Pro Bowl Format 2015: Complete Guide and Stars to Watch for Fantasy Draft

Those desperate for any semblance of football can fill the void with the annual Pro Bowl, which ditches the beautiful Hawaii for Glendale, Ariz., on Sunday night.

A week before the University of Phoenix Stadium hosts the Super Bowl, it'll welcome the game's brightest stars—well, the small portion of them who actually show up—for the ESPN-televised exhibition affair. 

In order to spice up the event, the league will continue to organize rosters through a fantasy draft. Introduced last year, the AFC and NFC will coalesce on opposing squads selected by former star wide receivers Michael Irvin and Cris Carter.     

It's fantasy football for real, only without players from the league's best two teams and a whole other assortment bowing out after a grueling season. Before pondering the draft stock of some notable studs, here's a breakdown of how the process will work in its second year.

Roster

QB	Matt Ryan, Atl	Andrew Luck, Ind	Matthew Stafford, Det
	Drew Brees, NO	Aaron Rodgers, GB	Tony Romo, Dal
RB	C.J. Anderson, Den	Jamaal Charles, KC	Arian Foster, Hou
	LeSean McCoy, Phi	DeMarco Murray, Dal	Mark Ingram, NO
FB	John Kuhn, GB	Marcel Reece, Oak
WR	Antonio Brown, Pit	Randall Cobb, GB	A.J. Green, Cin
	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	Golden Tate, Det	T.Y. Hilton, Ind
	Demaryius Thomas, Den	Emmanuel Sanders, Den	Jordy Nelson, GB
TE	Jimmy Graham, NO	Martellus Bennett, Chi	Julius Thomas, Den
	Greg Olsen, Car
OT	Ryan Clady, Den	Tyron Smith, Dal	Trent Williams, Was
	Joe Staley, SF	Duane Brown, Hou	Joe Thomas, Cle
C	Travis Frederick, Dal	Jason Kelce, Phi	Nick Mangold, NYJ
			Maurkice Pouncey, Pit
OG	Evan Mattis, Phi	Mike Pouncey, Mia	Kyle Long, Chi
	Marshal Yanda, Bal	Josh Sitton, GB	Zack Martin, Dal
DE	Calais Campbell, Ari	Mario Williams, Buf	J.J. Watt, Hou
	Cameron Wake, Mia	Robert Quinn, STL	DeMarcus Ware, Den
DT	Marcell Dareus, Buf	Aaron Donald, STL	Sheldon Richardson, NYJ
	Geno Atkins, Cin	Dontari Poe, KC	Kyle Williams, Buf
OLB	Connor Barwin, Phi	Elvis Dumervil, Bal	Tamba Hali, KC
	Clay Matthews, GB	Von Miller, Den	Justin Houston, KC
ILB	Luke Kuechly, Car	C.J. Mosley, Bal	Bobby Wagner, Sea*
			Lawrence Timmons, Pit
CB	Vontae Davis, Ind	Brent Grimes, Mia	Joe Haden, Cle
	Aqib Talib, Den	Antonio Cromartie, Ari	Chris Harris, Den
	Patrick Peterson, Ari	Sam Shields, GB
S	Antoine Bethea, SF	Tashaun Gipson, Cle	Eric Weddle, SD
	Donte Whitner, Cle	Glover Quin, Det	T.J. Ward, Den
K	Cody Parkey, Phi	Adam Vinatieri, Ind
P	Kevin Huber, Cin	Pat McAfee, Ind
PR	Devin Hester, Atl	Darren Sproles, Phi
ST	Justin Bethel, Ari	Darrell Stuckey, SD

Format

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Replacing Jerry Rice and Barry Sanders as honorary captains, Carter and Irvin will face off with everything on the line. OK, nothing is actually at stake, but it's not hurting anyone.

With the help of four player captains—Antonio Brown, Joe Haden, DeMarco Murray and J.J. Watt—they'll pick teams on Wednesday night, which will go down on the NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET. 

