(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Round 5
1. Team Schottey: Donovan McNabb (QB-Phi) Everyone went crazy with post-draft predictions of the Eagles' offense. Then...it went silent. Sure McNabb is inconsistent, but a retooled offensive line could do a lot to change that. Maclin, Jackson, and Kevin Curtis should spread the field enough to keep teams out of zone coverage. Meanwhile, McNabb has a bunch of safety valves in Brent Celek, Cornelius Ingram, Brian Westbrook, and LeSean McCoy.
2. Team Stashin: Darren McFadden (RB-OAK) He struggled in his rookie season, but so did the entire Oakland Raiders. He should be the man in the Raiders' backfield, so I like the gamble here for my FLEX spot. He's got the potential to rush for 1,000 yards and constantly find the end zone. If JaMarcus Russell is the starting quarterback, the team is going to need to focus on the run even more to alleviate the pressure on him, giving him even more chance for success.
3. Team Lorge: Vincent Jackson (WR-SD) Well with McNabb and McFadden off the board there go my top two guys. There are a lot of question marks on the board right now and while Jackson might miss a game or two with a DUI, I like him as Rivers' No. 1 target. Jackson is entering a contract year which means get money and he is going to do exactly that, as one of the most promising young receivers in the NFL. I expect Jackson to have a legit shot at double digit touchdowns and hopefully his catches can rise into the 70-plus area.
4. Team Lester: Santonio Holmes (WR-PIT) I was hoping Santonio Holmes would be available. With Steve Smith and Roy Williams, and now Holmes, I feel I have an elite receiver corps.
5. Team Bedinger: Knowshon Moreno (RB-DEN) I had to make a homer pick, although I do think Moreno will light it up for the Broncos this year. He has risen to the top of the depth chart already, and many (including myself) are projecting him as the early favorite for Rookie of the Year. He doesn't have great speed, but he is elusive and does everything well, he blocks, catches, and finishes runs. He will be a big pickup if he can stay healthy.
6. Team Waddell: Reggie Bush (RB-NO) Oh wait, this isn't a PPR league. Doesn't matter. Bush is flat out dominant in any format. Playing only ten games last season, Bush put up 844 total yards and six touchdowns. Solid numbers if you ask me. Sure, Bush is an injury risk. He's coming off micro-fracture surgery and his progress must be monitored closely during training camp. But his recovery is looking solid and he should be on the field from day one. For 2009, I have him looking good with 1,200 total yards and 10 total touchdowns. And those projections are on the conservative side. Can't get much better for a FLEX player.
7. Team Winslow: Anthony Gonzalez (WR-IND) I missed out on the elite receivers by taking running backs in the first three rounds, but Gonzalez is a young player taking the place of an elite receiver. Gonzalez was a better player than aging Marvin Harrison last year, and now that he has taken over the starting role, his fantasy numbers should benefit significantly.
8. Team Williams: Chad Ochocinco (WR-CIN) After a terrible season last year Ochocinco will be expected to pick up the slack against some tough opposition. Even with that, he still can get over 1,000 receiving yards as long as Palmer is able to sling the ball to him. While he might be an edgy pick, I think with the arrival of Laveranues Coles, there is a chance that the Bengals can at least be competent.
9. Team Anderson: Tony Gonzalez (TE-ATL) Gonzalez put up over 1,000 yards last year along with 10 touchdowns, making him a valuable receiver. This year he is on a better team in Atlanta and so the only question is his age. No drop off last year despite being well over 30. That's a gamble I'll make with the numbers he put up last season.
10. Team Nash: Bernard Berrian (WR-MIN) Whether or not the infamous No. 4 chooses to play in Minnesota next season, Berrian has already proved that he is capable of holding his own on the field—despite the presence of uber-rusher Adrian Peterson and the lack of a true No. 1 at quarterback. If Favre makes an appearance in Minnesota this season, Berrian could be primed for a breakout year at wide receiver, as he excels at running the deep route (he had 14 catches of 20 or more yards last season). Further, despite limited targets (48), Berrian still managed to top 900-plus yards for his second year in a row. To put it into perspective, Anquan Boldin was targeted almost twice as many times and accumulated only 74 more receiving yards. The Vikings have one of the more favorable schedules heading into next season and Berrian could reap huge benefits in this, his fourth, season.
11. Team Harkey: Kurt Warner (QB-ARI) Team Harkey travels to a local retirement home in central Arizona to offer a one-year contract to old man Kurt Warner. At this point in the draft, there are still plenty of quaterbacks on the board, but the value of Warner in round five was hard to pass up. Warner is old, no doubt about it. However, it doesn't take a young gun to find success in the potent Cardinals' offense. Look no further than his cast of All Pro wideouts, Fitzgerald and Boldin. These two receivers are absolute beasts on the field. They swallow up everything Warner feeds them in the red zone. And, don't forget Breaston who is coming into his own as a quality WR3. The Cardinals play in a division with some of the weaker defenses in the NFL, so I fully expect a few cake games for the old man to pad his stats (namely Rams/49ers). Drafting Warner means that I will need to invest another mid round pick on a quality backup in case the old man goes down mid-season, but that is fine with me.
12. Team Crowe: Chris Wells (RB -ARI) Team Crowe (who's draft room has been empty since it revolted over Sean's demanding to take Matt Cassel in the third round), selects Arizona running back Chris "Beanie" Wells. Wells had 207 carries for 1,197 yards (5.8 avg) and eight touchdowns last year for the Buckeyes. And let's face it, you don't draft a running back into the first round so you can backup Tim Hightower. This pick is about value. A backup running back (especially when L.T. is getting up there in age and he's my No. 1) was good value here.
Fifth Round Notes
John Harkey: Jon Gruden was in the draft room with Schottey and convinced him it was a good idea to take as many quarterbacks as possible.
Michael Schottey: (regarding taking back-to-back quarterbacks) 1. I get to cover my backside if I'm wrong and either one falters 2. Later on in the season, if they're both performing well, one will make great trade bait. 3. In case of injury (I was stuck with Brady last season) I still have a top quarterback.
John Harkey: Team Harkey suggests that Crowe monopolized the Kansas City arsenal of quarterbacks by pulling off an unprecedented double handcuff and drafting both Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle.
John Lorge: Great pick Waddell. I considered taking him with my pick. Bush is a monster when healthy and I don't buy into all of this talk that Thomas will be running the show in NO. Bush is one of the most talented ball carriers in the history of football and you must find a way to get the rock in his hands. He will also give you a nice points boost with the occasional punt return touchdown
Ryan Lester: Warner has a cushy playoff schedule.
John Lorge: I finally saw The Hangover and if you're looking for something to do this weekend that's it; funniest movie I've seen since Pineapple Express.
Michael Schottey: The Hangover is the funniest movie I've ever seen. The only time I remember crying from laughing so hard was 40-Year Old Virgin.
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