The Sanderson Gazette - 2017-09-04 - Doompety Doo
Don't forget, the season starts in three days.
Draft Recap
Inconceivable (Richie):
Richie's auto-draft started with Julio Jones (ATL) at 1.01. He wound up with three RBs in his next three picks, including promising rookie Joe Mixon (CIN, 3.01) and hopefully-not-washed-up veteran Adrian Peterson (NO, 4.14). Martellus Bennett (GB) and Derrick Henry (TEN) at the 6/7 turn have some upside and upset a few people in the draft room, but the big question following Richie's draft will be: can he get reliable RB performances?
D's Nuts (Derrek):
After trying to pick two players that had already been taken, Derrek nabbed Michael Crabtree (OAK) at 2.13. He then supplemented his receiving corps with Davante Adams (GB) at 3.02 and Jamison Crowder (WAS) at 5.02. After his first-round keeper, Le'Veon Bell (PIT), D's draft looks like a bunch of high-floor players - that'll be OK, but will he have enough standout performers to make a return to the playoffs?
Noodles and Vistas (Pat):
Pat's first live pick was Alshon Jeffery (PHI) at 2.12. He also wound up with Jets in both the fifth and sixt rounds (Bilal Powell and Robby Anderson). This fit a theme to his draft - if things work out as hoped, he'll have a good shot at the playoffs. But if players like Brandon Marshall (NYG, 4.03) and Jeffery struggle with injuries all year, he could be looking at double-digit losses. Losing keeper Willie Snead (NO) to a three-game suspension already hurts. Ultimately, will keeping Aaron Rodgers (GB) with the third overall pick come back to bite Pat in the ass?
Chili Right Away (Dave):
Dave's keepers (Devonta Freeman (ATL) and Jordan Howard (CHI)) meant he didn't need to worry about RBs, so he took Odell Beckham, Jr. (NYG) fourth overall. Golden Tate (DET) at 4.11 provides a lot of boom-or-bust games (What else is new with Dave's team?) and Chris Hogan (NE) at 6.11 probably brings the same. Marcus Mariota (TEN) at 5.04 could have a breakout year, but is far from a sure thing. Will Dave's pick of the solid Travis Kelce (KC) in the second round provide enough week-to-week stability for Dave to go on a playoff run?
Harrison Hammers (Matt):
I know I commented on how much I was liking Matt's draft as he went, but looking back, I'll temper my enthusiasm a bit. Taking Jordy Nelson (GB) at 1.05 was the right move, and I really like Allen Robinson (JAC) and Tyler Eifert (CIN) in the third and fifth, but Matt's even-round picks are not without risk. Marshawn Lynch (OAK, 2.10) hasn't had a standout fantasy season since 2014, and Cam Newton (CAR, 4.10) disappointed last year. With sixth-round pick Doug Martin (TAM) out for the first three weeks, can the Lynch/Tevin Coleman (ATL) combo provide reliable RB points to get Matt off to a good start?
Bernie's Bullies (Mike R.):
Mike's choice of A.J. Green (CIN) at 1.06, along with his Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) and Terrelle Pryor, Sr. (WAS) keepers, allowed him to focus on other positions in rounds two through five. He came away with rookie Dalvin Cook (MIN), Greg Olsen (CAR), Derek Carr (OAK), and Mike Gillislee (NE). My official question about this team is: Why take Carr so early? In this case, there is an official answer from @BlingaBullies on Twitter: "Ppl ask why choose #DerekCarr so early? He was big factor in k-pat (gr8 guy) #Blingabowl run last year. Saw a winner on board & grabbed him" (link). We'll see if this move pays off.
Live Commish (Ed):
My move up in the second round (to pick 2.03) paid off, as I got the player I was targeting in Lamar Miller (HOU). When Mark Ingram (NO) was still there at 3.10, I was even happier. I also started a run on QBs by taking Russell Wilson (SEA) in the fourth. My high-floor strategy took a big hit when sixth-rounder Cameron Meredith (CHI) tore his ACL less than 24 hours after the draft. The biggest question I have when I look at my team is: If the draft shook out about exactly as I hoped, how come I'm not more confident in my team?
