Fantasy Football articles - Sports Grumblings.com

Tony Finn's selection of the hard-running Travis Henry in the first round will make or break his Mock squad.

Explain your pre-draft strategy for this type of draft format
Predraft strategy should always be determined by the league or mock scoring format. In this particular mock -- the Sports Grumblings staff was asked to rank players based on the WCOFF scoring format. The difference in architecture between WCOFF and traditional constitutions is two fold; 1) WCOFF's three wide-outs as opposed to the two in traditional contours and 2) point per receptions (PPR) which has a significant effect on pre-season projections for receivers and even more so for running backs. While I respect and place a significant amount of weight on analytical trends and analysis, I am a trip handicapper by trade and utilize my network of beat writers and scouts for player information, depth chart placement and personnel potential.

Opportunity is everything in fantasy and regardless of a players talent or depth chart status -- player standing -- rests on factors such as coaching philosophy, offensive and/or defensive scheme and whether his particular team and teammates are good enough to offer him "opportunities" to produce.

In summary, early Mocks pose a problem for my strategy as hard information is limited until Training Camp begins in late July. In fact, June Fantasy Draft Kits are nothing more than water cooler chatter or bathroom reading material. Sure, it's fun to banter the information about and is an entertaining read, but the offseason effort is all but outdated and for the most part flawed by mid-August. Find an offseason fantasy draft kit that has a money back guarantee (you won't) based on being even 50 percent accurate -- and the consumer will get a refund before Week No. 1 99% of the time.

Explain the thought process behind your first-round selection
My first-round selection came down to one of three players. 1) Shaun "With a U" Alexander 2) Travis Henry 3) Reggie Bush.   Over the last three seasons Alexander has not been utilized in the Mike Holmgren passing game and in a PPR league this statistic is important. Selecting eleventh in the draft I felt there was a chance I would only get one of these players, and that the owner in the final slot of the serpentine rotation would pick the best two running backs left on the board right behind me. I made a decision to pass on the 30-plus Seattle MVP and go with Mike Shanahan's new featured back, Travis Henry. While most owners would be thrilled to get Alexander as the eleventh overall selection -- Mike Shanahan spent a significant part of the Denver budget on Henry this offseason and for good reason -- so the ex-Bill and Titan was my pick.

Despite what you might read this summer, Henry's move from Nashville to Denver is not lateral; in fact, it is in everyway-- outside of Shanahan's fickle personnel decisions-- a huge upgrade with Henry potentially staring down career numbers. Expect the 28-year old to duplicate or exceed the 2002 numbers he produced in Buffalo when he registered 1700-plus all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns. Henry and his prowess near the goal line will be Shanahan's top option as Denver is still essentially molding their rookie quarterback Jay Cutler.

Which was your best value pick, and why?
I could make a ‘value’ argument for three or four of my selections. Worth the ADP slot were the two starting running backs I was able to garner in the middle and late rounds. Cowboys' starter Julius Jones in the sixth round and Bills' starting tailback Anthony "A-Train" Thomas in the thirteenth. The pick with the largest discount might end up being Saints’ projected third-receiver David Patten in the fourteenth. The WCOFF format starts three receivers and Patten, who is projected to win the No 3 role in Sean Payton's offense, will by default have opportunity on most Sunday’s. Think of a healthy Brandon Stokley in his career year with Peyton Manning, Kevin Curtis when still involved in the Mike Martz scheme or even an unsuspended Chris Henry of Cincinnati. The Saints were the number-one offense last year and that isn't likely to change in 2007.

Which pick would you “do over” if you had the chance, and why?
I don't regret any of my selections. For the sake of entertaining; falling in with the rank and file; and finally reneging -- call my number-one pick of Travis Henry a retake and use it on Shaun Alexander. This should be ample sacrifice for the brain-washed fantasy public.

Not including yourself, which owner had the best overall draft, and why?
Let me first preface the final two questions by stating the following: fantasy football championships are not won on draft day, however they can be lost--- and mock drafts in June are typically nothing more than a statistical handoff from the previous season. While no one team stands out-- the combination of Carson Palmer, Larry Johnson, Steve Smith and Chad Johnson makes Justin Kopacz's team a dangerous unit on any given Sunday.

Not including yourself, which owner had the worst overall draft, and why?
I would have some concerns if my roster consisted of running backs all potentially involved in commitees; a second receiver that isn't healthy and might not even start for his respective team; and a lame duck signal caller that could retire due to one too-hard hit. Moshovetis has to be troubled that Maurice Jones-Drew will share time with Fred Taylor; that Tatum Bell is a stop-gap until Kevin Jones gets healthy; Marion Barber can't possibly duplicate his "in the right place at the right time" 2006 stat line; along with 'well past his prime' Darrell Jackson who just started rehabbing a severe turf toe injury and Brett Favre trying to lead the largest group of no-names any one organization has seen in ten NFL seasons.

Finn Roster
Rex Grossman (158)	QB	Chi
Jay Cutler (83)	QB	Den
Julius Jones (59)	RB	Dal
Travis Henry (11)	RB	Den
LenDale White (107)	RB	Ten
Anthony Thomas (134)	RB	Buf
Reggie Bush (14)	RB	NO
David Patten (155)	WR	NO
Santonio Holmes (86)	WR	Pit
Andre Johnson (35)	WR	Hou
Brandon Marshall (131)	WR	Den
Joey Galloway (62)	WR	TB
Hines Ward (38)	WR	Pit
L.J. Smith (110)	TE	Phi
Josh Brown (179)	K	Sea
San Francisco 49ers (182)	Def	SF