So They Had a Draft? What's That Mean For Yours?

By: Matt Prendergast

Hey kids! Long time no talk....been busy with my macrame sculptures and innovations in the field of 'sitting around', but we're at that time....WELCOME TO THE RELAUNCH OF FANTASY CORNER AT RECLINERQB!

Yes, I know. It's June. And I hear you: 'Why in the good gosh darn would I think about my fantasy football league in June? I have Kobe Beef and British Colombian Salmon on my new Big Green Egg! THESE THINGS ARE GETTING RUINED WHILE I READ THIS! Also, please don't ask why I invested well over twelve-hundred dollars specifically on this get-together with my neighbor who has that kick-ass riding mower. That dude needs to know who's the boss, that's all.'

And that kind of attitude is exactly why you take seventh every freaking year in your re-draft league.

Now. Right now. This is when you begin to plan....and that's why ReclinerQB.com is here today; to lovingly take care of you. So let's get to the point of caressing of your wondering mind in regard to the newly christened 'changers of the game'!  Specifically, how should you be approaching the big-named players that scattered throughout the league in last month's NFL Draft?

THAT WHICH YOU DO NOT EXECUTE:

'I may not even put on my helmet the whole year'

1) DO NOT DRAFT ANDREW LUCK - Certainly deserving of his destined position as 'first pick of the whole entire draft OMG!'. Also certainly not deserving of any of your picks in your fantasy draft. And by that I mean: you'd be much better off using your eighth round pick on Alex Smith, or Blaine Gabbert, or possibly a punter.

Did you see the Colts last year? I'm being serious, did you watch ANY of their games, even for five minutes? That is a HORRIBLE team. In one of those 'maybe if we close our eyes for seven years it'll be all right' definitions of 'horrible'.  Peyton Manning might get my vote for 'All-Time MVP of the NFL Ever' for the fact that he clearly covered a nearly-incomprehensible number of holes on that team. And those holes? This year with even more gaping power.

Oh yes, and to welcome Andrew in? They let everybody even halfway decent go. Except for Reggie Wayne, who passed by the deserved 'I just want to win another ring' exit strategy in lieu of choosing the 'I won't get hit the next two years because this guy won't have time to find me' route. Smart choice. Oh, and Dwight Freeney, who doesn't catch footballs.

Vintage Double D:
Sure hands across the middle for victory.

2) DO NOT DRAFT ANY OF THE ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVERS -  But you're saying 'remember AJ Green last year'? Yes I do. I also remember two other things: a) he was available in 80% of my leagues in week 2, and b) He didn't do one god-freaking thing to help out during the playoff run.  Now granted, I play primarily in Non-PPR leagues, so I may have a grudge against dudes that only score one touchdown the last six weeks, but that's me. (Don't come at me with your Julio Jones nonsense, btw, that was an aberration of a rookie WR season).

Who's the biggest impact from-out-of-nowhere WR this year? Some dude you didn't even think about, that's who. (See: Cruz, Victor) Truth being truth, you should easily pick up ANY of the rookie WRs before week three, so use that draft choice you're thinking about in round eleven on  Donald Driver (the only GB receiver to actively participate in 'catching' during their last playoff game), or Santana Moss (yes, I said that out loud) or even Whatever Bears' Cast-off Ends Up the #3 Wideout on the Vikings (This year it's Jerome Simpson! Wait, he's not a former Bear! Tricky, Vikings....). I still prefer any veteran in a situation where they can maybe shine early to a rook with breakout potential at the start of the season. Because the best rookie receiver will have been either taken way too high, or not taken at all.

THAT WHICH YOU DO EXECUTE:

'I said: Where's. My. GATORADE. AT. REX?'

1) DRAFT RGIII - Okay, I say this with a caveat emptor: where you should take him, you won't get him. The absolutely perfect 'Cam Newton Part II' selection, but because the Redskins have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, he'll be taken in the fifth or sixth round of your draft, and by a guy who's intending on starting him. Let that go.

