Egulowards and Jer: September 2013

Although the official season doesn't begin until Thursday, the fantasy season is now officially underway. The draft has taken place and the results are in. Owner George Howard won best draft of 2013 with a B+. The remainder of the pack proves tight knit, ranging from B+ to B-. Notes and results courtesy of Yahoo Sports.

george's guys Draft Report Card - George

In Spite of Some Early-Round Reaches, george's guys Looks to Have a Breakthrough Campaign

Draft Grade: B+

When a bottom-half draft slot yields top-half results, that's the sign of a strong effort by the GM. Such was the case with george's guys, which flipped its 10th overall pick into a projected fourth-place finish in Egulowards and Jer League (8-6-0, 1,993 points). george's guys waited until the sixth round to snag their first WR, grabbing Danny Amendola with the 51st overall pick. They landed the best tandem of TEs in the league, as they added Jimmy Graham and Brandon Myers.

The Season Ahead

With the most players (4) and most projected fantasy points on bye, Week 10 is shaping up to be a tricky one for george's guys. From the perspective of opponents' projected points, they have one of the softest slates in Egulowards and Jer League. Along with having the second-easiest overall schedule, george's guys has the easiest first four games of the season. An especially easy stretch appears to start in Week 3, during which george's guys plays projected bottom-tier teams for two consecutive games.

Draft Notes

Strongest Position: While george's guys is projected to have three better-than-average positions, TE is clearly their best unit (30.5% above the league average).
The Sky's the Limit: With four players projected to significantly beat their previous year's fantasy points, george's guys hopes to have found some up-and-coming stars.
It's How You Finish: george's guys had a strong finish, accumulating the most projected points in the league over the second half of the draft.
Risk Hater: Actuaries love the drafting style of george's guys. They minimized risk by selecting eight consistent players among their 16 picks.
Young and Hungry: george's guys is the youngest squad in the league, with an average of just 4.9 years of NFL experience.

T. Richardson: 1st Round (10th Pick)
Running, Catching, Winning: Trent Richardson can hurt opponents with his hands as well as his feet. He ranks fifth among RBs in projected receiving yards with 450.
Jimmy Graham: 2nd Round (11th Pick)
Value Found: Jimmy Graham is expected to score 68.6% more points than the average player at that position, making him the best value pick of the round.
David Wilson: 3rd Round (30th Pick)
Taking a Chance: With their third-round pick, george's guys threw caution to the wind. They took David Wilson at pick number 30 vs. an ADP of 62.4 across all Yahoo! leagues.
Russell Wilson: 4th Round (31st Pick)
According to projections, Russell Wilson was the worst value pick of the round; however, estimates still show him putting up 6.8% more points than the average player at that position.
R. Griffin III: 5th Round (50th Pick)
New-Age QB: With 588 projected rushing yards (ranking fourth among QBs), Robert Griffin III has multiple ways to bring in points.

Calling an Audible

With three subpar positions on george's guys, WR (6.0% below the league average at that spot) and K (2.8%) are projected as especially weak units.
The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Ryan Broyles
Rank: 134 ADP: 132.08

Darrius Heyward-Bey
Rank: 135 ADP: 129.92

Sebastian Janikowski
Rank: 253 ADP: 116.35

Mike Nugent
Rank: 256 ADP: 143.38

How We Grade

Draft grades are based strictly on teams' draft performances. This is calculated by counting the number of fantasy points teams are projected to score over the course of the season using their optimal line-ups. The grades do not take schedule into account. Because of bye weeks and other variables it is possible to earn a high grade yet be projected to finish in the middle of the pack. The opposite is also true. Bottom line: Fantasy Football is like the real game. You can draft the greatest talent in the world but you still need to manage your team every week to get the most out of that talent. As a wise man once said, "On any given Sunday..."

Curley and Moe Draft Report Card - Nancy

Led by a Terrific Group of RBs, Curley and Moe Threatens as a Legitimate Title Contender

Draft Grade: B+

Corresponding with a solid draft slot (fourth overall), Curley and Moe had a stellar showing. With a mark of 10-4-0 (1,983 points), they're projected to finish second in Egulowards and Jer League. Curley and Moe opted for balance early, selecting QB Matthew Stafford (24th overall), RB Jamaal Charles (4th), WR Randall Cobb (37th), and TE Jason Witten (44th) within the first five rounds. They landed the best foursome of RBs in the league, as they added Charles, Matt Forte, Daryl Richardson, and Chris Ivory.

The Season Ahead

Week 9 figures to test the depth of Curley and Moe. Among all weeks this season, it has both their largest number of players (5) and projected fantasy points on bye. They have the least difficult schedule in the league when factoring in opponents' projected points. Along with having the easiest overall schedule, Curley and Moe also has the softest last four games of the season. Starting in Week 7, Curley and Moe will have to navigate a tricky part of the schedule, squaring off against projected top-tier teams in the league three times in a five-game span.

