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On Wednesday, April 29, my friend Greg Ambrosius was kind enough to invite me to participate in the expert mock draft for Krause Publications` Fantasy Sports Magazine, which is available on newsstands now.
Starting rosters included one QB, TE, K, team defense and Flex (RB, WR or TE), two RBs and three WRs. Six bench players were also selected.
Scoring included a point-per-reception (PPR) for WRs and TEs, .5 PPR for RBs, four points for a passing TD, six points for all other scores, one point for every 10 rushing and receiving yards and one point for every 20 passing yards.
Here is the team that I drafted from the No. 9 slot:
Round 1, Pick 9: WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals -- It`s hard to go wrong in a PPR league with a guy who caught five or more passes in 18-of-20 games played in 2008. Fitzgerald was the No. 1 receiver on my board, and an easy choice after Titans RB Chris Johnson was selected at eighth overall.
Round 2, Pick 4: RB DeAngelo Williams, Panthers -- He`s not going to match his 2008 numbers, but there`s no reason that Williams can`t rush for 1,400 yards and double-digit TDs. It was hard to pass up Patriots WR Randy Moss here, but I wanted to grab at least one stud RB.
Round 3, Pick 9: RB Kevin Smith, Lions -- Quietly, Smith put together a decent rookie campaign with 1,262 total yards, eight TDs and 39 receptions. I think the Lions` offensive line will be improved this season, which gives Smith a good chance to surpass his 2008 numbers.
Round 4, Pick 4: RB Knowshon Moreno, Broncos -- Looking back, I probably should`ve taken a decent No. 2 WR instead of Moreno, but I`m absolutely in love with the rookie`s upside.
Round 5, Pick 9: QB Tony Romo, Cowboys -- Another spot where I should`ve went with a No. 2 WR. I don`t dislike Mr. Jessica Simpson, but I could`ve used this selection on someone like Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez and looked at a comparable QB later in the draft.
Round 6, Pick 4: WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles -- I fully expect Jackson to improve upon his rookie numbers, 62 receptions for 912 yards and two TDs, in his sophomore campaign. I`m not sure, however, that those numbers will match those of other No. 2 WRs started in this league`s PPR format.
Round 7, Pick 9: WR Laveranues Coles, Bengals -- I loved this pick at the time, but am starting to cool on Coles some after the positive press that fellow Bengals WR Chris Henry is receiving this offseason.
Round 8, Pick 4: RB Leon Washington, Jets -- An explosive weapon that can rack up receptions and yardage quickly. Now all we have to do is get him a contract to his liking.
Round 9, Pick 9: RB Tim Hightower, Cardinals -- Not a huge fan, but I thought Hightower was good value at the end of the ninth-round.
Round 10, Pick 4: WR Ted Ginn, Jr., Dolphins -- The speedster is entering the all-important third year, where a lot of WRs bust out. If Ginn can continue to improve, he could flirt with 70 catches and 1,000-receiving yards.
Round 11, Pick 9: WR Plaxico Burress, Mean Machine -- Another selection I felt better about at the time. I`m really starting to believe that Burress will have a hard time getting on the field in 2009.
Round 12, Pick 4: RB Jerome Harrison, Browns -- A personal favorite of mine entering the season.
Round 13, Pick 9: TE Jeremy Shockey, Saints -- I waited a little too long to grab a TE, and ended up with Shockey as my starter. There`s some quality options left on the waiver wire should the volatile pass-catcher bomb again in 2009.
Round 14, Pick 4: WR Brian Robiskie, Browns -- The rookie was worth a gamble in the 14th-round. Looks like my bet may pay off, as Robiskie has a very good chance at being the No. 2 WR in Cleveland.
Round 15, Pick 9: DEF Green Bay Packers -- I had to draft a defense.
Round 16, Pick 4: K Neil Rackers, Cardinals -- I had to draft a kicker.
This league will be played out, so I will get to see some results.
I`m less than thrilled about the squad I assembled, as I clearly didn`t take advantage of the PPR format.
Jackson, Coles and Ginn are all decent options, but none of them offers the 100-catch potential of guys like Patriots WR Wes Welker and Broncos WR Brandon Marshall, who are No. 2 receivers on other squads.
Add in the fact that my No. 1 RB, Williams, won`t haul in a lot of passes, and I`m looking at a deficit that will have to be made up in other areas.
