2012 Fantasy Draft I: Out with the Old, In with the Runningback

If you are one of the six people on Earth that follow my many obsessions, you have probably discerned the following from my twitter account:

1. Supernatural's 8th season is upcoming, and I won't be watching.

2. I'm spending some quality time patrolling the 1940's streets of LA as Cole Phelps.

3. Twelve days til JMU/WVU football kicks off!

4. And almost as important as the above, fantasy football is gearing up again. And this year, the C4G blog will be spending some notable time dissecting, recommending, and altogether reliving the my inevitable conquests of the 2012 fantasy football season.


But before we can talk about how I won all my leagues, we'll have to go over the drafts. My first draft? A ten team standard ESPN league, complete with lots of JMU seniors and grads. And probably some random people I don't know too. Don't talk to strangers kids, leave that to me.


Nota Bene: In keeping with my tradition of naming Fantasy Teams after classic novels that may sound vaguely intimidating, this year I decided to go with William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. So picks under that name are mine. And yes, I got saddled with the annoyingly random first pick this year. Don't remind me how unhappy I am about it.


Round: 1
(1) The Sound And The Fury - Arian Foster RB
(2) Team Pronk - Ray Rice RB
(3) The Honey Badger - LeSean McCoy RB
(4) The Whistling Biscuits - Aaron Rodgers QB
(5) Jabba The Hutt - Tom Brady QB
(6) Da Bomb Squad - Matthew Stafford QB
(7) Rusty Trombones - Drew Brees QB
(8) The Magic Conch - Maurice Jones-Drew RB
(9) The Dark Knight Squeals - Calvin Johnson WR
(10) Team Garrison - Chris Johnson RB


My Pick: I'm not a sucker for "overall first pick" hype machines, nor am I a big fan of superstar runningbacks. But Arian Foster puts up numbers, there's no denying it. I always like to go with Rodgers in the first round because he consistently outscores more or less everyone, but I had some solid sleeper picks at Quarterback later-- so I bit the bullet and took Foster.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Grabbing MJD at 8 is a nice steal. Usually he goes before 6, so a nice pick up by Magic Conch.

Pick I wouldn't be caught dead with at Prom: Stafford. He throws the lights out of the ball, but even then he's probably a high second round pick. DBS picks again at 15, and it's reasonable to assume he'd still be there. Certainly not a "bad" pick, but not one I would do.

Best of the Rest: It's the first round, so there's never much to sneeze at.


Round: 2
(11) Team Garrison - Larry Fitzgerald WR
(12) The Dark Knight Squeals - Andre Johnson WR
(13) The Magic Conch - Rob Gronkowski TE
(14) Rusty Trombones - Matt Forte RB
(15) Da Bomb Squad - Jamaal Charles RB
(16) Jabba The Hutt - Darren McFadden RB
(17) The Whistling Biscuits - Steven Jackson RB
(18) The Honey Badger - Cam Newton QB
(19) Team Pronk - DeMarco Murray RB
(20) The Sound And The Fury - Jimmy Graham TE
My Pick: As I sat in my living room, knowing I wouldn't pick for 18 slots between 1 and 20, the only think I chanted was "DEAR LORD, PLEASE LET THEM ALL PASS ON JIMMY GRAHAM. Jimmy Graham.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Jamaal Charles is coming off ACL surgery, sure, but I think he's gonna have a monster year. I like Charles put up some major numbers this year on and old school ground and pound KC team. Before his injury, Charles averaged 5.8 ypc two consecutive years running. DBS doesn't pick again until 26, and JC is likely off the board. Nice grab.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: There's actually a few teams that went with players here I wouldn't personally agree with, but I think DeMarco Murray might be the worst. I definitely wouldn't take Larry that high as good as he is, and Cam Newton worries me because of his second half 2011 numbers as well as the many runningbacks taking up residence in Carolina. But Murray is injury prone and has done literally nothing to assure me he's worthy of a second round pick.

Best of the Rest: I am a Steven Jackson fan. Particularly with a new head coach that likes to run the ball. 17 might seem high to some people, but I'm fine with that.

