Will this be the year one of these puppies graces your mantlepiece?#1 Steve – In rounds 2-5 Steve opted for the uncommon approach of avoiding running backs (last person to take RB2) in favor of two top 10 receivers on the first turn followed by a top tier tight end and his 2008 savior Philip Rivers. The concern with this strategy being which RB would join AP in the backfield on a weekly basis. He made 3 good selections between rounds 6-9 with 2 starting backs in Benson and Parker and an athlete with lots of potential in Moreno. Benson figures to be his week 1 starter, but at least one should be serviceable at the 2 slot with the strengths he created at other positions. Each owner clearly had a man crush or two out there; Steve’s more obvious than others – Jennings and Favre (if not Rivers as well). Great call on the top tight end as the RB2 talent did not decline much over the next 22 picks (rd5-6), but the weakness is glaring: wide receiver depth. With Jennings and Boldin each playing only 1 full season in the last 3 years, Steve will need a very healthy season or to find this year’s Lance Moore to plug in down the stretch. If not for the boof of a last pick, (which evoked evil snickering from Bill – something about him being the mastermind behind this brilliant pick), his draft grade may have been higher
- Best Pick: Benson (7th) Great value pick – could easily be solid RB2 all season – full workload in healthy offense
- Worst Pick: “Mr. Irrelevant” G.Hartley (Suspended, now backup kicker)
- May as well just drop now pick: (besides Hartley) E.Bennett (12th) (Career NFL Catches: 0)
- Steve’s Favorite: Jennings/Boldin turn (2nd/3rd)
- Draft Grade: B
- Best Pick: Brady – Great value…Gives him arguably best RB and QB in NFL
- Worst Pick: J.Morgan (selected 2+ rds ahead of ADP, but got his guy - not a bad sleeper WR4)
- May as well just drop now pick: Delhomme – wks1-7, 9-17 he will just be eating up a bench spot
- Andrew’s Favorite: Brady
- Draft Grade: B
#3 Crazy – Clearly he and Kiwon strategized early in the week to opt for the pre-draft mind games and the element of surprise on draft day. Passing on his fantasy team namesake, Crazy opted for MJD and coupled the pick with up-and-comer P.Thomas in Rd.2. If he was shooting for Roddy as his WR1, he certainly was bailed out by Steve selecting Boldin above White. Crazy drafted P.Thomas in Rd2, 13 picks higher than ADP (Thomas would have made the turn back to him in Rd3). Love the early RB3 with Lynch, as it gives Crazy one of the top 2 GOFFL backfields. Crazy overspent on WR2 Holmes, who failed to eclipse 100yds in a single game last year and scored fewer fantasy pts than his Pgh cohort who went 20 picks later, but he was able to get Rams #1 Avery and Chambers who, when healthy, figures to put up some quality weeks in that offense. Receiving crew is average, but Crazy got his tight end man crush, Mr. Olsen, who could be primed for a breakout year. Only question is how much better production will he put up than 15th rd backup TE, Shiancoe (great pick, this year’s best value at TE – 600+7 in ’08)…maybe a couple TDs difference on the year? Sophomore QBs Ryan and Flacco will need to overcome the run-first philosophies of their teams, and increase TD totals by 8 at the fewest to even break into fantasy starter territory. Hopefully the No.1 ranked Steelers D/ST can make up for any questions at the QB and WR positions.
- Best Pick(s): Shiancoe (Rd15 pick with TE1 production), Lynch (one of best RB3 in league)
- Worst Pick: Holmes – With H.Ward still around getting twice as many red zone looks, Holmes will remain only a long-ball threat, which doesn’t bode well for enough TDs to make him a sure WR2.
- May as well just drop now pick: ? (wow Crazy, good job) – Meachem will be first to go, barring a big wk1 or 2
- Crazy’s Favorite: Meachem – thinks he is this year’s L.Moore
- Draft Grade: B-
#4 Roscher – He’s at it again; 3 WRs in the first 4 rds. Last year this same strategy (and preseason top-ranked WR corps) didn’t quite work out as planned, leading to an 11th place finish. With the familiar Saints faces, Rosch must be praying this is finally the year Colston and Bush both play all 16 games…ha. This year his 5 WRs may all end up producing fantasy starter numbers (Wayne, Colston, VJax, Hixon, Henry). Too bad for Rosch he can only start 3 of them in a given week. His strength at WR yielded RB questions. R.Bush (a non-starting, non-goal line back), and now only one TD-vulture, C.Brown will have to do the trick (Duckett-cut, G.Jones-doesn’t figure to take goal-line from MJD). Rosch was smart to back up his mid-round Warner selection with Cassell, even if his motive was simply “just to screw Gizz.”
