A new chapter of dominance about to begin

[Style]

After 4 straight years with my team in the title game (winning two of them), we've decided to change the league. We're switching to a dynasty format, but there's a catch. Rather than just diving in with the teams we currently have, we're having a transition year so that owners can build their team this year with a dynasty in mind going forward. So the dynasty won't start till next year. Still, even this year we're doing something different. In the past we've kept 4 players at any position. This year we're keeping 6 players, but just one player per position.

With that in mind, here are my keepers, with their rank at said position, pulled from a recently updated fantasy site:

#1 RB LaDainian Tomlinson
#1 WR Steve Smith
#6 QB Donovan McNabb
#6 TE Kellen Winslow
#6 DEF Eagles
#2 K Nate Kaeding

For reference, it's a 10 team league. I'm pretty pleased with this group, but I'm going to be working the phones up to the draft trying to improve them, or at least get better draft picks. I have some pretty tradable assets. Some of my other players that other teams might have interest in keeping (once I trade them to them), along with their position rank:

#5 RB Shaun Alexander
#5 WR Terrell Owens
#6 WR Reggie Wayne
#12 WR Andre Johnson
#12 QB Jake Delhomme
#12 TE LJ Smith
#11 DEF Steelers

I'm really hoping to improve my Defensive keeper and/or snag a high draft pick with Alexander. Considering that he will be a top 3 pick in the draft otherwise, possibly the #1 overall, I ought to be able to trade him for a low first round draft pick at least. The other guys, since I'm losing them for nothing if I don't trade them, really any draft picks I get back is better than nothing!

I'm picking 9th in the draft. In addition to all of my own picks, I have the fifth pick of rounds 2 and 3 (from trading Steven Jackson last year for Steve Smith and the picks). If I can adds some more picks, I should be set up nicely for a draft heading into a Dynasty league.

 

[Style]

I just traded my 3rd round pick this year and 3rd round pick next year for Baltimore's defense and a 7th round pick this year. Keep in mind that we're going to a dynasty format next year, so that 3rd pick is worth little. Also, Defenses score more points than any other position in my league, so this is huge. For example, the top three scorers in my league were LT, Bal, and Chi, in that order. Now I have the top two scorers from last year! I've seen more than one site project Bal as the top defense again for this year.

 

[Smooth]

I don't know about keeping McNabb... I mean sure he's a really good QB in all, but the guy hasn't played 16 games in the last 3 seasons and he's going to be missing Donte Stallworth this year...

The offense is still going to be solid, but I don't know if he should be a keeper...

 

[Style]

It's either McNabb, favre, or delhomme. Who would you keep?

 

[Style]

I picked up the #4 overall pick in the draft:

Sent
Shawn Alexander
8th round pick (#79)
18th round pick (#179)

Received
1st round pick (#4)


Again, if I didn't trade Alexander I lost him for nothing, so getting the #4 overall for him was a pretty nice return. I now have four picks in the first two rounds: 4, 9, 15, 19. Add that to my already stout keepers, and I should be set.

 

[Style]

I now have four picks in the first two rounds: 4, 9, 15, 19. Add that to my already stout keepers, and I should be set.

Just realized I don't have my third round pick (29), but I do have another guys third rounder who picks ahead of me (25). So I have 5 picks in the top 25, in a 10 team league. That is not too shabby.

 

[Smooth]

So how's your team looking after your draft? (assuming you had one)

 

[_amon _ones]

We haven't had our draft, yet. It's the 28th.

 

[Style]

I made a trade just a few hours prior to the draft tonight:

I sent:
7th round pick (#68)
9th round pick (#89)

I received:
5th round pick (#45)

I had a one more draft picks than I had roster spots, so I didn’t mind losing the extra pick and felt that was a pretty solid move. It gave me 8 picks in the first 5 rounds.

