Tom Brady has watched his Patriots fight their way to a 5-3 record through the first half of the season, and in actuality, he's pretty darn happy with where he currently stands.
While everyone focuses on the marquee players that will be drafted on day one this Saturday, the key to building a winning team is by acquiring 5-7 impact makers. It was Marques Colston last year, who will it be this year?
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RealGM's first Fantasy Football mock draft has finally arived. Study now and gain that extra edge come late-August/early-September.
About your authors:
Derek Johnson is coming off two fantasy championships in 09, both on the shoulders of Cleveland Browns RB Jerome Harrison. It pays to play the waiver wire.
Nate Swansoneti is known for having one of the best drafts year in and year out, and notorious for trading his great picks away. See Chris Johnson in 08 for a soon to be injured Rashard Mendenhall and a soon to be starting Mendenhall in 09 for Lee Evans.
And now the draft which was completed in true 12 team fashion, 12 rounds, no kickers or DST:
Round 1
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
1
B. Sanchito
RB
Adrian Peterson
2
J. Shade
RB
Chris Johnson
3
M. Waggoneer
RB
Maurice Jones-Drew
4
Boyd
RB
Frank Gore
5
H. Warney
RB
Michael Turner
6
R. Canfield
RB
Stephen Jackson
7
A.D. Green
RB
Ray Rice
8
T. Kirkpatrick
RB
Rashard Mendenhall
9
C. Musgrave
RB
Ryan Grant
10
G. Boskers
RB
Cedric Benson
11
D. Johnson
WR
Andre Johnson
12
N. Swanson
QB
Drew Brees
Value Pick - Ray Rice at #7.
Questionable Pick - Some may take issue with Ryan Grant at #9, I defend it by saying he is a proven #1 RB now.
Analysis - The top 3 picks seem to be a given. Sancheeto likes Peterson over Johnson, especially with a potential contract holdout looming for CJ. Gore gets his name called at #4, he is a gamble injury wise, however, take away his 3 missed games and he is a top 3 RB in 2009. Rice slips because Boldin is in to take catches and don't forget 14 TD McGahee and McClain. Lots of RB's and notice they are all featured backs. Grant goes early following a very consistent and productive 2009 campaign.
Round 2
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
13
N. Swanson
WR
Reggie Wayne
14
D. Johnson
QB
Aaron Rodgers
15
G. Boskers
QB
Peyton Manning
16
C. Musgrave
WR
Randy Moss
17
T. Kirkpatrick
RB
DeAngello Williams
18
A.D. Green
QB
Matt Schaub
19
R. Canfield
WR
Larry Fitzgerald
20
H. Warney
WR
Brandon Marshall
21
Boyd
QB
Tom Brady
22
M. Waggoneer
QB
Phillip Rivers
23
J. Shade
QB
Tony Romo
24
B. Sanchito
WR
Miles Austin
Value Pick - Aaron Rodgers at #14. A top 2 QB just entering his prime and good for 5 TD's on the ground alone.
Questionable Pick - Everything looks good here, will Austin be able to repeat 2009 with all the other WR talent around him?
Analysis Round 2 sees 6 QB's fly off the board, possibly because Benson was the last safe featured back left. All 6 QB's have proven to be worth at least 20 points a game, seemingly a safe bet over a RB who will split carries all season.
Round 3
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
25
B. Sanchito
RB
Ryan Matthews
26
J. Shade
WR
DeShaun Jackson
27
M. Waggoneer
WR
Sidney Rice
28
Boyd
WR
Marques Colston
29
H. Warney
RB
Beanie Wells
30
R. Canfield
WR
Vincent Jackson
31
A.D. Green
RB
Joseph Addai
32
T. Kirkpatrick
WR
Calvin Johnson
33
C. Musgrave
WR
Roddy White
34
G. Boskers
RB
Ronnie Brown
35
D. Johnson
RB
Pierre Thomas
36
N. Swanson
RB
Knoshawn Moreno
Value Pick - Ronnie Brown at #34. When healthy, he can do it all. Not a risk to take him in the third.
Questionable Pick - Ryan Matthews with #25. The rookie will get plenty of chances to run in SD, the potential for bust are still high as is this pick.
Analysis - Another 6 WR's go along with some young runners in Matthews, Wells and Thomas. Nothing special here.
Round 4
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
37
N. Swanson
RB
LeSean McCoy
38
D. Johnson
RB
Shonn Greene
39
G. Boskers
WR
Greg Jennings
40
C. Musgrave
RB
Javid Best
41
T. Kirkpatrick
QB
Brett Farve
42
A.D. Green
WR
Steve Smith (CAR)
43
R. Canfield
RB
Jonathan Stewart
44
H. Warney
WR
Chad OchoCinco
45
Boyd
WR
Anquan Boldin
46
M. Waggoneer
WR
Steve Smith (NYG)
47
J. Shade
RB
Jamaal Charles
48
B. Sanchito
WR
Donald Driver
Value Pick - Chad OchoCinco at #44. The addition of Bryant should only make him better. I wouldn't be surprised to see Cincy take to the air more in 2010.
