I've been pretty good at grading the draft the last few years. Normally, a good draft grades translates into a good season and a bad draft means a losing season. For instance, last year, I hit on Bill and Kevin, and my poor grades for Lily, Andrew, and myself reflect our bad records. I missed on Donny, but that was partially because he gutted his team early in the season with some peculiar trades. The pressure to maintain my predictive ability is high this year. In my immediate impression after this year's draft, there were no standouts of excellence or crapiness. Maybe things will be different as I examine each team's draft in more depth:
Donny
Thumbs up: Got a future stud RB that can carry Donny's team for many years. Good value with Rapey-Ben pick in 9th round. Got handcuff for Addai. Good mix of bye weeks. As predicted, took the least time on the draft clock.
Thumbs down: Picked DST too early, probably influenced by watching Rex Ryan drop F-bombs on Hard Knocks. Some homer picks but at least they're going to be bench spots.
Twitter liine: Needs to avoid being like Dan Snyder and has to exhibit patience with young roster.
Overall Grade: B+
Lily
Thumbs up: Got the safest pick on board with Reggie Wayne, yet still managed to shore up the running back position with Arian Foster and Marion Barber. With Jonathan Stewart and Ricky Williams, has arguably the best 3 second banana running backs in the league. Drafted good flexibility for a 3-WR or 2-RB starting roster. Liked the Celek pick too. Getting Brett Favre as QB2 was a bonus.
Thumbs down: Minor quibbles with WRs after her top 3. Some age issues with 3 of her 5 RBs.
Twitter line: Very nice draft means sophomore season shall show marked improvement.
Overall Grade: A-
Andrew
Thumbs Up: Kept it safe with proven players in first 2 rounds. Andrew's starters all play on teams with strong offensive credentials. Now has four possible WR1's on roster, I like the Johnny Knox pickup in the 9th round (who Andrew stole before my pick).
Thumbs Down: Umm, went a bit overboard and drafted 6 WRs. Will encounter inefficiencies at that spot until things settle down by middle of season and the good ones separate themselves from the pack. Running back depth still an area of concern.
Twitter line: Riding the Saints and Patriots wave.
Overall Grade : B-
Victor
Thumbs up: "Earned" two FUs from Hai and Andrew for stealing their picks. Got a good value pick with Cadillac Williams, who's not in a RBBC environment, with 5th pick. Nice TE depth with Witten and Daniels.
Thumbs down: Did not get to draft any solid, safe WRs. Felt like he reached for all his WR picks except Golden Tate. Also, all his WRs have questions surrounding them and he wasn't able to get much relief for Sidney Rice's extended absence.
Twitter Line: Man, those are some poopy wide receivers on that roster.
Overall Grade: C
Hai
Thumbs up: Fully invested in Dallas Wideouts. Got the top ranked QB available with Schaub. Good value pick of Sims-Walker in the 6th round. I think TO will be the better WR in the FADUCO scoring system than Ochocinco.
Thumbs down: Didn't get Marion Barber and Tony Romo to complete the homer roster. Bench RB picks don't really score TDs.
Twitter line: Will Hai like it if the Cowboys jump to a big lead and start running the ball?
Overall Grade: B
Tuna
Thumbs Up: Another homer draft in FADUCO this year. Got the Giants' running game, their primary WR, and their kicker. Got Santonio Holmes with late 10th round pick.
Thumbs Down: Another homer draft in FADUCO. If Giants offense goes to sh*t, Tuna shall be in a world of hurt. Roster doesn't really have players who would get voted to the Pro-bowl except for his Green Bay players. Rather, they're the type who get in as injury replacements. In other words, this doesn't really look like a playoff team to me.
Twitter line: Too bad Giants vs Packers is in Week 16, Tuna won't get to use his players
Overall grade: C+
Katy
Thumbs Up: Got her dream QB in the first round. I am optimistic about Kolb and would have drafted him if not for PJ's dropping of Romo. Got some good young RB talent for once with Spiller and Harrison. Berrian primed to contribute until Rice returns.