Draft Notes

Strongest Position: With four better-than-average positions on Curley and Moe, TE (19.8% above the league average) and RB (13.7%) are projected as especially strong units.
Hit the Waiver Wire: Curley and Moe might need to hit the waiver wire in Week 11, as both TEs they picked will be resting that week (Jason Witten and Jared Cook).
Reaching for the Best: Curley and Moe snagged the highest-ranked WR left on the board when they selected Michael Floyd in the ninth round, but according to ADP, it still may have been a stretch at that spot (84th pick vs. ADP of 122.6).
Beginning with a Bang: Curley and Moe got off to a sizzling start, amassing the most projected points in the league during the first half of the draft.
Risk Hater: Actuaries love the drafting style of Curley and Moe. They minimized risk by selecting six consistent players among their 16 picks.
Mr. Irrelevant: Curley and Moe may know something no one else does, grabbing Pierre Thomas, who is on a squad in less than 10% of all Yahoo! leagues (5%).

Jamaal Charles: 1st Round (4th Pick)
Running, Catching, Winning: Jamaal Charles can hurt opponents with his hands as well as his feet. He ranks fourth among RBs in projected receiving yards with 485.
Matt Forte: 2nd Round (17th Pick)
Traditionalist: Curley and Moe stuck to the tried-and-true fantasy strategy of choosing RB-RB to start the draft, nabbing Jamaal Charles and Matt Forte right off the bat.
M. Stafford: 3rd Round (24th Pick)
A Necessary Reach: Curley and Moe may have reached a bit for their third-round choice. Matthew Stafford, taken with the 24th overall pick, has an ADP of 59.5 across all Yahoo! leagues. He could pay big dividends in a multi-QB league, but there were higher-ranked signal callers left on the board.
Randall Cobb: 4th Round (37th Pick)
Returning to Greatness: If special teams contributions count in Egulowards and Jer League, Curley and Moe may have found a gem in Randall Cobb. Including his 1,216 projected return yards, he ranks first in the league with 2,313 all-purpose yards.
Jason Witten: 5th Round (44th Pick)
Value Found: Jason Witten is expected to score 39.4% more points than the average player at that position, making him the best value pick of the round.

Calling an Audible

DEF (11.1% below the league average at that position) and QB (4.2%) are projected as relatively weak units for Curley and Moe.
The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Pittsburgh Defense
Rank: 204 ADP: 132.68

Green Bay Defense
Rank: 208 ADP: 127.49

Sam Bradford
Rank: 132 ADP: 133.79

Matt Schaub
Rank: 142 ADP: 124.85

SpectacularSpectacle Draft Report Card - Kara

With a Projected Finish of Seventh (5-9-0), SpectacularSpectacle Looks to Defy the Pundits

Draft Grade: B

A mediocre draft slot can often result in a mediocre draft performance. Picking ninth overall, SpectacularSpectacle is projected to land in seventh place in Egulowards and Jer League with a record of 5-9-0 (1,922 points). SpectacularSpectacle opted for balance early, selecting QB Peyton Manning (12th overall), RB Arian Foster (9th), WR Demaryius Thomas (29th), and TE Tony Gonzalez (32nd) within the first five rounds. They landed the least prolific triumvirate of RBs in the league, as they added Foster, Lamar Miller, and Michael Turner.

The Season Ahead

Week 6 might require some artful managing by the coach of SpectacularSpectacle. Among all weeks this season, it has both their largest number of players (4) and projected fantasy points on bye. From a projected points standpoint, they have a tougher-than-average slate. SpectacularSpectacle could run into an early buzzsaw, as the first four games of their season are projected to be more difficult than the league average. Starting in Week 5, SpectacularSpectacle will have to navigate a tricky part of the schedule, squaring off against projected top-tier teams in the league three times in a five-game span.

Draft Notes

Strongest Position: SpectacularSpectacle has two positional units projected to beat their slot's league average, WR (by 2.6%) and K (1.9%).
Team of Champions: SpectacularSpectacle has a lineup sprinkled with proven fantasy winners. Across all Yahoo! leagues last season, five of their players finished among the top 20 in percentage of times on a championship roster. They include Arian Foster, Peyton Manning, and Demaryius Thomas.
The Heist Is On: The other league managers passed over a diamond in the rough. According to ADP, SpectacularSpectacle got a steal in snatching Chicago in the 10th round (92nd overall pick vs. ADP of 71.8).
Risk Hater: Actuaries love the drafting style of SpectacularSpectacle. They minimized risk by selecting six consistent players among their 16 picks.
Hit the Waiver Wire: SpectacularSpectacle might need assistance from the waiver wire in Week 8, as both their DEFs will be on bye that week (Chicago and Baltimore).
Digging Deep: Brandon Weeden is owned in less than 10% of all Yahoo! leagues (2%). Perhaps he will reward SpectacularSpectacle for their faith.

