| Take a look at the full GRID screenshot below, representing a point-in-time of a live draft. Then take a look at how three different levels of users (basic, advanced, expert) might use it for their strategy.
Note: This case study applies to scenarios from 2007 Football. However the case study is every bit as powerful in illustrating just how useful The Grid can be for any sport in any year.
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Basic User
- You are team #9, and you are on the clock.
- There is a run on running backs right out of the gate (blue squares). There seems to be a decent stream of running backs available through the first four rounds, then there seems to be a dry stretch. So by a quick look at the grid, its obvious you must get your two starting running backs in the first four rounds.
- Peyton Manning, the best QB, is there for the taking. You see that his bye week of 6 does not conflict with any of the RBs behind him that you may take in round 2. Quarterbacks (orange squares) are relatively scarce throughout the first 7 rounds, so you decide to lock up the best QB right here and now.
- For your next pick you willl likely choose one of the best RBs left, and maybe do the same in the 3rd round. However, the power of THE GRID is the ability to re-evaluate the situation after each and every pick. You are using one screen to analyze everything, while others are scrambling through all their magazines or internet printouts, hunting for players on their lists after each and every pick to cross them off. You simply double-click each pick and in two seconds you are right back to examining the situation leading up to your next pick.
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Advanced User
- You are team #9, and you are on the clock.
- Running backs are going fast. You believe that Reggie Bush and Willis McGahee end the current tier of RBs, and you like both of them this year (see the green up arrows). You likely can get both of them with this and your next pick, thereby not being hampered by playing catch-up at RB, free to pursue top-5 talent at other positions.
- But Manning, the best QB, is there for the taking, and he has already slipped one spot lower than he was expected (see the +1).
- However, if you take Manning, you will get just one of this tier of running backs, and most of the next tier will also be gone by your 3rd rounder. In this case you will be playing catch-up at RB; you could choke and reach way too early for a sleeper, or take a non-top-20 guy you don’t even like.
- So before you take Manning, look ahead to what RBs you might get later. Two of the RBs predicted to go around your 3rd pick are Edgerrin James and Brandon Jacobs, both of whom you like this year (see the arrow and heart icons). But if those guys happen to go before you pick, suddenly you have only one RB and nobody is there that you like in round 3. Very risky. The point of THE GRID is you do not take a guy that feels wrong and pray he doesn’t put you in a hole; any chump with a magazine can do that.
- You could reach for Marshawn Lynch in the 3rd round, but A) You feel that’s reaching for him a little to early, B) You’re not ready to rely on a rookie RB starter, and C) you notice that he and Manning share the same bye week (6); you don’t want two of your first three picks out the same week. Your strategy coming into the draft was two good RBs early, and a top-5 QB. But you also need to look forward and think about receivers. Many of the receivers sitting there in rounds 3-5 where you’ll start drafting them all have byes the same week as Manning (Harrison, Wayne, Walker, Williams, Evans, Jackson, Ward).
- All this is telling you one thing: don’t take Manning. You could luck out and have Brees or Brady fall to you in the 3rd round. If not, you see that near the 11th round there are several quarterbacks you value this year in Leinart, Kitna, and Roethlisberger. Once you settle on getting one of those guys you can get two RBs early, and then you’re dictating your draft. If you get Manning, you’ll be fighting out of a hole for too long: destined to get a poor second running back, running a round late on WRs, missing out on elite talent at tight end and even defense.
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Expert User
- You’re team #9, and you’re on the clock.
- Suppose none of the scenarios you run through make you happy. Further suppose you know that team 6 is crazy about Manning and Indianapolis (he did take Addai after all). Try to trade your 1st round pick for his 2nd-rounder, and swapping yours and his picks in the 3rd and 5th rounds. Why would he do it? To have two first round picks, lose only a 2nd and a couple slots in 3 and 5, and get a player he absolutely loves? The truth is, you could probably get more. So why would you do it? Read on.
- You weren’t crazy about Manning anyway after thinking through the scenario, so it’s not hard to see him go anyway. With your 2nd-round pick you’ll still get one of the Running Backs you like, only at better value. That’s what the green arrows tell you; you like McGahee and Bush better than some of those above, but can wait a little longer.
- Then with team #6’s 2nd rounder which is now yours, several things can happen. Someone might make a reach; one surprise pick and you’ll get two running backs you like anyway. Even though that’s no certainty, you can always fall back on Travis Henry. After all, you like him this year (green arrow), and it’s not as much of a reach as it would be several picks earlier.
- Thanks to the trade, in the 3rd round you’ve improved three slots, greatly increasing the chance that a top-5 QB will fall to you at a great value. (Brees or Brady). If so, you’ve nailed your strategy with two RBs you like early and a top 5 QB. Remember, all the scenarios before the trade convinced you this strategy simply wasn’t going to happen.
- Then you have round 4, where you have the second pick in the round. There’s a couple guys you love in Wayne and Jacobs (heart icons) that stand a good chance of falling to you. If not, the elite Antonio Gates would sure look great in your lineup at tight end, and you can afford to go for it.
- Finally, you still have improved a few slots in round 5 thanks to the trade. As an expert user of THE GRID you made this part of the trade on purpose. You knew you’d be targeting WRs this round. You also saw that a run of them is likely near the end of round 4. At your old slot you were closer to the end of this run, likely to miss two players you like in Lee Evans and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (green arrows). Three picks earlier you have a good shot to get one. Coming around in round 6 you can grab another green arrow guy in Moss, Ward, or if need be, Jackson.
- Picture yourself through round 6, potentially having McGahee, Henry, Brees, Gates, Houshmandzadeh & Moss. Now, YOU personally may not like these guys, but the point is that the expert user in this scenario likes them. He used THE GRID to decide he didn’t like the scenarios at pick 9, and then traded on the name of Peyton Manning to pinpoint specific trade pieces that could help him. Every pick through round 6 this drafter landed a starter he really likes, at just the right time, none of whom share a bye week. Imagine feeling that way about every fantasy draft you ever do.
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