Round 1 #4: Tiki Barber (RB) NY Giants Heading into the draft, after finding out I had the fourth pick overall, I knew that I would most likely end up with Tiki. Surprisingly, Larry Johnson wasnt picked until #3. With L.J. still on the board with #3, I thought that maybe the #3 man wouldve possibly taken Edge or Tiki. Oh well, that didnt happen; easy pick for Tiki right here. Round 2 #7: Torry Holt (WR) St. Louis Rams Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald, and Chad Johnson were all taken in the 2nd round before my pick. Theres a ton of hype with Steve Smith this year, but Im very happy with Holt at this position, as he has consistently put up huge numbers year after year. Some people say hes the top WR in the NFL, and with his proven track record, Im glad hes on my squad. Round 3 #4: Marvin Harrison (WR) Indianapolis Colts I didnt think Id have a shot at a player of this caliber in the third round, but surprisingly, Harrison did. What surprised me was that the selection before me was Chris Chambers, a player who I dont even think is comparable to Marvin. I couldve sworn someone in the third round was going to pick up a player of this magnitude, but he fell to me. Round 4 #7: Julius Jones (RB) Dallas Cowboys With this standard format, I had to take another RB at this position. I wanted to take another back in the third round, but when Marvin Harrison is still around, you just have to take him. Julius has been hyped up pretty well now for the first couple of years of his career. Its put up or shut up time this year for Jones. Round 5 #4: Todd Heap (TE) Baltimore Ravens Shockey was taken in the fourth round, and Tony Gonzalez was taken the pick before me, I had to take a tight-end at this slot. Heap will have a really good year now that he has a decent QB throwing the ball to him. I didnt take a QB in the fifth round because I had pretty much all of the QBs on my board still available, and I thought Id be able to get one of them in the sixth. (Matt Hasselbeck, Eli Manning, Marc Bulger, Drew Bledsoe, and Kurt Warner) Round 6 #7: Matt Hasselbeck (QB) Seattle Seahawks This was another huge surprise to me in this draft. The following QBs went before Hasselbeck did in this draft, in this order: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, and Daunte Culpepper. Hasselbeck has been a lot more consistent than Eli, and isnt coming off the devastating injuries that Palmer and Culpepper are coming off of. Hey, Im not complaining! Round 7 #4: Eddie Kennison (WR) Kansas City Chiefs Now was the time I had to start thinking about my bench, and selecting quality players with different bye weeks than my two stud wide-outs. Kennison was still available, which was good. Kennison is the Chiefs #1 target and has put up consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. Im pretty comfortable with Kennison as my 3rd WR. Round 8 #7: Joseph Addai (RB) Indianapolis Colts I was really hoping Frank Gore would still be around this late, but unfortunately, he was taken a round earlier. Addai has been a trendy pick for some, and some insiders are projecting a big season, but Im not exactly sold that Dominic Rhodes wont be getting carries for the Colts. I just hope he lives up to the hype and can put up some decent stats, as I may turn to him later on in the season. Round 9 #4: Kurt Warner (QB) Arizona Cardinals I couldnt pass up on Warner this late, especially considering hes in an offense with Boldin, Fitzgerald, and now Edge running and catching balls out of the backfield. I think with the new stadium, and with all of the offensive weapons, that Warner will be the main man for the Cardinals. Hasselbeck has an early bye week, which was also a reason I took Warner because Im not sure if Warner will still be the starter late in the year. Drew Bledsoe was still available, but I couldnt bring myself to draft another Cowboy, especially when I only need Warner for his performance early on in the year. Round 10 #7: Cedric Houston (RB) New York Jets Houston looked impressive against the Redskins, and I think hell be getting some carries. He had a different bye week than my previous three RBs that I took, and I didnt think it could hurt to have a projected starter as my fourth string back. Round 11 #4: Laveranues Coles (WR) New York Jets Well, the Jets may not be in the best QB situation out of all of the NFL teams, but Coles is a solid player. Coles stats may not be as good as what hes capable of putting up, but as a fourth WR, in a league which only requires two starting WRs, Im comfortable with Coles here. Round 12 #7: Donte Stallworth (WR) New Orleans Saints Stallworth was the best player available at this point, and I couldnt pass up on him. Hes a legitimate #2 receiver behind Joe Horn, and I believe hell become a favorite of Drew Brees, perhaps establishing himself as the #1 thread. With Harrison and Holt as my starting WRs, and Kennison/Coles/Stallworth rounding out the bench, I think my WR core is solid. Round 13 #4: New York Giants (Defense) I let some time go by before taking a defense, because I had my eyes set on taking Big Blue. The Giants have an underrated defense that is capable of sacks, INTs, and big plays, because of that ferocious pass rush that will improve with the addition of Arrington. The Giants D may allow some points, but the fantasy points are earned with sacks, interceptions, fumbles, and touchdowns, things I think the Giants are going to do. Round 14 #7: Josh Brown (K) Seattle Seahawks I was set on taking a kicker in this round, but I wasnt sure if I wanted Feely, Brown, or Jeff Wilkins. Feely was taken the pick before me, so that made my decision a lot easier, so I had to decide between Wilkins and Brown. Brown is probably a better kicker than Wilkins, but Wilkins does kick in at least half of his games in a dome. Hopefully I wont be kicking myself later in the year for this pick! Round 15 #4: Kevan Barlow (RB) New York Jets I wanted five RBs, and upon hearing news that he was just traded to the Jets, I decided to take Barlow here. I dont know if hell win the starting job, and I definitely wont be carrying him and Houston, but I figure at least one of them will have the starting job come opening day for the J-E-T-S, Jets Jets Jets. |