PRO FORECAST MAGAZINE MOCK DRAFT

Once again, I had a chance to go head to head with some of fantasy football's elite prognosticators -- including my pals at Fantasyguru, Football Injuries, and Draftsharks. The entire draft, round by round, and our comments will be published in Pro Forecast's pre-draft edition. It's a must read, and we'll also play this league out all year for real.

The scoring and lineup arrangments dictated a different appraoch from the Guru expert draft you will see below this one. Here's another peak at the my action at the big table...

ROUND 1, PICK 4:
Willis McGahee (RB)

A measly 3 points for passing TD’s tells me to avoid my traditional round one Peyton Manning pick. It’s not easy, Peyton never misses a start and he’s a lock for 40 TD’s, minimum. I was hoping Alexander slid, but he didn’t, so I’ll roll the dice on Willis breaking loose in ‘05. Something tells me a second year of McNally working his O-line magic will negate the 8-in-the-box fronts Losman should invite in the early going

ROUND 2, PICK 9
Lamont Jordan (RB)

Once again, I had Lamont all the way after the RB-vultures pounced on the kind of players I prayed might slide. And once again, I maintain that despite all the hype about Collins to Moss/Porter, any hep person knows that the player who really thrives in a Norv Turner offense is the workhorse back -- and I got him.

ROUND 3, PICK 4
Javon Walker (WR)

Starting 3 WR’s means you need a difference-maker in round three. His holdout will be in the rear view mirror when Javon takes the next step to greatness. Mix in a suspect Packer defense, and I see a ton of points that you can file under catch-up/garbage time offense.

ROUND 4, PICK 9
Michael Clayton (WR)

Such a poised and productive rookie, I see Clayton compounding the interest this year. P.S., Griese was super-productive after he took the reins last year, and when you translate their hook-ups over a full schedule, Nicky likey.

ROUND 5, PICK 4
DeShaun Foster (RB)

Gotta get some RB depth before its’ too late, or you’re stuck drafting Barry Word, and this ain’t 1990. Whoever the alpha-back is in Carolina, he’ll be productive as long as he stays healthy, and with Davis in limbo, why not take a shot at the electric Foster? I feel he has been chronically underrated this year.

ROUND 6, PICK 9
Isaac Bruce (WR)

If we’re starting 3 WR’s, it’s time to lock in a dependable #3 who’s numbers always add up by season’s end. ‘Nuff said.

ROUND 7, PICK 4
Brett Favre (QB)
The Lion in Winter has a ton of value in round 7. As an added bonus, when Favre hooks up with Javon Walker, I get to double-dip. Shtoink!

ROUND 8, PICK 9
Randy McMichael (TE)

Trust me -- as a native Buffalonian, I get positively queasy picking a fish, so you know I’m talking massive upside in round eight. The only element of the ’05 Dolphin offense I trust is an outlet valve on the receiving end of a panic dump-off.

ROUND 9, PICK 4
Carson Palmer (QB)

Would have considered Travis Henry, Jerome Bettis and Eddie Kennison if they had fallen to me here, but they’re gone and my Spidey-sense is telling me to counter Favre with a young gun throwing to a three-deep crew of WR’s.

ROUND 10, PICK 9
Buffalo Bills (DEF)

Once I clarified that Team Defense included Special Teams, this was automatic. Screw Raven-mania, Buffalo was the top scoring D in ’04, and I think Roscoe Parrish only makes Bobby April’s return game more explosive.

ROUND 11, PICK 4
Troy Williamson (WR)

I’m set with 3 starting wide outs, so it’s time to roll the dice on a speed merchant with some mighty big shoes to fill. Probably won’t yield squat ‘til week 9 – I’m more than happy to be patient.

ROUND 12, PICK 9
Antwaan Randle El (WR)

No more Plaxico + a seasoned Big Ben heading into year two = my kind of gamble. Could be a breakout season. If not, I’ll dump him for the first waiver wire move that tickles my fancy. That sounded dirty, I apologize.

ROUND 13, PICK 4
Adam Vinatieri (K)

Hey, points are points, I wanted a complete starting lineup, and this kid can kick a 45-yarder through a nuclear event. Shtoink-a-doodle winner.

ROUND 14, PICK 9
Stephen Davis (RB)

Missed the chance to handcuff Eric Shelton, so I might as well nail down every veteran RB John Fox may or may not have at his disposal.

ROUND 15, PICK 4
Chester Taylor (RB)

Chester is a pet-pick of mine this year. The Ravens think enough of him to match a big offer he got from Cleveland. Don't get me wrong -- Jamal Lewis is the man, I would have picked him in a heartbeat -- but he was incarcerated for the entire off-season. Anything could go down, and how many times have we seen the wheels come off a back in the aftermath of a 2K yard campaign?

ROUND 16, PICK 9
Nick Goings (RB)

Okay, now I really have every vet at Fox’s disposal. In a perfect world, Foster, Davis and Goings should provide 90% of the run-first Panther backfield.

I LOVE this team – and I am just livin’ the dream!