I used to think fantasy football was just a fun, casual way to
follow the NFL. You sit at your computer, draft players online and
then you meet up with your friends or co-workers the next day to
rattle off your roster.
I used to think fantasy football was just a fun, casual way to follow the NFL. You sit at your computer, draft players online and then you meet up with your friends or co-workers the next day to rattle off your roster.
But this year, I did something different. This year, I made my fantasy football draft an event worth circling on the calendar. This year, I turned my draft into one of the best sports-related experiences of my life.
Deciding to do an off-line draft with some college buddies, I arranged for myself and seven other guys to meet up in Lake Tahoe last weekend. We rented out the Conference Room suite at Embassy Suites (which happens to be right on the California/Nevada state line, where casinos are literally thirty steps from the hotel entrance), which comes complete with a boardroom table and eight chairs. For three straight hours we drank, smoked cigars and yelled out picks at the top of our lungs while the commissioner (myself), wrote each pick on an erasable white board. The stale smell of beer, whiskey breath and smoke was something out of a 1960’s NFL draft war room.
All of the other guys had never done an off-line draft, and each was grateful they ended up making the trip. Not only was it a way to get together with friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time, but it made each pick feel more crucial. People were cursing when the guy they wanted was drafted two picks earlier. Idle threats were made against other team owner’s families. A side bet was even made on a certain Oakland Raider’s production that would make one guy’s girlfriend dump him in a heartbeat.
Fantasy football had come alive by simply drafting our players in person. Everyone knew where they stood, and no one escaped the wrath of a bad pick. You had to own up to the players you reached on, being the brunt of every joke for the next five minutes. (And yes, trying to persuade someone to draft Mike Vick was the most common joke of the night.)
The format was simple, we all put our names on a piece of paper and drew out of a hat to see what the draft order would be. A grid was then placed on the board with the team names on the left and boxes sectioned out for each round and each pick. The draft then snaked, meaning that the person who picked last in the first round, picked first in the second round.
When all was said and done, everyone walked away optimistic about their chances. The night was still young so we hit the blackjack, roulette and craps tables for the rest of the night. The cards didn’t go my way, but I can’t say I took a loss on the night. I had too much fun just being with friends, talking sports.
And, having everyone at the draft made it easy to collect the buy-in for the league. The winner will walk away with just under $1,000 at the end of the season.
Now just try and tell me you had as much fun drafting your team at home, sitting in the dark in your underwear.
QUARTERBACKS
Peyton Manning – Indianapolis
The best quarterback in the league, and now he has a Super Bowl ring to back it up. Manning will give you as much or more points than every player in the league not named LaDainian Tomlinson. He is an excellent pickup in the second half of the first round.
Carson Palmer – Cincinnati
After a stellar second-half to finish last season, Palmer should be ready to go from the start this year. He has one of the best receiver tandems in the league with Chad Johnson and T.J Houshmandzadeh (a.k.a. T.J. Who’s Your Momma?) and they will need to air it out to make up for the team’s terrible pass defense. A good late second or early third round pick
Drew Brees – New Orleans
Brees eliminated questions about his arm strength and accuracy last year and led the post-Katrina Saints – America’s team last season, sorry Dallas – all the way to the NFC championship. He should be even more comfortable in his second year in coach Sean Payton’s system. Oh, and he also has a target named Reggie Bush. You might have heard of him. A smart pickup in the mid-third round.
SLEEPER
Matt Leinart – Arizona
The Cardinals signal-caller had a solid rookie season as far as quarterbacks go and should be much improved with new head coach Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, the former offensive coordinator and O-line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. Throw in the fact that his receivers are considered the best pair in the league (Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald) and this is an excellent late round pickup (think round 6 or 7).
BUST
Tony Romo – Dallas
First it was Jeff Garcia, then it was Donovan McNabb, now it will be Tony Romo. Terrell Owens is a quarterback killer and while this has been Owens’ quietest offseason in years, he will eventually turn on the player he depends on most when times get tough.
RECEIVERS
Steve Smith – Carolina
Smith is the best receiver in the league despite his small stature. He can take a play to the house at any time, and any spot on the field. He was basically the only weapon the Panthers had last season – sometimes even triple-covered! – and he still had over 1,100 yards and nine total TDs. He should be the first or second receiver taken.
Chad Johnson – Cincinnati
The funniest thing Cincinnati has produced since WKRP. Johnson is the man that replaced TO as the best celebrator of touchdowns in the league. Having the class clown known as “Ocho Cinco” on your team can make the season much more enjoyable. Good pick in the late second round.
Torry Holt – St. Louis
Known as “Big Game” Torry Holt, he is one of the best to ever play the position and will consistently put up numbers. Maybe the most underrated receiver in the league because he never makes a lot of noise in front of the media. An excellent second or third round pick.
