Draft Results - Downtown SJ League

With the start of the NFL season just around the corner, fantasy drafts are taking place all over the country. Having recently participated in two drafts of uniquely different formats, I wanted to share the results of the drafts, as well as my perspective of how the drafts went and any related draft strategy.

Here's a shout out to my compadres in the Downtown SJ League!

League Settings:

• Host Site: ESPN
• League Size: 8 Teams
• Roster: QB, RB, RB, WR/RB, WR, WR, TE, K, DEF, B, B, B, B, B, B, B
• Draft Type: Standard Snake Format (Offline)

Draft Results:

Round 1:

1. T. Brady (NE)
2. A. Peterson (MIN)
3. M. Jones-Drew (JAC)
4. M. Turner (ATL)
5. D. Brees (NO)
6. D. Williams (CAR)
7. P. Manning (IND)
8. M. Forte (CHI)

Looking at Round 1, what jumps out to me most is the fact that 3 Quarterback's went in the first 8 picks. Not only is this rare in standard 10-12 team leagues, but in an 8 team league it's almost unheardof. As a result of the mini-run on QB's, I had Adrian Peterson fall in my lap with the #2 pick.

Round 2:

9. C. Johnson (TEN)
10. S. Slaton (HOU)
11. D. McNabb (PHI)
12. L. Tomlinson (SD)
13. L. Fitzgerald (ARI)
14. A. Rodgers (GB)
15. C. Johnson (DET)
16. R. Moss (NE)

Another 2 QB's went off the board in Round 2, as well as the first Wide Receiver (Larry Fitzgerald) at pick #13. Having had the #2 overall pick, I wasn't sure what type of talent would be available when the snake got back around to me at #15, but I was pleasantly surprised to find Calvin Johnson still on the board. He's a big-time receiver who's coming into his "breakthrough" 3rd season in the league.

Round 3:

17. J. Cutler (CHI)
18. F. Gore (SF)
19. A. Johnson (HOU)
20. C. Portis (WAS)
21. T. Owens (BUF)
22. A. Boldin (ARI)
23. S. Smith (CAR)
24. G. Jennings (GB)

With Frank Gore still on the board at pick #18, I had to pull the trigger. I have him rated as the #2 overall running back coming into the season and I think he's going to put up big numbers. Round 3 also saw a run on WR's with 5 out of the last 6 picks being pass-catchers. Terrell Owens is probably the biggest stretch here, with his advancing age and the uncertain Buffalo offense.

Round 4:

25. R. White (ATL)
26. S. Jackson (STL)
27. M. Barber (DAL)
28. B. Westbrook (PHI)
29. B. Jacobs (NYG)
30. K. Smith (DET)
31. M. Colston (NO)
32. R. Grant (GB)

I like picking up Marques Colston in the Round 4, but the biggest steals have to be Steven Jackson and Brian Westbrook. To get that type of scoring potential in Round 4 is an amazing value. It's also interesting to see how far Marion Barber has fallen from last year when he was going in the mid to late first round in standard leagues.

Round 5:

33. R. Wayne (IND)
34. P. Rivers (SD)
35. R. Williams (DAL)
36. T. Gonzalez (ATL)
37. D. Bowe (KC)
38. A. Gates (SD)
39. B. Edwards (CLE)
40. R. Brown (MIA)

Round 5 is where I finally get my QB, drafting Philip Rivers at #34. In my mind he's just below Tom Brady and Drew Brees, so to get him 4 rounds later in the draft is a great value. Hopefully a healthy Antonio Gates and LaDainian Tomlinson will keep the San Diego offense firing on all cylanders all season long. Speaking of Gates, the top 2 Tight Ends came off the board with Tony Gonzalez going first at pick #36.

Round 6:

41. K. Warner (ATL)
42. P. Thomas (NO)
43. K Moreno (DEN)
44. J. Stewart (CAR)
45. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (SEA)
46. A. Gonzalez (IND)
47. J. Witten (DAL)
48. D. Hester (CHI)

Round 6 was my turn to draft a TE, going with Jason Witten at pick #47. With Terrell Owens now in Buffalo, Tony Romo will be relying even more heavily on Witten in the passing game. No real surprises in this round, other than maybe Devin Hester going a little sooner than I would expect.

Round 7:

49. K. Winslow (TB)

50. D. McFadden (OAK)

51. B. Roethlisberger (PIT)

52. M. Ryan (ATL)

53. S. Moss (WAS)

54. B. Berrian (MIN)

55. V. Davis (SF)

56. T. Romo (DAL)

Round 8:

57. D. Clark (IND)

58. M. Schaub (HOU)

59. M. Hasselbeck (SEA)

60. T. Edwards (BUF)

61. T. Jones (NYJ)

62. G. Olsen (CHI)

63. M. Lynch (BUF)

64. J. Addai (IND)

In Rounds 7 & 8, I was able to stock up at the Running Back position by taking Darren McFadden and Marshawn Lynch. McFadden has all the skills to have a breakout season in Oakland and I can afford to wait for Lynch to come back from his 3-game suspension. Vernon Davis is probably the only reach at pick # 55.

