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FanEx Analysis
Draft
Rules | Transactions
Round 5
   
  
 
 5.01 TE
Todd Heap
By TC Cannon
This will be brief. Three TEs seem to be
head-and- shoulders above the rest - Shockey, Gonzalez,
and this selection.
Heap runs like a slow WR and is excellent after the catch.
Most importantly, he is the main pass target for the
sluggish Ravens offense. Yet, this shaky supporting cast works
in his favor. He led the team in receptions (57) and
yards (693) in 2003. Without a true WR1, the Ravens will
continue to toss it to Heap a lot.
He has been a consistent fantasy
performer (125-1529-9) in his first two seasons, and
the best is yet to come for this talented still-young star.
|
5.01 TE
Todd Heap
By Guest IM Fletcher
A very good move by Team Cannon to
trade up and nab the last of the big three TEs. As an ardent
follower of the FanEx FAD for many years, I was expecting to
see a Bronco RB drafted here by TC, which is usually the norm
in Cannonville. And his last analysis indicating interest in
acquiring another rookie RB had me thinking Bronco rookie
Tatum Bell could be the reason for the move up. But the only
logical move up here would be for TE Todd Heap because of the
perceived drop off in production from the TE position after
Gonzo, Shockey and Heap. I say "perceived dropoff"
because there is a 'Chosen One' who is still out there and is
in a similar position to Heap as KW2 also plays with a lack
of a proven WR threat (and a better QB in Garcia).
Todd Heap is about
as solid of a selection as you can get in round five. A no
risk pick. Which is a must for Team Cannon after drafting
Dallas rookie RB Julius Jones in round three. And
intelligently following up the Jones pick with another very
solid selection in veteran WR Derrick Mason on Tennessee. I
really like the way this team is shaping up after five rounds.
In Heap, you get
the Raven's #1 option in the passing game and #1 option in the
redzone on passing downs. In fact Heap's value goes up even
more this year with WR Marcus Robinson's signing with the
Vikings. Robinson was the only other legitimate endzone threat
to throw the ball up to, his size and leaping ability being
the factor. Much like Heap who is now the lone remaining Raven
holdover with the size and hops to go up and get that ball.
The loss of Robinson should be good for at least two or three
more TDs and a double digit increase in passes caught from
Heap in 2004. Heap's number's over the past two seasons
include 131 receptions for 1,609 receiving yards and 10
touchdowns. Heap also rushed the ball 7 times for 59
yards...which is very unusual for a TE and indicates one of
these year's (2004?) Heap will likely pilfer a rushing
touchdown from Jamal Lewis.
A big
believer in the stud TE theory here, even in this scoring
system where team's are credited with the highest scoring
players and are not required to turn in weekly starting
lineups. Based on the last couple year's, a stud TE in this
scoring system will out produce any team without one...even if
the team's were to carry three TEs on their roster. So get
yourself a stud TE like Heap and you have assured yourself a
top three scoring lock at the TE position. There is not
another player who will be drafted in round five that
any FanEx member can say has just locked up a top three
scoring at his respective position. Excellent Pick and
Trade...
|
5.01 TE
Todd Heap
By Guest Dan Grogan
Shortcomings
at QB last year resulted in just 4 TDs for Heap, but don’t let
that stats fool you. This guy is very good and has the potential
to even rival Tony Gonzalez for top TE honors. But, here’s the
catch. While Gonzalez has Trent Green throwing to him, Heap has
Kyle Boller. At this time in his career, Boller is not at the
level of a Green. Heap will again play a prominent role in
Baltimore
’s passing game and that could translate into 5-7 scores and
700-900 yards. Former NY Giants’ head coach Jim Fassel is
working with the Ravens as a consultant and he know a little
something about tailoring a passing game to a tightend.
Heap
might trail Gonzalez in value, but as the go-to receiver for the
Ravens, he’ll have the edge over the rest of the pack. |
5.01 TE
Todd Heap
By Guest Andrew Brecher
Fantasy experts were a little early last year in anointing Todd
Heap as one of the "big three" TEs next to Gonzalez
and Shockey, with Heap's performance being dragged down by the
Ravens' league-worst passing game.
Although disappointing to many FF players who drafted him,
Heap's final numbers (57-693-3) were respectable and good enough
for third place among TEs (behind Gonzo and new CBS analyst Shannon
Sharpe) and fourth in points per game (behind those two and the
injured Shockey).
