The NFL Guru

Tier 1 (RBs)- ELITE

1. Chris Johnson- When you’re given the first overall pick in your fantasy draft, pick this guy. The best part of of owning this fantasy star is his consistency; without a game under 100 yards in his last 10 games.

2. Maurice Jones-Drew- Without the aging Fred Taylor in the Jacksonville Depth chart, MJD gets all the carries to himself. Be disappointed if Jones-Drew does find the end zone once every week.

3. Adrian Peterson- AD has the ability to single-handedly carry your fantasy team to a win in your weekly matchup. Though there are weeks where Peterson is virtually a non-factor.

4. Ray Rice- Last season, Rice’s defining moment was his second carry of his playoff career where he brought it to house for an 83 yard TD, and then repeated that later in that game. Thats what I expect from him next season, although, I’m worried about his lack of TDs.

Tier 2 (RBs)- 1st Round Backs

5. Steven Jackson- The St. Louis offence is improving, while still building around Steven Jackson, which means more Touchdowns for Stevie. Being one of the most talented running backs in league, Jackson should find the end zone 8+ times rather than 4 in 2009.

6. Frank Gore- With a mediocre passing game and a decent offensive line, gore should be able to pull off a 10 TD, 1300 yd season. But I can’t see him having a breakout year.

7. Rashard Mendenhall- Until Ben Roethlisberger comes back from his suspension, the Steelers will run it up the gut all season, and his elite offensive line won’t disappoint.

8. Ryan Mathews- To be a top 10 fantasy back takes a few years of solid NFL statistics, Mathews has none. Drafting a rookie with health issues in the first round is beyond risky, but if he drops to the mid-second round, go for him. After all, Ladainian Tomlinson was in the same situation 8 years ago.

9. Cedric Benson- If Benson runs like he did last year, he could turn out to be a top 5 back. Unfortunately, I doubt that assumption. I have a feeling that Cedric Benson’s numbers will simply plateau this season (in other words, they won’t live up to last year, but they also won’t plummet).

Tier 3 (RBs)- Solid Starters

10. Michael Turner- Michael Turner is not a 3-dimenional back, nor is he a decent goal line back, so if your 1st round pick doesn’t get TDs or receptions, are he gives you is measly rushing yards.

11. DeAngelo Williams- The Carolina Panthers’ running attack is so strong that a player who shares his carries can still be a top 10 back. The tandem of Williams and Stewart is fierce, and with a decent QB to play with, DeAngelo can receive some more receptions.

12. Knowshon Moreno- Once Kyle Orton and the Denver defence cooled off last season, the Broncos’ offence became ineffective. If the Broncos continue their patterns this year, Knowshon is a no-show.

13. Jamaal Charles- being the undisputed starter will help Jamaal tremendously. Although he exhibits a mediocre rushing ability, somebody on the Chiefs has to score the small amount of Touchdowns the Chiefs score.

14. Ryan Grant- Watching Ryan Grant run is like watch a train go by. He doesn’t make any sudden cuts, nor does he even turn, but he’s fast and whoever is brave enough to get in his way deserves a medal.

15. Shonn Greene- Without a 100-yard rushing game that wasn’t against Oakland or a TD that wasn’t against Oakland, we are supposed to believe that Greene can win the starting spot over LT and then top it off with a few rushing TDs.

The debate is about to begin.

Who is going to have the better pro career: Mark Sanchez or Matthew Stafford? I’m not sure if there has been a bigger debate about two quarterbacks since Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf were drafted No. 1 and 2 in 1998. We all know how that turned out.

Let’s look at several attributes.

1) Physical Makeup

Matthew Stafford – Height 6′2 1/4 Weight 225 Lbs

Mark Sanchez – Height 6′2 11/8 Weight 228 Lbs

Obviously they are very similar in height and weight. No particular advantage for either there. Stafford may a have little bit stronger arm of the two.

Neither Stafford or Sanchez will wow you with their mobility, though they are both mobile enough, and it won’t be an issue with them in the NFL.

