The Mighty Quinn - 2007 NFL Draft

So Brady Quinn didn't get picked by the Oakland Raiders at number one and Cleveland went with a possible All-Pro Left Tackle at number three. The shock was number nine as Miami took a return specialist instead of Quinn. Cam Cameron, erstwhile Dolphin team-builder, was quoted as saying that "We didn't pick Ted Ginn, we took the entire Ginn family." Great. I bet Mrs. Ginn doesn't go over the middle, either. In any event, Brady Quinn looked certain to drop to the Chiefs at number twenty-three until Cleveland jumped up and traded for the pick just before Kansas City to grab him. Result? Cleveland could have three All-Pro caliber players from their first three picks and Dallas (their trading partner) should have a killer 2008 draft. Miami may have to count on the the next Chris Weinke, John Beck, to get the ball to their receivers if Culpepper is, indeed, out the door and they cannot grab the remains of Trent Green.

I could go on about how Carolina consistently got value in their early picks, or why Chicago continues to succeed by going against the grain, or whether Oakland will win in 2009 as a result of their 2007 picks or how come it is that Houston can't figure out what the heck they are doing? Or, I could do this:

Fantasy football impact of 2007 NFL draft

So you are in a dynasty league and every year you have a rookie draft just like the NFL. Unless you are in an IDP league, only four positions interest you: QB, RB, WR and TE. So let's talk...

Quarterback:

There should be two instant starters in this year's draft.

Best Pick - Oakland's new coach Lane Kiffin wants to redo the offense. The Raiders took a QB who they think can be a real star, JaMarcus Russell. They also took a TE, an OT, a WR and a RB in the first 100 picks of the NFL draft. Russell will have to fall on his face not to win the starting job here. He'll make too many mistakes to be a good fantasy starter but you definitely want him for your bench.

Best PickII - Brady Quinn. He has the mental and physical abilities to be a star. Russell is more likely to be a record-breaker. Quinn is less likely to be a flop, though. He is the other rookie QB who will have to really step on it to avoid getting a starting nod. It is 60-40 that Quinn is worth more in the fantasy realm in his first season.

Deep picks - Drew Stanton in Detroit and Trent Edwards in Buffalo could well develop into starters. Both players should begin the year as the number two on their respective teams and therefore one injury away from producing fantasy points. Troy Smith will serve an apprenticeship as a McNair-in-training. Maybe it will rub off 3-4 years down the road?

Dumb picks - John Beck is already 26 years old. I'm not impressed. Also, what the heck is wrong in Philly? Kevin Kolb???!!! Don't waste a pick on him!

Running Backs:

The most valuable commodity in most fantasy football setups, but this year's draft is very weak.

Best pick for 2007- Marshawn Lynch of Buffalo. Only Anthony Thomas stands between Lynch and a starting role. He has the talent and the opportunity to exceed 1,000 yards rushing in his first season. Unless, of course, he plans on choking any more coeds.

Best player going forward - Adrian Peterson of Minnesota. But he is likely in the dreaded RBBC (running back by committee) with Chester Taylor. Still, with a young quarterback and inconsistent receivers, you can expect Minny to run a lot. Peterson ought to be good for 700 yards and 6 scores even as the backup guy. He's just too good to sit on the bench.

Opportunity guys - Brandon Jackson has Vernand Morency to beat out in Green Bay. Chris Henry has to deal with LenDale White in Tennessee. Neither rookie has a guarantee of a starting job. If you are desperate for rookie help at running back, these guys are dice rolls. But Morency isn't established and White was a flop last year so if you need an RB and these guys are the best shot you have, you have a puncher's chance.

Part-timers - Garrett Wolfe has a shot at being the third-down/change-of-pace back. In other words, a poor man's Reggie Bush in a Bear uniform. Tony Hunt could become a goal-line and short yardage back for Philadelphia, vulturing a few touchdowns away from Brian Westbrook.

Hurry up and wait - Kenny Irons (Bengals) and Antonio Pittman (Saints) are good prospects blocked by successful starters. Poor Pittman is behind Reggie AND Deuce, plus Aaron Stecker ain't half bad, either. In Cincy, Rudi is the workhorse and Chris Perry has the change-of-pace thing covered, so Irons will have to contend with Kenny Watson for a few mercy carries.

Fools gold- Brian Leonard of the Rams is a big back behind Stephen Jackson. Yeah, that is gonna work out. Not. Lorenzo Booker might be more relevant if the Fish weren't bringing Ricky Williams back. But they are... Both these guys better be ready to go to war on special teams!

Just because - Michael Bush is a deep sleeper pick, a guy who was right up there with Peterson before he broke his leg. Oakland has Jordan and Rhodes ahead of him this year, but next year????

Wide Receivers:

There's only one number one!

Best pick - Imagine Randy Moss or Terrell Owens with the head properly attached. This is Calvin Johnson. He's big and fast and talented. He is in a Mike Martz offense. He is going to start from day one and he is going to produce right away. No brainer pick!

Good picks - Dwayne Bowe has a great shot to start for Kansas City. San Diego sees Craig Davis as a producer for them even in year one. Although I thought Indy reached for Anthony Gonzalez, he will get the first shot as slot receiver for them. Manning will get him the ball 40 times there. Dwayne Jarrett should be the third receiver for Carolina behind Keyshawn and Steve Smith, so he may see upwards of 40 balls as well.

Take a chance on - Ted Ginn of Miami, if your league includes return yardage in the offensive totals. I'm not sold on him as a receiver other than just providing a deep threat, but he is a terrific return guy.

For future reference - Robert Meachem (New Orleans) and Steve Smith (New York) are the kind of guys who win jobs and put up numbers by year three. It takes injuries for either of them to do much in year one. But if the injuries come, they could be 50 catch guys, either of them, even as rookies. The talent is there.

Sleeper - Green Bay took Virginia Tech's David Clowney in round five. He has tools, so maybe he gets a shot sometimes. Heck, Favre will still want to throw it around the yard. Don't you kind of like the sound of Favre-to-Clowney, touchdown?

Tight Ends:

Not entirely an afterthought.

Best pick - Greg Olsen, Bears. Chicago has a "Blocking TE" in John Gilmore, and a "Starting TE" in the oft-injured Desmond Clark. Now they have a "Receiving TE" in Olsen. Think on this: Rex Grossman loves to go deep. Olsen can go deep. Yep. He'll make you some points.

Good pick - Oakland took a young TE as a safety valve for their young QB. Zach Miller is a seam-finding possesion-style TE who should fit nicely into Kiffin's offensive plans. He can block a little, too.

Sleeper pick - Ben Patrick, Arizona. Patrick is one of those H-back/Fullback/Tight End guys. Think Chris Cooley. Leonard Pope hasn't set the world on fire as the starter for the Cards. I can see Leinert finding a comfort zone with this Patrick guy around midseason and thereby making him fantasy relevant as a rookie.