A return to his 2002 levels is likely. Baltimore's passing
game has to improve -- it can't get any worse, right? -- and
Todd Heap will be helped by the maturation of Kyle Boller
entering his second season as a starter. We already know
that Boller likes throwing to Heap; if you project Heap's stats
for the nine games started by Boller to a full season, it comes
out to 62-795-4.
Baltimore's lack of WR depth will mean that Heap will see more
balls his way than if the team had a viable WR3. And
unless Travis Taylor can start beating top cornerbacks and
finally assert himself as a legitimate
NFL WR1, Heap will continue to be a real safety net for Boller.
Heap is a low-risk, high-reward TE for any fantasy team, making
him a solid pick at this stage of the draft. |
 5.02 RB
Lee Suggs
By Mark Nulty
It
was unrealistic to think that Santana Moss or Steve Smith would
have fallen to me, but that’s what I was hoping for here.
If
I had stayed at the 4.11 spot, I would have taken (in order of
preference) Santana Moss or Steve Smith. I would have considered
Todd Heap but I just can’t get excited about a possible Kyle
Boller-Anthony Wright quarterback controversy. If you’re going
to take a tight end this early, you better be sure.
I
was offered the opportunity to trade up to the spot to draft
Heap but passed. I would have done the deal for either Moss or
Smith.
Because
I traded out of the fourth round, I actually had another
selection coming up two picks later.
After
Moss and Smith, I think there is a dropoff at wide receiver.
Steve
McNair was the highest rated player left on my board.
But
since one of the two teams between me and my next pick already
had Peyton Manning, I figured there was a 50-50 chance McNair
would still be there at 5.05.
Therefore,
I ignored the chalk pick and took Lee Suggs. I thought
there was a better chance that Suggs would go in one of the next
two picks than McNair.
Suggs
isn’t officially the starter yet, but he is number one on the
depth chart.
Number
two on the depth chart is William Green. There is no truth
to the rumor that Courtney Love backs up William Green.
Vegas
should put an over/under on how many more arrests/drug
suspensions Green will have between now and the start of the
season. That being said, with Suggs on my roster I still might
take Green late in the draft as insurance. Besides, every roster
needs a potential felony trial to keep things interesting.
All
William Green jokes aside, I think Suggs has the potential of
being a better than average starting running back in the NFL.
Suggs
had a spectacular career at Virginia Tech before a knee injury
his junior year. He rebounded to have a big senior year. The
knee injury scared teams and Suggs fell to Cleveland in the
fourth round of the 2003 draft to provide insurance for Green.
Before
the 2001 knee injury, there was talk of Suggs coming out as
a junior and being a Top 5 overall draft pick.
If
all this wasn’t bad enough, he injured his shoulder before
camp last year and began his NFL career on the PUP list.
But
then Green implodes.
To
Suggs credit, he kept a good attitude and worked hard
enough on his rehab to be brought back on the active
roster. He started the last two games for Cleveland. In Week 17,
facing a Cincinnati defense that needed to win to make the
playoffs, Suggs ran for 168 yards on 26 carries with 2
touchdowns.
Cleveland
has a decent offense and had upgraded their offense with Pro
Bowl QB Jeff Garcia.
This
is a player that may have found a situation where everything
falls into place to give him a chance. And, despite the
injuries, he has enough talent to do something with the
opportunity.
If
he can stay healthy and Green doesn’t steal too many
carries, Suggs can be a Top 20 running back and a value in the
fifth round.
|
5.02 RB
Lee Suggs
By Guest David Burleson
Text |
 5.03
RB Tatum Bell (R)
By Ryan Houston
The
Denver Broncos enter the 2004 season with a lack of stability at
the position of running back.
Clinton Portis has been shipped to Washington while
league veteran Garrison Hearst has been added in hopes of
finding someone to step up as the primary rusher in 2004.
While Hearst and returning Broncos Mike Anderson and
Quentin Griffin were the RB’s set to battle for the position
before the draft, rookie Tatum Bell has become the favorite to
swipe the rights after.
Bell
is the most complete back in the group.
He has good speed and is able to run well around the
corners and between the tackles.
He has a good burst in the open as well and has shown
potential as a solid receiver.
His blocking may need some work, but he has the ability
to improve in this area and should become a solid NFL RB with a
little coaching.
The other candidates for the job all have considerable
drawbacks.
Hearst has battled injuries and is an aged veteran with
more than a few dents in his chassis.
His best years are in the past.
