Picking From the Bottom of the Barrel

So you think you’re a fantasy football guru, eh? What if I told you that you would have to draft a fantasy team without the luxury of a single pick in the first four rounds of a 14-team competitive re-draft league? Impossible task, you say? Not as impossible as it might seem. After taking a careful look at one of my more competitive leagues from 2005, I have put together the ultimate fantasy football team, created from not a single player taken earlier than the 55th pick in the draft. Now, I realize that finding such an incredible group of over-achievers isn’t the easiest task in the world. Still, it’s nice to know such a team can be put together by a truly fortunate owner blessed with amazing intuition. Heck, some of the players listed here weren’t even drafted by a team.

The draft slots referenced in this article were taken from a competitive 14-team league that has been in existence for over ten seasons. The members are all experienced fantasy football veterans, including myself. We started one QB, two RBs, two WRs, one TE, one K and one team defense. The playoffs for this league took place between weeks 15 and 17.

So, without further ado, the ultimate fantasy bargains.

Pick #1, 57th overall: Larry Johnson – RB, Kansas City Chiefs

2,093 Total Yards, 21 Total Touchdowns, 33 Receptions

Entering the 2005 season, it seemed Priest Holmes was still the man in Kansas City. Now that the dust has settled, it’s clear there’s a new sheriff in town. Johnson’s incredible 2005 run was highlighted by nine straight games of at least 100 yards rushing to finish the season. During that run, LJ tallied 17 total touchdowns, including ten in the final four weeks. Our first selection for this fantasy value team at the 57th pick, Johnson is the perfect headpiece for a championship team.

Pick #2, 65th overall: Larry Fitzgerald – WR, Arizona Cardinals

103 Receptions, 1,450 Total Yards, 10 Touchdowns

Michael Clayton could only dream of having such a great sophomore season. The big-play receiver had scores in over half of his starts and seven games with over 100 yards receiving. For those in leagues that reward reception totals, Fitzgerald has been solid if not spectacular. Often targeted, Larry had at least four receptions in all but one start this season. One can only wonder what numbers Fitz will put up when he gets a consistent quarterback tossing him the rock. Many suspected Larry would take it to the next level, but few thought he’d put up such fantasy-friendly numbers in just his second year in the desert. Taking Larry Fitzgerald as your second overall pick probably wasn’t something you were even remotely considering, but he’s the best receiver value in the fifth round and a great way to start a solid fantasy receiving corps.

Pick #3, 66th overall: Carson Palmer – QB, Cincinnati Bengals

3,836 Passing Yards, 33 Total Touchdowns, 12 Interceptions

So many of us expected Palmer to have a solid follow-up year after making his mark on the fantasy map last season. None of us knew Palmer would be 2005’s best fantasy quarterback, posting nearly 4,000 passing yards and 33 total touchdowns. A steady performer, the former USC Trojan had thirteen multi-touchdown games and six games with at least three scores. Palmer’s Manningesque numbers make him an absolute steal at the 66th pick. Though it’s not often recommended to take a quarterback with your third overall pick, it certainly beats taking Peyton Manning at the first overall spot!

Pick #4, 75th overall: Stephen Davis – RB, Carolina Panthers

594 Total Yards, 12 Touchdowns, 5 Receptions

Ah, the second running back taken and we’re already at the 75th pick of the draft. Amazing value pick here considering he’s crossed the stripe more times than all but four running backs in the NFL. And to think, most of us thought he was completely washed up and unworthy of being drafted. By season’s end, he wasn’t exactly lighting the league on fire, but his fast start warrants this selection. Before getting injured, Davis was on pace to break his own personal record of 17 touchdowns, a mark he set back in 1999. Questions loomed about whether Davis will be able to finish out the 2005 season on his battered knees, which is why depth at running back is so important in fantasy football. That said, some of our later selections in this value draft will make up for Davis’ frailty.

