My first real draft of the year

Just wrapped up my first real draft of the season, with the Sporting News Fantasy Source Experts. It's a 12-team league -- I hate 12-team leagues -- and I had the 4th overall pick.

I'm generally pleased with the early part of my draft, but the pickings got slim very quickly. Really felt like I was scraping the bottom of the barrel as early as the 8th round.

Here's what I did...

Pick 1.4: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks. I know that's earlier than he's going in most leagues, but I just like him better than Forte and Lacy. And I wasn't willing to go QB or WR.

Pick 2.7: Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals. You know from my Perfect Draft column that I love his upside. No way he would have made it around the turn.

Pick 3.4: Randall Cobb, WR, Packers. Alshon and Jordy were gone, but I'm very pleased Cobb made it to me.

Pick 4.7: Nick Foles, QB, Eagles. Wasn't willing to risk waiting another round. Four QBs were already gone.

Pick 5.4: Wes Welker, WR, Broncos. Great pick if he's healthy. Really hoping he's healthy.

Pick 6.7: Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys. The last of the elite TEs available. Was hoping for Vernon.

Pick 7.4: Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts. I'm hoping Andrew Luck makes him his favorite receiver again.

Pick 8.7: Steven Jackson, RB, Falcons. Yuck.

Pick 9.4: Riley Cooper, WR, Eagles. Highest-rated receiver left on my board, by far; but still not excited about the pick.

Pick 10.7: Danny Woodhead, RB, Chargers. If Ryan Mathews gets dinged again, this pick could come up big. Too bad this isn't a PPR league.

Pick 11.4: Kenny Stills, WR, Saints. Love his potential, but he needs to get his quad better fast.

Pick 12.7: Khiry Robinson, RB, Saints. Really wanted Mark Ingram, but he was snagged earlier than I expected. Pierre Thomas went several rounds earlier, so Robinson (currently listed as the Saints' #2 back, behind Ingram) is a good value here.

Pick 13.4: Josh McCown, QB, Bucs. I like him as my QB2. There's a problem, though: Same bye as Foles. Doh!

Pick 14.7: Patriots D/ST. Thought the Bengals would make it back to me. I was wrong.

Pick 15.4: James Jones, WR, Raiders. Meh.

Pick 16.7: Robbie Gould, K, Bears. My top-ranked kicker. Love the Bears' offense this season.

Pick 17.4: Josh Gordon, WR, Browns. How 'bout this for a flier? It was either this or a backup TE, who's now a free agent. There is talk that Gordon's lawyers will file an injunction against the league to overturn his suspension. I'll be rooting for them...

One thing I really like about my team: It's comprised of a Seahawk, Bengal, Packer, Bronco, Cowboy, Colt, Falcon, Charger, Bear, 2 Eagles and 2 Saints. Not a weak offense in the bunch.

My neighborhood league draft is tomorrow night. Looking forward to that one.