How did upside down drafting work out for you? (1 Viewer)

[TheFootballJesus]

I ended up using upside down drafting for the first time in one of my leagues this year. I made it to the finals but my team squeaked into the playoffs as the 8th seed in a 14 teamer (although I was 5th in total points).

For the nucleus of my team I ended up drafting Calvin Johnson, Nicks, and Romo in the first three rounds. My mid round running backs were Stewart, Ingram, Addai, Ryan Williams, and Pierre Thomas.

The point of the upside down draft is finding stud RBs in the middle rounds by drafting volume but the only serviceable back I ended up with via the draft was Stewart. Through trading/free agent pickups I managed to grab Fred Davis Roddy White and Ryan Mathews.

While I really like the idea of not having to worry about my WR and QBs not having a startable RB for the first half of the season really weighed my team down and I almost missed the playoffs because of it. I'm glad the strategy got me out of my comfort zone by forcing me to avoid RBs for a few rounds but I don't think I'll be using it again next year.

I'm wondering, did anyone get a lot of success out of an upside down draft this year?

 

[solorca]

A guy in my league did it, and ended up with Andre, Calvin, and Peyton Manning (before the injury looked serious) as his first three. He was the first person to go winless in the history of our league.

 

[Doug B]

In one of my money leagues, we added PPR for the first time. In the first four rounds, I took Hakeem Nicks, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Ingram, and Peyton Manning (yes, we drafted too early).

Went 4-9, missed the playoffs.

 

[squistion]

There is some follow up discussion from the main preseason thread on upside down draft results:

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=607100&st=50&p=13732673&fromsearch=1entry13732673

 

[Warrior]

I'm hoping that all of my league-mates implement the upside down draft strategy next season.

 

[rickyg]

In the one league where I did upside down drafting this year I squeaked into the playoffs with a 6-7 record. My wrs were Calvin, nicks, austin and britt. My qb was stafford. I was ousted in the 1st round of the playoffs bc Calvin had a very down week and stafford was. Itching special and Austin and nicks sucks a bag of d$&*s. but I'm not bitter about it lol

In my big money league I went rice/forte round 1 and round 2 and I'm in the sb. I was 2nd in total PTs.

I will give you the best piece of wisdom you will ever eat about winning championships in fantasy football:

The ONLY thing that matters when you are drafting is:

1) fill out your starting roster spots first before drafting depth

2) always draft the best available talent while keeping in mind your starting roster needs

3) look to draft explosive but proven young/fresh players at their respective positions rather than high floor low cieling guys. An example of a guy like that this year is Reggie Wayne. Or Santana moss. Or sjax. While Other owner went for guys like that I was drafting the Kenny Britts and the Darren mcfaddens. Now you might say that's a bad example bc britt and mcfadden were hurt and lost for the year but u can't predict that. Britt and mcfadden literally won me my First few matchups.

4) never worry about bye weeks.

5) be like water. Understand that no draft is ever the same. As the draft goes unexpected things will happen, like some shmuck drafts Tim Hightower in the 3rd round instead of miles Austin. Well, you already have 2 wrs and were planning on taking a rb...throw that plan out bc u just received a gift. Take Austin and run. Adjust the rest of your draft accordingly. Just making an example.

I say all this bc the truth is that the draft itself is really only 33% of what wins championships. The rest is working the waiver wire like a champ and trading like a champ. Rarely does a championship team in a redraft league have even 60% of the players that it drafted still on its roster. Most draft picks bust.

Also, it's only after halfway through the fantasy season where we really get a beat on which teams are actually good or bad as opposed to who we thought would be good or bad. who thought the texans defense would be this good? Or that NE defense would b that bad? Or the Lions that explosive?

It takes half a season to really get an accurate beat on remaining strength of schedule, which is KEY for in season team management. You might have a good player on your team who is doing well with a cake schedule in the first half of the season but his schedule now looks brutal rest of the way given what you now know about the teams he will be facing. Trade that dude away at a premium for equally great players with a cake schedule.

This year I traded for Mjd bc his 2nd half schedule was ridic. I held onto CJ2k bc of that same reason. Both have delivered. I traded for romo in week 8 bc his remaining schedule looked great. He has vaulted me into the playoffs. But you can't know this stuff until half the season goes by.

So if you just worry about drafting explosive talent in great situations it won't matter if you go rb first or qb first or wr first. It's really the waiver wire and in season trades that make a championship team.

Sry for the rant

 

[brewer]

14 team league, PPR. Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Matt Stafford and Dez Bryant were my first four picks. Grabbed Darren Sproles, CJ Spiller, Tim Hightower, Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward at RB. I will say that I didn't go into this draft planning to employ that strategy, but it worked out. The team is first in overall points and in the Championship game.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

I upsidedown drafted this year.

Took Calvin, A Rodgers, Bowe in the first 3 rounds.

I am in the Championship round and am 28 pts off the points leader. I ended up with FJax, and now my RB's are very weak. I'm rolling with P. Thomas and Ivory/K. Bell as my RB's. We have a start 4 WR corp. So in this case, upside down drafting in a PPR league is golden. My WR's are Calvin, Bowe, Lloyd (acquired in trade), SMoss (off waivers), Cruz (off waivers). It goes without saying that Rodgers has been gold this year.

