Survivor I - LaDainian Tomlinson Commentary

NOTE: this draft was completed on 7/24

Recent Stats

YR	RSH	RSHYD	RSHTD	REC	RECYD	RECTD	FPT	RANK
2002	372	1683	14	79	489	1	307.2	3
2003	313	1645	13	100	725	4	344.1	3
2004	339	1335	17	53	441	1	287.5	3

Positives - This will be my easiest pick in the draft. Tomlinson is the consensus number 1 pick among most fantasy football communities. He is as adept at catching passes (232 receptions over the last 3 years) as he is at scoring touchdowns (50 total touchdowns over the last 3 years). He only failed to score in 1 game last year, which could be considered a down year as he played through a sore groin for much of the season. I do believe that Priest Holmes has the potential to outscore Tomlinson this year, but the issues regarding Holmes health and age (32 this season) coupled with the need to use a 4th round pick to draft Larry Johnson as a handcuff, make this pick as easy as it gets.

Negatives - This is Tomlinson’s 5th year in the league. Over his short career he has carried the ball 1,363 times which is 5th most among active RBs during the last 4 years. This heavy usage, while great from a fantasy football perspective, may eventually take a toll on Tomlinson’s health. Tomlinson has also failed to finish as the top RB during his career finishing 3rd each of the past 3 years. Also, as the Chargers passing game improves, there may be less need to rely so heavily on the running game.

Draft Strategy - My plan, very simply, was to take the best player available at the position with the fewest quality starters available later in the draft. The scores from the 2 highest scoring RBs will be tallied each week with the possibility of a 3rd in the flex spot. Taking a RB with the first pick in the draft is a must as my next pick is at 24 and the RB pickings should be slim at that point but elite players from other positions should still available to choose from.