2008 Mastermind's Madness: Special Sneak Peek
by Draft Specialist Perry Burr
1 /21/2008
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With the debut of Fantasy Football Mastermind's 2008 NFL Draft Central, I thought you would be interested in a sneak peek at some of the prospects for this year’s upcoming draft. This sneak peek contains only a thumbnail for each of the top five prospects at the positions that garner the most fantasy football interest. For premium Madness subscribers, I will be releasing an expanded set of initial rookie rankings in the near future. Of course, the Mastermind Madness Draft Reference Guide, which will be released in April 2008, will provide more in-depth coverage. That document will contain analysis of the top 200+ offensive skill prospects in comprehensive detail, including rankings, hot/cold lists, and post draft analysis to help prepare you for your rookie draft. And, as I have for the last six years, I will again provide profiles for offensive linemen, defensive prospects, and kickers.  In 2007, I profiled over 500 draft prospects. Whether you are in an advanced or basic league, this is something you won’t want to miss.

For more details concerning 2008 Mastermind's Madness, click HERE. Of course, you can Order Now for only $19.95. Enjoy.

QUARTERBACKS: The 2008 rookie quarterback class sports three top prospects. Boston College QB Matt Ryan, Louisville QB Brain Brohm, and Kentucky QB Andre Woodson top this year’s class and will selected in the first round. The Atlanta Falcons, who have a top 5 overall draft pick and who need a quarterback, could wind up selecting Ryan. Meanwhile, others like Delaware QB Joe Flacco, USC QB John David Booty, and Michigan QB Chad Henne have the potential of developing into NFL starters.

1. MATT RYAN: QB (6-4 7/8, 224, 4.79) | Boston College. Matt Ryan has excellent size and arm strength. Demonstrates an over-the-top delivery, a quick release, sound mechanics, and solid footwork. Identifies mismatches quickly. Accurate, but will overestimate his ability at times, forcing the ball into coverage causing interceptions.
2. BRIAN BROHM: QB (6-3 1/8, 227, 4.79) | Louisville. Brian Brohm has good size and above average arm strength. Can avoid pass rushers. Makes good reads and decisions with the football. Shows quick release and good accuracy. Demonstrates timing and touch. But Brohm has been injury prone. Tore his ACL in 2005 and thumb ligaments in 2006. Underwent surgery on left [non-throwing] shoulder in January 2007.
3. ANDRE WOODSON: QB (6-4 5/8, 229, 4.80) | Kentucky. Andre Woodson has excellent size and good arm strength. Can buy time in the pocket and make all the throws. Demonstrates toughness in the pocket. Delivers passes with timing and touch most of the time, but his throwing mechanics need to improve. Can be streaky. Worked predominately out of the shotgun, so he’ll have to demonstrate dropback ability and skill. Makes poor reads at times.
4. JOE FLACCO: QB (6-6 1/8, 237, 4.90) | Delaware. Joe Flacco has excellent size and arm strength. Demonstrates quick delivery and can make all the throws. Shows good accuracy, timing, and touch. Shows strong work ethic and toughness. Displays good deep pass, but some passes will sail on him. Shows sloppy mechanics and footwork at times. Lacks mobility. Worked predominately out of the shotgun so he’ll have to demonstrate dropback ability and skill.
5. JOHN DAVID BOOTY: QB (6-2 7/8, 215, 4.92) | USC. John David Booty has a quick release and excellent throwing mechanics. Can avoid the pass rush and move outside the pocket to deliver the pass. Shows intelligence and strong work ethic. However, Booty has just average arm strength. Can be streaky. Fails to go through progressions too often. Durability is a concern.


RUNNING BACKS: The 2008 rookie running back class offers four first round draft prospects (all juniors) – Arkansas RB Darren McFadden, Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart, Illinois RB Rashard Illinois, and Arkansas RB Felix Jones. The addition of eight juniors in all makes this running back class the deepest in years and allow NFL teams to pick up bargains later in the draft.

1. DARREN MCFADDEN: RB (6-2, 215, 4.43) | Arkansas. Darren McFadden has a great combination of size and speed. Accelerates through the hole. Displays good hands catching balls working out of the backfield. Versatile. Can throw passes as well as blocks. But McFadden lacks make-you-miss moves. Fails to run with consistent power. Can be knocked off balance too easily. Doesn’t always see the hole.
2. JONATHAN STEWART: RB/KR (5-11¼, 235, 4.48) | Oregon. Jonathan Stewart has an excellent combination of size, strength, and speed. Has strong lower body. Runs with good power, balance, and acceleration. Displays good patience and vision. But Stewart worked out of the spread offense, show there is not much film of him working out of a pro set. Lacks ideal lateral agility. Durability is a concern.
3. RASHARD MENDENHALL: RB (5-11 1/8, 210, 4.48) | Illinois. Rashard Mendenhall has a good combination of strength, size, and speed. Runs with good pad level and breaks tackles. Demonstrates good vision and attacks the hole. Can run inside or out, and displays good receiving ability. Had ball security issues before the 2007 season. Still must protect the ball better and know when to switch hands.
4. FELIX JONES: RB/KR (5-11 7/8, 200, 4.40) | Arkansas. Felix Jones has great speed and good size. Accelerates quickly and has explosive second gear. Shows top level agility, especially working in the open field. Versatile. Doubles as a kick returner. Posted two 1,000-yard seasons working behind RB Darren McFadden. How he would fare carrying the full load is unknown. May not be the inside runner NFL teams look for.
5. CHRIS JOHNSON: RB/WR/KR (5-10 5/8, 200, 4.35) | East Carolina. Chris Johnson has excellent speed and versatility. Explosive and elusive. Shows big play ability as a runner, receiver and kick returner. Displays good vision and excels on cutback runs. Can run inside or out, but bounces runs to the outside too often. Lacks ideal size and bulk. Ball security, durability, and toughness are issues.