With out further ado, my team. Keep in mind this is now a dynasty league:

Round Pick Overall Team Player Team Pos
0 0 0 Nay Sayers Baltimore Ravens BAL D
3 5 25 Nay Sayers Pittsburgh Steelers PIT D
4 9 39 Nay Sayers San Francisco 49ers SF D
13 9 129 Nay Sayers Houston Texans HOU D
0 0 0 Nay Sayers Nate Kaeding SD PK
15 9 149 Nay Sayers Jay Feely MIA PK
17 9 169 Nay Sayers Justin Medlock KC PK
0 0 0 Nay Sayers Donovan McNabb PHI QB
1 9 9 Nay Sayers Jay Cutler DEN QB
2 5 15 Nay Sayers Ben Roethlisberger PIT QB
5 5 45 Nay Sayers Matt Schaub HOU QB
11 9 109 Nay Sayers Trent Green MIA QB
0 0 0 Nay Sayers LaDainian Tomlinson SD RB
1 4 4 Nay Sayers Adrian Peterson MIN RB
5 9 49 Nay Sayers Jamal Lewis CLE RB
10 9 99 Nay Sayers Brandon Jackson GB RB
12 9 119 Nay Sayers Julius Jones DAL RB
0 0 0 Nay Sayers Kellen Winslow CLE TE
6 9 59 Nay Sayers Greg Olsen CHI TE
7 9 69 Nay Sayers Tony Scheffler DEN TE
0 0 0 Nay Sayers Steve Smith CAR WR
2 9 19 Nay Sayers Roy Williams DET WR
14 9 139 Nay Sayers Brandon Jones TEN WR
16 9 159 Nay Sayers Wes Welker NE WR

I’ve gotta say I’m pretty ecstatic about my starters:

QB: McNabb, take your pick, play matchups
RB: LT, AP
WR: Smith, Williams
TE: K2, Olsen
K: Kaeding, Feely
Def: Bal, Pit

I think my starters are rock awesome across the board. Backing up my starting DEFs I’ve got two promising young teams. Both SF and HOU have been pouring draft picks into their DEF, and have defensive minded coaching staffs. Backing up my kickers I have the highest drafted kicker this year. He may not be elite this year being a rookie kicker, but if he can hold a job I will have a kicker for the next 15 years.

At QB, now this is where it gets crazy. When Trent Green is your 5th QB drafted in a league that starts 2, you know something is up. McNabb is a top 10 veteran. Then you’ve got Cutler and Roethlisburger, who I think are two of the best young QBs. Then Schaub, who could be good, we’ll see. Then Green, who’s old, but will be good this year. In a ten team league where you start 2 and need 3, there are teams hurting for QBs right now. I will find a way to leverage my QB strength to the betterment of my team, rest assured.

At running back, I was hoping to have three elite players, so I was disappointed I only ended up with two in LT and AP, but I will say wow what a two! (I felt the drop off from elite QBs to garbage was much quicker at QB, and thus went with Roeth and Cutler early, locking down my QB position for years to come.) Backing up my stud RBs, I have three starters in Jones, Jackson, and Lewis. The first two of which are pretty young as well. Jones in two back systems, but he is the primary option in Dallas. If he goes off, we could see an end to that two back system too.

I was hoping to also get 3 elite WRs, but had to settle for 2. WR depth is probably the biggest weakness on my team, but if that’s my biggest problem I should be fine. You can always find WRs in free agency even. Brandon Jones is young, and they’re grooming him to be the #1 WR in Ten. Welker should catch a lot of balls from Brady, as he likes to spread it around. He should be to Brady like Stokely was to Peyton.

At TE, I feel I have 3 of the best young players in the game. I’m very pleased with this position.

Here’s _amon’s team, to give you an idea what another team looks like in my league:

