Midseason Mock

The first eight weeks don’t matter. The stats, the plays, the bad beats, the joy -- it’s all irrelevant now.

All that matters is the rest of the season. And with that in mind, the Rotoworld crew gathered for a Midseason Mock on Wednesday afternoon. Here were the parameters:

* 10 team snake draft
* Half a point per reception
* Owners must fill QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX. Nothing more, nothing less.
* Only stats going forward, through the rest of the 2012 season, matter. It's a spin on our Top-200 going forward list, available in the Season Pass.

The results:

ROUND 1
1.1 Arian Foster (Nick Mensio)
1.2 Ray Rice (Mike Clay)
1.3 Adrian Peterson (Mike Gallagher)
1.4 LeSean McCoy (Jeff Ratcliffe)
1.5 Stevan Ridley (Pat Daugherty)
1.6 Jamaal Charles (Josh Norris)
1.7 Calvin Johnson (Adam Levitan)
1.8 A.J. Green (Chet Gresham)
1.9 Ryan Mathews (Evan Silva)
1.10 Trent Richardson (Chris Wesseling)

Notes: The first four picks are no-brainers. Arian Foster, Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy are slump-proof backs because they excel in the passing game and are their team’s goal-line back. Adrian Peterson has absolutely squashed concerns (from people like me) that he rushed back from last year’s ACL tear. Peterson looks better than ever. … It gets hairy after those first four. Here’s Pat Daugherty’s sermon on his surprising Stevan Ridley selection:

"Why Stevan Ridley at No. 5? Why not Stevan Ridley at No. 5. Forget that he’s fourth in rushing and fifth in rushing yards per game. How about the fact that half of his eight starts have produced 100-yard afternoons? How about the fact that despite a common perception New England has a committee backfield, Ridley is fourth in the league in carries, and has touched the ball fewer than 15 times only once? Even then (Week 3), he took the rock 13 times. How about the fact that he’s averaging 4.8 yards per carry? If none of that’s enough for you, why not consider that he’s a part of the league’s most potent overall offense? A unit that’s flirted with 90 plays multiple times this season? Or that as fall turns to winter in New England, the Pats will likely be even more inclined to run the ball? If none of that’s enough for you, get superficial. The Patriots’ schedule is a joke down the stretch. Ridley looks like an outright beast to the naked eye. Why take Stevan Ridley at No. 5? Because it would be insane not to."  

Calvin Johnson is fantasy’s No. 19 wideout in half-PPR formats. No worries. I took him seventh overall here banking on a regression to the mean. In other words, he has just one touchdown now. I’d be stunned if he didn’t finish with at least eight. Titus Young is going to open more things up for Johnson than Nate Burleson ever could. … Ryan Mathews has been in the doghouse for much of his five appearances this season. He’s still averaging 98.8 total yards per game. Upside monster.

ROUND 2
2.1 Percy Harvin (Chris Wesseling)
2.2 Darren McFadden (Evan Silva)
2.3 Matt Forte (Chet Gresham)
2.4 Victor Cruz (Adam Levitan)
2.5 Rob Gronkowski (Josh Norris)
2.6 C.J. Spiller (Pat Daugherty)
2.7 Marshawn Lynch (Jeff Ratcliffe)
2.8 Doug Martin (Mike Gallagher)
2.9 Julio Jones (Mike Clay)
2.10 Reggie Wayne (Nick Mensio)

Notes: Some of you may be wondering where the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Robert Griffin III are. It’s really just simple logic. Only 10 quarterbacks will be drafted in this league and the position -- as it always is -- is really deep. Raw value doesn’t always equal drafting value. Many owners are probably realizing this as they try to trade in their league. If you drafted Rodgers and RG3, moving one for the haul you expect isn’t happening. Same can be said if Peyton Manning was your QB2. In 10- or 12-team leagues, the market for quarterbacks just isn’t there.

Percy Harvin is currently the No. 1 wideout in this format. … Michael Bush played just five snaps in Week 8. This is Matt Forte’s backfield. … I had a tough decision between Victor Cruz and Julio Jones. I went with Cruz as the better bet for weekly consistency in receptions. … The C.J. Spiller pick is interesting because he’s in a clear, even timeshare with Fred Jackson.  Still, Spiller can change a fantasy game on just 12-15 touches. … Marshawn Lynch drops in this format because he has caught 11 passes in eight games. … Doug Martin lost his All-Pro left guard Carl Nicks on Tuesday. It’s a ding, but not a death blow by any means.

