Wrath!

The WRATH had a tough choice here and usually would use these high picks to establish a running attack, however the great run on backs has made us look for another approach. I had considered grabbing Jerry Rice and may regret not doing so, but I thought it to be high priority to get a good solid QB. Elway is just such a QB. His numbers were good last year and was very dependable till the clinching of the playoffs. The Broncos offense should be just as good this year and the schedule should be tougher so they will have to play Elway throughout the season. He is a tough competitor and someone who can be counted on week in and week out.

I also considered Brunell, but Elway is one of my favorites of all time thus the decision, besides I had to figure out a way to get that neat helmet on my pick page.

With the 1st pick in the 2nd round I had to chose between Herman Moore and Jerry Rice. Not an easy choice. I had to go with Moore since I think the running game is more established and I feel the Lions will be able to move the ball. I also feel that Perriman will be out of Detroit and Moore’s number will be more. I also am concerned about Young’s string of concussions.

Once again, I chose Moore because He is one of my favorite players and had some weight on my decision. The Lions schedule should be an easier one than the 49ers and hopefully Moore will have many of the multiple touchdown days that the WRATH needs.

With the last pick in the 3rd round the WRATH finds itself in a bit of a hole. I watched as some of the players I wanted ,and thought would slide, were picked right in front me. I was hoping to get Faulk, Means, and/or Morris with this pick. After Faulk was gone I was looking hard at Shannon Sharpe. Well, all those players are gone now, and I really have no one that I really like on the board.

Therefore, I took a gamble on Garrison Hearst. I feel he has great running skills and could be the back that Ricky Watters was when he was at the 9ers. I see Hearst carrying the majority of the load and Kirby running behind him scooping up the fumbles. With all the clear cut running backs off the board I have to look for the most potential. I feel Hearst is that guy due to his end of season performance last year with the Bengals. The only real knock on Hearst is his fumbling and his lack of TD’s. However, if he plays for the 9er’s he’ll score, and I’ll just have to deal with those fumbles.

Let it be known that I still have my doubts that Hearst will succeed at the 49er’s but if he does then I need someone like that on my team. I usually go right after RB’s but picking last I changed up my strategy this year and now I find myself in this gambling mode. Wait and see my next gamble!

In the fourth round I still find myself in need of a backfield, especially with the questions around Hearst, so I decided to take another gamble. I selected Erictt Rhett. I feel that Rhett will be dealt before the beginning of training camp, as the Bucs will not want that kind of distraction this year. I think they will be willing to part ways with Rhett and go with the Guys they have now. They can probably get something out of Rhett. I know that the Chargers have shown interest in Rhett.

Once again, I drafted Rhett because of his potential. I feel better about his chances to succeed than I do about Hearst’s, but he needs to get into the right situation. Rhett is one of the strongest runners in the league and has done this with the Bucs. I hope to find him running for someone like the Chargers or the Saints soon. I thought about going receiver here but none of them jumped out and grabbed my attention. I also considered Robert Smith, but didn’t want to have chicken legs on my team for a half a year.

This could be a long year!!!!!

I’m sure this is a shocker, and he may have slipped way down. I am however pretty high on this guy. I think he would have broken out last year if he had not got injured. He will break out this year and be Denver’s number one receiver. This kid has the size and the speed that is needed. He knows the system.. (Green doesn’t) and I don’t feel that McCaffery can carry the load. I think this is the year Smith becomes a fantasy stud. I hope I don’t eat my words.

At this point in the draft I still feel the need for a running back. I considered Phillips (too much baggage), Robert Smith ( too fragile) , and K.J. Carter ( I just don’t know). Out of the four of them I felt Salaam had the best shot of putting up some numbers this year. I know they platoon Harris and Salaam and Autry may get a few carries, but I feel that if Salaam can re-visit his Buffalo days then He will get a good amount of work. I feel he tentative with his running last year and hope he is over that now. He will fit into my platoon of running backs well, I HOPE???

I took O.J. cause he is NOT guilty!!!!!!!! He has a cool name???? NO, in fact, I still think O.J. will be a big part of the Dolphins offense. I think Barnett and Green will battle it out for the other position and McDuffie will be Marino’s dependable target. That should translate into a receiver that I can count on. I expect 800yds and 8tds out of McDuffie. Anything less and I will be disappointed.

My pick of Jamie Asher was one of need and not really want.

