Posted by Rob in Fantasy Advice on Aug 23rd 2010 and last modified on Aug 24th 2010. (Print This)
Jordan Todman
Fantasy Football Brother’s recently took part in the 20-team Fantasy College Football Invitational (FCFI). We wanted to test ourselves against the best that the industry has to offer. The FCFI is the best forum to do just that. With competition including Sports Illustrated, Athlon, Rotoworld, CBS Sports, and Fanball as well as numerous other sites that college football world was well represented.
The Brother’s had the 15th pick overall, so we had to be sharp in our preparation and be on point. Our concentration was on player’s from the non-major conferences, but like in life, a fantasy football draft doesn’t always go according to plan.
So we packed our sack lunch and set out to work. We knew it was going to be a long process(3 hours), but as long as mom cut the crust off the PB & J we would be fine.
The scoring format used in the FCFI is a standard non-PPR league. Weekly starting lineup required the following: 2 QB’s/2RB’s/2 WR’s/1 TE/FLEX/K/D/ST.
Here is how we drafted:
1st Round-Jordan Todman-RB-Connecticut-Todman rushed for 1,188 yards last season and went for 14 TD’s. He is extremely fast but isn’t afraid to run inside. The Huskies schedule looks favorable this season and Todman should improve upon his numbers. He went over 100-yards five times last season and the entire offensive line returns except at left tackle. We are expecting big things out of him and we’re more than glad to snag him at 15th overall.
2nd Round-DeAndre Brown-WR-Southern Miss-We were psyched to get this man-child in the second round. We love this kid and at 6’6, 231 lbs. we think he will absolutely abuse Conference-USA defenses. He is back fully healed from a broken leg. Head coach Larry Fedora thinks he looks bigger and stronger this year. It doesn’t matter if Austin Davis or Martevious Young is in at quarterback, the Eagles have two QB’s who can get Brown the ball.
3rd Round-Titus Young-WR-Boise St.-Titus Young is the 5’11, 170 lb. mighty mite out of Boise St. He is a versatile receiver that had over 1,000 yards receiving last season, but the number we fell in love with was his 10 TD’s, especially in this non-PPR formatted league. He has a dynamic QB in Kellen Moore and we see more big things coming from Young again.
4th Round-John Brantley-QB-Florida-Uncertainty hit the room on this pick, but I finally won out. I know he is replacing Tim Tebow, but Brantley is as pure of passer as you will find in the SEC. He has a strong arm and will look to utilize receiving threats Deonte Thompson and Carl Moore. It also helps that he has a solid running game to lean on in Jeff Demps. I like a kid that bided his time behind a legend and is now ready for the limelight. It never hurts that he plays on a top-notch program with a top-notch coach in Urban Meyer.
5th Round-Eugene Jarvis-RB-Kent St.-Jarvis returns after being granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. I guess if you lacerate your kidney, then you get a sixth year of eligibility, sounds fair to me. At 5’5, 170 lbs. it’s seems that type of injury is bound to happen. With that said we’re talking about a kid who had 9 TD’s in 2008. In 2007 he rushed for 1,669 yards and had 10 TD’s. We’re hoping a rebound is in order.
6th Round-Trevor Vittatoe-QB-UTEP-Vittatoe had a bad season last year(3,308 yards/17 TD’s/13 INT’s). The two previous seasons he averaged 3,188 yards with 29 TD’s and only 8 INT’s. To say Vittatoe put up a stink bomb season is being kind. It all started with being suspended and then missing the spring after having surgery on his throwing shoulder. He didn’t start turning his ’09 season around until the end. We bet he picks up where he left off and getting him in the 6th is a steal here if he returns to 2008 form.
7th Round-D.J. Williams-TE-Arkansas-Williams is one of the most gifted and talented tight ends in college football. We had him pretty high in our initial rankings then moved him down some when we heard Ryan Mallett was struggling in the spring. We picked him here because we believe a stat correction is in order for the big guy. He had only 32 receptions a season ago, but in 2008 he had 58 receptions. We also think you will see a spike in TD’s as Mallett gets his game together.
