What is great about a fantasy blog in mid August? Timing! So while it has been forever since I blogged about a passion of mine, I figured with my first draft being next Sunday, it's about time another one was posted by yours truly.
For those who play fantasy football, who enjoy mocking their friends/relatives/frenemies(at least during the season...in some cases) for totally selecting a player too early and who suck so bad you are coming to me for advice (or maybe a laugh), I thought you might want to know surefire people you can take with the first pick in your draft. While I know that this is only a select few who get this honor, it's nice to help the LA Clippers of the fantasy football world. So let's get the old pig skin rolling!
Unlike my previous Guitar Hero posts, these are in order for a reason. Like it says in the title, they are all awesome and I am no expert (although I have one it all once....in CBS...which among my frenemies apparently that doesn't count).
1. Adrian Peterson - RB - Minnesota Vikings
Who is shocked to see A.D. at the top of the list? Not me! Like LT before him All
Day can do just that, run all day. No matter what defense it is he can always make something ridiculous happen. He is due for at least two 20+ point games per season and with most people's luck (like me) he will do it in a week when you don't need him. Let's go over the positives of Peterson, he's Adrian freaking Peterson. "What does that mean?," asks Joe Blow. What that means is he is a home run hitter able to break 20 yards or more in a single bound. He faces a normally stingy D at least twice in his own division however Green Bay is switching to the 3-4 which is probably going to take time and Detroit is...Detroit. Until they win a game (not practice, not practice, not practice, a game says Allen Iverson) they get no respect.
Day can do just that, run all day. No matter what defense it is he can always make something ridiculous happen. He is due for at least two 20+ point games per season and with most people's luck (like me) he will do it in a week when you don't need him. Let's go over the positives of Peterson, he's Adrian freaking Peterson. "What does that mean?," asks Joe Blow. What that means is he is a home run hitter able to break 20 yards or more in a single bound. He faces a normally stingy D at least twice in his own division however Green Bay is switching to the 3-4 which is probably going to take time and Detroit is...Detroit. Until they win a game (not practice, not practice, not practice, a game says Allen Iverson) they get no respect.With every player however there are negatives that have to be pointed out. He is not running all day when it comes to being inside the 10. Chester "TD Poachapotumus" Taylor seems to get just as many carries (or catches, he is a better receiver out of the backfield) when they are needed most as Peterson. Also during playoff time(fantasy playoff time that is) where is Peterson? He isn't giving the fantasy numbers that other dominating backs seem to get later in the year. At least he hasn't yet, no TDs in weeks 14-16 last season. His fumbles more then doubled from 2007, he had 9 in 2008. Hopefully for any Peterson owners this year that number will drop. Let's also remember that as of the start of the season Brett "Should I Stay Or Should I Fish" Favre isn't their quarterback. The Vikings have a special recipe for an explosive offense, they have added some Sage....Rosenfels...I know I know, lame lame lame. Rosenfels can air it out just do not leave the ball in his hands at the end of the game. We know what happens when you do.
Prediction: 1,682 yards, 13 TDs, 20 Rec, 120 yards, 1 TD, 15 highlight worthy runs
2. Michael Turner - RB - Atlanta Falcons
This is who I compare Peterson to last season when I am talking about showing up in the fantasy 
playoffs. He scored every week not to mention a spectacular week 15 (152 yds, TD, 30 rec yds) where he owned the Bucs. I am willing to bet the Chargers would part with LT if they knew the Burner was going to produce like this. A lot of people credited Matt Ryan with reviving the Falcons franchise, easy Romeo. Let us not forget that this was one of the top rushing teams last season thanks to a large part of Michael Turner (who, again comparing to Peterson, had more then double the carries inside the 10 [17] as Peterson[7]) and Jerious Norwood. The team itself ranked 2nd in the league behind the Giants. A great positive that was missing last year is something the team couldn't avoid. Matty Ice is a rookie no more. What did the team do for him in the offseason, they got him a young QB's best friend. No not a dog Michael Vick, they got him a surefire Hall of Fame TE in Tony Gonzalez. So prepare for the passing game to open up plenty of opportunity for Turner to burn more people then Jim Rome.