I WANTED Troy Drayton, who was picked RIGHT in front of me. I considered Wycheck and Brady, but read a little tidbit about Asher during my last minute search , and decided to take the Norv Turner TE. I hope to get more than the 2 or 3 points I got last year out of my TE.

I think the TE’s at this point in the draft are all pretty equal and it is kind of the luck of the draw. It’s probably the guy who doesn’t get hurt that will score 30-40 points this year at best.

I chose Early because he fits the mold of my draft this year. Up-side Potential. If Collins wins the Job and I think he will, then Early may be the biggest benefactor. They seemed to click at times last year and there is no reason to think that they won’t continue to do so.

I have a theory about Receivers; they don’t adjust to their new surroundings till the 2nd year. If they don’t do it by then, they usually don’t do it at all. Taking Early here kind of ruins a sleeper pick for me, in Eric Moulds. Moulds may take some of Early’s number as he showed flashes with Collins last year. The Buffalo Offense will probably struggle this year, but at this point in the draft you have to take what you can get.

I was leaning towards taking McElroy with this pick, but after talking to one of my football buddies I decided to go with Dunn. Actually I had a short list of players and Dunn was on it. With Dunn I get some protection with my Rhett pick, or I get a watered down backfield where no one gets enough of the ball to really stand out. Now if the rumors come true that Rhett is going to be traded I may end up with 2 starters.

I have not been sold on Dunns’ size but people from Florida seem to think this guy is special. I believe at the very least I have a serviceable back that I can rotate in when I need it. Once again I think Dunn has Up-side-potential.

Troy Aikman???????

I took Aikman for the mere fact that he was there, and is pretty durable. I figure to use him the Week Elway sits and that is it. I would hate to let my QB hopes lye with Troy-Boy. I know I have said in the past I wouldn’t even like him as my 3rd QB, but the only alternatives were Harbaugh, Brown, and even less, IMO.

On the up side for you Cowboy fans, if Irvin quits feeling sorry for himself and plays, then the Boys will have 2 quality receivers on the field. Millers’ presence should be good enough to draw some of the coverage and thus open things up a bit for Troy.

At this time of the draft, I was looking at J. J. Stokes. But he went right ahead of me, so I decided to fill my kicker need. While I felt that 4-5 of the kickers were pretty equal, I went with Blanchard.

I chose Blanchard over the others cause I feel the Colts are not a great red zone team, yet good enough to get some field goal opportunities. The Colts also seem to be a team that stick around in games and thus still be interested in kicking in the fourth quarter. I felt that having a good kicker on a mediocre team was a good fantasy situation.

I find myself still in need of some depth at the receiver position, so I look for some support from Sanders.

I feel Sanders is a guy a lot like the guy he plays next to, an underachiever. Although Sanders is younger and less expensive. He has talent and there is next to no risk that he will not be starting. As I have said before about some of my other players, he has upside potential. A lot depends on the Quarterback situation. While Graham may have slightly favored Rob Moore, we have to wonder who the snake will like. I have another theory to share here. I feel that young QB’s tend to gel more with younger guys than with someone like Rob Moore. I also feel that if Moore doesn’t start producing commensurate with his pay, the only football he’ll be playing is Fantasy.

Tight ends seem to be so fickle, and so I decided to be one of the first to grab a backup. Because I do not have one of the elite tight ends, I figured I should have a decent backup.

Brady is a young talented TE that has yet to live fully up to his billing. As we all know Parcells like to use the Tight end and Brady will be the benefactor. I think he will even give Asher a run for his money on the WRATH. Quarterbacks that don’t have strong arms and/or strong lines rely on their tight ends to get them out of trouble. I feel that O’Donnell is a savvy QB, but lacking the Elway or Favre cannon arm. He will be ready to develop a good on field relationship with Brady and Brady HASN’T written any books.

I think this will be Brady’s break thru year.

I like the potential of Jett more than that of Frank Sanders, with the exception of his playing status. The Raiders use a lot of different players throughout the game and tend to have one guy play a lot in the 1st half and another in the 2nd. This may change with the hiring of Joe Bugel.

The position will be Jetts’ to begin with and with his speed he should be a fun target for the EGO of Jeff George. If Jett can establish himself early he could be right behind Brown in numbers. Brown is the number one guy, but if this offense lives up to it’s expectations then the number 2 receiver should be a good find at this time of the draft.

I selected Gary Anderson because I think he will win the kicking job in SF. Much like Wilkens last year, I see the 9ers kicker giving good production.