Dave Richard is a diehard football fan and lives the dream as one of the few full-time fantasy writers in the business. Richard handles sports news and analysis for Fantasy Football at CBSSports.com and is one of many members of Pro Football Writers of America who I imagine will take cookies and pizza as bribes. The Florida native’s team takes some departures from the trends I’ve seen with most of the RSP Writers’ Teams I’ve seen thus far.
Richard invested in an upper echelon left tackle, took an unusual combination of tight ends, and invested in many rookies that I think will develop into underrated role players within the next few years. Two that come to mind immediately are Redskins ‘tweener Alfred Morris and Browns receiver Travis Benjamin – both players from Florida colleges. Stay tuned tomorrow for Richard’s Q&A where he discusses his team.
Dave Richard’s Depth Chart
| Quarterback Depth Chart | ||||
| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system) |
| QB1 | Andrew Luck | 12.5 | Going young with the best quarterback prospect since Manning. Arm speaks for itself, football smarts are off the charts and he’s healthy. A no-brainer. | |
| QB2 | Matt Hasselbeck | 5.5 | Important to have quality backup. This one comes with lots of experience to aid Luck in his early development. Worth the money. | |
| QB3 | 0 | No third quarterback. We’ll carry someone on our practice-squad. | ||
Note: Teams were asked to carry three quarterbacks, but due to a miscommunication with an email, I let this slide with a few writers. Three quarterbacks are preferred.
| Running Back Depth Chart | ||||
| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| RB1 | Trent Richardson | 7.5 | Fresh legs, dynamic skill set, forces opponents to pay attention to him, can play 40-plus snaps per game no problem. | |
| RB2 | Chris Ivory | 2 | Physical backup to spell Richardson, also has young legs. | |
| RB3 | Alfred Morris | 1 | Needed a third back, found one with excellent college experience and is in the mold of our first two physical running backs. | |
| Wide Receiver Depth Chart
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| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| WR1 | Tori Gurley | 0.5 | Fifth receiver with some upside. | |
| WR2 | Travis Benjamin | 2.5 | Deep-ball receiver and return-man extraordinaire. Might be closer to Devin Hester than Roscoe Parrish. | |
| WR3 | Demaryius Thomas | 6 | Star receiver. Unreal skills. Will take the chance he won’t get hurt. | |
| WR4 | Golden Tate | 1.5 | Should battle for No. 2 job. | |
| WR5 | Brandon LaFell | 3 | Should battle for No. 2 job. | |
| Fullback and Tight End Depth Chart
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| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| TE1 | WR | Coby Fleener | 2.5 | Had to get Luck’s top target, but he’ll be flexed out in this offense more often than not. Don’t see him as an in-line blocker. |
| TE2 | Delanie Walker | 2 | Versatile, underrated monster tight end. Very good blocker, deceptive receiving target in the red zone. | |
| Michael Egnew | 0.5 | Backup for Fleener. Liked his game a lot in college, has the measurables to be a headache for defenses. | ||
| Tackle Depth Chart
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| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| LT1 | Ryan Clady | 10 | Must protect Luck. Strong, affordable choice. | |
| RT1 | Jonathan Martin | 5 | Familiar with scheme, young. | |
| RT2 | Bobby Massie | 3 | Swing tackle | |
| Guard Depth Chart | ||||
| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| RG1 | David DeCastro | 7 | Will work on teaching him left guard but for now he’ll mow people down from right guard. | |
| LG2 | Johnnie Troutman | 1.5 | Backup lineman | |
| LG1 | Backup T | Kevin Boothe | 1 | Experienced offensive lineman, will start at left guard and could play tackle in a pinch. |
| Center Depth Chart | ||||
| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| C1 | JD Walton | 1 | “Good enough” center who can understand a defensive front. | |
| C2 | Backup G | Ben Jones | 1 | Physical backup with some versatility. |
| Cornerback and Safety Depth Chart
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| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system) |
