Early 2010 Mock Fantasy Football Draft Results

I just finished my first fantasy football industry mock draft for the 2010 season.

Did I mention it is only February?

You might ask how accurate a mock draft can be prior to free agency and the NFL Draft.  The NFL landscape will look very different after injuries, player movement, and an influx of talent from the 2010 draft class.  It would be foolish to expect our results to stay the same as a July mock draft would, but there were some interesting trends to take note of.

• Quarterbacks. The NFL has become a pass-first league.  5 of the first 23 picks were QB’s
• The Debate for #1. Matt Schauf of Rapid Draft ultimately decided on Maurice Jones-Drew at the top of the draft, but the debate will continue all summer between Jones-Drew, Chris Johnson, and Adrian Peterson.  Ray Rice could also get some consideration in PPR leagues.
• Jamaal Charles is for real.  Charles was drafted 9^th overall, and I would have gladly drafted him 11^th overall instead of Aaron Rodgers.
• Wide Receivers. There was not many surprises at the wide receiver position.  Calvin Johnson was selected as the third WR off the board after Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald despite a down season for the Lions.

It should also be noted that the draft program at CouchManagers.com omitted several young players that skewed our draft results.  Names like Mike Wallace, Justin Forsett, and Devin Aromashadu would have been drafted.  I am very high on Wallace and I likely would have selected him, and not Anthony Gonzalez, in the 11^th round.

Draft Results – 12 Team 15 Round Mock Draft

RookieBlitz.com – Bryan Fontaine

1.11      Aaron Rodgers QB Packers
2.14      Larry Fitzgerald WR Cardinals
3.35      Knowshon Moreno RB Broncos
4.38      Joseph Addai RB Colts
5.59      Brent Celek TE Eagles
6.62      Chad Ochocinco WR Bengals
7.83      Percy Harvin WR Vikings
8.86      Tim Hightower RB Cardinals
9.107    Donald Brown RB Colts
10.110  Antonio Bryant WR Buccaneers
11.131  Anthony Gonzalez WR Colts
12.134  Dustin Keller TE Jets
13.155  Kyle Orton QB Broncos
14.158  Defense Pittsburgh DEF
15.179  Mason Crosby K Packers

I started the quarterback run in our mock draft.  I had hoped that Jamaal Charles might fall to me at pick 11, but my fellow analysts are also in agreement on his talent.  I have Rodgers as the top quarterback again for 2010, and there weren’t many attractive options at running back and wide receiver at my draft spot.

Larry Fitzgerald fell to 14^th due to the concerns about Kurt Warner’s retirement.  Fitzgerald is too tatlented to fail with Matt Leinart as his QB.

I was excited to nab two starting running backs in Joseph Addai and Knowshon Moreno at picks 35 and 38 overall.  Addai should still hold off Donald Brown for at least one more season, and I love the Broncos 2010 schedule.  Moreno could slide due to concerns about a weak rookie campaign, but should be drafted in this range in all drafts this summer as a huge value.

I grabbed Brent Celek, Chad Ochocinco, and Percy Harvin with my next three selections rounding out my starting lineup.  Celek was a consistent weekly performer in 2009, and Ochocinco should still have some left in the tank at age 32.  Harvin’s value would take a hit with the retirement of Brett Favre, but the Vikings will find a way to get him the football early and often regardless.

I rounded out my bench with some more solid selections.  Tim Hightower won’t give up the starting running back job for the Cardinals without a fight, and Donald Brown is an excellent handcuff to Addai.  Antonio Bryant is likely to leave Tampa Bay in free agency but still has the skills to be a solid wide receiver in the NFL.

Our Industry Analysts and Draft Order

1. Matt Schauf – RapidDraft.com
2. Melissa Jacobs - TheFootballGirl.com
3. Melissa Greenhawt – GoGameFace.com
4. Chet Gresham – Razzball.com
5. Jim Day - FFWhiz.com
6. Charlie Tourtillotte — Tourinct
7. Mike Clay – FantasyDC.com
8. Steve Adler - FantasyDaddy.com
9. Paul M. Bourdett – BaseHeads.com
10. Drew Silva – Rotoworld.com
11. Bryan Fontaine – RookieBlitz.com
12. Knox Bardeen – Fanhouse.com

Mock Draft Links

2010 Mock Draft In-Progress
Way too Early Mock Draft Lessons
Dissecting our Early 2010 Mock Fantasy Football Draft
Imitation Draft Cakes
Keep On Mocking In The Free World
Way-too-early Mock Conclusions