Fantasy News
Many subscribe to the theory that you must select running backs early and often to be successful in a fantasy league.
I don’t believe in that theory – particulalry not for this type of league – so I’m going with yet another wide receiver with my fifth choice. Chad Johnson, er … “Ochocino”, of the Bengals. This gives me one running back and four wide receivers so far.
Does this make sense? Yes it does. In this league, you’re required to start three wide receivers plus a flex player (RB-WR-TE). And in this scoring system (PPR league) good wide receivers outperform the vast majority of running backs. So basically, every team in this draft needs to be looking to obtain four good wide receivers. There are no waiver moves, so what you draft is what you’re stuck with for the season.
Those who don’t draft good wide receivers will be left selecting guys like Greg Camarillo, Rashied Davis, Sidney Rice and Michael Jenkins – hope that by drafting about seven or eight guys of that ilk, they’ll get by (it’s a best-ball score league). But that approach, as I’ve seen in past years in many leagues, simply doesn’t work.
I’ve won this league in each of the last two years – both of those teams essentially lapped the field, finishing more than a week ahead of everyone else by the end of the competition. And with both of those teams, it was at the receiver/flex position where the separation occurred. Last year I had Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith and Wes Welker – those guys combined for about 1150 points. Each one had at least 250 points. The previous year, it was Houshmandzadeh, Jennings, Cotchery and Steve Smith for a combined 950; all of those guys went for at least 210. That’s where I’ve been winning in the past.
Unlike running backs, receivers stay healthy. Those four guys I’ve selected – Smith-Gonzalez-Ochocinco-Welker – might all start 16 games. They’re not going to be as good as that group I put together last year, but I think they’ll combine for 380-390 catches, 4500+ yards and about 34 TDs. That will be a nice foundation for this team.
2009 FANEX ANALYSIS DRAFT
1.01 RB Adrian Peterson (Dolfi)
1.02 RB Michael Turner (Cannon)
1.03 RB Maurice Jones-Drew (Pitzer)
1.04 RB LaDainian Tomlinson (Kellogg)
1.05 RB Matt Forte (Davis)
1.06 RB Steven Jackson (Cahill)
1.07 RB Chris Johnson (Holm)
1.08 RB Frank Gore (Hulett)
1.09 RB DeAngelo Williams (O’Leary)
1.10 RB Brian Westbrook (Rito)
1.11 WR Larry Fitzgerald (Cannon)
1.12 RB Steve Slaton (Harmon)
2.01 WR Randy Moss (Harmon)
2.02 WR Steve Smith (Allan)
2.03 WR Andre Johnson (Rito)
2.04 RB Clinton Portis (O’Leary)
2.05 RB Darren McFadden (Hulett)
2.06 WR Calvin Johnson (Holm)
2.07 RB Brandon Jacobs (Cahill)
2.08 RB Marion Barber (Davis)
2.09 QB Tom Brady (Kellogg)
2.10 WR Reggie Wayne (Pitzer)
2.11 WR Wes Welker (Allan)
2.12 RB Ronnie Brown (Dolfi)
3.01 WR Roddy White (Dolfi)
3.02 QB Drew Brees (Cannon)
3.03 RB Ryan Grant (Pitzer)
3.04 WR Terrell Owens (Kellogg)
3.05 QB Peyton Manning (Cahill)
3.06 RB Knowshon Moreno (Cannon)
3.07 WR Greg Jennings (Hulett)
3.08 RB Marshawn Lynch (O’Leary)
3.09 WR Dwayne Bowe (Davis)
3.10 WR Marques Colston (Rito)
3.11 RB Reggie Bush (Allan)
3.12 RB Derrick Ward (Harmon)
4.01 WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Harmon)
4.02 WR Anthony Gonzalez (Allan)
4.03 WR Anquan Boldin (Rito)
4.04 TE Antonio Gates (O'Leary)
4.05 WR Brandon Marshall (Hulett)
4.06 RB Kevin Smith (Holm)
4.07 RB Larry Johnson (Cahill)
4.08 WR Braylon Edwards (Davis)
4.09 RB Beanie Wells (Kellogg)
4.10 WR Roy Williams (Pitzer)
4.11 TE Jason Witten (Holm)
4.12 RB Julius Jones (Dolfi)
5.01 QB Aaron Rodgers (Dolfi)
5.02 WR Chad Ochocinco (Allan)
5.03 QB Philip Rivers (Pitzer)
5.04 WR Vincent Jackson (Kellogg)
5.05 WR Santonio Holmes (Davis)
5.06 TE Tony Gonzalez (Cahill)
This draft can be followed at myfantasyleague.com.
To read the reasoning for each pick by each expert, click here.
-Ian Allan
- Comments [4]
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Posted by Gregory Oswell | May. 19 at 02:08 PM
I am more surprised with your selection of Gonzalez over Boldin than your choice to go with 4 WRs in the first 5 picks. BTW For the weeks he is healthy Reggie is PPR gold. GOLD IAN!!! GOLD!!!
Posted by IAN ALLAN | May. 19 at 02:40 PM
This is a no-moves league. I want guys who are going to play 16 games. Guys I can count on. I'm projecting Boldin to be just a hair more productive than Gonzalez (with Harrison gone, Gonzalez will now be a starter there). And Boldin has the lengthy injury history. Multiple knee surgeries and his body is breaking down -- he'll be 29 in October. Has missed at least two games in four of the past five years. Plus he's really upset about his contract. He might walk out, and he could be dealt to a team like Baltimore, where he wouldn't be a top-35 receiver. Gonzalez is the much safer, more logical choice there, in my opinion.
Posted by Duane Stay | May. 19 at 03:17 PM
Is it time for a rookie that produces this year? Moreno or Macklin? Favre or Rosenfels late might be a good gamble, but watch out,because I'm a Viking fan and the last part could be total homer.
Posted by Duane Stay | May. 19 at 06:03 PM
Eddie Royal went, but who's going to throw to him? McNabb to Macklin could be interesting. The magazine deadline must be close, I don't know how you have time for this draft. You're going to have to rely on us members!