I love fantasy football but I’m pretty over redraft leagues.

Year to year there’s a lot that can change.

Having a great draft is one thing, dodging injuries is another.

It’s not really a game of skill, it’s a game of who can avoid the most bad breaks.

After a few years of noticing this trend, I’ve opted to invest myself into dynasty leagues.

Why?

Year round seasons.
If your team is out if it, you can start building for next year. Stacking up draft picks, trading for younger players, etc.

More active owners.
I’ve found that the owners in my dynasty leagues are more active including trades. Nothing is more annoying than trying to get better through trades in a league full of non-trading Nancies.

I know this isn’t the case in all leagues and I’m sure there are plenty of active redraft leagues out there but in almost 20 years of fantasy football experience, I’ve found very few.

Most owners just try to screw each other over so no trades are done. Highly annoying and inconvenient. No one enjoys being defiled in trade negotiations.

There’s a handful of others but I won’t bore you with those.

On to the good stuff!

This was the first rookie draft that I participated in for the 2013 season.

This draft started on May 4th and ended on the 5th.

My picks are in bold.

Here’s how it went down:
1.01 Bernard, Giovani CIN RB (R)
1.02 Bell, Le’Veon PIT RB (R)
1.03 Austin, Tavon STL WR (R)
1.04 Hopkins, DeAndre HOU WR (R)
1.05 Patterson, Cordarrelle MIN WR (R)
1.06 Lacy, Eddie GBP RB (R)
1.07 Ball, Montee DEN RB (R)
1.08 Franklin, Johnathan GBP RB
1.09 Lattimore, Marcus SFO RB (R)
1.10 Eifert, Tyler CIN TE (R)
1.11 Michael, Christine SEA RB (R)
1.12 Allen, Keenan SDC WR (R)

2.01 Woods, Robert BUF WR (R)
2.02 Hunter, Justin TEN WR (R)
2.03 Wheaton, Markus PIT WR (R)
2.04 Manuel, EJ BUF QB (R)
2.05 Stacy, Zac STL RB (R)
2.06 Ertz, Zach PHI TE (R)
2.07 Dobson, Aaron NEP WR (R)
2.08 Rogers, Da’Rick BUF WR (R)
2.09 Patton, Quinton SFO WR (R)
2.10 Smith, Geno NYJ QB (R)
2.11 Bailey, Stedman STL WR (R)
2.12 Taylor, Stepfan ARI RB (R)

3.01 Kelce, Travis KCC TE (R)
3.02 Ellington, Andre ARI RB (R)
3.03 Williams, Terrance DAL WR (R)
3.04 Randle, Joseph DAL RB (R)
3.05 Davis, Knile KCC RB (R)
3.06 Boyce, Josh NEP WR (R)
3.07 Barkley, Matt PHI QB (R)
3.08 Gillislee, Mike MIA RB (R)
3.09 Escobar, Gavin DAL TE (R)
3.10 Goodwin, Marquise BUF WR (R)
3.11 Williams, Kerwynn IND RB (R)
3.12 Murray, Latavius OAK RB (R)

My draft recap…

1.8 – Johnathan Franklin (original draft position)

2.8 – traded this pick for Coby Fleener

2.9 – Quinton Patton (original draft position)

I then traded Malcom Floyd and Leonard Hankerson for the 2.12 and 3.4

2.12 – Stefan Taylor via trade for Malcom Floyd/Hankerson

I then moved the 3.4 and the 3.7 for Emmanuel Sanders and Andre Roberts

3.4 – Emmanuel Sanders via trade

3.7 – Andre Roberts via trade

3.11 – Kerwynn Williams (original draft position)

3.12 – Latavius Murray (original draft position)

Recap:
My goals for this draft were to add RB depth, get the best player available (BPA) at WR, and shore up my TE.

I think I did that by adding Franklin, Taylor, and Murray.

Right now my projected starters are Mendenhall and Dwyer (YUCK!).

Taylor gives me a little insurance with Mendy.

I may end up starting Franklin over Dwyer shoud Dwyer get the anticipated demotion and Franklin have a nice preseason.

Taylor, Williams, and Murray all play in somewhat murky situations with starting backs that are older (Ari- Mendy), injury-prone (Oak- McFadden), or unimpressive (entire Colts backfield).

Hopefully between those 3, I can get a nice flex player for years to come!

My WRs stayed about the same, but got a little younger so I guess I could consider that an upgarde.

