Who NOT to take in Fantasy Football
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me again, we don’t get fooled again? Johnson is a specimen but he’s burned me so many times in fantasy seasons, I’ve invested in a 55 gallon drum of aloe vera.”
You probably already know who you’re taking in your fantasy draft. But you really should know who you AREN’T taking. After a few beers, the pace will heat up in your draft and you’ll be faced with a choice. And you need to decide who to leave off your list, just in case you make an impulse selection based more on the ticking clock and Budweiser than measured, knowledgeable fantasy logic.
There are plenty of resources out there for fantasy advice far better than me. I’ve played awhile and have had moderate success. But don’t look to me for who to take at a good value in the 10th round. I point you to Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom and the host of very smart fantasy experts at Footballguys.com for that. But what I can impart to you is who I’m not taking and you can glean your own path from that.
Andre Johnson
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me again, we don’t get fooled again? Johnson is a specimen but he’s burned me so many times in fantasy seasons, I’ve invested in a 55 gallon drum of aloe vera. If he lasts to a later round, take a flyer on him but expect him to get hurt by week three.
Ryan Matthews
This guy is still going number four on Yahoo’s pre-rankings and that’s after breaking a clavicle in a pre-season game. People are convinced he’s going to be good but no one is really sure when he’s going to start playing. He should be ready but injury aside, did you see anything from him last year to warrant drafting him this high? Stay away and let some other sucker take him.
Larry Fitzgerald
Did you see the Cardinals the other night? Are you aware that Kevin Kolb is the quarterback? Do I need to say more? Fitz is a great player, but if you take him as early as he’s ranked, you’re going to be horribly disappointed.
Rob Gronkowski
I’ve seen the stats and even without his TD totals, he was still the number two TE. But that was last year and teams will have a plan for him. And Tom Brady has more weapons this year. I’m not saying he won’t be good, but if you’re using your first pick on him, you won’t win your league.
Michael Turner
He’s a broken down RB in a pass heavy offense. Got burned by the Burner last season and won’t be taking that plunge with him again. He’s on his way out and you will be too if you pick him high.
Trent Richardson
Are you really going to take a rookie RB coming off a knee scope this early? Well, then god bless you, you fucking maniac.
Ahmad Bradshaw
Might as well be Carrie Bradshaw with how ineffective he is. Most experts will tell you he’s a great PPR RB, but don’t be fooled: He’s hurt A LOT and when he does give you a monster game, you’ll be tricked into playing him again which never yields results. Bradshaw is a flex play at best.
This is just a quick list of some of the top picks going early that I wouldn’t touch with someone else’s draft board. There are plenty of other players I’m avoiding later on in the draft as well. But just like all good fantasy football players, a true champ never fully reveals his whole draft strategy. So if you’re in a league with me, maybe I’m really going to pick all of these fine folks. Now that is a strategy.
