In years past, the logic has been to go running back in the first round. It was plain and simple, no questions asked. If you picked anything else, you were ridiculed and laughed at. And why not? Running backs got the most touches on the team and were the most consistent offensive players. You could always count on the decent ones for around one hundred yards and a score. Those days are gone though. Times have changed immensely. The new era of the running back committee has taken over and more teams are feeling comfortable putting the ball in the air with elite quarterbacks such as Manning, Brady, Brees, etc. If you get the number one pick in the draft, you’re waffling between Aaron Rodgers, Arian Foster, and Andre Johnson. It’s a hot mess and not an easy decision. Is there a right answer? Sure there is but you don’t know it, no one does.
[caption id="attachment_280" align="aligncenter" width="449" caption="Is Foster the real deal? "]
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This is my fourth year during fantasy so I don’t consider myself a guru or wizard or any such self-proclaimed title that says greatness. BUT I do have a championship and 2nd place under my belt and trust me, with an ego like mine, I will tell all my friends that I am the best and that they had better watch out for the king. Fantasy is a whole new world of football that I have had the luxury of playing. Sure, I know football. But all that knowledge doesn’t translate to success immediately. Fantasy is a different game and the strategies you go through are intense. I get made fun of for taking notes, having draft lists, doing mocks, and listening to podcasts. I’m the type of guy who would rather bring home a fantasy football trophy than an A on my report card or a semi-nice bonus on my paycheck. It means that much to me. So with my two drafts done this year, I feel like I can try to impart some wisdom for those first timers playing fantasy football or for those who just want another opinion, which never ever hurts. After all, my strategy is made from many different other people’s ideas and theories.
Two words I keep throwing around this year are safe and young. I brought these ideas to my draft sheet and applied it to both of my drafts. For the record, I guess it should be stated I use the ESPN basic fantasy league. The breakdown is fairly simple. 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, RB/WR, TE, D/ST, K. I’ve done it every year with 10 people. This year I have one with 10 and one with 12 but the differences are almost non-existent. So when I talk about my overall strategy, it is shaped specifically for my league. It’s important you take into account your league rules and overall make-up when you’re creating your own strategy and draft sheet. So anyways, safe and young are those words. What does that mean and why? Safe is because of the lockout and because the number one rule in any and all drafts is high reward/low risk or consistency. The lockout this year makes the rule even more important to stick with.
Rookies don’t have enough time to adjust, players on new teams have a new system to learn, and newly hired coaches may change philosophy. For example, Jake Locker has way too much work to do to even be considered a backup quarterback. Kevin Kolb may seem to be in a great situation but it is a much different offense than in Philly. Will he adjust enough to be worthy on a starting spot or 2nd string? Kyle Orton has been a stud fantasy quarterback over the past two years but now John Fox takes over. Gone are Orton’s pass happy days and the effective passing attack Josh McDaniel’s brought to the Broncos during his tenure.
When I say young, don’t worry, I’m not contradicting myself and saying take rookies. It’s just some of the players you may have relied on in the past (i.e. Peyton Manning, Donald Driver, Steven Jackson) are getting past their prime. Manning hurts to say considering my love and position here at Chat Sports, but I would rather look at a Drew Brees, Tom Brady, or Aaron Rodgers as a number one QB before him. Andre Johnson isn’t necessarily old but has some mileage on him and continues to face double teams every game. Why not consider Roddy White? This guy has never missed a game and now has a nice compliment in Julio Jones. And finally, running back…what about this position? First off, I’ll tell you stay the heck away from Chris Johnson. He continues to hold out, making himself more injury prone than in years past. Also, he relies on those big runs and teams will not be fearful of Matt Hasselback or Kenny Britt (who by the way may face a suspension).
[caption id="attachment_275" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Charles is worthy of a #1 pick"]
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I didn’t get the number one overall pick in either draft but I made a commitment to pick Jamaal Charles should I have got it. He doesn’t have a lot of miles on him, Thomas Jones is still there to take a load off of him, and the Chiefs have plenty of firepower in the receiver corps to keep defenses honest. Now I admit I could have chickened out and gone with Adrian Peterson. It’s almost unquestionable that he is the best back in the league. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have other weapons around him to take the pressure off. Arian Foster is a name that people may consider. My belief is he has much more to prove. A one-year wonder is too risky in my opinion to grab number one overall. If he repeats his numbers this year, I may change my tune.
Anyways, there you have it. Personally, I pray to not have the number one pick every year but someone has to. I’ll post up a couple more articles on my full two drafts and possible sleepers. Football season nears and drafts are happening all across America. Don’t just take my advice though people. Look around the web, talk to friends, and check different websites to see how people are doing in camp. After all, it is your fantasy draft. Good Luck.
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