Late drafting strategy
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 11:12 am
I'm drafting 8 out of 10 in my money league this year. Tough spot to be in. What's your strategy? I've done a few mocks and predictably the stud QBs (Rodgers, Brady, Brees and sometimes Stafford) are gone as well as the RBs (Foster, McCoy, Rice, Johnson). I've seen MJD there but I'm apprehensive taking him in round 1. That might change between now and next week though. I've often taken Calvin #1 and top RB, QB or TE in round 2. I've heard some people going WR-WR this late. I don't know about that. WR is really deep this year. Love to hear other thoughts/strategies. PPR
Here's my latest Mock and the one I've been most pleased on with some notes:
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R1: Calvin Johnson (I'm fine going with the #1 receiver in the league if I can't get a top shelf QB or RB)
R2: Jimmy Graham (a little high but if I want a top-tier TE I have to get one in R2 or wait a while for someone like Olson, Rudolph, Cook, Davis, etc.). Gronk has been here but I'm in the camp that he won't repeat his last monster season. Lloyd will draw some targets away as well. Graham, on the other hand, is Brees' #1 target and the Saints lost a target (Meachem) to FA. I think Graham just has a bit more upside in PPR.
R3: Jamaal Charles (I'm fortunate he lasted this long. I'm a bit concerned with Hillis in the mix and Charles coming off of injury but he's had a few more months to recover after ripping his knee early last year. Plus, I like his line. Especially over Murray's in Dallas, even though Murray is the unquestioned #1 guy)
R4: Brandon Marshall (Should produce big numbers reunited with Cutler).
R5: Matt Ryan (Probably a bit of a reach but I foresee big things from Ryan this year with all his weapons and a new offense featuring the pass and no-huddle. Plus, he's been rock solid in the preseason. Yes, I know it's the preseason. Still.)
R6: Reggie Bush (RB2 is probably my weakest postion. I don't love Reggie, but if Daniel Thomas struggles again then Bush will have good value. Plus, he's always a threat for receiving yards. Meh.)
R7: Pierre Garcon (featured receiver in Shanny's offense with likely some success with RGIII behind center. I'll take Garcon all day in round 7).
R8: Kevin Smith (Smith is pretty good value here will all the issues the Lions are having at RB. Obviously if/when Best/Leshoure returns it'll hurt him, but he still has value here, particularly early in the season)
R9: David Wilson (I'll know more after the game on Friday when Wilson gets some reps with the first-string unit whether or not he's worth it here. But my RBs are fairly weak and Wilson has solid upside if he's able to carve out a meaningful role this season.)
R10: RGIII (This year's Cam Newton? It's possible. Doesn't hurt to take a chance here, even though I'm confident in Ryan. Plus, if they're both studs, I can play matchup and this keeps RGIII out of an opponent's hands. I got leveled by some rushing QBs last season. Wouldn't be bad to have one of the alleged better ones on my side)
R11: Titus Young (reports out of camp are rock solid on the youngster. He just needs to somehow bypass Burleson to make snagging him here a real bargain. Even if he can't the Lions go three-wide as much or more than anyone in the league. I like taking high-upside guys this late)
R12: Justin Blackmon (I scored big last season taking a flier on A.J. Green around this slot. If Gabbert can repeat the last preseason game and the focus of the offense is the quick strike, Blackmon could be PPR gold. Again, I like his upside. Just wish he had gotten into camp earlier).
R13: Eagles D (By this time a couple of the top-shelf defenses like Houston were off the table. I probably went a round early but defense did end up winning me some games last season and the Eagles D should be improved from a year ago.)
R14: Kendall Wright (see: Blackmon, with the caveat that a lot probably hinges on Kenny Britt's status. But I like the upside.)
R15: Kyle Rudolph (Rudolph is Ponder's go-to guy. It could be debated he's his first read over Harvin. There's TE1 upside here. Any time I can get that type of production from a guy in the 15th round, I'm okay with it.)
R16: f*cking kicker
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The more I look at this, the happier I am. I'd be thrilled with this team, actually. But a lot hinges on my RBs I suppose and my gut that Ryan or RGIII are going to have a great year.
Here's my latest Mock and the one I've been most pleased on with some notes:
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R1: Calvin Johnson (I'm fine going with the #1 receiver in the league if I can't get a top shelf QB or RB)
R2: Jimmy Graham (a little high but if I want a top-tier TE I have to get one in R2 or wait a while for someone like Olson, Rudolph, Cook, Davis, etc.). Gronk has been here but I'm in the camp that he won't repeat his last monster season. Lloyd will draw some targets away as well. Graham, on the other hand, is Brees' #1 target and the Saints lost a target (Meachem) to FA. I think Graham just has a bit more upside in PPR.
R3: Jamaal Charles (I'm fortunate he lasted this long. I'm a bit concerned with Hillis in the mix and Charles coming off of injury but he's had a few more months to recover after ripping his knee early last year. Plus, I like his line. Especially over Murray's in Dallas, even though Murray is the unquestioned #1 guy)
R4: Brandon Marshall (Should produce big numbers reunited with Cutler).
R5: Matt Ryan (Probably a bit of a reach but I foresee big things from Ryan this year with all his weapons and a new offense featuring the pass and no-huddle. Plus, he's been rock solid in the preseason. Yes, I know it's the preseason. Still.)
R6: Reggie Bush (RB2 is probably my weakest postion. I don't love Reggie, but if Daniel Thomas struggles again then Bush will have good value. Plus, he's always a threat for receiving yards. Meh.)
R7: Pierre Garcon (featured receiver in Shanny's offense with likely some success with RGIII behind center. I'll take Garcon all day in round 7).
R8: Kevin Smith (Smith is pretty good value here will all the issues the Lions are having at RB. Obviously if/when Best/Leshoure returns it'll hurt him, but he still has value here, particularly early in the season)
R9: David Wilson (I'll know more after the game on Friday when Wilson gets some reps with the first-string unit whether or not he's worth it here. But my RBs are fairly weak and Wilson has solid upside if he's able to carve out a meaningful role this season.)
R10: RGIII (This year's Cam Newton? It's possible. Doesn't hurt to take a chance here, even though I'm confident in Ryan. Plus, if they're both studs, I can play matchup and this keeps RGIII out of an opponent's hands. I got leveled by some rushing QBs last season. Wouldn't be bad to have one of the alleged better ones on my side)
R11: Titus Young (reports out of camp are rock solid on the youngster. He just needs to somehow bypass Burleson to make snagging him here a real bargain. Even if he can't the Lions go three-wide as much or more than anyone in the league. I like taking high-upside guys this late)
R12: Justin Blackmon (I scored big last season taking a flier on A.J. Green around this slot. If Gabbert can repeat the last preseason game and the focus of the offense is the quick strike, Blackmon could be PPR gold. Again, I like his upside. Just wish he had gotten into camp earlier).
R13: Eagles D (By this time a couple of the top-shelf defenses like Houston were off the table. I probably went a round early but defense did end up winning me some games last season and the Eagles D should be improved from a year ago.)
R14: Kendall Wright (see: Blackmon, with the caveat that a lot probably hinges on Kenny Britt's status. But I like the upside.)
R15: Kyle Rudolph (Rudolph is Ponder's go-to guy. It could be debated he's his first read over Harvin. There's TE1 upside here. Any time I can get that type of production from a guy in the 15th round, I'm okay with it.)
R16: f*cking kicker
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The more I look at this, the happier I am. I'd be thrilled with this team, actually. But a lot hinges on my RBs I suppose and my gut that Ryan or RGIII are going to have a great year.