Griffin has great speed but is small and will not be able
to carry the ball 20+ times for a full, 16-game NFL schedule.
Mike Anderson has failed to attain the top yards he
reached in 2000.
In reality, he hasn’t come even close.
His failed drug test and lack of production have left him
as a questionable player at best.
Bell is the leading candidate for the starting RB
position by default, and his skills and abilities should allow
him to earn the job regardless.
|
5.03 RB
Tatum Bell (R)
By Guest David Gonos
Bell might have a handful of running backs to battle through
in training camp (Garrison Hearst, Quentin Griffin, Cecil Sapp,
Ahmaad Galloway). Although really, he will likely fight just
Hearst and Griffin for playing time. The rookie has an excellent
first step -- important in Mike Shanahan's offense -- as well as
great top-speed (4.34 in the 40-yard dash). Hearst is certainly
on the decline and Griffin is almost as big an unknown as Bell.
All three running backs seem to be going in the middle rounds of
most drafts at this point. The early-fifth could be just that...
early.
With T. J. Duckett on the board (and Dunn on his roster),
Houston is placing his eggs in two baskets, rather than one, so
to speak. With the Manning and Chad Johnson selections, he's
forced to pick a later RB in two backfields that might share
carries. Doubling up on Atlanta running backs wouldn't
necessarily be wise either and there are much worse gambles to
make in Fantasy Football than grabbing a Denver rookie running
back.
|
 5.04 WR
Darrell Jackson
By Rito | Nazarek
There are a lot of great reasons
to have a partner in this league, especially when both are
fairly experienced FFLers. But at times, decisions become
quite difficult and this pick was one of those. We passed on
a WR in round 4 to nab a RB#3, and then failed
several times to trade up in this round to acquire
Santana Moss (see Cahill analysis of Moss selection). We felt
that there were a large group of receivers that would go before
our 6th round pick, so we thought that we really needed
to take a WR#2 although the talent pool in this
"tier" was very even. One of us felt that Darrell
Jackson stood out above the remaining WRs, one of us did not.
But in the absence of any other distinguishing factors, DJ
joined out roster.
And is hard to make a case against
Jackson, actually. While he did not have a lot of catches for
a stud WR (68 in 2003), he did a lot with his limited touches
by gathering in 1137 yards and 9 TDs. He put up fundamentally
identical numbers to Joe Horn in this scoring system last year
(Horn was 13th, DJ was 14th among WRs), and was right there
with such notables as Laveranues Coles and some guy named
"T.O.". Darrell Jackson had an 8-week fantasy
stretch in the season's second half with numbers that were
exceeded only by Randy Moss. He is the #1 WR in a fairly
potent offense with a solid QB, a very good RB and a solid
deep threat across the field from him in Koren Robinson. And
it is reasonable to believe that those numbers have a chance
of rising in 2004 with additional touches.
So why is DJ still here as the
14th WR taken? Many feel that he is not necessarily the best
WR in SEA with Koren Robinson waiting to explode. The numbers
indicate that DJ is still da man in Seattle, but a lot of
folks think that may change. That, and the Seahawks have
toiled in relative anonymity amidst NFL circles, and thus a
lot of folks simply overlook Darrell Jackson. This guy made a
lot of fantasy owners look very good down the stretch last
year as a WR#1 performer, and we hope that as a complement to
the Marvelous One that he does likewise for us in 2004!
|
5.04 WR
Darrell Jackson
By Guest Mark Hooper
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan
of this pick. Not that it was a poor decision, but
I just feel there were better choices on the boards at 5.04
that have more upside.
To start, I do not think that Jackson is clearly
the best WR on the Seahawks roster, and Koren Robinson was
still available at pick 5.04. Jackson is the more
consistent of the duo, but I believe K-Rob has more upside,
and could be poised for a break-out year. But to be fair
I think you could easily make a case for either Seattle WR,
and neither would be bad choices.
But when I see that Texan Andre Johnson was
still sitting there (he went two picks later), it made my
cringe. You can rightfully say that Matt Hasselback is a
better quarterback in a better offense than David Carr and the
Texans. But Andre Johnson is clearly the number one
option in Houston, and as we saw last year, his upside is better
than Jackson or Robinson. He does carry more risk, since he
has only shown one year, but taking risks in this game is
necessary if you want to compete for the championship.
