Mock Draft Part 1 - Your my boy MJD!!

Tonight I participated in about my 50^th mock draft of the pre-fantasy football season. That’s a lot, I know, but you can never be too prepared for fantasy football. For those who aren’t familiar with what a mock draft is, it’s basically a practice draft. The 2 sites that I do them on are ESPN.com and Antsports.com. The ESPN site is great. It’s 16 rounds and you select a QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, 1 Flex, 1 TE, 1 K, and 1 Defense and 7 bench players. Each owner has a minute and a half to pick and the draft lasts about an hour. In tonight’s draft four of my friends participated. I’ve posted the results of the draft. I’ll also do an analysis of their teams as well. I’m not going to analyze the teams of the owners I don’t know because I don’t know what kind of leagues they’re in and the types of scoring those leagues use. My friend Nick and Matt thought it would be funny to make fun of me in their team names so I dubbed my team the “Haters GonnaHate.” I got the first pick. The other participants that I knew in this draft were my friend Nate (Pick 2), my friend Scott (Pick 4), Nick (Pick 5), and Matt at pick 10. Our picks are in bold.

Round: 1
(1) Haters GonnaHate - Maurice Jones-Drew RB
(2) Team Kornreich - Adrian Peterson RB
(3) Team Longoria - Michael Turner RB
(4) Team Recchio - Matt Forte RB
(5) JohnGus SucksPP - Steven Jackson RB
(6) Team schlussel - Drew Brees QB
(7) Team feeney - Brandon Jacobs RB
(8) Team Paradise - Chris Johnson RB
(9) Team sharma - LaDainian Tomlinson RB
(10) JonGus SucksBallz - Larry Fitzgerald WR
(11) Team Goldberg - Frank Gore RB
(12) Team Williamson - DeAngelo Williams RB

• Me - A lot of people have been calling me crazy for taking MJD number 1 and not AP. I would actually take MJD then Forte before AP. If this pisses you off, then check back later this week when I blog about why AP is not the #1 pick.
• Nate - Nate rolled with AP, I’m sure he loved getting him at 2.
• Scott - Scotty got Forte at 4, great value there.
• Nick – Tough choice here. Nick and I talk about this a lot about how the middle of the 1^st round is not the best place to pick this year. He went with SJax, good pick, LT here would be a good pick as well. I’d probably go with LT. I hope I don’t have to pick at 4-7 maybe even 8 this year. I think the best places to pick are 1-3 and 10-12.
• Matt – Matt went with Fitz at 10. Fitz should be dominant again this year and I like this move of taking an elite WR at the end of the 1^st round.

Round: 2
(13) Team Williamson - Randy Moss WR
(14) Team Goldberg - Calvin Johnson WR
(15) JonGus SucksBallz - Steve Slaton RB
(16) Team sharma - Andre Johnson WR
(17) Team Paradise - Clinton Portis RB
(18) Team feeney - Greg Jennings WR
(19) Team schlussel - Marion Barber RB
(20) JohnGus SucksPP - Brian Westbrook RB
(21) Team Recchio - Steve Smith WR
(22) Team Longoria - Tom Brady QB
(23) Team Kornreich - Reggie Wayne WR
(24) Haters GonnaHate - Anquan Boldin WR

• Matt – Matt got Slaton in the 1^st to go with Fitz, I love that 1-2 combination. Slaton is a borderline 1^st rounder and plays in a dynamite offense. I’d be very happy with these 2 guys with my 1^st 2 picks.
• Nick – Nick got a steal. A lot of people are scared of Westbrook. I’m not, the guy is a stud and a great value towards the end of the 2^nd round and probably the best #2 back. I would be happy with a SJax/BWB combo to start my draft.
• Scott – I like what Scott did here too. I believe that you go with the best available player in the first few rounds. Steve Smith is bad ass and a nice compliment to Forte.
• Nate – Good job by Nate here too. Paired AP with one of the most consistent WRs in the game, Reggie Wayne.
• Me – I haven’t really been big on Boldin before this year and I have missed out because the guy was a stud in spite of me. Yes there is an injury concern with Boldin, but he has one of the highest points per game average when he’s on the field. Also, I only play in Points Per Reception (PPR) leagues and Boldin is the possession guy in desert.

Round: 3
(25) Haters GonnaHate - Wes Welker WR
(26) Team Kornreich - Roddy White WR
(27) Team Longoria - Kevin Smith RB
(28) Team Recchio - Ryan Grant RB
(29) JohnGus SucksPP - Peyton Manning QB
(30) Team schlussel - Ronnie Brown RB
(31) Team feeney - Dwayne Bowe WR
(32) Team Paradise - Marques Colston WR
(33) Team sharma - Thomas Jones RB
(34) JonGus SucksBallz - Brandon Marshall WR
(35) Team Goldberg - Darren McFadden RB
(36) Team Williamson - Terrell Owens WR

• Me – This was a tough decision for me. I really wanted Pierre Thomas also, but the consistency and return of Brady compelled me to take Welker. Again the guy is a reception machine and I know I can count on at least 100 from him, maybe even more with Brady back at the helm.
  
