Sports Page

James Starks of Winterfell.

Last year I fielded fantasy questions on game days and if you took my advice, for the most part, it helped. This year I’ll answer questions again and this time I’ll answer multiple questions at a time instead of individually, for the readers sake. I’ll probably post ever 15 minutes for two hours prior to kick off. I’m not sure, maybe every 30 min, we will see how it goes. I’ll also be writing fantasy articles too. You can ask question here. I’ll posted them based on how many I get.

This is a example draft for you. If you haven’t drafted yet, this should help you. I’ve done one mock this year, and two real drafts so far. I still have more to go this weekend. The reason I chose this draft to show is for multiple reasons. 1) it’s the only 10 team league (most popular size) I’m in and no one in this league reads this site (probably. But 1 or 2 might). 

This league is a PPR keeper league. Overall I think that strategies are stupid in drafting because it can all get thrown off by 1 pick. However, it is important to know which positions are deep and which are shallow and use that information to your advantage. So here’s the draft. I’m drafting as Starks of Winterfell.

Round: 1

(1) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Aaron Rodgers QB

(2) guck you fumby - Arian Foster RB

(3) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Tom Brady QB

(4) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Ray Rice RB

(5) Vick’s Doghouse - Drew Brees QB

** (6) James Starks of Winterfell - LeSean McCoy RB

(7) On the Strahan Narrow - Calvin Johnson WR

(8) Purple Helmet Warriors - Maurice Jones-Drew RB

(9) Team Lanphear - Rob Gronkowski TE

(10) Factory of Sadness - Matthew Stafford QB

Coming into the draft, I thought that if one of the top 3 QBs dropped here I’d take one. If not, Calvin Johnson was on my radar. I in no way expected Shady McCoy to drop to me at 6. I couldn’t pass up that value.

After the draft I got a text from the person who got MJD asking if I think that pick will pan out. I politely said “Sure” but honestly, I wouldn’t draft him until the end of the 2nd.

Round: 2

(11) Factory of Sadness - Chris Johnson RB

(12) Team Lanphear - Matt Forte RB

(13) Purple Helmet Warriors - Cam Newton QB

(14) On the Strahan Narrow - Hakeem Nicks WR

** (15) James Starks of Winterfell - Adrian Peterson RB

(16) Vick’s Doghouse - Wes Welker WR

(17) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Roddy White WR

(18) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Andre Johnson WR

(19) guck you fumby - Larry Fitzgerald WR

(20) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Greg Jennings WR

The top 5 QB are off the board. The next tier is pretty even for a while and I can wait a few rounds. I don’t want Eli. 6 RBS are already off the board and all the drafts I’ve done so far I’ve noticed that the RBs drop off fast. AP is a stretch here, but I”m thinking big picture. I’m confident that I’ll make the playoffs, so if AP starts slow, that’s fine, I want him to be a beast by playoffs time. I like CJ2K in this round and Matt Forte is a great pick.

I think that’s a very high pick in Cam Newton. The girl picking between the Cam Newton pick and myself let out a loud expletive and I tried to explain that he did her a favor if she planned on picking him this high. However Nicks that high is pretty risky too. He’s no way the #2 WR.

Round: 3

(21) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Jimmy Graham TE

(22) guck you fumby - DeMarco Murray RB

(23) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Mike Wallace WR

(24) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Darren McFadden RB

(25) Vick’s Doghouse - Jamaal Charles RB

** (26) James Starks of Winterfell - A.J. Green WR

(27) On the Strahan Narrow - Aaron Hernandez TE

(28) Purple Helmet Warriors - Victor Cruz WR

(29) Team Lanphear - Brandon Lloyd WR

(30) Factory of Sadness - Jeremy Maclin WR

I went with high upside at my WR here. He was the highest WR left and I like him better than Wallace, Fitz, Nicks, and Jennings who all went higher. I live the Jimmy Graham pick here. In a PPR league I expect him to do better than Gronk. I think this was very high to go on Cruz, Maclin, and maybe Lloyd. The Hernandez pick is interesting. She really wanted him. I like him a lot in a PPR (better than Gronk) this year but he was ranked much lower, she could have gotten him with the 34th pick. If Charles was available I would have gone with him, but my RBs would have lots of questions.

