Dave Richard is a diehard football fan and lives the dream as one of the few full-time fantasy writers in the business. Richard handles sports news and analysis for Fantasy Football at CBSSports.com and is one of many members of Pro Football Writers of America who I imagine will take cookies and pizza as bribes. The Florida native’s team takes some departures from the trends I’ve seen with most of the RSP Writers’ Teams I’ve seen thus far.

Richard invested in an upper echelon left tackle, took an unusual combination of tight ends, and invested in many rookies that I think will develop into underrated role players within the next few years. Two that come to mind immediately are Redskins ‘tweener Alfred Morris and Browns receiver Travis Benjamin – both players from Florida colleges. Stay tuned tomorrow for Richard’s Q&A where he discusses his team.

Dave Richard’s Depth Chart

Quarterback Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system)
QB1		Andrew Luck	12.5	Going young with the best quarterback prospect since Manning. Arm speaks for itself, football smarts are off the charts and he’s healthy. A no-brainer.
QB2		Matt Hasselbeck	5.5	Important to have quality backup. This one comes with lots of experience to aid Luck in his early development. Worth the money.
QB3		0		No third quarterback. We’ll carry someone on our practice-squad.

Note: Teams were asked to carry three quarterbacks, but due to a miscommunication with an email, I let this slide with a few writers. Three quarterbacks are preferred.

Running Back Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
RB1		Trent Richardson	7.5	Fresh legs, dynamic skill set, forces opponents to pay attention to him, can play 40-plus snaps per game no problem.
RB2		Chris Ivory	2	Physical backup to spell Richardson, also has young legs.
RB3		Alfred Morris	1	Needed a third back, found one with excellent college experience and is in the mold of our first two physical running backs.

Wide Receiver Depth Chart Hurricane Warning: Get the ball in Travis Benjamin’s hands and conditions will be hazardous for opposing defenders. Photo by Erik Daniel Drost.
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
WR1		Tori Gurley	0.5	Fifth receiver with some upside.
WR2		Travis Benjamin	2.5	Deep-ball receiver and return-man extraordinaire. Might be closer to Devin Hester than Roscoe Parrish.
WR3		Demaryius Thomas	6	Star receiver. Unreal skills. Will take the chance he won’t get hurt.
WR4		Golden Tate	1.5	Should battle for No. 2 job.
WR5		Brandon LaFell	3	Should battle for No. 2 job.

Fullback and Tight End Depth Chart Another writer with appreciation for the underrated Delanie Walker. As for Michael Egnew? I don’t get it the love, but I’ve been slow on the uptake before. Photo by 49ersparadise.
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
TE1	WR	Coby Fleener	2.5	Had to get Luck’s top target, but he’ll be flexed out in this offense more often than not. Don’t see him as an in-line blocker.
TE2		Delanie Walker	2	Versatile, underrated monster tight end. Very good blocker, deceptive receiving target in the red zone.
		Michael Egnew	0.5	Backup for Fleener. Liked his game a lot in college, has the measurables to be a headache for defenses.

Tackle Depth Chart Quit looking at Tebow and focus on No.78 Ryan Clady, the most expensive selection at left tackle that I’ve seen by a writer. Good pick. Photo by Jeffery Beall.
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
LT1		Ryan Clady	10	Must protect Luck. Strong, affordable choice.
RT1		Jonathan Martin	5	Familiar with scheme, young.
RT2		Bobby Massie	3	Swing tackle

Guard Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
RG1		David DeCastro	7	Will work on teaching him left guard but for now he’ll mow people down from right guard.
LG2		Johnnie Troutman	1.5	Backup lineman
LG1	Backup T	Kevin Boothe	1	Experienced offensive lineman, will start at left guard and could play tackle in a pinch.

Center Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
C1		JD Walton	1	“Good enough” center who can understand a defensive front.
C2	Backup G	Ben Jones	1	Physical backup with some versatility.

