Fantasy Football Rosters

OK, maybe you've already had your fantasy draft, maybe you haven't. Either way, you should consider your draft strategy for the players on the -- a team that has had lots of fantasy football success in the past few years.We'll assume the most common fantasy league settings here -- 12 teams, no points per reception and team defense points.So who's worth drafting and when should you target them?Let's start with quarterback.Peyton Manning should have another above-average statistical year in 2006 but I don't think he'll be the No. 1 fantasy QB 4 Brett Favre White jersey
this season. Top five? Definitely. Last year he ranked fourth among NFL quarterbacks as his fantasy numbers came back to Earth following that terrific 2004 season.Unlike some, I don't think the loss of Edgerrin James means the team will go back to the pass-happy ways of that season. I tend to believe that as the Colts' defense improved last year, the offense didn't have to step on the gas pedal and pile on points as much. Head coach Tony Dungy's growing confidence in the defense's ability to contain the opponent has yielded a more conservative offensive strategy. And, though the team lost a couple of key starters, the 2006 defense should be dominant again. The core players (Dwight Freeney, Cato June, Bob Sanders) are young and All-Pro-caliber.Advice: Pass on Manning unless he's available in the third or fourth round -- which is very unlikely. Stock up on running backs early instead and get a bargain passer after round five (Mark Bulger, Daunte Culpepper, Donovan McNabb, Drew Bledsoe).Speaking of running backs, let's examine the Colts' big two. With James Mungro lost for the year due to injury, it's looking very much like Dungy will go with a platoon of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai to start the season.But the 5-foot-9, 203-pound Rhodes was used last year more in a traditional third-down role and has only averaged 3.1 carries per game the past three years. Combine that with his history of injuries and my advice is to pass on the 27-year-old this year -- unless you find yourself in need of a third starting running back in round six.Joseph Addai is one of many rookie running backs this preseason getting lots of love in fantasy drafts, generally being taken between rounds five and seven, before Rhodes.Although the Colts haven't had success getting either of their top running backs on track in their first three preseason games, Addai has already gained the confidence of the coaching staff in only four months with his new team.Advice: Draft Addai as third or fourth RB based on his potential. I think the Colts envisioned him as a starter when they used their only first-round draft pick on the former LSU Tiger and it's likely he'll wrestle the role of every-down back from Rhodes sometime this season.Moving on to receivers, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne should each have another very good year in '06 as Indianapolis' top two. But the 27-year-old Wayne has increased his reception total each of the last five years while Harrison's has consistently decreased. This year it's not unreasonable to think their respective touchdown totals will do the same. Like Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams, it appears the torch is slowly being passed from Harrison to Wayne.Advice: Pass on Harrison unless he falls past round four, and grab Wayne instead if you can with your third pick.Mike Vanderjagt capitalized on tons of kicking chances over the past few years. If healthy, Adam Vinatieri will do the same. I don't usually draft a kicker before the final round, but if available say one or two rounds from the end, you can't go wrong with the former New England Patriot.The team's defense was already discussed earlier, and check this out -- after the Colts open the season against a tough New York Giants team, their next four opponents are Houston, Jacksonville, the New York Jets and Tennessee. Advice: Take the Colts' team defense after the first five defenses are drafted and you should score Steelers 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey
big on the other side of the ball this fantasy season.What Colts are not worth drafting in 2006? Brandon Stokley, who sat out the entire preseason with injury, and Dallas Clark, who has never been a consistent fantasy scorer.Good luck on your draft and your season. And don't forget to include one or two Colts on that roster of yours.