Viva La Vita Fantasy Draft Recap and Fantasy Football "Advice"

Ray Lewis: "I don't play fantasy football, I play for real football!"

It's that time of year again. Fantasy football draft time. I had an idea a few weeks ago to have a blog fantasy league, for money of course. Twelve owners have paid a $20 buy-in entry fee to compete for the pot of $240. I thought it could be fun for the readers of Viva La Vita to follow along with the league.

In this article, I introduce you all to the league, but also take you inside the head of a former fantasy champion... myself (*evil laugh*) and show you what went on when I made each pick. I know some of you have drafts coming up, and if you are looking for some advice, look no further! But before we dive in to the draft though, why don't I give a little bit of background information on the league.

The twelve owners consist of twelve graduates of New Trier High School in the year 2012. That's right, we all went to high school together. So this league is a bit of a "reunion" in some regards. Some of the owners have come up with team names, others have yet to do so. The owners are split in to two divisions. Six of them attend Big Ten schools, while the other six do not, so we figured that'd be a good way to split it up.

In the Big Ten division we have:
"Takeover Mode"- Managed by Grant Forsyth, who also happens to be Deputy Commissioner (or co-commissioner) of the Viva La Vita Fantasy League. (Indiana University)
"Team Stamos"- Managed by Jack Stamos (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
"Riggin rigs"- Managed by Jack Lindblad. I mistook his team name as a reference to the fact that the commissioner and deputy commissioner had the first two picks of the draft. But I was completely wrong. It's a Friday Night Lights reference. (University of Michigan)
"Team Grubb"- Managed by Will Grubb (Indiana University)
"Team Falk"- Managed by Nate Falk (Indiana University)
"Team Heisenberg"- Managed by Eric Underwood (I am still unsure where this team name came from or what it means... but props to Eric for having a team name) (Wisconsin-Madison)

In the Not Big Ten Division we have:
"Team smith"- Managed by Colin Smith (University of Missouri)
"Team rice"- Managed by Nathan Rice (Depauw University)
"Team kraus"- Managed by Max Kraus (Roanoke College)
"Team Sharif"- Managed by Alex Sharif (University of Colorado Boulder)
"Team Lawlor"- Managed by Andrew Lawlor (Vanderbilt University)
"Team Vita"- Managed by myself, Jack Vita, Executive Commissioner (or co-commissioner) of the Viva La Vita Fantasy League (Carthage College)

You'll probably get to know these other owners better over the course of the season, assuming this becomes a weekly or bi-weekly article.

Now it's time to start my fantasy football draft journal. Okay well I didn't pen this down last night as I was drafting, I was too focused on the draft itself as well as talking smack on the draft room chat board. But I'll take you behind the logic of each of my picks. So let's get started.



PRE-DRAFT: Entering the draft, I wasn't sure what to think. We didn't know what the draft order was going to be until ESPN randomized it for us one hour before draft time. I didn't have a set strategy. I think the thing that is best about my fantasy game is my ability to adapt. I've done different stuff every year. If you go in with a set strategy, maybe it will work, but if it doesn't, things will be difficult. 11 of 12 owners aren't going to be able to draft Adrian Peterson. He's only going to play on one team.

So where was I hoping to have my pick? Obviously everyone wants that first pick, and I did too. But I also wanted a late first round pick/early second round pick. In a mock draft I recently did on ESPN, I had a later pick in the first round and got Calvin Johnson and Aaron Rodgers. That's a pretty sweet one-two punch if you ask me. I really liked the idea of getting Johnson, and if I couldn't get Rodgers, I would have loved to pair Johnson with another top-tier receiver. Ideally, I would want Johnson and A.J. Green together. While I had little visions as to what I wanted my draft to look like, I didn't have any super-plan cooked up. I was just going to take it one round at a time, and see where my pick was.

