Skilled position players drafted first at their position (1 Viewer)

[David Yudkin]

Factoring in whatever criteria you want (career longevity, contribution to titles, how long it took to get to be productive, overall draft position, cost, stats, etc.), which skilled position was the best investment in terms of taking the first at that position in the past 20 years on NFL draft day? Obviously some guys made it big and others busted, but which position seemed to be the best combination of value and production?

QB

2007 JaMarcus Russell (1-1)

2006 Vince Young (1-3)

2005 Alex Smith (1-1)

2004 Eli Manning (1-1)

2003 Carson Palmer (1-1)

2002 David Carr (1-1)

2001 Michael Vick (1-1)

2000 Chad Pennington (1-18)

1999 Tim Couch (1-1)

1998 Peyton Manning (1-1)

1997 Jim Druckenmiller (1-26)

1996 Tony Banks (2-12)

1995 Steve McNair (1-3)

1994 Health Schuler (1-3)

1993 Drew Bledsoe (1-1)

1992 David Klingler (1-6)

1991 Dan McGwire (1-16)

1990 Jeff George (1-1)

1989 Troy Aikman (1-1)

1988 Tom Tupa (3-13)

RB

2007 Adrian Peterson (1-7)

2006 Reggie Bush (1-2)

2005 Ronnie Brown (1-2)

2004 Steven Jackson (1-24)

2003 Willis McGahee (1-23)

2002 William Green (1-16)

2001 LaDainian Tomlinson (1-5)

2000 Jamal Lewis (1-5)

1999 Edgerrin James (1-4)

1998 Curtis Enis (1-5)

1997 Warrick Dunn (1-12)

1996 Lawrence Phillips (1-6)

1995 Ki-Jana Carter (1-1)

1994 Marshall Faulk (1-2)

1993 Garrison Hearst (1-3)

1992 Tommy Vardell (1-9)

1991 Leonard Russell (1-14)

1990 Blair Thomas (1-2)

1989 Barry Sanders (1-3)

1988 Gaston Green (1-14)

WR

2007 Calvin Johnson (1-2)

2006 Santonio Holmes (1-25)

2005 Braylon Edwards (1-3)

2004 Larry Fitzgerald (1-3)

2003 Charles Rogers (1-2)

2002 Donte Stallworth (1-13)

2001 David Terrell (1-8)

2000 Peter Warrick (1-4)

1999 Torry Holt (1-6)

1998 Kevin Dyson (1-16)

1997 Ike Hilliard (1-7)

1996 Keyshawn Johnson (1-1)

1995 Michael Westbrook (1-4)

1994 Charles Johnson (1-17)

1993 Curtis Conway (1-7)

1992 Desmond Howard (1-4)

1991 Herman Moore (1-10)

1990 Alexander Wright (2-1)

1989 Hart Lee Dykes (1-16)

1988 Tim Brown (1-6)

TE

2007 Greg Olsen (1-31)

2006 Vernon Davis (1-6)

2005 Heath Miller (1-30)

2004 Kellen Winslow Jr (1-6)

2003 Dallas Clark (1-24)

2002 Jeremy Shockey (1-14)

2001 Todd Heap (1-31)

2000 Bubba Franks (1-14)

1999 Reginald Kelly (2-11)

1998 Cameron Cleeland (2-10)

1997 Tony Gonzalez (1-13)

1996 Rickey Dudley (1-9)

1995 Kyle Brady (1-9)

1994 Lonnie Johnson (2-32)

1993 Irv Smith (1-20)

1992 Derek Brown (1-14)

1991 Reggie Johnson (2-3)

1990 Eric Green (1-21)

1989 Walter Reeves (2-12)

1988 Keith Jackson (1-13)

 

[IM666]

Factoring in whatever criteria you want (career longevity, contribution to titles, how long it took to get to be productive, overall draft position, cost, stats, etc.), which skilled position was the best investment in terms of taking the first at that position in the past 20 years on NFL draft day? Obviously some guys made it big and others busted, but which position seemed to be the best combination of value and production?QB2007 JaMarcus Russell (1-1)2006 Vince Young (1-3)2005 Alex Smith (1-1)2004 Eli Manning (1-1)2003 Carson Palmer (1-1)2002 David Carr (1-1)2001 Michael Vick (1-1)2000 Chad Pennington (1-18)1998 Peyton Manning (1-1)1995 Steve McNair (1-3)1993 Drew Bledsoe (1-1)1990 Jeff George (1-1)1989 Troy Aikman (1-1)RB2007 Adrian Peterson (1-7)2006 Reggie Bush (1-2)2005 Ronnie Brown (1-2)2004 Steven Jackson (1-24)2003 Willis McGahee (1-23)2001 LaDainian Tomlinson (1-5)2000 Jamal Lewis (1-5)1999 Edgerrin James (1-4)1997 Warrick Dunn (1-12)1994 Marshall Faulk (1-2)1993 Garrison Hearst (1-3)1989 Barry Sanders (1-3)WR2007 Calvin Johnson (1-2)2006 Santonio Holmes (1-25)2005 Braylon Edwards (1-3)2004 Larry Fitzgerald (1-3)2003 Charles Rogers (1-2)2002 Donte Stallworth (1-13)2000 Peter Warrick (1-4)1999 Torry Holt (1-6)1997 Ike Hilliard (1-7)1996 Keyshawn Johnson (1-1)1988 Tim Brown (1-6)TE2007 Greg Olsen (1-31)2006 Vernon Davis (1-6)2005 Heath Miller (1-30)2004 Kellen Winslow Jr (1-6)2003 Dallas Clark (1-24)2002 Jeremy Shockey (1-14)2001 Todd Heap (1-31)2000 Bubba Franks (1-14)1997 Tony Gonzalez (1-13)1995 Kyle Brady (1-9)

David, I removed from the list any player I have never heard of. Then asked myself which of the remaining players I would want on my fantasy team. I voted for RB based on that criteria. Not that that means anything, other than reiterates the fact I know nothing about the sport.