I recently participated in an industry draft and figured I’d share the results (at least the first eight rounds). This wasn’t just a mock, as it will be played out. Starting lineup featured 2RB, 3WR and a flex, so it’s pretty deep. One point-per-reception for wide receivers and 0.5 PPR for running backs. Also, six points for passing TDs.
ROUND ONE
1. RotoWire – Maurice Jones-Drew
2. CreativeSports – Adrian Peterson
3. MockDraftCentral – Matt Forte
4. Football Guys – LaDainian Tomlinson
5. FantasyCrowd – Chris Johnson
6. Draft Sharks – Larry Fitzgerald
7. Krause – Andre Johnson
8. RotoWorld – Steven Jackson
9. Krause – Michael Turner
10. RotoTimes – Brian Westbrook
11. RotoExperts – DeAngelo Williams
12. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Calvin Johnson
Comments: I love Peterson, but factoring in the half point per reception, I decided to go with MJD instead. The Jaguars get the NFC West (Minny gets Baltimore and Pittsburgh) out of conference this season, and the playoff schedule (Mia, Ind, @NE) looks pretty favorable. LaDainian Tomlinson at four was mind-boggling.
ROUND TWO
13. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Clinton Portis
14. RotoExperts – Frank Gore
15. RotoTimes – Steve Slaton
16. Krause – Randy Moss
17. RotoWorld – Marion Barber
18. Krause – Steve Smith
19. Draft Sharks – Ronnie Brown
20. Fantasy Crowd – Kevin Smith
21. Football Guys – Tom Brady
22. MockDraftCentral – Reggie Wayne
23. CreativeSports – Anquan Boldin
24. RotoWire – Greg Jennings
Comments: While Gore was tremendous value here, Slaton was even better, considering he’s No. 4 on my board. He should not be going in the second round. After taking Tomlinson in the first and a QB in the second, it’s safe to say my strategy differs just a tad from the “Football Guys.”
ROUND THREE
25. RotoWire – Roddy White
26. CreativeSports – Brandon Jacobs
27. MockDraftCentral – Drew Brees
28. Football Guys – Reggie Bush
29. FantasyCrowd – Peyton Manning
30. Draft Sharks – Marques Colston
31. Krause – Pierre Thomas
32. RotoWorld – Dwayne Bowe
33. Krause – Brandon Marshall
34. RotoTimes – Wes Welker
35. RotoExperts – Terrell Owens
36. Fantasy Football Guidebook – T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Comments: I normally draft running backs with my first two picks and often my first three, but with a mandatory 3WR lineup, a deeper RB group in 2009 and a shallower WR class, I went with Jennings and White at the turn, and it was made easier because I have a hard time differentiating the two. I almost went Jacobs, who was a steal at this point, and after bashing the team’s first two picks, I actually like Bush here – he’s officially become an underrated fantasy commodity. Loved the Thomas selection as well – in most leagues, I assume he’ll be a second round pick come August. I value Bowe pretty closely to both the WRs I went with, so he was terrific value as a late third rounder.
ROUND FOUR
37. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Ryan Grant
38. RotoExperts – Roy Williams
39. RotoTimes – Aaron Rodgers
40. Krause – Jason Witten
41. RotoWorld – Eddie Royal
42. Krause – Derrick Ward
43. Draft Sharks – Knowshon Moreno
44. Fantasy Crowd – Dallas Clark
45. Football Guys – Darren McFadden
46. MockDraftCentral – Larry Johnson
47. CreativeSports – Chad Johnson
48. RotoWire – Beanie Wells
Comments: I was really hoping Royal would fall, but it wasn’t even close. RotoWorld did great getting Bowe and Royal in the last two rounds. It’s extremely early for Dallas Clark here, especially with how deep the TE group is. I’ll write more about Wells later on, but I expect him to end up on a bunch of my teams this year. He’s going to be a monster, and I think he’s worth second round consideration.
