14-team league draft strategy (1 Viewer)

[tick dog]

We just switched from a 12 team to a 14 team league. I pick #8 this year, but this isn't about specific players I should be looking at, etc...more of a general strategy question.

Normally, I'm RB-RB hands down, and this year it seems more important than ever to grab RBs early and often, with the RB position seeming thinner than in years past, so my gut says stick with that. That said, would you just play it by ear and see who's there in round 2/3 RB- and WR-wise? i.e. I don't want to be SO set on going RB-RB that I take a lower-tier RB out of fear of the position quickly thinning out, and pass up a higher tier WR. In other words, I think I'd rather start, e.g. SJax/Fitzgerald than SJax/JJones, and go RB-best WR1-best RB2? OK, so maybe this did turn into more of a specific question...

So, what do you 14-team guys have to say?

 

[Keith R]

We just switched from a 12 team to a 14 team league. I pick #8 this year, but this isn't about specific players I should be looking at, etc...more of a general strategy question.Normally, I'm RB-RB hands down, and this year it seems more important than ever to grab RBs early and often, with the RB position seeming thinner than in years past, so my gut says stick with that. That said, would you just play it by ear and see who's there in round 2/3 RB- and WR-wise? i.e. I don't want to be SO set on going RB-RB that I take a lower-tier RB out of fear of the position quickly thinning out, and pass up a higher tier WR. In other words, I think I'd rather start, e.g. SJax/Fitzgerald than SJax/JJones, and go RB-best WR1-best RB2? OK, so maybe this did turn into more of a specific question...So, what do you 14-team guys have to say?

I think you have to go RB-RB in a 14-teamer from that spot. In the 3rd, the pickings will be sparse. You will miss the best WRs, but there are plenty 2nd-tier guys who will be almost as good in comparision to the RB dropoff.

 

[wannabee]

In 6 point pass TD leagues, RBs and QBs jump off the board much quicker (if even possible for RBs) than in 12 teamers. In a 12 teamer, you can be the last to get a QB and be ok, in a 14 teamer it gets a little more difficult. And there is a difference between 28 starting RBs each week as opposed to 24. It does not seem like it should be that big of deal, but it really is. You have some guys, that dues to injury, are starting Duckett for several weeks ... and are getting whooped.

Hope that helps.

 

[Cookiemonster]

Last year I did a 14 teamer and loved it. We were only required to start 1 RB, 2 WRs + 1 flex. I thought in this format RBs would last longer, so thanks to a 1st round trade I got T.O. @ #1.14, K.Jones @ # 2.08, A.Johnson @ #3.07 and J.Horn @ #3.14. This left me w/ only J.J.Arrington as the # 4.8. Add B.Griese to that mix and guess how it turned out. I thought I was gold w/ that WR strength and only having to start 1 RB. Couldn't trade for a RB to save my season. They are too few to meet supply/demand in a 12 teamer, let alone 14. My advise is to get at least two very solid RBs, if not three and land a top 5 QB. WR value is still pretty good in the middle rounds, and like myself you still have K.Curtis type guys on the WW after a few weeks. Thanks to him and B.Engram I only missed the playoffs by one game given that crappy 3 rounds to start it off.

Overview -- GET YOUR RBs! A 3rd round WR is a go w/ the likes of A.Green, F.Taylor, D.Foster, C.Dillon and their handcuffs to be had in the next couple rounds... but don't neglect your QB.

 

[tick dog]

THANKS for the input, fellas. Very helpful. Unless there's some crazy value in round 2, I'm going RB-RB.

 

[tangfoot]

THANKS for the input, fellas. Very helpful. Unless there's some crazy value in round 2, I'm going RB-RB.

If anything, I think you can actually expect there to be RB "value" in round two.There will be 10 picks after #8 and those guys all know that it's going to be LOOONG time before they get to get anything else. I think you can expect at least 5 of the 6 teams to in the 9-14 slots to go RB/WR becuase they simply won't be able to pass up on that WR talent, and at least one of them to go RB/QB (Peyton if he is still on the board). Of the 10 picks behind #8, only 5-6 RBs will be taken, which leaves you in a perfect position to play "defense" on they way back. You can go RB/RB and solidify yourself, or pickup whatever WR remains of the Big 6.I'm in pretty much the same position as you and will be playing this angle. Portis slipped all the way to me at #8, and I'm waiting to see what happens before deciding my "strategy" any further.I actually think that Reggie Bush may end up falling back to me in round 3, but I may go for him in round 2 because this is a keeper league. Or try to trade down in the 2nd round.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I think a little differently in 14 team leagues. Very few teams in these leagues end up with outstanding RB1-RB2 combinations, and you often see the RBs come flying off the board.

In a league with 14 teams, almost every team ends up with a hole somewhere, so if yours ends up being at RB2, that's just the way it is. BUT from the 8 slot this year, that simply isn't going to happen. Commit to the idea that you're probably drafting a WR in round 2. You'll be happier. I promise.

