2009 Expert Mock Drafts: 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0

Fantasy Football Xtreme was invited to participate in an Early 2009 Fantasy Football Expert Mock Draft. This 2009 fantasy football mock draft is 10 rounds in length, standard scoring, with assumed line-ups made up of 1QB, 2RBs, 3WRs, 1TE, 1K, 1DST… this draft will take place over several days and we will update this article several times a day until the draft is complete. A special thanks to BrunoBoys.net for the invite.

Our Team: Peyton Manning, Michael Turner, Joseph Addai, Larry Johnson, Braylon Edwards, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Santonio Holmes, Roy Williams, Rashard Mendenhall, Ray Rice

2009 Expert Fantasy Football Mock Draft

Draft Completed: 3-1-09 (draft began on 2-1-09)

ROUND 1

1.01 – Junkyard Jake – Adrian Peterson – Site Commentary: Unlike in 2008, where the #1 pick was seemingly a toss-up between Peterson and Tomlinson, in 2009 Peterson may very well be the safest player to take at the #1 spot. Although Peterson’s 10 TDs were disappointing, he contributed a very consistent 110 yards per game, exceeding the century mark for rushing yards in 10 of 16 games played.

1.02 – Fantasy Football Xtreme – Michael Turner – FFX Commentary: Michael Turner rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2008 – He averaged 4.5 yards a pop and dropped eight 100-yard outings — That’s a better fantasy campaign than even I expected, and Turner was my number one breakout candidate heading into that 2008 fantasy season. The only downside with Turner is that he carried the football 377 times in ‘08, but last season was his first NFL season with more than 80 carries — He will be fine in 2009! Only Steven Jackson deserves consideration over Turner, but in the end this is an easy call for me.

1.03 – FantasyPros911.com – LaDainian Tomlinson – Site Commentary: I could have went with a safe pick like DeAngelo Williams or Brian Westbrook, but I have a gut feeling that LaDainian Tomlinson will be back in 2009. Even though we’ll see him drop out of the first overall pick in 2009, and some may say he disappointed in 2008, he was still the sixth ranked running back with 212 fantasy points. Tomlinson’s backup, Darren Sproles is a free-agent, and at this point I think he’ll jump ship, similar to what Michael Turner did a year ago. That being said, I’m looking for a revitalized LT in 2009 and see him finishing as a one of the top three running backs at season end.

1.04 – Fantasy Football Librarian – DeAngelo Williams – Site Commentary: After a slow start to the 2008 season, Williams closed out the season with a strong showing and finished as the top back with 1,518 rushing yards and 18 rushing TDs (plus a decent 22 receptions and 2 rec TDs) despite the presence of Jonathan Stewart. I predict that Williams will continue to thrive under a system of shared carries with Stewart and will repeat some of his multi-TD games in 2009, making him another unstoppable beast next season. Sure, he needs to continue to put up those big TD numbers in order to remain a top back, but I’m willing to risk that he’s more than likely to impress again. I was tempted to go with Forte or Westbrook here but think Williams might be the better bet for the important trio of staying strong all season, remaining injury free and putting up big numbers.

1.05 – Bruno Boys Whooley – Matt Forte – Site Commentary: If you want consistency for your 2009 season, look no further than Chicago Bears’ running back, Matt Forte. In a stellar rookie campaign, Forte amassed double digit fantasy points in all but 3 games, and in those three games, he didn’t miss by much going for 7, 8, and 9 fantasy points. He’ll continue to be a focal point of the Bears’ offense and should hover around 20-25 carries throughout the year. This consistent back should have no problem avoiding the sophomore slump.

1.06 – Bruno Boys Ziza – Steven Jackson – Site Commentary: Sitting in the middle of the first round, one is succumbed to two real facts. A) The best running backs are off of the board. B) It is way too early to draft another position. I am one that truly believes that a championship is built through the running back position, especially in leagues that reward quarterbacks 4 points for a passing TD and wide receivers are not rewarded points per reception. That leaves a solid amount of running backs to chose from, but none that are clearly better than the other. At this point I am thinking Brandon Jacobs, Steven Jackson, Brian Westbrook and Clinton Portis. All of them have their question marks, but it is Jackson that tempts me. He will be only 26 next year, has a new coaching regime that believes in solid defense and a run-first philosophy, was a yardage machine before missing 4 games in each of the last two years and if stretched over a 16 game season, he would of totaled just short of 1,700 total yards while getting 8 TD’s in 2007 and just short of 1,900 total yards while visiting pay dirt almost 11 TD’s this past season. Those number would have been for 256 points. At this point, I feel it is a gamble that could pay off very handsomely.