It appears the team of Rito and
Nazarek wanted to take the safe route, and go with a known and
proven factor in Jackson. Maybe it's just me, but I'll
take the added risk knowing that the payout could led me to
the playoffs.
|
 5.05 QB
Steve McNair
By Mark Nulty
My
gamble three picks ago pays off and Steve McNair is still on the
board.
One
factor in the gamble – nobody gets excited about drafting
Steve McNair, despite being last year’s Co-NFL MVP.
Don’t
get me wrong, McNair is respected as a perennial top 5
quarterback. But he doesn’t put up the monster games that Dan
Marino or Kurt Warner did in their prime.
Steve
McNair’s two biggest assets are his consistency and his
toughness.
McNair
has played well while suffering injuries that would put most
tough guys in traction. He finally had to be benched for two
games last year.
Despite
missing those two games last year, McNair had a passer rating
over a 97, 3600 yards passing and 26 touchdowns.
That
was McNair’s third straight season with at least 3350 passing
yards and 20+ touchdown passes.
Primarily
because of the injuries, McNair has gone from being one of the
best running quarterbacks in the league to an average one. His
165 yards rushing last year was a career low. But he’s still a
threat at the goal line, with 4 touchdown runs. It was his third
straight season and sixth in the last seven with at least 3
rushing touchdowns.
And
in a league that penalizes interceptions, you got to love the
fact that McNair only threw 11 last year.
As
Eddie George has declined, the Titans have become more of a
passing team. They’ve surrounded McNair with terrific targets
such as Derrick Mason, Drew Bennett, and rookie Tyrone Calico. I
wish they had kept Justin McCareins, but the Titans are so deep
at receiver they didn’t want to get into a bidding war.
Nobody
gets excited about drafting McNair. But by the end of the year,
he ranks in the top five in quarterback scoring.
The
wear and tear on McNair is a concern, but at this point in the
draft, he’s the most consistent player on the board.
|
5.05 QB
Steve McNair
By Guest John Baxter
Team Nulty scores one of fantasy footballs most consistent and
reliable quarterbacks in Steve McNair.
At 5.05, this is right about the area where a quarterback
of McNair’s caliber would be drafted.
Although I have long been a proponent of waiting on the
QB position, some players are either too good to pass up on or
they are a favorite of the owner drafting them.
I’m going to guess the latter here, as I still see some
top tier QBs remaining on the board who stand a good chance of
going before McNair in this summer’s drafts.
But, rather than
pooh-pooh the pick, I’d first choose to focus on the quality
of the player. Very
quietly, Steve McNair has been a top fantasy producer from the
quarterback position. Any
QB who poses a threat to score on his feet always has higher
fantasy value. In
McNair’s case, he also adds consistency and durability to his
resume. Over each
of the last three seasons, McNair has thrown for 3,200+ yards
and 20+ scores, along with an average of 4 rushing scores, all
while missing just 3 starts.
Returning is his
favorite target, Derrick Mason, along with two very tall,
complimentary receivers in Drew Bennett and Tyrone Calico.
The Titans also addressed the TE position in the
off-season by drafting highly touted Ben Troupe to take over for
the recently retired Frank Wycheck.
Considering the recent issues with the running game, it
is not hard to figure that a lot will be asked of his
“Airness” this season, which should result in another top
ten fantasy season.
Having
said all that, I’m not sure I would have drafted a QB at this
stage, as previously mentioned. Doubtless, the likes of McNair, Aaron Brooks, and Trent Green would
be off the board once the drafts comes back in the 6th. However,
enough credible alternatives should remain. Enough so that Team Nulty had the option of drafting another
quality WRs like Plaxico Burress, Andre Johnson, or Koren
Robinson, or possibly the top of the next tier at TE, namely
Alge Crumpler. In any event, Steve McNair is a safe and consistently
productive option at quarterback who, along with LT2 and Torry
Holt, helps form a solid and very competitive nucleus that
should find much success in this scoring format.
|
 5.06 WR
Andre Johnson
By Duane Cahill
As tempting as it was to
trade down once again, I think it's time to step up and swing
for the fences.
Jimmy Smith, Chris Chambers and Peerless Price are all lumped in
here at about the same numbers if projected at a conservative
level. However, none of them has Johnson's upside (the
most overused word in FAD history).
Johnson has size, speed and has a year of NFL experience under
his belt as his team's #1 receiver. While he was somewhat
inconsistent in 2003 and dropped some catchable balls, the
aforementioned experience should increase his comfort level and
provide an increase over his 2003 stats.