I'd do it all again. Excellent strategy drafting from the 7 hole of a 12 teamer.

 

[Jason Wood]

I think it's the same as any strategy -- your mileage may vary.

I tried it in a few leagues this year, and did horribly. But I don't think it's the "system", I think it's more about the guys I ended up with just didn't work out. If I took guys like Marshawn Lynch and Reggie Bush instead of Mark Ingram and Ryan Grant, I would be in business. But I didn't.

 

[omn33]

Picking from the 6th spot, I wanted to go QB and WR early because of the way I had the players tiered. I had a big drop off for the WR and QBs once you got out of T1.

1) Rodgers - could have had McCoy

2) Calvin

3) VJax

4) Bradshaw

5) Beanie

6) Graham

7) Manningham

8) Hightower

9) Julio Jones

10) Addai

I finished 11-2 with the most points by about a 100 and am currently a 40 pt favorite in the superbowl.

 

[Concept Coop]

14 team league, PPR. Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Matt Stafford and Dez Bryant were my first four picks. Grabbed Darren Sproles, CJ Spiller, Tim Hightower, Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward at RB. I will say that I didn't go into this draft planning to employ that strategy, but it worked out. The team is first in overall points and in the Championship game.

It seems a bit odd to me that this team was 1st overall in points. Only one RB was a weekly threat to score. You seem to have multiple week stretches of next to nothing from your RB2 spot. If you were to change Fitz and Bryant - who were solid, but not spectacular - with Welker, I could see you being in first place. Not that I am questioning your statement, it just seems odd as that team would not be #1 in points in any of my leagues.EDIT: Actually, I guess Hightower was producing and there was only a couple week gap between his injury and Jacobs/Spiller, etc.

 

[rickyg]

I think it's the same as any strategy -- your mileage may vary.I tried it in a few leagues this year, and did horribly. But I don't think it's the "system", I think it's more about the guys I ended up with just didn't work out. If I took guys like Marshawn Lynch and Reggie Bush instead of Mark Ingram and Ryan Grant, I would be in business. But I didn't.

These are good points too. But I bet now looking back at your decisions to take grant and Ingram you are kicking yourself bc truth is the writin was on the wall preseason on both these cats but people did not want to see it:Grant: at best he was going to be a skit time back but more likely a complimentary back to Starks, comin off a bad injury, in a pass happy offense that revolves around Rodgers. Ingram: for some reason, all of fantasy football land just assumed that pierre Thomas, Chris ivory, and Darren sproles would all just become backups to mark Ingram this year and that Ingram would be getting 20 plus carries a game as a workhorse back. I didn't get it then and I'm happy now that I didn't bite on that. Insanely crowded backfield. It's true ur team would likely be in great shape if you took lunch and bush. Next year!

 

[cubbie5150]

Waited until 4th Rd to pick my first RB (12 team redraft; 6 pts/any TD). First time I've ever failed to have a RB in one of the 1st 2 Rds. Made the playoffs (& am playing week 16), w/:

Megatron/Brady (my first 2 picks from the 11th spot)

Drafted MWTB w/ pick 3.11 (ugh....BUST); got lucky w/ Steve Smith in Rd 9 (saved my WR corps & helped make up for my crap RB corps of:

Greene/DWill/Beanie/Addai/McGahee (in order of how I drafted them)--I just never started the right one(s)

TEs are NOT mandatory in this league (but they get 1 PPR; other positions .5); used Hernandez & Fred Davis @ at least one of my FLEX spots, biding time timing to figure out my RBs

49ers DST has also helped me most weeks. Hoping my poor/unreliable RBs don't make my team turn into a pumpkin week 16

 

[sbonomo]

I did this and got lucky 14 team league....Calvin, Jennings Big ben (insane run on QB's). I drafter Welker late and have been lucky with Sproles and Jimmy Graham. My Rb's have been terrible minus sproles (Greene, grant/starks and hillis) but WR and TE play is going to lead me to the championship.

 

[Anonymous Internet User]

in a flex PPR picking #8 I went Andre Johnson, Hakeem Nicks, Jahvid Best, Wes Welker, Mark Ingram, Jimmy Graham, Matt Schaub, Brandon Jacobs, Jonathan Stewart, Pierre Thomas.

did not make playoffs after starting off 5-0.

 

[butcher boy]

It's all about who you take.

If you had taken Lynch, Sproles, McGahee, then you're probably in the Superbowl.

 

[glumpy]

In the finals of a ten team league as the #3 playoff seed going against #1. Highest total points vs his third highest.

Drafting from the #7 slot--had thought to go upside down but so did everyone else:

1. Ray Rice

2. DMC (I later backed him up with Bush, off the wire)

3. Romo

4. Dez

Of note--I picked up Gronkowski round 6.

