The Simulated Experts’ Fantasy League

Way back in 2007, during the very first year of Da Blog, I flirted with holding a simulated fantasy league to find out which site had the best experts, even going so far as holding a draft before the combined stress of that and counting up points by hand in Excel (good luck finding a site that will let you run every team in a league – even the one I chose I have to trick) forced me to abandon it right away. However, last year my thoughts turned towards trying again, so that’s what I’m going to do, even though other sites have sprung up to compare fantasy experts, and have gone as far as actually holding a league of the top experts.

Rosters are 16 players, with starters 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB/WR, 1 DST, 1 K. (Maximums: 4 QB, 7 RB or WR, 3 TE, DST, or K.) Scoring is as follows, based on the general consensus of the rules of most leagues. I wound up designing the scoring rules for defensive yardage myself, because very few leagues have them by default and those that do have wildly differing philosophies. It would have been most fair to omit them entirely, but I went with realism over standards.

  • 4 points per passing TD
  • 6 points per TD (except QB passing)
  • 2 points per 2-point conversion
  • 1 point per 25 passing yards
  • 1 point per 10 running or receiving yards
  • -2 points per turnover (interceptions or lost fumbles)
  • 1 point per PAT
  • 3 points per field goal
  • 4 points per FG of 40-50 yards
  • 5 points per FG of >50 yards
  • 2 points per defensive turnover
  • 2 points per safety
  • 1 point per sack
  • 10 points for 0 points allowed
  • 7 points for <7 points allowed
  • 4 points for <14 points allowed
  • 1 point for <21 points allowed
  • 0 points for <28 points allowed
  • -1 point for <35 points allowed
  • -4 points for >35 points allowed
  • 10 points for <100 yards allowed
  • 7 points for <200 yards allowed
  • 4 points for <250 yards allowed
  • 1 point for <300 yards allowed
  • 0 points for <400 yards allowed
  • -1 point for <500 yards allowed
  • -4 points for >500 yards allowed

The way the schedule works, each team plays each other once and plays three other teams an additional time, for a total of 14 games. The team with the most overall points through 14 weeks is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs regardless of record. To ensure a balanced schedule, the schedule for weeks 12, 13, and 14 – the three additional games – will not be finalized until after Week 11. The entire schedule isn’t finalized yet. Roster moves are handled largely the same way they were going to be in 2007. The draft is being held Wednesday (I was going to do it sooner but I was waiting to see if Yahoo would have rankings that at least took into account the Chris Johnson signing), with the following first-round order; I restricted myself to sites that posted overall rankings instead of just positional rankings. Keep checking this page and my tweeter as the draft progresses.