Round: 4

(31) Factory of Sadness - Trent Richardson RB

(32) Team Lanphear - Dez Bryant WR

(33) Purple Helmet Warriors - Darren Sproles RB

(34) On the Strahan Narrow - Ahmad Bradshaw RB

** (35) James Starks of Winterfell - Steven Jackson RB

(36) Vick’s Doghouse - Fred Jackson RB

(37) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Jordy Nelson WR

(38) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Marshawn Lynch RB

(39) guck you fumby - Eli Manning QB

(40) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Frank Gore RB

The guy with the rap around took Richardson here. He’s a brown fan and made it known all along that he’d reach on Trent. But this could be an alright pick. He’s not picking for a long time, Richardson would be around next time he picks.

With my pick, I think I got the best value in this round. I hate drafting time share RBs and Sproles and Bradshaw are both in that. However, they should both make receptions, especially Sproles. However, SJax is a stud. He will get the majority of touches on his team. He’s an every down back who also gets catches. Last season he only had 1 TD, expect him to get much more than that. I’m taking a risk getting a 3rd RB so early, but he will be my flex and I’ll have the best RBs in the league by far.

Round: 5

(41) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Antonio Brown WR

(42) guck you fumby - Ryan Mathews RB

(43) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Michael Turner RB

(44) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Matt Ryan QB

(45) Vick’s Doghouse - Brandon Marshall WR

** (46) James Starks of Winterfell - Michael Vick QB

(47) On the Strahan Narrow - Reggie Bush RB

(48) Purple Helmet Warriors - Marques Colston WR

(49) Team Lanphear - Tony Romo QB

(50) Factory of Sadness - Antonio Gates TE

Good value on Mathews here and I would have considered Marshall if he were still there. I’m going boom or bust with Vick. If he stays healthy I’ll get a great QB who can put up MVP fantasy numbers but how often does he stay healthy? I’d better get a decent backup. He’s the 8th QB taken. I could have waited and tried to get Rivers here but I had him last year, and he pissed me off. That’s just bias. I do think he’ll have a decent bounce back year. QB was the place to go here. I’m set at RB and I didn’t want Colston or Bowe. WR is deep. I could get a TE, but I can wait a while and still get a decent one.

Round: 6

(51) Factory of Sadness - Dwayne Bowe WR

(52) Team Lanphear - Willis McGahee RB

(53) Purple Helmet Warriors - Vernon Davis TE

(54) On the Strahan Narrow - Philip Rivers QB

** (55) James Starks of Winterfell - Julio Jones WR

(56) Vick’s Doghouse - Percy Harvin WR

(57) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Steve Smith WR

(58) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Jermichael Finley TE

(59) guck you fumby - Peyton Manning QB

(60) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Robert Meachem WR

Another high upside WR here. If either of my top 2 WRs reach their potential this season I’ll have a top 5 WR and could get 2 top-10. I don’t like McGahee at all, in fact, there aren’t a lot of picks I like in this round. Finley is alright and Manning could be interesting, but I don’t know if I’d want to rely on him, someone else can. I do like the TEs in this round but their more yards guys than PPR guys. Neither had 70 rec last year when Witten and Pettigrew are still on the board. 

I like Harvin a lot this year, I do think that it was a stretch here, but the fact that we get return yards too helps he like this pick. He gets a ton of touches.

Round: 7

(61) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Isaac Redman RB

(62) guck you fumby - DeSean Jackson WR

(63) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Miles Austin WR

(64) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Brandon Pettigrew TE

(65) Vick’s Doghouse - Eric Decker WR

** (66) James Starks of Winterfell - Vincent Jackson WR

(67) On the Strahan Narrow - Roy Helu RB

(68) Purple Helmet Warriors - Stevan Ridley RB

(69) Team Lanphear - Steve Johnson WR

(70) Factory of Sadness - Peyton Hillis RB

No way I’d want Redman here. Or at all. I was looking at Miles Austin in this round, with him off the board I went with another high upside pick in Vincent Jackson. He’s the top red-zone target on his team. He’s never had 70 rec or 10 TDs but he’s been close and I expect this to be a career year. In the past he was battling with Gates, LT, and Mathews for targets, not anymore. I’d much rather him than Stevie Johnson. He’s my #3 WR, so I don’t have to rely on him, if he was my #2 I’d be worried.

