Breaking down the draft. Part 1
The big night has come and gone. IT’s time to break it down, team by team, player by player. This may take a while. The teams are listed in the order that they were sent to me by ESPN. The order does not represent my predictions for the season.
Peoria Juiced Penguins
QB – Brady (48), Hasselbeck (8), Sanchez (3)
I feel like Brady was an okay buy at 48. I wasn’t planning on buying a big name QB but I was unable to get one of the two WRs I wanted so I had to distribute money to other areas. It would not shock me if Hasselbeck ends up being a top 10 QB by the end of the year, although he could end up getting injured in week 1 as well. I hated the Sanchez pick when it happened, as you all witnessed during the draft but in retrospect I don’t mind it. He is going to be a top 20 QB who should play the whole year, 3 for that production isn’t horrible. I was considering drafting Grossman with me last pick but I thought my weakness at WR necessitated another lottery pick at that position.
RB – (K) Charles (25), (K) Hillis (11), (K) Bradshaw (14), Jacobs (6), Spiller (5)
Obviously RB is the strength of my team. Charles is a consensus top 5 RB. I am planning on riding him to greatness. Hillis finished, without looking it up, top 5 at his position last year, although I am worried about him a but this year. I had Bradshaw as a keeper but felt Jacobs was a good value at 6 to back him up. I think in good match-ups I could even start both of these guys. Spiller is on my roster yet again. He burned me last year but for 5 I felt he was a good lottery ticket.
WR – Bowe (26), Jones (14), Meachum (4), Brown (3), Benn (7), Collie (7)
So I screwed up in the draft and went 7 for Benn when I really didn’t need to. If the guy does break out this year I could have saved myself 4 buck by drafting him at 3, I think someone would have bud 2 just to piss me off, instead of 7. I will be down on my knees this year praying for production out of Bowe. If the guy performs as a #1 WR I could have a great team, if he doesn’t I might be screwed and I hate having my season ride on Bowe. I overspent on Jones at 14. I expect him to be similar to Dez Bryant 2010, which wasn’t great but as a keeper for 2012 he could be a great value. I drafted Brown as another lottery ticket at this postion. My hope is that one of him or Benn will break out. I loved Collie before Manning went down. I realize a lot of his value is tied to Manning but I had him valued at 15 before the Manning news so 7 felt like good value. Meachum at 4 was my favorite pick of the draft. He will be a top 10 WR this year. You heard me, TOP 10.
Other – I spent 17 on Finley at TE. With guys like Hernandez and others going undrafted I think we might have to go two TEs next year. Depth at the TE position is much better this year but I felt like there are 3 difference makers at the position this year. Gates, Finley, and Whitten are my top 3 in that order. I had Clark as #2 but without Manning you just don’t know what is going to happen. I felt like I had the money to spend so why not go after a guy who could give my team a competitive advantage against most teams.
All Stars On Paper
QB – Rodgers (65), Hill (1)
Well Rodgers is really good, #1 on my board. I don’t think I have to say much more on him. Hill is not a starter, he is not even back up QB in fantasy. With no other QBs on the roster and nothing on the waiver wire ASOP is going to be at a disadvantage all year long.
RB- (K) Mcfadden (4), Turner (49), Williams (34), Bush (4), Tate (1), Taylor(1)
I am not buying McFadden this year. I know he had a great season last year but I smell an injury coming, although if he manages to stay healthy he should end up as a top 10 guy. Turner was my least favorite pick of the draft. I hate him. I had him listed as an 18 player and he went for 49. I just don’t see it, especially in a PPR league. Williams got a big contract in the offseason. I am not sure how motivated he will be on a horrible Panthers team this year. You have to expect opposing defenses to put 8 or 9 men in the box on every first and second down this year. Saying all that, at 34 I don’t think it is a bad buy. Michael Bush was a great handcuff (although he will play even if McFadden is healthy) pick. I really like Bush as a goal line back and he could be a great value if McFadden goes down. I really like the upside of Tate, but I have to worry about a guy that could not beat out Hines Ward for second on the depth chart. I believe Chester Taylor is now in Arizona, I could be wrong. No matter what team he plays for he stinks so I don’t think it matters. The problem I have with the guy is that he has no upside. You need to be going after guys with upside for a buck not the Chester Taylors of the world.
WR – (K) Johnson (30), (K) Jackson (4), Williams (1), Goodson (1) ?, Bosher (1) ?
