Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Just because the NFL is in the middle of a lockout it 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 Steve Coppola , a member of the Bruno Boys Forum, we bring to you the second of many Fantasy Football 2011 Mock Drafts. This draft will be a 16-round affair based on a points per reception (PPR) scoring league (Pass TDs - 4 points, All Other TDs - 6 points, 25 Yards Passing - 1 point, 10 Yards Rushing/Receiving - 1 point, All Receptions - 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 March 9, 2011. Be sure to check back on a regular basis for updates and feel free to give your opinion in our comments section. **All draft picks were made before the 2011 NFL Draft**

2011 FANTASY FOOTBALL PPR MOCK DRAFT ROUND 8 RESULTS

8.01:  Steve Coppola - Ryan Torain, RB, Washington Redskins —  With quality running backs getting thin I am thrilled to draft Ryan Trorain at No. 85 overall. He comes into the 2011 season as the starting running back and goal-line option in a Mike Shanahan offense that likes to plunger away near the stripe. Torain is also used in the passing game finishing with a 18 receptions and two touchdowns though the air. Even though Torain was late to the scene in 2010, and has a history of getting injured, he still was able to go for over 700 rushing yards in just 10 games. If Torain can stay healthy for a full season I think 1,000 yards on the ground and eight to 10 touchdowns is a reasonable possibility. As my RB3 option, I will take that type of production.

8.02: Bruno Boys Cory - C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills — OK, so Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller disappointed me last year in the Bruno Boys staff league. Yet, I feel good about this pick. Last year Spiller ran for 283 yards on 74 carries, and caught 24 passes for 157 yards with one receiving touchdown. That would be OK if it wasn’t done in 14 games. Simply put Spiller didn’t get the ball enough. Bills coach Chan Gailey has promised to fix that this season, saying he will get Spiller more involved in both the running and passing games. The potential for a terrific player is there, he just needs some more touches. Now I will take the gamble and hope he gets those touches in year two.

8.03: Bruno Boys Brad - Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints — There were a lot of different ways I could go here, as there are plenty of worthy options across the board, however I’ll get my starting tight end out of the way with Graham. He is part of a productive passing game (led by my starting quarterback) and has the physical tools to be a very nice red zone option due to his basketball playing experience in college. Graham’s upside is huge, and I feel like there is not a lot of downside in the second-year pro out of Miami.

8.04: Bruno Boys Jimbo - Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers — I’m passing on a couple other wide receivers I like here for Nelson. Given the way he finished last season, and the decline of Donald Driver, it’s very likely that we will see Nelson starting opposite Greg Jennings on Green Bay next season. Nelson is by no means a PPR machine (although that may change if he is a starter), but he has more upside overall than a couple slightly stronger PPR threats who are also available here.

8.05: Bruno Boys JRonstadt - Julio Jones, WR, Rookie — Rookie receivers are always risky, but Jones is the type of talent who could make an immediate and profound impact as a first-year player. The 6’ 3’‘, 220-pound Jones ran an impressive 4.39 40-yard dash at the scouting combine despite dealing with a fractured foot. As a junior at Alabama, Jones was arguably the top receiver in the country, catching 78 passes for 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games. His production will to some degree hinge on where he lands on draft day, but I expect Jones’ talent to shine through regardless of zip code.

8.06: Bruno Boys Cavigs - Mike Thomas, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars — In a league that starts three wideouts, I like to make sure I have at least five guys who can contribute on a regular basis and with Thomas I continue to build my staple. He won’t be asked to start for me every week, however Thomas emerged as the No. 1 receiving option in Jacksonville last season and with the Jaguars not expected to resign Mike Sims-Walker the third year receiver should see a rise in production. Thomas caught 66 receptions a year ago and I fully expect him to approach the 80 range in 2011.

8.07: Bruno Boys James - Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars — Now that I have my quarterback, three running backs and three receivers, it’s time for me to grab my tight end and I couldn’t be happier to see Marcedes Lewis available at 8.07. Although it’s never fun having a Jaguar on your team not named Maurice Jones-Drew, I think Lewis is the second best one to own as he really came into his own in 2010. He had 58 catches on 88 targets for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns and was a big red zone threat with his huge 6’6”, 275-pound frame. Hearing the Mike Sims-Walker is on the outs and Mike Thomas is more of a possession guy, I think Lewis is going to be able to repeat last years production.

8.08: Bruno Boys Lane - Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills — Jackson is one of the league’s most unappreciated backs, finishing second in Pro Football Focus’ “Elusive Rating” due largely to his No. 2 ranking in broken tackles this season. He is of course mired by his offense but he will make a fine RB3 in a PPR format and I am not convinced that C.J. Spiller cuts much into his production in 2011.

8.09: Bruno Boys Ryan - Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis Colts — I took Addai as my RB3 option in the previous mock draft, and I am doing so again, because I believe he will be the Indianapolis Colts running back to start the year. He was sorely missed last season, which leads me to believe the Colts are going to bring him back. Addai has scored 31 touchdowns over the past four years. If Addai can stay healthy (a big if) he can have a really productive season, especially around the goal line.

8.10: Bruno Boys Kyle - Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins — For a starting tight end in a PPR league, you can do a lot worse than grab the guy who was No. 15 in the NFL in receptions in 2010 (he had 77). Cooley also had 849 receiving yards, which put him in the top-30 of the league, however managed just three touchdowns. If this was a standard league, I might consider Rob Gronkowski or Dustin Keller instead, but the fact that Cooley will see consistent targets makes him the better choice in a PPR league.

8.11: Bruno Boys Allie - Davone Bess, WR, Miami Dolphins — Looking to build depth at the receiver position with this pick and I like what Davone Bess has to offer as a WR4, especially in a PPR league. Bess was one of the most consistent players in the Dolphins offense in 2010, catching 79 balls for 820 yards and five touchdowns. Pretty remarkable numbers when you consider the season-long struggles of quarterback Chad Henne and the fact that Bess played opposite Brandon Marshall. The fourth-year wideout has the potential to deliver bigger and better numbers–heck maybe even have a breakout season–provided Miami gets its offense back on track in 2011.

8.12: Bruno Boys Rich - Danny Amendola, WR, St. Louis Rams — I was hoping to go Amendola and Davone Bess back to back with these two pick, but Allie wisely snapped Bess up just before me. In my opinion, Amendola is a PPR dream. A “poor mans” Wes Welker who had 85 catches in 2010 and clearly has a nice rapport with quarterback Sam Bradford. He’s a safe pick because of the receptions but he also has upside. As Bradford enters his second year in the league he now has a year of experience under his belt and he and Amendola have a chance to find more scoring opportunities in 2011

 
PPR ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  (click to view)

STANDARD ROUND-BY-ROUND RESULTS:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  |  16

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