1. What was your general strategy and did you get to execute it? This was my first draft of any kind of the year, so mostly I didn’t want any major screw-ups. Mission… failed. I had a brain cramp at the 4th/5th round turn, didn’t watch the clock, couldn’t find Carson Palmer in the draft list and got two auto-picks. And this is why we mock draft in the pre-season. Seriously though, my typical strategy is follow the tiers on my cheat sheets, draft a strong balanced team rather than go too heavy at RB, particularly in a less than 12-team league and draft value and upside in the late rounds. From the #1 spot, debate L.T. vs. A.P. and see what falls to me from there. Did I execute it? Not bad considering the 4th/5th round gaffe.

2. What did you like the most about your draft? You’ve got to love having the #1 pick in a re-draft. It is so much more advantageous than drafting from the backend of the first round, it is surprising auctions are not more popular than they are already getting. A.P. vs. L.T., you can’t really go wrong. You can snag a top WR plus another top player at the 3.01 (I got Maurice Jones-Drew), and probably still get a top QB and WR in the 4th/5th. That is ridiculous value for your picks from the #1 spot.

3. What did you like the least? Easy - the auto-select picks in the 4th/5th. My own fault of course, but it is what I liked the least. The picks were supposed to be Carson Palmer and Calvin Johnson. I would never draft Jamal Lewis in any league. He had a great year last year, but he’s one of those players who I’ve never owned, so I certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable drafting him coming off his best year since 2003. It is a very low percentage play that he is going to justify his draft position.

4. Who was your best value? Another pretty easy question to answer - Julius Jones drafted in the 9th round. It’s not like I’m in love with Julius Jones’ prospects, and I certainly didn’t need another RB at that point in the draft, but as the last remaining starting RB on an overall good offensive team, Jones is a great value here. Maurice Morris is next to nothing. T.J. Duckett? Uh, no. When I think of Julius Jones I can’t help but think of a certain late bloomer RB who turned into solid value starting in his 5th year in the league. He just happens to be Julius’ brother, Thomas.

5. Who was your biggest reach? It was going to be Calvin Johnson at the 5.01, and I would have loved to explain why he was a reach but a worthwhile risk at that point in the draft. Instead let’s go with Lee Evans at the 7.01 as a small reach. The guy is talented but inconsistent (even for a WR), no two ways about it, and therefore a much more worthy WR3 than WR2.

6. Which player(s) did you covet, but were already picked? Reggie Wayne. I knew I wouldn’t get him drafting from the #1 spot, but this guy is money. Loved him last year and drafted him as often as possible. I do not anticipate a change this year. Chris Cooley. Once he started dropping in the draft into the 8th round he became an amazing value and I hoped beyond hope we would last a little longer to my pick. It didn’t happen.

7. Rank the top 4 teams (not including yours) and give a brief explanation why?

Every team tends to look good post-draft in a 10-team league. In no particular order, I prefer:

Husky Jerks - Highest projected total and starter fantasy points according to Draft Buddy.

Team Marx - Wow, check out the WR on this team. I’m not bullish on Derek Anderson, but the Thomas Jones pick was a brilliant tactical move.

Kilroy - Great WR, excellent RB1 and nice value at QB.

Wildman - This guy was apparently not on his first mock draft of the season.

Coxsackie Virus Pos. Player Bye Team Acquired QB Tony Romo 10 DAL R3 P2 QB Vince Young 6 TEN R12 P9 RB LaDainian Tomlinson 9 SD R1 P2 RB Matt Forte 8 CHI R4 P9 RB Rashard Mendenhall 6 PIT R7 P2 RB Deuce McAllister 9 NO R10 P9 RB Ladell Betts 10 WAS R11 P2 WR T.J Houshmandzadeh 8 CIN R2 P9 WR Santonio Holmes 6 PIT R6 P9 WR Ronald Curry 5 OAK R8 P9 WR Donald Driver 8 GB R9 P2 WR Darrell Jackson 8 DEN R15 P2 TE Antonio Gates 9 SD R5 P2 TE Jeremy Shockey 4 NYG R13 P2 K Neil Rackers 7 ARI R16 P9 DEF Dallas Cowboys 10 DAL R14 P9

Team Name: Coxsackie Virus
Owner Name: Antonio D’Arcangelis
Draft Spot: 1.02

1. What was your general strategy and did you get to execute it? I nearly always draft based on a combined draft value- and target-based system – focusing on taking some of the best players available. I also like to cover my bases at each position but nearly always draft multiple (4-5) RBs with high ceilings – even if we’re only starting two. With the second pick, it was relatively easy to execute this strategy because I started with LaDainian Tomlinson (would’ve been Adrian Peterson if LT had gone first) and then focused on getting a quality, consistent playmaker at WR if the value was no longer there at RB. I almost always take RB, WR and QB or RB, QB and WR – in that order – and I did it again here. It’s always been a successful formula for me. And while I understand this mock won’t get played out with actual team management, I almost always try to stack my teams with guys who will have trade value at some point in the season – so I stuck to that philosophy and drafted accordingly.

