Fantasy football: What would have been the perfect draft

I don't spend a lot of time regretting decisions I've made in life, mostly because there's nothing I can do about them now.

Still, I regret targeting Nick Foles ahead of Andrew Luck in my drafts this year. And though Foles hasn't been a bust by any stretch, I don't think this mistake is going to end so well for me.

When it comes to fantasy drafting, most of us have regrets, don't we? Seriously, who thought DeMarco Murray would be a record-breaking beast? And weren't most so-called experts convinced that Antonio Gates was all washed up?

The time has come for our semiannual exercise in self-flagellation, when we reflect on what could have been had we made all the right moves during our preseason draft. Step right up for The Perfect Draft 2.0: Midseason Review.

Let's quickly review our parameters. First, we're in a 10-team non-keeper league using a standard scoring system that starts one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and one tight end, kicker and team defense. Second, we are drafting from the middle (fifth) position in a snake format, meaning we won't have a shot at Matt Forte.

Now, with the fifth pick of the 2014 Perfect Draft, we should have selected . . .

Round 1: DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys. On pace to break the all-time season rushing record, Murray has also scored at least one TD in all but one game. He'll seem like a reach at the fifth pick but not for long.

Round 2: Arian Foster, RB, Texans. I hate passing on Jordy Nelson, but aside from an early-season injury, Foster is looking like the beast we remember from 2010-12.

Round 3: Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers. No defense has been able to hold the game's most prolific receiver in check yet.

Round 4: Andrew Luck, QB, Colts. Available three rounds later than Peyton Manning, Luck has been a machine. Even his "off" games have been solid.

Round 5: T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts. He didn't find the end zone until Week 6, but Hilton could be counted upon to deliver consistent production regardless.

Round 6: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles. Though Foles has disappointed, Maclin has flourished as his new primary weapon.

Round 7: Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Broncos. Much like Hilton, it was only a matter of time before Sanders exploded.

Round 8: Golden Tate, WR, Lions. Detroit has finally found a worthy counterpart to Calvin Johnson. Imagine how well Tate will do once Megatron returns.

Round 9: Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers. He's proving that his comeback season in 2013 was no fluke.

Round 10: Martellus Bennett, TE, Bears. He went through a short slump but was back in the end zone Sunday.

Round 11: Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Panthers. The early leader in the offensive rookie-of-the-year competition, Benjamin came out of the gate strong and hasn't slowed down since.

Round 12: Mark Ingram, RB, Saints. Though he's only played in half of the Saints' games, Ingram is finally living up to his first-round draft status in New Orleans.

Round 13: Steve Smith, WR, Ravens. Who would have thought Joe Flacco would be Smith's Fountain of Youth?

Round 14: Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers. Like Smith, Gates is laughing at those who thought his best days were behind him.

Round 15: Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Colts. He doesn't even start for his team, but Bradshaw is an every-week starter in Fantasyland.

Round 16: Eagles defense/special teams. Fantasy's top defense (in most scoring formats) was an afterthought at draft time.

Round 17: Adam Vinatieri, K, Colts. Stephen Gostkowski has been the most prolific kicker thus far, but plenty of excellent alternatives were available several rounds later. Vinatieri hasn't missed yet.

Pittsburgh, QB

522 Pass Yds, 6 Pass TD, -1 Rush Yds

44.78

Houston, RB

151 Rush Yds, 2 Rush TD, 22 Rec Yds

35.30

New England, QB

354 Pass Yds, 5 Pass TD

34.16

New England, TE

149 Rec Yds, 3 Rec TD

32.90

Eagles, WR

187 Rec Yds, 2 Rec TD

30.70

- Yahoo Sports

*Doesn't include Monday night's game

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