Ask DR U: What Positions Should I Draft?

Slade asks, I have 4th pick in a 12-man  Re-draft league….

-1 PPR (this is BIG for WRs and RBs who catch a lot)
-6 pts passing TDs (this is BIG for all QBs)

So Brian Westbrook or Steven Jackson with my first pick (1.04) is a no brainer. Where I’m running into trouble is trying to figure out what to do in the 2nd (2.09, 21st overall) and 3rd (3.04, 28th overall) rounds.

Here are the players I expect to be available (and who I would consider drafting) at 2.09 and 3.04, based on several mock drafts I’ve done so far:

2nd round
RBs – Jamal Lewis, Maurice Jones-Drew (sometimes), Reggie Bush, Ronnie Brown, Michael Turner,  Brandon Jacobs
WRs – Braylon Edwards (rarely), Andre Johnson, Plaxico Burress, Larry Fitzgerald, Marques Colston, Steve Smith, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson
QB – Tony Romo (sometimes), Drew Brees, Carson Palmer

3rd round
RBs – Reggie Bush, Ronnie Brown, Michael Turner, Brandon Jacobs
WRs – Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson
QB – Drew Brees (rarely), Carson Palmer

I don’t see myself going with a TE with either pick, so that simplifies matters somewhat, leaving me with the following realistic scenarios:

1) RB-RB-WR
2) RB-RB-QB
3) RB-WR-WR
4) RB-WR-QB
5) RB-QB-WR
6) RB-QB-RB

What do you suggest?

DR U: This is a very good question, and it really doesn’t come with one simple answer, but I will do my best to share with you my philosophies.  I believe that the players that are available when it’s your turn to pick help dictate the best formula for that particular draft.

However, since we don’t know who will be available for you, I will let you know that I would suggest going with scenario #1 RB-RB-WR or scenario #4 RB-WR-QB. 

I think the best way to go about it is to do something like this:  Let’s say you take Brian Westbrook in the fist round, the when it is your turn to pick, just tell yourself that the only QB you would take in the 2nd round (assuming Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have been drafted), that wouldn’t fall to you in the 3rd round, is Romo.  So if you go to make your pick in the 2nd round and Romo is there, don’t be shy to take him.

If Romo is gone, then move away from QB and take your shot at getting Palmer or Brees in the third round.   With the hypothetical that Romo is not available for you in the second round, then look to get the best running back or wide receiver available.   If Braylon Edwards is around, feel free to snag him. Maurice Jones-Drew and Reggie Bush are also solid PPR players that might be there for you to pick.

Bottom line, I like to try and get a couple running backs out of my first three picks, but in PPR leagues, the receivers can hang with some of the running backs to where sometimes it would warrant skipping a RB to get a high profile receiver that hauls in a lot of catches. Therefore, just do your best to load your roster with the best possible weapons at QB, WR, and RB. 

If you could come away with Westbrook, Romo, and Houshmandzadeh out of your first three picks, your team would be dangerous!