I received an e-mail last week from SC reader Dean Nasson, who informed me that he was stuck at the 12-spot in his upcoming draft. Dean was looking for suggestions on what running backs to select at that draft position.
I gave him some advice and asked, if he would be so kind, as to send me the results of the first four rounds of his draft.
Dean obliged.
Here's a list of the first 11 players selected in the draft. Dean would be number 12. We will examine his selections, in a moment.
Priest Holmes, Ladainian Tomlinson, Ahman Green, Clinton Portis, Deuce McAllister, Sean Alexander, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, and Fred Taylor.
Well, as you can see things went as expected. The top eight running backs are gone and the ninth owner can't help himself and selects Randy Moss. Number 10 picks Daunte Culpepper and number 11 returns to draft at the running back position.
Moss will always go in the first-round. My advice is to use him as trade bait. Imagine the solid receiver and stud running back you can acquire by not getting stuck on Moss. Think someone wouldn't give up Deuce McAllister and Hines Ward for Moss?
Think again.
Don't be afraid to trade Moss or any other first-round pick for a stud and a quality player at a position you may lack.
The only glaring mistake in the first-round was selecting Daunte Culpepper. Why? Can anyone give me a good reason to waste the number one pick on Culpepper?
Please don't say it is because he throws to Randy Moss. That isn't a reason. I can throw to Moss and gain 3,000 passing yards.
If you are going to take a QB in the first-round, you had better take Peyton Manning.
In the last four years, Culpepper has yet to crack a single season mark of 4,000 passing yards. Save for his rookie year, Peyton Manning has accomplished that feat five years in a row. The season hasn't started yet and the owner with Culpepper has already given away 750 extra passing yards and 5 touchdowns.
I'm more interested in Dean's team. It must have been difficult, but he passed on Manning and did the right thing. He secured his running backs. With the last pick of the first-round and first pick in the second-round, Dean selected Corey Dillon and Domanick Davis.
Dean, virtually, guaranteed himself two bona fide studs.
Not much to say about Davis, except that he had a spectacular rookie season and we can expect more of the same, if not better, this year.
I know what you're thinking, but please don't tell me about Dillon's statistics last year. Prior to the groin injury, Dillon's lowest season total for rushing yards was 1,129, as a rookie. Dillon is healthy and he's a New England Patriot.
If we want to discuss injury, then let's talk Holmes. Am I the only one who remembers Holmes' 2002 "Bo Jackson" hip injury? Granted, Holmes made a remarkable comeback, but I'm still wondering why Fred Taylor went before Dillon, who is the featured back, in a Super Bowl-caliber offense?
Everyone else's loss is Dean's gain.
In rounds three and four, Dean struck gold again. He selected wide receivers Laveranues Coles and Darrell Jackson. Believe it or not, one of the owners actually drafted Chicago Bears' RB Thomas Jones over Coles. It isn't that terrible of a selection, especially when you have no choice.
However, that is the type of mediocre back that is available, if you neglect to draft two quality backs in the first and second rounds.
Coles is always a solid play and Jackson had a nice 2003 season with 1,137 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Bravo, Dean!
After the first four rounds, the pickings are slim. It's up to you to discover the sleepers. Dean grabbed a few potential studs in RB Quentin Griffin, TE Daniel Graham, and QB Byron Leftwich. I don't want to leave out WR Tyrone Calico, who had 89 yards and a TD for Tennessee last Saturday against Buffalo.
Derrick Mason and Drew Bennett owners, beware.
Dean was looking to acquire QB Chad Pennington, but the young QB was selected before he got the chance. Dean asked me if he should trade for Pennington. Well, I'll go out on a limb and say no.
Pennington will be solid and has a good target in Santana Moss. A trade might be a consideration later, but not right at the moment. I say leave it, as is, for a few weeks.
Pennington may not be necessary.
I can kill two birds with one stone here, while I answer Dean's question and suggest another sleeper quarterback for all to consider.
Byron Leftwich, whom Dean already owns, is the starter in Jacksonville. The kid looked pretty good this preseason.
Leftwich didn't look like the same guy who played last season. He's matured very quickly, still has great mobility and stopped rushing his passes. He will have the usual sophomore problems, but fantasy-wise, Leftwich is not only a reliable backup, but could very easily emerge as a number one starter.
In two years, fantasy football owners will be scratching their heads on whether to take Michael Vick or Leftwich, in the second-round.
Atlanta, who adopted the West Coast offense, this season, probably saved Vick's life. More importantly, it rescued his fantasy value.
Less running + more throwing = less injuries.
I must admit that the last draft position looks dismal to begin with, but it can, actually, turn out to be very successful, if you work it to your advantage.
Just ask Dean.
If you get stuck with the last pick in your draft, secure your two running backs. The next move is to grab your two receivers. Now you're done with what is required. Find your sleepers and you can compete. You don't have to throw in the towel.
Kudos to Dean's drafting success. I just hope no one in my league is reading this. They don't need anymore help and certainly do not need assistance from me.
I've been awarded the last spot for the past three years in my league. I boasted victory two years in a row and had my streak snapped when I came in second last year, losing the head to head, primarily, because I was forced to use Correll Buckhalter instead of ... guess who?
I had drafted Corey Dillon 12th overall and had to snatch Buckhalter off the waiver wire, when Dillon pulled his groin.
Pretty ironic, isn't it?
Buckhalter is gone for the 2004 campaign, while Dillon is perfectly fine.
I shudder to think what would have happened if Dillon was healthy last season. I envision 800 more rushing yards and six more touchdowns. All mine for the taking.
Well, fortunately, it's a new season and a new Dillon.
Good luck to us both.
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