This article is part of our Football Draft Kit series.
On Wednesday I drafted my RotoWire Fantasy Football Online Championship team, as part of the big $100,000 contest partnered with the NFFC. Drafting from the wheel in the 12th spot, I knew I wasn't going to get one of the elite running backs going in, so the question was how to adjust accordingly? Do you dip down and take a running back from the next tier to avoid getting squeezed out? Do you take the one first-tier tight end in Jimmy Graham? Or do you go with what I ultimately decided and take two of the top-tier wideouts? This draft and all other NFFC drafts are third-round reversal - meaning that I would have the top pick in the third round, which drove a lot of my strategy. The full results of the draft are below, followed by a breakdown of my picks. Teams 1-6 are on top, followed by teams 7-12.
| Rd | IT HAD TO BE MOO | Have Guts Will Play | Dynasty | 16 Weeks of Pain VI BWAZ | Waverly Vikings | Highlander |
| 1 | Adrian Peterson Min (RB) | Doug Martin TB (RB) | Arian Foster Hou (RB) | Calvin Johnson Det (WR) | Jamaal Charles KC (RB) | Ray Rice Bal (RB) |
| 2 | Andre Johnson Hou (WR) | Chris Johnson Ten (RB) | Maurice Jones-Drew Jac (RB) | Drew Brees NO (QB) | Reggie Bush Det (RB) | Steven Jackson Atl (RB) |
| 3 | Victor Cruz NYG (WR) | Dwayne Bowe KC (WR) | Frank Gore SF (RB) | Roddy White Atl (WR) | Randall Cobb GB (WR) | Aaron Rodgers GB (QB) |
| 4 | Danny |
On Wednesday I drafted my RotoWire Fantasy Football Online Championship team, as part of the big $100,000 contest partnered with the NFFC. Drafting from the wheel in the 12th spot, I knew I wasn't going to get one of the elite running backs going in, so the question was how to adjust accordingly? Do you dip down and take a running back from the next tier to avoid getting squeezed out? Do you take the one first-tier tight end in Jimmy Graham? Or do you go with what I ultimately decided and take two of the top-tier wideouts? This draft and all other NFFC drafts are third-round reversal - meaning that I would have the top pick in the third round, which drove a lot of my strategy. The full results of the draft are below, followed by a breakdown of my picks. Teams 1-6 are on top, followed by teams 7-12.
| Rd | IT HAD TO BE MOO | Have Guts Will Play | Dynasty | 16 Weeks of Pain VI BWAZ | Waverly Vikings | Highlander |
| 1 | Adrian Peterson Min (RB) | Doug Martin TB (RB) | Arian Foster Hou (RB) | Calvin Johnson Det (WR) | Jamaal Charles KC (RB) | Ray Rice Bal (RB) |
| 2 | Andre Johnson Hou (WR) | Chris Johnson Ten (RB) | Maurice Jones-Drew Jac (RB) | Drew Brees NO (QB) | Reggie Bush Det (RB) | Steven Jackson Atl (RB) |
| 3 | Victor Cruz NYG (WR) | Dwayne Bowe KC (WR) | Frank Gore SF (RB) | Roddy White Atl (WR) | Randall Cobb GB (WR) | Aaron Rodgers GB (QB) |
| 4 | Danny Amendola NE (WR) | Marques Colston NO (WR) | Vincent Jackson TB (WR) | David Wilson NYG (RB) | Wes Welker Den (WR) | Reggie Wayne Ind (WR) |
