The web site picks' mock fantasy football league

(We're still working on the title.)

The idea is simple: simulate a fantasy football season based on the draft boards of many of the leading sports sites. I don't know if you trust the same sites that give you the stats and scores to give you the best picks in fantasy, but we'll do this anyway. I'll hold a draft involving the boards for the following sites.

During the season, we'll use ESPN.com standard scoring and rosters but use total points, not H2H. All picks will be based on the best available player on each service's draft board until late in the draft, when any positional deficiecies will be taken care of in the following order: RB, QB, WR, TE, DEF, K. After each week, any player not in the top 200 overall, and also not in the top for their position (16 for kickers, 24 for defenses, TEs, and QBs, 40 for WRs, 50 for RBs), will be autocut and new selections will be made to replace them; worst team gets the free agent with the most points, unless they need to make up positional deficiencies for any reason next week, or unless their rankings are dynamically updated. For the first week, starters are determined based on the draft board, and thereafter by most points among contending players on a team, unless rankings are dynamically updated.

Teams are listed by first-round draft order and with their first round picks, Week 1 starters in bold:

1. NFL.com: LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers
2. ESPN.com: Steven Jackson, RB, Rams
3. CBS Sports.com: Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks
4. Fox Sports.com: Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs
5. SI.com: Frank Gore, RB, 49ers
6. Yahoo: Joseph Addai, RB, Colts
7. USA Today: Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals (ends a streak of four straight picks ranked 3rd or 4th on their respective boards)
8. Sporting News: Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles

Here's the rest of the draft:

9. SN: Willie Parker, RB, Steelers
10. USAT: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
11. YAH: Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots
12. SI: Travis Henry, RB, Broncos
13. FOX: Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens
14. CBS: Reggie Bush, RB, Saints
15. ESPN: Steve Smith, WR, Panthers (ooh, slow start...)
16. NFL: Ronnie Brown, RB, Dolphins
17. NFL: Drew Brees, QB, Saints (huh? why not Palmer?)
18. ESPN: Marvin Harrison, WR, Colts (but what about a QB?)
19. CBS: Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals
20. FOX: Terrell Owens, WR, Cowboys (where to start...)
21. SI: Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals (talk about controversy)
22. YAH: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars (ditto)
23. USAT: Torry Holt, WR, Rams (both ESPN and USAT have not selected second RBs, worrying me)
24. SN: Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins (another RB controversy)
25. SN: Chad Johnson, WR, Bengals (note: no QB selected yet)
26. USAT: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
27. YAH: Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants (four! four RBs selected already!)
28. SI: Thomas Jones, RB, Jets (ditto)
29. FOX: Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts (still no QB selected, like YAH and SI)
30. CBS: Cedric Benson, RB, Bears
31. ESPN: Deuce McAllister, RB, Saints (finally select a second RB but still no QB)
32. NFL: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills
33. NFL: Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (I smell QB controversy; 26th on its board, and next would be #32 Ahman Green)
34. ESPN: Carnell Williams, RB, Buccaneers (NFL robbed ESPN of Brady for no reason)
35. CBS: Roy Williams, WR, Lions (first WR picked by CBS in this draft)
36. FOX: Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers (Fox has him ranked 26th! It is the fifth round, but shouldn't they at least take a QB first?)
37. SI: Randy Moss, WR, Patriots (finally ending the RB streak, but where's the QB?)
38. YAH: TJ Houshmandzadeh, WR, Bengals (ditto)
39. USAT: Marion Barber III, RB, Cowboys (last team to take a second RB)
40. SN: Javon Walker, WR, Broncos
41. SN: Donald Driver, WR, Packers (when will they take a QB?)
42. USAT: Plaxico Burress, WR, Giants (third WR taken, suggesting a WR-centric strategy)
43. YAH: Marques Colston, WR, Saints (still need a QB)
44. SI: Andre Johnson, WR, Texans (ditto, and Bulger is next on SI board... where will he go after 5 1/2?)
45. FOX: Ahman Green, RB, Texans (also still need a QB)
46. CBS: Marc Bulger, QB, Rams (as with NFL, a QB controversy)
47. ESPN: Jamal Lewis, RB, Browns (ranked ahead of Bulger on ESPN board)
48. NFL: Anquan Boldin, WR, Cardinals (last team to take a WR, after 3 RBs and 2 QBs)
49. NFL: Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
50. ESPN: Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings (ahead of Peterson on ESPN board)
51. CBS: Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles (ESPN rules allow a max 4 QBs, so CBS can only take one more!)
52. FOX: Julius Jones, RB, Cowboys (thru 7 rounds, Fox has 4 RBs, 2 WRs, and a TE, but is one of five with no QBs when CBS has three! There should be only two no-QB teams! I need to add a trade rule)
53. SI: Lee Evans, WR, Bills (three straight WRs after four straight RBs)
54. YAH: Jerious Norwood, RB, Cardinals (five! five RBs in just seven rounds!)
55. USAT: Kellen Winslow II, TE, Browns (USAT has had a very balanced draft, with a third WR instead of RB the only shortcoming, including being one of only three with a QB)
56. SN: Tony Gonzalez, TE, Chiefs
57. SN: Darrell Jackson, WR, 49ers (Through 8: 3 RB, 4 WR, 1 TE. Shortcomings: QB, DEF, K.)
58. USAT: Jeremy Shockey, TE, Giants (Through 8: 2 RB, 1 QB, 3 WR, 2 TE. Shortcomings: DEF, K.)
59. YAH: Hines Ward, WR, Steelers (Through 8: 5 RB, 3 WR. Shortcomings: QB, TE, DEF, K.)
60. SI: Lavernaues Coles, WR, Jets (Through 8: 4 RB, 4 WR. Shortcomings: QB, TE, DEF, K. Very streaky with streaks of 4 straight RBs and WRs.)
61. FOX: Brandon Jackson, RB, Packers (Through 8: 5 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE. Shortcomings: QB, DEF, K.)
62. CBS: Jon Kitna, QB, Lions (Through 8: 4 QB, 3 RB, 1 WR. Shortcomings: WR, TE, DEF, K. That's it, CBS can't take any more QBs. Now there should only be one QB-less team.)
63. ESPN: Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks (ESPN should have picked up a QB a long time ago, but now at least half the teams have QBs. Through 8: 1 QB, 5 RB, 2 WR. Shortcomings: TE, DEF, K. After three rounds with only one RB, ESPN went on a four straight RB tear.)
64. NFL: Tatum Bell, RB, Lions (Through 8: 2 QB, 5 RB, 1 WR. Shortcomings: WR, TE, DEF, K.)