But on the off-chance that Robert Griffin the Third is still there in the ninth round: just do that thing. And then sit back and be patient, for his time will come, maybe even early and often.

The 'Skins brought a lot of hungry receiving talent in - rather than break the bank on one marquee dude (like Vincent Jackson), they went with a couple of young guys that have shown some flash, but still have big axes to grind in Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan - with Santana Moss still hanging around to provide the veteran stability, and the critical re-upping of Fred Davis (plus Cooley's still hobbling about), Washington put a lot of little pieces together nicely to help aid RG3 in his quest to make Cam Newton 2011 look like a chump.  Good luck to you.

Has Hillis beat in hat/hair/glasses category already

2) GO AHEAD WITH THAT TRENT RICHARDSON IDEA, AND PLAN ON STARTING HIM - Let's think about this, rationally. The Browns have next to nothing going for them. Still. A QB Battle between  Colt Malt Liquor and Red Wheeden? There's no winners there, not this year. There's losers, though, namely Greg Little and Mohammed Massaquoi (who, let's be honest, has looked like a potentially shiny diamond ring the last two years primarily because you're viewing him inside a giant box brimming over with dung).

But the one thing the Browns can kinda do is block, son. Ask Peyton Hillis or Montario Hardesty - in the last two years, both had flashes of world-conquering magic as Cleveland Freaking Browns. Barring a catastrophic leg injury between now and week one, they've got a headlining act in Richardson - and even if he's somehow healthy this year, Montario isn't going to be cutting in on those carries much.

An additional plus point here: since he is a rookie on the Browns, unless you're playing in a dynasty or die-hards league, he'll be there in the fourth or fifth round. That's solid value for what should be a weekly starting 2nd RB with minimal time-sharing. Just hope to god he doesn't get injured like every other Cleveland RB draft pick in the last six years.

NOTE: This is advice for your 2nd RB only. If you decide to go 'all in' on any Brown BEFORE the fourth round, at the VERY earliest, I wish you a tremendous day at your job taste-testing used gum for 'flavor retentionability'.

So there you have it: Four early rookie questions answered....come early August, when the other league owners are just picking up their Pro Football Weekly preview mags, you'll already be winning the draft.

More soon.....

Follow Matt on Twitter:  @amazingmattyp.  He is filled with jolly things

Don't Forget to Follow ReclinerQB's other contributors on Twitter:  @ReclinerQB, @heartsfootball, @SonnyPrier, @CoreyDoiron, and @mwyche2 . If you don't, Terrell Owens is going to coach your kid's Pop Warner team this year.

Off-Season Priorities - Colts Offense

This evening I will take a look at the Colts offense (suggested by my other loyal reader my sister). The Indianapolis Colts always have a strong offense, as long as Peyton Manning is under center the offense should continue to be one of the best in the league.  That doesn't mean that they don't have some work to do though especially along the offensive line, their running game, and there could be come uncertainty with the receiving corp.


Quarterback - Not much to say here, Peyton Manning will soon be the highest paid player in the history of the NFL, he is durable and the possibly the best overall QB EVER (I know most of you will not agree with that statement but I refuse to grade QB's based solely on the Super Bowl Rings).  As long as he is under center (and he has at least 4-6 years of elite production I think) the Colts will be ok and probably be a playoff team, again.  Their backup is Curtis Painter, and he is just that, a backup.  He should never see any real game time and is just an arm to keep Peyton fresh in practice and training camp and to work as an assistant to Peyton, he is not the QB of the future for them and when his contract is close to expiring they may be able to get a late round draft pick for him.