| FS1 | Earl Thomas | 6 | Versatile free safety a MUST in our hybrid defense. | |
| SS1 | Bernard Pollard | 4 | Experienced strong safety is good enough to start. | |
| SS2 | George Iloka | 1.5 | Young talent with versatility and size. Might work as a dime back. | |
| FS2 | Chris Prosinski | 1 | Raw but fast | |
| LCB2 | Buster Skrine | 1 | Young backup learning from Jammer. | |
| LCB1 | Quentin Jammer | 4.5 | Starting left cornerback. Last year a mirage after off-field issues plagued his preparation. Should be improved. | |
| RCB2 | Nickel CB | Joselio Hanson | 2.5 | Pretty much a career nickelback, so I don’t mind him for that role with our team. |
| RCB2 | Ras-I Dowling | 1 | Let’s see what he can do. Good backup, have to make sure he’s healthy. Like him better as a backup. | |
| RCB1 | Tracy Porter | 3 | Starting right cornerback, assuming he can hold off camp competition. Has come up big on the biggest stage. | |
| DeMarcus Van Dyke | 1 | Satisfies my need for a young corner and a Miami Hurricane. | ||
| Linebacker Depth Chart
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| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| Von Miller | 9.5 | Jewel of our hybrid defense: Will never leave the field, will constantly pressure quarterback from all over the place. | ||
| James Anderson | 3 | Versatile linebacker who’s probably better versus. the run than the pass but can get after the quarterback. | ||
| Bobby Wagner | 4.5 | Loved him in college, and I see him as a capable run stuffer with some versatility. | ||
| Sean Spence | 3 | Loved him in college too. A bit undersized but plays with heart and has some smarts to him. | ||
| Antwan Barnes | 3.5 | Specifically a backup for Miller. Nowhere near as good but showed some explosion last year. | ||
| Chris Chamberlain | 0.5 | Special-teams contributor and very capable backup. Had 81 tackles, two sacks last year for woeful St. Louis. | ||
| Kirk Morrison | 0.5 | Veteran tackler won’t start for us but will participate and help the young players, specifically Wagner. | ||
| Philip Wheeler | 1 | Another veteran backup who can help vs. the run on the field and tutor young LBs off the field. | ||
| Defensive End and Tackle Depth Chart
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| Starting Position | Role (optional) | Name | Value | Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system) |
| Kamerion Wimbley | 7 | Needed a second pass rusher to go with Miller, especially when we’re in the 4-3. Wimbley can play anywhere, seems rejuvenated. | ||
| Jared Odrick | 3 | Versatile end probably better suited for 3-4 but will get work in our 4-3 front. | ||
| Isaac Sopoaga | 5 | Meat in the middle. | ||
| Terrence Cody | 1 | More meat in the middle. | ||
| Ziggy Hood | 1 | Even more meat on the D-line. | ||
| Corey Liuget | 0.5 | Big young 3-4 end. | ||
| Thomas Keiser | 1 | Special-teams contributor and defender in a pinch. | ||
| Jermaine Cunningham | 0.5 | Meat | ||
| Torell Troup | 0.5 | Meat | ||
| Final Special Teams Roster | ||||
| Kicker and Punter Depth Chart | ||||
| Starters | Name | Value | Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?) | |
| K1 | John Kasay | 1.5 | Made at least 81 pct. of kicks in each of last six seasons. | |
| P1 | Pat McAfee | 1.5 | Averaged a career-best 46.6 yards per punt in 2011. | |
| Kick Coverage Team | |||
| Role (optional) | Name | Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?) | |
| OU1 | Demarcus Van Dyke | ||
| OU2 | George Iloka | ||
| OU3 | Sean Spence | ||
| OU4 | Ras-I Dowling | ||
| OU5 | Tori Gurley | ||
| OU6 | Chris Prosinski | ||
| IN1 | John Kasay | ||
| IN2 | Kirk Morrison | ||
| IN3 | Thomas Keisel | ||
| IN4 | Phillip Wheeler | ||
| IN5 | Chris Chamberlain | ||
| Punt Coverage Team | |||
| Role (optional) | Name | Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?) | |
| Gunner(SE1) | George Iloka | ||
| Gunner(SE2) | Sean Spence | ||
| RG | Johnnie Troutman | ||
| LS | Ben Jones | ||
| LG | Jermaine Cunningham | ||
| SB1 | Chris Prosinski | ||
| SB2 | Ras-I Dowling | ||
| RT | Phillip Wheeler | ||
| LT | Kirk Morrison | ||
| Backup | Chris Chamberlain | ||
| PP | Thomas Keiser | ||
