A Money League Draft!

Through somehow (I think its because ESPN botched fantasy baseball at the start and this was part of their way of saying sorry) I was given one free fantasy football team eligible to join a prize eligible league on ESPN. The other night I thought that I was sufficiently prepared to do the live online draft and decided to give it a whirl. Lucky for me, I won the first pick overall, so I should have a pretty legit chance at winning the league.

Here are my picks along with a brief synopsis:

1.) LaDainian Tomlinson (RB) - Owning LT2 the last several years is comparable to owning Gretzky in fantasy hockey during his prime. LT2 is going first overall in any league in which an idiot doesn't have the first pick.
2.) Brandon Jacobs (RB) - This draft was VERY RB heavy at the top (as it should be) and Jacobs was the best back left on the board. People berated me for taking a "back-up" (which Jacobs is not) this early, despite the fact the only other RBs I really had to choose from were Edgerrin James or Deuce McAllister.
3.) Chad Johnson (WR) - With Manning and Palmer already off the board, I took the best WR available to me.
4.) Roy Williams (WR) - I have Williams as a top 5 receiver this year and was very pleased to take him with the last pick in the 4th round.
5.) Cadillac Williams (RB) - Hoping for a bounce back season out of Cadillac. Like his potential upside for my flex spot.
6.) Jerious Norwood (RB) - Warrick Dunn is old, small and recovering from back surgery. Expect Norwood to emerge as the go-to option in a run heavy Falcons offense (because as if they'd let Joey Harrington air it out!).
7.) Adrian Peterson (RB) - Could gamble on a monster rookie season from Peterson with the quantity of solid backs already on my roster.
8.) Tony Romo (QB) - Was REALLY hoping to go Kitna-Branch with my back-to-back picks in 8 and 9 but both went a few picks ahead of me. Decided to settle on Romo at QB since he has so many weapons on offense.
9.) Laveraneus Coles (WR) - While I wouldn't want to rely on Coles as a starter (injury concerns), he should make a decent bye week option and emergency fill in.
10.) Chris Chambers (WR) - Chambers still has big time potential and I couldn't pass on adding so much depth to my receiving corps.
11.) Jake Delhomme (QB) - I like Delhomme if Smith stays healthy. He also gives me a decent option to consider when Romo has a tough match-up or bye.
12.) Mark Clayton (WR) - Another wide receiver that slipped that I couldn't pass up on. Picked after such receivers as Matt Jones, Mike Furrey, Isaac Bruce and DJ Hackett.
13.) Tony Scheffler (TE) - I hadn't planned on grabbing a TE yet but for whatever reason this draft was going TE crazy. 6 teams had back-up TEs drafted by this point. 6! In a 10 team league!!! I acted quick and grabbed the last serviceable TE I had on my draft board before I was left with Visanthe Shiancoe.
14.) LenDale White (RB) - The Scheffler pick cost me Tatum Bell, who I was drooling over at this point. Unfortunately he went a few picks before me and I settled on Keith Tkachuk of running backs (what..with the showing up at training camp fat and out of shape all the time).
15.) Dolphins D/ST - Forced to take a defense and kicker, I settled on a Miami defense that should be okay.
16.) Jason Hanson (K) - On a high powered offense and in a dome. Not bad for the last kicker drafted.

In a humourous moment, one owner declared his genius loudly and boldly with "The Sleeper Pick of The Draft!" and then proceeded to take Priest Holmes, who isn't even going to play football again. This was followed up two picks later with someone trying to outdo the other guy with "No, THIS is the Sleeper Pick of the Draft!" and proceeded to select Duante Culpepper, who, even if healthy, still plays for the Oakland Raiders. The next pick was Brandon Marshall and I quietly thought about how ironic that the true sleeper pick of the draft was made with absolutely no fanfare.