With the playoffs in full swing I continue my five-part series on how I see the first four rounds shaking down, or at least the way it should if your league is not full of idiots. For the sake of argument let's assume it's a 12-team draft and a yardage+TD league. Check out my Round 1 picks and take a look below at Round 2:
ROUND TWO
13. Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG - He will need to stay healthy and stay on the field and hold off Ahmad Bradshaw, who is having a late-season surge to finish out his rookie campaign.
14. Marshawn Lynch, RB, BUF - His rookie campaign slowed down big time with a mid-season ankle injury. In the end, he nearly averaged 4 yards per carry behind a subpar offensive line. The Bills and their star running back will both get better in '08.
15. Willis McGahee, RB, BAL - Who knows what the future holds for the Ravens? The head coaching spot is vacant and the QB position is a wreck. Still, his seven-game TD streak did not go without notice and after missing just three game in four years he can officially shag the durability tag.
16. Marion Barber, RB, DAL - His value rises if the team moves forward without Julius Jones. Either way Barber's 28 total touchdowns over the past two seasons makes him extremely valuable to fantasy owners.
17. Tony Romo, QB, IND - Barring Jason Garrett leaving Dallas for a better job (don't see it happening this season), Romo is my the No. 3 QB entering the season whether Jessica is still in his head or not....mmmm Jessica! Who wouldn't be distracted?
18. Reggie Wayne, WR, IND - Wayne is entering his prime as Marvin Harrison is on his last leg. Some may argue him higher, but I look for Round 3 to be the round of the wideouts. Even at #18 he is still my No. 2 wideout overall.
19. Willie Parker, RB, PIT - Parker followed up his 16-TD campaign of '06 by only finding the end zone twice in '07. To make matters worse, his season ended in mid-December with a broken leg.
20. Terrell Owens, WR, DAL - T.O. paid huge dividends for fantasy owners this season and now has 28 TD's over his past two years. His age worries me a bit though, he'll be 35 next season and that brings him at No. 3 on my list of receivers.
21. Ryan Grant, RB, GB - From undrafted in last year's fantasy drafts to a second-round pick. He could rise or fall fast though, but no running back ran better in the second-half of the regular season.
22. Jamal Lewis, RB, BAL - Lewis showed enough this season to suggest he still has some gas left in the tank and assuming he stays in Cleveland he'll make for good value here.
23. Laurence Maroney, RB, NE - Too much talent, but too few touches. He is a guy that could slip out of the top 25 in fantasy drafts next season, but easily finish as a top five back.
24. Reggie Bush, RB, NO - Bush is fading fast. It remains to be seen what is going to happen out of the Saints' backfield, but Bush is a part-time player at best and no longer capable of being a No. 1 RB for owners (even in points per reception leagues).
STAY TUNED FOR ROUND 3 - COMING SOON!