Bracketology: The Worst Draft Pick of All Time (Quarter & Semi Finals)

Here we are, the quarter finals and semis. That's right, a double article!! One step closer to the conclusion of the series, and more importantly the LOC draft. With draft prep coming to a close, it's now time for that final check of the draft board to ensure your pick isn't spoken in the same conversation as any of these. Speaking of which....

Quarter finals

(66) Jamaal Charles, IKNAN 1st Rnd, 2016 v (60) Andre Johnson, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2015
Not much more can be said about the picks at this point, so let's focus on the stats this round. Jamaal Charles posted only 54 yards and 1 TD for 11 points in 3 games in 2016. Yowza. That didn't stop Coach Sherwood from winning the title, but it certainly made the job harder. It was a bad pick, as he was banged up from day 1. 

Andre Johnson however was old. And I mean REAAAAALLY old. I think he was 35 at the start of the season for the colts. He posted 503 yards and 4 TDs in a season that Luck missed large portion of. But that wasn't the only reason for the poor performance, Johnson was on his last legs. He played all 16 games and only did that. To make matters worse, Coach Merritt also selected Hilton two rounds prior. Confusing? Absolutely. Colossal failure? You bet.

Winner: Andre Johnson
Reason: As bad as the Charles pick was...you could smell bust on Johnson - especially since Phil already took Hilton. 


(12) Peyton Manning, The Dream Team 2nd Rnd, 2011 v (7) Miami Dolphins D, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2010
I'm disappointed this match up has come so early, as this is truly final worthy. But one must be chosen. Coach Nathwani selected Manning in the 2nd round of the 2011 season. He played 0 games due to neck surgery in the offseason, so by nature was a huge bust. To make matters worse, he actually started him for at least one game - and also had a complete failure of a season. Hmm.

Dolphins D...what more can you say. A defence in the 4th round is laughable, even though it was the early days of the league. A small - very small - defence is that a few defences came off the board in the next round, but that still does not forgive this. But....at least they played. And Phil did still make the playoffs...

Winner: Peyton Manning
Reason: Few picks have netted as little return as this, even though it was Coach Nathwani's rookie season


(64) Rob Gronkowski, The Tuckfards 1st Rnd, 2016 v (56) Davante Adams, The Dream Team 3rd Rnd, 2015
Ok so this one is tricky. Both were high upside picks here, I'll give them that. Both were risky. Both raised eye brows when they happened. Let's start with Gronkowski. When Gronkowski plays a full season, he is the TE1 without question. He is a transcending talent, capable of giving teams an unmatchable edge. But as always, he needs to be healthy to do that, which something has eluded him many times through his career. He was playing well in the 8 games he did play, but the 3rd overall pick was just so risky to do this in. 

Adams meanwhile was a young receiver on a Green Bay team that needed someone to step up. However he too was injured in '15, but he played through much of it. That wasn't to his benefit, nor Viv's. If he didn't play it would have been far easier to leave him on the bench or even cut bait. But he did play - and he didn't do well, costing Viv a lot of points. It didn't stop Viv making the playoffs, but it certainly stopped them from making any noise in them. 

Winner: Davante Adams
Reason: This may shock you. But look at it this way - Gronkowski put up 72 points in 8 games. Adams put up only 54 in 13. 


(8) Josh Cribbs, The Tuckfards 5th Rnd, 2010 v (17) Larry Fitzgerald, IKNAN 2nd Rnd, 2012
If you can't sense the overwhelming urge to kill myself after having to do this bracket by now, well, I've just pointed it out to you. Don't be surprised if I'm not at the draft...Josh Cribbs. Josh. Cribbs. The Cribber. Why. Why. Why. Why. He posted 292 yards and 1 TD for 35 points. A 5th round pick. Por Que?

Larry Fitzgerald would have been better off playing as QB in 2012 and throwing the ball to himself. The Cardinals were an absolute dumpster fire and couldn't really do anything passing the ball. Fitz posted 798 yards for 4 TDs and was resoundingly disappointing, but at least he went over the 100 point mark with 104 points.

Winner: Josh Cribbs
Reason: Just....just awful.


Semi Finals
I'm not gonna do the write ups for each match up again as you just read them, but here's the match ups and the winner.

(60) Andre Johnson, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2015 v (12) Peyton Manning, The Dream Team 2nd Rnd, 2012

Winner: Peyton Manning
Reason: As god awful as that Johnson pick was, I cannot overlook Manning being drafted with so many red flags surrounding his season. He didn't play a game, it was literally the dictionary definition of pissing a draft pick into the wind. 


(56) Davante Adams, The Dream Team 3rd Rnd, 2015 v (8) Josh Cribbs, The Tuckfards 5th Rnd, 2010

Winner: Josh Cribbs
Reason: Josh Cribbs was a woeful, woeful choice. In a draft where Phil selected DeAngelo Williams, Miami Dolphins D, and Josh Cribbs all in the first 3 rounds, I don't know how he made the playoffs that year. But he's not getting away with all 3 of them missing the final. 

Bracketology: The Worst Draft Pick of All Time (Round 3)

The third round, what a time to be alive. We're right into the thick of it now, and anything from this point on is pure, unadulterated garbage. If these don't signal what you shouldn't do on draft day, I don't know what will. Next episode in the semis will have more detail on the picks.

Third round

(29) Hakeem Nicks, ADRZ 2nd Rnd, 2013 v (66) Jamaal Charles, IKNAN 1st Rnd, 2016
A fine match up here to start of the quarter finals. Nicks was a couple years from fantasy relevance, but had potential to come back to fantasy relevance. Unfortunately that's where it started and finished - potential. He posted 896 scoreless yards in 15 games. Charles on the other hand was injury trodden from the second the clock ticked over to the '16 season. He scored unlike Nicks, but only once, and only got 54 yards, playing 3 games. Ooh boy.