Arian Foster: 1st Round (9th Pick)
SpectacularSpectacle picked up the most dangerous RB in the league in Arian Foster, who is projected to top NFL RBs in both plays over 40 yards with 3.8 and TDs over 40 yards with 1.7.
Peyton Manning: 2nd Round (12th Pick)
Peyton Manning ranks fourth in the league among QBs with 321 projected fantasy points, 14.3% higher than the average at that position.
D. Thomas: 3rd Round (29th Pick)
Demaryius Thomas ranks fourth in the league among WRs with 271 projected fantasy points, 29.8% higher than the average at that position.
Tony Gonzalez: 4th Round (32nd Pick)
Biggest Reach: SpectacularSpectacle went out on a limb with their fourth-round pick. Across all Yahoo! leagues, Tony Gonzalez has an ADP of 50.8, but SpectacularSpectacle grabbed him at pick No. 32.
Pierre Garcon: 5th Round (49th Pick)
Pierre Garcon may not justify his 49th overall draft pick if projections hold true. Currently, he is estimated to fall outside the NFL's top 10 in both yards (14th with 1,117) and TDs (21st with 6.7).

Calling an Audible

While SpectacularSpectacle is projected to have four below-average positions, TE is clearly their weakest unit (31.8% below the league average at that position).

The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Jermaine Gresham
Rank: 164 ADP: 129.57

Julius Thomas
Rank: 169 ADP: 135.6

Dwayne Allen
Rank: 172 ADP: 136.02

Rob Housler
Rank: 176 ADP: 135.9

Eat My Turf Draft Report Card - Chris

Despite a Formidable Set of WRs, Eat My Turf Lands Closer to the Bottom Than the Top

Eat My Turf couldn't weave their third overall selection into fantasy gold. They're projected to end up sixth in Egulowards and Jer League with a mark of 8-6-0 (1,922 points). With their first five picks, Eat My Turf focused on balance, selecting QB Colin Kaepernick (18th overall), RBs Chris Johnson (23rd) and Stevan Ridley (43rd), and WRs Calvin Johnson (3rd) and Larry Fitzgerald (38th). They have the best threesome of WRs in the league, as they picked up Johnson, Fitzgerald and Cecil Shorts for their fantasy stable.

The Season Ahead

Week 9 appears to be a tricky one, as the top two projected scorers (Colin Kaepernick and Calvin Johnson) for Eat My Turf will be relaxing during off weeks. They have an easier-than-average slate when factoring in opponents' projected points. In addition to having the fourth-easiest overall schedule, Eat My Turf also has the second-easiest first four games of the season. An especially easy stretch appears to start in Week 1, during which Eat My Turf plays projected bottom-tier teams for two consecutive games.

Draft Notes

Strongest Position: With three better-than-average positions on Eat My Turf, DEF (12.9% above the league average) and QB (6.5%) are projected as especially strong units.
Hit the Waiver Wire: Eat My Turf might need assistance from the waiver wire in Week 9, as their three WRs with the most projected seasonal points (Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Cecil Shorts) will all be on bye that week.
Don't Rock the Boat: Eat My Turf was focused on a steady squad, grabbing 10 consistent players out of 16 picks.
Digging Deep: Danny Woodhead is owned in less than 10% of all Yahoo! leagues (7%). Perhaps he will reward Eat My Turf for their faith.

Calvin Johnson: 1st Round (3rd Pick)
Just Win, Baby: Last season, owning Calvin Johnson usually equalled fantasy success. Among all players, he ranked in the top 20 across all Yahoo! leagues in individual championship percentage (seventh) and individual playoff percentage (sixth). Eat My Turf hopes that trend holds true again this year.
C. Kaepernick: 2nd Round (18th Pick)
A Necessary Gamble: Eat My Turf scooped up the highest-ranked QB left on the board in the second round, grabbing Colin Kaepernick with the 18th pick. It is higher than ADP would suggest (39.6), but it could be a great move in this multi-QB league.
Chris Johnson: 3rd Round (23rd Pick)
No Faith in Tradition: Eat My Turf said no to the RB-RB tradition of fantasy drafting, waiting until the third round to pick up their first RB (Chris Johnson).
L. Fitzgerald: 4th Round (38th Pick)
PPR Powerhouse: Larry Fitzgerald will bring extra value if Egulowards and Jer has a PPR format, as he's projected to rank seventh in the NFL with 91 receptions.
Stevan Ridley: 5th Round (43rd Pick)
Biggest Steal: If other Yahoo! users are right, Eat My Turf got a steal in the fifth round, when they selected Stevan Ridley (43rd overall pick vs. ADP of 24.3).

Calling an Audible

With three below-average positions on Eat My Turf, TE (4.0% below the league average at that spot) and RB (1.9%) are projected as especially weak units.

The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Jermaine Gresham
Rank: 164 ADP: 129.57

Julius Thomas
Rank: 169 ADP: 135.6

Jonathan Dwyer
Rank: 114 ADP: 124.02

Joique Bell
Rank: 117 ADP: 125.36

Root for the Tuber! Draft Report Card - Katie

Buoyed by Some Early-Round Steals, Root for the Tuber! Looks to Have a Breakthrough Campaign

Draft Grade: B

A mediocre draft slot can often result in a mediocre draft performance. Picking eighth overall, Root for the Tuber! is projected to land in fifth place in Egulowards and Jer League with a record of 8-6-0 (1,925 points). Root for the Tuber! addressed their need for signal callers immediately, using their first two selections to acquire QBs Aaron Rodgers (8th overall) and Tom Brady (13th). That early positional investment yielded the highest-scoring tandem of QBs in the league.

The Season Ahead

Whether by good fortune or well-planned strategy, Root for the Tuber! has secured a favorable bye week schedule for their superstars. Of their top five players in projected points, none share a common off week. They have one of the weakest schedules in the league when factoring in opponents' projected points. Along with the third-easiest overall schedule, both the first four games and last four games of the season are about league-average difficulty for Root for the Tuber!. A soft stretch might begin in Week 8, when Root for the Tuber! plays projected bottom-tier teams for three games in a row.

Draft Notes

Strongest Position: QB is one of two positional groups projected to beat their slot's league average on Root for the Tuber! (along with K). Of the two groups, QB is projected to be the best unit on the squad, topping the league average for that position by 18.0%.
Consistency Is My Middle Name: With nine consistent players among their 16 picks, Root for the Tuber! is looking for reliable help.
The Bargain Whisperer: Root for the Tuber! was hunting for deals throughout the draft, snapping up three steals in the first 10 rounds (including Hakeem Nicks, Alfred Morris, and Julio Jones).
Hit the Waiver Wire: Root for the Tuber! will need a hand from the waiver wire in Week 8, as their only K (Justin Tucker) and only DEF (Houston) will both be on bye that week.
Mr. Mendoza: Bilal Powell is owned in fewer than 10% of Yahoo! leagues (2%). Let's hope that a.) Root for the Tuber! has some solid inside information, or b.) he's a close friend of the family.

Aaron Rodgers: 1st Round (8th Pick)
Top Signal Caller: Aaron Rodgers leads all QBs with 345 projected fantasy points (23.1% more than the average QB).
Tom Brady: 2nd Round (13th Pick)
Estimates have Tom Brady scoring 317 fantasy points, 12.9% higher than the average at the position. If they are right, this would rank him fifth among QBs.
Alfred Morris: 3rd Round (28th Pick)
New World Order: Laughing in the face of decades of fantasy tradition, Root for the Tuber! didn't select their first RB (Alfred Morris) until the third round.
Julio Jones: 4th Round (33rd Pick)
PPR Powerhouse: Julio Jones will bring extra value if Egulowards and Jer has a PPR format, as he's projected to rank 10th in the NFL with 89 receptions.
Frank Gore: 5th Round (48th Pick)
With 9.0 rushing TDs, Frank Gore is projected to finish eighth in the NFL in that category.

Calling an Audible

With four below-average positions on Root for the Tuber!, RB (9.4% below the league average at that spot) and TE (8.7%) are projected as especially weak units.
The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Jonathan Dwyer
Rank: 114 ADP: 124.02

Joique Bell
Rank: 117 ADP: 125.36

Jermaine Gresham
Rank: 164 ADP: 129.57

Julius Thomas
Rank: 169 ADP: 135.6

Tickle Tackle Draft Report Card - Greg

In Spite of Some Early-Round Reaches, Tickle Tackle Is Eying a Title

Coinciding with a juicy draft position (second overall), Tickle Tackle had an outstanding performance. They're projected to finish first in Egulowards and Jer League with a record of 11-3-0 (1,971 points). With five RBs on the roster, Tickle Tackle might have opted for quantity over quality at that spot; their RBs are projected to average 185 points this season, fewer than the league average of 188. They ended up with the least prolific tandem of QBs in the league, as they added Michael Vick and Carson Palmer.

The Season Ahead

Week 9 figures to test the depth of Tickle Tackle, as it is the week when the most players (5) and most projected fantasy points are on bye. From a projected points standpoint, they have a harder-than-average slate. Along with having the fifth-most grueling overall schedule, Tickle Tackle also has the most difficult last four games of the season. A soft stretch might begin in Week 8, when Tickle Tackle plays projected bottom-tier teams for three games in a row.

