A championship team can be constructed for any position in the draft. Today I’ll walk through the fifth selection, outlining various options along the way with my personal selections.

The goal is to create an explosive team with good depth and reliability that should be capable of bringing home the gold.

You can follow along with our ADP charts so you can see exactly who’s available for each selection. http://www.4for4.com/members/BAR24.PHP

Below is the format that I have in mind when drafting.

Standard Scoring:
Every 10 rushing yards = 1 point
Every 10 receiving yards = 1 point
Every 25 passing yards = 1 point
Every TD rushing or receiving = 6 points
No points per receptions

Starters:
1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 D


12 Team Draft

Round 1 (#5)
With the fifth overall pick there’s no doubt that I’ll be spending it on a RB, the only question is exactly which one. The pool of elite runners is more scarce than it was two years ago and even last year as well, due in part to a handful of teams adopting the running back by committee approach, frequent injuries (Clinton Portis), and even the early retirement of Tiki Barber knocks another tier one runner off the table. So, this year more than ever it’s extremely vital to land yourself a reliable runner that’s capable of putting up big numbers, sooner rather than later. Now if you’re drafting at the bottom of the pack then the strategy could possibly be altered, but with the fifth pick there are still too many good running backs on the board that you cannot pass up.

So, for this selection it boils down to Joseph Addai or Brian Westbrook. Both have extremely favorable schedules in which they can end up having a lot of explosive games; with each facing a handful of questionable run defenses. The overall edge barely goes to Addai here, you have to appreciate the offense that he’s in considering that defenses cannot stack the line with Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and now Anthony Gonzalez at WR. The Colts offense is capable of finding the endzone early and often, and their offensive line is one of the most consistent and well-rounded units in the league. The versatility of Brian Westbrook easily makes him another fantasy stud, but the fact that he has yet to play an entire season due to various injuries is a concern when selecting your main workhorse. So, that along with the high potential of Joseph Addai makes the Colts’ second year runner my first selection

Pick = RB, Joseph Addai

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Round 2 (#20)
The first round was fairly simple and straightforward. The second round is where things become more interesting. This time we have a few different positions to look at, we can choose to lockup our other starting RB right now, take an elite WR, or even go for a top caliber QB. Tom Brady would be the leading candidate at QB, but the list also includes: Donovan McNabb, Carson Palmer, Drew Brees, and Marc Bulger. There’s simply too much value still available at this position to warrant the need of selecting Tom Brady or any QB other than Peyton Manning this high. We can come back later in the fourth or fifth round and still land a QB that’s capable of putting up around the same numbers as Brady, so let’s scratch QBs off of our second round itinerary.

Still available at WR is Marvin Harrison, arguably the most consistent wide receiver still playing. Even at 34 years of age he’s still a dangerous threat and amazingly durable. How can we pass on such a talent? Well by bypassing a RB we’ll then be looking at Thomas Jones, Carnell Williams, DeAngelo Williams, or worse, as our other starting RB. By my judgment those guys aren’t exactly championship material, so let’s find another runner now and hunt for a bargain at WR in the following round.

So, the selection comes down to Cedric Benson or Edgerrin James, both viable choices. But, we already know what Edgerrin James is capable of, at one point he was an elite rusher, whereas Benson is still relatively unproven and has encountered some injuries along the way. James has not been his old self in Arizona, but that was all prior to Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm taking over. If anyone can revitalize a running attack it’s those two.

Now, I will admit that this selection will come as a shock to most and can even be considered somewhat of a reach. As they say though ‘there’s more than one way to skin a cat’, going with Marvin Harrison with this pick and then following up in the third round with Thomas Jones at RB is also a very sound idea and coincides much better with our bargain chart. However I’m taking a slightly different approach due mainly to the stark differences in their schedules.

Thomas Jones will be forced to go against a top-ten rush defense seven times, whereas on the flip side of that Edgerrin James will only face three top-10 defenses and will also have the luxury of battling eight teams that ranked 20th or worse against the run. Add to that the Cardinals have inked Levi Brown and added a good fullback to the roster. In turn, I believe Edgerrin should finally see some daylight this year.

Taking Edge here is a gamble. If you would still like a safer approach, go with Marvin Harrison followed by Thomas Jones.

Pick = RB, Edgerrin James

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Round 3 (#29)
Blue light specials have nothing on the bargain that we’re about to partake on. Love him or hate him you can’t complain about nabbing Terrell Owens in the third round (4for4 +13 bargain score). Yes, we passed on the immaculate Marvin Harrison, but remember that Harrison has Reggie Wayne opposite him and in a handful of games Wayne became their primary target, which severely hurt Harrison’s fantasy production in those particular outings.

At this stage, by taking Owens, we were able to get a solid #2 RB first and still snag a #1 WR who we know will be the main target every single week.

Owens is a touchdown machine and just as capable of a huge performance as Harrison. High five!

Pick = Terrell Owens

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Round 4 (#44)
At this pick Marc Bulger provides amazing value, he had over 4,300 yards to go along with 24 TDs last year, and they added another weapon in the offseason with Randy McMichael at TE. Very consistent, reliable, and explosive, this is exactly what you want in your starting QB. However the amazing upside potential of Randy Moss in the fourth round is too good to pass up. Yes, he is slightly injury prone, but we’ll address that concern with a load of reliable WRs.