2. What did you like the most about your draft? I executed my typical draft style nearly perfectly, but added a TE s at a time I normally wouldn’t – since the value of Antonio Gates was so good in Round 5. Would Gates have snaked his way up to me in Round 6? No way. Was there more value at RB and WR at that point? Possibly. But I did a good job filling out those positions with big-ceiling guys and possible trade fodder. I got McAllister and Betts in Rounds 10 and 11, and either one of these guys could end up with 900 yards and 6 or 7 scores should Bush and/or Portis succumb to injury or ineffectiveness. I also like getting the Cowboys – as long as fantasy playmaker extraordinaire Pacman Jones isn’t responsible for murdering that nice lady. It’s also worth mentioning that I drafted an Antonio and a Santonio, which makes this Antonio happy, if not jubilant.

3. What did you like the least? I know a lot of folks will probably say this – but there’s not a ton of things I think I would’ve done differently. Darrell Jackson is nearing the end of his career, drops a lot of balls and could put up a goose egg for me in that run-heavy system – but Cutler might need a veteran to latch onto and, after all, he was a Round 15 selection. I took a shot on Javon Walker early last year and it really cost me, so I’m shell-shocked a bit when it comes to Denver WRs. I wanted Cotchery and could’ve drafted him before either Curry (also could bust on me) or Driver, but without the backing of a PPR system, the Jets’ possession receiver is no guarantee to produce on a weekly basis.

4. Who was your best value? I think it will end up being Santonio Holmes with the second-to-last pick in Round 6, Mendenhall in Round 7 or Driver in early Round 9. One of the WRs is going to put up borderline Pro Bowl numbers and neither is my #1 at the position. Holmes is ready to be a solid #2 fantasy WR and Driver – as many astute colleagues pointed out – could continue to produce impressive number for another season. Mendenhall could end up being the starter and racking up 8-10 scores or more – even if he doesn’t get the majority of carries the first 10 weeks.

5. Who was your biggest reach? It was probably Matt Forte in Round 4 – when Jamal Lewis, Reggie Bush, Edge James and a few other more proven veteran backs were available. But I like RBs with speed, balance and big ceilings…and I read Matt Waldman religiously. The Bears will have to run the football this season to succeed and they improved their offensive line on draft day. I don’t think Captain Cedric is a threat and AP (Original Recipe) isn’t the answer. So I reached – and I’m okay with it.

6. Which player(s) did you covet, but were already picked? Like I said, I almost always add Cotchery in PPRs, and I love snagging Lee Evans late and sitting on him for the first eight weeks. I wanted Marion Barber and Marshawn Lynch, too – but there’s no real way to get them if you’re drafting second in a snake. Oh well.

7. Rank the top 4 teams (not including yours) and give a brief explanation why?

Compiler Guy - He’s got RBs with huge upside, consistency at quarterback and quality veteran WRs who produce well on a matchup-to-matchup basis. He’s also got a top defense that doesn’t yield many points. He may be a little weak at WR#2, but like I said – matchup management and/or trading Reggie Bush or Jamal Lewis could easily handle that if it becomes an issue.

Mack 1 - Mix in a QB with something to prove, a cannon arm and a somewhat-refurbished O-line, a fantasy backup coming off a Super Bowl win – who can easily pick up the reins if Palmer struggles, solid week-to-week RB options, two study receivers and a top-scoring TE, and you’ve almost got a playoff guarantee. WR#3 is a bit weak, but management and matchups can work wonders for that slot.

The Prototype - Manning could once again be the top fantasy QB, the WRs offer a lot of upside in Colston, Williams and Rice (even if Harrison doesn’t come back with a vengeance) and S-Jax and the McFadden/Vargas combo (starting whomever emerges as the guy) should be formidable from week to week. There are no guarantees with this lineup, but it’s a valiant draft strategy that could pay off big.

Wildman - Drafting McNabb in Round 7 is a questionable move, but not if you back him up in Round 12 with Jon Kitna. Circa late ’07, the running backs would be highly desirable, but I’m not sure if Grant holds up to the test of a full season and Clinton Portis is always stretcher-ready. He got his guy in Kevin Smith, his WRs are a B+, and he’s got the Ravens. If he wasn’t Waldman, he might not have earned the top 4, but there is method to his madness and I think I can see what he’s going for with this group.

