Where has the summer gone? With the family sojourn behind me it's time to catch up on the spate of mocks I've participated in up to this point.
Mock 3.0 comes from the Huddle's entry in the Fantasy Football Indepth Expert Challenge held June 11 and is the first of an overabundance of mocks in which I would up with the first pick. It's essentially a performance scoring system, with one point per reception as well, starting three wide receivers and a flex.
01.01 – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers
I've seen Brian Westbrook go first overall in a PPR league, and I've seen some places where Adrian Peterson goes off the board before LT. This is neither of those.
02.12 – Marques Colston, WR, Saints
It's entirely possible I'm higher on Colston than others, but I'm enamored by his prospects as a third-year wideout in that offense. Of course, if Peyton Manning would have slipped to me I would have gone that direction instead… and then probably grabbed Colston in Round Three.
03.01 – Jamal Lewis, RB, Browns
In retrospect I may have gone with Brandon Jacobs, but Lewis has the advantage of being the only show in town.
04.12 – Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals
With four picks left before my selection Jacobs, Santonio Holmes, Thomas Jones, and Roy Williams were still on the board—and queued up to be my next pick. I guess I don't have to tell you who the four players taken directly in front of me were, do I?
05.01 – Drew Brees, QB, Saints
The plan once again was to wait on a quarterback, but Brees was in my estimation too good of a value to pass up here. Plus, I had three backs and figured I could find receivers I liked next time around.
06.12 – Nate Burleson, WR, Seahawks
Anthony Gonzalez and Reggie Brown also factored into the decision-making process as I took a pair of pass-catchers at the turn, and Gonzo is the pick I may regret not making. But I like Burleson in that offense, and with my next pick…
07.01 – Joey Galloway, WR, Buccaneers
…I opted for the veteran experience of Galloway—and the fact that he's far and away the best pass-catcher on that team—over the muddled situations in Indy and Philly.
08.12 – Laurent Robinson, WR, Falcons
Too early? Probably. But my mantra this season is to not let other people's rankings prevent me from getting one of my sleepers. Robinson was the guy I liked most on the draft board, and without another pressing need to fill I snagged him a round or two early.
09.01 – Ahman Green, RB, Texans
There's no way Green stays healthy, but if I can squeeze a week or two of fill-in duty out of him behind a vastly improved offensive line—or deal him to the Chris Brown owner after a couple solid weeks—he'll be worth the ninth-rounder.
10.12 – D.J. Hackett, WR, Panthers
Steve Slaton was supposed to fall to me to wrap up the Texans two-step (though with Brown and Chris Taylor still in the mix it's a whole lot more complicated than just that), but when he didn't I opted for Steve Smith's wingman.
11.01 – Zach Miller, TE, Raiders
Miller is ending up on plenty of my mock rosters because I like the potential he gives me and I'm generally one of (if not the) last team taking a tight end.
12.12 – Jason Campbell, QB, Redskins
There seemed to be a run on backup quarterbacks and I didn't want to be the guy left holding Rex Grossman. Besides, I like Campbell's upside in Jim Zorn's WCO.
13.01 – Tim Hightower, RB, Cardinals
Edge insurance, plain and simple. Thanks to Russ Grimm that line has improved to the point that a backup could step in and produce decent numbers.
14.12 – Seahawks D/ST
Entering the summer Seattle's defense was more of a sleeper than a popular pick. I get the feeling the tide is turning, so I didn't want to be left out and grabbed them here.
15.01 – Nate Kaeding, K, Chargers
Gostkowski's bye week conflicted with the Seahawks D, so I "settled" for Kaeding.
16.12 – Robert Meacham, WR, Saints
One of my favorite sleeper picks, it's been tough adding him in some mocks because I usually already have Colston and the roster sizes don't allow for such depth. With 18 rounds there's plenty room here.
17.01 – Justin McCareins, WR, Titans
This league starts three wideouts, remember, so I added a few extra options. McCareins is another sleeper who I think will blossom back under the tutelage of Mike Heimerdinger.
18.12 – Marcus Thomas, RB, Chargers
If the unthinkable happens it will likely be a backfield by committee in San Diego, and I'd have to think Thomas factors into that mix.