ROUND 3
3.1 Frank Gore
3.2 Aaron Rodgers
3.3 Demaryius Thomas
3.4 Drew Brees
3.5 Jordy Nelson
3.6 Darren Sproles
3.7 Jonathan Stewart
3.8 Robert Griffin III
3.9 Alfred Morris
3.10 Jimmy Graham

Notes: Demaryius Thomas is a freakish talent catching passes from a healthy Peyton Manning. Nothing can go wrong. … If Jordy Nelson didn’t have this minor hamstring tweak, I’m certain he would have gone much earlier. … I took Jonathan Stewart here because the Panthers have essentially given up on DeAngelo Williams. Even if he’s not traded at the deadline, Stewart is the feature back. The Daily Show is about to open some eyes. … Alfred Morris doesn’t play in the passing game, but no Shananigans here. He’s done nothing but impress as a downhill, one-cut runner. … A healthy Jimmy Graham is a dominant Jimmy Graham. The ankle looked sound on Sunday night.

ROUND 4
4.1 Tom Brady
4.2 Aaron Hernandez
4.3 Reggie Bush
4.4 Chris Johnson
4.5 Brandon Marshall
4.6 Peyton Manning
4.7 Vincent Jackson
4.8 Matthew Stafford
4.9 Ahmad Bradshaw
4.10 Matt Ryan

Notes: Aaron Hernandez is a risky pick due to the questions surrounding his ankle, but the upside is certainly there. … I took the bait on Chris Johnson. He’ll be inconsistent, but how many backs with elite speed can we say will push for 20 touches weekly? And get him in the fourth round? … I was a little surprised that Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford were selected before Matt Ryan, but it’s really just another sign of depth at the position.

The first eight weeks don’t matter. The stats, the plays, the bad beats, the joy -- it’s all irrelevant now.

All that matters is the rest of the season. And with that in mind, the Rotoworld crew gathered for a Midseason Mock on Wednesday afternoon. Here were the parameters:

* 10 team snake draft
* Half a point per reception
* Owners must fill QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX. Nothing more, nothing less.
* Only stats going forward, through the rest of the 2012 season, matter. It's a spin on our Top-200 going forward list, available in the Season Pass.

The results:

ROUND 1
1.1 Arian Foster (Nick Mensio)
1.2 Ray Rice (Mike Clay)
1.3 Adrian Peterson (Mike Gallagher)
1.4 LeSean McCoy (Jeff Ratcliffe)
1.5 Stevan Ridley (Pat Daugherty)
1.6 Jamaal Charles (Josh Norris)
1.7 Calvin Johnson (Adam Levitan)
1.8 A.J. Green (Chet Gresham)
1.9 Ryan Mathews (Evan Silva)
1.10 Trent Richardson (Chris Wesseling)

Notes: The first four picks are no-brainers. Arian Foster, Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy are slump-proof backs because they excel in the passing game and are their team’s goal-line back. Adrian Peterson has absolutely squashed concerns (from people like me) that he rushed back from last year’s ACL tear. Peterson looks better than ever. … It gets hairy after those first four. Here’s Pat Daugherty’s sermon on his surprising Stevan Ridley selection:

"Why Stevan Ridley at No. 5? Why not Stevan Ridley at No. 5. Forget that he’s fourth in rushing and fifth in rushing yards per game. How about the fact that half of his eight starts have produced 100-yard afternoons? How about the fact that despite a common perception New England has a committee backfield, Ridley is fourth in the league in carries, and has touched the ball fewer than 15 times only once? Even then (Week 3), he took the rock 13 times. How about the fact that he’s averaging 4.8 yards per carry? If none of that’s enough for you, why not consider that he’s a part of the league’s most potent overall offense? A unit that’s flirted with 90 plays multiple times this season? Or that as fall turns to winter in New England, the Pats will likely be even more inclined to run the ball? If none of that’s enough for you, get superficial. The Patriots’ schedule is a joke down the stretch. Ridley looks like an outright beast to the naked eye. Why take Stevan Ridley at No. 5? Because it would be insane not to."  

Calvin Johnson is fantasy’s No. 19 wideout in half-PPR formats. No worries. I took him seventh overall here banking on a regression to the mean. In other words, he has just one touchdown now. I’d be stunned if he didn’t finish with at least eight. Titus Young is going to open more things up for Johnson than Nate Burleson ever could. … Ryan Mathews has been in the doghouse for much of his five appearances this season. He’s still averaging 98.8 total yards per game. Upside monster.

ROUND 2
2.1 Percy Harvin (Chris Wesseling)
2.2 Darren McFadden (Evan Silva)
2.3 Matt Forte (Chet Gresham)
2.4 Victor Cruz (Adam Levitan)
2.5 Rob Gronkowski (Josh Norris)
2.6 C.J. Spiller (Pat Daugherty)
2.7 Marshawn Lynch (Jeff Ratcliffe)
2.8 Doug Martin (Mike Gallagher)
2.9 Julio Jones (Mike Clay)
2.10 Reggie Wayne (Nick Mensio)

Notes: Some of you may be wondering where the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Robert Griffin III are. It’s really just simple logic. Only 10 quarterbacks will be drafted in this league and the position -- as it always is -- is really deep. Raw value doesn’t always equal drafting value. Many owners are probably realizing this as they try to trade in their league. If you drafted Rodgers and RG3, moving one for the haul you expect isn’t happening. Same can be said if Peyton Manning was your QB2. In 10- or 12-team leagues, the market for quarterbacks just isn’t there.

