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Fantasy Football Draft






I recently participated in an industry draft and figured I'd share the results (at least the first eight rounds). This wasn't just a mock, as it will be played out. Starting lineup featured 2RB, 3WR and a flex, so it's pretty deep. One point-per-reception for wide receivers and 0.5 PPR for running backs. Also, six points for passing TDs.

 

ROUND ONE

 

1. RotoWire – Maurice Jones-Drew

2. CreativeSports – Adrian Peterson

3. MockDraftCentral – Matt Forte

4. Football Guys – LaDainian Tomlinson

5. FantasyCrowd – Chris Johnson

6. Draft Sharks – Larry Fitzgerald

7. Krause – Andre Johnson

8. RotoWorld – Steven Jackson

9. Krause – Michael Turner

10. RotoTimes – Brian Westbrook

11. RotoExperts – DeAngelo Williams

12. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Calvin Johnson

 

Comments: I love Peterson, but factoring in the half point per reception, I decided to go with MJD instead. The Jaguars get the NFC West (Minny gets Baltimore and Pittsburgh) out of conference this season, and the playoff schedule (Mia, Ind, @NE) looks pretty favorable. LaDainian Tomlinson at four was mind-boggling.

 

ROUND TWO

 

13. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Clinton Portis

14. RotoExperts – Frank Gore

15. RotoTimes – Steve Slaton

16. Krause – Randy Moss

17. RotoWorld – Marion Barber

18. Krause – Steve Smith

19. Draft Sharks – Ronnie Brown

20. Fantasy Crowd – Kevin Smith

21. Football Guys – Tom Brady

22. MockDraftCentral – Reggie Wayne

23. CreativeSports – Anquan Boldin

24. RotoWire – Greg Jennings

 

Comments: While Gore was tremendous value here, Slaton was even better, considering he's No. 4 on my board. He should not be going in the second round. After taking Tomlinson in the first and a QB in the second, it's safe to say my strategy differs just a tad from the "Football Guys."

 

ROUND THREE

 

25. RotoWire – Roddy White

26. CreativeSports – Brandon Jacobs

27. MockDraftCentral – Drew Brees

28. Football Guys – Reggie Bush

29. FantasyCrowd – Peyton Manning

30. Draft Sharks – Marques Colston

31. Krause – Pierre Thomas

32. RotoWorld – Dwayne Bowe

33. Krause – Brandon Marshall

34. RotoTimes – Wes Welker

35. RotoExperts – Terrell Owens

36. Fantasy Football Guidebook – T.J. Houshmandzadeh

 

Comments: I normally draft running backs with my first two picks and often my first three, but with a mandatory 3WR lineup, a deeper RB group in 2009 and a shallower WR class, I went with Jennings and White at the turn, and it was made easier because I have a hard time differentiating the two. I almost went Jacobs, who was a steal at this point, and after bashing the team's first two picks, I actually like Bush here – he's officially become an underrated fantasy commodity. Loved the Thomas selection as well – in most leagues, I assume he'll be a second round pick come August. I value Bowe pretty closely to both the WRs I went with, so he was terrific value as a late third rounder.

 

ROUND FOUR

 

37. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Ryan Grant

38. RotoExperts – Roy Williams

39. RotoTimes – Aaron Rodgers

40. Krause – Jason Witten

41. RotoWorld – Eddie Royal

42. Krause – Derrick Ward

43. Draft Sharks – Knowshon Moreno

44. Fantasy Crowd – Dallas Clark

45. Football Guys – Darren McFadden

46. MockDraftCentral – Larry Johnson

47. CreativeSports – Chad Johnson

48. RotoWire – Beanie Wells

 

Comments: I was really hoping Royal would fall, but it wasn't even close. RotoWorld did great getting Bowe and Royal in the last two rounds. It's extremely early for Dallas Clark here, especially with how deep the TE group is. I'll write more about Wells later on, but I expect him to end up on a bunch of my teams this year. He's going to be a monster, and I think he's worth second round consideration.