Round: 8

(71) Factory of Sadness - Demaryius Thomas WR

(72) Team Lanphear - Jonathan Stewart RB

(73) Purple Helmet Warriors - Shonn Greene RB

(74) On the Strahan Narrow - Pierre Garcon WR

** (75) James Starks of Winterfell - Robert Griffin III QB

(76) Vick’s Doghouse - Doug Martin RB

(77) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - BenJarvus Green-Ellis RB

(78) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Ben Tate RB

(79) guck you fumby - 49ers D/ST D/ST

(80) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - DeAngelo Williams RB

This round is overall weak. Thomas is a good pick, and I like J-Stew and Garcon I’ve never liked, but this year he’s the top guy should get a lot of rec. Doug Matin was probably the best value in this round, he’s in a battle but I’d rather him than Shonn Greene. This is most likely the biggest reach I made in this draft with RGIII. This is Vick insurance. If Vick gets hurt RGIII could emerge as a great fantasy QB. I expect a lot of rushing yards. If I don’t take him now I could get him at 86, but that would be my last chance.  Schaub is still on the board, but I’d rather roll with the youth and possibly keep him in the future. 49ers D going pretty damn early. In the ride home from the draft one team was complaining that she didn’t get the 49ers, but it was a blessing in my eyes. Who’s taking D this early?

Round: 9

(81) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Ravens D/ST D/ST

(82) guck you fumby - Michael Crabtree WR

(83) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Matt Schaub QB

(84) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Bears D/ST D/ST

(85) Vick’s Doghouse - Tony Gonzalez TE

** (86) James Starks of Winterfell - Jason Witten TE

(87) On the Strahan Narrow - Jay Cutler QB

(88) Purple Helmet Warriors - Torrey Smith WR

(89) Team Lanphear - Stephen Gostkowski K

(90) Factory of Sadness - Anquan Boldin WR

Oh, everyone, that’s who? Why are all these Ds going? The difference between the top D and the 10th are minimal and it’s unpredictable. The top rated D pre-season never finishes 1st in fantasy at the end of the year.

I had to finally fill my TE need. Witten is an absolute steal here. I feel like he only dropped because of the spleen. In fact someone even made a joke about it as I took him. Jokes on them. Even if he misses week one, I’ll have him for the playoffs. Witten hasn’t had under 79 catches since 2006 and 3 of the past 5 years he’s had at least 94. Last year Graham had 99 catches and Gronk had 90 and I got Witten over 70 picks later. I was worried that the team ahead of me would take him but he took Gonzalez instead.

Also, first kicker off the board. Gostkowski is my favorite kicker this year, but I can wait for a kicker, thanks.

Round: 10

(91) Factory of Sadness - Santonio Holmes WR

(92) Team Lanphear - Russell Wilson QB

(93) Purple Helmet Warriors - Steelers D/ST D/ST

(94) On the Strahan Narrow - C.J. Spiller RB

** (95) James Starks of Winterfell - Beanie Wells RB

(96) Vick’s Doghouse - Lance Moore WR

(97) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Andrew Luck QB

(98) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Reggie Wayne WR

(99) guck you fumby - Fred Davis TE

(100) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Cedric Benson RB

I was looking at Spiller here and he was taken a pick ahead of me. I have 3 RBs but could use another in case one gets hurt of AP has a set back. I expect to start one at the FLEX every week. Spiller and Wells are both questions. There weren’t a lot of RBs around here, Benson, no, Michael Bush, no. So I went with Wells. I’m not relying on him so if he loses his starting job I can dump him but unlike Spiller or Bush, Wells at least is starting for now.