1. What was your general strategy and did you get to execute it? Each year, within reason, I find myself leaning more towards selecting the best player on the board. The more I play this great game, the more I learn that regret is not a place where I like to live. When owners follow a predetermined path of filling certain positions early, they can pigeon-hole themselves into reaching at a certain spot in a draft to fill out their roster, instead of letting a player fall into their lap. With the exception of Cooley and possibly Moss, I felt I did a good job of following through on that plan.

2. What did you like the most about your draft? Landing at least one potential top-five player at each position across the board.

3. What did you like the least? Just missing out on Donald Driver or Joey Galloway in the ninth round.

4. Who was your best value? Manning. Getting a player who usually is selected midway through the first round late in the second represents incredible value.

5. Who was your biggest reach? Moss. While I'm not sure I can go wrong with a player of Moss' talent in the ninth round, I was caught hoping that either Galloway or Driver would fall to me, which they did not. Moss is not a good fit for HC Jim Zorn's offense, but the Redskins lack explosive playmakers outside of Moss. His run-after-the-catch ability should remind his new coach of Bobby Engram, who caught 94 passes in a similar offense last season with Seattle. In the end, I'd be very surprised if Moss doesn't push the 1,000-yard receiving mark with about 5-6 TDs in an offense that will throw the ball more often than they did under Joe Gibbs.

6. Which player(s) did you covet, but were already picked? McGahee in the second and Driver and Galloway in the ninth

7. Rank the top 4 teams (not including yours) and give a brief explanation why?

Mack 1 - Solid team throughout. I bypassed Addai with my first pick because of the return of Dominic Rhodes, but I can't see Addai dipping all that much just because of Rhodes. I have McGahee rated right behind the first five RBs (LT, AD, Jackson, Westbrook and Addai), so for him to land two of the draft's top six RBs is pretty special. Andre Johnson and Burress are both injury risks while Vincent Jackson remains a question mark, but between Johnson and Burress, Mack should get #1 WR production from at least one WR each week.

Kilroy - I'm not exactly fond of his QB situation in a 10-team league, but everything else - especially his depth, looks rock-solid. He could legitimately have three 10-TD receivers to go along with 20 more TDs from his backfield if he can play the right matchups each week.

Compiler Guy - I can't really defend his selection of Peterson over LT, but it's also a pretty close call and a personal preference. However, after that, he is extremely deep at RB and should be able to use that to his benefit if/when he wants to upgrade the depth of his WR corps, which is possibly the only area that he is not set at right now. I'm not crazy about Owen Daniels at TE, but once again his ridiculous depth at RB should make that a non-issue.

Marx - With any luck, one of his four RBs will perform like a #1 RB, which would greatly complement his dynamic trio of starting WRs. While a critic could shoot some holes through each of his WRs (Randy Moss unlikely to repeat, Wayne dropping a bit in production with the possible return of Marvin Harrison and Steve Smith's - or his QB's - proneness to injury), the collection of all his talent should carry him far.

1. What was your general strategy and did you get to execute it? My strategy here was limited to the first three rounds and the last three rounds since in every single draft I've ever done, my strategy for mid to late rounds goes out the window. You just can't predict what your co-drafters might do, making strategy for the middle of the draft somewhat worthless to me. That said, I wanted to take an RB, WR, RB for the first three rounds and I did execute that move but nearly took Peyton Manning in the second round rather than my WR. In fact, I regret that decision but I'll get into that later. My strategy for the final three rounds is pretty standard, I think - take a DEF and a flyer in the 14th or 15th round and my kicker in the 16th round.

2. What did you like the most about your draft? I like my options at WR the best. I think Edwards and Welker are both set up for very solid years again in 2008; and while perhaps a little bit of a reach, Gonzalez and Crayton are both set to play opposite big time receivers, which in my mind will work to their benefit.

3. What did you like the least? I'm kicking myself for not taking Peyton in the 2nd round; if I had taken him then, I could've used the two QB spots that I used on Cutler and Garrard on some mid-round picks with great potential - like Santonio Holmes, Rashard Mendenhall or Darren McFadden in particular.

4. Who was your best value? Best value would either be Chris Brown (HOU) in the 13th round or Chester Taylor in the 10th round. If AP gets hurt again and misses a few games, I'd be right there waiting in the wings with Taylor, who certainly didn't have too shabby of a season in 2007.