1.07 – Bruno Boys Cory – Drew Brees – Site Commentary: Well it was so hard to pass up a running back in the first round but my main concern is points. At this point I feel like I can still get two decent RBs later while getting the top QB on the board. Maybe he won’t throw for more than 5,000 yards next year but I can’t imagine his point totals dropping too much, especially with everybody expected to be healthy next season. I like the emergence of Lance Moore as a WR2 and Pierre Thomas as an heir to RB2 to Deuce McAllister. I wouldn’t mind seeing the line improved a bit but overall I feel comfortable taking the top QB with the seventh pick, especially considering I couldn’t settle on a RB I liked enough at this spot.

1.08 – Fighting Chance Fantasy – Brian Westbrook – Site Commentary: I bash this guy all the time for his ability to stay healthy, I even gave him the nickname Brian “Game Time Decision” Westbrook, but I just couldn’t pass him up here. Even with missing two games he still had 14 touchdowns and had over 1,300 all purpose yards. If he is able to stay healthy, a monumental “if”, you could easily see a return to 2007 numbers and I have a huge steal on my hands. He will always be the focus of that offense, and as he goes, Philly goes. I REALLY almost went with Peyton here, but there are plenty of quarterbacks that I like.

1.09 – Bruno Boys Cavigs – Maurice Jones-Drew – Site Commentary: Jones-Drew finished 2008 with a bang, as the third year running back had 10+ fantasy points in seven of his last 9 games. With running back Fred Taylor expected to leave town the Jaguars are making a commitment to Jones-Drew as the primary ball carrier. His 197 carries this year was a career high and with no RBBC in 2009 he should be able to approach 250 carries. Plus, Jones-Drew is arguably the best pass catching RB in the NFL, finishing with 62 receptions on the season. Expect those number to continue and the added rushing totals to propel Jones-Drew into a reliable RB1. I also considered Steve Slaton, Brandon Jacobs, Clinton Portis and Frank Gore but Jones-Drew grades out the best heading into 2009.

1.10 – Bruno Boys Larry – Steve Slaton – Site Commentary: Slaton was not a first rounder in 2008, as a matter of fact he was a late round pick and even went undrafted in many leagues. As a rookie he caught many fantasy owners by surprise. He could not have been drafted into a better situation as the Texans did not head into the season with a clear cut number one RB. Ahman Green was slated to be the teams starter, but as usual injuries were an issue. Slaton was given a chance in Week 3 of the season and he did not disappoint. He went on to carry the ball 268 times for 1,282 yards with 9 touchdowns. Slaton also added 50 receptions for 377 yards with 1 touchdown. The Texans managed to get Slaton 20 plus touches a game 9 times in 2008 and that number should grow in 2009. He is a game breaker and I am ecstatic to land him with the number 10 pick.

ROUND 2

2.01 – Bruno Boys Larry – Larry Fitzgerald – Site Commentary: This was actually a very tough pick as there are still some very good running backs available. For many years my rule of thumb was to go RB with my first two picks and it was hard to pass on Frank Gore, Clinton Portis and Brandon Jacobs among others. But in this league we will be starting 3 wide receivers and I felt compelled to get a top flight WR at this point. There will likely be a run on the WR position between now and when I pick again in 20 picks and I don’t want to be left without a WR1. This is a mistake I made in one league last year when I had the number 10 pick and the WR postion haunted me all season. Larry Fitzgerald has emerged as the top WR in football in my mind. He scored 210 fantasy points last season on 96 receptions for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was very consistant all season scoring in double figures 12 times. There is no reason to believe that Fitz will have a drop off in 2009, although this pick is based on Kurt Warner returning as the Cardinals starting QB in 2009 and I have a hard time believing he won’t. With the added depth at RB in this years draft, I feel very comfortable making this pick.

2.02 – Bruno Boys Cavigs – Frank Gore – Site Commentary: With pass first offensive coordinator Mike Martz running the show in San Francisco, Gore had somewhat of a roller coaster season but things should change in 2009. Martz was given the pink slip and new head coach Mike Singletary is committed to playing smash-mouth football that features a heavy dosage of Gore. His 283 touches and 1,409 total yards was his lowest output since his rookie season, but with him in line to get over 300 carries this year, we expect his totals to be comparable to 2006 when he had 2,180 total yards. Bottom Line, if you can snag him in the second round (because of a sub-par 2008 showing) consider yourself lucky.

2.03 – Fighting Chance Fantasy – Marion Barber – Site Commentary: Really just wanted the opportunity to write Marion the Barbarian. Barber runs like he is mad at the world and refuses to ever take the easy way out of bounds and you have to admire him for that. He also has always had a nose for the endzone. Although he has some company in the backfield in what will be second year man Felix Jones, Barber is still the main man in Dallas, and isn’t a bad pass receiver as well. Fantasy football is won and lost with TDs, and you can count on 10+ out of Barber.

2.04 – Bruno Boys Cory – Marshawn Lynch – Site Commentary: I struggled with this pick between Marshawn Lynch, Brandon Jacobs and Chris Johnson. Ultimately, I felt too many points would be poached from Jacobs and Johnson, and injuries to Jacobs also scared me off. Lynch is the clear-cut No. 1 back in Buffalo and though the offense struggled at times this year I see the Bills getting better. Lynch has the ability to go for 1,500 yards and 15 total touchdowns and that’s the kind of production I like out of a second round pick.

