Draft Recap

In case you’ve questioned my dedication (although why would you), I’m writing this draft recap at about 30,000 feet on my to Chicago with about .25mg of Xanax to help me out (if my sentences go long and my thoughts aren’t finished, now you know why).  As I’ve done in the past, I think I’ll go position by position and see who is the strongest and weakest at each spot.

QUARTERBACK:

We’ve done this enough times now to know how it goes with QBs. Get at least one good one early, and then make a decision.  Do I load up on RB’s and WR’s or get myself that 2^nd QB.  If you do the former, you can rosterbate a little bit, but ultimately, you’ll be staring at the flex spot hoping someone will come through.  It’s enough to seriously kill that boner.  If you did the later, you’ll might be fine at the flex but will be scouring the waiver wire hoping Ike Redman will get 12 carries and a bullshit touchdown.  The Patented Sandwich Fest Scoring System (patent pending) does not help the decision much, as a QB is just as likely to get negative points as they are to get 30. 

That being said, I think Bry worked it about as well as you could. After going RB, RB to start, he grabbed Cam Newton (who might not be a top 5, but should be top 10) and Matt Stafford who has more weapons now than he did last year. 

Ferencz also hit that Round 5 2^nd QB run and grabbed Russell Wilson to pair with Tom Brady.   I’m not buying any fall off of The Tom Brady Show (he’s fucking Tom Brady) and Russell Wilson could finish top 5 this year.  He’s that good.  For some reason he grabbed Joe Flacco, possibly b/c he liked his name (that could be the only reason). 

Third place I’d have to give to Brown.  Pretty cut and dried when you take Rodgers that even a decent #2 would get you into the top 3.  I’ve heard whispers that Mike McCarthy wants to run the ball more since they drafted Eddy Lacy.  That will seem like a good idea until about Week 3 when they realize they should let the best QB in football just throw.  Brown also grabbed a high upside pick with Luck.  Luck was decent  in his rookie year, but should improve in year 2.  Unlike Ferencz, Brown grabbed a nice upside/matchup play with Tannehill as a QB3.

Honorable Mention: Jimbo Slice took Drew Brees, so that’s good.  Eli Manning though, sometimes good.  He’ll have some weeks where that combo can’t be beat, and some where Eli might destroy his chances, but if there was ever a season for Eli to be a top 10 fantasy QB this is it.

RUNNING BACKS:

Now, if you waited for QBs and went RB, RB with your first two picks, there’s a good chance you wound up on this list.  Again, I have to give credit to Bry.  I understand quibbling with Newton and Stafford being a top 3 combo (they did both finish top 10 last year), but I can’t see having a problem with his RB1 or RB2.  Adrian Peterson is self explanatory, and I think at this point, Sproles is too.  He’s a PPR machine and returns kicks.  He’s pretty durable.  He was the #1 overall back in our league after the 2011 season, and was still top 5 after last season.  That’s a nice 1-2 combo. 

Right on his heels is Mike Mintz who went Spiller and Richardson with his first two picks.   If EJ Manuel  gets back by week 2, I think CJ Spiller will be the #1 RB in fantasy this year.  Dude gets 8 years every time he touches the ball.  He’s the featured player on that offense.  He is a dynamic talent, and I should’ve taken him, but Mike got him in ROUND TWO!!  In Round 1 he got the best rookie in the league next to Doug Martin.  Richardson’s only question is durability, but if he stays on the field, there’s potential Mike finishes the year with the #1 and #2 RBs in fantasy this year. 

Ok, obviously I’m biased, BUT, I do really like my running backs (I guess why would I have picked them if I didn’t like them?).  Jamaal Charles was held out of the last 3 preseason games but is a full go for season opener.   With Andy Reid, Lesean McCoy became a top 3 back, catching 50 passes a season, and even had a 20 TD year.  The similarly talented Jamaal Charles should be in line for a big season.  At #2 is Alf Morris, who finished 2^nd in the league in rushing last year.   They’ll be trying to keep RGIII from getting hit, so I expect another 300 carry season for Alf (I’d lay off him next year though, he’ll probably get hurt).  At RB3&4 I took two high upside picks with Lamar Miller, who’s named the starter with the Dolphins and Geo Bernard, the first running back taken in this year’s draft.

Tied with me at third I’d give it to Chris Hill.  The always productive and healthy Ray Rice, the PPR machine Matt Forte, and a nice value pick with Demarco Murray in the 6^th round.   The only reason he’s not higher is because he’s essentially a 3 RB team,  with two RBs that get hurt annually in Forte and Murray.