5. Who was your biggest reach? Probably Anthony Gonzalez in the 7th round. I grabbed him right after two rookie RBs I wanted disappeared off the board so it was little less thought out, but I'm also gambling on Marvin Harrison not playing very much or very well this year - and I think Gonzalez is going to be en fuego when he's opposite Reggie Wayne. But that of course mostly hinges on Marvin Harrison's situation...

6. Which player(s) did you covet, but were already picked? As mentioned above, I would've really liked to draft a rookie RB like Mendenhall, McFadden or Stewart but Mendenhall and McFadden were both taken right before me in Round 7. Oh and I coveted Mason Crosby, too (yes, I coveted a kicker!), but I wasn't willing to take a kicker before round 16.

7. Rank the top 4 teams (not including yours) and give a brief explanation why?

Mack 1 - Fantastic RBs and QBs and there's a pretty solid core of WRs with Johnson and Burress; week 10 could be rough though with those RB bye weeks.

Team Marx - Look at the WRs, what's not to love? I also really like the RBs, but I have a bit of a thing for Maroney. And speaking of players I have a thing for, I like seeing Scheffler on this list. The one thing I'd change - I wish that second defense pick had been used on another RB; not sure I endorse drafting two Ds.

Compiler Guy - Great RBs, most of the WRs though make me a little nervous; QBs could be great, particularly if Delhomme has a strong recovery; Vikings defense is what seals the deal on this being a strong team.

Kilroy - Good team thanks to the WRs and Jags defense, but most of the RBs are in a committee situation, making them a bit risky. Though I do like the duo of Hasselbeck and Schaub, whom I think will be surprisingly impressive.

1. What was your general strategy and did you get to execute it? I had the #5 draft position, which is tailor-made for the strategy I employed: draft RB, RB, WR, WR, QB in that order. I’ve used this strategy to perfection the past several years in my drafts and have come away with a solid foundation of players. Typically it doesn’t work as well if one is drafting either at the top or bottom of the draft.

2. What did you like the most about your draft? I like the fact that my core players are solid and predictably productive performers. I also like the fact that, other than my kicker, no one on my squad is over 30 years old.

3. What did you like the least? I hated the fact that I stepped away from the computer for a second and missed my pick as a result. I was prepared to draft Julius Jones as my #3 RB in the 6th round, but the automatic draft function chose Earnest Graham instead.

4. Who was your best value? Dallas Clark, 7th round. I believe this year will solidify his position as the #2 receiving option on one of the most potent and consistent offenses of the last 25 years. Marvin Harrison is one year older and coming off a bum knee and Anthony Gonzalez is only in his second year, so it stands to reason that Clark will garner much attention from Peyton Manning under that scenario.

5. Who was your biggest reach? Earnest Graham, 6th round. As I mentioned above, the automatic draft function chose Graham in my temporary absence from the computer. I’m not a fan of Graham’s and wouldn’t feel too comfortable hoping that he duplicates his Herculean season from last year.

6. Which player(s) did you covet, but were already picked? Julius Jones in the 6th round for reasons mentioned above.

7. Rank the top 4 teams (not including yours) and give a brief explanation why?

The Prototype - Any team with Manning is dangerous; solid at RB, especially if Rudi Johnson returns to his 2004 – 2006 form; has three solid WRs (Colston, Roy Williams, Harrison), plus a versatile TE (Cooley). This team has no weakness at any position. 2 –

Team Mar - Has questions at QB (D. Anderson, Bulger) and his RBs outside of Maroney will not scare anyone, but his WRs are by far the best group in the league. The trio of Moss, Wayne and Steve Smith could win games single-handedly.

Compiler Guy - Roethlisberger should continue his upward trek and his WRs (Fitz, Evans) are solid, but he goes five deep at RB. Between A.P., J. Lewis, Bush, MJD and Julius Jones, the toughest part for the Compiler Guy will be deciding who to start.

SPUFF - Has questions at WR (Jennings, Roddy White, Chambers, Branch), but this team has a solid QB (Brees) and goes three deep at RB (L.J., Gore, FWP). Gore, I believe, will have a Marshall Faulk-type impact in 2008 and will carry any team he is on to many victories.

1. What was your general strategy and did you get to execute it? This being a 10-team draft, I wanted to stick by drafting the best player available rather than be in a position where I had to draft by need. For the most part I felt I was able to do that and was very pleased with my selections. Had this been a 12-teamer, I might have gone with selecting running backs with my first two picks.

