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FanEx Analysis
Draft
Review
| Rules | Transactions
Draft Rounds
1 | 2
| 3 | 4
| 5 | 6
| 7 | 8
| 9 | 10
11 | 12 | 13
| 14 | 15
| 16 | 17
| 18
Round 8
  
   
   
 8.01 WR
Ashley Lelie
By Houston | Pitzer
Lelie still has plenty of flaws in his game, but he began to
realize some of his tremendous potential last year when he went
over 1,000 yards and scored seven times during his third season.
Lelie showed plenty of big-play ability and ought to be his
team's No. 1 receiver because the Broncos did not acquire
another top-flight receiver in the offseason. We feel very good
about getting the best receiver from an offense as potentially
dynamic as Denver's in the eighth round. We also considered
going with a third running back here.
|
 8.02 WR
Chris Chambers
By Duane Cahill
Back in round four, when I wrote
my JJ Arrington analysis, I said the following:
"If I were to take my first
two receivers in rounds 6 and 7, it's possible that I could wind
up with a top tandem similar to Derrick Mason and Chris
Chambers. No great shakes. But if I were to later in
the draft add a TJ Houshmandzedeh and a Donte Stallworth to my
roster, I suddenly have the makings of a formidable offense if
the best two of those four would start any given week."
That was obviously written with
the assumption that far more receivers would have been taken by
now than what actually have been. Instead of starting with
Mason and Chambers in 5 & 6 and adding Housh and Dante, I
get to make Mason and Chambers my WR3 and WR4 after getting
Burleson and Boldin. While I would have been happy with
the first foursome, I have to be thrilled to get my targeted
starting duo as my second pair.
As expected and stated earlier,
my quarterbacks in this draft will be somewhat lacking, but the
plan here is to make up those numbers lost with a very solid
foundation at the other two skill positions. |
 8.03 QB
David Carr
By Dolfi | Walls
Dolfi’s
Take – OK – we admitted
it last round – we waited too long to take a QB.
Well, actually, we blame the other owners for taking one
too early… ;-) In
any case, we grabbed McNair in the 7th, and we’re
hoping he can return to some semblance of his 2003 MVP season,
but we realize that’s not likely to happen.
We also realize that another McNair injury leaves us
without any QB production UNLESS we quickly grab another that we
feel can produce.
Enter David
Carr. Now, Carr
isn’t likely the guy that you look at during your draft and
hope you are able to snag – but as a QB #2 and one we got in
the 8th round of a draft in which QBs went high, we
think it’s a decent spot for him.
Carr put up
some decent statistical numbers last year, and keeping in mind
he’s still a young QB that’s probably not yet into his
prime, we think 2005 could be a great year for this kid. He was #12 overall in the NFL in yardage last season, and
3500+ yards is nice for any QB in our book.
His TD production wasn’t quite as good, tying for 21st
– but beggars can’t be choosers for their #2 QB.
In QB rating Carr ended up middle-of-the-road at 16th,
and right in the center of the pack for attempts and completions
as well (13th and 15th respectively).
While those
numbers aren’t likely to set the fantasy world afire, keep in
mind that last year was only his 3rd as a pro, so
he’s still growing into his role as an NFL QB.
Toss in the fact that the Texans as a team have been
improving since their NFL debut, and this could lead to a solid
year for Mr. Carr and, in turn, our late drafted QB corps.
|
8.04 TE
Randy McMichael
By Shannon O'Leary
With
my pick here in the eighth round I have decided to nab Tight
end Randy McMichael. This is Randy’s fourth year in the
league and each year he has shown improvement on his number
of catches. (39, 49, and 73) What he has not improved on is
his number of touchdown catches, hovering around 4 per year.
Still, he was the number 4 ranked tight end last year in
this scoring system. He also posted 791 yards last year,
which is not too shabby for a tight end. He did this all on
the woeful Dolphins.
If
the Dolphins improve on getting into the red-zone this year
McMichael’s numbers should improve again this year. This
is a big guy at 6-3 and 250 pounds.
I
think this is a decent pick in a league requiring a tight
end, and I do expect him to out perform some of the tight
ends picked before him. He does have a weak quarterback
situation which can sometimes play into a dump off guys
favor.
Over
all I am happy getting this quality of a tight end at this
point in the draft. Lord knows, my running backs are hurting
so I can use some help somewhere else. Hopefully Randy will
be a dandy.
|
 8.05 RB
TJ Duckett
By TC Cannon
He was semi-wonderful in 2004 - four of his eight scores were vs
Raiders in a single game. Like Bettis, the Falcon is a
goal line back. The difference is that QB Vick is a powerful
scoring option, too. Like many RB2s, what is lacking is
consistency.
While Vick might have more yards at the end of the season,
it’s Duckett’s TDs that make him a nice backup fantasy RB.