If I get no better than last year's numbers from Johnson
(66-976-4), then I've probably reached here and he should be
considered a WR3, not a WR2. With a modicum of improvement
attributed only to knowing the offense and being comfortable
with his surroundings, a projection of (80-1050-6) probably puts
Johnson at about par value for the selection.
But given the fair chance that we could see a marked increase
over last year, a (90-1150-8) season would far surpass what I
should rightfully be allowed to expect in the middle of the 5th
round.
I think that there is sufficient reason to expect at least my
second set of projections for Johnson in 2004, and that it is at
least somewhat likely that he can approach the third.
|
5.06 WR
Andre Johnson
By Guest Herbie Teope
I absolutely love this pick by Mr. Cahill. Johnson,
who some NFL draft pundits pegged as the better wide
receiver between he and Charles Rogers for the 2003 NFL Draft,
missed the 1,000-yard barrier last season by just 24 yards.
You can attribute some of Johnson's inconsistency to
having quarterbacks Tony Banks and Dave Ragone throwing the
ball when starter David Carr was out with a shoulder
injury because his production certainly took a nose dive.
Moreover, keep in mind that 2003 was his rookie
season. Had Carr remained healthy, Johnson would have
joined Anquan Boldin as the only two rookie wide receivers to
break that barrier in 2003.
At 6-2 and 221 pounds, this guy is the
complete package gifted with game breaking speed, size, nice
hands, and confidence. The Texans are building something
very nice on offense, and in the AFC South, where the
possibilities of shootouts between Indianapolis and Tennessee
are very real, Johnson should be plenty active.
Mr. Cahill definitely swung for the fences at
5.06 over other receivers such as the aging Jimmy Smith;
Chris Chambers; Peerless Price; Koren Robinson; or
another player I am high on this season, Javon Walker. A
calculated risk? Sure! But definitely worth it in my
humble opinion.
Some may say that this was too early for
Johnson, but as the 16th wide receiver off the board with
tremendous upside, I believe this selection is perfect.
You can probably get the Houston receiver cheaper in most
drafts this summer in normal leagues, but in a pool of Great
White Sharks that Mr. Cahill is swimming with, he went for
more bang for the buck. That's a good thing too, because I'm
positive that others had Johnson on their radar screens
if not this round, very soon. Look for the second-year
pro to join the 1,000-yard club this season and for Mr. Cahill
to reap the rewards.
This team has a nice looking wide
receiver group with Santana Moss and Johnson. I'm interested
to see who he gets as his No. 3.
|
5.07 WR
Koren Robinson
By Scott Engel
The enigmatic Koren Robinson
still needs to polish his route-running skills and focus more
sharply on his game. But his open-field breakaway gear and
big-play ability still make him a great choice at this spot.
While I usually shy away from "pairing up" receivers
and their quarterbacks, Robinson clearly stood out among his
receiving peers at this point of the draft.
|
5.07 WR
Koren Robinson
By Guest Steve Lowinger
Last
year in week 3, I came very close to trading for Koren Robinson.
Instead I managed to get Tory Holt and was happy for the
rest of the season. However,
at some point last year, Koren Robinson and Tory Holt were
considered similar wide receivers.
The perception was fostered by the fact that both put up
nice yardage numbers without scoring.
Last year Holt found the end zone while Robinson
didn’t. Robinson
also had some attitude problems that caused him to slip.
Last
year, many had Robinson well ahead of Darrell Jackson in the
rankings (I felt they were about the same). While this year,
Darrell seems to be the man.
I don’t see this reversal as being about talent, but
rather opportunity. The
reason that Robinson somehow fell off the radar screen was his
week 4 implosion that saw him on the bench for disciplinary
reasons. A last minute zero helps no fantasy team.
He ended up wit 13 less catches than the year before, and
saw his YPC decrease by 2 yards.
I
think this is a nice pick even with all the baggage Koren
Robinson brings. In
this type of format, you want a homerun threat at wide receiver,
and this kid is a home run threat.
His decreases the past year may have to be put aside as
growing pains, but I think that Koren Robinson in this format is
at worst a steady receiver to go along with Hines Ward.