2. What did you like the most about your draft? I'm pretty high on Marion Barber going into the season, and felt the sixth spot in the first round was a great place to land him. I would have considered grabbing him with a top five selection had I had one. I was a little worried about who I would have at QB as the draft progressed, but was happy with getting Hasselbeck where I did. I was also excited about Tony Gonzalez falling to me. Overall, I think I drafted a very balanced team without having to reach much to get any of the players I wanted.

3. What did you like the least? I wasn't thrilled with selecting Jacobs as my second running back, mainly because I think his size and running style lend itself to injuries. If he remains healthy though I think he'll have a great season. Also, while I was happy to get Hasselbeck where I did, I'm concerned his numbers may drop due to Mike Holmgren's focus on dramatically improving Seattle's rushing game this season. I know they won't be airing it out as much as they did the last two years.

4. Who was your best value? I was able to grab Edgerrin James in the sixth round. Not bad for a player that could serve as a starter on my team. I think he makes for a great back to rotate with Jacobs based on their match-up on a week-to-week basis. I also think getting Tony Gonzalez as the fifth tight end off the board in the seventh round was good value.

5. Who was your biggest reach? I drafted Calvin Johnson in the fifth round even though wide receivers such as Greg Jennings, Dwayne Bowe, Santonio Holmes, Roddy White, and Chris Chambers were still on the board. While I felt some of those receivers would have been safer selections, I didn't want to pass on the upside Calvin Johnson has and I didn't feel he'd be there if I waited another round to grab him.

6. Which player(s) did you covet, but were already picked? I had my eye on Michael Turner and Carson Palmer at the start of the fifth round, but both players were selected just before I had the chance, which led to me selecting Calvin Johnson during that round instead. I would have liked to get Clinton Portis too, but it seems his value is back where it belongs after many were willing to pass on him last season.

7. Rank the top 4 teams (not including yours) and give a brief explanation why:

Mack 1 - This is a solid team all-around. Palmer was disappointing last year, which is causing him to slip a bit in drafts. We all know the upside he comes with though. Having him paired with Eli Manning should make for a good situation.

Joseph Addai is clearly one of the top running backs, and I feel Willis McGahee is a strong candidate for a career year this season. Earnest Graham should make for a solid third option.

Andre Johnson and Plaxico Burress are two of the better receivers available. Vincent Jackson and Reggie Brown should be a solid rotation in the number three spot. The only thing that surprised me here was the selection of Dallas Clark ahead of Tony Gonzalez.

SPUFF - I think SPUFF has a solid team without any glaring weaknesses. His starting running backs (Larry Johnson, Frank Gore) could be guys that don't meet their potential, but not so much so that I would write them off before the season even begins. As long as they remain healthy, both would receive a heavy enough workload that they are bound to rank among the Top 15 or higher at the position.

Brees and Witten have him set at the QB and TE spots. I also think everyone of his wide receivers were great value picks, with the exception of Deion Branch, whose injury status concerns me. All of the others (Jennings, White, Chambers, Cotchery, Walker) could be used as part of a nice rotation.

Wildman - McNabb can be a headache to own from time-to-time in fantasy leagues, but now a full year removed from a torn ACL injury suffered in 2006, I think he'll play better than he had last season. If not, Jon Kitna should perform admirably with Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson as his primary targets.

I'm not as sold on Ryan Grant as others seem to be, but I'm not about to dismiss what he accomplished last season either. Clinton Portis is one of the best backs in the league. Any roster with him on the squad is hard to overlook.

Torry Holt and Chad Johnson should be top performers at the wide receiver position on a weekly basis. The other receivers on this team (Curtis, Williams, Berrian, Porter) should make for a good rotation in the third spot. Kellen Winslow has the ability to rank as the top tight end in the league.

Compiler Guy - I had a hard time deciding if "Compiler Guy" or "Husky Jerks" deserved this spot. In the end, I had to give it to the team that had Adrian Peterson and Maurice Jones-Drew as their starting running backs.

In general, I'm really not sold on this teams QB situation, and feel they could have issues at wide receiver if Lee Evans disappoints and Galloway's age finally catches up to him.

Bottom line however is that Compiler Guy's squad has a great RB situation (Reggie Bush, Jamal Lewis, and Julius Jones as back-ups) and he would likely be able to upgrade at wide receiver or quarterback if needed while still keeping Peterson, Jones-Drew, and Fitzgerald on his team.

