Originally Posted by Danimal Completely agree with all of this. I would drop Rice immediately. Even when he comes back, he won't be last year's version of Sidney Rice. Not worth holding up a roster spot all season waiting for him to get back up to speed. I'm going to stay far away from VJax in my draft this Saturday. I know he could pay big dividends and be a great value pick at some point this season, especially for owners able to grab him in later rounds, but I don't want the anxiety of wondering what his status will be.

Originally Posted by IvanHood Thanks for the suggestions, guys. Definitely gives me some things to think about. My point of comfort is that my starting RBs are Frank Gore and Steven Jackson, so hopefully neither of them gets injured.

if you have an IR spot i would use it for rice until someone more crucial gets hurt (knock on wood), sometimes it takes a few days for a player to show IR eligible. if you dont have an IR spot then i agree with the drop.

VJax is still going WAY too high from what ive seen, theres no guarantee the guy will even play this year, definitely stay away unless something changes in the next couple days.

Originally Posted by Lord_Kefka I am going to be in three leagues this year, my one running league from the last 7 years and 2 new ones with some crazy point rules. Now, in recent years I've grown accustomed to having a middle-end pick and I've had great success. Now I find myself actually loathing having #1 pick. Last time I had that was when LT was the man and broke down after two record setting years. I'm just about certain it will be Chris Johnson, even though I fell in love with Ray Rice last year after stealing him at 6th round. (Quick side note for ZForce - keep Celek, he had great rapport in the few games last year with Kolb, he was my 11th round sleeper). So, my wrap around pick will be #24. I'm hoping Ryan Grant would be hanging around, but I'm guessing not. I would expect Roddy White, maybe Brandon Marshall....I don't know. I really don't like a lot of the guys ranked overall around that number. Some good steals in the middle rounds to be had I think.....anyone else get into this predicament?

grant almost certainly wont be around, but theres an outside chance. in my 2 drafts so far players around there include miles austin, greg jennings, desean jackson, marques colston, jamaal charles, cedric benson... id go with the best WR you can grab at that spot for sure, then take your pick of a RB, WR or top QB.

I'm mock drafting now and finding a huge drop off in WR quality past that point. I think I have to go WR-WR. There are RB's to be stolen later and QB's

Wound up with the following roster after letting Yahoo's autodraft do the work since I was stuck actually at work.

QB Aaron Rodgers
WR Reggie Wayne
WR TJ Houshsomethingorother
WR Mike Wallace
RB LeSean McCoy
RB Jonathan Stewart
TE Dallas Clark
DEF New York Jets
K Nate Kaeding

BN Michael Bush - RB
BN Vince Young - QB
BN Lee Evans - WR
BN Eddie Royal - WR
BN John Kasay - K
BN Marcades Lewis - TE

Trade help needed asap. Background before the trade, my draft was before the Rice injury news so he was one of my starting WR. My next best option after Moss is Meachem.

I get Steve Smith (Panthers), Best, Carlson and I give up Witten, Felix Jones, Breaston.

Thoughts?

Originally Posted by DomLando Trade help needed asap. Background before the trade, my draft was before the Rice injury news so he was one of my starting WR. My next best option after Moss is Meachem. I get Steve Smith (Panthers), Best, Carlson and I give up Witten, Felix Jones, Breaston. Thoughts?

I hate it. Essentially downgrading TE (albeit one that is due for a season-crushing injury) and evening everything else out. Best will split carries (in some form) with K Smith, just like Jones and Barber - though, FJ is injury prone. While Breaston and Smith-south both have questionable QB situations. I do like Smith-south's a lot better, but I feel Breaston has a higher upside as #2 than Smith-south as #only one.

My draft is tomorrow afternoon, and as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I'm picking 9th (out of 12). The more I think about it, the more I realize there's no way that either of the guys I really want, Michael Turner or Andre Johnson, will still be there for me.

So.... realistically, I'm probably looking at making a choice between Steven Jackson and Rashard Mendenhall for my first pick. I'll probably go for a WR in the 2nd round (16th overall), I'm thinking Miles Austin or Roddy White (assuming they're both still there) Any opinions on those options: Jackson vs. Mendenhall and/or Austin vs. White?

