Insofar as I've already done one of these this week, I figured it's time for another. This one is for the Cheesehead Football League.
Obviously, balls haven't yet been selected, thus the personalities and preferences of various owners at various draft spots aren't included.
These are the top 12 (well, 13) picks as I see them.
1. RB-LaDanian Tomlinson. This is the ultimate "No-Shit Sherlock" pick of all-time. Greatest season EVER by anybody in '06 and no reason it shouldn't continue this year. If whomever wins this spot picks someone other than Tomlinson, they ought to have their franchise revoked. Trading down from the one-hole, however, would be genius.
2. RB-Larry Johnson. Another obvious pick. Went first last year which was a good pick. Nobody could have figured LT going absolutely ape-shit like he did. This is almost as obvious as LT at one.
3. RB-Frank Gore. Huge season and was the best draft steal of the year last year in Round 5. Durability questions have been answered. Well, at least until the Groins take him, then he'll be hit by a falling safe.
4. RB-Steven Jackson. Fourth overall pick last year and had huge numbers. Stayed healthy and didn't have the sceptre of Marshall Faulk hanging over his head. Great rushing/receiving threat. Should continue his high-value play.
5. RB-Shaun Alexander. Good value here, but more risk than in past seasons. Signed the big contract pre-'06 and got hurt for the first time. Still productive when healthy. Risky picks begin here. Less obvious value, more mystery.
6. RB-Laurence Maroney. Really? Yup. If healthy, he's a stud. Tough inside runner with good speed and that new receiver guy the Pats just got ought to ensure facing seven or less in the box all season long.
7. RB-Joseph Addai. No more Rhodes to get in the way and take carries. With the threats of Harrison, Wayne and Clark, whoever is running the ball is going to be facing a minimum of big uglies. Same advantage Maroney has will fall to Addai as well.
8. RB-Clinton Portis. It wouldn't surprise me to see him playing somewhere else this season. Either way, he'll be the man somewhere. Sure, LaDell Betts will get some carries in DC, but they won't be significant. Dan Snyder isn't paying Portis large green to watch.
9. RB-Willis McGahee. Playing behind a good offensive line with an actual QB raises McGahee's value immeasurably. And frankly, he needs to keep having good seasons to get paid so as to pay child support for what is by now, a small village.
10. QB-Peyton Manning. No discussion needed.
11. RB-Rudi Johnson. Seventh last season, falls slightly, but remains a valuable pick. Good QB/WR combination allows for some running room. Good in short yardage and out of the backfield as a receiver. Highly productive and good value at 11.
12/13. QB-Tom Brady/WR-Randy Moss. At 12/13, why the hell not? Brady is a high quality fantasy QB and Moss still has tread on the tire. His downturn in production is about attitude, not injury, and reportly has been running sub-4.3's. Brady has never had a great receiver who could stretch the field. Pair these guys up and pile up the points.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Swamp Mock Draft 1.0
EDITED TO SATISFY PORT WASHINGTON!!!!
Well, the NFL boys had their fun last weekend. Our fun will have to wait a bit longer. But, if the wet-pants brigade of the mainstream media can forecast the NFL draft, I, as commissioner of this band of brigands and misfits, can certainly post my thoughts about how our draft might go.
Thus, the first Swamp Football League Mock Draft. Enjoy!
1. Fargo (Needs: Everything!). Even though Calvin Johnson may very well be the best WR of the generation, Fargo has to pick for need at this spot. Adrian Peterson-RB-Minnesota should be the pick here. Not only is it a need, but it's a chance for a West River team to get a big-time Viking. Always an enjoyable pasttime. Also, Dewey is a life-long Seahawks fan and they didn't go offense. Marshawn Lynch could be a possibility here as he might start sooner than Peterson, but he doesn't have the speed/size and upside that the freakish Peterson has. Pick: Peterson.
2. Trenton (Needs: QB). Trenton is sitting on QB's Chris Simms, Alex Smith, Jon Kitna and Rex Grossman. Ouch. JaMarcus Russell has to be the pick here. Russell will likely get plenty of run, moreso than Brady Quinn who could be an alternate pick at this spot. Pick: Russell.