Round: 11

(101) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Nate Washington WR

(102) guck you fumby - Mason Crosby K

(103) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Texans D/ST D/ST

(104) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Malcom Floyd WR

(105) Vick’s Doghouse - Kevin Smith RB

** (106) James Starks of Winterfell - Kenny Britt WR

(107) On the Strahan Narrow - Mario Manningham WR

(108) Purple Helmet Warriors - Ben Roethlisberger QB

(109) Team Lanphear - Lions D/ST D/ST

(110) Factory of Sadness - Michael Bush RB

Britt, at the time, had no suspension and I can deal with 1 game. He’s coming back from injury anyway. This is huge upside. He’s my #4 WR, so what’s the harm? I could have gone Manningham, which is a safe pick, but Britt can be a top-20 WR if things go his way. He’s probably the best value in this round.

Round: 12

(111) Factory of Sadness - Matt Cassel QB

(112) Team Lanphear - Mark Ingram RB

(113) Purple Helmet Warriors - David Akers K

(114) On the Strahan Narrow - David Wilson RB

** (115) James Starks of Winterfell - Justin Blackmon WR

(116) Vick’s Doghouse - Eagles D/ST D/ST

(117) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Jared Cook TE

(118) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Sebastian Janikowski K

(119) guck you fumby - Denarius Moore WR

(120) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Alex Smith QB

David Wilson is a pick I love here. Truth is, I told her to take Wilson here. She’s a Giants fan and didn’t really know who he is. I think that pick will pay off for her. By the time Reggie Bush gets hurt or gets his role diminished, Wilson will be in a decent role.

I love Blackmon here. So far I’ve gotten him late in every draft. I’m always great at targeting rookies, I had CJ2k his rookie year, I had AP his rookie year, Cam Newton, ect… I think Blackmon could be the best rookie this season (If not him, it’s RGIII). I really like how my WRs have played out with A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Vincent Jackson, Kenny Britt, and Justin Blackmon. So I should be fine at WR. I went youth all the way, potential keepers. I don’t think I’ll draft any more WRs.

Round: 13

(121) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Rashad Jennings RB

(122) guck you fumby - LeGarrette Blount RB

(123) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Dustin Keller TE

(124) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Greg Olsen TE

(125) Vick’s Doghouse - Danny Amendola WR

** (126) James Starks of Winterfell - Owen Daniels TE

(127) On the Strahan Narrow - Giants D/ST D/ST

(128) Purple Helmet Warriors - Darrius Heyward-Bey WR

(129) Team Lanphear - Sidney Rice WR

(130) Factory of Sadness - Broncos D/ST D/ST

Jennings is a great pick here. It’s totally MJD dependent but it’s worth the risk. I don’t think MJD will play week 1 and if he does it will be minimal. Greg Olsen is going to have a great season. I would have considered him here but I think it’s a round or two early. With Shockey gone, a lot of thouse touches will go toward Olsen. Amendola is a good gamble here as well. Owen Daniels is my backup TE and Witten insurance. He’s had a couple 60 yard and a couple 5 TD seasons. He’s not spectacular but he’s safe with my starter being a gamble. My TEs this season are Witten and Olsen.

Round: 14

(131) Factory of Sadness - Brent Celek TE

(132) Team Lanphear - Kellen Winslow TE

(133) Purple Helmet Warriors - Donald Brown RB

(134) On the Strahan Narrow - Rob Bironas K

** (135) James Starks of Winterfell - Daniel Thomas RB

(136) Vick’s Doghouse - Carson Palmer QB

(137) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Pierre Thomas RB

(138) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Randy Moss WR

(139) guck you fumby - Jacob Tamme TE

(140) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Jon Baldwin WR

I don’t love this round too much. Donald Brown is a good pick, he should get the majority of carries in that offense and he will be an important piece. Daniel Thomas is my 4th RB. I wrote earlier that Bush will lose touches and I believe that. Thomas is a post-hype sleeper. Last year everyone loved him and this year no one does. I still haven’t seen Bush get too many yards between the tackles. No matter what happens in Miami this year, there will be a touches for Thomas. My RBs this season are McCoy, AP, SJax, Wells, and Thomas. I have the best top 3 and hopefully my 4th will shake out between Wells and Thomas.

Carson Palmer will be a good backup to Drew Brees. I have heard Terrelle Pryor whispers lately, but I choose not to listen.