2.05 – Bruno Boys Ziza – Clinton Portis – Site Commentary: Having grabbed Steven Jackson with my first pick I am in need of a RB that isn’t much of an injury concern that can also rack up the points. Happily I noticed that one of my initial possible picks were still on the board in Clinton Portis. He has played 16 games in three of the last four years and is a yardage stud. He also is good for near double digit TD’s on a yearly basis. If it weren’t for his bickering and dissatisfaction with the coaching staff, Portis most likely would have gone higher. His slide has locked me in to two RB’s, Jackson and Portis, who both have top-5 talent. Sure, there is some risk involved, but if all goes well, this will be an awesome 1-2 punch at the RB position.

2.06 – Bruno Boys Whooley – Andre Johnson – Site Commentary: The “two-running back theory” is a solid theory, but it is merely a theory. There are so many factors that will determine your second round pick that it’s foolish to blindly follow it. With so many running backs already taken, rather than end up with a second tier back, I’ve decided to nab one of the league’s top wide receivers in Andre Johnson. Finishing second among wide outs last season in fantasy points, Johnson put up a more than healthy 197 fantasy points, a total that allowed him to reach double digits 11 times. It’s going to be nice having that type of production out of my wide receiver position.

2.07 – Fantasy Football Librarian – Chris Johnson – Site Commentary: this was a tough one. I almost went with a WR since there are 3 starting receivers in this league but I can’t deny what a great deal Chris Johnson is at this point – plus I feel confident that there will still be solid WRs available when the draft comes back around to me in round 3. I don’t fear LenDale White poaching too many yards or TDs from Johnson and think we’ll get another heavy dose of Chris Johnson’s explosiveness in 2009.

2.08 – Fantasy Pros 911 – Brandon Jacobs – Site Commentary: New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs missed three games and still finished the season with 1,089 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 219 carries. You can imagine what his numbers would’ve looked like had he played in those three games. However, between a good receiving corps as well as backup running backs Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, Jacobs likely will receive less than 250 carries next season. Still, he is one of the best goal-line RB’s in the NFL and should have no problem exceeding his 2008 totals in 2009.

2.09 – Fantasy Football Xtreme – Joseph Addai – FFX Commentary: The Colts runner had a rough 2008 season, rushing for just 544 yards on 12 games. While he did manage to score seven times, Addai was an absolute bust in ‘08 given he was a top five overall pick in most formats. What should fantasy owners expect out of Addai in 2009? Well, while I don’t think it’s smart to count on first-round numbers out of Addai in 2009, but he is certainly capable of it. The Colts struggled a ton early on in the 2008 NFL season, and Addai was hampered by injuries for much of the ‘08 season, but I think Addai and the Colts will get off to a hot start come September. If Addai’s ADP stays in the middle-to-late second-round range as we near August drafts, get ready to snag him without hesitation. Addai could be the biggest steal in 2009 fantasy drafts!

2.10 – Junkyard Jake – Ronnie Brown – Site Commentary: I really wanted Joseph Addai here (nice pick Smitty!), but Ronnie Brown isn’t a bad consolation pick. The Miami Dolphins far exceeded expectations in 2008, and it’s clear that the new regime has placed them back on a path to respectability. The offensive line is still shaky, but adding rookie Jake Long last year was a step in the right direction. All in all, Brown had a productive 2008 while sharing time with Ricky Williams, finishing with 910 rush yards, 10 TDs and 33 catches for 254 yards. No doubt Ricky Williams looked pretty good in his return from refeer/drug suspension hiatus, but Ronnie Brown, now two years removed from reconstructive knee surgery, should become the clear feature back for Miami in 2009.

ROUND 3

3.01 – Junkyard Jake – Steve Smith – Site Commentary: The Jake Delhomme meltdown at the end of this season, and the unfortunate belting of a teammate incident at the beginning of the season creates a little bit of concern, but Steve Smith obviously remains one of the premier big-play receivers in the league, so he makes sense in the early 3rd round. Despite sitting out the first two weeks of 2008 due to his stupidity suspension, Smith ended up with 78 catches for 1,421 yards, good for the 3rd best yardage total amoung wide receivers (behind Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald). Smith’s six TDs represent the lowest scoring output he has had since 2004, but he clearly offers double-digit TD potential.

3.02 – Fantasy Football Xtreme – Peyton Manning – FFX Commentary: The Colts were hampered by injuries in 2008 and Manning didn’t get things going until late in the 2008 season. I expect a MONSTER season out of Manning in 2009 and I’m going to boldly predict 40-44 scores out of Peyton at year’s end. This is the season that Manning carries his fantasy owners almost every single week.