Thumbs Down: Weak in depth with only 1 substitute WR. A bit vulnerable if Kolb pick doesn't pan out since Campbell can't carry a fantasy team. A bit surprised that Todd Heap got picked so early while other higher-rated TEs were on the board
Twitter Line: Welcome to the Kolb era, may he carry your team like McNabb did for 7 seasons.
Overall Grade: B+
PJ
Thumbs Up: If there was a bet on who would have the Least homer draft picks out of Victor (2) , Tuna (3) , Bill (1+1 should have in Akers), and PJ (0!!!!!) , I would have lost a lot of money. Mike Martz usually improves a QB's fantasy performance, so kudos to recognizing that with the Cutler pick. Also, got some sleeper picks with Mike Williams and Darren McFadden.
Thumbs Down: Didn't draft a Defense, so minor points off for that. Not sure about PJ's running back depth once Ronnie Brown goes down to injury. Larry Johnson is D-O-N-E. Could have gotten McCluster with 12th round pick instead of using his 5th round one.
Twitter: Was it really PJ or his fiancee who drafted this team?
Overall Grade: B/B-
Bill
Thumbs Up: Got the Eagles defense. Got good sleepers with Michael Bush and Slaton late in the draft. Vincent Jackson also lasted late into the 8th round for someone who may just only miss 3 games.
Thumbs Down: For the first time in a while, I think Bill had an uninspired draft. He fell for Ochocinco's reality show and tweets. Ochocinco is okay in a yardage league but under-performs vs. his rep in FADUCO. Bill's roster of WRs rivals Victor's for blah-ness. If or when the Madden Curse strikes, Bill's starting QB would be Alex Smith. Yuck.
Twitter line: Strong keepers plus blah draft means playoffs not a sure thing.
Overall Grade: C+
Kevin
Thumbs Up: Another year, another solid draft by Kevin. He combined safe picks like Antonio Gates and Hakeem Nicks with high-potential picks in Jahvid Best and Mike Wallace. He also satisfied his wife's wishes and now has both Mannings on his roster. But wait, there's more: he managed to handcuff Chris Johnson with Javon Ringer in the 11th round, under the radar. All this from the LAST spot in the draft order. Wow.
Thumbs Down: Computer snafu resulted in two kickers in a row. Guess if you hate the Mannings then you wouldn't like Kevin's draft.
Twitter Line: With this draft, the "Dynasty" word can't be ruled out to describe Kevin's FADUCO team.
Grade: A
Donny
Thumbs up: Got a future stud RB that can carry Donny's team for many years. Good value with Rapey-Ben pick in 9th round. Got handcuff for Addai. Good mix of bye weeks. As predicted, took the least time on the draft clock.
Thumbs down: Picked DST too early, probably influenced by watching Rex Ryan drop F-bombs on Hard Knocks. Some homer picks but at least they're going to be bench spots.
Twitter liine: Needs to avoid being like Dan Snyder and has to exhibit patience with young roster.
Overall Grade: B+
Lily
Thumbs up: Got the safest pick on board with Reggie Wayne, yet still managed to shore up the running back position with Arian Foster and Marion Barber. With Jonathan Stewart and Ricky Williams, has arguably the best 3 second banana running backs in the league. Drafted good flexibility for a 3-WR or 2-RB starting roster. Liked the Celek pick too. Getting Brett Favre as QB2 was a bonus.
Thumbs down: Minor quibbles with WRs after her top 3. Some age issues with 3 of her 5 RBs.
Twitter line: Very nice draft means sophomore season shall show marked improvement.
Overall Grade: A-
Andrew
Thumbs Up: Kept it safe with proven players in first 2 rounds. Andrew's starters all play on teams with strong offensive credentials. Now has four possible WR1's on roster, I like the Johnny Knox pickup in the 9th round (who Andrew stole before my pick).
Thumbs Down: Umm, went a bit overboard and drafted 6 WRs. Will encounter inefficiencies at that spot until things settle down by middle of season and the good ones separate themselves from the pack. Running back depth still an area of concern.
Twitter line: Riding the Saints and Patriots wave.
Overall Grade : B-
Victor
Thumbs up: "Earned" two FUs from Hai and Andrew for stealing their picks. Got a good value pick with Cadillac Williams, who's not in a RBBC environment, with 5th pick. Nice TE depth with Witten and Daniels.
