Hogs Haven 2014 Writer's Fantasy Football Draft Recap

The NFL returns in full force today, and with it so too does fantasy football.  Fantasy football takes on added importance and meaning when you're a fan of a team like the Redskins (or any DC-based sports team for that matter). Your fantasy team is the one team that you feel like actually has a chance to win a championship every year.

To help ease our pain, the Hogs Haven staff decided to start their own fantasy league.  The draft was held this past Monday, and I'm here today to share the results with you.  Before we dive into the draft itself, take a look at the league setup and my overview of the draft breakdown below.

Format, Scores and Settings

• Draft Type: Standard Snake Draft
• Site: Yahoo
• Date: 9/1/14
• Scoring: Half-Point (.5) PPR
• League Size: 12 Teams
• Pass TDs/Ints: 4 points for TDs and -1 for ints
• Playoffs: weeks 14-16, 6 teams w/ 2 byes
• Roster Size: 16
• Roster: QB, WR, WR, RB, RB, TE, W/R/T, K, DEF, BN x7
• Fractional/Negative Points: Yes/Yes
• Bonus Points: None
• Waivers: Game Time-Tuesday, continual rolling list

I broke the draft down into four parts: the Early Rounds, the Middle Rounds, the Late Rounds and Defenses/Kickers/Fliers.  For each part, I pointed out some of the best values and biggest reaches according to consensus player ADP (average draft position) and the Expert Consensus Rankings, or ECR (all ADP and ECR data is from Fantasypros.com).  I also list a few of my favorite and least favorite picks for each section of the draft.

The ECR data is probably the best barometer of how good or bad any one pick was; whereas, the ADP data helps us to see where a player probably could or should have fallen to.  Consensus ADP data was only available for standard scoring formats, so standard scoring ECR was also used to stay consistent.  This league uses .5 PPR scoring, so just keep in mind that some WR and TE reaches may not be as poor as they appear.

The Early Rounds

	Round 1			Round 2			Round 3			Round 4
1	Adrian Peterson	Bernhard Samuel	1	Drew Brees	Mark Tyler	1	Julius Thomas	Bernhard Samuel	1	Andre Johnson	Mark Tyler
2	LeSean McCoy	Justin Byram	2	Peyton Manning	Mike Harar	2	Zac Stacy	Justin Byram	2	Ryan Mathews	Mike Harar
3	Eddie Lacy	Ken Meringolo	3	Montee Ball	James Dorsett	3	Robert Griffin III	Ken Meringolo	3	Rob Gronkowski	James Dorsett
4	Jamaal Charles	Steve Shoup	4	Aaron Rodgers	Hog Hunter	4	Alfred Morris	Steve Shoup	4	Rashad Jennings	Hog Hunter
5	Julio Jones	Marc Shea	5	Doug Martin	Alex Rowsy	5	Arian Foster	Marc Shea	5	Matthew Stafford	Alex Rowsy
6	Matt Forte	Sean Patterson	6	Brandon Marshall	Matthew Rhodes	6	Keenan Allen	Sean Patterson	6	Pierre Garcon	Matthew Rhodes
7	Calvin Johnson	Matthew Rhodes	7	Alshon Jeffery	Sean Patterson	7	Shane Vereen	Matthew Rhodes	7	Reggie Bush	Sean Patterson
8	Marshawn Lynch	Alex Rowsy	8	Antonio Brown	Marc Shea	8	Le'Veon Bell	Alex Rowsy	8	Andrew Luck	Marc Shea
9	Demaryius Thomas	Hog Hunter	9	DeMarco Murray	Steve Shoup	9	Toby Gerhart	Hog Hunter	9	Roddy White	Steve Shoup
10	Dez Bryant	James Dorsett	10	Giovani Bernard	Ken Meringolo	10	Michael Floyd	James Dorsett	10	Percy Harvin	Ken Meringolo
11	Jimmy Graham	Mike Harar	11	Andre Ellington	Justin Byram	11	Randall Cobb	Mike Harar	11	Victor Cruz	Justin Byram
12	A.J. Green	Mark Tyler	12	Jordy Nelson	Bernhard Samuel	12	C.J. Spiller	Mark Tyler	12	Larry Fitzgerald	Bernhard Samuel

• Best ADP Values: Larry Fitzgerald (selected 13 picks below average by Bernhard), Arian Foster (11 below average by Marc)
• Biggest ADP Reaches: Robert Griffin III (44 picks above average by Ken), Shane Vereen (23 picks above average by Hog Hunter)
  
