On Saturday, August 28, 2010, RotoCommunity.com participated in a fantasy football league with the other industry experts, called the Facebook Champions League. League rules include PPR scoring with 10 starters and 9 reserves (Q-R-R-W-W-R/W-T-K-D-HC). Here's how the draft went down round-by-round, with analysis following each round. CLICK HERE to visit the league site. (Our own Pat Mayo also drafted a team ("Golden Tate Warriors") in this league.)

 

MY TEAM

QB - Philip Rivers, SD
RB - DeAngelo Williams, Car  /  Jamaal Charles, KC  /  Justin Forsett, Sea
WR - Brandon Marshall, Mia  /  Braylon Edwards, NYJ
TE - Greg Olsen, Chi
D/ST - Steelers, Pit
K - Mason Crosby, GB
HC - Patriots Coach, NE

Bench QB - Ben Roethlisberger, Pit 
Bench RB - Steve Slaton, Hou  /  Thomas Jones, KC  
Bench WR - Eddie Royal, Den  /  Roy E. Williams, Dal  /  Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ 
Bench WR - Anthony Gonzalez, Ind  /  Mike Williams, Sea
Bench TE - John Carlson, Sea WR

 

ANALYSIS

For the Rotocommunity representative in this league, run by the estimable Lance Collins, administrator of the Facebook Fantasy Football page, we elected to go with an alternative system. We did this in part because of the unusual draft format (more on that in a moment) and the fact that our own Pat Mayo was drafting using his own rankings which are part of the foundation of the RC ranks. Please do look at Pat's excellent analysis and ignore the parts where he knocks our brilliant choices (shaddup!!).

There was a certain amount of confusion as this was the first year of the league but due to an error, the league settings incorporated a keeper round as the first round and then started a snake in the second (forward order in the second, then reverse in the third). As a result the RC team got the 10th pick (of 12) in both the first and second rounds and that necessitated a change in approach.

A quick note on format/set up issues. Most players have no issue with dealing with whatever the software throws at you, but it's always best to communicate those things well in advance so that teams can plan and also, when faced with the unexpected, to roll with it rather than trying to invent a procedure to "fix" it in the middle. A couple people at the end of the draft order were understandably taken off guard by having such unfavourable picks, but as we rolled along everyone got into it and the draft proceeded well.

Pick 10 is a wasteland this season, you're faced with the choice that we had which was to take Randy Moss (Andre Johnson was off the boards by then) or a second tier (or third if you make a separate tier for Johnson, Peterson and perhaps MJD in this PPR league) RB. Looking down at 22 as our next pick, we decided we couldn't let the RB slot slide. Moss is a year older and despite his estimable skills, being in a distribution type offense with several other quality receivers put the possibility of disaster in play.

The next few picks were designed to do 2 things, we wanted to make sure that the RB/WR slot was filled with a running back. This is a tremendous advantage in a 12 team league since there are not 36 starting tailbacks each week. You've more or less ensured yourself a 10-15 point edge on half your opponents. The other objective was to organize the offense around catches, given the PPR nature of the league. Both Jamaal Charles and Forsett are excellent receivers in possession type throwing games. Both runners become their own back-up plan if the Seattle and Kansas City rushing games can't be established. I love receiving backs in PPR because their production is generally safe. They can score well even if they don't find the end zone, whether the rushing game works or not and they score excellent garbage time points at the ends of the half. 

We went with the receivers on more or less the same basis. Marshall put in 101 receptions last season and Chad Henne's throwing game is likely to be possession. Braylon Edwards put up a 80/1289 year a couple of years back with 16 touchdowns. He has a real chance of being the prime go to guy for the Jets. Obviously it's a risk, but he's an extraordinarily skilled player, and if Shonn Greene has bumps in his first season as the starter, it could be a great year for the big guy. We grabbed Jerico Cotchery late as a possible possession insurance pick.

Although Pat Mayo would have preferred Tony Romo, we are not sold on the 'Boys and their receiving corps. Miles Austin was improbably good last season, and this writer expects regression. Dez Bryant is going to have some difficulty adjusting to the big game, and we kind of like Roy Williams to establish a better rapport with Romo. Rivers is going to be throwing this season. Unless Ryan Mathews can explode immediately, he's going to be throwing early, often and vertical. 

As for Tight Ends, we had been scooped on Jermichael Finley by the "Shocker Abbatoir" squad and settled for Jay Cutler's roommate, Greg Olsen and no, we are not thrilled. John Carlson, who is inconsistently good in PPR, is the back-up for now.

