My Vernon Davis Blog

The NFL draft is quickly approaching and being the fantasy sports dork I am, I honestly can't wait. Each year is like a ritual for me...a constant in my life if you will. I wake-up, walk the dog, drink my coffee, read the morning news, spend some quality time with my girlfriend and then park my butt in front of the TV for about 12 hours of the NFL draft. It does run a distant second to any fantasy baseball or fantasy football draft, but nonetheless it's still very exciting.

Is your favorite team going to get the guy you want? Are there going to be any big time trades? Which guy is gonna be the next big star in the NFL? Are the Jets inevitably going to screw-up the 6th overall selection? With all of the recent free agent movement, the first round is really beginning to take shape and this year's draft class is looking like it could be a great one.

There are several offensive and defensive players who could have an immediate impact in the 2008 fantasy football season. Studly running backs like Darren McFadden, physical beast Jonathan Stewart and Rashard Mendenhall could all impress their rookie season. Wideouts like Desean Jackson and Limas Sweed could also put up solid numbers. Not to mention, there are a boatload of IDP who could be instant fantasy sports studs like Patrick Willis was in 2007.

Here's how we think the top ten shapes out. Check back later this week to see picks 11 - 20.

2008 NFL 1st Round Mock v 1.1 (Picks 1-10)

1) Miami Dolphins

Matt Ryan - QB - Boston College

I'm still not convinced that the Dolphins won't end-up trading this pick. But if they don't, I've got to believe that they'll take Ryan. He's the best QB in the draft and is the closest thing to NFL ready that there is. Parcells has proven that he's not scared to select a QB #1 overall when he took Drew Bledsoe with the #1 overall pick in 1993 with the New England Patriots.

Alternatives: Jake Long, Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey, Sedrick Ellis, Vernon Gholston

Fantasy Impact: Keep in mind that almost every single QB struggles in their first full season in the NFL and it usually takes at least a year for them to adjust. He'd be no better than a #2 QB in 2008, but could be a #1 as early as 2009. In seasonal leagues he's not worth drafting as anything more than a flier, but he's worth a 1st round pick in all dynasty leagues based upon his potential.

2) St. Louis Rams

Jake Long - OT - Michigan

The Rams are built around Marc Bulger getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers, Torry Holt and Steven Jackson. The offensive line was atrocious last year and Orlando Pace isn't getting any younger or healthier for that matter. Without a decent offensive line, there's no way Bulger can get his playmakers the ball. Jake Long is the consensus #1 OL in the draft and he's got to be the pick here. Glenn Dorsey will be difficult to pass-up, but they've got to get better and younger on the O-line.

Alternatives: Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey, Sedrick Ellis, Vernon Gholston

Fantasy Impact: Long would instantly upgrade Marc Bulger's and Steven Jackson's probability for success in 2008.

3) Atlanta Falcons

Chris Long - DE - Virginia

Normally this pick would easily be Darren McFadden. But the Falcons signed Michael Turner and still have Jerious Norwood, so I doubt they'll take a RB here. With Matt Ryan and Jake Long already off the board, I would expect Atlanta to heavily shop the pick and try to trade down. There's no secret that Jimmy Jones and the Dallas Cowboys covet Darren McFadden and have the ammo to make a trade to move up and snag him. Atlanta could use a lot of help and two first round picks would be huge. If they're unable to make a trade, the Falcons will take the best player available in Chris Long. Long had a great career at Virginia and is arguably the best defensive player in the draft. He's physical, smart, talented and has a motor to go with it. He'll be a great addition to whatever team gets him.

Alternatives: Darren McFadden, Glenn Dorsey, Sedrick Ellis, Vernon Gholston

Fantasy Impact: Long will eventually be an impact player in the NFL. However, a lot of what Long will bring to the table might not show-up in the stat sheet. There's now way he'll put up the monster stats that Patrick Willis did as a rookie, but he'll be a nice sleeper pick in the late rounds for IDP leagues.

4) Oakland Raiders

Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU

If Al Davis has no clue what he's doing, then I certainly don't either. Darren McFadden is the most electric player in the draft and he'll be very difficult to pass on. But the Raiders already have Justin Fargas, Dominic Rhodes, Lamont Jordan and Michael Bush at the position and they really need help on the defensive line with Warren Sapp retiring. I think they'll eventually come to their senses and take Dorsey. He's an impact player who can defend the run and put pressure on the quarterback. That's a rare combination for a DT. Normally this guy would be the first player taken in the draft, but he's gonna slip to the Raiders at pick 4 because of some recent injury concerns.