1. What was your general strategy and did you get to execute it? I’ve been playing fantasy football for over 15 years and I’ve always been a stud-RB draft guy. Give me 2 or 3 consistent scoring RBs and I’ll build a team around that because I’ve always felt you can draft every other position consistently in the later rounds. Over the past few years the NFL has seen the advent of the split backfield. There are now fewer options to lock down 2-3 RBs that will get you a consistent amount of points each game. So in this draft, I selected to pick 8 out of 10, knowing that all the RB’s I’d want would likely be gone. So my overall strategy was to get 2 of the top WRs with my first 2 picks and build my RB depth in the mid round with some players I felt would be overlooked, but would likely be as productive as RBs drafted outside of the top 10.

My first two picks were Randy Moss and Reggie Wayne. I feel that these are the best 2 WRs in the draft. I’m not looking for Moss to repeat his performance of last year, but he’ll be solid and should score far more points than any of the RBs that were left on the board. Wayne’s numbers could improve with the injury and personal questions that surround Marvin Harrison this season.

I had intended to go RB in the third round, However I couldn’t pass up Steve Smith with the 28th overall pick. Again his scoring potential was miles above any RB available here. However he’s got some downside as well as his performance will be tied to how many games Jake Delhomme can get through.

By the 4th pick I had noticed that my last tier of RBs that I felt was serviceable was dwindling so I grabbed Lawrence Maroney. Good offense, good O-line, and I feel that the Pats have to realize that they need a more consistent ground game and Maroney, if consistently healthy can give them that. It’s a gamble for a number 1 RB, but I fell I’ve got a starting RB in a good offense.

With my 5th pick I went with Jonathan Stewart. This is obviously the most risky pick thus far but one I feel good about. Living in Panther TV coverage land, I knew when this kid was drafted that Fox would immediately roll him out as a started and relegate D. Williams to a change of pace back. I had targeted Stewart one round later, but didn’t think he’d last. Stewart is the type of RB that Fox wants to build and offense around. The question is, will that offense be any good?

Sticking with my decision of waiting for solid RBs in the mid rounds, I grabbed Thomas Jones in round 6. Jones had serviceable yardage totals last year but the Jets anemic offense netted him just 2 TDs. The o-line is upgraded and the Jets made no effort to replace Jones in the off-season. I’m hoping for last year’s yardage plus 6-8 TDs this season. I don’t think that’s a reach and if I get that from a RB 3 I’ll be in good shape.

I filled out the RB corps with Fred Taylor. He won’t have any 20 point games, but he’s still the focus of a very good ground game in Jacksonville and will consistently give me points in the weeks I have to use him.

With my first 3 picks going to stud WRs and 4 of the next 5 searching for RB depth, I feel that I stuck with my strategy and fielded a competitive team. The RBs are suspect, but no more suspect than If I had started grabbing RBs right off the bat because I really feel that outside the first 7 or so, they all have a ton of questions.

2. What did you like the most about your draft? Steve Smith in round 3 is an exciting prospect. This guy is capable of leading the league in scoring. He’s also capable of being very average. I also felt pretty good about the RB depth despite waiting until the mid rounds to grab them. Of course this was a 10 team draft, so that strategy may not translate as well to the 14 team league I play in.

3. What did you like the least? What I truly liked least was that in the 9th round, I accidentally clicked the auto select button and got stuck with Marc Bulger as my QB 2. I had no intention of drafting Bulger here and I also had no intention of going QB here, but it didn’t kill my draft. I also don’t like that I just missed out on Roddy White in the 7th round and Deion Branch in the 9th by 1 pick. Both I though was great value in these spots and smart moves by Spuff to grab them 1 place earlier than I wanted them.

4. Who was your best value? Again, I have to cite Steve Smith in the third round. This guy can be the league’s number on WR if Delhomme can play all season.

5. Who was your biggest reach? With the last pick, I grabbed the Raiders defense. In many drafts, this D my even go undrafted and they are not ranked highly by many early cheat sheets. However they fit my system of drafting defenses. In the NFL the margin of talent between the best and worst teams is slim. There are probably 5 teams in the playoffs on their own merit; the remainder gets there on the basis of their schedule. I feel the same is true for team defenses. Last year I drafted Indianapolis and Detroit solely by looking at their schedules. Indy finished the season as the #3 DST unit in our scoring format and Detroit was serviceable on certain matchups. Look at the Raiders schedule. I count 12 of 16 games against teams with sub par offenses last season. Plus the Defensive talent on this unit wasn’t that bad last year. They are my sleeper D for the season.

6. Which player(s) did you covet, but were already picked? As previously mentioned, Roddy White was in my draft queue in the 7th round and I felt he was a steal at the point. He had very respectable stats last year with mediocre QB play. Granted he’s got a new QB and a rookie one at that, but he seems to be emerging as the player that scouts thought he could be out of college. Deion Branch was another player that could have had a very solid season last year were it not for injuries. If he’s healthy this year he’ll be a great value in any draft.