playoffs. He scored every week not to mention a spectacular week 15 (152 yds, TD, 30 rec yds) where he owned the Bucs. I am willing to bet the Chargers would part with LT if they knew the Burner was going to produce like this. A lot of people credited Matt Ryan with reviving the Falcons franchise, easy Romeo. Let us not forget that this was one of the top rushing teams last season thanks to a large part of Michael Turner (who, again comparing to Peterson, had more then double the carries inside the 10 [17] as Peterson[7]) and Jerious Norwood. The team itself ranked 2nd in the league behind the Giants. A great positive that was missing last year is something the team couldn't avoid. Matty Ice is a rookie no more. What did the team do for him in the offseason, they got him a young QB's best friend. No not a dog Michael Vick, they got him a surefire Hall of Fame TE in Tony Gonzalez. So prepare for the passing game to open up plenty of opportunity for Turner to burn more people then Jim Rome.Now when looking for negatives with Turner it is a little more difficult than with Peterson. Or is it? I mean the guy only had 3 fumbles last season. Turner was in his first full season as a full time, ball hawk, goal line work horse back and owned the soul of those who doubted him. He didn't just truck people at the goal line he was seen being the Burner of old as well. The question remains in my head, can he do it again? In my heart I have to say yes. Now I know someone is going to bring up Norwood as a potential carry stealer from Turner. Someone would be right but Norwood is more used in the return game. Usually when he gets a TD it is because he makes one guy miss then explodes down the field for a 50+ yard score. Also the Falcons are going to pass the ball a little bit more, I imagine they have the utmost confidence in their QB of the future now. Especially with all the weapons at his disposal.
Prediction: 1,753 yards, 20 TDs, 6 rec, 45 yds, 2 TDs, 80 burned defenders
3. Drew Brees - QB - New Orleans Saints
This guy can throw for 4,500 yards and 30 TDs in his sleep. Yet another guy who got away from the Chargers (not like Philip Rivers isn't also doing his thing). Brees is the general
of a Saints offense that all they do is score touchdowns. When they step onto the field of battle there is an 85% chance that when driving down the field, when they score(and they will score) Brees will have resulted in the touchdown. He has more weapons at his disposal then North Korea and no weird looking glasses. He's like Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers, he can make it rain out there if he wanted to. Last season Brees threw for the regular season passing record and fell short however if you owned him in fantasy you thanked your lucky stars since he finished with 5,069 yards and 34 TDs. This was in a surprisingly powerful NFC South division with the Bucs, Falcons and Panthers stouting some tough defenses. Unfortunately the reason his numbers were so blown up was because their own defense was poor which resulted in Brees having to bring the team back from the dead on a regular.
of a Saints offense that all they do is score touchdowns. When they step onto the field of battle there is an 85% chance that when driving down the field, when they score(and they will score) Brees will have resulted in the touchdown. He has more weapons at his disposal then North Korea and no weird looking glasses. He's like Vince Vaughn in Wedding Crashers, he can make it rain out there if he wanted to. Last season Brees threw for the regular season passing record and fell short however if you owned him in fantasy you thanked your lucky stars since he finished with 5,069 yards and 34 TDs. This was in a surprisingly powerful NFC South division with the Bucs, Falcons and Panthers stouting some tough defenses. Unfortunately the reason his numbers were so blown up was because their own defense was poor which resulted in Brees having to bring the team back from the dead on a regular. The biggest issue I have with Brees is when he's on, look out. When he's off, he throws 4 interceptions and maybe a touchdown. That is if you are lucky. He did finish with 17 int.(consider some of those purple hearts) last season which was partially because of what I said before. Being behind, he took a lot of chances. Also as his owner you aren't really sure which one of his weapons to pick up. The smart money is on Marques Colston or last year's surprise Lance Moore (definitely not Jeremy "Shocked I didn't Score" Shockey). As long as one of them is on a roster with Brees the sky is the limit, but on those off weeks...the limit's the sky.
Prediction: 4,585 yds, 31 TDs, 16 int, 2 rush yds, 0 TDs, 3 purple hearts
4. Larry Fitzgerald - WR - Arizona Cardinals
He makes catches like this one on a regular basis. Now before you say, "A receiver with the first 
pick?!?," hear me out. Fitz is by far #1 on everyone's fantasy list as far as WR, if your league is heavy on WR or RB like mine you might enjoy having Fitz and scooping up another quality receiver in the third or fourth round. Most leagues use the snake format for drafts meaning you would have your first pick (taking Fitz you would completely upset whoever picks last in your draft) then the second and third pick would be back to back. Imagine lining up on Sunday with Fitz and Brandon Marshall/TJ Who's Your Mama. What if T.O. falls that far? Take a RB and a WR to control your destiny. Backs do fall off trees(if you do your research) but face the truth with later round picks of receivers. They are just filler. Not real point magnets. Back to Fitz, he had a career year last season(with reception yards and TDs) and when Boldin got hurt Fitz stepped up. He had 3 multi TD games not even including the postseason. After that performance, those numbers are going to go up. Why would Warner, Leinart or St. Pierre look to anyone else? Throw it to the man with stick em for hands.