Winner: Jamaal Charles
Reason: Even though Coach Sherwood still won, Charles made it much harder


(50) C.J. Anderson, Forge Flyers 1st Rnd, 2015 v (60) Andre Johnson, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2015
Looking back, there are definitely reasons to explain the dark times in Forge Flyer history. Anderson was one of those reasons, as for a 1st round pick he only returned 110 points over 15 games. Not awful, but not 1st round worthy. Meanwhile, Johnson was a reason for a down year in Tuckfard town, as he looked washed up only getting 74 points. But this was the 2nd receiver for the Colts drafted by Coach Merritt in the first 4 rounds - an error that cannot be overlooked.

Winner: Andre Johnson
Reason: Both were bad an ineffective, but Johnson was a boneheaded pick after taking Hilton


(12) Peyton Manning, The Dream Team 2nd Rnd, 2011 v (31) Lamar Miller, Gridiron Gang 3rd Rnd, 2013
Ay dios mio. Manning didn't play a singe down in 2011, something widely reported to be predicted, as he came off neck surgery to fuse a veritable. I think that's a fair excuse. While that worked out for the Colts as they got Luck the next year, Coach Nathwani got the raw end of the deal in a lost season after blowing this pick. Miller meanwhile was poised to take over the Dolphin back field - but he was a large part of the failure in Coach Stubbs Jrs disappointing 2013.

Winner: Peyton Manning
Reason: All along this has looked like the biggest bust of all


(69) Eddie Lacy, Tom's Tyrants 2nd Rnd, 2016 v (7) Miami Dolphins D, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2010
After 2 great first seasons in the league, Lacy just hasn't been the same. Due to weight issues, ineffectiveness and injury, he just hasn't been a viable option. Coach Barnes was banking on a bounce back. Sadly the bank went bust. But on the other side of the table...yeah. Dolphins D. In the 4th round. It's stunning that even in the early days Coach Merritt made the playoffs after this pick. But he did so....kudos?

Winner: Miami Dolphins D
Reason: Another favourite of the series


(49) Marshawn Lynch, Patistan 1st Rnd, 2015 v (64) Rob Gronkowski, The Tuckfards 1st Rnd, 2016
This pick is gonna draw bragging rights. I mean they should both be ashamed, but the loser will take stick from the other coach for sure. Let the battle commence....Lynch was coming off a heavy workload the year prior, and another year older, was shaping up as a risky first round pick. He torpedoed Coach Allen's first season as head coach in the LOC. Gronkowski also torpedoed The Tuckfards season. But this time, it was a grizzled LOC veteran who made the pick. While Gronkowski was expected to go in the 1st, Coach Merritt took him over guys like David Johnson, Julio Jones, and Odell Beckham. A transgression that cannot be forgotten. 

Winner: Rob Gronkowski
Reason: This was honestly a tough one - I mean that. But ultimately, Pat was a rookie so I can give him a pass. Phil knew he was taking a risk, and unfortunately it backfired.


(56) Davante Adams, The Dream Team 3rd Rnd, 2015 v (39) Reggie Bush, Bear Necessities 3rd Rnd, 2014
Coach Nathwani thought he was striking gold in the 3rd round in 2015. After the Nelson injury, someone had to step up to the Jordy role, and that man was Adams. He certainly stepped into but - but he didn't do much to emulate the great Nelson. Bush on the other hand was a starting running back for the Lions. But late stage Bush was definitely not the same as early stage Bush. He disappointed and hindered Bear Necessities 2014 season. 

Winner: Davante Adams
Reason: Another tough one. Bush was the starting RB, with a proven track record, but hurt and put in a timeshare. Adams was unproven, a high risk pick in the 3rd round even when playing with Aaron Rodgers. 


(14) Ryan Grant, Bear Necessities 4th Rnd, 2011 v (8) Josh Cribbs, The Tuckfards 5th Rnd, 2010
Ooh baby, here's a juicy match up for the quarter finals. Bear Necessities had their first down season in 2011, and part of that was definitely Ryan Grant. He had a down season, though up compared to the first punt Coach Stubbs Sr. took on him the year before. Cribbs though...god this just makes me sick every time I see it. I would like to ask Phil next time I see him why he thought drafting the Browns punt returner in the 4th round was a good idea. Though he's probably blocked it from his memory - which I don't blame him for.

Winner: Josh Cribbs
Reason: Excuse me while I go and add him to my Madden Ultimate Team...not.


(17) Larry Fitzgerald, IKNAN 2nd Rnd, 2012, (78) Jeremy Langford, Cash4Gould 5th Rnd, 2016
And the final match up before the quarters. Larry Fitzgerald was playing with the mighty Kolb, Lindley and Skelton in 2012. They were so good they didn't even need Fitz, so they threw it to other people. Other people on the other team that is. Fitz was lucky to intercept some balls on their way to the corner backs, so he put up a few numbers at least. Langford though looked to be the starting RB for the Bears entering the 2016 season. But injury and ineffectiveness only lead him to be a place holder for the enigmatic rookie Jordan Howard.

Winner: Larry Fitzgerald
Reason: 2nd round is a high price to pay for someone with such a challenging QB situation

EDOTLOCCA's Corner: One Man, No Brain Mock Draft Part II

And welcome to part 2 of my One Man, No Brain Mock Draft! If your weren’t aware that this was part 2, then I recommend you close it and find part 1 now, otherwise this will make little or no sense and you will be wasting your own and my time. If you have already read part 1, crack on!

