PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: JEFF FRANCOEUR ON FF

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: JEFF FRANCOEUR ON FF
By Daniel Mogollon, NFL Draft Bible

With all the off the field trouble those involved in professional sports have gotten themselves into of late, teams should encourage fantasy sports as way to have some clean fun, something many athletes are already doing.

Before the Atlanta Braves took the field to take on the New York Mets on Tuesday, Jeff Francoeur gave the NFL Draft Bible a few minutes of his time in the visiting team’s dugout. He is almost as excited about the upcoming football season, as he is the Braves’ playoff push.

“I got all my books and I’m scouting now. I should be ready to go,” Francoeur said of his preparation for his league’s Fantasy Football Draft. “I had a disappointing year last year, I’m going to be honest with you. I got knocked out of the playoffs early, so I need to come back strong this year.”

Francoeur takes pride in his knowledge of football, especially considering he was a four-star recruit according to Rivals and was set to go to Clemson, before the hometown Atlanta Braves made him a first round draft choice. As a corner, he ran a 4.5 40-time and could have teamed with Justin Miller on the Tigers, who Francoeur says he follows intently.

“We have a fun league, so it should be a good time,” the athletic right fielder says of the Braves in-house fantasy league, which usually consists of 12 to 14 players.

In addition to keeping players out of trouble -- if you owned a team, wouldn’t you rather have your players yelling at their TV for LaDainian Tomlinson to score a touchdown than with a fist full of cash outside a pit-bull ring? -- it helps build team camaraderie.

“It’s a blast, we come in talking trash all the time, even during the off-season,” Francoeur said. “It’s a great way to keep in touch with guys through e-mail.”

* A special thanks goes out to LatinoSports.com, for allowing Dan to do this interview while on assignment covering the Mets.

DENVER BRONCOS '07 PREVIEW

DENVER BRONCOS PRESEASON PREVIEW
By Harsh Lochan, NFL Draft Bible

The beginning of a season is the same for every franchise- a breath of fresh air, that eternal ray of hope and confidence in the season to come.

That very confidence and hope in Denver has been injected by young quarterback Jay Cutler. Fans can be heard whispering the name “Elway” to each other as Cutler steps into a downfield pass in the Mile High sky. Behind the apparent answers, however, lie critical questions.

The receivers he’s throwing to? “The walking wounded.” The running game? “Leave it to Shanny – He’ll find a way.” JC? “He’ll come into his own.” The biggest and most important question - how will Denver fare this season?

If there’s ever a season where timing is critical, this is the one. With a monstrous defense that led the team to a 5-1 start last year, giving up a total of 44 points, 7.3 per game and the lowest points allowed in the NFL at the time. Offensive woes were overcome by a “bend but not break” defense, where Champ Bailey was the quiet and unofficial defensive player of the year. With an offense that ranked 31st in the league at the time with 12.3 points per game, even the defense couldn’t prevent a 4-6 downhill finish.

This year, much of the same can be expected with a decimated receiving core with the exception of Javon Walker. The defensive addition of Dre Bly to the secondary will keep points off the board long enough for the offense to get going. With the rest of the crew coming off various injuries, expect Cutler and the offense to get off to a slow start.

Jay Cutler
A keeper league gem and a promising performer, its Cutler’s ship and the Broncos are on it. With Plummer out of the picture and assured backup, Patrick Ramsey taking them from the bench, there is no quarterback controversy or worry over job security. Look for the talented Cutler to move up the ranks of second-tier fantasy quarterbacks this season and expect him to surge as the season progresses. He’ll face his growing pains early and grow stronger along with the owners who draft him.

Travis Henry/Mike Bell
Tally up an automatic 1,000 yards, with the veteran Travis Henry exploiting the runway between the tackles. A word of caution for future Mike Bell owners – expect him to struggle fantasy-wise as his running style isn’t that different from Henry’s. Not being a change of pace back can hurt his stock. While his hard-nosed, grind-it-out style of play admirably makes him a fan favorite, Bell’s similar running will leave him with less carries as Henry will be more featured.

It goes without say to draft Bell if you have Henry. Handcuffing backups is a good way to protect your investment - especially if the backup is as talented as Mike Bell.