500 rushing yards and 6 scores are expected. I just hope that
most of it comes in a three game span, again. |
 8.06 WR
Jimmy Smith
By Del Pilar | Bonini
Who We Took and Why:
We were looking to select
our No. 3 receiving option, and we found Smith too difficult to
pass on. You are talking about a player who has averaged over
1,100 yards and 6.6 touchdowns per season during the last five
years. He continues to show little sign of slowing down, and
even at his age – 36 years old – Smith is still a very solid
wideout to have as your No. 3. He has shown to have a solid
rapport with QB Byron Leftwich.
Other
Candidates Considered:
We discussed drafting New England Patriots WR Deion Branch
and Denver Broncos WR Ashley Lelie, but felt Branch was too
injury prone while Lelie needs to catch more passes to become a
legitimate No. 3 for our team. Lelie possesses greater upside
than Smith of course, though Smith is the safer pick at this
point.
Current
Strategy:
We were looking for security, consistency and value at the wide
receiver position – three attributes Smith has tattooed all
over him. If Smith can contribute even 80 percent of what he’s
done over the past 10 seasons, we have an adequate No. 3 option
at worst.
|
 8.07 RB
Reuben Droughns
By Jerome Hickerson
To
grab a projected starting RB in the 8th round is a
rarity in FanEx. Droughns falls
this far due to several factors:
- Droughns
is no longer on the Broncos
- Lee
Suggs will be sharing carries
- The
Browns offense is not clicking
I
drafted Droughns because he is my
4th RB. I feel the added depth is important in the
FAD format where roster moves are not possible. I think Droughns
is a good match for the
Cleveland
offense
and will produce some occasional good fantasy numbers. In FAD,
occasional good games works for me. I also think Droughns
was a better value than any of the remaining TEs and there are
enough receivers left that I can grab later. Getting a fair RB
in the 8th round seemed a value that I should not
pass up.
|
 8.08 WR
Plaxico Burress
By Tony Holm
I'm pleased with the WRs to choose from here. I had
preloaded Jimmy Smith and Plaxico Burress, ending up with the
latter.
Burress is one of my gut players like Jerry Porter has been for
me over the years (and Amani Toomer before him). My
instinct tells me this guy is far from done in the NFL. It
may be next year, but I'm on the side of the fence that one of
these years will be a big bust-out coming out season.
Eli Manning will mature a little bit faster due to his family
support and Plaxico Burress is head and shoulders the #1 WR on
the Giants. The Giants are going to try and bring along
some younger WR talent opposite Plaxico with Toomer in on 3 WR
sets. The Giants are taking a page from the Colts book and
building young guys around Eli now and Burress is young enough
to still be in his prime when they need him. Do not be
surprised when if Manning and Burress start "hanging
out" a little ala Peyton and Marvin.
The offense will struggle at times but Plaxico has the
opportunity to put in a career to date season.
Sometimes, it just takes a change of scenery.
|
 8.09 WR
Deion Branch
By Brady Tinker
When healthy Branch is the best WR
on the Pats roster by a mile, and Tom Bradys favorite target.
Last years Super Bowl was a nice example of his abillities in
"big games" so health is all I need here. I
think Branch has something to prove here, he has been hurt too
often in his young career.
|
 8.10 TE
Jermaine Wiggins
By Jim Butler
I
had initially been targeting RB Reuben Droughns at this spot
to compliment Lee Suggs in the backfield. However, he was
taken by the Hickerson team a few spots ahead of me, so it was
on to plan B and TE Jermaine Wiggins.
As
the FAD is all about points, building a team around one of the
most powerful offenses last season in the Minnesota Vikings
can't be all that bad. Wiggins ended up being the #6 TE in the
league last season and with the loss of Moss, I can easily see
Jermaine gathering up more redzone opportunities in his
absence.
As
the 8th TE taken in this draft, I had felt that he wasn't
going to be remaining on the board much longer so the
snatch was made.
|
 8.11 DT
Ravens
By TC Cannon
Before you grin to big, ask yourself "Which DT would you
draft?" This is certainly another QUALITY over QUANTITY
selection. These Ravens are commonly suggested as the best
defensive unit - I agree and will now be selecting a dozen WRs
back-to-back to fill that obvious need.
DT Ravens have produced about 4 points week better than other
less respected DTs. Four points ain't much until you begin
thinking of it as 50 FF points per season.
|
 8.12 QB
JP Losman
By Greg Kellogg
One of my goals entering this draft was to ensure I came out of
it with three starting quarterbacks. With Kerry Collins in
hand, I have one big play guy on board and I wanted to
compliment him with two others that were likely to start all
year, had a strong receiving corps and had an offense that would
give him a chance for some big games.
Buffalo would never have released Drew Bledsoe if they didn't
believe Losman could get the job done. Buffalo had eight
games where they attempted at least 30 passes. They have
Eric Moulds and Lee Evans in their receiving corps, two guys
that can definitely strike quick, and they added Roscoe Parrish,
another quick strike artist. With Willis McGahee taking
the focus of most defenses, Losman should be able to put up at
least three or four games of starting quality. And with
this format, that is all I am looking for.
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