8th Round-Jamel Hamler-WR-Fresno St.-This selection had more to do with Fresno St. than it did Hamler. Our view is with Ryan Mathews leaving for the NFL, the Bulldogs are going to have to lean more on the passing game. QB Ryan Colburn is an able passer with a 61% completion rate. He and Hamler started to click last season and we expect this will continue. Hamler had five TD receptions last year and we would be happy with 7 to 8 in this slot.
9th Round-Tauren Poole-RB-Tennessee-Poole is a hard runner who should see more time on the field this season. We like his potential to be the leading rusher for the Volunteer’s this season. He is a big back that can run between the tackles and will be in on goal line carries.
10th Round-Erik Folk-K-Washington-I have no explanation for this pick other than that Folk kicks for Washington and his brother Nick Folk kicks for the New York Jets. I normally don’t take kickers until the later round, but this was a time was running out on the clock pick and I panicked. It happens!
11th Round-Seth Smith-RB-New Mexico St.-We like Smith alot, getting him in the 11th is great value for a back that went over a 1,000 yards last season on a horrible team. He had only one TD last season, so if he can get to 7 or 8 TD’s and another 1,000 yard season, then this becomes a big steal in the 11th.
12th Round-Luther Ambrose-WR-UL Monroe-If head coach Todd Berry can figure out a way to use Luther Ambrose’s skills, he could be dangerous. We love his speed and athleticisim, but the problem is the team is so reliant on RB Frank Goodin it has sort of become a one man show in Monroe. Ambrose had 4 TD’s last season, we think there will be an improvement in that area hoping they spread the ball around a little more.
13th Round-Oregon D/ST-For a Washington Husky fan to take the Oregon D/ST there is no excuse and I will issue an apology to Husky Nation. I’m sorry….and I will vow to redeem myself later.
14th Round-Uzoma Nwachukwu-WR-Texas A & M-The Aggies have one of the best QB’s in the land in Jerrod Johnson, so we like getting one of his receivers in the 14th round. Nwachukwu is a big play waiting to happen and we think he can build on his stat line of 40 rec./708 yards/6 TD’s last season. We love the value we got with this pick.
15th Round-Jeffery Anderson-TE-UAB-The Blazer’s are going to miss QB Joe Webb. That’s why we like this pick. With a new QB in David Isabelle we think Anderson will get leaned on until Isabelle gets up to speed. Anderson had 5 TD’s last season, so the team likes to use him around the goal line. If he can up his yardage numbers and TD’s to around 7 or 8, then that is value.
16th Round-Nick Toon-WR-Wisconsin-The son of Al Toon we love his potential. The junior went for a stat line of 54 rec./805 yards/4 TD’s last season. We think he will have a 1,000 yard season and when all is said and done will make people in Madison forget about Lee Evans and Chris Chambers. Yes, we think he is that good.
17th Round-Stephen Garcia-QB-South Carolina-We think Garcia will finally put it all together and have the kind of season many people around the program think he is capable of having. He was the conference’s second leading passer, so the expectations aren’t unrealistic. Getting him in the 17th round for our third QB is good value.
18th Round-Josh Adams-RB-Wake Forest-Adams was the former ACC rookie of the year in 2007, then things changed. For one, his carries went down and he hasn’t been over 125 since the 2007 season. To say his career at Wake Forest has been a disappointment is putting it mildly. This pick is our belief that he will put things back together in his senior season and improve his NFL Draft stock.
19th Round-Jermaine Thomas-RB-Florida St.-Thomas is back atop the depth chart for the Seminoles, so this could be a steal. Thomas had 163 rushes/832 yards/9 TD’s last season. What is impressive is his 5.1 yards per carry, which tells us he is explosive and is a big play waiting to burst out of the backfield. That is what we call crazy value.
20th Round-Washington D/ST-I told Husky Nation I would redeem myself. Here’s hope that defensive coordinator Nick Holt can get the front four ready to play. This unit is fairly young, but is led by bone crushing linebacker Mason Foster. In the secondary Desmond Trufant is going to be a star and is only a sophomore. He is the brother of Seahawks corner Marcus Trufant, not a bad corner himself.
If you would like to see the whole draft, it can be viewed at: