One vacation.
One night.
Two leagues.
Two drafts. One starting 30 minutes after the other, even. I'm not 100% sure I can recommend this.
After two years of, frankly, dismal showings all around, I'm ready for a comeback to reclaim my mediocre-at-best turf, and Sunday night was when the seeds were planted.
This'll be my seventh year in the aPa league, which Ska said has been running for 10 years now. It's a little smaller than it's been in past years - 24 teams this time around instead of 26. But we're still doing the separate leagues with an overall championship at the end. We do serpentine draft order, and I got the 6/7 spot, right smack in the middle.
Being off on Sunday, I figured I'd actually show up for the drafts for the first time in several years, which hasn't gone all that well in the past. But I feel good about the aPa version of the New Jersey Seagulls:
Round 1: QB Drew Brees - I actually missed myself making this pick since by the time I got into Yahoo (8:03, mind you), the second round had already started. Seriously, that may have been the fastest first round in league history. Anyway, as to the pick, I'd have done the same thing. Brees has turned into a fantasy beast in New Orleans, and this year should be no exception, especially given the way our scoring system values quarterbacks.
Round 2: WR Andre Johnson - Remember how last year everyone, including me, finally realized just how good Larry Fitzgerald was? I feel like Johnson's the next guy that football fans will see and go, "Whoa!" Dude caught 115 balls last year.
Round 3: RB Ronnie Brown - Had Jet not taken Reggie Bush right before me, he would've been the pick because he's huge in our scoring system and I think the hype around Pierre Thomas is mostly that. As for Brown, he's the Dolphins' best offensive player and was the first guy to become really dangerous in the Wildcat.
Round 4: RB Willie Parker - I'm expecting a bounce-back year from the Steelers' speedster even with Rashard Mendenhall healthy and searching for a role in the offense.
Round 5: TE Dallas Clark - Tight ends went a little earlier than usual this year. A few years ago I said the new pass defense rules would really help tight ends and that's borne out. Even with all the guys the Colts have, Clark still gets his. I thought about DeSean Jackson in this spot but passed, and he ended up going two picks before I chose...
Round 6: WR Hines Ward - Another Steeler. He's still the main man in Pittsburgh's passing attack.
By about this time it was 8:30 and time for Rob's JackSux draft to start. The name is an homage to his long-ago former place of employment, and it's the sixth season on Yahoo and eighth overall. He wasn't there, but he was texting his younger brother throughout the night. The last few years we've had eight teams, and I got the same relative draft spot as in the aPa league - the 4/5 slot. We had 16 rounds this year.
Round 1: RB Michael Turner - "The Burner" will still be the focal point of the possibly still-resurgent Falcons' attack. I thought about Brees here but passed.
Round 7: RB Willis McGahee - Third running back.
Round 2: QB Peyton Manning - Not only do I not predict a drop-off, but I wouldn't put it past Peyton to have been sandbagging everyone throughout minicamp season with his "worries" about the offensive changes.
Round 8: Time for backups! QB Carson Palmer - Yes, really. Though I'm still convinced he was freezing out Chad last season (before he got hurt again) 85's antics are somewhat to blame for his plummet to the eighth round and backup status.
Round 3: WR Reggie Wayne - Daily double! Had an off year by his standards last year, but is now officially the lead dog in the Colts' passing game.
Round 9: TE Greg Olsen - The good news for this guy is the Bears finally have a quarterback but still no wide receivers. People have been waiting for him to break out, and reports are he has great chemistry with Cutler.
Round 4: WR Wes Welker - I feel like this guy's rise from "useful return specialist" to "actually had more catches than Randy Moss during the Pats' undefeated run to the Super Bowl" hasn't been talked about enough. He's the evolutionary Wayne Chrebet.
Round 10: WR Deion Branch - Who knows with this guy anymore. If he's right he's probably my main flex guy. If not, he's bench fodder.
Round 5: RB Joseph Addai - Daily... triple? I have an awful lot of Colts. I got stuck on this pick for a while trying to decide between about five guys. It hurts my flexibility a little but I'll deal with it.
Round 11: Minnesota DEF/ST. - Hopefully kick coverage won't count against me.
Round 6: TE Tony Gonzalez - Starting over in Atlanta, he'll give Matt Ryan an end-zone threat.
Round 12: K Ryan Longwell - Dome kicker!
Round 7: QB Donovan McNabb - Obligatory homer pick who can step in if it turns out Peyton was telling the truth. He'd be happy to know I drafted him one spot ahead of Terrell Owens, who I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole this season. Seriously, I don't trust him AT ALL.
Round 13: WR Kevin Curtis - Obligatory homer pick.
Round 8: WR Anthony Gonzalez - Seriously, I'd better hope the Colts will be all right. Fun note: I have both Tony and Anthony Gonzalez.
Round 14: RB Justin Fargas - We really are down in the dregs now.
Round 9: RB Willie Parker - Really? I just realized I got him five rounds later than I did in the aPa draft.
Round 15: WR Davone Bess - Who? I dunno. He's a second-year guy on the Dolphins who some pundits seem to like.
I really like my running back depth, which you absolutely have to have in this league. Palmer could be a potential steal in the 8th round if everything breaks right for the Bengals' offense. I expect Branch and Curtis to bounce back to give me serviceable WR depth.
Round 10: K Ryan Longwell - Yes, again.
Round 11: WR DeSean Jackson - Could have a bigger year as a receiver this season.
Round 12: San Diego DEF/ST - Shawne Merriman's back. That's all you need to know. I actually almost took Seagulls mainstay Chris Cooley here (and probably should've, since I don't have a backup TE and Rob's brother snagged him with the next pick.)
Round 13: WR Laveranues Coles - Another long-time Seagull who's helped me out for years. Will be interesting to see how he does in his new home at the Ochocinco Circus.
Round 14: RB Darren Sproles - Return yards! Plus if Tomlinson really is washed up he immediately becomes the guy.
Round 15: WR Steve Breaston - More return yards!
Round 16: WR Donald Driver - Potentially great value in this spot.
A good overall squad, I think. I may have some bye-week issues, having so many sets of teammates, but I've got a lot of proven fantasy talent and a few rising studs with breakout potential.
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