Analyzing Team No. 4 in 2012 Fantasy Football PPR League Draft
Sunday, Aug. 12, was the day of my league’s 2012 Fantasy Football draft. Yes, I used the word “league” in the singular form. I’m not one to play in a truckload of leagues each year hoping that, by having a different star player in each one, I’ll come out on top in at least one of them. No, I play in one league and I focus all my attention on my team within that 10-team PPR redraft (or seasonal) league.
As mentioned, we had our draft on Sunday and I was a little nervous heading into it. Last year, I felt very prepared and it showed as I finished second our league. This year, I didn’t feel quite as confident on draft day, but I think I came away with a solid squad nonetheless. You’ll have to let me know how I did with the 4th pick:
Round 1 (4): Philadelphia Eagles RB LeSean McCoy – I took him 8th overall last year, so taking him again this year goes against my norm, but he’s a sure thing at No. 4 after Aaron Rodgers, Arian Foster and Tom Brady were taken.
Others considered: Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice
Round 2 (17): New England Patriots WR Wes Welker – Always overlooked early in drafts, Welker was the No. 2 overall scorer among PPR receivers last year. No way I was going to let him get by me here.
Others considered: Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones
Round 3 (24): Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles – I never take injured players, so I don’t know what came over me, but I just couldn’t pass on Charles here. He’s definitely not bad as my No. 2 RB.
Others considered: Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte and San Diego Chargers RB Ryan Mathews
Round 4 (37): Carolina Panthers WR Steve Smith: After his stellar resurrection with Cam Newton under center in 2011, Smith is a superb No. 2 WR option here.
Others considered: New Orleans Saints RB Darren Sproles and Bears WR Brandon Marshall
Round 5 (44): Saints WR Marques Colston – He missed three games in 2011, but still ended up with 80 catches for over 1,110 yards and 8 touchdowns. Enough said for a No. 3 WR.
Others considered: Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas, Buffalo Bills RB Fred Jackson and Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo
Round 6 (57): New York Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw – He was the only proven starting RB left on the board and I needed some depth with Charles’ health still a concern.
Others considered: Broncos TE Jacob Tamme and Cowboys WR Miles Austin
Round 7 (64): Falcons QB Matt Ryan – I waited awhile to take a QB and Ryan was by far the best available at this point. He was the 8th-best fantasy QB last year and the Falcons have employed a pass-heavy attack for 2012.
Others considered: Giants QB Eli Manning and Cowboys WR Austin
Round 8 (77): Green Bay Packers RB James Starks – With McCoy the only every-week starter in my stable of RBs, I had to add depth here with Starks, who is now the surefire starter in Green Bay.
Others considered: Patriots RB Stevan Ridley
Round 9 (84): Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne – The Colts played their first preseason game just hours before the draft and rookie QB Andrew Luck looked stellar. Wayne is his No. 1 target, so he’s a great No. 4 WR for me.
Others considered: Chargers WR Robert Meachem
Round 10 (97): Colts RB Donald Brown – Luck’s first pass was a 63-yard touchdown to Brown. In a PPR league, he’s pure gold as a No. 5 RB.
Others considered: Arizona Cardinals RB Beanie Wells
Round 11 (104): Washington Redskins TE Fred Davis – I was sweating by this point for a TE. Every player I had on my radar was gone about 3 picks before it was my turn over and over, so I took Davis late in hopes that he Robert Griffin III develop some solid chemistry.
Others considered: Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez
Round 12 (117): Colts TE Coby Fleener – I expect Fleener to become an elite fantasy TE in his 2nd or 3rd season, but he’ll make a stellar backup for now.
Others considered: Detroit Lions RB Jahvid Best and Lions WR Titus Young
Round 13 (124): Bears Defense – I usually wait until the second-to-last round to take a D/ST, but the Bears were still left here and they were the 2nd-best fantasy unit in 2011.
Others considered: San Francisco 49ers WR Randy Moss
Round 14 (137): Colts QB Luck – As mentioned, Luck was awesome in his preseason debut and he’ll be the steal of the draft if he puts up numbers anywhere close to the ones Newton did last year.
Others considered: Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton
Round 15 (144): Redskins K Neil Rackers – I figure Griffin will do enough to get the Redskins in field goal range a lot, but not score touchdowns. That means a big year for Rackers.
Others considered: Falcons K Matt Bryant and Tennessee Titans K Rob Bironas
How did I do? Please Rant below with how you think I should have approached the draft.
Jeric Griffin is the Director of Content for www.RantSports.com. Follow Jeric on Twitter @JericGriffin or ”Like” Jeric on Facebook
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