Recently, our crew of fantasy football analysts conducted a mock fantasy football auction draft. The 15-man roster consisted of one QB, two RBs, two WRs, one TE, one WR/RB, one K, one DEF and six bench spots. It uses NFL.com's standard scoring system.
Click here for Part One of our mock auction draft analysis.
What was the strategy?
In the early rounds, I planned on letting everyone get into bidding wars and blow as much of their bank roll as possible. That way, I could get better value for my targeted players when I was ready to make my move. With only four players drafted in the first two rounds at a cost of fifty dollars or more, the action wasn't as good as I'd expected. Still, by waiting until the early second round to make a move, I was able to nab Greg Jennings for ten dollars below his auction value. Drafting against seasoned fantasy experts, everyone had their targets and stuck to their guns instead of over-reaching for a player.
What was your favorite pick?
The killer deal I got for Jennings pales in comparison to my selection of Nate Washington in the tenth round. For only one dollar, I was able to draft a player who racked up 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns in 2011. With Kenny Britt likely facing a steep suspension, look for Washington to once again lead the team in receiving. Jake Locker only attempted more than one pass in three games last season, and in those three contests, Washington posted his only two 100-plus yard performances, and scored four of his seven touchdowns. If Locker does win the starting quarterback job, Washington could be the deal of the century.
What pick do you regret the most?
I was able to draft Doug Martin right at his projected value of fifteen dollars, but the catch was I had to forsake my pre-planned budget to do so. The goal was not to spend more than ten dollars on my fourth running back, but how could I not chase the player my team is named after? It was an emotional pick, and we all have one at some point in a draft. The ease of hitting that bid button is just as easy as swiping that credit card for yet another collectible jersey you never take out of the closet because you don't want to get mustard stains all over it. It felt good in the moment, but it left me shopping at the fantasy dollar store for the rest of the draft.
Did your draft strategy work?
Though it might not look like it on the surface, the strategy worked well. I wound up with four of the projected top twenty fantasy players (based on current NFL.com top 200 rankings), something no other team can boast. If they perform as well as expected, those players should be able to carry me every week. That doesn't include the guys I selected which have some serious upside. If Fred Jackson, Frank Gore and Jacob Tamme all do their share, there is no reason to believe this team can't contend for a championship, presuming I don't get stung by the injury bug.
What do you like/dislike about your team?
I was happy to come away with two running backs not expected to be in a timeshare situation (McFadden and Gore), and two other backs who could pay big dividends (Martin and Jackson). My wide receiving corps is thin after White, Jennings and Washington, but I wound up with two of the top six projected receivers in fantasy land. Other than Washington, I might have struck gold by selecting Jacob Tamme in the 15th round for only one dollar. If Tamme and Peyton Manning are the tandem everyone expects them to be, this team will be in contention every week. If he struggles, then the tight end position will be my biggest weakness.
