Draft Slot #1
5 Round Strategy: RB, RB, QB, RB, WR

In smaller leagues, those super-studs like Holmes may not have the major difference of larger leagues, but by the same token you need advantages everywhere to remain consistently high-scoring.

Doubled up with Michael Bennett (2) before landing Culpepper in the 3rd round. With Stephen Davis still on the board in the 4th, snagged him prior to still getting Boldin (5) and then Robinson (6). This team used his starting slot well, netting Holmes and Culpepper for the #1 players in their positions (the highest scoring as well) and the wait on receivers did not hurt with a starting trio of Boldin, Robinson and Chambers. Crumpler, Akers and MIA will also remain average at worst and likely above that. The only "hole" at all in this plan, if it is one, is that those backup receivers (M. Robinson and Keyshawn) are not likely to have a breakout season and with small leagues, taking a few risks here is perfectly fine.

Starters: Culpepper, Holmes, Bennett, Boldin, Robinson, Chambers, Crumpler, Akers and MIA

Grade: B+

Draft Slot #2
5 Round Strategy: RB, RB, QB, WR, TE

Started with Tomlinson and paired him with Rudi Johnson (2). Like team #1, grabbed top QB in Manning (3) but then went after Joe Horn (4). Value pick in the 5th landed Todd Heap.

Ended up like Team #1 with arguably the two best players in the two highest scoring positions and took an upside risk on Chris Brown. Did the same with Lelie as a backup WR and also with Clark to backup Heap. Has top defense in NE and an always solid kicker in Elam. While this team is slightly less "solid" in RB and WR backups than team #1, he took great upside risks on Steven Jackson, Chris Brown and Ashley Lelie who could all suddenly become mega-starters if conditions are right. They may not, but Givens and Buckhalter cover him with at least some weekly numbers at worst.

Has top difference makers at all positions other than WR but with an eye for the waiver wire or some luck, he could be more than fine there anyway.

Starters: Manning, Tomlinson, R Johnson, Horn, A Johnson, J Smith, Heap, Elam, NE

Grade: A-

Draft Slot #3
5 Round Strategy: RB, RB, WR, WR, QB

Started out with McAllister and Domanick Davis and then double dipped into WR's with Owens and Mason. Took Trent Green as the fourth QB taken which was unnecessary - he would have easily been there three rounds or more later.

Ended up with two QB's that will likely not be a difference maker, two good RB's but has smaller, injury prone guys in Westbrook and D Davis and Suggs and Wheatley are riskier picks than needed. Strong WR's make up the best component of the team but the rest is very likely average. This is a team that will need to watch the waiver wire to improve since the lack of top difference makers will make consistent high scores tough to reach let alone maintain. Team has no players that are better than top 4 or 5 in their position.

Starters: T Green, McAllister, D Davis, Owens, Mason, Bruce, McMichael, Janikowski and JAX

Grade:C

Draft Slot #4
5 Round Strategy: RB, WR, WR, RB, QB

Started out with Ahman Green and then swooped up Tory Holt (2) and Chad Johnson (3) before finally nabbing RB2 with Tiki Barber in the 4th. Found Donovan McNabb still there in the 5th and landed Shockey in the 6th for a nice start.

Ended up with a pretty solid team even for a small league with perhaps the best QB duo, Ahman Green and some solid yet unspectacular other RB's, two top WR's with Porter, A Davis and R. Williams to decide which one emerges as the best WR3. Shockey grants him good points from the TE slot if he stays healthy and Kinney should be solid regardless. The only thing preventing the team from a top grade is that other than Ahman Green, there is likely no RB2 that will emerge as a stud this year. Most have limited if any upside and a fresh rookie or riskier play at RB depth may have paid bigger dividends trying to get a difference maker to emerge.

Starters: McNabb, A Green, Barber, Holt, C Johnson, Porter, Shockey, Feely and CAR

Grade: B

Draft Slot #5
5 Round Strategy: RB, RB, RB, WR, WR

Wow.

