Top Three Picks In Every Fantasy Football Draft?

[swerb]

Larry Johnson, Shaun Alexander, LaDanian Tomlinson?

Any chance of anyone cracking that top three in any drafts come August?

[pup]

You know someone is taking Manning in the top 3.

[swerb]

Mocks already starting to pop up. Some quick thoughts ...

~LJ, Alexander, LDT ... no brainer top 3

~Reggie Bush looks like he will be the top rookie taken, and go betwen 14-20. Last year I got Cadillac Williams at 32 and he helped me win my 16 team league.

~Steve Smith = Top WR taken and a top ten pick. Just a little weird after YEARS of TO, Harrison, Moss ruling the position.

~A lot of drafts will see RBs go with the top 8-10 picks before Manning, Steve Smith leave the board.

http://www.fantasyfootballcafe.com/player_rankings.php

1. Larry Johnson - RB, KC
2. Shaun Alexander - RB, SEA
3. LaDainian Tomlinson - RB, SD
4. Clinton Portis - RB, WAS
5. Tiki Barber - RB, NYG
6. Rudi Johnson - RB, CIN
7. LaMont Jordan - RB, OAK
8. Edgerrin James - RB, ARI
9. Steve Smith - WR, CAR
10. Steven Jackson - RB, STL
11. Peyton Manning - QB, IND
12. Ronnie Brown - RB, MIA
13. Carnell Williams - RB, TB
14. Domanick Davis - RB, HOU
15. Reggie Bush - RB, NO
16. Torry Holt - WR, STL

17. Willis McGahee - RB, BUF
18. Terrell Owens - WR, DAL
19. Brian Westbrook - RB, PHI
20. Kevin Jones - RB, DET
21. Larry Fitzgerald - WR, ARI
22. Chad Johnson - WR, CIN
23. Reuben Droughns - RB, CLE
24. Jamal Lewis - RB, BAL
25. Anquan Boldin - WR, ARI
26. Marvin Harrison - WR, IND
27. Julius Jones - RB, DAL
28. Antonio Gates - TE, SD
29. Warrick Dunn - RB, ATL
30. Randy Moss - WR, OAK
31. Chris Chambers - WR, MIA
32. Darrell Jackson - WR, SEA

[swerb]

Heres another ... McGahee at #4. Interesting.

http://www.fantasyfootballxtreme.com/2_ ... ril24.html

1. Larry Johnson - KC
The loss of full-back Tony Richardson is definitely bad news for the Kansas City rushing attack, but Johnson averaged 150+ rushing yards and 1.8TDs per start in 2006 (for 9 straight games). Johnson is a threat running the football as well as catching the football. L.J. will most likely eclipse 20TDs with ease 2006 and we wouldn't be shocked at all if he rushed for over 2,000 yards. If the stud runner had started all 16 games in 2006, based off his nine straight starts in '05, he would have rushed for 2,400+ yards and would have scored 28TDs.

2. LaDainian Tomlinson - SD
Larry Johnson, LaDainian Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander could all three go number one overall in almost any fantasy draft heading into 2006. That said, we think Tomlinson is going to explode in 2006. The loss of Drew Brees at the quarterback position might actually create a larger workload for the runner in 2006 - if he can manage to stay healthy, we see L.T. rushing for 2,000 yards and scoring 20+ TDs without question.

3. Shaun Alexander - SEA
Alexander has averaged over 17TDs per season since 2001. That's amazing consistency and it really makes a strong case for Alexander being the number one ranked fantasy back heading into 2006. His 27 rushing TDs last season won many fantasy owners their league titles and we think that the Seattle rusher will lead many more fantasy owners back to their league's big game once again in '06. Expect him to score 20+ TDs again this season making next season one of the strongest running back campaigns in fantasy football history. Johnson, Tomlinson and Alexander could all score over 20+ TDs in 2006 and you really can't go wrong drafting any one of the three number one overall.

4. Willis McGahee - BUF
Placing McGahee here is kind of risky, but there is no other runner in the league closer in talent to those top three runners above than Willis McGahee. Buffalo struggled to pass the ball last year and that created an awful running environment for McGahee. The new Buffalo coaching staff is expected to create a run-friendly offensive attack, which will help McGahee a ton in 2006, and put the runner in a position to score a lot of touchdowns. Get ready for the same Willis McGahee that you witnessed in 2004, the one that had seven 100 yard games out of 11 starts with an average of 1.18TDs per start. We wouldn't be shocked if McGahee finished the 2006 season with 15 rushing touchdowns.