Cornerback and Safety Depth Chart Here’s a guy that can lay the wood…and test the quality of knee braces. Bernard Pollard will be the strong safety in Ricard’s secondary. Photo by Christopher Frier Brown.
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system)
FS1		Earl Thomas	6	Versatile free safety a MUST in our hybrid defense.
SS1		Bernard Pollard	4	Experienced strong safety is good enough to start.
SS2		George Iloka	1.5	Young talent with versatility and size. Might work as a dime back.
FS2		Chris Prosinski	1	Raw but fast
LCB2		Buster Skrine	1	Young backup learning from Jammer.
LCB1		Quentin Jammer	4.5	Starting left cornerback. Last year a mirage after off-field issues plagued his preparation. Should be improved.
RCB2	Nickel CB	Joselio Hanson	2.5	Pretty much a career nickelback, so I don’t mind him for that role with our team.
RCB2		Ras-I Dowling	1	Let’s see what he can do. Good backup, have to make sure he’s healthy. Like him better as a backup.
RCB1		Tracy Porter	3	Starting right cornerback, assuming he can hold off camp competition. Has come up big on the biggest stage.
		DeMarcus Van Dyke	1	Satisfies my need for a young corner and a Miami Hurricane.

Linebacker Depth Chart In addition to Richard, I know of another writer with some appreciation for rookie MLB Bobby Wagner that you’ll be reading about soon. Photo by Bernie Zimmerman.
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
		Von Miller	9.5	Jewel of our hybrid defense: Will never leave the field, will constantly pressure quarterback from all over the place.
		James Anderson	3	Versatile linebacker who’s probably better versus. the run than the pass but can get after the quarterback.
		Bobby Wagner	4.5	Loved him in college, and I see him as a capable run stuffer with some versatility.
		Sean Spence	3	Loved him in college too. A bit undersized but plays with heart and has some smarts to him.
		Antwan Barnes	3.5	Specifically a backup for Miller. Nowhere near as good but showed some explosion last year.
		Chris Chamberlain	0.5	Special-teams contributor and very capable backup. Had 81 tackles, two sacks last year for woeful St. Louis.
		Kirk Morrison	0.5	Veteran tackler won’t start for us but will participate and help the young players, specifically Wagner.
		Philip Wheeler	1	Another veteran backup who can help vs. the run on the field and tutor young LBs off the field.

Defensive End and Tackle Depth Chart No.95 Kamerion Wimbley will be coming off the edge for Dave Richard’s team. Photo by Jim Harper.
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
		Kamerion Wimbley	7	Needed a second pass rusher to go with Miller, especially when we’re in the 4-3. Wimbley can play anywhere, seems rejuvenated.
		Jared Odrick	3	Versatile end probably better suited for 3-4 but will get work in our 4-3 front.
		Isaac Sopoaga	5	Meat in the middle.
		Terrence Cody	1	More meat in the middle.
		Ziggy Hood	1	Even more meat on the D-line.
		Corey Liuget	0.5	Big young 3-4 end.
		Thomas Keiser	1	Special-teams contributor and defender in a pinch.
		Jermaine Cunningham	0.5	Meat
		Torell Troup	0.5	Meat

Final Special Teams Roster
		Kicker and Punter Depth Chart
	Starters	Name	Value	Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?)
	K1	John Kasay	1.5	Made at least 81 pct. of kicks in each of last six seasons.
	P1	Pat McAfee	1.5	Averaged a career-best 46.6 yards per punt in 2011.

	Kick Coverage Team
Role (optional)	Name		Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?)
OU1	Demarcus Van Dyke
OU2	George Iloka
OU3	Sean Spence
OU4	Ras-I Dowling
OU5	Tori Gurley
OU6	Chris Prosinski
IN1	John Kasay
IN2	Kirk Morrison
IN3	Thomas Keisel
IN4	Phillip Wheeler
IN5	Chris Chamberlain

	Punt Coverage Team
Role (optional)	Name		Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?)
Gunner(SE1)	George Iloka
Gunner(SE2)	Sean Spence
RG	Johnnie Troutman
LS	Ben Jones
LG	Jermaine Cunningham
SB1	Chris Prosinski
SB2	Ras-I Dowling
RT	Phillip Wheeler
LT	Kirk Morrison
Backup	Chris Chamberlain
PP	Thomas Keiser