Last night, ZoneBlitz participated in its fourth fantasy football draft of the season–the only draft in which the proprietors go head to head as opponents. We found out last year that it can get interesting, since we know a lot about the players we both like.
And this year, to make things even more interesting, we drew spots #3 and #4 in the draft order–so figured we would be sniping players from one another all night long.
Round 1 – Going up
Andy (#3) – Brian Westbrook, RB – There was a bit of a shock at #2, as Tom Brady went over Adrian Peterson–shouldn’t have been a huge shock in a league that gives 6 points per TD pass, but in a league chock full of Viking fans, I was surprised. I wasn’t terribly surprised that Andy passed on him at #3, though, given Westbrook’s dual threat as a receiver out of the backfield.
Tony (#4) – Adrian Peterson, RB – When I landed the #4 pick, I assumed I would be choosing between Brady, Joseph Addai and Steven Jackson. Addai would have been my pick all the way. But you can’t pass on Peterson’s potential at #4, can you?
Round 2 – Coming Back
Tony (#17) – Drew Brees, QB – Let the sniping begin! I believe the first cuss words of the night in my direction came as I announced this pick.
Andy (#18) – Larry Fitzgerald, WR – I think he was a little thrown by my Brees pick, as looking back after the draft, we realized that he left Marques Colston on the board here (who went #19).
Round 3 – Going Up
Andy (#23) – Frank Gore, RB – Was surprised he fell this far, and would have snagged him at #24 had Andy not, even though I’m not sold on Gore. Andy lands two top 10 RB, though.
Tony (#24) – Andre Johnson, WR – He better stay healthy this year.
Round 4 – Coming Back
Tony (#37) – Steve Smith, WR Carolina – A bit of a surprise to myself, as I’m not a big Smith fan. It came down to him or Calvin Johnson, though, and I went with the guy who’s a little more proven, and has a better overall team around him.
Andy (#38) – Calvin Johnson, WR – Didn’t surprise me one bit, I knew there was no way Andy would let him go twice.
Round 5 – Going Up
Andy (#43) – Chad Ocho Cinco, WR – I feel better about the Smith pick, knowing that Andy still has a bigger dick wide receiver on his team.
Tony (#44) – Darren McFadden, RB – Another bit of a surprise pick for me, since I’ve criticized people for thinking he’s the next Adrian Peterson. But in Round 5, I think this was a great pick.
Round 6 – Coming Back
Tony (#57) – Kevin Smith, RB – A staple of ZoneBlitz teams, provides some insurance with McFadden. And I can feel the daggers being shot across the room from Andy…
Andy (#58) – Matt Hasselbeck, QB – Ouch, that’s gotta hurt.
Round 7 – Going Up
Andy (#63) – Chris Chambers, WR – You don’t hear much about this guy, but he should be a solid player in his first full season in San Diego.
Tony (#64) – Kellen Winslow, TE – As with Smith, I tried this year to set aside the fact that I don’t really like some of these guys, and be willing to pick them. It isn’t a TE required league, but Winslow is a better scoring threat than any of the WR left on the board.
Round 8 – Coming Back
Tony (#77) – Jerricho Cotchery, WR – Forgot to mention, we have a keeper rule in this league (guys from the 8th round or later)–Cotchery was my hold over from the previous year, so I didn’t have an 8th round pick.
Andy (#78) – Chris Johnson, RB – Andy didn’t keep anyone, so he snags Johnson, which was a 0.0% surprise.
Round 9 – Going Up
Andy (#83) – Ray Rice, RB – Also not a surprise. Both were guys I would have considered at #84, but neither were guys I expected to see on the board, given the draft order.
Tony (#84) – Edgerrin James, RB – I’ll take a starting RB who should still shoulder the load in round 9 any day. I might have taken him even if Rice was still on the board.
Round 10 – Coming Back
Tony (#97) – Chester Taylor, RB – I almost forgot about Taylor, but managed to grab my handcuff a few spots before someone else admitted they would have.
Andy (#98) – Ricky Williams, RB – If he stays clean, could be a steal. Could also be a big if, though.
Round 11 – Going Up
Andy (#103) – Donovan McNabb, QB – This scares me a bit–any time Andy grabs McNabb, he seems to have a monster year. Of course, he has no WR healthy to start the season…
Tony (#104) – Kevin Curtis, WR – Speaking of injured Eagles WR…he almost went in Round 6, but when informed of the sports hernia, that owner opted to take Reggie Brown instead. Guess he didn’t need him in week 1 either.
Round 12 – Coming Back
Tony (#117) Robert Meachem, WR – More cursing from Andy, and even a double one-digit salute. I had a feeling this was the guy he was looking at.
Andy (#118) Ahmad Bradshaw, RB – Andy has been high on him this preseason, but I’m a little worried about 3-headed RB situations.
Round 13 – Going Up
Andy (#123) Vincent Jackson, WR – Another guy I had looked at earlier, but not much more to say.
Tony (#124) Donald Driver, WR – I hate taking Packers, but Driver might start for me in Week 1 with Smith out–unless Meachem can grab that starting spot in New Orleans.
Round 14 – Coming Back
Tony (#137) James Hardy, WR – The last non-defense/special teams pick for our teams (since we’re the only two teams in the league who avoid them like the plague until the very end), and I snag another ZoneBlitz regular target. Andy didn’t seem too upset, though–which was a let down.
Andy (#138) Darren Sproles, RB – An interesting choice, I guess.
Round 15 – Going Up
Andy (#143) Green Bay Defense – One of the three defenses I had identified as possibilities for my pick, and probably the top ranked one–although also the one I least wanted to take, as I think the Giants showed the league how to beat their corners.
Tony (#144) Tampa Bay Defense – Not a lot better, but I think they have a little more DB depth, and I think they finally have a return game. And in the end, if they don’t play well, I’ll cut them for someone who will.
Round 16 – Coming Back
Tony (#157) Mason Crosby, K – Two Packers…blech. At least I snagged him from Andy–and with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, he might kick more FG than last year.
Andy (#158) Josh Brown, K – The second kicker I had on my list, given that he’s kicking indoors now.
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So how did we do? Who’s got the better team? Let us know in the comments.
Only two more ZoneBlitz represented drafts to go, both with teams Andy runs–one this weekend, and the big finale in Vegas next weekend, which we both will be attending. Keep checking back (or subscribe to our RSS feed) to see how they turn out.
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Tony and I had discussed how we’ll probably end up taking each others guys in this draft. As it turned out I think it hurt me more than him.
The one that really killed me was Brees. I think he’s due for a big season. Tony grabbed him one spot before I was almost certain I would take him.
Normally I’d wait a round or two more for Brees, but this league gives six points for touchdown passes. Additionally, we voted in negative two points for interceptions starting this season making getting a good quarterback even more vital.
McNabb and Hasselbeck aren’t the worst options – I actually like both, I think, more than many people. McNabb generally has pretty solid touchdown-to-interception ratios, but he also has terrible games-missed-in-the-hospital to games-played ratios. Hasselbeck I think will be … okay. The problem I see is the lack of offensive weapons – Julius Jones, Maurice Morris and TJ Duckett don’t scream intimidating running game. And the passing game is decimated by injuries right now to Bobby Engram and Deion Branch, who I believe even when healthy is among the most overrated players in the game.
So I would have preferred Brees. Still, after initially hating my team three rounds in, I think I rebounded well enough to be competitive.