By JIMMY D / Jimmy's NFL fantasy Jackals are born | Jimmy's archive

Jimmy’s Jackals look like fantasy gems

Ronnie Brown.

Jimmy had the No. 5 overall pick in his recent fantasy football meat market and called out the name of the former Auburn hammerhead.

A few raised eyebrows and catcalls from the peanut gallery.

But after the usual suspects were taken from one to four, Jimmy had a choice between Steven Jackson (not sure he’ll get enough touches in pass-happy St. Louis), Edgerrin James in Arizona and Raider LaMont Jordan, from whom Jimmy has been predicting bad things a year after he averaged just 3.8 yards per carry.

So the Dolphin RB better not hit the sophomore slump, or Jimmy could be in trouble.

With the draft order heading back to the Jimmyville Jackals and with QBs and WRs starting to fly off the board, Jimmy stuck to his game plan of RBs with his top two picks.

Eagle Brian Westbrook

A dazzler whether carrying or catching the ball, Westbrook was Jimmy’s second pick. Philly QB Donovan McNabb loves him and the Eagles have pledged to get him more carries. He has not shown great durability, but has a nose for the endzone.

Picking third and with the top QBs and WRs all gone, Jimmy opted for a player so far ahead of everyone else at his position, that it was worth the early move.

Charger TE Antonio Gates

Went to Jimmyville, bringing 12-15 TDs and 1,000+ yards guaranteed. With new QB Philip Rivers learning the ropes, Jimmy felt the Gates relief valve would be used early and often. Gates went off the board in the late second or early third rounds in hundreds of online pools, so this was not a reach.
The run on WRs was continuing and Jimmy had to join the fray at No. 4.

Seattle WR Darrell Jackson

Missed 10 games in 2005, but came back strong and will be Matt Hasselbeck’s favourite target. Jimmy gambled heading to the fifth and sixth rounds, figuring he could land one of the second-tier QBs and one of the remaining starting RBs if he played his cards right – and if the rest of the dumb-dumbs in his league didn’t catch on.

49er RB Frank Gore

He was still there at No. 5 and too tempting to pass up. True this was Jimmy’s third RB, but depth plus trade bait plus bye weeks made this the best move.
Jimmy had him rated in the Julius Jones range of picks, and Jones had gone two rounds earlier. (By the way, beware Marion Barber hogging all the TDs if you own Jones).
Gore averaged 4.8 yards per carry last year and Kevan Barlow’s trade to New York ensured the starting gig is his.

And as scheduled, both Chief pivot Trent Green and Denver chucker Jake Plummer were on the board in the sixth. Jimmy grabbed Green, who owns three straight 4,000+ yard seasons, although admittedly, Jimmy had intended to pick Jake and screwed up. Hopefully, this click-of-the-mouse error is kind to the Jackals.

Since you need three starting WRs each week, it was time to get busy and plucking some mid-round gems that had been passed over by the IHOTG (I-Heard-of-That-Guy) crowd of poolsters.

Green Bay’s Donald Driver

Has put up excellent numbers the past few seasons, nearly 90 grabs and over 1,200 yards each season. Getting him at No. 7 was a steal.
Jimmy let his Eagle infatuation and projections of grandeur get the better of him at No. 8, although other poolies were sniffing around.

Eagle Donte Stallworth

Traded last week from the Saints to Philly, fits the bill as a speedy and legitimate No. 2 WR for McNabb. He would not have lasted to the next round, so this was Jimmy’s lone chance to turn Stallworth into a Jackal.
By round nine, most of the top team defences had been scooped and Jimmy jumped in to grab the Seattle defensive unit. Jimmy had the Seahawks rated at No. 5 and got them after 10 other teams had been plucked, so, on paper anyway, this was a good deal.

Jimmy let his backup QB situation simmer until almost all the reliable pivots were gone. In the end, question marks like Mark Brunell, Chris Simms and Steve McNair were left and Jimmy chose Air McNair. He has plenty to prove after the shaft job he got in Tennessee and has talented Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton as wideouts and RBs Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson to balance things.

At kicker, Jimmy again waited very late and got a steal with strong-legged Jeff Wilkins of the Rams. He has nailed 12 of 14 from 50+ the past three seasons and has been durable in a potent offence.

Rounding out Jimmy’s bench:
Eric Moulds, WR, Texans – a former No. 1 in a new home
David Givens, WR, Titans – not sure who is throwing it, but the former Patriot can catch it
Wali Lundy, RB, Texans – remember last week when Jimmy warned you about Domanick Davis and alerted you to rookie Lundy? Nobody in Jimmy’s pool was paying attention, we grabbed him at No. 14.
Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers – talented rookie TE was 6th overall in NFL draft and Jimmy’s backup TE

Jimmy Pick Em Contest

For everyone who has emailed about the NFL pool, it is still in limbo. Jimmy has last-ditch discussions with a potential sponsor this week. If it comes through, we will start the contest in Week 2 and you can all take your fantasy swings at Jimmy D.

Stay busy, stay lucky.

JimmyD

JPoole@Herald.ca