The 2011 eSFL draft has concluded, and that means it's time for our annual team draft grade. Let's point out that this is a speculative article, don't take it personal, don't get pissed, just remember rarely is this annual piece very relevant to what actually happens in the eSFL season. With that said, I would like to point out that every year this piece does contain views and comments that do end up becoming accurate. Therefore, all we can do is write it and see what happens. If you have different views than that of the author of this, feel free to become a member of eSFL Insider and post your own opinions, it's easy.
Lets start with the Appalachian Division.
The Whitmore Workhorse will try to defend last years surprising championship. Unlike last season team ownership decided to participate in this years draft, and by the look of how they performed, they probably should have left well enough alone.
Superstars: JonesDrew,Maurice, Rivers,Philip , Lewis,Ray
Garbage: Bess,Davone
Sleepers: Sproles,Darren
In round 1 (A)-The Workhorse selected running back MJD and set the stage for a great team. This was a no brainer pick in which he honestly could not have made a mistake by taking any number of available running backs.
Round 2 (B+)-The team went with a top tier quarterback (P. Rivers) but passed on better players at the position (Vick and Romo). Rivers is a solid performer and should be a better than adequate selection, its to bad Vick could have been a true superstar that he will later wish he had taken.
Round 3 (D-)-DeAngelo Williams ---Went with a normally solid Running back. Look for this pick to be a wasted one with a new head coach and system in place, the running attack in Carolina will not be the same.
Round 4- (B-)-LeGarrette Blount ----For the round selected Blount should prove to be a decent 12-15 point performer with a few really good weeks.
Round 5- (C-)-Santana Moss -----The 16th best WR in the draft slipped all the way to the 5th round. The Workhorse got an average player at the right spot.
Round 6-12 (C-)-Darren Sproles was a steal in round 11. Sidney Rice could prove to be the make or break pick in the Workhorse season. If he returns to form from '09 the Whitmore team will compete for another title, if he performs as most Seatle wideouts do, well, it's a long season for the defending champs.
The Perdew Pulverizers try to return to the playoffs and win their first ever eSFL title. Owner GM Josh Perdew has shown in his short period of eSFL performance he is a tough beat week in week out.
Superstars: LeSean McCoy, Michael Vick, Brandon Lloyd
Garbage: Fred Jackson
Sleepers: Cam Newton
In round 1 (A+)-Pulverizers went with the same back they have had on their roster the past two seasons. Last year LeSean McCoy was arguably his best player, this year he will be his third best. A must take in round one.
Round 2 (A+)-OK, there may never be another top 5 player on a draft board that slips into the late second round as quarterback Michael Vick did this year. Perdew was reluctant to take him here, but looking back he will be tickled to death he did. What a steal.
Round 3 (C)-Matt Forte ----Who knows what the Bears and Mike Martz will do on a weekly basis, but for what was left at the position Perdew took a very solid player that probably should have went in the second round. I believe he was the 15th best returning running back in the draft.
Round 4- (A+)-----Brandon Lloyd Are you serious? The 4th best returning wide receiver in the draft falls into the Pulverizers lap in round 4? This has to be the most fortunate owner in the leagues history, he got Vick and Loyd in steals.
Round 5- (B-)-Steve Johnson -----Only the 23rd ranked wideout Perdew hopes Stevie plays the entire season like he did last in small stretches. Great pick for a 5th rounder.
Round 6-12 (B-)-Cam Newton -----will never see the field in 2011 for the Pulverizers, but what his team hopes for is a wonderful performance this year so the can claim him as a restricted free agent in 2012. A.J. Green will also all into the same category and look for him to be trade bait or signed for the 2012 season as a restricted free agent. Regardless how these rounds pay off this season, these two picks alone raise the grade here.
The Fanatix have a long history of winning in the eSFL. Year in and year out head coach Bruce Fields demonstrates the draft is not where great teams are made. His teams are built on 2-a-days and free agency throughout the season, and after looking at this years draft, he better get to work.
Superstars: Tom Brady, Dallas Clark
Garbage: Ricky Williams, Derrick Mason, Ryan Torain, Jonathan Stewart
Sleepers:
In round 1 (A+)-Tom Brady -----You can't go wrong taking Brady unless bad luck sends him into injury status. Then one would wonder why they chose a QB in round one. ALPOO, If dog won't it eat cat will.
