We at the Scores Report thought it would be a good idea to get a fantasy football league together and write about it on the site from time to time. The league has a mix of experience, from owners who have been playing fantasy football for more than a decade to those with less experience – there’s even one owner playing in his very first fantasy football league. The league had its draft Monday night and has the following performance-based scoring system:
Passing TD = 4 points + 1 point for a pass TD of 50+ yds
Rushing/Receiving/Defensive TD = 6 + 2 points for a Rush/Rec TD 50+ yds
25 Passing Yds = 1 + 2 point bonus at 300
10 Rushing + Receiving Yds = 1 + 2 point bonus at 175
Reception = 1
The defensive and kicker scoring systems are fairly standard as compared to most leagues. One unique thing about this league is its starting roster requirements:
1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 FLEX (RB, WR, TE), 1 TE, 1 PK, 1 DT
Being able to start a third RB made the position even more valuable during the draft. The rest of this article will be a round-by-round blow of the first half of the draft. I will describe my (Team 10) strategy during each pick and highlight some of the best and most questionable picks of the round.
Round 1
1. LaDainian Tomlinson (RB SD)
2. Peyton Manning (QB IND)
3. Shaun Alexander (RB SEA)
4. Priest Holmes (RB KC)
5. Edgerrin James (RB IND)
6. Willis McGahee (RB BUF)
7. Deuce McAllister (RB NO)
8. Domanick Davis (RB HOU)
9 Ahman Green (RB GB)
10. Kevin Jones (RB DET)
This round went as most first rounds seem to go. A majority of owners want a stud RB, so nine were taken. Team 2 selected Peyton Manning, who was the best QB on my board, but I felt this was too early for a QB considering the scoring system and roster requirements. The owner of Team 4 is our league rookie and he made a bold, though fairly common, pick in drafting Priest Holmes. Whoever takes the increasingly fragile Holmes needs to be sure to grab Larry Johnson in round 4 or 5. I thought Ahman Green went early, but I’m a die-hard Green Bay fan and am notoriously bad at predicting my team’s performance without bias. My Strategy: I knew I was going to go RB/RB with my first two picks, so I was elated to get my #9 rated player here, Kevin Jones.
Round 2
10. Brian Westbrook (RB PHI)
9. Corey Dillon (RB NE)
8. Jamal Lewis (RB BAL)
7. Julius Jones (RB DAL)
6. Clinton Portis (RB WAS)
5. Tiki Barber (RB NYG)
4. Tom Brady (QB NE)
3. LaMont Jordan (RB OAK)
2. Curtis Martin (RB NYJ)
1. Daunte Culpepper (QB MIN)
There was only one big surprise in Round 2 – Team 4 drafting Tom Brady. This was way too early for the steady NE quarterback, who has been going on average in the 8th round of fantasy drafts. It’s not that Brady isn’t a great QB – he is – it’s just that he’s not that great of a fantasy QB, and those new to fantasy football need to be aware of the difference. With 1 point per reception, receiving RBs like Tiki Barber become even more valuable, so he was a great pick at 2.06. I also expect big things from LaMont Jordan and Team 3 should enjoy pairing him with Alexander week after week. My Strategy: I actually had Westbrook rated as #4 RB overall but knew that he was going on average in the middle of the 2nd round. He catches a lot of passes so, like Barber, his value is enhanced in this league.
Round 3
1. Terrell Owens (WR PHI)
2. Randy Moss (WR OAK)
3. Marvin Harrison (WR IND)
4. DST Ravens (DST BAL)
5. Steven Jackson (RB STL)
6. Donovan McNabb (QB PHI)
7. Chad Johnson (WR CIN)
8. Trent Green (QB KC)
9. Torry Holt (WR STL)
10. Tony Gonzalez (TE KC)
Team 4 made another rookie mistake by drafting a DT too early. The BAL DT is the best in the league, but they would likely have been available in the fifth or sixth round, so this pick was a reach. Team 5 had the right idea, selecting his third stud RB (Edge, Barber and now Jackson) that will take advantage of the league’s roster requirements. My Strategy: Unfortunately for me, the big 5 WRs went in this round and my favorite, Torry Holt, was selected right before me. So I took the second highest player on my board, TE Tony Gonzalez. In a league where a starting TE is a must, Gonzo is a valuable commodity.
Round 4
10. Rudi Johnson (RB CIN)
9. Reggie Wayne (WR IND)
8. Andre Johnson (WR HOU)
7. Javon Walker (WR GB)
6. Joe Horn (WR NO)
5. Antonio Gates (TE SD)
4. Steve Smith (WR CAR)
3. Chris Brown (RB TEN)
2. Michael Clayton (WR TB)
1. Hines Ward (WR PIT)
Seven WRs flew off the board in this round – Team 4 made up for a couple of reaches in Rounds 2 & 3 by drafting one of my favorite WRs this year, Steve Smith. Walker went a bit later than I thought he would. My Strategy: I actually had Rudi Johnson rated higher than Gonzo, so I took him with my second of back-to-back picks. Taking a WR here was tempting, but it’s easier to fill out that position later in the draft than it is to find quality RBs later on.