Percy Harvin is currently the No. 1 wideout in this format. … Michael Bush played just five snaps in Week 8. This is Matt Forte’s backfield. … I had a tough decision between Victor Cruz and Julio Jones. I went with Cruz as the better bet for weekly consistency in receptions. … The C.J. Spiller pick is interesting because he’s in a clear, even timeshare with Fred Jackson.  Still, Spiller can change a fantasy game on just 12-15 touches. … Marshawn Lynch drops in this format because he has caught 11 passes in eight games. … Doug Martin lost his All-Pro left guard Carl Nicks on Tuesday. It’s a ding, but not a death blow by any means.

ROUND 3
3.1 Frank Gore
3.2 Aaron Rodgers
3.3 Demaryius Thomas
3.4 Drew Brees
3.5 Jordy Nelson
3.6 Darren Sproles
3.7 Jonathan Stewart
3.8 Robert Griffin III
3.9 Alfred Morris
3.10 Jimmy Graham

Notes: Demaryius Thomas is a freakish talent catching passes from a healthy Peyton Manning. Nothing can go wrong. … If Jordy Nelson didn’t have this minor hamstring tweak, I’m certain he would have gone much earlier. … I took Jonathan Stewart here because the Panthers have essentially given up on DeAngelo Williams. Even if he’s not traded at the deadline, Stewart is the feature back. The Daily Show is about to open some eyes. … Alfred Morris doesn’t play in the passing game, but no Shananigans here. He’s done nothing but impress as a downhill, one-cut runner. … A healthy Jimmy Graham is a dominant Jimmy Graham. The ankle looked sound on Sunday night.

ROUND 4
4.1 Tom Brady
4.2 Aaron Hernandez
4.3 Reggie Bush
4.4 Chris Johnson
4.5 Brandon Marshall
4.6 Peyton Manning
4.7 Vincent Jackson
4.8 Matthew Stafford
4.9 Ahmad Bradshaw
4.10 Matt Ryan

Notes: Aaron Hernandez is a risky pick due to the questions surrounding his ankle, but the upside is certainly there. … I took the bait on Chris Johnson. He’ll be inconsistent, but how many backs with elite speed can we say will push for 20 touches weekly? And get him in the fourth round? … I was a little surprised that Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford were selected before Matt Ryan, but it’s really just another sign of depth at the position.

 

ROUND 5
5.1 Marques Colston
5.2 Wes Welker
5.3 Mike Wallace
5.4 Eric Decker
5.5 Dez Bryant
5.6 Roddy White
5.7 Hakeem Nicks
5.8 Denarius Moore
5.9 Cam Newton
5.10 Larry Fitzgerald

Notes: The wide receiver run is on in a big way. Even though there are three starting wideout spots, a lot of owners used the flex spot for a wideout as well. In half-PPR and the pass-happy state of the league, it makes sense. … Wes Welker’s early-season playing-time concerns are a distant memory. … Can the Cowboys trust Dez Bryant? Probably not. But he still has 41 catches in seven games and hasn’t scratched the surface of his ability yet. … Denarius Moore here will raise some eyebrows, but it shouldn’t. He’s a first-round talent, not a fifth-round guy where the Raiders took him last year. Carson Palmers’ clear go-to guy. … Despite all the hand-wringing over Cam Newton, he’s still run for 310 yards with three rushing touchdowns. If he can get the passing game going, look out.

ROUND 6
6.1 Willis McGahee
6.2 Randall Cobb
6.3 Andre Johnson
6.4 James Jones
6.5 Steve Smith
6.6 DeMarco Murray
6.7 Tony Gonzalez
6.8 Torrey Smith
6.9 Dwayne Bowe
6.10 Jason Witten

Notes: We see some drastic shifts in value from preseason rankings here. Randall Cobb and James Jones -- now locked into major gigs in Green Bay -- go with old stalwart Andre Johnson between them. … DeMarco Murray’s foot injury doesn’t appear overly serious, but he falls here because foot sprains and running backs just don’t mix. Still, Felix Jones has flopped once again with his opportunity. There’s no question that the Cowboys’ backfield belongs to a healthy Murray. … Tony Gonzalez’s piping hot start to the season was bound to cool off. He’s 36 years old after all. … Dwayne Bowe is long on talent and short on quarterback play. It doesn’t look like he’ll be getting the trade he wants.