Pick #5, 80th overall: Plaxico Burress – WR, New York Giants

76 Receptions, 1,214 Receiving Yards, 7 Touchdowns

Burress used to be a fantasy football tease, often injuring himself or vastly underperforming. Finally, it appears the 6′5″ Giant of a wideout has arrived at the pro level. In 2005, Manning to Burress became one of the league’s most dangerous tandems, with the receiver catching at least five passes in ten of his starts. Though his touchdown totals waned a bit towards the end of the 2005 campaign, Burress provides this fantasy team with a solid number two receiver opposite Larry Fitzgerald.

Pick #6, 90th overall: Tatum Bell – RB, Denver Broncos

1,025 Total Yards, 8 Touchdowns, 18 Receptions

In the off-season, so many questions loomed large about who was going to be the Broncos’ top dog at RB. While those questions may not be fully answered, Bell certainly is getting ample opportunities to share the rock with the aging Mike Anderson. Bell’s a nice spot start for this fantasy team and provides nice depth behind Larry Johnson. Six picks into our draft and we have a solid trio of fantasy running backs to help bolster our firepower. Too bad Anderson kept plugging away in Denver; otherwise Bell would have been the perfect counterpart to LJ.

Pick #7, 112th overall: Drew Bledsoe – QB, Dallas Cowboys

3,639 Passing Yards, 25 Total Touchdowns, 17 Interceptions

Time to grab our backup quarterback, and how nice it is to balance out the youth of Carson Palmer with the experience of a veteran like Drew Bledsoe. After a miserable year in Buffalo last season, most of us thought Bledsoe’s best days were long behind him. Though his numbers dipped towards the end of the season, all we’ll need Bledsoe for is a spot start in Palmer’s bye week absence.

Pick #8, 126th overall: Heath Miller – TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

39 Receptions, 459 Yards, 6 Touchdowns

The yardage totals might not be there, but there’s no denying Miller is a huge presence in the red zone. Twelve tight ends were picked before this gem went off the board at #126, a tremendous value. If only the yards were there, Miller would be a truly elite fantasy player. Still, I’ll take 25 yards and a touchdown every week from my tight end. Besides, Miller won’t even be starting for this fantasy team.

Pick #9, 135th overall: Santana Moss – WR, Washington Redskins

84 Receptions, 1,483Yards, 9 Touchdowns

So here’s Santana Moss, still on the board at #135, and why shouldn’t he be? The guy leaves New York for a team that ranked among the worst in passing efficiency and didn’t make a change at quarterback. Nonetheless, Santana Moss averaged nearly 100 yards per game and eclipsed his previous season high yardage totals by over 300 yards. In fact, his totals dwarfed those of that other Moss playing in that city near the bay. Randy was taken 118 picks before Santana, and one would think it was Santana playing in Oaktown while Randy found his way to the nation’s capital. Nope, it’s Santana putting up those stellar fantasy numbers, making him a stud receiver worthy of this team.

Pick #10, 137th overall: Willie Parker – RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

1,420 Total Yards, 5 Touchdowns, 18 Receptions

I actually had the honor of plucking this beauty for all three of my fantasy teams this season, and I’m taking full credit for doing so. Veteran backs Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley were hampered with injuries in the preseason, opening the door for Fast Willie who ran for over 100 yards in his first two starts. The touchdown totals may not be there with Bettis snaking goal line carries, but you can’t complain about the yardage. During the critical last four weeks of the fantasy season, Parker tallied 592 yards and crossed the 100-yard rushing mark twice. Our fourth rusher, Parker is a great player to round out our stable of running backs.

Pick #11, 158th overall: Chris Cooley – TE, Washington Redskins

71 Receptions, 774 Total Yards, 7 Touchdowns

So, who, you ask, will be starting for this fantasy team at TE? Only the tight end who tied for second in touchdowns among all NFL players at that position. Cooley was a bit of a fantasy sleeper heading into 2005, and how lucky for us he was still hanging around at the 158th pick of the draft. Most leagues had him going late, and those fortunate enough to snag him were handsomely rewarded. Cooley’s 71 grabs topped the NFC among all tight ends and his four scores in the crucial final three weeks of this league’s fantasy season made the Skins receiver a hero to fantasy championship hopefuls.

