My team (for the AFCE league)

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Key points:
~20 man league
~After I filled my starting roster I let autodraft do most of the rest of the work
~I had 2nd pick

This is what I ended up with:

-------------------------------------------------------
ROSTER:
QB - Eli Manning (NYG)
RB - Adrian Peterson (MIN)
RB - Ronnie Brown (MIA)
WR - Anquan Boldin (BAL)
WR - Austin Collie (IND)
WR - Santana Moss (WAS)
TE - Benjamin Watson (CLE)
TE - Aaron Hernandez (NE)
W/R - Brandon Tate (NE)
W/T - Jabar Gaffney (DEN)
K - Dan Carpenter (MIA)
DEF - Minnesota

BENCH:
RB - Jason Snelling (ATL)
WR - Armanti Edwards (CAR)
QB - J.T. O'Sullivan (CIN)
RB - Kolby Smith (DEN)
QB - A.J. Feely (STL)
WR - Antwaan Randle El (PIT)
WR - Reggie Brown (TB)
WR - Michael Clayton (TB)
K - Rian Lindell (BUF)
DEF - Indianapolis
-------------------------------------------------------

Thoughts on how bad autodraft is or how much of an awesome homer I am for snatching Tate and Hernandez?

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Ugh, just did some googling. Looks like half my bench will be lucky to even be on an NFL roster, let alone have a remote chance to play ever.
At least I never, ever have to log in and worry about switching out players on bye weeks as zero is zero no matter who I have starting!

 

[Underdog]

It's a pretty good team considering the size of the league. Everyone's bench is pretty pathetic looking. I was hoping I'd get Tate, as well. I think it's definitely between me and you for the Pats fans division.

Now let's talk about what a bush league piker move it was by the Jester fan commish to change the lineup and scoring rules right before the draft.

 

[NYJetsfan]

It's a pretty good team considering the size of the league. Everyone's bench is pretty pathetic looking. I was hoping I'd get Tate, as well. I think it's definitely between me and you for the Pats fans division.

Now let's talk about what a bush league piker move it was by the Jester fan commish to change the lineup and scoring rules right before the draft.

Ugh, sorry about that. The system logs all changes for everyone to see but you're right, I should have done it sooner than 2 hours before the draft. So yeah, my bad. I've never ran a league this large before, and i think in retrospect, the roster for each team is too big. Nothing I can do about that except remember that for next season. Next season will be the better if I remember all the issues from this one. Plus, there'll be prizes next season and still no cost to participate. Not sure how I'll recruit for next season, but I'm pretty certain that the winner of each division this year will get an auto invite to next year, so good luck.

As for the roster issues this season, I can see some challenges for each manager. Depth was an issue after the first 8 picks, so to improve your bench, you'll have to keep an eye on injuries in the league and draft off waivers players moving in to starting roles. Trades will also be important and your decision to trade in house (with other fans from your div, or outside your div) will be crucial in affecting who you send to represent you in the playoffs. Yes, this will be challenging, but it will definitely separate the men from the boys.

I know this is the first year we've done this, I know it won't be perfect, but I appreciate you guys getting on board. Good luck again!

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

I did see something about rules getting changed, didn't see what got changed though. (with the net being down for 13 of the first 17 days this month I didn't get much time to pay too much attention!)
I think the lack of available players made the first 10 or so rounds of the draft that much more important since you're REALLY relying on those players to produce all year.
I also haven't had a chance to check out other people's teams. I did see the team I'm up against week 1 and I feel pretty good going in to that (until half my starting roster gets hurt in week 4 of the preseason...!)

For next season I'd go something like 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1W/R/T, 1K, 1DEF with a 5 man bench? Maybe also turn it in to 3 or 4 people per division? Also I'm not sure, and it might just be me, but it seems to me that NFL.com's autodraft is ******ed. I've only ever used Yahoo's FF before so I really don't know, but that might be something to think about changing next year too?
Either way I think it'll be fun to play with division rivals and it should promote some fun smack talk and I appreciate you (Jetsfan) putting it together and letting me play!

