:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47650899/Fantasy_Football_2.0.0.jpg)
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
Week 9 Results & Statistics
A great (and lucky) week for the Team Dubs juggernaut. For the second consecutive week, the outcome of my matchup was decided on Monday Night Football. I had christened Week 9 the "Week of the Bye". 5 players from each of my teams had byes last week. I scrambled to put together competitive lineups and was fortunate it all worked out with a pair of victories. The return of Dez Bryant (16.40 points) and the resurgent DeMarco Murray will make Frank's Team very difficult to defeat for the remainder of the season.
After the pair of victories in Week 9, both of my teams are 8-1 and leading their respective leagues heading into Week 10,
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 7 113.80 83.88 774.86 570.62 1st 6 1 8 118.84 114.52 893.70 685.14 1st 7 1 9 81.92 76.46 975.62 761.60 1st 8 1
Position Player Team Fantasy Points QB Tom Brady New England 18.86 RB Devonta Freeman Atlanta 13.90 RB Ronnie Hillman Denver 0.10 WR A.J. Green Cincinnati 5.30 WR Eric Decker NY Jets 13.90 Flex Jarvis Landry Miami 9.06 TE Jordan Reed Washington 7.80 PK Brandon McManus Denver 6.00 Defense Denver Broncos 7.00 Total Points Week 9 81.92
Player Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Tom Brady 27.62 28.24 22.72 Bye 25.30 23.48 29.70 30.34 18.86 Andrew Luck 19.72 11.40 18.50 Out Out 27.98 26.02 17.74 21.48 Andy Dalton 18.44 Waived Marshawn Lynch 12.40 6.20 2.30 0.00 Out 11.40 18.20 8.20 Bye Melvin Gordon 4.70 9.80 5.10 4.60 7.40 0.90 2.90 6.10 5.60 Andre Williams 1.40 4.30 8.90 Waived Devonta Freeman 32.90 25.70 27.60 13.00 13.10 13.90 Charcandrick West 18.20 Bye Ronnie Hillman 17.50 0.10 Arian Foster Out Out Out 1.50 11.80 17.20 24.50 IR David Johnson 11.50 16.50 4.10 12.10 12.60 1.70 Waived A.J. Green 6.30 10.50 34.70 8.20 7.80 3.60 Bye 17.80 5.30 Kendall Wright 16.10 1.70 16.80 Bye 3.00 3.40 Waived Larry Fitzgerald 8.70 29.20 25.40 7.90 11.80 9.30 3.90 12.40 Bye Jeremy Maclin 5.20 5.50 20.10 14.80 8.50 4.80 Out 9.50 Bye Eric Decker 9.70 15.70 Out 10.60 Bye 9.90 9.40 12.00 13.90 Jarvis Landry 7.10 9.06 Jimmy Graham 11.10 1.10 14.30 2.90 3.00 14.00 3.10 7.50 Bye Jordan Reed Bye 7.80 Charles Clay 0.70 6.20 2.60 Waived Julius Thomas Out Out Out Waived Dan Carpenter 11.00 2.00 13.00 6.00 2.00 Waived Josh Brown 10.00 Waived Brandon McManus 14.00 Bye 11.00 6.00 Pittsburgh Steelers 2.00 Waived Denver Broncos 16.00 22.00 16.00 10.00 22.00 17.00 Bye 9.00 7.00
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 6 117.32 111.02 532.90 490.90 1st 5 1 7 81.80 37.70 614.70 528.60 1st 6 1 8 88.20 74.74 702.90 603.34 1st 7 1 9 110.66 78.96 813.56 682.30 1st 8 1
Position Player Team Fantasy Points QB Andy Dalton Cincinnati 21.86 RB Devonta Freeman Atlanta 13.90 RB DeMarco Murray Philadelphia 22.10 WR Allen Hurns Jacksonville 18.20 WR Dez Bryant Dallas 16.40 WR James Jones Green Bay 5.70 TE Gary Barnidge Cleveland 3.50 PK Brandon McManus Denver 6.00 Defense St. Louis Rams 3.00 Total Points Week 9 110.66
