Through 3 rounds of drafting, the Bruno Boys have been able to hold to our strategy of securing top talent at the running back and wide receiver positions, landing the 2nd best running back out there in Adrian Peterson and two top 10 wide receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Marques Colston. However, while that's a great start to a squad, there is still much more work to be done, and now, is when it gets a bit tricky. The first three rounds of a fantasy draft might be the easiest because there is plenty of talent on the board to go around, but once you reach round 4, the talent is dwindling and every selection comes with question marks. Find a bargain in rounds 4 to 6, and you're well on your way to a strong fantasy season.
Let's check out to see how Rounds 4-6 played out in the Fantasy Sports Matrix draft which was hosted by Yahoo Sports and took place on August 13th, 2008. The scoring system is "standard" scoring and each team starts 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 RB/WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DEF.
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2008 Fantasy Sports Matrix Draft - Round 4 Results
4.1: Mock Draft Central: Earnest Graham (TB)
4.2: Rotohog Ballers: Jonathan Stewart (Car)
4.3: FantasySportsMatrix: Roy Williams (Det)
4.4: Yardbarker: Steve Smith (Car)
4.5: FS Matrix-Bobby: Drew Brees (NO)
4.6: Kontend.com: LenDale White (Ten)
4.7: FantasyFootballFools: Darren McFadden (Oak)
4.8: Fantasy Insider Online: Antonio Gates (SD)
4.9: RotoWire: Anquan Boldin (Ari)
4.10: RotoNation: Brandon Marshall (Den)
4.11: Bruno Boys Fantasy Football: Selvin Young (Den)
4.12: Sports Data Hub: Jason Witten (Dal)
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Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Pick: With the 47th overall pick of the draft, the Bruno Boys select Denver Broncos' running back, Selvin Young.
Bargain: The biggest bargains in round 4 were the likes of RB Darren McFadden and TE Jason Witten. While both were selected about right on par with the Bruno Boys Top 150 Cheat Sheet, they still earn the label as bargains because others at their positions were selected before them, when they really shouldn't have been. WR Steve Smith. We know the two game suspension hurts his value, but to the point where he's a fourth rounder? We're not so sure about that. Afterall, the last time he played in just 14 games in 2006, he still caught 83 passes for 1,166 yards and 8 TDs.
Even Money: RBs Earnest Graham, LenDale White, and Selvin Young all were taken where you'd expect them to go. At this point in the draft, you're not going to be getting any sure things, so while Graham, White, and Young all have questions surrounding them, they're less of a risk than the backs that will soon follow. WRs Roy Williams and Anquan Boldin sit atop Tier 4 of our wide receiver rankings and both were selected at that spot. QB Drew Brees. With three running backs and no wide receivers, we were tempted to place this Brees' selection in the Overpaid section, but Bobby's Bluechips does have a long while to wait before his next selection. He wanted a top of the line QB and he got one, you can't fault that.
Overpaid: RB Jonathan Stewart. With Stewart battling a toe injury and involved in a running back by committee with DeAngelo Williams, he definitely shouldn't be the second running back taken in round 4 if that's what Rotohog Ballers were targeting. There are plenty of other guys with more updside and less question marks to be had (i.e. Darren McFadden, Selvin Young, LenDale White, Matt Forte, etc.) TE Antonio Gates. If this were 2007, then Gates in the later half of the fourth round is a steal, but in fantasy football, you can't live in the past. Gates is definitely a stud, but with the foot issues, we'd feel safer taking Witten or Winslow, both of whom were still available at this point. WR Brandon Marshall. Granted Marshall at this point only has a two game suspension, but it could be extended based on the results of his DUI case, which will occur September 24th. Even if Marshall's suspension stays at 2 games, we'd rather have Wes Welker or Santonio Holmes, both of whom will be off the board in round 5, for 16 games than Marshall for 14.
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2008 Fantasy Sports Matrix Draft - Round 5 Results
5.1: Sports Data Hub: Wes Welker (NE)
5.2: Bruno Boys Fantasy Football: Carson Palmer (Cin)
5.3: RotoNation: Derek Anderson (Cle)
5.4: Rotowire-Phan: Santonio Holmes (Pit)
5.5: FIO's Matty H: Ben Roethlisberger (Pit)
5.6: FantasyFootballFools: Greg Jennings (GB)
5.7: Kontend: Kellen Winslow (Cle)
5.8: Bobby's Bluechips: Matt Forte (Chi)
5.9: Yardbarker: Tony Gonzalez (KC)
5.10: FantasySportsMatrix: Donovan McNabb (Phi)
5.11: Rotohog Ballers: Calvin Johnson (Det)
5.12: Geoff-MDC: Kevin Smith (Det)
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Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Pick: At pick number 50 overall, Carson Palmer is selected to don the Bruno Boys colors.