  1. Commissioner’s Favorite (NFL.com): Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
  2. Worldwide Leaders (ESPN): Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
  3. The SportsLine (CBS): Arian Foster, RB, Texans
  4. Takedown Glaze (Fox): Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs (Note: I’m also using these very outdated rankings as the above-linked ones look too weird to be draft rankings as opposed to Week 1 rankings.)
  5. College Busters (Yahoo): Ray Rice, RB, Ravens
  6. Swimsuit Issues (SI): LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles
  7. Team Infograph (USA Today): Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
  8. Indy Tea Party (FFToolbox.com): Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders
  9. Ron Burgundy All-Stars (KFFL): Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
  10. Politically Incorrect (RealTime Fantasy Sports): Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
  11. Wisdom of Crowds (FantasyPros): Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers
  12. Inside Information (Fleaflicker): Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions (more after the jump)
  13. Inside Information: Michael Vick, QB, Eagles
  14. Wisdom of Crowds: Roddy White, WR, Falcons
  15. Politically Incorrect: Matt Forte, RB, Bears
  16. Ron Burgundy All-Stars: Frank Gore, RB, 49ers
  17. Indy Tea Party: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
  18. Team Infograph: Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
  19. Swimsuit Issues: Drew Brees, QB, Saints
  20. College Busters: Michael Turner, RB, Falcons
  21. Takedown Glaze: Steven Jackson, RB, Rams
  22. The SportsLine: Greg Jennings, WR, Packers (smallest sum of ranks)
  23. Worldwide Leaders: Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants
  24. Commissioner’s Favorite: Phillip Rivers, QB, Chargers
  25. NFL: Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers
  26. ESPN: Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers
  27. CBS: Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants
  28. FOX: Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns
  29. YHOO: Shonn Greene, RB, Jets
  30. SI: Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
  31. USAT: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers
  32. FFTB: Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys
  33. KFFL: LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers
  34. RTFS: Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys
  35. PROS: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
  36. FLEA: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
  37. FLEA: Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
  38. PROS: DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles
  39. RTFS: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos
  40. KFFL: Jahvid Best, RB, Lions
  41. FFTB: Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs
  42. USAT: Chad Johnson (I refuse to call him “Ochocinco”), WR, Patriots
  43. SI: Jeremy Macklin, WR, Eagles
  44. YHOO: Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers
  45. FOX: Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers
  46. CBS: Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins
  47. ESPN: Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys
  48. NFL: Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
  49. NFL: Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets
  50. ESPN: Matt Schaub, QB, Texans
  51. CBS: Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals
  52. FOX: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
  53. YHOO: Mark Ingram, RB, Saints
  54. SI: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots
  55. USAT: Brandon Lloyd, WR, Broncos
  56. FFTB: Kenny Britt, WR, Titans
  57. KFFL: Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals
  58. RTFS: Jermichael Finley, TE, Packers
  59. PROS: Dallas Clark, TE, Colts
  60. FLEA: Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
  61. FLEA: Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings
  62. PROS: Steve Johnson, WR, Bills
  63. RTFS: Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
  64. KFFL: Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens
  65. FFTB: Wes Welker, WR, Patriots
  66. USAT: Marques Colston, WR, Saints
  67. SI: Ryan Grant, RB, Packers
  68. YHOO: Mike Tolbert, RB, Chargers
  69. FOX: Daniel Thomas, RB, Dolphins
  70. CBS: Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
  71. ESPN: Mario Manningham, WR, Giants
  72. NFL: Tim Hightower, RB, Redskins
  73. NFL: Reggie Bush, RB, Dolphins
  74. ESPN: Fred Jackson, RB, Bills
  75. CBS: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks
  76. FOX: Josh Freeman, QB, Buccaneers
  77. YHOO: Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions
  78. SI: Joseph Addai, RB, Colts
  79. USAT: Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons
  80. FFTB: Austin Collie, WR, Colts