Player Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Russell Wilson 16.14 23.04 16.20 15.48 13.62 18.86 13.40 14.60 Bye Andy Dalton 28.04 21.52 Bye 11.64 21.86 Joe Flacco 2.68 22.56 21.48 8.56 Waived DeMarco Murray 14.00 5.50 0.00 4.80 18.00 18.60 7.00 Bye 22.10 Melvin Gordon 4.70 9.80 5.10 4.60 7.40 0.90 Waived Devonta Freeman 32.90 25.70 27.60 13.00 13.10 13.90 Charcandrick West 18.20 Bye 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 18.40 Bye 10.10 Tevin Coleman 8.00 9.20 Out Waived Allen Hurns 9.00 11.30 Bye 18.20 Travis Benjamin 29.50 8.50 7.90 8.30 Waived 2.70 Waived Sammy Watkins 0.00 12.00 3.90 Out Out 10.80 Out Bye 22.80 Marvin Jones 1.00 Waived 1.40 Waived Vincent Jackson 5.10 11.40 4.00 20.70 3.40 Bye 1.30 Waived Dez Bryant 4.80 Out Out Out Out Out Out 1.20 16.40 Nelson Agholor 0.50 Waived James Jones 13.70 9.00 Bye 0.20 5.70 Travis Kelce 22.60 5.80 10.00 2.90 3.50 8.80 7.30 10.90 Bye Ladarius Green 5.00 Waived Gary Barnidge 3.50 Jimmy Graham 14.00 3.10 7.50 Bye Owen Daniels 0.50 1.90 8.80 Waived Brandon McManus 6.00 Justin Tucker 10.00 15.00 6.00 15.00 6.00 8.00 5.00 20.00 Bye Carolina 4.00 Waived St. Louis 14.00 4.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 Bye 25.00 12.00 3.00
Transactions
Team Dubs
Week Added Dropped 4 Devonta Freeman Andre Williams Charles Clay Julius Thomas 6 Brandon McManus Dan Carpenter 7 Josh Brown Kendall Wright Pittsburgh David Johnson 8 Jarvis Landry Arian Foster (IR) Ronnie Hillman Josh Brown Charcandrick West Pittsburgh Jordan Reed Charles Clay 10 Derek Carr Andrew Luck
Frank's Team
Week Added Dropped 2 Travis Benjamin Nelson Agholor 4 Devonta Freeman Tevin Coleman Marvin Jones Owen Daniels 5 Andy Dalton Joe Flacco Ladarius Green Alfred Morris James Jones Marvin Jones 6 Allen Hurns Travis Benjamin Carolina St. Louis 7 St. Louis Carolina Travis Benjamin Melvin Gordon Jimmy Graham Ladarius Green 8 Marvin Jones Vincent Jackson Charcandrick West Travis Benjamin 9 Gary Barnidge Marvin Jones Brandon McManus Justin Tucker 10 Justin Tucker Brandon McManus Michael Crabtree Gary Barnidge
Week 10 Starting Lineups
Team Dubs
Position Player Team QB Tom Brady New England RB Marshawn Lynch Seattle RB Charcandrick West Kansas City WR A.J. Green Cincinnati WR Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Flex Eric Decker NY Jets TE Jordan Reed Washington PK Brandon McManus Denver Defense Denver Broncos Out Devonta Freeman Bye Out Melvin Gordon Bye
The big news here of course is the injury to Andrew Luck, who could be out of action for 2-6 weeks. Luck had been a disappointment this season and I've used Tom Brady (#1 QB in points) throughout the season to-date. It was a difficult decision to release him, but I believe Derek Carr will provide better insurance for Brady down the stretch. The only real difficulty this week is Devonta Freeman being unavailable due to a bye. Charcandrick West should be an adequate replacement. I sure do miss Arian Foster! Eric Decker has earned himself a place in the starting lineup due to his consistently solid performances (11.6 points per week average). He scored 14.50 points last night against the Buffalo Bills.
Frank's Team
Position Player Team QB Andy Dalton Cincinnati RB T.J. Yeldon Jacksonville RB DeMarco Murray Philadelphia WR Allen Hurns Jacksonville WR Dez Bryant Dallas WR James Jones Green Bay TE Jimmy Graham Seattle PK Justin Tucker Baltimore Defense St. Louis Rams Out Devonta Freeman Bye
Game matchups were key in setting the starting lineup for this week. Russell Wilson, Sammy Watkins and Travis Kelce are all sitting because of unfavorable matchups. T.J. Yeldon should be a decent replacement for Devonta Freeman, although Freeman will be sorely missed. Picking up Michael Crabtree on waivers adds much-needed depth to a unit that's been besieged by injuries all season.
Keys To A Winning Season
1/ A solid draft from top to bottom.
2/ Correctly setting weekly starting lineups.
3/ Avoiding the injury bug.
4/ Being proactive and vigilant with respect to the Waiver Wire and Free Agency.
5/ Having a good luck charm handy at all times!
*************