Yes, I am going to ride that title for every Mock Draft we are in. A few weeks back it was the College Football Geek mock, last Thursday a similar star-studded field entered the gates for Athlon’s second mock draft of the preseason and you should learn a lot from this event.
At the risk of ruining my information advantage in my favorite league this Saturday, here are my takeaways (here are some of the participants) for 2009 draft strategy (Drew’s to follow):
If you do not get a top-tier QB, WAIT until you fill up the RB and WR starter slots. Maybe even grab a good backup Flex before grabbing your first signal caller. I define the elite as Keenum, McCoy, Bradford, Kaepernick, LeFevour, Tebow, Potts, and maybe Zac Robinson. I grabbed Tim Hiller in Round Eight, but I scooped Daryl Clark in the 16th and Ryan Mallett in the 18th round. See Drew wrangle Riley Dodge as Mr. Irrelevant. I have lots of love for John at SportsBuff, and he would likely tell you that Max Hall in the fourth could have been better used since he got Tony Pike in the 14th. Also see seasoned vets like Grothe and Rusty Smith deep in to the draft. My friends and drafters, your QB value strategy will be the key to your victory in 2009 – know your cheatsheet.
Same with defenses – WAIT. Do not be the first to select a D unless you must for homerdom (I am willing to excuse bias for Florida or Southern Cal D, but not for Boise or TCU). If your league is less than twelve mates, you should be last to select a D. Same for K. While this makes our the top 12 of our Top 30 rankings essentially worthless, it will be the right value approach. And if you want deep value, see my apnea-like sleepers.
So what do you draft early – RB and WR all through the single digits of draft day. How about your first eight picks? WR were valued poorly after Dez Bryant as two TE were selected before the #2 WR Aldrick Robinson (blame the pesky subversive guys at CFFI). FCB Chief Fantasy Officer Drew Smith is on record that he wouldn’t hate any of five guys to go as the first RB picked, so load up early. I trust that I can always get value wideouts and snagged one of our Top Ten Mackay Jacobsen in the 7th. Drew grabbed value at a couple of programs that will chuck it – Ed Britton of Texas Tech in the 14 and Tyler Stratford of North Texas in the 15 (still seeking immediate eligibility after a transfer from Oklahoma).
While we at FCB have held these truths to be self-evident, never before has the value QB draft strategy made so much sense as it seems to in 2009. Be patient, the game will come to you.
PS – you on Twitter? follow me @vincemullins
PPS – We have as many hits for the draft kit in the last month as we have for our Erin Andrews shrine…priorities, people!
