I try to stick with the "Best Player Available" mantra by staying close to my cheatsheets. I'm a firm believer in using the various Premium Services at my fingertips, including the Customized Cheatsheets, Player Projections, Point Differential, and Numerical Analysis. For this particular draft, I had the dubious honor of picking 12th. After having participated in a number of mock drafts, I have seen how fast RBs have flown off the board. Thus, I did not feel comfortable waiting until the 3rd round (36th pick overall for me) to take a chance on a 2nd RB. Thus, I made up my mind to go with 2 RBs right off the bat. With Paul taking Manning one spot before me, I felt lucky that both Willis and Cadillac were still on the board -- as I saw a sizeable dropoff after these two, and may have considered rethinking my strategy had either not slipped. From there on out, I stayed the course with my rankings. Since I refuse to draft more than one kicker or defense, I decided the stock up on WRs, since we start 3 WRs in this league.
I am Most Proud Of:
Waiting until the final pick of the 7th round to address the QB position -- and coming away with Trent Green, who could very well be a top 5 fantasy QB. Immediately after making that move, I thought immediately about my backup QB situation. In reviewing the top 3 QBs that were still on the board, I observed that 2 of them had the same bye week as Green, so I decided to go ahead and make the move then to grab Kurt Warner. That gives me 2 QBs with the potential to pass for 4000 yards, taken with the last pick of the 7th round and the first pick of the 8th. Not too bad! Also, when was the last time that you saw Gonzo fall to the final pick of the 5th round in a 12-team league?
Here's Who I Reached on:
Because I stick so closely to my rankings, I am usually pretty safe from reaching. Although my 12th round pick of Brandon Lloyd wasn't a reach in terms of fantasy value, it probably was unwise with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight. I probably would have been bettered served to have invested that pick on Matt Leinart to hedge my Kurt Warner bet.
My Overall Feeling About My Draft:
Considering where I was picking, I didn't have a shot at a bona fide stud like LJ, Alexander, or LT. Instead, I had to make the most of each and every pick I made. As it turns out, I think I did a pretty decent job. I'm pretty solid everywhere. Mine isn't a team that will likely frighten opponents each week, but is should be sneaky good.
Which Owner (Other Than Yourself) Had The Best
Draft?
This year things look pretty even. I like what Ron did, as he's solid across the board, especially if any of his sleeper RBs work out. I also think that Mike had a sneaky good draft, much like my own.
Which Owner (Other Than Yourself) Had The Worst
Draft?
Sorry to do this to my bro', but I have to because I expected more from him! Picking 11th, Paul had to know that he'd have trouble filling his RB need if he drank the Manning kool aide. He would have been better advised to dangle that carot over my head to see if I bit on Manning with the 12 or 13 pick. If I didn't, then taking him with the 14th pick to go along with, say, Cadillac Williams with the earlier pick wouldn't have been nearly as bad. Paul only added salt to his own wound by by-passing RB altogether with his 2nd round pick too. Although he did a decent job of damage control later in the draft and took a shot at some potential sleepers, he failed to come away with a fantasy RB that I would feel comfortable with as a starter.
