Pick 1.01

[revo]

You have the first overall pick in the 2011 draft (PPR league). Who are you taking?

Arian Foster
- easily outscored every other RB in 2010
- did it all -- great runner, pass catcher, scores a lot of TDs
- only did it one full year
- lost his All Pro fullback to free agency
- played with a knee injury and currently has a hammy injury

Adrian Peterson
- Mr. Consistent, Mr. Durable
- not the home run hitter he used to be, and 2010 was not his best season
- has a capable QB in McNabb, but passing game may be iffy

Ray Rice
- great pass catcher
- added Vonta Leach, an All Pro FB
- recently told he'll be the goal line back
- 2010 was a down year for him, and he got banged up
- two full seasons of elite play

Chris Johnson
- had a masterful 2009, but 2010 was a major slide for him despite still being a Top 10 back
- had his receptions and reception yardage cut in half
- holding out -- who knows when he'll be back?
- middling offense depends on him

Jamaal Charles
- had a monster 2010, averaging a Jim Brown-like 6.4 YPC
- has a career YPC average of 6.0, which is unheard of
- didn't even start for the first half of 2010, despite ending up with almost 1,500 yards rushing
- capable pass catcher
- didn't score a lot of TDs despite huge yardage amounts (only 12 TDs rushing in his career)
- had only three games of 20+ carries in 2010 -- but every game in his career that he's had 20+ carries, he's had over 100 yards
- somehow still listed as behind Thomas Jones on KC's depth chart

Who are you taking?

[schlesinj]

PPR or standard?

[billbuckner]

Even with the hammy injury I still think Foster has the least question marks.

[griswold]

If I was picking RIGHT now....I'm still taking Arian Foster (PPR or not).....however, if the injury continues to linger, I go easily lean towards Ray Rice, AP or JC. I think they'll all be very close this season.

[revo]

PPR or standard?

PPR is probably the fantasy norm these days, but all of these guys catch passes anyway.

[onejayhawk]

I'll buck the trend. Foster has at least some company in the backfield this year. Also, huge breakouts tend to have disappointing followups, eg Chris Johnson 2010.

J

[revo]

I'll buck the trend. Foster has at least some company in the backfield this year. Also, huge breakouts tend to have disappointing followups, eg Chris Johnson 2010.

J

I actually have the 1.01 pick and am afraid of taking Foster #1. Honestly, I'm seriously considering your boy Charles. While it would be next to impossible for Charles to be better than he was last year, should we expect to see him with more than just 225 carries?

[willthethrill]

I have 1st pick in a draft August 31. Right now, I'm thinking AP, Charles, Rice. CJ's holdout has him off my list, which can obviously change between now and then. Foster's hammy + heavy '10 workload + losing fullback makes me gun-shy.

[jwlincy]

I'm going with the consistency of Adrian Peterson. He may not be the #1 RB at the end of the year but he's proven that he should be in the top 2 or 3.

[revo]

I think a great case can be made for Ray Rice, if you're gunshy on Foster.

[Erik]

All of these picks are defensible. I think Foster is not a one-year wonder but the real deal, and while he probably won't equal what he did last year, he stands a good chance of being pretty close.

As to onejay's point about CJ, his 2010 was only disappointing if you expected him to repeat his 2009, which no one in their right mind should have. This is also why selecting Vick with the first overall pick or something close to it is a really bad idea.

[revo]

Uh oh -- Foster strains his hammy again, and leaves midway through the 1st half.

With my draft on Thursday, this recurring hammy injury is enough to have me seriously consider Rice at 1.01.

[Hornsby]

Probably a safe pick...just don't take Charles with the #1. His YPC last season was second in league history to only Jim Brown...no way he can repeat that. And he's simply not big enough to be an every down back...he'll be great, but not 1st pick great.

[Hammer]

Probably a safe pick...just don't take Charles with the #1. His YPC last season was second in league history to only Jim Brown...no way he can repeat that. And he's simply not big enough to be an every down back...he'll be great, but not 1st pick great.

and he has a brutal schedule.

[Long John]

I have the 1.01 pick this week as well. Not really sure who I'm going with yet. I was sold on Foster 3 weeks ago, but I think I should be a little more conservative with my selection and get better week-to-week value out of the pick.