7. ADRZ

Mike Evans, Marshawn Lynch, Isaiah Crowell, Allen Robinson, Marcus Mariota, Ty Montgomery, Adrian Peterson, Cardinals DEF

This roster is constructed for the red zone, Coach Wells is going big for high upside TD scorers. Showing faith in his former player, Lynch, and veteran, Peterson, to regain their glory days alongside some high octane OFFs and a dual threat QB, ADRZ look to maintain their strong showing in recent seasons.

My Rank: 4th

8. Patistan

Melvin Gordon, Michael Thomas, Demaryius Thomas, Jordan Reed, Bilal Powell, Broncos DEF, Texans DEF, Tevin Coleman

After his hot start last season, Coach Allen will be looking for Gordon to pave the way again. With solid WRs, a high upside TE and an awful lot of sacks on DEF, this team will be dangerous. Without any bench RBs or WRs so far however, this team isn’t as deep as those ranked above it.

My Rank: 5th

9. Cash 4 Gould

Ezekiel Elliot, Dez Bryant, Joe Mixon, Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, Frank Gore, Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr

Where do I start? Coach Gardner preached of how he was to prove his doubters wrong in his sophomore year, well no one anticipated this. Ignoring suspensions or rookie concerns, the team started with huge upside (and a very low floor), and then drafted 4 QBs, yes 4. Could this be an incredible gambit to abuse the new waiver system and prey on QB-needy trade partners? All geniuses are misunderstood, but so are all lunatics.

My Rank: 12th

10. IKSAN

DeMarco Murray, Jordan Howard, Travis Kelce, CJ Anderson, Tyler Eifert, Chiefs DEF, Dan Bailey, Cairo Santos

Either someone has hacked Coach Sherwood’s spreadsheets, or he has decided that the zero RB strategy is now too mainstream and that zero WR is the way forwards. Whatever the reason, the result is a poorly constructed team with gaping holes. The strong (and available) RB core saves them from the wooden spoon.

My Rank: 11th

11. The Dream Team

Devonta Freeman, Jordy Nelson, Carlos Hyde, Drew Brees, Emmanuel Sanders, Mark Ingram, Mike Gillislee, Martavis Bryant

This is more like it! A balanced and well-constructed roster loaded with high floor players in the early rounds and high upside plays in Bryant and Gillislee later on. In fact, this team is almost too safe to be drafted by Coach Nathwani, perhaps it is the difference between runner up and champion?

My Rank: 1st

12. Tanky McTankface

AJ Green, Jay Ajayi, Terrelle Pryor, Alshon Jeffery, Julian Edelman, Davante Adams, Stephon Diggs, DeSean Jackson

This draft was going very well for Coach Merritt, and then he drafted Edelman. A lengthy bout of mocking from the rest of the present coaches clearly dashed any confidence built in the earlier rounds as WR after WR was drafted to try and atone for the mistake. The result is that the very first Tanky McTankface team resembles most Tuckfards teams that went before it, no one understands it.

My Rank: 8th

So there we have it: The Dream Team finally claim their first title, IKSAN leave us wondering whether they really did deserve that name change, we witness the most spectacular sophomore slump since RGIII and Tanky McTankface surprise absolutely no one by providing some very Tuckfard-like draft day head-scratchers. If the season pans out half as well as this, it will be one to remember!

EDOTLOCCA's Corner: One Man, No Brain Mock Draft Part I

Hello! EDOTLOCCA’s Corner has returned with what is slowly becoming a tradition, my One Man, No Brain Mock Draft! For those of you who have not seen (or have chosen to completely ignore) previous incarnations, I will remind you of the thought process here. Basically, I take the NFL.com Average Draft Position (ADP) breakdown for the top 100 players and apply it directly to LOC draft order. Each team is then listed with the players they have (not) drafted, in the order in which they were (not) taken, accompanied by a brief analysis and a ranking. This is no way reflects my opinions of any team or coach, but it is fun to pretend, so without further ado:

1. The Brady Bunch

David Johnson, Leonard Fournette, Brandin Cooks, Andrew Luck, Jimmy Graham, Justin Tucker, Stephen Gostkowski, Doug Martin, Jack Doyle

A strong start to the draft went slightly downhill after the back to back picks of Tucker and Gostkowski, still no team will match this week to week K upside. A strong RB core and potential top 5 QB will struggle to mask the lack of WRs drafted, Coach Nunn will have his work cut in the later rounds.

My Rank: 9th

2. Gridiron Gang

Le’Veon Bell, Tom Brady, Doug Baldwin, Michael Crabtree, Dalvin Cook, Larry Fitzgerald, Vikings DEF, Paul Perkins, Brandon Marshall

A well balanced team that matches high floor WRs with breakout candidate RBs. The threat of The Brady Bunch’s double pick was clearly too much pressure as Coach Stubbs Jr. pounced on the real Brady, but the result is a very consistent looking roster.

My Rank: 2nd

3. Tom’s Tyrants

Antonio Brown, Todd Gurley, Amari Cooper, Sammy Watkins, Spencer Ware, Seahawks DEF, LeGarrette Blount, Jamison Crowder, Stephen Hauschka

If Ware wasn’t injured and Watkins hadn’t just been traded to a (somehow even) worse passing attack in LA, this could be a very strong roster with a lot of upside, can’t help but feel Coach Barnes was a couple of weeks behind the news during this draft however.