Round 2 (C-)-Reggie Wayne------Manning will struggle for the first 6 weeks, thats half the eSFL season. This is the 3rd best WR as far as last season performance but the intangibles really drop his value.
Round 3 (D+)- Ahmad Bradshaw ------Lets get this right, the team drafted the 13t best RB and passed on many better players. Drafting by position usually proves to be bad move and Bradshaw isn't going to change that view.
Round 4- (D)-Dallas Clark------- Can he stay healthy? Is Jacob Tamme going to take some of his thunder? Will he be worth a damn with Mannings situation? To many question here for basically a really good kicker.
Round 5- (F)-Jonathan Stewart -----See the Workhorse. The Carolina team's running game isn't what we all thought it was now that John Fox is in Denver.
Round 6-12 (F--)-Ryan Torain -----With many laughers chosen in 2011 this pick drew plenty of chuckles. Let's assume Torain plays in more than 6 games this season, he still will be fortunate to post 12 points each game. What a freaking crap pick and a waste of round 7. The rest of this group proves not to be much better. WR Manningham will help but the rest won't provide much relief.
The Sweaty Palms bring their snazzy team colors and logo after a layoff of 6 years in which they were last known as the Igama ACKRD. That team was a total failure and owner Joel Igam has a lot to prove in 2011.
Superstars: Arian Foster, Kyle Orton
Garbage: Kyle Orton (Yes, he's garbage and yet a superstar)
Sleepers: Willis McGahee, Aaron Hernandez, Marcedes Lewis, Roy Williams
In round 1 (A+)-Arian Foster---- Can Foster perform as he did last season? Probably not, but running backs are hard to get and he got one, can't blame him there.
Round 2 (C-)-Matt Ryan -----With the big run early on quarterbacks Igama felt the need to grab one earlier rather than later. My opinion is he grabbed the wrong one. I see him as the 9th rated QB in the draft.
Round 3 (C)- Dwayne Bowe ------OK, who knows with this guy. Team ownership saw the upside here and took a chance. It will either make them look like fantasy gods or fantasy dumbasses.
Round 4- (D)-Santonio Holmes ------Can the Jets throw the ball enough to justify any receiver on their team being drafted before the 10th round. I don't think so.
Round 5- (F)-Felix Jones -----The last hurrah for Felix may just be now. This guy has been "the sleeper of the year" for the past 5 years. I don't see anything from him that we haven't already seen. There was better RB's on the board and still are remaining in training camp than this guy. Pathetic.
Round 6-12 (B-)-Roy Williams ------See Felix Jones. Roy, what are you, a stud or a piece of crap? Actually I feel this was a good selection for this late in the draft and will help Igama a lot. Aaron Hernandez will be a solid kicker like performance, is there enough balls to go around in NE?
The Texan Bruiser have proven to be a solid team every year in the league. They have fallen short of the ultimate goal each year and look for a Ballistic Bowl win in 2011.
Superstars: Ray Rice, Larry Fitzgerald, Matt Schaub
Garbage:
Sleepers: Kenny Britt, Daniel Thomas, Lee Evans, Kevin Kolb, Dez Bryant
In round 1 (A)-Ray Rice -----4th best RB in league last year. Deadhead pick that anyone could and would have made.
Round 2 (A)-Larry Fitzgerald -----Well if theres one thing everyone knows it's Fitz will catch 80-100 balls every year. Throw in 8 TD's plus and you have first round talent here.
Round 3 (B)- Matt Schaub------ Top flite point scorer in this league.
Round 4- (C)-BenJarvus Green-Ellis ------Who's getting the ball in anti-fantasy land New England?
Round 5- (D)-Ryan Grant ------Most likely the third best running back on the Packers team. Reaching here.
Round 6-12 (B-)-Kenny Britt -------will make a lot of owners why the hell this guy fell to the 6th round. The only ? here is will he be suspended and how many games will he play. When he plays he is fantasy stud.
Kav's Kavanators try and repeat last seasons greatness. A slow start hampered his team in 2010, but he turned it around and went on to a Gunner Cup and Pro Bowl title.
