In-Progress Dynasty League Draft
The usual start of training camps is under two months away. We have no idea if 16 games will be played, but are confident there will be an NFL season in some form.
And that means fantasy football will continue in 2011.
Over the course of the next several days, I'll document live a Dynasty League draft in this space. I traded my first-round pick last year, but have two second-rounders. This draft began on Friday morning.
It's a PPR league with 12 owners. We keep as many members of our 40-man rosters as we want, and are able to draft rookies as well as free agents available on the waiver wire.
FIRST ROUND
1.1. Falcons WR Julio Jones
1.2. Saints RB Mark Ingram
1.3. Bengals WR A.J. Green
1.4. Dolphins RB Daniel Thomas
1.5. Browns WR Greg Little
1.6. Cardinals RB Ryan Williams
1.7. Lions RB Mikel Leshoure
1.8. Chiefs WR Jonathan Baldwin
1.9. Jets RB Bilal Powell
1.10. Colts RB Delone Carter
1.11. Rotoworld (via trade with Fantasy Sharks) - Redskins RB Roy Helu
1.12. Panthers QB Cam Newton
UPDATE: With RotoExperts taking their time at No. 6 overall, I've begun trade talks with Matt Williamson of ESPN Scouts Inc. Williamson won the league as a first-timer last year -- his first experience ever with a dynasty league -- although he doesn't have a single draft pick this year in the first or second round.
Williamson is loaded with running backs, owning Jamaal Charles, Steven Jackson, and Ahmad Bradshaw. He also has Tashard Choice, Justin Forsett, and Ricky Williams.
He expressed interest in Bernard Scott. I want Jamaal Charles. My standing offer is Scott, Greg Jennings OR Vincent Jackson, my pick at 2.3, and my 2012 first-round pick for Charles. Let me know what you think in the comments.
UPDATE II: Williamson wants Calvin Johnson.
UPDATE III: Here is a link to all the rosters in the league. And here is a link to the "official" draft page.
UPDATE IV: Commenter Dustin scoured the league's rosters and discovered that one in particular, owned by FFXtreme, is short on receivers (A declining Reggie Wayne is WR1, Brandon Lloyd WR2, Jerome Simpson/Anthony Armstrong WR3) but rich in running backs (Arian Foster, Chris Johnson, Michael Turner). My predicament is the opposite. So I've proposed FFXtreme the following trade:
I get:
Foster
He gets:
Greg Jennings
Picks 2.3 & 2.12
Now let's see if he bites.
UPDATE V: I've received the following offer from Fantasy Sharks:
I get:
Picks 1.11, 7.2, 8.2 this year
He gets:
My 2012 first-round pick.
Let me know whether I should consider it in the comments.
UPDATE VI: My initial reaction to Fantasy Sharks' trade proposal for my 2012 first-round pick was negative. I thought Roy Helu would go before Carter and Powell because, well, Helu is more talented than both and has the clearest path to playing time. I probably would've taken Helu ahead of Baldwin, not only because my roster is rich on receivers, but because Helu's fantasy ceiling is higher.
I accepted the trade because I believe in Roy Helu. I studied him as much as any player leading up to the draft, and considered him the fourth best running back in the 2011 class. Shanahan backfields can be unpredictable, but in my opinion Helu is easily the best tailback talent in D.C. and will win the lead back job early in the season, if not before it.
Jamaal Charles remains in the crosshairs, however.