My Rank: 7th

4. Forge Flyers

Julio Jones, Rob Gronkowski, Lamar Miller, Greg Olsen, Russell Wilson, Golden Tate, Patriots DEF, Martellus Bennett, Giants DEF

Coach Leach started bold but lost his nerve slightly when he felt the need to back up the injury prone Gronkowski with a second top 5 TE… and then fully bottled it by picking up Bennett in the 8^th round. This is without doubt the most dominant TE core the LOC has ever seen, shame only one a week can be played.

My Rank: 10th

5. Bear Necessities

Odell Beckham, TY Hilton, DeAndre Hopkins, Tyreek Hill, Dak Prescott, Keenan Allen, Eddie Lacy, Ameer Abdullah

One of only 4 coaches who managed to steer clear of the early runs on DEFs and Ks, Coach Stubbs Sr. has gone bold on the zero RB strategy. Drafting 5 WRs in his first 6 picks has resulted in a scary group and bye weeks certainly won’t be an issue here. Taking Lacy and Abdullah has brought some balance to a team that looks like an early contender.

My Rank: 3rd

6. Burdettinators

LeSean McCoy, Aaron Rodgers, Christian McCaffrey, Jarvis Landry, Delanie Walker, Kyle Rudolph, Matt Bryant, Kelvin Benjamin

After starting with a good mixture of high floor and high upside players, Coach Burdett fell off track in the middle rounds by taking a K and a second TE early. Still, the Benjamin pick got this team back on track and any starting roster with McCoy and Rodgers in will be a weekly threat to go off.

My Rank: 6th

Great news! The first EDOTLOCCA’s corner of the season is a two-parter! And even better, neither the best nor worst teams have been revealed yet, so it is worth reading on even if your team was already included! See you on the flipside!

Bracketology: The Worst Draft Pick of All Time (Round 2, Part II)

With only four days to the draft, we'll be leading up to it with an article of this every day to finish it off! ARENT YOU LUCKY. But take warning my friends, use these articles as a guide to avoid taking busts...here we go, the conclusion of the second round!

Round 2 (part II)

(13) Peyton Hillis, Burdettinators 3rd Rnd, 2011 v (49) Marshawn Lynch, Patistan 1st Rnd 2015
Ahh peyton Hillis. His one year of fame got him on a madden cover and also the title of a 3rd round draft pick. This would be the final year any of that happened of course, after he scored a mere 88 points in 10 games. Lynch meanwhile was on his last legs (or so we thought) in '15, being injury plagued an ineffective he only got 68 points in 7 games. Not on did he retire himself, I'm sure the stress nearly retired pat too. 

Winner: Marshawn Lynch
Reason: he really did torpedo Patistan in '15


(64) Rob Gronkowski, The Tuckfards 1st Rnd,2016 v (5) Ryan Grant, Bear Necessities 1st Rnd, 2010
Coach Merritt was recently on the LOC report to defend this pick, and while his reasoning was sound (which is probably the most surprising part of all), he himself even conceded it was reach. It was. And it really inhibited them in the season. Grant meanwhile played all of one game for 4.5 points, but bear Necessities still made it to the playoffs. 

Winner: Rob Gronkowski
Reason: always looked like a risky pick, raised eyebrows from day 1


(56) Davante Adams, The Dream Team  3rd Rnd, 2015 v (73) Thomas Rawls, The Tuckfards 3rd Rnd, 2016
Adams had a raft of targets coming his way in 2015, but unfortunately for Coach Nathwani he didn't catch a great deal of them. It didn't get I'm the way of yet another playoff season for The Dream Team mind. Rawls meanwhile looked like he'd be the starting running back for the seahawks, but injury woes put red flags on him and he didn't do much of anything.

Winner: Davante Adams
Reason: it was a reach, and it backfired 


(39) Reggie Bush, Bear Necessities 3rd Rnd, 2014 v (74) Randall Cobb, Gridiron Gang 3rd Rnd, 2016
Bush has been an electric player whenever on the field in his career, but he had his struggles in '14. An injury troubled season, he only played 11 games for 62 points. Cobb on the other hand was in a high powered Green Bay offence, trying to get back to lofty numbers he posted a few years prior. But some injuries and just general poor play meant he only got 85 points over 13 games.

Winner: Reggie Bush
Reason: worse return


(28) Roddy White, Forge Flyers 2nd Rnd, 2013 v (14) Ryan Grant, Bear Necessities 4th Rnd, 2011
White was one of the reasons for a forge flyer team that struggled. Drafted as a second rounder, he took the back seat in every sense of the word as he only got 87 points over 13 games. Bear necessities meanwhile did the classic double dip on Ryan Grant, nabbing him a few rounds lower than the year prior, getting 14 extra games but only 86 extra points. Ouch.

Winner: Ryan Grant
Reason: I still can't get over the double dip, fool me once....


(8) Josh Cribbs, The Tuckfards 5th Rnd, 2010 v (77) Arian Foster, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2016
A fine match up here, one worthy of the semi finals. But alas, they face in round 2. Josh Cribbs has never been a fantasy asset. Not unless you played in a league that gets point for return yards. As a 5th rounder, he got 35 points in 15 games. Foster on the other hand was essentially running on cheese strings in '16, as through the years his muscles had come to resemble some floppy, rubbery things. After 4 games they further deteriorated to grated cheese and he chose to retire, which was a wise decision.

Winner: Josh Cribbs
Reason: there was at least a small chance with Foster, Cribbs was just a head scratcher 


(17) Larry Fitzgerald, IKNAN 2nd Rnd, 2012 v (35) Montee Ball, Jeff's Seals 1st Rnd, 2014
The mighty fitz wasn't always mighty. Well, maybe he was, but few remember now dyer the Cardinals qb situation was only a few years ago. Think of names like John Skelton, Ryan Lindley, Kevin kolb. Yeah this was more about them than fitz. But Coach Sherwood still drafted him...Montee Ball however was god awful. But, *SPOILER ALERT* I'm kicking it out of the competition now. It was an auto draft pick.