- Best Pick: Daniels (Rd7) – Got the last of the top 7 TEs. Should put up numbers just shy of TEs taken rds 4&5
- Worst Pick: R.Bush – RB2 on his own team, non-PPR, constantly injured. Starters like Benson, Parker, JLew more carries, available 1-3 rds later
- May as well just drop now pick: Duckett, as he is currently lacking NFL team
- Rosch’s Favorite: Colston
- Draft Grade: B+
#5 Kiwon – The Tomlinson pick was completely unexpected, but gives Kiwon the guy who was the perennial #1 pick for the previous 5 years, and in an injury-filled, down year finished 6th among RBs with 1400yds and 12 TDs. Couple LT with the Roscher strategy of 3 quality WRs (SSmith, Bowe and RoyWill), and Kiwon has one of the best 4 player combos. Kiwon’s biggest question lies in the RB2 position, and with many questions among mid round RB selections, Kiwon will be no stranger to them. He snagged Addai, last year’s concensus top 5 pick, who lost touches to an RBBC, but who hopes to return to the guy punching in scores for the potent Colts offense. He then intelligently took Rice as his RB3. He has the skills to put up great numbers in a running juggernaut, if he just gets enough touches. If you’re among the group that sees Rice taking over the majority of the workload, then this is a steal at this point. For those others who think this RBBC will devour any fantasy value, a quality year could be 1000+5, hardly starter material. Then my favorite “I’m clearly using the ESPN rankings pick” had Kiwon overspend on E.Graham in the 8th, now playing second-fiddle to D.Ward. Graham may get goal-line carries, but with very few yards and an unimpressive offense, doesn’t figure to produce much. In a repeat of Rd1, Kiwon rocked Gizz’s house with his C.Palmer selection, and joined Rosch in the “let’s fuck Gizz over” strategy by taking QB2 in Rd9. The late round TE selection of Brent Celek proved that Kiwon had done some research and knew not to panic if he missed out on the top tier.
- Best Pick: Celek (Rd14) – Showed flashes of brilliance in playoffs with 10catch game. Capable of 700+6 TE1 #s
- Worst Pick: Graham – JLew & Parker available to be RB4, Kiwon takes guy who lost starting job and is oft injured
- May as well just drop now pick: McGahee – 3rd fantasy option in RBBC, no goal-line, Nicks – rookie WR in run offense, not even a starter yet
- Draft Grade: C
#6 Gizz – To say Kiwon succeeded in rattling the commish with his LT selection, would be a massive understatement. The fall-back plan was never considered, and for fear of missing on a 1st round RB for the 3rd straight year, Gizz took his #1WR R.Moss, expecting 15+ TDs with a healthy T.Brady. This set off an early WR run, allowing Kral, Ande and Bill to double up on quality RBs. Getting Portis’ consistency and the promising K.Smith, turned what could have been a weakness into an acceptable backfield. Backups JStew, Bradshaw, L.Washington (all backups on their teams), figure to get more carries this year, and each have the potential to break out of the mid-rd RB mess into fantasy prominence. Gizz’s receivers should be in the top half of the GOFFL with Housh (Seattle’s red zone threat) and Hester (Cutler forcing balls into his #1) joining top gun Moss. Weakness lies at WR4 (Galloway) and QB (Orton and Big Ben). Gizz was the last to select a QB, but got his guy and a potential steal if McDaniels keeps Orton in the shotgun throwing 40+ times/game.
- Best Pick: Gates (Rd5) Got top tier TE and didn’t sacrifice quality of RB3/4
- Worst Pick: Galloway/Engram – failed to get solid WR4. Both washed up players whose only hope is in new system
- May as well just drop now pick: Engram – #3 WR in unproven system
- Gizz’s Favorite: Orton – Boom or Bust pick, but at 14th QB off board, could provide great value
- Draft Grade: C+
#7 Vande – He jumped on the WR train in Rd1 with Fitzy, and therefore will be relying on a lesser RB1. Was smart to go RB-RB in Rds2&3, as Barber and R.Brown could both end up as top 10 backs. Taking Witten Rd4 may have cost him a shot at a solid WR2, as Housh and VJax went shortly after him. Had he passed on Witten, either Witten, Gonzo, Gates would have likely been available in the next pick. So this early spend on his guy meant exchanging Housh/Vjax for Evans. Taking McNabb in the 6th seemed to be a reactionary pick after Vande’s/Everyone’s Guy, Schaub (8th QB) went to Ande two picks before. Truth is McNabb has not proven himself any better than QBs selected many rounds later. McNabb in his best season in 5+years, played all 16 games (for first time in that span) and yet did not crack 4,000yds and finished with only 23 TDs (that was his 32yr old ceiling). Ever since he lost his running value, he has not been the top tier guy he is continually drafted as. Whenever McNabb misses a couple games, J.Campbell will be his replacement (Career High TDs: 13). Vande has a slew of WRs who may have a tough time finding the endzone (Evans, S.Moss, S.Smith-NYG, Bess and Bradley), so he’ll need some big years to complement Fitz and Witten.
