125 Drafts Later...

[Axe Elf]

125 drafts--I think that’s probly a pretty good estimate.

I started doing mock drafts this season way back in mid-May. I have 38 mock drafts recorded and saved at Fantasy Football Calculator--and I’m sure I did a couple more without signing in that never got saved. I probly did a good ten more mock drafts at Yahoo and ESPN (each)--both snake and auction--and I did one mock at Real Time Sports. But then of course none of that really matters.

I completed 61 real drafts this preseason as well. 29 were for full-management leagues, and 32 were “DraftMaster” best-ball draft only leagues. 49 are money leagues, into which I have invested $995 (not counting the $50 I loaded into my FanDuel account) and stand to win a maximum purse of just over $6600 (again, not counting any wins from FanDuel). The other 12 are free leagues just for fun.

26 were auction drafts, 33 were snake drafts. 1 was an auction draft where I missed the first hour and had half of my team autodrafted for me before I could take over and try to salvage things in the second half. And then for 1 draft, I selected my entire team from the free agents left over after all the other teams had completed a snake draft. 25 were slow “email” drafts, 35 were live online drafts, and 1 was a live, in-person draft.

I am participating in 26 10-team leagues, 26 12-team leagues, 3 14-team leagues, 3 16-team leagues, 1 8-team league, 1 20-team league and 1 96-team league. (In fairness, that last one is really like 8 12-team leagues all rolled into one, but playing in a 96-team league sounds way cooler.)

I have drafted 1,110 players in my real drafts this preseason--but only 142 different players. I drafted 49 players only once each, 58 players 2-9 times each, and 35 players 10 or more times each--as follows:

Player and Number of Leagues
Carson Palmer 47
Justin Blackmon 47
Arizona Cardinals 46
Tony Romo 41
Vincent Brown 38
Steven Jackson 37
Vernon Davis 35
Reggie Wayne 33
Ronnie Hillman 33
Heath Miller 31
Greg Little 30
Jamaal Charles 29
Kansas City Chiefs 29
Giovani Bernard 28
Matt Bryant 28
Randy Bullock 27
DeSean Jackson 23
Brandon Weeden 21
Dwayne Bowe 21
DeMarco Murray 19
Jeremy Kerley 18
Mark Ingram 18
Rod Streater 18
Le'Veon Bell 17
Anquan Boldin 15
Larry Fitzgerald 14
Reggie Bush 14
Ryan Succop 14
Randall Cobb 13
Carolina Panthers 12
Danny Woodhead 12
David Akers 12
Josh Gordon 12
Antonio Gates 11
Denard Robinson 11
Sidney Rice 9
Calvin Johnson 8
Julius Thomas 8
Tony Gonzalez 8
Blair Walsh 7
Denarius Moore 7
Marshawn Lynch 7
Matt Ryan 7
Alfred Morris 6
Mike Williams 6
Riley Cooper 6
Cecil Shorts 5
Cordarrelle Patterson 5
Dez Bryant 5
Greg Olsen 5
Roy Helu 5
Torrey Smith 5
Adrian Peterson 4
Antonio Brown 4
Chris Givens 4
Danny Amendola 4
Lamar Miller 4
Owen Daniels 4
Ahmad Bradshaw 3
Brandon Stokley 3
Buffalo Bills 3
Demaryius Thomas 3
Fred Davis 3
Fred Jackson 3
Isaac Redman 3
Jacoby Jones 3
Jordan Cameron 3
Joseph Randle 3
Brandon Marshall 2
Darren Sproles 2
Daryl Richardson 2
DeAngelo Williams 2
Dustin Keller 2
Ed Dickson 2
James Casey 2
Jason Witten 2
Jimmy Graham 2
Jon Baldwin 2
Jonathan Stewart 2
Josh Freeman 2
Kyle Rudolph 2
Leonard Hankerson 2
Malcom Floyd 2
Marcedes Lewis 2
Matt Schaub 2
Maurice Jones-Drew 2
Philip Rivers 2
Rashard Mendenhall 2
Robert Griffin III 2
Roddy White 2
Ronnie Brown 2
Russell Wilson 2
T.Y. Hilton 2
Adam Vinatieri 1
Alex Smith 1
Andre Brown 1
Andy Dalton 1
Arian Foster 1
Austin Pettis 1
B. Green-Ellis 1
Ben Tate 1
Brandon LaFell 1
Brandon Pettigrew 1
Chicago Bears 1
Cleveland Browns 1
Colin Kaepernick 1
Cyrus Gray 1
Dennis Pitta 1
Denver Broncos 1
Donnie Avery 1
Doug Martin 1
EJ Manuel 1
Eric Decker 1
Frank Gore 1
Geno Smith 1
Golden Tate 1
Greg Jennings 1
Harry Douglas 1
Jacquizz Rodgers 1
James Jones 1
Jason Avant 1
Jay Feely 1
Jermaine Gresham 1
Joe Flacco 1
Kenjon Barner 1
Kenny Britt 1
LaMichael James 1
Lance Dunbar 1
Lance Moore 1
Marques Colston 1
Mason Crosby 1
Matthew Stafford 1
Michael Vick 1
Mike Wallace 1
Robert Woods 1
San Diego Chargers 1
Seattle Seahawks 1
Shayne Graham 1
Stevan Ridley 1
Steve Smith 1
Terrelle Pryor 1
Vick Ballard 1

