Been dead here for a few days now, I think it's time to get some discussion going again.

Well, being that it was my first every rookie only dynasty draft, I thought it was very interesting. I think the value of players and picks vary much more among the owners than a standard redraft league.

I went into the draft with a couple of different strategies depending on what happened prior to my first pick and then by the start of round 2 my strategy changed completely. I'm sure I reached for a player or two earlier than maybe I should have or at least I was told that I did, but after looking at several other rookie draft, I'm not so sure I did.

There were only a couple of players that I was targeting late that I didn't come out with, but that is what trading is for. The other surprise for me was landing Ryan where I did. As many times as I passed on him trying to leave him available for someone, he just kept sliding. I finally decided it was getting ridiculous, so traded back up to get him in the middle 2nd.

All and all I'm pretty happy with how my draft ended up.

I am pretty happy with mine, too, and it was also my first one.

I am curious what everyone's thoughts were on me giving Gian 1.04 for Young/Henry and R. Brown. As we know, I drafted a rather old team that was built to win the first season and compete for the next two. When the first goal didn't work out, it made the upcoming seasons appear to be tough. But, with Peyton Manning and Grant (hopefully he'll keep it up), I expect to be in most of my games and hope that others contribute. I am weak at 2nd RB and all 3 WRs. I figured that Denver's RBs and Reggie Brown gave me more of a chance for this year than my 1.04 pick.

Getting back to the draft, my main need was WR and I took 3 of them. I am pleased that Simpson fell to me in the 3rd, but I really wanted Bennett or Doucet. In fact, I almost reached for Bennett at 2.04 because I think he'll be the No. 1 in CHI in a few seasons when they get a QB. But, D. Avery was rated fairly high, so I played it safe there.

At 4.04, I took a guy I've never heard of, Pierre Garcon. I know that Indy's WRs were very thin last year and hope this guy can come in and contribute. This pick was based more on the system at Indy than on the player's abilities.


It was pretty fun, but it seems, like the NFL, we may have to wait a few seasons to see how we did. It will also be interesting to see how many of these players stay on rosters. This dynasty thing is very interesting. It almost takes the fun out of my re-draft leagues because you can spend so much time thinking about it. Plus, it NEVER ends. What's not to love?!

quote:

Originally posted by SaintFan:
I am curious what everyone's thoughts were on me giving Gian 1.04 for Young/Henry and R. Brown.

I think you would have been better off taking Kevin Smith.

Gian had been trying to pawn Henry/Young off on me all offseason. I wouldn't take them on a bet.

Forgetting which Brown you were talking about at first I thought it was Ronnie. But with it being Reggie this deal just really sucked for you.

I'd take a chance on Kevin any day of the week instead of those three.

quote:

Originally posted by ravage:
Gian had been trying to pawn Henry/Young off on me all offseason. I wouldn't take them on a bet.

Forgetting which Brown you were talking about at first I thought it was Ronnie. But with it being Reggie this deal just really sucked for you.

I'd take a chance on Kevin any day of the week instead of those three.

I liked Gian side of the deal as well. I was trying to move up to get K. Smith, thus all my offers to you, but only had draft picks to offer. Who knows though, maybe Henry stays healthy and keeps his nose clean and you can get a good year out of him, but my preference would have been Smith.

I echo SaintFan's sentiments on the dynasty format. All of my other leagues are much more boring now, including the hometown league I have run for 16 years. This is definitely my favorite league and oddly enough it's the only one I'm in for pride and not money.

I haven't done a redraft league in several years. They no longer hold my interest. I don't even really care for keepers as much. The only reason I'm in any keepers is because it is the FIKL.

I've won the title in Powerhouse dynasty league(PDL) the last two years and finished with one win in FIDO. The PDL draft started the day before FIDO, yet I did no research on who I would pick in the PDL until the night before the draft. I knew who I was taking for my first 3 picks in the FIDO at least a couple of weeks prior. You tell me which is more important.

Considering how the PDL draft went any research would have been worthless anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by ravage:
The only reason I'm in any keepers is because it is the FIKL.

If I thought we were losing interest in the FIKL, I would fold it. There doesn't tend to be a lot of discussion on the web site, which is fine because we do most of it here. I keep it going because it involves owners from FI. The regulars here make up the best group of owners I have ever seen in any league I have been in.

I find now that being in a dynasty league with FIDO that my interest there is much more than any other format. I was recently asked to take over a team in another dynasty league, which I am looking forward to as well. I expect that it will pose greater and greater challenges each year. Hopefully I will be able to properly adjust my methodology to accommodate.

The first thing I thought when I saw the Saint/Balls deal was that Balls pressured another guy into making a deal he didn't want to. IMO Denver runningbacks simply aren't worth much, especially in a dynasty format, because their turnover is so rapid.

An unproven rookie RB in Detroit's pass happy offense is a safer bet than any Denver RB. But that's just me, maybe I'm bitter because I've been burned by the Denver carousel before.

quote:

Originally posted by TenTimes:
The first thing I thought when I saw the Saint/Balls deal was that Balls pressured another guy into making a deal he didn't want to.

I wouldn't do such a thing.......

This was my first rookie draft, but picking out of the 12 spot and needing to shore up on RB wasn't the best combination. It was really interesting seeing all the trades and watching the draft unfold, but trading my top two picks to Astros left me fairly uninvolved in the draft. Good news is that I've got eight picks next year, so it should be alot more personally exciting.