Javon Walker
A steal in a bust out year last season leaves Walker as the only healthy disclaimer to the injury report that is the Broncos’ wide outs. Walker is the only viable target and as he proved last year, will put up big numbers if defenses aren’t geared to shutting him down.

Brandon Marshall
Coming off a thigh injury, Marshall hasn’t been on the practice field and is a definite candidate for a rough start. However, keep an in-season eye on Marshall who could become a weapon inside the twenty and a difference maker for deeper league fantasy teams starving for a receiver.

Brandon Stokley
A late value pick at best, look for the oft-injured Stokley to be a fantasy disappointment. Avoid being a hopeful if you are expecting him to bust out given the circumstances. Coming off a ruptured right Achilles earlier than expected, and without the luxury of indoor turf that serves as Madden turbo, hit the pass button instead.

Rod Smith
Coach Shanahan has offered a liberal, if not hazy assessment of Smith’s timetable for return from hip injury and subsequent surgery. Being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list doesn’t help matters. It comes to show you that injury and age will catch up even to the Hot Rod, as a spot for him should not be reserved unless you’re incredibly sentimental.

Daniel Graham/Tony Scheffler
Recovered from a broken foot and freshly activated, emerging Tony Scheffler was a bona fide sleeper until the acquisition of Daniel Graham. Considering Graham’s usage by New England as a Red Zone target, this leaves Scheffler in the role of a possession tight end. This translates to split numbers, as they would each cut into the others productivity. A good tandem, avoid too much fantasy expectation from either individually.

Email Harsh Lochan: harsh@nfldraftbible.com

FF IMPLICATIONS OF THE TWO-BACK SYSTEM

By David Kaye, NFL Draft Bible

Last season the Indianapolis Colts orchestrated the two running back
system en route to a Super Bowl victory. The year before that, the
Pittsburgh Steelers incorporated the inside outside combination of
Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Due to the success of the Colts and Steelers, more and more teams will
begin to employ the running back by committee system. It will be interesting to note if this is a trend that has staying power and
what, if any, fantasy implications this might have as the season
approaches.

AFC
Buffalo Bills
In Buffalo, Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year Marshawn Lynch will split time with seven-year veteran Anthony Thomas in the backfield. The players have contrasting running styles--Lynch provides extraordinary speed and balance while Thomas is a power back. “I would still like if we had the option, to run the ball by committee,”said head coach Dick Jauron.

Jacksonville Jaguars
Running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew combined to form a
two-headed monster in Jacksonville last season amassing 2,087 yards and 18 touchdowns between them. Jones-Drew proved to fantasy owners that he's a versatile back who can also catch passes and serve as a kick return specialist. He compiled 436 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and saw his kick return average escalate to 27.7, third best in the NFL. I expect the fantasy production of Jones-Drew to continue to increase in all facets of the game, as he will provide a little mojo to the Jaguars backfield.

Oakland Raiders
As the Raiders enter the 2007 season boasting the lowest scoring
offense in the league, backfield mates LaMont Jordan and Dominic
Rhodes will be counted on heavily throughout the season. Rhodes, signed in the off-season coming over from those Super Bowl Champion Colts, has been suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Even though his value is quickly diminishing, he would be a steal between rounds 10-15, as he will return week six against Miami. Without Rhodes, Jordan will see considerable playing time and he has the ability to be a productive starter. He'll probably go unnoticed in fantasy drafts, but he is on my radar as a sleeper pick.


NFC
Dallas Cowboys
Marion Barber III transformed into a touchdown machine last season as he found the end zone fourteen times on the ground and twice in the air. Barber was featured more as a third down and goal line back last season due to his strength and ability to move the chains. As a young player on the rise, he should be a hot commodity in fantasy drafts. Meanwhile, starter Julius Jones saw his production on the ground increase for the third consecutive season, but he found the end zone less often. Being that this is a contract year for him, there'll be added pressure to perform and I expect him to have a breakout season.

Detroit Lions
Reports out of Detroit indicate that running back Kevin Jones is steadily progressing from a left foot injury that ended his season last year. Although he's regaining strength and his ability to cut, he's still on the physically unable to perform list and is not close to 100%. With Jones's injury, Tatum Bell is receiving the majority of reps in camp and offensive guru Mike Martz is planning to use the former Bronco in a featured role. His value in drafts is quickly rising and if Jones can recover fully, he can translate into a solid sleeper pick.