3.03 – Fantasy Pros 911 – Roddy White – Site Commentary: All Roddy White has done over the last four years is increase his catches and yards every year since joining the league. I think it’s safe to say that White is one of the Top 10 wide receivers in the game, and he’s only going to get better. Although White only had seven touchdowns last year, let us not forget that his quarterback was a rookie and still getting accumulated to league. With a year under his belt, White should enjoy a better season that he did in 2008.

3.04 – Fantasy Football Librarian – Brandon Marshall – Site Commentary: I’m trying not to be the uber Broncos fan that I am with this pick but I honestly believe that Marshall is about to have a monster 2009 season. He’s already proved himself as a solid receiver and the presence of Royal takes a bit of the pressure off of Marshall – plus with McDaniels coming to Denver, I do believe there’s some serious potential for Marshall to have a 2007 Moss-like season.

3.05 – Bruno Boys – Whooley – Calvin Johnson – Site Commentary: After grabbing a wide receiver in the second round in Houston Texans’ wide receiver Andre Johnson, I was dead set on taking a running back here in round 3. But, when sitting down and taking a closer look, I have to nab Calvin Johnson here. He’s just an excellent value pick half-way through round 3, especially when you consider this is a 3 WR league. Last year, even with the Detroit Lions’ quarterback position being a revolving door of nobody’s, Johnson still managed 197 fantasy points, thanks to 1,331 receiving yards and 12 receiving TDs. Just think what he could do with some stability back there. Taking Johnson here is somewhat of a risk as it will leave me with a weak number two running back, but having both Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson in my line-up should give me a great advantage over my opponents at the wide receiver position to make up for my weaker RB2.

3.06 – Bruno Boys – Ziza – Randy Moss – Site Commentary: In the first two rounds I went running back and grabbed Steven Jackson and Clinton Portis. As my third pick approached I watched as many wide receivers flew off the draft board. That is fine though as a top-5 of mine, Randy Moss, is still sitting there. He is a very solid fantasy wide receiver and if news were out that Tom Brady would be returning healthy, there is no doubt that Moss would be ranked as 1a and if not no lower than 1b. With questions looming about Brady’s health though, we fantasy ballers are left guessing on who will be throwing Moss the pigskin. My guess is if it isn’t Brady it will be Matt Cassel, of whom the New England Patriots are rumored to possibly be franchising. While Cassel is no Brady, 7 of Moss’ 11 touchdowns came during the second half of the season. Another season of at least 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns is the minimum that I would expect from him in 2009. In a 3-WR league, being able to nab someone of the potential value that Randy Moss brings in the middle of the third round is a steal if you ask me.

3.07 – Bruno Boys Cory – Kevin Smith – Site Commentary: Well, since I took a quarterback in the first round I felt I was bound to selecting a running back this round. I could have gone with a wide receiver but with the elite ones gone I decided not to reach for one. Selecting a Detroit Lion in running back Kevin Smith isn’t something I’m excited about but I like this guy and his situation. Once Smith started getting regular carries last season he started producing. There isn’t a back behind him that’s going to poach a lot of carries and with the quarterback situation up in the air, Smith is the team’s only legitimate threat on offense. He did only have two 100-yard games last year but that can attributed to the poor offensive line in Detroit, an area the team will likely address this offseason.

3.08 – Fighting Chance Fantasy – Anquan Boldin – Site Commentary: The run of wide receivers continues with, to me, a top five to seven talent. He’s getting crushed in the media right now for his on the field run in with his coordinator, but there’s no points in fantasy football for being a good team player. Despite missing four games when his face almost exploded, Boldin still had 89 catches, was over 1,000 yards and had 11 TDs. Think of how sick his numbers would have been if he didn’t miss any time. There is some uncertainty of whether he returns to the Cardinals next season, but with this guy’s talent it really doesn’t matter where he ends up. A definite number one fantasy receiver, I am very happy to have Boldin anchor my corps.

3.09 – Bruno Boys Cavigs – Reggie Wayne – Site Commentary: After five games, Wayne was on pace to set career highs in just about every major statistical category, but his one touchdown over a 9 game stretch put a halt to that. He finished the season with 100 receiving yard games in two of his final 3 games and we expect him to put together another solid showing in 2009. He might not be as flashy of a receiver than Steve Smith, Terrell Owens, Brandon Marshall and Roddy White, but his track record and quarterback Peyton Manning make him a safe pick and I feel he gets backs on track and becomes a true WR1 again in 2009.

3.10 – Bruno Boys Larry – Greg Jennings – Site Commentary: There were questions heading into the 2008 season about whether Greg Jennings would have a drop off when the Packers parted ways with Brett Favre, but for the third consecutive season Jennings increased his reception totals. He finished the year with 80 catches for 1,292 yards and 9 touchdowns. I fully expect his numbers to increase once again in 2009 as QB Aaron Rodgers should be even better in his second year as the Packers starter and Jennings will once again be his top option. Jennings should put up WR1 numbers and be a great compliment to Larry Fitzgerald as my WR2.