I was glad when Gian got 1.04 because that left Forte at 1.05. I like Forte a lot.

My prediction...Kevin Smith is a bust. Maybe some early success, possibly. But three years from now I don't think he'll be around. Just my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by SaintFan:
I am curious what everyone's thoughts were on me giving Gian 1.04 for Young/Henry and R. Brown.

The main problem with your side is you have to roster too many players to make sure you have the starter. You have 2 of the 4, likely have the starter (maybe not), but may not know which one is starting each week. It's kind of like Houston and Cincy also. Roster space is too valuable.

quote:

Originally posted by Ravage:
I knew who I was taking for my first 3 picks in the FIDO at least a couple of weeks prior.

Same here. I had Hardy, Sweed, and Kelly at the top of my WR list since February. The one thing that changed dramatically after the NFL draft was that I knew then I had no chance at a RB at the 1.11 spot. I originally thought Forte, Smith, and Johnson might drop. After the NFL draft, I knew there was no way.

quote:

Originally posted by Optimus Prime:
I like Forte a lot.

I had him near the top of list as well.

This was by far the most fun I've had preparing for and participating in just 4 rounds of a draft. I think I know far more than I ever have about rookies. I don't want to drop any of them. Training camp will be a lot more interesting this year.

The NFL draft really did not change that much for me. I had guys I liked and guys I didn't. regardless of their situations, the good players will find a way to play and the mediocre players, even in good situations will not play that great.

The one person that did slide because of where he went was Sweed. I had so many WRs ranked so close together that him going to a team with 2 solid starting WRs in front of him, I had to move him from my top ranked WR.

I had 6 RBs that I liked and thought they could play immediately, at least on a limited basis. 4 or 5 WRs the same. QBs were the one spot I just was not real excited about. I liked Josh Johnson alot I just didn't want him where he went.

quote:

Originally posted by Glassman:
The NFL draft really did not change that much for me. I had guys I liked and guys I didn't. regardless of their situations, the good players will find a way to play and the mediocre players, even in good situations will not play that great.

The one person that did slide because of where he went was Sweed. I had so many WRs ranked so close together that him going to a team with 2 solid starting WRs in front of him, I had to move him from my top ranked WR.

I had 6 RBs that I liked and thought they could play immediately, at least on a limited basis. 4 or 5 WRs the same. QBs were the one spot I just was not real excited about. I liked Josh Johnson alot I just didn't want him where he went.

I do agree that the cream often rises to the top, eventually. Some will succeed immediately, others it may take a few years because of their situation. My only problem is that even though the careers of some of the more talented players may be better than the careers of the lesser players in a good situation you still have to be able to keep the guy until he is productive. We have a great advantage that I didn't have until last year in the PDL and that is the Taxi squad. That allows at least two rookies to be kept that normally wouldn't have been kept. But if a guy takes 2-3 years to produce any kind of decent numbers he's probably gone off your roster and onto another one or just a waiver wire pickup.

Maybe it's something you'll need to see or maybe I'm entirely wrong with the addition of a Taxi squad.

quote:

Originally posted by ravage:

quote:

Originally posted by Glassman:
The NFL draft really did not change that much for me. I had guys I liked and guys I didn't. regardless of their situations, the good players will find a way to play and the mediocre players, even in good situations will not play that great.

The one person that did slide because of where he went was Sweed. I had so many WRs ranked so close together that him going to a team with 2 solid starting WRs in front of him, I had to move him from my top ranked WR.

I had 6 RBs that I liked and thought they could play immediately, at least on a limited basis. 4 or 5 WRs the same. QBs were the one spot I just was not real excited about. I liked Josh Johnson alot I just didn't want him where he went.

I do agree that the cream often rises to the top, eventually. Some will succeed immediately, others it may take a few years because of their situation. My only problem is that even though the careers of some of the more talented players may be better than the careers of the lesser players in a good situation you still have to be able to keep the guy until he is productive. We have a great advantage that I didn't have until last year in the PDL and that is the Taxi squad. That allows at least two rookies to be kept that normally wouldn't have been kept. But if a guy takes 2-3 years to produce any kind of decent numbers he's probably gone off your roster and onto another one or just a waiver wire pickup.

Maybe it's something you'll need to see or maybe I'm entirely wrong with the addition of a Taxi squad.

I agree with what you are saying. I would rather hedge my bet on the more talented player than a decent player in a better situation. The Taxi squad allows you to do this a little more easily than if you did have to carry a guy on your active roster.

I did take one player because the situation was better, even though I had another I thought was clearly more talented. I took Franklin over Doucet. Doucet was as high as #3 on my WR depth charts at different times. Franklin goes to a team with Darling, Webb, and some guy from arena football battling for the #2 spot. I like Franklin's chances of producing there. I had Franklin much higher than most did on my list anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by Glassman:
I had Franklin much higher than most did on my list anyway.

I am seeing him go anywhere from about where you selected him to being undrafted in a rookie draft. The sentiment I am finding against him is that he wasn't the #1 option in Missouri. I am not saying he is a bad selection at all. Right now, I don't think the value of a #2 WR in KC is very high (Gonzo & Bowe & crappy QBs), but that could change soon enough. When Gonzo retires someone needs to pick up the slack. And a year from now, they will have to replace their starting QB - at least with someone who is warm to the touch.