UPDATE VII: Okay, I just got a flurry of trade action, and executed two deals, one with Pro Football Focus and one with ESPN/Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson. Here's the sum of both deals. (More in the morning.):
I gave up:
Greg Jennings
Kevin Kolb
Bernard Scott
Joe McKnight
Chris Ivory
Pick 2.12
I received:
Steven Jackson
Matt Schaub
Robert Meachem
Rex Grossman (will be dropped)
SECOND ROUND
2.1. Bucs LB Mason Foster
2.2. Broncos LB Nate Irving
2.3. Rotoworld - Patriots RB Shane Vereen
2.4. Packers WR Randall Cobb
2.5. 49ers RB Kendall Hunter
2.6. Rams WR Austin Pettis*
2.7. Ravens WR Torrey Smith
2.8. Saints LB Martez Wilson
2.9. Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson
2.10. Packers RB Alex Green
2.11. Eagles S Jaiquawn Jarrett
2.12. Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert
RD 2 UPDATE I: After bolstering the top of my running back depth chart last night, I felt it necessary to add depth with the selection of Shane Vereen. An excellent pass-catching back whose versatility was likely one of the main reasons he appealed to Bill Belichick, Vereen currently looks like the long-term favorite for touches in New England. My expectations obviously aren't for Vereen to be a fantasy starter in year one, but he was the 56th overall pick in the 2011 draft and should prove valuable in a PPR format.
RD 2 UPDATE II: RotoExperts caused the holdup at No. 6 overall, and have now allowed the eight-hour clock to expire on their second-round pick. They'll be allowed to select a player for 2.6 whenever they get around to it. Meantime, FF.com wasted to time getting in their selection of Torrey Smith. I'm still surprised that a certain wide receiver is available.
RD 2 UPDATE III: * = RotoExperts got their pick in after the timer expired, and it's Rams third-round pick Austin Pettis.
THIRD ROUND
3.1. Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray
3.2. Chargers WR Vincent Brown
3.3. Rotoworld - Falcons RB Jacquizz Rodgers
3.4. Lions WR Titus Young
3.5. Rams WR Greg Salas
3.6. Vikings QB Christian Ponder
3.7. Broncos LB Von Miller
3.8. Rams DE Robert Quinn
3.9. Rams TE Lance Kendricks
3.10. Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph
3.11. Bucs LB Geno Hayes
3.12. Patriots RB Stevan Ridley
RD 3 UPDATE I: I made another trade last night, sending away Shane Vereen for Tashard Choice, Jared Cook, and pick 3.12. I'm still high on Vereen in New England, but Choice has already proven that he can play in the NFL -- when given the opportunity -- and I believe he'll be out of Dallas by 2012, competing for significant carries elsewhere. Cook has rare upside as a Jermichael Finley type of athlete. He showed a ton of promise down the stretch last year.
RD 3 UPDATE II: Late Monday, I made yet another trade, dealing Ben Roethlisberger and pick 3.12 for Matthew Stafford. While Roethlisberger was my QB1, an earlier trade for Matt Schaub strengthened my quarterback situation considerably, and in my opinion swinging for the fences on Stafford could result in a 600-foot home run. If the Lions can somehow keep Stafford healthy enough to make 16 starts, I think it's a virtual lock that he throws 28-35 touchdown passes. Critics may now point out that I have two "injury-prone" QBs. Hopefully, these quarterbacks' future injuries won't prevent them from missing games in the same week. Ideally, they won't get hurt at all.
FOURTH ROUND
4.1. Saints DE Cameron Jordan
4.2. Redskins RB Evan Royster
4.3. Rotoworld - Browns DE Jabaal Sheard
4.4. Bills RB Johnny White
4.5. Dolphins WR Edmond Gates
4.6. Texans WR Kevin Walter
4.7. Bengals QB Andy Dalton
4.8. Cardinals TE Rob Housler
4.9. 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick
4.10. Cowboys LB Bruce Carter
4.11. Patriots QB Ryan Mallett
4.12. Browns TE Jordan Cameron
RD 4 UPDATE I: There are five draft-worthy rookie defensive ends in this format. Quinn has the highest long-term ceiling, but may not start for a year or two. Cam Jordan went a few picks before me, but I question his pass-rushing skills and whether he'll rack up tackles kicking inside on passing downs. (I don't think he's Justin Tuck.) Sheard was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and will be an immediate starter in Cleveland. With few roster-worthy rookie skill players left, Sheard pretty much became a no brainer at 4.3. I can't count on any pre-2012 contribution from Brandon Graham, and Mathias Kiwanuka is another medical concern.
