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Okay, you whiners, and you know who you are. You're the guys who complain that they never had a chance to put together a good Fantasy Football team, because you had a lousy draft position and all the good players were taken. Alright, maybe you never got a shot at Drew Brees (like I did) or Chris Johnson, but that's no reason to complain. (Actually, you may recall that the biggest complainer on draft day did get Chris Johnson.) The fact of the matter is that whatever your draft position, you had the chance to draft a totally bitchin' team. And just to prove my point, I've assembled said team for you. Here it is: The Team that Anybody Could have Drafted.
Round 1: Maurice Jones-Drew - There were two roster choices that proved to be difficult, and this was one of them. I considered Aaron Rodgers for this slot as well, but decided that you lose more by passing on Jones-Drew than Rodgers. MJD had the second highest fantasy total at running back this year, and while he was actually drafted in Round 1, he was the last pick of the round. Which means that anybody could have taken him in the first round. Round 2: Andre Johnson - Andre finished the regular season with the second highest point total among wide receivers. And he was the last pick of Round 2, which means anybody in the league could have taken him that round. Round 3: Matt Schaub - Yes, Matt Schaub. Matt finished the regular season fourth among QBs. And continuing the trend of picking guys who are just barely eligible to make their slot on this list, Schaub was the very last pick of Round 3. Round 4: Brett Favre - Wait, am I looking at the 1995 list? No, this is right. The former New York Jet is only about two points behind Schaub in one of his best seasons ever. Taken in Round 5. Round 5: Eagles Defense - The Eagles' defense/special teams have the most points of any DST in the league, having generated 36 sacks, 32 turnovers, and 6 touchdowns (including returns). And they were taken in Round 6, which means you could have had them in Round 5. Round 6: Ray Rice - Who needs goal line carries when you can score from thirty yards out? Rice has more yards from scrimmage than anyone except Chris Johnson. He was drafted in Round 7. Round 7: DeSean Jackson - DeSean is the top point-getter among wide receivers, thanks in large part to his eight touchdowns of 50 yards or more. And that's having missed a game. Jackson was drafted in Round 8. Round 8: Vernon Davis - The perennially disappointing Davis was finally undrafted this year, just in time to explode into the top scorer at tight end. Of course, you may recall that early in the season he didn't score particularly well. However, we have that covered... Round 9: Owen Daniels - True, Daniels is on injured reserve and hasn't played since week 8. But at the time he suffered his injury he was the top scoring tight end in the league. And for the second half of the season, you've got Davis. Daniels was taken in round 10. Round 10: Saints Defense - 37 turnovers and 8 touchdowns? Holy crap! The Saints are fourth in Fantasy Points, and went undrafted this year. Round 11: Fred Jackson - This was the other tough choice. It's really a toss-up between Jackson and Percy Harvin. I just picked Jackson because running backs tend to be more precious than wide receivers. Anyway, in spite of the Marshawn Lynch period in the middle of the season, Jackson has the 12th most fantasy points of any RB in the NFL. Not bad for the man one spot away from Mr. Irrelevant in this year's draft. (Harvin was taken in the 12th, incidentally.) Round 12: Miles Austin - Austin is currently third among wide receivers in fantasy points, in spite of starting the season on the bench. Austin was as undrafted as he was unappreciated at the beginning of the season. Round 13: David Akers - You need a kicker. Akers has been the highest scorer this year. He was drafted in round 14. Round 14: Ricky Williams - "By 2009, Ricky Williams will be an elite fantasy running back again. Mark my words." Do you remember who said that back in 2006? NOBODY, that's who. Nevertheless, Williams is sixth among running backs in fantasy points, and was undrafted. So there you have it. This could have been your draft this year. Yes, we would have been gaping at you in astonishment then. But we'd also be gaping at you in astonishment now, for an entirely different reason. |