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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
Week 10 Results & Statistics
The Team Dubs juggernaut continues to roll. The losses of Devonta Freeman and Marshawn Lynch (bye weeks) were more than mitigated by Charcandrick West and Ronnie Hillman, as the pair combined for 39.20 fantasy points.
Frank's Team put up a stinker last week, with less-than-average performances across the board. The week still could have been successful if I'd started Charcandrick West instead of DeAngelo Williams at RB.
Team Dubs moved to 9-1 with its 6th consecutive win and remains comfortably in first place. The loss by Frank's Team drops them into 2nd place with an 8-2 record.
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 10 107.56 84.24 1083.18 845.84 1st 9 1
Position Player Team Fantasy Points QB Tom Brady New England 19.26 RB Ronnie Hillman Denver 11.10 RB Charcandrick West Kansas City 28.10 WR A.J. Green Cincinnati 4.70 WR Eric Decker NY Jets 14.50 Flex Larry Fitgerald Arizona 13.00 TE Jordan Reed Washington 14.90 PK Brandon McManus Denver 1.00 Defense Denver Broncos 1.00 Total Points Week 10 107.56
Player Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Tom Brady 27.62 28.24 22.72 Bye 25.30 23.48 29.70 30.34 18.86 19.26 Andrew Luck 19.72 11.40 18.50 Out Out 27.98 26.02 17.74 21.48 Waived Derek Carr 19.28 Andy Dalton 18.44 Waived Marshawn Lynch 12.40 6.20 2.30 0.00 Out 11.40 18.20 8.20 Bye 11.00 Melvin Gordon 4.70 9.80 5.10 4.60 7.40 0.90 2.90 6.10 5.60 Bye Andre Williams 1.40 4.30 8.90 Waived Devonta Freeman 32.90 25.70 27.60 13.00 13.10 13.90 Bye Charcandrick West 18.20 Bye 28.10 Ronnie Hillman 17.50 0.10 11.10 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 4.70 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 13.00 Jeremy Maclin 5.20 5.50 20.10 14.80 8.50 4.80 Out 9.50 Bye 1.70 Eric Decker 9.70 15.70 Out 10.60 Bye 9.90 9.40 12.00 13.90 14.50 Brandin Cooks 22.90 Jarvis Landry 7.10 9.06 Waived Jimmy Graham 11.10 1.10 14.30 2.90 3.00 14.00 3.10 7.50 Bye 4.10 Jordan Reed Bye 7.80 14.90 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 1.00 Pittsburgh Steelers 2.00 Waived Denver Broncos 16.00 22.00 16.00 10.00 22.00 17.00 Bye 9.00 7.00 1.00
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 10 53.48 67.00 867.04 749.30 2nd 8 2
Position Player Team Fantasy Points QB Andy Dalton Cincinnati 9.88 RB DeAngelo Williams Pittsburgh 6.90 RB DeMarco Murray Philadelphia 11.90 WR Allen Hurns Jacksonville 12.20 WR Dez Bryant Dallas 4.50 WR James Jones Green Bay 0.00 TE Jimmy Graham Seattle 4.10 PK Justin Tucker Baltimore 2.00 Defense St. Louis Rams 2.00 Total Points Week 10 53.48
Player Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Russell Wilson 16.14 23.04 16.20 15.48 13.62 18.86 13.40 14.60 Bye 17.80 Andy Dalton 28.04 21.52 Bye 11.64 21.86 9.88 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 11.90 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 Bye Charcandrick West 18.20 Bye 28.10 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 Waived Tevin Coleman 8.00 9.20 Out Waived DeAngelo Williams 6.90 Allen Hurns 9.00 11.30 Bye 18.20 12.20 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 1.40 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 4.50 Nelson Agholor 0.50 Waived James Jones 13.70 9.00 Bye 0.20 5.70 0.00 Michael Crabtree 5.50 Travis Kelce 22.60 5.80 10.00 2.90 3.50 8.80 7.30 10.90 Bye 3.60 Ladarius Green 5.00 Waived Gary Barnidge 3.50 Waived Jimmy Graham 14.00 3.10 7.50 Bye 4.10 Owen Daniels 0.50 1.90 8.80 Waived Brandon McManus 6.00 Waived Justin Tucker 10.00 15.00 6.00 15.00 6.00 8.00 5.00 20.00 Bye 2.00 Carolina 4.00 Waived St. Louis 14.00 4.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 Bye 25.00 12.00 3.00 2.00
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 Brandin Cooks Jarvis Landry
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 DeAngelo Williams T.J. Yeldon 11 Travis Benjamin James Jones
Week 11 Starting Lineups
Team Dubs
Position Player Team QB Tom Brady New England RB Marshawn Lynch Seattle RB Devonta Freeman Atlanta WR Eric Decker NY Jets WR Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Flex Charcandrick West Kansas City TE Jimmy Graham Seattle PK Brandon McManus Denver Defense Denver Broncos Out Brandin Cooks Bye
Devonta Freeman and Marshawn Lynch both return this week with juicy matchups on tap. With Charcandrick West in the Flex position, I expect this trio to put up some outstanding numbers this weekend. A.J. Green is benched this week in favor of Larry Fitzgerald and Eric Decker, both of whom have great matchups and more consistent production.
Frank's Team
Position Player Team QB Russell Wilson Seattle RB Devonta Freeman Atlanta RB Charcandrick West Kansas City WR Dez Bryant Dallas WR Allen Hurns Jacksonville WR Michael Crabtree Oakland TE Jimmy Graham Seattle PK Justin Tucker Baltimore Defense St. Louis Rams Out DeAngelo Williams Bye Out Travis Benjamin Bye
Andy Dalton, DeMarco Murray and Sammy Watkins are all benched this week due to unfavorable matchups. The WR positions have been problematic all season, mostly due to injury. Michael Crabtree should give the WR corps a boost this week.
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!
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