Superstars: Hakeem Nicks
Garbage: Joe Flacco, Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Tolbert
Sleepers: Malcom Floyd C.J. Spiller
In round 1 (A)-Rashard Mendenhall ------Passed on better RB's (Gore, McFadden, Hillis) but got a real gym. Undervalued by most owners this guy will put up 15 and 20 each week.
Round 2 (A)-Hakeem Nicks -----Once again, an undervalued fantasy performer. I saw him as the 2nd best WR in the entire draft, who can ask for more than 15 points a game 61 percent of the time?
Round 3 (C)- Wes Welker ------Better days are behind him. He should catch 50 balls this year. If he returns to form from 3 years ago look out for the Kavanators.
Round 4- (F)-Joe Flacco----- Needed a QB and flubbed it up. Grabbed the 15th best and passed on 6 better.
Round 5- (D)-Mike Sims-Walker -----No WR in STL can succeed with Badford playing. The offense is stagnet and the scheme is collegiate.
Round 6-12 (D-)-C.J. Spiller---- could become a wonderful performer.
Viall showed up for the draft and just wouldn't believe anyone when he was told to draft garbage in the first round due to restricted free agent rules. LMAO! He seemed to be fired up and ready to make up for last seasons 1-13 performance.
Superstars: Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson
Garbage: Ben Roethlisberger
Sleepers: Pierre Thomas
In round 1 (A-F)-Chris Johnson -----when will he play. This could be an A+ or an F
Round 2 (A)-Steven Jackson -----got a superior RB when most thought they would all be gone. The QB run early helped him out here. Could be one of the most feared RB tandems in the league.
Round 3 (D) Ben Roethlisberger----- Junk, Garbage, Junk
Round 4- (C)-.Mike Williams----- Good player, average expectations
Round 5- (D)-Anquan Boldin----- High expectations, old and vulnerable to injury. The Cardinals saw it coming and shipped him. He has several good years left, but not great fantasy ones.
Round 6-12 (D-)-Owen Daniels ------only decent player in these rounds.
Okay, lets say it.
Appalachian Division standings 2011
Perdew Pulverizers 11-3
Texan Bruisers 10-4
Whitmore 8-6
Fields 7-7
Kavanators 7-7
Igama 7-7
Viall 6-8
With all that said we still have 2-a-days starting tomorrow (Monday the 22nd at 11 am ET). Teams can certainly be built here, so anything can happen. Good luck.
Lets start with the Appalachian Division.
OVERALL C-
The Whitmore Workhorse will try to defend last years surprising championship. Unlike last season team ownership decided to participate in this years draft, and by the look of how they performed, they probably should have left well enough alone.
Superstars: JonesDrew,Maurice, Rivers,Philip , Lewis,Ray
Garbage: Bess,Davone
Sleepers: Sproles,Darren
In round 1 (A)-The Workhorse selected running back MJD and set the stage for a great team. This was a no brainer pick in which he honestly could not have made a mistake by taking any number of available running backs.
Round 2 (B+)-The team went with a top tier quarterback (P. Rivers) but passed on better players at the position (Vick and Romo). Rivers is a solid performer and should be a better than adequate selection, its to bad Vick could have been a true superstar that he will later wish he had taken.
Round 3 (D-)-DeAngelo Williams ---Went with a normally solid Running back. Look for this pick to be a wasted one with a new head coach and system in place, the running attack in Carolina will not be the same.
Round 4- (B-)-LeGarrette Blount ----For the round selected Blount should prove to be a decent 12-15 point performer with a few really good weeks.
Round 5- (C-)-Santana Moss -----The 16th best WR in the draft slipped all the way to the 5th round. The Workhorse got an average player at the right spot.
Round 6-12 (C-)-Darren Sproles was a steal in round 11. Sidney Rice could prove to be the make or break pick in the Workhorse season. If he returns to form from '09 the Whitmore team will compete for another title, if he performs as most Seatle wideouts do, well, it's a long season for the defending champs.
OVERALL A-
The Perdew Pulverizers try to return to the playoffs and win their first ever eSFL title. Owner GM Josh Perdew has shown in his short period of eSFL performance he is a tough beat week in week out.
Superstars: LeSean McCoy, Michael Vick, Brandon Lloyd
Garbage: Fred Jackson
Sleepers: Cam Newton
In round 1 (A+)-Pulverizers went with the same back they have had on their roster the past two seasons. Last year LeSean McCoy was arguably his best player, this year he will be his third best. A must take in round one.