WIDE RECEIVERS: The 2008 wide receiver draft class has some interesting prospects beginning with California junior WR/KR/PR DeSean Jackson, who should be selected in the top half of the first round. Junior entries such as Jackson rescued this draft class from mediocre status. As many as eight junior wide receivers could go in the first two rounds, with Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly and Indiana WR James Hardy receiving first round consideration.

1. DESEAN JACKSON: WR/KR/PR (5-11 7/8, 180, 4.35) | California. DeSean Jackson has excellent speed, athleticism and quickness. Demonstrates great hands to snag off-target passes. Shows excellent burst and leaping ability to track down passes. Transitions quickly to gain yards after the catch. Excels as a return specialist. But Jackson lacks size. Durability is a concern.
2. MALCOLM KELLY: WR (6-3¾, 218, 4.52) | Oklahoma. Malcolm Kelly has excellent size and athleticism. Displays good strength and quickness. Runs sharp routes and catches the ball at its highest point. Demonstrates good leaping ability and sure hands. Lacks top end speed. Inconsistent. Disappears for stretches in games. Durability is a concern.
3. EARLY DOUCET: WR/KR (5-11 7/8, 210, 4.52) | LSU. Early Doucet has good hands and excellent athleticism. Demonstrates quick burst to gain separation from defenders. Is elusive after the catch and can break tackles. Can return kicks. However, Doucet can be jammed at the line of scrimmage. Fails to run consistent routes. Lacks top-end speed and could struggle to separate vertically in the NFL.
4. LIMAS SWEED: WR (6-4 7/8, 218, 4.58) | Texas. Limas Sweed has outstanding size and reliable hands. Possesses the football speed, strength and instincts to separate from defenders. Has the acceleration to get deep. But Sweed missed most of the 2007 season with a left wrist injury that required surgery. Lacks elite timed speed.
5. JAMES HARDY: WR (6-6, 220, 4.58) | Indiana. James Hardy is a huge, athletic receiver. Uses size and quickness to gain separation. Has large hands and a huge wingspan to pluck the ball at its highest point. But Hardy lacks elite speed. Work ethic and character are concerns.


TIGHT ENDS: The 2008 tight end draft class is solid, but lacks elite prospects. USC TE Fred Davis is the best of this group, but is not a first round talent. Notre Dame TE John Carlson struggled in 2007 along with the rest of the Fighting Irish and failed to match his effectiveness of the previous season. Other than Kentucky TE Jacob Tamme, who is undersized, none of the top tight end prospects possess the speed to stretch the deep middle.

1. FRED DAVIS: TE (6-3¾, 248, 4.75) | USC. Fred Davis is a former wide receiver who is still learning the tight end position. Has good athleticism and sure hands. Runs good routes and shows toughness working the middle of the field. Demonstrates good ball skills and good body control. Plucks the ball out of the air at its highest point. Possesses just average size, bulk, and speed. Lacks top-end acceleration.
2. MARTIN RUCKER: TE (6-4 5/8, 248, 4.70) | Missouri. Martin Rucker has excellent size and athleticism. Uses long arms and reliable hands to pluck the ball at its highest point. Demonstrates outstanding ball skills and body control. But lacks ideal route running skills. Lacks ideal strength and is a marginal blocker. Loses concentration at times.
3. MARTELLUS BENNETT: TE (6-6 5/8, 253, 4.79) | Texas A&M. Martellus Bennett has excellent size and athleticism. Uses long arms and big hands to snag passes at their highest point. However, Bennett is a raw route runner and lacks the speed to stretch the deep middle. Overlooked as a receiver in Texas A&M’s run-first offense. Durability is a minor concern.
4. JOHN CARLSON: TE (6-4 7/8, 255, 4.70) | Notre Dame. John Carlson has excellent size and good athleticism. Runs precise routes and works hard to get open. Uses size, long arms, and sure hands to make the catch. But Carlson lacks top-end speed and acceleration. Loses concentration at times. Only average in gaining yards after the catch.
5. JACOB TAMME: TE (6-3¾, 233, 4.59) | Kentucky. Jacob Tamme has good speed and hands. Demonstrates the quickness and elusiveness. Can stretch the deep middle. Catches the ball away from his body. But Tamme lacks bulk. Not physical as a receiver or blocker. Projects to H-back in the NFL.


I hope you have enjoyed this special FREE Sneak Peek into Mastermind's Madness for 2008.  The long road to the NFL Draft in April in just underway, and I hope many of you will be joining me as we delve into the fantasy potential for the incoming Rookie Class of 2008!

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