I think the Jurevicius comparison is a very fair one. This guy just won't do squat in the intermediate game in the NFL, IMO. I'm beginning to work on my rankings more. It's still very early and I'm sure I'll change a lot of things, but right now I'd rank the top 12 as follows:1. Adrian Peterson - Calvin Johnson is a better player and prospect, but RBs are more valuable than WRs in most leagues and they almost always offer a quicker return on your investment. Peterson is too tall for his own good and will probably take a beating in the NFL, but he's a skilled back with the potential to put up a few monster years before falling apart. 2. Marshawn Lynch - Again, Johnson is definitely a safer pick and a better player, but I think Lynch will carry more value in most dynasty leagues. RBs are always overrated. There's nothing you can do about that. Lynch isn't a perfect prospect, but he has a chance to be immensely productive in the NFL. 3. Calvin Johnson - The best skill position player in the draft. Worst case scenario is a Keyshawn-type career, but this Johnson is a much better red zone weapon than Keyshawn ever was. Hype is getting a little out of control, but he's the real deal. 4. Dwayne Jarrett - Occasional dropsies are a concern, but Jarrett has enough skills to become a #1 WR in the NFL. I think he's a better prospect than Braylon Edwards, but not as good as Fitzgerald or Roy. 5. JaMarcus Russell - This is where things get dicey for me. You can make a case for a number of different players here. The reason I chose Russell is because his strong arm could work FF wonders in the right system. Like any QB, he's a bust risk. 6. Ted Ginn - Ginn is my reluctant choice here. He has the speed and athletic ability to be a star, but he could also be a tremendous flop in the NFL. Realistically, I recommend trading down if you don't have a pick in the top 4-5, because there's almost no difference between the caliber of the prospects available from 5-15. 7. Antonio Pittman - I'm really not impressed with this group of RBs after the top 2. Right now, Pittman looks like the third best of the bunch. He has good overall skills and is built in the mold of today's top pro backs, but he may never be more than mediocre in the NFL. Doesn't really stand out as special in any way. In spite of all this, we know 2-3 undeserving RBs are going to creep into the top 10 of rookie drafts. It happens every single year without fail. 8. Brady Quinn - Quinn has never really impressed me. He looks like an overhyped player whose draft profile has exploded because he played on a high-profile college team with a good supporting cast. Then again, I felt the same way about Carson Palmer when he was comint out. I don't like Quinn, but at some point you have to swallow the bullet and hope the NFL scouts got it right. 9. Kenny Irons - In this weak RB crop, anyone has a chance to claim the RB3 crown. Irons has been productive in a tough conference and offers a nearly ideal build for a pro runner. His running style seems to fit the NFL mold pretty well, but he doesn't have the special qualities that you look for in a star back. 10. Sidney Rice - Rice is a good athlete with good size. He flashes nice skills, but I'm a little bit concerned about his playing style. Whereas Calvin Johnson and Dwayne Jarrett attack the ball, Rice lets it come into his body. He was able to get away with this in college, but it's a habit that will cost him dearly at the pro level. He's a gifted athlete with the physical skills needed to start in the NFL. I just wonder if he's going to play with the intensity needed to get it done. 11. Lorenzo Booker - Booker is undersized, but he's a good athlete with the quickness to make things happen on his own. Given the success of guys like Brian Westbrook and Maurice Drew, I think Booker warrants consideration as the RB3 for FF purposes. However, he has somewhat stubby legs and doesn't really look the part of a big time NFL back. 12. Michael Bush - A slightly better version of Eric Shelton, which makes him slightly better than garbage. Has decent quickness for a big man and is talented enough to prove me wrong and have a good career, but the power back seems to be a dinosaur in today's NFL. Still, he's a RB and he should be a first day draft pick. Someone in your league will roll the dice on him in the top 12. Comments on other prospects:Tony Hunt - I'm really trying to like this guy, but I can't see what the fuss is about. He looks like a STIFF to me. No burst. No quickness. Takes forever to reach top speed. A starving man's Eddie George. That doesn't bode well for his chances in today's NFL. Gary Russell - I haven't done enough homework on him to rank him right now. Sooner or later I'll read up on him and watch some highlights. He may move up into my top 10 after that. Dwayne Wright - See: Gary Russell. Brian Brohm - Will figure into my top 12 mix if and when he declares. Jeff Samardzija - A one trick pony. He can catch a jump ball. That's about it. Playing for Notre Dame and having announcers slob his knob has greatly inflated his draft profile, IMO. Has an outside chance to surprise, but I see him becoming a mediocre pro in the mold of Joe Jurevicius. Robert Meachem - I'm intrigued by this guy and may ultimately move him up.Overall, I'd say this is a great year to trade down if you don't have a top 4 pick. The top four guys are very strong. After that, it's nothing but gambles. The strength of this group is the WR depth. I actually won't be the least bit surprised if we look back on this class and realize that the second tier guys were actually better than many of the first tier guys. It could be a lot like the 2001 draft, where guys like Chad Johnson, Chris Chambers, and Reggie Wayne ended up outproducing Koren Robinson, David Terrell, Rod Gardner, and Freddie Mitchell. Third tier receivers like Craig Davis, Dwayne Bowe, Jason Hill, and Johnnie Lee Higgins could be major steals at their rookie draft ADP this year. They're not much worse than Ginn as prospects, but will be available for a fraction of the cost.
I would like to see this list updated with the latest players that have declared. I know the draft will change it around but it has shown that there will be some very good players that end up being taken in the 2nd round of rookie drafts. Thanks
in regards to Brandon Jackson. Either that or they are 
in regards to Brandon Jackson. Either that or they are 
I too have 1.16 and Cooley as my starter. If I had to choose between one or the other, give me Cooley. I like his skills and chances to improve on his production in 2007. As for my 1.16 pick, well thats the breaks for winning the league. I am resigned to a third tier rb or a wr whom might have slipped. Olsen may be an option, though I doubt he falls that far in this league. We average 8RB, 3QB, 4WR's and 1TE's selected in the first round.
My point being is... Adrian Peterson to Cleveland is not necessarily a bad thing. Cleveland won't always stink, especially with Peterson on board. He's the kind of guy that turns franchises around. The Colts stunk before Manning, the Seahawks stunk before Alexander, and the Chargers stunk before Tomlinson. Don't overanalyze yourself right out of the next best RB since Tomlinson.