Thomas Jones was a must handcuff for Jamaal Charles, and we also acquired Steve Slaton as a bye-week replacement and speculation. Again on Slaton, the emphasis is on PPR. Even if he is a third down back, we like his ability to score consistent points. Ben Roethlisberger will have returned from his suspension before Rivers' bye week and makes a solid fresh arm for the second half. The receiving bench is totally speculation. Eddie Royal can be a PPR force when he is targeted, Roy Williams will have some valuable time working with Romo that may pay off in more looks this season, while Anthony Gonzalez is buried in the depth charts, but when healthy has been a red zone target for Peyton Manning.  

Mike Williams (SEA) was our last round speculation. Williams has a world of talent and size (something the Seahawks need) and looks to be the third receiver already. During the pre-seaso,n Hasselback looks extremely comfortable throwing to him, and he has been achieving separation, and when necessary, using his big body to create space. Odds are he fails, but if he doesn't... well who are they going to go to on the goal line? A bunch of Smurfy running backs and receivers or the big guy?

This team should score consistently, but could lack explosiveness unless the two wide-outs live up to our expectations (or is that pipe dreams?). Expect tons of receptions, and that will give our opponents almost no room for error. 

 

DRAFT LOG

Round: 1
(1) The Immaculate Reception - Chris Johnson RB
(2) Team gambles - Adrian Peterson RB
(3) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Ray Rice RB
(4) Facebook FantasyFootball - Frank Gore RB
(5) Purple Drank - Maurice Jones-Drew RB
(6) Shocker Abbotoir - Steven Jackson RB
(7) Team Mayo - Andre Johnson WR
(8) I Love DaGooch.com - Michael Turner RB
(9) The Fishheads - Shonn Greene RB
** (10) Roto Community - DeAngelo Williams RB
(11) Bubba Got Vick - Ryan Grant RB
(12) Fantasy Over Reality - Randy Moss WR

Round: 2
(13) The Immaculate Reception - Drew Brees QB
(14) Team gambles - Larry Fitzgerald WR
(15) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Aaron Rodgers QB
(16) Facebook FantasyFootball - Calvin Johnson WR
(17) Purple Drank - Roddy White WR
(18) Shocker Abbotoir - Reggie Wayne WR
(19) Team Mayo - Tom Brady QB
(20) I Love DaGooch.com - Ryan Mathews RB
(21) The Fishheads - Cedric Benson RB
** (22) Roto Community - Brandon Marshall WR
(23) Bubba Got Vick - Miles Austin WR
(24) Fantasy Over Reality - Rashard Mendenhall RB

Round: 3
(25) Fantasy Over Reality - Peyton Manning QB
(26) Bubba Got Vick - Beanie Wells RB
** (27) Roto Community - Jamaal Charles RB
(28) The Fishheads - DeSean Jackson WR
(29) I Love DaGooch.com - Greg Jennings WR
(30) Team Mayo - Pierre Thomas RB
(31) Shocker Abbotoir - Steve Smith WR
(32) Purple Drank - Arian Foster RB
(33) Facebook FantasyFootball - Marques Colston WR
(34) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Anquan Boldin WR
(35) Team gambles - Knowshon Moreno RB
(36) The Immaculate Reception - LeSean McCoy RB

Round: 4
(37) The Immaculate Reception - Michael Crabtree WR
(38) Team gambles - Steve Smith WR
(39) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Joseph Addai RB
(40) Facebook FantasyFootball - Matt Schaub QB
(41) Purple Drank - Antonio Gates TE
(42) Shocker Abbotoir - Jonathan Stewart RB
(43) Team Mayo - Dallas Clark TE
(44) I Love DaGooch.com - Dwayne Bowe WR
(45) The Fishheads - Matt Forte RB
** (46) Roto Community - Philip Rivers QB
(47) Bubba Got Vick - Chad Ochocinco WR
(48) Fantasy Over Reality - Ronnie Brown RB

Round: 5
(49) Fantasy Over Reality - Jahvid Best RB
(50) Bubba Got Vick - Tony Romo QB
** (51) Roto Community - Justin Forsett RB
(52) The Fishheads - Vernon Davis TE
(53) I Love DaGooch.com - Brent Celek TE
(54) Team Mayo - Wes Welker WR
(55) Shocker Abbotoir - Mike Sims-Walker WR
(56) Purple Drank - Brett Favre QB
(57) Facebook FantasyFootball - C.J. Spiller RB
(58) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Ricky Williams RB
(59) Team gambles - Brandon Jacobs RB
(60) The Immaculate Reception - Ahmad Bradshaw RB

Round: 6
(61) The Immaculate Reception - Pierre Garcon WR
(62) Team gambles - Tony Gonzalez TE
(63) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Percy Harvin WR
(64) Facebook FantasyFootball - Reggie Bush RB
(65) Purple Drank - Hakeem Nicks WR
(66) Shocker Abbotoir - Jermichael Finley TE
(67) Team Mayo - Michael Bush RB
(68) I Love DaGooch.com - Felix Jones RB
(69) The Fishheads - Hines Ward WR
** (70) Roto Community - Braylon Edwards WR
(71) Bubba Got Vick - Jerome Harrison RB
(72) Fantasy Over Reality - Jason Witten TE

