June 2007 Experts League Draft Recap

Pre-Draft

A 12-team league with a roster size of 18. Lineup requirements QB (1), RB (2), WR (3), TE (1), K (1), Defense/Special Teams (1), Flex (RB/WR). Standard rules, all touchdowns are worth six points, including touchdown passes.

Strategy

Look, let's not kid anyone. Participating in a fantasy draft three months out is a bit of a crapshoot, but then again this is why we do what we do. Injuries in training camp, lineup battles, which Bengal will be arrested next, all of these issues and more could change one's perception down the line. I mean, who would have predicted just a few weeks ago that Brady Quinn would slide and slide in the NFL draft or that Ricky Williams would fail another drug test... Ok, bad example.

I find out that I pick last in the first round, but all things considered, I do not really mind that this season. Not so long ago, fantasy drafts had a distinct pecking order, maybe not so much in terms of exact draft order, but levels. The last couple of years, that top section has dwindled from 8-12 to a handful to this year perhaps just Tomlinson.

Sure, picking 12th means I will not have a chance at LT and that I will be sorting through the leftovers like a late arrival at Thanksgiving dinner. On the other hand, and with no disrespect to the participants in this experts league, look at the guys in your local league. Do you really mind if they pick ahead of you?

It drives me nuts that the era of creative drafting goes has gone by the way of the run and shoot offense and almost every first round pick in leagues across the country will be a running back. With that said, I likely will have little choice but to take RB with my first two selections, especially since this is a league where you can start three of them. Assuming LT, Stephen Jackson, LJ, Shaun Alexander and Frank Gore are off the board, I am hoping to grab a dynamic duo consisting of Maroney, Addai, Parker, Westbrook or Bush. My biggest fear is that in a league that awards six points per touchdown pass, what do I do if Peyton Manning is still on the board...

Draft

View the entire draft.

Since many of our picks are back-to-back, I summarized two or more at a time (Round, pick in round, overall selection, player, position, team)

1-12 (12) Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia
2-1 (13) Laurence Maroney, RB, New England

Good news, Peyton is gone, one less decision to make. With Rudi Johnson, Bush and Travis Henry (a bold and surprising call) selected and two more picks before I go back-to-back, I am guaranteed to get two of the players I targeted. I like Parker and Maroney slightly more than the other two, but still very happy to end with Maroney and Westbrook. Both are injury risks with Maroney nursing a shoulder that could slow him through training camp, but he is expected to be fine for week one. Injuries aside, I think both will be in the top 6-8 of all RB's when all is said and done and I'll make a point to get their backups just in case.