- Best Pick: Fitzgerald – Had he passed, would have ended up with second tier RB and WR, instead of premier at 1.
- Worst Pick: S.Smith (NYG) – McCoy, Sproles, C.Taylor, good backup QBs, Breaston, Henry, Ginn available
- May as well just drop now pick: Campbell – Free Agent QBs will be available
- Vande’s Favorite: Barber
- Draft Grade: C (Lost points in the late round by failing to make quality additions)
#8 Karalis – Well if by some stretch of the imagination SJax and Westy play 30+ games combined, this team will be competing into the second season. Peyton Manning and Ochocinco had a bargain price tags in Rds3&4. Karalis also did a fine job of selecting a backup RB who can be plugged in full-time with L.White. Grabbing McCoy in the 9th saw Bill nearly bust a nut on Steve at the pool table (not sure why other than the 8-beer man crush goggles – Bill does love him some Karalis). L.Moore, Bryant, Holt, Ginn should provide in the range of 5-8 TDs each, so hopefully Matty makes the right call on two each week. In the 13th Matt took Z.Miller, towards the lower end of TE1s, but capable of putting up top 3 in yardage at the position – great pick. Injuries are the concern for this team (SJax and Westy are primed to miss time) along with unproven WRs. If Moore or Bryant duplicate their 08 seasons, and Holt or Ginn lead their run-first offenses in receiving and TDs, this could be a squad with some firepower.
- Best Pick: Z.Miller – Again, theme of the draft, great TE value late. Yes, top tier may have 800+7-8, but guys like Z.Miller can easily put up 800+5-6, a matter of 12 fantasy points over the season, less than 1pt/week. And for the 8 rd premium, he was able to get L.Moore and Lendale as solid roster components.
- Worst Pick: Holt – not much dropoff in WR4 value over next 3 rds, but miss out on chance to have another starting RB on roster with injury prone guys ahead
- May as well just drop now pick: G.Coffee – Preseason Matthew! -Expendable
- KRal’s Fav: P.Manning
- Draft Grade: B
#9 Ande – 2 stud RBs in 1st two rounds, followed by the safe, smart pick of Welker. If not for his Marshall pick, the first 6 picks would have been near flawless. Marshall who already figured to see a dip in production without Cutler forcing balls into him, could have been expected to catch 80 balls for 1000yards. But he’s a problem child…trouble with the law, now incapable of learning the new playbook, and demanding a trade. A trade might be in Anderson’s best interest, as he may be in the doghouse riding pine otherwise. At this point E.Royal is the better Denver receiving option (21 picks later), or he could have had Ochocinco or VJax. His next two picks with the last of the top tier TEs (Da.Clark) and Schaub (everyone’s nut buster) rounded out a solid starting lineup. The WR2/3/4 will be one of his first areas to target in free agency. Cotchery, the undisputed #1 in New York, may struggle to put up 1,000 yards with a rookie QB and finding the end zone may be even more difficult. If Cotchery is ineffective and Marshall does not play early on, there is little help coming from the bench (N.Washington, S.Rice, P.Garcon are the backup WRs). Ande’s top 3 WRs last year combined for only 14TDs. Ande also did not select a backup QB behind injury prone Schaub but is not concerned, as there should be a viable free agent to emerge in the early going. By waiting til Rd8 for an RB3, Ande has put himself in a situation of starting potential backups (Wells-Inj?, Sproles, FJax), and you’d think he learned a lesson from Roscher’s Marogna Sandwich, but he spent a late pick on him anyway. On the whole, great start to the draft, fizzled out, with very few players in the second half of the draft that can step in and help without a major injury gifting them playing time.
- Best Pick(s): Jacobs – Best RB2 in GOFFL (along with Gore), Schaub (8th QB, Rd6 – potential to be Top5 QB)
- Worst Pick: Marshall – Not the same guy he was Wk1 2008, new offense, new QB, won’t play there if he keeps it up
- May as well just drop now pick: Maroney/S.Rice – neither have performed up to fantasy starter levels and for LM, 3 other backs will prevent him from being relevant, and Rice is in a run first offense, may score 5 TDs, but wont have 800+ yards. He’ll be gone for a free agent WR within the first 3 weeks.