Round 2 (A+)-OK, there may never be another top 5 player on a draft board that slips into the late second round as quarterback Michael Vick did this year. Perdew was reluctant to take him here, but looking back he will be tickled to death he did. What a steal.
Round 3 (C)-Matt Forte ----Who knows what the Bears and Mike Martz will do on a weekly basis, but for what was left at the position Perdew took a very solid player that probably should have went in the second round. I believe he was the 15th best returning running back in the draft.
Round 4- (A+)-----Brandon Lloyd Are you serious? The 4th best returning wide receiver in the draft falls into the Pulverizers lap in round 4? This has to be the most fortunate owner in the leagues history, he got Vick and Loyd in steals.
Round 5- (B-)-Steve Johnson -----Only the 23rd ranked wideout Perdew hopes Stevie plays the entire season like he did last in small stretches. Great pick for a 5th rounder.
Round 6-12 (B-)-Cam Newton -----will never see the field in 2011 for the Pulverizers, but what his team hopes for is a wonderful performance this year so the can claim him as a restricted free agent in 2012. A.J. Green will also all into the same category and look for him to be trade bait or signed for the 2012 season as a restricted free agent. Regardless how these rounds pay off this season, these two picks alone raise the grade here.
OVERALL D-
The Fanatix have a long history of winning in the eSFL. Year in and year out head coach Bruce Fields demonstrates the draft is not where great teams are made. His teams are built on 2-a-days and free agency throughout the season, and after looking at this years draft, he better get to work.
Superstars: Tom Brady, Dallas Clark
Garbage: Ricky Williams, Derrick Mason, Ryan Torain, Jonathan Stewart
Sleepers:
In round 1 (A+)-Tom Brady -----You can't go wrong taking Brady unless bad luck sends him into injury status. Then one would wonder why they chose a QB in round one. ALPOO, If dog won't it eat cat will.
Round 2 (C-)-Reggie Wayne------Manning will struggle for the first 6 weeks, thats half the eSFL season. This is the 3rd best WR as far as last season performance but the intangibles really drop his value.
Round 3 (D+)- Ahmad Bradshaw ------Lets get this right, the team drafted the 13t best RB and passed on many better players. Drafting by position usually proves to be bad move and Bradshaw isn't going to change that view.
Round 4- (D)-Dallas Clark------- Can he stay healthy? Is Jacob Tamme going to take some of his thunder? Will he be worth a damn with Mannings situation? To many question here for basically a really good kicker.
Round 5- (F)-Jonathan Stewart -----See the Workhorse. The Carolina team's running game isn't what we all thought it was now that John Fox is in Denver.
Round 6-12 (F--)-Ryan Torain -----With many laughers chosen in 2011 this pick drew plenty of chuckles. Let's assume Torain plays in more than 6 games this season, he still will be fortunate to post 12 points each game. What a freaking crap pick and a waste of round 7. The rest of this group proves not to be much better. WR Manningham will help but the rest won't provide much relief.
OVERALL C-
The Sweaty Palms bring their snazzy team colors and logo after a layoff of 6 years in which they were last known as the Igama ACKRD. That team was a total failure and owner Joel Igam has a lot to prove in 2011.
Superstars: Arian Foster, Kyle Orton
Garbage: Kyle Orton (Yes, he's garbage and yet a superstar)
Sleepers: Willis McGahee, Aaron Hernandez, Marcedes Lewis, Roy Williams
In round 1 (A+)-Arian Foster---- Can Foster perform as he did last season? Probably not, but running backs are hard to get and he got one, can't blame him there.
Round 2 (C-)-Matt Ryan -----With the big run early on quarterbacks Igama felt the need to grab one earlier rather than later. My opinion is he grabbed the wrong one. I see him as the 9th rated QB in the draft.
Round 3 (C)- Dwayne Bowe ------OK, who knows with this guy. Team ownership saw the upside here and took a chance. It will either make them look like fantasy gods or fantasy dumbasses.
Round 4- (D)-Santonio Holmes ------Can the Jets throw the ball enough to justify any receiver on their team being drafted before the 10th round. I don't think so.