Pick #12, 172nd overall: Indianapolis Colts Defense

31 Takeaways, 46 Sacks, 4 Touchdowns, 1 Safety

With so many people picking the Ravens, Patriots, and Panthers several rounds earlier, we’ll take this beauty at the 172nd pick and look brilliant in doing so. Dwight Freeney is no longer the only playmaker the Colts boast on defense. Cato June led all linebackers with five interceptions and two touchdowns, while defensive end Robert Mathis led the team in sacks. Add hard hitting safety Bob Sanders to the mix and you’ve got a recipe for defensive fantasy dominance.

Pick #13, 188th overall: Eli Manning – QB, New York Giants

3,762 Passing Yards, 25 Total Touchdowns, 17 Interceptions

Carson Palmer, Drew Bledsoe, and Eli Manning. Not exactly the fantasy quarterbacks you probably figured to be taking, but there’s no denying the trio form a tremendous rotation to choose from. The younger Manning is having a breakout season with numbers somewhat comparable to his overpriced older brother, throwing at least one score in all but one game in 2005.

Pick #14, Undrafted: Neil Rackers – K, Arizona Cardinals

40-42 FG’s, 20-20 XP’s, 140 Total Points

Perfection! It’s a word not often heard when it comes to place-kickers. Only four kickers in NFL history have ever recorded perfect seasons with a minimum of 15 kicks. The foursome nearly became a quintet. Rackers was the NFL’s best placekicker in 2005, and he wasn’t even drafted by anyone in this league. The Cardinals lack of production in the red zone led to an NFL best 42 attempts, almost all of which Rackers nailed. For those leagues that offer bonuses for kicks over 50 yards, Rackers hit a league best six of seven. Just further proof that picking a kicker early is not only foolish, but unnecessary.

Pick #15, Undrafted: Joey Galloway – WR, Tampa Bay Bucs

83 Receptions, 1,291 Total Yards, 10 Touchdowns

Can someone please explain to me where the heck Joey Galloway has been the last six years? In 2005, Galloway put up career bests in nearly all major statistical categories, and he’s about to turn 35 years old. Never mind that he hadn’t even recorded a 1,000-yard season since Randy Moss was a rookie and Torry Holt was still in college. A steady fantasy producer in 2005, Galloway is a strong fourth receiver and a perfect spot starter for our two receiver sets.

So, you still think it’s a good idea to draft Mike Vanderjagt in the eighth round? Still think you just have to grab that elite quarterback before your fourth selection rolls around? Not so. Before the fourth round of most competitive re-draft leagues, the league’s best QB (Palmer), second-best WR (Fitzgerald), and second-best RB (Johnson) were still on the board. Just more evidence that clearly states just how much value there is to be had if you’re a bit intuitive, a bit well prepared, and a bit lucky. Now, will somebody ever get so lucky as to draft the perfect value-based team? Probably not, but it has to make even the most experienced fantasy veteran feel a bit safer knowing such great bargains can be had late in even the most competitive of leagues.

Roster Depth

QB – Carson Palmer
QB – Drew Bledsoe
QB – Eli Manning
RB – Larry Johnson
RB – Willie Parker
RB – Stephen Davis
RB – Tatum Bell
WR – Larry Fitzgerald
WR – Santana Moss
WR – Joey Galloway
WR – Plaxico Burress
TE – Chris Cooley
TE – Heath Miller
K – Neil Rackers
DEF – Indianapolis Colts

 
Greg Roumbanis is a Cafe member who can often be found helping fellow members in the Start/Bench forum. Greg's handle at the Cafe is Dr. Duran Duran.
 

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