Offseason Report Card: Callahan Auto Division

 

I am aware the draft was months ago. I am aware that a lot has transpired since then. I am also aware that in doing a piece that hands out grades, I will have to grade my team as well. To help quell outcries of favoritism and biased reporting, trust me when I say that I am my own toughest critic, but that's for a different article. This go-round is for the Callahan Auto Division, quite possibly the most competitive division in this dynasty league. In passing out grades I will look at the players drafted, what it took to acquire said player, and how their acquisition effects the team going forward. So... basically I just make it up as I go.


For Narnia
Team Need: WR
Draft Results:
1.10 DeVante Parker
1.12 Nelson Agholor
2.4 Devin Funchess
2.10 Sammie Coates
3.8 Chris Conley
4.9 Ryan Williams
4.10 Malcolm Brown
5.1 Brett Hundley

Offseason Grade: B+
I decided to start with For Narnia because I think this team did an outstanding job in scooping up the most talented players in this draft, but I think the hole left by one players departure could be hard to overcome this year. Before draft day, the only chink in the armor was Wide Receiver depth. Jordy and Edelman provided excellent numbers but beyond them were either the ghosts of seasons past or lottery tickets. So with their first selection Delange went and got DeVante Parker. He could be the player the Dolphins thought they were getting when they signed Mike Wallace and at 1.10 he was a valuable pick up. But Delange was out to make an even bigger splash. Delange decided to deal Matt Forte and two later round selections to move up and bolster his team with young talented pass catchers. Losing Forte means there's no real option behind CJ Anderson at RB but both Algholor and Funchess could vie for the oROY title in my opinion. In the meantime, the waiver wire is gonna be busy looking for someone to tote the rock opposite CJ.
I really liked  the move to was trade a 5th rounder next year for two additional picks in 2015 from Coach DadBod. Granted those picks won't mean much because they were for Malcolm Brown and Ryan Williams, but  just like the actual NFL, diamonds can be found deep in the rough.   



Coach DadBod
Team Need: RB
Draft Results:
1.1 Melvin Gordon III
3.10 Karlos Williams
4.1 Kenny Bell

Offseason Grade: C+
There was a lot of traffic to keep track off when it comes to Coach DadBod's offseason. Prior to the draft, GM Ronald Hawkins traded away Peyton Manning and Darren McFadden for a couple of 49ers (Bush and Vernon Davis). Then acquired pass catchers Roddy White, Marquis Lee, Reuben Randle, and Stedman Bailey to go along with his new Red Rifle (Andy Dalton). I don't need to spell out all the draft picks that have changed hands this offseason, what you need to know is that despite a lot of turnover this team feels like it pretty much stayed the same or got a little worse.
I'm not going to completely attack the Gordon over Gurley decision because I think he made the right choice for this year. Gordon was, and still is, the healthier option, just ask Keegan how he feels about drafting Marcus Lattimore if you disagree. Hawkins just have to be hoping and praying that Gordon doesn't follow the path of previous Wisconsin backs.
I think Hawkins could eventually look back and regret the decision to trade away the rights to Duke Johnson. Yes, the acquisition of first round pick next year is a boon, but losing a pair of second round picks and a player with caliber of Johnson's may have been to high a price for a rebuilding team like Coach DadBod.  

Gold Standard
Team Need: RB
Draft Results:
1.7 Ameer Abdullah
1.11 David Johnson
2.3 Maxx Williams
4.11 Tim Tebow
5.11 Jordan Leslie

Draft Grade: A

At first glance, the outside observer would say how can you pass on Amari Cooper! Well there's a reason this team is not merely the Gold Standard, they are the League Standard and have won two championships thus far. It was a smart move to move back three spots in the draft and nab another draft selection. Gold Standard currently has Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, and AJ Green at wideout and would not need another. The two acquired picks helped address the only two needs on the roster in the form of Ameer Abdullah and Maxx Williams. The latter should fit nicely in the spot vacated by Julius Thomas. The selection of David Johnson helps bolster the acquisition of Andre Ellington for Nick Foles, a move that looks like an absolute steal. Getting a slumping Colin Kaepernick for essentially Terrence West is also another wondrous work of player swapping.
The future is still 'golden' as Gold Standard owns the rights to Launchpad McQuack's first round selections for the next two years. There aren't many needs on the roster and the team doesn't need to make moves on a yearly basis but when they do, the team only gets better.    

Luck Dynasty
Team Need: TE
Draft Results:
1.4 Amari Cooper
2.1 Dorial Green-Beckham
3.1 Duke Johnson
5.9 Synjyn Days
5.10 Tyler Gaffney


Offseason Grade: A-
Like seemingly every year, Luck Dynasty's GM Keegan Warwick continues to bring in a haul of draft picks in exchange for talented players that aren't fit to see starting time on his ridiculous roster. This year however, it wasn't all about drafting players but dealing those lottery tickets for proven commodities. Before the draft, Brandin Cooks was acquired for the pick that became Breshaud Perriman and a 2016 second rounder. During the draft, Warwick essentially gave Gold Standard the rights to Ameer Abdullah and Maxx Williams in order to move up and take the next 'Tim Brown' in Amari Cooper. If you ask me, I think Cooper has the potential to score more points than those two combined. That was just the start, there was the aforementioned blockbuster trade with For Narnia to acquire Matt Forte and then the mastery of moving up to nab a potential starting runningback who fell to third round in Duke Johnson. I have to believe that Hawkins had no idea who Warwick wanted because if it's me, and Warwick says he wants Duke, all that does is cause me to pull the trigger faster and draft Duke.
Going into the draft the one question mark on the roster was the Tight End position. That position today still looks iffy, but you have to believe that one of those four men will step up to the plate. Dwayne Allen could starve for targets in Indy but he will be the first option at TE, Jace Amaro could be the Move-TE hybrid that Aaron Hernandez helped pioneer, and Jordan Cameron if he isn't seeing stars could flourish in an offense that made Charles Clay a top ten option.