Round Pick Overall Team Player Team Pos
0 0 0 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Miami Dolphins MIA D
6 3 53 Maulin' Mooseknuckles New York Giants NYG D
14 3 133 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Detroit Lions DET D
0 0 0 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Ryan Longwell MIN PK
12 3 113 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Mike Nugent NYJ PK
16 3 153 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Rian Lindell BUF PK
0 0 0 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Matt Leinart ARI QB
4 3 33 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Rex Grossman CHI QB
9 3 83 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Brodie Croyle KC QB
17 3 163 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Kellen Clemens NYJ QB
0 0 0 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Reggie Bush NO RB
1 3 3 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Laurence Maroney NE RB
2 3 13 Maulin' Mooseknuckles DeAngelo Williams CAR RB
13 3 123 Maulin' Mooseknuckles DeShaun Foster CAR RB
18 3 173 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Antonio Pittman NO RB
0 0 0 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Chris Cooley WAS TE
7 3 63 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Heath Miller PIT TE
10 3 93 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Eric Johnson NO TE
0 0 0 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Javon Walker DEN WR
3 3 23 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Calvin Johnson DET WR
8 3 73 Maulin' Mooseknuckles D.J. Hackett SEA WR
11 3 103 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Donte Stallworth NE WR
15 3 143 Maulin' Mooseknuckles Dwayne Jarrett CAR WR

 

[Style]

Here are all the rosters, in a format that is easier on the eyes:

Nay Sayers
Pos Player, Team
QB Donovan McNabb, PHI
QB Jay Cutler, DEN
QB Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
QB Matt Schaub, HOU
QB Trent Green, MIA
RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
RB Adrian Peterson(r), MIN
RB Jamal Lewis, CLE
RB Brandon Jackson(r), GB
RB Julius Jones, DAL
WR Steve Smith, CAR
WR Roy Williams, DET
WR Brandon Jones, TEN
WR Wes Welker, NE
TE Kellen Winslow, CLE
TE Greg Olsen(r), CHI
TE Tony Scheffler, DEN
PK Nate Kaeding, SD
PK Jay Feely, MIA
PK Justin Medlock(r), KC
Def Ravens, Team Defense, BAL
Def Steelers, Team Defense, PIT
Def 49ers, Team Defense, SF
Def Texans, Team Defense, HOU

Bella Vista Bombers
Pos Player, Team
QB Carson Palmer, CIN
QB J.P. Losman, BUF
QB Jason Campbell, WAS
QB David Carr, CAR
RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC
RB Ronnie Brown, MIA
RB Cedric Benson, CHI
RB Vernand Morency, GB
RB LenDale White, TEN
RB Kenny Irons(r), CIN
WR Marques Colston, NO
WR Lee Evans, BUF
WR Hines Ward, PIT
WR Reggie Brown, PHI
WR Drew Bennett, STL
TE Jeremy Shockey, NYG
TE L.J. Smith, PHI
TE Vishante Shiancoe, MIN
PK Adam Vinatieri, IND
PK Jason Hanson, DET
PK Dave Rayner, GB
Def Bears, Team Defense, CHI
Def Saints, Team Defense, NO
Def Rams, Team Defense, STL

ShakeZula
Pos Player, Team
QB Drew Brees, NO
QB Brett Favre, GB
QB Damon Huard, KC
RB Shaun Alexander, SEA
RB Deuce McAllister, NO
RB Kevin Jones, DET
RB Fred Taylor, JAC
RB Warrick Dunn, ATL
RB Michael Turner, SD
RB Mike Bell, DEN
RB Anthony Thomas, BUF
RB Ron Dayne, HOU
WR Randy Moss, NE
WR Terrell Owens, DAL
WR TJ Houshmandzadeh, CIN
WR Laveranues Coles, NYJ
WR Matt Jones, JAC
WR Mike Furrey, DET
TE Tony Gonzalez, KC
TE Desmond Clark, CHI
PK Jeff Wilkins, STL
PK Matt Stover, BAL
Def Jaguars, Team Defense, JAC
Def Chiefs, Team Defense, KC
Def Buccaneers, Team Defense, TB

Cain Killers
Pos Player, Team
QB Tony Romo, DAL
QB Philip Rivers, SD
QB Joey Harrington, ATL
QB Daunte Culpepper, OAK
RB Joseph Addai, IND
RB Willie Parker, PIT
RB Edgerrin James, ARI
RB Ahman Green, HOU
RB Tatum Bell, DET
RB Najeh Davenport, PIT
WR Torry Holt, STL
WR Reggie Wayne, IND
WR Plaxico Burress, NYG
WR Devery Henderson, NO
TE Vernon Davis, SF
TE David Martin, MIA
TE Chris Baker, NYJ
PK Joe Nedney, SF
PK David Akers, PHI
PK Lawrence Tynes, NYG
Def Broncos, Team Defense, DEN
Def Packers, Team Defense, GB
Def Browns, Team Defense, CLE
Def Cardinals, Team Defense, ARI

