By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

There are an array of different formats of fantasy leagues to get involved with. One format that is amongst the highest in growing on a year to year basis is dynasty leagues. If you participate with the same buddies year in and year out it’s a way to grow that league as a whole. You’re tied with that pool of players for a longer stretch and it causes for an owner to bear more responsibility. Of course some dynasty formats force owners to part ways with a certain amount of players, and a smaller version of a redraft happens in the preceding summer. One of the areas that has been a fun process with dynasty leagues is the rookie draft.

We’ve entered our fifth year in a fantasy football expert league and a big part of our success has came via our selections through the rookie draft. Players such as DeSean Jackson, Steve Slaton, Chaz Schilens, Percy Harvin, and Ted Ginn Jr. have fell into our laps. Just like in regular drafts the difference in your team comes from your middle to late round picks playing above their value.

This years rookie class is more defensive laden than prior years. Teams are tired of offenses overpowering their defense, which was at an all time high last year. Quarterbacks were throwing for 300 yard games at an obscene rate, and backfields were pounding the ball with ease. It truly was an offensive explosion of sorts. Participating in our rookie draft this week we have been looking for a few steals.

With the eighth pick in the first round we were in a tough spot. With every capable rookie running back that will likely see significant carries snatched up we decided to draft a wide receiver. No one really stood out so we went with Andre Roberts. Roberts was a little known receiver in college from Citadel. When an athlete from a small college is able to garner attention in the third round we figured he was worth a look at. Roberts goes to a team with a solid chance at winning the third receiver spot, and learning from one of the best receivers in the game in Larry Fitzgerald. Even though Matt Leinart is the quarterback now, Arizona has been one of the league leaders at getting three receivers involved from a fantasy standpoint.

Steve Breaston is trying to take on a new role as the teams number two wideout now that Anquan Boldin is gone. If he can not handle the role Whisenhunt will likely spread out formations at a higher rate. We’re pretty strong as it is at receiver with our fantasy team so allowing Roberts to grow on our bench is no problem for us. In the second round we also decided to plan for the future and selected Jimmy Clausen. Clausen slid further than imagined in the NFL draft but is in a perfect fit in Carolina. Matt Moore goes in as the teams number one quarterback and will likely remain for the 2010 season. This will allow Clausen to develop properly and be even stronger to surpass Moore once the 2011 training camp begins.

Being successful in a dynasty league causes for different preparation for rookie drafts as you’re usually deep down at the end of rounds. A rookie draft is similar to an NBA team going into their draft with years of success. They usually look overseas or in years past the high school level to recruit talent that they believe will blossom. One player we really liked that was selected in the early second round was Mike Williams of Tampa Bay. He had some issues while at Syracuse that led to him being booted off the team twice. Once was for academic reasons and last year was for conduct off the field. While he was on the field though Williams was a beast and had a stretch where he caught a touchdown in nine straight games. Last year he was basically there lone receiver that produced for quarterback Greg Paulus. That’s right Greg Paulus who was inaccurate as could be and basically through up lobs that Williams hauled in regularly. If you’re looking for a steal in rookie drafts keep an eye on Williams. He went under the radar at Syracuse and was drafted in a prime opportunity with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.