Archived Show Audio
This week we welcomed ESPN
columnist Adam Rittenberg to our show that airs every Thursday night on the Fantasy
Sports Channel. Anyone who reads Adam’s Big Ten blog with regularity knows that
he’s the best in the business when it comes to inside information on the conference.
His breaking news, interviews and profiles provide college football fans and fantasy
owners with an inside look at the Big Ten. And with spring practice coming to a
close we felt Mr. Rittenberg would provide some interesting nuggets on recent developments;
this was certainly the case.
While we’re always anxious to begin a draft at first opportunity we couldn’t help
but start by peppering Adam with some questions that have been on the minds of fantasy
owners this spring.
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Big Ten Draft Results
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Round 1 |
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RB Evan Royster, Penn St. - Adam R
RB John Clay, Wisconsin - Brian M.
RB Jewel Hampton, Iowa - Alex E.
QB Terrelle Pryor, Ohio St. - Jim B |
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Round 2 |
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TE Garrett Graham, Wisconsin - Jim B.
QB Daryll Clark, Penn State - Alex E.
QB Juice Williams, Illinois - Brian M.
QB Adam Weber, Minnesota - Adam R. |
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Round 3 |
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RB Brandon Minor, Michigan - Adam R.
WR Eric Decker, Minnesota - Brian M.
TE Charlie Gantt, Michigan St. - Alex E.
WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois - Jim B. |
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Round 4 |
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WR David Gilreath, Wisconsin - Jim B.
WR Keshawn Martin, MSU - Alex E.
RB Stephen Simmons, NW - Brian M.
WR Blair White, Michigan St. - Adam R. |
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Round 5 |
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TE M. Hoomanawanui, Ill - Adam R.
WR D.Johnson-Koulianos, Ia - Brian M.
RB Edwin Baker, Michigan St. - Alex E.
K Brett Swenson, Michigan St. - Jim B. |
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Round 6 |
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D Iowa - Jim B
D Penn State - Alex E.
D Ohio State - Brian M.
D Northwestern - Adam R. |
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Round 7 |
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WR Nick Toon, Wisconsin - Adam R.
K Philip Welch, Wisconsin - Brian M.
K Aaron Pettrey, Ohio State - Alex E.
RB Duane Bennett, Minnesota - Jim B. |
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Round 8 |
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RB Zach Brown, Wisconsin - Jim B.
WR DeVier Posey, Ohio State - Alex E.
TE Kyle Adams, Purdue - Brian M.
K Matt Eller, Illinois - Adam R. |
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-What’s the outlook for Mike Kafka, and how might the Northwestern attack differ
from a season ago?
-Who's Adam's pick as a sleeper wide receiver in the conference?
-Are we staring at a split-carry scenario in Columbus?
And in addition to player-specific news we also gathered some interesting team tidbits
that will definitely impact fantasy performance. Adam spoke of a rediscovered "edginess"
in Columbus led by Michigan OL transfer Justin Boren. Our guest from ESPN also spoke
of the growing quarterback depth that has been lacking in the Big Ten the last several
years.
Big Ten Draft Notes
Adam led off the draft and he nabbed Penn State's Evan Royster, a back likely to
be the Big Ten’s steadiest. Afraid I'd come back to find the running back pickings
slim I went after Wisconsin’s John Clay, though I was certainly aware of Zach Brown's
potential for vultured carries. Alex then tabbed Iowa running back Jewel Hampton
to lead his squad, leaving Jim thrilled that Terrelle Pryor was still on the board
at the end of round one.
Back and forth we went for seven more rounds, and when the dust had cleared a few
developments stood out:
-Proud Spartan alum Alex believes in staying true to his school. Thankfully Blake
Ezor wasn’t draft-eligible.
-Jim doesn’t subscribe to the theory that running backs are that valuable in a fantasy
league, and starters can be had at the very end of the draft.
-For never having playing college fantasy football Adam seems to have handle on
this thing, further emphasizing that what we do sure isn't brain surgery.
-And yet again, I can say without reservation or bias, that I have the best team,
though our Big Ten expert did call me out a bit on Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and
the receiver's current residence in Kirk Ferentz’s doghouse.
Final Results
Here are the results and we ask you, our loyal readers...who wins this league?
Adam R.: QB Weber, RB Royster, RB Minor, WR B. White, WR Toon, TE Homanawanui,
K Eller, D Northwestern
Brian M.: QB Williams, RB Clay, RB Simmons, WR Decker, WR Johnson-Koulianos,
TE Adams, K Welch, D Ohio State
Alex E.: QB Clark, RB Hampton, RB Baker, WR K. Martin, WR Posey, TE Gantt,
K Pettrey, D Penn State
Jim B.: QB Pryor, RB Bennett, RB Z. Brown, WR Benn, WR Gilreath, TE Graham,
K Swenson, D Iowa