ROUND 1 1 Adrian Peterson, Min RB Takeover Mode 2 Marshawn Lynch, Sea RB   Team Vita 3 Ray Rice, Bal RB Team smith 4 Aaron Rodgers, GB QB Team Sharif 5 Arian Foster, Hou RB Team rice 6 Doug Martin, TB RB Team kraus 7 Jamaal Charles, KC RB Team Lawlor 8 LeSean McCoy, Phi RB riggins rigs 9 C.J. Spiller, Buf RB Team Grubb 10 Trent Richardson, Cle RB Team Stamos 11 Drew Brees, NO QB Team Falk 12 Calvin Johnson, Det WR Team Heisenberg

The draft lobby opens while I'm eating my dinner, and immediately Forsyth calls me up telling me to go on Xbox live so we can talk as we draft together. He's buzzing with excitement and asks if I saw where our picks were, but I told him to keep it a secret from me. Judging by his excitement, I had a strong feeling that me and him were at the top of the draft. I was right. Grant was easily going to take AP (or AD... whatever you want to call him) with the first pick, so it was up to me to make the first real decision of the draft. I had a few options. I could go with Arian Foster, Ray Rice, or Marshawn Lynch. Aaron Rodgers and Calvin Johnson were other interesting options, but I thought if I was having a pick this high, I need to go with a running back.

Foster has an injury of some sorts, so he automatically loses any tie there is between him, Rice and Lynch. I think Lynch is better than Ray Rice. Plus, Rice plays on the team I hate, the Baltimore Ravens, so I figured I'd take Lynch and let Colin (who's a passionate Ravens fan) get his boy.

ROUND 2
13	A.J. Green, Cin WR	Team Heisenberg
14	Steven Jackson, Atl RB	Team Falk
15	Matt Forte, Chi RB	Team Stamos
16	Peyton Manning, Den QB	Team Grubb
17	Brandon Marshall, Chi WR	riggins rigs
18	Alfred Morris, Wsh RB	Team Lawlor
19	Tom Brady, NE QB	Team kraus
20	Julio Jones, Atl WR	Team rice
21	Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac RB	Team Sharif
22	Dez Bryant, Dal WR	Team smith
23	Stevan Ridley, NE RB	Team Vita
24	Jimmy Graham, NO TE	Takeover Mode

Look at that! Eric was able to pull off the receiver move I was hoping I could if I was blessed with a late round pick!

As I awaited my second pick, I really wanted to go for the best available talent that I could see slipping to the end of the round. I was specifically eyeing Brady, MJD and Frank Gore. My pick comes up, and I realize Stevan Ridley is still on the board. I did not expect him to be there, so now I had a difficult decision to make between Ridley and Gore. I ultimately made the decision by flipping a coin. It was heads, which meant I was taking Ridley.

ROUND 3
25	Demaryius Thomas, Den WR	Takeover Mode
26	Frank Gore, SF RB	Team Vita
27	Colin Kaepernick, SF QB	Team smith
28	Andre Johnson, Hou WR	Team Sharif
29	Chris Johnson, Ten RB	Team rice
30	David Wilson, NYG RB	Team kraus
31	Roddy White, Atl WR	Team Lawlor
32	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari WR	riggins rigs
33	Victor Cruz, NYG WR	Team Grubb
34	Cam Newton, Car QB	Team Stamos
35	Vincent Jackson, TB WR	Team Falk
36	Darren McFadden, Oak RB	Team Heisenberg

The next thing I know, it's my pick again. And guess who is still on the board? Frank Gore. I now had another difficult decision to make. I could go with a top receiver, mainly Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald, or I could go with another running back, having what could be a deadly three-headed monster of a backfield by selecting Gore. I decided if I was going receiver I was going to get Fitz. Fitz has the potential of turning any play in to a touchdown, and I like that. At the last second, I was too tempted by the thought of having Gore with Ridley and Lynch, and took Gore.

ROUND 4 37 Randall Cobb, GB WR Team Heisenberg 38 Wes Welker, Den WR Team Falk 39 Hakeem Nicks, NYG WR Team Stamos 40 DeMarco Murray, Dal RB Team Grubb 41 Danny Amendola, NE WR riggins rigs 42 Montee Ball, Den RB Team Lawlor 43 Marques Colston, NO WR Team kraus 44 Matt Ryan, Atl QB Team rice 45 Tony Gonzalez, Atl TE Team Sharif 46 Jordy Nelson, GB WR Team smith 47 Russell Wilson, Sea QB   Team Vita 48 Reggie Wayne, Ind WR Takeover Mode

Entering the draft I really liked the idea of having Colin Kaepernick as my quarterback. With his blazing speed and rocket-like arm, I expected him to put up good fantasy numbers in his third year and first as opening week starter. Also, I figured I could get him a little later, and other guys would be targeting quarterbacks such as Rodgers, Brady, Peyton Manning, Brees, and maybe even Cam Newton, Matt Ryan and RGII before we Kaep was off the board. I was wrong, as Colin took Kaepernick with the very next pick. Was it a bit of a reach? Maybe. But with his pick being at the end of the next round, Colin must have figured that someone else could have grabbed him. Dang.

