5 Days Till Kickoff: Does Your Fantasy Team Look Like This?

(David Folz) Round 8 Pick 1 (57 Overall): WR Kenny Britt: My draft can either be safe picks or risk/reward picks.  Britt is another risk/reward mainly because last year he was injured.  If not for the injury it would be a safe pick because he is capable of getting 1,000 yards and close to 10 touchdowns every year as the number one guy in Tennessee.  Health should be monitored all year for Britt.

 

(Al Burke) Round 8 Pick 2 (58 Overall): WR Percy Harvin: Another slightly stressed pick with receiver starting to fly off the board, Harvin is a productive receiver who also runs the ball on occasion. With Christian Ponder struggling in his rookie season, Harvin still managed to put up some good numbers. With Ponder slightly seasoned, the hope is he’ll perform better, and use Harvin often. The one concern is his injury history and famous migraines.

 

(Matt Ehrich) Round 8 Pick 3 (59 Overall): RB Ahmad Bradshaw: In the 8th round a capable every down back is hard to come by. With that being said Bradshaw will get plenty of carries with Jacobs in San Fran.

 

(Trisity Miller) Round 8 Pick 4 (60 Overall): RB Reggie Bush Reggie Bush may be my biggest steal of the entire draft. The player that everyone thought could never run between the tackles went for 1000+ yards last season in Miami. If Ryan Tannehill starts for the Dolphins, which is looking highly possible, I expect lots of carries for Bush to take pressure rookie quarterback. Another thousand-yard season is highly possible this year and I think he does it.

 

(Chad Smith) Round 8 Pick 5 (61 Overall): TE Jermichael Finley: I figured having to decide which TE I wanted to start each week because they are both studs is a good problem to have. He’s in a pass first offense and a great receiving TE that will get a lot of targets.

 

(Kevin Ryan) Round 8 Pick 6 (62 Overall): TE Jason Witten:  Good news, Witten’s spleen has stopped bleeding and he won’t need surgery this season.  With Romo, a safe QB, at the helm – expect Witten to put up good numbers at the TE position.

 

(Justin Emery) Round 8 Pick 7 (63 Overall): RB Frank Gore: Frank Gore is a fantasy starter year after year. Falling to the 8^th round was a complete surprise and gave me an opportunity to get a key cog in a fantasy championship. Coach Harbaugh is committed to running the ball and with TE Vernon Davis and a revamped WR corps that should make Gore that much better this year.

 

(Scott Bluni) Round 8 Pick 8 (64 Overall): Pittsburgh D/ST: You have to pick up a defense at some point.  San Francisco D/ST had been the only team taken so far, and I firmly believe that Pittsburgh will always be a consistent, and safe defense to pick.  ‘The Steel Curtain’ will always be a top 5 defensive unit despite some injuries and an aging core.  I’m looking for consistency in my defensive slot, and I feel that Pittsburgh has the best chance at providing just that. 

 

(Scott Bluni) Round 9 Pick 1 (65 Overall): RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis: I love me my former Patriots.  The ‘Law Firm’ is a red zone machine who has never fumbled.  That’s right, he’s never fumbled ever.  He’s a powerful runner who is dynamic enough to consistently keep the chains moving.  While he probably won’t average more than five yards a carry, you can bet that he’ll be the leading RB on the Bengals and will be scoring touchdowns often.

 

(Justin Emery) Round 9 Pick 2 (66 Overall): RB Roy Helu: The Redskins are a mess all through their roster but they do have some fantasy impact players. A quarterback’s best friend is a solid running game, especially when that quarterback happens to be a rookie. Helu played well last year and with another year in the Shanahan system, as well as being the featured back now rather than committee I feel like Helu is a solid bench player that could be pushed into the starting lineup and perform quite nicely.

 

(Kevin Ryan) Round 9 Pick 3 (67 Overall): WR Antonio Brown:  Brown had a great second-half of the season last year and shows signs of continuing his great play with the Steelers.  With Big Ben at QB, you can count on Brown getting good looks in every game. 

 

(Chad Smith) Round 9 Pick 4 (68 Overall): WR Mike Williams: With V. Jackson leaving San Diego and going to Tampa Bay he’s going to get a lot of the focus on him which will allow Williams to get open. The Bucs also upgraded their line and backfield this offseason so Freeman should have an easier time getting the ball to his wideouts.

 

(Trisity Miller) Round 9 Pick 5 (69 Overall): WR DeSean Jackson: Call this another steal. He’s healthy. He has gotten the payday he complained about last season, so I expect for him to play for that money. We all know how good DeSean is, but really depending on him means Vick plus Philly’s offensive line keeps things intact. Here’s to wishful thinking.