Now you know what 125 drafts looks like.


‘Twas the night before football, and all through the nation
Fantasy football drafting was nearing cessation.

The waivers were combed and the free agents signed
All hoping to acquire the hottest new find.

The owners were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of lineups danced through their heads.

And those still awake were all down on their knees
Praying that their studs would avoid injuries.

And so I exclaim after all of the teasin’
Merry Football to all and to all a good season!

 

[ExperiencedRookie]

That was my favorite post of yours! Pure stats and no self glorification. Loved reading it!

It's a pretty telling story when you look at the amount of times you drafted each player. Peyton, Brees, and Rodgers don't show up once. It's insane to me that with all those teams you weren't able to even ONCE enjoy Peyton's record breaking performance. That blows!

Also shows your drafting pattern. Never taking a QB early, and rarely ever taking Graham(twice).

Also interesting...with all these teams you only have 17 of the would be starting QBs in the league covered. Even with those 17, 12 of them you grabbed 2 times or less. You're pretty much "all in" on Romo, Palmer, and Weedon.

A similar pattern shows at TE with having a ton of Vernon, Heath Miller, and Gates.

Other things I gathered. You really diversified the players you selected in the early rounds. The only "top player" that you loaded up on was Steven Jackson.

You like Reggie Wayne WAY more than TY Hilton.

You're a value shopper on suspended players.

You like a lot of the same late WRs over and over like Vincent Brown, Jeremy Kerley, and Rod Streater.

You LOVE you some Ronnie Hillman!

 

[cctekguy]

The poem was a nice touch too.

 

[Axe Elf]

Peyton, Brees, and Rodgers don't show up once. It's insane to me that with all those teams you weren't able to even ONCE enjoy Peyton's record breaking performance.

Yeah, well, like you said, I NEVER draft a QB early--especially when I can get a top 5 guy in the 7th round. And it just means that I will enjoy it even more when Romo outperforms Peyton tonight!

rarely ever taking Graham(twice).

One time was the auction draft where I missed the first hour and had most of my "studs" autodrafted for me. It was a 16 team league, and the computer saw fit to spend $30+ on a TE for me. Thanks! Needless to say, that's one of my worst teams, featuring Giovani Bernard and Ahmad Bradshaw at RB (fortunately it's PPR, and you only have to start one of them), and about 9 mediocre WRs (at least with 2 flex slots, I can start 4 of them plus Graham). The other one was an early draft where I was in like the 11th slot, and Graham was still on the board at the end of the 3rd--couldn't resist THAT!

Also interesting...with all these teams you only have 17 of the would be starting QBs in the league covered. Even with those 17, 12 of them you grabbed 2 times or less. You're pretty much "all in" on Romo, Palmer, and Weedon.

I'm surprised it's as many as 17. I think there are only like 8 that I drafted more than once, though, and like you said, only three that I really liked for their intersection of value and production. The two Rivers were drafted early, before the preseason games made me stop considering him. The Schaubs and Flaccos and the like were all probly QB3s in draftmaster formats.

A similar pattern shows at TE with having a ton of Vernon, Heath Miller, and Gates.

A highly UNdiversified portfolio is the best strategy--when you are right. I think Davis will be the #2-#3 TE this year--depending on how long Gronk is hurt--so he's almost as good as having Jimmy Graham in 35 more leagues. Miller was the #2 TE last year when he got hurt, and since Davis' bye isn't until Week 9, Miller seemed like a good late round stash. When I couldn't get Davis, Gates made a good consolation prize as Rivers' security blanket with all their receivers dropping like flies--and in some Draftmaster auctions, I was able to get all three!

