OT: Rate My Draft Thread

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I know quite a few people here play fantasy football, so I thought it might be interesting to rate each others drafts. I just drafted in a 16 team league yesterday. Standard scoring, no ppr, 4 pt passing tds and 6 pt all other tds. Start QB, 2RB, 2WR, TE, K, D/ST. This is how my draft turned out...

1.10: Steven Jackson
2.07: Pierre Thomas
3.10: Marques Colston
4.07: Brandon Marshall
5.10: Tim Hightower
6.07: Jay Cutler
7.10: Trent Edwards
8.07: Kellan Winslow
9.10: Kevin Curtis
10.07: TJ Duckett
11.10: Laurence Maroney
12.07: Robbie Gould
13.10: Sidney Rice
14.07: Seattle Seahawks

QB: Jay Cutler, Trent Edwards
RB: Steven Jackson, Tim Hightower, Laurence Maroney
RB: Pierre Thomas, TJ Duckett
WR: Marques Colston, Kevin Curtis
WR: Brandon Marshall, Sidney Rice
TE: Kellan Winslow
K: Robbie Gould
D/ST: Seattle Seahawks


...obviously Brandon Marshall is a huge risk but I felt like his value was too high to pass on him in the 4th round. Another concern is that I have a RB/WR combo from the same team, but the Saints should be a high octane offense so hopefully it will turn out alright.

3 other team in my division...

Team #1
QB: Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Brandon Jacobs, Brandon Jackson
RB: Knowshon Moreno, Sammy Morris
WR: Andre Johnson, Michael Crabtree
WR: Roy Williams, James Jones
TE: Jeremy Shockey, Heath Miller
K: Lawrence Tynes
D/ST: Arizona

Team #2
QB: Drew Brees, Kerry Collins
RB: Ryan Grant, Willis McGahee
RB: Larry Johnson
WR: Laverneous Coles, Deion Branch
WR: Hines Ward, Ted Gin
TE: Antonio Gates, Todd Heap
K: Matt Bryant, Mason Crosby
D/ST: Tennessee

Team #3 (one of the better teams in the league along with mine, in my opinion)
QB: Phillip Rivers, Byron Leftwich
RB: Michael Turner, Ronnie Brown
RB: Lendale White, Darren Sproles
WR: Eddie Royal, Steve Smith (NYG)
WR: Vincent Jackson
TE: Tony Scheffler, Jermichael Finley
K: Ryan Longwell, John Kasay
D/ST: Green Bay

[Newz]

All of those players have potential to be good... I would be worried a bit though.

Cutler - He doesn't have a lot of weapons at the WR position, could have a good year as a QB, but not a great year as a fantasy QB.
Jackson - The Rams are... Well, the Rams. He is a ridiculously talented player, he should bounce back.
Thomas - I worry about drafting him because he hasn't really proven anything... And IMO the Saints are still going to throw and throw a lot.
Colston - If he is back to what he used to be, he will be a stud.
Marshall - He's a question mark, as you said, with the situation in Denver.
Winslow - Super talented, but plays on a team without a good QB.

[ReasonablySober]

I'm the last person to be judging a fantasy team, but like LP, I'd be worried.

[MikeIsGood]

As someone who took Steven Jackson after his (lone) big season, I can tell you that he's likely not going to be worth first-round status. 2006 was his only worthy season, and he's still living off of it.

Cutler is not a QB I would want to go to war with, especially with his wide receivers.

Thomas had a good season, and if he plays like that again this year he'll be worth it. But that remains to be seen.

Colston is solid. If he stays healthy he could be your most valuable player.

If Duckett is used the same way this year as he was last year, he might have been your best pick value-wise. That's great TD production out of the 10th round.

[MickeyDavis]

It's hard to rate without knowing the players available when the picks were made.

[jakecronus8]

I was part of a very interesting 10 team draft. I drew third pick and as I was trying to figure out who the hell i was gonna pick, the guy with #1 took Jones-Drew, and #2 was Fitzgerald, leaving AP for the taking. Overall I ended up with

Adrian Peterson
Randy Moss
Tom Brady
Tony Gonzalez
Ryan Grant
Anthony Gonzalez
Lee Evans
Kevin Smith
Dallas D
Santonio Holmes
Devin Hester
Zach Miller
Beanie Wells
Chester Taylor
Neil Rackers
San Diego D

since the draft, I dropped San Diego's D, picked up Favre, and traded Grant and Holmes for Marion Barber so I'm looking at...