Round: 3
** (21) The Sound And The Fury - Adrian Peterson RB
(22) Team Pronk - Julio Jones WR
(23) The Honey Badger - Roddy White WR
(24) The Whistling Biscuits - Mike Wallace WR
(25) Jabba The Hutt - Fred Davis TE
(26) Da Bomb Squad - Wes Welker WR
(27) Rusty Trombones - Marshawn Lynch RB
(28) The Magic Conch - Greg Jennings WR
(29) The Dark Knight Squeals - Hakeem Nicks WR
(30) Team Garrison - Michael Vick QB
My Pick: Alright, so I need a wide receiver? So I need a quarterback? I'll figure all that out later. Receiver is deep as shit anyway. Let's be real- the prospect of a team with Peterson and Foster is pretty deadly.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Roddy White at 23 is a nice grab. Not flashy, nothing special, but it's a nice case of right place right time.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Taking Fred Davis in the third round is like screaming from the top of the Kennedy Center "IM A REDSKINS FAN, SO THIS MAY GO WITHOUT SAYING, BUT I HAVE NO PROBLEM ADMITTING THAT I MAKE BAD DECISIONS."

Best of the Rest: I don't hate the Greg Jennings pick. Conch with a solid outing early. He's putting this league on his back.

Round: 4
(31) Team Garrison - A.J. Green WR
(32) The Dark Knight Squeals - Eli Manning QB
(33) The Magic Conch - Victor Cruz WR
(34) Rusty Trombones - Steve Smith WR
(35) Da Bomb Squad - Brandon Marshall WR
(36) Jabba The Hutt - Marques Colston WR
(37) The Whistling Biscuits - Brandon Lloyd WR
(38) The Honey Badger - Jordy Nelson WR
(39) Team Pronk - Fred Jackson RB
** (40) The Sound And The Fury - Ryan Mathews RB
My Pick: Not exactly in the market for a runningback after I already have Peterson and Foster. But even with a messed up clavacollar bone or whatever is wrong with Matthews this particular week (it'll be different by the time I'm done writing this piece), Matthews is still a steal at 40-- bench or no bench. Do I smell a future trade in the works?

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Not really a reach or anything, but I just really love the Brandon Marshall upside this year. Hats off to DBS for another nice pick. The metrics say Marshall is in for his biggest year since the Mile High throwdowns.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Maybe it's just because there are better guys on the board, but off the top of my head, Fred Jackson at 39 seems high. You've gotta play the Miami and Jets defense both twice, and it's hard to see him duplicating his best weeks of last year... I would just go a different direction. Still, not a bad pick by any stretch. An all around good round by all.

Best of the Rest: Steve Smith and Marquest Colston are both nice grabs.

Round: 5
(41) The Sound And The Fury - BenJarvus Green-Ellis RB
(42) Team Pronk - Tony Romo QB
(43) The Honey Badger - Ahmad Bradshaw RB
(44) The Whistling Biscuits - Frank Gore RB
(45) Jabba The Hutt - Reggie Bush RB
(46) Da Bomb Squad - Trent Richardson RB
(47) Rusty Trombones - Percy Harvin WR
(48) The Magic Conch - Michael Turner RB
(49) The Dark Knight Squeals - Darren Sproles RB
(50) Team Garrison - Willis McGahee RB
My Pick: Seriously? Another runningback?  Yes, I know, even my own mother at this point is starting to wonder why I'm drafting so many guys whose position is "RB." But hear me out?  I do need to start a flex after all. And besides, I might not be higher on any player all season than B J-E, who is starting his very own shiny new law firm down in Cincinattus-land. If anyone needs an attorney, I'm guessing it's the good fans of the Bengals, who have to constantly deal with the assault and battery thrown on them by their kinfolk in Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Since I suppose I can't pick my own (trust me, I'm in love with it), I'm going with Darren Sproles at 49. He's a threat in the running and passing games, he's very difficult to guard, he's targeted alllll the time, and he probably should have been a high fifth round draft anyway.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: I couldn't be more indifferent about Frank Gore this year. Even in the middle of the fifth, I'm still wondering how Harbaugh is gonna get him his wheaties with LaMichael James, Brandon Jacobs, Kendall Hunter, and one or two other backs on the roster to deal with.

Best of the Rest: Again, another fairly solid round. Turner and McGahee were both nice pickups, but not SO much moreso than the others.

Round: 6
(51) Team Garrison - Vernon Davis TE
(52) The Dark Knight Squeals - Roy Helu RB
(53) The Magic Conch - Dez Bryant WR
(54) Rusty Trombones - Stevan Ridley RB
(55) Da Bomb Squad - Antonio Brown WR
(56) Jabba The Hutt - Pierre Garcon WR
(57) The Whistling Biscuits - Demaryius Thomas WR
(58) The Honey Badger - Jacob Tamme TE
(59) Team Pronk - Vincent Jackson WR
(60) The Sound And The Fury - Steve Johnson WR
 My Pick: Finally! A Receiver! OMG! Call the Mayans, cancel the apocolypse!