Winner: Larry Fitzgerald
Reason: no auto draft pick deserves the shame of worst draft pick of all time


(78) Jeremy Langford, Cash4Gould 5th Rnd, 2016 v (1) Ryan Mathews, Gridiron Gang 1st Rnd, 2010
And to round out round 2, here we go. Langford was a large reason for Coach Gardner not having more success in his rookie season, but he still did well. Langford always looked a bit miscast as a starter, only getting 54 points in 12 games. Mathews as a rookie on the other hand was effective in parts. Playing 12 games, he only got 118 points, but was instrumental to Gridiron Gang's title season.

Winner: Jeremy Langford
Reason: at least Mathews had his uses...

Bracketology: The Worst Draft Pick of All Time (Round 2, Part I)

Huzzah! We made it through the first round of the worst draft pick of all time with our sanity! In round 1 we got rid of the bad picks, and now in round 2 we're trying to separate the putrid from the mortifying. Get your barf bags ready, let's see who's going to the quarter finals!

Round 2 (Part I)

(29) Hakeem Nicks, ADRZ 2nd Rnd, 2013 v (20) Hakeem Nicks, Gridiron Gang 3rd Rnd, 2012
Well, this seems like a fitting way to start round two. I'm gonna examine these in reverse. So, in 2012, Hakeem Nicks was disappointing. Coming off a great season, a super bowl winning season, injury and ineffectiveness gave him only 13 games and 87 points, torpedoing Gridiron Gang's season in the process. In 2013, Coach Wells thought he'd take a punt on a bounce back, in a HIGHER round. Needless to say it didn't work out, this time he played 15 games, but for only 90 points (though ADRZ still made the playoffs).

Winner: Hakeem Nicks (2013)
Reason: 2012 was a bit of bad luck, 2013 was a riskier pick


(66) Jamaal Charles, IKNAN 1st Rnd, 2016 v (40) C.J. Spiller, Forge Flyers 3rd Rnd, 2014
Here's a juicy match up. One of the recent greats at RB, Jamaal Charles has been a stud RB for many a team in the LOC. But in 2016 he was a bit lame. Entering the season coming off injury with a lot of bad press, he predictably didn't play much (only 3 games in fact). Spiller on the other hand was the biggest c@ck tease on the planet in 2014. After finally turning it on the 2 years prior, he imploded in '14 and was scarcely heard from again. He played 9 games for 47 points that year.

Winner: Jamaal Charles
Reason: The Spiller pick was bad, but he at least had recent form. Charles looked like a injury waiting to happen.


(67) A.J. Green, ADRZ 1st Rnd, 2016 v (50) C.J. Anderson, Forge Flyers 1st Rnd, 2015
A fan favourite of Coach Wells, ADRZ has been a starting fantasy receiver pretty much since he entered the league. In recent years he's had some dings, and a grade 2 hamstring tear ruined a promising '16 season. He got 120 points over 10 games. Anderson meanwhile was tipped to be the starting RB for the Broncos. What actually happened was a committee that plunged another season for troubled Coach Leach. He got 111 points in 15 games.

Winner: C.J. Anderson
Reason: Green was playing great before the injury - C.J. didn't play great at all.


(3) DeAngelo Williams, The Tuckfards 2nd Rnd, 2010 v (60) Andre Johnson, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2015
Williams had a terrific season in 2009, but he was the original glass cannon before Sammy Watkins stole his thunder. Ever the explosive, home run hitter, who could get turf toe by catching a blade of grass (that's a real thing by the way, just saying), he limped to 46 points in 6 games in '10. The Johnson pick meanwhile had the smell of bust from the second Coach Merritt drafted him. Already having Hilton on his roster, Phil drafted the ageing Johnson who looked like he should have been in a retirement home. He slowly shuffled his way to 74 points in 16 games.

Winner: Andre Johnson
Reason: We all know the reason - Phil will just be glad one of his picks has been knocked out


(42) Cordarrelle Patterson, Burdettinators 4th Rnd, 2014 v (12) Peyton Manning, The Dream Team 2nd Rnd, 2011
This is a great match up right here. since Patterson entered the league he had the hype train going choo choo right behind him. '14 looked like the year the stars would align for him and he could have a good season. And he did just that...on special teams. Turns out on offence it wasn't a bullet hype train, more like an early steam train. He got 44 points in 16 games. Manning however was in serious doubt to play the 2011 season. Having neck surgery in the off season, many questioned if his career was over. It was not, and he wound up having a few amazing years. 2011 wasn't one of them though, as he spent the whole time healing his neck.

Winner: Peyton Manning
Reason: Guy didn't play a down AND Viv started him for a game or two


(36) Bishop Sankey, ADRZ 2nd Rnd, 2014 v (31) Lamar Miller, Gridiron Gang 3rd Rnd, 2013
God. Does anyone remember Sankey? You'd be forgiven if you don't he was on the Titans for a year, maybe two before he flamed out. He only got 78 points in 16 games in 2014, not great for a 2nd rounder (however he was auto drafted). Miller meanwhile looked poised to make the leap as a starting RB for the Dolphins. However Daniel Thomas (what's a Daniel Thomas?) had other ideas. Between ineffectiveness and a time share, Miller only got 98 points in 16 games.

