Survivor I - Nipsey Commentary

NOTE: this draft was completed on 7/24

Pick 1.10: WR Randy Moss - OAK

Positives -

1. He's Randy Moss.
2. Norv turner's offense should be suited for him.
3. Has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove to the Vikings.
4. Reports say he's had an excellent off-season and is in the best shape of his career.

Negatives -

1. He's Randy Moss.
2. Staying healthy has been a concern in seasons past.
3. Admits to playing when he wants to play.

Draft Strategy - This is the first draft since 1995 that I've taken a non-RB with my first round pick. I wanted to go RB-RB or RB-WR with my first two picks. I knew one of Westbrook, K. Jones, McGahee, J. Jones, or Dillon was going to be around for my next pick. I don't think Moss would've lasted. Also, the league gives 1 pt per reception. I want to take guys that are capable of exploding on any given week. There is no difference between 2nd and 12th place so why not go for it?

Pick 2.3: RB Kevin Jones - DET

Positives -

1. Coming off a monster second half last year
2. The focus of the Lions offense

Negatives -

1. Played against a fairly weak schedule in that great stretch last year.
2. Hasn't proved he can carry the load/stay healthy for a full season yet.

Draft Strategy - I was thrilled to see Jones drop to me here. I feel I've gotten first round talent at pick 15. If McGahee was available here, I take him, but Jones is no slouch. Nobody else on the radar screen once my pick came and Jones was available. Ideally, I'd like to draft another RB with my third round pick, but I'm going to take the player I think is capable of having a massive week, regardless of position.

Pick 3.10: TE Antonio Gates - SD

Positives -

1. Came almost out of nowhere to score 13 touchdowns last year.
2. Great hands, shields defenders away with his body as good as anyone.

Negatives -

1. Won't sneak up on anyone this year.
2. Tough to be considered the go to guy when LT's on your team.

Draft Strategy - No RB jumped out at me here. Did I want to reach for one of those rookies here? Too early, in my opinion. Barlow? Nah. Bennett? Been burned before. I feel there is value at the RB position to be had later in the draft and with teams not drafting WRs yet you gotta think some guys can slide down a round or two. In Gates, I have my third guy in three picks who's capable of having a big week at any time. Another gamble here, but I'm in it to win. No prizes for second here.

Pick 4.3: QB Donovan McNabb - PHI

Positives -

1. A mainstay at the top of the fantasy QB rankings.
2. Always a threat to have a monster game.

Negatives -

1. TO offseason was tumultuous.
2. Injuries have been a concern in years past.

Draft Strategy - NEVER thought I'd take a QB early, but how could I not? I felt any running back I took here was a reach. I see about 10 receivers who all look the same to me. McNabb gives me my 4th player in four picks who's capable of having a huge week. My top four of Moss-K. Jones-Gates-McNabb look like a force to me, especially in a 12 team league. The question is, will I be able to find a few running backs later in the draft. Almost a certainty I have to take one next round.

Pick 5.10: RB Chris Brown - TEN

Positives -

1. Showed flashes of being a great RB last year.
2. Norm Chow is now running the offense in Tennessee.

Negatives -

1. Couldn't stay healthy last year.
2. Has to compete for time with new arrival, Travis Henry.

Draft Strategy - I had to take a RB here and Brown looked to me to be the best available. Ideally, I'd love to have Henry as well and not worry about him losing his job or not. No line-ups are necessary in this league and pairing him with Henry would give me the chance at a solid 2nd RB every week.

Pick 6.3: RB Travis Henry - TEN

Positives -

1. Has been a fantasy stud before.
2. Has something to prove to Buffalo.

Negatives -

1. Going into a new situation.
2. Competing for time with Chris Brown

Draft Strategy - This was a bit of a reach, but I wanted to secure having a guy who could produce at the #2 RB slot. No need to put a lineup in for this league, just going to get the two highest point producers at RB. Looks like RBBC in Tennessee this year, but at least one of them should put up numbers every week and the other guy can still count towards the flex spot on occasion. I was looking at Benson here, but if for some reason he didn't pan out and Brown got hurt, I'd be in trouble.

Pick 7.10: RB DeShaun Foster - CAR

Positives -

1. Explosive running back who's a home run threat every time he touches the ball.
2. Comes into camp as the clear #1.

Negatives -

1. Can't seem to stay healthy.
2. Other talented RBs right behind him should he falter.

Draft Strategy - I feel I got a guy with upside here and really there weren't much after him in terms of RBs. Getting a starting RB in the 7th round is great value. If Foster can stay healthy, he's a great pick here. The question is IF he can stay healthy, and that's a big if. Any RB I take here is coming with baggage/risks, at least I have a guy coming into camp at the top of the depth chart and world of talent.

Pick 8.3: WR Eric Moulds - BUF

Positives -

1. Had 88 receptions last year, which was 10th most in the league and 3rd highest total of his career.
2. Presence of McGahee and Evans means he'll rarely see double coverage.

Negatives -

1. Evans emerging as go to guy?
2. Starts season with new, unproven QB.

Draft Strategy - I needed to go receiver here and was deciding between Moulds/Evans. I went with the proven guy. I think Moulds will get more chances this year with the 1st year starter. Coming off a "down" year where he was 10th in the league in receiving.

Pick 9.10: WR Mike Williams - DET

Positives -

1. 6'5" and will create mismatches at the slot
2. Teams can't focus on him with Rogers and Williams on the field.

