Madden Fantasy Draft
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by user Dukeboy999
I always talk with friends about who the best players are in Madden, and who would be good picks in a fantasy draft. So I decided to share my latest draft with everyone and see what you all think. I will give a reason for every pick. Keep in mind I am dealing with 31 other teams and a salary cap. Not that it matters but I was the Steelers, and somehow scored the first pick on the first try. (No joke) The point of this article is for you to tell me what you think, and what you would have done better.
Round 1. (1) LT- Tomlinson was about tenth down the list, rated at 98 overall. His cap figure is 7.17 million, but money well spent for a franchise player. The rating can easily be bumped up to 99 in camp, and he is still pretty young at only 26 years old. I could have gone with Manning but that pick requires at least two very good pass catchers. LT can change the game by himself in one play. Great player to build franchise around.
Round 2. (64) Ben Roethlisberger- Do I really need to say all that much? Was a steal at the end of the second round. Is rated 88 overall and has a cap figure of only 1.6 million. Wait it gets better -- he's only 23 years old. Solid guy to run your team and dish out the ball. So far the team is looking young and powerful on offense.
Round 3. (65) Lito Sheppard- Defense Wins Championships so I have to grab a leader on D quick. Sheppard is a guy I can stick on any team's number one wide out and feel good about the matchup. Again it comes cheap at 2.78 million and he's still only 24. Oh ya did I mention he's rated a 91?
Round 4. (128) Reggie Wayne- I had to nab someone for Big Ben to throw to and quick. Wayne is rated at 90 and once again is only 26 years old. Very capable of being a young teams number one man. I feel like someone should call the police because I stole Wayne who has a cap figure of 1.03 million.
Round 5. (129) Andra Davis- Another rock on defense, Davis comes in at a 90 at MLB. Needed a guy to rush the passer and stop the run. Once again I get great talent for a cheap price and hes young. He comes in at 1.43 million and is only 26 years old. Great guy to lead the D.
Round 6. (192) Maurice Williams- This guy was needed at right tackle to give LT something to run behind. Hes solid at 87 overall and is getting paid 3.47 million. Hes only 26 and will be the base of a solid line. To make LT happy a couple picks will be spent on the line.
Round 7. (193) Brian Waters- Another absolute rock I was able to add to the O Line; LT can thank me later. This guy has 5 years in the league at only 28 and comes in at 5.32 million. Money well spent for a left gaurd rated at 93.
Round 8. (256) Troy Polamalu- This has to be a bad Felony right? Getting the best defensive player in the league in the 8th round? Well in 06 hes only rated at 91 but will shore up the secondary big time. Bargain basement at only 1.67 million and 24 years old. This guy will win me at least a couple games in the defensive backfield. BEST PICK SO FAR!
Round 9. (257) Anquan Boldin- Is this game giving me the draft or am I just getting really lucky? Boldin is a very solid 2 option for Ben and comes in at an 88. Another young gun at 24, I found him at the everything must go sale for 750k. If I find anymore deals like this I may just be given the next 5 superbowls.
Round 10. (320) LJ Shelton- One more guy is needed for LT's line. This team will be the best on O Line and weak on D Line. But the rest of the D will pick up the slack. LJ Shelton is just another solid player at LT rated at an 84. Needed to shore up the line before it was to late. This guy is only 29 and comes in at only 1 million even. I keep saving tons of money, leaving a ton open for free agency.
Round 11. (321) Phillip Buchanon- Good enough at cornerback to cover almost any teams' number two guy Buchanon comes in at an 86. Did I mention he was only 24 years old and getting paid 1.94 million? Hopefully I can find one or two good pass rushers. If I can, its game over for opposing pass offenses.
Round 12. (384) Antonio Gates- If I were to save anymore money it wouldn't even be funny. Gives me pretty much the best offense in the league with two solid wideouts and the best young tight end in football. Don't forget LT in the backfield. Gates is already a 96 at only 25 years of age. The cheapest possible gamechanger in the game at 270k. Will give Big Ben a third and final great option to throw to.
Round 13. (385) Kynan Forney- Honestly I have never heard of this guy but he is another rock on a stonewall O Line. Comes in at an 88 for only 1.32 million for the next five years. At right gaurd, he leaves center as the only remaining gap on the line. Only 27 years old.
Round 14. (448) Mike Williams- Didn't turn out well in the pros but is cheap, young, and has a ton of room to imrpove. Rated at 83 is a solid third choice at reciever. He is the youngest on the team so far at 21 years old!!!! Reasonable price at only 1.63 million for a third reciever.