You really diversified the players you selected in the early rounds. The only "top player" that you loaded up on was Steven Jackson.

In snake drafts, your first three rounds are largely dictated by your drafting position. So it wasn't really an intentional diversification, it was just having to take what fell to me. In just about ALL of my auction drafts, I have Jamaal Charles and Steven Jackson, but that was a difficult combo to get in a snake draft. An early draft slot might land you Charles, but Jackson would be gone on the way back. A late draft slot guarantees you Jackson, but you probly won't have Charles fall to you. Jackson did have a lot more variability than some other early round picks, though, so I was frequently able to get him in the second round from almost any position.

You like Reggie Wayne WAY more than TY Hilton.

You're a value shopper on suspended players.

You like a lot of the same late WRs over and over like Vincent Brown, Jeremy Kerley, and Rod Streater.

You LOVE you some Ronnie Hillman!

Andrew Luck likes Reggie Wayne a lot too. He was underdrafted this year, especially in PPR leagues--a top 10 PPR WR last year, even with only 5 TDs--and he could be had in the 4th-5th round.

Josh Gordon and Justin Blackmon were a lot easier to get early in the preseason. In the last two weeks, people were catching on. It makes things a little tight for the first couple of weeks in leagues where I have both, but Blackmon is going to put up WR1 numbers when he gets back, and Gordon probly high end WR2 numbers at least. It makes a lot more sense than stashing injured guys like Crabtree or Harvin and hoping they can give you two or three healthy weeks at the end of the year.

And yeah, late in both auctions and snakes, I found the same guys over and over. I expect both Brown and Kerley to be top 25 WRs, and Streater at least in the top 30, so why wouldn't I?

I loved me the value of Hillman in the double digit rounds, that's for sure. Hillman is my RB4 or RB5 in a lot of PPR leagues. While other guys were drafting lottery tickets, I was getting a guy who will be involved every week. I still think he's going to be the "Darren Sproles Lite" of the Denver offense, and as such, is perfectly fine as an emergency PPR flex or bye week sub.

 

[Miller]

Nice post elf. Interesting to see how this works out.

What do you favor on Fan Duel? Have you done it before? Loaded up $25 last night to give it a shot.

 

[mudloggerone]

... it just means that I will enjoy it even more when Romo outperforms Peyton tonight!

Dam Axe you gotta be drinking early today.

 

[Axe Elf]

What do you favor on Fan Duel? Have you done it before? Loaded up $25 last night to give it a shot.

I like to play 5 man leagues and 10 man leagues for $5 entry fees.

My lineup for this week is:

Brandon Weeden
Jamaal Charles
Steven Jackson
Dez Bryant
Reggie Wayne
DeSean Jackson
Vernon Davis
Ryan Succop
Houston Texans

 

[Miller]

I like to play 5 man leagues and 10 man leagues for $5 entry fees.

My lineup for this week is:

Brandon Weeden
Jamaal Charles
Steven Jackson
Dez Bryant
Reggie Wayne
DeSean Jackson
Vernon Davis
Ryan Succop
Houston Texans

You like Weeden a lot.

I mixed up my line-up this week trying to see what works best in these formats. Did some at $65k, most at $60k. I liked Jackson a lot as well. Went with Charles on a couple.

Guys I built around were Ryan and Graham. Amendola is in quite a few as well, as I like him until he gets hurt, just hope it's not this week or in the first Q.

Grabbed Tate in a few as well too as I think he was a good value. Gore and Bush show up a couple as well.

In the $65k leagues, I went with Ryan/JJones combo.

Did you do this least year? How did you do overall?

 

[ExperiencedRookie]

I'm like the unofficial spokesman for Fan Duel! I love this concept and website!!

Me and my buddies play weekly amongst us for small prize money, then I usually enter a larger field to take a shot at a huge payday.

If I was to organize a SO Fan Duel, would there be any interest starting next week? Maybe a $5-$10 entry at 60k?

 

[Miller]

Sure, I'd be interested. Maybe a separate thread ER....get some discussion going on it.

 

[ExperiencedRookie]

Sure, I'd be interested. Maybe a separate thread ER....get some discussion going on it.

Sounds good. Watch for it early in the week.

 

[mudloggerone]

I'd like to know a bit more.

 

[Axe Elf]

You like Weeden a lot.

