DLF Dynasty League Draft Breakdown: Part Two

Since 3,400 word sections don’t really need introductions, let’s jump right into it!  For a reminder of the league specifications, as well as a breakdown of the first four teams, please refer back to Part One.  Onto the next four:

ChrisR124 – Chris Rohrer

Pertinent Players:

Other Players:  QB – Chase Daniel, KC, Jake Locker, TEN; RB – Rex Burkhead, CIN, Justin Forsett, JAX, Evan Royster, WSH, DeAngelo Williams, CAR, Kerwynn Williams, IND; WR – Damaris Johnson, PHI; TE – Delanie Walker, TEN

2014 Draft Picks:  First Round – two; Third Round – one; Fourth Round – one

Chris’ Strategy:  My overall strategy going into the draft was to make sure I had a top quarterback and a top tight end from the early rounds.  I would have liked to have more solid running backs in my rotation (as part of my original strategy), but I think that was the sacrifice I paid (round three and four) for trading up for an extra second round pick.  I also really wanted an extra 2014 first round pick if that was possible.

If given the opportunity I would have traded back into the round five area or so.  That didn’t happen, so I’m just holding onto the pick with no qualms about that part.  The last part was that I wanted to have my strong foundation, and then just acquire guys with a lot of upside.  I don’t mind the boom or bust picks at all if I have my few top guys I can count on.  Then a few years down the line hopefully I can hit on some and have a high upside team.

My Take:  Considering Chris traded out of both the third and fourth rounds, I still think he managed to fill out his starting lineup quite well.  He also did a great job “bargain shopping,” as amazingly every one of his starters was selected after their average positions.  His positional advantages at quarterback and tight end should keep him in every weekly contest.

With that said, my biggest qualms are with the certainty, and longevity of his point-scoring ability.  He’ll be starting three 30-plus receivers, as well as the injury-prone Danny Amendola and an unproven rookie in Montee Ball.  I’m also not sold on his quarterback depth.  Rodgers is a stud, but has missed a few games from time to time.  Unfortunately, backup Jake Locker has shown little to nothing during his two years in the league.  The 2014 draft looms large as a pivotal point for Chris’ future.

The Admiral Ackbars – Corey Mauer

Pertinent Players:

Other Players:  QB – Ryan Nassib, NYG; RB – Kenjon Barner, CAR, Knile Davis, KC, Ray Graham, HOU; WR – Malcom Floyd, SD, Brandon Lloyd, FA, Golden Tate, SEA; TE – Zach Miller, SEA, Tony Moeaki, KC

2014 Draft Picks:  First Round – one; Second Round – two; Third Round – one; Fourth round – one

Corey’s Strategy:  I’d say my overall strategy was to wait at quarterback since there are a lot of high scoring signal callers out there and try to load up at running back and receiver early and often. Quarterbacks, barring injury, are more consistent scorers over longer periods of time, so by getting a good one, I should be pretty set for years. Backs and receivers, however, go through a lot more turnover and I don’t find them to be as consistent. By drafting as many of them as I can get my hands on, I increase my chances of hitting pay dirt on a few of them.

My Take:  Corey drafted a veteran-laden team full of players who are, arguably, their respective offenses’ number-one options.  Many of his starters have provided consistent production on both a weekly and yearly basis, meaning he’ll be a tough matchup for anyone in the league.  Almost as importantly, he supplemented these older players with a series of intriguing rookie prospects.

With that said, there were a few of Corey’s moves I found to be questionable.  First, I would’ve liked to see him round out his starting lineup before drafting a second quarterback – two signal caller’s in the draft’s first eight rounds seems like overkill.  Also, according to the ADP, he over-drafted a few key players.  Colston, while reliable, likely could’ve been taken much later than the third round.  Ditto for players like Gresham, Smith, Richardson and Taylor.  Corey’s lineup still turned out pretty well, but it’s fair to wonder if it could’ve been even better.