My opponent this week had the best overall record for the year, drafting from the #1 slot:

1. Rodgers

2. Frank Gore

3. Roddy White

4. Jahvid Best

 

[Amused to Death]

12 team, no PPR, 3rd round flip from the 10 spot - Calvin, Nicks, Brees. RBs are Benson, Wells, Ingram. Took a chance on Lance Kendrick late but had to grab Pettigrew off the wire around week 3.

I made no in-season trades and favored by 12 in our championship this week.

 

[firstseason1988]

Although many don't play in 10 team or less leagues, upside down drafting is the only way to go there. Plenty of RBs and QBs to go around and on the waiver wire. WRs always seem scarce. Been doing it for years in my 8 team league, no one has caught on yet. Always in 4 team playoffs, yeah 50% chance but I have never missed in 10+ years. 4th consecutive champ game this week.

 

[Muahahaha]

In a PPR I went Calvin, LFitz, Brees. Got Grownkowski in the 8th. Rest of the team basically didn't matter.....9-4 and in the Championship game. Regularly got nothing out of the RB spot, but it just didn't matter.

 

[Skeletore Eh]

I went Andre Hakeem mike Wallace gates Hightower stafford Fred Jackson Starks mcgahee

Finished second in the league, got a buy, and lost last week.

 

[butcher boy]

I think those of you who drafted Gronk are doing well because you drafted Gronk, not because you drafted upside down.

 

[kutta]

I wasn't really upside down, but in my non-ppr league I got:

Calvin, Fitz, Felix, Greene, Manningham, Beanie, Stafford, and Gronk. I'm the overall points leader and in the Championship game

In my other PPR league I got:

Calvin, Wallace, Welker, Felix, Eli, and Graham. I'm the overall points leader and lost in the semi's this week by four points

The key in both leagues for me was that my guys stayed healthy and I was fortunate enough to draft Calvin and one of the top TE's.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

The rb position as a whole was a land mind

Drafting Freddy jax was key to this strategy

Being big on the wire too. Demarco helu spiller etc.

 

[bonesman]

Went Calvin, MJD, Mike Williams, Romo, Harvin, Britt, Hightower, Jimmy Graham in one league and am in the title game this week and am 3 points back of the most points (with my championship opponent, so a lot is on the line next week)

Not totally upside down since I took MJD second and only have to start 1 RB... but pretty close.

 

[glumpy]

I think those of you who drafted Gronk are doing well because you drafted Gronk, not because you drafted upside down.

No question. I mentioned it in my post even though I did not draft upside down--but he was still so dominant up to week 15 I felt it had to be mentioned, particularly when I had highest total points. When you can hit that well and that late on a 'minor' position no matter whether drafting upside down or not it's a big consideration for the premise of this thread.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

This was a dynasty start-up where we keep 22 of the 25 man roster.

The need to start 3 WR's and up to 5, paired with the ability to start 2 QB's, led me to try an 'upside down' draft..

Total Starters: 10

Number of Starting QBs: 1-2

Number of Starting RBs: 1-3

Number of Starting WRs: 3-5

Number of Starting TEs: 1-2

Number of Starting PKs: 1

Number of Starting Defs: 1

1.11 - Johnson, Andre

2.02 - Vick, Michael

3.11 - Jackson, Vincent

4.02 - Marshall, Brandon

5.11 - Gates, Antonio

6.02 - Cutler, Jay

7.11 - Lloyd, Brandon

8.02 - Greene, Shonn

9.11 - McCoy, Colt

10.02 - Murray, DeMarco

11.11 - Bush, Michael

12.02 - Meachem, Robert

13.11 - Lewis, Marcedes

14.02 - Grant, Ryan

15.11 - McKnight, Joe

16.02 - McGahee, Willis

17.11 - Cruz, Victor NYG WR

1st RB drafted in the 8th round, made it to the second round of the playoffs...

Hit on a couple, missed on a couple, but ultimately injuries ruined my season.. Lost Murray and Johnson, Vick banged up.. Gates missing time early, Vick missing time, Johnson.. My first 3 picks were very inconsistent..

 

[Jersey35]

Seems to me this strategy is valid, like many others. Assuming you draft the right players, of course.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

pretty well for me. even with andre johnson being a bust. Megatron helped that a lot by being a stud for most of the year. That and my drafted rbs were bradshaw, felix, demarco, reggie bush and daniel thomas.

In the superbowl, but some key WW moves/trades helped a lot (demaryius thomas and torrey smith)

Having gronk didn't hurt either

 

[Bobby Guano]

Second year drafting WR,WR. 2010 went Calvin, Randy Moss had the most points scored and the #1 seed but lost in the second round(mostly because I picked up Bowe and Stevie Johnson off waivers). This year went WR,WR,WR triple Johnson,Calvin, Andre and Stevie and I'm playing for the championship!

I've been drafting at the end(10-12 spot) the past few years so I just feel like the value is there @ WR.

I think pretty much any strategy works depending on league size draft position etc since rounds 1-5 really don't matter as much as rounds 6-14. I can't remember a year where my second round pick didn't bust or miss significant time with injurys 2006 Larry Fitzgerald, 2007 Marvin Harrison, 2008 Maques Colston, 2009 LT, 2010 Randy Moss and this year Andre Johnson.

