Early Cowboys selections will prove right in the end
By STU ROSENBERG
srosenberg@modbee.com
Every fantasy draft has a maverick who tears up the script everyone is supposed to follow and goes his own way, for better or worse.
Last Saturday, that maverick was me.
My drafting Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo with the ninth overall pick came as no surprise to those who know I'm married to the biggest Tony Romo fan this side of Jessica Simpson. But it was the selection of Cowboys tight end Jason Witten with the fourth pick of the second round, the 16th pick overall, that caused panic in the disco.
"Thanks for the donation" and "God, what an awful choice" were among the more complimentary messages that filtered into our Web site's draft chatroom over the next two hours.
From the moment I hit the "Draft" queue next to Witten's name -- a good round and a half earlier than reason suggested -- I knew I had opened myself up to a world of criticism, but I didn't care.
In the words (and in the inflection) of William Shatner: I ... had a ... plan.
And that plan had nothing to do with the possibility that Jenny would force me to sleep in the shed with the 3-foot high Kiss dolls (excuse me, action figures) and dusty beanbag chairs if I failed to come home with the right number and combination of Cowboys and everything to do with how little I got out of my first two picks -- Shaun Alexander and Chad Johnson -- a year ago.
Despite Alexander and Groucho Cinco both phoning in the worst seasons of their lives, I still managed to finish third (and in the money) out of 13 teams. Heck, I might even have won the whole thing had I simply taken a kicker and a quality No. 4 receiver instead.
Based on that sobering experience, I made up my mind before the Christmas tree was taken down that any chances taken on draft day would be taken early.
After the numbers Witten delivered last season (96 receptions for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns), getting him back was a top priority. But with our league's resident Cowboys fan -- whom Jenny successfully persuaded to steer clear of Romo with a bountiful pre-draft feast of donuts and Starbucks -- certain to cut me off in Round 3, the only way I was getting Witten was by pulling the trigger early. Real early. Duh early.
I also knew playing the Witten card then meant passing on many elite running backs and wide receivers. Still, to me, it was worth it to get the best player at the thinnest position capable of putting up numbers that could rival those of the best receivers and backs.
One way I was able to overcome my stars' falling off was by finding 1,000-yard backs in Justin Fargas and Fred Taylor on the waiver wire. I knew there would still be solid running back options available in later rounds; I just had to find them.
And find them I did. Willie Parker, a top-10 back, in Round 4. Earnest Graham in Round 5. LenDale White in Round 6. Old pal Deuce McAllister in Round 13. None will ever be confused with LaDainian Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson, but each is likely to rush for 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns.
I risked being painfully thin at receiver, the deepest position, but still managed to grab a top-10 wideout in Torry Holt in Round 3, and another No. 1 in Chris Chambers in Round 7.
I filled the last two receiver slots with a pair of reaches: Javon Walker, a former Pro Bowler who has something to prove; and Devin Hester, who could become the weapon on offense that he's been on special teams the past two seasons. If Walker and Hester bomb, there's never been a shortage of receiving options available in the history of Fantasy Football, so the risk involved was minimal.
And while the rest of the Cliff Clavins in my league were busy laughing at me, I quietly purchased Witten insurance in the form of second-year stud Zach Miller, who is primed for a monster season even if the Raiders aren't.
Having two top-flight tight ends not only helps me, but best of all, it will force others to rely on the Quinn Sypniewskis and Joe Klopfensteins of the world to see them through.
Then who will be laughing?
My Week 1 lineup -- QB: Tony Romo (at Browns); RB: Willie Parker (vs. Texans) and Earnest Graham (at Saints); WR: Torry Holt (at Eagles) and Chris Chambers (vs. Panthers); TE: Jason Witten (at Browns); K: Nick Folk (at Browns); D/ST: Steelers (vs. Texans).
srosenberg@modbee.com
Every fantasy draft has a maverick who tears up the script everyone is supposed to follow and goes his own way, for better or worse.
Last Saturday, that maverick was me.
My drafting Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo with the ninth overall pick came as no surprise to those who know I'm married to the biggest Tony Romo fan this side of Jessica Simpson. But it was the selection of Cowboys tight end Jason Witten with the fourth pick of the second round, the 16th pick overall, that caused panic in the disco.
"Thanks for the donation" and "God, what an awful choice" were among the more complimentary messages that filtered into our Web site's draft chatroom over the next two hours.
From the moment I hit the "Draft" queue next to Witten's name -- a good round and a half earlier than reason suggested -- I knew I had opened myself up to a world of criticism, but I didn't care.
In the words (and in the inflection) of William Shatner: I ... had a ... plan.
And that plan had nothing to do with the possibility that Jenny would force me to sleep in the shed with the 3-foot high Kiss dolls (excuse me, action figures) and dusty beanbag chairs if I failed to come home with the right number and combination of Cowboys and everything to do with how little I got out of my first two picks -- Shaun Alexander and Chad Johnson -- a year ago.
Despite Alexander and Groucho Cinco both phoning in the worst seasons of their lives, I still managed to finish third (and in the money) out of 13 teams. Heck, I might even have won the whole thing had I simply taken a kicker and a quality No. 4 receiver instead.
Based on that sobering experience, I made up my mind before the Christmas tree was taken down that any chances taken on draft day would be taken early.
After the numbers Witten delivered last season (96 receptions for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns), getting him back was a top priority. But with our league's resident Cowboys fan -- whom Jenny successfully persuaded to steer clear of Romo with a bountiful pre-draft feast of donuts and Starbucks -- certain to cut me off in Round 3, the only way I was getting Witten was by pulling the trigger early. Real early. Duh early.
I also knew playing the Witten card then meant passing on many elite running backs and wide receivers. Still, to me, it was worth it to get the best player at the thinnest position capable of putting up numbers that could rival those of the best receivers and backs.
One way I was able to overcome my stars' falling off was by finding 1,000-yard backs in Justin Fargas and Fred Taylor on the waiver wire. I knew there would still be solid running back options available in later rounds; I just had to find them.
And find them I did. Willie Parker, a top-10 back, in Round 4. Earnest Graham in Round 5. LenDale White in Round 6. Old pal Deuce McAllister in Round 13. None will ever be confused with LaDainian Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson, but each is likely to rush for 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns.
I risked being painfully thin at receiver, the deepest position, but still managed to grab a top-10 wideout in Torry Holt in Round 3, and another No. 1 in Chris Chambers in Round 7.
I filled the last two receiver slots with a pair of reaches: Javon Walker, a former Pro Bowler who has something to prove; and Devin Hester, who could become the weapon on offense that he's been on special teams the past two seasons. If Walker and Hester bomb, there's never been a shortage of receiving options available in the history of Fantasy Football, so the risk involved was minimal.
And while the rest of the Cliff Clavins in my league were busy laughing at me, I quietly purchased Witten insurance in the form of second-year stud Zach Miller, who is primed for a monster season even if the Raiders aren't.
Having two top-flight tight ends not only helps me, but best of all, it will force others to rely on the Quinn Sypniewskis and Joe Klopfensteins of the world to see them through.
Then who will be laughing?
My Week 1 lineup -- QB: Tony Romo (at Browns); RB: Willie Parker (vs. Texans) and Earnest Graham (at Saints); WR: Torry Holt (at Eagles) and Chris Chambers (vs. Panthers); TE: Jason Witten (at Browns); K: Nick Folk (at Browns); D/ST: Steelers (vs. Texans).
posted by The Gryphon at 8:51 AM
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