Last minute draft notes
Chris Wesseling took a spin around the AFC last time around, now here are some last-minute draft notes on the NFC East and North. Wesseling will post the last two divisions on Saturday.
For all the last minute rankings updates and projections, head to our Online Draft Guide. The Brandon Marshall suspension news is now reflected. (We still think he's worth the gamble – a big one – outside the top-40 picks.)
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Miles Austin's sleeper stock has taken a hit with Patrick Crayton earning the starting job opposite Roy Williams. We like both players as late-round values, but Crayton is especially interesting in points-per-reception (PPR) leagues. We didn't trust Roy Williams as a true number one receiver before his shoulder/collarbone injury. Early signs are that he'll be back for Week One, but wait for MRI results. No matter how healthy Williams is, he's not a true number one receiver. Crayton could put up similar or better numbers to his solid '07 production. … Tony Romo is coming off the board seventh behind Philip Rivers and Kurt Warner; we rank him ahead of both players. … Marion Barber is often falling to the third round, which is a must-pick in any format. His declining value has been overstated. … We'd rather take Jason Witten in the late fourth or fifth round than any tight end in rounds six or seven. If you don't get Antonio Gates or Witten, try to be patient.
New York Giants
After starters Dominick Hixon and Steve Smith, the Giants wideouts are a mystery. It's not worth drafting anyone else. Take Hakeem Nicks off your board. Smith remains one of our favorite WR4 picks, especially if you get points per reception. … Brandon Jacobs, like Barber above, is a running back worth taking in the second round ahead of most top-ten receivers. … Ahmad Bradshaw should be the first true backup running back off the board in middle rounds; no other reserve has a higher ceiling. Aim high with RB3/4 picks. … Eli Manning is getting drafted how he should: as a solid, unspectacular QB2.
Philadelphia Eagles
Kevin Curtis is the forgotten man in the Philly receiver group. Usually, this would smell like value. But he can't stay healthy, and all the injuries may be sapping up his speed. DeSean Jackson is a top 20-25 fantasy wideout, but the rest of the group will cancel each other out. Jeremy Maclin isn't close to being draftable. … So far, so good with Brian Westbrook's recovery. His touches will go down this year, but I think he has a higher ceiling than LaDainian Tomlinson. Westbrook is also a bigger risk, especially in non-PPR leagues. … Please, don't be the guy who drafts Michael Vick. Make fun of that guy.
Washington Redskins
Clinton Portis' average draft position has dropped roughly a full round since April towards the bottom of the second. We've had him there all along, and the loss of third down duties to Ladell Betts is another concern. Even if Portis plays well and stays healthy, which we doubt, his teammates on the offensive line and passing game seem likely to let him down. Betts is a nice handcuff. … Devin Thomas isn't locked into to the starting job opposite Santana Moss, making all Washington receivers except Moss and Chris Cooley undraftable. … Moss remains a decent WR3, if you don't get points for receptions.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
We like Devin Hester's chances for a breakout, but he's not coming cheaply with an Average Draft Position (ADP) as the WR30. That's roughly where we rank him, but some rock solid options are getting drafted after Hester: Kevin Walter and Jerricho Cotchery among them. … Earl Bennett has inched up our football rankings, now safely in the top-200. … Jay Cutler could play excellent football and still have a steep decline in stats, and that's reflected in his QB11 ADP. Matt Schaub and Matt Ryan are ahead of him. … We wouldn't let Matt Forte slip out of the top three in any format. Too safe, too solid.
Detroit Lions
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Kevin Smith is getting drafted at the end of the third round. Almost any spot in the third round for an every-week starter RB2 is a good value. We like Smith, Pierre Thomas, and Darren McFadden best for value from this group. Smith's hip injury isn't a major concern. … Smith and Johnson are both top-30 players, but there isn't another Lion we'd take in a 12-team league. Detroit's starting quarterback isn't known, but it doesn't really matter who wins. Calvin Johnson actually might be better off with Daunte Culpepper for the short term, but Matthew Stafford should have the job before midseason anyhow. … There's no need to invest in a rookie tight end usually, and Brandon Pettigrew's injury makes him easy to forget about it.
Green Bay Packers
Occasionally, there is a player that comes along that has everything going for him, but you just don't believe in his talent. Ryan Grant is one of those players for me. He's an unexceptional receiver and poor in short-yardage. I love the Packers offense, but I just think Grant will find a way to lose more carries than people expect, whether its to DeShawn Wynn, Brandon Jackson, or super sleeper Tyrell Sutton. Keep an eye on Sutton Friday night in Green Bay's third exhibition game. … Jermichael Finley is another nice sleeper for deep league players at tight end. … Aaron Rodgers has developed into the consensus fourth quarterback off the board. For once, I agree with the consensus.
Minnesota Vikings
The effect Brett Favre will have on the rest of his teammates has been overstated. We wouldn't adjust Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, and Percy Harvin much. Visanthe Shiancoe may see his numbers climb because Favre seems so hesitant to throw outside the hash marks at this stage of his career. It's worth watching how Berrian's hamstring heals if you have a late draft. … We'd still draft Maurice Jones-Drew ahead of Adrian Peterson in PPR leagues, but that's it. … No one is excited to draft Chester Taylor any more, but there isn't a better handcuff in fantasy football, and he's worth a look in the ninth round for any owner. He would be a solid RB2 if Peterson goes down.
