Thanks for your great analysis of the draft, it should be a fun league.

You bring up a great point concerning the later round options at RB this year. I think your RB-WR-RB-WR draft sequence makes sense.

It’s no doubt that the strange occurences from last season have made this a viable draft strategy. For example, 2007 1st round picks Larry Johnson and Shaun Alexander burned alot of teams, while a few RBs, like Ryan Grant and Earnest Graham, materialized out of thin air.

Plus you had the huge wide receiver seasons from Moss, Wayne, Owens and Edwards, and like you mentioned, alot of NFL teams have started using platoons.

Looking at the draft trends from this year, you are certainly correct about finding decent RBs in the later rounds. The deep rookie class helps, players like Chris Johnson, Felix Jones and Ray Rice can be picked up in like the 9th-10th round. New starters, like Matt Forte and Kevin Smith are going in the 5th-6th round. Plus, even guys like Maurice Morris, Andre Hall, Pierre Thomas and Brandon Jackson could prove valuable, and they can be picked up really late in a typical draft.

Thanks for your great analysis of the draft, it should be a fun league.

You bring up a great point concerning the later round options at RB this year. I think your RB-WR-RB-WR draft sequence makes sense.

It’s no doubt that the strange occurences from last season have made this a viable draft strategy. For example, 2007 1st round picks Larry Johnson and Shaun Alexander burned alot of teams, while a few RBs, like Ryan Grant and Earnest Graham, materialized out of thin air.

Plus you had the huge wide receiver seasons from Moss, Wayne, Owens and Edwards, and like you mentioned, alot of NFL teams have started using platoons.

Looking at the draft trends from this year, you are certainly correct about finding decent RBs in the later rounds. The deep rookie class helps, players like Chris Johnson, Felix Jones and Ray Rice can be picked up in like the 9th-10th round. New starters, like Matt Forte and Kevin Smith are going in the 5th-6th round. Plus, even guys like Maurice Morris, Andre Hall, Pierre Thomas and Brandon Jackson could prove valuable, and they can be picked up really late in a typical draft.

Not a bad idea, Phillies. Not a bad idea at all.

Not a bad idea, Phillies. Not a bad idea at all.

I agree that there aren’t as many feature backs as their used to be. Not many RBs will get upwards of 300 carries this year. The depth I am talking about really comes in once you get past the elite RBs and into the mix — let’s say the Laurence Maroney, Ronnie Brown level. That is where the plateau begins for RB value this year, and it goes on for quite awhile in the early rounds.

I have been seeing starting RBs going as late as the seventh round this year, and solid backs who won’t start but share carries even later than that. Many of these guys will end up supporting a team with strong WRs and QBs in your league this year, so you can’t ignore the elite WRs and QBs when they are available.

While I am not saying to pass on elite RBs in your very first round, I am making the case that you shouldn’t concern yourself with snagging two RBs early. You can easily build a strong team this year by drafting for value and always taking the best available QB, WR or RB. Just don’t get caught up thinking you have to get a large pack of RBs early to be successful.

I’m toying with the RB-WR-RB-WR strategy. I think it might be the best way to go this year in drafting.

I agree that there aren’t as many feature backs as their used to be. Not many RBs will get upwards of 300 carries this year. The depth I am talking about really comes in once you get past the elite RBs and into the mix — let’s say the Laurence Maroney, Ronnie Brown level. That is where the plateau begins for RB value this year, and it goes on for quite awhile in the early rounds.

I have been seeing starting RBs going as late as the seventh round this year, and solid backs who won’t start but share carries even later than that. Many of these guys will end up supporting a team with strong WRs and QBs in your league this year, so you can’t ignore the elite WRs and QBs when they are available.

While I am not saying to pass on elite RBs in your very first round, I am making the case that you shouldn’t concern yourself with snagging two RBs early. You can easily build a strong team this year by drafting for value and always taking the best available QB, WR or RB. Just don’t get caught up thinking you have to get a large pack of RBs early to be successful.

I’m toying with the RB-WR-RB-WR strategy. I think it might be the best way to go this year in drafting.