At best, he’s a game breaker that can pull a victory
out of the jaws of defeat.
|
 5.08 RB
Correll Buckhalter
By John Hansen
While Brian Westbrook is the team’s
better fantasy option, Buckhalter could be right behind him,
thanks in part of his work near the goal. And if Westbrook went
down, then Buckhalter’s value would soar – assuming the team
doesn’t acquire a veteran back. He would likely get at least
15+ carries a game, would be the primary goal-line back for a
good offense, and would likely put up numbers worthy of making
him a starter in even a 10-team league. Even as it stands now,
he'll have a major role and makes for an excellent #3 fantasy
back. |
5.08 RB
Correll Buckhalter
By Guest Pete Fiutak
I have to admit that I thought Buckhalter was going to be
one of the deep sleeper stars of 2003. As I found out, so did
many others who bit on the preseason hype and got royally
burned. I'm not sure how thrilled I am with the pick this year
as the Eagles will always be a team that runs by committee with
McNabb taking away too many rushing scores from the backs. Brian
Westbrook will be the number one back anyway.
T.J. Duckett isn't exciting, but he scores becoming the boring
back that will always end up as one of the good midrange
scorers. Garrison Hearst would've been a nice take a chance on
greatness. |
 5.09 RB
TJ Duckett
by Jerome Hickerson
I thought
about taking a second QB here and decided that could wait. The
available tight ends look much alike at this point; I saw no
value screaming to be taken off the board. Several good
receivers available, no doubt several will remain available
later; once again, no superior value. So I decide to take my
third running back.
This
came down to a choice between Eddie George, Correll
Buckhalter and T.J. Duckett.
Buckhalter went off the board just
before my pick, leaving me with George or Duckett.
I think George is headed down and out while Duckett
is up and coming, so I took Duckett
over George.
Grabbing
a back in the 5th round of FanEx
usually means grabbing a 2nd string, 4th
or 5th tier guy. What I got here is a back that
scored 11 times last season. Indeed, those numbers may have been
somewhat inflated by Warrick Dunn’s absence due to season
ending injury. But questions may also be asked about Dunn’s
broken foot. This was not a minor injury and at this time in mid
May it is not certain that Dunn will make a full productive
return.
With
Michael Vick’s return, the
Atlanta
offense can
be expected to produce more scoring opportunities, remain in
close games longer, and in general produce more opportunities
for Duckett, especially late in
games.
I
believe TJ Duckett will make a
quality 3rd back with 10 scores and 1000 total yards.
|
5.09 RB
TJ Duckett
By Guest Hunter Catlett
Mr.
Hickerson chose T.J. Duckett with his fifth round pick.
Duckett will be his third RB.
While many might have opted for a second wide receiver or
even quarterback (remember, in FanEx, you automatically get the
highest scoring player on your roster at a given position) here,
Hickerson wisely solidified his ground game.
Seven other owners already had three running backs at
this point and the pickings were getting very slim.
Hickerson gets a man who had 11 touchdowns last year. Yes, Warrick Dunn was injured, but so was Michael Vick for
most of the year, thus Duckett was one of the few weapons left.
When Vick returned, Duckett averaged 21 carries a game
for 80.5 yards and scored three touchdowns in the four game
span. He is a
player on the rise, is the short-yardage back, and was clearly
the best back left on the table.
I do not think he will equal his 11 score outbreak, but
Duckett should continue to improve as there are now players to
take the load off of him. I
can easily see Duckett with over 1000 total yards and eight or
nine scores. A
quality selection.
|
5.10 RB
Garrison Hearst
By Tony Holm
I make this pick
knowing it will be an unpopular one.
You should have taken a WR here!
Dude, backup your QB you dope!
Garrison Hearst? You’ve
got to be kidding me? Expert
shmeckpert, can we get someone who knows what they’re doing
in here please? Tony,
hand your draft over to someone who knows something about
fantasy football and please, for humanities sake, stop
embarrassing yourself like this.
I’m kind of
“known” for straying from conventional wisdom but I never
just do it to do it.
What I’ve discovered in fantasy football
is that it’s the folks that take chances that win, not the
guys that pick the seemingly proper player.
In FanEx, if you think Hearst would be available next
time I get to pick, you’d be wrong, as this is an RB
marathon from 1.01 to 18.12.
I’ve been drafting in the FAD long enough and except
for my first year where I learned some valuable lessons, have
yet to finish anything lower than 4th and that’s
with my cockamamie strategy handcuffing me!
I could take a WR here
but there is an ocean of them.
A thought about Chris Chambers and Peerless Price but
looking down the list I see tons of them that would work in
this format. I
was licking my chops at the prospect of TJ Duckett but Jerome
snatched him up before me.
