Fantasy Football: 12-Team Live Draft Results and Notes

I had the pleasure of doing two live drafts over the weekend with friends and other assorted people here in suburban Detroit. The second, which was a PPR league, I may break down in another post. For now I'm going to stick to this one.

I feel like the league was pretty accurate in terms of the typical make-up of a league, so it's going to yield some results that are helpful to keep track of. I had the 7th overall pick (and was fortunate to get the No. 1 in the PPR league), and if you'll remember from my post earlier this week, my first observation for 2010 was "five are nice, but seven will suffice." Well, Steven Jackson was the last of the seven top RBs that I felt should undoubtedly go at the top of the board.

Honestly, you can make a case for any of these select seven backs to perform like studs. And while each of them have their flaws, some more than others, they also have their silver linings. Can you name how many RBs had more rushing yards than S-Jax last year? You might be surprised to know that Chris Johnson was the only one. Who knows if Jackson will have the tools around him in the next year or two to become a fantasy game-changer again, but he's the kind of back who's probably going to put up 14-15 points a game on a consistent basis.

Here's a look at the draft results. As a note, my team is "Been Rapelisberger'd?" Uh huh.

I made one crucial mistake; thinking the draft was going in the reverse order, I'd thought that Flacco might get snatched up where I took him in the 7th Round. I didn't realiez it, but all the teams between that and my 8th Round pick already had QBs, and Ahmad Bradshaw could have been mine, along with Flacco instead of Michael Bush. It might end up being a real stinger, as I like Bradshaw this year as at least a flex play in 12-team leagues.

 Otherwise? I'm pleased. I'm high on Jamaal Charles, so when a top 10 back in my eyes (finished 2nd in the last half of 2009) slides to the 3rd Round, it's a real snag. I think it's a playoff team, and with Bradshaw, potentially would have been a championship-caliber team. I want to highlight what I thought were a few steals and reaches.

Steal

• Jamaal Charles - Again, an early 2nd Round pick in my eyes, so slipping to 31st overall was a robbery. Believe the hype.
• Pierre Thomas - Another high-level RB who slipped way too far, going in the middle of the 4th Round. He is what you thought he was: A No. 2 RB, but I think he gets more carries this year, and he averaged over 5 ypc for the second straight season. I like him to finish around top 15 at his position.
• Jonathan Stewart - Face it, he's not going to put up No. 1 RB numbers like last year unless Stewart gets hurt again. But at the worst, he's still going to produce like a No. 2, so you have to love the upside. I like him around No. 30 overall, so being the 46th player off the board is great value.
• Mike Sims-Walker - In the middle of Round 6, you're supposed to be drafting good TEs or No. 3 RBs, not No. 2 WRs. Yeah, Sims-Walker was de-activated for a game last year for some shady behavior, but where's the hate coming from? It's a shame Jacksonville doesn't have more weapons, because MSW faces his share of double teams. There's no reason to expect he doesn't flirt with 1,000 yards and 7 TDs.
• Zach Miller - 145th Overall. Are you serious? People are sleeping on Miller this year like nuts. He is the de facto TE sleeper this year. If you can nab him outside even the top 100, it's outrageous value.

Reach

• Cedric Benson - Look, this guy belongs closer to where Charles went, but instead he's a first rounder. They rode this guy into the ground last year, and surprise, he falls prey to injury and doesn't score in the second half of the season. Bernard Scott is a talented back as well, and I would say is a must-handcuff if you're getting Benson. I expect about 12 games out of him or so, unless they cut his carries down and share the load.
• Cadillac Williams - I can see people making an argument for someone who finished with about 1,000 total yards and 7 TDs last year. What I can't see? This guy staying healthy for long. Maybe Derrick Ward isn't the answer either, but I'll let someone gamble before at least the 10th Round. 70th overall is insane.
• T.J. Houshmandzadeh - You know what? I took Housh with the first pick of the 9th Round in my other draft, whereas he went 20 picks earlier at 77th overall in this draft. You know the difference? Yep, that's one a PPR league, making Housh more of a flex play than what he really is, a low-end No. 3 WR in most formats.
• Nate Kaeding - Or any other kicker that goes before at least the second to last round. Apparently this is what drugs do to people. Learn a lesson, kids.