7. Rank the top 4 teams (not including yours) and give a brief explanation why?

Compiler Guy – Great talent at every position. WR’s could be a bit thin especially starting 3, but this guy has players who would lead the league in scoring at every position.

Mack 1 – Another team with explosive scorers at every position. I think Addai is undervalued this year and is a great pick. Johnson and Burress are solid WRs with explosive potential from week to week, and Palmer has the talent to be the leagues #1 QB.

SPUFF – If Frank Gore is back this is a great RB core with some under rated, but strong WRs in White, Jennings, Branch and Chambers. Whitten at TE is a great grab as is Brees at QB.

Coxsackie Virus – Another team deep with starters. Tomlinson plus one of those RB’s (Forte, Mendenhall, and McAllister) will be a good starting tandem, though the depth may be suspect here. Housh, Holmes, and Driver are solid WRs, with Housh having the ability to be a stud. Gates a TE is like getting to play an extra WR instead of a TE.

1. What was your general strategy and did you get to execute it? This being a 10-team draft I was confident the depth of players would be to my liking so I really wanted to concentrate on getting specific players I covet by analyzing the owners around my immediate draft position, their teams and drafting tendencies. The execution was poor, as I routinely lost players to the mockers ahead and behind me… good thing this wasn’t a real league or I’d be looking for someone to take over my squad.

2. What did you like the most about your draft? Although it seems to lack any star power I was happy with the running back depth I was able to achieve. Lynch, White, Young, Williams, & Bradshaw all have reasonable chances to lead their respective teams in rushing this season. And having Tom Brady never hurts.

3. What did you like the least? I’m not very excited with my backup Quarterback or the Wide Receiver position but I have nobody to blame but myself. At least twice, I made the wrong decision picking a player while hoping another player would be available with my next selection.

4. Who was your best value? 9.09 – WR Bobby Engram – The contract situation will get worked out. He’s by far the most consistent of the Seahawk receivers and should be again this season.

5. Who was your biggest reach? 3.09 – WR Brandon Marshall – I’m higher on him than most but I went into this draft attempting to get the players I wanted and Marshall was one top on the list. With Torry Holt and Chad Johnson still on the board, I may have stretched a little for the Denver wide receiver.

6. Which player(s) did you covet, but were already picked? WR Andre Johnson, RB Kevin Smith (my fault for letting him slide), and TE Kellen Winslow (my fault for letting him slide).

7. Rank the top 4 teams (not including yours) and give a brief explanation why?

Wildman – McNabb and Kitna are risky QB picks but I like this team because he took half the players I wanted.

Mack1 – With two solid backs and the Cincinnati QB throwing for his life, and a top-five fantasy wideout, Mr. Mack’s got himself a winner.

Compiler Guy – Adrian Peterson will be good but Roethlisberger will take this team to the playoffs.

Marx – I like the receiving trio of Moss, Wayne, & Smith and honestly, who wouldn’t? It does leave him slightly weak at RB but I believe Thomas Jones is somewhat of a sleeper and should be a fine week-to-week starter.

1. What was your general strategy and did you get to execute it? Mocks are great times to experiment. I haven't picked last in a draft for quite a long time, but it's my favorite place to be. I tend to reach for picks when I’m in the middle, but when I am one end or the other of a serpentine draft it's easier for me to avoid this tendency. Plus I usually have an excuse to do so when drafting from here. Generally I follow the typical stud RB approach with my draft and wait until at least round seven to get my starting QB. In between I shoot for a third RB, a couple of solid receivers, and if I'm feeling good, an elite caliber TE. While I was able to get these positions at the points described, I'm not sure I would pick the same players if I had a second opportunity. I'll explain further below.

2. What did you like the most about your draft? I like my running backs. Portis is this decade's version of Curtis Martin. He's a disciplined runner capable of carrying his team on his back. He also has a history of strong production down the stretch. People suddenly believe he is injury prone because he got hurt to begin a year where he was slated to be a top three back. If that perception allows me to get a top five back at the top of round two, I’m happy. Ryan Grant could be a one-year wonder and the Packers lost Favre, but they didn't lose their strong offensive line or receiving corps. Grant was on pace for the rare feat of achieving a high workload season (373 f/carries) if you project his second half production for a full year. With Rodgers making the transition to full-time starter, will Grant get that workload this year? I think it’s worth banking on it with the 10th pick. I think Lions RB Kevin Smith has a great chance to be the most productive rookie RB in 2008 and I have seen Warrick Dunn enough with the Falcons to believe last year's dip in production had more to do with Bobby Petrino's trashing of the offense than losing a step.

