First Fantasy Draft: PPR Keeper League
By Editorial Staff
My first fantasy football draft went down last Friday, seeing as I talk all day long about what readers should with their team; I thought it might be fun to show how I go about a fantasy Draft. This league is 12 teams, so it’s a moderate size league. It is a keeper league (with this being year 1) and it is a PPR league, and we used the yahoo standard QB, 2RB, 3WR, RB/WR, TE, D/ST, K lineup.
Going into the draft, I am picking eight overall, which is an okay spot. I do not think this is a year filled with elite talent, rather a year of depth. Their will be plenty of solid players at 8…though truth be told I wish I was drafting a few picks later. I love the turnaround double picks, though 8 will do.
This is a PPR league which also gives bonuses for 40+ yard Touchdowns to both RB, WR, TE, and QB’s. We also give more points to QB’s than normal. Every 25 yards instead of 40 and passing TD’s are the same as other TD’s. My strategy early on is to wait to be one of the last teams to take a quarterback since there are an alarming number of quarterbacks who are capable of elite numbers. I have noticed there are very few RB’s I really like and picking 8th and 17th would give me the opportunity to pull out two RB’s capable of stable points. WR depth is solid so I can at least wait till round 3.
With the 8th pick in the draft, I selected the best running back possible in this league format: Ray Rice. I was able to take a young RB who has little competition for carries and is a beast in receptions. Rice does not score a ton of long TD’s but he has stable yards, stable receptions, and I am predicting an increase of TD’s. I had Rice as the 3rd best player behind Foster and Peterson. I am very happy.
I had a little indecision with LeSean McCoy there but I thought Rice will get more oppurtunities. Before I chose Rice the draft went: Arian Foster, Jamaal Charles, Calvin Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Michael Vick, Chris Johnson, Andre Johnson and then I chose. While waiting for the turnaround Aaron Rogers, LeSean McCoy, Reshard Mendenghall, Roddy White, Michael Turner, MJD, Tom Brady, and Frank Gore were selected.
To my surprise, Darren McFadden was still there. I know he is injury prone, but given his age, big play potential, and pass catching ability, I felt he was a steal. I momentarily thought of taking Matt Forte, but I felt playing safe is not always the way to go and Rice was steady enough…time to hit a HR. Now I have two young studs at RB to keep. I am very happy.
At this point, Quarterbacks are just flying off the board. I was not too upset by this since it was my strategy to wait. Their were plenty of WR there but I was upset since the pick before me Hakeem Nicks went. He should have never been there but alas we was not for me.
In the third round, picking 32nd I chose Reggie Wayne. I felt like I had young studs and it was time to get stable points. Reggie Wayne, although slightly degrading, is a WR capable of 100 receptions, 1,000 yards, and 6-7 touchdowns. I will take this at pick 32 every time.
The next round I was very excited to see Wes Welker still available. Another year removed from knee surgery and he will once again be a stud in PPR leagues. I now have two WR in high octane offenses who the shortened off season will not effect. Both Wayne and Welker will be near 100 receptions allowing me to count on all 4 of my picks top be double digit scorers every week.
I then stuck to my age old method of BPA, regardless of need. I took Stevie Johnson in round 5 and then took Marshawn Lynch in round 6. Both could be players that should have increased numbers this season.
By the time I had finally taken a quarterback, I was the last team to do so in round seven. I chose Matthew Stafford. I know some people might cringe, but I thought three things. I wrote an article telling everyone how he was Detroit’s Savior named: Waiting for Superman in my article archives. Second he is in great position in Detroit to post numbers. Lastly, if you wait this long to take a QB you mind as well swing big because Joe Flacco isn’t going to win you a title. Its funny I thought that because in round 10 I chose him to backup Stafford. Excitement with Staffordand stability with Flacco is like combining vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup….it just works.
In the later rounds it’s all about the sleepers. I chose Rashard Jennings with the hope he gets increased carries and if MJD goes down he will be huge. I took Jacoby Ford, Jordy Nelson, Roy Williams, and Deion Branch at WR. Two sleepers and two stable vets. Jacoby Ford has monster potential in this format. Jimmy Graham at TE who is everyone’s favorite sleeper. I took Josh Brown and the Dallas Cowboys defense. Both should be elite.
Here is my roster recap:
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford (Det) Joe Flacco (Bal)
Running Back
Ray Rice (Bal) Darren McFadden (Oak) Marshawn Lynch (Sea) Reshard Jennings (Jax)
Wide Receiver
Reggie Wayne (Ind) Wes Welker (NE) Steve Johnson (Buf) Jordy Nelson (GB) Jacoby Ford (Oak) Roy Williams (Chi) Deion Branch (NE)
Tight End
Jimmy Graham (NO)
D/ST
DallasCowboys
Kicker
Josh Brown (Stl)
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