• Nate – Nate went with the same strategy, getting his 2^nd WR. He got a great one. Roddy is a stud and will face more single coverage with Tony Gonzalez taking pressure of him.
• Scott – Scotty opted to get his 2^nd back in the 3^rd. Grant is a great #2 and a decent value in the 3^rd.
• Nick – Nick took Peyton Manning. I know he usually doesn’t like taking a QB that early but he said during the draft that he couldn’t resist and thought Manning was a good value. I would of had a hard time passing on him as well. Manning never gets hurt and always puts up top 5 numbers.
• Matt – Matt went with Brandon Marshall. It’s a good value, but not a player I like. I think he’s an awesome player but I don’t like getting bad vibes from a guy in the pre-season. Marshall wanting to get traded and the downgrade of Orton from Cutler at QB have me concerned. But the good news is that new coach Josh McDaniels turned Tom Brady and Matt Cassel into fantasy studs so Orton has a chance to step in where Cutler left off.

Round: 4
(37) Team Williamson - Philip Rivers QB
(38) Team Goldberg - Ray Rice RB
(39) JonGus SucksBallz - Aaron Rodgers QB
(40) Team sharma - Marshawn Lynch RB
(41) Team Paradise - T.J. Houshmandzadeh WR
(42) Team feeney - Jonathan Stewart RB
(43) Team schlussel - Braylon Edwards WR
(44) JohnGus SucksPP - Chad Ochocinco WR
(45) Team Recchio - Pierre Thomas RB
(46) Team Longoria - Roy E. Williams WR
(47) Team Kornreich - Kurt Warner QB
(48) Haters GonnaHate - Jason Witten TE

• Matt – I love Aaron Rodgers and I love this pick. I would definitely pull the trigger on Rodgers in the 4^th. I had him in every league I played in last year and the guy was a stud.
• Nick – Some people may think this pick was a little early getting OchoCinco in the 4^th. I don’t. I think he bounces back and will prove to be a real steal if he does. If he doesn’t then Nick could be in trouble with making 85 his #1 WR.
• Scott – Scott and I are very high on Thomas. I think he’s a 3^rd rounder so Scott getting him here in the 4^th is a great pick. Scott took 3 RBs with his first 4 picks so it will be interesting to see how the other positions turn out for him.
• Nate – Nate loved this pick. It’s a good value. It’s a great value if Warner can stay healthy again.
• Me – I like Witten at the beginning of the 4^th round so I was licking my chops when he fell to me at the 4^th. I’m not high on a lot of the TEs this year so I’ll either snag a great one early or wait. Witten is projected to get about 100 catches. That would be awesome, even if he only gets 80, I’ll still be very happy with that.

Round: 5
(49) Haters GonnaHate - Reggie Bush RB
(50) Team Kornreich - Tony Gonzalez TE
(51) Team Longoria - Derrick Ward RB
(52) Team Recchio - Vincent Jackson WR
(53) JohnGus SucksPP - Knowshon Moreno RB
(54) Team schlussel - Matt Ryan QB
(55) Team feeney - Santonio Holmes WR
(56) Team Paradise - Tony Romo QB
(57) Team sharma - Antonio Gates TE
(58) JonGus SucksBallz - DeSean Jackson WR
(59) Team Goldberg - Eddie Royal WR
(60) Team Williamson - Joseph Addai RB

• Me – I loved getting Bush here. I don’t think he will fall to the 5^th in any of my real drafts. Yes he is an injury concern, but when Reggie is on the field in that dynamite Saints’ offense, he is dynamite and a reception machine.
• MJD, Boldin, Welker, Witten, Bush
• Nate – Maybe Nate sensed a run on TEs with me taking Witten so he got his guy Tony Gonzalez in the 5^th. I’m not that high on Gonzo this year, but the guy had an awesome year with Tyler Thigpen throwing to him last year so he should be able to carry those numbers over with Matt Ryan now throwing to him
• AP, Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Warner, Tony G
• Scott – Scotty got a nice #2 in VJack. The Chargers will have a top 5 offense this year and VJack broke out last year. He may not be the most consistent WR but this guy is a special talent and you want special talents on your fantasy team. Great players get you into the playoffs, special players win you the championship.
• Forte, Steve Smith, Ryan Grant, Pierre Thomas, VJack
• Nick – Knowshon is one of those guys I don’t know what to make of. I loved him, then I didn’t having nightmares of selecting Selvin Young last year. I’m getting closer to the loving him side again. In the 5^th round as his #3 RB, I’d love him.
• SJax, Westbrook, Manning, OchoCinco, Knowshown
• Matt – Matt went with Desean. I think DeSean is great and he was having a great camp before he got injured this last weekend. But the good news is he returned to practice today and looked fine.
• Fitz, Slaton, Marshall, Aaron Rodgers, DeSean
  