Originally Posted by Danimal My draft is tomorrow afternoon, and as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I'm picking 9th (out of 12). The more I think about it, the more I realize there's no way that either of the guys I really want, Michael Turner or Andre Johnson, will still be there for me. So.... realistically, I'm probably looking at making a choice between Steven Jackson and Rashard Mendenhall for my first pick. I'll probably go for a WR in the 2nd round (16th overall), I'm thinking Miles Austin or Roddy White (assuming they're both still there) Any opinions on those options: Jackson vs. Mendenhall and/or Austin vs. White?

honestly, between jackson and mendenhall, flip a coin. jackson will likely have a more dominant role in a weak rams offense, but by the end of the year they will probably have averaged a comparable amount of points.

for the WRs id say go with Austin of the two. white was very hit or miss for me last year and youre crossing your fingers that matt ryan is out of his sophomore slump. austin on the other hand is on a high powered offense and is the top WR with one of the top QBs. even though theres a lot of weapons on the cowboys my bet is he will be more consistent and better by the end of the year.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards Austin myself. I picked him up as a free agent last year, and obviously he was huge for me. I've actually got him ranked 2nd at WR on my own personal cheat-sheet, with White 3rd (I think Moss is going too high this year) I just have a feeling about Ryan and the Falcons this year that makes me think White is going to be a monster. Austin is probably the safer pick, though.

I agree about Jackson-Mendenhall, too. I'm a Steelers fan, and I always have a little hesitance about picking Steelers, wondering if it's a head pick or a heart pick. I think that one will depend on my mood, or maybe whatever other feedback the question gets here.

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SJax and White.

Austin is going too high in the draft for what he did last year. Remember, after doing 400+ yds in his two break out games, he quickly came back down to earth - same time Williams started picking it up. However, I do concede he did me right in the playoffs. Nonetheless, I don't think he's going to put up the magic numbers he did the last half. The 'boys look as if they're taking a piece from the Saint's book - give Romo as many targets as he can throw to. While that might not mean Williams as much as Witten, Bryant, and Jones. With White, you atleast know what you're going to get. He's been consistent the past two years.

As for SJax, I like what I seen out of Bradford. That should equal to a better run game than many anticipated, and he'll get decent passes to him. Rashad is close behind, but the Steelers passing game this year has some uncertainity (besides Ben gone for 6).

Get C.Ochocincco
C.Johnson
R.Rice
Those 3 are on my team.

Originally Posted by Cudi Get C.Ochocincco C.Johnson R.Rice Those 3 are on my team.

How did you get Johnson and Rice?

From last year's thread....

Originally Posted by Danimal Note to self- next season, listen to Kilraven's advice. If I'd set my lineup this way, it would have been smooth sailing to the championship. Instead, I went with MJD and Benson, and Minnesota, and I lost by 20. Never thought the Vikings D would get pushed around like that.

From yesterday....

Originally Posted by Kilraven SJax and White. Austin is going too high in the draft for what he did last year. Remember, after doing 400+ yds in his two break out games, he quickly came back down to earth - same time Williams started picking it up. However, I do concede he did me right in the playoffs. Nonetheless, I don't think he's going to put up the magic numbers he did the last half. The 'boys look as if they're taking a piece from the Saint's book - give Romo as many targets as he can throw to. While that might not mean Williams as much as Witten, Bryant, and Jones. With White, you atleast know what you're going to get. He's been consistent the past two years. As for SJax, I like what I seen out of Bradford. That should equal to a better run game than many anticipated, and he'll get decent passes to him. Rashad is close behind, but the Steelers passing game this year has some uncertainity (besides Ben gone for 6).

Now the only question is: Am I smart enough to listen to my own good advice about taking good advice?

Or are you crazy enough to listen to a man predicting fantasy value during the preseason?

Dude, don't backpedal on me now!

Originally Posted by Danimal How did you get Johnson and Rice?

im assuming its calvin johnson, not chris johnson

Originally Posted by RAMSTORIA im assuming its calvin johnson, not chris johnson

Good point. I think I've overstudied leading up to my draft today; my head is swimming with so many names I somehow forgot all about Calvin.

All right Dan, I won't back pedal now - I'm not sure I'd trust Calvin as an elite WR this year... yet. Last year he was injured so much he was dropped in one of my leagues in week 8. Yes, of course I picked him up; however, he was nothing more than a situational receiver for two games (if memory serves me right, it could've been only one). So is it going to be a repeat of 08 or 09? Not sure if I'd chance a 2nd pick on that question.