The Beastly Boys
Pos Player, Team
QB Eli Manning, NYG
QB Matt Hasselbeck, SEA
QB JaMarcus Russell(r), OAK
QB Jeff Garcia, TB
RB Larry Johnson, KC
RB Thomas Jones, NYJ
RB Chester Taylor, MIN
RB Leon Washington, NYJ
RB Lorenzo Booker(r), MIA
RB Michael Bennett, KC
WR Donald Driver, GB
WR Santana Moss, WAS
WR Chris Chambers, MIA
WR Bernard Berrian, CHI
WR Brandon Marshall, DEN
TE Antonio Gates, SD
TE Dallas Clark, IND
TE Zach Miller(r), OAK
PK John Kasay, CAR
PK Neil Rackers, ARI
PK Jeff Reed, PIT
Def Panthers, Team Defense, CAR
Def Eagles, Team Defense, PHI
Def Falcons, Team Defense, ATL

Maulin' Mooseknuckles
Pos Player, Team
QB Matt Leinart, ARI
QB Rex Grossman, CHI
QB Brodie Croyle, KC
QB Kellen Clemens, NYJ
RB Reggie Bush, NO
RB Laurence Maroney, NE
RB DeAngelo Williams, CAR
RB De'Shaun Foster, CAR
RB Antonio Pittman(r), NO
WR Javon Walker, DEN
WR Calvin Johnson(r), DET
WR D.J. Hackett, SEA
WR Donte Stallworth, NE
WR Dwayne Jarrett(r), CAR
TE Chris Cooley, WAS
TE Heath Miller, PIT
TE Eric Johnson, NO
PK Ryan Longwell, MIN
PK Mike Nugent, NYJ
PK Rian Lindell, BUF
Def Dolphins, Team Defense, MIA
Def Giants, Team Defense, NYG
Def Lions, Team Defense, DET

North Canton Patriots
Pos Player, Team
QB Tom Brady, NE
QB Byron Leftwich, JAC
QB Tarvaris Jackson, MIN
QB Kevin Kolb(r), PHI
RB Steven Jackson, STL
RB Brian Westbrook, PHI
RB Jerious Norwood, ATL
RB LaMont Jordan, OAK
RB DeDe Dorsey, IND
WR Larry Fitzgerald, ARI
WR Andre Johnson, HOU
WR Mark Clayton, BAL
WR Jerricho Cotchery, NYJ
WR Dwayne Bowe(r), KC
WR Anthony Gonzalez(r), IND
TE Ben Watson, NE
TE Owen Daniels, HOU
TE Ben Troupe, TEN
TE Bo Scaife, TEN
PK Stephen Gostkowski, NE
PK Martin Gramatica, DAL
Def Patriots, Team Defense, NE
Def Bengals, Team Defense, CIN

Groovalliance
Pos Player, Team
QB Peyton Manning, IND
QB Brady Quinn(r), CLE
QB Steve McNair, BAL
QB Charlie Frye, CLE
QB Troy Smith(r), BAL
RB Frank Gore, SF
RB Marshawn Lynch(r), BUF
RB Carnell Williams, TB
RB Dominic Rhodes, OAK
RB Michael Bush(r), OAK
WR Marvin Harrison, IND
WR Braylon Edwards, CLE
WR Santonio Holmes, PIT
WR Joe Horn, ATL
WR Terry Glenn, DAL
WR Ted Ginn Jr.(r), MIA
WR Isaac Bruce, STL
TE Todd Heap, BAL
TE Randy McMichael, STL
TE Marcus Pollard, SEA
PK Robbie Gould, CHI
PK Sebastian Janikowski, OAK
Def Chargers, Team Defense, SD
Def Seahawks, Team Defense, SEA
Def Bills, Team Defense, BUF

