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Now that the draft is behind us we can truly start evaluating all of the NFL teams and assess strengths and weaknesses. This week we take a look at one man’s first round  mock draft and the others on the outside looking in. I have broken down the rankings into tiers and where I think they rate as of today. We will continue to update our mock drafts leading up to the release of our free Draft kit.

FIRST TIER Relax your in good hands

1) Adrian Peterson – MIN – RB
No one has less questions and more answers than A.P. hands down the easiest and safest pick….Worst case would be 1,100 yds and 7 touchdowns….Or does the curse of the Number One pick continue? After Purple Jesus the over analyzing begins in earnest….

SECOND TIER Tons of talent and promise but…

2) Michael Turner – ATL – RB
Turner should be the obvious pick here at two…. But two questions always come up…. Was Turner over used last year and is he due to break down physically? Will the dreaded 400 plus carry plateau become a legit concern? The 400 carry number continuously flashes in my head when I think of Turner, and it scares the hell out of me…. The good news is that Matty Ice has more weapons at his disposal with the addition of TE Tony Gonzales and the Falcons will more than likely look to pass more to keep the opposing defenses honest.

3) Maurice Jones-Drew – JAC – RB
MJD looks to improve on a poor year as far as fantasy numbers are concerned…. What few people realize is that the Jags offensive line was not just banged up last season but absolutely annihilated with injuries….With Fred Taylor gone will MJD suffer the same fate as Marion Barber did last year? After the Cowboys parted ways with between the 20′s RB Julius Jones, Barber was given the full load and his violent running style was unable to hold up to the rigors of a full season and basically missed the last 5 games…. Look for the Jags to keep improve this year with a healthy o-line and the addition of WR Torry Holt to bring some legitimacy to the Jaguars passing game

4) Steven Jackson – STL – RB
SJack will always get drafted relatively high due to two factors….Hes a rare breed in the sense that he is an every down back….When SJack is on the field he is usually the most talented player on either team and can carry his woeful team on his back….The bad news is he just can’t stay healthy and has missed 4 games in each of the last two seasons in the and also missed parts of other games. Despite the injuries Jackson has still managed to rush for 1002yds 5 tds and 38 rec. 278 yds rec. in 07 and in 08 had 1043 yds. 7 tds with 40 rec. 379 rec.yds. and a td…. Jackson only turns 26 this summer and the plan as always is to run the offense through him…. A healthy SJack could put up great numbers at a position that has become incredibly diluted in the R.B.B.C. era

5) Clinton Portis – WAS – RB
Portis will be 28 at the start of the season, and no back has been more consistent in the last 7 seasons….There is a huge concern that Portis numbers went south after game 9….Portis was definitley banged up for the second half of the season barely practicing which probably contributed to part of Portis’ production drop off….QB Jason Campbell’s numbers also suffered and whether it is a case of the running not opening the pass, or the pass not opening up the running game, it became clear that the Skins’ front office seemed to think it was Campbell’s struggles as they made it known they were looking to dump Campbell leading up to the draft…. Portis will bare watching as we approach mini-camps and training camp to see if Portis is or will be 100% healthy going into the season…. His health seems to be the biggest factor on where he will get drafted

6) Frank Gore – SFO – RB
Gore looks to change the trend of his declining stats the past three years 2006 16 games(1695 yds. 8 tds 61rec 485 yds.) 2007 15 games(1102 yards 5 tds 53 rec. 436 yds) 2008 games(1036 yds. 6 tds 43rec. 373 yds.)…The 49ers are looking to recommit to the run after dumping pass happy O.C.Mike Martz…. With another year comes another offensive coordinator in San Francisco……..The biggest question Fantasy owners should be asking will opposing defenses worry about the pass, or should they stack the box?

THIRD TIER The potential is there

7) Matt Forte – CHI – RB
Forte carried the load in Chicago, and consistently faced stacked fronts. Forte’s number began to slide at the end of the year but his goal line carries bailed out many fantasy owners teams with rushing TD’s. Forte’s carry load looks to remain the same, but defenses will be kept honest with the newly acquired QB Jay Cutler under center. The Offensive line has been greatly improved and this can also only help Forte this year. Forte’s Yards-Per-Catch need to go up after a mediocre 7.6 last season,his 63 receptions also helped many owners in P.P.R. leagues

8) Drew Brees – NOR – QB
Brees enters the 09 season as our number one Fantasy QB right now…. 5,000 passing yards and 34 TD’s are excellent numbers, and with the R.B.B.C. now in full effect taking the best player overall in your draft might actually catch on this year…. The days of taking two RB with your first two picks appears to be an even bigger crap shoot than in years past.

9) Tom Brady – NEP – QB
Fantasy owners who drafted Brady in the 1st round last year just quivered when they saw his name here…. With thoughts of Fantasy Championships dancing in their head thousands of grown men across the country watched in horror as their fantasy season ended with Brady going down in a heap that first game…. Brady is a competitor and will look to destroy the NFL this year with his passing and show the world he is back…. Until I see that Brady is not 100% I leave him in my first round with the potential to move up from here…. I shudder to think what kind of numbers a healthy Brady can put with Wide Receivers Randy Moss and  Joey Galloway constantly running deep, all the while  having WR Wes Welker running underneath those patterns, and then RB Fred Taylor in the backfield….I know you just got the chills but then again you didn’t draft Brady

10) Brian Westbrook – PHI – RB
With a nod to my Fantasy Brother counter part Paul, his article on the draft and Dream scenarios was a nightmare to some Fantasy owners…. Rookie RB LeSean McCoy took a ton of value away from Westbrook….Owners in Keeper, or Dynasty leagues are now faced with Westbrook’s inevitable perceived loss of value ….Westbrook looks to bounce back from an injury plagued season, with the exception of TD’s all of Westbrook’s numbers suffered across the board last year…. Keep an eye on the Eagles and see if they sign another veteran WR that will further take the pressure off of the running game.