If you don't have those late round gems or make the right WW pick ups to replace those high draft picks that bust/underperform your screwed. That is what makes or breaks your season and how championships are won not whether you went RB RB or WR WR

 

[JaxBill]

The ONLY thing that matters when you are drafting is:1) fill out your starting roster spots first before drafting depth2) always draft the best available talent while keeping in mind your starting roster needs

Strongly disagree with 1 and agree with 2.

 

[The Jerk]

The ONLY thing that matters when you are drafting is:1) fill out your starting roster spots first before drafting depth2) always draft the best available talent while keeping in mind your starting roster needs

Strongly disagree with 1 and agree with 2.

I second JaxBill. In fact, aren't 1 and 2 mutually exclusive, at least to an extent?I'll assume -- hope!! -- that rickyg isn't referring to kickers in particular when it comes to completing starting roster spots. Sometimes the very best thing one can do at a draft is select a backup. I remember feeling obligated to take Curtis Martin off the board when he was supposedly done in 2004 at the age of 31. I already had two starters, especially the much-hyped Kevan Barlow who everyone wanted... well, Barlow was a nearly epic bust, and Martin ended up with 1942 combined yards and 14 combined TDs.This year, I drafted Romo in the 3rd round but couldn't allow Matthew Stafford to fall lower than the 7th round. I didn't want the explosion I expected from him to benefit some other team.I could go on, but I'm pretty sure the point is pretty obvious.Perhaps the most important rule for drafting is... that there isn't a rule. There is no one magic formula that works for all people in all leagues. I don't think that gets mentioned near enough in the Shark Pool. However, there are multiple viable strategies and various tweaks within these strategies that can each be successful. The most important ingredient in successful drafting is knowledge and with that knowledge comes the ability to veer in whatever direction draft value is available. Have a plan, but be prepared to deviate from the plan if it is advantageous to do so. I try never to force RB-RB, WR-WR, QB-RB, QB-WR or any other premeditated strategy. I adapt to whatever is taking place at the draft (or auction).Probably the most important single piece of specific preparation I do is my late-round strategy at every position. There's always at least one position that ends up being filled last and appears weakest on draft day. I always map out who my late-round players will be for each position so that I already know what my "worst case" depth at this weak position will be. Paying attention to ADP for these players, I try not to miss out on them as I fill out the rest of my roster.

 

[ggiants81]

Hi there.

I tried this for the first time this year in a Masters PPR league and ended up with this:

1 AJ

2 Vincent Jackson

3 Peyton Manning (This was before everyone thoguht Manning would miss any time)

4 Dallas Clark. (Yeah.. The stupidity continued..but after that...)

5 Mark Ingram. (If he only could have had a few more carrys a game in the beginning)

6 Marshawn Lynch. Nice

7 Jonathan Stewart (solid starter for 10pts/game)

8 Santana Moss (Hurt half the season)

9 Willis Mcgahee (Great)

10 Lee Evans Ehrm

11 Jacoby Ford Ehrm

12 Donovan Mcnabb.. Erhm

13 Baltimore

14 Shane Vereen Ehrm

15 The Gronk Fantastic pick, made my season

16 Some kicker , indy I think

Basically, If Manning would have played as usual I would have had a killer team IMO, but that never happend.

I almost got a killer team anyway since I picked up a guy named Cam Newton off waivers a couple of hours before first kickoff.

That moved turned out pretty good.

The one thing that sunk my ship was the AJ injury, he was my top WR/RB and I could never reorganise the startinglineup after that.

I had a stud QB, ok RB's, VJ was unfortunately not as good as I hoped but not bad either a stud TE astud D.

But that's not enough. One player away from total domination.

I'll try that strategy again, for sure. As long as it's a PPR.

Any thought on it ?

 

[SieteCinco]

I tried it out this year, but don't think I'll do it again... didn't like not having an RB I was sure could come through more often than not. If you don't hit on at least one of the middle round RB's... life will be life difficult until you make some trades. Luckily, Drafted from the #9 spot in a 10 team league and ended up stacked at WR and traded for RB's.

1) Calvin Johnson

2) Hakeem Nicks

3) Mike Wallace

4) Jahvid Best

5) Kenny Britt

6) Beanie Wells

7) Matthew Stafford (my favorite value pick from this draft)

8) Mike Tolbert

9) AJ Green

10) James Starks

11) CJ Spiller

12) Denarius Moore

13) Rob Gronkoswki

14) Danario Alexander

15) Randy Moss (couldn't resist the possibility of drafting him this late if he came back... swung for the fence, struck out)

16) Detroit

17) Alex Henery

Notable trades:

-Week 4 traded Calvin Johnson/Beanie Wells/James Starks for Ray Rice/Arian Foster (other team was 0-3, weak at WR, and Tate was playing well while Foster hammmy problems weren't going away)

-Rob Gronkoswki/Jahvid Best for Jimmy Graham/Santonio Holmes (week after Best's concussion. Thought I was getting an upgrade with Graham but Gronk has done better since)

Now Playing:

QB: Matthew Stafford

WR: Hakeem Nicks, Mike Wallace, AJ Green, Santonio Holmes, Michael Crabtree, Denarius Moore, Randall Cobb

RB: Ray Rice, Arian Foster, DeAngelo Williams, CJ Spiller, Kevin Smith

TE: Jimmy Graham

K: Stephen Gostkowski

DEF: Tennessee, Detroit

 

[Patoons]

Love this strategy.

