For every Eli in this year’s draft, there was a successful, strategic pick that maximized value and/or roster. Here, a panel of former and current 451 West Wilson Street champions analyzes the draft with an eye for each manager’s brightest drafting moment. This excludes the draft of “Cleatus,” Coach Cozine the Football Robot. This draft’s follies warrant a separate examination.
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| I'm pretty sure this is actually Matt Ryan. |
Runner-up: Le’Veon Bell (RB), Round 3 (Pick 21)
Coach Derr, Waukesha Wet Coopers – Terrance West (RB), Round 14 (Pick 139)
Taking flying leaps of faith sometimes pays off – especially when you’re betting on Brittle Browns back Ben Tate becoming injured sometime this season. No one expected Tate to get dinged up in the first game, and who could have predicted that West would earn 100 yards on 16 carries in the lead-back role? Maybe next year Blake will decide his own team name. But I wouldn’t count on it…his best pick came with only two rounds left. Update: Ben Tate will be out for 2-4 weeks, and I'm betting he'll miss more time, resulting in an occasional Cooperboost.
Runner-up: Julian Edelman (WR), Round 6 (Pick 59)
Coach Olsen the Elder, Kenosha Fightin’ Dildos – Percy Harvin (WR), Round 8 (Pick 78)
Well after the initial run on elite WRs, the Dildos got all up in Percy Harvin. If he can stay healthy this year, he’ll be just that – elite. And for a bargain basement price like this, it’s well worth the risk to have him on your team. Even half the season would be worth it. Easily one of the best risk vs. reward picks in the draft this year.
Runner-up: Darren Sproles (RB), Round 11 (Pick 103)
Coach
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| That's telekinesis, Kyle. |
How did this happen? Did everybody forget about the Dolphins and their top receiver? In any case, there’s a drought of talent through the air in Miami and Mike Wallace just got paid, so this pick should have been a no-brainer. He’s firing on all cylinders thus far, catching seven passes for 81 yards and a touchdown in week 1. At this point, this could be the steal of all steals because if Wallace can do that to the Patriots, who else could he do it to?
Runner-up: Demarco Murray (RB), Round 3 (Pick 25)
Coach Wagner, - Nightcrawler -: Knowshon Moreno (RB), Round 12 (Pick 115)
Even in a timeshare running game, Knowshon Moreno can still move. Week 1 saw him gain 134 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Yowza. That’s practically a RB1 performance at a RB3-4 price tag. He could have a big year in a dual RB system.
Runner-up: Jake Locker (QB), Round 14 (Pick 135)
Coach Kinzie, Boston Butt Pirates – Greg Jennings (WR), Round 12 (Pick 114)
Jennings ended 2013 with Matt Cassel as his quarterback, and put up respectable numbers whenever he was free of the toxic arm of Christian Ponder. In training camp, Cassel again beat out Ponder for the starting QB job, which is great news for Jennings. Even with the rise of Cordarelle Patterson (who after week one looks more like a RB than a WR), Jennings will continue to shine whenever Cassel is in the driver’s seat.
Runner-up: Emmanuel Sanders (WR), Round 9 (Pick 87)
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| Break dance if you scored 35 fantasy points. |
Thomas, cemented as one of Peyton Manning’s most reliable targets, will pay for himself even at the relatively high draft position seen here. He showed it this week, and will likely continue for the next three games with Wes Welker serving his suspension. Position-specific point differential is the name of the game, and Thomas will continue to rain down points onto the league’s sole West Coast representation.
Runner-up: Giovanni Bernard (RB), Round 3 (Pick 28)
Coach Olsen the Younger, Keno Muff Busters – Marshawn Lynch (RB), Round 2 (Pick 12)
Even with the high price of Marshawn Lynch in this draft position, we think that he will pay off in the long run. The panel believes he could be poised for a top-six finish. Seattle looked monstrous on Thursday Night Football against the Packers.
Runner-up: Steve Smith (WR), Round 14 (Pick 13)
Coach Sweeney, Santa Fe Clam Faces – Cordarrelle Patterson (WR), Round 10 (Pick 91)
After week one’s impressive output, it is hard to believe that Patterson almost fell out of the Top 100. Sweeney isn’t the reigning champ for nothin’. He snaked this gem after a strong run on WRs in Round 9 (Jeremy Maclin, Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright, Emmanuel Sanders, Reggie Wayne and Torrey Smith). Sweeney needed a guy with some “home run hitter” potential and early on it looks like Patterson could fill that void. Our panel feels like this was a strong pick for the champs.
Runner-up: Ryan Tannehill (QB), Round 8 (pick 71)
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