Another "rate my draft" thread

[Ckw]

Alright so this is my team. I was the 8th pick in the draft (crappy position IMO), and it was a snake style draft. This is a 10 team league and is not a PPR league. I have included a poll so you can tell me how great or terrible you think I did, and please share your reasons in the thread. Poll is public, so I will be able to call you out if you rate is as a crappy draft and don't tell me why. So without further ado:

Round 1: WR Andre Johnson - no commentary needed.

Round 2: HB Rashard Mendenhall - basically, all of the top tier backs were gone, and I figure with Big Ben gone the Steelers will really concentrate on the run game.

Round 3: HB Jamaal Charles - probably a reach but guys like Shonn Greene, DeAngelo Williams, Cedric Benson as well as all the 1st and 2nd tier WRs were gone. Jonathan Stewart was also available, but I like the added pass catching ability of Charles.

Round 4: QB Philip Rivers - the QBs were snatched up FAST in this draft. My goal going into the draft was to go Andre at 1 and Peyton at 2, but Rodgers, Brees, and Manning all went in Round 1 and Brady went in Round 2. I feel considering how the draft went, Rivers was a steal in Round 4.

Round 5: HB Arian Foster - may have been a reach but very few RBs were left and I felt if I waited until the 6th, he'd be gone. I have very high hopes for Foster and expect he and Mendenhall to be my starters and Charles potentially as the flex.

Round 6: WR Michael Crabtree - maybe another reach, but I like his upside more than the guys that were available such as TO, Hines Ward, Dwyane Bowe, and am unsure what to expect out of Welker. I almost chose Welker but the knee injury worries me.

Round 7: HB C.J. Spiller - with Fred Jackson hurt, it looks like Spiller will be the man. Seemed like a low risk, high reward pick. Surely, either Spiller or Charles will work out for me as my flex option.

Round 8: WR Mike Wallace - I really was hoping to get Owen Daniels with this pick, but he got snatched up in the 6th. I figured with his injury, he would have lasted longer. Didn't love any of the TEs that were available, and the "experts" have been raving about Wallace. Without Santonio Holmes, he looks to be the Steelers number 1 option.

Round 9: TE Kellen Winslow - I absolutely hate the guy but he was the best receiving TE available. If he stays healthy, this will be a great pick. We'll see I guess.

Round 10: WR Derrick Mason - I feel like I made A LOT of high risk, high reward type picks in this draft, so I decided to go conservative with this pick. LT, TJ Housh, Malcolm Floyd, Johnny Knox, and Lee Evans were all available, but I liked the reliable Mason here.

Round 11: HB Cadillac Williams - if he's healthy, I feel like he provides excellent insurance as a proven commodity. I need proven with all the risks I took in this draft.

Round 12: 49ers D - wasn't happy with this pick. I had scrolled down and didn't realize I wasn't looking at my full board. Should have taken Johnny Knox here. I also could have had Jacoby Jones but didn't realize he was there. What do you guys think?

Round 13: HB Leon Washington - I may cut him. There are a few TEs available such as Heath Miller & John Carlson. Thoughts? Should I keep him? Forsett looks to be the starter.

Round 14: WR Devin Aromashodu - another guy the "experts" were raving about. These picks many times end up getting cut anyway. Figured he was worth a risk.

Round 15: K Jay Feely - everyone started drafting kickers so I figured I better get one. Arizona doesn't look like they will be scoring much so they will probably be kicking. A LOT.

Round 16: QB Kyle Orton - I need a backup QB. I could have gone Matthew Stafford or Chad Henne. Both of those guys seemed riskier though, and Orton is another proven talent.

That wraps it up. So thoughts? Any cuts I should make? Guys I should to sign?

 

[JB]

Can't hardly believe AJ was there at 8!
Mendenhall probably a good pick, could get a lot of points early with Dixon as the qb.
JC is a great pick! Also have him as a top 15 back
If Schaub was gone this is a good pick
Foster a good pick in the 5th. You have a strong RB group

As for the rest, you have great depth at RB with Cadillac& Spiller and I think Washington could have a big year if healthy. Your WR corp looks weak outside of AJ, though Wallace sould have a nice year after Rapesberger comes back. With the Ravens signing Boldin and Whosyourmama, I don't think Mason will get near the touches he has had the past few years. I would look to trade him for a tier 2 TE.