• Best Values by ECR: DeMarco Murray and Roddy White (both selected 9 picks below ECR by Steve)
• Biggest Reaches by ECR: Robert Griffin III (57 picks above ECR by Ken), Drew Brees (15 picks above ECR by Mike)
• Picks I Liked: Jordy Nelson (2.12 by Bernhard), DeMarco Murray (2.09 by Steve), Rob Gronkowski (4.03 by me)
  
• Picks I Didn't Like: The aforementioned QBs by Ken and Mike

Getting DeMarco Murray and Roddy White in the late 2nd and 4th rounds respectively could prove to be steals for Steve.  Bernhard appears to have gotten white guy and injury discounts with his excellent pickup of Jordy Nelson at the end of the second round.  Over the last several years, Nelson has been a top 3 receiver when both he and Rodgers have been in on the field.  I won't talk about many of mine own picks, but snagging Gronk at pick 39 needs to be discussed.  There is certainly some inherent injury risk there, but when healthy, Gronk has outperformed Jimmy Graham on a per game basis.  Getting him this late could prove to be a league winning pick for me even if he can only play 75% of his games at roughly the same rate of his normal effectiveness.

What can we really say about Ken picking Robert Griffin III in the third round other than "of course he did."  Actually there are a few more things.  Ken could have just as easily made this splashy homer pick in the 5th round right after Stafford and Luck were selected.  All of the numbers indicate that this was clearly the biggest skill position reach in the entire draft.

Quarterbacks really shouldn't be going in the first couple of rounds in fantasy drafts in general.  The position has been deep for years, there is one only starting roster spot for QBs and scoring for the position is by far more predictable than it is for RB, WR and TE.  With only 4 points for passing TDs, 1 point for every 25 yards and .5 PPR scoring, this league devalues the QB position even more.  You shouldn't even consider going QB early in drafts unless there is 6 point passing TDs and standard scoring.  Quarterback is by far the most important position in the NFL, but  despite how much people may want it to be, it is just simply not that important in fantasy football.

The Middle Rounds

	Round 5			Round 6			Round 7			Round 8
1	Cordarrelle Patterson	Bernhard Samuel	1	Zach Ertz	Mark Tyler	1	Trent Richardson	Bernhard Samuel	1	Stevan Ridley	Mark Tyler
2	Vincent Jackson	Justin Byram	2	Julian Edelman	Mike Harar	2	Jason Witten	Justin Byram	2	Pierre Thomas	Mike Harar
3	DeSean Jackson	Ken Meringolo	3	Torrey Smith	James Dorsett	3	Cam Newton	Ken Meringolo	3	Eric Decker	James Dorsett
4	Matt Ryan	Steve Shoup	4	Kyle Rudolph	Hog Hunter	4	Greg Olsen	Steve Shoup	4	Rueben Randle	Hog Hunter
5	Jordan Cameron	Marc Shea	5	Reggie Wayne	Alex Rowsy	5	Mike Wallace	Marc Shea	5	Colin Kaepernick	Alex Rowsy
6	Frank Gore	Sean Patterson	6	Chris Johnson	Matthew Rhodes	6	Jay Cutler	Sean Patterson	6	Jordan Reed	Matthew Rhodes
7	Joique Bell	Matthew Rhodes	7	Golden Tate	Sean Patterson	7	Nick Foles	Matthew Rhodes	7	Carlos Hyde	Sean Patterson
8	Vernon Davis	Alex Rowsy	8	Lamar Miller	Marc Shea	8	Marques Colston	Alex Rowsy	8	Andy Dalton	Marc Shea
9	Michael Crabtree	Hog Hunter	9	Jeremy Maclin	Steve Shoup	9	Brandin Cooks	Hog Hunter	9	Seattle	Steve Shoup
10	Ben Tate	James Dorsett	10	Emmanuel Sanders	Ken Meringolo	10	Fred Jackson	James Dorsett	10	DeAndre Hopkins	Ken Meringolo
11	T.Y. Hilton	Mike Harar	11	Tom Brady	Justin Byram	11	Maurice Jones-Drew	Mike Harar	11	New England	Justin Byram
12	Bishop Sankey	Mark Tyler	12	Ray Rice	Bernhard Samuel	12	Terrance Williams	Mark Tyler	12	Kendall Wright	Bernhard Samuel

• Best ADP Values: Nick Foles (26 picks below average by Matthew), Seattle (37 picks below average by Steve)
  