I've been playing more and more with mock drafts. It's hard since the other people in the room all have their own varying strategies. This was one I did this morning and was happy with:
(#1 overall pick, wrap-around style)

1. Chris Johnson (Ten - RB)
2. Marques Colston (NO - WR)
3. DeSean Jackson (Phi - WR)
4. Jason Witten (Dal - TE)
5. Joseph Addai (Ind - RB)
6. Joe Flacco (Bal - QB)
7. Matt Forte (Chi - RB)
8. Carson Palmer (Cin - QB)
9. Kenny Britt (Ten - WR)
10. New Orleans (NO - DEF)
11. Anthony Gonzalez (Ind - WR)
12. Greg Olsen (Chi - TE)
13. Sebastian Janikowski (Oak - K)
14. Montario Hardesty (Cle - RB)
15. Dexter McCluster (KC - WR,RB)

So far, my strategy has been Chris Johnson at #1 obviously, and then when I hit picks 24-25 I have been going WR-WR. I do this because the top RB's that are left are usually Benson, Pierre Thomas, Jamaal Charles, Jonathan Stewart. I feel like the WR quality drops off after the early to mid 30 overall picks and I don't come up until 48-49. So in this place I can usually get a combination of Boldin, Jennings, Colston, Desean Jackson.

Long wait until my next picks and I'm forced to decide between my second RB, my starting QB and TE. I was happy to accept Addai at this spot, and snatched up Witten. Other times in this spot I've reached on Forte, Foster, Forsett (whom I still like) or picked up Rivers. Favre is usually hanging around here, but I think Flacco is a sleeper.

Generally, I'm all over the board after this. Sometimes I can get Flacco in 6-7 or even 8-9. Forsett has dropped down draft boards. I've been snatching up guys like Greg Olsen, Donnie Avery and Jabar Gaffney in the late rounds.

What do you guys think of this strategy?

Well, don't bother picking up Avery now.

That's a solid draft. Britt and A.Gonzalez are medium risks with very high rewards. Drafted Britt, too, but dumped him after he showed up out of shape and struggling to get the #3 slot.

I think it's a solid strategy. I not a begin fan of getting the 1-2 slot myself, though. Too much fear of getting that stud RB and watching him get that nightmare injury. I like the mid-range - pick up RB (Benson, SJax, etc.), snag a top QB (Rodgers, Manning, Brady, etc.), then snag that WR1. If I can't get that WR1, then I get the top possession receiver I can - think Ward or Welker. I figure after that, I'm going to upgrade later in the season via trades or waiver wire.

Originally Posted by Kilraven All right Dan, I won't back pedal now - I'm not sure I'd trust Calvin as an elite WR this year... yet. Last year he was injured so much he was dropped in one of my leagues in week 8. Yes, of course I picked him up; however, he was nothing more than a situational receiver for two games (if memory serves me right, it could've been only one). So is it going to be a repeat of 08 or 09? Not sure if I'd chance a 2nd pick on that question.

No, I wasn't looking at Calvin, I just mixed him up with Chris Johnson on another post. I was stuck between Austin and White for my 2nd pick, but in the end, I went RB-RB. Austin ended up going R2-10 (23rd) and White went R3-1 (25th). Here's how my draft went:

R1- (9) Steven Jackson (RB)
R2- (16) Rashard Mendenhall (RB)
R3- (33) Marques Colston (WR)
R4- (40) Philip Rivers (QB)
R5- (57) Hakeem Nicks (WR)
R6- (64) Mike Wallace (WR)
R7- (81) Arian Foster (RB)
R8- (88) Zach Miller (OAK-TE)
R9- (105) Chad Henne (QB)
R10- (112) Miami DST
R11- (129) Clinton Portis (RB)
R12- (136) Jabar Gaffney (WR)
R13- (153) San Diego DST
R14- (160) Dan Carpenter (K)
R15- (177) Devin Thomas (WR)
R16- (184) Tashard Choice (RB)

I like some parts of my team, and am less crazy about others. I got on the wrong side of panic runs on QBs, TEs, and DSTs, so I picked a bit lower than I wanted to on each of those. I also had guys I was targeting, like C.J. Spiller, Malcolm Floyd, and the San Fran DST all go one pick ahead of me, so that was frustrating. Overall, I'm OK with it.