Andy Richardson

My dynasty league held its annual rookie draft over the weekend, an extended format affair that featured an owner being kicked out and about a dozen trades involving the 36 picks. Kind of like the real NFL.

I know many if not most of you aren't in dynasty leagues -- and let me just ask, why not? -- but for those of you who are, here's how the 12 owners selected the incoming rookies, with an eye toward long-term value.

1.01     Ryan Mathews, Chargers
1.02     C.J. Spiller, Bills
1.03     Dez Bryant, Cowbosy
1.04     Jahvid Best, Lions

Pretty much the top four in every rookie draft you'll see. I traded Felix Jones away for the right to select Spiller. It's a move that carries substantial risk, since Jones is a guy I traded for a month ago; feel like he could break out this season. But he's got the injury history and the two other decent running backs on the roster with him, and Spiller, despite his lousy situation in Buffalo, doesn't. I'm not going to defend the trade too much, but I thought pinning my hopes on Spiller would be more fun, plus it gives me a chance to put my money where my mouth is when I'm talking him up.

1.05     Ben Tate, Texans
1.06     Demaryius Thomas, Broncos
1.07     Arrelious Benn, Buccaneers
1.08     Montario Hardesty, Browns

Hardesty was my pick. I considered Golden Tate and later tried to trade for him (no luck). The Benn choice looks a little high to me; I'm not sure he'll be the best rookie wideout on the Bucs.

1.09     Jermaine Gresham, Bengals
1.10     Golden Tate, Seahawks
1.11     Sam Bradford, Rams
1.12     Dexter McCluster, Kansas City

Gresham strikes me as a little uncertain to go this high, but I guess all rookies are. You get a point and a half per reception by tight ends in this league, so they're valuable. McCluster is pretty much a boom or bust pick.

2.01     Jonathan Dwyer, Steelers
2.02     Toby Gerhart, Vikings
2.03     Joe McKnight, Jets

The No. 2 running backs. I'm pretty cool on McKnight, but the guy who drafted him has Shonn Greene so it made sense.

2.04     Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
2.05     Aaron Hernandez, Patriots
2.06     Mike Williams, Buccaneers

I was hoping Williams would make it to me at 2.08. Both Patriots tight ends went to the same owner, hedging his bets. I would have taken Gronkowski, not Hernandez.

2.07     Anthony Dixon, 49ers
2.08     Jimmy Clausen, Panthers
2.09     Brandon LaFell, Panthers
2.10     Mardy Gilyard, Rams
2.11     Taylor Price, Patriots
2.12     Damian Williams, Titans

The last of the interesting wideouts; Gilyard was my pick. I admit I got reeled in by the story of him sleeping in his car for a few months and working part time jobs to pay off creditors after losing his scholarship. Work ethic is worth something in NFL rookies, I think. Price and Williams have loads of potential and I like them too, but there's a little more talent for them to work their way through to make an impact on their respective teams, I think. Gilyard starting across from Laurent Robinson this year would not surprise me.

3.01     Jimmy Graham, Saints
3.02     Eric Decker, Broncos
3.03     Charlie Whitehurst, Seahawks
3.04     Emmanuel Sanders, Steelers
3.05     Tim Tebow, Broncos

Veterans on waivers were also available in this draft, which explains the Whitehurst pick (and later, Early Doucet). Graham is a nice pick; he could be starting in New Orleans by next year. I was stunned that Tebow fell this far; I personally did not have room for a quarterback and am skeptical about his chances of NFL success, but he's certainly a better long-term fantasy bet than some of the random wideouts taken ahead of him.

3.06     Deji Karim, Jaguars
3.07     James Starks, Packers
3.08     Ed Dickson, Ravens
3.09     Early Doucet, Cardinals
3.10     Andre Roberts, Cardinals
3.11     LeGarrette Blount, Titans
3.12     (Pick not yet made)

Most of these players will be quickly cut. I considered Blount, since I have Chris Johnson, but I've also got Javon Ringer and didn't want to devote three roster spots to one team's running back. Blount might beat out Ringer, certainly, but it wasn't worth the pick or roster spot to me to find out.

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