Ian Allan

The Fanex Football experts draft is underway.

I'll post updates on this throughout the month (it tends to go about one round for every day or so - there's a 12-hour timer).

Not surprisingly, the first six picks were all running backs. Most of the guys in this league think running backs are the key to winning in this format. All 12 of the first-round picks were running backs last year.

Chris Dolfi is on the clock. Then I'm up. If I pick at 1.08, the selection will not be a running back. But I may trade the pick. I've made a verbal agreement with Jim Butler, who's already selected Steven Jackson, to trade the 8th pick, plus second-rounders, if a player that he wants is available at No. 8. We'll find out on Thursday morning.

My reasoning for offering to trade for Jackson is this: Unlike the other guys in the league, I'm not crazy about selecting a running back. Of those 12 running backs selected in the first round last year, for example, eight of those picks proved to be mistakes - and this is a no-moves league. Nevertheless, with so many guys being crazy for running backs, it would be nice to get that position taken car of, and Jackson is a back I'm extremely high on. In this format, I think he should have gone No. 2 overall. But we'll see what Butler says tomorrow.


FANEX FOOTBALL, FIRST ROUND

1.01 RB SD LaDainian Tomlinson (Nazarek)
1.02 RB MIN Adrian Peterson (Cannon)
1.03 RB IND Joseph Addai (Hickerson)
1.04 RB PHI Brian Westbrook (Georgopoulus)
1.05 RB STL Steven Jackson (Butler)
1.06 RB SF Frank Gore (O'Leary)

This is a 12-team draft. No roster moves. No starting lineups - they're determined by a best-ball system throughout the year. Most points in the 17-week NFL season is the winner. Scoring system is 1 point for every 10 run/rec yards or 20 passing yards, 6 points for TDs and 4 points for TD passes. Also, 1 point for receptions. Starting lineup of 3 WR, 2 RB, QB, K, TE, ST-Def and one flex player, who can be a RB, WR or TE.

I won this league last year with the following picks:

1.04 RB Reggie Bush (OK until he got hurt)
2.09 WR Steve Smith (so-so pick)
3.04 WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (great pick)
4.09 QB Drew Brees (great pick)
5.04 RB Jamal Lewis (great pick)
6.09 WR Jerricho Cotchery (solid producer)
7.04 TE Chris Cooley (solid producer)
8.09 WR Greg Jennings (great pick)
9.04 RB Vernand Morency (wasted pick)
10.09 TE L.J. Smith (wasted pick - injured)
11.04 RB Leon Washington (so-so; no credit for TD returns)
12.09 QB Chad Pennington (no value)
13.04 ST New England (finished as #2 defense)
14.09 TE Heath Miller (good pick - he conributed)
15.04 PK Stephen Gostkowski (great pick)
16.09 PK John Kasay (no real value)
17.04 ST Minnesota (finished as #4 defense)
18.09 WR Tab Perry (wasted pick)

To read the writeups on the picks in the 2008 draft, click here.

-Ian Allan

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