ROUND FIVE
5.1. Titans LB Colin McCarthy
5.2. Cardinals LB Quan Sturdivant
5.3. Rotoworld - Patriots WR Julian Edelman
5.4. Titans QB Jake Locker
5.5. Jaguars WR Jason Hill
5.6. 49ers QB Alex Smith
5.7. Giants LB Greg Jones
5.8. Broncos WR Eddie Royal
5.9. Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil
5.10. Broncos DE Robert Ayers
5.11. Raiders RB Taiwan Jones
5.12. Texans WR Jacoby Jones
ROUND SIX
6.1. Bucs RB Allen Bradford
6.2. Eagles K Alex Henery
6.3. Rotoworld - Bucs DE Adrian Clayborn
6.4. Bucs DE Da'Quan Bowers
6.5. Ravens WR Tandon Doss
6.6. Chargers RB Jordan Todman
6.7. Giants WR Jerrel Jernigan
6.8. Redskins LB Rocky McIntosh
6.9. Eagles QB Mike Kafka
6.10. Eagles RB Dion Lewis
6.11. Free agent RB Chad Spann
6.12. Raiders WR Denarius Moore
ROUND SEVEN
7.1. Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts
7.2. Rotoworld - Browns LB Chris Gocong
7.3. On the clock
7.4.
7.5.
7.6.
7.7.
7.8.
7.9.
7.10.
7.11.
7.12.
Comments
I'm in a Dynasty startup Draft (my first dynasty league) right now and I was able to get Green & Little along with Steve Johnson & Britt. We start 3 WR's. Am I good to go with the 4 or should I be looking for another WR #1 in next years rookie draft? Also, I missed Daniel Thomas by 1 pick. Should I try and trade for him or is he to risky? My RB's are: Rice, Mathews, Spiller, Tolbert, & Hardesty.
Thanks
Posted by: Dustin Hentges | May 27, 2011 2:09 PM
WOW Julio Jones over Ingram and Green!
Posted by: William Cervi | May 27, 2011 2:12 PM
What's your roster? If I remember right you have Beanie Wells, and 3 really good WRs from your first four picks last year. I think Jennings is one.
What are your plans for the 2nd round? Probably an RB at 2.03 - Hunter? Carter? Vareen? Helu won't slip, Murray's not worth it.
What about 2.12 do you need a TE or QB? Maybe take a chance on B. Powell?
Posted by: Fred | May 27, 2011 2:25 PM
My Roster in this league:
QBs: Ben Roethlisberger
Kevin Kolb
Matt Flynn
Joe Webb
RBs: Beanie Wells
Michael Bush
Bernard Scott
Willis McGahee
Chris Ivory
Joe McKnight
Deji Karim
LeRon McClain
Tyrell Sutton
WRs: Calvin Johnson
Greg Jennings
Dwayne Bowe
Vincent Jackson
James Jones
Johnny Knox
Mark Clayton
Blair White
Taylor Price
Stephen Williams
Devin Thomas
TEs: Chris Cooley
Tony Scheffler
(Plenty of these guys will be dropped.)
PPR league.
I start 1 QB, 1 RB, 4 WRs, 1 TE.
There are also IDPs. Let me know if you're interested in seeing mine.
Posted by: evan | May 27, 2011 2:53 PM
Evan, who did you receive for your first round pick and who would you have taken had you not have traded it?
Posted by: BJ | May 27, 2011 2:55 PM
Pick 6 has got to be Ryan Williams
Posted by: Frank | May 27, 2011 3:04 PM
Is the draft only 2 rounds long? Why just 2 rounds when you have 40 man rosters? Also, what are the IDP starting requirements?
Posted by: Chase | May 27, 2011 3:38 PM