ROUND 4

4.01 – Bruno Boys Larry – Thomas Jones – Site Commentary: After grabbing wide receivers with my last two picks I definitely felt that I had to grab another running back at this point. I couldn’t have been happier to see Thomas Jones still on the board. Behind a revamped offensive line Jones saw a nice increase in his numbers from 2007 (especially touchdowns) gaining 1,312 yards on 290 carries with 15 total touchdowns. There are some questions with the Jets heading into 2009, mainly at quarterback, but with Rex Ryan as the new head coach and Brian Schottenheimer returning as the offensive coordinator the Jets offense will likely revolve around the running game. Even if his numbers slip some he should still gain over 1,000 rushing yards with double-digit touchdown totals, which will make for a nice RB2.

4.02 – Bruno Boys Cavigs – Marques Colston – Site Commentary: After snagging Reggie Wayne at 3.09 to be my top wide receiver, my main priority heading into the fourth round was to draft a solid second wide receiver. I toyed around with the idea of going quarterback with Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler still available, but I’m a firm believer that you win leagues by stoking up at the core positions (WR & RB). With Greg Jennings going at 3.10, I instantly targeted Marques Colston and Terrell Owens. Debating between the two you will find that Owens has the track record and gets the style points, but Colston has the upside and is ready to set fire. With the Saints offense showing no signs of slowing down, this could be the year that Colston rivals the like of Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson for numero uno at the WR position. For starters, if he can stay healthy, you can expect Colston to repeat his 2007 season when he had 1,202 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

4.03 – Fighting Chance Fantasy – Tony Romo – Site Commentary: After all three receivers that I was targeting with this pick were taken I decided to go with a quarterback. With only four I really liked available, I had to make that choice now since there is a long time before I pick again. Despite his ability to stay in the tabloids, Romo is an incredible fantasy quarterback. Even though he missed three games he still was fifth in passing touchdowns with 26. The future of Terrell Owens on the Cowboys definitely could have effect on his statistics, as the only other wide receiver the Cowboys really have is Roy Williams who showed nothing after going to Big D. However, he has only gotten better during his career in Dallas and hey, he’s got a pretty good track record with chicks too. Nothing not to like here.

4.04 – Bruno Boys Cory – Terrell Owens – Site Commentary: Having two RBs and the top QB from my board I felt I was sitting pretty with this pick. I had the flexibility to take a third RB for depth or to fill the flex spot or I could take a WR1. There weren’t many on the board left I liked in the fourth round but it was the Dallas Cowboys Terrell Owens that caught my eye. I’m not an Owens fan by any means but the potential of production is so great with him that he’s worth a pick here. There’s no shortage of drama in Dallas but the offense will again be solid in 2009 and with Tony Romo and Jason Witten back, Owens should enjoy another good season as a Cowboy. Get your popcorn ready.

4.05 – Bruno Boys Ziza – Dwayne Bowe – Site Commentary: Heading into this round I considered a few things. First of all, there was no QB out there that was worth me spending my fourth round pick on. I also figured that it was a bit too early to backup my running backs as everyone still left on the board has a big question mark attached to him. That left me with a handful of WR’s that I was targeting, mainly Dwayne Bowe and Marques Colston. Colston was drafted, leaving Bowe still on the board when Bruno Boys Cory was drafting. I kept my fingers crossed and thankfully he grabbed Terrell Owens. While Owens is a very solid WR, he is in his mid-30’s, has criticized Tony Romo and now has Roy Williams to deal with. Bowe on the other hand is the Kansas City Chiefs top WR, is entering only his third year and despite a lack of QB talent he still has accumalated 2,017 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns during his short career. At the very least he seems like a lock for 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns, but his potential for growth is what really intrigues me here. With Steven Jackson, Clinton Portis and Randy Moss already on my roster, Bowe makes a nice addition to my skilled positions as he is young, full of potential and should remain healthy as he has not missed a single game yet.

4.06 – Bruno Boys Whooley – Ryan Grant – Site Commentary: Following a breakout 2007 season in which he went for 956 yards and 8 TDs in just 10 starts, Grant came back down to Earth in 2008, tallying 1,203 yards and 4 TDs in 16 starts. Part of Grant’s problem had to do with a contractual hold out followed by a ill-timed hamstring injury that hampered the back early on in the season. Once healthy though, Grant returned back to his 2007 form, coming up with 6 double digit fantasy performances in the Packers’ last 10 games. Look for Grant to bounce back with an even stronger 2009 as opposing defenses focus on keeping Aaron Rodgers and the passing game in check, allowing Grant to increase his yard per carry from the 3.9 in 2008 and his end zone trips.

4.07 – Fantasy Football Librarian – Wes Welker – Site Commentary: As a league that starts three WRs, I feel like this is the perfect time to snag a really solid WR2 in Wes Welker. I believe he’ll be a real go-to guy for Brady as Brady gets back in the swing of things this year. And I’m at a conference right now, so sorry for the brief write up!