I have to be honest. I do not have the internet hooked up at the moment and I have no idea who Goodson and Bosher are. Since there are only 3 other WRs on the roster I am assuming they are wide outs. I am also assuming that by admitting that I have no clue who these guys are that they will be fantasy starts this year, well done. Megatron is obviously a stud. I really love him if Stafford stays healthy. A very nice keeper even at 30. Vincent Jackson should also be great this year. The lesser of the Mike Williams is also on this team, I don’t really like the guy but there wan’t much left by the time he went off the board. This position is very top heavy.
Other – Gronkowski was the pick at TE here. I really like the guy but with Hernandez also on the Patriots the upside just isn’t there.
Pop King’s Doc
QB – Garrard (1), Tebow (1)
Fantasy God had to leave early so he went Stars and Scrubs. The QB position fell into the scrubs category. Garrard is not on a roster as I write this and Tebow is 3rd on the Broncos depth chart. I don’t know what more to say about this position.
RB – (K) Jones (12), AP (82), Gore (55), Benson (17), Harrison (1), Sproles (1)
We all love AP and perhaps with McNabb at QB there will not be so many defenders in the box. It appears to me that Lance will need to trade AP to create a starting QB and WR depth. Gore may also be trade bait. Personally I really like Gore this year but Lance will have to make some moves if he is going to have any chance at making the playoffs. Benson I believe is in jail as I write this, which is never a good sign. Harrison is in a back up role but could have some value down the line. I have no idea what Sproles will do in N the Big Easy. I would project Reggie Bush lite like numbers which might not be the worst thing in a PPR league.
WR – (K) Holmes (7), K Britt (3), Simpson (1), Dixon (1)
Britt and Holmes are fairly solid keepers. I think we know what to expect out of those two. Lower #1/ high #2 fantasy starters in a ppr league. The problem is that we start 3 guys in our league. Not really sure who Simpson and Dixon are. That is all I have to say about that.
Other – I really liked Clark before the Manning news. I think the line “I really liked _______ before the Manning news” may be my favorite of the year. At 14 I am not sure he is any better than all the $1 guys that went late.
Neverland Slumber Party
QB – (K) E. Manning (13), Orton (15), Newton (3), McCown (1)
I can’t believe I’m typing this but With the Manning news I believe that Eli is the top Manning QB in fantasy this year. I’m not sure that is saying a whole lot but he is a solid #2 starter in a 2 QB league. Orton was my favorite QB last year. I rode him to the playoffs before he was benched to Tebow. The only problem I see is that he cost 15 this year which may be too much. If the Broncos stumble out of the gate Orton could be out of a job by week 7. This is a sticky situation. If the Broncos stink early he could be traded to another team where he could start. The problem is that if we get past the trade deadline the guy might be useless for the 2nd half of the season. I hate all things Newton. I hate Isaac Newton, gravity shmavity. I hate Fig Newtons, who the hell thinks making cookies out of figs was a good idea. I hate Cam Newton, stupid cheater. McCown might start for Jax for 3 or 4 weeks. The better fit would have been the rookie here, I think it’s Gabbord since Orton is also a question for the end of the year.
RB – (K) McCoy (24), Best (24), Starks (15), Helu (1)
I am still not sold on McCoy. You can give me all the numbers you want about this guy but once Vick gets hurt every team is going to line up 9 men in the box and he is going to be destroyed. I love Best this year and to be honest I loved him last year as well. At 24 I think he may end up being one of the best buys of the draft. I was looking at my sheet and had him listed at 25. I am really not sure why I did not throw out a bid on this guy. I also love starks. To be fair, I loved him as a 5-10 sleeper, but even at 15 I think he is a great value. Grant is done. The guy was almost cut from the Packers during training camp. 15 for the starting Green Bay RB is one heck of a deal. I liked Helu early in the pre-season but it appears that he is now third on the depth chart in Washington. This team really needs to add some depth at the RB postion.
WR – (K) Bryant (8), Fitz (51), Marshall (28), Moore (5), Amendola (9), Burleson (1)
What a waste of a keeper for an $8 Dez Bryant. You should trade the bum, I will help you out with an offer if you want that bum off your team. I was really upset when the bidding went for over 45 on Fitz. I thought I could get the guy at that price. I believe I had a 50 bid on Fitz, but you just had to spend that extra dollar. I honestly believe that Fitz will be the #1 fantasy receiver this season. Kolb has to be better than the garbage the Cardinals called QBs last year. I wanted Marshall as well but at 28 I thought he was heavily overpriced. He was the last of the WRs in my #2 tier to go off the board. Nice pick up for a guy who could be a top ten WR but I still think 28 is too high. Lance Moore is already out for week 1. I simply see Meachum passing Moore up this year for the Saints. Amendola was on my WR sleeper list as well as Burleson. I think both guys have the potential to be very productive this season. Very nice strength at the top and depth at this position. You’ve got my number, hit me up on the trade line.