Bargains: WRs Wes Welker and Santonio Holmes. The early run on running backs during the first three rounds allowed some stud wideouts to fall. Welker, caught 112 passes last season for 1,175 yards and 8 scores, while Holmes broke out for 942 yards and 8 scores. Not bad numbers to get in the 5th round. QB Carson Palmer. The Bruno Boys could have easily taken Palmer in the 4th round at 47, which is actually where he is ranked in the Bruno Boys Top 150 Cheat Sheet, but it's even better to get him here. WR Calvin Johnson. A solid pre-season has upped his value with many thinking he could have a better year than fellow Lions' wide out, Roy Williams.
Even Money: QBs Ben Roethlisberger and Donovan McNabb. With a run of QBs under way, grabbing Big Ben and McNabb in the 5th round is not a bad move. RB Matt Forte. Forte will be his team's primary ball carrier, something great to grab in a running back at this point in the draft. WR Greg Jennings, TEs Kellen Winslow and Tony Gonzalez. All three of these pass catchers should put up solid numbers.
Overpaid: QB Derek Anderson. If Anderson matches his 2007 numbers, this is by no means overpaying, but that's a big IF! After all, Anderson already showed signs of slowing down towards the end of 2007, throwing 9 touchdowns to 10 interceptions from week 11 on. We'd rather have the other two QBs selected in the round. RB Kevin Smith. Just as the early running back run has left a lot of great receivers to be taken for tremendous value, it has caused owners to grab running backs earlier than they should be going. Smith is one of those running backs.
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2008 Fantasy Sports Matrix Draft - Round 6 Results
6.1: Geoff-MDC: Fred Taylor (Jax)
6.2: Rotohog Ballers: Julius Jones (Sea)
6.3: FantasySportsMatrix: DeAngelo Williams (Car)
6.4: Team Yardbarker: Dwayne Bowe (KC)
6.5: Bobby's Bluechips: Lee Evans (Buf)
6.6: Kontend: Laveranues Coles (NYJ)
6.7: FantasyFootballFools: Hines Ward (Pit)
6.8: FIO's Matty H.: Roddy White (Atl)
6.9: RotoWire-Phan: Rudi Johnson (Cin)
6.10: RotoNation: Dallas Clark (Ind)
6.11: Bruno Boys Fantasy Football: Rashard Mendenhall (Pit)
6.12: Sports Data Hub: Warrick Dunn (TB)
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Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Pick: In the hopes that he gets the goal-line carries, the Bruno Boys select Rashard Mendenhall with the 71st overall selection.
Bargains: RB Fred Taylor. Seriously, how are unproven rookies like Jonathan Stewart, Matt Forte, and Kevin Smith going ahead of a guy that had 1200+ yards and 5 TDs last season. Yes, we know Maurice Jones-Drew is also in Jacksonville, but they run the ball so often, both backs have value. WRs Dwayne Bowe, Lee Evans, Hines Ward, and Roddy White. This draft is the epitome of how an early trend can mix everything up. The huge focus on running backs towards the top of the draft allowed wide receivers that could be taken in the 4th and 5th rounds to drop here to the 6th.
Even Money: RB DeAngelo Williams. One could even place Williams in the bargain pile as he went a good deal of picks after his rookie counterpart in Carolina, Jonathan Stewart; however, since the split between Stewart and Williams is unknown, we'll keep him here. WR Laveranues Coles and TE Dallas Clark. Both have great arms throwing them the ball. RB Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall could steal goal-line carries, and those are the carries that matter most in fantasy football.
Overpaid: RBs Julius Jones and Rudi Johnson. Neither back has established themselves this off-season on their respective teams, meaning both will be in committees and widely inconsistent during the regular season. RB Warrick Dunn. The move to Tampa won't be a resurgence and we strongly suggest you don't snag Dunn unless you are in search of a 5th running back option.
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Fantasy Sports Matrix Expert League Draft Results (click to view)
First Round Results
Second-Third Round Results
Fourth-Sixth Round Results
Seventh-Ninth Round Results
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"Stinky Tee's" Mock Draft Results (click to view)
First Round Results
Second Round Results
Third Round Results
Fourth Round Results
Fifth Round Results
Sixth-Eighth Round Results
Ninth-Eleventh Round Results
Twelfth-Fifteenth Round Results
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"The Hazean's" Four Round Mock Draft Results (click to view)
First Round Results
Second Round Results
Third Round Results
Fourth Round Results
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