Honorable Mention:  Scott’s Doug Martin/Chris Johson duo could be pretty strong, if one believed in Chris Johnson, and Daryl Richardson should be a productive RB3.  Hemrick took 3 RBs that look strong on paper but in real life haven’t been healthy (Steven Jackson and MJD) or are in a new system, although should be good (Reg Bush).   Also Matt/Sean took another #1 overall candidate in Lesean McCoy and backed him up with Ridley and Eddy Lacy.  He also got good news that Le’veon Bell could be back as early as week 2. 

WIDE RECEIVER:

Every team has a million WRs and there’s so many good ones out there, it’s hard to say who’s got the best here.  So I’m going to get a little crazy, and do a quick thought on each team.

Bryan – He’s great at QB and RB so he has to be weak somewhere, and this could be it.  I expect Roddy White to get close to 90 grabs, but Garcon can’t stay healthy and James Jones might be the 4^th option on his own team.  Sydney Rice, see Garcon.  He needs an Amendola injury so he can slot Edleman in.

Scott – Cobb is like the Sproles of WRs.  If he returns kicks, he should be the #1 WR in our league.  He backed him up with Cruz who we all know Is great.  It’s a little shaky beyond there though with Torrey Smith, Emmanual Sanders, Clusty, Vincent Brown and DHB.  Out of that group, only Brown has breakout potential.

Brown – Reggie Wayne is still dominant out of the slot.  Should be close to 100 catches for him this year again.  After that it’s a lot of question marks.  Health wise you have Hakeem Nicks and Jordy Nelson.  Production wise is Greg Jennings.   He does have James Graham though, so that’s like having a stud WR.

Ferencz – Possibly the best 1-2 in the league with AJ Green and Andre Johnson.  Johnson is no longer a first round pick, but he is still a stud, putting up 1500 yards last year.  Anquan Boldin should make for a respectable WR3.

Hill  – In a PPR, this kid did really well again.  Dez Bryant is an obvious #1, with Welker, Antonio Brown and Steve Smith all either the #1 options on their team or they’re Wes Welker.  Very strong here Hill.

Hemrick – Looking pretty good here.  Megatron.  Vjax.  Decker.  Hilton.  I think Vjax is a very good to great WR2 and I’m expecting big things from Hilton, so Hemrick should be covered if Welker takes looks away from Decker.  Andre Roberts is a nice PPR bye-week play.

Mintzy – Again, punted on QBs but is stacked at RB and WR.  Larry Fitz, Brand Marshall (in ROUND FOUR!!!), Mike Williams Tampa Bay, and a nice upside play on Kendall Wright.  His starting lineup at RB and WR looks like this: Richardson, Spiller, Fitzgerald, Marshall, Williams, and Witten at TE.  Hard to beat that.

Matt Sean – Julio. Oh Julio.  I had you last year and you always seemed like a game-time decision.  I still remember yelling at Laurie while pulling my hair out trying to figure out if I start you or not.  Sometimes it was a good idea, some times it was a bad idea.  I’m glad I won’t have to deal with that again.  I hope you don’t either Matt/Sean.  Amendola is obv a PPR monster* (*-place injury caveat here), and Desean jackson and Cecil Shorts are both nice upside, WR3 types, as well as Josh Gordon once he’s back from suspension in Week 3. 

The Commish – Pretty happy to still get a stud WR (D. Thomas) in round 4.  I followed that up with Dwayne Bowe who I expect will be much better with an actual QB throwing to him.  At WR3 I’m hoping to get this years Randall Cobb, Tavon Austin.  He should return kicks and play out of the slot.  For depth I grabbed one proven guy, Miles Austin, and one upside guy, Golden tate.  Pretty well rounded squad here for the commish.

James – Didn’t get around to taking a WR until Round 5 and considering that, he did alright.  Colston, Mike Wallace, Chris Givens, Ryan Broyles, Brian Hartline all play key roles on their teams, and although none of them are studs, they have potential to give James decent production.

TIGHT END:

James Graham once said, “my only regret, is that I have but one body to give to fantasy football.”  In this case, that body went to Adam Brown.  He’s the winner.  Nuf Ced.

James got lucky and took Gronk in the 4^th round, I’m pretty sure not knowing he’s even hurt.  Looks like he’s coming back in Week 3 the latest, so he dodged a bullet there.

Mike got witten.  Ference got Tony g.  Everyone else is just hoping and praying at TE.

So the plane has begun it’s decent into Chicago, so that’s all for now.  I’ll throw up a power rankings if I can before the games on Thursday.  If some one else would like to take it on while I’m in The Windy City, let me know and it’s all yours.  Good luck this year.  All your teams stink except for mine though.