Idea I just came up with for next year: Have 4 divisions with 4 players in each, one representative from each team in each. So you're fighting fans of different teams to get in to the playoffs instead of fighting against fans of your own team to get in to the playoffs against rival fans. Then if say 4 Bills fans all win their divisions, they get SUPER bragging rights (except their team will still be 4-12... ha!)

 

[NYJetsfan]

I did see something about rules getting changed, didn't see what got changed though. (with the net being down for 13 of the first 17 days this month I didn't get much time to pay too much attention!)
I think the lack of available players made the first 10 or so rounds of the draft that much more important since you're REALLY relying on those players to produce all year.
I also haven't had a chance to check out other people's teams. I did see the team I'm up against week 1 and I feel pretty good going in to that (until half my starting roster gets hurt in week 4 of the preseason...!)

For next season I'd go something like 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1W/R/T, 1K, 1DEF with a 5 man bench? Maybe also turn it in to 3 or 4 people per division? Also I'm not sure, and it might just be me, but it seems to me that NFL.com's autodraft is ******ed. I've only ever used Yahoo's FF before so I really don't know, but that might be something to think about changing next year too?
Either way I think it'll be fun to play with division rivals and it should promote some fun smack talk and I appreciate you (Jetsfan) putting it together and letting me play!

Idea I just came up with for next year: Have 4 divisions with 4 players in each, one representative from each team in each. So you're fighting fans of different teams to get in to the playoffs instead of fighting against fans of your own team to get in to the playoffs against rival fans. Then if say 4 Bills fans all win their divisions, they get SUPER bragging rights (except their team will still be 4-12... ha!)

Actually, the NFL asked me to host this on their site. Seeing how it works now, I'm a bigger fan of the Yahoo setup. I'm going to forward the problems I encounter throughout the season to them and if they're not fixed for next season, I'm going back to Yahoo.

As for your suggestion, I agree. I did not realize in the NFL FF setup that I couldn't adjust match ups. You can in the Yahoo league. My intent was to never have a Patriots fan play a Patriots fan. Someone could argue that if you're the best in your division, you'll come out with the best record no matter who you play, and one Patriots fan will go to the playoffs regardless. But I can see both sides of it. At the end of this season, I'm going to listen to everyones suggestions, and adjust accordingly. This is the guinea pig league

 

[dsmiley]

pretty good?! we almost got the same players

 

[GoodWill]

For the size of the league your team is pretty good. I can't imagine playing in a league with 20 players - that sounds nuts! That is also a huge roster - I agree that it should be trimmed down a bit next year. The nice thing about it is you can pick up just about any joe schmoe that looks like they are about to break out. I'd be watching the waiver wires like a hawk in a league that big. I would be afraid to log out of the league manager in fear of missing someone.

The biggest headscratcher is JT O'Sullivan. You have to bank on Carson Palmer being injured to see him during your QB's bye week. I guess when you consider that every team in the league will draft a backup that leaves 8 owners in your league that have to draft an actual backup QB. But still - JT O'Sullivan? I would think a player that might actually start sometime during the season like Derek Anderson, Sam Bradford, or Byron Leftwich (early on) would be a decent pick if you can't get one of the 32 starters for a backup.

Thanks for sharing your roster though - it's real interesting to see what one would look like in a league that big. Good luck to you! I like the Tate and Hernandez picks btw

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

For the size of the league your team is pretty good. I can't imagine playing in a league with 20 players - that sounds nuts! That is also a huge roster - I agree that it should be trimmed down a bit next year. The nice thing about it is you can pick up just about any joe schmoe that looks like they are about to break out. I'd be watching the waiver wires like a hawk in a league that big. I would be afraid to log out of the league manager in fear of missing someone.

The biggest headscratcher is JT O'Sullivan. You have to bank on Carson Palmer being injured to see him during your QB's bye week. I guess when you consider that every team in the league will draft a backup that leaves 8 owners in your league that have to draft an actual backup QB. But still - JT O'Sullivan? I would think a player that might actually start sometime during the season like Derek Anderson, Sam Bradford, or Byron Leftwich (early on) would be a decent pick if you can't get one of the 32 starters for a backup.