Added Patton with Sanders and Roberts who are both WR2s/WR3s on above average offenses.

I’ve never been a fan of Hankerson and Floyd is 31 in an offense with 3 younger WRs who will be pushing him for time. I doubt he’s still their starter in 2014 and wouldn’t surprise me if he’s usurped by Keenan Allen, Vincent Brown, and Danario Alexander at some point this season.

Fleener gives me a younger option to pair with Heath Miller who’s recovering from an ACL injury.

All in all, I’m pretty happy with the draft. I think I got better where I needed to and got younger while doing so.

For those of you who are reading this and saying to yourself, “well no S, Sherlock!”… Stop reading now. This blog doesn’t concern you.

For the rest of us out there who are Montee Ball doubters, continue on.

I’ve fought the temptation to back Ball for awhile now. While I don’t think he’s in the top 5 of this draft class talent wise, we can’t ignore the situation.

In fantasy, we can tend to over think things. Read too far in between the lines like, “John Fox only prefers veteran backs!”

Really? Is that really the case or just something that was put out on Twitter as an opinion that has now become “fact”?

The major piece of evidence that the people who believe this malarkey will try to use against you is, “well in Carolina DeAngelo Williams started over Jonathan Stewartttttttttttttt (insert whiny, nasally drone)!!!!!!”

Yes he did, but did it matter?

Most point to DeAngelo being the reason as to why Stewart has never had the dominant season we’ve all waited for.

However, Stewart was hardly ignored while under Fox. In fact Stewart was the preferred back during the 3 years that both backs were coached under John Fox.

From 2008-2010 under John Fox, here are the carry splits:

2008 Williams – 273
2008 Stewart – 183

2009 Williams – 216
2009 Stewart – 221

2010 Williams – 87
2010 Stewart – 178

So Jonathan Stewart Fan Boys, what do you have to say for yourselves?

In the 3 years under John Fox, the younger Jonathan Stewart actually had 582 carries to Williams’ 576.

So for those who continuously put the John Fox banter out there, keep going sick because you’ll further look like an ignorant jackass and we’ll laugh at your expense.

In Denver the last 2 years, Willis McGahee has been Fox’s back of choice.

Is it because he’s a “preferred veteran”?

No. It’s because he’s BETTER than Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Hillman, and Lance Ball.

McGahee, at age 31, was the only Broncos RB to average more than 4 yards a carry last year. Because he was the “preferred veteran”?

No, because he’s BETTER than the other backs on the roster who couldn’t find a way to get more than 4 yards per carry in a Peyton Manning-led offense!!!

The proof is in the pudding, puddin’.

John Fox does not prefer veterans backs, he prefers the back that gives him the best chance to win. In other words, the back that is BETTER.

If he decides that Ball gives him the best chance to win, then Ball will be worth all the hype.

I like Ball in redraft leagues, I love him in dynasty leagues.

He’s an above average player in an all world offense.

Some will point to playing behind Wisconsin’s massive offensive line his whole career as the reason his college stats won’t translate to the NFL.

For that reason, his success will translate to the NFL as he’ll be asked to do his job, not carry a team. He can blend into a Peyton Manning lead backfield and gash defenses here and there for 4-5 yards at a time, then punch it in at the goal line as he’s called on to do.

Ball is the best long term answer in Denver. The other Denver backs will chip in as well, but this is Ball’s opportunity to squander.

This situation could be a headache all year and something that you may want to avoid in your redraft league.

However, if you’re picking in the top half of the first round of your dynasty league, have no qualms about taking Montee Ball.

Let’s not forget what Peyton Manning can do for a RB having turned Joseph Addai into a fantasy stud.

Ball has more potential than Addai as a runner and a bright outlook in a Peyton led offense especially if he can get himself involved in the passing game on a consistent basis.

Let’s appreciate the situation for what it is and stick to the facts.

FACT: Montee Ball will have ample opportunity this year to prove himself and lead the team in carries.

FACT: He will not be passed over because he’s not a veteran.

FACT: His rookie year outlook is complicated with other backs vying for touches.

FACT: He’s a slam dunk in dynasty leagues

FACT: He’s a guy to take a shot at in redrafts as your 3rd or 4th RB.

Don’t over think this one. Peyton has 1-2 years left and possibly a 3rd. Until then, Montee Ball stands to benefit the most.

Keep it simple.

At the end of the day would you rather be the guy with Ball who ends up being a bust? Or would you prefer to be the guy who passed on Ball kicking yourself as he has some monster seasons?