  81. KFFL: Sidney Rice, WR, Seahawks
  82. RTFS: Sam Bradford, QB, Rams
  83. PROS: Santana Moss, WR, Redskins
  84. FLEA: Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens
  85. FLEA: Eli Manning, QB, Giants
  86. PROS: Owen Daniels, TE, Texans
  87. RTFS: Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints
  88. KFFL: Roy Williams, WR, Bears
  89. FFTB: AJ Green, WR, Bengals
  90. USAT: Johnny Knox, WR, Bears
  91. SI: Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jaguars
  92. YHOO: Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants
  93. FOX: Jay Cutler, QB, Bears
  94. CBS: Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts (it was determined that neither expert’s top pick would be taken in the next four picks)
  95. ESPN: James Starks, RB, Packers
  96. NFL: Mike Thomas, WR, Jaguars
  97. NFL: Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Rams
  98. ESPN: Steve Smith, WR, Panthers
  99. CBS: Michael Bush, RB, Raiders
  100. FOX: Ryan Torain, RB, Redskins
  101. YHOO: Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints
  102. SI: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
  103. USAT: Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers
  104. FFTB: CJ Spiller, RB, Bills (maxed out on WR)
  105. KFFL: Braylon Edwards, WR, 49ers
  106. RTFS: Kellen Winslow, TE, Buccaneers
  107. PROS: Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
  108. FLEA: Zach Miller, TE, Seahawks
  109. FLEA: Danny Amendola, WR, Rams
  110. PROS: Lance Moore, WR, Saints
  111. RTFS: Packers Defense
  112. KFFL: Lee Evans, WR, Ravens
  113. FFTB: Kevin Kolb, QB, Cardinals
  114. USAT: Plaxico Burress, WR, Jets
  115. SI: Jets Defense
  116. YHOO: Jared Cook, TE, Titans
  117. FOX: Steve Smith, WR, Eagles
  118. CBS: Willis McGahee, RB, Broncos
  119. ESPN: Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers
  120. NFL: Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs
  121. NFL: Brandon Pettigrew: TE, Lions
  122. ESPN: Robert Meachem, WR, Saints
  123. CBS: Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers
  124. FOX: Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks
  125. YHOO: Kyle Orton, QB, Broncos
  126. SI: Steelers Defense
  127. USAT: Marion Barber, RB, Bears
  128. FFTB: Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets
  129. KFFL: Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers
  130. RTFS: Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills
  131. PROS: Jacoby Ford, WR, Raiders
  132. FLEA: Hines Ward, WR, Steelers
  133. FLEA: Nate Burleson, WR, Lions
  134. PROS: LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Jets
  135. RTFS: Davone Bess, WR, Dolphins
  136. KFFL: Dan Carpenter, K, Dolphins
  137. FFTB: Colt McCoy, QB, Browns
  138. USAT: Ricky Williams, RB, Ravens
  139. SI: Deion Branch, WR, Patriots
  140. YHOO: Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots
  141. FOX: Chris Cooley, TE, Redskins
  142. CBS: Ben Tate, RB, Texans
  143. ESPN: Thomas Jones, RB, Chiefs
  144. NFL: Roy Helu, RB, Redskins
    		145.
  145. NFL: Ronnie Brown, RB, Eagles
  146. ESPN:  Danny Woodhead, RB, Patriots
  147. CBS: Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers
  148. FOX: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals
  149. YHOO: Eagles Defense
  150. SI: Ravens Defense
  151. USAT: Derrick Mason, WR, Jets
  152. FFTB: Bears Defense
  153. KFFL: Nate Kaeding, K, Chargers
  154. RTFS: Delone Carter, RB, Colts
  155. PROS: Dustin Keller, TE, Jets
  156. FLEA: Derrick Ward, RB, Texans
  157. FLEA: Cowboys Defense
  158. PROS: Donovan McNabb, QB, Vikings
  159. RTFS: Darren Sproles, RB, Saints
  160. KFFL: Giants Defense
  161. FFTB: Patriots Defense
  162. USAT: Deji Karim, RB, Jaguars
  163. SI: Cadillac Williams, RB, Rams
  164. YHOO: Earl Bennett, WR, Bears
  165. FOX: Jerome Simpson, WR, Bengals
  166. CBS: Chargers Defense
  167. ESPN: Falcons Defense
  168. NFL: Benjamin Watson, TE, Browns
  169. NFL: Saints Defense
  170. ESPN: Neil Rackers, K, Texans
  171. CBS: Mason Crosby, K, Packers
  172. FOX: Garrett Hartley, K, Saints
  173. YHOO: Stephen Gostkowski, K, Patriots
  174. SI: Javon Ringer, RB, Titans
  175. USAT: Buccaneers Defense
  176. FFTB: Todd Heap, TE, Cardinals
  177. KFFL: Brent Celek, TE, Eagles
  178. RTFS: Greg Little, WR, Browns
  179. PROS: Josh Brown, K, Rams
  180. FLEA: Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers
  181. FLEA: Matt Bryant, K, Falcons
  182. PROS: Lions Defense
  183. RTFS: Rob Bironas, K, Titans
  184. KFFL: Tarvaris Jackson, QB, Seahawks
  185. FFTB: Sebastian Janikowski, K, Raiders
  186. USAT: Robbie Gould, K, Bears
  187. SI: Adam Vinatieri, K, Colts
  188. YHOO: Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders
  189. FOX: Vikings Defense
  190. CBS: Chad Henne, QB, Dolphins
  191. ESPN: Fred Davis, TE, Redskins
  192. NFL: David Akers, K, 49ers
    		193.

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