Draft Notes

Strongest Position: Tickle Tackle has two positional units projected to beat their slot's league average, DEF (by 15.3%) and TE (11.6%).
Hit the Waiver Wire: Tickle Tackle might need to hit the waiver wire in Week 10, as both TEs they picked will be resting that week (Rob Gronkowski and Jordan Cameron).
The Sky's the Limit: With four players projected to significantly beat their previous year's fantasy points, Tickle Tackle hopes to have found some up-and-coming stars.
Consistency Is My Middle Name: With seven consistent players among their 16 picks, Tickle Tackle is looking for reliable help.
Mr. Mendoza: Justin Forsett is owned in fewer than 10% of Yahoo! leagues (0%). Let's hope that a.) Tickle Tackle has some solid inside information, or b.) he's a close friend of the family.
Returning to Greatness: If special teams contributions count in Egulowards and Jer League, Tickle Tackle may have found a gem in Tavon Austin. Including his 1,201 projected return yards, he ranks third in the league with 2,012 all-purpose yards.

Doug Martin: 1st Round (2nd Pick)
Doug Martin ranks third in the league among RBs with 290 projected fantasy points, 54.4% higher than the average at that position.
A.J. Green: 2nd Round (19th Pick)
A.J. Green ranks sixth in the league among WRs with 261 projected fantasy points, 25.1% higher than the average at that position.
M. Jones-Drew: 3rd Round (22nd Pick)
Moving the Chains: Maurice Jones-Drew is expected to rank 10th in the league among RBs in fantasy points with 265 (41.0% higher than the average RB).
Victor Cruz: 4th Round (39th Pick)
Biggest Steal: If other Yahoo! users are right, Tickle Tackle got a steal in the fourth round, when they selected Victor Cruz (39th overall pick vs. ADP of 27.7).
Rob Gronkowski: 5th Round (42nd Pick)
In the (Red) Zone: Though ranking outside the top 20 in projected receiving yards (36th with 895), Rob Gronkowski is expected to find the end zone 9.8 times to place third in the NFL in receiving TDs.

Calling an Audible

With four below-average positions on Tickle Tackle, QB (6.0% below the league average at that spot) and WR (4.1%) are projected as especially weak units.

The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Sam Bradford
Rank: 132 ADP: 133.79

Matt Schaub
Rank: 142 ADP: 124.85

Ryan Broyles
Rank: 134 ADP: 132.08

Darrius Heyward-Bey
Rank: 135 ADP: 129.92

Just my LUCK Draft Report Card - John

Led by a Terrific Group of RBs, Just my LUCK Looks to Have a Breakthrough Campaign

Draft Grade: B

When a bottom-half draft slot yields top-half results, that's the sign of a strong effort by the GM. Such was the case with Just my LUCK, which flipped its seventh overall pick into a projected third-place finish in Egulowards and Jer League (10-4-0, 1,978 points). Just my LUCK loaded up on ballcarriers early, using three of their first five picks to scoop up RBs Ray Rice (second round), Darren Sproles (third round), and Reggie Bush (fourth round). That early positional investment yielded the best triumvirate of RBs in the league.

The Season Ahead

With the most players (4) and most projected fantasy points on bye, Week 12 is shaping up to be a tricky one for Just my LUCK. From a projected points standpoint, they have a more-difficult-than-average schedule. Along with the fourth-most grueling overall schedule, both the first four games and last four games of the season are about league-average difficulty for Just my LUCK. Starting in Week 1, Just my LUCK will have to navigate a tricky part of the schedule, squaring off against projected top-tier teams in the league three times in a five-game span.

Draft Notes

Stoutest Slot: Just my LUCK should be in good shape with four position groups projected to be better-than-average. RB looks to be the strongest among them, beating the average projection for the position by 18.1%.
The Heist Is On: The other league managers passed over a diamond in the rough. According to ADP, Just my LUCK got a steal in snatching Seattle in the ninth round (87th overall pick vs. ADP of 64.0).
Team of Champions: Just my LUCK has a lineup sprinkled with proven fantasy winners. Across all Yahoo! leagues last season, three of their players finished among the top 20 in percentage of times on a championship roster. They include Drew Brees, Ray Rice, and Reggie Wayne.
No Country for Old Men: With an average of 7.1 years of NFL experience, Just my LUCK is the oldest team in the league.
Hit the Waiver Wire: Just my LUCK will need a hand from the waiver wire in Week 12, as their only K (Steven Hauschka) and only DEF (Seattle) will both be on bye that week.
Digging Deep: EJ Manuel is owned in less than 10% of all Yahoo! leagues (4%). Perhaps he will reward Just my LUCK for their faith.

