First let me say it has been a pleasure drafting against some of what I consider being the best talent in the shark pool. I have never fared very well in these drafts but I always find the commentary enlightening and this is definitely a useful tool for me to guage my strategies for future drafts. Every time I thought a player might fall a few more picks or into the next round someone seemed to be snapping up that player. I can only hope that I have created some of the same frustrations for a few of you as well...
Anyway my picks:
QB Cam Newton
RB Adrian Peterson, Shonn Greene, Jahvid Best
WR Julio Jones, Dez Bryant, Sydney Rice, Mike Williams (TB)
TE Ed Dickson
QB - I really don't think that Newton will have a sophmore slump. If anything a training camp with his offense will only help to solidify and build on what he did last year. I was not a believer before the season and even into the season I thought he was playing beyond his abilities but I am sold now (even before this draft) that he will be a fantasy bonanza for the foreseeable future.
RB - The reports have ADP ahead of his recovery schedule. I hope that means that he'll be ready for week 1 and that the Viking offense will focus around him. Not sure what to expect from Greene - the addition of Tebow could work wonders for the NYJ running game like he did for the Broncos last year or it could expose Greene as just a journeyman type RB. I really like getting Best in the 7th round. With the troubles in the Lions backfield Best will come out on top and if he remains concussion free he should have a strong season given the weapons in the Lions offense
WR - I have four young receivers in what should be high powered offenses. I like Jones to begin to be come the 1b option to White's 1a option in the Falcon's offense. It's time for Bryant to mature and become the receiver everyone predicted that he could be. Rice will finally have a QB who can throw him the ball and I like Williams to perform well now that VJax will garner most of the coverage in TB.
TE - I waited on TE (I did this in the WSL league as well). No reason other than everytime is was going to move on a TE someone beat me to the pick and to me there was better value on the board. Still I did want to get a TE who has a shot of being in the top 10 and I think Dickson could manage that in the Raven's offense. Not saying he will but if Flacco is unleashed then Dickson will have his opportunities.
Just over a third of the roster is filled in and my guess is what will separate the winners and losers in this league going forward are the picks over the next 6-8 rounds. Picking the right support players who get the chance to step in due to injury or opportunity on their NFL teams will go a long way to making or breaking a survivor league roster.