Did it in the FBG ffpc. Won league championship and now at roughly 60th overall going into the final week (that's without Fred Davis who was a solid part of the team through the season).

Did it in another but had AJ and Peyton (before injury) and ended up .500.

I'd absolutely use it again.

 

[rickyg]

The ONLY thing that matters when you are drafting is:1) fill out your starting roster spots first before drafting depth2) always draft the best available talent while keeping in mind your starting roster needs

Strongly disagree with 1 and agree with 2.

I second JaxBill. In fact, aren't 1 and 2 mutually exclusive, at least to an extent?I'll assume -- hope!! -- that rickyg isn't referring to kickers in particular when it comes to completing starting roster spots. Sometimes the very best thing one can do at a draft is select a backup. I remember feeling obligated to take Curtis Martin off the board when he was supposedly done in 2004 at the age of 31. I already had two starters, especially the much-hyped Kevan Barlow who everyone wanted... well, Barlow was a nearly epic bust, and Martin ended up with 1942 combined yards and 14 combined TDs.This year, I drafted Romo in the 3rd round but couldn't allow Matthew Stafford to fall lower than the 7th round. I didn't want the explosion I expected from him to benefit some other team.I could go on, but I'm pretty sure the point is pretty obvious.Perhaps the most important rule for drafting is... that there isn't a rule. There is no one magic formula that works for all people in all leagues. I don't think that gets mentioned near enough in the Shark Pool. However, there are multiple viable strategies and various tweaks within these strategies that can each be successful. The most important ingredient in successful drafting is knowledge and with that knowledge comes the ability to veer in whatever direction draft value is available. Have a plan, but be prepared to deviate from the plan if it is advantageous to do so. I try never to force RB-RB, WR-WR, QB-RB, QB-WR or any other premeditated strategy. I adapt to whatever is taking place at the draft (or auction).Probably the most important single piece of specific preparation I do is my late-round strategy at every position. There's always at least one position that ends up being filled last and appears weakest on draft day. I always map out who my late-round players will be for each position so that I already know what my "worst case" depth at this weak position will be. Paying attention to ADP for these players, I try not to miss out on them as I fill out the rest of my roster.

After reading your critique of my post it's clear to me that you likely stopped reading after #2. Rule #5 in my post basically says that at the end of the day every draft is different and that you should never be too rigid with any plan. I have an example about how one might be trying to fill out their starting roster and have already drafted 2 wrs but Austin is sitting out there in round 3 because some shmuck before you drafted Hightower instead of Austin. Do you not take Austin bc u already have your 2 starting wrs? Hell no, you take him and adjust your draft accordingly. Basically what you are saying is what I was saying. The best laid plans go amuck during every draft. Don't be so rigid. Use the beginning of the draft to take the best and most explosive players available in great situations (I.e a key plauer on an explosive offense). And no that does not apply to kickers or defenses. I don't know any kickers that I would categorize as "explosive" lol. I draft kickers last and defenses rt before kicker, and I laugh at everyone who drafts the jets d or Pitt d or Balt d in the 8th round.Anyhoot, the most important part of my message was that draftin is only a small part of winning a fantasy football championship. I challenge anyone to draft a great team, make no easier moves and no trades throughout the season and win it all. I've never seen that happen. You've got to be a mover and a shaker on the wire and opportunistic with your trading.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Anyhoot, the most important part of my message was that draftin is only a small part of winning a fantasy football championship. I challenge anyone to draft a great team, make no easier moves and no trades throughout the season and win it all. I've never seen that happen. You've got to be a mover and a shaker on the wire and opportunistic with your trading.

I had a preseason draft that I couldn't make it to, got the #4 spot (Ray Rice), and I didn't even have time to reset my draft list. Just did a complete computerized autodraft. Predictably, did horrible and started off 2-5. But for fun, not really imagining I could make the postseason, I made some moves. To me, this was like a practice squad team and I hardly paid much attention to it. Even when I finished the season 8-6, I didn't think I'd make the playoffs. Now, I'm in the league championship. It wasn't a horrible draft, but the keys to my season are the in-season pickups, and certainly not my draft.

 

[brewer]

14 team league, PPR. Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Matt Stafford and Dez Bryant were my first four picks. Grabbed Darren Sproles, CJ Spiller, Tim Hightower, Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward at RB. I will say that I didn't go into this draft planning to employ that strategy, but it worked out. The team is first in overall points and in the Championship game.

It seems a bit odd to me that this team was 1st overall in points. Only one RB was a weekly threat to score. You seem to have multiple week stretches of next to nothing from your RB2 spot. If you were to change Fitz and Bryant - who were solid, but not spectacular - with Welker, I could see you being in first place. Not that I am questioning your statement, it just seems odd as that team would not be #1 in points in any of my leagues.EDIT: Actually, I guess Hightower was producing and there was only a couple week gap between his injury and Jacobs/Spiller, etc.