So now here I am in the fourth round, and I'm taking a quarterback sooner than I planned to (unless I was taking Kaep). I know these quarterbacks are going fast and I need to get mine before it's too late. But at the same time I needed to start getting myself some receivers.There were a good number of guys I liked, but I couldn't decide yet. I decided to get my quarterback. Russell Wilson. His ability to run is hard to pass up. Was this a reach? Yes. But I didn't think he would still be there 20 picks later when I drafted next. If I wanted him, I had to take him with one of these two picks. So I did.

ROUND 5
49	Andrew Luck, Ind QB	Takeover Mode
50	Rob Gronkowski*, NE TE	Team Vita
51	Reggie Bush, Det RB	Team smith
52	Darren Sproles, NO RB	Team Sharif
53	Mike Wallace, Mia WR	Team rice
54	Dwayne Bowe, KC WR	Team kraus
55	Steve Smith, Car WR	Team Lawlor
56	Matthew Stafford, Det QB	riggins rigs
57	Pierre Garcon, Wsh WR	Team Grubb
58	Ryan Mathews, SD RB	Team Stamos
59	Vernon Davis, SF TE	Team Falk
60	Tony Romo, Dal QB	Team Heisenberg

So now I'm confused as to what to do next. I really like Antonio Brown, and I know I'm going to have to reach for him if I want him. But Forsyth is reminding me of how big a beast Gronk is when he's healthy. If you get Gronk in the fifth round and he's any fraction of the monster he's been the past couple years, this is a steal and a bargain. I have never had a tight end put up consistent good points for me. My tight ends end up being pretty ineffective, but if you can get a guy that's putting up 20 every week at that position, you're going to be in good shape. But on the other hand, what am I going to do about receivers? As the clock runs down to the final seconds, I make my ballsiest move so far by taking an injured Gronk and waiting another round to start taking receivers.

ROUND 6
61	Chris Ivory, NYJ RB	Team Heisenberg
62	Rashard Mendenhall, Ari RB	Team Falk
63	Torrey Smith, Bal WR	Team Stamos
64	DeAngelo Williams, Car RB	Team Grubb
65	Ahmad Bradshaw, Ind RB	riggins rigs
66	Robert Griffin III, Wsh QB	Team Lawlor
67	Eddie Lacy, GB RB	Team kraus
68	Antonio Brown, Pit WR	Team rice
69	DeSean Jackson, Phi WR	Team Sharif
70	Seahawks D/ST D/ST	Team smith
71	Eric Decker, Den WR	Team Vita
72	Shane Vereen, NE RB	Takeover Mode

Five rounds have passed and I still have yet to take a receiver. I bite my nails as I hope that I can somehow get Antonio Brown in this round. Nope. Rice grabs him a few picks before me. But Eric Decker is still available, sliding about 20 picks below where he was projected. While he might not be my first choice for a receiver, he is a receiver of Peyton Manning, and that means he will be putting up decent numbers, even if the Broncos also have Welker and Demaryius Thomas.

ROUND 7
73	Anquan Boldin, SF WR	Takeover Mode
74	James Jones, GB WR	Team Vita
75	Jason Witten, Dal TE	Team smith
76	Joe Flacco, Bal QB	Team Sharif
77	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cin RB	Team rice
78	Sidney Rice, Sea WR	Team kraus
79	Lamar Miller, Mia RB	Team Lawlor
80	Le'Veon Bell, Pit RB	riggins rigs
81	Lance Moore, NO WR	Team Grubb
82	T.Y. Hilton, Ind WR	Team Stamos
83	Steve Johnson, Buf WR	Team Falk
84	Giovani Bernard, Cin RB	Team Heisenberg

Next receiver I take? James Jones. Another case of a guy sliding down the board, but he's the best available option. He led the league in touchdown catches last year with 14 and Rodgers is his quarterback. Also take in to consideration that Greg Jennings is now gone and he could be targeted even more. I like James Jones at pick 74.

