Posted by Bill in Fantasy Advice on Aug 27th 2009 (Print This)
Here at FantasyFootballBrothers we have been swamped as of late rolling out Free Draft Kits, updating ranks and all that great stuff. I know we have been promising a mailbag for months now. That’s my bad, but as a way to make it up to everyone, We will have back-to-back Mailbags. Just a warning to all, I have not edited the writing, or grammar.
JP from the internet asks:
Hi, I am a “newbie” when it comes to fantasy football, and any advice would be greatly appreciated on my up-coming draft(Aug.29th). I am number (7) in the draft order, and we do use a serpentine draft system.
Ok, I’m in a 12-team league with 16 rounds of drafting. We start 8 players and have 8 in reserve. We need to draft the following positions total.
2 Quarterbacks
4 Running-backs
6 WRs(Up to 2 TEs can be used in this section)
2 DEFs
2 Kickers
Our scoring system is as follows: QBs 1 point every 10 yards passing
6 points for passing TD
-2 points interception
RBs 1 point ever 10 yards rushing
6 points each rushing TD
1 point reception
1 point every 10 yards rec.
WR/TE 1 point every 10 yrds rec.
1 point each rec.
6 points each TD
Def: 2 points each sack
6 points each TD
3 points each safety
No bonus points
Kickers are on a point for point scoring
So any advice on how I should select my team would help. RBs first WRs first QBs first??? any advice I would love to hear..Thanking you in advance
Rob Answers: Thank you for the question and welcome to the Brotherhood. Pick number 7 is a draft slot that is all about value and how you maximize that value, it is also a tough spot to be drafting. Don’t get discouraged though, stick with the Boys from the Hood and you’ll be fine. Number 7 is also a spot where you can control the draft, as you can often start position runs with middle round picks so use this to your advantage, not as a disadvantage. Example, if I had pick seven and I played in a league with your same league rules, looking like what is called a QB heavy league due to points rewarded QBS, I would have to go with Drew Brees, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning. Just the simple math tells me that these QB’s are going to outscore any running back or wide receiver on the board.In selecting a QB I have now controlled the draft and my hope is a run will start with QB’s that way another position such as WR or RB falls back to me, good thing about number 7 is you will never be at the end of a position run. I said number 7 was tough earlier, but it is really only tough in the first round and this pick will make or break your draft and your team. They often say drafting in the middle of the rounds makes for mediocre teams, but not if your fearless in counter-punching a puncher. Again if I was pick 7 and I have picked my elite QB and all the backs I have valued high are off the board and my league started 3 wide receivers I would have to look at drafting an elite wideout. If Larry Fitzgerald is still there, unlikely, then Randy Moss, Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson are my guys to target. Again I am counter-punching and hoping to start a run on wideouts so running backs that still hold value fall back to me, like I said earlier maximizing complete value. In rounds 3-5 I then unleash hell and focus on running backs, so by the end of round 5 I have an elite QB, an elite WR, and good value at RB, instead of a second tier RB, a second tier QB, and a question mark at wideout. I noticed your league starts 3 WR’s and one TE by choice? If you miss out on the first 5 TE’s, Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark or Owen Daniels I wouldn’t bother targeting one until round 14. And please if you take any adivce from this always draft a Kicker or DEF/ST in rounds 15-16, don’t be the guy or girl who reaches for these positions as they can be played on a weekly matchup basis.
Once again thank you for the question and good luck at your draft, welcome to the world of fantasy fotball where you will never watch football the same way again. Be on the lookout for our wide receiver rankings which drop on Monday. Feel free to drop us a line and let us know how your draft went. Good luck and take care.
Bill from Melrose Mass asks:
IS THERE ANY VALUE IN DRAFTING QB MIKE VICK WITH MY FINAL DRAFT PICK?
Rob:Thank you for your question, in a redraft league the answer is no, in a keeper league I would say Michael Vick does hold value with your last round pick. With the new craze that is the “Wildcat” offense, Vick could be a very good keeper to stash and wait and see what situation he lands in. So our advice is to stash and keep in a keeper/dynasty league. Once again thank you for the question and good luck at your draft. (Editor’s Note All Caps are not required)
Bdawg
Hey Bros, love the site!
I am in a 12 person traditional (non-PPR) league, all TDs 6 pts
(1-QB, 2-RB, 2-WR, 1 Flex WR/RB, 1-TE, Kick, DST).
Each owner can keep one player, so long as that player was originally drafted in the 6th round or later and can be kept for no more than 3 years. Every year you keep a player you forfeit 2 rounds on the following draft (i.e player drafted in the 10th round, the following year he will cost you an 8th round., etc.) The players kept this year are:
RB Matt Forte
RB DeAngelo Williams
RB Steve Slaton
RB Chris Johnson
RB Brandon Jacobs
QB Kurt Warner
WR Dwayne Bowe
RB Pierre Thomas
WR Vincent Jackson
QB Philip Rivers
I have the third overall pick and have Forte as my third round pick(keeper). I am most likely looking at MJD or Turner, the question is would you even consider taking a QB or WR 3rd overall? Based on the emphasis of early QB/WR this year I will most likely be looking at #9-10 WR in round 2 and the top 3 QBs off the board.
Rob:Thank you for the question,
This is a good question and a tough one at that but never the less a good situation to be in. In years past I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you to take a RB’s Maurice Jones-Drew orMichael Turner but times have changed the running back position as the position has become saturated. Bear in mind that you already have a workhorse back in Forte, added to the fact that your league awards 6 points for all TD’s, this seems like a quarterback heavy league, if it were a P.P.R. I would say this is a no-brainer and take MJD, but it is not. I would, if I were in your situation look at taking an elite quarterback, either Brady or Brees. Brady has a high ceiling as far as TD’s, but Brees is reliable for 30 to 35 TD’s and also is not coming back from major knee surgery. Either way I don’t think you can go wrong with either one. With Warner and Rivers already off the board you have to expect that a QB run will ensue that will push either elite WR’s or RB’s back your way. If you choose not to go the Brady or Brees route you would have to be prepared to settle for QB’s like Rodgers, Ryan, or Romo, those middle tiered guys assuming Peyton Manning is gone. I just don’t feel that confident in those QB’s producing at high levels or the fact that they might not even be there if a QB run kicks off after your first round pick back to your second. To pencil in a guy that you have no questions about starting week to week is invaluable, where you might wrestle with decisions around running backs and wide receivers the choice is easy with Brees or Brady, where you might try and play matchups with those other QB’s, Brees or Brady will give you a peace of mind week in and week out as you pencil them in to your lineup. After my first round selection of Brees or Brady I would then turn my focus to running backs and wideouts solidifying myself there. This sounds like a good and creative league, we wish you nothing but the best in your upcoming draft. Once again thank you for the question and I hope we helped, glad you like the site.
Darius asks:
Should i trade RB Frank Gore for LaDaininan Tomlinson in a standard scoring league?
Paul: Thanks for the question Darius.
I would probably make this deal. Gore and Tomlinson should have similar overall numbers this year. The difference is going to be the touchdowns. Tomlinson will most likely have have 4-6 more TD’s than Gore. Both are at risk for injuries and both see a ton of targets in the passing game. I also think that the Chargers are a much better team than San Francisco.
Good luck this year and WELCOME TO THE BROTHERHOOD!
we look forward to answering all your future questions.