ROUND 7
7.1 Stevie Johnson
7.2 Miles Austin
7.3 Titus Young
7.4 Brandon Lloyd
7.5 Kenny Britt
7.6 Antonio Brown
7.7 Antonio Gates
7.8 Jeremy Maclin
7.9 Josh Gordon
7.10 Steven Jackson

Notes: Titus Young was one of my favorite players back in the preseason, when he led this list of “Favorite Fliers.” Now that Nate Burleson (leg) is out of the mix, he’s an every-down wideout with elite speed that sees single-coverage on every play. What’s not to like? … Brandon Lloyd has been inches away from monster games all season long. You have to think he’s going to start getting some bounces. … Kenny Britt’s Week 8 statline was marred by two offensive pass interference calls. I bet if those went uncalled, he would have come off the board a lot higher. … I took Antonio Gates, but I don’t really love the pick. If I could go back, I would take Owen Daniels. … Josh Gordon jumps off the board as an interesting name. He’s certainly a playmaker and figures to start even when Mohamed Massaquoi is healthy.

ROUND 8
8.1 Danny Amendola
8.2 DeSean Jackson
8.3 Greg Olsen
8.4 Eli Manning
8.5 Ben Roethlisberger
8.6 Owen Daniels
8.7 Michael Turner
8.8 Brandon Pettigrew
8.9 Heath Miller
8.10 Cecil Shorts

Notes: Danny Amendola is expected back Week 10 and will certainly be a target monster. There’s no way he should be unowned in any format. … I took a quarterback with my last pick and ended up with Eli Manning. Can’t be a bad thing. … Brandon Pettigrew probably doesn’t get enough credit in fantasy circles. In half-PPR or full-PPR formats, he’s a beast. Caught 83 balls last year and is on pace to catch 84 more this year. … Somehow, Heath Miller is fantasy’s No. 3 tight end this season. Will it continue? I’m betting no, but it’s hard to trust the likes of Jared Cook, Jermichael Finley or Vernon Davis right now. … Cecil Shorts has done more than enough to earn an every-down role. It remains to be seen if the Jags will keep him there when Laurent Robinson (concussions) returns.

On to Tuesday's news...

DEPTH CHART QUICK SLANTS
No word on the Eagles’ quarterback situation just yet, but the signs are pointing toward Michael Vick getting one more chance. A loss to the Saints though, and it will almost certainly be Nick Foles time. … The Lions traded for Mike Thomas, but he’s not a real threat to Titus Young or Ryan Broyles. Thomas will be depth in the slot and help in the return game. … In the wake of a trade demand, the Titans claim they’re hoping to get Jared Cook more opportunities going forward. … Dwayne Bowe is not expected to be traded by Thursday’s deadline. … Alex Green will reportedly stick as the Packers’ feature back.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: QUARTERBACKS AND WIDE RECEIVERS
Brady Quinn (head) won’t play Thursday, giving Matt Cassel the start. … Alshon Jeffery (hand) could be back by Week 10. He’ll just be a situational red-zone threat opposite Brandon Marshall. … Dez Bryant’s bruised hip is not a real concern. … Kenny Britt (knee) guaranteed he’ll play in Week 9. He’s coming within inches of some big plays weekly … Larry Fitzgerald took some big shots and needed a concussion test Monday night, but said he came out of the game just fine.

INJURY QUICK SLANTS: RUNNING BACKS AND TIGHT ENDS
Jonathan Dwyer (quad) will sit out Wednesday’s practice, but is expected back Thursday. If healthy, he’ll start and Isaac Redman will be the third-down back. Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles’) is on the wrong side of questionable for Week 9. … It sounds like Ben Tate (hamstring) is going to miss Week 9. Justin Forsett would back up Arian Foster. … DeMarco Murray’s (foot) status remains unclear. Felix Jones has been so bad, however, that we know Murray will resume the featured job as soon as he’s ready.

WAIVERS
DEFENSIVE SPOTS STARTS
Adding a different D/ST each week based on matchups is a fine strategy. Here are three units that might be on waivers to consider for streaming purposes:

* For more waiver thoughts at all positions, check out Chris Wesseling’s latest here.

1. CHARGERS vs. Chiefs - The Chargers were on this list last week, so hopefully you can just ride them again. Matt Cassel is back under center, on the road in a short week and even the run game is floundering now. Cassel has turned the ball over a mind-boggling 17 times in six games this season.

2. PACKERS vs. Cardinals - Chances are strong that the Packers are owned in your league because they played the Jags last week. But if they’re not, it’s time to scoop. If you take away Larry Fitzgerald, you suffocate this John Skelton led offense.  

3. RAVENS at Browns - The Ravens may have been dropped because they were on a bye last week and have lost Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb. It won’t matter this week. Terrell Suggs should be that much healthier after the bye and the Browns’ passing game was inept against the Chargers.