Minnesota Vikings
Last season in Minnesota, Chester Taylor was the dominant back as he eclipsed the 1,200 yard mark and distinguished himself as the focal point in the Vikings offense. With the arrival of first-round pick Adrian Peterson, Taylor's role will be diminished as a running back by committee system will be implemented. Even though Peterson is the hot pick in drafts, Taylor could prove to have an excellent season.

New York Giants
With the retirement of Tiki Barber, Brandon Jacobs will be thrust into the spotlight in the Giants offense. Jacobs displayed his explosiveness last season as he ran over opposing defenders and barreled his way into the end zone nine times. Reuben Droughns, acquired in the off-season from Cleveland, experienced a disappointing 2006 campaign, but will be relied upon heavily in the run game. I expect offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride to employ a running back by committee system in order to utilize the abilities of both players.

Washington Redskins
Running back Clinton Portis is returning from two shoulder injuries, a
sprained ankle and a broken bone in his right hand that placed him on
injured reserve last season. In his absence, backup Ladell Betts went
on to have the best season of his career, rushing for 1,154 yards and
four touchdowns. In the final six games of 2006, Betts accumulated five
100-yard games and eclipsed the 150-yard mark twice. Despite his
consistency, Portis is the starter in Washington and is being drafted
between the second and fourth rounds. I would use caution when considering Portis, who's extremely injury prone and focus my attention on grabbing Betts later on.

Email David Kaye at: david@nfldraftbible.com

QUARTERBACKS IN THE WINGS

By The Fantasy Trader, NFL Draft Bible

Have you ever tried to explain Fantasy Football to someone who has never played? Well, we draft real players and form a team that competes each week. Fantasy Football is like being a real owner. If this were true, then why does the fantasy quarterback get the shaft?

Just about the entire first round will be running backs. Part of the reason for this is that there is so much depth at the quarterback position. Tony Romo, Vince Young, Jeff Garcia, David Garrard and Jay Cutler started the season as backups, but got the full-time gig and made serious contributions. So much is made of the backup running back, but let’s see who might breakout in the backup quarterback role.

David Carr, Carolina Panthers-- Has there ever been a better example of losing your job and it being considered a good career move? Carr picked himself up off the ground 41 times last year. Despite the lack of protection he still managed to complete 68.3% of his passes and is only 28 years old. Now he’s in Carolina backing up Jake Delhomme, who struggled last year and will have a short leash to start 07. Carr has more mobility than Delhomme and arguably as good an arm. The one thing he never had was Delhomme’s surrounding talent.

Gus Frerotte, Denver Broncos-- It seems that Frerotte always finds his way behind center. Marc Bulger played all sixteen games last year for the first time in his career and was limited to eight games in 2005. Frerotte made the most with his surrounding talent in Miami. If you have a disposable roster spot, Bulger owners might want to consider drafting Frerotte as an insurance policy. At the very least, he is worth a waiver pick as a viable fantasy option should Bulger go down.

Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns-- After missing nearly two weeks of training camp, it appears Quinn has no shot at starting the season as the Browns quarterback. Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson will compete for the starting job. Last season, the two combined to throw just 15 TDs and 25 INTs. Quinn has learned under Charlie Weis and has the mobility and arm strength to make an immediate impact. The Browns are preaching patience, but so were the Titans and Cardinals last season. Chances are he starts before mid-season.

Damon Huard, Kansas City Chiefs-- He will probably be the week one starter for the Chiefs, but that doesn’t mean he will get drafted in your league. The fact that there is a quarterback debate between Huard and rookie Brody Croyle is mind-boggling. In ten games last season, Huard threw 11 TDs and just 1 INT. Assuming Larry Johnson returns, he also makes every passing game a little bit better. With a weak offensive line, veteran leadership is a must.

Kellen Clemens, New York Jets-- The Jets should just call this guy Pennington number two. His game is eerily similar, as he possesses the same frame and has shown acute accuracy. Clemens seems to also possess a stronger arm of the two. Pennington did play sixteen games last season, but only played in twenty-three during the three prior seasons. Clemens was explosive at Oregon where he threw 41 TDs over his last two seasons. The Jets have veteran wide receivers, which will help with his transition should the opportunity present itself.