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Antonio Brown. DBS once again takes the best pick of the round here, as I had eyeing Brown since that BJE pick. This is the first time in the draft I didn't get someone I really wanted.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Jacob Tamme. Honey Badger knows what he wants, and evidently he wants some Jacob Tamme. In all honesty, I really like Tamme too... but I would never take him in the sixth round. I was hoping I could grab him a little early, maybe in the ninth or tenth rounds, still well before his ADS is in standard leagues (hovering between 126 and 132).

Best of the Rest: V-Jax as 59 ain't too shabby. Nice pickup by the Biscuits too, Thomas is bound for glory this year.

Round: 7
(61) The Sound And The Fury - Eric Decker WR
(62) Team Pronk - Robert Griffin III QB
(63) The Honey Badger - Matt Ryan QB
(64) The Whistling Biscuits - Shonn Greene RB
(65) Jabba The Hutt - Miles Austin WR
(66) Da Bomb Squad - Dwayne Bowe WR
(67) Rusty Trombones - Peyton Manning QB
(68) The Magic Conch - Philip Rivers QB
(69) The Dark Knight Squeals - Antonio Gates TE
(70) Team Garrison - Joe Flacco QB
 My Pick: Tamme? Thomas? Clearly at this point, I just wanted to get in on that someone-that-Peyton Manning-was-going-to-throw-to action.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With:  Antonio Gates, 69. Good value at the end of the 7th, but forget that aspect of it. With Vincent Jackson no longer in San Diego, Tolbert living that fresh east coast lifestyle for the foreseeable future, and Ryan Matthews perenially injured, trigger-man Phil Rivs is gonna need a target he can trust, right? Gates has always been that guy, so let's not worry about developing new relationships. Remember kids, don't talk to strangers. That's called a motif.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Joe Flacco at 70 seems really high to me. Other guys are much safer picks at qb right now. Ryan Fitzpatrick will have better numbers and- as you'll find out- wasn't even drafted.

Best of the Rest: Can we get some love up in here for Peyton Manning and RG3? I am a believer. I'm buying into the Washington hype. I may regret this decision at a future date.

Round: 8
(71) Team Garrison - Ravens D/ST D/ST
(72) The Dark Knight Squeals - Jonathan Stewart RB
(73) The Magic Conch - Jeremy Maclin WR
(74) Rusty Trombones - Jermichael Finley TE
(75) Da Bomb Squad - Aaron Hernandez TE
(76) Jabba The Hutt - Redskins D/ST D/ST
(77) The Whistling Biscuits - DeSean Jackson WR
(78) The Honey Badger - 49ers D/ST D/ST
(79) Team Pronk - Robert Meachem WR
(80) The Sound And The Fury - Bears D/ST D/ST

My Pick: Look, I am a huge advocate of not drafting defenses before the 15th round. The numbers don't like, it's a statistically insignificant change between a top five defense and a middle of the road defense. But because ALL the rest of my picks can be gotten after the eighth round (in some cases, well after), I wanted the 49'ers defense here. With that off the board just before I picked, I went with that fresh Chi-Town squeeze.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: 49'ers Defense. Don't wanna rehash, but they're gonna put up some serious wattage this year, methinks.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Redskins defense in the eighth round means some one should stab themselves in the brain with an icepick.

Best of the Rest: Lots of solid wide receiver picks in this round. I liked them all.

Round: 9
(81) The Sound And The Fury - Ben Roethlisberger QB
(82) Team Pronk - Brandon Pettigrew TE
(83) The Honey Badger - DeAngelo Williams RB
(84) The Whistling Biscuits - Doug Martin RB
(85) Jabba The Hutt - David Akers K
(86) Da Bomb Squad - Isaac Redman RB
(87) Rusty Trombones - Beanie Wells RB
(88) The Magic Conch - Ben Tate RB
(89) The Dark Knight Squeals - Jason Witten TE
(90) Team Garrison - Reggie Wayne WR
 My Pick: Once you're outside of the top 7 or 8 quarterbacks, you're dealing with the likes of Matt Ryan and his other 32853 statistical equivalents. I froth at the mouth knowing I have the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback on my fantasy team, but I had to do something here.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: I'm really high on Doug Martin this season, purely based on how Greg Schiano has talked about him to the media. You'd think Martin was Schiano's preschool kid who won the spelling bee, the way that guy talks about him.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: David Akers... nothing else needs to be said. #kickerintheninthround

Best of the Rest: Williams and Wayne in the 9th round are both pretty good value. Not a big fan of Charlotte timeshares, but even they can be a good value occassionally.

