Brian Westbrook is one of the most consistent producing running backs for fantasy team managers.
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When it comes to my ‘Grumble’ contributions, I’ve tried to keep it focussed on baseball as much as possible. Now bear with me, as I’ll end up relating this to ‘America’s Favourite Past Time’ before long.You have been warned!
I recently completed a fantasy football draft. In this draft we have a few individual defensive players and we start two quarterbacks. GASP! I know, two! Doesn’t the laws of fantasy football only allow for one quarterback? Isn’t that some sort of blasphemy? Aren’t you shamed and shunned wherever you go. Well no, not really anyway.
Aside from the two quarterbacks it’s essentially the same standard football scoring system that I’ve seen about a thousand times. It’s also the same sport and the drafting format is also no different. So what about this draft was so different, you ask? Nothing, I see what I always see. I saw kickers and team defenses taken before some of the high upside running backs and wide receivers were off the board. Also, because of the two quarterbacks and it being a ‘fairly’ deep league (14 teams), quarterbacks were flying off the draft board like cheap beer does before a long weekend. Like a good premium beer, the better, higher upside players were just sitting out there ripe for the plucking.
It may sound like I’m complaining. I’m not. I ended up with a nicely rounded roster. Other teams will have to live with taking middling round quality quarterbacks like Jay Cutler and Eli Manning in the 3rd round all year. Now I realize two quarterbacks does change your draft strategy slightly. For those who haven’t played this style before, you want to come away with a least one decent signal caller by the end of the 4th or 5th round. For example, I considered it a reach nabbing Carson Palmer in the 2nd round but considering 28 quarterbacks have to be drafted, I figured 20th overall was ‘about right’ for the quality of QB I was getting. I was still able to draft Marques Colston as a solid #1 wide receiver with upside and get two good running backs (Willie Parker and rookie phenom Darren McFadden) to go with my first round selection of Brian Westbrook, who I really like. My second quarterback is an unknown in JaMarcus Russell, but a high upside unknown, no less. This is all to show you, that participating in a ‘run’ of a Zscarce position probably hurts you more than helps. Yes, you have to adjust your draft when it inevitably happens. However, instead of drafting a relatively valueless or mediocre player ahead of where they should be, draft the most valuable player and simply keep on eye on certain undervalued players at the scarce position. I’m not suggesting this is fool proof, but drafting the most valuable player regardless of position is a relatively proven safe method. It works!
Besides the run at quarterback, I have to address the kickers and defences that were taken early. Everyone out there is reading the same articles, now that fantasy has literally spread its wings across the internet. If you don’t have a computer, you’ve at least bought a magazine before you draft. I doubt any of them recommends taking a kicker before the end. I guess I can’t understand why it happens. I’m sure you think Dallas will have a great scoring year. So do I. So does your buddy beside you. This doesn’t mean Nick Folk has more value than Rod Brionas (who despite the weak offence of the Titans actually outscored Folk in many a league) Even if your scoring system benefits kickers by giving them large points for long field goals, you’re still a long shot to get these points. How often does a team actually attempt a 50+ yard field goal? Bottom line: Take the kicker last. You’ll thank me later.
Defense is the other funny one. I understand the Vikings were good last year. I had them in two different leagues. This doesn’t mean you want to reach for them thinking you’ve got a huge advantage over your competitors. The Vikings have made some great off-season acquisitions, but a lot had to go right for them to be the best scoring fantasy defense two years in a row. Last year, I’m sure somebody picked the Ravens and Bears defenses thinking the same thing as people snagging the Vike’s this season. Where did the Ravens and Bears finish in overall fantasy points in your league? I’ll give you a second to check, but if you’re lazy, it’s likely they were middle of the pack. I can draft middle of the pack closer to the end of the draft. Why would I gamble in an earlier round when I can take the same gamble in the next to last round? If you reach for a defensive team you’re likely making a mistake. As unpredictable as kickers can be, the team defense would be next.
So now, how do I relate all this to fantasy ball? Easy. Remember, that whatever draft you’re in, don’t worry about a position run. Take the best available player until you’re not comfortable leaving the scarce position any longer. If you’re patient you’ll find some gems when people are trying to fill in their other positions. This often applies in baseball drafts to closer runs and sometimes, even ace starting pitchers. Use a bit of foresight, and note that every year a few starters come out of nowhere to be effective and more than a few closers come out of nowhere to be usable (BTW - Frank Francisco is my pick of the week as one of those closers from out of nowhere!).
That’s all for me this week. Catch you next time on The Grumble.