Round 5- (F)-Felix Jones -----The last hurrah for Felix may just be now. This guy has been "the sleeper of the year" for the past 5 years. I don't see anything from him that we haven't already seen. There was better RB's on the board and still are remaining in training camp than this guy. Pathetic.
Round 6-12 (B-)-Roy Williams ------See Felix Jones. Roy, what are you, a stud or a piece of crap? Actually I feel this was a good selection for this late in the draft and will help Igama a lot. Aaron Hernandez will be a solid kicker like performance, is there enough balls to go around in NE?
OVERALL B+
The Texan Bruiser have proven to be a solid team every year in the league. They have fallen short of the ultimate goal each year and look for a Ballistic Bowl win in 2011.
Superstars: Ray Rice, Larry Fitzgerald, Matt Schaub
Garbage:
Sleepers: Kenny Britt, Daniel Thomas, Lee Evans, Kevin Kolb, Dez Bryant
In round 1 (A)-Ray Rice -----4th best RB in league last year. Deadhead pick that anyone could and would have made.
Round 2 (A)-Larry Fitzgerald -----Well if theres one thing everyone knows it's Fitz will catch 80-100 balls every year. Throw in 8 TD's plus and you have first round talent here.
Round 3 (B)- Matt Schaub------ Top flite point scorer in this league.
Round 4- (C)-BenJarvus Green-Ellis ------Who's getting the ball in anti-fantasy land New England?
Round 5- (D)-Ryan Grant ------Most likely the third best running back on the Packers team. Reaching here.
Round 6-12 (B-)-Kenny Britt -------will make a lot of owners why the hell this guy fell to the 6th round. The only ? here is will he be suspended and how many games will he play. When he plays he is fantasy stud.
OVERALL C
Kav's Kavanators try and repeat last seasons greatness. A slow start hampered his team in 2010, but he turned it around and went on to a Gunner Cup and Pro Bowl title.
Superstars: Hakeem Nicks
Garbage: Joe Flacco, Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Tolbert
Sleepers: Malcom Floyd C.J. Spiller
In round 1 (A)-Rashard Mendenhall ------Passed on better RB's (Gore, McFadden, Hillis) but got a real gym. Undervalued by most owners this guy will put up 15 and 20 each week.
Round 2 (A)-Hakeem Nicks -----Once again, an undervalued fantasy performer. I saw him as the 2nd best WR in the entire draft, who can ask for more than 15 points a game 61 percent of the time?
Round 3 (C)- Wes Welker ------Better days are behind him. He should catch 50 balls this year. If he returns to form from 3 years ago look out for the Kavanators.
Round 4- (F)-Joe Flacco----- Needed a QB and flubbed it up. Grabbed the 15th best and passed on 6 better.
Round 5- (D)-Mike Sims-Walker -----No WR in STL can succeed with Badford playing. The offense is stagnet and the scheme is collegiate.
Round 6-12 (D-)-C.J. Spiller---- could become a wonderful performer.
OVERALL D+
Viall showed up for the draft and just wouldn't believe anyone when he was told to draft garbage in the first round due to restricted free agent rules. LMAO! He seemed to be fired up and ready to make up for last seasons 1-13 performance.
Superstars: Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson
Garbage: Ben Roethlisberger
Sleepers: Pierre Thomas
In round 1 (A-F)-Chris Johnson -----when will he play. This could be an A+ or an F
Round 2 (A)-Steven Jackson -----got a superior RB when most thought they would all be gone. The QB run early helped him out here. Could be one of the most feared RB tandems in the league.
Round 3 (D) Ben Roethlisberger----- Junk, Garbage, Junk
Round 4- (C)-.Mike Williams----- Good player, average expectations
Round 5- (D)-Anquan Boldin----- High expectations, old and vulnerable to injury. The Cardinals saw it coming and shipped him. He has several good years left, but not great fantasy ones.
Round 6-12 (D-)-Owen Daniels ------only decent player in these rounds.
Okay, lets say it.
Appalachian Division standings 2011
Perdew Pulverizers 11-3
Texan Bruisers 10-4
Whitmore 8-6
Fields 7-7
Kavanators 7-7
Igama 7-7
Viall 6-8
With all that said we still have 2-a-days starting tomorrow (Monday the 22nd at 11 am ET). Teams can certainly be built here, so anything can happen. Good luck.