Sorry, should have mentioned the starting restrictions and the rest of the roster. Start 5 field players. 1-3 RBs, 1-4 Wrs and 0-2 TEs. I grabbed Keller and Gonzalez as well. RB wise, I ran with Hightower very early and Sproles has been money all year.Stafford and Sproles are each 5th in scoring for their respective positions. Calvin is the top WR and Fitz comes in at 8 in this league.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Second year drafting WR,WR. 2010 went Calvin, Randy Moss had the most points scored and the #1 seed but lost in the second round(mostly because I picked up Bowe and Stevie Johnson off waivers). This year went WR,WR,WR triple Johnson,Calvin, Andre and Stevie and I'm playing for the championship!

I've been drafting at the end(10-12 spot) the past few years so I just feel like the value is there @ WR.

I think pretty much any strategy works depending on league size draft position etc since rounds 1-5 really don't matter as much as rounds 6-14. I can't remember a year where my second round pick didn't bust or miss significant time with injurys 2006 Larry Fitzgerald, 2007 Marvin Harrison, 2008 Maques Colston, 2009 LT, 2010 Randy Moss and this year Andre Johnson.

If you don't have those late round gems or make the right WW pick ups to replace those high draft picks that bust/underperform your screwed. That is what makes or breaks your season and how championships are won not whether you went RB RB or WR WR

agreed. My upside down draft I was picking 10 of 10 and 11 of 12. Pretty much needed for this to be a value laden strategy. going wr-wr -wr from thw 3 hole i insanity.

 

[The Jerk]

After reading your critique of my post it's clear to me that you likely stopped reading after #2. Rule #5 in my post basically says that at the end of the day every draft is different and that you should never be too rigid with any plan. I have an example about how one might be trying to fill out their starting roster and have already drafted 2 wrs but Austin is sitting out there in round 3 because some shmuck before you drafted Hightower instead of Austin. Do you not take Austin bc u already have your 2 starting wrs? Hell no, you take him and adjust your draft accordingly. Basically what you are saying is what I was saying. The best laid plans go amuck during every draft. Don't be so rigid. Use the beginning of the draft to take the best and most explosive players available in great situations (I.e a key plauer on an explosive offense). And no that does not apply to kickers or defenses. I don't know any kickers that I would categorize as "explosive" lol. I draft kickers last and defenses rt before kicker, and I laugh at everyone who drafts the jets d or Pitt d or Balt d in the 8th round.Anyhoot, the most important part of my message was that draftin is only a small part of winning a fantasy football championship. I challenge anyone to draft a great team, make no easier moves and no trades throughout the season and win it all. I've never seen that happen. You've got to be a mover and a shaker on the wire and opportunistic with your trading.

I absolutely read your whole post. You don't need to be defensive. We're just a few people trading draft strategy on a message board. The interesting thing to me is that it seems like item #5 (be like water, etc.) on your list should be #1, especially based on your follow-up. And your advice there is excellent. To me, if being flexible is as important as you suggest, I would think it wouldn't be last on the list. Of course, maybe I read into it a priority order that was not intended.Leagues are highly variable. The perfect strategy for one league can be a very bad idea in another league. And what's interesting is a strategy that works well in a so-called "shark" league can be detrimental in a "guppy" or "mixed" league. In fact, I've seen that filling out your starting lineup rather than drafting depth can be more important in a guppy or mixed league because that's what a lot of them seem to be compelled to do. One league I am in requires you to carry two kickers all season (don't ask!!) and with 24 kickers rostered, it becomes difficult to play the waiver wire. So, you better not wait until the very last two rounds for kickers in that league. And in fact, it can be advantageous to pursue far earlier than that.But in general, I've found that getting one extra player per position among QB, RB and WR is usually good advice. If I can select my top backup at each of those positions before most of the rest of the league does, than I am much more able to withstand injuries and busts. In my longest-running league, I even study tendencies of my other drafters so that I know roughly when the runs usually start at most positions in terms of backups. Studying your opponents a little, when possible, is significantly underrated in draft leagues, in my opinion.Anyway, no harm meant, rickyg. And really, I think you got some good discussion going, even if I either misunderstood and/or disagreed with one of your early points.

 

[rickyg]

After reading your critique of my post it's clear to me that you likely stopped reading after #2. Rule #5 in my post basically says that at the end of the day every draft is different and that you should never be too rigid with any plan. I have an example about how one might be trying to fill out their starting roster and have already drafted 2 wrs but Austin is sitting out there in round 3 because some shmuck before you drafted Hightower instead of Austin. Do you not take Austin bc u already have your 2 starting wrs? Hell no, you take him and adjust your draft accordingly. Basically what you are saying is what I was saying. The best laid plans go amuck during every draft. Don't be so rigid. Use the beginning of the draft to take the best and most explosive players available in great situations (I.e a key plauer on an explosive offense). And no that does not apply to kickers or defenses. I don't know any kickers that I would categorize as "explosive" lol. I draft kickers last and defenses rt before kicker, and I laugh at everyone who drafts the jets d or Pitt d or Balt d in the 8th round.Anyhoot, the most important part of my message was that draftin is only a small part of winning a fantasy football championship. I challenge anyone to draft a great team, make no easier moves and no trades throughout the season and win it all. I've never seen that happen. You've got to be a mover and a shaker on the wire and opportunistic with your trading.