QB: Tom Brady/Brett Favre
RB: Adrian Peterson/Marion Barber/Kevin Smith/Beanie Wells/Chester Taylor
WR: Randy Moss/Anthony Gonzalez/Lee Evans/Devin Hester
TE: Tony Gonzalez/Zach Miller
K: Neil Rackers
Dallas D

[Ryan5UW]

I was part of a very interesting 10 team draft. I drew third pick and as I was trying to figure out who the hell i was gonna pick, the guy with #1 took Jones-Drew, and #2 was Fitzgerald, leaving AP for the taking. Overall I ended up with

Adrian Peterson
Randy Moss
Tom Brady
Tony Gonzalez
Ryan Grant
Anthony Gonzalez
Lee Evans
Kevin Smith
Dallas D
Santonio Holmes
Devin Hester
Zach Miller
Beanie Wells
Chester Taylor
Neil Rackers
San Diego D

since the draft, I dropped San Diego's D, picked up Favre, and traded Grant and Holmes for Marion Barber so I'm looking at...

QB: Tom Brady/Brett Favre
RB: Adrian Peterson/Marion Barber/Kevin Smith/Beanie Wells/Chester Taylor
WR: Randy Moss/Anthony Gonzalez/Lee Evans/Devin Hester
TE: Tony Gonzalez/Zach Miller
K: Neil Rackers
Dallas D

I think you made a mistake trading Holmes & Grant for Barber - I think Grant & Barber could have extremely similar numbers this year. Dallas is probably going to use Felix Jones more this season, and I think Grant will improve on his numbers for last year. Add in Holmes, a very solid WR, and your team's talent level went down.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I was expecting a little more positive feedback than I've gotten. If you haven't participated in a 16 league before you may not be familiar with lack of quality and depth on teams compared to the standard 10 team or 12 team leagues. Maybe I'll post the teams that are in my 4 team division later to show how some other teams drafted.

I personally enjoy 16 team leagues much more than 10 or 12 team leagues. You have to know more players and it makes for a more interesting league.

[Ill-yasova]

I was expecting a little more positive feedback than I've gotten. If you haven't participated in a 16 league before you may not be familiar with lack of quality and depth on teams compared to the standard 10 team or 12 team leagues. Maybe I'll post the teams that are in my 4 team division later to show how some other teams drafted.

I personally enjoy 16 team leagues much more than 10 or 12 team leagues. You have to know more players and it makes for a more interesting league.

I'd recommend packaging a couple of those RBs (after all you can only start two (unless you have a flex)) in an attempt to grab a real TE or another good WR. Marshall is a big question mark, like you said, and after him it goes down hill in a hurry. Also putting all of your eggs in the Winslow basket is dicey at best. A guy like Witten or Gonzalez would sure up the TE position and give you a second legit scoring threat.

I'd like to see the other teams.

[Ill-yasova]

I was part of a very interesting 10 team draft. I drew third pick and as I was trying to figure out who the hell i was gonna pick, the guy with #1 took Jones-Drew, and #2 was Fitzgerald, leaving AP for the taking. Overall I ended up with

Adrian Peterson
Randy Moss
Tom Brady
Tony Gonzalez
Ryan Grant
Anthony Gonzalez
Lee Evans
Kevin Smith
Dallas D
Santonio Holmes
Devin Hester
Zach Miller
Beanie Wells
Chester Taylor
Neil Rackers
San Diego D

since the draft, I dropped San Diego's D, picked up Favre, and traded Grant and Holmes for Marion Barber so I'm looking at...

QB: Tom Brady/Brett Favre
RB: Adrian Peterson/Marion Barber/Kevin Smith/Beanie Wells/Chester Taylor
WR: Randy Moss/Anthony Gonzalez/Lee Evans/Devin Hester
TE: Tony Gonzalez/Zach Miller
K: Neil Rackers
Dallas D

I think you made a mistake trading Holmes & Grant for Barber - I think Grant & Barber could have extremely similar numbers this year. Dallas is probably going to use Felix Jones more this season, and I think Grant will improve on his numbers for last year. Add in Holmes, a very solid WR, and your team's talent level went down.

Agreed. Dallas is really high on Jones.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I was part of a very interesting 10 team draft. I drew third pick and as I was trying to figure out who the hell i was gonna pick, the guy with #1 took Jones-Drew, and #2 was Fitzgerald, leaving AP for the taking. Overall I ended up with

Adrian Peterson
Randy Moss
Tom Brady
Tony Gonzalez
Ryan Grant
Anthony Gonzalez
Lee Evans
Kevin Smith
Dallas D
Santonio Holmes
Devin Hester
Zach Miller
Beanie Wells
Chester Taylor
Neil Rackers
San Diego D

since the draft, I dropped San Diego's D, picked up Favre, and traded Grant and Holmes for Marion Barber so I'm looking at...