I do. He's near the minimum salary, and since he's unveiling Norv Turner's new offense at home against last year's #27 pass defense (which also lost starting 2009 2nd round pick CB Sean Smith) after posting 334/3/0 in about one game's worth of preseason play--I think he's the cheapest possibility for a 300/3 day.

Did you do this least year? How did you do overall?

I invested $50 at the start of the year and cashed out $600 at the end of the year. I don't play in any of the big tournaments though. I know some people who hit in some of those last year for a few thousand, and while I wouldn't want to overtly advertise another site on here, if you want to PM me, I can tell you where they post their research and data.

 

[Miller]

I like to play 5 man leagues and 10 man leagues for $5 entry fees.

My lineup for this week is:

Brandon Weeden
Jamaal Charles
Steven Jackson
Dez Bryant
Reggie Wayne
DeSean Jackson
Vernon Davis
Ryan Succop
Houston Texans

Assuming it was not an elftastic start to your fan duel season.....Weeden hurt

 

[Axe Elf]

Weeden AND Dez AND Succop hurt, but fortunately a lot of other guys had Dez too. I should still make a profit this weekend, thanks to Wayne and Davis and having a couple of the better RBs this week--as long as DeSean Jackson doesn't lay an egg and Alfred Morris or LeSean McCoy don't have miracle games or something--but it's not as good as it could have been.

 

[Phicinfan]

Oops, looks like McCoy had a miracle game...which SOME of us knew was coming.

 

[Axe Elf]

Yeah, ended up +$6 on my $50 FanDuel investment this week, but if I coulda gotten 4 more points out of Weeden, Dez and Succop, it would have been another $40.

 

[Axe Elf]

In Week 1 I went 24-11 overall and 11-5 in money leagues--including beating the Peyton Manning team twice in money leagues! Of those 5 money league losses, only two teams really did poorly. In one I started both Bowe and Shorts and ended up #8 out of 10 in points scored, and in the other, I had lost Le’Veon Bell, so I was starting Lamar Miller--as well as Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant and T.Y. Hilton--that team ended up tied for 9th in points out of 12 teams. Hopefully a few of those guys are going to come around eventually--but my opponent had Peyton Manning AND Adrian Peterson, so I really had no chance after about 1:05 pm on Sunday.

On the plus side, one of the teams that beat Manning (and Brandon Marshall) featured Dwayne Bowe and Greg Little--so the rest of that team is a monster. Another team I beat with Manning also had AJ Green and Jared Cook--he was the third-highest scoring team and I was #1--so that one seems like a juggernaut as well.

One of my other three money league losses was the league in which I picked my team from the free agents left over after the other 9 teams had drafted, so I expect to lose a few in that league until I get a few waiver wire gems on my side. I did beat one team’s score in that league, however--and I play that team next week--but I really screwed up by not adding Julius Thomas that last week of preseason. Now I’m stuck with Fred Davis until Heath Miller gets back (I had Dustin Keller before he got hurt).

I was the #4 in another money league and lost to #3, and in the last one, I was #3 in points and lost by 2.26 to #1 (yes, someone scored between us for #2). Any one of the three voided Randy Bullock FGs would have given me the win, another #1 overall score, and a third win over Peyton Manning, so that last loss was particularly brutal. Still, I did win a game in a $100 league by 1.2 points on Bullock’s last-second game-winning FG, so I can’t complain.

I had the top-scoring overall team in 9 out of 29 leagues (6 out of 16 money leagues). In 5 more I was second, and 2 of those were money leagues. All in all, I was in the top third of a league’s scoring in an amazing 20 of 29 leagues, and in 11 of 16 money leagues. I went 2-0 with the #1 and #3 scores in my two most important $100 leagues.

In my 12 DraftMaster leagues at RTSports (ten $20 and two $50 leagues), I have four teams that are in first place, including one of the $50 teams. I have two more second-place teams and two more teams currently in third place. Four teams are lower than third, including the other $50 team. These 10-team leagues pay the top two places.

I have 20 “MFL 10s” teams, also draftmaster format, but these are 12-team leagues that only pay first place (unless you count a free entry next year for second place). I have four teams in first place, one team in second place, and one team in third place, with fourteen teams currently lower than third.

 

[Axe Elf]

Do you know how long it takes to do waivers for 29 teams?

About three hours. And then another hour the next day, sifting through the players that were cast off during waivers (someone dropped Le'Veon Bell!).

At least setting lineups only takes about an hour.

Now you know.