Finally! Today was the day our fantasy football league, Vancouver United, gathered for our fantasy football draft. It looks like my team, the Snow Monkeys, will have its work cut out for it as it faces off against fourteen other tough teams. Well, thirteen tough teams plus the ragtag assortment of players Tio will manage to assemble every week.
After staying up late last night going over my stats, I woke up early this morning – to go over my stats – then opened up my three laptops, pulled out my research documents, and counted down. Our draft positions were randomly generated thirty minutes before the draft, so there was no way to prepare – well, short of over-preparing which is what I did, running some three hundred different simulations that saw me drafting at all fourteen spots. If there was one thing I discovered, it was that I didn’t want to end up drafting in the #5-7 position. #1-4 and I would draft one of the top three RB’s. #8-14 and I would have a shot at a couple of fairly strong runners as well. Of course, as it turned out, I ended up with the 6th pick.
The draft began at 11:00 a.m. sharp. VFX Supervisor Mark Savela (The Savela Skitterers) had the first pick and my buddy Tio, who must be commended for attempting to field a team made up entirely of quarterbacks, had the last pick. Inside that hour and a half, I snapped up some great players, missed out on a few I’d had my eye on, and even landed a couple of potential sleepers.
Here are my new look Snow Monkeys:
QB: Drew Brees
RB: Fred Jackson
RB: Doug Martin
WR: Dwayne Bowe
WR: Marques Colston
TE: Jared Cook
R/W/T: Mark Ingram
K: Ryan Succop
D: Atlanta Falcons
Bench
RB: Jacquizz Rodgers
WR: Pierre Garcon
WR: Austin Collie
WR: Greg Little
WR: Jon Baldwin
WR: Justin Blackmon
In the end, I had to draft one of the top tier quarterbacks and I’m very happy with Brees. Regardless of the vendetta against them, the Saints will be a powerhouse this year. Which is why I also picked up the scoring machine Marques Colston and lead Saints back Mark Ingram who should assume most goal line rushing duties. A very solid offensive line will make the Chiefs much improved, which means another great year for Bowe and possible breakout status for Baldwin.
Speaking of breakout status, speedy Justin Blackmon has already become a favorite of QB Blaine Gabbart in Jacksonville and he looks to have plenty of upside. Our opening week match-up will no doubt see me crush Tio’s team, the woefully undermanned Crossplane. Fred Jackson was well on his to a rushing title last season before breaking his leg. He’s on the mend and gets another shot this year. Meanwhile, rookie Doug Martin assumes lead rushing duties on a Bucs squad that also boasts a pretty solid o-line. I went with a couple of #1 receivers, and a tight end, on teams with new quarterbacks that should be throwing their way plenty: Pierre Garcon, Greg Little, and Jared Cook.
My biggest reach was Atlanta runningback Jacquizz Rodgers but, with Michael Turner slowing down, the pass-catching Rodgers coming out of the backfield presents a terrific opportunity for the pass-happy Falcons. The only pick I’m unsure of is Colts receiver Austin Collie. Hopefully, he develops some kind of rapport with first year QB Andrew Luck. Finally, as for the kicker and defense – there’s no way to tell at the beginning of the season so I just rolled the dice and will wait and see.
Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Don’t know what the hell I’m talking about? The last time I talked football with my friends, Akemi had this to say: “It sounds like you’re speaking English, but I don’t understand anything!”
As a reward for all those non-football fans who nevertheless read through the above post, here is video from this summer’s last soft serve outing with the dogs:
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