QB: Tom Brady/Brett Favre
RB: Adrian Peterson/Marion Barber/Kevin Smith/Beanie Wells/Chester Taylor
WR: Randy Moss/Anthony Gonzalez/Lee Evans/Devin Hester
TE: Tony Gonzalez/Zach Miller
K: Neil Rackers
Dallas D

I liked your draft quite a bit, especially handcuffing chester taylor that late in the draft. I hate the trade you did. Ryan Grant is going to be a stud this year and could easily out produce Marion Barber who Dallas is going to give more carries to. So Grant and Barber are probably a wash, no need to throw Holmes in the deal as well...

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I was part of a very interesting 10 team draft. I drew third pick and as I was trying to figure out who the hell i was gonna pick, the guy with #1 took Jones-Drew, and #2 was Fitzgerald, leaving AP for the taking. Overall I ended up with

Adrian Peterson
Randy Moss
Tom Brady
Tony Gonzalez
Ryan Grant
Anthony Gonzalez
Lee Evans
Kevin Smith
Dallas D
Santonio Holmes
Devin Hester
Zach Miller
Beanie Wells
Chester Taylor
Neil Rackers
San Diego D

since the draft, I dropped San Diego's D, picked up Favre, and traded Grant and Holmes for Marion Barber so I'm looking at...

QB: Tom Brady/Brett Favre
RB: Adrian Peterson/Marion Barber/Kevin Smith/Beanie Wells/Chester Taylor
WR: Randy Moss/Anthony Gonzalez/Lee Evans/Devin Hester
TE: Tony Gonzalez/Zach Miller
K: Neil Rackers
Dallas D

I liked your draft quite a bit, especially handcuffing chester taylor that late in the draft. I hate the trade you did. Ryan Grant is going to be a stud this year and could easily out produce Marion Barber who is going to lose carries to Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. So Grant and Barber are probably a wash at best, no need to throw Holmes in the deal as well...

[Ill-yasova]

3 other team in my division...

Team #1
QB: Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Brandon Jacobs, Brandon Jackson
RB: Knowshon Moreno, Sammy Morris
WR: Andre Johnson, Michael Crabtree
WR: Roy Williams, James Jones
TE: Jeremy Shockey, Heath Miller
K: Lawrence Tynes
D/ST: Arizona

Team #2
QB: Drew Brees, Kerry Collins
RB: Ryan Grant, Willis McGahee
RB: Larry Johnson
WR: Laverneous Coles, Deion Branch
WR: Hines Ward, Ted Gin
TE: Antonio Gates, Todd Heap
K: Matt Bryant, Mason Crosby
D/ST: Tennessee

Team #3 (one of the better teams in the league along with mine, in my opinion)
QB: Phillip Rivers, Byron Leftwich
RB: Michael Turner, Ronnie Brown
RB: Lendale White, Darren Sproles
WR: Eddie Royal, Steve Smith (NYG)
WR: Vincent Jackson
TE: Tony Scheffler, Jermichael Finley
K: Ryan Longwell, John Kasay
D/ST: Green Bay

Just my opinion
#1: Beats you in QB, WR and TE. You have RB.
#2: Beats you in QB, TE. You have the advantage in RB and WR. Unfortunately his QB is really good.
#3: Just don't play against him....ever.

Gotta package a couple backs to get a WR or TE. P. Thomas and Duckett for another scoring threat at reciever maybe?

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Just my opinion
#1: Beats you in QB, WR and TE. You have RB.
#2: Beats you in QB, TE. You have the advantage in RB and WR. Unfortunately his QB is really good.
#3: Just don't play against him....ever.

Gotta package a couple backs to get a WR or TE. P. Thomas and Duckett for another scoring threat at reciever maybe?

So do you think my WR situation is still dicey if Marshall starts every game this year? I don't think #1 has very good WR depth at all. My 3rd and 4th Receivers are both starters, his aren't. Marshall and Colston are both legit #1 receivers when healthy.

Have you followed Shockey the last few years, he has been awful. I picked him up off the waiver wire last year hoping he'd do well, but didn't do crap for me. He is one of the most overrated TEs out there. I don't see TE really being all that big of an issue. There are only 3 maybe 4 total difference makers at the TE position. Those guys are usually gone within the 3rd round sometimes they make it to the 4th. Winslow is a decent TE assuming he stays healthy. I'd much rather keep WR and RB depth than to marginally upgrade at TE in some sort of trade.

Regarding QBs, I'm not sure Eli is a better option than Cutler. Neither has proven receivers and both have good running games. Eli has never been a huge Fantasy QB, even when he had Plaxico and Amani. I've had Eli 2 or 3 times.

