KFFL Fantasy Analysis Draft: Team RotoExperts.com

August 20, 2008 @ 14:45:04

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Herija C. Green

I am here to independently evaluate each team in the KFFL Fantasy Analysis Draft. I'm not necessarily going to be kind, but I will play fair. I asked each participant to provide me with a few answers to specific questions and their best/worst picks of the draft.

Company: RotoExperts.com
Drafter: Scott Engel
Pick: 1:6

Table: RotoExperts.com's roster

Player	Tm	Pos	Rnd	Pk	Ovr
Randy Moss	NE	WR	1	6	6
Laurence Maroney	NE	RB	2	7	19
Plaxico Burress	NYG	WR	3	6	30
Jonathan Stewart	CAR	RB	4	7	43
Derek Anderson	CLE	QB	5	6	54
Joey Galloway	TB	WR	6	7	67
Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	RB	7	6	78
Heath Miller	PIT	TE	8	7	91
Eli Manning	NYG	QB	9	6	102
D.J. Hackett	CAR	WR	10	7	115
Steve Slaton	HOU	RB	11	6	126
Drew Bennett	STL	WR	12	7	139
Greg Olsen	CHI	TE	13	6	150
Kenny Watson	CIN	RB	14	7	163
New York Giants	NYG	D/ST	15	6	174
Jeff Reed	PIT	K	16	7	187

What strikes me right away when I look at this team is the risk involved with most of the players, especially based on their draft position. There's a lot of upside here, but this roster doesn't house many proven commodities.

Obviously, at the top of the draft, Engel put a lot of faith into the New England Patriots' high-octane attack. Not a bad offense to invest in, but both players are a bit overvalued for my taste going into this season.

I know what Patriots receiver Randy Moss did last year, but it's quite bold to expect anything close to a repeat. When there are few legit featured backs in the league and receivers are inconsistent from season to season, that's a bold pick, no matter how en vogue it is. Shouldn't that make Engel nervous?

"I don't see any reason why he can't live up to expectations. He returns to work with [Patriots quarterback] Tom Brady, nothing has really changed there. Moss is very content in his surroundings these days." Apparently not.

In fact, he also addressed concerns about the value of backs and players in general:

"I no longer base my strategies around specific positions, I just take the best player available in the first round. Strict RB strategies are no longer the prime way to go in the early rounds."

That is quickly becoming the prevailing thought in the industry, especially in point-per-reception formats. I don't necessarily agree with it, and I don't know how well he implemented it. If you look to take the best players, shouldn't you be wary of potentially overvalued players, or at least take a player with fewer question marks?

"[Patriots halfback Laurence] Maroney is well worth the 'gamble.' He progressed to become a complete runner late last year and will have a full breakthrough campaign in 2008. I see him becoming a top 10 fantasy RB with little threat of anyone sharing many of his important touches."

Engel could certainly be right about Maroney. With backs like the Green Bay Packers' Ryan Grant and the New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush still on the board, I question that selection, though. Even if you're a believer in Maroney, do you forsake players who have produced and are in just as good, if not better, situations?

All of this team's running backs have tons of question marks. Three are rookies who aren't expected to see the lion's share of touches, at least initially. Another (Cincinnati Bengals running back Kenny Watson) is a backup whom one would presume to be the handcuff to Bengals back Rudi Johnson, except halfback Chris Perry is also a factor. Receivers may be increasing in value, but at what cost?

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Joey Galloway also present injury and age concerns, respectively. Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson was phenomenal last season, but was a he one-year wonder? Question marks at so many positions have me skeptical about this team's chances to make the playoffs entering the season.

Best: Eli Manning, quarterback, New York Giants

Worst: Jonathan Stewart, running back, Carolina Panthers

Manning is a high-upside backup and an excellent No. 2. I'd have to agree there. For some reason some folks are comfortable with Eli as their No. 1 fantasy passer, but he may complement Anderson well.

I concur that Stewart was a bad pick, especially at that stage and with Maroney as his No. 1, although several selections might have stood out on a different team. The other choices I would criticize are likely the result of the domino effect, though; he probably needed to reach for upside considering his lack of depth at running back. Houston Texans tailback Steve Slaton in Round 11 when he could have (at the time) been had a couple of rounds later, for instance. Carolina Panthers receiver D.J. Hackett in Round 10, though? St. Louis Rams wideout Drew Bennett in anything but the final two rounds? A backup tight end when you could have taken another shot at a running back with upside?

That is confidence, I think. This high-risk style isn't for me.

Grade: D

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Nicholas Minnix

KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010.

The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter.

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