I absolutely read your whole post. You don't need to be defensive. We're just a few people trading draft strategy on a message board. The interesting thing to me is that it seems like item #5 (be like water, etc.) on your list should be #1, especially based on your follow-up. And your advice there is excellent. To me, if being flexible is as important as you suggest, I would think it wouldn't be last on the list. Of course, maybe I read into it a priority order that was not intended.Leagues are highly variable. The perfect strategy for one league can be a very bad idea in another league. And what's interesting is a strategy that works well in a so-called "shark" league can be detrimental in a "guppy" or "mixed" league. In fact, I've seen that filling out your starting lineup rather than drafting depth can be more important in a guppy or mixed league because that's what a lot of them seem to be compelled to do. One league I am in requires you to carry two kickers all season (don't ask!!) and with 24 kickers rostered, it becomes difficult to play the waiver wire. So, you better not wait until the very last two rounds for kickers in that league. And in fact, it can be advantageous to pursue far earlier than that.But in general, I've found that getting one extra player per position among QB, RB and WR is usually good advice. If I can select my top backup at each of those positions before most of the rest of the league does, than I am much more able to withstand injuries and busts. In my longest-running league, I even study tendencies of my other drafters so that I know roughly when the runs usually start at most positions in terms of backups. Studying your opponents a little, when possible, is significantly underrated in draft leagues, in my opinion.Anyway, no harm meant, rickyg. And really, I think you got some good discussion going, even if I either misunderstood and/or disagreed with one of your early points.

No offense taken the jerk, and spoken like a true gentlemen. I totally agree with everything you said. Especially about how strategies that work in veteran leagues sometimes work poorly in guppy leagues where the drafters are totally unpredictable. What I find amazing is how the guppies many times draft incredible teams without even knowing it. After the draft veterans will stand around and chuckle about how crappy their team looks.. And then they are 1st in total points midway through the season lol.its things like that that remind me just how much of this hobby is dumb luck. Happy holidays bro!

 

[snore]

Lost in the semi-finals. While I consider that a semi-successful season, I didnt care for the weekly angst of having to choose between 5 avg running backs. And then losing Fred Jackson plus trading Lynch away prior to him blowing up didnt help. I know no one cares about my lineup, but I didnt like it and wont do it again.

 

[Dez]

I started this draft with 4 WR's then took a QB, then took a stiff of a RB but somehow I am in 2nd place with 1 RB in the 1st 8 piclks (Midseason draft)

C-Johnson

Wallace

V-Jackson

Bryant

Romo

Ingram

Gates

Keller

R-Bush

Moreno

Jacobs

Freeman

Addai

Detroit

Chicago

Kasay

Hanson

L-Robinson

McMichael

Cooley

Alexander

Moore

Dawson

Kitna

Lumpkin

New England

 

[BigDave]

Although many don't play in 10 team or less leagues, upside down drafting is the only way to go there. Plenty of RBs and QBs to go around and on the waiver wire. WRs always seem scarce. Been doing it for years in my 8 team league, no one has caught on yet. Always in 4 team playoffs, yeah 50% chance but I have never missed in 10+ years. 4th consecutive champ game this week.

I'm in a 10 team redraft and RB's are not easily available on the wire. Looking at my league after week 15 and 10 WR's/TE's made the top 30 that were not ranked high or even drafted. Very few RB's made that list. Not sure why more RB's are available in your league. At QB, other than Cam blowing up, QB's are not available either. We only start one, but most draft 2 or some even 3 QB's.By the way, I finished 1st at 11-2 with the highest amount of points. Unfortunately lost last week to the Brady/Gronk team.

 

[The Jerk]

The waiver wire availability varies based on roster size, lineup requirements and maximum limits at a given position, not just league size. A 12 team league with small benches can have a more bountiful waiver wire than a 10 team league. A 10 team league with large lineups can easily have a more limited waiver wire than a 12 team league.

The comparative success and failure of certain strategies can be highly dependent on league structure, roster/lineup limits, and even league culture, for lack of a better term.

 

[NJDawgPound]

14 team league, drafted 11th.

1) Calvin Johnson

2) Hakeem Nicks

3) Romo

4) Best

5) Beanie

6) Fred Jackson

7) Stafford

8) Hightower

9) McGahee

10) Olsen

11) Rackers

12) Roy Williams

Calvin Johnson, Stafford, Best, FJax carried me half the season. Through trades ended up with Romo, Rice, Peterson, Calvin Johnson, Nicks, Hernandez, and Cundiff. Just got knocked out and am playing for 3rd with a very high score. Successful season, will draft WR, WR, QB again.