4.08 – Fantasy Pros 911 – Jay Cutler – Site Commentary: Jay Cutler is the kid that keeps getting better. He should improvement once again in 2008, and with two strong wide receiver, Brandon Marshall and the emergence of Eddie Royal, I’m looking for Cutler to once again improve in 2009. Now, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Well Greco, has is that even possible, Cutler threw for 4,526 yards and had 25 touchdowns.” I saw to you, it can, and it will be done. Look for Cutler to reach the 30 touchdown plateau this year. What say you non-believers.

4.09 – Fantasy Football Xtreme – Braylon Edwards – FFX Commentary: Edwards is a steal at the bottom of the fourth-round. Sure, there is some risk counting on him as a WR1 in 2009, but not when your plan of attack is RB, RB, QB and then WR1. This is great value, and even though Edwards is far from a top 5WR lock, he ABSOLUTELY still has top 5-10WR potential. That’s enough for me here at the bottom of the fourth. I’ll be honest, though, if I didn’t land Edwards right here, who I consider to be the last WR left with elite upside, I would have wished that I had gone RB, RB, WR and then Tom Brady. I’m very pleased with Peyton Manning, Michael Turner, Joseph Addai and Braylon Edwards thus far.

4.10 – Junkyardjake – Tom Brady – Site Commentary: Needless to say, the optimism surrounding Tom Brady after his amazing 2007 performance (4,800 yards and 50 TDs) was extremely high and he was viewed as a nearly consensus 1st round pick this past season. As he recovers from the torn ACL/MCL injuries that caused him to effectively miss the entirety of 2008, there are still some serious questions regarding his 2009 status. So far, it appears that his rehabilitation is going moderately well, and while it is highly doubtly that he will ever approach the numbers of his 2007 career year, he is certainly worth a late 4th round pick under more realistic expectations of perhaps his approximate career averages, 3,800 yards, and 30 TDs.

ROUND 5

5.01 – Junkyardjake – Jason Witten – Site Commentary: This may be a bit early for Witten, but I believe he enters 2009 as the clear #1 fantasy option at TE, and if he can come close to his 2007 production, 96 catches for 1145 yards and 7 TDs, he is at least as valuable as any of the remaining wide receivers still available. It is certainly reasonable to expect an improvement for Witten in the TD category; in 2008, he managed only a paltry 4 scores. If Tony Gonzalez could make the leap from 5 TDs in 2007 to 10 TDs this past season, there is no reason why a comparable, and younger talent like Witten can’t augment his TDs into the 8-10 range in 2009.

5.02 – Fantasy Football Xtreme – TJ Houshmandzadeh – FFX Commentary: I like a few players here, especially some runners, but I need to address my WRs and Housh has solid upside in the 5th. He isn’t a steal or anything, but I feel like Braylon Edwards and Houshmandzadeh will get the job done. Carson Palmer (shoulder) is expected to be ready for Week 1, which is great news for Housh. I expect the Bengals to tag Housh this off-season, but it sounds like the receiver is willing to sign a reasonable deal — No matter where Housh is, I see him doing relatively well in 2009.

5.03 – FantasyPros9111.com – Antonio Gates – Write-up will follow

5.04 – Fantasy Football Librarian – Aaron Rodgers – Site Commentary: With 2 solid backs and 2 solid receivers on my team, I think it’s time to focus on grabbing a QB before some of the QBs with a lot of upside disappear. So Aaron Rodgers, a man who already exceeded expectations in 2008 (with 4,038 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions) despite the big shoes he had to fill, is my QB choice for 2009. His late season shoulder injury concerns can be put aside a bit now that we know he will not need to undergo surgery and I think he’ll only improve on the good chemistry he displayed with his receivers.

5.05 – Bruno Boys Whooley – Philip Rivers – Site Commentary: A solid quarterback during his first two seasons as the Chargers’ starting quarterback, Philip Rivers took things to the next level in 2008. Asked to shoulder more of the load with LT not performing quite like the LT of old, Rivers posted career highs in completion percentage (65.3%), passing yards (4,009), and passing TDs (34). He has definitely matured as a quarterback and at the age of 27, is just entering his prime NFL years. Look for the Chargers to continue to place more and more on his plate, which will lead to Rivers’ feasting on opposing defenses for big fantasy days.

5.06 – Bruno Boys Ziza – Kurt Warner – Site Commentary: After grabbing my second wide receiver in the fourth round I was planning on grabbing one of the two top tight ends in Jason Witten or Antonio Gates, figuring that they were better than the wide receivers that were left. Unfortunately two other owners were thinking the same thing. I really don’t want to spend a fifth round pick on the third best tight end and the wide receivers are starting to clump together in the same tier so I really don’t feel a need to go that route either. That leaves me thinking to take either a backup running back or quarterback. I decided to go with Kurt Warner as wherever he ends up playing next year he will undoubtedly be the #1 for that team; most likely Arizona/Franchise Tag or contract. I was hoping that I could wait one more round to grab a quarterback, but he is clearly the top one on the board at this point. If I were to risk allowing him to slip past me, the two other teams needing a QB, Bruno Boys Cavigs and Bruno Boys Larry, will be choosing twice before I do again. And I know Cavigs loves him some Warner so I had to grab him at this stage. Another 4,000 yard, 30 TD season should be in the fold, making him a nice player to go along with my previous selections.