Round 9:

65. L. Johnson (KC)

66. B. Marshall (DEN)
67. D. Ward (TB)
68. W. Welker (NE)
69. D. Sproles (SD)
70. S. Holmes (PIT)
71. E. Royal (DEN)
72. V. Jackson (SD)

Round 10:

73. D. Jackson (PHI)

74. J. Nedney (SF)
75. L. White (TEN)
76. O. Daniels (HOU)
77. C. Ochocinco (CIN)
78. H. Ward (PIT)
79. R. Rice (BAL)
80. C. Benson (CIN)

Having already drafted Johnson and Colston, I felt pretty comfortable drafting Brandon Marshall in Round 9. I won't be relying on him early, but with all of his talent he could be a factor later in the season. With all of the positive buzz surrounding Ray Rice this preseason, I was also very surprised to find him still available at pick #79. With the way Baltimore likes to run the ball, he could have a very good season.

Round 11:

81. S. Gostkowski (NE)
82. F. Jones (DAL)
83. R. Mendenhall (PIT)
84. W. Parker (PIT)
85. Ravens D/ST
86. Giants D/ST
87. R. Bush (NO)
88. C. Wells (ARI)

Round 12:

89. D. Brown (IND)
90. 49ers D/ST
91. P. Harvin (MIN)
92. A. Bryant (TB)

93. C. Palmer (CIN)

94. Patriots D/ST

95. L. Evans (BUF)

96. Steelers D/ST

Another value pick with Felix Jones in Round 11. I could have gone with Rashard Mendenhall here because I think both guys have the potential to put up points this season, but I ended up going with Jones. Snagging Lee Evans at pick #95 is a nice value now that he'll be playing across from Terrell Owens. If Trent Edwards stays healthy, I like Evans' chances at a 1000 yd. season.

Round 13:

97. J. Cotchery (NYJ)

98. L. McCoy (PHI)

99. J. Lewis (CLE)

100. C. Cooley (WAS)

101. M. Crosby (GB)

102. D. Mason (BAL)

103. G. Coffee (SF)

104. J. Carlson (SEA)

Round 14:

105. K. Walter (HOU)

106. M. Crabtree (SF)

107. D. Akers (PHI)

108. L. Coles (CIN)

109. Titans D/ST

110. A. Bradshaw (NYG)

111. E. Manning (NYG)

112. J. Norwood (ATL)

Probably the biggest mistake of the draft for me was taking LeSean McCoy instead of Glen Coffee in Round 13. Nothing against McCoy, but having Coffee as insurance for Gore would have been the smart move here. Getting Eli Manning in Round 14 is also a nice value pick for a back-up QB. His receiving options are uncertain right now, but he's a proven leader and New York should still have an excellent ground game this year.

Round 15:

113. C. Taylor (MIN)

114. Eagles D/ST
115. T. Holt (JAC)

116. N. Kaeding (SD)

117. T. Choice (DAL)

118. M. Bush (OAK)

119. D. Avery (STL)

120. R. Longwell (MIN)

Round 16:

121. Vikings D/ST
122. J. Morgan (SF)
123. P. Crayton (DAL)
124. Z. Miller (OAK)
125. L. McClain (BAL)
126. K. Brown (HOU)
127. R. Bironas (TEN)
128. D. Driver (GB)

The last 2 rounds are roster fillers. I like the Philadelphia defense and Rob Bironas has one of the biggest legs in the league. Not a bad way to round out my team.

Overall I thought I came away with some absolute steals. From Peterson in Round 1 to Gore in Round 3 and Rivers in Round 5 to Rice in Round 9, I think my roster looks pretty formidable. Only time will tell.

Preseason Rankings: Rookies

The following series of posts will list the top 10 fantasy players based on projected fantasy output for the upcoming 2009 season.

This season's batch of rookies will have big shoes to fill after last season's group took the league by storm. Guys like Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, and Matt Ryan all stepped right on the field as rookies and were immediate game-changers. A few guys on this list have that kind of potential this year, but it may come down to seizing the opportunity when it comes. Chris 'Beanie' Wells seems to have found himself a nice situation in Arizona with the Cardinals looking to establish more of a power running game. If he can avoid the IR, he should contribute right away. Matthew Stafford also finds himself with offensive weapons around him in Detroit, so the opportunity is there for an immediate impact. With Thomas Jones due for an injury, I expect Shonn Greene to be the man in New York by the end of the season. Also looks for Hakeem Nicks build a nice rapport with Eli Manning. I like Mark Sanchez and LeSean McCoy looking down the road, but I don't think they'll be factors this season.

1. Chris 'Beanie' Wells (ARI)
2. Matthew Stafford (DET)
3. Shonn Greene (NYJ)
4. Knowshon Moreno (DEN)
5. Hakeem Nicks (NYG)
6. Donald Brown (IND)
7. Mark Sanchez (NYJ)
8. LeSean McCoy (PHI)
9. Percy Harvin (MIN)
10. James Davis (CLE)

Fantasy Impact: Rookies are always such a tough group to draft because of the unpredictability. First of all, you don't know if they're good enough to play at the next level. Second of all, they're probably on a bad team in a bad situation. Thirdly, you never know how injuries might affect the situation (i.e. Rashard Mendenhall last year). If your in a single-season league then roll the dice will mid-round picks on guys like Wells and Moreno if you want, but be prepared to live with the possible consequences. My advice for legacy or keeper leagues would be to wait until the late rounds and pick up a guy like Jeremy Maclin or Glen Coffee who may not be a starter right now, but has the potential to be a starter down the road. You never know when an injury can open up the door of opportunity.