11) Chris Johnson – TEN – RB
Chris Johnson came out of virtually no where to get drafted in the first round. Many Titan fans were bewildered by the choice until he torched the defense on his 66 yard touchdown run in his first exhibition game. Titans fan took notice as did Fantasy owners. Johnson had an average draft position (A.D.P.) of the 8th round. Johnson put up huge numbers in his rookie year despite not being the Goal line back. Look for Johnson to get about the same amount of carries, but the Titans would be nuts not to look to get Johnson into open space. Creating screens, and swing passes to take advantage of his home run speed and great hands is a must for the Titans if they are too keep defenses from stacking the line. RB LenDale White will continue to get the goal-line carries and appears to be motivated showing up in shape in the final year of his contract. This is the first time White has ever appeared motivated so it will be interesting if White cuts into Johnson’s carries.

12) Pierre Thomas – NOR – RB
The Saints passed on drafting any running backs. That means Thomas is the man in the bayou, unless they make a trade or pick up a free agent. Thomas was very productive with his limited carries and catches 160 total touches resulted in 12 touchdowns and 909 yards rushing and rec. If you project a full load Thomas will move up the draft board, because we are talking top 5 numbers. The potential is huge, but with this position the Boom or Bust quotient is always very high. The question is can Thomas carry the load?

FORTH TIER I know he’s good but can he???

13) Brandon Jacobs – NYG – RB
Jacobs load has increased every year since his rookie season, Jacobs has also missed 3 and 5 games the last two years respectively. Now with Derrick Ward cashing in on his Free Agency, Jacobs looks to increase his work load. Jacobs had a great season last year rushing for almost 1,100 yards and 15 touchdowns….The major concern is the durability issues that have put him on the cusp of our breaking into the first round the last two years.

14) Calvin Johnson – DET – WR
Johnson jumped on the receiver radar last year and be came a Top 5 Wide out by seasons end…. 1,300 yds and tied for the league lead with 12 rec.td’s Megatron looks to build on those numbers….The additions of WR Bryant Johnson, WR Ronald Curry, and 1st round draft pick Brandon Pettigrew can only open the field, and take away constant double teams for the 6’6″ 235 pound speedster….The QB situation is already markedly better than last year with QB Daunte Culpepper, and the number one overall pick QB Matt Stafford battling for the starter job…. The Lions defense still looks putrid despite some off-season moves and that could lead to more passing which will only help Meagtron

15) Larry Johnson – KAN – RB
L.J. is coming off of two injury plagued seasons and myriad of off the field issues…. Johnson has only played in 20 games since his 400 plus carry season in 2006….There is still some thought that L.J. might get released or traded but that has yet to happen….Johnson is being pushed for carries by speedster RB’s Jamaal Charles, and Kolby Smith…But if Johnson can stay healthy for the entire season and show that he has that burst that some have said is gone, L.J. could be a great value at the end of round one or the beginning of round two

16) Marion Barber – DAL – RB
Barber became the lead man in big D last year but a foot injury cost Barber 5 games toward the end of the season….MBIII yards per carry went down a full yard from the previous year….Barber looks to return in 2009 completely healthy though his violent running style could lead to more injuries a major concern to fantasy owners….Wade Phillips has publicly said that he wants all of his running backs (Felix Jones, Tashard Choice) more involved this season which means that Barber could lose some touches and his ceiling might be 250 carries…. As long as Barber remains the Goalline back he will continue to have great value….

17) Andre Johnson – HOU – WR
Andre Johnson continues to put up huge numbers despite having different QB’s throwing to him…. Johnson led the league in receptions and yards and also had 8 receiving touchdowns…. Johnson receives a lot of attention from opposing DBs but continues to out muscle, and out work them all the while not having a legit receiver on the other side of him to take some pressure off

18) DeAngelo Williams – CAR – RB
Williams had a break out year as the speed to RB Jonathan Stewart’s power. Williams had 6 td runs of 30 yards or longer which is an aberration…. DeAngelo did more with less carries than any other back but a repeat performance seems unlikely as long as Jonathan Stewart and his goal line carries are still in the equation

19) Ryan Grant – GRE – RB Grant snuck into the first round in more than a few drafts last year, just based on his performance at the end of 2007…. Fast Forward to 2008 and Grant was clearly slowed by injury and never truly regained his 07 form….Grant rushed for 1200 yards but only 5 total touchdowns, and his y.p.c. was a paltry 3.9….RB Brandon Jackson continues to loom in the background, despite being constantly banged up in his first two years in the league. Look for a rebound from Grant, but which Grant will show up?  The healthy monster of 07 or the plodding work horse of 08? Here is hoping for something in the middle

Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, Brandon Jackson, Brandon Jacobs, Brandon Pettigrew, Brian Westbrook, Bryant Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Chris Johnson, Clinton Portis, Daunte Culpepper, DeAngelo Williams, Derrick Ward, Drew Brees, Felix Jones, Frank Gore, Fred Taylor, Jamaal, Jason Campbell, Jay Cutler, Joey Galloway, Jonathan Stewart, Kolby Smith, Larry Johnson, LenDale White, LeSean McCoy, Marion Barber, Matt Forte, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Maurice Jones-Drew, Michael Turner, Pierre Thomas, Randy Moss, Ronald Curry, Ryan Grant, Steven Jackson, Tashard Choice, Tom Brady, Wes Welker