• Biggest ADP Reaches: Lamar Miller (47 picks above average by Marc Shea), Zach Ertz (39 picks above average by Mark Tyler)
  
• Best Values by ECR: Kendall Wright (30 picks below ECR by Bernhard), Mike Wallace (20 picks below ECR by Marc Shea)
• Biggest Reaches by ECR: Zach Ertz (41 picks above ECR by Mark Tyler), New England (88 picks above ranking by Justin)
  
• Picks I Liked: Vincent Jackson (5.02 by Justin), Marquess Colston (7.08 by Alex) Jordan Reed (8.06 by Matthew)
  
• Picks I Didn't Like: Andy Dalton (8.08 by Marc Shea)

Snagging Vincent Jackson in the 5th was excellent value pick by Justin, as was the Colston pick for Alex in the 7th round.  I think I've already established how much I love Jordan Reed here and here, so I don't think I need to expound on my admiration for Matthew's 8th Round selection.

Mark got "his guy" when he selected Zach Ertz in the 6th round, but I really don't think he needed to reach that early to acquire Ertz.  Andy Dalton (aka the Red Rifle) is actually an underrated fantasy QB, but I just can't give a stamp of approval for this pick.  Taking him both in the 8th round and with Romo and Wilson still on the board is just too much of a stretch for me.  Defenses really should not be going at all before the 12th round.  I personally would never take one before the 14th or 15th round.  They are just too unpredictable from year-to-year and too easy to replace on a weekly basis.

The Late Rounds

	Round 9			Round 10			Round 11			Round 12
1	Bernard Pierce	Bernhard Samuel	1	Knowshon Moreno	Mark Tyler	1	Ryan Tannehill	Bernhard Samuel	1	Kansas City	Mark Tyler
2	Stephen Gostkowski	Justin Byram	2	Detroit	Mike Harar	2	Justin Hunter	Justin Byram	2	Riley Cooper	Mike Harar
3	Antonio Gates	Ken Meringolo	3	Jeremy Hill	James Dorsett	3	Dwayne Bowe	Ken Meringolo	3	Travis Kelce	James Dorsett
4	Adam Vinatieri	Steve Shoup	4	Andre Williams	Hog Hunter	4	Mike Evans	Steve Shoup	4	Dan Bailey	Hog Hunter
5	Carolina	Marc Shea	5	Sammy Watkins	Alex Rowsy	5	Mason Crosby	Marc Shea	5	Danny Amendola	Alex Rowsy
6	Philip Rivers	Sean Patterson	6	Steven Hauschka	Matthew Rhodes	6	Danny Woodhead	Sean Patterson	6	Brian Hartline	Matthew Rhodes
7	San Francisco	Matthew Rhodes	7	Dennis Pitta	Sean Patterson	7	Markus Wheaton	Matthew Rhodes	7	Devonta Freeman	Sean Patterson
8	Steven Jackson	Alex Rowsy	8	St. Louis	Marc Shea	8	Anquan Boldin	Alex Rowsy	8	Ladarius Green	Marc Shea
9	Cecil Shorts III	Hog Hunter	9	Tony Romo	Steve Shoup	9	Jordan Matthews	Hog Hunter	9	Terrance West	Steve Shoup
10	Mark Ingram	James Dorsett	10	Houston	Ken Meringolo	10	Ben Roethlisberger	James Dorsett	10	Darren McFadden	Ken Meringolo
11	Kelvin Benjamin	Mike Harar	11	Russell Wilson	Justin Byram	11	Justin Tucker	Mike Harar	11	LeGarrette Blount	Justin Byram
12	Wes Welker	Mark Tyler	12	Carson Palmer	Bernhard Samuel	12	Darren Sproles	Mark Tyler	12	Jarrett Boykin	Bernhard Samuel

• Best ADP Values: Wes Welker (45 picks below average by Mark Tyler), Tony Romo (38 picks below average by Steve)
  
• Biggest ADP Reaches: Jordan Matthews (72 picks above average by Hog Hunter), Antonio Gates (37 picks above average by Ken)
  
• Best Values by ECR: Tony Romo (46 picks below ECR by Steve), Steven Jackson (34 picks below ECR by Alex)
• Biggest Reaches by ECR: Antonio Gates (46 picks above ECR by Ken), Adam Vinatieri (154 picks above ECR by Steve)
  
• Picks I Liked: Kelvin Benjamin (9.11 by Mike), Knowshon Moreno (10.01 by Mark Tyler), Dennis Pitta (10.07 by Sean), Ladarius Green (12.08 by Marc Shea)
  
• Picks I Didn't Like: San Francisco (9.07 by Matthew), Mark Ingram (9.10 by me)

Getting Kelvin Benjamin at the tail end of the 9th round was a great pick by Mike.  I picked him to win the offensive rookie of the year award in my Hogs Haven 2014 predictions piece.  The late-round tight end strategy was one of my favorites this year, and Sean and Marc got two good ones late in Dennis Pitta and Ladarius Green.