Round 5
1. Roy Williams (WR DET)
2. Mike Anderson (RB DEN)
3. Darrell Jackson (WR SEA)
4. J.J. Arrington (RB ARI)
5. Carnell Williams (RB TB)
6. Jason Witten (TE DAL)
7. Kevan Barlow (RB SF)
8. Nate Burleson (WR MIN)
9. Laveranues Coles (WR NYJ)
10. Donald Driver (WR GB)
Another big round for WRs with Williams, DJax, Burleson, Coles and Driver all going. There were no big surprises here; all of the picks were pretty solid. A couple of rookie RBs with starting jobs, Arrington and Williams, finally went. My Strategy: I knew I was going WR/WR with my next two picks and I was hoping that Burleson or Coles would fall to me – unfortunately neither did, so I had to take the best guy available.
Round 6
10. Drew Bennett (WR TEN)
9. Marc Bulger (QB STL)
8. Michael Vick (QB ATL)
7. Larry Fitzgerald (WR ARI)
6. Chris Chambers (WR MIA)
5. Anquan Boldin (WR ARI)
4. Ben Roethlisberger (QB PIT)
3. Jerry Porter (WR OAK)
2. Fred Taylor (RB JAC)
1. Warrick Dunn (RB ATL)
A few more QBs went in this round and Team 4 made a questionable move by selecting his backup QB here. Roethlisberger would probably have been available in the 11th round or even later, so the owner would have been better off shoring up another position and looking for Big Ben later in the draft. My Strategy: I was in a tough spot. I knew I had to go WR, but none of the available guys stood out. I decided to go with Drew Bennett, who finished last season on fire for the Titans.
Round 7
1. Alge Crumpler (TE ATL)
2. Lee Evans (WR BUF)
3. Kerry Collins (QB OAK)
4. Braylon Edwards (WR CLE)
5. Isaac Bruce (WR STL)
6. Jake Plummer (QB DEN)
7. Ashley Lelie (WR DEN)
8. Rod Smith (WR DEN)
9. Todd Heap (TE BAL)
10. Larry Johnson (RB KC)
Edwards went too early here, but I think that was a result of an expired draft clock instead of Team 4 actually choosing him there. Collins is a nice value at 7.03 and should have a big season with the addition of Moss and Jordan to the OAK offense. My Strategy: I said in the first round that whoever drafts Priest needs to secure Larry Johnson as well and at 7.10, LJ was just too good of a value to pass up. If Priest goes down, I’ll have a Top Three back in Johnson.
Round 8
10. Matt Hasselbeck (QB SEA)
9. Cedric Benson (RB CHI)
8. Jimmy Smith (WR JAC)
7. Lee Suggs (RB CLE)
6. Deion Branch (WR NE)
5. Aaron Brooks (QB NO)
4. Jeremy Shockey (TE NYG)
3. Ronnie Brown (RB MIA)
2. DeShaun Foster (RB CAR)
1. Michael Bennett (RB MIN)
Team 4 made a great value pick here in Jeremy Shockey, who I was surprised to see still available in Round 8. Several RBs with risk went in this round – rookies Benson and Brown (who have Thomas Jones and Ricky Williams, respectively, to deal with), along with Suggs, Foster and Bennett (who have their own health to deal with). Brooks is a great value pick in the 8th. My Strategy: There were still some talented QBs available (Brooks, Palmer and Favre), but Hasselbeck has a great schedule this season, so I decided to select him here.
Round 9
1. Dallas Clark (TE IND)
2. DST Patriots (DST NE)
3. Carson Palmer (QB CIN)
4. Antwaan Randle El (WR PIT)
5. Eddie Kennison (WR KC)
6. Brandon Stokley (WR IND)
7. Brett Favre (QB GB)
8. Tatum Bell (RB DEN)
9. Drew Brees (QB SD)
10. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (WR CIN)
The second DT went off the board at 9.02. Team 7 waited until the 9th to select a QB and was rewarded with Brett Favre, who should have a good year with the solid Packer offense (and a suspect Packer defense). My Strategy: Still needing WRs, I was hoping for a Kennison/Houshmandzadeh combo with my next two picks, but Team 5 (who is also a co-owner with me in another league) spoiled my plans. I did get Housh, whom I think will have a very good year in an improved CIN offense.
That’s how the first half of the draft unfolded, and below you’ll see how the teams looked once the draft was completed:
Team 1: Tomlinson, Culpepper, Owens, Ward, Roy Williams, Dunn, Crumpler, M. Bennett, D. Clark, Burress, Muhammad, Bettis, McNair, Key. Johnson, Duckett, Harrington, Graham, Longwell
The owner unable to make the draft, this team was actually on computer control. That being the case, the roster didn’t turn out all that bad, aside from the fact that the computer neglected to draft a defense! Tomlinson is a no-brainer at #1 and Culpepper and Owens were solid, if unspectacular, picks in the 2nd and 3rd. TO’s situation scares me a little, so I would have taken Moss, Holt or Harrison in his place. The team is a little thin at RB and needs Bennett to be the feature back in MIN.
