Associated Fantasy

"Its fine to have ability, but the ability to find ability in others is the true test" -Lou Holtz

Legion of Defense 

Sleeper Agents Take Kuechly First Overall

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LoD Logo whiteLEGION – The opening shots of the Battle of 2016 were fired today in the Legion Of Defense‘s 5th annual draft event.  This season’s draft order was randomized prior to the skirmish, as the League offices are reworking the Legion’s unique draft lottery system.  The move meant good things for two of the new recruits as rookie teams Sleeper Agent and Animal Kingdom both found themselves drafting in the top 3 at first and third overall.  Legion veteran Mighty Pats was sandwhiched right between them at number 2 overall.

Keuchly
Luke Kuechly, taken first overall by Sleeper Agent

With the first pick of the 2016 Legion draft, Sleeper Agents selected Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly to be the cornerstone of their team.  Mighty Pats followed by taking JJ Watt off the board and NaVorro Bowman went third overall, picked by Animal Kingdom.

The Denver Broncos were the first team defense selected, going fourth overall to 2015 runner up and Legion veteran Sacks Fifth Avenue.  Sacks was recently given one of the coveted spots in Associated Fantasy’s Points Race Invitational Tournament for this season based on his 2015 performance, but at the Legion draft, his eyes were solely focused on going after the Golden Skull.  Sacks built his team around the consensus number 1 defense, then anchored it with stud linemen Aaron Donald and Kawann Short in rounds 2 and 3, and then got a few later round steals on some very high upside linebackers like Elvis Dumervil in round 11 and Bruce Irvin in round 14.

The Seahawks and Chiefs followed the Broncos off the board, going to Htown and The Cavalry, respectively at picks 5 and 6.  The Arizona Cardinals were the next team defense selected, going at 9 to the Chinese Bandits, and Insane Clowney Posse took his hometown Texans at 12th overall to finish the round.  In the interim picks, linebackers Telvin Smith and Jamie Collins were picked up at 7 and 8 by Gates of Delirium and Suspension Freaks, while a pair of rising freaks of nature – Ezekial Ansah and Khalil Mack  – were taken at 10 and 11 by Premier Division foes jlm loves defense and the Battering Rams.

One of the biggest surprises of this year’s draft was seeing the Carolina Panthers team defense slide all the way to the end of the second round where they were picked up at 22nd overall by Animal Kingdom.  The final pick of the draft was also a team defense, with Sleeper Agent selecting the San Diego Chargers.  That makes the second to last pick, number 191 overall, “Mr Irrelevant”.  That selection was made by the Mighty Pats, who rounded out their roster with Gerald McCoy, DL, Tampa Bay.  Last years “Mr Irrelevant” was David Hawthorne, LB, New Orleans – who only posted a season total of 10 points in the Legion last season.  We’ll see if the Pats can beat the odds with their selection this year.

The trenches have been dug, and the machines of war are fueled up.  All of the teams in the Legion are now locked and loaded as we await this season’s all out war.