 

[TheFootballJesus]

14 team league, drafted 11th. 1) Calvin Johnson2) Hakeem Nicks3) Romo4) Best5) Beanie6) Fred Jackson7) Stafford8) Hightower9) McGahee10) Olsen11) Rackers12) Roy WilliamsCalvin Johnson, Stafford, Best, FJax carried me half the season. Through trades ended up with Romo, Rice, Peterson, Calvin Johnson, Nicks, Hernandez, and Cundiff. Just got knocked out and am playing for 3rd with a very high score. Successful season, will draft WR, WR, QB again.

We had the exact same first 3 picks (and I drafted from the same slot) but I completely whiffed on all the mid round running backs. If you miss on those, it's tough to win over the first few weeks of the season.Any recommendations on what to look for in those middle round backs? Or is it all luck?

 

[The Jerk]

Any recommendations on what to look for in those middle round backs? Or is it all luck?

Here's a discussion that began in preseasonconcerning this very issue.

Inside the thread, you will find a link to an FBG article that helped to initiate the discussion.

I think it would be completely dishonest to ignore the luck factor that is involved in hitting on these running backs in the draft. Of course, I think it's also a matter of luck if you hit on a wide receiver late in the draft, too. One of the posts I made in the thread concerned that it's just as important to know who to stay away from as it is to know who to take a flier on when it comes to these mid-round RBs.

One common attribute that is involved is opportunity. To me, the main reason Wells has been reasonable -- certainly not spectacular, but a RB that can be useful if you have an advantage at the other positions -- is that there is no one else there to compete for carries. When Ryan Williams got injured, Wells became a target for me to draft if I went "upside down" in my drafts. Marshawn Lynch was another target for me, for somewhat similar reasons, although I expected a little more distribution of carries than has been the case. Unfortunately, he went too early for me to obtain.

I've long been a proponent of upside down drafting due to my initial league being unusual in its scoring, and I had success with early WR and TE drafting in that league in the 1990s. What rekindled my interest was a Shark Pool discussion years ago concerning how many startable RBs late in the year were undrafted in a given season. As I see it, part of the upside down strategy approach is expecting to find at least one useful RB off the waiver wire. DeMarco Murray was the best example this year, Hillis and BJGE from last year. I'll likely start Kevin Smith in Week 16 over three drafted RBs.

Another foundational aspect to upside down drafting is recognizing that it's not about suggesting RBs aren't valuable in FF, rather it's about understanding that RBs drafted early bust with a certain frequency, often due to injury.

Where you will see disagreement in my line of thinking is that others will argue that RBs are no more frequent as early round busts than WRs and/or that it's easier to find WRs on the waiver wire. Others will describe how they don't like having the uncertainly at RB, in particular early in the season. And these posters will have many valid points.

Despite all of this, the simple truth is that any strategy will work if you make multiple brilliant mid-to-late round picks or waiver moves and nearly every strategy will fail if you don't make those picks and also don't work the waiver wire well.

 

[davearm]

I went upside down this year; my first five picks in a 12-team redraft were:

Andre Johnson

Larry Fitz

Tony Romo

Santonio Holmes

DeAngelo Williams

I managed to make it to the championship despite getting very little from 3 of those 5 guys -- haven't started AJ, SH, or DaW for months. Hitting on guys like Cam, Cruz, and Hernandez saved me.

Championship game lineup is:

Cam (15th round)

Wells (6th)

Benson (7th)

Fitzgerald (2nd)

Nicks (trade for Romo)

Hernandez (10th)

I've also been playing defense-of-the-week all year, FWIW.

 

[davearm]

After reading your critique of my post it's clear to me that you likely stopped reading after #2. Rule #5 in my post basically says that at the end of the day every draft is different and that you should never be too rigid with any plan. I have an example about how one might be trying to fill out their starting roster and have already drafted 2 wrs but Austin is sitting out there in round 3 because some shmuck before you drafted Hightower instead of Austin. Do you not take Austin bc u already have your 2 starting wrs? Hell no, you take him and adjust your draft accordingly. Basically what you are saying is what I was saying. The best laid plans go amuck during every draft. Don't be so rigid. Use the beginning of the draft to take the best and most explosive players available in great situations (I.e a key plauer on an explosive offense). And no that does not apply to kickers or defenses. I don't know any kickers that I would categorize as "explosive" lol. I draft kickers last and defenses rt before kicker, and I laugh at everyone who drafts the jets d or Pitt d or Balt d in the 8th round.Anyhoot, the most important part of my message was that draftin is only a small part of winning a fantasy football championship. I challenge anyone to draft a great team, make no easier moves and no trades throughout the season and win it all. I've never seen that happen. You've got to be a mover and a shaker on the wire and opportunistic with your trading.

Your opened yourself up for criticism pretty obviously with your first post.Your first two rules will most often contradict each other long about the fourth or fifth round. And your fifth rule essentially negates them both.Your third rule looks great, so long as you pick the right young, high-upside guys. The folks that took guys like Mario Manningham and Mark Ingram don't look so smart.In the end, hitting a few home runs will make up for a poor draft strategy, while putting your chips on the wrong guys will doom even the best draft strategy.