Draft Discussion: LaSackslison

Can't say he doesn't look cool.

Look, I get it, I'm not great with early picks - I drafted Antowain Smith in the second round of a draft one year. (I'm not sure I didn't take him in the first round, I'm just giving myself a bit of credit that I likely don't deserve.) I have a hang-up that is understandable, but it is one that can crush a fantasy campaign: I love the sexy pick.

Sexy picks are the ones that make league-mates type something in the chat box. Whether it be an insult or a pompous compliment, it feels good to get a reaction. I remember standing outside a Pine Street apartment and pretending to throw a bottle into a crowd. Why would someone do that? It is scary and nearly criminal, designed to ruin other people's good time...why do it? It's all about getting a reaction. Of course, after so many years of being in a league together we all know that getting a reaction is good for a moment, but likely to ruin every fall Sunday. Still, I love it. For that reason, I put my head down and after over-thinking the life out of my first round pick last year, I chose LaDainian Tomlinson. Coupled with Brandon Jacobs and Larry Johnson, it is no real surprise that I did not win the Mantasy belt.

So during this year's draft, when the magical ESPN bells rang for my sixth round pick (60th overall) and I chose my boy, L.T., I wasn't shocked to see a couple of quips at the bottom of the screen. In many ways, the comments were fairly benign - one was about my love for the man, a fact I cannot deny - and rightfully so. See, this year is Tomlinson's first outside of the first two rounds and anyone who claims to know his value is not being truthful. As I see it, there are two futures for the man, and I will outline them as succinctly as possible:

Future one assumes that the Jets continue to make love to the run over and over, like Fooey at a Connecticut party, and hand off around six hundred times. If this is the case, then by default Tomlinson will have to carry the ball a lot. If he has just two hundred of those carries and a good amount are goal line carries, then reason says that he will be quite valuable and worth the high draft pick.

The other future has Rex Ryan enjoying Shone Green as though he was a deep fried sausage. I watched those playoff performances, I know the dude is beasty and killer, and I know that he is capable of running for large quantities of yards if given the chance. Furthermore, I acknowledge that it is likely that Greene get a majority of the carries. If some of those carries are goal line carries, and the share is 70/30, Tomlinson may not have much more than low-end flex value. Such would be life. I would, once again, have followed my heart into a fantasy football sand trap.

Rex Ryan is gross,
but he is part of my Mantasy.

Still, I have hope. I have hope that there is enough love in the Jet scheme to go around, and even more hope that this is more of a timeshare than people think. I must admit that the origin of this piece comes from a brief exchange with Chandler, who expressed that he thinks I reached and pointed out that I may be leaning too heavily upon Hard Knocks. The man is right - I definitely reached, I actually proudly admit to that, and I do love me some Hard Knocks. On the other hand, Greene and L.T. had 23 and 22 carries in the pre-season, respectively, a stat that could go either way. Here is what happened:


Greene - 92 yards at 4.0/att.
Tomlinson - 129 at 5.9/att.


I point this out not to say that one will be more valuable than the other, but simply to say this: Yes, I reached, and yes, I have blind love LaDainian, but if this is more of a timeshare than expected and Tomlinson is a shadow of his former self, then picking him at 60/61 may yet prove to be good value.


THE MANTASY SCOPE:
(I hope to include this section in many posts, to draw attention to inter-league points of note, rivalries, matchups, etc.)
Chandler and I love a good debate, especially within the realm of sports, and this is no exception. Both of our season will hinge heavily upon the Jets and their ground game. There is a very good chance that we both benefit here and that Greene and L.T. both have good value, but this is one to watch no matter what.