3. Little Rock (Needs: WR). If this draft unfolds this way, Steven will feel like he's hit the lottery. He has young backs and is set for ten more years at QB with Palmer and Rivers. Calvin Johnson has to be the pick here. Freakish speed/size, prototypical receiver who will be an All-Pro for ten years. Make your pick here and ride it to big point production. Pick: Johnson.
4. Rekjavik (Needs: WR/RB). This is a pretty solid team with a nice nucleus of young talent and solid veteran production. Marshawn Lynch would be the logical pick here, although Robert Meacham or Dwayne Bowe are possibilities. You never have enough running backs and Lynch provides depth at the position without having the pressure to produce right away. Could be a trade spot, too. Pick: Lynch.
5. San Jose (Needs: WR/RB). San Jose begins crying here if Lynch goes off the board. A young RB would be highly useful to this team because after Rudi Johnson and Julius Jones, the cupboard is pretty bare. This could be a trade spot to get a veteran back. If SJ stayes here, Bowe or Meacham would have to be the pick. Pick: Bowe.
6. Jackson (Needs: QB depth). Brady Quinn seems to be a nice pick here. After Bulger and Romo, only Aaron Rodgers waits in development. As long as LT and Harrison are on board, WR and RB are pretty well set. Perfect draft spot for a quality team with playoff possibilities to build for the future. Pick: Quinn.
7. E. St. Louis (Needs: WR depth). Robert Meacham, big and fast is the pick here. ESL is a perennial playoff team that is well-stocked at every position. Any running back taken here (Henry, Irons) may be a bit of a reach and depth at this position is thin at this spot. Pick: Meacham.
8. Kansas City (Needs: WR/QB). This team is LOADED at RB and could use one to make a draft-day move. WR was a major disappointment last season. Chambers and Williams underachieved and a reliable third option is needed as Muhammed is another year older and playing with Rex Grossman. After getting two good backs in the draft last year, while ignoring the WR spot, KC has to get an outside threat. And inasmuch as this owner has fixated on Sidney Rice since his freshman year at South Carolina, this is probably the pick, although, he's also a major Anthony Gonzalez fan. Another QB would be nice, but there's no value at this spot with both Russell and Quinn off the board. Pick: Rice.
9. Port Washington (Needs: QB/RB/TE). This is a trade spot. Andy himself asked me to mention that he has no plans to keep this pick and will include it in a deal for a QB which is a fairly strong need for his roster. When the deal for this pick is made, and I think that it will happen soon, I'll update the mock draft to version 2.0 and include the new team and their picks. If it's me, I need more WR's and the guy I don't take at 8, Gonzalez or Rice, will likely be the pick here. If only to piss off Neil in TWO different ways.
10. Los Angeles (Needs: Depth). L.A. has the enviable position of being defending champion of this league and has a solid nucleus of players. But depth, with age, is getting a bit thin. LA can take the best player available at any position to build depth with youth. What a nice luxury. TE isn't a bad pick here, but if Olson is off the board, no other TE is worth the ten-hole. A RB reach is possible, but the best player available here will be a WR. Anthony Gonzalez would fit nicely with incumbent QB Peyton Manning. Craig Davis and Dwayne Jarret are also possibilities here. But the lure of doubling up slot-guy Gonzalez with the best QB on the planet is too strong here to ignore. Pick: Gonzalez.
Draft day to be announced. I'm looking at mid-August. If you have dates in that time period that don't work, tell me TODAY. The draft order in this analysis is current as of May 4, 2007.
Well, the NFL boys had their fun last weekend. Our fun will have to wait a bit longer. But, if the wet-pants brigade of the mainstream media can forecast the NFL draft, I, as commissioner of this band of brigands and misfits, can certainly post my thoughts about how our draft might go.
Thus, the first Swamp Football League Mock Draft. Enjoy!