Drew Brees: 1st Round (7th Pick)
Although Drew Brees was the worst value pick of the round, he is still projected to score 20.3% more points than the average player at that position.
Ray Rice: 2nd Round (14th Pick)
Ray Rice went with the 14th overall pick in the draft. Unfortunately for Just my LUCK, he is projected to miss the top 10 in the NFL in both rushing yards (18th with 1,100) and TDs (14th with 7.8).
Darren Sproles: 3rd Round (27th Pick)
Biggest Reach: Just my LUCK may have reached a bit for their third-round choice. Darren Sproles, taken with the 27th overall pick, has an ADP of 81.4 across all Yahoo! leagues.
Reggie Bush: 4th Round (34th Pick)
Reaching for the Best: Although they got the highest-ranked RB left on the board, Just my LUCK may have reached a little on Reggie Bush in the fourth round (34th overall pick vs. ADP of 45.7).
Dwayne Bowe: 5th Round (47th Pick)
Dwayne Bowe went with the 47th pick, but according to projections, he will fall outside of the top 10 in the NFL in both receiving TDs (20th) and receiving yards (15th) with 7.0 and 1,109 respectively.

Calling an Audible

Just my LUCK is projected to have a pair of subpar positions (TE and QB), but TE is clearly their weakest unit (21.4% below the league average at that position).

The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Jermaine Gresham
Rank: 164 ADP: 129.57

Julius Thomas
Rank: 169 ADP: 135.6

Dwayne Allen
Rank: 172 ADP: 136.02

Rob Housler
Rank: 176 ADP: 135.9

Nenad's Menagerie Draft Report Card - Kristin

Despite a Formidable Set of WRs, Nenad's Menagerie Looks Destined for the Bottom of the Standings

Draft Grade: B-

Despite selecting in the top half of the first round (fifth overall), Nenad's Menagerie looks a little soft on paper. They're projected to finish eighth in Egulowards and Jer League with a record of 4-10-0 (1,905 points). Nenad's Menagerie loaded up on pass-catching weapons early on, using four of their first seven selections to acquire WRs Brandon Marshall (third round), Vincent Jackson (fifth round), Marques Colston (sixth round), and Eric Decker (seventh round). Corresponding with that strategy, they landed the most prolific quartet of WRs in the league.

The Season Ahead

Whether by good fortune or well-planned strategy, Nenad's Menagerie has secured a favorable bye week schedule for their superstars. Of their top five players in projected points, none share a common off week. They have the most challenging schedule in Egulowards and Jer League when factoring in opponents' projected points. Along with having the most grueling overall schedule, Nenad's Menagerie also has the league's toughest first four games and second-most difficult last four games of the season. Nenad's Menagerie has a well-balanced schedule this season, avoiding prolonged stretches against either the projected top or bottom teams in the league.

Draft Notes

Strongest Position: Nenad's Menagerie only had one above-average position grouping, WR, which is projected to beat the league mean at that slot by 7.4%.
Hit the Waiver Wire: Nenad's Menagerie will need some help from the waiver wire in Week 8, as their only TE (Owen Daniels) and only DEF (San Diego) will both be idle that week.
Mr. Irrelevant: Nenad's Menagerie may know something no one else does, grabbing Michael Bush, who is on a squad in less than 10% of all Yahoo! leagues (3%).
The Bargain Whisperer: Nenad's Menagerie was hunting for deals throughout the draft, snapping up four steals in the first 10 rounds (including Marques Colston, Steven Jackson, and Eric Decker).
A Pair of Winners: Nenad's Menagerie has a couple of proven fantasy champs in their lineup. Across all Yahoo! leagues last season, two of their players (Brandon Marshall and Vincent Jackson) finished among the top 20 in percentage of times on a first-place roster.
Single Serving: Forsaking roster depth, Nenad's Menagerie opted to select only one player at each of three positions (TE, DEF, and K).

LeSean McCoy: 1st Round (5th Pick)
Moving the Chains: LeSean McCoy is expected to rank seventh in the league among RBs in fantasy points with 271 (43.9% higher than the average RB).
Cam Newton: 2nd Round (16th Pick)
Although Cam Newton was the worst value pick of the round, he is still projected to score 7.9% more points than the average player at that position.
B. Marshall: 3rd Round (25th Pick)
Brandon Marshall was the best value pick of the round, projected to score 41.4% more points than the average player at that position.
Steven Jackson: 4th Round (36th Pick)
With 8.9 rushing TDs, Steven Jackson is projected to finish 10th in the NFL in that category.
V. Jackson: 5th Round (45th Pick)
According to projections, Vincent Jackson was the worst value pick of the round; however, estimates still show him putting up 8.9% more points than the average player at that position.

