Fantasy
Did the Fantasy Football draft thing Friday night with Aaron and his buddies in Philly. It's one of those moments when you stop taking the intent for granted, if even for a few minutes. To have the ESPN computers run and track everything while you're chatting live is just too much for an oldie like me.
Anyway, lets examine my drafted NFL bounty. this is in order of position, not where they were drafted:
Expatriate Pats
Owner: Abraham Binder
Abbrev: XPAT
Record: 0-0
STARTERS
SLOT PLAYER, TEAM POS EDIT OPP STATUS PRK PTS AVG LAST PROJ PVO %OWN +/-
QB Tom Brady, NE QB Buf Sun 1:00 - Early pick, but I think a good one. I had him last year as well. Yes, it seems like a total Pats homer pick, but remember: two years ago he led the NFL in TD passes, and last year he led the league in passing yardage.
RB Reggie Bush, NO RB @Cle Sun 1:00 - This was my fist pick, #5 overall. And yes, it was controversial. Trouble was that the likes of LaDanian and Alexander were gone. The sure things at RB were off the board. The clear choice with this pick was Bush or Tiki Barber. And I'm, not a Tiki fan.
I like that Tiki's blossomed as an older player. It's rare to see a guy - especially at RB - go from journeyman third down back to featured MVP candidate at his age. And I think he'll have another good year, as Eli Manning develops and the passing game makes more space for him.
But... Maybe this is the year the wheels come off. He can't go on like this forever. Maybe he'll miss a couple of vitamin supplements or do one of those twin tricks with his brother and have it go horribly wrong and have to leave the country while Ronde laughs at the murder he's gotten away with. Something like that.
So I went with Reggie Bush. Hardly a sure thing, granted. And probably a tad high at #5 overall (the rest of the group sure thought so). But I doubt he'd be around by round 2. And he has a real shot at 2,000 yards, if the Saints OL holds up. He's a special once-in-a-generation player. And if the pick's a little crazy, well, I've been called worse.
RB DeShaun Foster, Car RB Atl Sun 1:00 - I think the Panthers are going to be special again this year, and I know that Foster will be the #1 back as long as he stays healthy. Also, the Panthers like to run draws on third-and-long, and Foster's the best at it.
RB/WR Ahman Green, GB RB Chi Sun 4:15 - more of a gamble here, as Green has been hurt and the OL is just miserable. But Green is the kind of back that can avoid defenders, and if he stays (gets?) healthy he could lead the league in rushing. Also, the defenses are terrible in the division so he should get his yards.
WR Rod Smith, Den WR @StL Sun 1:00 - a solid productive receiver in a good passing attack. A little old, of course, but still some tread on the tire.
WR Derrick Mason, Bal WR @TB Sun 1:00 - his old QB Steve McNair will be starting here, so there's a chance he'll have a big year.
TE Tony Gonzalez, KC TE Cin Sun 1:00 - The #2 receiving TE in the league behind Antonio Gates (and Ben Watson when he gets his shot).
D/ST Patriots D/ST, NE D/ST Buf Sun 1:00 - I forced myself to wait until the 13th round (outof 16) to take this D because they aren't highly rated by the system. Needless to say, I expect them to be the best unit in football.
K Jason Elam, Den K @StL Sun 1:00 - good kicker on a good offense playing in thin air.
BENCH WEEK 1 2005 SEASON 2006 PRESEASON
SLOT PLAYER, TEAM POS
Bench LenDale White, Ten RB NYJ Sun 1:00 - fat lazy rook may have something. Once again, taking a chance on the USC backfield.
Bench David Givens, Ten WR NYJ Sun 1:00 - When he gets healthy he'll be the #1 option on the offense.
Bench Amani Toomer, NYG WR Ind Sun 8:15 - Manning could find him a bunch.
Bench Brett Favre, GB QB Chi Sun 4:15 - Could fill in for a week.
