook to the more expensive guys like Slaton and Jacobs and Gore, so I’m happy with the value. But it’s another year of the “do I start him or not” rollercoaster that is so fucking annoying with him. I overpaid (happily) for McCoy, but I think it’s one of mandatory handcuffs and I like everything I hear coming out of Philly about him. I hate Larry Johnson, but I think both him and Addai are incredible value. They have top 10 potential, at a half the price of the other guys. I figure both aren’t likely to rebound this year, but if I hit on one or the other, I’ll be estatic. Like I was with DeAngelo last year. If they both drop like stones on the depth chart though, I could be in serious trouble.

WR

Steve Smith, $29; Dwayne Bowe $22, Roy Williams $17, Donald Driver $10, Lavernius Coles $5.

I wanted a stud. Like really wanted either Johnson brother, or Fitz, or Moss. I just couldn’t bring myself to spend the kind of money for one when there are 3 WR spots to start. In retrospect, at the end of the draft, I found myself with enough money to buy Driver and Coles, which I should have spent to get one of the studs and instead grab a $2 longshot like Morgan or Avery or that other guy I like who’s name I won’t mention because I might pick him up later. But I’ve had Steve Smith and he’s fucking money. Over 1400 yards after missing two games. Bowe and Williams were both value guys who both worry me, and Driver and Coles were insurance against those two. It didn’t work out the way I had wanted, but they’re servicable, with a chance to be great.

TE

Jeremy Shockey $4, Jermichael Finley $1

Not great and very, very risky. Still, I saw no reason to spend a lot on a TE when I think that 3rd WR starting spot makes them more important. Too much risk, but I like Finley, and I think Shockey will do it this year. Worse case scenario, I get a waiver guy to fill in.

K & D

$2 Nate Kaeding, $1 Dolphins D

I like the Chargers and Kaeding to put up points this year and he was one of the first kickers put out there. It seemed reasonable to deviate from my DON’T PAY MORE THAN $1 FOR A KICKER plan. I am worried about the Dolphins D, but they’ve done well in the preseason and are easily replaceable. I laughed when Omni overbid me for the Packers D. Good times. Good times.

All in all, I like my team. Last year (Did I mention I won it all last year yet?) was my first auction and my “get the middlin’ guys you like who may turn into studs” strategery worked OK, so I gave it another shot. I’d prefer to have gotten one of the big 4 WR’s (or Reggie Wayne, so screw you Omni!), but all in all I like my team. Certainly a risky team, but I love the upside.

We shall see.

**Due to the similarity in Greek between the word for “life” and “fantasy football team”, the actual quote is “The unexamined fantasy football team is not worth drafting”

86

I’m pretty sure I’m higher on Jackson this year than anyone in this league. I’m wondering if people see that he missed 4 games each of the last 2 seasons and believe it’s a guarantee that he’ll miss 4 this season, as if a heavenly jury has preordained that he shall no longer play 13+ games. I think his injury history has kept people from actually looking at him and his situation this season.

I’m really high on Jackson this season. I don’t feel confident about Braylon figuring everything out, and I wanted to move him while he still has value from potential. Granted, that potential is a top 3 WR in the game if realized, but I don’t see that happening. I’m also not sure about Kevin Smith this season either. With my WR group as murky as it is, I don’t think my RB group was good enough to make up for the difference. With Jackson, it undoubtedly is. Now with Slaton and Jackson as my 1-2, they should score enough points that I can afford to have second rate WRs with high upside. It may seem strange to downgrade an already iffy WR group, but if I can’t have a stud WR and a stud RB, I’m just as well off having two stud RBs.

And for as much of a risk as SJax is to miss time, the biggest part of the deal for me is not giving up Kevin Smith. If Jackson goes down, I don’t face as large a downgrade to my team as I would have if Slaton or Smith went down and I had to go to either Rice/Wells/Brown. Slaton/SJax/Smith is a really formidable top 3. I think my team is stronger overall for it.

87

I don’t have time for an in depth review, but here are some of my useless thoughts on the other teams. And I won’t do the autodrafted teams. There’s no use talking shit to computers. And I’ve posted already about VarlosZ and SenorBeef, so they’ll get skipped.