 

(Matt Ehrich) Round 9 Pick 6 (70 Overall): QB Tony Romo: He can make all the throws and has a ton of talent around him.  He is very capable of being a top 5 fantasy QB.

 

(Al Burke) Round 9 Pick 7 (71 Overall): RB Jonathon Stewart: There were “better” running backs still available, but I’ve a gut feeling the Panthers will focus more on running the ball now with teams focusing on QB Cam Newton. Stewart and running-mate DeAngelo Williams split carries pretty evenly, but Stewart is a better goal-line option. He’s also an excellent receiver and the Panthers’ 3^rd-down back.

 

(David Folz) Round 9 Pick 8 (72 Overall): TE Fred Davis: With RG3 as the quarterback, this could be a great year for Davis.  Last year with Grossman, Beck and whatever other scrub played, Davis did get three touchdowns and amassed almost 800 yards.  You would feel with a much better QB, Davis’s production will go up so a solid mid-draft pick.

 

(David Folz) Round 10 Pick 1 (73 Overall): WR Vincent Jackson: You see Vincent Jackson you think “Yes great pick.”  Then you realize he plays for Tampa Bay, and then you realize why he is a mid-draft pick.  Point blank, he does nothing unless Freeman gets better, and that is always a big question mark in a new system.

 

(Al Burke) Round 10 Pick 2 (74 Overall): RB Beanie Wells: I needed another RB and figured Wells would be good for a few yards and TDs. He doesn’t have the durability to carry the load, but with Ryan Williams available to share rushes, Beanie should be a far more effective back. He has fumbling issues that could be a negative in certain leagues, but I feel he’s great value in round 10.

 

(Matt Ehrich) Round 10 Pick 3 (75 Overall): Robert Griffin III: Could he be this years Cam Newton? I choose him to answer that very question, very capable QB2

 

(Trisity Miller) Round 10 Pick 4 (76 Overall): RB DeAngelo Williams: This may be a stretch as far as value. He’s now splitting his carries with both Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert, but as the #1 back I expect him to do a good job. He may not get to the 836 yards and 7 touchdowns he reached last year, but 600/5 is reasonable for Williams and decent numbers for my 3^rd overall back.

 

(Chad Smith) Round 10 Pick 5 (77 Overall): QB Matt Ryan: He plays in a dome, in a division that doesn’t have strong defenses, and he’s throwing the ball to White, Jones, and Gonzalez. He should have a solid year so using him as a backup fantasy QB is a great spot to have him in, because he would be a solid starter in most leagues.

 

(Kevin Ryan) Round 10 Pick 6 (78 Overall): WR Torrey Smith: Joe Flacco continues to be one of the most underrated QBs in the NFL.  Torrey Smith has been a rising star of sorts on the Ravens.  Flacco will be consistently good, and will give Smith plenty of looks this season. 

 

(Justin Emery) Round 10 Pick 7 (79 Overall): RB Jahvid Best:  Plagued by concussions and other injuries best is definitely a risk. But a worthy risk in the 10^th round. Detroit’s offense is completely different when he is behind Stafford getting handoffs. Best has game changing speed and when you have Calvin Johnson on the outside it is hard to put 7 in the box let alone 8. If Best can stay healthy I think this could really be his breakout season

 

(Scott Bluni) Round 10 Pick 8 (80 Overall): QB Ben Roethlisberger: I won’t lie, I was hoping to pick up Robert Griffin III in this round but he was picked 75^th overall.  That being said, Roethlisberger isn’t a bad pick.  He’s had trouble with injuries in the past and his offensive tackles had been mediocre at best, but this is Big Ben we’re talking about.  We know that he can light defenses up (see his 5 TD performance against Tennessee in week 5 last year) but he’s not that consistent. He was the best QB remaining in the draft though, so I was forced to take him.

 

(Scott Bluni) Round 11 Pick 1 (81 Overall): TE Brandon Pettigrew: He’s young, extremely athletic and has a fantastic QB in Stafford this season.  In a league where TEs are beginning to play a much bigger role in offenses, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pettigrew turned a few heads this season.  Last year he averaged about 50 yards a game and had 5 TDs.  Seeing as Pettigrew has the athletic ability to be a consistent threat, I only expect these numbers to get better as Stafford gets better. 

