PistonSteve

Mike, I was just updating some things for a draft I'm doing tonight. It's a 12 team snake draft with the following starting requirements: 1QB 2RB 2WR 1TE 1Flex(RB/WR) 1K and 1DEF with 5 bench spots. Easy to set things up, but I just noticed on the Option Tab, it only has 96 starters instead of 108, as it doesn't seem to take into account the 12 Flex positions. I'm wondering if this will cause any inaccuracies in the Overall Tab, as it might not rank the extra RB/WRs properly (as starting positions)??? Am I missing something? Steve

I've used the program for a few years now. I've won leagues...and I've missed the playoffs in leagues. DB can save you from drafting somebody that gets injured and, like all sites, the rankings are based on a particular point of view. What I like the best about it is the easy ability to see the tiers of players. If I see several people in a tier I'm targeting, I am more comfortable shifting my draft strategy to fill another need as I assume one may still be there when it gets back to me. The summary tab is good to peek at during the middle rounds, as you can easily see how many players each of the other teams have drafted at a given position...again, helping you think ahead. I look at the overall tab quite a bit early in the draft to see the value positioning...but you can't get too hung up on it. I've also liked it for auction purposes. Enjoy...and good luck!

I'm going best RB/QB at the turn in a 12 team (unless strange things unfolded before it got to you and all three of the top QBs are gone). Jimmy is a stud...and I expect great things this year, but I just can't bite as early as you'd need to in order to get him. If you get a top 3 QB, barring injury, I think we can all assume that Rodgers, Brady & Brees will each be in the top 5 QBs at the end of the year. The RBs you will probably get at the turn are not definite locks, but you can go for some with great upside potential. I don't think I'd take a WR at the turn (again, unless strange things happened and Calvin was sitting there at 12). The top 10 turnover at WR each year is the highest of all the positions (7 out of 10 are new to the Top 10 in the past several years), so it is really hard to predict. I like the idea of getting a stud QB and the best couple of RBs, and then select a few WRs in a row, as the chances are a couple of them will be solid. Even thought it may not be as easy as the past, you still can find WRs on the waivers/free agency each week...much harder to find an RB.

Um.....share please.

1. Rodgers 2. Brees 3. Brady 4. Stafford 5. Ryan 6. Vick 7. E. Manning 8. P. Manning 9. Newton 10. Rivers 11. Griffin 12. Cutler 13. Palmer 14. Romo 15. Roethlisberger 16. Dalton 17. Freeman 18. Schaub 19. Flacco 20. Luck

Hmm...the way Andrew Luck is playing today...

Thanks, Mike!

Mike - although I've used this great tool for several years now, I seem to have forgotten how the "Value" field is calculated on the "Overall" tab. Can you give a quick overview of how that is calculated and how we best use that information? Thanks

My one-year only name is "Sandusky's Tight Ends" although I was quickly told by another league owner it should have been "Wide Receivers!" Oh well!

I love how the original poster has 5 total posts on this site, and four of them are in this thread. Yet he still has the audacity to come out and cuss like a sailor. I think 10 team leagues are too easy for lucky drafters to win....WTF is up with a 4 team league? Did one of your brothers have a hissy fit and quit on you?

14 team PPR league. $150 cap with the following starting requirements: QB, RB, RB, WR/TE, WR/TE, WR/TE, WR/TE/RB, K and DEF Each team can protect one player at 10% more than they paid in the previous year, with a maximum of three years (2 after the initial draft year). As I only keep players that I consider to be a value, the player I am protecting this year is Marshawn Lynch for $8. Our top RBs tend to go for $50-60, top QBs around $35, and the top WRs $35-40 range. I'm guessing that Foster, McCoy, Stafford, Newton, DeMarco Murray and Jimmy Graham will be protected. I'm thinking about going all-in for Rice (up to about $60). I'm also considering going after Brees/Brady if the price is in the $30-35 range. If they get bumped up, I'll wait on QBs. With this strategy, I would be drafting a few $10-15 WRs (which would result in probably getting 2-3 WR2 type players). My only concern is Lynch. I'm not worried about a 1-2 game suspension (if it happens) as the value is still there for $8. However, by going gang-busters for Rice, I would have to be quite confident that Lynch can be a solid RB2, as I won't have a lot of cap left to draft a $10-15 RB3. Based on our draft history, I could probably draft a couple of RBs for $30 each (they would be around the 12-15 ranking in the RB listing) as an alternate option, allowing me to use one at the Flex. Thoughts? Suggestions?