  

Round: 6
(61) Team Williamson - LenDale White RB
(62) Team Goldberg - Matt Schaub QB
(63) JonGus SucksBallz - Chris Wells RB
(64) Team sharma - Antonio Bryant WR
(65) Team Paradise - Lee Evans WR
(66) Team feeney - Jay Cutler QB
(67) Team schlussel - Jerricho Cotchery WR
(68) JohnGus SucksPP - Anthony Gonzalez WR
(69) Team Recchio - Donovan McNabb QB
(70) Team Longoria - Dallas Clark TE
(71) Team Kornreich - Willie Parker RB
(72) Haters GonnaHate - Carson Palmer QB

• Matt – I would of loved this pick a few weeks ago, but Wells is already hurt and was battling injuries in college as well. Right now Hightower is winning the starting job in Arizona. The 6^th round is a little early to take a guy who is currently a backup. However, if Wells can put it together and keep it together. I think this could end up being a nice pick. I wouldn’t be happy with Wells as my #2 back but at this point in the draft there weren’t a lot of guys that were that much better.
• Fitz, Slaton, Marshall, Aaron Rodgers, DeSean, Beanie Wells
• Nick – Nick took another guy we both love, the other Anthony Gonzalez. Now that Marvin Harrison is out of the picture, I expect AGonz to be one of the most consistent WRs week in and week out as he has a great rapport with QB Manning who is also on Nick’s team. I like having a QB-WR combo from the same team because it’s almost like getting double points. AGonz will be one of the best #2 WRs this year.
• SJax, Westbrook, Manning, OchoCinco, Knowshown, AGonz
• Scott – Scotty loves McNabb and got him in the 6^th. He’s a good value and definitely a great QB with a lot of weapons. I definitely like this pick. Scott’s early gamble on stacking up on RBs is paying off with some mid round values.
• Forte, Steve Smith, Ryan Grant, Pierre Thomas, VJack, McNabb
• Nate – Nate went with Fast Willie Parker. I don’t really like him, but this year I wouldn’t mind him as my #3 RB. At this point in the draft, he’s Nate’s #2. The Steelers have a good offense and he’ll run behind a good offensive line, but Rashard Mendenhall will be breathing down his next the whole year and may placate him as the starter at some point.
• AP, Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Warner, Tony G, Willie Parker
• Me – I went with Carson Palmer. I missed the run on QBs but Palmer is one of the last guys I was targeting as my potential starter. He’s healthy and not limited in practice and is one of the most talented QBs in the league. The 6^th is a little early then I’d prefer to take him, but I didn’t want to risk trying to pass on him. I didn’t think he would fall 2 more rounds. If this were a real draft, I would feel comfortable with this pick especially with the guys I have already.
• MJD, Boldin, Welker, Witten, Bush, Palmer

Round: 7
(73) Haters GonnaHate - Hines Ward WR
(74) Team Kornreich - Larry Johnson RB
(75) Team Longoria - Bernard Berrian WR
(76) Team Recchio - Cedric Benson RB
(77) JohnGus SucksPP - Laveranues Coles WR
(78) Team schlussel - Darren Sproles RB
(79) Team feeney - Donald Brown RB
(80) Team Paradise - Felix Jones RB
(81) Team sharma - Matt Cassel QB
(82) JonGus SucksBallz - Michael Crabtree WR
(83) Team Goldberg - Julius Jones RB
(84) Team Williamson - Chris Cooley TE