- Ande’s Favorite: Schaub
- Draft Grade: B-
#10 Aero – Only person to pass on RBs in Rds1&2 altogether – wild new strategy from the newbie. He took AJ and Brees, two top tier players, and then Grant luckily fell back to him at the end of the 3rd. I’m sure he drew it up like that. Between DWard and LJ, one will be starting. With Tampa threatening to employ a three-headed monster the likes of which haven’t been seen since priest holmes led ravens.KC in shambles and looking to air it out, it is unseen how LJ will fit into the scheme. After AJ, Aero’s receivers are average at best. He is putting big hopes that DJax will buck the trend in Philly that no receiver other than TO has had more than 10 TDs (and only a few have had 1,000yds) in the McNabb era. Also with 1st Rd pick J.Maclin moving into the mix, Jackson’s improvement may be tempered. Crayton/Breaston could both be serviceable WR3s, but likely wont’ be above average. Drafting Winslow in the 7th, after the tier ended with Daniels and Cooley, clearly was a wasted pick, as we have already noted how many viable TEs were available much later.
- Best Pick: Breaston (Rd9) – 1000+yds last year in non-starting gig, will continue to get looks ...high quality WR4
- Worst Pick: Winslow – TE who seems to be injured every year, missed out on F.Jones, D.Brown immediately after
- May as well just drop now pick: Crabtree – not signed…rookie WR….yeah...
- Draft Grade: C
#11 Billiam – Other than the silver platter delivery of 2 stud RBs (Deangelo & Gore), Bill had very few highlights. He spent very early on Braylon and AGonz, passing on the following WRs: Ochocinco, Housh, VJax, Berrian, missing out on Rodgers on the turn, and all the top tier TEs after these 3rd/4th round selections. Romo may have a tough time returning to his brief reign of fantasy stardom with that deteriorating line and no more TO, not quite worth the 5th round pick, with Royal and Walter available on the turn, who could have helped the GOFFL’s weakest receiving corps. Coles, D.Brown, Carlson were the only notable good picks as the draft went on. Hightower in the 7th seemed very early, but with lingering C.Wells injuries (surprise surprise), he may be thrust back into his role of averaging the NFL’s lowest ypc and hoping Fitz and Boldin get tackled at the one so he can punch it in (399rush yds in 08!). Other picks that puzzled me: K.Curtis (Lost looks last year, losing more this year) and S.Greene (well this didn’t puzzle me, other than the fact it didn’t happen 4rds earlier and Bill continued wearing the same pants after...gross. Bill still overspent for his mancrush, passing on the current Jets #2, who could have been a solid back to add to Bill’s lonely two-horse stable. Instead RB depth is an immediate concern, as is WR quality, and sadly he doesn’t have a top tier QB like one might expect with these glaring weaknesses elsewhere. He’ll need some serious overachieving, including a repeat performance from Deangelo and Gore’s best “DLo” impression.
- Best Pick: Gore – A no brainer at #14, Bill thought he might be getting Gore as his RB1 if not for the early WR run.
- Worst Pick: AGonz – ADP 77, Bill’s selection 38. 13 higher drafted receivers available.
- May as well just drop now pick: Curtis – should have taken Maclin instead. FA WR apply here.
- Bill’s Favorite: Carlson – Did he listen to me preseason fantasy ramblings? Prob just forgot about TE and got lucky.
- Draft Grade: D+
#12 Halbert – I think Halbert was pleased with Slaton and Calvin on the turn, and teaming them with Rodgers gives him 3 top tier players to build his team around. McFadden and Harvin are Halb’s m-c’s this year, so the 4th round RB2 selection wasn’t shocking. Hopefully that roll hits, or else the 3 backup RBs/RBBC members will see major time in Halb’s lineup and may be inconsistent at best (F.Jones, C.Taylor, S.Morris). The selection of Walter and Royal at the 5/6 turn, was great to fill out the starting roster, and Royal’s stock looks to be skyrocketing. Harvin as a WR5 isn’t bad by any means, but I have no doubt he would have been there many rounds later. But he took who he wanted and proclaimed “He will be starting by Wk4.” Bold pick from the Halb-man...was waiting for Rd13 Leinart selection to boot. Perhaps Halbert should have gotten a more reliable TE. He is banking on Shockey staying healthy or a random FA pickup of choice. Could have also used pick in that range to get a defense better than the Bears…yes they have a reputation of getting turnovers and returns, but with the offenses they will face in the NFC North and the shoddy pass defense they have displayed recently, they might be on their heels all season. One thing that is a good good day…Halbert will be receiving two regular season losses courtesy of Mr. Anderson – sources close to the team report.
- Best Pick: E.Royal – Very few receivers left after this with WR2 potential. Could be in line for near 100 catches.
- Worst Pick: Harvin – another rookie WR going before 10th round … 3rd receiver in running offense.
- May as well just drop now pick: M.Sims-Walker, After the GOFFL draft, he added a hyphen to his name. Cut him on principle alone (please overlook reason for hyphenation)
- Halb’s Favorite: I didn’t ask him again, for fear of the Percy rant again.
- Draft Grade: B- (The weak TE, D/ST hurt an otherwise decent team)
