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The 2014 NFL season was my first as a Fantasy Footballer. Well, I'm hooked. Excitement reigned supreme as I awaited this years drafts for my pair of Fantasy Football teams. Big boards, mock drafts, ADP's...the whole nine yards. I make it a point to never do anything half-ass. After all, winning isn't everything, it's the only thing!
As part of an ongoing weekly series, I'll be sharing my results, transactions and strategies with all Fantasy Footballers. Since I'm still a neophyte at this game, I hope you'll share your thoughts on how I can improve my teams and perhaps win a league championship or two!
The Snake Drafts - Strategies & Rationale
To prepare for my pair of Fantasy Football Snake Drafts, I came up with a game plan for successfully drafting the best team(s) possible. The game plan included 6 draft tenets:
1/ Research is king. I spent a considerable amount of time researching players/teams, entering mock drafts and creating a draft board of 200 players.
2/ One of the goals in each draft was to take a balanced approach through the first five rounds. In each draft I managed to take quality players at a number of positions without reaching: 2 RB's, 1 WR, 1 QB, 1 TE.
3/ I place more importance on the Defense, Placekicker and Tight End than many Fantasy Football participants do. I believe these positions can win weeks for you. I like to have both my PK and DEF selected between picks 85 and 120 if possible. If I can draft a quality Tight End, I'll take one fairly early.
4/ I like to target a half-dozen or so specific players that I feel will be available at certain points/rounds in the draft. This year, my targets were RB Arian Foster (dropped in most drafts due to injury), WR Larry Fitzgerald (a great connection with returning QB Carson Palmer), RB David Johnson (a versatile, high upside rookie with a team who knows how to use him; a great fit), RB Melvin Gordon (the rookie bell-cow back for San Diego), QB Tom Brady(dropped in most drafts due to the threat of a 4-game suspension), and TE Tyler Eifert (looking to rebound from injury).
5/ I'm never afraid to take a chance on rookies and higher-risk players with upside.
6/ In the mid-to-late rounds I tend to trust my board explicitly. BPA rules and I'm always searching for value, especially at the RB and WR positions.
Teams/Draft Results
Team Dubs (TST Live 1 Yahoo - 8 Teams)
Pick Position Player Team 1.3 RB Marshawn Lynch Seattle 2.14 QB Andrew Luck Indianapolis 3.19 WR A.J. Green Cincinnati 4.30 RB Melvin Gordon San Diego 5.35 TE Jimmy Graham Seattle 6.46 WR Jeremy Maclin Kansas City 7.51 WR Larry Fitzgerald Arizona 8.62 RB Arian Foster Houston 9.67 QB Tom Brady New England 10.78 TE Julius Thomas Jacksonville 11.83 WR Eric Decker NY Jets 12.94 DEF Denver Broncos 13.99 K Dan Carpenter Buffalo 14.110 WR Kendall Wright Tennessee 15.115 RB David Johnson Arizona 16.126 RB Andre Williams NY Giants
Frank's Team (Yahoo Public 1103417 - 10 Teams)
Pick Position Player Team 1.6 WR Dez Bryant Dallas 2.15 RB DeMarco Murray Philadelphia 3.26 QB Russell Wilson Seattle 4.35 RB Melvin Gordon San Diego 5.46 TE Travis Kelce Kansas City 6.55 RB Alfred Morris Washington 7.66 WR Sammy Watkins Buffalo 8.75 WR Vincent Jackson Tampa Bay 9.86 DEF St. Louis Rams 10.95 RB T.J. Yeldon Jacksonville 11.106 WR Nelson Agholor Philadelphia 12.115 K Justin Tucker Baltimore 13.126 TE Owen Daniels Denver 14.135 QB Joe Flacco Baltimore 15.146 RB Tevin Coleman Atlanta
Results & Statistics
Team Dubs romped to another victory, with Devonta Freeman once again leading the way (27.60 fantasy points). Still my best acquisition to-date.
Freeman was also a huge factor in Frank's Team's nail-biter victory. Plenty of drama unfolded in last weeks matchup. Frank's Team was down 12.30 points heading into Monday night. The only player remaining who hadn't played (on either team) was RB DeMarco Murray. Talk about keeping my fingers crossed. After a slow start against the Giants, Murray lit it up in the second half, finishing with 18.30 fantasy points, ensuring the victory for Frank's Team.