Alternatives: Darren McFadden, Chris Long, Sedrick Ellis, Vernon Gholston

Fantasy Impact: Dorsey was the consensus #1 pick a month ago before the injury concerns and for good reason...he's a beast. Much like QB's, DT's don't usually put up monster stats their rookie season even if they're stars in the making. Dorsey will probably end-up with stats around 35 TK - 4 Sacks - 1 FF.

5) Kansas City Chiefs

Sedrick Ellis - DT - USC

The Chiefs need help everywhere on the roster. Their offensive line has gone from one of the best in the league to below average. Jake Long would be the pick here but he's already taken. They could reach for a guy like Clady, but there's too much top talent still on the board to pass up. Ellis hasn't been hyped like Dorsey and isn't as sexy of a pick, but the guy can flat out play. He had the best showing at the Senior Bowl for any defensive lineman and could wind-up being the best of the bunch.

Alternatives: Darren McFadden, Vernon Gholston, Ryan Clady

Fantasy Impact: Ellis will bolster a defense on the rise and should put-up respectable stats his rookie season. Expect 38 TK - 3 Sacks - 1 FF.

6) New York Jets

Darren McFadden - RB - Arkansas

There's only one team in the league that can royally screw-up this pick...J-E-T-S-JETS! JETS! JETS! Call me crazy, but somehow I think the Jets will actually get it right this time. They've made a bunch of off-season moves to bolster their offensive line and fill in gaps on the defense. All of which I believe was done so that they could put themselves in a position to take the best player available come draft day. McFadden is the most electrifying player in the draft and is comparable to last year's rookie phenom, Adrian Peterson. He's physical, fast and is a game-changing player. This kid will be a fantasy sports star in New York. With DMC still on the board at pick #6, the Jets will be ecstatic and take him faster than you can say Mangenious.

Alternatives: Vernon Gholston, Sedrick Ellis, Leodis Mckelvin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Fantasy Impact: McFadden will have an immediate impact in the NFL and should be the first player taken in Dynasty league formats. He'll most likely have to split reps with Thomas Jones, but so did Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor and you see how that ended-up. McFadden is capable of putting up 1,100+ yards and 10 TD's his rookie season and could easily be a solid #2 / possible low-end #1 RB in all formats.

7) New England Patriots

Vernon Gholston - DE / LB - Ohio State

It's hard to believe you can say this about a team who went 18-1, but they need some work on the defensive side of the ball. They lost All Pro CB Asante Samuel, CB Randall Gay and their linebackers aren't getting any younger. Normally I'd say this pick would be for a corner like Leodis McKelvin, Mike Jenkins or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but LB Vernon Gholston is a freak of nature and will seamlessly fit right into the Pats 3-4 scheme.

Alternatives: Leodis McKelvin, Mike Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Fantasy Impact: Gholston reminds me a lot of Shawne Merriman and he'll have an immediate impact in the NFL. He should be able to post stats his rookie year of 55 TK - 8+ Sacks - 2 FF. He's a star in the making.

8) Baltimore Ravens

Ryan Clady - OL - Boise St.

This pick solely depends on the status of Jonathan Ogden, as there's been speculation that the All World OT may retire. If he does, the pick has to be an offensive lineman and Clady is the best OT still on the board. If they don't go with a lineman, look for them to reach a little bit and grab CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Alternatives: Leodis McKelvin, Mike Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Brian Brohm

Fantasy Impact: Clady will be taking over for one of the best OT ever to play. His addition can only help Willis McGahee and the rest of the Ravens offense.

9) Cincinnati Bengals

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - CB - Tennessee St.

How long have the Bengals been desperate for help on D? I thought when they brought in Marvin Lewis that he would change all of that, but he hasn't. And so in a desperate attempt to land a possible shut down corner, the Bengals buy into the hype and draft Cromartie. Granted, the division I-AA star showed well at the Senior Bowl and was able to play with the big boys. But a division I-AA guy in the top ten? I hope that Marvin knows what he's doing or this could be the last straw for him.

Alternatives: Leodis McKelvin, Mike Jenkins, Keith Rivers

Fantasy Impact: If he's for real, he could put-up nice stats as a rookie. A season with 30 tackles and 3 picks is certainly possible.

10) New Orleans Saints

Keith Rivers - LB - USC

This pick is such a wildcard for me. I could see the Saints going with several different players...definitely a defensive player though. In the end, I think they'll go with Rivers because he could start immediately. He's a hard worker with a non-stop motor and has played against top competition at USC.

Alternatives: Leodis McKelvin, Mike Jenkins, Aqib Talib, Phillip Merling

Fantasy Impact: Should be considered no more than a late round flier in IDP leagues.

Jason Goldman

[http://www.rotoexpert.com]