Sleeper
Calvin Johnson – Detroit
He’s a rookie (one the Oakland Raiders should have taken), but Johnson is one of the top five prospects to enter the league in the last five years. Under a Mike Martz offense, he could very well come close to Randy Moss’ NFL record for rookie receiving touchdowns of 17. Great sixth or seventh round pick.
Bust
Plaxico Burress – New York Giants
This team is in disarray after a swarm of injuries occurred in the preseason. Add that to the fact that this team wasn’t very deep to start with, none of the players like coach Tom Coughlin and QB Eli Manning is being called a lousy leader, and this could be one of the worst, and most dysfunctional, teams in the league.
RUNNING BACKS
So you won the first pick in your draft and now the time has come to make a decision. Try not to overthink it, because if you do, you will have made the dumbest mistake since the Houston Texans passed on Reggie Bush. LaDainian Tomlinson is far and away the best player in the NFL, and he makes his presence felt in every aspect of the game. Here are his record-setting stats from a year ago:
1,815 yards rushing, 28 TDs
508 yards receiving, 3 TDs
20 yards passing, 2 TDs (only 3 attempts)
Tomlinson would probably be a better quarterback than Andrew Walter at this point. Having LT, who is so good he stole Lawrence Taylor’s nickname without anyone caring, is like having Monday off from work, taking two-hour lunch breaks every day and knowing some dirt on your boss. You are in control of the situation.
If you don’t get the No. 1 pick, though, you have some options. Running backs will be your weekly bread and butter so try to get one of these guys if LT is off the board.
Stephen Jackson – St. Louis
Following LT’s lead, Jackson decided to sit out pretty much the entire preseason. He did so for good reason. This guy is Ricky Williams without the yoga, bong and Cheetos. He had over 2,300 total yards, 16 TDs, and is faster than almost every linebacker and defensive lineman while being strong enough to squash an entire secondary. He should be the second pick of your draft.
Reggie Bush
Trying to be the next LT, Bush is an all-around threat, whether in the rushing attack, the passing game or returning punts. He had 9 TD’s and over 1500 total yards, many of which didn’t come until the second half of the season. He is one of the most exciting players in the league and is always fun to root for. Look for him late first or early second round.
Sleeper
Adrian Peterson – Minnesota
He was ready to be a pro after his freshman season at Oklahoma but NFL rules dictate that Peterson couldn’t come out until after his junior year. He is an absolute beast. Think of a young Eric Dickerson as far as size and speed. He will split carries to start the year but will be the guy by week 5 or 6. A good six or seventh round pick.
Bust
Frank Gore – San Francisco
Now hear me out before you rip up this page. Gore is very, very good. But he is also very, very injury prone. Last year, he came out of nowhere after having offseason surgery on both of his shoulders. Before he got to the NFL, he had already torn both ACLs in his knees. Now he sat out the preseason with a broken hand. Considering he will be a top-five pick in this year’s draft, you’d be better off going a different direction for value.
TIGHT ENDS
Antonio Gates – San Diego
Sure his running back will eat up touchdowns, but no other player is as good at shielding off defenders and making tough catches in the red zone. He has been the best player at his position for the last three years. Tight ends can be inconsistent so it’s always nice to have a rock like Gates in the lineup. Gates is a good pickup in the early fifth round.
Vernon Davis – San Francisco
If you live in the Bay Area, you know the hype surrounding this youngster. He’s as strong as a lineman, as fast as a receiver and as confident as a Michael Vick prosecutor. Unfortunately, he will probably go too high since people in your draft might be Niner fans.
SLEEPER
Greg Olsen – Chicago
The rookie out of Miami has great speed and should be a favorite of maligned QB Rex Grossman. He has the chance to make a lot of plays over the middle for a passer that will look to make the smart decision more often than he did last year. Should be available in final rounds.
BUST
Kellen Winslow – Cleveland
He has a very good comeback season after a devastating motorcycle injury, but then had another knee surgery (the dreaded microfracture) after the year was over. He also doesn’t have a reliable quarterback to throw him the ball.
DEFENSES
Baltimore, San Diego and New England top the list, but defenses should never be a priority for smart fantasy players. You can either wait for one of the above mentioned three to fall into later rounds (think 8 or 9), or you can sign a new team every seven days. If you just take a look at the weekly matchups, you can usually clean up. Ex: Last year you would have picked any defense that played the Oakland Raiders that particular week.
KICKERS
Being a kicker can be lonesome business. You boot the ball well and everyone loves you. You miss and you’ll find Icy-Hot in your jock or a turd in your cleats. New England’s Adam Vinatieri is the closest any kicker has ever come to being considered a football player, but then everyone remembered he was just a kicker. Chicago’s Robbie Gould is an under-the-radar second-year player that led kickers in points last season. Wait until the last possible round.