Questionable Pick - Donald Driver at #48. Granted, he does have a top 3 QB, however he is old and there is a lot of competition in Green Bay.
Analysis - A round of risky backs, Charles has a lot of competition in KC now, despite being the best RB of the second half of 2009. Greene's amazing playoff run couldn't keep LT out of New York, Stewart needs a Tania Harding-esque attack to take over the starting role in Carolina.
Round 5
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
49
B. Sanchito
TE
Dallas Clark
50
J. Shade
WR
Dwayne Bowe
51
M. Waggoneer
WR
Mike Wallace
52
Boyd
TE
Jason Witten
53
H. Warney
TE
Antonio Gates
54
R. Canfield
TE
Owen Daniels
55
A.D. Green
WR
Wes Welcker
56
T. Kirkpatrick
WR
Micheal Crabtree
57
C. Musgrave
QB
Jay Cutler
58
G. Boskers
TE
Vernon Davis
59
D. Johnson
WR
Hakeem Nicks
60
N. Swanson
WR
Hines Ward
Value Pick- Dallas Clark at #49. Only because Sancheeto would have had to wait 23 more picks to get a shot at a Tight End.
Questionable Pick - Where to begin, Wallace over Ward? Crabtree and Nicks in Round 5? This just shows that there is a big drop off from #1 to #2 WR this season.
Analysis - And here come the Tight Ends! For fear of waiting a full two rounds for another shot at a decent TE, Sancheeto starts the charge that leads to 5 TE's taken in Round 5.
Round 6
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
61
N. Swanson
TE
Brent Celek
62
D. Johnson
TE
Jermichael Finley
63
G. Boskers
WR
Mike Sims-Walker
64
C. Musgrave
TE
Tony Gonzalez
65
T. Kirkpatrick
WR
Robert Meachum
66
A.D. Green
TE
Visanthe Shiancoe
67
R. Canfield
RB
Matt Forte
68
H. Warney
QB
Matt Ryan
69
Boyd
RB
Felix Jones
70
M. Waggoneer
TE
Kellen Winslow
71
J. Shade
TE
Chris Cooley
72
B. Sanchito
QB
Kevin Kolb
Value Pick - Meachum will put up the best numbers at WR in New Orleans in 2010.
Questionable Pick - Kevin Kolb, not that he doesn't have the potential for a stat-filled 2010, but taking him as your starting QB is a risk.
Analysis - The TE panic continues with another 5 going in Round 6. After Colley, it is slim pick-uns. Look for Forte and Jones to be big value picks in Round 6.
Round 7
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
73
B. Sanchito
RB
Clinton Portis
74
J. Shade
RB
Cadillac Williams
75
M. Waggoneer
RB
Jerome Harrison
76
Boyd
WR
Santana Moss
77
H. Warney
RB
Brandon Jacobs
78
R. Canfield
RB
Ladainian Tomlinson
79
A.D. Green
RB
Marion Barber
80
T. Kirkpatrick
RB
Thomas Jones
81
C. Musgrave
RB
Ricky Williams
82
G. Boskers
RB
Ben Tate
83
D. Johnson
RB
Ahmad Bradshaw
84
N. Swanson
WR
Santonio Holmes
Value Pick - We have 3 starting RB's in Portis, Jacobs and Cadillac and 3 great split carry backs in Ricky Williams, LT, Barber and Thomas Jones. Lots of value here.
Questionable Pick - Jerome Harrison at #75. Last year's fantasy playoff darling may be back to the bench.
Analysis - Overall, a lot of value in Round 7, I'd be happy with any of these RB's this late.
Round 8
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
85
N. Swanson
RB
CJ Spiller
86
D. Johnson
WR
Percy Harvin
87
G. Boskers
WR
Kenny Britt
88
C. Musgrave
WR
Anthony Gonzalez
89
T. Kirkpatrick
WR
TJ Housh
90
A.D. Green
WR
Jeremy Maclin
91
R. Canfield
QB
Joe Flaccid
92
H. Warney
QB
Eli Manning
93
Boyd
RB
Chester Taylor
94
M. Waggoneer
RB
Darren McFadden
95
J. Shade
WR
Steve Breaston
96
B. Sanchito
QB
Ben Roethlisberger
Value Pick - Joe Flacco slipping to #91. Most analysts have him as a top 10 QB with the addition of Boldin.
