Draft Planning - How does this sound?

[CPADave71 0]

I've got the first pick in my draft. 10-team league, normal performance scoring, no PPR. Several experienced players, some not so experienced, $100 per team. We're drafting sometime in August, and the wait is killing me. I've done some ESPN mock drafts, but they get silly due to everyone on autopick and choosing 5 straight RBs and such. So now I'm looking at the ADP data from AntSports to see what I can expect to get. Based on the players that are projected to be available to me, here is one possible team I could put together (round in parentheses)

 

QB - Bulger (6), Brooks (11)

RB - LJ (1), JJ (2), Foster (5), Gore (8), Staley (17)

WR - Harrison (3), Andre Johnson (4), Burleson (9), Stallworth (10), Wilford (13), Mark Clayton (15)

TE - Crumpler (7), Dallas Clark (14)

K - Longwell (16)

D - Ravens (12)

 

That looks pretty good to me, but not especially deep at any position except QB. I would have 4 starting RBs, but Foster might lose out to DeAngelo Williams, and Gore plays for the Niners. AJ is shaky as a second WR, but Burleson, Stallworth, Wilford and Clayton all have potential.

 

What do you guys think? Is this sound strategy?

[akaoni 0]

The only pick you can depend on is your first pick. In my experience, it makes no sense to target players in this manner. Rate 'em, rank 'em, tier 'em, then pick 'em as they fall. That said, team looks fine. I'd differ on a few players, but that's just me.

[De Novo 0]

What do you guys think? Is this sound strategy?

 

I must have missed where you mentioned anything about strategy.

[CPADave71 0]

The only pick you can depend on is your first pick. In my experience, it makes no sense to target players in this manner. Rate 'em, rank 'em, tier 'em, then pick 'em as they fall. That said, team looks fine. I'd differ on a few players, but that's just me.

 

I'm not targeting these players, just trying to get a sense of what will be available when. It gives me a feeling for the depth at various positions, and when I need to shore up somewhere. Plus, it gives me something to do while I wait for our draft to finally start!

 

 

 

I must have missed where you mentioned anything about strategy.

 

I guess rather than strategy I should have said my thought process in the way I drafted. I guess it's hard to evaluate if you don't have the data in front of you to know who I passed up to pick who I did. I'm just trying to convince myself that I'll be able to get a deep team even if the other guys don't make any major mistakes (i.e. - follow the ADP).

[jgcrawfish 232]

Couple of things:

 

1. You're not "strategizing", you're "one-man mocking".

2. If you want strategy, draft the best player who will get you the most points at the position you need him most.

3. You don't win the league with your first 5 picks in a 10 teamer, but you sure can lose it.

4. Mid-late rounds is where you clean up.

5. Don't listen to whatever a-hole is about to come on and make some sorf of a "bush league" comment about you being in a 10-teamer. Who ever it is is probably bitter and broken away.

[akaoni 0]

I'm not targeting these players, just trying to get a sense of what will be available when. It gives me a feeling for the depth at various positions, and when I need to shore up somewhere. Plus, it gives me something to do while I wait for our draft to finally start!

 

Whoa, big guy, you asked for an opinion, I expressed mine. If positive visualization works for you, go for it!

[NAn 39]

Ignore the smart asses CPA...they're equivalent of the class clown in high school, who'd rather be a smart ass then actually answer the question posed to them.

 

First off, whether you call it stragety, solo mocking, etc. the point is you're putting together a plan of sorts and some targets...definitely sound thinking to have some sort of plan.

 

They key is when real bullets fly that you also are flexible and be ready to deal with changes on the fly and not be locked into your plan.

 

Second, I suggest you use xpertsports.com instead of antsports for your ADP info.

Considerably larger pool of mocks to get a better idea of players ADPs.

 

Good luck in your real draft/s.

[jgcrawfish 232]

Ignore the smart asses CPA...they're equivalent of the class clown in high school, who'd rather be a smart ass then actually answer the question posed to them.

 

First off, whether you call it stragety, solo mocking, etc. the point is you're putting together a plan of sorts and some targets...definitely sound thinking to have some sort of plan.

 

They key is when real bullets fly that you also are flexible and be ready to deal with changes on the fly and not be locked into your plan.

 

Second, I suggest you use xpertsports.com instead of antsports for your ADP info.

Considerably larger pool of mocks to get a better idea of players ADPs.

 

Good luck in your real draft/s.

 

NAn, does xpert have the same issues w/ so many freakin numbnuts letting their teams go on cruisecontrol via computer? Man that warps rankings...

[Phurfur 70]

In a 10 team league your RB's are very weak. LJ is your only solid starter everyone else has ???? although Staley at 17 is a good pick.

 

JJ - Marion Barber

Foster - Williams

Gore - Barlow

Staley - FWP

[listen2me 23 1,871]

NAn, does xpert have the same issues w/ so many freakin numbnuts letting their teams go on cruisecontrol via computer? Man that warps rankings...