pick?!?," hear me out. Fitz is by far #1 on everyone's fantasy list as far as WR, if your league is heavy on WR or RB like mine you might enjoy having Fitz and scooping up another quality receiver in the third or fourth round. Most leagues use the snake format for drafts meaning you would have your first pick (taking Fitz you would completely upset whoever picks last in your draft) then the second and third pick would be back to back. Imagine lining up on Sunday with Fitz and Brandon Marshall/TJ Who's Your Mama. What if T.O. falls that far? Take a RB and a WR to control your destiny. Backs do fall off trees(if you do your research) but face the truth with later round picks of receivers. They are just filler. Not real point magnets. Back to Fitz, he had a career year last season(with reception yards and TDs) and when Boldin got hurt Fitz stepped up. He had 3 multi TD games not even including the postseason. After that performance, those numbers are going to go up. Why would Warner, Leinart or St. Pierre look to anyone else? Throw it to the man with stick em for hands.As long as those hands don't fall to the dreaded Madden cover curse...everything should be fine. All players who have graced the cover either get hurt or take a turn for the worse in statistics later in the season. I like Fitz so I am hoping that this doesn't happen. Let us also remember that he is a receiver. He isn't going to get an owner a double digit point total on a weekly basis. In fact there might be a week or two where he scores under 5 points. A lot of running backs break our hearts as well but this will be the beef that a lot of people have with the pick. Take a chance, take Fitz #1!
Prediction: 90 receptions, 1,405 yards, 15 TDs, 45 "omg he caught that" moments
5. Maurice Jones Drew - RB - Jacksonville Jaguars
Pocket Hercules is no joke. In fact I should punch myself for not having him higher on this list.
The organization feels he is the real deal, if they didn't they wouldn't have sent the franchise leader in yards packing. So with no Fred Taylor to steal carries, only the opposing D can stop him. In his own division the Colts can't, the Titans can try and the Texans are still young. MoJo is ready to have his first season with over 200 carries (easy, I'm guessing 300 touches). Last season with 197 carries he finished with 824 yards and 12 TDs. All those numbers are going to go up. That doesn't even cover his ability to catch the ball in the flats and juke a guy out of his cleats before gaining 20 yards down the sideline. As long as the team leaves MoJo in during goal line runs (his height would help, "where did he go?!?") he could be a top tier back that could have you kicking yourself at the end of the season when he outperforms Adrian Peterson.
The organization feels he is the real deal, if they didn't they wouldn't have sent the franchise leader in yards packing. So with no Fred Taylor to steal carries, only the opposing D can stop him. In his own division the Colts can't, the Titans can try and the Texans are still young. MoJo is ready to have his first season with over 200 carries (easy, I'm guessing 300 touches). Last season with 197 carries he finished with 824 yards and 12 TDs. All those numbers are going to go up. That doesn't even cover his ability to catch the ball in the flats and juke a guy out of his cleats before gaining 20 yards down the sideline. As long as the team leaves MoJo in during goal line runs (his height would help, "where did he go?!?") he could be a top tier back that could have you kicking yourself at the end of the season when he outperforms Adrian Peterson.Like Peterson, Mojo loses the ball. Getting the occasional cold, causing him to cough up the football. In split carries last season he had 4 fumbles with 2 of them being lost to the other team. I miss the days of having a back like Barry Sanders who didn't fumble. Period. As an owner, if the positive aspects of his game are going up one would have to guess that so are the negative. Also what if he really isn't ready to carry the load? What if the team still splits time in the backfield? Is the passing game going to improve with Torry Holt causing them not to run the ball as much as before? Does his size really matter? Well, for those who own him, lets hope not.
Prediction: 1,260 yards, 18 TDs, 65 rec, 572 yards, 4 TDs, 30 in game height jokes.
So there you have it. I am no expert, just a man with an opinion. If you have an opinion (there is a saying about everybody having one) let me hear it. Well read it that is.
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