1. Fargo (Needs: Everything!). Even though Calvin Johnson may very well be the best WR of the generation, Fargo has to pick for need at this spot. Adrian Peterson-RB-Minnesota should be the pick here. Not only is it a need, but it's a chance for a West River team to get a big-time Viking. Always an enjoyable pasttime. Also, Dewey is a life-long Seahawks fan and they didn't go offense. Marshawn Lynch could be a possibility here as he might start sooner than Peterson, but he doesn't have the speed/size and upside that the freakish Peterson has. Pick: Peterson.
2. Trenton (Needs: QB). Trenton is sitting on QB's Chris Simms, Alex Smith, Jon Kitna and Rex Grossman. Ouch. JaMarcus Russell has to be the pick here. Russell will likely get plenty of run, moreso than Brady Quinn who could be an alternate pick at this spot. Pick: Russell.
3. Little Rock (Needs: WR). If this draft unfolds this way, Steven will feel like he's hit the lottery. He has young backs and is set for ten more years at QB with Palmer and Rivers. Calvin Johnson has to be the pick here. Freakish speed/size, prototypical receiver who will be an All-Pro for ten years. Make your pick here and ride it to big point production. Pick: Johnson.
4. Rekjavik (Needs: WR/RB). This is a pretty solid team with a nice nucleus of young talent and solid veteran production. Marshawn Lynch would be the logical pick here, although Robert Meacham or Dwayne Bowe are possibilities. You never have enough running backs and Lynch provides depth at the position without having the pressure to produce right away. Could be a trade spot, too. Pick: Lynch.
5. San Jose (Needs: WR/RB). San Jose begins crying here if Lynch goes off the board. A young RB would be highly useful to this team because after Rudi Johnson and Julius Jones, the cupboard is pretty bare. This could be a trade spot to get a veteran back. If SJ stayes here, Bowe or Meacham would have to be the pick. Pick: Bowe.
6. Jackson (Needs: QB depth). Brady Quinn seems to be a nice pick here. After Bulger and Romo, only Aaron Rodgers waits in development. As long as LT and Harrison are on board, WR and RB are pretty well set. Perfect draft spot for a quality team with playoff possibilities to build for the future. Pick: Quinn.
7. E. St. Louis (Needs: WR depth). Robert Meacham, big and fast is the pick here. ESL is a perennial playoff team that is well-stocked at every position. Any running back taken here (Henry, Irons) may be a bit of a reach and depth at this position is thin at this spot. Pick: Meacham.
8. Kansas City (Needs: WR/QB). This team is LOADED at RB and could use one to make a draft-day move. WR was a major disappointment last season. Chambers and Williams underachieved and a reliable third option is needed as Muhammed is another year older and playing with Rex Grossman. After getting two good backs in the draft last year, while ignoring the WR spot, KC has to get an outside threat. And inasmuch as this owner has fixated on Sidney Rice since his freshman year at South Carolina, this is probably the pick, although, he's also a major Anthony Gonzalez fan. Another QB would be nice, but there's no value at this spot with both Russell and Quinn off the board. Pick: Rice.
9. Port Washington (Needs: QB/RB/TE). This is a trade spot. Andy himself asked me to mention that he has no plans to keep this pick and will include it in a deal for a QB which is a fairly strong need for his roster. When the deal for this pick is made, and I think that it will happen soon, I'll update the mock draft to version 2.0 and include the new team and their picks. If it's me, I need more WR's and the guy I don't take at 8, Gonzalez or Rice, will likely be the pick here. If only to piss off Neil in TWO different ways.
10. Los Angeles (Needs: Depth). L.A. has the enviable position of being defending champion of this league and has a solid nucleus of players. But depth, with age, is getting a bit thin. LA can take the best player available at any position to build depth with youth. What a nice luxury. TE isn't a bad pick here, but if Olson is off the board, no other TE is worth the ten-hole. A RB reach is possible, but the best player available here will be a WR. Anthony Gonzalez would fit nicely with incumbent QB Peyton Manning. Craig Davis and Dwayne Jarret are also possibilities here. But the lure of doubling up slot-guy Gonzalez with the best QB on the planet is too strong here to ignore. Pick: Gonzalez.
Draft day to be announced. I'm looking at mid-August. If you have dates in that time period that don't work, tell me TODAY. The draft order in this analysis is current as of May 4, 2007.
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