Nice looking team!

 

[stingray]

Like the team. Not crazy about your recievers after Andre. I probably would have gone with another WR in the fourth and taken Flacco or Eli later in the draft. Ur stacked at the RB position.

 

[Ckw]

Thanks for the comments. JB, Schaub actually went the pick immediately before me.

Yeah, the WRs just got snatched off the board. I felt so good with AJ that I felt the need to really strengthen my core since I will be starting two RBs plus will likely start a RB at the flex. Stingray, hindsight is 20-20. The way the draft was going, the QBs were flying off the board. As luck would have it, Flacco and Eli didn't go until the 8th so I could have waited. Seemed at the time the way the QBs were flying off that Rivers, Eli, and Flacco would have been gone by the time my pick was up at the end of the 5th.

The options I could have had were Boldin, Steve Smith (Giants version), Greg Jennings, Ochocinco, and Driver.

I really tried most of the draft to stick to my board and draft BPA regardless of position. We'll see how it works out.

 

[stingray]

I hear ya. I think I made a mistake in my league. I'm in a 14 team league and I took a chance drafting Kolb in the fifth thinking Eli and Flacco would go in the later in the fifth or sixth. Well, Flacco went in the seventh and I got Eli in the eight as my backup. I will probably play Eli more than Kolb because Kolb has looked like crap in the pre-season.

 

[Ckw]

I hear ya. I think I made a mistake in my league. I'm in a 14 team league and I took a chance drafting Kolb in the fifth thinking Eli and Flacco would go in the later in the fifth or sixth. Well, Flacco went in the seventh and I got Eli in the eight as my backup. I will probably play Eli more than Kolb because Kolb has looked like crap in the pre-season.

It certainly is about is inexact of a science as there is. I still have my doubts about Flacco though. Also, what Eli Manning are we going to get? I just felt "safer" having my QB position locked up and taking a bit of a risk on the second WR spot.

My biggest regret is when I drafted the 49ers D and Jacoby was available. Really wish I had gotten him, but I just totally overlooked him.

 

[Dutchrudder]

I give it a 3 due to it being a PPR league. Unless I'm missing somewhere that you have 3 RB starting and a flex for 4, I think you lost a lot of starting WR potential for RB depth. You had Mendenhall, JC and Foster for your 3 RBs which you can use to play matchups all year. With the Spiller pick, you could have gotten a better TE or starting WRs here, which are very important in an PPR league. I think you need to work some trades to upgrade WR/TE a bit if you can.

Btw, 49ers have an easy schedule and Ginn might be returning kicks for them, so good pick on their DST even if you weren't looking for them. They have a lot of potential this year.

 

[Ckw]

I give it a 3 due to it being a PPR league. Unless I'm missing somewhere that you have 3 RB starting and a flex for 4, I think you lost a lot of starting WR potential for RB depth. You had Mendenhall, JC and Foster for your 3 RBs which you can use to play matchups all year. With the Spiller pick, you could have gotten a better TE or starting WRs here, which are very important in an PPR league. I think you need to work some trades to upgrade WR/TE a bit if you can.

Btw, 49ers have an easy schedule and Ginn might be returning kicks for them, so good pick on their DST even if you weren't looking for them. They have a lot of potential this year.

Thanks for the comments. It is NOT a PPR league though. Not sure if that makes a difference in your assessment, but I do agree. To be honest though, there weren't many good WRs left when I made the Spiller pick. Basically what I drafted after that point is what was there when I made the pick. The WRs were picked early and often.

I'm hoping my RBs perform up to expectations and I can dump one off for a quality WR. Or it'd be even better if Crabtree becomes the kind of player he is supposed to be. Sure, he has Alex Smith throwing him the ball, but Alex Smith made Vernon Davis look like a VERY good TE so maybe after they have had time to work together, Crabtree will look good as well. We'll see.