| 5 | Chris Ivory NYJ (RB) | Cecil Shorts Jac (WR) | Matt Ryan Atl (QB) | Antonio Brown Pit (WR) | Jason Witten Dal (TE) | Ahmad Bradshaw Ind (RB) |
| 6 | Eddie Lacy GB (RB) | Giovani Bernard Cin (RB) | Mike Wallace Mia (WR) | James Jones GB (WR) | Miles Austin Dal (WR) | Steve Smith Car (WR) |
| 7 | Andrew Luck Ind (QB) | Josh Gordon Cle (WR) | Lance Moore NO (WR) | DeAngelo Williams Car (RB) | Colin Kaepernick SF (QB) | Tony Gonzalez Atl (TE) |
| 8 | Danny Woodhead SD (RB) | Matthew Stafford Det (QB) | Ben Tate Hou (RB) | Mark Ingram NO (RB) | BenJarvus Green-Ellis Cin (RB) | Michael Floyd Ari (WR) |
| 9 | DeAndre Hopkins Hou (WR) | Greg Olsen Car (TE) | Emmanuel Sanders Pit (WR) | Bryce Brown Phi (RB) | Ronnie Hillman Den (RB) | Vick Ballard Ind (RB) |
| 10 | Martellus Bennett Chi (TE) | Rueben Randle NYG (WR) | Brandon Myers NYG (TE) | Pierre Thomas NO (RB) | Kendall Wright Ten (WR) | Alshon Jeffery Chi (WR) |
| 11 | Carson Palmer Ari (QB) | Johnathan Franklin GB (RB) | Julian Edelman NE (WR) | Kyle Rudolph Min (TE) | Aaron Dobson NE (WR) | Sidney Rice Sea (WR) |
| 12 | Kenbrell Thompkins NE (WR) | Fred Jackson Buf (RB) | Knowshon Moreno Den (RB) | Rod Streater Oak (WR) | Seattle DST Sea (DST) | Jacquizz Rodgers Atl (RB) |
| 13 | Cincinnati DST Cin (DST) | Kendall Hunter SF (RB) | Justin Forsett Jac (RB) | Houston DST Hou (DST) | Dexter McCluster KC (WR) | Andy Dalton Cin (QB) |
| 14 | Cordarrelle Patterson Min (WR) | Tyler Eifert Cin (TE) | Shonn Greene Ten (RB) | Brandon Pettigrew Det (TE) | Josh Freeman TB (QB) | Coby Fleener Ind (TE) |
| 15 | Jacoby Jones Bal (WR) | Chicago DST Chi (DST) | Jermaine Gresham Cin (TE) | Joique Bell Det (RB) | Malcom Floyd SD (WR) | Zac Stacy StL (RB) |
| 16 | Green Bay DST GB (DST) | Joshua Morgan Was (WR) | Philip Rivers SD (QB) | Robert Woods Buf (WR) | Rob Housler Ari (TE) | Kenny Stills NO (WR) |
| 17 | Stephen Gostkowski NE (K) | Lance Dunbar Dal (RB) | Tampa Bay DST TB (DST) | Ryan Tannehill Mia (QB) | Marcel Reece Oak (RB) | New York (N) DST NYG (DST) |
| 18 | Zach Ertz Phi (TE) | Joe Flacco Bal (QB) | Matt Bryant Atl (K) | Phil Dawson SF (K) | Domenik Hixon Car (WR) | Matt Prater Den (K) |
| 19 | Geno Smith NYJ (QB) | Alex Henery Phi (K) | Danario Alexander SD (WR) | New Orleans DST NO (DST) | Dallas DST Dal (DST) | Jeremy Kerley NYJ (WR) |
| 20 | Mike Goodson NYJ (RB) | Donnie Avery KC (WR) | Willis McGahee Den (RB) | LaRod Stephens-Howling Pit (RB) | Sebastian Janikowski Oak (K) | Justin Tucker Bal (K) |
| Team Marcus | Here'sMyNumber CallMeBrady | Glenneration X | Three Dogs | ChiTownFEW | Team Erickson | Rd |
| C.J. Spiller Buf (RB) | Trent Richardson Cle (RB) | LeSean McCoy Phi (RB) | Matt Forte Chi (RB) | A.J. Green Cin (WR) | Dez Bryant Dal (WR) | 1 |
| Alfred Morris Was (RB) | Jimmy Graham NO (TE) | Demaryius Thomas Den (WR) | Marshawn Lynch Sea (RB) | Julio Jones Atl (WR) | Brandon Marshall Chi (WR) | 2 |
| DeMarco Murray Dal (RB) | Darren Sproles NO (RB) | Lamar Miller Mia (RB) | Larry Fitzgerald Ari (WR) | Stevan Ridley NE (RB) | Darren McFadden Oak (RB) | 3 |
