Finding the Best Possible Team With the Sixth Pick

So you found out your draft position yesterday and saw you had the "dreaded" sixth pick. Do you take Tom Brady, or a running back? Or possibly Randy Moss?

But don't fret; all your problems will come to naught.

Using ESPN.com's Live Draft Results, I went pick-by-pick to determine the best team you can draft with the sixth pick in a standard, 12-team league with a QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, and a flex where passing touchdowns are worth four points. I only selected players that had an average draft position later than my pick.

First round, pick No. 6

Pick: Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis

Where I rank him: No. 2 RB and overall.

Projected stats: 320 attempts for 1360 yards and 11 TDs; 65 receptions for 580 yards and 2 TDs.

With an ADP of 6.4, SJax was impossible to pass up. Since 2001 when new Rams' offensive coordinator Al Saunders became OC for the Kansas City Chiefs, the lead back in his offense has put up an average of 1850 total yards and 16 touchdowns. In fact, the lead back has put up at least 1599 total yards from scrimmage every single year but once—in 2004, when Priest Holmes only played eight games and still put up 1000 total yards.

(Side note: Since SJax is taken in the top 5 of most drafts and that ADP also included drafts where SJax's holdout issue was still a problem, my backup choice would have been Clinton Portis, whom I rank as my number four running back and overall.)

Second Round, pick No. 19

Pick: Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants

Where I rank him: No. 11 RB and 13 overall.

Projected stats: 235 carries for 1210 yards and nine TDs; 25 receptions for 230 yards and a TD.

There's a good chance Jacobs would fall to number 30, but his ADP is #29, and he was the best available on the board. I projected Jacobs' two backups, Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward, for 110 and 60 carries, respectively, which means Jacobs would have just less than 60% of the carries between them.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said that the Giants would "ride the hot hand"—and since I think Jacobs will be the hot hand each and every week, I don't see a full committee occurring.

Last year, Jacobs had the third most yards per game, with 91.7, just 0.4 yards per game less than LT. On pace to be a top-seven back had he played all 16 games, last year, I would not be surprised if he finished in the top 10 by year's end.

Third Round, pick No. 30

Pick: Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans

Where I rank him: No. 5 WR and 25 overall.

Projected stats: 95 receptions for 1300 yards and 10 TDs.

Although I don't rank him as the best available (that would be Michael Turner, along with three other RBs ahead of him), he's the best value at number 30. At No. 43, the best WR available is Anquan Boldin; but at that pick, I can take [name blocked out—sorry, you'll have to read on to find out], whom I rank only one spot behind of Turner.

From week eight on, Colston had the most receptions with 72, the second-most receiving yards with 939 and the third most touchdowns with nine, behind only—of course—Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. If you average those stats to a 16-game season, Colston would have totaled 115 receptions for 1500 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Fourth Round, pick 43

Pick: Earnest Graham, RB, Tampa Bay

Where I rank him: No. 15 RB and 22 overall.

Projected stats: 255 carries for 1020 yards and eight touchdowns; 35 receptions for 270 yards and two TDs.

From weeks seven to 15 (Graham was rested in the final two weeks), Graham had the third most yards from scrimmage with 962, and the second-most touchdowns with seven. Oh yeah—he also had a bye in week 10.

Average those stats out to 16 games and you get a final stats line of almost 2200 total yards and 16 touchdowns. Cadillac Williams is on the PUP list, and Dunn (whom I projected to get 100 carries) won't cut into Graham's time enough to make this a full RBBC. You want Graham on your team this year.

Fifth Round, pick 54

Pick: Roy Williams, WR, Detroit

Where I rank him: No. 13 WR and 42 overall.

Projected stats: 77 receptions for 1110 yards and eight TDs.

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