BusMan's Draft
I was kind of caught totally off guard by the start of this draft. I celebrated the birth of my first child near the beginning, and spent so much time away from the computer that I timed out quite a bit early on and ended up stocking up on RBs early. I'm strong at RB but weak almost everywhere else now. We'll see how that affects my chances.
Anarchy leagues are a real treat---its fun to be forced to think outside of the regular draft box, if you will. My hardest decisions in this draft were always when I tried to find a target that I thought would be playing in the postseason. As the draft went on, I realized these types of players were going way too early, especially considering that teams that look good before a season don't always make it deep into January. This realization had me taking whatever value I could find, regardless of whether I thought the team was a playoff-qualifier. I'll likely have to outscore folks by quite a bit in the regular season to have a chance of winning this thing.
The Picks
I was drafting here in Anarchy 3 and for MBSL 1 at the same time, and in both leagues I pulled a pick at the 8/9 middle of the 16-team league. I really enjoyed these spots as I never had to wait too long to draft and I could at least attempt to scoop any value that fell off the turns.
1.09 - Dallas Cowboys Team QB, QB - DAL/10: QBs were just flying off the board early. I'm glad I got the Cowboys as the third group off the board, as I had them rated slightly higher than the Colts. Plus, Romo doesn't have the injury concerns heading into the season that Brady and Manning do. I'm very pleased with this pick.
2.08 - Larry Johnson, RB - KC/6: This was my first of a series of auto picks thanks to me being away from a computer for too long. Obviously I don't expect LJ to score for me in the playoff weeks, but I'm ok with him as my RB1. Had I actually made the pick I would've considered Braylon Edwards, Antonio Gates, Dallas Clark, and Wes Welker here.
3.09 - Brandon Jacobs, RB - NYG/4: Another auto draft pick. I would have gone with a receiver here had I actually been drafting. That said, LJ and BJ as my top two RBs in a 16 team league ain't too shabby. Brandon has a decentish chance to score for me in the playoffs, to boot.
4.08 - Kevin Curtis, WR - PHI/7:
OOF. First I reach for the guy, and then he needs hernia surgery. What a suck.
5.09 - Jonathan Stewart, RB - CAR/9: Another missed pick means another RB on the squad. I'm not really that high on Stewart, as I don't trust him not trusting his toe, and I've seen enough of John Fox's RB plan to know that the incumbent usually gets the bulk of the touches despite any real or perceived talent discrepancy. My draft is really starting to go downhill.
6.08 - Rashard Mendenhall, RB - PIT/6: Now this is just getting ridiculous. Silver lining: I won't need to consider the RB position for the remaining 12 picks of the draft.
7.09 - Tennessee Titans Team QB, QB - TEN/6: At this point I think I've just resigned myself to having crappy WRs. But I also believe this is the point of the draft at which I wake up and actually starting pre-drafting and doing those little things that alert, conscientious, and considerate drafters should do: pay attention. Oddly enough I'm pretty bearish on VY. I guess I'm just counting on his legs to get me some points. I like that this gives me an above average QB squad to complement my good RBs and non-existant WR/TE/DEF/PK.
8.08 - Sidney Rice, WR - MIN/8: I like Rice a lot, but as a WR3 or 4,
NOT my de facto WR1 for the first month or so of the season.
uke:
9.09 - Ben Utecht, TE - CIN/8: Ladies and gentleman may I present to you BusMan's first tight end pick in this tight end heavy format, Mr. Benjamin Utecht of the Cincinnati Bengals.
10.08 - D.J. Hackett, WR - CAR/9: Hopefully D.J. will win the #2 job in Carolina and fill in more than admirably during Steve Smith's suspension.
11.09 - Alex Smith, TE - TB/10:
BOW BEFORE MY UTECHT/ALEX SMITH TE COMBO, ANARCHY 3!
12.08 - Derek Hagan, WR - MIA/4: Hagan as a WR4. That's insane, but not so terrible considering my receivers. Maybe Pennington to Hagan will be the next Montana to Lake Dawson.
13.09 - Washington Redskins DEF, DEF - WAS/10: I figure I can't really afford to slough off Ds and Ks with my crap pile at TE and WR.
14.08 - Eddie Royal, WR - DEN/8: Royal just might be the only team BusMan player to outperform his draft position. My Broncos homerism has me hoping for at least a game or two in January.
15.09 - Oakland Raiders DEF, DEF - OAK/5: That makes three above average units on my team, to hopefully cover for the two dreadful ones.
16.08 - Robbie Gould, PK - CHI/8: I've always thought the Bears unis were black, not blackish blue. Just shows how often a 28 year old Broncos fan living in Virginia gets to see the Bears play on television.
17.09 - Michael Jenkins, WR PK - ATL/7: Jenkins had been screaming value to me for several rounds now, so I gladly grab him as my darkhorse WR savior.
18.08 - Brandon Coutu, PK - SEA/4: Thank God this travesty is finally over.
The Team
QB Dallas Cowboys, DAL/10QB Tennessee Titans, TEN/6RB Larry Johnson, KC/6RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG/4RB Jonathan Stewart, CAR/9RB Rashard Mendenhall, PIT/6WR Kevin Curtis, PHI/7WR Sidney Rice, MIN/8WR D.J. Hackett, CAR/9WR Derek Hagan, MIA/4WR Eddie Royal, DEN/8WR Michael Jenkins, ATL/7TE Ben Utecht, CIN/8TE Alex Smith, TB/10PK Robbie Gould, CHI/8PK Brandon Coutu, SEA/4DEF Washington, WAS/10DEF Oakland, OAK/5No major bye week issues, although Weeks 6/7/8 could be more than a little low scoring.
The Results...
The way I see this league going:
Reaper wins it.
I'm lucky to finish in the top half, but am more than likely headed for a subpar season like I did last year in Anarchy 4.
I do think I have a better than decent shot at finishing last, actually.
It was fun guys good luck to all!
I am not high on him, but I think Julius Jones is better than M.Morris and will see enough touches to put him in the top 20 or so. I considered kevin Smith, but I went with Jones and his likely 1-2 playoff games. Rudi was the last "starting" RB, but I'm pretty unhappy with the pick now. If I had it to do over, I would take the San Diego QB at that spot. I took Perry to cover for the Rudi pick. It still may work out if they stay healthy, but that may be a big if. I like Norwood to match last year's numbers, 900 yards from scrimmage, with some receiving upside.