Negatives -

1. Didn't play any football last year due to Clarett snafu.
2. Has two talented receivers in front of him.

Draft Strategy - I need to stockpile receivers at this point and Williams is a guy with great upside. Looks like he's stepping into a Moss-like situation here. A player with his size and hands could become an unstoppable weapon in the red zone.

Pick 10.3: WR Amani Toomer - NYG

Positives -

1. Burress added on the other side should take pressure off him
2. Manning will be better in year #2

Negatives -

1. Coming off a year where he was hurt and scored no touchdowns
2. Competing with Shockey-Tiki-Burress for balls.

Draft Strategy - Toomer is a great value in round 10. He's been very consistent throughout his career and should be able to bounce back from a down year in 2004. Guy was dinged up for the entire season last year and it showed in his numbers. Toomer gives me another receiver who capable of having a nice week.

Pick 11.10: WR Braylon Edwards - CLE

Positives -

1. #3 pick in the draft has worlds of talent
2. Should start right away
3. Injury to Kellen Winslow could make him the #1 target

Negatives -

1. Rookie receiver with Trent Dilfer throwing to him
2. Has other talented receivers on the roster competing for time.

Draft Strategy - Like Mike Williams, Edwards is a tall receiver with talent to burn. I wanted to take guys with upside and Edwards definitely fits that description. Gotta think he and Williams are capable of having several big weeks and at this point, that's all I'm trying to do.

Pick 12.3: QB Joey Harrington - DET

Positives -

1. Running a high octane offense
2. Has three big play receivers to choose from

Negatives -

1. Struggled at times in his young career
2. Jeff Garcia signed in the off-season

Draft Strategy - I like Harrington in this format assuming he keeps his job. The guy has some weapons at his disposal with Roy Williams, a healthy Charles Rogers and 1st round pick Mike Williams. As my second QB, he could have some big weeks and if he gets yanked, I still have McNabb.

Pick 13.10: QB Ben Roethlisberger - PIT

Positives -

1. Took the Steelers to the AFC Championship in his rookie season.
2. Coming into his second full season.

Negatives -

1. Hines Ward possible hold-out?
2. Didn't have a ton of huge fantasy outing last year.

Draft Strategy - I wanted to have three QBs and with the pickings getting slim, I decided to take who I thought was the best available. An insurance policy for Harrington.

Pick 14.3: RB Anthony Thomas - DAL

Positives - Positives:

1. Gets a fresh start in Dallas.
2. Rumored to get some carries near the goal line.

Negatives -

1. Has Julius Jones in front of him.
2. Past problems with fumbling.

Draft Strategy - An upside pick here. Looking for RBs at this point who can possibly put up some points on any given week and have the possibility to explode if an injury should occur to the starter.

Pick 15.10: RB Frank Gore - SF

Positives - Gifted runner from Miami only has to beat out Barlow for the job.

Negatives -

1. Has a history of injury.
2. Already chipped bone in shoulder blade in pre season.

Draft Strategy - Like Anthony Thomas, Gore is a guy who could be a steal if an injury occurred to Barlow or if he beats out Barlow outright. He's my sixth RB, not expecting much, but the potential for massive upside is there.

Pick 16.3: TE Jermaine Wiggins - MIN

Positives -

1. Sneaky top 10 TE last year.
2. No Randy Moss means more balls for Wiggins

Negatives -

1. Not the fastest guy in the world.
2. No Moss to stretch the defense.

Draft Strategy - Wiggins backs up Gates, but also gives me a guy who could contribute at the flex position in any given week. Not the worst guy to get at pick 183.

Pick 17.10: TD New York Jets - NYJ

Positives - Jonathan Vilma lived up to the hype.

Negatives - Potential problems at corner?

Draft Strategy - I'm going to draft three defenses in this league. I'm thinking that gives me a greater chance of out scoring more teams at that position and I think it'll be more valuable then say drafting another back-up WR or RB, especially when the RB pool is so slim at this point.

Pick 18.3: TD Arizona Cardinals - ARI

Positives -

1. Tons of pass rushers on this squad.
2. Acquired Chike Okeafor to go with Pro-bowler Bertrand Berry.

Negatives -

1. Cardinals never really have been a defensive juggernaut.
2. Young corners.

Draft Strategy - I think the Cards D is going to surprise some people this year. Playing the Niners twice isn't going to hurt them.

Pick 19.10: TD Denver Broncos - DEN

Positives - Strong group of linebackers led by Al Wilson, DJ Williams and Ion Gold, who returns to the Broncos this year.

Negatives - Secondary ranked 27th in INTs last year.

Draft Strategy - The Broncos round out my three D's. Hopefully Champ Bailey and co. can turn it around a bit.

Pick 20.3: PK Mike Nugent - NYJ

Positives - Had a nearly flawless career at Ohio St.

Negatives - Rookie.

Draft Strategy - He's a kicker. Hopefully he can adjust to kicking in the pros.

Pick 21.10: WR Eric Parker - SD

Positives - Had a few 100 yard games late last season.

Negatives -

1. Trouble staying healthy
2. A log jam of receivers in SD along with that beast Antonio Gates

Draft Strategy - I like grabbing Parker here at pick 250. He had some nice games last year once he was healthy. Could be a once-in-a-while contributor in this format.

Pick 22.3: PK Jay Feely - NYG

Positives - Veteran kicking for an upstart Giants squad.

Negatives - Meadowlands not the easiest place to kick.

Draft Strategy - Well at least by grabbing both NY kickers I should have at least one guy a week who's playing at home.