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Time for more Draftmaster fun!  This draft is the real deal son, so don’t be fooled by the title of the post.  It’s named that way to encourage you to do exactly what the title suggests in the comments rather than doing it quietly amongst your friends.

Round 1 analysis can be found by clicking these yellow words.

@ericdickensRashard Mendenhall (#13 overall): Mendenhall finished second to Arian Foster in rushing touchdowns last season.  He had 13 of those bad boys to go along with his 1,440 total yards.  The Steelers have had a run-first mentality since Rashard was rasharding in his little baby diapers, so I expect Mendenhall to get over 300 carries again this year.  After going WR in the first round this team needed a stud RB, and Mendenhall fits the bill.  In a PPR league I may have considered Matt Forte or Darren McFadden here, but Mendenhall won’t disappoint.

Team @ericdickens after two rounds – Calvin Johnson, Rashard Mendenhall.

@FantasyTazHakeem Nicks (#14 overall): Even after missing 3 games, Nicks finished 2010 with 79 receptions, 1,052 yards and 11 TDs.  He finished with 6 or more receptions in 8 of the 13 games he played, and he had at least 75 yards in 8 out of 13 games as well.  The guy is a beast.  I worry a healthy Steve Smith will take some of his targets, but Nicks is still Eli’s guy in the red zone.  No question Nicks is a top 5 PPR wide receiver, and a solid choice early in round two.

Team @FantasyTaz after two rounds – Frank Gore, Hakeem Nicks.

@Treadstone06Michael Turner (#15 overall): I see  a couple red flags with Turner.  He’s 29 years old, and he’s coming off a 334 carry season.  The last time he had that many carries in a season (2008), he missed 5 games and did next to nothing in 2 more the following season (2009).  Jason Snelling is a more than capable back up who should be worked more into the offense, thus cutting into Turner’s production.  At least that would keep Turner healthy.  Again, I may have looked Matt Forte or Darren McFadden’s way here in a PPR league, particularly if I already drafted an Atlanta Falcon in round one, but Turner’s goal line effectiveness makes him a decent pick in this spot.

Team @Treadstone06 after two rounds – Roddy White, Michael Turner.

@GridironGuyMatt Forte (#16 overall): Getting Matt Forte at #16 overall in a PPR league is excellent value.  Forte has never finished a season with fewer than 51 receptions, and he improved his YPC from 3.6 in 2009 to 4.5 in 2010.  I think he’s finally figured out there isn’t much room up Olin Kreutz’ bunghole, and he’s going to have to hit different holes to produce decent numbers.  Pairing a 50+ reception, 1,600+ total yard RB with a top tier WR is just what the doctor ordered in a PPR league.  I think it’s just what Olin Kreutz’ doctor ordered, in fact.

Team @GridironGuy after two rounds – Andre Johnson, Matt Forte.

@vmahaffeAhmad Bradshaw (#17 overall): Thanks to Brandon Jacobs’ 9 TDs last year, Bradshaw finished with just 8 TDs, and only 3 TDs over the last eight games.  The good news is Bradshaw is explosive, averaging over 4.8 YPC over his career, and is an excellent PPR running back.  The bad news is Brandon Jacobs will make you throw various projectiles at your TV over the course of the season, which is a waste of perfectly good projectiles.  I try to stay away from situations like this, but to the owner’s defense this was an auto pick.  Not a terrible pick, but not an ideal one either.

Team @vmahaffe after two rounds: Steven Jackson, Ahmad Bradshaw.

@Redsoxnation88Darren McFadden (#18 overall): McFadden comes with risk – he hasn’t played a full season his entire career, and prior to his breakout 2010 season he wasn’t very productive.  I get that.  However, he finally figured out this NFL stuff last season, and he looked like the franchise back he was supposed to be from the start.  In 13 games McFadden had 47 receptions, 1,654 total yards and 10 TDs.  I think this is tremendous value in the middle of round two, considering I have Darren McFadden as a top 8 PPR running back heading into 2011.  Let’s hope this owner handcuffed him with Michael Bush later in the draft.  Excellent pick.

Team @Redsoxnation88 after two rounds: Maurice Jones-Drew, Darren McFadden.

