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For the first time in my life, two days before my fantasy-football draft, I have no idea whom I want. Why can’t I have a top-five pick? I can’t go wrong with LaDainian Tomlinson, ...

Fantasy Football Draft Guide: What To Do at Pick Seven?

by Mackenzie Kraemer (Columnist)

9

2,765 reads

Opinion

August 16, 2008


For the first time in my life, two days before my fantasy-football draft, I have no idea whom I want.

Why can’t I have a top-five pick? I can’t go wrong with LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook, Steven Jackson, and Joseph Addai.

But I’m stuck drafting seventh, where the prospects are much bleaker.

Is it possible I get a guy that is as good as one of the aforementioned running backs? Of course there will be more than five fantasy studs, but who can possibly predict which player will step up?

Before I go any further, let me explain the league rules.
•    10 yards per point, rushing or receiving
•    25 yards per point, passing
•    6 points per touchdown, rushing, receiving, or returning
•    4 points per touchdown, passing
•    QB, WR, WR, RB, RB, TE, W/R, K, DEF, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN
•    12 teams, week 14-15-16 playoffs
•    Entry fee: $100, $2 per transaction

This is the most important thing to know going in. My league actually has a few added bonuses for reaching yardage milestones, but for the purposes of this article, I won’t mention that.

Make sure you know your league rules though! Know how many bench spots you have, know whom you need to start, and know when you pick.

But back to my dilemma at the seventh pick.

Assuming the five running backs I mentioned earlier are gone, I have the pick of almost anyone else. I’ve made awful first-round picks the last few years (Larry Johnson last year, Edgerrin James two years ago, and Daunte Culpepper the year before that), but I’ve still done very well, which leads to my first rule of thumb.

 

Always be prepared for anything.

Last year, for instance, I was able to steal a great third running back (Brandon Jacobs), and I was able to mix and match Johnson, Jacobs, second-round pick Travis Henry, Selvin Young, Kolby Smith, Ron Dayne, and Aaron Stecker at running back.

Out of those, I drafted the first four, and I was able to roll with them for a while until the Broncos' situation became muddled and L.J. and Jacobs got hurt.

Always scour the waiver wire. Players, particularly running backs and certain quarterbacks, get hurt. Know what backups are on teams that can run the ball, especially behind injury-prone starters (Chester Taylor, Ahmad Bradshaw), and look for promising young players that are trying to supplant mediocre starters (Chris Johnson, Pierre Thomas, Leon Washington).

I’m not suggesting to draft players like this, though I’ll be targeting Thomas in a later round, but keep an eye on how players like Ray Rice, Chris Perry, Tim Hightower, and Jerrious Norwood perform in limited action.

If the starters get hurt or disappoint, someone will step up and be this year’s Earnest Graham or Ryan Grant.

Also, keep an eye on potential plug-n-play options like Stecker was last season. A starting running back on a good offense is a good commodity to have and start, even if it is just for a week or two.

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9 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Adam Amick 10 months ago

    Why only 4 points for a Passing touchdown? Is this because of the points awarded based on yardage? The idea being that a short flip for TD isn't worth what a 50+ yard bomb is?

    Good luck.

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    • Mackenzie Kraemer 10 months ago

      It's really just to even out the scoring among QBs, RBs, and WRs. It's not my favorite rule, but it's how we've done it the previous few seasons.

      Thank you.

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  2. Nino Colla 10 months ago

    Picking in the middle this year is especially rough. It leaves you in a pretty rotten position having to choose between guys like Portis and Lynch or even go with Tom Brady. I'd rather pick top five or towards the end. It makes the decision a lot less difficult having to pick from all those RBs.

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  3. Vinny Gazzara 10 months ago

    I wouldnt be surprised is Steven Jackson fell to you. I nabbed him with the 8th pick because either the prople in my league are retarted or they are avoiding him because of his holdout. I also wouldnt be surprised to see Brady go int the top 5. Tell me what you end up doing.

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  4. James Stark 10 months ago

    Tom Brady availible go for gold. Marion Barber would be my next, he ranked 7th last season, and could see more playing time

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  5. Leonardo Camargo 10 months ago

    yeah I'd go for Tom Brady too. I learned this the hard way. I had 7th pick out of 14, and I picked the Barbarian instead. soon after, someone picked up Brady. i should've gone Brady. when drafting you want exceptional - the best in at least 1 position - it's more of a mental tactic i think. it throws the rest of the draft off a bit - i think this is important because in fantasy, like in poker, you are playing the other players too, not just for stats

    good avice on the "having fun" i was staying up hours late on a work night - yeah, not worth it - but then when the draft came, everyone was smack talkin' and joking around. that's what it's about right? sure. plus, there's some $ on the line...

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  6. Rich Kotite 10 months ago

    I am relatively new to FF and this is my first time playing in a pretty big 'money league' with experienced co-works who have been playing for years. First off, this is 14 team league, and I had the first pick in the draft with scoring like you would find on NFL dot com. We start, 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, and 1 Def. I would like anyone who is experienced to give me their 2 cents on where I should try to trade, or should I go with what I have. I have major concerns at QB and TE. Please keep in my 14 teams so gets watered down fast.....Roster ( in order I drafted ) : L.T., Fitz, Andre Johnson, Edgerrin James, Jonathan Stewart, D. Bowe, K. Smith, Minnesota, M Leinart, O. Daniels, Jake Delhomme, Sidney Rice, Dustin Keller, and Dawson (k)....Okay, HELP!!!!!!! Should I panick at QB and TE? Who should I target and/or try to trade?

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    • Michael Cuan 10 months ago

      You could probably trade up for a QB, but don't worry at TE. It's not a big deal because they won't produce a lot of points as compared to a solid QB. Use your team to deal for someone in the top tier of QBs by either trading away for somebody like a Brees or Palmer.

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