So I take my chance with Garrison Hearst.
A prototypical high risk/high reward pick that I like
so much in the FAD. One
of these days all my rewards are going to come in!
Hearst is the most
experienced runner on the Broncos and in my book the defacto
starter. So much
is forgotten about Hearst, and Hearst the man, as fantasy
footballers tend to look one year back and anything before
that is ancient history.
Obviously he’s a Denver RB and that is always a
coveted position, as it seems no matter whom they plug in,
they run with reckless abandon.
Hearst has legitimately three guys he’s competing
against. Rookie
Tatum Bell who still can’t adjust to the mile high altitude
and rookie RBs always come out unpolished.
Every season, rookies are over valued in every draft as
there are so many intangibles they need before bringing it on
an NFL field. Viking
Michael Bennett was a monster pick until we nicknamed him
turnstile for all the missed blocks he had and back to the
bench he went. A
high draft pick wasted and another fantasy lesson gone
unlearned. The
folks that like Quentin Griffin need to look at the numbers.
He makes an adequate backup but starter material he is
not. At a puny
5’ 7”, touting a 3.7 yard per carry average, he makes a
good situational runner but an unlikely starter in the NFL.
Mike Anderson is of course in the mix but Denver has
always groomed him as a FB and don’t really like him as a HB.
They will do whatever it takes to have him in as FB.
Hearst
is a Georgia running back, something the Broncos are familiar
with, but more importantly he is a true blue proven running
back, the only one they have.
From college where he led the nation in TDs to his
not one but two Comeback Player of the Year awards, Hearst has
shown his meddle. He’s
been thrown on the scrap heap many times just to come back and
throw up yet another 1,000 yard season.
Hearst is a Pro Bowl RB with a books worth of records,
he’s a powerful runner with an explosive burst and an
excellent receiver out of the backfield.
It is true that Hearst is on the downside of his career
and that explosion has lost a bit, that power is a little
less, but at this point in the draft, I’ll take my chances
with arguably the most resilient RB to ever play the game.
And yes, I really did just type that.
.
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5.10 RB
Garrison Hearst
By Guest Fred Tierney
Tony Holm is an excellent drafter.
However, I believe he would have been better off selecting a
quality wide receiver. Garrison Hearst is a wild card.
Does Garrison get the majority of carries, majority of red
zone touches, or become just one RB in a big committee.
Mike Shanahan has consistently chosen an
obscure runner as the feature back-Terrell Davis, Mike
Anderson, Clinton Portis. I believe he will use his
second round pick Tatum Bell to be the primary carrier.
Even if Tony is right this a great pick,
I believe Garrison Hearst will be available a lot later in
many other drafts so getting a quality player with his fifth
round pick makes more sense to me than picking a member of a
RBBC.
I would have chosen from the following
players Peerless Price, Isaac Bruce, Amani Toomer, and Chris
Chambers. If I really wanted Hearst, I would have tried
to get him in the 7th or 8th round at a more fair cost.
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 5.11 QB
Trent Green
By Del Pilar | Bonini
In a typical fantasy draft there will be a quarterback run and a
wide receiver run at some point during the draft. It was our
concern when we selected New York Jets RB Curtin Martin in the
fourth round that we might miss out on all the upper echelon
quarterbacks, which is why there was discussions about possibly
selecting Seattle Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck in the fourth
round. In the end we felt we couldn’t pass on Martin and four
picks later Hasselbeck was gone. We thought that move might
start the run on quarterbacks, but only Tennessee Titans QB
Steve McNair was selected between the Hasselbeck selection and
our own fifth round choice so there was still some top tier QBs
on the board.
With nary a
QB or WR on the roster we knew we wanted to target both spots
with our next two picks, although the possibility of drafting
two straight receivers was also debated. However, we felt the
impending QB run could occur and we would be left without a top
player. So we decided that one QB and one WR was the way to go.
From there we decided that we should go after a QB first since
the team picking back-to-back after us was also without a QB.
Once we established the position to be taken we had three names
we thought could be legitimate picks at this spot in the draft.
The first
two names were New Orleans Saints QB Aaron Brooks and Kansas
City Chiefs QB Trent Green. We liked Brooks’ potential as he
is coming off his best year as he increased his accuracy and
decreased his interceptions. He is just now entering the prime
of his career and may be poised to take his game to another
level. On the other hand we liked Green’s consistency the past
two years and the explosive offense he has in place in Kansas
City right now. The two were very close, but the deciding factor
was the talent of the Chiefs’ offensive line and the fact that
OT Willie Roaf watches Green’s blindside. Green has started
every game since he came to Kansas City and with an offense that
is as consistent as the Chiefs that made him the safer and more
stabile choice. The name of St. Louis Rams QB Marc Bulger also
came up, but we found him lacking in comparison to our other
options.
