Before I evaluate my "talent," here's some key info on my "high school league," 15 years (or thereabouts) running, which I've won twice and missed the playoffs only once in the past decade — and have never been in the year-end Toilet Bowl, reserved for the truly rank.

1. It's an auction league. Teams start with $260, to allot however they wish. Load up on stars and risk season-crippling injuries or go for depth; it's your choice.

2. It's a keeper league. Teams can up to re-sign seven players they drafted or picked up on waivers last year. High-risk players drafted while injured at last year's draft — Michael Vick ($34) and Chad Pennington ($4) — were solid keepers this season. As were guys who last year began the season as back-ups and are now No. 1 on their respective depth charts — Tim Rattay ($1) , Marc Bulger ($7) and Rudi Johnson ($5). Thanks to my horrible draft performance last year — Rich Gannon, Peerless Price, Charles Rogers, Garrison Hearst — I kept absolutely no one.

3. Teams get two "toppers." Owners may not, without challenge, re-sign players they've had under contract for two straight seasons. But they may sit out those players' auctions and elect to "top" the final bid by $1 in order to retain that player's rights. Teams can exercise a maximum of two toppers per draft, which can be frustrating if, for example, you're me and four of your winning bids were topped Sunday night.

4. It's a deep league. Twelve teams need to start two QBs, three RBs and WRs, two TEs, Ks and DEFs. So 24 QBs are on active lineups every week, distinguishing this league from bogus 10-teamers that start one QB. In the late '90s, I used to write a weekly fantasy football column on AOL (@SportsFan Radio's Gridiron Guru) and used to get this kind of question from such owners: "I have Brett Favre, Steve Young, Dan Marino, Drew Bledsoe and John Elway, but I can start only one. Who would you go with?"

Here's how my unit shapes up, with probable starters in bold.

QUARTERBACKS
• Drew Bledsoe ($25), Eli Manning ($18) and Kurt Warner ($6), Jay Fiedler ($9)
The Skinny: QBs are most prized on our league and, according to CBS SportsLine's cheat sheet, 13 of the top 17 in the league were kept from last year, including Donovan McNabb at $71. The four available QBs in that group and the prices they garnered: Matt Hasselbeck ($67), Aaron Brooks ($59), Trent Green ($61) and Jeff Garcia ($38). Still stinging from paying $67 for Rich Gannon a year ago, I looked to the bargain bin, hoping for a mini Bledsoe resurgence (20 TDs will do) and anything out of the Giants' offense.

RUNNING BACKS
• Tiki Barber ($16), Travis Minor ($16), Jerome Bettis ($9), William Green ($9), Marcel Shipp ($7)
The Skinny: Eight of the top 12 backs were kept, and the ones available went for a pretty penny. LaDainian Tomlinson was the draft's highest-priced player at $73, and Clinton Portis went for $71. Stephen Davis, which SportsLine ranked as the 13th best back and had 1,609 yards from scrimmage and 8 TDs last year, went for $60. I didn't really want Tiki Barber on my team for the 21st straight season, but when his bidding ended at $15, I couldn't use my topper fast enough. He had more yards from scrimmage (1,677) than Davis, albeit only 3 TDs. I didn't know Shipp was out for the season until bidding had stopped and I'd "won," a classic boner move, but my research extended no further than a couple of cheat sheets I printed out two hours before the draft and a magazine I bought in Vegas and opened twice. Minor, Bettis and Green suck. Let's move on.

WIDE RECEIVERS
• Terrell Owens ($41), Peerless Price ($19), Rod Smith ($10), Larry Fitzgerald ($12) and Drew Bennett ($4)
The Skinny: I really like my wide receivers, but who doesn't? Every year it's the deepest position and also the one that can pay off huge on the waiver wire. Is there any better feeling than picking a guy up at 11:59 a.m. and seeing him catch a bomb at 1:12 p.m.? Two minutes into the game, and he's done his work for the week. Owens, who I hate, was a topper. By contrast, Randy Moss went for $56 and Marvin Harrison went for $52. Price ruined me last year, but perhaps a healthy Vick will make a huge difference. Smith should be reliable as always. Fitzgerald I overpaid for like an idiot. And Bennett is the best receiver in the NFL — among white guys. I missed out on Amani Toomer and the chance to let my entire season depend on the Giants' offense.

TIGHT ENDS
• Tony Gonzalez ($19), Jeremy Shockey ($12), Anthony Becht ($3)
The Skinny: Our league is unique in that each of 12 teams must start two TEs a week, and you can really take a hit here if you get don't quality. Making up 12 points a game in this spot is a lot cheaper than doing it at one of the more high-profile positions, so I was happy to spend $31 on a two-TE combo that, hopefully, will combine for between 14-18 TDs and 1,600 yards. Also, with Owens and Shockey, my team will lead the league in dumbest post-game quotes and crass on-field behavior.

KICKERS
• Aaron Elling ($1), Olindo Mare ($1)
The Skinny: I will always remember Syracuse grad Mare for clinching one of my two titles with a 40-yarder late in a Dolphins-Broncos Monday night game. Not as well, however, as I do a another Monday nighter when Jon Gruden accepted a penalty against the Steelers, taking off the board a Martin Gramatica 50-yard field goal that put my team in the Super Bowl. I also had Mike Alstott going, and the Bucs never scored another point. I hate you, Chuckie! Before the draft, I threw back Adam Vinatieri at $3 and ended up with $7 I never used. So one of these kickers could have been Vinatieri, David Akers ($6) or Jeff Wilkins ($6). Did I mention my draft sucked?

DEFENSES
• Panthers ($11), Buccaneers ($5)
Good defenses, sure. But $11 might be a record for any defense, and $16 for two is just stupid. But when you figure I paid $7 for a RB out for the year, $12 on a Cardinals rookie receiver, and ended the draft with $7 I never even used, Carolina was a steal. Now watch 'em such this year. And I have to root for Gruden again. Ugh.