ROUND FIVE
49. RotoWire – Braylon Edwards
50. CreativeSports – Antonio Bryant
51. MockDraftCentral – Antonio Gates
52. Football Guys – Tony Gonzalez
53. FantasyCrowd – Vincent Jackson
54. Draft Sharks – Marshawn Lynch
55. Krause – Kurt Warner
56. RotoWorld – Joseph Addai
57. Krause – Thomas Jones
58. RotoTimes – Jonathan Stewart
59. RotoExperts – Hines Ward
60. Fantasy Football Guidebook – DeSean Jackson
Comments: I strongly considered Anthony Gonzalez here but went with Edwards instead. A bounce back is likely, but Brady Quinn’s lack of downfield ability is a concern. At least Kellen Winslow is gone. Round 5 marked three straight “Antonios” being drafted, which was fun. I’ve previously thought Lynch was a bit overrated, and the suspension is definitely noteworthy, but he’s good value here. I would have taken Stewart ahead of Addai and Thomas Jones.
ROUND SIX
61. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Willie Parker
62. RotoExperts – Anthony Gonzalez
63. RotoTimes – Santonio Holmes
64. Krause – Philip Rivers
65. RotoWorld – Lee Evans
66. Krause – Felix Jones
67. Draft Sharks – Donovan McNabb
68. Fantasy Crowd – Bernard Berrian
69. Football Guys – Torry Holt
70. MockDraftCentral – Donald Driver
71. CreativeSports – Tony Romo
72. RotoWire – Matt Schaub
Comments: I actually considered Romo with my last pick, and he nearly made it all the way back to me. Alas, I had to settle on Schaub. Felix Jones could be a difference maker.
ROUND SEVEN
73. RotoWire – Donald Brown
74. CreativeSports – Cedric Benson
75. MockDraftCentral – Laveranues Coles
76. Football Guys – Donnie Avery
77. FantasyCrowd – Steve Breaston
78. Draft Sharks – Jerricho Cotchery
79. Krause – Lance Moore
80. RotoWorld – Ray Rice
81. Krause – Santana Moss
82. RotoTimes – Derrick Mason
83. RotoExperts – LenDale White
84. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Michael Crabtree
Comments: I wouldn’t trade Brown for Addai straight up, so I was happy to nab him here. It might not be ideal having him as my flex early in the season, but he looks like the type of pick who could win the league for me. He’s a special talent in a terrific situation, whereas Addai is an average back. Addai will certainly get the veteran treatment, meaning the starting job and majority of carries, but he’s extremely injury-prone, and over his last 22 games played, he’s gained more than 80 yards rushing once. Liked the Rice pick as well.
ROUND EIGHT
85. Fantasy Football Guidebook – Jamal Lewis
86. RotoExperts – LeSean McCoy
87. RotoTimes – Julius Jones
88. Krause – Darren Sproles
89. RotoWorld – Jay Cutler
90. Krause – Kevin Walter
91. Draft Sharks – Fred Jackson
92. Fantasy Crowd – Leon Washington
93. Football Guys – Devin Hester
94. MockDraftCentral – Matt Cassel
95. CreativeSports – Ted Ginn
96. RotoWire – Matt Ryan
Comments: I had my heart set on Hester, but he was stolen from me just three picks ahead. I ended up with very little WR depth as a result. With a year under his belt, Michael Turner a candidate to get hurt and Tony Gonzalez added, Matty Ice could be huge in 2009, and I always go with the wait on QBs but then draft a few strategy, as that position can easily be manipulated through weekly opponents.
My final team:
QB – Matt Schaub
RB – Maurice Jones-Drew
RB – Beanie Wells
WR – Greg Jennings
WR – Roddy White
WR – Braylon Edwards
Flex – Donald Brown
TE – Zach Miller
K – Nick Folk
D – Titans
B – Matt Ryan
B – Ahmad Bradshaw
B – Shonn Greene
B – Laurence Maroney
B – Mark Bradley
B – Eagles
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