Stay tuned for the Cock of da Walk and Foley Division breakdowns later this month.   

Mock Draft 2.0

I was honestly hoping for a little more time between the real draft and dynasty draft to work on a few different Mock Drafts but the sages have spoken and Wednesday night is coming quickly. I have heard several whispers of teams looking to trade back or out of the first round completely. Ole parlayed his 5th overall pick for some tremendous talent in Mark Ingram and Emmanuel Sanders, but for the sake of mock draft sanity, I'm not going to mock trades. so without further ado, here's my first round moc 2.0.

(1.1) Hawkins' TBD Team:
Todd Gurley RB - STL Rams

Previous Pick: Todd Gurley RB

This could go either way but call me crazy, if I had this pick it would be Gurley. I know MG3 has a clearer shot to playing time, I know he's a candidate to start on the PUP list, I know he's on a team that has gaping offensive line issues, and how many times does he have to play the NFC West teams each year? Ask the Joker. Despite all this, I firmly believe that Gurley will be the closest RB we've seen to Adrian Peterson since... well Adrian Peterson. If Hawkins is looking for a player to contribute on week one, he'll go Gordon. If he wants a player who could be a perennial top 5 pick after his rookie year, he'll go Gurley. I won't point fingers if he guesses wrong because Lord knows I did way back when... but like I said in the first mock, he's the closest thing to Beastmode in this draft and Hawkins' team is desperate for a bell-cow back. With only one pick in the first three rounds, this one has to count. 


(1.2) Size Does Matter:
Melvin Gordon III RB - SD Chargers
Previous Pick: Melvin Gordon III RB

In my first Mock I said that you could make a case for wide receiver at this spot, that's no longer the case. Several runningbacks on this roster saw their team select a ball carrier to, at the very least, steal touches from the incumbent. Joique has Ameer, Tre has Gurley, Zac got shipped to the Jets, and Oliver has MG3. As i said in the first mock, Gordon will find himself on a team ready to challenge for lead-back duties. In San Diego he should be the starter day one. The fumbling issue doesn't concern me but the Badger RB heritage sure does. That being said he will find himself at the top of rookie scorers and Smarty will be very happy to select whoever Hawkins deems unworthy of the first overall selection. 


(1.3) Average Joe's (from Natty Bohs):
Tevin Coleman RB - ATL Falcons
Previous Pick: Kevin White WR

Ideally, the Average Joes would welcome a trade here but I don't think one get's done. The 3-hole offers tremendous value but the two blue chip players will have already been scooped up. What the Joe's could do is grab the most valuable commodity and work a trade closer to week one. I had Kevin White initially and given where he landed, the pick also makes sense here but in a league where runningbacks are scarce, it makes sense to grab them while you can. Coleman torched B1G defenses this year and like I guessed in my previous mock he finds himself on a Falcons team that has plenty of weapons in place and is need of a true early down thumper.


(1.4) Gold Standard (from Launchpad McQuack):
TJ Yeldon RB - JAX Jaguars
Previous Pick: Jay Ajayi RB

The glaring hole on the roster is runningback and Gold Standard will keep the run on ball carriers rollin' with TJ Yeldon. The only issue with the pick is that Yeldon is on the Jaguars. that being said he is a much better athlete than the RB's currently on the roster. Yeldon may not have the shiftiness, but he's faster than many people think at first glance. What makes him special is he has a knack for always falling forward and can push the pile in those short yardage and goal line downs. Like Gordon, Yeldon follows the footsteps of some failed franchise runningbacks which may diminish his value, but I see a little bit of Eddie Lacy in TJ and Gold Standard will gladly welcome him to the squad.


(1.5) Tom-a-Hank (From Milk Steak)
 Jay Ajayi RB - MIA Dolphins
 Previous Pick: Ameer Abdullah RB

Everything in me wants to have Amari Cooper be selected with this pick, but it's so hard seeing the Raiders with a potent (non-garbage time) offense. Tom-a-Hank is also a smart maneuver-er (is that a word?). The Hanks have three of the next four picks so the order here is critical. There is a spot open for wide receiver but I believe he will scoop up two runningbacks at 5 and 6, then happily snag the wideout that falls to him. I believe the first potential bell-cow will be Jay Ajayi. The knock on Ajayi is that doctors believe his knee is bone-on-bone. That fact scared off a lot of potential suitors, but falling to Miami in the fifth, Ajayi is an absolute steal. Lack of ligaments isn't an issue for a young athlete, but does mean his life in the NFL will be a short one. If you ask me it will still be a productive one. He does have Lamar Miller ahead of him but when has that stopped Philbin from using multiple men in the backfield? Of the two I think Ajayi has the power to be the early down back and with that revamped offense could be a candidate for double digit touchdowns.