What are your roster requirements and what is the scoring system? I would assume you would definitely want to get at least one WR in the first couple of rounds, as you have a stud QB, a stud RB, and a potential stud RB already. However, if people protect a bunch of WR, or there is a run on them, I wouldn't be opposed to taking another RB (or a Graham/Gronk if available) over reaching for a dime-a-dozen WR.

Decent RB3...but I'd be scared poopless if I had to count on him as an RB2

1.09 - Calvin Johnson, WR 2.06 - Darren McFadden, RB 3.09 - Doug Martin, RB 4.06 - Percy Harvin, WR 5.09 - Jay Cutler, QB (didn't want to draft a QB this high, but 5 went in the 1st round - RIDICULOUS!) 6.06 - Brandon Pettigrew, TE 7.09 - Jonathan Stewart, RB 8.06 - Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB (back-ups started going too quickly as well) 9.09 - Denarius Moore, WR 10.06 - Ben Tate, RB 11.09 - Brian Quick, WR 12.06 - Toby Gerhart, RB 13.09 - Mohamed Sanu, WR 14.06 - Arizona Cardinals D 15.09 - Alex Henery, K

:doublethumbsup:

In a 4 pt QB passing TD league, I don't think you can consider Rodgers at #4...but I also wouldn't say it is a ridiculous notion. With the #4 pick, you need to hit a home run. It has to be a sure stud. Therefore, I'm a little leary of Ryan Mathews...even though I like him this year. The #4/#5 spot is really tough this year. Chris Johnson is only 26, so he isn't a washed-up RB, although he is coming off his worst year as a pro (based on total yards, yards per carry, and TDs). Could he return to the 2K rusher of 2009? Possibly, although not likely. Should he put up better numbers than last year? Yes. I can see an argument for taking him #4...but, damn...I'd rather be sitting with the #6/7 pick at this point and force people before me to make this tough call. Maurice Jones-Drew is 27, but split carries his first three years. He IS the Jags offense, which can be good...but also scary. In a PPR league he can be a great pick here. However, as there is always turnover in the Top 10 running backs from the previous year, MJD is also a person many pick to get bit by the injury bug this year and be a 1st round bust. However, that is all speculation. MJD is a safe pick, but I'd also be a little nervous about taking him #4. Calvin Johnson - a 26 y/o stud. Finishing at the #1 spot in the receiver position last year probably means he won't be the top WR this year (as there hasn't been a repeat #1 WR for many years). However, if anyone is going to break that trend, I would put my money on Megatron. He may not score in 11 of 16 games again this year....but then again, he could score in 13 of 16 with the pass-happy Lions offense. Although statistics say he won't repeat at the #1 position, I really think he may be the safest pick at #4. You can then take a RB with your 2nd pick (DMac, JCharles, FJax, DMurray, etc.). Any one of those RBs has a chance to be a top 6-7 RB at the end of the year. Having Calvin and one of them is a great way to build a team. Good luck!