5. LaMont Jordan - OAK
Jordan was a machine in 2005 as he compiled 1,025 rushing yards and a total of 11TDs. He also racked up 70 receptions for 563 yards. Jordan is the perfect fit for that Oakland offense, but the loss of Norv Turner is a bit of a concern. Still, we see a huge season for Jordan in 2006 and fantasy owners can expect Jordan to easily duplicate his 2005 stats, minus a few receptions and receiving yards.

6. Tiki Barber - NYG
There is no question that Tiki Barber's 2006 performance warrants him a top six overall ranking in 2006 mock drafts, but age is starting to become a concern. Barber just turned 31 and most top backs start to decline right at 30-31, and at least 31 years of age. There have been exceptions and Barber has the talent and ability to qualify for a year's extension to the rule. Be prepared, though, for Barber to be excluded from the first round in 2007 fantasy drafts... this could be his last season as a fantasy stud - we were even tempted to move Portis and James above Barber in this mock draft, but the runner finished his last 7 games of the fantasy season averaging 143 rushing yards per game - we doubt his talent drops off before next season.

7. Clinton Portis - WAS
Portis didn't have quite the season that fantasy owners were expecting back in 2004, but last season Portis bounced back. The Washington rusher ended the season with 1,500+ rushing yards and 11 rushing TDs. Fantasy owners can expect more of the same from Portis in 2006.

8. Steve Smith - CAR
Smith scores like a top runner in fantasy football. The speedster WR racked up 1,563 receiving yards and 12TDs in 2005 and there is no reason to think that defenses will be able contain him in 2006. He is our number one ranked WR in our 2006 Early Player rankings and we wouldn't be surprised if Smith scored more like 14-15TDs in '06.

9. Peyton Manning - IND
Manning scored 49TDs in 2004 and then just 28TDs in 2005. What Manning will show up in 2006? With Edge in Arizona this season, we expect Manning to jump back into the 38-40TD-range at a minimum.

10. Edgerrin James - AZ
James was amazing last season rushing for 1,506 rushing yards and 13 rushing TDs in 14 games. While he is still a top 10 overall pick, he may not be quite as productive in Arizona in 2006. Fantasy owners can still expect 1,200+ rushing yards and roughly 10TDs from Edge next season.

11. Steven Jackson - STL
Jackson should see a lot more carries in 2006, but he still has to prove that he can stay healthy before we move him up any higher. He does have the talent to move ahead of Edgerrin James in this mock, but he also has the injury history to drop out of the top 15 overall. Jackson is an interesting player to watch this off-season and he is capable of a huge, huge 2006 season.

12. Terrell Owens - DAL
Owens has the talent to be the number one WR in fantasy football for a couple more years. He is getting older, but he is in better shape than any WR in the league. Those that think his value is lower this year in keeper leagues -- think again. Owens could easily average 1TD per game and could very well rack-up over 1,400 yards receiving this coming season.


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Round Two

13. Cadillac Williams - TB

14. Ronnie Brown - MIA

15. Chad Johnson - CIN

16. Julius Jones - DAL

17. Rudi Johnson - CIN

18. Torry Holt - STL

19. Randy Moss - OAK

20. Larry Fitzgerald - AZ

21. Marvin Harrison - IND

22. Domanick Davis - HOU (For Now)

23. Chester Taylor - MIN

24. Antonio Gates - SD


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Round Three

25. Carson Palmer - CIN

26. Jamal Lewis - BAL

27. Brian Westbrook - PHI

28. Santana Moss - WAS

29. Kevin Jones -DET

30. Anquan Boldin - AZ

31. Donovan McNabb - PHI

32. Deuce McAllister - NO

33. Hines Ward - PIT

34. Corey Dillon - NE

35. DeShaun Foster - CAR

36. Warrick Dunn - ATL


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Round Four

37. Reggie Wayne - IND

38. Thomas Jones - CHI

39. Willie Parker - PIT

40. Darrell Jackson - SEA

41. Roy Williams -DET

42. Reuben Droughns - CLE

43. Reggie Bush - Rookie

44. Chris Chambers - MIA

45. Ahman Green - GB

46. Cedric Benson - CHI

47. Andre Johnson - HOU

48. Ron Dayne - DEN