I decied to make my first mock this year my free RapidDraft entry, and deliberately anted to see what happened when I went WR-WR. I figured the entire group of experts would not do that. So it would force me to decide hard on RB's - in actuality, it force unexpected decisions on me.
It's a 2 rb 3 wr 1 te/pk/df/qb PPR, with a flex of rb/te/wr.
WR Larry Fitzgerald ARI R1P6
WR Greg Jennings GB R2P7
So far, so good. Moss/Johnson/Smith/Wayne went in a row before me.
QB Drew Brees NO R3P6
Still on the board at round 3. I really wanted McFadden, but since most teams had 1 RB, and many 2, I thought he'd last to my next pick, and I knew Brees wouldn't. Unfortunately I was wrong, and Mcfadden went next. Other backs I would've been reasonably happy with as RB1 also went, KSmith & PThomas.
RB Derrick Ward TB R4P7
Finally a RB, and a guy who is somewhat of a crapshoot as a RB1. I know he can catch the ball, and he's a feature back, albeit unproven. I was expecting to take Lynch at my next pick, or Moreno, and work on a team RB that I could grab backups late.
TE Jason Witten DAL R5P6
Here's where it gets crazy. Both Moreno & Lynch (surprising to me) go, and I have RB choices like Benson, Lewis, & White. I'm not too interested in them at this point, as they are a lesser tier. I expect Rice to slip to my next pick, so I go out and grab a TE who gives me a weekly edge. In hindsight I should've taken Royal here - I think Witten would've fell.
WR Hines Ward PIT R6P7
RB Julius Jones SEA R7P6
A couple picks before me in round 6 Rice gets poached by the nerdy looking expert in the ads. FBG, of course. So I say to myself, I can start 4 WR, and it's a PPR - what the heck - let's get a very solid WR3 and just play patchwork RB. I want to get Graham next round to lock up TB some.
Flex Derrick Mason BAL R8P7
When I see I can get a guy who should be a solid starter for me in round 8, and nicely handle any surprise WR issues, I jump on him, Graham was gone anyway.
RB Fred Jackson BUF R9P6
RB Kevin Faulk NE R10P7
QB Kyle Orton DEN R11P6
RB Glen Coffee SF R12P7
RB Danny Ware NYG R13P6
RB Bernard Scott CIN R14P7
Welcome to the RB flyer part of my draft - plus a needed backup QB, and the last guy I'm comfortable with. Faulk was honestly, a mis-pick, as I meant to take Garrard there. That had me take Orton the next round, due to a plethora of other options at backup QB drying up. Otherwise it would've been Garrard/Charles.
Jackson gives me a starting RB for 4 weeks, at least. The young guys are flyers who if they hit, could really produce. At this point, I was sloughing 2 WR's to be my deep reserves: Chaz Schillens & Laurent Robinson. Sicne I had 4 guys who were their teams #1 WR's, I didn't feel a need to do much more, plus WR's emerge in-season. Better to have a lot of RB lottery tickets. I've also decided to go 1 DEF, and 1 PK in the draft, making sure byes don't overlap.
Def/ST BAL Team Defense BAL R15P6
The first defense off the board goes in round 15, and it's Minnesota. I decide I should get a premium defense, especially since I'm targeting RB's I don't expect to get drafted anytime soon as flyers, and Schillens is now gone.
RB Correll Buckhalter DEN R16P7
WR Laurent Robinson STL R17P6
RB Justin Forsett SEA R18P7
I get C-Buck, who I think is in line for a lot of work in DEN, and at this price, he could be a steal. I take my pet flyer, Forsett from Seattle, who should get a lot of 3rd down work, and maybe even replace Jones if he falters. I also get my backup WR in Robinson.
PK Kris Brown HOU R19P6
At this point int he draft, I have 2 guys on my radar - Peyton Hillis from Denver as another option there, or Jermichael Finley who if he wins the job, can be a nice insurance policy at TE. Most importantly, every team behind me except one in this round needs a PK. So I either take one now, or chance what's left after 6 more are off the board. Since I want to avoid bye week matching from PK/DF/TE, I take Brown.
TE Jermichael Finley GB R20P7
Hillis is sniped just in front of me, so I take Finley.
POSITION PLAYER TEAM ROUND
QB Drew Brees NO R3P6
QB Kyle Orton DEN R11P6
RB Derrick Ward TB R4P7
RB Julius Jones SEA R7P6
RB Fred Jackson BUF R9P6
RB Kevin Faulk NE R10P7
RB Glen Coffee SF R12P7
RB Danny Ware NYG R13P6
RB Bernard Scott CIN R14P7
RB Correll Buckhalter DEN R16P7
RB Justin Forsett SEA R18P7
WR Larry Fitzgerald ARI R1P6
WR Greg Jennings GB R2P7
WR Hines Ward PIT R6P7
WR Derrick Mason BAL R8P7
WR Laurent Robinson STL R17P6
TE Jason Witten DAL R5P6
TE Jermichael Finley GB R20P7
PK Kris Brown HOU R19P6
Def/ST BAL Team Defense BAL R15P6
In hindsight, I'd like the team lot better if I had gotten McFadden, and sloughed QB one more round. I'd feel like I have a guy who can be a top-end RB in this system, and still be loaded for bear elsewhere.
at these picks... I can't imagine any of these players are available in my main redraft, and thats with only 2 starting WRs. I'm projecting Smith in the 3rd, Jackson in the 4th, Olsen in the 7th, and Brown in the 6th....I would feel great with this team except for QBs and maybe a little more depth at WR. With only 15 total this is a difficult league to cover bye weeks.
at these picks... I can't imagine any of these players are available in my main redraft, and thats with only 2 starting WRs. I'm projecting Smith in the 3rd, Jackson in the 4th, Olsen in the 7th, and Brown in the 6th....I would feel great with this team except for QBs and maybe a little more depth at WR. With only 15 total this is a difficult league to cover bye weeks.