 

(Justin Emery) Round 11 Pick 2 (82 Overall): TE Tony Gonzalez: I know I said earlier that I don’t like to take players on the same team, but I couldn’t pass up the best tight end in NFL history. Clearly a step slower and not what he used to be Gonzalez is still one of the better tight ends in the league. He knows his window is closing and on a roster with this kind of offensive firepower paired with his knowledge of the game I believe Gonzy will let out whatever is left in the tank this season.

 

(Kevin Ryan) Round 11 Pick 3 (83 Overall): RB Peyton Hillis: I was pretty shocked to see a power running back like Peyton Hillis still available as late as the 11^th round. I think this was my most solid pick of the entire draft. With another strong back like Jamaal Charles playing with Hillis, I presume Charles will carry the ball with more field to work with – meaning a strong, powerful running back like Peyton Hillis will receive the majority of the goal-line carries.

 

(Chad Smith) Round 11 Pick 4 (84 Overall): RB Ryan Williams: I got a little bored and started taking some of my sleeper picks so I would have an excuse to write about them. Williams will be healthier then Wells all year and should finish with decent fantasy numbers.

 

(Trisity Miller) Round 11 Pick 5 (85 Overall): TE Jermaine Gresham: This may come back to bite me as Gresham injured his knee yesterday, but if healthy he’s a good #2 option for Dalton as Green will be seeing many double teams this season and for a second year receiver having a 500 yard security blanket is always a good thing.

 

(Matt Ehrich) Round 11 Pick 6 (86 Overall): TE Jacob Tamme: He followed his QB to Denver and it will work out very well for the both of them. Everyone knows how much Peyton loves to include the TE in the passing game, and Tamme fits the mold.

 

(Al Burke) Round 11 Pick 7 (87 Overall): WR Justin Blackmon: I wanted to pick at least one rookie who I felt could make an impact, and Blackmon was the best left at this late stage. He’s hardly going into a good situation – the Jags are relatively an unknown quantity at QB and lack a #1 receiver. Blackmon wasn’t drafted to play on 3^rd downs, so he’ll be expected to start from day 1. While doesn’t do much for a freshman beginning play at the highest level, from a fantasy standpoint he will be the focus of the passing attack. If the Jags struggle as expected, Blackmon should see plenty of the ball and – hopefully – TDs.

 

(David Folz) Round 11 Pick 8 (88 Overall): RB Shonn Greene: Greene is a decent late draft pick because no one expects much out of him this year, despite being the feature back in NY.  The thing will be if they tailor the game plan to design more runs plays for Greene or is it just a passing attack with an erratic quarterback.  That is the main question heading into this year, but good late draft pick for anyone.

 

(David Folz) Round 12 Pick 1 (89 Overall): The only knock on Schaub is his inability to stay healthy for an entire season otherwise he would be an early to mid-draft quarterback.  He may not get much play on a team with a great QB already but if healthy and putting up points, good trade bait for an area of weakness on your team.

 

(Al Burke) Round 12 Pick 2 (90 Overall): TE Dustin Keller: Guess who was 6^th in receiving yards among TEs last season? You got it – Keller! Why is he flying so far under the radar on fantasy boards? He still has Sanchez throwing to him as soon as he sees a DE (including pre-snap) and he could see even more of the ball with Jets receiver concerns. He may only have 5 TDs, but they are few good TEs from a fantasy perspective, and I believe I’ve potentially got one of them.

 

(Matt Ehrich) Round 12 Pick 3 (91 Overall): TE Owen Daniels: He has a reputation of getting open and catching passes. With Matt Schaub under center, that is exactly what he will do.

 

(Trisity Miller) Round 12 Pick 4 (92 Overall): K Sebastian Janikowski: This maybe too high for a kicker, but he’s EASILY the best kicker in the game and honestly I don’t have a lot of faith in Carson Palmer which means lots of opportunities for Sea Bass. He hit as many 50+ field goals as he did 40-49 yard field goals. He also boasts the best leg in the league and I would NEVER bet against him.

 

(Chad Smith) Round 12 Pick 5 (93 Overall): WR Randy Moss: All reports say he is back to his old form. Taking a chance on him late in the draft is a good idea because if he is the WR he used to be, or for that matter half the WR he used to be he’d be a good option. If he fails I’m not losing much.

 

(Kevin Ryan) Round 12 Pick 6 (94 Overall): K David Akers: I had plenty of success with Akers in the Harbaugh system last season, so I decided to take Akers in the 12^th as the first Kicker drafted. Given how defensive-minded Harbaugh is, I predict that Akers will be the best kicker by the end of the fantasy season.