Round 15. (449) Randy Starks- Finally I am able to steal a base for my run stopping D. Won't be a great line by any means but at 85 Starks is a good base. Already has a year in the league at 21 years of age. I dont know how that works but I will take it. Again only getting paid 470k.
Round 16. (512) Anthony Weaver- Finally I grab some sort of pass rusher with Anthony Weaver at an 83. Is getting paid only 930k and is 25. Another young guy with a ton of room to improve. Just needed someone to put some find of pressure on the QB. Plus Im still saving a ton for the next year of free agency.
Round 17. (513) Keith Adams- I had to grab someone at outside linebacker so I got Adams rated at 81. Nothing great but will hold his own on D. Only getting paid 600k and again is only 25 years of age. For the next year or so my linebackers may be a little weak. I will look to imrpove the D with a ton of cap room in free agency.
Round 18. (576) Victor Hobson- He is another must at outside linebacker and at 80 will play along with Adams. Is a solid young player who will hold his ground. Is 25 years old and getting paid 670k. Hopefully will go to about an 83 or 84 after camp. I am still trying to beef up my defense.
Round 19. (577) LeCharles Bentley- The final piece to the offensive line puzzle. I now have the best line possible in this format for LT to run behind. Should let LT run forever and then some. Bentley is 25 and has the best name in the game. Great base for my O Line because hes rated at 91. Did I mention he makes just 1.07 million? A great price for the center of the O Line.
Round 20. (640) Dewayne White- Provides a solid book end to Weaver coming in at an 81. Is once again young at 25 and cheap at 620k. Hopefully White will hold his own on the D Line. It wasn't to bad of a D Line afterall. Hope to add one more DT in round 22.
Round 21. (641) Adam Jones- Many of you probably know him by Pacman and hopefully he does better for me than he did in the NFL last year. Is a solid 22 year old rookie with a rating of 82. Is a good player for the third corner spot. Not to bad a price for a big time rookie at 1.63 million.
Round 22. (704) Shane Graham- Kickers went off the board fast and I grabbed a good one before it was to late. Only an 87 but he was all that was left at that point while still being rated high. You may think it dumb to pay 1.05 million for a 27 year old kicker rated 87 but I think of it as money wll spent. He will hopefully swing a couple close games in my favor.
Round 23. (705) Shane Lechler- I decided to spend to consecutive picks to secure a solid kicking game. No one wins with bad kicking so this was a great pick. Lechler is 29 but is only getting paid 830k. Now for the best part; hes the best in the game with a 99 rating. Should help an average defense with field position.
Round 24. (768) Larry Johnson- To bad this is still last years game because he is now the best back in the league. But I still get him as an 85 and a great great third down back. Only 25 years old and getting paid 1.01 million dollars, what more could you ask for. What a running game I have!!
Round 25. (769) Jeff Ulbrich- In the end I decide to go with the 3-4 defense because of who is left on the board. Jeff Ulbrich gives me a great second Middle Linebacker this late in the draft at 85. Another pretty young bargain at 28 years old and 600k. The less I spend now, the better I get next year.
Round 26. (832) Chris Hope- One of the last pieces to the defensive backfield at free safety. Same old story rated at 81, getting paid 660k and only 24 years old. Another player with great potential and room to improve.
Round 27. (833) Jabar Gaffney- Solid Option for my number four reciever at an 80. Only 24 years of age with a salary of 1.09 million, great guy to have in those 4 wide reciever sets. Most teams don't have a 3rd guy rated at least 80 so a great pick.
Round 28. (896) Travis Fisher- Fisher rounds out the defensive backfield as a fourth corner. Last corner on the board at at least 80 so Im lucky to get him now. 26 years of age with a salary of 690k. I am very comfortable with my starting defense.
Round 29. (897) Chris Simms- A good young backup quarterback with a ton of potential in the future. All he needs to do is get to between 80 and 82 in the next couple years to be a solid backup. At 25 hes getting paid 490k which is a steal for a backup. 76 is a solid rating for now.
Round 30. (960) Travis Laboy- I didn't see that I had two left ends, so I grab this guy for the right side. I can still play one of the left ends on the right, but I need a guy who is supposed to play right who is solid. Only a 77 but is 24 years old and making only 660k.
The first 30 picks are enough for this article as those are most of the important players. Please I would love to see what you think, and what you think I could have done better. 30 of 49 rounds through the draft and I still have 44.7 million in cap room left. I started with 85.4 million. Hope everyone enjoys.
Date
Wed 08/09/06, 10:08 pm EST