Chris Wesseling took a spin around the AFC last time around, now here are some last-minute draft notes on the NFC East and North. Wesseling will post the last two divisions on Saturday.
For all the last minute rankings updates and projections, head to our Online Draft Guide. The Brandon Marshall suspension news is now reflected. (We still think he's worth the gamble – a big one – outside the top-40 picks.)
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Miles Austin's sleeper stock has taken a hit with Patrick Crayton earning the starting job opposite Roy Williams. We like both players as late-round values, but Crayton is especially interesting in points-per-reception (PPR) leagues. We didn't trust Roy Williams as a true number one receiver before his shoulder/collarbone injury. Early signs are that he'll be back for Week One, but wait for MRI results. No matter how healthy Williams is, he's not a true number one receiver. Crayton could put up similar or better numbers to his solid '07 production. … Tony Romo is coming off the board seventh behind Philip Rivers and Kurt Warner; we rank him ahead of both players. … Marion Barber is often falling to the third round, which is a must-pick in any format. His declining value has been overstated. … We'd rather take Jason Witten in the late fourth or fifth round than any tight end in rounds six or seven. If you don't get Antonio Gates or Witten, try to be patient.
New York Giants
After starters Dominick Hixon and Steve Smith, the Giants wideouts are a mystery. It's not worth drafting anyone else. Take Hakeem Nicks off your board. Smith remains one of our favorite WR4 picks, especially if you get points per reception. … Brandon Jacobs, like Barber above, is a running back worth taking in the second round ahead of most top-ten receivers. … Ahmad Bradshaw should be the first true backup running back off the board in middle rounds; no other reserve has a higher ceiling. Aim high with RB3/4 picks. … Eli Manning is getting drafted how he should: as a solid, unspectacular QB2.
Philadelphia Eagles
Kevin Curtis is the forgotten man in the Philly receiver group. Usually, this would smell like value. But he can't stay healthy, and all the injuries may be sapping up his speed. DeSean Jackson is a top 20-25 fantasy wideout, but the rest of the group will cancel each other out. Jeremy Maclin isn't close to being draftable. … So far, so good with Brian Westbrook's recovery. His touches will go down this year, but I think he has a higher ceiling than LaDainian Tomlinson. Westbrook is also a bigger risk, especially in non-PPR leagues. … Please, don't be the guy who drafts Michael Vick. Make fun of that guy.
Washington Redskins
Clinton Portis' average draft position has dropped roughly a full round since April towards the bottom of the second. We've had him there all along, and the loss of third down duties to Ladell Betts is another concern. Even if Portis plays well and stays healthy, which we doubt, his teammates on the offensive line and passing game seem likely to let him down. Betts is a nice handcuff. … Devin Thomas isn't locked into to the starting job opposite Santana Moss, making all Washington receivers except Moss and Chris Cooley undraftable. … Moss remains a decent WR3, if you don't get points for receptions.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
We like Devin Hester's chances for a breakout, but he's not coming cheaply with an Average Draft Position (ADP) as the WR30. That's roughly where we rank him, but some rock solid options are getting drafted after Hester: Kevin Walter and Jerricho Cotchery among them. … Earl Bennett has inched up our football rankings, now safely in the top-200. … Jay Cutler could play excellent football and still have a steep decline in stats, and that's reflected in his QB11 ADP. Matt Schaub and Matt Ryan are ahead of him. … We wouldn't let Matt Forte slip out of the top three in any format. Too safe, too solid.
Detroit Lions
Editor's Note: Follow Gregg and Rotoworld on Twitter</B>
Kevin Smith is getting drafted at the end of the third round. Almost any spot in the third round for an every-week starter RB2 is a good value. We like Smith, Pierre Thomas, and Darren McFadden best for value from this group. Smith's hip injury isn't a major concern. … Smith and Johnson are both top-30 players, but there isn't another Lion we'd take in a 12-team league. Detroit's starting quarterback isn't known, but it doesn't really matter who wins. Calvin Johnson actually might be better off with Daunte Culpepper for the short term, but Matthew Stafford should have the job before midseason anyhow. … There's no need to invest in a rookie tight end usually, and Brandon Pettigrew's injury makes him easy to forget about it.
Green Bay Packers
Occasionally, there is a player that comes along that has everything going for him, but you just don't believe in his talent. Ryan Grant is one of those players for me. He's an unexceptional receiver and poor in short-yardage. I love the Packers offense, but I just think Grant will find a way to lose more carries than people expect, whether its to DeShawn Wynn, Brandon Jackson, or super sleeper Tyrell Sutton. Keep an eye on Sutton Friday night in Green Bay's third exhibition game. … Jermichael Finley is another nice sleeper for deep league players at tight end. … Aaron Rodgers has developed into the consensus fourth quarterback off the board. For once, I agree with the consensus.
Minnesota Vikings
The effect Brett Favre will have on the rest of his teammates has been overstated. We wouldn't adjust Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, and Percy Harvin much. Visanthe Shiancoe may see his numbers climb because Favre seems so hesitant to throw outside the hash marks at this stage of his career. It's worth watching how Berrian's hamstring heals if you have a late draft. … We'd still draft Maurice Jones-Drew ahead of Adrian Peterson in PPR leagues, but that's it. … No one is excited to draft Chester Taylor any more, but there isn't a better handcuff in fantasy football, and he's worth a look in the ninth round for any owner. He would be a solid RB2 if Peterson goes down.
