Quarterback
11.06 Hasselbeck, Matt SEA (5)
1.06 Manning, Peyton IND (7)
4.07 Smith, Alex SFO (9)
I like my QBs. Alex Smith is the one to look out for. If he has a big day in any of the first five games, that will give me a big boost. Same goes for Hasselbeck. Smith had six multiple TD games in 12 starts last year. His surrounding talent could really elevate his game. Manning is Manning. If he has a couple 3-TD games, it'll help out a lot.
Running Back
12.07 Brown, Donald IND RB (7)
3.06 Mathews, Ryan SDC RB (10)
9.06 Sproles, Darren SDC RB (10)
14.07 Washington, Leon SEA RB (5)
2.07 Williams, DeAngelo CAR RB (6)
I like San Diego's schedule in the first five games, so I loaded up on their RBs. I think Mathews will be a big story in the first few weeks of the year and Sproles is someone people are forgetting about. He'll get some carries too and be a big part of the receiving game. I would be more excited about Donald Brown if this league lasted all year, but I'll take him in the 12th round. I'm hoping Leon Washington can make a few plays and be someone who can put up decent production. DeAngelo Williams joins Ryan Mathews as the two guys I need to be big producers every week. They both have favorable schedules against the run and are capable of providing big points as the leaders of my running game. In best ball, you want to have quality all around and I think I achieved that with this group.
Wide Receivers
19.06 Benn, Arrelious TBB WR (4)
17.06 Berrian, Bernard MIN WR (4)
7.06 Gaffney, Jabar DEN WR (9)
8.07 Hester, Devin CHI WR (8)
5.06 Moss, Santana WAS WR (9)
24.07 Sanders, Emmanuel PIT WR (5)
10.07 Thomas, Mike JAC WR (9)
15.06 Washington, Nate TEN WR (9)
7 out of 8 WRs on my team are starters. That says a lot in a best ball league. I don't have any elite WRs, but the season hasn't begun yet. I need receptions and I need TDs from my WRs. This may wind up being my Achilles heel, but I like the overall quality of this group. I think people will be pleased with Santana Moss, Devin Hester and Jabar Gaffney this year. Denver has been decimated with injuries early on and the latest injuries to Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker sealed the deal on my interest in Gaffney. Moss is the unquestionable WR1 in Washington right now, even though I think Devin Thomas will make a run later in the year. He should be able to get good production with McNabb.
Tight End
23.06 Fasano, Anthony MIA TE (5)
6.07 Miller, Zach OAK TE (10)
18.07 Scaife, Bo TEN TE (9)
I'm a big fan of Zach Miller this year, but he needs to catch some TDs in addition to getting receptions. If he can be a big producer in the first five weeks of the year, it will really help my chances. The others are there to possibly score a TD and provide some points. This is all about Zach "Miller" time.
Kicker
16.07 Bironas, Rob TEN PK (9)
20.07 Longwell, Ryan MIN (4)
22.07 Nugent, Mike CIN PK (6)
Went with three kickers, because any given week at least one of them is capable of putting up double-digit points. All three are on good offenses with the possibility of getting good totals from extra points as well. If I can get a 10-spot from my kicker position every week, it will be worth it.
Defense
21.06 Bills, Buffalo BUF Def (6)
13.06 Packers, Green Bay GBP Def (10)
Green Bay is a strong Def, but Buffalo?!?! Two words - CJ Spiller. The Bills may stay in games thanks to their special teams. If Spiller breaks one, this pick will be worth it. I was surprised to see them there in the 21st round.
Overall - I need a lot of things to go as planned and a lot of players to come through like I think they will. I like my overall quality of players and if things go the right way, I can see myself advancing. In best ball, the name of the game is consistency, value and quality. While it's good to take a few risks with players, it's more important to have solid production. I have six players out of 24 that have an early bye, but all six don't need to be the major point producers every week. I have advanced out of the first round of Survivor each time I've played. Last year I wasn't loving
my leg 1 squad, but I felt I made good decisions. I feel the same way this year.