Three & Out

As the 2008 fantasy season comes to end, some of us are finding room for our various trophies, while others are wondering just what went wrong?  Often times a team can seem doomed from draft day – that sleeper you thought would explode hibernated the whole winter.  That stud who was supposed to carry your team couldn’t even carry himself off the field and onto the IR.  When gambles and sure bets fail to pay dividends, it is time to hit the waiver wire with a vengeance.  To give an example of how important molding your team from key pickups and trades is, take the example of my team on draft day, and my final roster:

QB – Tony Romo

RB – Brian Westbrook
RB – Edgerrin James

WR – Marques Colston
WR – Patrick Crayton
WR – Nate Burleson

TE – Kellen Winslow

K – Stephen Gostkowski

DEF – Seattle

D – Patrick Willis
DB – Richard Marshall
DL – DeMeco Ryans

——————–

QB – Tony Romo

RB – Brian Westbrook
RB – Thomas Jones

WR – Marques Colston
WR – Eddie Royal
WR – DeSean Jackson

TE – Anthony Fasano

K – Stephen Gostkowski

DEF – Ugh… so many teams.

D – Patrick Willis
DB – Bob Sanders / Quintin Mikell
DL – DeMeco Ryans

Total positions: 12.  Percentage of players from draft day on playoff day: 6/12 = 50% new team between draft day and playoffs.  So half of my team changed over the season.  There isn’t a huge moral to this story except that you shouldn’t be so attached to a draft day pick that you’re unwilling to drop them when they no longer produce, and that if you have a poor draft (or you get “Tom Brady-ed”), things aren’t over.

Starting with the 2009 season, I’ll be tracking my transactions, giving you a look at not only who I think is worth picking up, but who I actually add to my team.  Here’s to an off-season of sniffing out sleepers and salivating over studs.  May your 2009 draft suit you well, and your waiver wire gems shine bright.