Both of my teams are 5-1 and leading their respective leagues heading into Week 7.
5 players I'm glad I selected/added: Devonta Freeman, Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald, A.J. Green and the Denver Broncos defense. 5 players who are my biggest disappointments: Andrew Luck, Marshawn Lynch, Melvin Gordon, Sammy Watkins and Dez Bryant. My top two players drafted in each league have woefully underperformed, although DeMarco Murray is finally hitting his stride. Luckily, solid drafting overall, my waiver wire/Free Agent additions and dismal performances by my opponents have allowed me to remain at or near the top of the standings in both leagues.
Team Dubs
Week Team Dubs Opponent PF PA Rank Record 1 95.12 88.72 95.12 88.72 1st 1 0 2 93.90 78.06 189.02 166.78 1st 2 0 3 150.32 59.58 339.34 226.36 1st 3 0 4 72.84 81.94 412.18 308.30 1st 3 1 5 117.90 90.26 530.08 398.56 1st 4 1 6 130.98 88.18 661.06 486.74 1st 5 1
Position Player Team Fantasy Points QB Tom Brady New England 23.48 RB Devonta Freeman Atlanta 27.60 RB Arian Foster Houston 17.20 WR A.J. Green Cincinnati 3.60 WR Jeremy Maclin Kansas City 4.80 Flex Larry Fitzgerald Arizona 9.30 TE Jimmy Graham Seattle 14.00 PK Brandon McManus Denver 14.00 Defense Denver Broncos 17.00 Total Points Week 6 130.98
Player Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Tom Brady 27.62 28.24 22.72 Bye 25.30 23.48 Andrew Luck 19.72 11.40 18.50 Out Out 27.98 Andy Dalton 18.44 Waived Marshawn Lynch 12.40 6.20 2.30 0.00 Out 11.40 Melvin Gordon 4.70 9.80 5.10 4.60 7.40 0.90 Andre Williams 1.40 4.30 8.90 Waived Devonta Freeman 32.90 25.70 27.60 Arian Foster Out Out Out 1.50 11.80 17.20 David Johnson 11.50 16.50 4.10 12.10 12.60 1.70 A.J. Green 6.30 10.50 34.70 8.20 7.80 3.60 Kendall Wright 16.10 1.70 16.80 Bye 3.00 3.40 Larry Fitzgerald 8.70 29.20 25.40 7.90 11.80 9.30 Jeremy Maclin 5.20 5.50 20.10 14.80 8.50 4.80 Eric Decker 9.70 15.70 Out 10.60 Bye 9.90 Jimmy Graham 11.10 1.10 14.30 2.90 3.00 14.00 Charles Clay 0.70 6.20 Julius Thomas Out Out Out Waived Dan Carpenter 11.00 2.00 13.00 6.00 2.00 Waived Brandon McManus 14.00 Denver Broncos 16.00 22.00 16.00 10.00 22.00 17.00
Frank's Team
Week Frank's Team Opponent PF PA Rank Record 1 91.34 79.82 91.34 79.82 3rd 1 0 2 91.14 60.66 182.48 139.88 2nd 2 0 3 68.90 119.06 251.38 258.94 4th 2 1 4 82.38 54.94 333.76 316.48 4th 3 1 5 81.82 63.40 415.58 379.88 3rd 4 1 6 117.02 111.02 532.60 490.90 1st 5 1
Position Player Team Fantasy Points QB Andy Dalton Cincinnati 21.52 RB Devonta Freeman Atlanta 27.60 RB DeMarco Murray Philadelphia 18.30 WR James Jones Green Bay 9.00 WR Sammy Watkins Buffalo 10.80 Flex Allen Hurns Jacksonville 9.00 TE Travis Kelce Kansas City 8.80 PK Justin Tucker Baltimore 8.00 Defense Carolina Panthers 4.00 Total Points Week 6 117.02