Bench Isaac Bruce, StL WR P Den Sun 1:00 - Could be productive - I seem to have a lot of old WR's.
Bench Dallas Clark, Ind TE @NYG Sun 8:15 - productive TE isn't going to be playing for anybody else, is he?
Bench Roscoe Parrish, Buf WR @NE Sun 1:00 - If the Bills had a QB, this would have been a good pick.
Bench Verron Haynes, Pit RB Mia Thu 8:30 - Parker is fast but slight, and Staley can't seem to stay on the field. Could become the starter...
Bench Marshall Faulk*, StL RB Den Sun 1:00 - season-ending knee surgery last week. Shrewd pick.
Bench Charlie Frye, Cle QB NO Sun 1:00 - Has some targets and a running game - could be a break-out guy.
And that's it. Championship? Championship.
Anyway, lets examine my drafted NFL bounty. this is in order of position, not where they were drafted:
Expatriate Pats
Owner: Abraham Binder
Abbrev: XPAT
Record: 0-0
STARTERS
SLOT PLAYER, TEAM POS EDIT OPP STATUS PRK PTS AVG LAST PROJ PVO %OWN +/-
QB Tom Brady, NE QB Buf Sun 1:00 - Early pick, but I think a good one. I had him last year as well. Yes, it seems like a total Pats homer pick, but remember: two years ago he led the NFL in TD passes, and last year he led the league in passing yardage.
RB Reggie Bush, NO RB @Cle Sun 1:00 - This was my fist pick, #5 overall. And yes, it was controversial. Trouble was that the likes of LaDanian and Alexander were gone. The sure things at RB were off the board. The clear choice with this pick was Bush or Tiki Barber. And I'm, not a Tiki fan.
I like that Tiki's blossomed as an older player. It's rare to see a guy - especially at RB - go from journeyman third down back to featured MVP candidate at his age. And I think he'll have another good year, as Eli Manning develops and the passing game makes more space for him.
But... Maybe this is the year the wheels come off. He can't go on like this forever. Maybe he'll miss a couple of vitamin supplements or do one of those twin tricks with his brother and have it go horribly wrong and have to leave the country while Ronde laughs at the murder he's gotten away with. Something like that.
So I went with Reggie Bush. Hardly a sure thing, granted. And probably a tad high at #5 overall (the rest of the group sure thought so). But I doubt he'd be around by round 2. And he has a real shot at 2,000 yards, if the Saints OL holds up. He's a special once-in-a-generation player. And if the pick's a little crazy, well, I've been called worse.
RB DeShaun Foster, Car RB Atl Sun 1:00 - I think the Panthers are going to be special again this year, and I know that Foster will be the #1 back as long as he stays healthy. Also, the Panthers like to run draws on third-and-long, and Foster's the best at it.
RB/WR Ahman Green, GB RB Chi Sun 4:15 - more of a gamble here, as Green has been hurt and the OL is just miserable. But Green is the kind of back that can avoid defenders, and if he stays (gets?) healthy he could lead the league in rushing. Also, the defenses are terrible in the division so he should get his yards.
WR Rod Smith, Den WR @StL Sun 1:00 - a solid productive receiver in a good passing attack. A little old, of course, but still some tread on the tire.
WR Derrick Mason, Bal WR @TB Sun 1:00 - his old QB Steve McNair will be starting here, so there's a chance he'll have a big year.
TE Tony Gonzalez, KC TE Cin Sun 1:00 - The #2 receiving TE in the league behind Antonio Gates (and Ben Watson when he gets his shot).
D/ST Patriots D/ST, NE D/ST Buf Sun 1:00 - I forced myself to wait until the 13th round (outof 16) to take this D because they aren't highly rated by the system. Needless to say, I expect them to be the best unit in football.
K Jason Elam, Den K @StL Sun 1:00 - good kicker on a good offense playing in thin air.