Last Place (Kiros)

$63 Adrian Peterson, Min (1)
$26 Ryan Grant, GB (64)
$18 Marshawn Lynch*, Buf (78)
$13 Dallas Clark, Ind (57)
$11 Santonio Holmes, Pit (102)
$10 Steve Smith, NYG (2)
$9 Kevin Walter, Hou (105)
$8 Lance Moore, NO (94)
$7 Bears D/ST, Chi (163)
$6 Earnest Graham, TB (134)
$6 Fred Jackson, Buf (137)
$5 Chester Taylor, Min (85)
$3 Hakeem Nicks, NYG (132)
$3 Jake Delhomme, Car (154)
$1 Chad Pennington, Mia (143)
$1 Nick Folk, Dal (171)

That is one fucking wonderful RB crew. Best in the league. By far. Of course there are 6 of them, so you got depth up the wazoo, too. Outstanding RB crew. I don’t see a downside …

Oh wait. Now I do. Delhomme and Pennington are your choices of starting QB’s. Holmes, Walter, Moore, and Nicks are all #2 WR’s on a good day. Well, that’s kinda gonna suck. But I like Dallas Clark and Nick Folk.

Hell, with those WR’s and QB’s, I can’t even bring myself to mock you for paying $7 for the Bears Defense.

Kiros, I’d like to introduce you to VarlosZ, VarlosZ, this is Kiros. See if you guys have anything to talk about.
9 Inch Neils (Really Not All That Bright)

$60 Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac (6)
$50 Steven Jackson, StL (5)
$29 Marion Barber, Dal (32)
$20 Brandon Marshall*, Den (41)
$18 Terrell Owens, Buf (34)
$3 Brett Favre, Min (86)
$2 Robbie Gould, Chi (19)
$2 John Carlson, Sea (116)
$2 Vikings D/ST, Min (135)
$2 Willis McGahee, Bal (148)
$2 Shaun Hill, SF (158)
$1 Cadillac Williams, TB (172)
$1 Isaac Bruce, SF (183)
$1 Michael Jenkins, Atl (186)
$1 Nate Burleson, Sea (189)
$1 Brian Leonard, Cin (191)

If you’ll step this way class, we have a perfect example of the “stud running back theory” right here in our league. Now, don’t touch the glass, because this is one of the few that still remain in captivity in this day in age, but you’ll notice immediately the high price paid for 3 running backs and a simply astounding percentage of the total amount to spend is spent on them. The reasons these kinds of teams are so rare in the wild is that they die out from a complete lack of other positions. You’ll notice the token effort to grab “stud” WR’s too, but in this case, the Wrs are headcases. In addition that lack of halfway decent QB’s is almost painful to watch. If you look over here class, you’ll see the only reason this has a chance. Cadillac, Burleson, and McGahee (especially McGahee) all are great value picks and may have trade value. But enjoy the show because we don’t expect this prime example to last long. Now, on to our next specimen.

New York Fanboys (Ellis Dee)
$50 DeAngelo Williams, Car (18)
$30 Peyton Manning, Ind (16)
$20 Chad Ochocinco, Cin (44)
$20 Vincent Jackson, SD (69)
$19 Thomas Jones, NYJ (25)
$12 Jonathan Stewart, Car (99)
$10 Cedric Benson, Cin (113)
$8 Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ (111)
$7 Giants D/ST, NYG (14)
$6 Eli Manning, NYG (83)
$5 Kellen Winslow, TB (77)
$4 Domenik Hixon, NYG (109)
$3 Ravens D/ST, Bal (88)
$3 Tim Hightower, Ari (130)
$1 Neil Rackers, Ari (125)
$1 Mark Clayton, Bal (147)

This team would be very close to my team if I had any balls. Williams, Manning and Ochocinco and Jackson are a very solid core of a team. Add in some great value in Cotchery, Hightower, and possibly Clayton, and this team is looking good. While Manning was a great steal at $30, I think DeAngelo, Ochocinco, and Vincent Jackson (I’m not sold on him) might be too expensive, and I’m sure that Thomas Jones is. But there is enough secondary talent that this team has a chance. And that’s even with paying more than $1 for two different defenses, and having Cedric “Fall Down for 3 Yards” Benson.