NFL: DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers (to think I thought the 8 RB limit wouldn't be a factor!) ESPN: Ladell Betts, RB, Redskins (ditto) CBS: Reggie Brown, WR, Eagles (both Vince Young and Philip Rivers are ranked ahead of him, making this the first intervention; can they not be far on the other lists? Corrects WR shortcoming.) FOX: Deion Branch, WR, Seahawks SI: Santana Moss, WR, Redskins YAH: Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions USAT: Todd Heap, TE, Ravens (After following very good strategy for most of the first half, USAT falls apart with three straight TEs. That's the maximum.) SN: Chris Chambers, WR, Dolphins SN: Braylon Edwards, WR, Browns USAT: DeShawn Foster, RB, Panthers YAH: Fred Taylor, RB, Jaguars SI: Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys (Corrects QB shortcoming. But this seems a little risky, even if he is next on CBS after Young and Rivers.) FOX: Terry Glenn, WR, Cowboys CBS: Mark Clayton, WR, Ravens ESPN: Joey Galloway, WR, Buccaneers NFL: Vince Young, QB, Titans NFL: Phillp Rivers, QB, Chargers (NFL.com takes both QBs passed up by CBS and hits the four-QB limit itself) ESPN: Alge Crumpler, TE, Falcons (Corrects TE shortcoming.) CBS: Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers FOX: Bears Defense (69th on FOX board. First D off the board in 11th round.) SI: Lamont Jordan, RB, Raiders YAH: Warrick Dunn, RB, Falcons (7th RB taken by YAH) USAT: Eli Manning, QB, Giants (Enforced pass-up of Redskins TE Chris Cooley. Second QB taken by USAT when four teams still go without.) SN: Donte Stallworth, WR, Patriots (7th WR taken by SN and 4th straight.) SN: Bernard Berrian, WR, Bears (SN becomes first team to hit 8 WR limit with its 5th straight WR. Shortcomings: QB, DEF, K. May have to start enforced position selection Round 14.) USAT: Brett Favre, QB, Packers (Enforced pass-up of L.J. Smith and Randy McMichael. What is Favre doing here in the 12th round? 3rd USAT QB. Shortcomings: DEF, K. Potential EPS starting Round 15.) YAH: Chris Cooley, TE, Redskins (Takes care of TE need. Shortcomings: QB, DEF, K. Potential EPS starting Round 14.) SI: LenDale White, RB, Titans (6 RB, 5 WR, 1 QB. Shortcomings: TE, DEF, K. Potential EPS starting Round 14.) FOX: Kevin Jones, RB, Lions (Shortcomings: QB, K. Potential EPS starting Round 15.) CBS: Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets (Shortcomings: TE, DEF, K. Potential EPS starting Round 14.) ESPN: Joe Horn, WR, Falcons (Shortcomings: DEF, K. Potential EPS starting Round 15.) NFL: Ravens Defense (Enforced pass-up of Matt Leinart. This is everything that's right about caps because this actually takes care of a need. Shortcomings: WR, TE, K. Potential EPS starting Round 14.)

