So I sit here, in the JFK airport in New York, with the calendar reading June 15. Nothing all that odd about that until you realize that the reason I'm here in the Big Apple is that I just completed the first experts draft of the year for - football. Me and 13 other fantasy experts went around the horn, rostered our clubs, and now is my chance to tell you what I did well and what I screwed the pooch on. Feeling particularly honest am I since I’m writing this at 6 a.m.Wednesday morning and I haven’t slept a wink since Monday. Yep, at Fantasy Alarm we go hard and that includes partying all night when necessary.

THE FORMAT

14-team league

The rules…

PASSING:

  1. 1 point every 25 yards passing (.1 point every 2.5 yards passing)
  2. 4 points for every passing touchdown
  3. 2 points for every 2-point conversion
  4. Minus 1 point for every interception and fumble lost

RUSHING:

  1. 1 point every 10 yards rushing (.1 point every 1 yard rushing)
  2. 6 points for every rushing TD
  3. 2 points for every 2-point conversion
  4. Minus 1 point for every lost fumble

RECEIVING:

  1. 1 point every 10 yards receiving (.1 point every 1 yard receiving)
  2. 6 points for every receiving TD
  3. 1 point for every reception for RB’s, WRs & TEs
  4. 2 points for every 2-point conversion (rushing or receiving)
  5. Minus 1 point for every lost fumble

KICKING:

  1. 1 point for every extra point
  2. 3 points for every field goal from 1-39 yards
  3. 4 points for every field goal from 40-49 yards
  4. 5 points for every field goal from 50-59 yards
  5. 6 points for every field goal of 60 or more

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:

  1. 1 point for every sack
  2. 2 points for every interception or opponents' fumble recovery
  3. 6 points for every touchdown (interception return, defensive fumble return, punt or kickoff return, blocked field goal return, blocked punt return). All special teams and defensive points are awarded to the team responsible, not the individual player.
  4. 2 points for every safety
  5. 6 points for a shutout by the entire team
  6. 3 points for allowing 2-10 points by the entire team

The Starting lineup consists of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, a Flex (RB/WR/TE), a kicker and a defense.

The bench is made up of six roster spots.

THE PARTICIPANTS

1 - Mike Clay, ESPN
2 - Greg Ambrosius/Tom Kessenich, Stats Inc., NFFC

3 - Brett Baker/Ty Ward, Big Game Software

4 - Chris Liss, Rotowire

5 - Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports Weekly

6 -  Charlie Wiegert, CDM Sports

7 - Nando DiFino, FNTSY

8 - Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton/Stacie Stern, Colton & The Wolfman

9 - Ray Flowers, SiriusXM Fantasy Drive / Fantasy Alarm

10 - Jeff Mans & Ted Schuster, Fantasy Alarm

11 - Cory Bonini/Ryan Bonini, USA Today Sports

12 - John Hansen, SiriusXM Fantasy Football

13 - Anthony Perri, Fantistics 

14 - Mike Dempsey/Bob Harris, Football Die Hards (Defending Champion)

THE DRAFT

Picking out of the 10th spot overall (round drafted in parenthesis)

QB: Blake Bortles (7), Andy Dalton (9)

RB: David Johnson (1), Matt Forte (4), Duke Johnson (6), Melvin Gordon (8), Tevin Coleman (9), Bilal Powell (11)

WR: Mike Evans (2), Golden Tate (3), Markus Wheaton (6), Phillip Dorsett (10), Danny Amendola (12)

TE: Kyle Rudolph (14)

K: Adam Vinatieri (10)

DEF: Oakland Raiders (16)

MY COMMENTARY

I said on the air last week that I didn't think that Blake Bortles will throw for 35 scores this season. That doesn't mean I’m down on Bortles, it's just that I don't think some breakout effort that surpasses his work last season is in the cards. Still totally comfortable with him as my starter in this format. Dalton bores most of the time, but with a solid run game behind him and A.J. Green to throw the ball to he's always also stable and productive. 

I crushed the running back spot. Killed it. It was Rob Gronkowski, Dez Bryant or David Johnson with the first pick. I took Johnson as he has the outlook that could mark him as one of the handful of running backs capable of 300 touches this season - and he should also be the goaline hammer for the Cardinals. Forte is not a superstar, but in the 4th round why not take a shot on a guy who could run for 950 yards and catch 60 balls, numbers that I still think are doable? His fantasy value will likely be tied to how many times he reaches the end zone. Duke caught 61 passes last season and not many seem to recognize that fact. He's in a new offense with a new HC who knows how to use his backs in both the run and passing attack. Gordon failed, miserably, to live up to the hype in year one, and he also had microfracture surgery on his knee. That's why he fell as far as he did. Still, he's in line for at least 12-15 carries a week and there's the talent, and likely opportunity, for him to be a top-20 back this season. Even if he ends up as a top-30 play he will do just fine given the investment. Coleman I love. Thought he would emerge last year in Atlanta, which didn't happen as Devonta Freeman blew up. Note that Freeman was a shell of himself in the second half, scoring just twice on the ground while averaging 3.1 YPC (first half: 4.7 YPC, nine rushing scores) and that Coleman possesses the long speed that Freeman lacks. I rounded out the group with Powell. He would likely be turned to in a significant way should Forte falter (Powell caught at least five passes each of his last four games last season).

My wideout corps is not as strong as my running back depth (when a RB becomes an add off waivers everyone wants the guy and the price goes bonkers high. However, when you need a wideout you can usually find one at less cost than the suddenly top shelf runners with players always emerging. I will hope to play that game well this season). I bash Evans for drops and a lack of consistency, but note that his overall numbers in two seasons have been impressive, even if he lacks any semblance of week to week consistency. If he can refine his game just a little bit, and the reports are very positive for Jameis Winston heading into Year Two, then there could be a top-seven season for the wideout. There is no way he fails to score as badly as he did last season (three touchdowns). Tate wasn't likely score much, but if he's healthy and he doesn't go 80-1,000 there's a problem in Detroit. Wheaton is part of an offense that likes to pass. As long as Ben Roethlisberger is on the field this team will threaten to throw for 300 yards/week. With Martavis Bryant out for failing six drug tests, someone will need to step up with Wheaton, who has failed when given the shot before, and Sammie Coates. Dorsett is just one injury to T.Y. Hilton o Donte Moncrief from blowing up in what figures to be a revitalized passing game. Even if he settles in as the Colts WR3, there will be weeks he will totally be playable. Amendola is a dart throw. Completely. He's always hurt, but with the uncertain of the health of Gronk and Julian Edelman, and the potential suspension of Tom Brady, you never know.

Rudolph is a waste. There, I said it. Every year he comes into the season with a bit of hype. Every year he fails to live up to that hype. With noodle armed Teddy Bridgewater throwing the passes does that mean, one of these years, that Rudolph will go for 700 yards and seven scores? Maybe?

To recap.

This team rocks at quarterback with a ton of stability.

My running back corps is the deepest in the league.

The receiving corps has two nice options then the depth is lacking. I will have to shore up this spot once the season begins. No doubt.

Rudolph - I'm likely fooling myself if I think he makes it through half the season on my squad. Ditto the kicker and the defense, but who hangs on to those two all season long anyway?

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR FULL DRAFT RESULTS.