Round: 10
(91) Team Garrison - Anquan Boldin WR
(92) The Dark Knight Squeals - Jahvid Best RB
(93) The Magic Conch - Michael Bush RB
(94) Rusty Trombones - Nate Washington WR
(95) Da Bomb Squad - Matt Schaub QB
(96) Jabba The Hutt - Mark Ingram RB
(97) The Whistling Biscuits - Jay Cutler QB
(98) The Honey Badger - Peyton Hillis RB
(99) Team Pronk - Torrey Smith WR
(100) The Sound And The Fury - Carson Palmer QB
My Pick: Why take back to back quarterbacks in the 9th and 10th rounds, you ask? Because I have a mancrush on Carsan Palmer, and didn't want him stolen like quite a few other picks that had gotten away in the last few rounds. Palmer might not be a sexy name in the fantasy world, but some of the metrics really indicate that "Oakland QB" might actually put up some amazing numbers.

Well, you know, amazing for the double-digit rounds.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: I really like Michael Bush. Matt Forte is a huge producer in the backfield in Chicago, but most of his points come from yardage and big plays- NOT red zone touchdowns. So Bush has good low end flex value here.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Jahvid Best is about as sturdy as a glass house, hasn't had a nice line since week 2 of my sophmore year of college, hasn't played in any game at all since week 6 of 2011 when a 49'ers player literally knocked his career into the next year, and was just placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

Best of the Rest: Peyton Hillis will have a nice bounceback year, putting up stats similar to what Thomas Jones did in KC two years ago.

Round: 11
(101) The Sound And The Fury - Denarius Moore WR
(102) Team Pronk - Donald Brown RB
(103) The Honey Badger - Greg Olsen TE
(104) The Whistling Biscuits - Jermaine Gresham TE
(105) Jabba The Hutt - Sam Bradford QB
(106) Da Bomb Squad - C.J. Spiller RB
(107) Rusty Trombones - Felix Jones RB
(108) The Magic Conch - Malcom Floyd WR
(109) The Dark Knight Squeals - Santonio Holmes WR
(110) Team Garrison - Pierre Thomas RB
My Pick: Nothing more than loading up on depth at receiver at this point. Moore is a solid receiver with major potential.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Donald Brown. I actually have Brown on my short list of players I want, and was ready to draft him in this round. But because I already have so many other talented runningbacks, I opted for a receiver instead.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Jermaine Gresham. I just don't have any faith in the guy at all. Not a big fan of Pierre Thomas either, the saints are likely to play a lot of catchup without a functional head coach in place, and he's already splitting time with Ingram. Felix Jones  is like crack- very enticing, but lots of nasty side effects and just altogether not good for you(r team).

Best of the Rest: Spiller has a nice upside, and Olsen could always put up nice numbers. Probably won't happen, but we're all just taking fliers by now anyway.

Round: 12
(111) Team Garrison - Eagles D/ST D/ST
(112) The Dark Knight Squeals - Lance Moore WR
(113) The Magic Conch - Toby Gerhart RB
(114) Rusty Trombones - Texans D/ST D/ST
(115) Da Bomb Squad - Justin Blackmon WR
(116) Jabba The Hutt - LeGarrette Blount RB
(117) The Whistling Biscuits - Seahawks D/ST D/ST
(118) The Honey Badger - Steelers D/ST D/ST
(119) Team Pronk - Titus Young WR
(120) The Sound And The Fury - Matt Prater K
My Pick: Again, I loathe taking kickers before the 16th round. But when I am damn near sure I can get all my guys later anyway, might as well make sure I get myself a good one. Since Prater was the real reason behind the Tebow winning phenomenon last season, I decided to cut me a piece of that pie.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Look, I know I drafted Peterson, okay? But Gerhart is a smart pickup. The dude has got the moves to be a flex guy with no other factors included, so when you factor in the extra rest time All Day is looking to get, or God forbid he reinjures himself, Gerhart becomes a top 15 back... from the 12th round.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Seahawks defense. Meh. I'd rather have Titus Young.

Best of the Rest: Titus Young is slipping under the radar in a pass happy offense- I mean, Megatron will get his, but someone else has to catch balls too, right? I think Young makes a serious push for second on the depth charts.

Round: 13
(121) The Sound And The Fury - Jared Cook TE
(122) Team Pronk - Jon Baldwin WR
(123) The Honey Badger - James Starks RB
(124) The Whistling Biscuits - Sebastian Janikowski K
(125) Jabba The Hutt - Lions D/ST D/ST
(126) Da Bomb Squad - Darrius Heyward-Bey WR
(127) Rusty Trombones - David Wilson RB
(128) The Magic Conch - Michael Crabtree WR
(129) The Dark Knight Squeals - Kenny Britt WR
(130) Team Garrison - Tony Gonzalez TE
My Pick: Maybe it's my Titans bias showing through, but I think Jared Cook is the most undervalued tight end in fantasy football right now.