5.07 – Bruno Boys Cory – Vincent Jackson – Site Commentary: While there were some running backs on still on the board that I would’ve liked for my flex spot, I decided to grab San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson for my WR2 spot instead. Jackson flew under the radar last season but really had a terrific year with seven touchdowns and over 1,000 yards receiving. He has established himself as the go-to guy for quarterback Philip Rivers in an offense that’s shifting its focus from running to passing. As Rivers continues to develop and improve, so will Jackson. I believe he’s got 1,200-yard, 10-touchdown potential making him a perfect pick for me right here. There’s also some good tight ends available but I don’t like spending a pick this high on a tight end, especially when he’ll likely produce 20-40 less points than Jackson will next season.

5.08 – Fighting Chance Fantasy – Eddie Royal – Site Commentary: While Royal was inconsistent through most of the season, you can’t argue with 91 catches in his rookie season and nearly 1,000 yards. He may have only had five touchdown catches, but he plays in a dynamic offense in which they throw all the time. Royal was ninth in the league in receptions despite missing a game. He should only improve as he gets more experience in the league. I absolutely love Jay Cutler, and since his number one target was off the board a long time ago, Royal is a fine consolation prize, and a good WR2 on my team.

5.09 – Bruno Boys Cavigs – Pierre Thomas – Site Commentary: With this being a start 3 WR league I was temped to snag my WR3 but with there being so many similar options I decided it would be best to bulk up my RB depth and snag the rising Pierre Thomas. Thomas emerged onto the scene in 2008, and heads into 2009 as the Saints primary ball carrier. Taking over the starting job in New Orleans in week 11, Thomas posted fantasy weeks of 19,23,11,22,25 and 13 fantasy points from weeks 11-16 and he finished the season with 12 TD’s and 909 total yards despite having just 160 touches. With the Saints offense being one of the most potent in the NFL, I fully expect Thomas to continue to progress into a sure bet RB1 and finish the 2009 season as a top 15 running back.

5.10 – Bruno Boys Larry – Willie Parker – Site Commentary: I originally thought I would either be going with a WR or a QB with this pick, but with so many going off the board at each position I don’t see a clear cut pick at either position so I opted to add some depth at RB. Willie Parker started the 2008 season hot, but cooled off quickly due to injuries that forced him to miss 5 games and kept him limited in others. He still managed to gain 791 yards with 5 touchdowns during the regular season which included four 100 yard rushing games. Parker will head into 2009 as the clear cut number one RB on a team that is heavily run oriented and he will add some nice depth to my team. If he remains healthy for the entire season I fully believe “fast” Willie will put up high RB2 numbers and is a good value pick at the end of round 5.

ROUND 6

6.01 – Bruno Boys Larry – Tony Gonzalez – Site Commentary: Rather then reaching on a WR3 or a QB at this point I decided to take a TE that can put up numbers of a WR2. Tony Gonzalez is still a top three TE as he showed last season when he had 96 catches for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns. Even if his number dip a little he is still a TE1 and this pick assures that I will be set at the TE position for the entire season.

6.02 – Bruno Boys Cavigs – Antonio Bryant – Site Commentary: The scouting report on Bryant has always looked something like this; big time talent with a brain that rivals the size of a sunflower seed. After multiple off the field incidents forced him to miss the 2007 season, Bryant signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a week 7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks put him on the fantasy map. He had 115 receiving yards to go along with a touchdown in that game and that was the confidence he needed to put together a remarkable second half of the season. Over the seasons final two months (November & December) Bryant had 46 receptions for 797 receiving yards and six touchdowns. In December alone, Bryant scored the most fantasy points at the position, as he had 512 receiving yards and 4 TD’s in just four games. Now, I’m not saying he repeats his ‘08 season again in 2009, but snagging him as my WR3 in this draft is more than worth it.

6.03 – Fighting Chance Fantasy – Darren McFadden – Site Commentary: I feel like this might be somewhat of a stretch, but we are through the point of reliably awesome receivers and are to the point where many of them are similar in value. The top few tight ends are off the board, so why not take a chance on the guy who was supposed to be the most talented guy out of last year’s draft? McFadden battled injury all year long, but did have a couple of games where he showed flashes of why he was drafted so high. If the Raiders are smart and make him their every down back heading into 2009, I could have a incredible flex option. Or he could continue his 2008 season and I have a dud. I feel very confident taking this risk though.

