I got rattled. Not afraid to admit it. When my turn was approaching in the 11th round of last Thursday's RealTime Fantasy Sports, I was feeling a little giddy about getting Carlos Hyde. With 816 carries over his last three seasons, the 31-year-old Frank Gore is one of this season's most vulnerable starting RBs. Hyde is the heir apparent. We're talking about potentially landing a top 25 RB in the latter stages of the draft. I'm a genius.
Except I wasn't, and I'm not. Hyde was one of my top targets, yet I willfully passed on him in the 9th round (grabbing Jordan Matthews) and 10th round (Ahmad Bradshaw). Would Matthews have been around in the 11th if I hadn't gotten him? Maybe. Bradshaw? Again, maybe. But I wanted Hyde more than both of them, and instead played it a little too cute, assuming he'd still be there in the 11th.
As Kenny Stills, Chris Ivory, and Markus Wheaton went off the board, the only thing between me and Hyde was Neil Parker at FF Locker Room Fantasy Football. And Neil, of course, snatched the highest upside player remaining on the board: Carlos Hyde.
I got rattled. With the one-minute clock ticking down far too quickly, my game plan temporarily fell apart. In hindsight, there were a ton of terrific options available. But I was so sold on drafting a potentially elite backup (boom-or-bust) RB, that my mind couldn't wrap itself around a different strategy.
So in my hazy state, I picked Christine Michael. And a few moments later, I regretted it.
There's nothing inherently wrong with Michael as a later-round flier. But at least a couple things have to happen for him to be anything more than an RB3: Marshawn Lynch has to go down, and Robert Turbin needs to go down or poop out.
Adding insult to injury, Turbin wasn't selected until the 20th and final round. So I essentially wasted an 11th round pick that could have been used to plug an immediate potential hole at Flex like Rueben Randle, to grab a terrific backup QB like Russell Wilson, or to add a solid backup TE like Travis Kelce.
Instead, I'm left with a #5 RB who's currently first in line to be dumped if a better free agent comes along.
That's how NOT to draft. Keep your cool and stick to your strategy. As frustrating as it is when someone takes the guy you're planning to draft next, take a step back and re-evaluate all of your options. Or be prepared for worst-case scenarios: "If so-and-so is taken, I'll be ready to grab this other guy."
I've learned my lesson . . . hopefully for the last time.
Except I wasn't, and I'm not. Hyde was one of my top targets, yet I willfully passed on him in the 9th round (grabbing Jordan Matthews) and 10th round (Ahmad Bradshaw). Would Matthews have been around in the 11th if I hadn't gotten him? Maybe. Bradshaw? Again, maybe. But I wanted Hyde more than both of them, and instead played it a little too cute, assuming he'd still be there in the 11th.
As Kenny Stills, Chris Ivory, and Markus Wheaton went off the board, the only thing between me and Hyde was Neil Parker at FF Locker Room Fantasy Football. And Neil, of course, snatched the highest upside player remaining on the board: Carlos Hyde.
I got rattled. With the one-minute clock ticking down far too quickly, my game plan temporarily fell apart. In hindsight, there were a ton of terrific options available. But I was so sold on drafting a potentially elite backup (boom-or-bust) RB, that my mind couldn't wrap itself around a different strategy.
So in my hazy state, I picked Christine Michael. And a few moments later, I regretted it.
There's nothing inherently wrong with Michael as a later-round flier. But at least a couple things have to happen for him to be anything more than an RB3: Marshawn Lynch has to go down, and Robert Turbin needs to go down or poop out.
Adding insult to injury, Turbin wasn't selected until the 20th and final round. So I essentially wasted an 11th round pick that could have been used to plug an immediate potential hole at Flex like Rueben Randle, to grab a terrific backup QB like Russell Wilson, or to add a solid backup TE like Travis Kelce.
Instead, I'm left with a #5 RB who's currently first in line to be dumped if a better free agent comes along.
That's how NOT to draft. Keep your cool and stick to your strategy. As frustrating as it is when someone takes the guy you're planning to draft next, take a step back and re-evaluate all of your options. Or be prepared for worst-case scenarios: "If so-and-so is taken, I'll be ready to grab this other guy."
I've learned my lesson . . . hopefully for the last time.