Thumbs down: Did not get to draft any solid, safe WRs. Felt like he reached for all his WR picks except Golden Tate. Also, all his WRs have questions surrounding them and he wasn't able to get much relief for Sidney Rice's extended absence.
Twitter Line: Man, those are some poopy wide receivers on that roster.
Overall Grade: C
Hai
Thumbs up: Fully invested in Dallas Wideouts. Got the top ranked QB available with Schaub. Good value pick of Sims-Walker in the 6th round. I think TO will be the better WR in the FADUCO scoring system than Ochocinco.
Thumbs down: Didn't get Marion Barber and Tony Romo to complete the homer roster. Bench RB picks don't really score TDs.
Twitter line: Will Hai like it if the Cowboys jump to a big lead and start running the ball?
Overall Grade: B
Tuna
Thumbs Up: Another homer draft in FADUCO this year. Got the Giants' running game, their primary WR, and their kicker. Got Santonio Holmes with late 10th round pick.
Thumbs Down: Another homer draft in FADUCO. If Giants offense goes to sh*t, Tuna shall be in a world of hurt. Roster doesn't really have players who would get voted to the Pro-bowl except for his Green Bay players. Rather, they're the type who get in as injury replacements. In other words, this doesn't really look like a playoff team to me.
Twitter line: Too bad Giants vs Packers is in Week 16, Tuna won't get to use his players
Overall grade: C+
Katy
Thumbs Up: Got her dream QB in the first round. I am optimistic about Kolb and would have drafted him if not for PJ's dropping of Romo. Got some good young RB talent for once with Spiller and Harrison. Berrian primed to contribute until Rice returns.
Thumbs Down: Weak in depth with only 1 substitute WR. A bit vulnerable if Kolb pick doesn't pan out since Campbell can't carry a fantasy team. A bit surprised that Todd Heap got picked so early while other higher-rated TEs were on the board
Twitter Line: Welcome to the Kolb era, may he carry your team like McNabb did for 7 seasons.
Overall Grade: B+
PJ
Thumbs Up: If there was a bet on who would have the Least homer draft picks out of Victor (2) , Tuna (3) , Bill (1+1 should have in Akers), and PJ (0!!!!!) , I would have lost a lot of money. Mike Martz usually improves a QB's fantasy performance, so kudos to recognizing that with the Cutler pick. Also, got some sleeper picks with Mike Williams and Darren McFadden.
Thumbs Down: Didn't draft a Defense, so minor points off for that. Not sure about PJ's running back depth once Ronnie Brown goes down to injury. Larry Johnson is D-O-N-E. Could have gotten McCluster with 12th round pick instead of using his 5th round one.
Twitter: Was it really PJ or his fiancee who drafted this team?
Overall Grade: B/B-
Bill
Thumbs Up: Got the Eagles defense. Got good sleepers with Michael Bush and Slaton late in the draft. Vincent Jackson also lasted late into the 8th round for someone who may just only miss 3 games.
Thumbs Down: For the first time in a while, I think Bill had an uninspired draft. He fell for Ochocinco's reality show and tweets. Ochocinco is okay in a yardage league but under-performs vs. his rep in FADUCO. Bill's roster of WRs rivals Victor's for blah-ness. If or when the Madden Curse strikes, Bill's starting QB would be Alex Smith. Yuck.
Twitter line: Strong keepers plus blah draft means playoffs not a sure thing.
Overall Grade: C+
Kevin
Thumbs Up: Another year, another solid draft by Kevin. He combined safe picks like Antonio Gates and Hakeem Nicks with high-potential picks in Jahvid Best and Mike Wallace. He also satisfied his wife's wishes and now has both Mannings on his roster. But wait, there's more: he managed to handcuff Chris Johnson with Javon Ringer in the 11th round, under the radar. All this from the LAST spot in the draft order. Wow.
Thumbs Down: Computer snafu resulted in two kickers in a row. Guess if you hate the Mannings then you wouldn't like Kevin's draft.
Twitter Line: With this draft, the "Dynasty" word can't be ruled out to describe Kevin's FADUCO team.
Grade: A
Comments
Bill
Post some photos of your fiancee.
PJ
How about some photos of your wives.