Thanks for sharing your roster though - it's real interesting to see what one would look like in a league that big. Good luck to you! I like the Tate and Hernandez picks btw

After I filled my starting roster I set it to autodraft for my bench.

I think the draft of the starting players will have a far larger role in this league than the usual weekly switching/picking up-dropping of players in normal leagues.

(Not counting the defense spot)
20 players, with 21 player slots = 420 players taken.
There are what, 1QB, 2WR, 2RB, 1TE, 1K per team (on average) that will give you points per game. so 32 teams x 7 players per team = 224 players (11 starting slots on your roster for players, x 20 people = 220 of those point givers active) so 4 people have 1 of the usual point givers on their bench. That's 4 of 200 bench spots taken by a decent player, leaving the next 196 likely point getters taken. Also, generally only 1QB/K will get you points per game, and even if 2TE average *some* points, with 2 required on each roster, that's the top 40 from 32 teams already taken, those won't provide anything. So you have maybe 2-3 more WR per team and 2-3RB per team (being generous) so we'll say 6 x 32 = 192 which means 4 players on people's benches are people who will never, ever, ever score a point.
If there are 4 people who got drafted, who will never, ever score, that means the well is DRY and NO ONE is available to get picked up.
I guess if people are DUMB, they can drop their backup QB after their main QB's bye week and pick up, oh I don't know, David Patten, but I don't see it happening

 

[GoodWill]

Yea I see the predicament there - it just struck me as odd seeing JT O'Sullivan on someone's fantasy team

Out of curiosity though, what would you do if Manning missed any games? It seems like that would all of a sudden be a big blackhole on your roster. At least with WR and RB during the season you have unknowns cracking the roster due to injuries, the starter getting benched, or just someone making the most of a few snaps and getting onto the field more often. You don't see that as often with QBs.

Based on the information you provided you're not the only one that has to deal with that question though, but I am just curious. I almost wish I was playing so I could see for myself! If I had been paying attention I would have joined when the Jets guy was offering initially. Oh well! I'd be interested to hear updates of your exploits throughout the season. Give em hell!

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Yea I see the predicament there - it just struck me as odd seeing JT O'Sullivan on someone's fantasy team

Out of curiosity though, what would you do if Manning missed any games? It seems like that would all of a sudden be a big blackhole on your roster. At least with WR and RB during the season you have unknowns cracking the roster due to injuries, the starter getting benched, or just someone making the most of a few snaps and getting onto the field more often. You don't see that as often with QBs.

Based on the information you provided you're not the only one that has to deal with that question though, but I am just curious. I almost wish I was playing so I could see for myself! If I had been paying attention I would have joined when the Jets guy was offering initially. Oh well! I'd be interested to hear updates of your exploits throughout the season. Give em hell!

If Manning goes down I will be happy, yet sad as I will lose a bunch of points every week. My only hope would be that someone is really stupid! I'm going on leave here soon, so if I get time I might post all the rosters on here to give a better idea of how the league looks, also for my benifit as I haven't looked at anyone's roster other than who I play week 1, and once I get back over here the fantasy league is blocked on this network so I'll at least be able to look and see who what I am up against each week!
I looked at the rule changes and saw that now each completion counts for 1 point so the Giants bye week is going to kill me. Had I known that, with 2nd pick I think I would have gone with a QB instead of Peterson. Oh well!

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

3-0 so far and have scored more points than anyone else! Better than I could have hoped, but with bye weeks starting, I expect to start sucking. Oh well, I represented the forum well for a few weeks!!

 

[GoodWill]

Nice job - how has your roster management been on the waiver wire/free agent pool? Have you picked up anybody interesting that can cover for your players who have their bye? Hope you keep up the good momentum!

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Nice job - how has your roster management been on the waiver wire/free agent pool? Have you picked up anybody interesting that can cover for your players who have their bye? Hope you keep up the good momentum!