The Fantasy Trader goes by alias as he is a fantasy football secret weapon. Keep it posted all season long on Fantasy Football Insiders as he provides the weekly Stock Report every Friday!

Email: fantasytrader@nfldraftbible.com

BUST OUT PLAYERS FOR ‘07

By Brad Kurtzberg, NFL Draft Bible Sr. Writer

The difference between a good team and a great team is decided in the middle and late rounds of your draft, when people pick players who are not household names now, but will have breakout seasons and become fantasy starters. Here is a look at some players lower down in your fantasy depth chart who have the potential to make a big impact this year.

Here they are, the players who can really make a difference in your fantasy season.

QUARTERBACKS
Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco—The 49ers quarterback has shown steady improvement over his first two seasons and finished 2006 with 16 TDs. He has a strong arm, is gaining experience and has a strong running game led by Frank Gore. As he continues to progress, Smith should become a steady fantasy starter this season.

Jay Cutler, QB Denver—Cutler had an 88.5 QB rating with 9 TDs and only
5 INT as a rookie. The Broncos always have a good running game and Cutler will also benefit from having a great receiver like Javon Walker available to him. The Denver offense emphasizes the run first, so Cutler won’t be putting the ball up 40 times a game too often, but his football smarts and arm strength should make him a solid fantasy QB for years to come.

Matt Leinart, QB Arizona—Leinart has more weapons at his disposal than any other young QB on this list. WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald may be the best duo in the league, while RB Edgerrin James adds leadership and experience. They key may be how well the Cards traditionally weak offensive line does at protecting him. Leinart’s shoulder injury appears to be healed and he has excellent leadership skills.

RUNNING BACKS
Brandon Jacobs, RB NY Giants—With Tiki Barber’s retirement, Jacobs will get the first crack at being the Giants’ feature back. Reuben Droughns will get some carries, but Jacobs will touch the ball the most if all goes according to plan. Jacobs had 9 TDs on just 96 carries last season, with 250 plus carries, the TDs should hit double digits easily.

Jerious Norwood, RB Atlanta—Norwood averaged over six yards per carry on 99 attempts in spot duty last year. He was expected to battle with veteran Warrick Dunn for the starting job but Dunn is injured and will be out at least until the season opener. Look for Norwood to shine this year when given the opportunity to start.

Cedric Benson, RB Chicago—The biggest question for Benson may be whether or not he can stay healthy. The Bears traded Thomas Jones so Benson should be #1 in Chi-Town. If he stays healthy, 1,000 yards and 10 TDs should not be a problem.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Santonio Holmes, WR Pittsburgh—Holmes started four games last year for Pittsburgh and finished with 49 catches and 2 TDs. He also averaged almost 17 yards per catch, which shows his speed. A healthy Ben Roethlisberger will help the Steelers’ receiving stats. Hines Ward will still be the number one guy, but expect 65 catches or so from Holmes and at least 8 TDs with more and more production as the season progresses.

Vincent Jackson, WR San Diego—Jackson is everybody’s choice to bust out at WR this year because of his size and physical ability. He will benefit from the maturity of QB Philip Rivers and the fact that defenses will be geared to stop the San Diego running game. Jackson has a lot of potential and should at least double his 27 catches from last year. Expect at least 7 TDs as well.

Braylon Edwards, WR Cleveland—Edwards has three major obstacles that have kept him from becoming an elite NFL receiver. The first has been his health, which, so far this year, appears to be good. Second, is his lack of maturity on and off the field, which hopefully has been improved. Lastly, has been the Browns lack of a NFL caliber QB to get him the ball. If Brady Quinn steps forward and answers the third issue, expect Edwards to be the team’s top receiver with at least 75 catches and 10 TDs. If Quinn is slow to develop and nobody else steps up at QB for the Browns, Edwards remains a strong fantasy backup at best.

Greg Jennings, WR Green Bay—Jennings got off to a hot start last season before an injury slowed him down midway through the year. He should start and while Donald Driver will remain Favre’s number one target, a healthy Jennings should catch in the neighborhood of 65 balls with at least 7 TDs.

TIGHT ENDS
Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco—Davis broke a leg, which cost him six games and a lot of time that could have been spent learning the system during his rookie year. Davis has great size and the speed of a WR so he should create plenty of mismatches for both safeties and LBs trying to cover him. He also has a young and improving QB and a system that will help get him touches. This could be a huge year for Davis.