I find that after the top 3 QBs, almost everyone in the top 15 is on about the same level when it comes to total fantasy points scored. The biggest disparities in total points are usually with starting RBs and starting WRs. This is why I targeted RBs and WRs. I like getting lots of talent at those positions then taking 2 QBs in the 8-15 range, because there is a reasonable chance one of them breaks out to be a top QB. I did this with Rivers and Rodgers last year. While Cutler may not have the WRs of those two he definitely has the talent to be a top 5-7 QB. Edwards on the other hand isn't quite as talented but has great receiving options and 3 solid RBs.

I've consistently finished in the top 4 in this league, so I'm fairly confident in my strategies. That being said I sincerely appreciate the feedback. It will give me something to think about early in the season when I look at the waiver wire and potential trades.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

I've got one last team that i'd like to get some opinions on. RBs went real fast, so my strategy was to find value at other postions. As a result my 2nd RB is really weak. Any ways, let me know what you think.

12 Team league, drafted from the 5 spot.

Standard scoring no PPR. 4 pt pass tds and 6 for the rest. Start 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1K, 1D/ST.

1.05: Matt Forte
2.08: Reggie Wayne
3.05: Marques Colston
4.08: Phillip Rivers
5.05: Antonio Gates
6.08: Chris Wells
7.05: Tim Hightower
8.08: Julius Jones
9.05: Eddie Royal
10.08: David Garrad
11.05: Ricky Williams
12.08: Steve Smith NYG
13.05: San Diego
14.08: Rob Bironas
15.05: Edgerrin James

QB: Phillip Rivers, David Garrard
RB: Matt Forte, Julius Jones, Edgerrin James
RB: Tim Hightower, Chris Wells, Ricky Williams
WR: Reggie Wayne, Eddie Royal
WR: Marques Colston, Steve Smith NYG
TE: Antonio Gates
K: Rob Bironas
D/ST: San Diego

[Cliff Levingston]

I've got one last team that i'd like to get some opinions on. RBs went real fast, so my strategy was to find value at other postions. As a result my 2nd RB is really weak. Any ways, let me know what you think.

12 Team league, drafted from the 5 spot.

Standard scoring no PPR. 4 pt pass tds and 6 for the rest. Start 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1K, 1D/ST.

1.05: Matt Forte
2.08: Reggie Wayne
3.05: Marques Colston
4.08: Phillip Rivers
5.05: Antonio Gates
6.08: Chris Wells
7.05: Tim Hightower
8.08: Julius Jones
9.05: Eddie Royal
10.08: David Garrad
11.05: Ricky Williams
12.08: Steve Smith NYG
13.05: San Diego
14.08: Rob Bironas
15.05: Edgerrin James

QB: Phillip Rivers, David Garrard
RB: Matt Forte, Julius Jones, Edgerrin James
RB: Tim Hightower, Chris Wells, Ricky Williams
WR: Reggie Wayne, Eddie Royal
WR: Marques Colston, Steve Smith NYG
TE: Antonio Gates
K: Rob Bironas
D/ST: San Diego

Regarding your 16 team league in general; Cliff Levingston was in a 14 team league last year and it was horrible. If you have a guy bust out or get hurt, you're pretty much done for the season. Cliff Levingston doesn't like the idea of putting in money to try to compete for not-last place in that kind of circumstance. Yea, it places a higher importance on finding guys later that can produce, but that's still important in a 12 team league as well where you can load up your depth and use it to make trades to improve your starters.

For your 12 teamer, looks like you drafted extremely similarly to how Cliff Levingston would have; defense and kicker late, wait on a second tier QB in the 4th rather than a 1st tier QB in the 2nd. Forte's going to be a monster this year while your starting WRs and tight end are very strong. If San Diego's D bounces back to where there were the last time they had a healthy Merriman and one of Wells/Hightower gains the bulk of the carried, you could end up with a very strong team.

For fun, Cliff Levingston will post his 8 team league team. Standard scoring, no PPR. We play 1 QB, 2 RB, 2WR, 1 RB/WR flex, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DEF. 1st overall pick.

1. RB Peterson
2. WR Calvin Johnson
3. WR Andre Johnson
4. RB Westbrook
5. QB P. Manning
6. RB Ray Rice
7. TE Witten
8. RB Lynch
9. WR A. Bryant
10. RB D. Brown
11. DEF Giants
12. QB McNabb
13. WR Marshall
14. RB Greene
15. TE Winslow
16. DEF Jets
17. RB James Davis
18. K Kris Brown

Starters in bold:

QB: Manning, McNabb
RB: Peterson, Westbrook, Rice (Flex), Lynch, D. Brown, Greene, J. Davis
WR: C. Johnson, A. Johnson, A.Bryant, Marshall
TE: Witten, Winslow
K: Kris Brown
DEF: Giants, Jets

Note: Lynch will obviously enter the flex conversation once he's off suspension.