Calling an Audible

With five below-average positions on Nenad's Menagerie, RB (12.7% below the league average at that spot) and K (10.7%) are projected as especially weak units.
The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Jonathan Dwyer
Rank: 114 ADP: 124.02

Joique Bell
Rank: 117 ADP: 125.36

Sebastian Janikowski
Rank: 253 ADP: 116.35

Mike Nugent
Rank: 256 ADP: 143.38

Jer's Bears Draft Report Card - Jeremiah

In Spite of Some Early-Round Value Picks, Jer's Bears Seems Headed for the Cellar

Draft Grade: B-

The GM of Jer's Bears might be on the hot seat after turning the top overall pick into Egulowards and Jer League's worst projected record. At 2-12-0 (1,891 points), they're predicted to finish in 10th place-- but that's why they play the games. Jer's Bears opted for balance early, selecting QB Matt Ryan (20th overall), RB Adrian Peterson (1st), WR Roddy White (41st), and TE Vernon Davis (40th) within the first five rounds. They ended up with the least prolific quartet of WRs in the league, as they added White, Torrey Smith, Golden Tate, and Rueben Randle.

The Season Ahead

While Week 9 has the most players on bye for Jer's Bears (4), Week 6 is actually projected to have the team's highest amount of idle fantasy points. From the perspective of opponents' projected points, they have one of the most difficult schedules in the league. In addition to having the second-most grueling overall schedule, Jer's Bears has the second-toughest first four games of the season. Jer's Bears has a well-balanced schedule this season, avoiding prolonged stretches against either the projected top or bottom teams in the league.

Draft Notes

Strongest Position: K (8.9% above the league average) and TE (2.9%) are projected as especially strong units for Jer's Bears.
Team of Champions: Jer's Bears has a lineup sprinkled with proven fantasy winners. Across all Yahoo! leagues last season, three of their players finished among the top 20 in percentage of times on a championship roster. They include Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, and Matt Bryant.
The Sky's the Limit: With four players projected to significantly beat their previous year's fantasy points, Jer's Bears hopes to have found some up-and-coming stars.
Bargain Hunter: With three steals in the first 10 rounds (including Torrey Smith, Marshawn Lynch, and Roddy White), Jer's Bears made some shrewd moves.
Risk Hater: Actuaries love the drafting style of Jer's Bears. They minimized risk by selecting seven consistent players among their 16 picks.
Mr. Mendoza: Isaac Redman is owned in fewer than 10% of Yahoo! leagues (2%). Let's hope that a.) Jer's Bears has some solid inside information, or b.) he's a close friend of the family.

A. Peterson: 1st Round (1st Pick)
Value Found: Adrian Peterson is expected to score 62.6% more points than the average player at that position, making him the best value pick of the round.
Matt Ryan: 2nd Round (20th Pick)
A Necessary Gamble: Jer's Bears scooped up the highest-ranked QB left on the board in the second round, grabbing Matt Ryan with the 20th pick. It is higher than ADP would suggest (47.1), but it could be a great move in this multi-QB league.
Marshawn Lynch: 3rd Round (21st Pick)
Feed the Beast: Marshawn Lynch figures to get the ball early and often, projected to finish ninth in the league with 319 touches.
Vernon Davis: 4th Round (40th Pick)
Vernon Davis ranks fifth in the league among TEs with 178 projected fantasy points, 9.0% higher than the average at that position.
Roddy White: 5th Round (41st Pick)
Roddy White ranks ninth in the league among WRs with 251 projected fantasy points, 20.4% higher than the average at that position.

Calling an Audible

While Jer's Bears is projected to have four subpar positions, WR is clearly their worst unit (9.7% below the league average at that position).

The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Ryan Broyles
Rank: 134 ADP: 132.08

Darrius Heyward-Bey
Rank: 135 ADP: 129.92

DeAndre Hopkins
Rank: 141 ADP: 127.62

Brian Hartline
Rank: 146 ADP: 130.16

Small but Mighty Draft Report Card - Gayle

Slated for a Ninth-Place Finish (4-10-0), Small but Mighty Looks to Defy the Pundits

Draft Grade: B-

Selecting in the bottom half of the first round (sixth overall), Small but Mighty was unable to conjure up any fantasy magic. With a projected record of 4-10-0 (1,898 points), they're picked to finish ninth in Egulowards and Jer League. With their first five picks, Small but Mighty focused on balance, selecting QB Tony Romo (26th overall), RBs C.J. Spiller (6th) and DeMarco Murray (46th), and WRs Dez Bryant (15th) and Andre Johnson (35th). They ended up with one of the lowest-scoring combos of QBs in the league, as they added Romo and Ben Roethlisberger.

The Season Ahead

Week 11 might require some waiver-wire magic from the coach of Small but Mighty. Among all weeks this season, it has both their largest number of players (5) and projected fantasy points on bye. From the perspective of opponents' projected points, they have an easier-than-average slate. Along with having the fifth-easiest overall schedule, Small but Mighty has the second-softest last four games of the season. Small but Mighty has a well-balanced schedule this season, avoiding prolonged stretches against either the projected top or bottom teams in the league.

