OLD SKOOL
I'll go with that caption for my review. For starters this draft was Non-PPR. Like many around here I've been drafting and have been playing PPR forever and even the 1.5 TE / Double Flex FFPPC style drafts where TE's have been flying, not only because of the 1.5 but, because you can start 2-3 TE's. So, I knew this draft was going to take me back and RB/WR was going to be the key. Even more, I thought WR would be of more importance needing 3 starters and with Non-PPR the RB field gets leveled somewhat.
Now, Normally I love the 12 spot. In the dual Flex / TE leagues, the 12 spot is wide open on where you can go, even TE/TE. Going into this draft I had 7 RB's that I'd take the obvious 5 plus Turner and SJax. I was slightly hopeful one would fall and I would go RB/WR. Round 1 goes as expected - Andre Johnson lands to Borbley as a small surprise but, as I alluded to predraft, I probably wasn't going to get any gifts at 12. I decided to avoid the bye issue on my early studs and went
1.12 Roddy White WR ATL
2.01 Calvin Johnson WR ATL
I can see both these guys starting off the year HOT!!!!
ROUND 2.
I was a little surprised to se QB's go in round 2 but, being at the end, again, I wasn't going to benefit much at 3.12.. Was thinking a combo of Benson / Wells might fall. Loosecircuits takes Benson as RB3. hmmmmm, no help there, to me, or him IMO. Not one "Value RB" falls to me at the end... I avoided Moreno as, going into the draft with only 5 weeks to be concerned with I didn't want to start off with an injury concern (tried to avoid all injuries) and Denver just concerns me in general. So, I reached a little and it didn't feel great but, I grabbed:
3.12 Matt Forte RB CHI
4.01 Jahvid Best RB RB DET
Again, I'm looking for a good start at least offensively from Detroit. Also my thoughts are that With Best, he's looking great now, with a 5 weeks season, wear and tear and a rookie wall will not be a concern of mine. I also won't have to be concerned with a situtaion where a Veteran may work more at the start until the rookie catches up, since I think Best starts right away.. Forte looks to be the better runner so far in CHI. My other option in the mix was Addai - Probably a little safer but, I figured I'd swing a little with Best. Being at the end here with a slight QB run in progress I also thought long at hard at QB (Romo / Brady / Schaub)..
The QB's certainly aren't going to be there on my next turn.... As I see value go to the middle spots I'm again reminded that the End turn is also a big bonus when playing in a weaker league where you can sit back and pluck whatever is left. Again Borbely gets a gift with Romo and again, I'm going to be backed into a corner at the end of both QB/TE runs.... I don't see the value here at either spot so, I rolled the dice and looked elsewhere for another rounf and took:
5.12 Dwayne Bowe WR KC
6.01 Marion Barber RB DAL
With solid starters at the 2 RB spots and 2 top WR's I figured I could take on some bye issues here and lock up 2 guys who's ADP are rising fast. Bowe looks great and KC is another offense with Weiss and a running game on board, that looks to be on the upswing, also with a weaker defense, a FF bonus. That said, Bowe was a definite risk here with all the WR"s available later and the need for a QB but my next tier of QB's has 5 QB's and 8 are off the board..... Barber is another guy who might start off better than he finishes with his injuy history, style and Jones on his tail...
7.12 Joe Flacco QB BAL
8.01 Zach Miller TE Oak
Okay so SOMETHING paid off here and I get 2 players I love this year and 2 players that I considered a round earlier. Flacco has a defense that has early injuries and more weapons on offense to go with his health and experience. Zach Miller has a QB.
At this point I like the Bowe pick a little more over WR"s available plus I got My guys anyway - All part of the fun of drafting at 12.
So, I'm pretty much set at my starting spots and I'm going fishing for Depth - definitely looking for QB2 around the bend... I wind up with:
9.12 Darren Sproles RB SD
10.01 David Garrard QB Jax
Not in love with Garrard but, I wanted nothing to do with Favre. Even if he does play, is he healthy to start? Now Sproles I targeted for this 5 week period. This was one of the Veteran RB's with a rookie next to him that I thought might start off the year with a little more workload as Mathews takes on more of the load as the season progresses - Maybe Sproles is better at 1st in protection early in the year and gets more work? Good schedule should net me some good RB points to fill in.
At this point I'm looking to shore up my WR's and I've got a decent tier to choose from... I'm zeroing in on Massaquio, M Thomas, Jacoby Jones and Maningham... Tough little group to rank.. Jones and Thomas are coming on and Manningham has a few injury concerns in front of him..
11.12 Mario Manningham NYG
12.01 Jacony Jones HOU
I guess I just felt like avoing Cleveland like Lebron, at least for now, M Thomas Vs Manningham I might regret But, I like the depth at WR right now with only Bowe as a Bye issue. I'll probably focus in a little more on these guys as I prepare for my next draft - especially Manningham.
Going into the next round again I was holding my breath - I feel the need for a decent backup TE and they were going and I wanted QB3 since I was at the backend of the initial run.. I was happy with
13.12 Matt Cassel QB KC
14.01 Greg Olsen TE CHI
Of course this was one of my many Computer issues where Ben Roethlisberger wound up on my roster as I was messing with the player Que.... Love Cassel as QB3 and hopefully I've built a QBBC that keeps me in the game at with the big boys. FLACCO - GARRARD - CASSEL Not a Lion Tiger or Bear but, OH MY!!!!!
From here on out I topped off my WR crew with 2 decent WR's on real good offenses in Lance Moore and Kevin Walter - I had Devery Henderson in that mix and was looking to lock up 2 backups from either HOU or NOS and of course Borbley took the guy I left again claiming how great Henderson is in this format..
15.12 Lance Moore
16.01 Kevin Walter
After that I filled in 3 DEF and 3 K and a few Pats's in Faulk and Hernandez.
I figured the normal Swings at the end of a Survivor Draft (especially WR) that might take time to pay off won't pay as much in a short series - So, where I might grab a lot more WR"s later on, in this thing I kinda locked up my WR and RB cores earlier.
Overall, I felt uneasy about it when it was done but Looking back at it now, I'm ok with it, Given the Draft spot and format. My squad is obviously relying on some superb WR numbers which could be risky in a short series but, I think I'm in the mix here.
GREAT DRAFT GUYS !!!!!!!! THANKS!!!!!
