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SAN DIEGO--Sitting in front of his office computer at 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon, Barry Michaels had expected to be proficiently selecting top running backs and late round sleeper picks that would propel him to fantasy football glory. Unfortunately for the 35-year-old loan officer, a bevy of meetings in the morning prevented him from sufficiently preparing for his live online draft. Now the beleaguered Michaels is sweating each pick.

“Those meetings were a total surprise,” said Michaels. “I was going to really analyze those top round picks.”

Having just arrived eight minutes late to his live online draft room, Michaels is looking at taunts from other league managers over his automated first round pick of tight end Antonio Gates. “I pre-ranked my draft with Chargers players for fun,” said Michaels. “But I thought I would make the start of the draft. I like Gates though. He is a Charger.”

According to ESPN.com, Gates is a late fourth round fantasy pick at best, and experts generally agree running backs should make up all or most of first and second round picks. Michaels will now have to make up for his lack of backfield presence.

“This is terrible,” lamented the uneducated drafter. “I don’t even know who is injured. Maybe Peyton Manning will fall to me in the second round. But can I take him then? I need a running back. But it is Peyton Manning. Is he injured?”

As Michaels assesses second round options, he is pleased that Ricky Williams is still available. “He’s still a beast in the backfield for the Dolphins, right?” inquired a frazzled Michaels. Now on the clock for his second round pick, Michaels is torn between Williams and Ahman Green, realizing he must secure a top flight running back. “If I pick a running back with my second and third picks, then I can go after the best kicker out there, Robbie Gould, with my fourth pick.”