NOVA Blues
Pos Player, Team
QB Marc Bulger, STL
QB Alex D. Smith, SF
QB Jake Delhomme, CAR
QB David Garrard, JAC
QB Brian Griese, CHI
RB Willis McGahee, BAL
RB Rudi Johnson, CIN
RB Clinton Portis, WAS
RB Ladell Betts, WAS
RB Cecil Sapp, DEN
WR Chad Johnson, CIN
WR Darrell Jackson, SF
WR Deion Branch, SEA
WR Muhsin Muhammad, CHI
TE Jason Witten, DAL
TE Marcedes Lewis, JAC
TE Alex Smith, TB
PK Josh Scobee, JAC
PK Shayne Graham, CIN
PK Josh Brown, SEA
Def Cowboys, Team Defense, DAL
Def Jets, Team Defense, NYJ
Def Raiders, Team Defense, OAK
Def Redskins, Team Defense, WAS

Strippers R Us
Pos Player, Team
QB Vince Young, TEN
QB Jon Kitna, DET
QB Chad Pennington, NYJ
RB Marion Barber, DAL
RB Travis Henry, DEN
RB Brandon Jacobs, NYG
RB Chris Henry(r), TEN
RB Sammy Morris, NE
RB Reuben Droughns, NYG
WR Anquan Boldin, ARI
WR Vincent Jackson, SD
WR Joey Galloway, TB
WR Greg Jennings, GB
WR Kevin Curtis, PHI
WR Ronald Curry, OAK
TE Alge Crumpler, ATL
TE Daniel Graham, DEN
TE Steve Heiden, CLE
PK Olindo Mare, NO
PK Jason Elam, DEN
PK Phil Dawson, CLE
Def Vikings, Team Defense, MIN
Def Titans, Team Defense, TEN
Def Colts, Team Defense, IND


While my starters are better than most if not all, they're not tremendously better than anyone else. However, I'd say my depth is tremendously better than everyone else. Injuries shouldn't be a problem for me, while other teams are going to get in trouble inevitably.

My team also projects out quite nicely 3 to 5 years down the road. Many of the other teams do not. For example, take a look at Shakezula and project them out 3 years. He may be competitive this year, but in three years he's going to have dog shit for a team.

 

[_amon _ones]

The sad thing is, that Shakezula's team is only this good because he let the system auto draft for him. If he didn't he would be dog shit now, and forever.

 

[Style]

The sad thing is, that Shakezula's team is only this good because he let the system auto draft for him. If he didn't he would be dog shit now, and forever.

:chuckles:

Yeah, that guy is pretty awful.

 

[Smooth]

After Roy and Steve your thin at WR as well as after LT at RB... AD and Lewis would be better #3 backs.. If you get that 3rd WR and 2nd RB you'd be set You got a pretty good, deep team though... Looks solid...

 

[The Voice]

Groovalliance and Shakezula's teams look like your biggest competition.

 

[Style]

Groovalliance and Shakezula's teams look like your biggest competition.

Groovealliance has a good team. That's the guy who's beaten me in the last 2 super bowls (_amon's lil bro). He's a lot thinner than me at QB and RB. I'd much rather be thin at WR, the fourth highest scoring position overall, and the easiest position to find players in free agency, than QB and RB, the two highest scoring positions. If Peyton goes down he's in trouble.

At any rate, he's in the other division, so I don't have to worry about him till the Super bowl, if he even makes it that far.

Shakezula has a decent team this year, but he's totally screwed long term. Like I said in an earlier post, project that team out 3 years and what does he have? He'd be wise to trade his older RBs for young talent.

I think the biggest competition in my division is from my cousin, the Cain Killers. My division contains the Nay Sayers (of course), Cainkillers, Shakezula, Beastly Boys, Strippers. The Strippers are awful, and Shake & Beastlies have no depth. A few injuries and they're toast. The Cains and Nay Sayers are the only teams with any depth. Me and my cousin should be locks for the playoffs, with the Beasts and Shake battling for the third playoff spot.