Yes, it's probably the bias.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Hey-Bey! DBS clearly showing he's got the best team in the league not owned by someone named Chase.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: James Starks. Just... no. I'd take Wilson over him, and I NEVER PICK ANYTHING TECH-RELATED.

Best of the Rest: Wilson and Crabtree are both nice picks. Gonzalez too. I do hesitate on Crabtree though, when the guy throwing to him has only slightly better quarterback prowess than I do.

Round: 14
(131) Team Garrison - Andrew Luck QB
(132) The Dark Knight Squeals - Shane Vereen RB
(133) The Magic Conch - Cedric Benson RB
(134) Rusty Trombones - Randy Moss WR
(135) Da Bomb Squad - Daniel Thomas RB
(136) Jabba The Hutt - Brent Celek TE
(137) The Whistling Biscuits - Josh Freeman QB
(138) The Honey Badger - Michael Floyd WR
(139) Team Pronk - Stephen Gostkowski K
(140) The Sound And The Fury - Randall Cobb WR
My Pick: Minnesota might have Percy Harvin. But in a few years, the poster boy for NFC North do-it-all receivers will be Randall Cobb.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: I don't know why, but I really like the success odds Cedric Benson has in Green Bay. I think he ends up a solid #2 guy.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Randy Moss is not a target. Randy Moss is a decoy.

Plus, to catch a 40 yard pass in the end zone... you have to have a guy capable of throwing a 40 yard touchdown pass. (Clearly I am not a big Alex Smith fan.)

Best of the Rest: I like the Andrew Luck pick- plenty of weapons at his disposal- and Celek is a nice grab too. He's still got it in him, if Andy Reid wants to use him.

Round: 15
(141) The Sound And The Fury - Rueben Randle WR
(142) Team Pronk - Kevin Smith RB
(143) The Honey Badger - Nate Kaeding K
(144) The Whistling Biscuits - Bills D/ST D/ST
(145) Jabba The Hutt - Mario Manningham WR
(146) Da Bomb Squad - Mason Crosby K
(147) Rusty Trombones - Sidney Rice WR
(148) The Magic Conch - Jets D/ST D/ST
(149) The Dark Knight Squeals - Falcons D/ST D/ST
(150) Team Garrison - Alshon Jeffery WR
My Pick: I fully admit that I messed up here. My original intent was to grab Ryan Fitzpatrick to solidify my shitty quarterback stock, knowing that between Fitzpatrick, Palmer, and Ben, I'd have someone to go to every week that would at least have a good matchup. But like so many of these douchey little JMU decommits, I was blinded by the Victor Cruz effect. Unlike said decommits, however, I have no intention of playing football for UMass and getting the shit beat out of me by superior 1A teams every Saturday this fall. Instead, I just took some no-name kid fresh out of the draft, and resigned myself to go to church next weekend. Forgive me Father.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Kevin Smith. Hey, someone has to run the ball on that team, right?

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Sidney Rice. If your manager says hey, you're my number one guy, but I'm totally gonna bring in a washed up 39 year old who used to do your job, but now is an actor for a terrible USA show just in case you suck... I tend to lose faith in you.

Best of the Rest: Jets D/ST. Totally being overlooked by drafters. Vintage works.

Round: 16
(151) Team Garrison - Garrett Hartley K
(152) The Dark Knight Squeals - Dan Bailey K
(153) The Magic Conch - Alex Henery K
(154) Rusty Trombones - Rob Bironas K
(155) Da Bomb Squad - Packers D/ST D/ST
(156) Jabba The Hutt - Santana Moss WR
(157) The Whistling Biscuits - Ronnie Brown RB
(158) The Honey Badger - Doug Baldwin WR
(159) Team Pronk - Patriots D/ST D/ST
(160) The Sound And The Fury - Brian Quick WR

My Pick: I already had Prater, so I could hold out here and grab another receiver. Quick is certainly a longshot, and it hurts my heart a little bit to draft some from Crapp State, but I have big expectations of this dude in a Jeff Fisher led team.

Pick I'd Most Like to Sit on Dave's Rooftop With: Ronnie Brown. Hey, it's good for the 16th round. People are sleeping by now.

Pick I wouldn't be Caught Dead with at Prom: Packers and Patriots D/ST. I know defense wins championships and those guys have a few... but I think in this particular case, those two facts might be mutually exclusive. I don't want their defenses on my team.

Best of the Rest: Bailey, Bironas, Henery... all solid kicker choices.



So whose draft went the best?  Feel free to shoutout feedback...

as long as you agree that mine did, of course.