Full Disclosure: I seldom participate in a draft where I don’t come away feeling like a lock for the championship… and I am 50/50 on making the playoffs
My team is a lock for the championship.
I came in keeping MJD (1st), Chris Johnson (3rd), and Matt Forte (4th), so my chief concerns were QB and WR. Seeing as many of the best QBs were already being kept – I wasn’t going to get one in the 2nd round, but I didn’t want to overpay for a 2nd-tier guy either. So, my plan was to grab the best available WR in the 2nd and pick up a QB shortly after I resumed picking in the 5th round.
Before the draft I had drawn up a list of WRs that I thought might be available for my 2nd pick. After review with expert fantasy footballer (expert at everything really), Pete – I had them ordered like this for my personal rankings:
Terrel Owens – ended up already taken
Anthony Gonzalez
Vincent Jackson
Roy Williams
Dwayne Bowe
Braylon Edwards – already taken
TJ Houshmandzadeh
Chad Ochocinco
Santonio Holmes
Brandon Marshall
Eddie Royal
So, I was largely accurate on who would be available (only 2 were already off the board). The catch now was that my top ranked guy (Anthony Gonzalez) was also one of the few guys in my list that I thought had a chance of actually being around for my next pick (35 picks later). For that reason, I passed on him and went with Vincent Jackson.
Paid off in spades as not only was Gonzalez still there for me in the 5th, but Eddie Royal was still there in the 6th. My regret at that point was I just *had* to take Royal in the 6th, even though the last QB that I would be happy with as a starter (Schaub) was sitting there for the taking.
It ended up being another gamble that paid as Schaub was somehow still waiting for me at pick #81 – a full round and a half after his normal draft position.
I also ended up with 2 of my 2nd-tier defenses which was one of my mid/late draft goals.
Here’s my full team:
#1 – RB MJD (Keeper)
#2 – WR Vincent Jackson
#3 – RB Chris Johnson (Keeper)
#4 – RB Matt Forte (Keeper)
#5 – WR Anthony Gonzalez
#6 – WR Eddie Royal
#7 – QB Matt Schaub
#8 – WR Laveranues Coles
#9 – QB Carson Palmer
#10 – RB Tim Hightower
#11 – DEF San Diego Chargers
#12 – DEF New York Jets
#13 – TE Scheffler
#14 – RB Moroney
#15 – K Rackers
Feel free to leave a comment commending me on my incredible team – or (if you are in the league) swearing allegiance to my squad and forfeiting your season!