Questionable Pick - CJ Spiller. Too many RB's fighting behind a bad Buffalo line.
Analysis - Similar to Round 7, Round 8 produces a lot of value, only this time with Wide Receivers. A great young class in Harvin, Britt, Gonzalez, Maclin and Breaston.
Round 9
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
97
B. Sanchito
WR
Terrell Owens
98
J. Shade
RB
Reggie Bush
99
M. Waggoneer
WR
Antonio Bryant
100
Boyd
RB
Laurence Maroney
101
H. Warney
WR
Derrick Mason
102
R. Canfield
WR
Pierre Garcon
103
A.D. Green
WR
Demariouys Thomas
104
T. Kirkpatrick
TE
Greg Olsen
105
C. Musgrave
RB
Justin Forsett
106
G. Boskers
WR
Devin Aromashadu
107
D. Johnson
RB
Fred Jackson
108
N. Swanson
WR
Chris Chambers
Value Pick - Demariouys Thomas, with little competition in Denver, somebody has to catch those extra 100 passes.
Questionable Pick - Pierre Garcon. With Gonzalez back, wouldn't that put Garcon as the #4 or #5 WR?
Analysis - Some sleepers in Round 9 (the beginning of the sleeper rounds) include Aromashadu, Forsett and that loveable Chris Chambers.
Round 10
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
109
N. Swanson
RB
Willis McGahee
110
D. Johnson
WR
Arrelious Benn
111
G. Boskers
RB
Tim Hightower
112
C. Musgrave
WR
Dez Bryant
113
T. Kirkpatrick
RB
Steve Slaton
114
A.D. Green
RB
Derrick Ward
115
R. Canfield
QB
Carson Palmer
116
H. Warney
RB
Lendale White
117
Boyd
RB
Darren Sproles
118
M. Waggoneer
RB
Donald Brown
119
J. Shade
WR
Kevin Walter
120
B. Sanchito
WR
Malcom Floyd
Value Pick - Tim Hightower at #111. Wells is not proven and with a the Cardianals potentially moving toward the run in 2010, Hightower will get his carries.
Questionable Pick - Dez Bryant. Big name, but with Austin, Witten and Williams (in that order), will Bryant be anything more than a return specialist?
Analysis - In the later rounds, it is all about finding that one player who takes over due to injury. Brown, McGahee, Hightower, Slaton, Ward, White, Sproles, all of them would become nice producers if they were to get more carries.
Round 11
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
121
B. Sanchito
RB
Mike Bell
122
J. Shade
QB
Donovan Mcnabb
123
M. Waggoneer
QB
Matthew Stafford
124
Boyd
WR
Lee Evans
125
H. Warney
WR
Golden Tate
126
R. Canfield
RB
Larry Johnson
127
A.D. Green
TE
Zach Miller
128
T. Kirkpatrick
QB
Matt Cassel
129
C. Musgrave
QB
Matt Lionheart
130
G. Boskers
QB
Alex Smith
131
D. Johnson
QB
Sam Bradford
132
N. Swanson
QB
Jason Campbell
Value Pick - Dovovan McNabb at #122??? Either nobody was paying attention, or people are that down on the Redskins.
Questionable Pick - QB Sam Bradford. Do sacks and INT's count positive in this league? The Rams should just hope that Bradford doesn't have his confidence destroyed in 2010.
Analysis - Seven QB's taken in Round 11, all back-ups for their respective fantasy teams. A few have the potential for top 10 fantasy seasons.
Round 12
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Pick
Team
Pos
Player
133
N. Swanson
RB
Toby Gerhart
134
D. Johnson
RB
Correll Buckhalter
135
G. Boskers
WR
Jacoby Jones
136
C. Musgrave
WR
Donnie Avery
137
T. Kirkpatrick
TE
Heath Miller
138
A.D. Green
RB
Montario Hardisty
139
R. Canfield
WR
Mike Williams
140
H. Warney
WR
Joshua Cribbs
141
Boyd
WR
Chaz Schilens
142
M. Waggoneer
TE
Dustin Keller
143
J. Shade
WR
Braylon Edwards
144
B. Sanchito
RB
Kevin Smith
Value Pick - I like Chaz Schilens at #141. He should be the #1 in Oakland and, like a few others out there, I am starting to see promise for the Raiders in 2010.
Questionable Pick - Kevin Smith, not that it is really that questionable this late, however, he may not play in 2010.
Analysis - This was the last round we drafted for, Rounds 13 and 14 should see many more "sleeper" picks, back-ups, etc with 15 and 16 being Kicker and DST rounds.
Derek Johnson can be reached for comments/questions at: Derek@realgm.com
Send your complaints to Nate Swansoneti at: nswanson23@hotmail.com