Other – Pettigrew is the TE here which is fine for a buck.
Pika Boooooooo
QB – (K) Vick (31), Stafford (19), McCoy (9)
I really did like Ali before this draft, but not anymore. I am pretty sure he broke into my house and stole my cheat sheet. Every player I was going after Ali was there bidding him up. Anyway, Vick seems to be on the trade block. So much has been said about this guy that I think everyone has an opinion one way or the other. Stafford was one of my favorite players in the draft. I really wanted him. I thought my 12 ranking would be enough to land him, but Ali just had to throw his money around and go up to 19. Although it is 7 more than my listed price I feel regret not going after this guy. He could very easily end up as a top 7 QB and in our format that is huge. McCoy is another guy that I really like. At the time he was drafted I only had 5 to spend for a QB. He does not have the upside that Stafford has because he really doesn’t have any weapons but I still like him as a solid #2.
RB – (K) Foster (18), Hightower (18), R. Bush (24), F. Jackson (12), Ward (3), McGahee (6)
I didn’t like Foster before the injury concerns and now I really hate him. I felt that he wore down at the end of the year. He smells like a guy who could be a one year wonder. Timmy Hightower however is a guy who I am really high on. I don’t think he has ever been given the chance to be the go to guy. This year it appears he has that chance in Washington. I feel like that offense might be explosive and Hightower could be a big part of that. Reggie Bush has been on my team every year, but I never went crazy and bid 24 for him. I know he has been named the starter in Miami but is that really a good thing? If the guy could not put up all-star numbers for the Saints how is he going to do it for a terrible Miami offense? I like the guy as a $5 lottery ticket but 24 is insane. Since I drafted Spiller I am hoping that Jackson sucks this year, but I actually like the guy. Ward stinks. McGahee stinks.
WR – (K) Nicks (10), S. Moss (9), S. Smith (car) (12), Green (9), Little (1)
I have finally found the kryptonite of Ali’s team. Oh wait, I really like these guys. Damn it. Nicks is a stud. A $10 keeper price is great for him. He could be the new Megatron. S. Moss is going to be a part of that explosive Redskins offense I mentioned earlier. At 9 he is a steal. I think Smith is done but at 12 he is a decent value. Green may not be good this year since there is no starting QB in Cincy but he is one heck of a keeper value at 9. Little was on my sleeper list so you know I like that pick.
Other – At TE Graham (6) could easily finish the year as a top ten TE. Very nice value.
Bed Intruders
QB – (K) Ryan (10), (K) Roethlisberger (10), Gabbert (1), Young (1), Palmer (1)
The starters here are solid and it cost Alex two keepers in Ryan and Big Ben. I really like both of these guys going into the season. The Falcons seem to be moving to a more pass heavy offense in which Ryan should flourish. Big Ben may be one of the more underrated fantasy QBs and he has a ton of weapons this year. Forget about the WRs on the Steelers we know, they also have Sanders (who is on this team) and Brown who would start for just about every other team in the NFL. 3 one dollar lottery picks finish off the QB position. I would not predict any of these guys to be productive this year but I would imagine that one of the 3 will hit and you can simply cut the other guys. I like the strategy.
RB – MJD (61), Jackson (56), Ingram (12)
I only see 3 RBs on this team and one of them is a rookie. MJD appears to be beyond his injury but I don’t trust him especially without Garrard. Garrard does not set the world on fire but opposing defenses will not even have to respect the pass against the Jags this season. Jackson is a guy I really like this year. I thought he would go for a lot less than 56 this year. The sense I get is that people no longer like the guy but I guess I was wrong. Ingram is a guy I would pay 12 in standard leagues but in a ppr he does not have that kind of value. Apparently I missed the memo that said Pierre Thomas was dead.
WR – (K) S. Johnson (5), Wayne (27), Burress (8), Branch (2), Driver (1), Sanders (1)
Stevie Johnson is one of my favorite WRs this year. I think he could end up as a top ten guy, at worst he is a solid #2. Here we go again… I didn’t like Wayne before the “Peyton Manning News” and now I really hate him. I know WR was a little thin when he was drafted last night but I honestly feel Collie finishes the season with more fantasy points than Wayne this season. Plaxico is a decent value at 8. He is going to be a rock star or a bum and I lean toward rock star. One of the washed up old guys, Branch and Driver, could come through this year. Branch had some very nice games last year after going to NE. With the short off-season and Tate getting cut Branch may be one of Brady’s favorite targets. Sanders was a guy I really liked before the shortened training camp and injury. I have since moved towards Brown as my sleeper Steeler WR but Sanders could be special when he comes back.
Other – Cooley for a buck at TE could have nice value.
