KFFL Fantasy Analysis Draft: Team RotoNation.com

August 20, 2008 @ 14:14:27

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Tim Heaney

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: RotoNation.com
Drafter: Derrick Eckardt
Pick: 1:8

Table: RotoNation.com's roster

Player	Tm	Pos	Rnd	Pk	Ovr
Clinton Portis	WAS	RB	1	8	8
Peyton Manning	IND	QB	2	5	17
Torry Holt	STL	WR	3	8	32
Antonio Gates	SD	TE	4	5	41
LenDale White	TEN	RB	5	8	56
Rudi Johnson	CIN	RB	6	5	65
Anthony Gonzalez	IND	WR	7	8	80
Santana Moss	WAS	WR	8	5	89
Jerry Porter	JAX	WR	9	8	104
Pittsburgh Steelers	PIT	D/ST	10	5	113
Darren Sproles	SD	RB	11	8	128
Tatum Bell	DET	RB	12	5	137
Trent Edwards	BUF	QB	13	8	152
Derrick Ward	NYG	RB	14	5	161
Dominic Rhodes	IND	RB	15	8	176
Phil Dawson	CLE	K	16	5	185

For the most part, this is my kind of team. I probably wouldn't (never say never, though) take a passer in the second round, especially in this format. I expect the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning (or maybe - maybe - the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees) to be the top fantasy passer this year, though, not that Brady fella. Of course, my reasons apparently don't mesh with Eckardt's, as you'll find out later.

San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates in the fourth round is certainly questionable, but the Dallas Cowboys' Jason Witten went with the pick before this one. The selection of Gates also seemed to spark a tiny run - two more tight ends came off the board in the next five picks. Eckardt picked up a little value two rounds later, too.

With only Holt in tow, the selection of Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez was a bit puzzling. Eckardt expressed confidence in the selection for two reasons:

• "I think [Colts wideout Marvin] Harrison will not be nearly as much a factor due to injury, and the Colts will rest Harrison every chance they get throughout the season."
• "I didn't think Gonzalez would last much longer, so I wanted to make sure I picked him up. If he gets the balls this year, he'll be a stud, and I figured it was worth the risk on the pick."

I will give credit here for two reasons: 1) He might be right about him not lasting, and 2) If you're a believer in a player, sometimes you have to reach a round or a few picks. I suppose Gonzalez could be that guy, but in the seventh round, I'd prefer a receiver who isn't depending on another player to get injured to return the value I expect.

The follow-up pick of Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss offsets the Gonzo pick a bit. Moss is the ideal No. 3 receiver, though, meaning if he booms like he's capable of doing, you're in great shape. Eckardt is also somewhat depending on Gonzalez to boom based on circumstances beyond his control, so the corps is rounded out, but with uncertainty.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense/special teams went a bit high for my taste, too, but a couple of defenses came off the board early. I'm not a fan of the unit so much in particular, but I can understand the direction. There are better values in this category, though, in my opinion.

I don't know about the Buffalo Bills' Trent Edwards as a backup fantasy passer; he's more of a No. 3 in my book. I doubt Manning sits for this team, though, so if Eckardt is a believer, no harm done.

Best: Rudi Johnson, running back, Cincinnati Bengals

Worst: Darren Sproles, running back, San Diego Chargers

I can't argue with the incredible value Rudi brought. If he comes even close to returning to form, say 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns, that's a steal.

Sproles makes sense as the worst - it's not often that he gets drafted. I found the pick of Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Jerry Porter in the ninth round odd, though. Porter has merely slightly above-average talent. I generally avoid Jacksonville receivers like the plague. There's nothing different there, unless you count the inflated stock of their quarterback, David Garrard. One can wait on Porter a few rounds. I'd wait until someone else picked him, but that's me.

This team is fairly strong at the top, and it should compete in most weeks. Playing matchups and depending on some good fortune will be key at running back or wideout, though.

Grade: B-

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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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