"THE KICKING TEE": VOL. I

FANTASY FOOTBALL
By The 52X

The Game has returned to us. Replete with all the trials and tribulations we have come to expect. Who puts on a better show then the NFL?

This season The Grazianimal will be writing full time for NFL Draft Bible. Keep it tuned right here for all the coverage you need to maintain a handle on the madness that is pro football. A little about myself: I am the man.

Where to begin? The biggest story on the Fantasy landscape is not Mike Vick (more on that later), it is not Mike Strahan, it is not Pac Man Jones, it is not even L.T. who will go first in almost every draft and will be hard pressed to repeat his record breaking 2006 season.

The biggest story right now in Fantasyland is the holdout of Larry Johnson. Johnson is the definition of a first round back. 2,199 total yards last year, 416 attempts, he got the ball early and often and produced at a Hall of Fame level. Now he is nowhere to be found and looking for cash.

The Chiefs depended on Johnson for over 40% of their offense last year on a 9 and 7 team that made the playoffs. That would make me think that LJ and his agent could rake K.C. over the coals looking for this new contract. The Chiefs will fine him $14,000 or so a day. That kind of behavior could lead to long and contentious negotiations and a player that will not be ready or playing in week 1.

What does all that mean to fantasy owners? Uncertainty. The exact thing that you do not need in a #1 pick. The game is brutal enough that considerations of bad attitude and hurt feelings should not be part of the equation. Combine that with a huge workload last season and a coach in Herm Edwards that is not exactly innovative in his play calling and we could see a dramatic decline in Larry Johnson’s numbers this year. If he signs next week forget what I said. If he does not…

Still, Johnson probably does not see round two in your draft even with a contract war in Kansas City. This year there is more flux at running back then in recent memory. A much-heralded rookie in Marshawn Lynch looking at a full time job in Buffalo, Jamal Lewis looking to return to form in Cleveland and Brandon Jacobs stepping to the forefront in New York just to name a few. Many people all around the league are going to be trying to do what they have not done before on the football field. From a draft standpoint, I think that means that a savvy owner will redouble their efforts to secure running backs at the top of their draft. Three of your first five picks, maybe even three of your first four should be running backs.

A lot of question marks at the most difficult position to staff tells me to stock up. You will need to fight the urge to bite on that flashy wide receiver sitting in front of you in round two. Rookies and veterans on new teams can implode with extreme prejudice. If you do not a have a legit back to plug in at that point, your season could implode shortly thereafter. If you draft well at running back, then you will have the trade bait to fortify your team when the time is right. You’ll also have a three or four game window of stats to make an informed decision.

The Vick situation begs comment. He was on my squad last season and it was nice to have running backs stats in the quarterback line week after week. This year he was a top-five quarterback pick. Still, when the Feds are portraying you as the head of a criminal conspiracy that includes gambling and animal abuse and you are facing six years in the can, it is just not what you are looking for in a draft pick. He might have to beat the rap, assuage the league, get a new uniform tailored and get up to speed on the playbook all to see snap one this season. That makes him the ultimate risk/reward player.

Right now I would not waste a pick, but he has the ability to be that player who shows up in week 12 and drives his team to the promise-land. Let some other sucker draft him. He probably sees the waiver wire at some point or could be a throw in of a trade for more productive players. If it looks like Vick will play NFL football again and you need quarterback help, consider acquiring him. If it does not turn your stomach.

Camp is in session. We are just getting started. There is plenty more to discuss as the preseason plays out. Keep it locked on NFLDraftBible.com for all the info and analysis you need to kick [butt] in your league.

The views and comments of 52X aka The Grazianimal are completely independent. The NFL Draft Bible and 4th & Goal are not responsible for anyone who may be offended.

Electrocute The 52X at grazianimal@nfldraftbible.com