  (1.6) Tom-A-Hank:
Ameer Abdullah RB - DET Lions
Previous Pick: Amari Cooper

In the first mock I wrote "Abdullah I imagine will fall a bit in the draft and end up on a great team that will accentuate his skill set." Not to toot my horn but am I right or am I right? Abdullah is a great complement to Joquie Bell on the Lions. I think he's more of a complete back than people give him credit for but it may take time for him to earn his stripes and get the majority of carries. I'm sure the comments on Facebook at this point will be along the lines of "I can't believe Cooper and White are still there!" and "Seriously... six straight runingbacks?!?" You better believe it.


(1.7) Luck Dynasty (from Keenan & Robs):
Amari Cooper WR - OAK Raiders
Previous Pick: Jeremy Langford

I think Luck Dynasty would've liked to select a runningback here but with the most polished and pro-ready receiver in this draft  falling to the seven-spot, it's a no-brainer. You can make the case for Kevin White who is in a better offense (initially) but Cooper has a significantly higher floor and consistently produced against SEC defenses. Cooper reminds me of AJ Green. All through the season he was the guy, then after the combine the pundits start praising the guy who flashed the most. Back then it was Julio Jones, this year it's Kevin White. I picked Julio, Luck shouldn't pass on this year's AJ because he's got Derek Carr slinging the ball to him. Cooper's got the goods to be Offensive ROY.


(1.8) Tom-A-Hank (from Average Joe's):
Kevin White WR - CHI Bears
Previous Pick: Tevin Coleman

After giving up Emmanuel Sanders, Tom-a-Hank needs a franchise wideout to build around. Cooper would've been great but the Bears replaced Brandon Marshall with an absolute beast of a player in Kevin White. Sharing time with Alshon Jeffery could limit his weekly point totals (much like Roddy White and Julio Jones initially) but I think he could score the most touchdowns of all the rookie pass catchers in this draft. I am honestly still scratching my head from the trade of Mark Ingram and Sanders, but after seeing who Hank was able to replace them with, it makes some sense. It's still a huge gambl, but it's one with significant upside.


(1.9) Average Joe's (from Luck Dynasty):
Nelson Agholor WR - PHI Eagles
Previous Pick: TJ Yeldon

The Average Joe's were probably hoping to snag one of the top two wideouts, and heck it would be something to see him pass on White or Cooper at 3 and still get one of them at 9, but getting Agholor is a huge pickup. In Chip Kelly's system, any offensive weapon that has a clear path to playing time is going to be productive. Agholor jumps right in to take over for Jeremy Maclin and should see numbers similar to what Desean Jackson put up just two years ago. Yes, Jordan Matthews has the benefit of playing a year in Coach Kelly's system but he doesn't have the speed that Agholor provides and will probably man the slot and still be productive. Think of it plain and simple: more offensive plays per game = more targets for playmakers. Oh and did I mention that Agholor returns punts and kicks?   



(1.10) For Narnia:
DeVante Parker WR - MIA Dolphins
Previous Pick: Dorial Green-Beckham

With CJ Anderson and Matt Forte toting the rock, For Narnia will look to bolster the aging receiving corps. DeVante Parker is a wideout that Miami hasn't had in a very very long time. Here's a guy that gives you both size and speed to win down the seam and the ability to high-point the ball and make some spectacular catches. I also think his presence will finally help Ryan Tannehill turn the corner as a consistent fantasy performer. I could very easily see the Narnians taking Breshaud Perriman but in terms of pure talent, Parker gets the edge.  



(1.11) Gold Standard:
David Johnson RB - ARZ Cardinals
Previous Pick: Javorius 'Buck' Allen RB

Like I have said earlier, Gold Standard is set for the next decade at wide receiver and I think he'll go after another running back and play the numbers game at that position. I initially thought Buck Allen would be the pick and yes he has landed in a tempting spot in Baltimore but with Forsett in front of him he will probably be drafted as a complementary guy. At this point though, any runningback selected will be in some sort of time-share so Gold Standard will take the guy who has the best chance to lead the committee, that's David Johnson. In landing with the Cardinals, Johnson could vie for early down and goal line bruiser role with Andre Ellington as the scat-back. The Cardinals brass is already raving about him but we will have to wait and see if these comments are the real deal or a way to motivate Ellington.


(1.12) Luck Dynasty (from I Vincitori):
David Cobb RB - TEN Titans
Previous Pick: Jameis Winston QB

This pick could go so many ways but I think if Luck Dynasty doesn't trade out of the spot they'll select a runningback with upside. Cobb fits that role completely. The Titans are a less than favorable position at first glance but he should very easily beat out the shell of Shonn Greene and find himself splitting carries with Bishop Sankey. These two are very different style runners with Cobb actually showing some flashes of power (I mean look at the photo). What really makes me excited about Cobb is that the Titans are going to build around Marcus Mariota's strengths, that means the Zone Read. Just look at what that play calling system has done for Marshawn Lynch in Seattle and Alfred Morris in Washington (before RG3 forgot how to play), this is a system that will pa dividends to whomever is in the backfield. If you ask me, that will probably be Cobb a  majority of the time.  