 

(Justin Emery) Round 12 Pick 7 (95 Overall): TE Brent Celek: The under the radar guy in the Eagles offense, Celek is an above average tight end that gets lost in conversation when mentioned with Vick, McCoy, Jackson, and Maclin. Celek has proven in the past that he can be that pass catching tight end the Eagles have been looking for, and when the defense has so many other headaches to worry about Celek should be able to run free on defenses this year.

 

(Scott Bluni) Round 12 Pick 8 (96 Overall): K Dan Bailey: Last year Baily made 32 FGs overall, tying him for third-most in the NFL.  Although he doesn’t have the big leg some other kickers may have, he’s a consistent kicker who should be a top 5 in your fantasy league. 

 

(Scott Bluni) Round 13 Pick 1 (97 Overall): WR Reggie Wayne: People are overlooking Wayne’s value because of the atrocious season that Indianapolis had last season.  The 12-year receiver is an intelligent and versatile player who will be given some freedom to move around in the offense this year with Andrew Luck at the helm.  The fact that he was able to earn 960 receiving yards last year, with the worst team in the NFL, shows that no matter what, Wayne is a productive playmaker.  He will be the number 1 receiver in Indy this year, and if Luck can live up to the expectations I see this year being a successful and productive year for Wayne.

 

(Justin Emery) Round 13 Pick 2 (98 Overall): Baltimore Defense: Losing defensive player of the year Terrell Suggs will be a big hit but they still have Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, and future stars in Jimmy Smith and Courtney Upshaw. Baltimore has been a top-flight defense for years and there is no reason that should be any different this year.

 

(Kevin Ryan) Round 13 Pick 3 (99 Overall): Chicago Defense: The Chicago Bears were in the top five in defensive touchdowns in 2011, and still have the firepower behind Brian Urlacher to force plenty of turnovers.

 

(Chad Smith) Round 13 Pick 4 (100 Overall): RB Mikel LaShoure: Best is made of glass and he is most likely starting the season on the PUP list. Inevitably Best going to get injured and miss games throughout the year. LaShoure is going to get a bunch of touches. He will miss the first two games and then will split carries with Smith. I also like Smith as another option here because he will be one his own weeks 1 and 2. Both guys are good picks in deep leagues, but I think LaShoure will have a better year.

 

(Trisity Miller) Round 13 Pick 5 (101 Overall): WR Eric Decker: At my 13^th pick, this pick of Eric Decker is more so me being sure that Peyton Manning will be healthy this year. He’s made receivers such as Anthony Gonzalez and Pierre Garcon. Also think about this: If Decker can put up 612 yards on 44 receptions while catching 8 touchdowns with Tim Tebow, what can Manning do for him?

 

(Matt Ehrich) Round 13 Pick 6 (102 Overall): Green Bay D/ST: With Playmakers like BJ Raji, Clay Matthews, and Charles Woodson, the Green Bay defense should have a bounce back year.

 

(Al Burke) Round 13 Pick 7 (103 Overall): K Dan Carpenter: For some reason this draft (Yahoo!) requires 2 kickers, so I left them to the end. Carpenter is a nice pick, as he’s an improving kicker on an offense that can move the ball some, but struggles in the redzone. Carpenter hit 29 of 34 last seasons, and with a rookie QB at the helm in 2012, I expect more of the same. Unless Tannehill goes completely in the tank, he should post similar numbers.

 

(David Folz) Round 13 Pick 8 (104 Overall): Philadelphia D/ST: Good late pick, because I don’t expect much to be needed with any defense I choose.  The fact that Philly was torched day in and day out last year makes me think if they can rebuild that and get a little better all-around this year.  Not a bad late draft pickup

 

(David Folz) Round 14 Pick 1 (105 Overall): K Mason Crosby: Being a Packer fan I love this pick.  I also think it is a safe pick if you look for a kicker.  Usually I would not take a draft pick on a kicker and just play it by ear in the waiver wire, but Crosby is one of the best, so go with him when you can.

 

(Al Burke) Round 14 Pick 2 (106 Overall): Detroit D/ST: I can’t believe the Lions’ D was still available at this pick. I know defense is usually bottom of the list, but this one is different. The D alone scored 7 TDs, and while returner Stefan Logan didn’t score, he’s still a threat to break one. The scary part is, this team is full of young play-making talent and will only get better. That is of course assuming they don’t all get arrested.

 

(Matt Ehrich) Round 14 Pick 3 (107 Overall): K Stephen Gostowski: A very accurate kicker on a high scoring offense. Will put up big numbers.

