FANTASY!!!

Since 2002, I've participated in a fantasy football league with friends from college. It started as a 10 team league and has grown over to the years to include 12, 14, 16, 18 and now 16 members again. Most people in the league (we've had male and female owners), are savvy, and the league is always competitive. I'm yet to win the league, but over the years I do feel that I've managed one of the most successful teams in the league - aside 2008, when I spent my first pick on Tom Brady, who played all of one quarter of that season.

We had our draft - an online snake draft - on Wednesday night, and I came away more than satisfied with my team. In order of round selected, here are my guys:

1. Jamal Charles
2. LeGarrette Blount
3. Matt Schaub
4. Wes Welker
5. Ryan Mathews
6. Johnny Knox
7. Kellen Winslow
8. Thomas Jones
9. Montario Hardesty
10. Matt Cassel
11. San Deigo D/ST
12. Todd Heap
13. Toby Gerhart
14. Nick Folk
15. Eric Decker

I enjoyed that we have just 15 selections - makes sense given the depth of the league not to have the extra bench slot. I'm psyched I was able to get both Charles and Blount - two RBs who should be highly productive - as well as Mathews - who I like more this season than most - while still getting one of the top 7 or 8 QBs. My WRs are thin, but I know I can count on Welker, Decker may be a huge sleeper, and there are always receivers on the waiver wire. I wish I had passed on Winslow to take another high grade backup RB - there were TEs available later I could have snatched instead after selecting Cassel.

This may be false hope, but I'm entering the season with as much confidence as I can remember in my fantasy team*, which of course means that I'm destined for the consolation playoff bracket.

*That's probably not true. I had LaDanian Tomlinson two years in a row in his prime - and of course my teams fell apart each of those times too.