Fine Corinthian Leatherheads – Ken Moody

Pertinent Players:

Other Players:  QB – Christian Ponder, MIN, Philip Rivers, SD; RB – Jonathan Dwyer, PIT, Robert Turbin, SEA; WR – Arrelious Benn, PHI, Marquise Goodwin, BUF, Donald Jones, NE, Jacoby Jones, BAL; TE – Brent Celek, PHI

2014 Draft Picks:  First Round – one; Third Round – one; Fourth Round – one

Ken’s Strategy:  In leagues where the competition may be a little suspect, or I’m just not that invested in the league, I’m more inclined to experiment with different draft strategies.  In this league however, with this competition, I am playing it straight.  I really want to win.

In this scenario I typically go with a fairly balanced approach.  I look to lock up the young stud, long-term assets first.  I’ll then fill in with top-tier running backs, then quarterbacks and tight ends.  However, you also have to adjust your strategy to the draft, and in this draft, I definitely ended up rolling with more or less BPA strategy, leaning towards receivers and running backs early.

I was trying to form a team that will compete now, but still have enough youth to remain competitive for a while to come.  Players who are neither too old, nor paying a premium for young upside talent.  In the end I feel I have a roster that meets those objectives.  My receivers are not ideal, but outside of that I’m really happy with how this team came together.  I definitely feel like I should be in the hunt right out of the gate.

My Take:  The front end of Ken’s starting lineup is dynamite (note:  I’m not just saying that because he’s my boss).  Wilson is primed to take a huge step forward in 2013, and his high-end running backs are both potentially top-five guys.  I’ve written previously about my expectations for Wallace, and Nelson was a WR1 as recently as 2011.  Even Davis gets a bump due to Michael Crabtree’s Achilles injury.

What concerns me is the bottom-end of Ken’s starters.  Both Mathews and Alexander (is someone a Chargers fan maybe?) carry red flags, be it due to inconsistency, injuries or both.  Though I think he stocked up well on young players and rookies, I’m not sure they’re ready to contribute right away – having only six of eight starters with proven stability won’t get it done in this league.  Nonetheless, Ken’s future seems bright.

DLF_Jeff – Jeff Haverlack

Pertinent Players:

Other Players:  QB – Josh Freeman, TB, Matt Scott, JAX; RB – Jacquizz Rodgers, ATL, Jeremy Stewart, OAK, Daniel Thomas, MIA; WR – Andrew Hawkins, CIN, Andre Roberts, AZ, Ryan Swope, AZ; TE – Heath Miller, PIT

2014 Draft Picks:  Third Round – one; Fourth Round – one

Jeff’s Strategy:  My strategy heading into the draft was really, for once, not to trade out of the first round and amass third and fifth round picks, which is typically what I do.  That strategy is easier to do when you are picking in the middle to late first round.  As luck would have it, I landed the second pick.  If I hadn’t landed a top-four selection, I may have selected the last pick in the round as I love having back-to-back selections without having to worry about being sniped.

Format wise, it was obvious I would be drafting receivers with at least my first two picks and I was planning on using my third rounder on a receiver as well unless a back that I couldn’t allow to fall was still on the board.  In a PPR and start-one format for running backs, I will overweigh receivers happily.

In the end, I didn’t make any significant trades other than moving my first and second round selections in 2014 for an early round selection (fifth round) this year.  At the beginning of the draft I had decided that I would be drafting younger and attempt to get a ring in the first year, rather than going older and having an even better chance of winning the championship.  Hey – there’s money on the line here!

My Take:  As Jeff mentioned above, he has one of the league’s elite receiving corps (note:  again, the fact that Jeff signs my checks has nothing to do with this praise).  Even moving past his starters, he still has players like Williams who could potentially start on other rosters.  Getting young studs like Morris, Kaepernick and Rudolph enhances his starting lineup even further.

His team’s most glaring need is at running back.  Morris is a beast, but his value takes a slide in a PPR setting.  Mendenhall as a RB2 is worrisome, as there’s no telling whether he’ll even receive starters’ reps.  Other than that, I don’t really have any other qualms with Jeff’s team other than his penchant for over-drafting players, even if only slightly.  Regardless, I think he’s a contender both now, and in the coming years.

We’ll finish up the team breakdowns in tomorrow’s final installment!

Follow me on Twitter @EDH_27

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Eric Hardter

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Eric is a Boston College chemistry grad school survivor with a minor in dynasty football. He prefers to utilize both statistics and sarcasm whenever possible, believes in process over results and thinks "Hot Takes" are the scourge of the fantasy landscape.

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