My Fantasy Team

I am in a keeper league that gives .5pts per reception. Before each season, we sign one player to a 3-year contract (so we have them for two more seasons after the one about to be played) and two player to 2-year contracts. After last year's draft, I gave WR Larry Fitzgerald a 3-year contract and 2-year contracts to RB LaDainian Tomlinson and RB Michael Turner. Coming in I knew I would be giving another 3-year contract to Fitzgerald and another 2-year contract to Turner. I also knew there was no way I was going to re-sign LaDainian Tomlinson. I finished second in our 12-team league, so I would pick 11th this year, and then 14th in the snake draft. But one of the players was given the first overall pick after some controversy about trades last year was discussed, meaning I wouldn't pick till #12. Of course, everyone's keepers from last year are unavailable.

I had dreams of Detroit's Kevin Smith falling to me at the 12th spot, but he didn't make it. Dwayne Bowe, the only receiver I felt worthy of this position in the draft, was snapped up right before my pick. Although I advocate taking running backs early and often, I wasn't too pleased with the guys available here: Ryan Grant, Ronnie Brown, and Thomas Jones. So I pulled the trigger on TE Jason Witten, knowing I was going to then select Aaron Rodgers and give him a 2-year contract after the next guy (who already had Tom Brady) picked. Picking a tight end this high is totally out of character for me. I did so for the following reasons:

1. Witten was an absolute monster last year before he was injured, posting numbers way ahead of any other tight end.
2. With Terrell Owens gone I expect Tony Romo to look for BFF Witten even more this season
3. There were no WRs I felt worthy of this spot
4. I have two highly-projected backs already; I wasn't desperate for a running back although it would be a long time before I picked again.
5. I had my eyes on some potentially explosive RBs I thought I could get in the late rounds, as well as plenty of quality receivers who would be available later.

I really expect Witten to blow away the other TEs this season. With Turner, Fitzgerald, and Tomlinson as the base, I am gunning for a championship now. Taking Rodgers with the next pick would give me a very sick RB-RB-WR-TE-QB front line.

I did put myself in a box next year - I will almost certainly have to draft a running back with my first pick.

Somehow Thomas Jones was still available twenty picks later. But I was scarred by Thomas Jones two years ago. I had him all season and he scored one freaking touchdown. I hate Thomas Jones. I think he's one of the most overrated players in football. He's old and has a lot of mileage. I expect the Jets to stink. They will be looking to get the ball to Leon Washington and rookie Shonn Greene. And one of my rules in fantasy football is not to draft Jones Bros. Problem is no other running back interested me at this point. So I went with the best player available/highest upside approach and took WR Lee Evans. Then with the wraparound pick, I drafted WR Eddie Royal, who

1. I could see grabbing 130 balls this season.
2. Is probably my favorite player right now
   
3. Plays for the home team
4. May have my dog named after him if "Royal" fits the appearance
   

I have been eyeing Julius Jones for weeks despite my "no Jones Bros" rule. So when Le'Ron McClain, Knowshon Moreno, Fred Jackson, and Felix Jones were picked ahead of him, I grew increasingly excited. But two picks before I was slated to punch him in, he was drafted. I immediately offered my pick plus a late-round pick for Seattle's #1 back. He accepted, and I had not only broken the No Jones Bros. rule, but even traded a pick for RB Julius Jones. The pick would be virtually meaningless as it was my final slot due to some trades for picks I had worked in '08. I just had to get another back, and hated my other options.

WR Donnie Avery's upside was way too high to be ignored with the next pick, figuring I could still take some chances on RBs later. Those opportunities came in the next round, where I had two picks. I watched the Bucs preseason game the other night and cooled on Derrick Ward, as he appears to be in a fight for carries with a suddenly-healthy Cadillac Williams along with Earnest Graham. Apparently my whole league was cool on him though; when he dropped all the way to my next pick, I felt I had no choice but to make Derrick Ward running back #4. RB Michael Bush was then selected to provide even more depth, followed by Chicago defense - which Football Outsiders has tagged as the #1 in fantasy by a wide margin.

Justin Gage went the pick before my next one, which alerted me to the fact that WR Nate Washington was still on the board, a natural selection at that point. I then picked my second Bronco - QB Kyle Orton, who will back up Rodgers.

I knew in advance RB James Davis would be my second to last pick, followed by a kicker - who turned out to be Kris Brown. Nobody picked Jerome Harrison or Cadillac Williams, so I will be following Cleveland and Tampa closely to see what develops there. Other free agents on my radar include Dustin Keller, Davone Bess, Troy Williamson, Mike Walker, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Mark Clayton, Deion Branch, Greg Camarillo, Bobby Engram, and Mark Bradley.

The team is:

RB Michael Turner
RB LaDainian Tomlinson
RB Julius Jones
RB Derrick Ward
RB Michael Bush
RB James Davis
WR Larry Fitzgerald
WR Lee Evans
WR Eddie Royal
WR Donnie Avery
WR Nate Washington
QB Aaron Rodgers
QB Kyle Orton
TE Jason Witten
DEF Chicago
K Kris Brown