Winner: Lamar Miller
Reason: In defence of Nige, his mum's house did get broken into


(69) Eddie Lacy, Tom's Tyrants 2nd Rnd, 2016 v (25) Ray Rice, The Dream Team 1st Rnd, 2013
If you're wondering why Coach Barnes' side struggled in '16 look no further than Fat Eddie. Well, it wasn't all him, but he didn't help. Well he helped by eating cake, but not by getting fantasy points. Not even Weight Watchers points. He's fat, you get the point. He also only got 39 points in 5 games (fun fact, that's also the amount of Weight Watches points he got in the same time frame). Ray Rice meanwhile was coming off of a workload heavy season in which his team won the Super Bowl. He looked sluggish though, as the Ravens had a come down he only got 118 points in 15 games.

Winner: Eddie Lacy
Reason: Constantly teasing, never delivering


(7) Miami Dolphins D, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2010 v (27) Stevan Ridley, TRQB 2nd Rnd, 2013
I still can't get over this. A defence. In the 4th round. Of a 10 team league. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. God damn. I don't know how Phil made playoffs in 2010 with Williams and the Dolphins D compromising 50% of his first 4 picks. The 5th was Josh Cribbs. This pick will face competition, but has to be the favourite right now. Ridley meanwhile was coming off of a good 2012 season, helping Coach Simpson win a title. He did not deliver the same results in '13. In a down season (for both of them0, he only got 118 points in 14 games.

Winner: Miami Dolphins D
Reason: Wut.

Bracketology: The Worst Draft Pick of All Time - Round 1 (Part IV)

And here we are at last! The conclusion of round 1. 4 articles in and we've certainly seen some clangers so far, some avoidable, some predictable, some just bad luck. Anyway, let's see which picks will continue to the next round. 

Round 1 (Part IV)

(28) Roddy White, Forge Flyers 2nd Rnd, 2013 v (41) Victor Cruz, The Tuckfards 3rd Rnd, 2014
Roddy White had been an absolute stalwart for the falcons throughout his lengthy career. However in '13 he was on the wrong side of 30 and playing second fiddle to all star Julio Jones. Mix in some injury woes and   BOOM 87 points in 13 games. Victor Cruz was almost the polar opposite of white at this point (almost). A young emerging player who had seized the no.1 receiver spot for the Giants, he suffered a devastating patella tendon tear in '14, only putting up 40 pints in 6 games.

Winner: Roddy White
Reason: on paper he already looked like the riskier pick


(14) Ryan Grant, Bear Necessities 4th Rnd, 2011 v (75) Sammy Watkins, Burdettinators 3rd Rnd, 2016
After Ryan Grant went down in the very first game of the season for Bear Necessities in '10, Coach Stubbs Sr thought he'd give him a second chance. Guess what happened next? Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice? Well...you know the rest. 92 points I'm 15 games. Watkins meanwhile has been a glass cannon since entering the league. Capable of great things, and destroying fantasy coaches hopes. '16 was no different. He got 55 points in 8 games for Coach Burdett.

Winner: Ryan Grant
Reason: just the fact dave went for him again after what happened before


(76) Jeremy Maclin, Gridiron Gang 4th Rnd, 2016 v (8) Josh Cribbs, The Tuckfards 5th Rnd, 2010
Maclin was coming off one of the best seasons of his career in '16. Despite playing for a vanilla chiefs offence, he was the best receiver. But a groin tear and the emergence of hill took care of that, leading Maclin to 66 points in 12 games. Josh Cribbs meanwhile should never have been near anyone's draft wish list. Much the same as Hester, he was a kick returner through and through but not much more. Not to mention he played for the browns. He stumbled to 35 points in 15 games. 

Winner: Josh Cribbs
Reason: an easy choice really.


(77) Arian Foster, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2016 v (32) Trent Richardson, 2013
Now this is a juicy matchup. The once great Foster makes yet another appearance on this bracket, this time for, you guessed it, The Tuckfards. The writing was on the wall for Foster, but Coach Merritt couldn't resist. Foster didn't score a TD, wound up retiring mid season, and only got 13 points in 4 games. Trent Richardson meanwhile took years off my life. After a promising rookie season, the browns pulled a stunner trading Richardson to the colts. One would have been forgiven for thinking this would have done wonders for his fantasy value. In one of the few every good personnel moves made by the browns in recent years, he only got 102 points in 16 games. 

Winner: Arian Foster
Reason: everyone saw it coming except Phil


(55) Alfred Morris, Patistan 3rd Rnd, 2015 v (17) Larry Fitzgerald, IKNAN 2nd Rnd, 2012
Alfred Morris had been a great player for the Skins through his years, but his final one was not one of them. Constantly usurped by Darrel Young (who?), Morris only got 87 points in 16 games. Fitzgerald had much of the same story, but for the Cards, and he actually bounced back. With a putrid QB situation, Fitz struggled mightily generating 104 points in 16 games. 

Winner: Larry Fitzgerald
Reason: both weren't overly foreseeable, but fitz provided a worse return


(35) Montee Ball, Jeff's Seals 1st Rnd, 2014 v (53) Andrew Luck, Bear Necessities 2nd Rnd, 2015
Here's one of the biggest busts in fantasy history, and one of the most significant recent busts in the NFL. Ball was touted to be the next best thing at RB, but was actually the next best thing at Lidl. 88 points in 16 games. Andrew Luck on the other hand has been fully established as an elite QB doe some time now. Capable of great things when healthy, he's a valuable asset. But unfortunately he caught the lacerated kidney fever in '15, getting 150 points in 7 games. 