Advantage – Draw: To Close to call here. Physically they are as close as two quarterbacks can be.

2) College Pedigree

Matthew Stafford played with the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens. The Dawgs were one of the top teams in the SEC during Stafford’s career. Stafford played in front of rabid fans, for and against him. He’s no stranger to high pressure games and went 27-7 as a starter at UGA.

Author Poll

Who will have the better NFL career?

* Marc Sanchez

* Mattew Stafford

vote to see results

Under Coach Marc Richt, the Dawgs have produced um well, exactly zero NFL starting quarterbacks. David Greene, drafted in 2005, is already out the of the NFL. DJ Shockley is in the Atlanta, but he’s not going to beat out Matt Ryan.

Mark Sanchez played with the USC Trojans, where they are producing NFL caliber quarterbacks at a rate not seen since the 1980s Miami Hurricanes.

Carson Palmer, Matt Leinhart, Matt Cassel have either started or are the starting quarterbacks on their respective teams.

No college team runs a more pure NFL offense than the USC Trojans and coach Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans are not only one of the best Pac-10 teams, they are among the best teams in the country every single year.

Advantage – Sanchez: If you can start at USC, it’s a good bet you can play the NFL. Heck you don’t even have to start at USC, just be there, ask Matt Cassel.

3) Team they will play for

Matt Stafford is headed to quarterback Sibera. Quick name a pro bowl quarterback from Detroit. You have to back to 1972, and Greg Landry to find one.

Stafford signed a six-year, $78 million deal that includes $41.7 million guaranteed. That’s the largest ever contract by NFL draft pick.

Going to a team that didn’t win a game last year, that’s an an awful lot of pressure on a young quarterback, because once Duante Culpepper is benched by game 4, Stafford will be look upon as a savior. At least he has Calvin Johnson to throw to.

Mark Sanchez is headed to the New York Jets. I think this is a super fit. Big Media Market? Sanchez came from Los Angeles. An aging Brett Farve led the Jets to the brink of the playoffs with a 9-7 record, and while the offense isn’t made up of superstars, there is solid talent there.

RB Thomas Jones, RB Leon Washington and Jerricho Crotchery are very capable NFL players. It’s hard to say at the moment whether Sanchez, Kellen Clemons, or somebody else starts on opening day, but given the rest of the Jets’ roster, Sanchez won’t have to do it alone.

Advantage – Sanchez: Sanchez will be under a media blitz in New York, but playing at USC and Los Angeles he’s equipped to handle to this. Stafford will have so much pressure on him to win in Detroit the next 2-3 years, it might be more than he can handle.

Overall – Sanchez: With the physical attributes virtually equal, Stafford is walking into a more difficult situation with Detroit. Sanchez’s collegiate background is a huge advantage as well.

This doesn’t mean Stafford can’t be a fine NFL QB, I just think Sanchez has been prepped better for the rigors of the NFL.

Who Will Have the Better NFL Career: Marc Sanchez or Matthew Stafford? | Bleacher Report.

1. Detroit Lions- With the 1st overall pick, the 0-16 Lions selected Matthew Stafford, the QB from Georgia. With a new logo and a new QB, perhaps Detroit will win some a game next season. But there is one question. Should Stafford start week 1? If I were Jim Schwartz, this kid would be my go-to guy. The Lions have a couple more subpar years to rebuild before expectations rise. Matt Stafford, with a team like this, will have a lot of pressure on his back playing 16 weeks per season but he’ll learn more from on the field experience than holding a clipboard.

GRADE: B

2. St. Louis Rams- The Rams chose Jason Smith, the offensive tackle from Baylor (the obvious choice) to enhance their offensive line so that Mark Bulger/Kyle Boller will have time to throw to on of their terrible wideouts. Since Torry Holt left St. Louis, maybe the strong, fast, and lanky wideout, Michael Crabtree would be the more sensible choice to help your passing offense. Though, Jason Smith is also there to help Steven Jackson as well. In the second round, the Rams picked James Laurinaitis at linebacker, together these two top tier players will help the Rams compete in the NFC West.