Who's out?
Jameis Winston QB - TB Buccaneers: Talented and a great spot to thrive but need elsewhere will cause him to be overlooked by teams.

Jeremy Langford RB - CHI Bears: Super talented player and a guy I love, but he's absolutely buried on the depth chart in Chicago. The one plus is that he's totally different than Forte and Carey so he could fight for carries.

Buck Allen RB - BAL Ravens: I've always liked Buck Allen as a runningback and hoped he'd land in a better situation. He'll get his chances especially as a pass catcher on 3rd down, but I don't think he's going to be the guy in Baltimore.

Dorial Green-Beckham WR - TEN Titans: Had he been drafted by a team with an established quarterback and a free path to playing time, he'd be more intriguing. Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter will lead the way and DGB is going to have to earn his stripes.

Hawkins Bolsters Receiving Corps

Lee is more than happy to get a starting opportunity with his new team

It's a move that nearly solidifies that the "TBD Gravy Train" will be spending this year's first overall pick on a franchise running back. But wheelin' and dealin' GM Ronnie Hawkins better make the most of it, because next year's first round selection is in the hands of Commissioner Warwick. Hawkins sent his 2016 first rounder to Warwick in exchange for receivers Marqise Lee and Reuben Randle, as well as the first pick of the third round in 2015, and the cherry on top, a second round selection in 2016. A big haul for a team looking to change their fortunes, and more ammo for a team flush with fantasy stars.

The 2014 season ended with Hawkins in a bind at the pass-catcher position. Only two of his wide receivers caught more than 70 passes (Decker 74, James Jones, 73) and six touchdowns (Jones and Greg Jennings, 6 each. There are also questions about future production in players like Pierre Garcon, who saw his production slashed due to DeSean Jackson's arrival in DC.The running backs are the glaring hole on this roster, but the once reliable receivers of Garcon and Decker no longer have the production that comes with catching passes from Peyton.  

Hawkins' overhaul of the wide receiver position began with the acquisition of Stedman Bailey, merely a throw-away player that was a part of a deal for picks. With Nick Foles now in St. Louis Bailey may show some flashes of his college days at West Virginia where he was a deep threat, but until we see anything he offers little value. Aside from trading away the team's namesake, Hawkins' biggest splash was to get Roddy White in exchange for a pair of third round picks. The team's starting roster of Decker, Garcon, and White looks decent on paper but the squad lacked young depth. Until Hawkins and Warwick shook hands (in theory) on the most recent trade of the offseason.

Warwick found himself with plenty of talent on his roster, but when you have superstars in your starting lineup, the talent isn't always allowed to shine. That made both Marqise Lee and Reuben Randle expendable. Was it possible overkill to lock up a first round selection? Maybe, but Warwick didn't need the 3rd rounder this year as he owns 5 of the first 16 picks and getting a future first that could be in the top 4 picks next year could prove to be an invaluable steal.   

Will Randle's Stock Rise or Fall in the Big Apple?

In judging the winner of the trade, my gut says Warwick because he didn't really lose anything and gained the most valuable draft pick variety, but I have to call it a draw. Hawkins gained players talented enough to contribute and young enough to build around, if they develop. Of those, Marqise Lee has the most potential to thrive on Hawkins' team. Last season it seemed like every Jaguar receiver flashed signs of potential, but were bogged down by injury. I like what I see in Lee, but I honestly think Allen Robinson is the wideout that shows the most potential to be a WR1. But Lee's upside is definitely worth the it for a team desperate for a future star.

Reuben Randle is an enigma. He got plenty of shots last season with Victor Cruz out and the Giants brass handling Odell Beckham Jr. with kid gloves, but he simply didn't covert the targets and catches into reliable production. It's fair to assume the targets will be few and far between again in 2015 as Randle will slide into the 3-spot on the wide receiver depth chart. What could help Randle is that Ben McAdoo's system has a track record of giving three wideouts decent fantasy production. It worked in Green Bay with Jennings, Jordy, and James Jones all getting their time in the spotlight. Cruz's return could be slow giving him a chance to start opposite OBJ (or ODB in certain circles) but weekly fantasy production is going to be hard to predict. There's also the emergence of Larry Donnell at tight end... but that's a different story.

Where Hawkins really helped himself is getting another pick in the talent-rich draft of 2015 and a second round selection next year. Losing out on the first round (which could again be a top selection) hurts but having ammo to either move up or make two second round selections will help the team continue to rebuild. Was the trade earth-shattering? No. But it will probably have an impact on how Hawkins' team fares in 2015.  

In roster trimming moves, Hawkins served pink slips to Wide Receiver Jared Abberderris and Tight End Troy Niklas. Abbrederris' fate was sealed when the Pack re-signed Randall Cobb and Niklas has the gold-domer pedigree but wasn't able to beat out the replacement level players that posed as Cardinal Tight Ends. 

Dalton's Stock Takes Another Dip...

After moving on from Peyton Manning, the Gravy Train decided to pick up a Red Rifle. In trading for Andy Dalton, GM Ronnie Hawkins is scraping the bottom of the barrel in hopes of gaining some competency at the quarterback position. Joe Flacco sits atop the depth chart but Dalton very well could challenge for starts if the Ravens don't address the lack of wide receivers in the upcoming draft. 