| Rob Gronkowski NE (TE) | Jordy Nelson GB (WR) | Peyton Manning Den (QB) | Pierre Garcon Was (WR) | Hakeem Nicks NYG (WR) | Le'Veon Bell Pit (RB) | 4 |
| Torrey Smith Bal (WR) | Tom Brady NE (QB) | Shane Vereen NE (RB) | Eric Decker Den (WR) | DeSean Jackson Phi (WR) | Cam Newton Car (QB) | 5 |
| Ryan Mathews SD (RB) | Stevie Johnson Buf (WR) | Greg Jennings Min (WR) | Vernon Davis SF (TE) | Daryl Richardson StL (RB) | Montee Ball Den (RB) | 6 |
| T.Y. Hilton Ind (WR) | Robert Griffin III Was (QB) | Tavon Austin StL (WR) | Rashard Mendenhall Ari (RB) | Tony Romo Dal (QB) | Anquan Boldin SF (WR) | 7 |
| Kenny Britt Ten (WR) | Justin Blackmon Jac (WR) | Mike Williams TB (WR) | Eli Manning NYG (QB) | Andre Brown NYG (RB) | Vincent Brown SD (WR) | 8 |
| Russell Wilson Sea (QB) | Golden Tate Sea (WR) | Jared Cook StL (TE) | Chris Givens StL (WR) | Bernard Pierce Bal (RB) | LaMichael James SF (RB) | 9 |
| Jermichael Finley GB (TE) | Antonio Gates SD (TE) | Denarius Moore Oak (WR) | Greg Little Cle (WR) | Michael Vick Phi (QB) | Darrius Heyward-Bey Ind (WR) | 10 |
| Brian Hartline Mia (WR) | Percy Harvin Sea (WR) | Jonathan Stewart Car (RB) | Ben Roethlisberger Pit (QB) | Jordan Cameron Cle (TE) | Owen Daniels Hou (TE) | 11 |
| Jay Cutler Chi (QB) | Mikel Leshoure Det (RB) | Ryan Broyles Det (WR) | Michael Bush Chi (RB) | Isaiah Pead StL (RB) | Bilal Powell NYJ (RB) | 12 |
| Knile Davis KC (RB) | Daniel Thomas Mia (RB) | San Francisco DST SF (DST) | Denver DST Den (DST) | Brandon LaFell Car (WR) | Stepfan Taylor Ari (RB) | 13 |
| Sam Bradford StL (QB) | Joseph Randle Dal (RB) | Roy Helu Was (RB) | Christine Michael Sea (RB) | Andre Roberts Ari (WR) | Mohamed Sanu Cin (WR) | 14 |
| Stephen Hill NYJ (WR) | DuJuan Harris GB (RB) | Dustin Keller Mia (TE) | Robert Turbin Sea (RB) | Fred Davis Was (TE) | Alex Smith KC (QB) | 15 |
| New England DST NE (DST) | Jon Baldwin KC (WR) | Markus Wheaton Pit (WR) | Nate Burleson Det (WR) | St. Louis DST StL (DST) | Nick Toon NO (WR) | 16 |
| Arizona DST Ari (DST) | Atlanta DST Atl (DST) | Blair Walsh Min (K) | San Diego DST SD (DST) | Matt Schaub Hou (QB) | Cleveland DST Cle (DST) | 17 |
| Santonio Holmes NYJ (WR) | Greg Zuerlein StL (K) | EJ Manuel Buf (QB) | Dan Bailey Dal (K) | David Akers Det (K) | Marcedes Lewis Jac (TE) | 18 |
| Riley Cooper Phi (WR) | Toby Gerhart Min (RB) | Dion Lewis Cle (RB) | Damaris Johnson Phi (WR) | Chris Polk Phi (RB) | Pittsburgh DST Pit (DST) | 19 |
| Randy Bullock Hou (K) | Baltimore DST Bal (DST) | Latavius Murray Oak (RB) | Heath Miller Pit (TE) | Nick Foles Phi (QB) | Garrett Hartley NO | 20 |
1.12 and 2.1 - Picking 12th (of 12), I went with Dez Bryant and Brandon Marshall with my first two picks, and passed up Marshawn Lynch and Jimmy Graham. This draft is 3RR, so my next pick is 25th. This is one of the reasons I went back-to-back WR's - there should be a reasonable running back returning that's not much worse than Lynch. If my next pick were 36th rather than 25th, it would have been a lot more difficult to pass on Lynch.