Show Me Your TD’s (JMike)

$46 Chris Johnson, Ten (17)
$41 Brandon Jacobs, NYG (13)
$40 Drew Brees, NO (10)
$26 Anquan Boldin, Ari (30)
$14 Eddie Royal, Den (59)
$9 Owen Daniels, Hou (93)
$9 Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (107)
$2 Eagles D/ST, Phi (124)
$2 Devery Henderson, NO (140)
$2 Davone Bess, Mia (155)
$2 Deion Branch, Sea (178)
$1 Robert Meachem, NO (127)
$1 Ryan Longwell, Min (138)
$1 Nate Washington, Ten (167)
$1 Ladell Betts, Was (175)
$1 Justin Fargas, Oak (181)

Finally. A balanced team. A stud QB, two supposed stud RB’s (the “experts” say they’re studs, I still doubt Johnson’s and Jacob’s ability to produce stellar numbers this season), and a high end WR, TE, D, and K. If I actually liked Jacobs and Johnson, I’d be terrified of this team. And the cheap value is very good. Meachem, Bess, Henderson, and Fargas all have a chance to seriously overperform they’re values. And I like Bradshaw, but you overpaid for him. All in all, a solid team that should do very well for itself. Congratulations.

Chicago Cutlery (Omniscient)
$45 Tom Brady, NE (4)
$33 Reggie Wayne, Ind (20)
$27 Darren McFadden, Oak (72)
$22 Kurt Warner, Ari (23)
$12 Lee Evans, Buf (47)
$12 Bernard Berrian, Min (65)
$10 Greg Olsen, Chi (12)
$8 Fred Taylor, NE (73)
$7 Devin Hester, Chi (119)
$7 Rashard Mendenhall, Pit (141)
$5 Chris Henry, Cin (152)
$4 Jerious Norwood, Atl (161)
$3 Michael Bush, Oak (104)
$2 Packers D/ST, GB (76)
$2 Rob Bironas, Ten (106)
$1 Trent Edwards, Buf (118)

There was no single drafter who outbid me more often than Omni. I wanted Wayne, Warner, Olsen, and Mendenhall, but each time I tried, Omni outbid me. That shows one or two things. One, he’s got more cojones than I do to get the talent he wants. Or 2, he overpaid. It will be fun to see which it is. As a team, though, it kinda falls apart. His starting #1 RB is Darren McFadden at a price that he could have had Portis, Thomas, Grant, or Brown, or a slew of other RB’s. And after that it’s a bag of hope. Hope that Taylor gets enough carries in NE (he won’t), Hope that Mendenhall is at least a goal line back if not a stud 3 down back (he may very well be). Hope Michael Turner and Justin Fargas get hurt. And while Berrian/Evans/Hester are all supposed to be good #2 WR’s, I think they’ll be nothing special. And with that RB crew, Omni need something special. Still, I like Olsen to perform, and, if healthy, Brady can carry this team. And that’s what really matters. The wins. And Omni may get some. Or even more than some.

Team White Castle (It’s Not Rocket Surgery!)

$44 LaDainian Tomlinson, SD (11)
$41 Larry Fitzgerald, Ari (15)
$29 Greg Jennings, GB (24)
$19 Tony Romo, Dal (43)
$18 T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sea (45)
$15 Matt Ryan, Atl (75)
$15 LenDale White, Ten (81)
$10 Antonio Bryant, TB (67)
$2 David Clowney, NYJ (164)
$1 Tashard Choice, Dal (128)
$1 Mason Crosby, GB (139)
$1 Mewelde Moore, Pit (150)
$1 Brent Celek, Phi (159)
$1 Miles Austin, Dal (168)
$1 Buccaneers D/ST, TB (176)
$1 Glen Coffee, SF (182)

Damn. Damn Damn Damn Damn Damn. Damnedy Damnedy Damn Damn Damn. I like this team. A lot. Romo/Ryan is a solid QB crew; Fitz, Jennings and Housh are outstanding WR’s with backup Bryant and a couple “close your eyes and hope” guys in Clowney (he’ll never make it) and Austin waiting to emerge. Great value in Crosby/Bucs D/Celek to fill out the roster. The only flaw I see is at RB, where so much depends on LaDanian. White does nothing for me, Coffee and Choice need injuries to contribute and Tequilaless Lendale needs CJ to get him close to the goal line or he’s useless. So it’s LaDanian or Bust. But damn, this team scares me.