So long Mr. Cooper

It also helps that the gingerbread man didn't come at a high price. All it took was a 2018 third round selection to get the Natty Bohs to pull the trigger. Honestly, Dalton was probably going to be cut due to the influx of David Carr and Nick Foles so it was smart of GM Mike Rhode to get something for nothing. 

The move also signaled the end for Riley Cooper who was released shortly after the trade was finalized. Cooper crashed back to earth after a breakout season in Chip Kelly's high powered offense.     

Bunde Pulls the Plug on Kaepernick

After a down year in Santa Clara will Kaep get his groove back?

It's amazing how quickly one can fall of the proverbial cliff. However that seems to be the status quo in Santa Clara these days. I half expect the next ESPN ticker to read "49ers moving to Los Angeles." What I didn't expect was to see a potential franchise fantasy quarterback being dealt for spare parts.

Fresh off a 2012 season that saw the aforementioned 49ers narrowly losing the Super Bowl, Colin Kaepernick was all the rage and had taken the fantasy world by storm. A dual-threat that help jumpstart many fantasy rosters. Could this guy be Michael Vick 2.0? The team formerly know as Dr. Chim Richald's owned both Aaron Rodgers and Kaepernick, so GM Brett Bunde was faced with a dilemma: which piece do you move on from? Now in March of 2015 both players are set to make their hay on someone else's farm. To be fair, trading Rodgers helped get part of this team's namesake on the roster but moving on from Kaep not two years later seems like a desperate divorce.

In looking at the trade, it seems like it wasn't so much about the players as it was the collateral. Bunde needed someway to move into the first two rounds of the upcoming draft and try to capitalize on this year's wealth of talent. A third next year at this point would be similar to a late 4th rounder in this year's draft making the move necessary, but still unfortunate that a franchise player like Kaepernick commands so little value in the market. 

Will West lead a crowded Cleveland backfield?

Gold Standard needed some depth at quarterback after moving on from Nick Foles. In Acquiring Andre Ellington, the Towson terror Terrance West was made expendable. On his new team West will probably end up at best as a bye week filler, but with the likes of Le'Veon Bell, Jeremy Hill, and a resurgent Lamar Miller makes it a doubtful supposition.

The big questions in this trade will be: which player(s) will exceed expectations? What will the 2015 draft turn in to? It's early in the year, but the moves so far are definitely looking golden for Gold Standard. Keenan & Robs? Bunde, like the rest of us still have some work to do.    

Natty Bohs Fleeced by Gold Standard

Gold Standard GM Jonathan Wachter making a deal

An equal and successful trade should leave both sides feeling like they've won the deal. That being said, I have a hard time believing the Natty Bohs can feel confident in their most recent roster re-shuffling. Every owner is free to make whatever moves they wish, but I just find it puzzling to trade assets with value on the uptick for those who's value may have been inflated by their offensive system.

Ellington helps the Gold Standard backfield

The first move came on the day before NFL Free Agency began with Gold Standard GM Jonathan Wachter trading his 2013 Fantasy Super Bowl Champ QB Nick Foles to the Natty Bohs in exchange for RB Andre Ellington. Right off the bat, the trade looked one-sided as Ellington is at worst a low-end RB2 with tremendous flex potential any given week. Foles on the other hand, has failed to stay healthy and was unable to replicate the historic touchdown prowess last season at the helm of Chip Kelly's offense. With a roster of lottery tickets, Natty Bohs GM Mike Rhode obviously wanted to ensure one of the QBs on his roster delivered the goods and felt Ellington was equally a lottery ticket give his health and usage concerns.

Then, just one day after trade for Foles in fantasy, the former Philly quarterback packed his bags for St. Louis. This is a move you'd never expect to happen and can't really plan for, but in fantasy it's all about minimizing risk. So with that in mind, why make a big trade one day before free agency frenzy begins? One could argue that there was talks of Adrian Peterson landing in the desert (there's still a chance) making Ellington expendable, but as it stands today Wachter was able to improve his shaky backfield by dealing a shaky stock. But that's just the beginning... 

Again before the league year commenced, Rhode made another deal with Wachter to acquire the Peyton Manning-less and Jacksonville-bound Julius Thomas.

Can Julius thrive with the Jags?

This move makes more sense as it was a position of need for the Bohs, even if it means acquiring a player that will see a drop in production. However, Wachter gets back a tremendous asset in Allen Robinson and a second round pick in this year's talent loaded draft. We can sit and debate whether or not Robinson will live up to his hype and draft selection; but moving back fourteen spots this year means Rhode's pick now comes behind four of his other selections. Unless he maneuvers some more, he may not even use the pick.

The only win I can see for Rhode is the two picks in 2016 (A second and third round selection) but given the track record of Wachter's ball club, they are bound to be later in the rounds. I don't want to berate someone for trying to improve their squad, and I know I've pulled some questionable trades in the past, but in my opinion, on paper, Gold Standard wins this one easily.  

Mock Draft 1.0

      The 2015 NFL Draft is still almost two fulls months away and a lot is going to change in that time period. First off, I'll be extremely sleep deprived as Baby #2 will have made his grand entrance by then. Secondly, there will probably be a trade or two that changes the first round of the dynasty draft as no one can sit still. Trying to predict what will happen is like the weather. Everyday you have a 50/50 shot at being right. However, by laying out what I think will happen can either sway other owners into drafting players they otherwise would not or it will help reaffirm drafting of said player. I know this is dangerous waters for me to embark on because it does give the rest of you a glimpse into my war room. But let's face it, I don't pick until the end of round two so guessing what will happen in round one shouldn't impact my decision making.  Before we get started, I am laying out this mock based on talent and where I think players will end up. Like I said earlier, a lot of things will change in the next two months. 