In the second round, what you'll likely find is that there's either a player you know you should be drafting at WR because teams reached for RBs or you'll encounter a RB where you see a big dropoff between him and the next one available. The former is most likely.

Expect RB in round 1, one of the quality WRs staring you in the face in round 2 (My guess is Harrison), and Warrick Dunn (or maybe Corey Dillon) falling to you in the third. Dunn is the saving grace for someone in your position in this draft. Really, what are your second-round RB options likely to be? Julius Jones? Jamal Lewis? Is there a big dropoff from them to the Warrick Dunns, Reuben Droughns and Corey Dillons of the world?

Would you rather have Boldin/Harrison and Dunn or Julius Jones and Plaxico Burress? No-brainer, IMO. You'll be fine going WR in round 2.

 

[bshipper]

Expect RB in round 1, one of the quality WRs staring you in the face in round 2 (My guess is Harrison), and Warrick Dunn (or maybe Corey Dillon) falling to you in the third. Dunn is the saving grace for someone in your position in this draft. Really, what are your second-round RB options likely to be? Julius Jones? Jamal Lewis? Is there a big dropoff from them to the Warrick Dunns, Reuben Droughns and Corey Dillons of the world? Would you rather have Boldin/Harrison and Dunn or Julius Jones and Plaxico Burress? No-brainer, IMO. You'll be fine going WR in round 2.

I am not so sure about this. By the time you pick in the 3rd, you have to think those in slots 1-7 will have 2 RB (14 total). Then those in slots 8-14 are guaranteed at least 1 RB (7 more). Add in how many go RB/RB from slots 9-14, say half (3 more). Best case you are looking at RB25 in the 3rd round, that will not be Dunn, especially in PPR leagues. Dillon would be the best you could hope for there, and that is questionable.If you look at RB in the 2nd, it will likely be around RB17 which could be CTaylor or Bush. Then in the 3rd, you are looking at WR10, someone like Chambers, Driver, Ward, Wayne.Personally, I like having one of those WR as my WR1 instead of Dillon as my RB2.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Expect RB in round 1, one of the quality WRs staring you in the face in round 2 (My guess is Harrison), and Warrick Dunn (or maybe Corey Dillon) falling to you in the third. Dunn is the saving grace for someone in your position in this draft. Really, what are your second-round RB options likely to be? Julius Jones? Jamal Lewis? Is there a big dropoff from them to the Warrick Dunns, Reuben Droughns and Corey Dillons of the world? Would you rather have Boldin/Harrison and Dunn or Julius Jones and Plaxico Burress? No-brainer, IMO. You'll be fine going WR in round 2.

I am not so sure about this. By the time you pick in the 3rd, you have to think those in slots 1-7 will have 2 RB (14 total). Then those in slots 8-14 are guaranteed at least 1 RB (7 more). Add in how many go RB/RB from slots 9-14, say half (3 more). Best case you are looking at RB25 in the 3rd round, that will not be Dunn, especially in PPR leagues. Dillon would be the best you could hope for there, and that is questionable.If you look at RB in the 2nd, it will likely be around RB17 which could be CTaylor or Bush. Then in the 3rd, you are looking at WR10, someone like Chambers, Driver, Ward, Wayne.Personally, I like having one of those WR as my WR1 instead of Dillon as my RB2.

If the draft unfolds like that, and I'm staring at Chambers, Driver, Ward, or Wayne in the third round, I'll go RB, WR, WR and not think twice about it. I'll take my chances on a Chris Brown/Frank Gore and fill in with some high upside guys later. Maybe shoot for a Maroney or a Barber later, who might not be a starter now but will both get carries most weeks and play behind guys who've missed time the past few seasons. If you're sitting Rudi Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Hines Ward in a 14 team league, you're going to be competitive. How much so just depends on how you manage the remainder of your draft. But you haven't hurt yourself at all, which is as much as you can ask out of the first three rounds. You aren't winning a league inthose rounds, but you can lose it. The teams who reached and took Dom Davis, a Denver RB, McGahee, Julius Jones - I'm not sure you'll be able to say they didn't hurt themselves.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

This is my 14 team initial draft from last month.....

1.10 Bush, Reggie NOS RB ®

2.02 McGahee, Willis BUF RB

3.10 Brady, Tom NEP QB

4.03 Johnson, Andre HOU WR

6.04 BUSH MICHAEL (Louisville RB) College Selection

6.05 Gore, Frank SFO RB

7.12 Wilford, Ernest JAC WR

8.05 Gado, Samkon GBP RB

8.13 Miller, Heath PIT TE

9.12 Burleson, Nate SEA WR

10.05 Hilton, Zach NOS TE

11.10 Givens, David TEN WR

12.05 Smith, Alex SFO QB

13.10 Harrison, Jerome CLE RB ®

14.05 Seahawks, Seattle SEA Def

15.10 Jennings, Greg GBP WR ®

16.05 Jackson, Vincent SDC WR

17.10 Cardinals, Arizona ARI Def

18.05 Clemens, Kellen NYJ QB ®

19.10 Fason, Ciatrick MIN RB

20.05 Pennington, Chad NYJ QB

21.10 49ers, San Francisco SFO Def

23.10 Nugent, Mike NYJ PK

24.05 Gostkowski, Stephen NEP PK ®

 

[Cerebus]

Couldn't trade for a RB to save my season. They are too few to meet supply/demand in a 12 teamer, let alone 14.