With a WR on
the radar for our next pick we feel our team is really taking
shape nicely. We were able to solidify our backfield with three
picks in the first four rounds and still get the top fantasy TE
and a top five QB. While we may have put ourselves at a bit of a
competitive disadvantage in the WR department, our strength is
finding wideouts on the verge of breaking out. We feel there are
enough talented receivers available that we can still fill out
the position nicely. (Analysis written by Herija Green and
edited by William Del Pilar.)
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5.11 QB
Trent Green
By Guest IM Fletcher
Team KFFL comes in with QB Trent Green
with pick 5.11. In drafting Green they have acquired a QB on
one of the top offenses in the NFL. Green does have veteran
TE Tony Gonzalez and Priest Holmes to throw to, despite
Kansas City's lack of quality wide receivers. And Green
does play in one of the most QB friendly systems in the NFL
under veteran Head Coach Dick Vermeil.
While there is no disputing Green as a
solid and safe selection here, I believe several FanEx
owners in round five and six have missed the boat with their
picks. In this instance, team KFFL already knows it will be
taking three NFL starting QBs due to the FanEx FAD scoring
system which always puts your best player's on the field.
That being said in my humble opinion unless they feel Trent
Green to be a can't miss fantasy star in 2004, they
could have waited a round or two to start the process of the
three headed QB monster to compete against the Culpepper's
and Manning's of the league. I really like what team KFFL
has done up to this point in the draft in putting together a
quality squad that will contend in 2004. The addition of QB
Trent Green here will definitely not hinder team KFFL's
quest for the FanEx FAD title, although it may have cost
them in the wide receiver department.
Team KFFL and the other FanEx clubs
drafting their third and fourth tier RBs who are all
currently part of RBBC are bypassing legitimate NFL #1 WRs
such as Chris Chambers of Miami (who is in a contract year).
Yes, the same Chris Chambers who finished second to WR Randy
Moss in touchdowns scored from the WR position in 2003 with
eleven. And IF Ricky Williams is suspended for four games,
the owner of Chambers has himself the #1 offensive option on
the Miami Dolphins for at least a quarter of the 2004
season. WR David Boston coming aboard will also lessen the
double teams on Chambers.
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5.12 RB
Chris Brown
By Kellogg | Pappano
There is some speculation that Eddie
George will be released come June 1st. If so, Chris Brown should
have the inside track on the starting job in Tennessee. As a
rookie, Brown only got 56 carries and averaged a pedestrian 3.9
yards per carry. But that matches up favorably with starter
George's 3.3 yards per carry average. In fact, George hasn't hit
3.9 since his 1999 season. The key to Brown getting playing time
is found in the potential release of George and Brown's ability
to block. Since the Titan's eschewed RBs in the draft (they did
take two fullbacks), the 6'3", 219 pound Brown is in a
perfect position to breakout in 2004.
The Titans have moved from a predominantly
running team to a predominantly passing one over the past few
seasons. This is in large part due to the decline of George due
to overuse and injuries. A younger, healthier running back could
lead Jeff Fisher to return to the running game. With several
questions about the defense, most coaches would want to shorten
the game and the best way to do that is by dominating time of
possession -- and the best way to do that is by running the
ball.
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5.12 RB
Chris Brown
By Guest Thom Eads
There are times when the "Stud
RB" theory just goes overboard. In my mind, this is
a classic example. Chris Brown may end up being the
starter in Tennessee. I admit that it is possible.
But to use a pick in the 5th round on a possibility of a
starter, as the third RB on your team is just a flat out
mistake. This is especially so when you will have to
grab at least two more starters at WR after your 6.01 pick
(which, by the way, I didn't much care for either).
This is a team that still needs two WRs to
fill it's starting lineup. 24 more picks are going to be
off the board and you may be lucky to end up with the Keyshawn
Johnson's and Donte Stallworth's of the world.
I certainly hope this pick works out.
I just appears to me that the owners of this pick lost sight
of the big picture and missed out on the chance to have an all
around solid starting lineup by choosing a backup/float
starter before finishing up with their starters.
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