Jekyll & Hyde: Part 2

Now let's take a look not at a paper champion, but a real one. The Fat Jubas went from a wild card to close defeats of the Phreaks (by 4 pts) and Green Team (10 pts) and then a final demolishing blow to heavily favored Chunky Monkeys (winning by 24 pts) for the the '06 championship.

Taken objectively, the Jubas have a much weaker keeper core compared to the big losers of last year, the Fobsters. The Jubas do have Shaun Alexander -- last year's MVP and championship engine -- but that's about it for premier players. WR Anquan Boldin is a solid player but he's not even #1 on his own team. He's a low end #1 fantasy WR, but he might be better off as a #2. Assuming Boldin is a top ten WR, the drop off is huge from Boldin to the other keeper WR, venerable Rod Smith. Mr Smith is still churning out the stats, but he's not keeper worthy in any format. With new teammate Javon Walker on-board, is Rod looking at his final year in the league?

QB Marc Bulger is an excellent fantasy QB but he's hardly a franchise quarterback. In most lists, he's barely a top ten signal caller. Solid, but wholly unspectacular. And what about versatile Domanick Davis? He's uber-talented and has accomplished some good numbers, but he's dinged up (beyond repair?). Davis is hardly a lock to become a solid contributor again and with his health issues, his best days may be over already.

So how can a champion take his (comparatively) weak core to the top again? With a savvy draft, that's how. So, how did GM Liao do?

Despite having traded away his third pick (in the Shaun - TO deal), GM Liao put together a solid draft that focused on established talent with upside. It's hard to pick between a declining veteran who can help you now versus a young star who probably won't explode for a year or two -- or worse, not explode at all. Obviously, the Jubas had a plan in mind as they selected a crop of young veterans who all have some experience (and success) in the league and have room for improvement to boot.

With Reuben Droughns and Thomas Jones, the brittle Davis could be relegated to the bench. Droughns may not be a sexy pick but he's solid and a workhorse, he's also poised for a good season. Droughns may never be a world killer, but that's Shaun's job; Droughns just needs to be dependable. And if he's not, last year's sensation (at times), Thomas Jones, is ready to step up. The Bears want Cedric Benson to be the man but until he can displace the current starter, Jones is the man. . Jones is a rushing/receiving threat and he really turned some heads with his numbers last year. The Jubas have hedged their bets with two solid veterans who can back up Davis in case (when) he breaks down; or when the Madden curse claims Alexander.

Next to Boldin and Smith, the Jubas can place Lee Evans, Donte Stallworth, or Jeremy Shockey on the field. While all three new Juba receivers have been disappointments in one way or another during their careers, there's hope ahead for each and every one of them. Lee Evans should be the new #1 in Buffalo. After a very disappointing year last year, maybe he can rebound on a moribund Bills team that will have to throw a lot as their team looks pathetic. Donte Stallworth has cursed many an owner over the years but now that he's been traded to the Eagles, Donovan McNabb could utlitize his talents and make him a decent option. I'm not personally sold on this bill of goods but anything can happen right? And finally, Jeremy Shockey has proven to be a ladies' man but his career has been derailed by injuries and inconsistency. He's still a top TE but his receiving numbers are always going to be limited by the prescence of the slick fingered Plaxico Burress and the sure handed Tiki Barber. The Giants are on the way up and QB Manning needs someone to throw to, so why not Shockey?

And let's not forget Shayne Graham, possibly the only kicker (read: white player) in the league with a misplaced "Y" in his name that nobody would mistake for a black player.

Take note of how champions are made. GM Liao pulled the trigger on a Shaun Alexander deal that got him a championship last year, this year he put together a solid draft to fill in his roster. When you're already the champion, you don't need to blow things up. Play it safe, grab who falls to you, and gear up for another butt-kicking season.

That concludes our look at the opposite ends of the draft. Thank you for subscribing.

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