Team 2: Manning, C. Martin, R. Moss, Clayton, M. Anderson, F. Taylor, Evans, Foster, Patriots DT, E. Johnson, Vinatieri, Staley, M. Robinson, Warner, W. Green, Shea, Gardner, Miller
I question the early strategy of not taking at least two RBs in the first three rounds, but this team recovered drafting Anderson and Taylor in the 5th and 6th. If those two players play a full season (and Anderson continues to start in DEN), this team will be very competitive. Evans might have trouble catching a lot of passes with Losman at QB, but he finished last year impressively. The owner better hope Johnson comes back from his injury soon, or they might be giving up a lot of points at the TE position.
Team 3: Alexander, Jordan, Harrison, C. Brown, D. Jackson, Porter, Collins, R. Brown, Palmer, Mason, L.J. Smith, Eagles DT, Elam, Pollard, V. Jackson, Galloway, Bengals DT, K. Faulk
The first three picks were excellent, though I would have gone with the younger Holt instead of Harrison. Brown was a bit of reach in the 4th with the presence of Travis Henry, but Darrell Jackson was a great pick in the 5th. Smith and Pollard are a couple of TEs that could surprise this year.
Team 4: Holmes, Brady, Ravens DT, S. Smith, Arrington, Roethlisberger, Edwards, Shockey, Randle El, Pennington, Warrick, Stover, Morton, Droughns, Nugent, Blaylock, Wheatley, Stevens
Our fantasy football rookie was hit-and-miss over the first nine rounds, making some good to great picks (Holmes, Smith, Arrington, and especially Shockey) along with some reaches. It might be a tough year for this squad as the owner fights through the fantasy football learning curve. Jerramy Stevens is a great sleeper pick in the 18th.
Team 5: James, Barber, Jackson, Gates, C. Williams, Boldin, Bruce, Brooks, Kennison, Stallworth, Delhomme, S. Moss, Bucs DT, Lloyd, Brown, Wiggins, Rhodes, Pittman
This team is loaded at RB and is pretty solid at TE and QB. They waited a little too long on a WR, but getting Bruce in the 7th and Kennison in the 9th made up for it. Stallworth, Moss and Lloyd also have upside. This team has as good of a shot as any at the league title.
Team 6: McGahee, Portis, McNabb, Horn, Witten, Chambers, Plummer, Branch, Stokley, T. Jones, Steelers DT, Akers, W. Parker, Franks, McCardell, Chargers DT, B. Jacobs, Battle
Another solid team that elected not to draft RB depth in the first nine rounds, but Thomas Jones in the 10th should hold good value. Witten is a great pick in the 5th but the team will likely need Chambers or Branch to reach Top 15 WR status to challenge for the title. This team also features one of the best QB combos in the league with McNabb and Plummer.
Team 7: McAllister, J. Jones, C. Johnson, Walker, Barlow, Fitzgerald, Lelie, Suggs, Favre, Henry, Moore, Leftwich, Jets DT, Falcons DT, McCareins, Calico, Troupe, Reed
This team is pretty scary with two stud RBs and two of the Top Six WRs. The owner will need one of the other RBs to perform and for Favre, who was a fantastic pick in the 9th, to have a good year. Another team with a great shot at the title.
Team 8: D. Davis, Lewis, T. Green, A. Johnson, Burleson, Vick, R. Smith, J. Smith, Bell, McMichael, Bills DT, M. Williams, Carr, Janikowski, Williamson, Jaguars DT, Toefield, Bears DT
Trent Green in the third was a stretch, but Burleson in the 5th offered great value. I think he’s got a chance to break the Top 5 this year. There isn’t much RB depth here, so the aging Smiths will need to perform to keep this team in the running. Bell is a gamble that might pay off big time and if it does, watch out.
Team 9: A. Green, Dillon, Holt, Wayne, Coles, Bulger, Heap, Benson, Brees, Ricky Williams, Moulds, Vanderjagt, Toomer, Faulk, Carney, Colts DT, Seahawks DT, Putzier
This team could have done better than Ahman Green in the first round, but Holt and Coles in the 3rd and 5th, respectively, were great picks. There isn’t much RB depth here and the owner has to hope that Benson takes over the CHI job sooner rather than later.
Team 10: K. Jones, Westbrook, Gonzalez, R. Johnson, Driver, D. Bennett, L. Johnson, Hasselbeck, Houshmandzadeh, Rogers, Taylor, Bryant, Griese, Wilkins, Redskins DT, Cooley, Moats
Overall, I am quite happy with my team. The RB stable is strong and I look forward to running Jones, Westbrook and Rudi out there most weeks. My WRs are a bit lacking, but I was very close to landing Holt in the third and Burleson/Coles in the 5th. Housh should surprise some people this year and the recently promoted Travis Taylor should have a career year as the MIN #2 WR.
