Here's how my draft played out. I picked tenth out of ten.
1. Deuce McAllister, RB, NO
2. Daunte Culpepper, QB, MIN
3. Steve McNair, QB, TEN
4. Terrell Owens, WR, PHI
5. Andre Johnson, WR, HOU
6. Quentin Griffin, RB, DEN
7. Willis McGahee, RB, BUF
8. Jerry Porter, WR, OAK
9. Marcus Pollard, TE, IND
10. Rich Gannon, QB, OAK
11. Brian Urlacher, LB, CHI
12. Antoine Winfield, DB, MIN
13. Chris Draft, LB, ATL
14. Moe Williams, RB, MIN
15. Keith Brooking, LB, ATL
16. Stephen Jackson, RB, STL
17. Dante Hall, WR, KC
18. Janikowski, K, OAK
19. Adam Archuleta, DB, STL
Here's how I see Fantasy Football. Always get a premier running back first. They are the most scarce commodity. Then pick up your quarterback, unless another premier running back is available. Running backs get the most fantasy points, plain and simple. I think last year the order was Priest, LT, Ahman Green, then Peyton and Culpepper, then Jamal Lewis, Deuce McAllister, and Portis. Then Moss and a couple of quarterbacks made up the top twelve.
My theory. Pick the best talent available and ignore regardless of your positional needs, within reason.
Offense comes first. Save defense until at least after round 10.
If you do pick a RB first, you're probably sacrificing a chance at Manning, and maybe Culpepper. But there are a lot of QBs who can get you points. One guy I think will be strong this year is Hasselbeck, and he should be available in the second round. He was one of those quarterbacks in the top twelve.
Also, if you're in a league that values return yards highly, keep an eye out for Dante Hall. I'm in a league that values return yards the same as receiving yards. Last season, Hall had over 1900 yards on returns alone. NINETEEN HUNDRED. The 400 receiving yards were just a bonus. In fact, in my league, Hall would be the tenth best receiver in the league. Not bad for the 17th round. B)
My offensive sleepers (some aren't really that sleepy):
Quentin Griffin (starting for the Shanahan RB Factory)
Rudi Johnson (starting all year in up and comping Cincy)
Hasselbeck (Shaun Alexander and two really good receivers and a great O line)
Brian Westbrook (no Duce, no Correll)
Marcus Robinson (on the other side from Moss)
Dante Hall (if you're in the right league)
Kevin Barlow (Garrison is finally gone)
Tim Rattay (better than Garcia)
Rich Gannon (I'm hoping)
Domanick Davis (14 games, 1,031 yards, 8 TDs on 238 carries, 47 catches for 351 yards)
Moe Williams (will be goal line and pass catching juggernaught)
Defense
Save these guys for the late rounds. Most people always waste early picks on guys like Ray and Urlacher (who are good) early. Look for the LBs and DBs who had a lot of tackles. Guys like Dan Morgan, Chris Draft, Keith Brooking rack up the tackles each week. I like to be able to count on my defensive players each week. I don't like to have to hope for an interception to get D points. IMO, linebackers are king. Don't waste a pick on a DL. Sack specialists like Jevon or Ogunleye are horrible for fantasy points. Pick only DBs who get tackles. IMO the best DB last year was Antoine Winfield: 94 solo tackles only one pick. Rodney Harrison is dang good too. Counting on interceptions and touchdowns for fantasy points is risky. Pick up guys who earn points each game, by tackling.
And my one last piece of "wisdom"
Don't pick Donovan McNabb with your first pick. He is not a fantasy QB. Last year he scored behind Manning, Culpepper, Hasselbeck, Green, McNair, Favre, Brooks, Kitna . . . KITNA!!, B. Johnson, Bulger, Garcia, and Brady. In fact, McNabb barely beat out such juggernaughts as Quincy Carter and Tommy Maddox.
Some poor fool picked McNabb fifth in the draft, and dropped Culpepper into my lap with my second pick. BWWAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! Of course, I then went and drafted Willis McGahee in the seventh.:huh: :unsure: Oh well, we all screw up sometimes.
I love football. :nod:
Oh, by the way, don't draft Ricky Williams in the second round and drop someone like McNair in an opponent's lap.