BENCH WEEK 1 2005 SEASON 2006 PRESEASON
SLOT PLAYER, TEAM POS
Bench LenDale White, Ten RB NYJ Sun 1:00 - fat lazy rook may have something. Once again, taking a chance on the USC backfield.
Bench David Givens, Ten WR NYJ Sun 1:00 - When he gets healthy he'll be the #1 option on the offense.
Bench Amani Toomer, NYG WR Ind Sun 8:15 - Manning could find him a bunch.
Bench Brett Favre, GB QB Chi Sun 4:15 - Could fill in for a week.
Bench Isaac Bruce, StL WR P Den Sun 1:00 - Could be productive - I seem to have a lot of old WR's.
Bench Dallas Clark, Ind TE @NYG Sun 8:15 - productive TE isn't going to be playing for anybody else, is he?
Bench Roscoe Parrish, Buf WR @NE Sun 1:00 - If the Bills had a QB, this would have been a good pick.
Bench Verron Haynes, Pit RB Mia Thu 8:30 - Parker is fast but slight, and Staley can't seem to stay on the field. Could become the starter...
Bench Marshall Faulk*, StL RB Den Sun 1:00 - season-ending knee surgery last week. Shrewd pick.
Bench Charlie Frye, Cle QB NO Sun 1:00 - Has some targets and a running game - could be a break-out guy.
And that's it. Championship? Championship.
posted by fiduciary at 7:46 AM
2 Comments:
I think my user account expired, so this will be a post from anonymous. A review of your fantasy football draft - first, the Bush pick was very contoversial but is the kind of pick that could win the league. If he is as dominant as you predict, your team will be tough to beat and he definitely would not have there for you to pick in the second round, so while it was early, if you beleive in him it makes sense because it was your one shot.
You might need to hire an extra trainer or two to keep some of your guys in the lineup - if DeShaun and Ahman could each use their one good knee then they could form the #1 pick in the draft. That being said, if Deshaun stays healthy he is a steal in that spot(I think Ahman is done and Gado will steal his job). I love the Rod Smith and Derrick Mason picks - two guys who don't get much hype who are rock solid and are definitely the type of players you need to build a winner.
Verron Hayes is a potential steal because Duce has nothing left and I doubt Willie Parker can last all season as the feature back. Favre is an absolute steal - I know he's getting old but he can still throw and he will have some huge games against bad teams. I also like the Givens pick - it might work better if Volek gets hurt because Volek apparently lost a bet or something to Drew Bennett and so he apparently has to throw the ball to Bennett every play.
All in all a pretty good draft - a solid second place finish!!
I fear you're being too kind here. Green is certainly cooked, and his OL is just dreadful. Luckily, I have his aging, INT-prone QB as well! Foster hasn't made it through a season as a featured back. And my WR's are so old their rookie cards came from a cigar box (little joke for the last few card collectors on the planet).
Let's look at ytour draft. At QB, you have Bulger, Delhomme, and Carr. I like Delhomme better than Bulger, actually, but they're a great 1-2. Carr has a chance to be something this yer with Kubiak coaching, so overall a solid position - I give you a B+.
RB - Johnson, McGahee, Lewis, Taylor, wow. With Morency (could emerge in Houston with Davis out) and Bennett (don't hold your breath, but could get some quality KC carries with Priest out). More than solid group should produce for you every week - A.
WR - Horn, Walker, Bennett, Clayton, Williamson. All starters, all scorers. Only Walker's in a good passing offense, though, so I'll stick you with a B+, but a more than solid group.
TE - Winslow, Pollard. A roll of the dice here - I like that (obviously). Will Winslow ever turn into the force he was predicted to be? Can he overcome injury and stupidity? It helps, actually, that he has a young QB (Frye), because inexperienced QB's usually find their TE more. Pollard will be a red zone presence and will give you a decent bye week. This could be either an A or an F, so I'll give you an Inc and we'll see about a grade when you turn in your term paper.
Good kicker, solid D.
Overall, I think this is an outstanding second-place team.
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