2012 Draft Prep: It's always about location

The last week of the preseason is one of my favorite times of the year. The excitement of the regular season is close. There is a rush of drafts. And it's typically when I have the most personal interaction with Fantasy owners on our site.

Every year at this time I take part in mock drafts with readers just like you. I post on Twitter a time and date with a link, and owners jump in for a quick draft. What they don't know -- because I try to make it fun and engaging to answer draft prep questions – is that I do these drafts for this story.

2012 Draft Prep essentials

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I test different theories for drafting in different spots, and I attack each draft with a plan. What I found is you can build a solid team as long as you have an idea of what positions you want to target in certain rounds, depending on where you start.

Everyone has a favorite strategy they like to use, and you really can't go wrong. As we'll always tell you, follow what works best for you. Remember, it's your team, but if you're looking for some tips, we're here to help.

Some overall observations: Try to get two Top 15 running backs with your first three picks. Running back is shallow, and you want to stockpile talent at the position. ...You can wait on receiver. Average Draft Position shows you can get these receivers in Round 4 or later (Hakeem Nicks, Dez Bryant, Percy Harvin, Steve Smith, Marques Colston, Demaryius Thomas, Brandon Lloyd and Jeremy Maclin), and I'd be thrilled with any of them as my two starters. ... Quarterback is deep with 11 legitimate No. 1 options. So if you miss on Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Drew Brees you can still get Michael Vick, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo or Philip Rivers in Round 5 or later. ... The same goes for tight end. I'd love Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham, but I'll settle for Greg Olsen or Jermaine Gresham with a late-round pick.

Below is a look at five of the multiple drafts I took part in, and you can see how each team turned out with the rosters and respective draft picks. I'd be happy with any of these teams because I had a plan when the draft started, and in most cases I got the players I wanted.

Picking early in Round 1
Pick: No. 1 | Teams: 12 | Format: Standard QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST, FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and five reserves
Position	Player	Round	Overall
QB	Philip Rivers, Chargers	6	72
RB	Arian Foster, Texans	1	1
RB	Shonn Greene, Jets	4	48
WR	Julio Jones, Falcons	2	24
WR	Andre Johnson, Texans	3	25
TE	Greg Olsen, Panthers	12	144
FLEX	Donald Brown, Colts	5	49
K	Shayne Graham, Texans	14	168
DST	Bears	13	145
Bench
QB	Jay Cutler, Bears	11	121
RB	Ryan Williams, Cardinals	7	73
RB	Toby Gerhart, Vikings	8	96
WR	Greg Little, Browns	9	97
WR	Kenny Britt, Titans	10	120

Analysis: I knew going in I would take Foster with the first pick, and it was just a matter of who would fall to me in Round 2. My plan was to take another running back in Round 2 or 3, but there was a huge run at the position, pushing other players down the draft board. I couldn't pass on two of my Top 3 receivers in Jones and Johnson based on the value, and I suggest being prepared for the owners in your league doing things you might not expect. It happens more often than you realize. This changed my strategy, and I knew I had to stock up on running backs going forward, which I did with four of my next five picks in Greene, Brown, Williams and Gerhart. Rivers fell to me in Round 6, which is great value, and I drafted a sleeper tight end in Olsen. The best value pick of this team is Britt in Round 10.

Picking early in Round 1
Pick: No. 4 | Teams: 12 | Format: Standard QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST, FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and five reserves
Position	Player	Round	Overall
QB	Tony Romo, Cowboys	6	69
RB	LeSean McCoy, Eagles	1	4
RB	Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants	2	21
WR	Andre Johnson, Texans	3	28
WR	Demaryius Thomas, Broncos	4	45
TE	Aaron Hernandez, Patriots	5	52
FLEX	DeAngelo Williams, Panthers	7	76
K	Robbie Gould, Bears	14	165
DST	Packers	13	148
Bench
QB	Andrew Luck, Colts	10	117
RB	Mark Ingram, Saints	8	93
RB	Alfred Morris, Redskins	11	124
RB	Robert Meachem, Chargers	9	100
WR	Brandon LaFell, Panthers	12	141

Analysis: ADP shows Rodgers being drafted in the first four picks, which should push down a stud running back in Ray Rice or McCoy. I'll take McCoy at No. 4 overall 10 times out of 10, and this now gives me a chance to pair him with another quality running back in Round 2, which I did with Bradshaw. I can now look at receiver, and Johnson is a steal in Round 3. Pairing him with Thomas gives me four potential Top 10 options at running back and receiver. At this point look at best player available, and Hernandez in Round 5 is the best value, especially since he's a Top 3 tight end coming into the season. There should be at least one or two quality quarterbacks on the board, but it's a gamble to wait. In this case, Romo fell to Round 6, which allows this roster to shape up nicely. We can now build our running back depth with Williams, Ingram and a flier in Morris and still get decent reserve receivers in Meachem and LaFell. The best value pick of this team is Luck in Round 10 in case Romo falters.