(1.1) Hawkins' TBD Team:
Todd Gurley RB

Take away that ACL injury and Gurley runs his way into the top 5 overall in the upcoming draft. Running backs are being diminished by many NFL teams but Gurley is a talent that cannot be overlooked. There are several teams that could use Gurley as a day one starter but he could also land on a team like Seattle where he could 'redshirt' and rehab that ACL further. There is a concern that he could end up like Marcus Lattimore, but Gurley's injury was far less gruesome than the one Lattimore sustained. He's the closest thing to Beastmode in this draft and Hawkins team is desperate for a bell-cow back. With only one pick in the first three rounds, this one has to count. Gurley or whichever back lands a starting role should be Hawkins' first selection.   

(1.2) Size Does Matter:
Melvin Gordon III RB
You could make a case for wide receiver at this spot, but looking at the roster, someone to tote the rock is the most glaring need. Adrian Peterson is the stalwart and there are nice pieces with Mason, Blount, and Sproles; but MGIII could very well be the first back selected in April. Regardless, Gordon will find himself on a team ready to challenge for lead-back duties. Some say he has a fumbling issue and others are concerned with the lack of success that Badger runningbacks have found in the NFL. I think they are both moot points. The Talent is undeniable and Smarty should make the 'smart' move and draft Gordon. 

(1.3) Average Joe's (from Natty Bohs):
Kevin White WR
Like a fat kid going back for seconds, he doesn't need it. That won't stop the Average Joe's from selecting the 1-year phenom out of West Virginia, Kevin White. He's got everything you want in an outside wide receiver and at the combine he flashed (literally) his wheels as well. I am very concerned that he may prove to be a developmental talent given that he only played one year at the top level of the NCAA and tended to shrink a little against top defenses, but the upside is too good to pass up. The Joe's really could go anywhere with this pick, but I see the top two running backs being gone and the Joe's will gladly gobble up the wide receiver that lands in the best spot. My guess? Mr. White takes Mr. White.

(1.4) Gold Standard (from Launchpad McQuack):
Jay Ajayi RB
Here's one that I think will catch people by surprise. It's no secret that Gold Standard is pretty much set at wide receiver for the next decade. The one gap lies at running back. There is plenty of lottery tickets but the squad lacks a true number one at this point in the game. I think Gold Standard goes after a guy that can do it all and that's the Baby Beastmode from Boise. He may not be Marshawn Lynch just yet but he possesses all the tools to do it. He reminds me a little more of Le'Veon Bell in that he's just as dangerous, powerful, and nimble when he catches the ball out of the backfield. He's hard to take down and is a very patient runner but how will he fair against good competition? Gold Standard needs a bell-cow, they hope they'll find a beast in Ajayi.

(1.5) Milk Steak:
Ameer Abdullah RB
I wrote in a previous article that running backs go fast in the dynasty drafts and I'm not backing down from that sentiment. Other than Marshawn Lynch, Milk Steak needs help in the ball carrier department. Ole has already invested in wide receiver and needs to go running back. Abdullah I imagine will fall a bit in the draft and end up on a great team that will accentuate his skill set. The team that gets this guy will have found a gem, as he's one of the most physical runners you can find for a person his size. He has no red flags other than his smaller than prototype size and a few too many fumbles. That being said, I could see him getting scooped up by one of these teams that has a hole in the backfield. Abdullah will fill it, given the opportunity.  

(1.6) Tom-A-Hank:
Amari Cooper WR
With running backs going faster than iPhones on release day, Tom-A-Hank will get probably the most polished and pro-ready receiver in this draft at six overall. The team's true need is probably running back, but at this spot Cooper is too good to pass up. Last year, Tom-A-Hank reached on running back Kadeem Carey and allowed several extremely talented players to fall much farther than they should. That won't happen again. Cooper will end up leading either a revitalized Oakland offense (Julius Thomas? Randall Cobb?) or St. Louis. He's got the goods to be Offensive ROY given the right situation.

(1.7) Luck Dynasty (from Keenan & Robs):
Jeremy Langford RB

The Wednesday night trade for Brandin Cooks almost seals the notion that Luck Dynasty will be looking at running back (so will the rest of the first round drafters apparently) with their first pick. I think Langford fits the bill for this team. He's drawing criticism right now as a one-dimensional running back, but I don't see it. He showed up in the biggest games (137yds, 3 tds on 18 carries against THE Ohio State) and performed incredibly even when facing a stacked box. He's also a good pass catcher and protector. I think taking a tight end here is a bit of a reach and grabbing Langford will be a fail-safe in case the runners behind Charles and Lacy don't pan out.  

(1.8) Tom-A-Hank (from Average Joe's):
Tevin Coleman RB
After grabbing Amari Cooper two picks earlier, Tom-A-Hank needs to go after a running back. This is just a guess, but I think Coleman will end up on a team that doesn't have a true day one starter on the roster. The Big Ten this year was loaded at running back and probably it's best player (Ezekiel Elliot) isn't draft eligible. You can't look at Coleman's stats and say that this year was a fluke. The combine was a little disappointing but the underwear olympics shouldn't be the deciding factor in drafting a talented player. Coleman has the talent. 