Can I just say that I hate Jacob Tamme in fantasy? Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

Round: 15

(141) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Jermaine Gresham TE

(142) guck you fumby - Brandon Jacobs RB

(143) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Falcons D/ST D/ST

(144) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Nate Kaeding K

(145) Vick’s Doghouse - Ryan Williams RB

** (146) James Starks of Winterfell - Josh Freeman QB

(147) On the Strahan Narrow - Ed Dickson TE

(148) Purple Helmet Warriors - Seahawks D/ST D/ST

(149) Team Lanphear - Shane Vereen RB

(150) Factory of Sadness - Phil Dawson K

Gresham is a good pick here. I like Ryan Williams a lot. He could be a starter sooner than later. Kaeding, I like him but he could have gotten him last round. Josh Freeman is my super insurance. He COULD be a top-10 QB. I have both Vick and RGII, if they both stay healthy I have no need for 3, but he’s worth the risk. Since I let my starting QB drop I have plenty of depth in RB and WR, so this extra roster spot is giving me QB depth as well. With  QBs Vick, RGIII, and Freeman, Rush Limbaugh hates my team.

Round: 16

(151) Factory of Sadness - Laurent Robinson WR

(152) Team Lanphear - Mike Williams WR

(153) Purple Helmet Warriors - Toby Gerhart RB

(154) On the Strahan Narrow - Titus Young WR

** (155) James Starks of Winterfell - Dan Bailey K

(156) Vick’s Doghouse - Kendall Wright WR

(157) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Mohamed Sanu WR

(158) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - James Starks RB

(159) guck you fumby - Packers D/ST D/ST

(160) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Garrett Hartley K

Kicker! I had Dan Bailey last season and it worked out for me. So sure, why not? Toby Gerhart was a good gamble here but he could have gotten David Wilson instead of David Akers in round 12 and Akers or an equal kicker would be here. I LOVE Titus Young here.

Round: 17

(161) Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood - Nate Burleson WR

(162) guck you fumby - Matt Prater K

(163) Brady Quinn Medicine Woman - Robbie Gould K

(164) Rock Out With Your Gronk Out - Golden Tate WR

(165) Vick’s Doghouse - Jason Hanson K

** (166) James Starks of Winterfell - Jets D/ST D/ST

(167) On the Strahan Narrow - Ryan Fitzpatrick QB

(168) Purple Helmet Warriors - Martellus Bennett TE

(169) Team Lanphear - Felix Jones RB

(170) Factory of Sadness - Joe Flacco QB

I’ll take the Jets D to the bank, thanks! I waited until the last round and I still got what I consider one of the better Ds. Mr. Irrelevant, Joe Flacco. I bet he stays on that roster all season, pretty good pick.

My final roster is

Mike Vick, Phi QB

LeSean McCoy, Phi RB

Adrian Peterson, Min RB

A.J. Green, Cin WR

Julio Jones, Atl WR

Jason Witten, Dal TE  Q

Steven Jackson, StL RB (FLEX)

Jets D/ST

Dan Bailey, Dal K

BENCH

Vincent Jackson, TB WR

Robert Griffin III, Wsh QB

Beanie Wells, Ari RB  P

Kenny Britt, Ten WR  SSPD

Justin Blackmon, Jac WR

Owen Daniels, Hou TE

Daniel Thomas, Mia RB

Josh Freeman, TB QB

I like this roster a lot. I do like my 12-team team better. Normally I’ll go for a QB early and have that position taken care of. I always try to get a top-3. That wasn’t going to happen in this draft. I’ve learned through multiple drafts that RB is shallow this year. So I went RB heavy early. Contrary to that, WRs are very very deep, so I waited for the most part. I’m a playoff team, no doubt. I feel that my championship chances depend on two things. 1) Mike Vick’s healthy and 2) RGIII. If he can become a top-10 QB, I’ll be fine wether Vick is healthy or not.

Use this draft as a learning tool. I’d also recommend doing a mock draft. Some people like to learn by making their own mistakes. If I was to give one piece of advice this year it would be wait on WRs. I also think that if you don’t get Gronk, Graham, or Hernandez, wait on TEs. There are decent ones in the middle of the draft.