Mock Fantasy Draft: Day 1

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

It's official.

I'm in full on fantasy football mode.

I can't eat, sleep, or write articles without thinking about fantasy football.

I've created a league for my fraternity. 

I've created a league for some online friends.

I've spent every hour upon the hour doing research upon schedules, depth charts, and the most trivial stats the internet can offer; all in the name of getting that extra "umph".

I also know that I'm not the only one.

I've stated many times that true fantasy football knowledge comes from admitting you know nothing and can not predict the future.

You can only make predictions based on the present.

So my ultimate goal is to scour the present for enough information to make it my own fantasy football gift of knowledge.

If there is one thing I do in fantasy football better than most, it's drafting players. 

I never reach for players to early, I make the right reaches when I need to, I gamble on the right rookies, etc.

One of the most under-rated facets of  preparation for fantasy football are mock drafts.

Every year, ESPN runs mock drafts up until seasons beginning.

I go through nearly a 100 mock drafts per fantasy preseason in an attempt to gain knowledge as to how the rest of my drafts will play out.

My preseason chart looks like an NFL playbook.

These mock drafts provide solid intel as to how people around you feel about certain players. They let you know if the general public thinks a certain guy is over-rated or under-rated. They let you know how early you're going to have to reach for a guy.

All of this is vital information.

My goal is to chronicle one mock draft a day and jot down my inner monologue, allowing you, the reader, and insight to the mind of a guy who cares way too much about fantasy football. 

Before I start this journal of sorts, let me give you a few draft trends that I live by when it comes to fantasy football:

1.Never trust a Vikings receiver. Ever.

2. Packers and Lions players should be taken with a grain of salt. These players have four games against the Vikings and Bears.

3. Taking too many rookies leads to bad teams. Taking the wrong rookies leads to average teams. Taking the right rookies leads to titles.

4. If a Quarterback or Wide Receiver is in the AFC West, take them. All four teams have porous pass defenses. 

5. Your first two picks are your rocks. These are the consistent guys. Don't take risks here. Don't get cute. Take the best player but don't get fancy. After that, the rest of your draft should be a balance of risk and consistency. 

6.Players are ranked on a bang vs. buck theory. If I can get Brian Westbrook in the 3rd round, he is a top 3 RB for the price you paid for him.

And with that, we are ready to go!

DAY 1.

3rd Pick-Steven Jackson RB-St. Louis

I enter the draft with the 3rd pick. Not bad. If this was a real draft I would do everything I could to trade down. The top two picks are a tier above everyone else.

Since you can't trade in mock drafts I go with Steven Jackson over Matt Forte and Jones-Drew. 

Jones-Drew is an unproven risk and I prefer Jackson over Forte. Very simple.

Brees goes 9th. I have a feeling people will reach for him all day. 

I jot this down in my "things to look for" list.

18th Pick-Steve Slaton RB-Houston

I lucked out. Slaton is ranked as the 16th best player. I have him ranked as the 4th. I would have taken him 1st round but I had a feeling I could get him in the 2nd round. 

It was a gamble I was willing to take and it paid off. Slaton is going to be a top three running back if you can get him in the 2nd round.

If you get him in the 2nd round you increase the bang for buck theory I live by.

My eyes now set to Roddy White. I have the 23rd pick, five away. Roddy White is 8 spots down and covered up by receivers like Reggie Wayne and Terrell Owens, both huge draws.

23rd Pick-Roddy White WR-Atlanta

Another steal for me. Personally I have him as the 3rd best receiver behind Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson. Megatron is stuck on a horrible team and Roddy has protection in the run game, Tony Gonzalez, and a very good quarterback.

The first three rounds are essential. These are the rounds that will set your team for the first four weeks.

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