Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Just because the 2010 NFL season recently came to an end doesn’t mean that you can’t start preparing for the upcoming fantasy football season. Comprised of 11 members of the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Staff and guest draftee Jim Day from Fantasy Football Whiz we bring to you the first of many Fantasy Football 2011 Mock Drafts. This draft will be a 16-round affair based on a standard scoring league (Pass TDs - 4 points, All Other TDs - 6 points, 25 Yards Passing - 1 point, 10 Yards Rushing/Receiving - 1 point). Outside of having to field a starting lineup made up of 1 QB, 2 RBs, 3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 K, and 1 D/ST, owners are free to fill out their rosters any way they like. 

Commentary after each pick is provided by the Bruno Boys staff member who made that pick. The draft started on February 10, 2011. Be sure to check back on a regular basis for updates and feel free to give your opinion in our comments section.

2011 FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT ROUND 3 RESULTS

3.01: Bruno Boys Jimbo -  Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints — I decided to grab a stud quarterback now since they’ll all most likely be gone when I pick again at 4.12. While Drew Brees had more interceptions than his 2010 owners would have liked, he still produced his typical passing totals last season. The Saints appeared to suffer a bit from the Super Bowl hangover, and rumors are swirling that Brees was playing hurt for most of last season. That said, 2011 should be a fresh start for Brees and one of the hottest offenses in the NFL. I also thought about grabbing my second running back in this spot, but I decided to wait since none of the backs available really jumped out at me. I’d rather take a sure-thing signal caller now and take my chances with my RB2 later.

3.02: Bruno Boys Brad - Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs — I thought about going for another running back at this spot, however I feel the wide receiver crop gets thin fairly soon.  I don’t pick again until No.47 overall, and all the top fantasy options at wide receiver should be gone by then. Bowe makes for a fairly risky pick, yet I think his upside is worth it as things seemed to finally click for him last season.  Despite what reports are indicating, I don’t see the Chiefs’ offense changing much with head coach Todd Haley taking over play-calling from the departed Charlie Weis, and Bowe is clearly the team’s best receiver.

3.03: Bruno Boys JRonstadt - Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers — Was torn between Wallace and Reggie Wayne here, but I decided to go with youth and upside over experience and consistency. Wallace was a one man wrecking machine in 2010, turning a mere 60 receptions into 1,257 yards and 10 touchdowns. As gaudy as Wallace’s season totals were, they would have been even better had he not been catching passes from Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch during the season’s opening four games. Here’s to hoping that the “new” Big Ben is here to stay.

3.04: Bruno Boys Cavigs - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos — There were a lot of different potential routes to go with this pick. I could have snagged Philip Rivers and secured myself a true QB1, or went with Reggie Wayne as my WR2, alongside Hakeem Nicks. However, at the end of the day I felt it was best to secure myself a top of the line RB2 in Moreno. Plus, new head coach John Fox favors a heavy rushing attack and a healthy Moreno could be in line for a breakout season. He showed signs of super-stardom from Week’s 10-14 last season and there is no doubt in my mind that he builds on his 1,151 total yards and eight touchdowns…even if Tim Tebow vultures some at the goal-line.

3.05: Bruno Boys Cory - Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers — Well this was a pretty obvious one for me. There are still some good running backs left, however I kind of felt like none of the choices warranted a selection at 3.05. Solution, take the best available quarterback, and in my opinion the last elite one. Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers proved last year he didn’t need his top receiver or left tackle to post huge numbers. The scary part is, I think he’s still getting better. I see room for growth in his numbers, and believe he’s in line for a career year in 2010.

3.06: FF Whiz - Jim Day - Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants — There is a chance that the Giants don’t keep Bradshaw, who will be a free-agent, but I just don’t see that happening. Even in a non-ppr league he has good value. Bradshaw had 1,500 total yards in 2010 to go along with eight scores. If the Giants do choose to let him go, he will be a starter for someone else. Of course he is an injury risk, but we also know Bradshaw is not afraid to play through pain. If healthy, in my opinion Bradshaw has a 1,700 total yard ceiling and I consider him a solid Round 3 selection.

3.07: Bruno Boys James - Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts — I already have my two running backs in place and now I am looking for best available wide receiver and to me, Reggie Wayne fits that bill. I know he isn’t getting younger, however turning 33 doesn’t scare me. Facing constant double teams, Wayne finished second in the NFL with 111 receptions and trailed only Roddy White and Larry Fitzgerald in targets. I feel the Colts will be better with Dallas Clark and Austin Collie returning and Wayne should free up a bit more next year. Look for this to lead to an increase in touchdowns. I was between Larry Fitzgerald and Reggie Wayne here, however decided to go with the wideout who benefits from Peyton Manning throwing him the ball.

3.08: Bruno Boys Rich - Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos — With my running back spots locked up and no available quarterback worthy of a pick at 3.08, it was time to turn to the wide receiver position. Larry Fitzgerald was staring me in the face after Reggie Wayne was taken, however I couldn’t pass on grabbing the No.1 scoring wide receiver in 2010. Lloyd scored 10 plus fantasy points in 11 games last season and he showed an excellent rapport with quarterback Tim Tebow over the last three games. I like Lloyd’s prospects for 2011.

3.09: Bruno Boys Ryan - LeGarette Blount, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Larry Fitzgerald is tempting, but I’m in need of a second running back and I think Blount has real nice upside going into next season. Blount topped 1,000 yards and had six touchdowns despite hardly playing in the first five games of the season. His five yards per carry average was seventh in the NFL in 2010. Blount also appears to be the unquestioned lead back for Tampa Bay due to the ineffectiveness of Cadillac Williams. Blount’s physical running style makes him an injury risk, howevert I think the risk is worth the big reward potential.

3.10: Bruno Boys Lane - Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys — Agonized over a couple picks here but eventually went with the guy who I feel is unappreciated in Miles Austin. With Tony Romo healthy again you have to like Austin’s chances of putting together monster numbers once again and he makes for a solid WR2 alongside Calvin Johnson.

3.11: Bruno Boys Kyle - Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers — Despite not living up to the Round 1 expectations, when fully healthy, Mathews had a decent rookie season. He scored seven times on the ground and rushed for nearly 700 yards. Look for him to enter next season as the primary ball carrier and you can expect a spike in his 2011 production.

3.12: Bruno Boys Allie - Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals — There is no way that Larry Fitzgerald is the 11th best receiver in the NFL, but given the quarterback situation in Arizona, my fellow BBers bypassed him in favor of other (including some less proven, less talented) wideouts. While they might not have had the stomach to draft him, I’ll take the gamble that the Cardinals resolve the signal caller situation during the offseason. Fitzgerald is in the final year of his contract, and if Arizona has any hopes of re-signing him to a long-term deal they can’t do it with the likes of Derek Anderson, Max Hall, or John Skelton under center. Although fantasy owners were disappointed in his 2010 production (six touchdowns, down from 13 in 2009), he still caught 90 receptions for 1,137 yards with the aforementioned terrible trio throwing him the ball. You won’t find a receiver who works harder than Fitzgerald to be the best and I consider it a bargain to select him with the final pick of Round 3.

 
ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  |  16    (click to view)

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