 

ROUND FIVE


49. RotoWire – Braylon Edwards

50. CreativeSports – Antonio Bryant

51. MockDraftCentral – Antonio Gates

52. Football Guys – Tony Gonzalez

53. FantasyCrowd – Vincent Jackson

54. Draft Sharks – Marshawn Lynch

55. Krause – Kurt Warner

56. RotoWorld – Joseph Addai

57. Krause – Thomas Jones

58. RotoTimes – Jonathan Stewart

59. RotoExperts – Hines Ward

60. Fantasy Football Guidebook – DeSean  Jackson

 

Comments: I strongly considered Anthony Gonzalez here but went with Edwards instead. A bounce back is likely, but Brady Quinn's lack of downfield ability is a concern. At least Kellen Winslow is gone. Round 5 marked three straight "Antonios" being drafted, which was fun. I've previously thought Lynch was a bit overrated, and the suspension is definitely noteworthy, but he's good value here. I would have taken Stewart ahead of Addai and Thomas Jones.

 

ROUND SIX

 

61. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Willie Parker

62. RotoExperts – Anthony Gonzalez

63. RotoTimes – Santonio Holmes

64. Krause – Philip Rivers

65. RotoWorld – Lee Evans

66. Krause – Felix Jones

67. Draft Sharks – Donovan McNabb

68. Fantasy Crowd – Bernard Berrian

69. Football Guys – Torry Holt

70. MockDraftCentral – Donald Driver

71. CreativeSports – Tony Romo

72. RotoWire – Matt Schaub

 

Comments: I actually considered Romo with my last pick, and he nearly made it all the way back to me. Alas, I had to settle on Schaub. Felix Jones could be a difference maker.

 

ROUND SEVEN

 

73. RotoWire – Donald Brown

74. CreativeSports – Cedric Benson

75. MockDraftCentral – Laveranues Coles

76. Football Guys – Donnie Avery

77. FantasyCrowd – Steve Breaston

78. Draft Sharks – Jerricho Cotchery

79. Krause – Lance Moore

80. RotoWorld – Ray Rice

81. Krause – Santana Moss

82. RotoTimes – Derrick Mason

83. RotoExperts – LenDale White

84. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Michael Crabtree

 

Comments: I wouldn't trade Brown for Addai straight up, so I was happy to nab him here. It might not be ideal having him as my flex early in the season, but he looks like the type of pick who could win the league for me. He's a special talent in a terrific situation, whereas Addai is an average back. Addai will certainly get the veteran treatment, meaning the starting job and majority of carries, but he's extremely injury-prone, and over his last 22 games played, he's gained more than 80 yards rushing once. Liked the Rice pick as well.

 

ROUND EIGHT

 

85. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Jamal Lewis

86. RotoExperts – LeSean McCoy

87. RotoTimes – Julius Jones

88. Krause – Darren Sproles

89. RotoWorld – Jay Cutler

90. Krause – Kevin Walter

91. Draft Sharks – Fred Jackson

92. Fantasy Crowd – Leon Washington

93. Football Guys – Devin Hester

94. MockDraftCentral – Matt Cassel

95. CreativeSports – Ted Ginn

96. RotoWire – Matt Ryan

 

Comments: I had my heart set on Hester, but he was stolen from me just three picks ahead. I ended up with very little WR depth as a result. With a year under his belt, Michael Turner a candidate to get hurt and Tony Gonzalez added, Matty Ice could be huge in 2009, and I always go with the wait on QBs but then draft a few strategy, as that position can easily be manipulated through weekly opponents.  

 

My final team:

 

QB – Matt Schaub

RB – Maurice Jones-Drew

RB – Beanie Wells

WR – Greg Jennings

WR – Roddy White

WR – Braylon Edwards

Flex – Donald Brown

TE – Zach Miller

K – Nick Folk

D – Titans

 

B – Matt Ryan

B – Ahmad Bradshaw

B – Shonn Greene

B – Laurence Maroney

B – Mark Bradley

B - Eagles