Pros vs. Joes: Building The Perfect 26-Man Roster
I participated in what just might have been my 8,000th mock draft on Monday night. This was not your ordinary draft. No, it was part of a multi-league “Pros vs. Joes” best-ball competition … that included the selection of 26 players per team. It is a PPR league in which QBs get 4 points per TD pass and TEs are given the bonus .5 points per catch (1.5 total).
Here’s the squad:
1.10 Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI (the two big TEs, Calvin Johnson, the obvious RBs & Aaron Rodgers were off the board)
2.03 Trent Richardson, RB, CLE (I wanted a workhorse back. Now, I just need his legs to hold up in the AFC North)
3.10 Victor Cruz, WR, NYG (Have talked about my fear of a drop-off and cautioned against overpaying, but hard to say that at this position. Big-play threat & lingering concern about Nicks’ health)
4.03 Peyton Manning, QB, DEN (Hot Route! Thomas, Decker, Tamme, Dreessen have me thinking big numbers in Manning return.
5.10 Antonio Brown, WR, PIT (PPR beast following breakout 2011. Now in a contract year of his own & specter of Wallace holdout could raise the baseline even higher)
6.03 Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ (I don’t love him, but he’s another workhorse. The lack of TD production is frightening, but he’ll see a heavy load)
7.10 Jay Cutler, QB, CHI (Take the 2nd QB early b/c of Manning injury concern. Love Cutler with Forte back & Marshall/Jeffery onboard)
8.03 Tony Gonzalez, TE, KC (He’s back for another round, and I believe I got great value here. Will Matt Ryan raise his level of play? Is age just a number for Gonzo?)
9.10 Michael Bush, RB, CHI (Forte health issue in 2011 and lack of goal-line dominance puts Bush in a great spot. He’s proven that he can catch out of the backfield and handle the short-yardage role where recent additions by Chicago have failed)
10.03 Robert Meachem, WR, SD (He was selected and then tossed back to the pool. I’ll take the presumptive #1 here. Fearful of how Rivers spreads the ball, but there should be more targets his way here)
11.10 Ryan Williams, RB, ARI (Coming back off of the injury, but he avoided PUP. Beanie Wells did not. Wells’ injury history is well-documented, thereby opening the door for Williams to run into a featured role)
12.03 Kendall Hunter, RB, SF (It’s a crowded backfield in SF, but nobody’s anticipating a full slate from Frank Gore. Hunter acquitted himself nicely in the past and could run amuck here for NFC favorite 49ers)
13.10 Heath Miller, TE, PIT (He caught 51 balls last year, and Todd Haley envisions a bigger role in ’12)
14.03 Reuben Randle, WR, NYG (My ninja pick is being probed by the fantasy community. Still, just thrilled to see him here. I now have 2 principals in the Eli 4,000-yard chase)
15.10 Robert Turbin, RB, SEA (Lynch’s off-field issues might not prompt a suspension, but his bruising ways could open the door for Turbin, the 5-foot-9 fireplug to see action for Pete Carroll)
16.03 Houston Defense (Loved what Wade Phillips did last year. Remember that they did the damage without Mario Williams. And, gotta love the divisional matchups right now)
17.10 Mark Sanchez, QB, NYJ (Don’t fear the Swoll. Sanchez still a top-10 fantasy player in 2011 w/ 32 total touchdowns (six rushing). I do anticipate a few goal-line touches to be siphoned off, but I don’t anticipate a quick hook)
18.03 Robbie Gould, K, CHI (Kicking behind Cutler’s retooled offense and finally allowed to kick long-distance tries in ’11)
19.10 Alshon Jeffery, WR, CHI (Working opposite Marshall offers great potential if he picks up offense in camp. Hester threat will keep safeties honest)
The rest:
Denver Defense
Anthony Allen, RB, BAL (He’ll battle for No. 2 role w/ Bernard Pierce. GL potential)
Kevin Kolb, QB, ARI (I had to leave the board for a few to deal with family matters and came back to Kolb being selected.)
Brian Hartline, WR, MIA (Potential to be No. 1 WR for MIA. What does that mean? In PPR league, he’s worth a shot)
Damian Williams, WR, TEN (Role uncertain heading into camp, but so is the status of Kenny Britt’s knee).
Rob Housler, TE, ARI (Just realized that I have four players from the Cardinals on this roster ….)
