The IronDog Chronicles

Yes, it finally happened…

A Fantasy Football Championship arrived this week for the IronDog Chronicles…;)

Considering the dearth of panic sessions and strategic moves that I thought would work to bolster the team, I’m stunned by the first fantasy sports championship for this here blogga. Also, this league was a helluva league that had a tough waiver wire wait and a very savvy owners.

So, how the hell did I pull this off?

Good drafting. And when you consider that my first-round pick, Larry Johnson, was a complete stiff this season, you have to wonder how the hell I pulled this thing off, especially, after you take a good look at my original draft analysis in September.

Here is my list of “Bangs” and “Dangs.”

“Bangs”

RB - Adrian Peterson - I picked him up in the fourth round, and I have to admit that I thought he was going to be gone at that point. I’m glad that I grabbed him. He had not one but two fifty point games for me this season. Along with Priest Holmes, he gained immediate entry into my personal fantasy sports Hall-of-Fame.
QB - Ben Roethlisberger - “Big Ben” came through this year. I also have to admit that I had a feeling that he was going to come back strong from a tough year of injuries. I’m more impressed with how much the Steelers threw the ball. In this 12 team league, we get two keepers who were drafted after the sixth round…He’s my guy. If I ever get stuck in a cubicle again, I may have to buy a “Big Ben” Fathead.
WR - Reggie Wayne - With the injury to Marvin Harrison, he was steady, consistent, and a lethal threat each and every week. What a gamer. He’s a fantasy HOF. If he keeps up with another year or two, he could be in Canton.
WR - Andre Johnson - I wish that I could have this guy next season. I grabbed him in the fifth round, and he was stellar…until he sprained his knee. I truly believe that if he had not been hurt, I could have pulled either a one loss or an undefeated season. Seriously…he is a great receiver. If you have the chance, jump on him early next season. I think he replaces Torry Holt in value.
WR - Torry Holt - The former Wolf runner had a very consistent year, which is surprising when you consider he was hurt all year by a banged-up knee and a putrid offense. He wasn’t lights out. Yet, he was steady every week with point totals within the 8-12 point range…Thank you to my man from Eastern Guilford.
TE - Jeremy Shockey - Tough one to call because unfortunately, Shock was up-and-down this season. Yet, he did perform well in his TE slot when I needed him. Unfortunately, not one guy on my ‘keeper’ watch list made my final roster cut. Shock did because he was a TE. Now, will he be able to recover from his knee injury. That one was hard-core.

Is he worth a seventh-round pick as a starter? Yes. In another league in which I bottomed out, I drafted Vernon Davis, and I was forced to pick up several tight ends throughout the season. I often found that I could find non-drafted replacements with Greg Olsen, Donald Lee, Tony Scheffler, and Eric Johnson. I plan to do the same next season within this league.

My choke of the year is when I could have traded him for both!, Ted Ginn Jr. and Ryan Grant. Yes, I turned that one down. Shockey responded with a 18 point week, and Grant blossomed into one of the top five backs in fantasy football…Oh so goes the game…

“Dangs”

QB - Matt Leinart - He absolutely killed me this season. I thought he would bloom in the Cardinals new offense. Yet, even before his season-ending collarbone injury, he was just…awful. I flushed a sixth-round pick over him. Man, I could have grabbed Kellen Winslow Jr. or Braylon Edwards at that slot…Thought with my heart on that one and my thought that he’ll be a great QB ‘on the field’…just not in cyberspace.

I learned a lesson.

WR - Matt Jones - He was my ’sleeper’ pick with tight end, Greg Olsen. Jones missed the alarm clock and still is a third receiver in a resurgent Jags offense…Yeech. Olsen…I like the guy a lot. Next year, next year…
8th Round and 9th Round - If my final complaints rest within the 8th and 9th rounds, I have nothing to nag about. However, Ladell Betts and Devery Henderson were complete duds for me. Yet, Henderson had a couple of great weeks midway through the season when Brees got hot. I still don’t think I gave up on him too early, which leads me to…

“Chokes”

I let go of Justin Fargas…Ouch. I loved the guy’s running style at USC. I cut Leinart for him, and I didn’t stick with him after he pumped out over a 120 yards filling in for Dominic Rhodes and LaMont Jordan.

As a Raider fan, I knew Lane Kiffin adored him. I didn’t trust my gut, and I dumped him for…Michael Pittman? I know.

Yet, here are my solid pick-ups.

WR Antawn Raandle-El - Was on my cut-list all year long, but with Andre Johnson’s injury, I kept him. Thank you for the fill-in. If he ever gets that hammy taken care of, he could be a great pick-up.
WR Arnaz Battle - I cringed when I grabbed him. He became a good player who was consistent for 6-8 points and who could grab a touch. Not a bad insert.
RB/WR Brian Leonard - I dumped him at the end of week 12. Yet, with LJ’s paper mache start, he came through for a couple of 6-8 point games. Still cut him, and I don’t think I’ll look to him next year.
RB Darius Walker - I loved him at Notre Dame, but he really came through in the final two weeks, (Week 15 and Week 16). The Texans move the ball, and I’m remembering him for next year. Nice pick for a flex play in the 8th-9th rounds next season.

Defense - I flipped all of my picks by Week 4. I ended up with a beast in Patrick Willis. Ernie Sims, Jon Beeson, Karlos Dansby, and D.J. Henderson. All of these picks were stellar performers. I picked a lot of great point totals from my IDP stats.

Fantasy Advice: If you arrange your defensive players well, you can pick-up more than just garbage points. Use your Defensive players wisely, and they’ll pick-up the slack for you.

That’s it…I’m on to Fantasy Hoops and prepping for baseball. The Championship parade will be held today on McCauley Street at 5PM before the UNC/Nevada game at the Smith Center.

Get your streamers ready…

2007 FFL Champs
BD
President & GM McCauley Street Mongols