Picking in the middle of Round 1
Pick: No. 6 | Teams: 12 | Format: Standard QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST, FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and five reserves
Position	Player	Round	Overall
QB	Tom Brady, Patriots	1	6
RB	Steven Jackson, Rams	2	19
RB	Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants	3	30
WR	Percy Harvin, Vikings	4	43
WR	Jeremy Maclin, Eagles	5	54
TE	Greg Olsen, Panthers	11	126
FLEX	DeAngelo Williams, Panthers	6	67
K	Dan Bailey, Cowboys	14	163
DST	Packers	13	150
Bench
RB	Rashad Jennings, Jaguars	7	78
RB	Mikel Leshoure, Lions	8	91
WR	Greg Little, Browns	9	102
WR	Denarius Moore, Raiders	10	115
WR	Randy Moss, 49ers	12	139

Analysis: I'm not inclined to draft a quarterback in Round 1, but I wanted to build a team going this route with Brady. A quality running back should fall to the middle of Round 2, and you should have the choice of Marshawn Lynch, Steven Jackson, Ryan Mathews, Trent Richardson or Fred Jackson. Any of them would suffice to pair with Rodgers, Brady or Brees. As I said, I want two Top 15 running backs by Round 3 if possible, so Bradshaw is an easy choice next. You have to focus on receiver now, and Harvin and Maclin are Top 20 options. I'd like to get a quality No. 3 receiver soon, but too much talent became available at running back with Williams (Round 6), Jennings (Round 7) and Leshoure (Round 8). Don't pass on running backs for receivers because the position is extremely deep. Little, Moore and Moss are OK reserve receivers, but if that's the weakest part of my roster, I'll survive. I was excited to draft Jennings because I expect Maurice Jones-Drew to struggle. Also, when drafting one of the Top 3 quarterbacks you can pass on a backup since you'll manage to find a replacement during the bye week. The best value pick of this team is Olsen in Round 11.

Picking in the middle of Round 1
Pick: No. 8 | Teams: 12 | Format: Standard QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST, FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and five reserves
Position	Player	Round	Overall
QB	Eli Manning, Giants	6	65
RB	Darren McFadden, Raiders	1	8
RB	Trent Richardson, Browns	2	17
WR	A.J. Green, Bengals	3	32
WR	Demaryius Thomas, Broncos	4	41
TE	Jason Witten, Cowboys	8	89
FLEX	Cedric Benson, Packers	7	80
K	Alex Henery, Eagles	14	161
DST	Packers	13	152
Bench
QB	Josh Freeman, Buccaneers	12	137
RB	Jonathan Stewart, Panthers	9	104
RB	Jacquizz Rodgers, Falcons	10	113
RB	Taiwan Jones, Raiders	11	128
WR	Jeremy Maclin, Eagles	5	56

Analysis: The No. 8 pick might be the toughest selection for owners this year. By now the Top 3 running backs and quarterbacks are gone as well as the No. 1 receiver in Calvin Johnson. You are now faced with drafting either McFadden or Chris Johnson, and I'm buying in on McFadden even with the injury risk. He has the chance to be a Top 5 running back if he plays 13 games like he did in 2010. Again, look running back in Round 2, and you can't pass on Richardson's upside there. Receiver is now a priority, and Green and Thomas should serve as standout options, giving you potentially four elite players to start your draft. We'll lock up our third receiver in Round 5 in Maclin, and now we don't need another receiver with three Top 20 options coming into the year. We can now load up on running back with Benson, Stewart, Rodgers and Jones, who is the handcuff for McFadden. Manning and Freeman are an excellent quarterback duo, and Witten's spleen injury has allowed him to become a great value pick in Round 8. The best value pick of this team is Benson in Round 7.

Picking late in Round 1
Pick: No. 12 | Teams: 12 | Format: Standard QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST, FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and five reserves
Position	Player	Round	Overall
QB	Philip Rivers, Chargers	5	60
RB	Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks	1	12
RB	Steven Jackson, Rams	2	13
WR	Wes Welker, Patriots	3	36
WR	Greg Jennings, Packers	4	37
TE	Jason Witten, Cowboys	9	108
FLEX	Willis McGahee, Broncos	6	61
K	Shayne Graham, Texans	14	157
DST	Bills	13	156
Bench
QB	Josh Freeman, Buccaneers	12	133
RB	Mark Ingram, Saints	8	85
RB	Robert Turbin, Seahawks	11	152
WR	Reggie Wayne, Colts	7	84
WR	Robert Meachem, Chargers	10	109

Analysis: Last year we told Fantasy owners picking at the end of Round 1 to get two elite receivers. It worked out well if you drafted Calvin Johnson and Roddy White, but receiver is too deep this year to go that route. Instead, we're going back in time and taking two running backs, like what happened here with Lynch and Jackson. Both are risky (Lynch with a potential suspension and Jackson near the end of his run as a workhorse rusher), but they remain No. 1 Fantasy running backs. You can then pair them with two standout receivers, and Welker and Jennings fell in this draft. That likely won't happen in many leagues, but when running backs start flying off the board early usually receivers fall. As usual, my goal was running back depth with McGahee, Ingram and Turbin, who is the handcuff for Lynch, and I got Rivers again in Round 5. Wayne is a great value pick in Round 7 and a potential flex option, and this team has tremendous balance at running back and receiver. The best value pick of this team is Witten in Round 9.

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