Round: 7
(73) Fantasy Over Reality - Jeremy Maclin WR
(74) Bubba Got Vick - Kellen Winslow TE
** (75) Roto Community - Steve Slaton RB
(76) The Fishheads - Joe Flacco QB
(77) I Love DaGooch.com - Kevin Kolb QB
(78) Team Mayo - Clinton Portis RB
(79) Shocker Abbotoir - Donald Driver WR
(80) Purple Drank - Mike Wallace WR
(81) Facebook FantasyFootball - Jay Cutler QB
(82) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Santana Moss WR
(83) Team gambles - Vincent Jackson WR
(84) The Immaculate Reception - Visanthe Shiancoe TE

Round: 8
(85) The Immaculate Reception - Robert Meachem WR
(86) Team gambles - Marion Barber RB
(87) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Chris Cooley TE
(88) Facebook FantasyFootball - Santonio Holmes WR
(89) Purple Drank - Fred Jackson RB
(90) Shocker Abbotoir - Eli Manning QB
(91) Team Mayo - Donald Brown RB
(92) I Love DaGooch.com - Dez Bryant WR
(93) The Fishheads - T.J. Houshmandzadeh WR
** (94) Roto Community - Thomas Jones RB
(95) Bubba Got Vick - Darren McFadden RB
(96) Fantasy Over Reality - Jets D/ST D/ST

Round: 9
(97) Fantasy Over Reality - LaDainian Tomlinson RB
(98) Bubba Got Vick - Steve Breaston WR
** (99) Roto Community - Ben Roethlisberger QB
(100) The Fishheads - Donovan McNabb QB
(101) I Love DaGooch.com - Terrell Owens WR
(102) Team Mayo - Bernard Berrian WR
(103) Shocker Abbotoir - Lee Evans WR
(104) Purple Drank - Malcom Floyd WR
(105) Facebook FantasyFootball - Devin Aromashodu WR
(106) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Tim Hightower RB
(107) Team gambles - Matt Ryan QB
(108) The Immaculate Reception - Johnny Knox WR

Round: 10
(109) The Immaculate Reception - Willis McGahee RB
(110) Team gambles - Eagles D/ST D/ST
(111) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Devery Henderson WR
(112) Facebook FantasyFootball - Zach Miller TE
(113) Purple Drank - Montario Hardesty RB
(114) Shocker Abbotoir - Darren Sproles RB
(115) Team Mayo - Derrick Mason WR
(116) I Love DaGooch.com - Packers D/ST D/ST
(117) The Fishheads - Cadillac Williams RB
** (118) Roto Community - Greg Olsen TE
(119) Bubba Got Vick - Ravens D/ST D/ST
(120) Fantasy Over Reality - Mike Williams WR

Round: 11
(121) Fantasy Over Reality - Bernard Scott RB
(122) Bubba Got Vick - Nate Kaeding K
** (123) Roto Community - Steelers D/ST D/ST
(124) The Fishheads - Cowboys D/ST D/ST
(125) I Love DaGooch.com - Chester Taylor RB
(126) Team Mayo - Golden Tate WR
(127) Shocker Abbotoir - 49ers D/ST D/ST
(128) Purple Drank - Mohamed Massaquoi WR
(129) Facebook FantasyFootball - Owen Daniels TE
(130) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Austin Collie WR
(131) Team gambles - Laurence Maroney RB
(132) The Immaculate Reception - Saints D/ST D/ST

Round: 12
(133) The Immaculate Reception - Dexter McCluster WR
(134) Team gambles - Correll Buckhalter RB
(135) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Matthew Stafford QB
(136) Facebook FantasyFootball - Leon Washington RB
(137) Purple Drank - Jabar Gaffney WR
(138) Shocker Abbotoir - Chad Henne QB
(139) Team Mayo - Jacoby Jones WR
(140) I Love DaGooch.com - Legedu Naanee WR
(141) The Fishheads - Stephen Gostkowski K
** (142) Roto Community - Jerricho Cotchery WR
(143) Bubba Got Vick - Heath Miller TE
(144) Fantasy Over Reality - Kyle Orton QB