GRADE: A-

3. Kansas City Chiefs- chose the LSU powerhouse, Tyson Jackson at Defensive end. Tyson was projected to be a mid first round pick until he showed his abilities at the scouting combine a month ago. Jackson will start at defensive end with Tamba Hali. But can the 293-pounder improve the Chiefs unsatisfactory record of 3-13?

GRADE: C

4. Seattle Seahawks- No surprise for the Seahawks choosing the steady Aaron Curry at Left Outside Linebacker from Wake Forest. Aaron will be starting with Darryl Tapp, Rocky Bernard, Lofa Tatupu and Patrick Kerney among others in the Seattle front seven.   With the recently acquired T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle is looking okay, especially their new addition to the front seven. But still with an aging Matt Hasselbeck, I will be surprised if the Seahawks compete for the playoffs.

GRADE: B

5. New York Jets- Very surprising. Cleveland was originally in this position but the jets offered them a trade they could not refuse. The Jets gave up Kenyon Coleman, QB Brett…wait for it…Ratliff, and SS Abe Elam as well as the Jets 1st Round draft pick at 17 for the Brown’s 5th overall pick. With that the Jets chose Mark Sanchez- the Southern Cal QB. Though, without wideout Laveranues Coles, New York City isn’t the perfect atmosphere for a rookie, Sanchez is the kind of player who is very mature despite his lack of experience and could thrive in this position.

GRADE: B-

6. Cincinnati Bengals- the Bengals chose the second Offensive Tackle with the last name of Smith. This time it was Andre Smith of Alabama with a terrible bench press score for a 331-pounder of 19, however, he has outstanding feet to block any defensive end. There have been questions whether Chad Johnson will stay in Cincinnati, but Ocho Cinco isn’t going anywhere, and without Housh, Laveraneus Coles is a fine replacement. In addition to Smith, in the second round, the Bengals drafted Rey Maualuga at middle linebacker.

GRADE: B+

7. Oakland Raiders- The 7th pick in the draft was the reach as the draft. The Raiders chose Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland. This speedy wideout was projected to be picked late in the first round. Though the receiver with the most hype in Michael Crabtree was still available, Michael was injured and didn’t run the 40 so Oakland chose Darrius instead. Heyward-Bey will fit in very well with the Raiders Juggernaut styled passing game. As the 47th pick, the Raiders selected Michael Mitchell, the safety from Ohio to help out Michael Huff and Nnamdi Asomugha in the secondary.

GRADE: D+

8. Jacksonville Jaguars- the struggling Jags chose Eugene Monroe at OT.  Again, I believe that Michael Crabtree would be the obvious choice for Jacksonville. On the other hand, the Jaguars have already acquired Torry Holt from the Rams.  The Jags have recently acquired the aging Tra Thomas and with Monroe they have a solid tackle position.

GRADE: B-

9. Green Bay Packers- B. J. Raji from Boston College was the steal of the 1st Round. This 6-2 337-pound Defensive Tackle will compliment the Packers aggressive front seven. Raji, the All-American DT, was projected to be chosen 3rd to the Kansas City Chiefs but KC went with another DT in Tyson Jackson. I think that Raji could grow into one of the elite DTs in the NFL very soon. Raji will help the Packers mostly in rush defense forcing the opposing offense to go at the Packers defense through the air.

GRADE: A

10. San Francisco 49ers- Finally, Michael Crabtree will be going to a home in San Fran. Though the 49ers are 7-3 under former Bears Middle Linebacker, Mike Singletary, the 49ers still have not chosen their Quarterback. But they can sort that out. The Texas Tech Wide Receiver with a 4.55 40-yard dash (did not participate in combine) is compared to the Lions Wideout, Calvin Johnson, with less speed.

GRADE: A