NFL Draft Thoughts: Three Days Away

It’s rapidly approaching. Mel Kiper’s hair is being set into place, the Lights are shining brightly in the war rooms and green rooms throughout the Radio City Hall.

Somewhere in New York City, a Jet fan has already painted the Green and White all over his face. Another one desperately hopes the likes of Mark Sanchez will fall into the teams laps. On the other side of the pond is the Giants fan. They are praying and pleading to management. They want to make a big splash, to insure that Eli has a true partner in crime.   Four hundred and eighty nine miles west, a poor Lions fan is preparing for the worst. Their arms and hands shake and tremor as they place their fingers around the channel changer.  Nobody (maybe not even Lions management) knows what is going on with that first pick. Is it going to be the gunslingin’ playmakin’ Georgia boy, who went to the same high school as former quarterback great Bobby Layne? Or is it the converted tight end that has caught their eyes. Heck, at this rate, I wouldn’t even count out Aaron Curry just yet.

For Dan Snyder, Saturday is his christmas morning. He is the snotty rich kid, already sick of his best toy. He has fallen in love with the latest trend. He hears that the guy he wanted to coach his skins could be seeking this year’s Furby with the fourth pick.  So what does he do? He takes the hott commodity Mark Sanchez out to dinner.  And He tries to find a way to move up in the top ten, so he can secure his guy.

Every single smart draft pick is locking himself away for the weekend, so they can make as much money as possible. Their biggest worry being the next up and coming publication or blog catching you drinking, partying, or having a meltdown before draft night.

And the blogger is giddy. With the draft closing in fast, he is making his opinion known, and working his butt off trying to find the latest news surrounding what his team is doing with their pick.  It’s a great time of the year. This, for many NFL fans is the second coming of the next savior. For me, It’s just another fantasy filled weekend, full of opportunity. Here are some things I’m watching for this draft weekend.

Knowshon Moreno could have tremendous value-

Have you seen this guy? He can jump, hop and skidaddle with the best of ‘em.  Heck, his former coach Mark Richt is screaming at teams to trade up to get this guy, as am I. If Moreno lands with say, the Eagles, who don’t have a gaping hole, his fantasy value will drop. Unless Westbrook can’t stay healthy. One scenerio that is sexy to fantasy owners would be the Denver Broncos with the 18th pick. Even though the rumor is that both first round picks would be used for defensive needs, the Broncos have a gaping hole at the running back position despite signing Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan and J.J. Arrington.

Let’s say that B.J. Raji is off the board at 12, and all the other defensive players McDaniels and company like are off the board. Isn’t Moreno a formidible choice? It would be a fantasy owners dream. Moreno, who looks up to LT and Adrian Peterson, could very well put up numbers like these two did in their rookie seasons.

It’s ‘Wide’ Open-

What I really like about this draft class from a fantasy standpoint is the depth at wide receiver. Beyond the obvious Micheal Crabtree,  Jeremy Maclin and Percy Harvin, there are some late round to second round talent that could really shine in fantasy lineups. Take a guy like Brian Robiskie. He plays every down, is willing to block, and he has great hands. He isn’t the best physical specimen, but with the Bears first pick in draft (#49) he could become on of their top recievers.

Or how about whoever lands in Torry Holt’s old shoes? There could be many options.  With the second pick in the second round, the Rams could be lucky enough to land a Percy Harvin or Darrius Heyward-Bey. Though the scenerio is unlikely that both Anquain Boldin goes to the Ravens and Braylon Edwards goes to the Giants, I still see one of the top four recievers falling into the second round. How big of an impact would one of these guys have in St. Louis? A lot more than counterpart Donnie Avery will.

Even guys like Kenny Britt, Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, Ramses Barden and a rising Mohamed Massaquioi have a shot at making a big bang on teams like Miami, New York, Chicago and Jacksonville (despite signing Holt).

Pettigrew could be a fantasy star-

Every time I watch what this kid does, I am reminded of a Kellen Winslow type game changer at the position. Not only can he catch the ball and march down the field, he is an elite blocker as well. His all around value is obviously going to project him into the first round and as a starter. If he lands with the Bills in the first round, I think he could be a second tier type tight end in 2009 fantasy wise.

Another guy that I really like fantasy wise is Jared Cook. He has Vernon Davis like credentials, but offensively he is a go to guy right away. Look for him in 2009.

There is no Matt Ryan-

There are some great names, I mean wonderful names. You have to love these: Cullen Harper, Stephen McGee, Hunter Cantwell, Rhett Bomar,  and Tom Brandstater. But hey, it’s not about the names, it’s about performance in 2009.

Unlike Flacco and Ryan in 2008, I don’t think there is a rookie out there that will contribute 100 percent fantasy wise in 2009. If Stafford goes to the Lions, he could start right away, and Mark Sanchez could as well, but what they do shouldn’t be something you bank on.