3. What did you like the least? Torry Holt and Chad Johnson scare me this year. Holt and Bruce were accustomed to working off each other and I'm also worried about his knee. Chad Johnson not only just had ankle surgery, but he also seems ready to implode. Add this to the fact that Johnson has been an up and down producer for the past couple of years and I don't feel like I have a strong number one receiver. If I had to do it over, I might have opted for a surer thing at WR with my second pick and waited for another RB in rounds 3-4, especially with the values at WR later in this draft. These two receivers have had such good careers, I felt compelled to pick them here. I need to do a bit more research before I have the opportunity to do it again in August.

4. Who was your best value? Kevin Curtis in round 8 is my best value. He had a quiet 1100-yard season last year, better than several players picked before him. Curtis was the 17th-ranked fantasy WR in total points. I believe his increased comfort level in the Eagles offense will make him a consistent threat. I also liked Berrian as a 10th round pick. Berrian's stock has dropped due to skepticism about Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson, but the Bears had neither a strong ground game nor aerial attack. I believe one of these players have a strong chance to be a top 15 receiver.

5. Who was your biggest reach? I generally reach for players but this wasn't really the case for this draft. Donovan McNabb in round seven could qualify, but I didn't think he'd come back to me at the end of round nine. This is a critical point in his career. If he can stay healthy for a full season, he’ll likely perform like a top three fantasy passer. If not, he may wind up on another team in 2009 and a shot at a HOF career will be in serious jeopardy.

6. Which player(s) did you covet, but were already picked? Drew Brees in round three was higher than I thought he'd go. I hoped I could nab him in round five. Steve Smith was just two picks away from being mine. I would have chosen him over Chad Johnson this year. Calvin Johnson and Jonathan Stewart were two other players I coveted in round five or six who went just before I could grab them. Ricky Williams went one pick before I hoped to grab him in round 11--a great deal when you consider Ronnie Brown is coming off an ACL tear and over valued in most drafts.

7. Rank the top 4 teams (not including yours) and give a brief explanation why?

Kilroy - Barber and Jacobs is a nice 1-2 punch especially with James as the third back on this roster. Seriously, how can you not like Edge as your #3 RB? Then there is DeAngelo Williams, who I think has the talent to make Jonathan Stewart have to work hard to win the starting job outright. Williams is a good runner who could shine. T.O., Boldin, and Calvin Johnson form a terrific starting lineup--especially with Tony Gonzalez as a yardage monster at TE. Round the team off with a decent QB in Hasselbeck and I think his team will easily make the playoffs. I believe you can win without a great fantasy QB because the margin of points between a top tier QB and a decent starter (Hasselbeck) isn’t usually as great as the margin with RBs or WRs.

Compiler Guy - Talk about hoarding RBs--he literally got five starters! He also has the most balanced team in this league. I like his late round picks in Delhomme and the Giants Steve Smith. I think both are excellent depth. Although the WRs don't look great on paper after Fitzgerald, Joey Galloway is solid, Lee Evans is a nice #3 WR, and Ernest Wilford and Isaac Bruce should be good enough to rotate with Evans if he again lives through a rough first half. He took my QB Roethlisberger (if I were picking in the middle or higher), too. What do you expect from the guy who builds draft help applications?

SPUFF - I love the backs on this team. Gore has great talent and despite a down year in 2007, he did get better as the year progressed. I expect a strong season from him as the all-around player in Martz's offense. I seriously considered him as one of my first two RBs when drafting at the end of round one/beginning of round two. Handcuffing Gore with the talented, but enigmatic Foster was a good move, too. I like LJ, but his workload from two years ago worries me about his prospects compared to Portis. Still, it’s nice pick when you have Willie Parker as a very good #3 back. Mendenhall has the talented to be a featured back, but he was slow out of the blocks to claim the job in college so I’m counting on Parker holding him back in 2008. The receivers make me nervous because other than Jerricho Cotchery, the other guys are very up and down from year to year. But with Drew Brees as his starter, I think SPUFF's team could ride out any ups and downs with the receivers and still be dangerous.

Marx - What a threesome at WR--with that trio it's understandable why he looked for backs with upside in Maroney and Stewart. Fred Taylor could be solid enough until one of these guys catches fire, same with Thomas Jones. If the QBs play as good as they should on paper, he's a probably contender even if the RBs are just so-so. I'm just not convinced Anderson is the real deal or Bulger will stay healthy.

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