Empty the Bench

By Brian Spencer

On Tuesday, August 31, the dons of Empty the Bench joined friends and peers for the annual football nerd-out fest that is the ETB Fantasy Football League Draft. This year’s draft was one of the most challenging, stressful test of wills to date with 12 teams, 15 rounds of picks, and no kickers to thin the field out. Over the next few days we’ll reveal the results team by team, and take a quick look at how each one fared; compare and contrast with your league, and let us know your take in the comments section.

Disclaimer: many of our team names are lewd, childish, and downright stupid. We make no apologies for this.

Team:

JD – 2 Guys & a Mic (Picked third overall)

The Picks

1. (3) Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
2. (22) DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers
3. (27) Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers
4. (46) Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers
5. (51) Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants
6. (70) Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
7. (75) Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons
8. (94) Derrick Mason, WR, Baltimore Ravens
9. (99) New York, Team Defense
10. (118) Robert Meachem, WR, New Orleans Saints
11. (123) Donovan McNabb, QB, Washington Redskins
12. (142) Devin Hester, WR, Chicago Bears
13. (147) LenDale White, RB, Denver Broncos
14. (166) Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots
15. (171) Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Best Value:

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons: Four tight ends were taken in successive picks after the stalwart Pro Bowler was drafted 75th overall. I guarantee that Gonzo was the preferred TE by at least three of the teams that went at 76 – 79, and I’m sure a bitter “fucking autopick” was muttered by each of those managers when Gonzo came down. The perennial fantasy stud can’t keep this up forever, but this season doesn’t feel like the one where the wheels stop turning.

Biggest Reach:

Donovan McNabb, QB, Washington Redskins: Blah. Every year the Redskins offense somehow gets more and more boring and depressing, and adding a fading McNabb into the mix plays right into that strategy. Already battling minor injuries and questionable heading into Week 1, the ceiling is decidedly low on the 12-year vet as he suits up for his first season as a Foreskin. Beyond Chris Cooley and (I guess) Santana Moss, there are not many other dependable options in this passing attack; if you thought it was bad in Washington last season, this year could be even uglier. Ben Roethlisberger was taken six picks later.

ETB’s Take:

Considering JD was the only manager on autopick, he either did a damn fine job of pre-ranking his players, or was the beneficiary of one stroke of luck after the other. This is a strong team, and though there are some question marks, especially at WR, every team has a few flaws and he has to be pleased with how this worked out.

Spending the first three picks on RBs is risky this year given the thin ranks of second- and third-tier WRs, but Williams at the end of the second and Grant at the top of the third are both fantastic value picks (even though Grant isn’t high on my personal board). I went back and forth between Jason Witten and Hakeem Nicks at 50th overall, and obviously decided on Witten since, well, it’s practically a fucking rule now that I own him every season. I tend to (try and) draft for balance and consistency, with upside mixed in, over too much hit-or-miss, and JD seems to have the sweet spot between the two with proven commodities (the RBs, Rivers, Gonzo, Mason) and potential breakouts (Maclin, Nicks, Meachem, Edelmen).

JD suffered through a miserable 3-10 season last year (sorry bud, had to rub it in once more), but should be in line for a nice rebound… if you buy the assertion that Williams, Jones-Drew, and Grant can hold up.

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