I think I picked up Matt Moore in exchange for Sullivan or something? Nothing significant.
I can't look on this computer, but just by checking statlines it looks like every single of my players had horrible games this weekend. Luckily I've got 4 players left, 2 of which should have big games tonight so I've got a chance probably...

 

[Underdog]

Ready for the big Max Hall vs. Matt Moore matchup for 2nd place this week (assuming there's no way the team ahead of us loses to the commish's pitiful 0-7 squad to create a tie for 1st with the winner of our game)?

Catching you on Eli and Boldin's bye week gives me a shot at least. It's been a struggle to cobble together my QB's week to week with Kolb's situation.

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Ready for the big Max Hall vs. Matt Moore matchup for 2nd place this week (assuming there's no way the team ahead of us loses to the commish's pitiful 0-7 squad to create a tie for 1st with the winner of our game)?

Catching you on Eli and Boldin's bye week gives me a shot at least. It's been a struggle to cobble together my QB's week to week with Kolb's situation.

I was real lucky to pick up Moore a few weeks ago (and that he's playing again!) otherwise I'd have to keep Eli in this week!
I think Watson is on a bye and Collie is out too.
I saw you had NE's Def so I shall be rooting for you sir!!!

 

[Underdog]

Ugh, sorry about that. The system logs all changes for everyone to see but you're right, I should have done it sooner than 2 hours before the draft. So yeah, my bad. I've never ran a league this large before, and i think in retrospect, the roster for each team is too big. Nothing I can do about that except remember that for next season. Next season will be the better if I remember all the issues from this one. Plus, there'll be prizes next season and still no cost to participate. Not sure how I'll recruit for next season, but I'm pretty certain that the winner of each division this year will get an auto invite to next year, so good luck.

As for the roster issues this season, I can see some challenges for each manager. Depth was an issue after the first 8 picks, so to improve your bench, you'll have to keep an eye on injuries in the league and draft off waivers players moving in to starting roles. Trades will also be important and your decision to trade in house (with other fans from your div, or outside your div) will be crucial in affecting who you send to represent you in the playoffs. Yes, this will be challenging, but it will definitely separate the men from the boys.

I know this is the first year we've done this, I know it won't be perfect, but I appreciate you guys getting on board. Good luck again!

Can't wait to hear your excuse for that joke of a trade you just made when you're the only one with the power to block it.

 

[Underdog]

Congrats to you, TBOY (assuming Donald Brown doesn't have a game for the ages tonight lol).

With the loss this week and the fact that I've done about all I can to try and deal with my QB situation, I'm probably looking at punting the rest of my season, so I'll gladly move any of my viable players to you or the PMen3X team to try and best position you guys to win in the playoffs. Since that's apparently how things are going to be done in this league.

 

[TBradyOwnsYou]

Congrats to you, TBOY (assuming Donald Brown doesn't have a game for the ages tonight lol).

With the loss this week and the fact that I've done about all I can to try and deal with my QB situation, I'm probably looking at punting the rest of my season, so I'll gladly move any of my viable players to you or the PMen3X team to try and best position you guys to win in the playoffs. Since that's apparently how things are going to be done in this league.

Ya I saw that trade in my email a bit ago... a Jets team trading another Jets team defenses straight up. San Fran for Pitt. Sounds fishy to me! Was it the league manager guy? That'd be pretty weak.

 

[Underdog]

Yes, the league manager is also the owner of the 0-8 team trading the Steeler D to the 1st place team in their division for a middle of the pack D that is on the bye this week (and he doesn't have a 2nd D on his roster besides PIT, to boot). Clear cut case of collusion between the intradivision teams to try and stack one Jester fan team to win it all. Of course it looks perfectly reasonable compared to the even bigger joke of a deal between the 1st place team and the 2-6 next-to-last place team. Roethlisberger and Keller for Caleb Hanie and Leonard Pope. LMAO. Pathetic.

Damn shame such a cool idea for a league has been completely ruined by a complete turd sandwich of a commissioner.