Player Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Russell Wilson 16.14 23.04 16.20 15.48 13.62 18.86 Andy Dalton 28.04 21.52 Joe Flacco 2.68 22.56 21.48 8.56 Waived DeMarco Murray 14.00 5.50 0.00 4.80 18.00 18.30 Melvin Gordon 4.70 9.80 5.10 4.60 7.40 0.90 Devonta Freeman 32.90 25.70 27.60 Alfred Morris 12.10 7.20 1.90 6.50 Waived T.J. Yeldon 6.70 8.30 4.20 10.90 12.30 Out Tevin Coleman 8.00 9.20 Out Waived Allen Hurns 9.00 Travis Benjamin 29.50 8.50 7.90 8.30 Waived Sammy Watkins 0.00 12.00 3.90 Out Out 10.80 Marvin Jones 1.00 Waived Vincent Jackson 5.10 11.40 4.00 20.70 3.40 Bye Dez Bryant 4.80 Out Out Out Out Out Nelson Agholor 0.50 Waived James Jones 13.70 9.00 Travis Kelce 22.60 5.80 10.00 2.90 3.50 8.80 Ladarius Green 5.00 Waived Jimmy Graham 14.00 Owen Daniels 0.50 1.90 8.80 Waived Justin Tucker 10.00 15.00 6.00 15.00 6.00 8.00 Carolina 4.00 St. Louis 14.00 4.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 Bye
Transactions
Team Dubs
Week 4 - Added RB Devonta Freeman, Dropped RB Andre Williams
Week 4 - Added QB Andy Dalton, Dropped TE Julius Thomas
Week 5 - Added TE Charles Clay, Dropped QB Andy Dalton
Week 6 - Added PK Brandon McManus, Dropped PK Dan Carpenter
Week 7 - Added PK Josh Brown, Dropped RB David Johnson
Week 7 - Added DEF Pittsburgh Steelers, Dropped WR Kendall Wright
Frank's Team
Week 2 - Added WR Tavon Austin, Dropped WR Nelson Agholor
Week 2 - Added WR Travis Benjamin, Dropped WR Tavon Austin
Week 4 - Added RB Devonta Freeman, Dropped RB Tevin Coleman
Week 4 - Added WR Marvin Jones, Dropped TE Owen Daniels
Week 5 - Added WR James Jones, Dropped WR Marvin Jones
Week 5 - Added QB Andy Dalton, Dropped QB Joe Flacco
Week 5 - Added TE Ladarius Green, Dropped RB Alfred Morris
Week 6 - Added WR Allen Hurns, Dropped WR Travis Benjamin
Week 6 - Added DEF Carolina Panthers, Dropped DEF St. Louis Rams
Week 6 - Added TE Jimmy Graham, Dropped TE Ladarius Green
Week 7 - Added DEF St. Louis Rams. Dropped DEF Carolina Panthers
Week 7 - Added WR Travis Benjamin, Dropped RB Melvin Gordon
Week 7 Starting Lineups
Team Dubs
QB - Tom Brady
RB - Devonta Freeman, Arian Foster
WR - Larry Fitzgerald, Eric Decker
Flex - Marshawn Lynch
TE - Jimmy Graham
PK - Josh Brown
Def - Pittsburgh Steelers
Out - K - Brandon McManus, Def - Denver Broncos, WR - A.J. Green (Byes)
With Denver on a bye, I needed to make a couple of moves to cover for Brandon McManus and the Broncos defense this week. The Steelers and Josh Brown should prove to be adequate bye week replacements. The ultra-consistent Eric Decker starts in place of Jeremy Maclin, who suffered a concussion last week and may not be available on Sunday.
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Frank's Team
QB - Russell Wilson
RB - Devonta Freeman, DeMarco Murray
WR - Vincent Jackson, Allen Hurns, Travis Benjamin
TE - Jimmy Graham
PK - Justin Tucker
Def - St. Louis Rams
Out - WR - Dez Bryant, WR - Sammy Watkins (Injuries), QB - Andy Dalton, WR - James Jones (Byes)
Another week, another set of WR issues. Watkins and Bryant won't play and Jones is on a bye week. I had to scramble yet again to cobble together a decent WR group for Week 7. Adding Benjamin and waiving Gordon has left me with only three RB's for now (Freeman, Murray and Yeldon).
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