Marcedes Lewis, TE Jacksonville—Lewis was the Jaguars first round pick last season but he missed nearly half the season due to injuries. Last year’s starting TE Kyle Brady, has been released and the new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is supposed to feature the TE more in his offense. The Jaguars are unsettled at WR, so Lewis should become more of a focal point of the offense this year.

Brad Kurtzberg is a Senior Writer for the NFL Draft Bible and author of "Shorthanded: The Untold Story of the Seals:Hockey's Most Colorful Team"

Email: brad@nfldraftbible.com

10 BURNING QUESTIONS FF OWNERS WANT TO KNOW

As mini-camp rolls on, the NFL Draft Bible takes a peek at 10 burning questions fantasy owners need to know while drafting their team:

Is there any question not to take LT first?
If you have the first pick, you’re taking LT. No ifs or buts. How great was LT last year? In ESPN leagues, LT ended the season with 410 fantasy points. Larry Johnson, who finished with the second most fantasy points, ended the season with 317 points.
Tomlinson just turned 28 this June, and is entering his prime. Fantasy owners should have little doubt about Tomlinson’s capabilities. LT has elevated his game to the likes of Walter Payton and Barry Sanders, and fantasy owners should cash in on his greatness.

Should I take a chance on Michael Vick?
It’s sad to see how much Vick has plummeted in a year. Last year, Vick was a top 15 fantasy player, and showed uncanny potential for being able to throw for 2,500 yards and rush for 1,000. This season, Vick will be lucky to strap on the pads and step on the field. With Vick’s legal issues occurring during the season, fantasy owners should stay clear of Vick at all costs. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has shown he will sit players who have problems with the law, and after further investigation, it looks like Vick will be on the bench for most of the season. Fantasy owner could take a chance on him on the later rounds, but they shouldn’t expect anything close to the numbers he put up last year.

Should I be worried about Vince Young and the Madden jinx?
For the record, I am not a superstitious or spiritual person. However, one can not notice the trend of players getting hurt after being on the cover of Madden. Eventually someone will beat the jinx, but for now, fantasy owners should stay away from Vince Young. He gave the Titans a late playoff push and went 8-5 as a starter, but Young threw more interceptions, 13, than touchdowns, 12, and had a QB rating of 66.7. That is no where close to being a top fantasy quarterback. I wouldn’t take Young before the likes of Tony Romo, Phillip Rivers, Jay Cutler, and Brett Favre. Instead, Fantasy owners might want to look at him as a backup, but he might be better suited as a third quarterback and a late draft pick.

When should I draft Calvin Johnson?
Calvin Johnson has absurd talent and freakish abilities. He’s like Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens in one body. But the transition from college to the pros is very difficult for wide receivers.

There is no question Calvin Johnson will eventually be an elite wide receiver, but for now, he’s still a rookie learning a new league. He will be a very good option as a mid round draft choice, and a solid third wide receiver for many teams. What benefits Johnson is that he has Roy Williams, another emerging star, on the other side of him. What hurts Johnson is that Mike Furrey is coming off his best season, and is going into mini-camp as the Lions second receiver.


What player, who moved during the off-season, will have the most productive season?
Two guys that jump out at me are Willis McGahee and Randy Moss. In McGahee’s case, the move to Baltimore makes McGahee a solid first rounder. He has disappointed fantasy owners –including myself-- for the last couple of seasons, but going to the Ravens gives fantasy owners hope. As many fans know, the Ravens are a run first offense, and McGahee will get at least 20 carries a game. McGahee was having trouble finding the end zone in Buffalo, but with Steve McNair and that consistent offensive line, McGahee should have his best season as a pro.

On the other side, Moss comes to New England after the Patriots revamped their wide receiver corp. Moss comes from the worst team in the NFL to, arguably, the best. He had no one throwing him the ball for the last two years, but now will have Tom Brady. Critics are still questioning if Moss can co-exist with the Patriots offensive game plan, but to me, Moss is thrilled to be out of the silver and black. Critics questioned his abilities and attitude out of college and he proved them wrong. Look for Moss to prove he is a top 10 wide receiver, and put up a ton of TDs and over 1,000 yards receiving.

