1.07 Eddie Lacy, RB Packers - Wish Calvin had fallen, of course. Missed by one pick. Love this kid. APOROY, and Coach has been outspoken on Team expecting him to be every down RB in 2014. Did great job carrying load in 2013, w/ no real durability issues. Managed 35 receptions, 1400+ total yards and 11 TD while establishing himself last year. Although there are plenty of mouths to feed in GB, it's still an extremely prolific offense, and with an established role, I'm thinking he's going to up those #'s to 48/1600/12, and I didn't see another RB available that I thought could as likely generate those #'s between the combination of their own talent and the offense they were working within.
2.10 Julius Thomas, TE Broncos - I consider OJT to be a Tier-1 player at his position, none of my Tier-1 guys were left at QB and WR...what's it going to be like in Denver, sans Decker, is the big question. Probably worthy to wonder what the passing game is going to look like sans Moreno as well? Still very prolific, I think that's a sure bet. In transition, I'd like to think Manning will lean on what he knows and trusts, and that's the Thomas' and Welker. I don't think Ball is anywhere near the threat out of the backfield Moreno was, and I don't think enough of Emmanuel Sanders to assume he's going to get a Decker-size piece of the pie, even if he doesn't get hurt. Building on 2013 even modestly, that's a nice piece to build a foundation on in TE2PPR.
3.07 Keenan Allen, WR Chargers - Tough run to watch coming into my 3rd Rounder. Thought one of Nelson, Cobb, Fitzgerald, would fall to me, didn't...while I was pondering the 'usual suspects' group, when I came across K.A, due to the fact that his name kept coming up when I was researching my 1st round pick of Eddie Lacy, with all the 2013 Rookie hype. Have to admit I didn't know as much about him, as I didn't have him on any Teams last year, so I took the opportunity to take a closer look. From the highlights, I didn't realized he had the size he does. Resurgent season by Rivers, probably will see some regression overall in the passing stats this year, but I like the direction I think this kid is headed in, and his place in the offense.
4.10 T.Y. Hilton, WR Colts - Another young'un for me here. Usually I'm more of a vet guy. Adding Nicks to the mix makes for a lot of guys looking for targets, but I like Hilton's potential in a PPR scheme. Doesn't have the size I usually prefer, but some of the other guys available at this point didn't either. Think he has more upside than the veteran names, think he has the potential to post remarkably consistent #'s week in/week out. I like the QB, the offense, and his place in it. Think he has it in him to post a high-teens, low-20's type of season ranking, with a lean to the higher end of that in PPR, I'll take that out of WR2 at 4.10 in a 16 Teamer/PPR.
5.07 Robert Griffin III, QB Redskins -
6.10 Toby Gerhardt, RB Jaguars -
More to follow...
Wanted to let some events unfold before commenting about Griffin/Gerhardt, and the picks that potentially followed...
Griffin III - I felt pretty good as 5.07 arrived, as I wasn't enamored with any of the players selected after I took Hilton at 4.10...as the draft unfolded, I thought I'd be able to wait until Rd 6 to take my 1st QB, but when Brady and Ryan went at 5.04 and 5.06, I figured I'd better move on one, or be left holding my sack. QB at 5.10 was going to cost me an RB2 or WR3. Felt WR was much deeper, so I wasn't as worried about losing ground there. I opted for Griffin because (and I know this may sound silly), I wanted a QB that could supplement the position that taking a QB earlier than I had planned, would effect. I sometimes shy away so hard from Redskins, being a fan, I sometimes hurt myself, but 2014 Griffin feels different. Feeling optimistic about the regime change, and moves that have been made so far, especially the Roberts/Jackson signing and development of Morris and Reed. I think I'm getting the QB that may approach expectations. That means a passing QB that can accumulate RB stats. Good thing I did what I did, because my original plan had me taking Rivers as the lead in a tandem of lesser QB's, and he wound up going 3 picks later.
Gerhardt - Edelman, Gore, Colston and Floyd, I'd have taken any of them if they'd fallen to 6.10. I really hope I don't regret passing on Sproles here, but I really thought I could nab him at 7.07. I don't think there's anything super special about Gerhardt, but I do think he can do everything well enough to be a solid RB2 in a 16-teamer. I'd lost out on all candidates I felt were WR2's that I could have drafted as my WR3, so I went RB figuring I needed to fill in a remaining starter, and Gerhardt's upside at RB2 was better than bona fide WR3's, of which there were plenty remaining.
7.07: Joe Flacco, QB Ravens - Stinkin Ref stunk me with Sproles, and stank me with Terrance Williams, who I would have taken here had he fallen. Pretty nonplussed with the remaining candidates at RB. WR still a pretty deep pool. One QB remaining in my Top 16, figured I'd rather have him supplementing Griffin, and standing in, in case of injury, than allowing one of the Teams with no QB a shot at a QB1, even a low-ranking one. High on the prospects of the Ravens O this year, think Flacco may have his share of weeks logging starter minutes for me - if he's not, then Griff is doing what I expected him to do, and playing out of his mind.
8.10: Jarrett Boykin, WR Packers - Boldin, Bowe, Pierre Thomas gone, and Golden Tate drop, drop, dropping...missed him by one pick. Though he would have made a legit WR3 on his own, without requiring upside...but I will gladly take Boykin as the lead in a committee, and still feel strong at WR3. Think he's more complete than his predecessor, and if an injury strikes, he's a WR1. Packer offense is plenty prolific, and if bye weeks cooperate, I'm only down one of my WR3's when I'm down my RB1.
9.07: Markus Wheaton, WR Steelers - I had a short list of guys I'd have liked to pair with Boykin, and Randle and Stills were the 1st 2 on the list, but Wheaton was a close 3rd. Looking forward to his contributions this season, sans broken finger(s)...he's got the skills, and bringing in a big WR via the draft doesn't affect his expected role in the offense. Additions brought in to play slot, and challenge for a roster spot, but I don't think they're there to challenge for the starting spot opposite Antonio Brown. Like the looks of the running game, and I think that may make for even more opps for the WR.
Moral of the story, kids, don't take this #### too seriously!