This is also what I have experienced in my two 14-team leagues. Despite the fact that we can use flexible lineups where we are allowed to start 1-3 RBs, the stud-RB theory (for better or worse) makes it more important in leagues this size IMO. Some owners horde RB in case of injury and resultant depth problems, while other owners prefer to start 2 or 3 RBs on a regular basis in hopes of establishing a consistency in scoring, which sometimes is missing if you rely on WRs as you main point scorers.Prying away a decent RB in these leagues, can be very trying. If it's a dynasty league with that many teams, owners often end up targeting underperforming or unproven RBs in hopes of striking gold.

 

[Gold Plated Nails]

WR win these leagues.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I got T.O. @ #1.14K.Jones @ # 2.08A.Johnson @ #3.07J.Horn @ #3.14.J.J.Arrington as the # 4.8.B.Griese to that mix Overview -- GET YOUR RBs! A 3rd round WR is a go

I wouldn't view failure to draft RBs early as your issue here.

 

[sholditch]

We just switched from a 12 team to a 14 team league. I pick #8 this year, but this isn't about specific players I should be looking at, etc...more of a general strategy question.Normally, I'm RB-RB hands down, and this year it seems more important than ever to grab RBs early and often, with the RB position seeming thinner than in years past, so my gut says stick with that. That said, would you just play it by ear and see who's there in round 2/3 RB- and WR-wise? i.e. I don't want to be SO set on going RB-RB that I take a lower-tier RB out of fear of the position quickly thinning out, and pass up a higher tier WR. In other words, I think I'd rather start, e.g. SJax/Fitzgerald than SJax/JJones, and go RB-best WR1-best RB2? OK, so maybe this did turn into more of a specific question...So, what do you 14-team guys have to say?

I just did a mock in a 14-teamer and went WR-WR-RB-RB-WR-RB. It worked out pretty well. There's a post about it in the asst. coach forum. My first six picks wereSteve SmithBoldinJamalCTR. BrownBensonpretty solid, plus I was able to nab LJ Smith, as well as Mike Bell much later on. Got Kitna and Rivers in the 11th and 12th. Not bad.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

We just switched from a 12 team to a 14 team league. I pick #8 this year, but this isn't about specific players I should be looking at, etc...more of a general strategy question.Normally, I'm RB-RB hands down, and this year it seems more important than ever to grab RBs early and often, with the RB position seeming thinner than in years past, so my gut says stick with that. That said, would you just play it by ear and see who's there in round 2/3 RB- and WR-wise? i.e. I don't want to be SO set on going RB-RB that I take a lower-tier RB out of fear of the position quickly thinning out, and pass up a higher tier WR. In other words, I think I'd rather start, e.g. SJax/Fitzgerald than SJax/JJones, and go RB-best WR1-best RB2? OK, so maybe this did turn into more of a specific question...So, what do you 14-team guys have to say?

I just did a mock in a 14-teamer and went WR-WR-RB-RB-WR-RB. It worked out pretty well. There's a post about it in the asst. coach forum. My first six picks wereSteve SmithBoldinJamalCTR. BrownBensonpretty solid, plus I was able to nab LJ Smith, as well as Mike Bell much later on. Got Kitna and Rivers in the 11th and 12th. Not bad.

You drafted the state of Connecticut?

 

[raidersfan]

What are your starting requirements? That makes a big difference IMO. If you have to start 2 RBs and 2 WRs then you may be more inclined to go RB-RB.

I just did my first 14-team league this year, but we start 2 RBs, 3 WRs. I was able to go Portis/Holt/Roy Willima/Foster. Not psyched about Foster but I grabbed D. Williams also later (much later actually).

That's the other thing that matters, are there any guppies in this 14 team league? I'd say mine was 50/50. Reading that "drafting with guppies" article on the fbguys site really helped out. By the 6th or 7th round most teams already had 2 QB's and I was just grabbing my first (Plummer). QBs went quick and RB value was there later in the draft (4th-7th round), which really suprised me.

In a league of sharks RBs will go, but I would think at the 8 spot you'll have a good idea of who's going off the board after the turn. All of the top tier RBs could be gone, and a top tier WR at that point is $$ IMO.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

What are your starting requirements? That makes a big difference IMO. If you have to start 2 RBs and 2 WRs then you may be more inclined to go RB-RB. I just did my first 14-team league this year, but we start 2 RBs, 3 WRs. I was able to go Portis/Holt/Roy Willima/Foster. Not psyched about Foster but I grabbed D. Williams also later (much later actually). That's the other thing that matters, are there any guppies

You had me 'til here.