(1.9) Average Joe's (from Luck Dynasty):
TJ Yeldon RB
After scooping up Kevin White earlier, the Average Joe's will look to add the best available player to the roster. Tight End and Quarterback here would be a reach, leaving TJ Yeldon as the best option to bolster the Joe's already potent squad. The Joe's have familiarity with Nick Saban's Alabama boys. They picked Eddie Lacy two years ago and unfortunately cut ties too soon. This time will be different. Yeldon follows the footsteps of Ingram, Richardson, and the aforementioned Lacy as big power-running backs. Here's hoping he has a career more similar to the Latter of those gentlemen.  

(1.10) For Narnia:
Dorial Green-Beckham WR
This is where the run on running backs will start to cause problems. Do you go with need or draft the best available? My feeling is that For Narnia will pick up another talented wide receiver and break the streak of ball carrier dominance in this draft. DGB is raw but has everything you want in a wideout. Size, Hands, and Speed. He didn't have the fastest times in Indy, but he's also been out of football for a year. There are going to be plenty of pass catchers drafted in the actual NFL draft and DGB could end up in a very fantasy friendly environment making him too good to pass up For Narnia. 

(1.11) Gold Standard:
Javorius 'Buck' Allen RB
 Like I said earlier, Gold Standard is set for the next decade at wide receiver. Yes, the options will look tempting and he may try to trade back or select a guy like Devin Smith or DeVante Parker in hopes of a trade, but I think he goes after another running back and plays the numbers game at that position. Buck Allen will probably be drafted as a complementary back but in today's NFL it's almost impossible to find teams willing to give the ball to just one guy. I think even in a time-share Allen will make the most of his opportunities and his skills as a pass catcher makes him very intriguing.

(1.12) Luck Dynasty (from I Vincitori):
Jameis Winston QB
This is where fantasy meets reality as Jay Cutler is currently being shopped by both the Bears and Luck Dynasty. My thinking here is that Winston will be the first quarterback selected and he walks into a great situation in Tampa Bay. Luck Dynasty has a history of drafting rookie gunslingers and then parlaying them into lucrative trades down the road. They did it with Cam Newton and by selecting Famous Jameis, they could be setting themselves up for a great bye-week replacement or future trade bait down the road.      

The Rich get Richer

Buried beneath the avalanche of overnight trades was a little maneuver that truly benefited each recipient. Looking forward to this year's crop of gifted pass catchers, the Average Joe's sent wide receiver Brandin Cooks to Luck Dynasty in exchange for a pair of early round picks. It's still early but it's looking like a true win-win.

The Average Joe's have always made it a priority to acquire as many picks as possible to maximize the chances of drafting the next stud. Now it's debatable that Joe's GM Joseph White dealt away one of his studs in Cooks, but the 9th overall selection could very well yield an equal caliber player. The running back position has always gone quickly in past dynasty drafts leaving plenty of talent to be scooped up. It's also a position that is hard to predict success for. "We went with (Bishop) Sankey last year and it was disappointing." White said. "We are looking to use these picks to bring in talented backs who are ready to start today." Running back is deep in 2015 but Kiper and McShay aren't the only ones who think there could easily be six wide receivers drafted in the first round of April's draft and those who fall to later rounds in reality are still worthy of an early fantasy selection. Running back may be the Average Joe's priority, but the draft will probably dictate otherwise.  

Additional picks are great but are the Joe's losing a valuable asset in a very young wideout? I believe they are. I wasn't alone in thinking Cooks had the potential to be last year's offensive rookie of the year. He was well on pace to do just that until a thumb injury sent him to IR and forced him to sit out the remaining six games. Cooks finished the 2014 season with 53 catches for 550 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 73 yards and one touchdown. However, in 11 games the player who would go on to take the offensive ROY made Cooks look like a total bust. Odell Beckham Jr.'s highlights and stats speak for themselves. ODB's presence is also a big reason White was willing to part with Cooks. Luck Dynasty could have used the pick on whatever wideout fell to him at ninth overall but GM Keegan Warwick likes to mitigate risk when he can. "The draft is a crapshoot, we know what we're getting with Brandin." said Warwick. Cooks joins a rotation that already boasts Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, and Sammy Watkins (plus a bevy of other talented individuals). This move gives tremendous depth to possibly the best roster in the league. Will that translate to a trophy in 2015? or will the Joe's find a diamond in the draft that returns the trophy to their Mantle? We will just have to wait and see.

While You Were Sleeping...

Did you feel that? A shift in the landscape and and end of an era. What started as a swap of picks and mediocre talent quickly escalated into a series of coordinated trades. It was fantasy football's version of the Tet Offensive. Before the dust settled, the team formerly known as the Manning Gravy Train had shipped off it's namesake and in it's place is depth. So where did it start?

March 4th 8:16pm
The Manning Gravy Train acquires Stedman Bailey from Luck Dynasty in exchange for picks. Luck Dynasty GM Keegan Warwick is able to move up eight spots in the 3rd round of this year's draft while the Gravy Train acquires an additional fourth round selection(4.9). In all honesty the move doesn't seem to benefit one side over the other, but having multiple picks in the later rounds of 2015 for Hawkins is probably the biggest takeaway.

