There is no off season here at Razzball (except for that 48 hour bender right after the Super Bowl). We’ve already got ourselves a slow mock draft happening to kick off the beginning of the 2010-2011 season. Yes, there will be a lot of changes as the so-called off season moves players around and brings in new, younger ones, but doing mocks is a great way to see how others value players and helps solidify where you value players. Here are my co-conspirator mockaletes.
1. Matt Schauf – RapidDraft.com
2. Melissa Jacobs – TheFootballGirl.com
3. Melissa Greenhawt – GoGameFace.com
4. Chet Gresham – This Guy
5. Jim Day – FFWhiz.com
6. Charlie Tourtillotte — Tourinct
7. Mike Clay – FantasyDC.com
8. Steve Adler – FantasyDaddy.com
9. Paul M. Bourdett – BaseHeads.com
10. Drew Silva – Rotoworld.com
11. Bryan Fontaine – RookieBlitz.com
12. Knox Bardeen – Fanhouse.com
We’re still mocking each other so I’ll keep you updated on our progress. My picks are in bold. Here are the first three rounds for your amusement:
Round One
1. Maurice Jones Drew
4. Ray Rice
5. Michael Turner
7. Frank Gore
8. Steven Jackson
10. Matt Forte
11. Aaron Rodgers
12. Ryan Grant
— The first round had most of the usual suspects in it, but MJD at #1 was a little surprising. He’s in my 1st tier and I can see him being a #1 pick, but I’m a little worried about Garrard getting him to the goal line as much as he needs. Matt defends his pick here.
— I felt good about getting Ray Rice 4th. If I had to choose a draft position it would be one of the top 4 or at the turn at 11/12. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the top 4 picks and if you get 4th you don’t have to decide!
— Drew went with Forte at #10 which is within the realm of where his ADP will be, but I will probably pass on him unless it’s a ppr league. Martz likes to use his running backs in the passing game, a lot.
— Aaron Rodgers will be in the running for the #1 quarterback off the board, but after last year’s ten 4,ooo yard passers, I’ll be waiting on a quarterback.
— Since I’m pro Chris Johnson, getting him at #2 is good value, but no picks really stood out to me as steals. I have Jamaal Charles ranked higher than he went, but that second tier is pretty fluid with Gore, A.J., SJax and Charles.
Round Two
13. Drew Brees
14. Larry Fitzgerald
15. Peyton Manning
16. Rashard Mendenhall
17. Calvin Johnson
18. Reggie Wayne
19. Pierre Thomas
21. Chris Wells
22. Philip Rivers
23. Tom Brady
24. Miles Austin
— The second round saw a big run on quarterbacks. Once again I just can’t grab a QB with the first 2 picks. It’s against my code of fake football ethics. Running backs or wide receivers for me please. My options at RB were dwindling fast, but I had a difficult time choosing between Beanie, Moreno and Benson. But for my money, Beanie has the highest upside of the 3. Whisenhunt won’t put as much of the game in Leinart’s hands, especially with a back as talented as Wells showing his worth toward the end of last season.
— I am a little worried about DeAngelo Williams after Jon Stewart went crazy after D. Willy went down toward the end of the season. I could even see Stewart out playing him this year, but any way you look at it he isn’t guaranteed the bulk of the carries.
— The same could be true for Pierre Thomas, but I am a little more concerned about him staying healthy than being the primary back.
— I think one of the best picks of round 2 was by Matt who grabbed Miles Austin with the last pick. I thought about snagging him, but just liked Wells too much. Austin could easily be a top 3 wide receiver with a full season as the #1 WR in Dallas. Witten will be his only real rival for looks unless Jones gets an itchy finger and tries for a Boldin/Marshall trade.
Round Three
25. Randy Moss
26. Brandon Marshall
27. Ronnie Brown
28. Vincent Jackson
29. Greg Jennings
30. Roddy White
31. Matt Schaub
32. Tony Romo
33. DeSean Jackson
34. Steve Slaton
35. Knowshon Moreno
36. Marion Barber
— It’s interesting to see how far Randy Moss fell. Even in a not great season he was a fantasy stud with his ability to get into the endzone, but he is also starting to show his age whileWelker could be gone for a big chunk of time which will get Moss a lot of attention if Edelman doesn’t go nuts. I like Moss here, but I’m still trying to decide if I like him earlier as well.
— I felt good about Vincent Jackson in the third. The Chargers will once again have to rely on the passing game and VJax should continue to improve.
— Brandon Marshall’s value is still up in the air since we aren’t sure where he’ll end up, but if he can have a big year with Orton, he has a shot of having a big year anywhere.
— I think both Slaton and Barber went too early as they don’t have the starting job wrapped up for next season. I won’t own a Texan’s running back this season unless they trade for Purple Jesus or his like. I also won’t own a Cowboy running back unless Felix Jones really slips. Jones could get the most touches next season, but his injury history is worrisome. I’ll pass.
— My favorite pick of round 3 is probably Knowshon Moreno. The Broncos are a bit of a question mark with Josh McDaniels taking multiple power trips, but Moreno is their back and Buckhalter, though awesome last year, isn’t getting any younger and should continue to pop up on the injury report. And Moreno will have a full off season and preseason compared to his holdout last year.