podunker
Footballguy
Of all the years, this had to be the year to NOT follow the stud RB theory! I have never seen so much value at RB late in drafts as I saw this year. I'm normally a stud RB theory guy, but this year I think that strategy could have backed fired on some owners. Taking Manning in the late first, or going WR-WR at late first early second, taking Gates early third, or taking Palmer, Brees, Brady, late third early fourth are all great options. I think the best may be when you’re drafting in the first half of the first, and going RB-WR-WR.
In my opinion there are around 10-12 RB's that should probably be taken right out of the shoot, naturally depending on scoring options, PPR, 7 pt passing TD's, whatever. In no particular order: (LT, SJ, LJ, Gore, Parker, Henry, Addai, Westy, Alexander, Rudi, Bush if PPR, and maybe one more of differing opinions) After those guys, I don't see much difference in the next 20 or so. Are McGahee and Jacobs really going to be that much better than J. Jones and F. Taylor? Maybe they will, but for their price, I would rather have the later two as my RB2 or RB3, and take studs at other positions to round out my team. I think it is very likely that you can wait until the late fifth and early sixth to start picking up your RB2-RB3's. JJ, T. Bell, L. Jordan, F. Taylor, C. Taylor, Foster, L. White, and Dunn can all be had in the sixth or later in most leagues. I tried successfully to get three of those guys to go with my RB1.
The reason the strategy works so well is because the other owner are so caught up early in drafts trying to get RB's they lose sight of the fact that all the top WR's and QB's are being taken, and then it is too late. At that point they start scrambling to get the leftovers leaving you great value at RB late in drafts. While they are taking the mid level RB's ( Portis, Edge, Brown, Jacobs, Benson, Deuce, MJD) and reaching on other RB's ( Lynch, Norwood, Barber, De. Williams) you are taking the stud WR's and QB's or whatever.
Some example from my 8 redraft leagues of what you can come out with: (Harrison, TO, Braylon, K. Curtis with Bush, Jacobs, F. Taylor, C. Taylor, McNabb-PPR) ****(Holt, Evans, R. Brown with Maroney, T. Bell, F. Taylor, L. White, Romo and GATES - Omega League)*********(Wayne, TO, Evans with Bush, T. Bell, Foster, White, and McNabb.-PPR)********(S. Smith, Walker, Evans with Henry, T. Bell , F. Taylor and Big Ben -PPR)********** All of the above are 12 teamers from various drafting spots, with knowledgeable owners.
When I didn't use this strategy in a few of my leagues I ended up with guys like TJ, Evans as my WR1, followed by R. Brown, Cotchery as 2's and who knows what as WR3. I definitely didn't like the teams as well. I know everyone as different opinions on players and that WR's can be very inconsistent, etc. etc. etc. But I also no RB2 and RB3's can be a crapshoot as well. I just cannot remember in the last 5 years when we've had so much depth at the RB position as this year. This seems to be the best strategy to take advantage of it! Sadly my drafts are all done, but maybe a few of you can still try it.
In my opinion there are around 10-12 RB's that should probably be taken right out of the shoot, naturally depending on scoring options, PPR, 7 pt passing TD's, whatever. In no particular order: (LT, SJ, LJ, Gore, Parker, Henry, Addai, Westy, Alexander, Rudi, Bush if PPR, and maybe one more of differing opinions) After those guys, I don't see much difference in the next 20 or so. Are McGahee and Jacobs really going to be that much better than J. Jones and F. Taylor? Maybe they will, but for their price, I would rather have the later two as my RB2 or RB3, and take studs at other positions to round out my team. I think it is very likely that you can wait until the late fifth and early sixth to start picking up your RB2-RB3's. JJ, T. Bell, L. Jordan, F. Taylor, C. Taylor, Foster, L. White, and Dunn can all be had in the sixth or later in most leagues. I tried successfully to get three of those guys to go with my RB1.
