An Early Look At My Top 3 Round Draft Board For 2013
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:51 am
The 2012 NFL season may not be over but it’s not too early to look ahead to 2013 and see how fantasy drafts may shape up. There’s obviously a lot to be determined, including playoff performances and the draft, but this seems like a good time to begin mapping out next year’s draft strategy. So here’s my early (emphasis on the word “early”) look at how I’d attack the first three rounds of 2013 in a 12-team format.
FIRST ROUND
1. Adrian Peterson RB Min.
2. Arian Foster RB Hou.
3. Ray Rice RB Bal.
4. Calvin Johnson WR Det
5. Doug Martin RB TB
6. LeSean McCoy RB Phi.
7. C.J. Spiller RB Buf.
8. Marshawn Lynch RB Sea.
9. Aaron Rodgers QB GB
10. A.J. Green WR Cin.
11. Drew Brees QB NO
12. Brandon Marshall WR Chi.
THOUGHTS: I won’t argue with those who put Foster first but given what he’s shown this season, Peterson is my No. 1 overall pick without question. The first round should be much deeper in terms of running backs than we saw in 2012. In fact, this looks like a more traditional fantasy first round with 7-8 RBs likely going there. I have seven currently on my list but could easily bump Jamaal Charles and/or Trent Richardson to first-round status by the start of next season given their talent and potential. The only non-RB I currently will consider in the Top 5 is Megatron. Elite QBs still carry monster value in my opinion so I’d love to get Rodgers, Brees (or Tom Brady) late in the first round. I have Marshall as WR3 right now and he’s certainly deserving, but it’s possible I lift Dez Bryant to that spot by the time next season begins. He’s become a superstar.
SECOND ROUND
13. Tom Brady QB NE
14. Dez Bryant WR Dal.
15. Jamaal Charles RB KC
16. Trent Richardson RB Cle.
17. Julio Jones WR Atl.
18. Demaryius Thomas WR Den.
19. Robert Griffin III QB Was.
20. Rob Gronkowski TE NE
21. Percy Harvin WR Min.
22. Maurice Jones-Drew RB Jax.
23. Matt Ryan QB Atl.
24. Jimmy Graham TE NO
THOUGHTS: Things are likely going to get very interesting in Round 2 next year. Again, my strong belief in the value of elite fantasy QBs has me listing three in this round and one could argue Peyton Manning and Cam Newton are worthy of consideration here as well. If the Chiefs fire Romeo Crennel it wouldn’t surprise me to see Jamaal Charles finish as a Top 5 overall fantasy player next season so he’s looking like a massive second-round value selection. A healthy Rob Gronkowski has WR1 upside so I still believe in him as a second-round pick. Ditto for Jimmy Graham. Julio Jones didn’t quite ascend to elite fantasy status this season but I think it’s just a matter of time before he does. MJD carries some risk but he’s still a very talented player when healthy and one I’d be very happy to land in the second round, especially as a RB2.
THIRD ROUND
25. Peyton Manning QB Den.
26. Cam Newton QB Car.
27. Wes Welker WR NE
28. Alfred Morris RB Was.
29. Andre Johnson WR Hou.
30. Randall Cobb WR GB
31. Reggie Wayne WR Ind.
32. Victor Cruz WR NYG
33. DeMarco Murray RB Dal.
34. Vincent Jackson WR TB
35. Roddy White, WR Atl.
36. Darren Sproles RB NO
THOUGHTS: Manning proved he’s back to being an elite QB and Newton has finished this season like one so I believe in him as well. Assuming Welker stays in New England he’ll remain a PPR stud. Plenty of other quality WR options to target in this round including Wayne, who shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and the electric Cobb, who’s poised for bigger and better things going forward with the Packers. Murray is a Top 10 fantasy RB when healthy but durability issues lower his value in my estimation. Sproles is PPR gold and as a vital component in the explosive Saints’ offense that leads me to slot him just ahead of Matt Forte at the present time.
So what does everyone think?
FIRST ROUND
1. Adrian Peterson RB Min.
2. Arian Foster RB Hou.
3. Ray Rice RB Bal.
4. Calvin Johnson WR Det
5. Doug Martin RB TB
6. LeSean McCoy RB Phi.
7. C.J. Spiller RB Buf.
8. Marshawn Lynch RB Sea.
9. Aaron Rodgers QB GB
10. A.J. Green WR Cin.
11. Drew Brees QB NO
12. Brandon Marshall WR Chi.
THOUGHTS: I won’t argue with those who put Foster first but given what he’s shown this season, Peterson is my No. 1 overall pick without question. The first round should be much deeper in terms of running backs than we saw in 2012. In fact, this looks like a more traditional fantasy first round with 7-8 RBs likely going there. I have seven currently on my list but could easily bump Jamaal Charles and/or Trent Richardson to first-round status by the start of next season given their talent and potential. The only non-RB I currently will consider in the Top 5 is Megatron. Elite QBs still carry monster value in my opinion so I’d love to get Rodgers, Brees (or Tom Brady) late in the first round. I have Marshall as WR3 right now and he’s certainly deserving, but it’s possible I lift Dez Bryant to that spot by the time next season begins. He’s become a superstar.
SECOND ROUND
13. Tom Brady QB NE
14. Dez Bryant WR Dal.
15. Jamaal Charles RB KC
16. Trent Richardson RB Cle.
17. Julio Jones WR Atl.
18. Demaryius Thomas WR Den.
19. Robert Griffin III QB Was.
20. Rob Gronkowski TE NE
21. Percy Harvin WR Min.
22. Maurice Jones-Drew RB Jax.
23. Matt Ryan QB Atl.
24. Jimmy Graham TE NO
THOUGHTS: Things are likely going to get very interesting in Round 2 next year. Again, my strong belief in the value of elite fantasy QBs has me listing three in this round and one could argue Peyton Manning and Cam Newton are worthy of consideration here as well. If the Chiefs fire Romeo Crennel it wouldn’t surprise me to see Jamaal Charles finish as a Top 5 overall fantasy player next season so he’s looking like a massive second-round value selection. A healthy Rob Gronkowski has WR1 upside so I still believe in him as a second-round pick. Ditto for Jimmy Graham. Julio Jones didn’t quite ascend to elite fantasy status this season but I think it’s just a matter of time before he does. MJD carries some risk but he’s still a very talented player when healthy and one I’d be very happy to land in the second round, especially as a RB2.
THIRD ROUND
25. Peyton Manning QB Den.
26. Cam Newton QB Car.
27. Wes Welker WR NE
28. Alfred Morris RB Was.
29. Andre Johnson WR Hou.
30. Randall Cobb WR GB
31. Reggie Wayne WR Ind.
32. Victor Cruz WR NYG
33. DeMarco Murray RB Dal.
34. Vincent Jackson WR TB
35. Roddy White, WR Atl.
36. Darren Sproles RB NO
THOUGHTS: Manning proved he’s back to being an elite QB and Newton has finished this season like one so I believe in him as well. Assuming Welker stays in New England he’ll remain a PPR stud. Plenty of other quality WR options to target in this round including Wayne, who shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, and the electric Cobb, who’s poised for bigger and better things going forward with the Packers. Murray is a Top 10 fantasy RB when healthy but durability issues lower his value in my estimation. Sproles is PPR gold and as a vital component in the explosive Saints’ offense that leads me to slot him just ahead of Matt Forte at the present time.
So what does everyone think?