Fantasy Football: The Roundtable's Draft Rules

In the past, the first few rounds of fantasy-football drafts followed a similar script. Every owner wants to grab two top-tier running backs, two top to mid-tier wide receivers, and a serviceable quarterback. Beyond that, it became a matter of preference.

But things are starting to change.

My Bleacher Report counterpart, Chris D'Aniello, wrote about this about two weeks ago. In the last few years, NFL teams have started to move to a dual-running-back system.

These tandems are designed to take pressure off the lead back and to give teams a change of pace. Normally, we call these third-down backs. At least, that's what they have been called when talking about a solid, pass-catching back as opposed to a between-the-tackles runner.

Now, though, these are running backs that are given two or three whole series at a time to get going, and they alternate based on formations to best suit the offensive package. Look at what we had going on last year:

Jacksonville: Maurice Jones-Drew/Fred Taylor

Dallas: Marion Barber/Julius Jones

New England: Laurence Maroney/Kevin Faulk/Sammy Morris/Random Ball Boy

New Orleans: Reggie Bush/Deuce McAllister

Cincinnati: Rudi Johnson/Kenny Watson/DeDe Dorsey

Tennessee: Chris Brown/LenDale White/Chris Henry

Carolina: DeShaun Foster/DeAngelo Williams

Denver: The Flavor of the Moment

Seattle: Shaun Alexander/Maurice Morris

Atlanta: Warrick Dunn/Jerious Norwood

Detroit: Kevin Jones/Tatum Bell/T.J. Duckett

That’s already ten teams. As many as 12 teams this season could use the committee approach, making it much harder for owners to rely on stud running backs to carry the day.

It also makes the first round more interesting. The top five or so picks are going to still fall in line with the runs on running backs we’ve seen in previous years. It’s likely that LaDainian Tomlinson (LDT), Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook, Joseph Addai, and Steven Jackson will go in some order.

The sixth pick is where it gets cloudy. The next running back on most lists is either Frank Gore or Marshawn Lynch. Would you rather take one of those guys or grab Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or Randy Moss?

In leagues that give points for completions and/or receptions, I think any of these three has more value than the next running back, and that all three should be taken ahead of the next running back. Even without those points, you can make the case. Most owners can justify taking them earlier.

That would bring us to the ninth pick. And, honestly, that’s where I feel Gore and Lynch, as well as Portis and Barber, start to make more sense. Because there are so many committees, owners don’t need to feel it totally necessary to draft a running back that isn’t a stud. If you miss on those first five, getting a true ace at another position is a legit way to go.

Keeping that in mind, here are The Roundtable’s Draft Rules to remember while heading in to fantasy football.

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