Round: 13
(145) Fantasy Over Reality - Louis Murphy WR
(146) Bubba Got Vick - Kevin Smith RB
** (147) Roto Community - Mason Crosby K
(148) The Fishheads - Kenny Britt WR
(149) I Love DaGooch.com - Dustin Keller TE
(150) Team Mayo - Fred Taylor RB
(151) Shocker Abbotoir - Vince Young QB
(152) Purple Drank - Carson Palmer QB
(153) Facebook FantasyFootball - Sidney Rice WR
(154) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Kevin Walter WR
(155) Team gambles - Ryan Longwell K
(156) The Immaculate Reception - Brian Westbrook RB

Round: 14
(157) The Immaculate Reception - Laurent Robinson WR
(158) Team gambles - Nate Burleson WR
(159) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Bengals D/ST D/ST
(160) Facebook FantasyFootball - Vikings D/ST D/ST
(161) Purple Drank - Patriots D/ST D/ST
(162) Shocker Abbotoir - Marshawn Lynch RB
(163) Team Mayo - Colts Coach HC
(164) I Love DaGooch.com - Rob Bironas K
(165) The Fishheads - Kevin Boss TE
** (166) Roto Community - Eddie Royal WR
(167) Bubba Got Vick - Mark Sanchez QB
(168) Fantasy Over Reality - Devin Hester WR

Round: 15
(169) Fantasy Over Reality - Mike Bell RB
(170) Bubba Got Vick - Joey Galloway WR
** (171) Roto Community - John Carlson TE
(172) The Fishheads - Darrius Heyward-Bey WR
(173) I Love DaGooch.com - Bears D/ST D/ST
(174) Team Mayo - Tashard Choice RB
(175) Shocker Abbotoir - David Akers K
(176) Purple Drank - Garrett Hartley K
(177) Facebook FantasyFootball - Mario Manningham WR
(178) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Toby Gerhart RB
(179) Team gambles - Rashad Jennings RB
(180) The Immaculate Reception - Alex Smith QB

Round: 16
(181) The Immaculate Reception - Chris Chambers WR
(182) Team gambles - Early Doucet WR
(183) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Jay Feely K
(184) Facebook FantasyFootball - Saints Coach HC
(185) Purple Drank - Tony Scheffler TE
(186) Shocker Abbotoir - Josh Morgan WR
(187) Team Mayo - Mewelde Moore RB
(188) I Love DaGooch.com - Matt Cassel QB
(189) The Fishheads - Antonio Bryant WR
** (190) Roto Community - Roy E. Williams WR
(191) Bubba Got Vick - Giants D/ST D/ST
(192) Fantasy Over Reality - Josh Cribbs WR

Round: 17
(193) Fantasy Over Reality - Todd Heap TE
(194) Bubba Got Vick - Julius Jones RB
** (195) Roto Community - Anthony Gonzalez WR
(196) The Fishheads - Broncos D/ST D/ST
(197) I Love DaGooch.com - Lance Moore WR
(198) Team Mayo - David Garrard QB
(199) Shocker Abbotoir - Matt Prater K
(200) Purple Drank - Robbie Gould K
(201) Facebook FantasyFootball - Texans D/ST D/ST
(202) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Greg Camarillo WR
(203) Team gambles - Anthony Dixon RB
(204) The Immaculate Reception - Neil Rackers K

Round: 18
(205) The Immaculate Reception - Cowboys Coach HC
(206) Team gambles - Jason Campbell QB
(207) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Jeremy Shockey TE
(208) Facebook FantasyFootball - 49ers Coach HC
(209) Purple Drank - Javon Ringer RB
(210) Shocker Abbotoir - Kareem Huggins RB
(211) Team Mayo - Dolphins D/ST D/ST
(212) I Love DaGooch.com - Sammy Morris RB
(213) The Fishheads - Vikings Coach HC
** (214) Roto Community - Patriots Coach HC
(215) Bubba Got Vick - Jason Snelling RB
(216) Fantasy Over Reality - Sebastian Janikowski K

Round: 19
(217) Fantasy Over Reality - Chargers Coach HC
(218) Bubba Got Vick - Packers Coach HC
** (219) Roto Community - Mike Williams WR
(220) The Fishheads - Titans Coach HC
(221) I Love DaGooch.com - Giants Coach HC
(222) Team Mayo - Shayne Graham K
(223) Shocker Abbotoir - Redskins Coach HC
(224) Purple Drank - Jets Coach HC
(225) Facebook FantasyFootball - John Kasay K
(226) 365Fantasy Sports.com - Bengals Coach HC
(227) Team gambles - Ravens Coach HC
(228) The Immaculate Reception - Demaryius Thomas WR

 

ALSO

Our 2010 Fantasy Football Draft Kit can help you win your league this year. And don't forget, we will promptly answer any questions you may have about your team, line-up, waiver wire, and trades in our FORUM. It just takes a minute to REGISTER a username and password for our site (allowing you to download draft kit files and post reviews, comments, blogs, and forum topics).