Green was a good pick for some of the same reasons that Gates was a bad one.  Gates likely won't have to wait long to get his invitation to Canton, but at 34 years old most of his on-the-field glories are in the past and not the future.  Look for Green to take reins at some point this season.  Again, you really don't want to be going "defense" this early, but if you do, you should try to get a good one.  San Francisco has lost about half of it's front seven to injury and suspensions, and the secondary isn't going to do enough to make up for those losses.

My biggest mistake in this draft was probably going with Mark Ingram and Jeremy Hill in the 9th and 10th rounds.  It's not that I don't like them, but rather that this was the time for me to pull the trigger on a QB and I didn't do it.  I would've selected Knowshown Moreno in the ninth had I known that he was there, and when I saw him get picked, I panicked and took Hill in the 11th in an attempt to buttress my RB corps and to somehow correct my mistake.  I have no problem rolling with Roesthlisberger for now, but I may very well make a trade to get the QB position where I want it to be.  However, the important thing for everyone (myself included) to remember is that: quarterbacks just aren't that important in fantasy.

Defenses, Kickers and Fliers

	Round 13			Round 14			Round 15			Round 16
1	Andrew Hawkins	Bernhard Samuel	1	Tyler Eifert	Mark Tyler	1	Washington	Bernhard Samuel	1	Kai Forbath	Mark Tyler
2	Hakeem Nicks	Justin Byram	2	Steve Smith Sr.	Mike Harar	2	Arizona	Justin Byram	2	Alex Smith	Mike Harar
3	Charles Clay	Ken Meringolo	3	Kenny Britt	James Dorsett	3	Baltimore	Ken Meringolo	3	Robbie Gould	James Dorsett
4	Martellus Bennett	Steve Shoup	4	Marvin Jones	Hog Hunter	4	Nick Novak	Steve Shoup	4	Brandon LaFell	Hog Hunter
5	Chris Ivory	Marc Shea	5	Delanie Walker	Alex Rowsy	5	Blair Walsh	Marc Shea	5	Matt Bryant	Alex Rowsy
6	Denver	Sean Patterson	6	Josh McCown	Matthew Rhodes	6	Philadelphia	Sean Patterson	6	James Jones	Matthew Rhodes
7	Shonn Greene	Matthew Rhodes	7	Greg Jennings	Sean Patterson	7	Ahmad Bradshaw	Matthew Rhodes	7	Shaun Suisham	Sean Patterson
8	DeAngelo Williams	Alex Rowsy	8	Aaron Dobson	Marc Shea	8	Chicago	Alex Rowsy	8	Jerricho Cotchery	Marc Shea
9	Cincinnati	Hog Hunter	9	Kenny Stills	Steve Shoup	9	Tim Wright	Hog Hunter	9	Buffalo	Steve Shoup
10	Jonathan Stewart	James Dorsett	10	James Starks	Ken Meringolo	10	Tampa Bay	James Dorsett	10	Greg Zuerlein	Ken Meringolo
11	Heath Miller	Mike Harar	11	Garrett Graham	Justin Byram	11	James White	Mike Harar	11	Dan Carpenter	Justin Byram
12	Joe Flacco	Mark Tyler	12	Phil Dawson	Bernhard Samuel	12	Tavon Austin	Mark Tyler	12	Derek Carr	Bernhard Samuel

I'm just going to list some of the picks that I liked here, because it's hard to really consider anything a reach or a bad value when you're this late in the draft.

• Picks I Liked: Martellus Bennett (13.04 by Steve), DeAngelo Williams (13.08 by Alex), Heath Miller (13.11 by Mike), Greg Jennings (14.07 by Sean) and Ahmad Bradshaw (15.07 by Matthew)

Below you can see how our final rosters came out.  How did we do?  What were the biggest reaches, values and steals in your opinion?  Who has the best team?  Let us hear your thoughts on our teams and yours in the comments section.