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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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