Help! - This Steelers Fan Is A Fantasy Football Dud

by Michael Bean on Sep 2, 2008 5:17 AM EDT

In the interest of fairness to my fellow competitors, I won't ask anyone to coach me along this season, but I would still like to hear your input on my most recent fantasy football draft.

Here's how it usually goes for me in fantasy leagues. I throw one together on the site, I fail to adequately prepare for the draft (including even familiarizing myself with the scoring system), I draft willy-nilly with no real concrete plan, and I proceed to get hosed.

With the stage set, allow me to present to you two fantasy rosters, both drafted this past Sunday in the official 2008 BTSC Fantasy Football League.

I will withold any and all judgments about said rosters (except to say it's a 12-man league) until some of you who are better players than I chime in with some observations and comments. Then, perhaps I can fill in a few blanks about the league. Anyway, a fun (and rare) fantasy football retreat here on the site. This will only take a minute for those totally uninterested in fantasy football, and remember, you can still take a crack at some (free) $ and bragging rights in the Pick 'Em Challenge (scroll down the main page a few stories for details).

TEAM #1:

QBs: Carson Palmer, John Kitna

RBs (2 start): Bryant Westbrook, Maurice Jones-Drew, Selvin Young, Leon Washington

WRs (2 start): Anquan Boldin, Santana Moss, Patrick Crayton, Robert Meachem

TE: Jeremy Shockey, Alge Crumpler

K: Rob Bironas

Defense: Buffalo, Tampa Bay

TEAM #2:

QBs: Eli Manning, David Garrard

RBs: LT, Ryan Grant, Darren McFadden, Darren Sproles

WRs: Braylon Edwards, Wes Welker, Dwayne Bowe, Ted Ginn,

TEs: Heath Miller, Ben Utecht

K: Josh Scobee

Defense: Seattle, Tennessee

******************************

Thoughts? Alms for the poor?

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Not bad

I’m only in my second year in fantasy football, but I’d say that your first team is pretty damn good. For the second team I’d sell LT high to pick up an elite QB, and maybe another good RB but that might be pushing it. If there’s anyone who has two very good RBs and a great QB you could send Manning and LT for someone like Steven Jackson or Marshawn Lynch, and upgrade your QB position to something like Jay Cutler or Phillip Rivers, someone who’ll get more points than Eli.

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Sep 2, 2008 8:39 AM EDT reply actions

If anyone wants to...

Rate this team, It seems to be the current trend so why not?

ESPN FFL, Eric Karabell settings (roster requirements and point scorings), 10 team league.

QB: Big Ben and Chad Pennington

RB1: Steven Jackson*

RB2: Ernest Graham

WR1: Marques Colston

WR2: Marvin Harrison

RB/WR: Ted Ginn Jr.

TE: Kevin Boss

LB1: David Harris

DL: Aaron Kapman

DB: Sean Jones

DP1: Jon Beason

DP2: Will Witherspoon

K: Rian Lindell

Bench Plyers:

Chad Pennington, QB

Nick Barnett, LB

Sidney Rice, WR-Big Sleeper

Limas Sweed, WR

LaMarr Woodley, LB-for whatever reason he is still marked as a DE and ESPN hasn’t figured out Clark Haggans is a Cardinal.

Tatum Bell, RB

I’m also trying to work trades to get Larry Fitzgerald and Braylon Edwards. The later is not likely but Fitz is not out of the picture…

Let me know

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Sep 2, 2008 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

* means

I received Jackson in a trade

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Sep 2, 2008 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions

more info

Blitz-
What is the scoring system and lineup requirements?
tds =
qb yds =
wr/rb yds =
ppr?
1 qb, 1 rb, 2 wr, 1 te?
I will say right off the bat, dump the second defenses on both teams. It’s a common mistake to take second defenses. Also kickers are useless, so they should never be drafted before the second to last round, and you should never worry about dropping them at the bye (unless you luck out with the 1 or 2 guys who are robots).

And don’t sell LT for an elite QB, unless your roster reqs are crazy elite rbs are >>>>> elite QBs

by vherub on Sep 2, 2008 9:07 AM EDT reply actions

rules

Tell me if this link works. It’s to the scoring rules.

by Michael Bean on Sep 2, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

um

i like the second team :)

by schnifin on Sep 2, 2008 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

agree with

vherub, I wouldn’t trade off LT for an ‘elite’ qb, there are really only two as far as fantasy goes, Brady(gag) and Manning. Cutler or Rivers would hardly be an upgrade from Eli. Definitely lose the second Defense and grab another backup to a key position, my Grant’s backup? Or someone like Chester Taylor, a backup to a high producer who has a history of injuries. Like vherub asked, how is the scoring?

I think both teams are strong, just ditch the second defense. I am scared of Palmer, he has so much talent, but that team just scares me. I love the Shockey pick, I have him too. Brees absolutely loves tight ends and he hasn’t had a great one since leaving SD. I think Shockey is in for a great season. As for what vherub said about kickers, he couldn’t be more right. Between the 1st and 12th kickers last year, there was a total point differential of 24 points. That’s a difference of only 1.5 points per game. You should NEVER draft a kicker until the final round.

by steelerark on Sep 2, 2008 10:47 AM EDT reply actions

2 DST

i like having both, in this league you start only 1 RB 2 WR and one flex while there are a ton of bench spots both teams have a good backup QB 4 RBs for 1/2 spots and 4 WR for 2/3 spots both even have a backup tight end. DST is one of the easier matchup positions and I think with so many bench spots you have that flexibility

by schnifin on Sep 2, 2008 11:13 AM EDT reply actions

i can see that

with only 1 RB.

by steelerark on Sep 2, 2008 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

i'll add

Blitz I like your starting lineup esp if Meachem can step up and play the way people think he might

by schnifin on Sep 2, 2008 11:15 AM EDT reply actions

Overall

I’d say the QBs on Team 1 are better with Team 2 having the better RBs and WRs.

Assuming you dont trade or add/drop before the season starts, this is how I would start these fantasy football lineups:

TEAM #1:

QBs: Carson Palmer, Jon Kitna
RBs (2 start): Brian Westbrook, Maurice Jones-Drew
WRs (2 start): Anquan Boldin, Patrick Crayton
TE: Jeremy Shockey
K: Rob Bironas
Defense: Buffalo

TEAM #2:

QBs: Eli Manning
RBs: LT, Ryan Grant
WRs: Braylon Edwards, Wes Welker
TEs: Heath Miller
K: Josh Scobee
Defense: Seattle

by talkingff.blogspot.com on Sep 2, 2008 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

without giving too much away

Team 1 should rotate the 2nd WR on matchups while Team 2 is going to be rotating QBs based on matchup and probably rotate the flex between mostly grant but also Bowe Ginn and McFadden depending on how things go.

by schnifin on Sep 2, 2008 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

also

Blitz, this is a great resource:

www.fantasysharks.com

For new players, or experienced players. They provide projected points, you can get edit the scoring system and lineup to your league and the messageboards are filled with mostly decent guys offering mostly good advice.

When setting your lineup, never sit the “studs” those guys who you drafted early and are the superstars at their positions. Even if they have a bad matchup. Guys like LT, Braylon, or Westy, for example.

by vherub on Sep 3, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply actions