• Me – I like Ward, he’s one of my all time favorite players and this pick was really hard for me. I really like Laveranues Coles, Donald Brown, and Felix Jones this year and thought about picking those guys with this pick, but I went with Ward because I thought one of those guys might fall to me in the 8^th. I should of known better knowing that Scott and Nick both love Coles too. I think Coles has a higher upside and will be more consistent that Ward, but Ward does play for a better team and against an easier schedule so this could end up being a solid pick, only time will tell. However, I don’t think most fantasy players would complain about getting Ward as their #3 WR.
• MJD, Boldin, Welker, Witten, Bush, Palmer, Ward
• Nate – Nate went with Larry Johnson. I can’t stand LJ. He is a dog. I am avoiding him at all costs. I guess the 7^th round is an ok value and LJ as a #3 RB is ok, but I’d rather have a higher upside guy like Sproles, Felix Jones, or Donald Brown or a less glamorous guy like Julius Jones or Cedric Benson. But there is always a chance LJ bounces back to his form of a top fantasy back. I doubt it and that’s why I’ll let someone else worry about it this year.
• AP, Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Warner, Tony G, Willie Parker, LJ
• Scott – Scotty went with Cedric Benson. This is not a sexy pick at all, but sexy doesn’t win championships. Benson should be a decent back in what I expect to be a high-powered Bengals offense. I like this pick and like Benson as Scott’s #4 RB. I would like Benson as my #3 back. The 7^th is a decent value for him. Benson gives Scott a nice Flex option as well.
• Forte, Steve Smith, Ryan Grant, Pierre Thomas, VJack, McNabb, Benson
• Nick – Nick took Coles. Like I said earlier, I love Coles. The guy could easily catch 70 balls this year. Coles has been a good WR and never really had a great QB throw to him, this year he does and he will fill the void that Houshmandzadeh left and well know how money TJH was. I thought Nick taking OchoCinco has his #1 WR was a bit of a reach, but him getting AGonz as his #2 and Coles as his #3 rounds out his WRs nicely.
• SJax, Westbrook, Manning, OchoCinco, Knowshown, AGonz, Coles
• Matt – Matt took Michael Crabtree. As a 49er fan, Crabtree is on my s**t list lately threatening to sit out the whole season. I was so excited when the Niners got this guy, but his holdout is going to kill the beginning of his career and any hope for good fantasy numbers this year. Crabtree isn’t starting and not even their #3 for the Niners right now. He’s worth a shot later in the drafts but right now with zero fantasy value as a holdout, this is way to high to pick Crabtree, especially with a guy like Kevin Walter still on the board.
• Fitz, Slaton, Marshall, Aaron Rodgers, DeSean, Beanie Wells, Crabtree

Round: 8
(85) Team Williamson - Steelers D/ST D/ST
(86) Team Goldberg - Giants D/ST D/ST
(87) JonGus SucksBallz - Tim Hightower RB
(88) Team sharma - Ahmad Bradshaw RB
(89) Team Paradise - Owen Daniels TE
(90) Team feeney - Greg Olsen TE
(91) Team schlussel - Jets D/ST D/ST
(92) JohnGus SucksPP - Kevin Walter WR
(93) Team Recchio - Santana Moss WR
(94) Team Longoria - Jamal Lewis RB
(95) Team Kornreich - Torry Holt WR
(96) Haters GonnaHate - Rashard Mendenhall RB

• Matt – After Matt’s 2 questionable picks in the previous 2 rounds, he made a smart move in the 8^th. While Wells is probably more talented and could end up starting later in the year, Hightower is the Cardinals starter as of now. This was a nice reverse RB hand cuff and guarantees that Matt will have the Cardinals starter this year regardless of who it is.
• Fitz, Slaton, Marshall, Aaron Rodgers, DeSean, Beanie Wells, Crabtree, Hightower
• Nick – Nick got the guy I thought Matt should of in the 8^th. I love Walter. He plays opposite of the best WR in the NFL and has carved a great niche for himself in this offense and is money anytime Schaub is playing. He was also a nice producer when Johnson went down 2 years ago. Walter as a #4 WR is tremendous as he makes a great flex option week in and week out.
• SJax, Westbrook, Manning, OchoCinco, Knowshown, AGonz, Coles, Walter
• Scott – I don’t really like Santana Moss, but Scotty is a Redskins fan and grabbed his boy here in the 8^th. That’s a pretty decent round to grab him in and not a bad #3 WR at all.
• Forte, Steve Smith, Ryan Grant, Pierre Thomas, VJack, McNabb, Benson, Moss
• Nate – Nate went with Torry Holt. While “Big Game” doesn’t have it like he used to, he still has some gas left in the tank. This offense will move the ball and if Holt can shake this knee injury he’s battling with then this could prove to be a great pick as Holt should get a lot of catches as the Jags #1 WR and possession guy. Nate could of done a lot worse for his #3 WR, like Michael Crabtree.
• AP, Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Warner, Tony G, Willie Parker, LJ, Holt
• Me – With only 2 RBs my strategy was to target some RBs who could be huge if their team’s starter went down. The first guy I got was Rashard Mendenhall. I think as some point this year he takes over for Willie Parker and will be the outright starter in 2010. I’m not wild about Mendenhall as my #3 because it’s unknown how much he’ll touch the ball while Parker is the starter, but I knew who I was taking with my next pick so I felt safe taking Mendenhall here. I’ll consider him my #3a RB.
• MJD, Boldin, Welker, Witten, Bush, Palmer, Ward, Mendenhall

Ok folks, that’s it for now, check back tomorrow and see how the final 8 rounds went and how are final teams looked. I hope you enjoyed the blog and got some insight that will help you this fantasy season. My goal with the fantasy football portion of my blog will to help you improve your fantasy game. Thanks again for checking out the blog!