And in my opinion, this team isn`t good enough in those other areas to overcome its shortcomings.
Starting rosters included one QB, TE, K, team defense and Flex (RB, WR or TE), two RBs and three WRs. Six bench players were also selected.
Scoring included a point-per-reception (PPR) for WRs and TEs, .5 PPR for RBs, four points for a passing TD, six points for all other scores, one point for every 10 rushing and receiving yards and one point for every 20 passing yards.
Here is the team that I drafted from the No. 9 slot:
Round 1, Pick 9: WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals -- It`s hard to go wrong in a PPR league with a guy who caught five or more passes in 18-of-20 games played in 2008. Fitzgerald was the No. 1 receiver on my board, and an easy choice after Titans RB Chris Johnson was selected at eighth overall.
Round 2, Pick 4: RB DeAngelo Williams, Panthers -- He`s not going to match his 2008 numbers, but there`s no reason that Williams can`t rush for 1,400 yards and double-digit TDs. It was hard to pass up Patriots WR Randy Moss here, but I wanted to grab at least one stud RB.
Round 3, Pick 9: RB Kevin Smith, Lions -- Quietly, Smith put together a decent rookie campaign with 1,262 total yards, eight TDs and 39 receptions. I think the Lions` offensive line will be improved this season, which gives Smith a good chance to surpass his 2008 numbers.
Round 4, Pick 4: RB Knowshon Moreno, Broncos -- Looking back, I probably should`ve taken a decent No. 2 WR instead of Moreno, but I`m absolutely in love with the rookie`s upside.
Round 5, Pick 9: QB Tony Romo, Cowboys -- Another spot where I should`ve went with a No. 2 WR. I don`t dislike Mr. Jessica Simpson, but I could`ve used this selection on someone like Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez and looked at a comparable QB later in the draft.
Round 6, Pick 4: WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles -- I fully expect Jackson to improve upon his rookie numbers, 62 receptions for 912 yards and two TDs, in his sophomore campaign. I`m not sure, however, that those numbers will match those of other No. 2 WRs started in this league`s PPR format.
Round 7, Pick 9: WR Laveranues Coles, Bengals -- I loved this pick at the time, but am starting to cool on Coles some after the positive press that fellow Bengals WR Chris Henry is receiving this offseason.
Round 8, Pick 4: RB Leon Washington, Jets -- An explosive weapon that can rack up receptions and yardage quickly. Now all we have to do is get him a contract to his liking.
Round 9, Pick 9: RB Tim Hightower, Cardinals -- Not a huge fan, but I thought Hightower was good value at the end of the ninth-round.
Round 10, Pick 4: WR Ted Ginn, Jr., Dolphins -- The speedster is entering the all-important third year, where a lot of WRs bust out. If Ginn can continue to improve, he could flirt with 70 catches and 1,000-receiving yards.
Round 11, Pick 9: WR Plaxico Burress, Mean Machine -- Another selection I felt better about at the time. I`m really starting to believe that Burress will have a hard time getting on the field in 2009.
Round 12, Pick 4: RB Jerome Harrison, Browns -- A personal favorite of mine entering the season.
Round 13, Pick 9: TE Jeremy Shockey, Saints -- I waited a little too long to grab a TE, and ended up with Shockey as my starter. There`s some quality options left on the waiver wire should the volatile pass-catcher bomb again in 2009.
Round 14, Pick 4: WR Brian Robiskie, Browns -- The rookie was worth a gamble in the 14th-round. Looks like my bet may pay off, as Robiskie has a very good chance at being the No. 2 WR in Cleveland.
Round 15, Pick 9: DEF Green Bay Packers -- I had to draft a defense.
Round 16, Pick 4: K Neil Rackers, Cardinals -- I had to draft a kicker.
This league will be played out, so I will get to see some results.
I`m less than thrilled about the squad I assembled, as I clearly didn`t take advantage of the PPR format.
Jackson, Coles and Ginn are all decent options, but none of them offers the 100-catch potential of guys like Patriots WR Wes Welker and Broncos WR Brandon Marshall, who are No. 2 receivers on other squads.
Add in the fact that my No. 1 RB, Williams, won`t haul in a lot of passes, and I`m looking at a deficit that will have to be made up in other areas.
And in my opinion, this team isn`t good enough in those other areas to overcome its shortcomings.
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