ROUND 8
85	Greg Olsen, Car TE	Team Heisenberg
86	Mikel Leshoure, Det RB	Team Falk
87	Kyle Rudolph, Min TE	Team Stamos
88	Owen Daniels, Hou TE	Team Grubb
89	Miles Austin, Dal WR	riggins rigs
90	Martellus Bennett, Chi TE	Team Lawlor
91	Jermichael Finley, GB TE	Team kraus
92	49ers D/ST D/ST	Team rice
93	Tavon Austin, StL WR	Team Sharif
94	Cecil Shorts, Jac WR	Team smith
95	Greg Jennings, Min WR	Team Vita
96	Daryl Richardson, StL RB	Takeover Mode

Someone I looked at a bit my last pick was Greg Jennings. I know that since I don't have top-tier receivers, I need to stockpile some more options. So I take Greg Jennings here, and then I take Emmanuel Sanders in the next round. Something you will see is that I take some Steelers in these last rounds, and some may say that I'm biased and my team won't be that good. I am a Steelers fan. But I think the fact that I am a fan allows me to have more knowledge on some guys than the other guys in the league may have. I like Sanders to have a pretty good year. He has good hands and speed, and Big Ben likes throwing to him. And with Mike Wallace gone, he's going to be a much bigger part of this offense.

ROUND 9
97	Bears D/ST D/ST	Takeover Mode
98	Emmanuel Sanders, Pit WR	Team Vita
99	Mark Ingram, NO RB	Team smith
100	Antonio Gates, SD TE	Team Sharif
101	Jordan Cameron, Cle TE	Team rice
102	Denarius Moore, Oak WR	Team kraus
103	Vick Ballard, Ind RB	Team Lawlor
104	Brandon Myers, NYG TE	riggins rigs
105	Golden Tate, Sea WR	Team Grubb
106	Vincent Brown, SD WR	Team Stamos
107	Mike Williams, TB WR	Team Falk
108	Andre Brown, NYG RB	Team Heisenberg

ROUND 10
109	Chris Givens, StL WR	Team Heisenberg
110	Eli Manning, NYG QB	Team Falk
111	Bernard Pierce, Bal RB	Team Stamos
112	Ben Roethlisberger, Pit QB	Team Grubb
113	Fred Jackson, Buf RB	riggins rigs
114	Kenny Britt, Ten WR	Team Lawlor
115	Bengals D/ST D/ST	Team kraus
116	Alshon Jeffery, Chi WR	Team rice
117	Jacquizz Rodgers, Atl RB	Team Sharif
118	Jacoby Jones, Bal WR	Team smith
119	Texans D/ST D/ST	Team Vita
120	Michael Vick, Phi QB	Takeover Mode

Around this time I start thinking I need to get a back-up quarterback. Another solid option. I like Eli and Big Ben around here, I see them as top 10 quarterbacks in the league. I have them at the top of my draft board at this time. But they both get taken before I can get them. So I decide to take a defense.

ROUND 11
121	DuJuan Harris, GB RB	Takeover Mode
122	Ben Tate, Hou RB	Team Vita
123	Matt Schaub, Hou QB	Team smith
124	Isaiah Pead, StL RB	Team Sharif
125	LaMichael James, SF RB	Team rice
126	Malcom Floyd, SD WR	Team kraus
127	Bryce Brown, Phi RB	Team Lawlor
128	Brandon Pettigrew, Det TE	riggins rigs
129	Shonn Greene, Ten RB	Team Grubb
130	Jay Cutler, Chi QB	Team Stamos
131	Patriots D/ST D/ST	Team Falk
132	Ravens D/ST D/ST	Team Heisenberg

What's my logic behind the Ben Tate pick? Ben Tate was one of the best back-up running backs in 2011, and if Arian Foster is having injury problems this year, at the very least we should see more Ben Tate. I also must add that Forsyth's pick of DuJuan Harris is a good one here.

ROUND 12
133	Rueben Randle, NYG WR	Team Heisenberg
134	Sam Bradford, StL QB	Team Falk
135	Josh Gordon, Cle WR	Team Stamos
136	Broncos D/ST D/ST	Team Grubb
137	Rams D/ST D/ST	riggins rigs
138	Michael Floyd, Ari WR	Team Lawlor
139	Andy Dalton, Cin QB	Team kraus
140	EJ Manuel, Buf QB	Team rice
141	Jonathan Stewart*, Car RB	Team Sharif
142	Jared Cook, StL TE	Team smith
143	Jonathan Dwyer, Pit RB	Team Vita
144	Justin Blackmon, Jac WR	Takeover Mode

Going in to this draft I knew I had to have Jonathan Dwyer on my bench. I liked him last year. I think he has good potential. He isn't one of the two starting backs, but he should be in the mix and we could see him more. He also had decent fantasy numbers for me last year. Why not.

