The Monday Mommy: D’oh! Your guide to not drafting like a Broncos homer.
“With fake football it is imperative to separate the heart from the mind in order to have a well balanced, successful team. For some fans it’s easier to accomplish than others. I’m sure folks in Jacksonville or Oakland don’t struggle as much with the notion of passing on their position players in favor of guys with more upside.”
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The balancing act between fantasy football and homerism can be a tricky one.
While owning players from the team you root for makes watching games on Sundays a bit easier, it can also cause people to draft a guy too early or pass up on a great value because they play for a rival team.
With fake football it is imperative to separate the heart from the mind in order to have a well balanced, successful team. For some fans it’s easier to accomplish than others. I’m sure folks in Jacksonville or Oakland don’t struggle as much with the notion of passing on their position players in favor of guys with more upside.
However, those of us that reside in a town with a top level squad can tend to have a more difficult time deciding which players to draft and when the right time to snag them actually is.
We all know the hype surrounding the Broncos for the 2013-2014 season. It has been unavoidable this summer and the similar build up of potential fantasy output has been no different.
As we all get ready for our respective drafts, I thought we could take a look at where the Broncos position players have been going in mock drafts and what to think about before drafting with your heart. I will not be discussing individual defensive players and their fantasy value, as the majority of leagues use a team defense format.
As far as the quarterback position goes, it’s no surprise that only Peyton Manning holds any fantasy value for Denver. If the unthinkable happens and Manning sustains an injury, it will obviously be a race to the waiver wire to grab backup Brock Osweiler, and it is still unclear what his value would even be at that time.
In a standard 12 team non PPR league that starts only one QB, Manning has been going in the late third round to early fourth. He should have a very productive season and is worthy of being drafted that high. I would not however, snag PFM before the fourth round, just so that you can have him. In the long run you will be happier with a stud back or sick number one receiver than being able to root for your hometown guy.
As far as the wide receivers go, the first Bronco to come off the draft board will be Demaryius Thomas. After Calvin Johnson, who is basically in a tier by himself, there are several next level wideouts that should follow suit. Thomas will probably be taken somewhere in the second round of drafts depending of course, on the league size. His freakish talent and size along with obvious chemistry with PFM will deliver solid fantasy numbers, setting him up for a monster year in 2013.
Eric Decker and Wes Welker will probably be drafted a few rounds after Thomas, but will both have decent fantasy years. The thing with Manning and fake football, is that we all know he spreads the ball around. While Denver fans are certainly excited about the addition of Welker to the squad, don’t be too eager and draft him early, passing on guys that may have greater fantasy value. The chemistry with Manning is still new and they could potentially struggle over the middle.
Decker had a solid year in 2012 and is hoping to improve on that this season. He will be a great second wide receiver for your team, just don’t reach and draft him too soon as your number one guy.
I know it will tough for some of the Bronco fans out there to resist both Decker and Welker in the third round but if you remain patient, they should fall to you in the fourth or even fifth round.
The tight end situation is a bit murky in both real and fake football for this season. With injuries to both Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme, the current clubhouse leader is Julius Thomas who has been having a good camp so far. There is also Virgil Green in the mix who has been fighting for some playing time as well. As a whole, it appears that the fantasy value for Bronco tight ends is not spectacular.
However, if you are hell bent on having some Denver guys on your team, selecting one of the tight ends late in the draft and stashing them on your bench could potentially pan out for you.
The Bronco defense is also a great way to be a homer without sacrificing too much. While I wouldn’t start the defensive run any earlier than the 12th round or so, someone else potentially will. Once those defenses start going off the board, you can feel comfortable taking Denver. They are currently ranked in the top five overall and should be a solid defensive unit as far as fantasy output is concerned.
Kickers are kickers and I refuse to put any time into strategizing about them. You should not be taking a kicker until the last round of any draft, period. If you really want Matt Prater take him a round earlier but no sooner.
Best of luck to all of you out there in fantasy land with those upcoming drafts. Just like in love, thinking with anything other than your mind will get you in trouble every single time. Leave those emotions out of the mix and you will do just fine.
Unless of course you are in one of my leagues, then think with your heart and penis all you want.
