Sparty's Fantasy Value

About a month ago, we put out a guide to Spartan alums you might be thinking of drafting for your fantasy football teams. To recap: We thought wide receivers Devin Thomas, Muhsin Muhammad and Derrick Mason were worth drafting in any league, and you might want to consider taking a chance on RB Javon Ringer, TE Chris Baker and K Dave Rayner.

Now, we can't very well give out an authoritative guide without putting it through its paces, so that's just what we're doing right now. For a reference point, I'm using the fantasy football draft recently completed in the league both TOSSS writers compete in. The league is 12 teams, conventional scoring, starting 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 RB/WR, 1TE, 1K, 1TD.

Here are the MSU alums who were selected:

Round 8, Pick 1 - Derrick Mason, WR, Baltimore Ravens: Mason was picked between the Philadelphia defense and tight end Greg Olsen, in my eyes about right for him.

Round 10, Pick 1 - Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Carolina Panthers: The same guy who picked up Mason took Muhammad one round later, and I think got a great deal. Muhammad is arguably a better choice than Mason, head to head, and to get him just before a Round 10 run on kickers was a great play. You don't often find #2 WRs in the 10th round, and that's what the player got here. Great value.

Round 16, Pick 7 - Javon Ringer, RB, Tennessee Titans: The owner here had picked up LenDale White in the 5th round and took Ringer as insurance. That's the best way to pick someone like Ringer - a guy who could explode with time on the field who could alternately be worth nothing if he doesn't play. I took Minnesota RB Chester Taylor, the backup to #2 overall pick Adrian Peterson, in the 13th round for exactly the same reason, so I'm going to say this was a pretty solid pick.

Devin Thomas was a surprise slip - he didn't get drafted at all - though very few Washington Redskins were drafted in our league.

So let that guide you. If you're looking for a Spartan wideout and you want Thomas, feel free to wait. Muhammad may slip as well. But if you want Mason, be willing to spend an earlier pick, because you might not get him otherwise.