While in larger leagues going RB-RB-RB means that other positions suffer, that really did not happen here. This team excelled at working the 8 team draft.

Picked up Portis, Barlow and Henry before landing Coles (4) and Steve Smith (5) . Snatched Steve McNair at the 6.04 and then took clearly the best player on the board at the 7.05 with Hasselbeck. This is definitely the team with the best QB's.

Ended up with a powerhouse QB slot, not only solid RB's but also Tatum Bell as a great sleeper risk pick plus backed up Henry with McGahee. WR's are not stellar but solid with Coles and S. Smith and then Stallworth and Burress as depth offer great upside as backups. Boo Williams in the 12th was a great value pick. About the only weakness here might be DT but with the rest so strong, who cares? There's tons of them on the waiver wire.

Starters: McNair/Hasselbeck, Portis, Barlow/Henry, Coles, St. Smith, R. Smith, B Williams, Stover and PHI.

Grade: B+

Draft Slot #6
5 Round Strategy: RB, WR, RB, WR, WR

I may never grade out an 8 team mock again. It is like reviewing Playboy bunnies for the annual calendar.

This plan worked out very well and almost worked out tremendously. Started with Alexander with the 6th overall pick and still reached Harrison (2). Wisely went back to RB's and grabbed Marshall Faulk before going back and scooping up both Santana Moss(4) and Darrell Jackson (5)

Missed out on Hasselbeck by one pick thanks to Team #5 double dipping and missed out on Steven Jackson which together with the Faulk pick would have made this an A+. Got top guys in Wilkins and BAL and Gates/Clark offer reasonable upside at TE. Nice use of value that was close to being great.

Starters: Bulger, Alexander, Faulk, Harrison, S Moss, D Jackson, Gates, Wilkins and BAL.

Grade: B

Draft Slot #7
5 Round Strategy: RB, WR, WR, TE, RB

Oh boy, Another strong team.

These 8 team leagues show how much depth there is in positions and how well you can mine that in a variety of ways and still make it work depending on your draft slot.

Led off with Jamal Lewis and then snapped up top WR's in Randy Moss and Hines Ward. Used the 4th round to grab Tony Gonzalez for the best TE and still reached Staley (5th) and K Jones (6th). Later added Shipp and William Green for upside depth. Ended up with Brooks in the 8th who should post at least average numbers and has a nice mixture of studs and upside players that could actually make the starting decisions tough. Slightly weak, comparatively, at RB but tops in WR and TE with solid PK and DEF. Biggest strength is TE and WR but WR is the one position with the greatest available depth.

Starters: Brooks, Lewis, Staley, R Moss, Ward, Price, Gonzalez, Vinatieri and DAL.

Grade: B+

Draft Slot #8
5 Round Strategy: RB, RB, RB, QB, WR

This team took a similar route to Team # 5 but with lesser results from the drop back in draft slot. Started out with Edgerrin James and Fred Taylor and then used his #3 to grab Corey Dillon. Great start for RB's, though arguably none are in the top 8 (top 6 anyway) which makes a difference in an 8 team league. Finally went outside the RB's to grab value in Vick (4) and then was forced to work the WR's and came away with Moulds, Walker and Toomer. A great trio in a 12 team league but likely only average in an 8 team scenario.

Took Winslow in the 8th for a nice upside grab in TE and did secure Vanderjagt as the top kicker. This team ended up falling a bit short on some picks unlike Team #5 and it was that 3rd RB taken that made a bigger difference in this slot. Team is solid but carries no top players outside of his kicker and potentially Vick. Many of the players will need to revert to yesteryear in order to make a difference ( Vick, James, Dillon, Moulds, Toomer). This final pick in the round with the swing selections mined RB's for the first three picks and bypassed studs at other positions to do that. It caused him to end up solid but with a lack of playmakers Also loses brownie points for taking James/Taylor and now I cannot get the song "Fire and Rain" out of my head.

Starters: Vick, James, Taylor, Fire and Rain, Moulds, Walker, Toomer, Winslow, Vanderjagt and STL.

Grade: C