Winner: Montee Ball
Reason: I know it was an auto draft, but man that pick sucked


(43) Vernon Davis, Bear Necessities 4th Rnd, 2014 v (78) Jeremy Langford, Cash4Gould 5th Rnd, 2016
Vernon Davis was one of the best TEs in the league. He had a rare combination of athleticism and size. But come 2014 the clock was ticking, and Father Time arrived. Playing 14 games, he only got 37 points I'm '14. Langford meanwhile was the defacto starting RB in Chicago entering the '16 season. He'd shown...averagely in previous performances and, well, that's pretty much all he delivers. He was swiftly ousted by Jordan Howard, and he only went for 54 points in 12 games.

Winner: Jeremy Langford
Reason: while Davis was the worst performer, Langford was more predictable

(1) Ryan Mathews, Gridiron Gang 1st Rnd, 2010 v (79) Eric Decker, Gridiron Gang 5th Rnd, 2016
Gridiron Gang won a title in '10, and Ryan Mathews was a large part of that. But it wasn't all roses. He wasn't overly effective, and missed four games on route to 118 points. Eric Decker on the other hand has been an established red zone threat for years now. He was having a good season for Gang green last year before he went down, only getting 31 points in 3 games.

Winner: Ryan Mathews
Reason: not a good return for a 1st round pick

Bracketology: The Worst Draft Pick of All Time (Round 1, Part III)

We're 50% of the way through round 1 now and teetering closer to the next juicy match ups in the bracket. Let's see who advances from the other side of the pond.

Round 1 (Part III)

(71) Doug Martin, Gridiron Gang 2nd Rnd, 2016 v (13) Peyton Hillis, Burdettinators 3rd Rnd, 2011
Doug Martin had a great rookie season, went to the wilderness, and came back in 2015. He then proceeded to go back to the wilderness in '16, playing 8 games and getting 72 points. Hillis on the other hand sprung onto the scene (and the Madden cover) in 2010, but predictably flamed out for the Browns the year after, getting 88 points in 10 games.

Winner: Peyton Hillis
Reason: No matter how good, you must never trust a brown


(49) Marshawn Lynch, Patistan 1st Rnd 2015 v (33) Steve Smith Sr, Bear Necessities 4th Rnd, 2013
Beast Mode was a true bell cow back, but had a lot of wear on the tires heading into 2015 (not to mention coming off two straight season where the Seahawks made it to the super bowl). Another year older with more work, Lynch fell apart in '15, along with Patistan's hopes and dreams, only playing 7 games for 68 points. Steve Smith however had enjoyed a nice resurgence, but the old man was playing on a bad team in '13 and looked like he was running out of gas. He only got 99 points over 15 games.

Winner: Marshawn Lynch
Reason: Not entirely Pat's fault, someone was gonna take him but there were plenty of red flags


(64) Rob Gronkowski, The Tuckfards 1st Rnd, 2016 v (30) Danny Amendola, Gridiron Gang 2nd Rnd, 2013
Ahh this pick is still fresh in the memory. With guys like Le'Veon Bell, David Johnson, Julio Jones still on the board, Coach Merritt decided to make Gronk his 1st round pick. When healthy, a game changer. Sadly, that's not very often for the big man. He played 8 games for 72 points before going down for the season. Amendola was almost similar - he was poised to take over the Wes Welker role in NE, but an early adductor tear had him playing hurt all season, only for Edelman to swoop in. He got 72 points over 12 games.

Winner: Rob Gronkowski
Reason: Amendola might have performed worse, but the names Coach Merritt left on the board were far better choices


(5) Ryan Grant, Bear Necessities 3rd Rnd, 2010 v (23) Maurice Jones-Drew, 2013
Grant played for a high octane Packers offence where the starting running backs could put up lofty numbers. Unfortunately for Grant and Coach Stubbs Sr, he played exactly one game in 2010 gaining 4.5 points. yikes. MJD on the other hand had an off season hold out in '13, angling for one last pay day. Maybe he should have angled for more training. He played 15 games for 140 points, which isn't befitting of a 1st rounder.

Winner: Ryan Grant
Reason: Injuries can't be predicted, but that's a horrible return on investment


(57) Ameer Abdullah, Tom's Tyrants 3rd Rnd, 2015 v (56) Davante Adams, The Dream Team 3rd Rnd, 2015
A little NFC north battle going on here. Abdullah was a rookie in '15, and even had some talk of being the next Barry Sanders. I'm not sure Sanders ever scored only 92 points playing all 16 games. Adams on the other hand was trying to fill the shoes of the great Jordy Nelson who tore his ACL. Perhaps Nelson on one leg would have been a better option, Adams only had 54.3 points over 13 games.

Winner: Davante Adams
Reason: Both weren't great, but Coach Nathwani did jump the gun to get his guy


(21) Aaron Hernandez, IKNAN 4th Rnd, 2012 v (73) Thomas Rawls, The Tuckfards 3rd Rnd, 2016
Well this is awkward. Sigh. Hernandez was a nice fantasy option once upon a time. Before all the, well, you know. 2012 was not one of those times mind, as he played only 10 games for 78 points. Rawls was coming off a bit of a breakout season though. Although he got nicked up and had an injury in '15, the starting job was his to lose in '16. He won it - but was only on the field for 9 games and 63 points.

Winner: Thomas Rawls
Reason: Reg flags entering the season, and I kinda just want Hernandez out of the picture form here...


(4) Randy Moss, Tom's Tyrants 3rd Rnd, 2010 v (39) Reggie Bush, Bear Necessities 3rd Rnd, 2014
Just 3 years prior to 2010 Moss set the single season receiving TD record. 3 years later he played for 3 separate teams in one season. Despite playing all 16 games, he got only 70 points. The greats can't be great forever. Meanwhile, Bush has had some nice seasons in his time, being an electrifying play maker. But in '14 he had an absolutely shocking 62 points in 11 games.