Quentin’s JAMmers (Jules Andre)

$41 Steve Slaton, Hou (42)
$29 Kevin Smith, Det (40)
$26 Philip Rivers, SD (54)
$18 Braylon Edwards, Cle (53)
$18 Ray Rice, Bal (101)
$14 DeSean Jackson, Phi (87)
$14 Anthony Gonzalez, Ind (92)
$11 Chris Wells, Ari (114)
$7 Donald Brown, Ind (126)
$4 Ted Ginn Jr., Mia (131)
$3 Redskins D/ST, Was (142)
$2 Patrick Crayton, Dal (145)
$2 Joe Flacco, Bal (149)
$1 Visanthe Shiancoe, Min (153)
$1 Jets D/ST, NYJ (162)
$1 David Akers, Phi (170)

Another solid team. If I liked Slaton, I’d be in awe. But I don’t, so I’ll just say this is a great team too. Slaton/Smith/Rice (now Jackson if IIRC) is a powerful trio of RB’s. Rivers is a great QB statistically, and Wells and Brown both have chances to be rookie studs of the year. But the thing is, those players come at a price, here in the WR crew. But this team took what little money they spent on WR’s and spent it wisely (if at great risk). I like Edwards, Jackson, Gonzalez to all produce very well this year, and Ginn and Crayton are certainly worth a shot and the little money spent on them. Add in solid TE/K/and two solid Defense, and this team will make the playoffs. There is no team I like in this league more than mine. Great draft. Fucker.

88

I ended up snatching up James Davis as a free agent pickup. I was telling Jules Andre in the other thread that Harrison was the guy I wanted all along, and that’s true - I think Harrison is the better runner - but Harrison was supposed to play in preseason game 4 and didn’t and now I’m worried his ankle injury is more serious than reported, so I’m hedging my bets by grabbing James Davis in one league.

I’m hoping that just means Harrison’s roster spot is locked up and there’s no reason to rush him back to reaggravate the injury. I’d hate (not as a fantasy player, but as a Browns fan) to see Harrison yet again get shafted because he got injured when the team was deciding whether to go with one of the young guys as a starter.

Well… he has a higher upside on my roster than Ricky Williams. We’ll see what happens.

89

So, which one was me?

90

I sent Chuck an e-mail asking if he was just abandoning the league, but he says he intends to play out his autodrafted team (and that he intends to win).

91

Not sure, but I’m probably some obnoxious hybrid of 11, 10, 5, 3, and 1. Not a bad list, it was amusing, You can tell the author plays fantasy football, or got a lot of help from someone who does.

92

Bad picks. WTF were you thinking?

93

If nothing else, it gave me a very hearty laugh. I’m wondering when you’re going to admit that I scooped you on your own team. Week 3 when Davis is splitting carries with Lewis? Week 7 when he’s the full time guy after Lewis goes down with the dreaded season-ending injury (old and slow)?

94

Well clearly you’re #9 because if you had done any research at all you’d know that my picks all have very good CTR scores. I mean, geez, do you even read Cracked lists?

95

You may have scooped me. I remember when we were drafting though, I said “I have a magical ability to make a player be taken as soon as I put him on my interest list”, at which point you told me to queue my next pick up and then you drafted Davis. That is, you were making a joke out of thinking he was going to be my next pick and scooping me. But I honestly didn’t intend to draft him - I may be wrong, but I was going to draft Harrison all along.

Still, for the price of dropping Ricky Williams off my roster it’s worth hedging.

96

You know it was only a couple years ago that Sticky Ricky had over 2000 combined yards… and Ronnie Brown has a history of knee problems…

97

I am absolutely #1. I’ve got the book right next to me, actually, and plan to spend the next few hours going through it for ideas (ridiculous fantasy schedule: keeper draft, 25 Round dynasty draft, 20 team Big League draft on successive days starting tonight). I’m just wondering who else is working from the same crib sheet.

98

As is probably obvious, not me. I just wing it with what I would describe as a cursory knowledge of the greater NFL outside of the Giants, and to a lesser extent the Jets. Generally speaking, during the regular season I watch every snap of the Giants, probably half the snaps of the Jets, and maybe a half dozen games worth of non-NY action all season combined.

I do watch a lot of ESPN football coverage, though.

99

They have even more potential if you stick some of them in the starting roster slots.

100

Aaaaaaargh!