 

(Trisity Miller) Round 14 Pick 4 (108 Overall): RB Stevan Ridley: It’s evident that I’m a Pats fan huh? I don’t think Ridley is great but if Green-Ellis can score 11 touchdowns as the feature back in a pass-heavy offense, Ridley can do close to the same. He may be my hidden jam, but 500 yards/8 touchdowns sounds about right for the second year back.

 

(Chad Smith) Round 14 Pick 5 (109 Overall): Houston D/ST: Houston is going to have a great D again this year. They also play the Colts, Jaguars, and Titans 6 times this season so you are guaranteed a ton of points in 6 of the weeks.

 

(Kevin Ryan) Round 14 Pick 6 (110 Overall): QB Andrew Luck: With Stafford as my number one QB, I decided to take a risk with Andrew Luck because of how impressive his rookie camp has been.  I have never seen such a young quarterback make so many smart decisions.  I drafted Cam Newton in round 15 last year and was promptly laughed at – all until he finished off the 2011 season as the number four overall fantasy player.

 

(Justin Emery) Round 14 Pick 7 (111 Overall): K John Kasay: The Saints placekicker always has plenty of opportunities to get points with the Saints high-octane offense. Even if their offense is slowed a bit this season after everything that happened Drew Brees will still be moving the ball up and down the field, if nothing else Kasay may even get a few more attempts at field goals because their offense won’t be in the end zone every series.

 

(Scott Bluni) Round 14 Pick 8 (112 Overall): RB Michael Bush: Bush is a risky pick if you consider Chicago’s RB situation.  If/when Matt Forte resolves his contract dispute he becomes the top dog in Chicago’s offense and by extension, Bush’s role is reduced.  However, he is a goal-line specialist who can also work in early downs by running and receiving.  Bush will be productive even if Forte’s issues are resolved, but in the event that Forte holds out you’re looking at a starting rusher and lots of fantasy points.

 

(Scott Bluni) Round 15 Pick 1 (113 Overall): WR Pierre Garcon: Garcon is another risky player.  But that’s what the later rounds are for, right?  Although he’s not the most consistent player in the NFL by any means, Garcon has the potential to go huge any week.  He’s a big play kind of guy who will be playing with Robert Griffin III, who’s also a big play kind of guy.  Seeing as people are beginning to compare RGIII to Cam Newton, I feel that Garcon has some serious potential to make a splash in Washington.

 

(Justin Emery) Round 15 Pick 2 (114 Overall): K Matt Bryant: Oh no another Falcons player! I have had bad luck with kickers in the past and have learned that sometimes they can make or break a game for you. With my final pick I took a second kicker because in case the Saints offense has a major problem I feel like the Falcons offense will have an excellent season giving their kicker plenty of moment to shine.

 

(Kevin Ryan) Round 15 Pick 3 (115 Overall): WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: I opted for another solid wide receiver with my last pick to use solely as trade bait for a strong tight end. 

 

(Chad Smith) Round 15 Pick 4 (116 Overall): K Rob Bironas: He gets the ball to rocket off foot. He plays in The AFC south so he isn’t kicking in bad weather.

 

(Trisity Miller) Round 15 Pick 5 (117 Overall): WR Robert Meachem: I’ve been a huge fan of Meachem since his New Orleans days. With Vincent Jackson out and Antonio Gates FINALLY healthy, it opens up the field for Meachem. Phillip Rivers had a semi-terrible season last year and though Rivers isn’t Brees in the slightest fashion, he’s still a top ten quarterback. He may be able to replicate his production from last season (620 yards/6 touchdowns).

 

(Matt Ehrich) Round 16 Pick 6 (118 Overall): K Neil Rackers: On a team with a QB that loves to throw it deep but still not a great offensive team, there will be many FG opportunities for Rackers in Washington.

 

(Al Burke) Round 15 Pick 7 (119 Overall): K Mike Nugent: Last and maybe not least, Nugent is almost a carbon-copy of my other kicker, Carpenter. In a similar situation last year, he hit 33 of 38 and was a key factor in the Bengals playoff run, despite a rookie at QB. He should be productive again this season, as Cinci doesn’t appear to have solved its offensive woes, meaning more red zone issues.

                                                                                           

(David Folz) Round 15 Pick 8 (120 Overall): K Billy Cundiff: Solid last pick of the draft, and one that will be used during Crosby’s bye week, then dumped for a skill position player.  If you need a kicker late, then Cundiff is your guy for you, if not, just pick someone up waiver wire during a bye week and if Cundiff is there, get him.

 

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