Per NFL.com, several other adjustments were also enacted along with the selection process last year. Kickoffs were banished, and possession changes hands after every quarter. A two-minute warning will also expand to the first and third periods.

In order to combat its reputation as glorified touch football, defenses can institute Cover 2 and press coverage rather than only being allowed man coverage, as they were in the past. It worked, as last year produced a surprisingly low-scoring and competitive 22-21 matchup.

Although several Pro Bowl selectees have already pulled out, more than enough talent will remain on display.

Stars to Watch

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants

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Left off the original roster, Odell Beckham Jr. backed into a deserved nod in Calvin Johnson' place. By the way, why wasn't the breakout rookie included over Megatron in the first place?

Player	GP	Rec.	Rec. YDs	Rec. TDs
Beckham	12	91	1,305	12
Johnson	13	71	1,077	8

Despite delaying his debut to Week 5, Beckham proved a blinding bright spot in an otherwise bleak year for the New York Giants. During his final nine games alone, the first-round pick collected an insane 1,109 receiving yards and nine touchdowns for the G-Men.

And it wasn't just a few outlier performances padding his numbers, as noted by ESPN Stats & Info.

Carter and Irvin now face a question that will torment fantasy football players next summer: Is there any wide receiver who should be picked before Beckham? If the captains think critically, they'll wait on receivers since there's a surplus of stars for both sides to enjoy. Yet each drafter spent his career catching footballs, so they'll naturally look to their peers at the glamor position.

Brown, who led the league in receptions, will serve as one of four player captains. Along with Johnson, Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant will not participate. As of now, Jordy Nelson stands as the rookie's top competition.

Giving his scorching finish and affinity for highlight catches, Beckham is the prime reason to watch the exhibition tilt. Expect him to be in high demand during Wednesday's draft. 

Vontae Davis, CB, Indianapolis Colts

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Although he'd much rather suit up for next weekend's game, Vontae Davis jumps the line of marquee cornerbacks with the two biggest household names unavailable due to the Super Bowl.

Darrelle Revis and a one-armed Richard Sherman have bigger fish to fry than the Pro Bowl, eliminating two high-caliber options. Given the game's tendency of manifesting into a shootout, a shutdown corner proves a viable commodity, especially since neither side is looking to pummel the quarterback. 

The Indianapolis Colts defensive back is every bit as good as those guys, not yielding a single touchdown during the regular season. Heading into the AFC Championship Game, NFL.com's Chris Wesseling noted Davis' dominance.

During Sunday's 45-7 loss to the New England Patriots, he frequently lined up against Rob Gronkowski, who finished with three catches on eight targets for 28 yards and a score. Before the game, tight end Vernon Davis told USA Today's Lindsay H. Jones that his brother could handle the much larger star. 

"

If you challenge Vontae, he'll step up to that challenge. He does not want to fail. He will not fail. If you test him to the point where you tell him that he can't do something, or someone believes that he can't do something, he'll prove you wrong. I think he can cover anybody. He'll shut Gronkowski down for sure.

"

It's possible he bows out on the cusp of three demanding playoff affairs, but he should currently be considered the top corner available right before the Denver Broncos' Chris Harris.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Alex Smith and Nick Foles played significant reps in last year's Pro Bowls. The top quarterbacks tend to have better things to do than play an exhibition game.

Tom Brady is too busy planning for the Legion of Boom. Peyton Manning will bow out due to a quad injury that plagued him in the playoffs. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, his alternative will also pass on playing.

Ben Roethlisberger is a no-go, and it makes little sense for Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo to battle injuries for a meaningless ordeal. To make matters more interesting, Russell Wilson is the lone remaining alternative.

Amid all that chaos, Drew Brees earned a spot. You may know him as the guy who amassed 4,952 passing yards and 69.2 completion percentage during what many considered a down year.

The Pro Bowl is seemingly made for a prolific passer like Brees, but he struggled last year, going 9-of-19 with 81 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Even after a dreadful year for his New Orleans Saints, he's still the best quarterback entering the game in one piece.