I started a dynasty league this year. It features 14 teams, IDPs, a all flex starter system and a ridiculous trophy. Here is how my team shook out:
9th Overall: Calvin Johnson.
He was third on my big board behind Rodgers and Peterson. I got him at 8th. Only age 26 and a physical freak, he has the talent to be a hall of famer. He has proven himself to be QB proof for the most part and the only knock on him is that he gets dinged up alot. I am happy to have had him fall in my lap.
19th Overall: Larry Fitzgerald
He was my second best receiver and I got him after names like Ray Rice and DeSean Jackson went off the board. A bit older, but because he has never been a burner to start with I am not worried about him slowing down. He will be a redzone target and a third down monster for the next 5 years. Hopefully with Kolb in the fold he will see more balls and find more offensive consistency.
35th Overall: Mark Ingram
I was floored when he didn’t go in the first 20 picks in the NFL draft and I consider him to be one of the best runners to come out of the draft since Peterson. He reminds me a lot of Frank Gore from a size, build and running style standpoint. Despite him working out of a committee attack and probably losing out on third down duties to Darren Sproles, he is the starter and I don’t think that the Saint’s traded up for him to have him spend a lot of time on the bench. However, as many have pointed out, will his knee hold up? This pick could make or break my draft.
46th Overall: Dez Bryant
This was the steal of the draft. Brandon Lloyd, Colston, and Mario Manningham went before arguably one of the most talented receivers in the league.
And he’s only 23. If he can stay out of trouble and he continues to pay attention he is pro bowl bound and with Miles Austin and Jason Witten out there as well he will never see over the top coverage or face the shutdown corner.
62nd Overall: Kevin Kolb
I was the second to last team to pick a QB. I was looking at Stafford, Eli Manning, Flacco, Cassel and a handful of semi starters. But Kolb, the player who screwed me badly last year, was staring me right in the face. I knew he wouldn’t last another round and basically it was down to him and Stafford. I think this pick was a bit high for his value, especially considering how badly he has the potential to bust. The AZ o-line is a mess and he has a history of getting gun shy in the pocket. If his confidence gets destroyed he will falter and I will be in serious trouble. But for whatever reason everyone went QB early and he is who I ended up with. I have been talking him up for years, and since he was drafted by the Eagles I called him the best QB of his class. Now we are finally gonna find out.
73rd Overall: Greg Olsen
TEs were starting to run and despite the flex starting system of this league I had to take him. I probably could have waited but I wanted to make sure that I got him. Since his trade to Carolina I have watched closely as their OC, a former tight end himself, has started to split him into the slot and out wide. A young, fast tight end like him has the potential for 1,000 yards. Especially as the safety blanket for a set of young QBs that have little else to throw to. And since their defense looks to stink again this year they should have to throw to catch up often. This is a bet that will either pay off big or kill my team since I have him slated to be a full time starter.
89th Overall: Tim Tebow
This is where my draft went from risky to downright stupid. Every team has two starting QBs but me and in week six of this year I actually don’t even have a starting QB. But I am a big Tebow fan, a believer, I have been witness, and I believe that if he is able to get 11 touchdowns in spot starts and off select plays last year, then this year he should have around 15 at the very least this year. With McDaniels gone and Fox now running the team, I don’t see Orton becoming a better QB. A huge bet and a ridiculous pick in the 7th round. That’s it. This pick was not wise.
100th Overall: Lawrence Timmons
A poor mans Patrick Willis, I watch a lot of Steelers football as a Pittsburgh native and I am glad I have a start to root for. He should be a tackle machine when Farrior retires and he may even get moved to the strong side when Harrison leaves.
116th Overall: Tim Hightower
The second running back I took in the draft and I waited this long. Runners went high and often, making me aim for receivers, and stupidly Tebow, early in the draft. Now I was left with the dregs and I had to deal. He was the only starter left on the board, and despite the fact that he only has 1 or 2 useful years in a Shanny run system he is currently the unquestioned starter and should be productive.
127th Overall: Braylon Edwards
A great value here, with names like Mike Sims Walker and Davon Bess coming off the board ahead of him. The number 1 receiver on an awful team, he is at least a lock for 6 TDs and 600 yards. He is rarely hurt and despite his mercenary status he is only 28 and has at least 4 years of decent production left.
143rd Overall: Eric Berry
An Ed Reed clone, even if he plays at his current level for the rest of his career he will be a value because he plays nearly every offensive snap. With an underwhelming defensive line and an improving secondary he should spend more time in the box making tackles.
154th Overall: Blaine Gabbert
Considered by some to the best in the draft, he is coming up on a solid team but one with few receiving options. The good news is that the Jags are a good all-around team with a solid running game. It will help with his development but deter him from having any legit fantasy value in the near term. However, it’s likely that they will start to add weapons as he develops and they may move toward a more passing focused offense as they go. I bought in on him pretty high in the draft, but the talent is there and he should have a long leash considering the investment the Jaguars have made in him. I need Garrard to get hurt or suck early, neither of which are very likely, to have him for week 6 (Tebow and Kolb on bye).
170th Overall: Justin Smith
Aged but versatile and a defensive leader. He will make a lot of tackles, especially with Rubin now gone. And with a weak offense, he should find himself on the field facing a rushing attack more and more often.
181st Overall: Rashad Jennings
I am of the opinion that MJD has about two years of fantasy relevance left. If they want their franchise back to play for a longer they need to rest him more = more touches for Jennings. If they run the wheels off of MJD he will get hurt = more touches for Jennings. As long as MJD is able to be productive through a severe knee condition Jennings will ride the pine, but I am betting against this with this pick.
197th Overall: Stevan Ridley
The lone power back on the Patriots turned in a 2 TD, 100 total yards performance in his first preseason game while seeing 23 touches. An underrated receiver, he has the potential to climb to the second string by the end of the year and if Green-Ellis was lost he would step in as the early down back. The potential is here, but there is simply a lot of other players vying for playing time.
208th Overall: NE Kicker
224th Overall: Brian Orakpo
Not a big name but a big player. He has Pro Bowled each of his first two seasons and with no legit starting QB on the roster he should see a lot of playing time.
235th Overall: Denarius Moore
Taking a receiver from Oakland is like playing with fire blindfolded. You feel around for the end that doesn’t burn you only to lose any feeling before actually finding it. I have a poor history with Oakland receivers, and frankly, Oakland has a poor history with Oakland receivers. Moore may be the exception. He has been unstoppable in camp so far and he is versatile as a returner and as a receiver. With a weak receiving core and a newly weak secondary, he should see a lot of time in the slot and could end up with a starting job sooner than later. In the 18th round, he represents good value.
251st Overall: Antonie Bethea
A good player and a play maker on a team that often plays with a lead. If Manning returns to form, as we all expect, Bethea will spend a lot of time helping shadow top receivers and tight ends. He has a great chance at being a top producing safety this season.
262nd Overall: Julius Thomas
A freakish talent who has torn up camp this year, he should overtake Fells as the starting TE sooner than later despite HC John Fox’s veteran fetish. In a run first team with a questionable passing attack, he isn’t slated for top tier production right away. But if Tebow develops correctly, he may end up being his security blanket and rezone favorite for the next decade.
278th Overall: Sedrick Ellis
I originally picked Orlando McClain, oblivious to the fact that I had violated roster rules. I dropped him and grabbed Ellis. Now paired up with power pig Shaun Rodgers inside, the Saints should return to form this year. This will keep teams passing and keep Ellis, their top rush attack interior lineman, chasing down the quarterback.
305th Overall: Jay Feely
No comments:
Post a Comment