In retrospect, our strategy for this year’s fantasy draft
could have been very simple. Whenever
possible, draft a Bronco.
A lineup featuring Peyton Manning and his rushing, receiving
and kicking posse would need very little outside help to win most weekly
matchups. Add a Jamaal Charles or
Marshawn Lynch to the equation, and an elite defense, and you might say your
draft was nearly perfect.
Indeed, the time has come for our semi-annual exercise in
self-flagellation, when we reflect back two short months on what could have
been had we made all the right moves during our preseason draft. Ladies and germs, step right up for The Perfect Draft 2.0: Midseason Review.
Let’s quickly review our parameters. First, we’re in a 10-team non-keeper league
using a standard scoring system that starts one quarterback, two running backs,
three wide receivers, and one tight end, kicker and team defense. Second, we are drafting from the middle
(fifth) position in a snake format, meaning we won’t have a shot at Adrian
Peterson. Third, since all drafts play
out differently, we’ll need a little luck along the way. Fourth, we are basing our selections on
results through Week 8 – the mid-point of the fantasy calendar – only. And last, our goal is nothing short of total
domination and the abject humiliation of our opponents.
Now, with the fifth pick of the 2013 Perfect Draft, we
should have selected…
Round 1: Jamaal Charles,
RB, Chiefs. With at least 100 combined
yards and a TD in each of his first seven games, Charles has been the class of
this year’s fantasy rushers. Marshawn
Lynch ain’t too shabby himself.
Round 2: Dez Bryant,
WR, Cowboys. In QB-centric leagues, we
may need to take Manning here and grab another elite receiver in the third
round. But according to their average
draft positions (ADP), Bryant is the right call. And if he doesn’t make it to us, we’ll be perfectly
content with either A.J. Green or Demaryius Thomas.
Round 3: Peyton
Manning, QB, Broncos. Any questions? No?
Okay, let’s move on.
Round 4: Wes Welker,
WR, Broncos. He hasn’t missed a beat
since leaving New England. In fact, he accumulated
more TDs in his first eight games (nine) than he had all last season (six). And he makes funnier commercials than his QB.
Round 5: Eddie Lacy,
RB, Packers. Despite being knocked out
early in Week 2 and missing the following game, Lacy has been one of the most
reliable fantasy backs in the land. He has
the inside track on Rookie of the Year honors.
Round 6: Jordy Nelson,
WR, Packers. He was money when Green
Bay’s receiving corps was fully stocked and he’s been money since it’s been
depleted.
Round 7: DeSean
Jackson, WR, Eagles. He hasn’t been
the model of consistency, but D-Jax’s big-play ability is welcome on our team
nevertheless.
Round 8: Seahawks
defense/special teams. We’ll take them
mostly as a defensive move, pun intended.
Then we’ll scoop up the best unit in Fantasyland later.
Round 9: Le’Veon Bell,
RB, Steelers. This is essentially a
throwaway pick before we get to the silly stuff. Bell hasn’t earned a place on this roster,
but we need a little RB depth and he has the potential to contribute down the
stretch.
Round 10: Josh Gordon,
WR, Browns. After serving a two-game
suspension to open the season, Gordon has proven to be one of the most
explosive receivers in the game. Imagine
what he could do if he had an elite quarterback.
Round 11: Fred Jackson, RB, Bills. As much as I regret advocating C.J. Spiller
during the preseason, I was equally adamant about handcuffing his backup. While your first-rounder may have been a
bust, Jackson has nearly compensated for it.
Round 12: Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns. We had hints during the preseason that the
third-year tight end was poised for a breakout year. Only Jimmy Graham has been better.
Round 13: Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers. He was available in the 16th round
or later in most drafts. Though we’ll
never start him over Manning, it’s nice to keep Rivers out of the enemy’s hands.
Round 14: Matt Prater,
K, Broncos. We’ll take our kicker early
because the rest of our selections aren’t on any of our competitors’ radars.
Round 15: Knowshon
Moreno, RB, Broncos. Our mile-high
feeding frenzy continues. Moreno went
into the bye as the second-ranked RB in the business.
Round 16: Julius
Thomas, TE, Broncos. Prior to this season, he had a five-yard reception on
his two-year NFL resume. At the halfway
mark of 2013, Thomas has joined the elites.
Round 17: Chiefs
defense/special teams. No
self-respecting fantasy enthusiast would have drafted this unit, even as a
last-round flier. That’s why they call
it 20/20 hindsight!
If it makes you feel any better, the final Perfect Draft
roster will likely see plenty of turnover.
It always does.
FREE AGENT PICKS AND PANS
To win a fantasy championship,
it helps to start with a great draft. But filling in your roster throughout the
season with the right free agents is also important. Here's a look at players
worth considering, and others who would look better in someone else's lineup.
Catch ‘em while you
can
Nick Foles,
QB, Eagles. Throw out his Week 7 dud and
Foles has been an outstanding fantasy performer when given the chance. On Sunday, his 158.3 passer rating said he
was perfect. If someone, like yours
truly, dropped Foles after he suffered his concussion, make him pay for his
impatience.
Pierre Thomas,
RB, Saints. With Darren Sproles tending
to a concussion as well as a possible ankle injury, Thomas is best positioned
to prosper from his absence. He caught
seven passes for 66 yards against the Jets, though his rushing total was limited
while the Saints played catch-up. If Thomas
is available, scoop him up.
Mike James,
RB, Buccaneers. I advised you to grab
him after Doug Martin went down, but he’s still available in nearly nine out of
10 leagues. After his impressive
158-yard performance against the Seahawks – plus a once-in-a-lifetime jump pass
TD – you’ll have to fight over him now.
Miami’s soft run defense is up next.
Riley Cooper,
WR, Eagles. Just as Foles is unlikely to
toss seven scoring passes ever again, don’t count on another 139-yard, three-TD
outing from Cooper. But we can’t deny
the rapport that exists between the two.
If you are hurting at the position, Cooper is worth a flier.
Don’t be fooled
Darrel Young, RB,
Redskins. Two weeks ago, Roy Helu
punched in three touchdowns, to the chagrin of Alfred Morris’ owners. On Sunday, Young pulled the same trick. And Mike Shanahan wonders why he is so
reviled in fantasy circles.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Steelers. His 96-yard,
three-score outing against the Patriots was impressive, but Cotchery has a long
history that suggests he is more likely to disappear than return to the end
zone any time soon. Don’t take the bait.
Aaron Dobson,
WR, Patriots. With three TDs over the
last two games, the rookie is starting to elevate his game. But New England is heading into its bye and
faces a stingy Panthers pass defense in Week 11. No need to rush on this one.
Mario Manningham,
WR, 49ers. He is expected to be
activated this week for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee
injury last December. While Manningham’s
return will be welcome news to Colin Kaepernick, the veteran is unlikely to be
a consistent fantasy contributor. Wake
me when Michael Crabtree returns.
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