 

[beerlover]

It's not fair to say since we don't know your options, you may have done better or you may have done worse. overall I really like it! Spiller is a steal in the 7th doubt there where any better WR options there? Also like Rivers in the 4th even without Vincent Jackson he's got plenty of weapons & Mathews adds a solid run game to balance the attack. Not crazy about Mendenhall or Charles this high, would like to see your WR options here. 49'ers D solid.

 

[Ckw]

It's not fair to say since we don't know your options, you may have done better or you may have done worse. overall I really like it! Spiller is a steal in the 7th doubt there where any better WR options there? Also like Rivers in the 4th even without Vincent Jackson he's got plenty of weapons & Mathews adds a solid run game to balance the attack. Not crazy about Mendenhall or Charles this high, would like to see your WR options here. 49'ers D solid.

I seriously considered picking Randy Moss in the second as I would have had the two best fantasy WRs on my team, but instead went with Mendenhall. It was a bit of a reach and actually wanted Steven Jackson. My brother actually picked 10th in the first and 1st in the second and got both Frank Gore and Steven Jackson by accident because his auto draft accidently flipped on. Had I known it was a goof up on his part, I would have just picked Moss and traded him for Jackson.

 

[Blazing Arrow]

If looking for a WR look at Cruz on the Giants. Runs solid routes and will probably be #2 before the 3rd game. Plus most people do not really know who he is.

 

[Dutchrudder]

Thanks for the comments. It is NOT a PPR league though. Not sure if that makes a difference in your assessment, but I do agree. To be honest though, there weren't many good WRs left when I made the Spiller pick. Basically what I drafted after that point is what was there when I made the pick. The WRs were picked early and often.

I'm hoping my RBs perform up to expectations and I can dump one off for a quality WR. Or it'd be even better if Crabtree becomes the kind of player he is supposed to be. Sure, he has Alex Smith throwing him the ball, but Alex Smith made Vernon Davis look like a VERY good TE so maybe after they have had time to work together, Crabtree will look good as well. We'll see.

Sorry, was skimming and read 'rate my draft - 10 team - PPR - Andre Johnson' and just went to the list

Anyways, your WR setup isn't so bad then, assuming you have the standard 9 starter setup in this league. Your big points will be coming from the RBs, AJ and Rivers, which is enough to win a lot of games.

 

[Ckw]

Sorry, was skimming and read 'rate my draft - 10 team - PPR - Andre Johnson' and just went to the list

Anyways, your WR setup isn't so bad then, assuming you have the standard 9 starter setup in this league. Your big points will be coming from the RBs, AJ and Rivers, which is enough to win a lot of games.

Thanks.

So I get this trade proposal from my brother. What do you guys think? Rashard Mendenhall & Michael Crabtree for Steven Jackson and Mike Sims-Walker.

Should I do it? Is Sims-Walker really a better #2 WR than Crabtree? Any counter proposals I should make? He has Marques Colston, Donald Driver, Santonio Homles and Pierre Garcon as well.

Thoughts?

 

[JB]

Thanks.

So I get this trade proposal from my brother. What do you guys think? Rashard Mendenhall & Michael Crabtree for Steven Jackson and Mike Sims-Walker.

Should I do it? Is Sims-Walker really a better #2 WR than Crabtree? Any counter proposals I should make? He has Marques Colston, Donald Driver, Santonio Homles and Pierre Garcon as well.

Thoughts?

I would do it if he included Colston instead. I don't think Sims -Walker is that much of a better option than Crabtree. And I have a hard time seeing Jackson remaining healthy and viable all year.

 

[Ckw]

I would do it if he included Colston instead. I don't think Sims -Walker is that much of a better option than Crabtree. And I have a hard time seeing Jackson remaining healthy and viable all year.

Doubt he will do it for Colston. His is hurting a bit at WR too, so I doubt it will work.

 

[Blake]

If looking for a WR look at Cruz on the Giants. Runs solid routes and will probably be #2 before the 3rd game. Plus most people do not really know who he is.

How is he going to be #2 with Hicks, Smith, Manningham and Barden ahead of him? Seems like a tall order.

