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Re: Madden Fantasy Draft Strategy
SPEED, SPEED, SPEED & DEPTH...
* Depending on how many user controlled teams are drafting strategies will change, but here are a few things that help me fill out an offense when drafting against three other guys and the rest CPU:
QUARTERBACKS: Unless you need a top flight QB (Brees, Brady or Manning), you can wait a few rounds to get one. The high to mid 80s QBs will be around for quite some time. If I miss on those, I'll wait really late and grab a high 70s guy like Jason Campbell or a veteran like Pennington and try to get younger via trades.
RUNNING BACK: I love the RBs, so I try to go speed back as early as possible (Johnson, Peterson are obviously preferences). But this really is the deepest position in the game and you should treat it as such. Take a top Running back early and back him up before round 8. I like to have three running backs that I would be happy with because I run a lot of no huddle and I always want fresh legs. Last Draft I went Chris Johnson, backed up by Reggie Bush and Ahmad Bradshaw, with LeRon McLain at FB... Four guys that could all carry the load if I needed them.
WIDE RECEIVER: Don't worry about the big guys (Moss, Fitzgerald, Johnson etc.) They will go first round and aren't really worth your time. The mid level receivers can offer you as much value if you know what to look for. Once the big names are gone, go for specialists. Grab Miles Austin who is a great size / speed combo and place a bunch of low 80s, high 70s around him. Ex: Percy Harvin is a 78, but untouchably fast. Michael Crabtree is a good posession receiver. Want more speed? Go with Hester a little early, he's a high 70s guy but will drive other users crazy. After that I'm looking for one of two things, a big guy to put in on goal line that can jump, or someone to return kicks (not a problem if you have Hester/Harvin or Bush).
TIGHT END: Fill out your defense before you even think about a tight end. The top guys like Gates will go way too early and the mid level guys will fly off the board while you fill out your receivers and backs. So, this is a good chance to go Defense. Think Corners, Ends and Outside Linebackers first and foremost. My strategy is always speed on defense. It can make up for missing the highest rated players. Go get you some speed, especially at corner (I want three CBs with speed over 93) and grab those Linebackers and ends that can recover if you blow coverage. When you are finally ready to go back to tight ends, grab a guy like Martellus Bennett. He's a 74, but has nice speed and is a huge target who blocks well. Guys like Joey Haynos, JerMichael Finley and Anthony Fasano will hang around for a while here too.
SPECIAL PLAYERS TO GRAB:
(RB) REGGIE BUSH. The Madden programmers must sit around watching YouTube highlights of USC all day. Bush is only a 78 I think as an RB, but if you use him right he can be the best player on your team. If you sub him in at WR his rating jumps to 87-88. At his size with that speed, he makes an untouchable slot receiver. Plus, who else can run your Wildcat like Bush?
(QB) JOSH JOHNSON. While the other guys in your draft are fighting over backup quarterbacks like the Vicks, Tebows and Seneca Wallaces of the world, wait late and dip down to the high 60s. Grab Josh Johnson. His speed is 88 and from a backup, all you need is a guy who can get out of trouble and throw the short pass because if you have a backup in at QB, you obviously are having problems with the blitz.
(S) TAYLOR MAYS. Again a USC guy from the Madden lovers. He's a rookie with a 70 overall, but in terms of speed, he can't be beat at safety. If you wait late on defense, this is a guy to target (and all the guys like him). He may be deficient in some areas, but he'll catch anyone who gets into the secondary.
(RB) MICHAEL BUSH. One more guy to play out of position. He is not a good option for your running game, unless you need a goal line, pass catching FB option. He can bust it up the gut with the best FBs in the game. Put him at FB and watch his ratings jump up to the mid 80s. Just like Reggie Bush, you just have to know how to use him.
(WR) Mario Manningham He's only a 76 overall, but this is what I was talking about with specialists. He's good enough to contribute at wR, but his real knack comes in the red zone. With a jump rating of 95 and decent hands, it is a wide receiver like this you put on a fade to the corner of the endzone. Think "poor man's Vincent Jackson."
That is just my take on a couple of things.... hope it helps. I'm sure there are others with much deeper thoughts on the subject. Remember, your play style should dictate your picks, not the best player on the board.
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"I'm tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok." – Shaquille O'Neal
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08-20-2010, 12:37 PM
