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2006 EFS Rookie Draft recommendations
By Ehrich Rose
May 2, 2006, 16:51

For those General Managers who want to fully experience the complete EFS experience, they will insist that their league rookie draft is conducted within one week of the players being posted in the system. (currently scheduled for Friday May 5). Although there is risk, since owners have no clue who will get injured in the preseason, or which veterans will get cut after June 1st, or which high-value rookies who looked good in college will appear totally lost in the first preseason game, The “Extreme” in EFS requires owners to make those evaluations in May. To assist those who may be caught a little off guard if their draft starts this weekend, here are my top draft picks. This draft is based on 16 team leagues using Enhanced scoring.


1.1- Reggie Bush, RB New Orleans. He is considered the second coming of Gayle Sayers or Marshall Faulk. Although he will be in a RBBC with Deuce McAlister, Bush needs only 10-15 touches per game to earn his keep. Just as McAlister was drafted despite the Saints having Ricky Williams, there is no guarantee, that if the Saints like what they see in 2006, McAlister will be sent packing, making Bush the new king of fantasy football in 2007 and beyond.

1.2- Joseph Addai, RB Indianapolis. He is not as talented as Edge was when he broke into the league and soared to the top of the RB heap, but Addai is good enough to produce top ten RB numbers. With good hands and better speed than James, look for Addai to have 1500 yards total offense and actually be a better candidate than Bush for offensive rookie of the year.

1.3- Laurence Maroney, RB New England. This reminds me of the exact same situation that Shaun Alexander found himself when he was drafted by Seattle. The Hawks had Ricky Waters who would start, but by year two, Alexander supplanted him and has gone on to star. With an aging and faltering Corey Dillon, look for a similar situation for Maroney in New England.

1.4- Vernon Davis, TE San Francisco. The enhanced scoring bonus and the line-up flexibility that a TE provides, puts Davis in the top five. Vernon is a freak, and with the 49er anemic offense I look for Davis to lead the team in receptions. Davis can dominate in the likes of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. As a 20+ PPG player, Davis is a must draft for teams who are solid at RB.

1.5- A.J. Hawk, OLB Green Bay. A stud OLB is a point making machine and Hawk can dominate the LB position in the same way that Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis have dominated for the last five years. Anytime the draft can produce a rookie that will earn 20+ fantasy points, he is worth his weight in fantasy gold.

1.6- Ernie Sims, OLB Detroit. Like Hawk, Sims will begin the season as a starter for the Lions. Although he has some injury concerns, Sims is a collision looking for someone to impact. His hard hitting tenacity will produce tackles and turnovers. He is another 20+ PPG rookie.

1.7- Lendale White, RB Tennessee. I think it is still a little early to draft White, but I recognize the premium that EFS owners put on RBs. White will find himself in a RBBC, but Chris Brown has not shown he can play every game, and Travis Henry is a cap casualty waiting to happen. Norm Chow got White to play at a high level at USC and I suspect that will not change in the NFL. Besides, even while splitting carries with Brown, look for White to get the two-yard TD plunge.

1.8- Deangelo Williams, RB Carolina. This is a true risk/reward pick. Teams do not draft a RB in the first round if they plan on sitting him on the bench. Yet Williams is not a thunder back to compliment Deshaun Foster. One will win in camp and the other will lose. Owners who draft Williams may find themselves with a Cedric Benson, or the steal of the draft.

1.9- Vince Young, QB Tennessee. He is going to replace Michael Vick as Mr. Excitement. The question is whether he can pass any better than the 25th ranked Vick. If he can, then he will be a super-star, if not, then Jeff Fisher and company will be looking for a new job.

1.10- Jay Cutler, QB Denver. Jake the Snake has worn out his welcome. He will still start this season while Cutler learns the ropes, but for teams who can afford to wait a year, Cutler in his second year could flourish in a Shanahan offense.

1.11- Matt Leinart, QB Arizona. The run on QBs continue. Although Leinart is arguably the most prepared QB of the current three, he still will start the season on the bench behind Warner. Given Warner’s inability to last a whole season, look for Leinart to be the first of the three to get a start, but I am not convinced that Leinart has the arm strength to take advantage of his two big WRs. But….The potential is too much to let him fall much lower than the 11th pick.

1.12- Michael Huff, S Oakland. Huff is one of those rare players at safety who can be a difference-maker. He can lay the wood, and make the tough interception. With the weak Oakland defense, I look for Huff to make numerous tackles in the secondary. Those tackles equate to points, and for teams in need of an anchor at the DB position, Huff is the best of the lot.

1.13- D’Qwell Jackson, ILB Cleveland. Jackson, is the best of the lot at ILB. Although he will play in a 3-4 and share tackles with Andra Davis, ILB’s are like gold and to draft one in the latter half of the first round is excellent value. Last year, I recommended Odell Thurman at this spot in the draft. How did that work out?

1.14 Mario Williams, DE Houston. I normally downgrade DL in fantasy football
because they are so dependent on the sack to score points. Williams is compared to Julius Peppers. If he is that good, then he should be drafted earlier than 14th, Peppers is good for 17ppg, I think Williams will make owners happy if he can produce 15 ppg.

1.15- Bobby Carpenter, OLB Dallas. This is a good year for outside LBs. Carpenter is big, fast and will start for Dallas as the strong side OLB in the 3-4. Look for Carpenter to earn points with sacks, pass defenses against TEs, and a boat load of tackles.

1.16 Jerious Norwood, RB Atlanta. There are several good players that are worthy of the last pick in the first round, but when in doubt always select the best RB with the best chance of becoming a starter. Norwood is big, fast, and has the potential of replacing both Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett.


Guys who I like in the second round, but in no particular order:

Manny Lawson, OLB San Francisco. Teams can never have enough pass rushing
OLBs.

Donte Whitner, S Buffalo: Hard Hitting safety in the mold of Brian Dawkins.

Tye Hill, CB St. Louis: There is nothing worse than being a rookie CB in the pass happy NFC West, and there is nothing better in EFS than a CB who gets picked on in the passing game.

Santonio Holmes, WR Pittsburgh: Best WR in the draft.

Kellen Clemmons, QB New York Jets: He will wait his turn, but with Pennington and Ramsey ahead of him on the depth chart, his turn may come very quickly.

Marcedes Lewis, TE Jacksonville: If he averages 15 PPG, he is a great #3 WR/TE starter. In the Jaguar offense, he can easily produce those numbers, especially with the 5-6 ppg OL scoring bonus.


Good Luck with your picks

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