Somewhere Over The Dwayne Bowe
Yep, that's my fantasy team name this season, and I have to say, I'm pretty happy with it. (Next year, I may even go with "The Dwayne Bowe Coalition.") I resisted the temptation to post my thoughts immediately after our draft, but now that a week's worth of games are in the book, it's time to let that fly.
Realizing that this is of interest to approximately one person, and I know what it's going to say, I'm putting the rest of this bad boy under the fold. Just assume that by the photo here that you know who my first pick was, and that I'm pretty happy about it.
So, if you play fantasy football, you not only know that's Adrian Peterson above, but that in order for me to have him, I had the first pick in the draft. Truth. A few other caveats for those interested: We start 1QB, 2RB, 3WR (no TE), 1PK, 1D/ST and a Flex -- but that Flex can be a QB which greatly increases their value in our league. (Almost everyone starts two QB each week.) It's also a reasonably performance heavy league, if such things matter.
With that, my picks and current thoughts:
1 (1) -- Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota Vikings. The best running back in the league and the obvious lock for #1 pick overall. His 180 yard, three touchdown performance yesterday against the Browns wasn't necessary to reaffirm this, but it sure didn't hurt.
2 (20) -- Calvin Johnson, WR Detroit Lions. I loves me the Megatron; some worry that he has a rookie QB but there's no way it can be worse than last year. Had a long TD not been erroneously called back, Johnson would have had over 150 yards and that TD - as it is, 3 catches for 90 yards isn't shabby.
3 (21) -- Brandon Jacobs, RB New York Giants. He didn't look strong yesterday with about 50 yards and a weak average, but I'm psyched to have him as my second running back. I expected him to be long gone.
4 (40) -- Jay Cutler, QB Chicago Bears. Remember, this is a QB-heavy league (in fact, the top five went in the first 16 picks). Cutler looked pretty pathetic in the first half yesterday, then much stronger in the second including a gorgeous long bomb to Devin Hester. I think he'll be fine as one of my two QBs all season long.
5 (41) -- Matthew Schaub, QB Houston Texans. On the other hand, Schaub looked like poop. I think that Cutler and Schaub together give me what I need, with the potential to actually be strong, but I can't say that 166 yard, 0 TD performance didn't make me a bit nervous.
6 (60) -- Darren McFadden, RB Oakland Raiders. Here is where the draft got dicey for me; this pick was met with general guffaws, mostly because people don't believe DMC is for real. I admit, I have my concerns -- but I clearly need both receivers and running back depth, and it was either him or Pierre Thomas who was incredibly still on the board. (Ray Rice, my main choice, was taken by my brother just two picks earlier...) With Thomas missing Week 1 and potentially having to share carries with Mike Bell, I'm feeling better about this. Plus, DMC looked strong against the Chargers.
7 (61) -- Anthony Gonzalez, WR Indianpolis Colts. This was also met with disapproval, and I admit now, I wanted Brandon Marshall, but I just couldn't handle the risk. Well, no matter what, he's going to be better than Gonzalez, who ripped his knee three ways till Sunday. I'll be dropping him in two short days, and he was destined to be my WR2. (Yes, he'll be back this year but with three tears in his knee, I'm not optimistic.)
8 (80) -- Larry Johnson, RB Kansas City Chiefs. Look, I hate LJ. I think he's pretty much done for. But as my fourth running back? You can't - or shouldn't - pass up that kind of depth. Would I have been better doubling up on receivers with this and my next pick? Perhaps.
9 (81) -- Hines Ward, WR Pittsburgh Steelers. Loved him as my third wideout, especially after his big opening night game. But now he's my WR2 and I feel decidedly less confident. Still, great value this deep in the draft.
10 (100) -- Leon Washington, RB New York Jets. I couldn't be happier with this -- I'd been meaning to take Ahmad Bradshaw, but he got snapped up just before this pick. Washington has huge upside this year and as my fifth running back? Quite happy here.
11 (101) -- Donnie Avery, WR St Louis Rams. At this point, the talent level got pretty thin, and I went with the young, fast WR -- even though he has a crap QB and plays for what is quite possibly the worst team in the NFL.
12 (120) -- Steve Breaston, WR Arizona Cardinals. I am not expecting 1000 yards again, and Breaston (like Lance Moore of the Saints) only has real value if someone else gets injured. But the upside is just there, and seriously, it was getting real thin at this point.
13 (121) Kerry Collins, QB Tennessee Titans. For bye weeks only, he just missed out on having the best QB performance of my trio. Totally passable, but I could have gotten a stronger option had I filled this slot during the prior turn.
14. (140) Nate Burleson, WR Seattle Seahawks. My last skill position pick, I was happy to snare Burleson who was off most folks radar after missing last season. With Housh in Seattle, he's going to get a lot of single coverage and certainly maximized that yesterday.
15. (141) Chicago Bears, DEF/ST. Yeah, I was feeling better about this before Brian Urlacher was lost for the season. I'll be trading up soon.
16. (160) Nick Folk PK Dallas Cowboys. It's a kicker, so who cares?
All in all, I like it - but of course, only time will tell.