March 5th 6:15am
The bombshell. The Gravy Train GM Ronald Hawkins decided it was time to pull the plug on the 5-time MVP Peyton Manning. Paired with Manning is decrepit running back Darren McFadden and in exchange Hawkins acquired Vernon Davis and Reggie Bush.

Manning waves to fans as he leaves the Train behind

"This is looking like Peyton's last year and it makes sense that we cut him loose and improve other weak spots on the roster." said Hawkins.
Manning joins a crowded system in Eric Smart's backfield. He'll more than likely supplant Matt Ryan and give Ryan Tannehill more time to perfect the offense in Miami. The odd man out is looking like Matt Cassel, who after yesterday's news was looking like a decent option. Smart may hold out for a trade but a release is a more likely option.
Now for Hawkins' new toys, Davis is coming off a historic down year in which he was a complete afterthought in Jim Harbaugh's anemic offense. With Harbaugh back in Ann Arbor, the hope is that Jim Tomsula will unleash his quarterback and return Davis to All-Pro form. Bush on the Other hand is a bigger question. He's been released by the Lions and if finding a new home wasn't hard enough he's also been called out by former team mate Darren Sharper who is currently being investigated on rape charges.
"We aren't worried about Reggie at this time." Hawkins said of his new acquisition. A fair argument, but all it takes is a warrant to quickly change that tune.

March 5th 7:31am
Parlayed the pick acquired in the Stedman Bailey trade (3.9) into Roddy White. Hawkins also threw an extra 3rd round pick in the 2016 to seal the deal. On paper this looks like a good move for Hawkins chances in 2015 but you have to wonder about the future. To make room for White, Hawkins served Reggie Wayne his papers. It only makes sense with Manning gone, his one-time favorite receiver also gets sacked.   

In all honesty, moving on from Manning looks to be like the wrong move at this point in the game. Here's a player who is still one of the best options at the position and he's shipped off for spare parts. In my opinion it would have been wiser to let the captain go down with the ship. Yes, the team acquired something for nothing, but I don't believe Bush and Davis offer any long term gains. That being said, Hawkins does own the first pick in this year's draft and he could address any position with it. He would be wise to seek a trade that turns the pick into 2 first round picks and build for the future. But that's what makes this game so much fun to watch and to play. The moves caught most of the league by storm, but will they end up being successful? Time will tell, but to me it really looks like the same result of Tet.

Free Agency 2015: Dominoes Start Fallin'

It's long overdue.
Like Harper Lee's sequel or Pete Rose's Hall of Fame induction, I am finally putting the quill to the parchment... well in digital form. The Dynasty Dispatch is back! Hopefully this year I'll be able to keep up.

      On March 10th at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time the flood gates will open. The 2015 NFL season will officially be open and free agents allowed to sign with the teams of their choosing. Many a players fate will be altered. Some will be enhanced by a new environment, others will whither as a cast off to a wasteland the locals either call the 'Land of Oak' or 'Village of Jackson'. Even with this countdown in place, there has already been plenty of movement. Several owners have sacrificed veterans to the gods of the Cap and now are poised to throw those savings at the player they believe will take their team to Santa Clara in 2016.  

"What happens in REALITY, casts waves throughout FANTASY" 

      In a normal year, this week doesn't carry too much excitement, let alone an out-of-nowhere, league shattering, bewilderment inducing trade. But that's exactly what we got when LeSean McCoy was sent packing for Buffalo in exchange for Kiko Alonso. Now, I will let the national pundits hash out the ramifications of this deal because we have bigger fish to fry. What happens in reality, cast waves throughout fantasy.
      Not even a day after this trade (which is not official until the 10th) was announced, Joseph White of the re-branded Average Joe's sent the heir-apparent Darren Sproles and the ageless wonder Antonio Gates to Size Does Matter in exchange for a second round pick (14th overall). The move gives the Joe's an increased arsenal of picks to either move up in the draft or simply stockpile potential. There is bound to be roster turnover as the Joe's now own three Buffalo 'Backs and this draft has depth at the position.

      For Size Does Matter, it gives the team a stop gap at running back as Sproles will be more than serviceable in Chip Kelly's offense. Is he the long term option? No, but the pick surrendered wouldn't have yielded a better starting option for this year. It also helps that wheelin' and dealin' front office guru Eric Smart made a move to secure a late second round pick on Monday evening from the Natty Bohs in exchange for Derek Carr. Smart only moves back 10 spaces but acquires two serviceable options at two pressing needs. Before the deal can be finalized Smart still needs to make a corresponding roster cut. All signs point to Matt Cassell being given his papers, but like the McCoy/Alonso deal, you never know what can happen.

      The third wheel in this first wave of roster moves are the Natty Bohs. Acquiring Derek Carr may seem insignificant but given the history of RG3 and Andy Dalton, a young gunslinger with upside is a good pickup. Only Mariota and Winston possess the skills to start day one in this year's draft and without a 1st round selection, the Bohs would be forced to go after Hundley or a less favorable choice in the later rounds. Oakland is desolate, but they have money to spend and if Carr gets some weapons he could take a step forward. But in all seriousness, it's Oakland, and that's a very big IF.