6.04 – Bruno Boys Cory – Baltimore D/ST – Site Commentary: I don’t necessarily like selecting a defense this high but my main concern is points. And the Baltimore D/ST will get me anywhere from 50-80 more points than if I selected a TE or a third WR. I could’ve gone for depth at RB but I’d rather do that in the later rounds, especially considering the two backs I have are very durable. With the Baltimore defense, you know what you’re getting and that’s the top unit on the board. They don’t allow many points, generate a lot of sacks and turnovers and that Ed Reed guy is pretty good at returning interceptions for touchdowns. Lineback Ray Lewis told the team he’d take a discount to stay to help resign other members of the defense. Given all of that, Baltimore will enter the 2009 season as the top defense and that will net me more points than a TE, RB3 or WR3 at this point in the draft.

6.05 – Bruno Boys Ziza – Chad Johnson – Site Commentary: This definitely is not a sexy pick as he is better known as “Ocho Stinko” around the Bruno Boys offices, as 2008 was his worst year in the NFL since becoming a weekly starter in 2002. There are many things that can be attributed to this, his lack of wanting to be in Cincinnati, his shoulder injury that he suffered before the season contributing to him missing his first games since he was a rookie as well as Carson Palmer’s injury riddled season. In 2009 there still will be plenty of question marks. Carson Palmer is expected back healthy, but will he be? T.J. Houshmandzadeh will most likely bolt during free agency leaving Chad Johnson, if he isn’t released or traded, as the Bengals top receiver once again. From 2002-2007 he averaged 1,340 receiving yards and 8 TD’s. Now, while getting back to this elite wide receiver level will mean a lot of things having to go right for “Chad”, being in a start-3 wide receiver league I felt that it was very justifiable to take a flyer and keep my fingers crossed on this very proud man.

6.06 – Bruno Boys Whooley – Reggie Bush – Site Commentary: Yes, there is some risk involved in this pick as it is unclear at this point as to how healthy Bush’s knee will be come the 2009 season. Still, the reward greatly outweighs the risk. Not only am I getting a top tier talent if healthy (In 7 of the 11 games he played last season, Bush had 14+ fantasy points), but as of now, Bush is my team’s RB3 in a two back line-up. If the knee doesn’t rebound, it’s not a huge loss. In drafting wide outs with 2 of my first 3 picks, I know many were concerned that I’d be weak when it came to my RB2. But, with both Ryan Grant and now Bush set to battle for that spot, I feel quite comfortable.

6.07 – Fantasy Football Librarian – Jonathan Stewart – Site Commentary: As a DeAngelo Williams owner I felt like I really needed to grab Stewart here. I’ll be honest though, I was pretty tempted to go with Felix Jones here since I think he’ll be a force to be reckoned with – but the smart call is to grab Stewart in case anything happens to Williams. Plus I think there’s a good chance that some weeks both Williams and Stewart could be productive starts…lots of potential in Carolina.

6.08 – FantasyPros911.com – Lee Evans – Site Commentary: Despite only having three touchdowns in 2008, Evans fits exactly what I was looking for; a wide receiver in an improving offense. In five years in the NFL, Evans has never missed a game and in 2008 he recorded his second best yardage season. I’m looking for Evans to top 1,100 yards next season and for him to get into the end zone eight times.

6.09 – Fantasy Football Xtreme – Santonio Holmes – FFX Commentary: After pulling in 52 passes for 942 and 8TDs as a sophomore, Santonio Holmes was set to breakout in 2008. Well, he didn’t. His so called “third-year breakout season” was extremely disappointing, as the Pittsburgh receiver caught just 55 passes for 821 yards and 5TDs. His 2008 campaign especially disappointed me, as I had Holmes pegged as a top 10 fantasy WR heading into the season. I firmly believe I was just a year early on this kid, as some receivers take a bit longer to develop than others. Even after his monster Super Bowl performance (9-131/1), it’s obvious that many still doubt this youngster. Well, I don’t. He should be an outstanding WR2 this year, but you do not have to draft him as a WR2… He is falling well into the late 5-7 range… I honestly didn’t expect him to last to my 6.09 after that Super Bowl outing and I was actually starting to regret the fact that I didn’t reach for him in the 5th… but it worked out well and Holmes is now on the roster! Santonio is very capable of cranking out 1,200+ yards and 10-12 scores in 2009.

6.10 – Junkyard Jake – Jerricho Cotchery – Site Commentary: Jerricho Cotchery isn’t the fastest or flashiest receiver, but he runs great routes, makes tough catches, and shows surprising playmaking ability after the catch. After his impressive rookie year in 2006, when he finished with 961 yards and 6 TDs, Cotchery has led the team in both receptions and receiving yards the past two seasons. Whether or not Brett Favre returns to the Jets, Jerricho Cotchery has a great chance to reach the 1,000 yard mark again in 2009, and remains a reliable #2 or #3 fantasy receiver.

Continue With Rounds 7-10

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