Optimus Prime (Allen):
Allen decided to keep Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) with his first-round pick, opting to let the NFL's Wheel o' Justice determine his fate. But when your other keeper is a high-floor RB like Isaiah Crowell (CLE), you can take that chance. Allen wound up with both Bronco starting receivers, Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, in the second and fourth rounds, and once again wound up with Jordan Reed (WAS, 3.07). This team looks solid enough, but can Allen do enough in-season work to make it to week fourteen?
Keep Calm & GordOn (Babel):
Babel took the established Dez Bryant (DAL) at 1.09 and the rookie Leonard Fournette (JAC) at 2.08. Tyreek Hill (3.09) and Kareem Hunt (6.08) are a pair of high-upside Chiefs that make his roster, and taking Pierre Garcon (WAS) in the fifth drew the highest praise from yours truly. The question I have about Babel's team is simple enough: Will Jameis Winston (TAM, 9.09 (kept)) fulfill his potential as a top-five QB and lead Babel to a bye?
Rob for Today (Rob):
As always, Rob make some bold moves. Brandin Cooks (NE) at 1.10 wasn't taken much above his ADP, but probably wasn't what most of the league expected. And Rob could not have waited until 3.10 to take Christian McCaffrey (CAR), so he nabbed him at 2.05. Rishard Matthews (TEN) at 7.10 was another pick that I wished I could have made, and Zach Ertz (PHI) in the sixth is good value, too. Will Cooks and McCaffrey avoid being too boom-or-bust-y and give Rob weekly top-ten WR and RB plays? If so, this is a scary, scary team.
schertzopotamus (Schertz):
JuJu's first live pick didn't happen until 3.11, where he took Ameer Abdullah (DET). Ted Ginn, Jr. (NO) is a solid tenth-round flyer, but this roster is not without risk. Abdullah is still mostly unproven; Stefon Diggs (MIN) has been inconsistent; Eric Decker (TEN) is old. And Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) is a QB with really extreme home/road splits. Will Schertz regret waiting until round twelve to draft his backup QB, Jay Cutler (MIA)?
Pullman's MondoSquad (Pulley):
Pulley also got what he wanted out of the ten-pick trade: Rob Gronkowski (NE) at 2.09. Throw in the FIVE running backs on Pulley's roster that are expected to lead their teams in carries in week one (Todd Gurley (LAR), Frank Gore (IND), Darren McFadden (DAL), Rob Kelley (WAS), and Thomas Rawls (SEA)) AND Tom Brady (NE), and this team looks like one of the most promising in the Blingaleague. Who cares that Pulley has only three healthy WRs on his roster?
Pralines & Dick (Rabbit):
Nick's kept LeSean McCoy (BUF) and DeMarco Murray (TEN) in the first and third rounds, and snagged a potential top-ten WR in Doug Baldwin (SEA) in the second. While the rest of his draft doesn't jump out as awesome, it's hard to find any holes. Kirk Cousins (WAS) provides good QB value at 6.02 and DeVante Parker (MIA) should be just fine at 4.02. Why did he wait so long to draft a TE, though? He took the Denver defense (9.13) two full rounds before selecting C.J. Fiedorowicz (HOU).
The Chocolate Donuts (Kevin):
Our defending champ entered the draft with (arguably) the two best keeper values in Jay Ajayi (MIA, 6.01) and David Johnson (ARI, 7.14). So he was able to focus on WR early, taking DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) and Amari Cooper (OAK) at the 1/2 turn. Philip Rivers (LAC) at 9.14 should hold down the fort until Andrew Luck (IND, 5.14) is healthy, and Jimmy Graham (SEA) to lead off the fourth could have huge returns. Is Kevin the early favorite to repeat?
Closing Thoughts
One last puzzle for you: did you miss the week one previews? Never fear, they'll arrive before Thursday's opener...
@LiveCommish