The reason the strategy works so well is because the other owner are so caught up early in drafts trying to get RB's they lose sight of the fact that all the top WR's and QB's are being taken, and then it is too late. At that point they start scrambling to get the leftovers leaving you great value at RB late in drafts. While they are taking the mid level RB's ( Portis, Edge, Brown, Jacobs, Benson, Deuce, MJD) and reaching on other RB's ( Lynch, Norwood, Barber, De. Williams) you are taking the stud WR's and QB's or whatever.
Some example from my 8 redraft leagues of what you can come out with: (Harrison, TO, Braylon, K. Curtis with Bush, Jacobs, F. Taylor, C. Taylor, McNabb-PPR) ****(Holt, Evans, R. Brown with Maroney, T. Bell, F. Taylor, L. White, Romo and GATES - Omega League)*********(Wayne, TO, Evans with Bush, T. Bell, Foster, White, and McNabb.-PPR)********(S. Smith, Walker, Evans with Henry, T. Bell , F. Taylor and Big Ben -PPR)********** All of the above are 12 teamers from various drafting spots, with knowledgeable owners.
When I didn't use this strategy in a few of my leagues I ended up with guys like TJ, Evans as my WR1, followed by R. Brown, Cotchery as 2's and who knows what as WR3. I definitely didn't like the teams as well. I know everyone as different opinions on players and that WR's can be very inconsistent, etc. etc. etc. But I also no RB2 and RB3's can be a crapshoot as well. I just cannot remember in the last 5 years when we've had so much depth at the RB position as this year. This seems to be the best strategy to take advantage of it! Sadly my drafts are all done, but maybe a few of you can still try it.
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That's what I've done in 3 drafts. I'm loaded at WR, and just as good as everyone else at RB. In one league I drafted Henry, Caddy, Foster, D Williams, L White, S Smith, Roy, Javon, Hackett.
. By the time they've made their third pick, they should have 3 top players on their team. Conversely, the poor slob at 12 is there sweating, praying that someone nabs Manning so that his choice of RBs at the 12/13 turn is at least Bush/Maroney and not Bush/McGahee..Almost forgot: all that and Brady, too??!!
if you think that 2 stud WR's are better than a SOLID RB2
See, this is where all the RB-WR-WR talk proves that it's not worth it. Quality WRs like Javon, Housh, and Evans are falling to the late 4th round.Right now, having 2 Top 10 Wr's might look like money, but as the season progress and you cant find a consistent RB2 between your RB2-5, you'll realize why RB's are valuable.Someone earlier said they think that RoyW and Evans seem like surer things than Benson or Jacobs, and I agree, but are you going to find a RB2 who can actually produce consistently if you take WRs in Rounds 2 and 3? ABSOLUTELY NO I don't like to use myself as another example, but here's how my first few rounds went:1.4 - LJ2.7 - McGahee3.4 - Jacobs4.7 - Wayne5.4 - Roy WNow, there were 3-5 picks in the rounds 3-5 that allowed RW & RW to slip to me, so I will admit I was lucky to get 2 Top 10 WR's, but even when people were surprised I took Jacobs then in round 3, I KNEW that a Top 10 WR would still be there for me in round 4.From what I see, I haven't seen 1 team (LJ, SJax or not) who has a solid RB2 after they have drafted a WR in rounds 2&3. They seem to have depth, but if you're looking for Caddy, DeShaun, FTaylor, LenDale, or Norwood to be a solid RB2 you are very mistaken. I think LenDale and others can easily outproduce their ADP, but those expecting a consistent RB2 from a platoon like this is fooling themselves. Do Benson, Jacobs, Drew, or James have some risk involved? Yes, but their floor is probably the ceiling of the guys named as RB's in other posts. You, my friend, are 
I found that the hard wy last year. I drafted SA as my stud in round 1. Harrison, Holt, and then Driver in 2,3,&4 because the value was better than the RB's left on the board. I was thinking I could go with a 1 RB/3 WR set and be competitive. I might have been up until the time SA broke his foot. I struggled all year after that. Only the second time I've missed the playoffs ever. This year I had 4 RB's by round 6 or 7 in all my leagues. RB heavy is, always has been, and always will be the way to draft for me. I have never played in PPR leagues however because I don't believe a player with 1 rec for 50 yds should score the same amount of points as a player with 6 rec for 3 yards.