As of 7/22 I'm leaning towards Vincent Brown

Lot of interesting commentary in this thread...but re-reading your original post. If you have #5 and the picks go as you assume...then Ray Rice is your man. The only player not worthy of a top 5 pick (unless your QB scoring is whack) is Brees. With a #5 pick you have to have a lock. You can't play risk/reward. You can consider that if you'r sitting in the #10-14 seats...but top 5 has to stick the landing. As much as I like Mathews, I can't guarantee he sticks the landing. Actually, with all of the historical turnover in the Top 10 at RB I can't guarantee Rice will either, but he is a MUCH safer bet. Now if somebody doesn't take Brees and Foster, McCoy, Rice and Rodgers are the first four picked...I might actually consider Megatron and get an RB coming back. Although he may not finish #1 again (as statistically that isn't likely), I'm much more confident that he will have a great year than I am any of the RBs sitting in the 4-10 ranking.

I think you're understating how Bush performed. He finished in the weekly Top 14 RBs (I track top 14 as my primary league has 14 teams) eight times. Even in weeks 14 & 15 he finished 12th at the position (which equates to a low-end RB1). I'm not saying he will do the same this year...not even sure where I'll rank him yet...but I just wanted to point out that he performed quite well..especially weeks #9-12.

Are you asking whether you would take a less talented back in a draft with the assumption that you'll pick up the quality handcuff later...insuring that you have a decent back in the event of an injury? I would say to go with that strategy if you aren't interested in winning your league Super Bowl. You always take the best value at RB (adjusted a little for your gut feeling)...but to drop a guy in your rankings simply because he doesn't have a quality handcuff seems rather odd to me. It also means you need to be ready to take the handcuff early (snake draft) or spend money (auction) to follow this strategy. I've never been a huge handcuff guy. If I can snake one late, or get them on the down low late in an auction, fine...but I'm not going to base my early round/money strategy on a handcuff.

As a Lion's fan I hope this isn't the case...but I can't remember the last time a receiver finished #1 in fantasy in back to back years (and I don't feel like looking it up!!!)

I got some interesting responses to my RB Top 10 Turnover post, so let's see what people think about the WR position...as it is just as crazy (if not crazier) than the RB spot. I'm also looking forward to the upcoming FFToday article on the topic...always a good read. In 5 of the last 7 years, only 3 of the Top 10 WRs from the previous year returned to glory in the Top 10 the following year. In the other two years, only 4 did. Therefore, statistically speaking, we should expect to see only 3 or 4 of the Top 10 receivers from 2012 make the Top 10 this year. Who do you predict will be the 3-4 that survive this year? Who do you anticipate joining the ranks? Last Year's Top 10 WRs (and previous year ranking in parantheses) 10. Marques Colston (17) 9. Mike Wallace (7) 8. Percy Harvin (21) 7. Steve Smith (not in top 50) 6. Roddy White (1) 5. Larry Fitzgerald (11) 4. Victor Cruz (not in top 50) 3. Jordy Nelson (not in top 50) 2. Wes Welker (20) 1. Calvin Johnson (5) My predictions to stay: Calvin Johnson, Jordy Nelson, Larry Fitzgerald My predictions to join: Andre Johnson, Demaryius Thomas, Brandon Marshall, Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Brandon Lloyd, Hakeem Nicks Fire away!

In four of the past five years, only 3 of the previous year's Top 10 RBs have found their way back into the Top 10 the following year. In the other year, only 6 of the top 10 accomplished that. Therefore, statistically speaking....only 3 or 4 of 2011's Top 10 RBs will find themselves in the top this year. Which 3 or 4 do you think will remain and who do you think will crack the top 5 in 2012 that wasn't in the Top 10 last year? Top 10 last year 10 - Steven Jackson 9 - Michael Bush 8 - Ryan Mathews 7 - Michael Turner 6 - Darren Sproles 5 - Marshawn Lynch 4 - Arian Foster 3 - Maurice Jones-Drew 2 - LeSean McCoy 1 - Ray Rice My picks to remain: Rice, McCoy, Foster & Mathews New to Top 5 - DeMarco Murray Fire away!

I have a gut feeling about Charles this year. Then again, it could be the sausage I ate for dinner.