It’s very hard to pass on Marc Bulger at this point, but I have my eye on a few late round QB gems.

Pick = Randy Moss

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Round 5 (#53)
It certainly pays to have a runner that’s capable of 1,000 yards on your bench. The Browns will look for Lewis to be the focal point of their offense. The only question is whether or not the Browns’ defense will play well enough for Lewis to get his needed carries. Either way, he’ll serve his purpose as a good backup with decent potential.

Also, available at this slot is the 4for4.com #2 ranked TE, Todd Heap. Heap would be a good addition but it’ll be tough trying to overcome an RB injury and not having a good backup RB. Plus, I see some good value picks at TE coming down the line.

Pick = Jamal Lewis

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Round 6 (#68)
Given we start three WRs, it’s certainly time we fill in our final starter. Deion Branch doesn’t equate to a huge steal, but he’s a reliable option as a #3 WR. Only 725 yards last year, but that’s after missing the first two games of the season with a new team. In fact, it was a down year overall for the Seahawks. This year with Darrell Jackson now in San Francisco Deion Branch will be called upon more often as the Seahawks look to rebound in 2007.

Pick = Deion Branch

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Round 7 (#77)
Some people are still down on this guy for botching the FG snap in the playoffs. Whatever the case, Tony Romo has dropped to a seventh rounder. He’s a steal this late in the draft with a 4for4 bargain score of +16. He had an amazing outing in what was essentially his rookie year and will make for an excellent starter in 2007. He’s very explosive with tons of reliable talent around him. Just to cover ourselves, we’ll grab a veteran QB in the later rounds as insurance.

Pick = Tony Romo

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Round 8 (#92)
This is why Randy Moss was worth the gamble in the fourth round; by selecting Joey Galloway we now have a 1,000-yard receiver on our bench, and with Jeff Garcia at QB for Tampa Bay those numbers could improve. If all goes well with Galloway, he could move ahead of Deion Branch as our third starter. Either way, we’re strong at WR and in leagues that start 3, that’s critical to success. Even some veteran FF managers overlook the key role of WRs when you only start 2-RB but must go with 3-WR.

Pick = Joey Galloway

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Round 9 (#101)
We have yet to address the TE position, but don’t worry that’s coming soon. You might be tempted to take Jason Witten, but we’ll find that type of production within the next few rounds. DeShaun Foster will make for a good emergency RB, especially if DeAngelo Williams goes down. You can never draft too many RBs and Foster has looked good at camp this year.

Pick = DeShaun Foster

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Round 10 (#116)
Finally, time for a TE and oddly enough he is ranked within the top ten at his position. However, if my plan works, he may not necessarily be our projected weekly starter. Dallas Clark is in an extremely potent offense, which makes him a great backup, but we’ll get to our bigger sleeper soon.

Pick = Dallas Clark

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Round 11 (#125)
Time for a QB by Committee! On the right day, Rex Grossman can be an extremely potent QB. With pick #125, I see value. With Grossman as our backup we can now start him against only the poor defenses, by doing this we minimize his risk and maximize his high upside. With the right combination of Romo/Grossman this team should definitely rank top five in terms of overall fantasy points from starting QBs.

Pick = Rex Grossman

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Round 12 (#140)
Our projected starter at TE will be Heath Miller, he’s ranked 8th at his position which makes him a great pick in the 12th round. He’s projected for close to 600 yards and 6 TDs, which are realistic expectations. He’s a guy that’s capable of more if they further incorporate him into the gameplan on a weekly basis, which new offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians, plans to do.

Pick = Heath Miller



The Late Rounds (13+)

Defense
Depending on how many rounds are in your draft it’s probably time to start searching for a defense that you can count on and at least one more backup WR and QB. Check out Brian Rosebrook’s article http://www.4for4.com/members/scouts07/brianr2.php for some nice late round Defense by Committee options.

Backup WR
If you can steal someone like rookie WR James Jones, do it! He’s a very powerful guy for a WR and he’s not afraid to work over the middle of the field. Think Anquan Bolden, but without as much speed and with hands that still need work. Wes Welker could also make for a wonderful late round flyer if he’s still on the board.

Backup QB
As I mentioned earlier we’d grab a veteran QB just in case the young guns go astray, and it doesn’t get any better than Trent Green near the last round. We have him projected for over 3,000 yards and 18 TDs, not bad at all for your third stringer.

Kicker Advice
Don’t pick a kicker until the absolute last round of your draft, no matter whose left you’ll be fine as long as he starts. A method I usually use is scouring the FA market on a weekly basis and simply acquiring the kicker whose team is facing the worse overall defense for that week (if the offense scores big points the kicker will score big points). You’re treating them like redheaded stepchildren but it works. Good Luck.


Key Starters:
QB: Tony Romo
RB: Joseph Addai
RB: Edgerrin James
WR: Terrell Owens
WR: Randy Moss
WR: Deion Branch
TE: Heath Miller


Bench:
QB: Rex Grossman
QB: Trent Green
RB: Jamal Lewis
RB: DeShaun Foster
TE: Dallas Clark
WR: Joey Galloway
WR: James Jones / Wes Welker
DEF: By Committee (ex: Minnesota + Falcons)