 

[Blake]

Overall I think you got good value with Rivers in the 4th. Foster in the 5th if he can stay healthy. Andre at #8 is OK. Non PPR might have been better value in a RB. But AJ would be gone by 2nd round pick.

I like your 14th round WR WAY better than your 10th round WR. Especially now with TJ Housh going to BAL.

Overall it looks like a good draft. Just have to wait to see how the season turns out to see if you strick gold, or got fooled.

 

[Ckw]

How about Roddy White, Tim Hightower, and Larry Johnson for Jamaal Charles, Michael Crabtree, and Kyle Orton?

 

[Dutchrudder]

Thanks.

So I get this trade proposal from my brother. What do you guys think? Rashard Mendenhall & Michael Crabtree for Steven Jackson and Mike Sims-Walker.

Should I do it? Is Sims-Walker really a better #2 WR than Crabtree? Any counter proposals I should make? He has Marques Colston, Donald Driver, Santonio Homles and Pierre Garcon as well.

Thoughts?

I think it's an even trade in that they both seem to have the same potential. For me, it would come down to injury potential of the RBs. I think between the two I would be more comfortable with Mendenhall than Jackson, but both should get 1200 yards rushing and some decent TD numbers. I think you should stick with what ya got.

 

[Ckw]

Overall I think you got good value with Rivers in the 4th. Foster in the 5th if he can stay healthy. Andre at #8 is OK. Non PPR might have been better value in a RB. But AJ would be gone by 2nd round pick.

I like your 14th round WR WAY better than your 10th round WR. Especially now with TJ Housh going to BAL.

Overall it looks like a good draft. Just have to wait to see how the season turns out to see if you strick gold, or got fooled.

Agreed and rep your way.

Interesting you like my pick of Aramashodu. I actually wanted Johnny Knox from the Bears but missed my chance to pick him. I figured Aramashodu was worth a shot.

Anyway, the reason I went Andre at 9 (need to change my post as I was actually 9th pick in the draft) was my brother picked after me and knew he would pick AJ before my #2 pick of the second round but the expected him to go with Moss and either Steven Jackson or Frank Gore leaving me with one of those two guys. By accident his autopick got switched on and ESPN auto drafted Gore and Jackson for him, leaving me freaking out over what to do. I should have picked Moss and then been willing to trade him for a RB, but didn't think clearly enough in the 60 seconds I had and went with Mendenhall. Still not a bad pick at all and he will be the focus of the Steelers especially while Ben is out.

 

[Ckw]

I think it's an even trade in that they both seem to have the same potential. For me, it would come down to injury potential of the RBs. I think between the two I would be more comfortable with Mendenhall than Jackson, but both should get 1200 yards rushing and some decent TD numbers. I think you should stick with what ya got.

So you are saying unless I can get Colston, it is too even of a trade (Crabtree for Sims-Walker) and thus am better sticking with what I have due to Jackson's injury concerns?

 

[Dutchrudder]

So you are saying unless I can get Colston, it is too even of a trade (Crabtree for Sims-Walker) and thus am better sticking with what I have due to Jackson's injury concerns?

Yep. Colston would be a surefire upgrade over Crabtree. Mendenhall is likely more highly valued than Steven Jackson, so if he's willing to part with Colston, go for it.

 

[gary]

Is Miller still an option? He's an underrated TE IMO. Overall your team is good. WR deapth is needed but other than that I think your team should be all set.

 

[Ckw]

Yep. Colston would be a surefire upgrade over Crabtree. Mendenhall is likely more highly valued than Steven Jackson, so if he's willing to part with Colston, go for it.

How about this: my friend may be willing to trade Roddy White, Marion Barber, and Larry Johnson for Jamal Charles, Michael Crabtree, and Kyle Orton.

Do I do it? I like Charles a lot but Roddy White would solve my WR issues. I would then start Spiller or Cadillac at the flex I guess. He is pretty loaded at WR, but I don't think if he swaps Greg Jennings for Roddy White that I would do it. Would you? Thoughts.

Is Miller still an option? He's an underrated TE IMO. Overall your team is good. WR deapth is needed but other than that I think your team should be all set.