Is it worth taking Manning with a top 10 pick?
Peyton has proven that he is a clear cut top 10 pick. Many people might say that running backs should only go in the first round, but Peyton is too good to pass up. He puts up 4,000 passing yards, 30 TDs, and a low interception rate. And, he is one heck of an actor. Well, I guess he doesn’t get fantasy points for acting, but Peyton is still a better fantasy option than many running backs.

What running back will have a Frank Gore type season?
Last year, Ronnie Brown was supposed to have the season Frank Gore had. So, it is very hard to predict who can put up monster numbers out of no where. Many experts did not see Frank Gore rushing for more than 1,600 yards, but if I had to choose, Travis Henry and Cedric Benson are due for bust out seasons.

Henry signed with the Broncos during the off-season and his type of running style should continue the Broncos streak of having a 1,000 yard rusher.

Benson has the running back job all to himself, and he will be determined to prove the Bears did not make a mistake in moving Thomas Jones. Jones was coming off a 1,200 yard season, but Benson could duplicate those numbers with the great Bears offensive line in front of him.

How will Reggie Bush do in his second year?
Reggie Bush did something running backs and rookies do not usually do; he got better as the season continued. Bush showed his unique skills, and in the second half of the season, Bush had 4.8 YPC, nearly 100 total yards per game, and 6 TDs. He may be the best receiving running back in the league already, and is running skills are sure to improve. Bush may not be a first round pick, or your first running back, but he will definitely be gone after the second round is over.

Should Larry Johnson’s hold out worry me?
Larry Johnson was last year’s popular 1st pick. This year, Johnson is sitting out, in hopes to receive a new contract. Johnson will eventually get on the field, and should not miss a step. Second year head coach Herm Edwards has shown he is not afraid to hand the ball off, as Johnson took 416 carries last year, tops in the league. Those carries will eventually catch up to Johnson, but for now, fantasy owners should expect similar numbers from the last two years.

What’s the better pick; Frank Gore or Shaun Alexander?
Two weeks ago, it was Frank Gore for sure. Gore is younger, has more step in his game, and is on a team that is on the rise. However, that all changed when Gore broke his hand and is expected to miss the 49ers first three pre-season games. The broken hand only adds on to the fumble worries. He led the league last year with nine 100 yard games, but questions will now linger every time he touches the ball.

Alexander is coming off his worst season since 2000, due to a broken foot --and maybe the Madden jinx. In reality, the broken foot was bound to happen as Alexander received over 1,000 carries from 2003-2005.

Because of the question marks around Gore and Alexander, Joseph Addai might be the better option. Addai split time with Dominick Rhodes last year, but still rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 7 TDs. The Colts offense only helps Addai, and could elevate him into the top 5 ahead of Gore and Alexander.

MOCK DRAFT MUSINGS

By Ralph Mancini, Fantasy Football Insiders

Taking part in mock drafts won’t give you any fresh perspective into which runners are being selected in round one, but it can serve as a tool to help you experiment with different draft strategies.

Taking the best player available may be the way to go in real life NFL drafts, but in the world of fantasy it’s all about value determined by the lack or abundance of certain players at specific positions.

Supply and demand isn’t the only thing to factor in however. One must also recognize the odds a player has of being a true difference maker. The odds are greater for those who get the most touches which makes running backs and quarterbacks, in my view, much more valuable than players at other positions.

With that in mind, I went into my mock drafts with the sole purpose of selecting three runners and one quarterback with my first four picks. The true objective here was to see what caliber of receiver would be available to me in rounds five and six. Here were the results.

* Picking third in a 12 team league, my receivers were Plaxico Buress and Joey Galloway.

* Picking eighth in a 10 team draft, my receivers were Javon Walker and Marques Colston.

* Picking first in a 10 team draft, my receivers were Marques Colston and Joey Galloway.

* Picking sixth in a 12 team draft, my receivers were Donald Driver and Joey Galloway.

* Picking eleventh in a 12 team draft, my receivers were Calvin Johnson and Santana Moss.

If you believe that Chad Johnson, Torry Holt, Marvin Harrison and others being selected in rounds two through four are significantly better than the receivers listed above, then my strategy isn’t for you.

If fantasy guru Ralph Mancini says it, you better pay attention! Get in-depth, detailed analysis from Mancini all season long as he delivers the knockout blows to your competition.

Email: Ralph@nfldraftbible.com