Draft Notes

Strongest Position: Small but Mighty only had one above-average position grouping, TE, which is projected to beat the league mean at that slot by 5.6%.
The Sky's the Limit: With four players projected to significantly beat their previous year's fantasy points, Small but Mighty hopes to have found some up-and-coming stars.
Super Sleeper: With the hope of a breakout performance, Small but Mighty grabbed Josh Brown with pick No. 155.
Aging Stars: The top half of the roster (from a projected points perspective) is relatively old (ranked No. 1 in the league with an average of 8.0 years of NFL experience), whereas the bottom half is fairly young (No. 8 with 4.6 years).
Single Serving: Forsaking roster depth, Small but Mighty opted to select only one player at each of three positions (TE, DEF, and K).

C.J. Spiller: 1st Round (6th Pick)
C.J. Spiller is projected to finish second in the league with 1,938 total yards (1,535 rushing, 403 receiving).
Dez Bryant: 2nd Round (15th Pick)
Count the Rings: Last season, owning Dez Bryant usually equalled fantasy success. Among all players, he ranked in the top 20 across all Yahoo! leagues in individual championship percentage (16th), a trend that Small but Mighty hopes will continue this year.
Tony Romo: 3rd Round (26th Pick)
A Necessary Reach: Small but Mighty may have reached a bit for their third-round choice. Tony Romo, taken with the 26th overall pick, has an ADP of 84.5 across all Yahoo! leagues. He could pay big dividends in a multi-QB league, but there were higher-ranked signal callers left on the board.
Andre Johnson: 4th Round (35th Pick)
Mr. December: Andre Johnson has a winning pedigree. He was the 18th-most-owned player by playoff teams across all Yahoo! leagues last season.
DeMarco Murray: 5th Round (46th Pick)
According to projections, DeMarco Murray will fall outside of the NFL top 10 in both rushing TDs (23rd with 6.6) and yards (16th with 1,121).

Calling an Audible

With five subpar positions on Small but Mighty, DEF (9.3% below the league average at that spot) and K (8.3%) are projected as especially weak units.
The following undrafted players may be worth considering:

Pittsburgh Defense
Rank: 204 ADP: 132.68

Green Bay Defense
Rank: 208 ADP: 127.49

Sebastian Janikowski
Rank: 253 ADP: 116.35

Mike Nugent
Rank: 256 ADP: 143.38

Only time will tell to see if the projections are accurate. Will Greg have the best season? Will Nancy be the biggest scorer? Can Chris pull out a repeat of last year to claim this year's championship?

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Friday, September 20, 2013

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Who played who:

Projections:

Monday, September 2, 2013

george's guys Draft Report Card - George

In Spite of Some Early-Round Reaches, george's guys Looks to Have a Breakthrough Campaign

Draft Grade: B+

The Season Ahead

Draft Notes

Toyota Top Picks

1st Round (10th Pick)

2nd Round (11th Pick)

3rd Round (30th Pick)

4th Round (31st Pick)

5th Round (50th Pick)

Calling an Audible

Curley and Moe Draft Report Card - Nancy

Led by a Terrific Group of RBs, Curley and Moe Threatens as a Legitimate Title Contender

Draft Grade: B+

The Season Ahead

Draft Notes

Toyota Top Picks

1st Round (4th Pick)

2nd Round (17th Pick)

3rd Round (24th Pick)

4th Round (37th Pick)

5th Round (44th Pick)

Calling an Audible

SpectacularSpectacle Draft Report Card - Kara

With a Projected Finish of Seventh (5-9-0), SpectacularSpectacle Looks to Defy the Pundits

The Season Ahead

Draft Notes

Toyota Top Picks

1st Round (9th Pick)

2nd Round (12th Pick)

3rd Round (29th Pick)

4th Round (32nd Pick)

5th Round (49th Pick)

Calling an Audible

Eat My Turf Draft Report Card - Chris

Despite a Formidable Set of WRs, Eat My Turf Lands Closer to the Bottom Than the Top

Draft Grade: B

The Season Ahead

Draft Notes

Toyota Top Picks

1st Round (3rd Pick)

2nd Round (18th Pick)

3rd Round (23rd Pick)

4th Round (38th Pick)

5th Round (43rd Pick)

Calling an Audible

Root for the Tuber! Draft Report Card - Katie

Draft Grade: B

The Season Ahead

Draft Notes

Toyota Top Picks

1st Round (8th Pick)

2nd Round (13th Pick)

3rd Round (28th Pick)

4th Round (33rd Pick)

5th Round (48th Pick)

Calling an Audible

Tickle Tackle Draft Report Card - Greg

In Spite of Some Early-Round Reaches, Tickle Tackle Is Eying a Title

Draft Grade: B

The Season Ahead

Draft Notes

Toyota Top Picks

1st Round (2nd Pick)

2nd Round (19th Pick)

3rd Round (22nd Pick)

4th Round (39th Pick)

5th Round (42nd Pick)

Calling an Audible

Just my LUCK Draft Report Card - John

Draft Grade: B

The Season Ahead