 

I use Xpert to mock....although it is a good site and has quality mocks most of the time....i wish there would be more 2m-10m mocks.....instead of the 12 hours per pick....

[akaoni 0]

Ignore the smart asses CPA...they're equivalent of the class clown in high school, who'd rather be a smart ass then actually answer the question posed to them.

 

First off, whether you call it stragety, solo mocking, etc. the point is you're putting together a plan of sorts and some targets...definitely sound thinking to have some sort of plan.

 

They key is when real bullets fly that you also are flexible and be ready to deal with changes on the fly and not be locked into your plan.

 

Second, I suggest you use xpertsports.com instead of antsports for your ADP info.

Considerably larger pool of mocks to get a better idea of players ADPs.

 

Good luck in your real draft/s.

 

 

I agree whole heartedly with NAn. Sorry if my earlier comments were snarky. His point about flexibillity is the main intent of my above comments. I think that sometimes looking ahead at specific players can throw you off if your draft doesn't go according to plan, logic, etc...

[NAn 39]

NAn, does xpert have the same issues w/ so many freakin numbnuts letting their teams go on cruisecontrol via computer? Man that warps rankings...

 

I'd say quite the opposite, there's literally guys there who I'd guess mock a dozen times a day so they always make their own picks.

 

Plus the site has alot of interal controls for 'commish' of draft to replace a 'no-show' or sub picks.

 

What it comes down to is I'd say while Antsports may have avgs from 100 mocks, Xperts will have avgs from 1000+ mocks, so with much larger pool of mocks, much more accurate ADPs.

[CPADave71 0]

Ignore the smart asses CPA...they're equivalent of the class clown in high school, who'd rather be a smart ass then actually answer the question posed to them.

 

First off, whether you call it stragety, solo mocking, etc. the point is you're putting together a plan of sorts and some targets...definitely sound thinking to have some sort of plan.

 

They key is when real bullets fly that you also are flexible and be ready to deal with changes on the fly and not be locked into your plan.

 

Second, I suggest you use xpertsports.com instead of antsports for your ADP info.

Considerably larger pool of mocks to get a better idea of players ADPs.

 

Good luck in your real draft/s.

 

Thanks for the tip on xpertsports.com. I'll check that out. And thanks for the encouragement.

[rebooters 1]

ive done what you are doing before and find that there is nothing wrong with it. the important thing is to be flexible and grab the best value like the others have said. however, in the mean time there is nothing wrong with trying to see who will be available to you at every one of your picks based on some source's ADP. for example you might see that at pick 2.10 you have the choice of JJ,harrison,Dillon,etc.. and so on for all of your picks. then you can try picking different guys and seeing what kind of teams you can come up with and which ones you think look better. this might help you to not jump on too many WR's early or wait too late for your first QB. the main thing is, no matter how much planning you do(the more is probably better, mocking is a good way to prepare), make sure to have a draft list, tiered and ready to go for draft day and do what you can to stick to the best value picks and you cant go wrong.

 

as far as the picks you decided to take here, i would never take crumpler(or any TE other than gates and maybe your 2nd best rated TE)in the 7th. im not fond of JJ and at 2.10 or 3.01 there are better RB's..i really like Dillon this year. I even think going defense in the 12th is risky, they are unpredictable, just like kickers. also, im not sure of AJ's ADP but he might not have the value to be drafted in the 4th unless you really think he will bounce back. remember, there are a slew of WR's(as usual) and it seems like there are even less RB's than normal, lots of scary backups and RBBC's, couple injuries make it important to get RB's early(however, i am not suggesting that you MUST go RB,RB 1st 2 rounds).

 

good luck.

[Gepetto 1,365]

This is exactly how I prepare for a draft. Before the draft, look at ADP and decide which player is most valuable in each round and formulate a complete team based on all rounds. It works.

 

And, I like Julius Jones, DeShaun Foster, and Frank Gore this year too. I'm glad you're not in my league.

 

Good Luck!

[CPADave71 0]

This is exactly how I prepare for a draft. Before the draft, look at ADP and decide which player is most valuable in each round and formulate a complete team based on all rounds. It works.

 

And, I like Julius Jones, DeShaun Foster, and Frank Gore this year too. I'm glad you're not in my league.

 

Good Luck!

 

And I'm glad you're not in mine! The way I look at it, there are certain players that I have no intention of taking at anywhere near their ADPs. Especially with having my picks back-to-back this time (actually I had the number one pick last year, too - took LT, went to the finals), I can look at just a few spots in the ADP and see whether players I like are projected to be available when I draft. I always look a few spots above my slot to see if there are any players that might drop to me. On draft night, I'll have the draft buddy and compiler running, with ADPs from various sources input, and I'll probably end up with a better team than I mock draft due to other players' mistakes. At least that's the plan.

[scomo 0]

Careful with too much prep. You start to believe the hype that your reading... Remember that it is July. Even the head coach doesn't know who's starting. The best advice is to know your values. Don't over value a particular guy and be prepared to adjust your plans if there is a player that is being overlooked.