Winner: Reggie Bush
Reason: Moss was ageing and bad but Bush was banged up and ineffective


(74) Randall Cobb, Gridiron Gang 3rd Rnd, 2016 v (48) Eddie Lacy, Gridiron Gang 1st Rnd, 2015
Both Green Bay players who've had success, both Gridiron Gang picks, both of them sucked in these respective seasons. Randall Cobb just has not put up good numbers since his one breakout year way back when, going for 85 points over 13 games last year. Lacy in '15 on the other hand was eating Chinese food for every meal of the day, on route to 121 points in 15 games. Fun fact - 121 is Eddie Lacy's weight in tonnes.

Winner: Randall Cobb
Reason: Lacy wasn't good, but Cobb was baaaaaad

Bracketology: The Worst Draft Pick of All Time (Round 1, Part II)

We saw our first few contestants leave the bracket a few days ago in the search to find the worst draft pick of all time - let's continue and see who will join the remainers in the second round!

Round 1 (Part II)

(34) Darren McFadden, The Dream Team 5th Rnd, 2013 v (42) Cordarrelle Patterson, Burdettinators 4th Rnd, 2014
By 2013 Darren McFadden's injury list was longer than my Amazon wish list for board games (I like board games ok). While Coach Nathwani did scoop him up in the 5th, he was ineffective over 10 games, only netting 77 points. Patterson meanwhile has rarely looked like a legitimate NFL receiver, and while he was hyped in 2014 he only achieved 44 points playing every game.

Winner: Cordarrelle Patterson
Reason: That production hurts my eyes


(12) Peyton Manning, The Dream Team 2nd Rnd, 2011 v (68) DeAndre Hopkins, Bear Necessities 2nd Rnd, 2016
Peyton Manning was truly one of the kings of fantasy football. However, due to neck problems in the off season of 2011 his season was in doubt. Coach Nathwani was not deterred and took him in the 2nd round. What did he get for his investment? Nada. Hopkins on the other hand was coming off a great season, and no one thought the drop off from Hoyer to Osweiler would be so drastic. He only got 119 points.

Winner: Peyton Manning
Reason: This is another favourite for the worst pick of all time


(6) Sidney Rice, The Tuckfards 3rd Rnd, 2010 v (36) Bishop Sankey, ADRZ 2nd Rnd, 2014
Rice had the best season of his career when playing with Brett Favre, but in 2010 injuries limited him to only 6 games and he only gained 40 points. Sankey meanwhile was on a team in need of RB, in a poor draft in which he highlighted the position. He did not live up to expectation, only getting 78 fantasy points.

Winner: Bishop Sankey
Reason: Rice was an injury risk, but Sankey never looked legit


(31) Lamar Miller, Gridiron Gang 3rd Rnd, 2013 v (59) Carlos Hyde, The Romosexuals 4th Rnd, 2015
Miller was hotly tipped to be an emerging RB in 2013, after he showed very well in limited work the year prior. Despite being the starting RB, he only achieved 98 points over 16 games. Hyde meanwhile was an established starter with a proven track. Injury woes would claim his 2015 season though, he got 70 points over 7 games.

Winner: Lamar Miller
Reason: Played the whole season, only got 28 more points.


(69) Eddie Lacy, Tom's Tyrants 2nd Rnd, 2016 v (38) Ryan Mathews, Gridiron Gang 2nd Rnd, 2014
Lacy's weight problems have been long chronicled in the NFL, and before (go check his tweets out from when he's in college, pure gold). After a disappointing 2015, he promptly followed up with the same in '16, 39 points in 5 games. Mathews too has had his injury problems throughout his career, and he only managed 6 games in '14. But he was playing well before he went down, getting 58 points.

Winner: Eddie Lacy
Reason: He ate all the pies.


(25) Ray Rice, The Dream Team 1st Rnd, 2013 v (51) Dez Bryant, Tom's Tyrants 1st Rnd, 2015
A year after winning the super bowl, Ray Rice had a lot of tread on the tires in '13. And that showed on tape, he was sluggish, only rolling for 118 points over 15 games. Bryant meanwhile is a fierce receiver who isn't afraid to make contact, but this didn't work out too well in '15 as he only played 9 games and gathered 58 points.

Winner: Ray Rice
Reason: A tough call, but if the guy goes down at least you can move on. Coach Nathwani was stuck with Rice all season


(7) Miami Dolphins D, The Tuckfards 4th Rnd, 2010 v (45) Dennis Pitta, Gridiron Gang 4th Rnd, 2014
Woah, here's the Vegas favourite right here. You're reading this right folks, Coach Merritt selected a DEFENCE in round 4 in '10. Now - before you judge too harshly, some were also taken in round 5 and 6. But my goodness, what a waste, I don't even remember them being particularly good. Meanwhile, Pitta only played 3 games in '14 and only had 13 points to show for it. #SadFace.

Winner: Miami Dolphins D
Reason: If you need me to explain this please kindly hand me your letter of resignation


(27) Stevan Ridley, TRQB 2nd Rnd, 2013 v (70) Allen Robinson, Patistan 2nd Rnd, 2016
Stevan Ridley was the Pats power back, and that role usually gobbles up TDs. He helped lead Coach Simpson to a title in 2012, and they went back to the well. Sadly, Ridley did not. He played 14 disappointing games for 118 points. Robinson on the other hand was coming off the best season of his career. Blake Bortles was too, then he decided to faceplant. Robinson pretty much did the same, getting 124 points playing all 16.

Winner: Stevan Ridley
Reason: I'm going to give Pat the benefit of the doubt here, he got Bortled.