@EricPedigoGreg Jennings (#19 overall): It’s easy to fall in love with Greg Jennings after his great 2010 campaign.  My concerns with him are A) JerMichael Finley will be back for the Pack, B) Jordy Nelson’s role will expand after his tremendous playoff run, and C) I think we’ll see more of the running game.  I expect Jennings’ numbers to decline some in 2011, but this isn’t a bad pick.  I just don’t think I could take Jennings over Reggie Wayne in a PPR league when Wayne is waiving his 111 receptions in my face.  Obnoxious bastard.

Team @EricPedigo after two rounds: Ray Rice, Greg Jennings.

@RadialRebelsMiles Austin (#20 overall): This is way too high for Miles Austin.  There won’t be enough passes to go around to justify him going 20th overall.  Jason Witten, Dez Bryant and Roy Williams will all get enough targets to keep Miles Austin’s fantasy value in the WR2 range, and this pick suggests he’s a WR1.  On the bright side, Tony Romo will be back and Austin was much more productive with Romo than he was with Jon Kitna, but I still wouldn’t take Austin over guys like Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald, and Vincent Jackson in a PPR league.

Team @RadialRebels after two rounds: Jamaal Charles, Miles Austin.

@BNQuinlanAaron Rodgers (#21 overall): Twenty picks in and our first quarterback comes off the board.  Rodgers has thrown at least 28 TD passes and has rushed for at least 4 TDs in each of the past 3 seasons.  He has also thrown for at least 3,900 yards in each of the past 3 seasons, and has rushed for over 300 yards in each of the past 2 seasons.  I could go on and on about Aaron Rodgers’ awesomeness, but there really isn’t much more to say.  Quarterback is a deep position in fantasy football this year so an owner could wait to grab one, but there’s nothing wrong with landing Aaron Rodgers in the second round of any draft.

Team @BNQuinlan after two rounds: LeSean McCoy, Aaron Rodgers.

@FF101Michael Vick (#22 overall): The game Vick turned in against Washington on Monday Night Football was one of the most prolific games we’ve ever seen from a quarterback (333 pass yards, 4 pass TDs, 80 rush yards, 2 rush TDs).  You don’t need me to tell you what he’s capable of doing.  I worry about him getting hurt and I worry he reverts back to being the Atlanta version of Michael Vick, but he has upside coming out his arse.

Team @FF101 after two rounds: Adrian Peterson, Michael Vick.

@FatKat52Ryan Mathews (#23 overall): Mathews finished 2010 on a strong note, recording 222 total yards and 4 TDs in his final two games of the season.  He proved he’s a weapon in the passing game as well, catching 22 balls on the year in just 12 games while splitting time with Mike Tolbert.  Mathews has plenty of potential and I don’t hate this pick, but in a PPR league I’d lean more towards a Jahvid Best or a Peyton Hillis if I’m looking RB late in round two, both of whom caught over 55 passes in 2010.

Team @FatKat52 after two rounds: Chris Johnson, Ryan Mathews.

@EyeOfTheGatorReggie Wayne (#24 overall): Wayne  finished 3rd in targets (173) and caught 111 passes in 2010, but he won’t catch that many in 2011.  Dallas Clark and Austin Collie will both be back and they’ll cut into Wayne’s targets.  Wayne will also be 33 years old mid-season, which is cause for concern.  He’s still Peyton Manning’s right-hand man though, and shouldn’t have any problem approaching 90 receptions in 2011.  He’s been one of the best fantasy wide receivers for years now, and hasn’t missed a game since 2001.  He won’t slip this far in your PPR fantasy draft. This pick was easy.

Team @EyeOfTheGator after two rounds: Arian Foster, Reggie Wayne.

Another solid round of drafting by savvy fantasy footballers.  My only qualm is I think Miles Austin and Ryan Mathews are better suited as third round picks.  I feel they were both taken a little too high in this draft, but both of those selections were auto picks.  Had the owners actually drafted, we may have seen different selections.  Stay tuned for more Draftmaster 29 analysis this upcoming week.

You can follow me on Twitter, just don’t follow too close. It makes me nervous.

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