FACT: I’ll take Ball and my chances with 18.

Am I a crazy person?

I’ve read comments recently like, “The outlook for Dwayne Bowe is much better this year now that he has a QB!”

Who are they talking about?

Even Bowe himself had this to say, “When we get in full gear and pads and close to the season, it’s going to be a show to watch.”

Yes, maybe a sh*tshow.

Otherwise, they must be talking about Chase Daniel because I know there’s no way in the world anyone could be describing that outlook referring to Alex Smith.

Smith may be an upgrade over who the Chiefs had last year, but not by much.

Most of you know how I feel about Alex Smith. In case you don’t, here it is in a nutshell… He’s garbage.

The fact that he had a sourpuss demeanor about him last year did not make a likely return to SF this year.

How 49ers GM Trent Baalke got a 2nd rounder in return for him is beyond me.

It’s only a matter of time before Smith plays himself out of a job… Again.

Andy Reid has done well with QBs in the past, notably Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick.

Smith lacks two attributes that those two possess. He does not have good arm strength, in fact, I’d call it poor.

The other quality Smith lacks is confidence. He can fake it at times, but after a string of 3 and outs featuring inaccurate throws leading to boo’s from the crowd, Smith wilters.

I could go on and on as to why Smith will fail… again, but ain’t nobody got time for that.

Long story, short, add Chase Daniel to your radars because it’s only a matter of time before he’s the Chiefs starting QB.

Until they do, proceed with caution backing this team or anyone not named Jamaal Charles.

Play 7 – Two team, 7 point “ties win” teaser = 5k
1.ATL +11
2. SF/ATL OVER 41.5

His plays for this weekend are out but only available through our newsletter.

If you haven’t signed up for it, please do so! The sign up box is on the right hand side of the page.

Better to be WISE than lucky!

Marrone will take over for the fired Chan Gailey.

For a franchise in need of well a lot, they certainly botched this one.

I have been hyper critical of similar moves like the one the Buccaneers made by hiring Greg Schiano as their head coach.

How does a coach from the college ranks of a subpar program get promoted to the highest level of competition?

I don’t know. It really boggles my mind.

I hate seeing teams with great fan bases like the Bills be completely let down by their franchise’s front office.

The Bills haven’t been run correctly in almost two decades and it’s a damn shame because I know a lot of awesome Bills’ fans who are extremely loyal and deserve better than this.

As 2010 Hilton Supercontest Champ, Richard Stand, put it “with the Bills hiring Doug Marrone, the only advice I can give gamblers out there is grab the BIlls season UNDER for 2013/14 ASAP.”

I completely agree with him. I am disappointed in this hire and feel like the Bills missed a great chance to improve as a franchise had they hired the right coach.

They whiffed on this one. I feel for you Bills fans.

Even JP Losman thinks this was a bad hire.

I’m ok with this hire.

The Browns don’t have the personnel that mirrors what Kelly has done at Oregon, but that’s why you bring in a guy like Kelly; to change the culture.

Holmgren and his legion of idiots left the Browns with little to be positive about so a culture change is a grave need for the Cleveland franchise.

But let’s focus on the positives; Trent Richardson, a decent defense, and some young, athletic WRs.

Weeden wasn’t that impressive his first year, but that’s something that Kelly can quickly figure out.

Kelly may not have what he has at Oregon but there’s enough in Cleveland to build upon.

Coaches from the college ranks with high powered offenses haven’t done that well in the NFL (Steve Spurrier, Bobby Petrino, Nick Saban) but 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh has shown that a successful college coach can make the transition to the NFL.

The Browns have a lot of cleaning up to do but the hiring of Kelly is certainly intriguing.

I’ll be looking forward to see how he attempts to rebuild this team, but if I’m a Browns fan, I hope these rumors are true.

If anything else, Kelly would make the Browns interesting. An adjective that hasn’t been affiliated with their franchise in some time. At least not in a positive sense of the word.

Teaser 2 team 7 pts= $25,000

GB-1
Balt pk

2 Team 7 pts $5,000 Each

GB -1
Wash +10

Balt pk
Wash 10

Balt pk
Cincy +11 1/2

GB -1
Cincy +11 1/2

Balt -6 1/2 (buy 1/2) $3,000
Redskins +4 (buy 1) $3,000

Green Bay -6 1/2 (buy 1) $10,000

Tonight 21 degrees, snow

***NOT INDOOR VIKING WEATHER***