3.1 (25 overall) Darren McFadden - My pipe dream of Chris Johnson getting to me came two picks short. I don't like that he lost his LT. But I love how many passes he's going to catch, especially if Flynn isn't going to throw deep. Chose him over Darren Sproles, Lamar Miller and Demarco Murray.
4.12 (48) - Le'Veon Bell - My RB2, I think he's going to get a heavy workload. Opted for him over Ryan Mathews, Montee Ball, Shane Vereen.
5.1 (49) Cam Newton - Toughest pick of the draft for me. Usually I wait, wait, and wait on QBs, & still almost did. If only 2-3 QBs go, mistake. But I didn't trust what was going to come back to me in 22 picks. And I view Newton as a 3rd round talent, though this format dilutes him. The post-script: just Brady and Ryan went in the interim, so arguably taking Newton here was a mistake, unless, of course, Newton is going to be as special as I think he's capable of being.
6.12 - Montee Ball. I still think the job is his over the long run. Daryl Richardson went right before him. Decided against TE here.
7.1 Anquan Boldin - The exact opposite of a sexy pick, but with Crabtree out, Boldin should get a ton of targets.
8.12 Vincent Brown - Should be the WR1 for Rivers this year, though of course he has to stay healthy.
9.1 LaMichael James - I'm all-in on James this year. Loved his late-season work, love the running lanes Kaepernick provides.
10.12 - Darrius Heyward-Bey: I like him in that Colts offense - just heal quickly! In retrospect, taking a third receiver here, albeit in what appears to be a good passing offense, could be a mistake.
11.1 Owen Daniels - Needed a TE, and a few that I like in this range (Gates, Finley, Myers) just went. Went w/ him over Kyle Rudolph.
12.12 Bilal Powell - Chris Ivory is already hurt, and even the worst offense *usually* provides some value from their RB.
13.1 Stepfan Taylor - I tend to think Mendenhall is a flat tire, and Ryan Williams might not make the team. Passed on a WR.
14.12 Mohamed Sanu - Plenty of buzz about Eifert this camp, and it's probably deserved, but really like Sanu's work b4 he got hurt last yr.
15.1 Alex Smith - My favorite QB2 this year. I think it'll work out well with he and Andy Reid.
16.12 Nick Toon - Don't love that Stills got work with the first team, but I wrote at the time that I think Toon is the better player. The latest indicates that this might be in error - that Stills might get the job.
17.1 CLE defense - A lot of slugfests in the AFC North. Wish that the Bengals were still there, but long gone.
18.12 Marcedes Lewis - Once caught 10 TD passes in a season. It's true!
19.1 PIT D/ST - Actually hadn't noticed them available earlier, but how often are they bad? Just have a kicker left.
Last pick - 20.12, Garrett Hartley - Has won the job, at the least he'll have all the extra points.
My Final Roster:
QB: Newton, A. Smith
RB: McFadden, L. Bell, Ball, James, Powell, S. Taylor
WR: Bryant, Marshall, Boldin, V. Brown, DHB, Toon, Sanu
TE: Daniels, M. Lewis
DEF: PIT, CLE
K: Hartley