Talking about Heath Miller or Zack Miller? Heath Miller is available but Zack is not.

I decided to drop Leon Washington and pick up John Carlson. I am worried if he has a good game, he will get picked up and then with my luck, Winslow will get injured and I will have no TE.

 

[JB]

How about this: my friend may be willing to trade Roddy White, Marion Barber, and Larry Johnson for Jamal Charles, Michael Crabtree, and Kyle Orton.

Do I do it? I like Charles a lot but Roddy White would solve my WR issues. I would then start Spiller or Cadillac at the flex I guess. He is pretty loaded at WR, but I don't think if he swaps Greg Jennings for Roddy White that I would do it. Would you? Thoughts.



Talking about Heath Miller or Zack Miller? Heath Miller is available but Zack is not.

I decided to drop Leon Washington and pick up John Carlson. I am worried if he has a good game, he will get picked up and then with my luck, Winslow will get injured and I will have no TE.

White & Charles and Crabtree & Barber are pretty close. Depends on if you value WR or RB more. LJ is a nothing this year. Orton is not a bad backup QB.


edit: After looking over your roster again, White would be a big help. Foster and Mendenhall at RB and AJ/White at WR sounds sweet. Who would you get for your backup QB?

Carlson is a nice backup TE.

 

[Dutchrudder]

How about this: my friend may be willing to trade Roddy White, Marion Barber, and Larry Johnson for Jamal Charles, Michael Crabtree, and Kyle Orton.

Do I do it? I like Charles a lot but Roddy White would solve my WR issues. I would then start Spiller or Cadillac at the flex I guess. He is pretty loaded at WR, but I don't think if he swaps Greg Jennings for Roddy White that I would do it. Would you? Thoughts.

See if he would do JC, Orton and Mike Wallace for Roddy, MB and maybe his backup QB instead of LJ. LJ is waiver wire junk don't bother trading for him.

 

[Ckw]

White & Charles and Crabtree & Barber are pretty close. Depends on if you value WR or RB more. LJ is a nothing this year. Orton is not a bad backup QB.


edit: After looking over your roster again, White would be a big help. Foster and Mendenhall at RB and AJ/White at WR sounds sweet. Who would you get for your backup QB?

Carlson is a nice backup TE.

Yeah, I'd probably have to get Stafford or someone like that.

The reason my friend wants Orton is he was not there for the draft and the only QB he got auto drafted was Kevin Kolb and he is nervous about how he is going to do. Orton has proven he is capable enough of people a top 15 fantasy QB.

If he insists on keeping White and giving me Greg Jennings, do I still take the deal? Is Charles too much to give up especially when there is potential with Crabtree?

 

[Ckw]

See if he would do JC, Orton and Mike Wallace for Roddy, MB and maybe his backup QB instead of LJ. LJ is waiver wire junk don't bother trading for him.

Oh believe me. I'm not doing it at all for LJ. I am doing it all for Roddy White. I doubt he will take Mike Wallace but I'd certainly be willing to give him up.

I'm not concerned with the backup QB spot really. He doesn't even have a backup QB to trade. All he has is Kevin Kolb at QB so he is nervous about going in with just him.

 

[JB]

Oh believe me. I'm not doing it at all for LJ. I am doing it all for Roddy White. I doubt he will take Mike Wallace but I'd certainly be willing to give him up.

I'm not concerned with the backup QB spot really. He doesn't even have a backup QB to trade. All he has is Kevin Kolb at QB so he is nervous about going in with just him.

If he won't take the deal with White & MB for JC, Wallace & Orton then see if he would take that deal with Jennings instead of White, and maybe sweeten it with something a bit better than LJ. If, not even Jennings is a good #2 WR. He is going to have a big year, though Rodgers will spread it around Jennings is the #1 there. Stafford might not be a bad backup to have if he can stay healthy. He will be throwing alot.

Yeah, if you coud keep Crabtree and have AJ, Jennings & Crabtree that would not be bad.


edit: Some are predicting Charles to have a huge year. But I think you need a White/Jennings more than you need JC.

 

[Hardcore Texan]

Nice looking team. I'd say you had a very solid draft.