NFL: Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers (Corrects TE shortcoming, delays EPS to Round 15.) ESPN: Isaac Bruce, WR, Rams CBS: Benjamin Watson, TE, Patriots (Also passes up Matt Leinart, but delays EPS to Round 15.) FOX: Patriots Defense (How greedy to take a second defense you'll practically never use when you really need a QB!) SI: Matt Leinart, QB, Cardinals (Will engage in EPS Round 14.) YAH: Kevin Curtis, WR, Eagles (Will engage in EPS Round 14.) USAT: Devery Henderson, WR, Saints SN: Vernand Morency, RB, Packers SN: Ben Roethlsiberger, QB, Steelers (Forced selection due to positional deficiency.) USAT: Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots (USAT has him 91st on its board! This is only an 8-team draft and it's still only the 14th round of 16! But that means the only EPS would be DEF in Round 16 if one isn't taken in the 15th.) YAH: Jay Cutler, QB, Broncos (Forced selection due to positional deficiency.) SI: Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys (Forced selection due to positional deficiency.) FOX: Chargers Defense (WTF? That's the third defense, that's the limit! Now we have to wait for the 15th for an EPS QB! CBS: Leon Washington, RB, Jets (Will engage in EPS Round 15.) ESPN: L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles (Will engage in EPS Round 15.) NFL: Chris Brown, RB, Titans NFL: D.J. Hackett, WR, Seahawks (EPS kicked in just in time, because the next player available on the board, Ben Roethlisberger, had enforced pass-up on him, and was 100th out of 100.) ESPN: Jaguars Defense (Forced selection due to positional deficiency.) CBS: Steelers Defense (Forced selection due to positional deficiency.) FOX: Alex Smith, QB, 49ers (Forced selection due to positional deficiency.) SI: Broncos Defense (Forced selection due to positional deficiency.) YAH: Dolphins Defense (Forced selection due to positional deficiency.) USAT: JP Losman, QB, Bills SN: Panthers Defense (Forced selection due to positional deficiency. Amazingly, this is the first 15th round defense to be ranked behind another 15th round defense.) SN: Nate Kaeding, K, Chargers (All Round 16 selections are forced.) USAT: Cowboys Defense YAH: Jeff Wilkins, K, Rams (Ranked ahead of Kaeding.) SI: Robbie Gould, K, Bears FOX: Matt Stover, K, Ravens (Ranked ahead of Gould.) CBS: Jason Elam, K, Broncos (Placed third among kickers behind Wilkins and Vinaitieri.) ESPN: Shayne Graham, K, Bengals (Ditto.) NFL: Neil Rackers, K, Cardinals (Ranked ahead of Stover, Elam, and Graham. "Mr. Irrelavent" himself.)

Random, poorly-remembered thoughts from my first day in LA

One thing has stood out about my trip to LA to hang out with my dad so far.

Early on, he talked about the air quality in the suburbs, and gave me the impression he could tell when the air was heavily polluted just by breathing it. I started thinking he was some sort of hippie "connection to nature" guy.

Yesterday I went on a sojourn to Hollywood and came back with a very scratchy throat, guzzling water like mad when I came back. How on Earth can natives live just ignoring such air?

My trip has mostly centered around two trips, the one above and one where I was basically driven around the Santa Monica area.

Housing prices are insane. When I lived in LA we lived in a decent sized apartment with two bedrooms in Venice proper. My dad lives further from the sea in a secluded, behind-a-larger-house, cramped, studio apartment, where I force him to sleep on the floor, for more than it cost to live in our previous apartment and for about $100/month more than it costs my mom and me to live in a two-bedroom in Seattle. He talked to me yesterday about the possibility that, if traffic worsens too much and too many condo projects in places like downtown are built and sold to rich people, poorer people could find themselves unable to live near work and unable to get there from anywhere else.

I might have firmer thoughts later in the week.