Running Back - This should have been an area of strength for the team, but instead was a weakness due to injuries.  It was not until December that they were healthy enough to see what could have been.  Joseph Addai will be a free agent this year and it is unlikely that the Colts will re-sign him, they basically let their RB's go when they still have some tread left instead of giving them a contract that they will regret in 2-3 years (Marshall Faulk, Edgerrin James, etc).  It leaves Donald Brown as the successor and he finally started to show some of the potential that the Colts saw when they drafted him at the tail end of the first round 2 years ago.  He is making quicker decisions, is a solid pass blocker, and great receiving threat out of the backfield which is what makes him perfect for the Peyton's....I mean the Colts, the only thing he needs to do is work on staying healthy.  The primary backups will be Mike Hart and Javarris James.  Mike Hart is the guy that I like the most, while he has struggle with injuries he was a productive back and I feel that if given more of a chance (and if he stays healthy) he could be productive on the NFL level as a relief back (He should compete for the primary backup job this year).  He will never break long runs or make many people miss, but is suited for getting up the field for short gains and is an above average blocker.  I thought Javarris James showed some flashes as an undrafted free agent but may have to battle some rookies to make the roster this year.  The Colts should be able to stand pat at the RB position this year and pick up either a late round value pick if someone they like falls or pick up some undrafted free agents.

Wide Receiver - One of the deepest positions on the Colts roster, the WR position is highlighted by Reggie Wayne.  Wayne, who has been unhappy with his contract, could be a potential problem area for the Colts.  He has lost a step and the Colts are unlikely to give him the final big contact he desires, while he put up the best numbers of his career last year, his yards per catch was low.  The big numbers were based largely on the lack of a running game that caused Manning to throw more than he ever has.  Pierre Garcon, Blair White, Anthony Gonzalez (if healthy) and company should continue to improve next year and supply the Manning with plenty of targets.  With Wayne near the end of his time in Indianapolis don't be surprised if the Colts draft a big play replacement for him with their 1st pick though its more likely they will address their deficiencies along the offensive line  (their #1 priority has and will be keeping Peyton happy and upright).  Look for them to give extended looks at Maryland's Torrey Smith (fast but needs to be refined in most aspects),  Pitt's Jonathan Baldwin (great hands, ball skills, & top end speed, but has character concerns), and North Carolina's Greg Little (great hands, makes acrobatic catches, speed is adequate).

Tight End - Dallas Clark, enough said.  But honestly, Jacob Tammie broke out this year when Clark went down, and could be the answer for the future if he continues to progress.  Clark has 3 years left on his contract, with most of the money already being paid out, most of the rest of the contract is incentives.  While they do not really need anybody at the TE position, I see Arkansas's D.J. Williams as being the PERFECT fit for the Colts system.  He can line up on the line or split out wide, does a great job catching, and finding spots in zone coverage.  The Colts don't need a TE but if Williams is available they may try to get him, I mean really he fits the Colts to a T.

Offensive Line - This was arguably the worst part of the Indianapolis offense, it was a major reason the run game struggled, and if Manning was not so good at getting rid of the ball quickly he would have been hit a lot more.  Jeff Saturday, the center is still the best lineman that they have and will continue to anchor that position.  On either side of him the Guards. Mike Pollak and Kyle DeVan are adequate.  Pollak I believe is the better of the 2 while DeVan is a better "swingman" able to play either guard or the center position.  The tackles were the biggest weakness for the O-line and with starting LT Charlie Johnson set to be a free agent, look for the Colts to take a loot at USC's Tyron Smith and Colorado's Nate Solder with their 1st round draft pick if they are available.  Both prospects are quick on their feet and excel in pass protection aided by their long arms, which is vital for the Colts.  Tyron Smith is a little raw with his instincts, but Peyton should be able to help him develop at a fast pace.  Solder is more advanced mentally and will be pro ready quicker, but Smith has the greater potential.  RT Ryan Diem is getting long in the tooth, coupled with his false start problems, they will be looking to upgrade that position also.  While the Colts were burned when they moved up and took Tony Ugoh out of Arkansas, there is another tackle prospect there that could intrigue them for RT out of Arkansas, Demarcus Love.  Love has prototypical size and is better at pass protection than run protection, he is probably not ready to step in as an instant starter, but with his familiarity at playing both left and right tackle at Arkansas (their offense has him switching sides every few plays) he would be a great swing tackle. 

Up Next:  A look at the Colts Defense