ROUND 13
145	Brian Hartline, Mia WR	Takeover Mode
146	Josh Freeman, TB QB	Team Vita
147	Stephen Gostkowski, NE K	Team smith
148	Ronnie Hillman, Den RB	Team Sharif
149	Fred Davis, Wsh TE	Team rice
150	Michael Bush, Chi RB	Team kraus
151	Ryan Broyles, Det WR	Team Lawlor
152	Kendall Wright, Ten WR	riggins rigs
153	Johnathan Franklin, GB RB	Team Grubb
154	Andre Roberts, Ari WR	Team Stamos
155	Bilal Powell, NYJ RB	Team Falk
156	Philip Rivers, SD QB	Team Heisenberg

I know I need to get a backup quarterback at some point, and I'm running out of options. So I grab a guy who was drawing comparisons to a young Donovan McNabb just a couple years ago. This will probably be a make or break year for Josh Freeman's career. I didn't really like anything else better, so I figured why not.

ROUND 14
157	Pierre Thomas, NO RB	Team Heisenberg
158	Blair Walsh, Min K	Team Falk
159	DeAndre Hopkins, Hou WR	Team Stamos
160	Sebastian Janikowski, Oak K	Team Grubb
161	Matt Prater, Den K	riggins rigs
162	Steelers D/ST D/ST	Team Lawlor
163	Mason Crosby, GB K	Team kraus
164	Garrett Hartley, NO K	Team rice
165	Packers D/ST D/ST	Team Sharif
166	Roy Helu, Wsh RB	Team smith
167	Coby Fleener, Ind TE	Team Vita
168	Ed Dickson, Bal TE	Takeover Mode

It was imperative for me to get a tight end to fill-in while Gronk is injured. Coby Fleener was an early round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and he also played tight end for Andrew Luck at Stanford. He has some sleeper potential, but at least I got SOMEONE as a backup tight end.

ROUND 15
169	Matt Bryant, Atl K	Takeover Mode
170	Markus Wheaton, Pit WR	Team Vita
171	Darrius Heyward-Bey, Ind WR	Team smith
172	Justin Tucker, Bal K	Team Sharif
173	Dwayne Allen, Ind TE	Team rice
174	Michael Turner, FA RB	Team kraus
175	Phil Dawson, SF K	Team Lawlor
176	Tyler Eifert, Cin TE	riggins rigs
177	Cowboys D/ST D/ST	Team Grubb
178	Cardinals D/ST D/ST	Team Stamos
179	Robert Turbin, Sea RB	Team Falk
180	Randy Bullock, Hou K	Team Heisenberg

I told Forsyth going in that there was one guy I was going to take no matter what, and that he most likely wasn't on anyone else's radar. That guy is Markus Wheaton. The rookie has impressed many at Steelers training camp/preseason. He's got great speed that can stretch the field. I also like the Steelers' eye for talent. Just four years ago we were impressed by a guy who was third round pick out of Minnesota that was on no one's radar, and that was Mike Wallace. Now we have a guy with the same initials as Wallace that was a third round pick from Oregon State and is already impressing. He might not put up big points in the first few weeks, but over the course of the season he will likely get more involved. If you're still reading this, TAKE WHEATON AT THE END OF YOUR DRAFT. He's explosive and there's really nothing to lose. Just do it. That's my tip.

ROUND 16
181	Greg Little, Cle WR	Team Heisenberg
182	Zac Stacy, StL RB	Team Falk
183	Alex Henery, Phi K	Team Stamos
184	Jermaine Gresham, Cin TE	Team Grubb
185	Ryan Williams, Ari RB	riggins rigs
186	Josh Brown, NYG K	Team Lawlor
187	Scott Chandler, Buf TE	Team kraus
188	Santana Moss, Wsh WR	Team rice
189	David Akers, Det K	Team Sharif
190	Daniel Thomas, Mia RB	Team smith
191	Robbie Gould, Chi K	Team Vita
192	Santonio Holmes*, NYJ WR	Takeover Mode

I made the noob move of taking the Bears kicker Robbie Gould. So yeah.

My final roster looks like this:

There will be more to come from this. Later I will post the rosters of all 12 teams for you to check out and compare.

So what do you think of my team? And what do you think of my "advice"? Whatever your opinion is, comment below and let me know! Or let me hear your thoughts on my Facebook fan page. Also, please follow me on Twitter @vellvita7 and stay up to date with all my work. As always, thanks for reading!