If I showed you the next page you would have seen the last of 11 week 3 match-ups which was a $9 win in a heads up expert only game. Expert only means you get less $$$ to play with. Expert get $55,000 - standard gets $60,000 and Beg. get $65,000

Here is what I do to find the excellent match ups headed into the week and rank them accordingly.

1. Get the top 10 or so fantasy points allowed by position (listed below)
2. Find the obvious studs with great match ups (high dollar value guys on fanduel)
3. Find the “flex starts” with great match ups that present high upside (low dollar value guys on fanduel)
4. TOP 10 Teams allowing the most fantasy points to opposing QB’s this year.

You can use this method to determine who is a great weekly fantasy play based on match up, helpful for you guys without a backup for Antonio Gates, more on that later.

I’ll start at the Quarterback position.

Eli Manning comes to mind over the next several weeks, this week he face the Cardinals who allow the 8th most fantasy points to Quarterbacks.

TOP 10 Teams allowing the most fantasy points to opposing QB’s this year.

1. New England Patriots vs. QB – 1,163 yards – 6 TD
2. Green Bay Packers vs. QB – 1,153 yards – 6 TD
3. Oakland Raiders vs. QB 937 yards 6 TD
4. Miami Dolphins vs. QB 957 yards 8 TD
5. St. Louis Rams vs. QB 799 yards 7 TD
6. Buffalo Bills vs. QB 829 yards 7 TD
7. New Orleans Saints vs. QB 929 yards 7 TD
8. Arizona Cardinals vs. QB 884 yards 4 TD
9. Kansas City Chiefs vs. QB 796 yards 8 TD
10. Minnesota Vikings vs. QB 956 yards 5 TD

QB Match-ups to exploit in week 4 are:

• Jason Campbell faces the New England Patriots who, as you see above, are allow a sever amount of fantasy stats to opposing QB’s.
• Rex Grossman AKA “Sexy Rexy” have a juicy match-up against St. Louis Rams who rank 5th in most fantasy points allowed.
• Andy Dalton should bounce back this week versus the Bills, who rank 6th in points allowed to opposing QB’s.
• Eli Manning comes to mind over the next several weeks, this week he face the Cardinals who allow the 8th most fantasy points to Quarterbacks. Excellent Value on Fanduel.

The obvious starter with exceptional match ups:

• Tom Brady obviously.. Oakland just sweetens the pot.
• Phillip Rivers is another no brain-er with a sweet match-up versus Miami who ranks 4th in most points allowed.

Here are are WEEK 4 Quarterback Rankings

Either Cedric Benson (if allowed to play) or Bernard Scott should have success this week versus Buffalo however, I'd only start Bernard Scott in PPR leagues as the Bengals will have to play from behind.

TOP 10 Teams allowing the most fantasy points to opposing RB’s this year.

1. Philadelphia Eagles vs. RB 394 yards 2 TD, 15 Catches for 185 yards 3 TD
2. Kansas City Chiefs vs. RB 360 yards 5 TD, 16 Catches for 153 1 TD
3. Oakland Raiders vs. RB 305 yards 2 TD, 24 Catches for 283 2 TD
4. St. Louis Rams vs. RB 399 yards 2 TD, 19 Catches for 187 1 TD
5. Minnesota Vikings vs. RB 190 yards 3 TD, 27 Catches for 256 2 TD
6. New York Jets vs. RB 356 yards 4 TD, 15 Catches for 106 0 TD
7. Buffalo Bills vs. RB 292 yards 2 TD, 25 Catches for 152 2 TD
8. New England Patriots vs. RB 202 yards 2 TD, 30 Catches for 271 1 TD
9. Indianapolis Colts vs. RB 315 yards 4 TD, 11 Catches for 73 0 TD
10. Atlanta Falcons vs. RB 277 yards 2 TD, 18 Catches for 165 1 TD

RB Match-ups to exploit in week 4 are:

• Dexter McCluster faces the Vikings BUT WAIT they got back some players in Week 3 and picked up the run stuff. Only consider McCluster in PPR leagues as a strong FLEX.
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis / Stevan Ridley are both good flexes this week versus the porous Raiders. I like Ridley this week to get plenty of chances as New England burns the clock holding a lead.
• Frank Gore could easily bounce back this week against the Eagles who are allowing the most points to RB’s this year.
• Tim Hightower should toss the Rams salad this week, they rank 4th in points allowed.
• LeGarrette Blount should have a bounce back week against Indy, but don’t keep your hopes to high.
• Either Cedric Benson (if allowed to play) or Bernard Scott should have success this week versus Buffalo however, I’d only start Bernard Scott in PPR leagues as the Bengals will have to play from behind.

The obvious starter with exceptional match up:

• A. Peterson is an obvious start any week but this week is exceptional as he faces the Chief’s who can’t stop tumbleweed from blowing across the field.

Here are our Week 4 Running Back Rankings

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TOP 16 Teams allowing the most fantasy points to opposing WR’s this year.

Denarius Moore is poised for a break out game.

1. New England Patriots vs. WR 48 catches for 794 yards and 4 TD
2. Green Bay Packers vs. WR 42 catches for 660 yards and 4 TD
3. St. Louis Rams vs. WR 34 catches for 535 yards and 6 TD
4. Miami Dolphins vs. WR 37 catches for 578 yards and 5 TD
5. New Orleans Saints vs. WR 39 catches for 525 yards and 3 TD
6. San Francisco 49ers vs. WR 36 catches for 514 yards and 5 TD
7. New York Giants vs. WR 41 catches for 606 yards and 3 TD
8. Baltimore Ravens vs. WR 50 catches for 600 yards and 3 TD
9. Arizona Cardinals vs. WR 41 catches for 581 yards and 3 TD
10. Houston Texans vs. WR 37 catches for 503 yards and 4 TD
11. Kansas City Chiefs vs. WR 37 catches for 484 yards and 4 TD
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. WR 44 catches for 582 yards and 2 TD
13. Oakland Raiders vs. WR 45 catches for 519 yards and 3 TD
14. Buffalo Bills vs. WR 36 catches for 517 yards and 3 TD
15. Denver Broncos vs. WR 42 catches for 517 yards and 3 TD
16. Carolina Panthers vs. WR 20 catches for 437 yards and 4 TD

WR Match-ups to exploit in week 4 are:

• Brandon Lloyd and Eric Decker should have a good day against Green Bay who allow the 2nd most fantasy points to WR so far this year.
• Oakland has some nice flex plays lined up for you this week but gamble at your own risk here, while someone in Oakland is going to have a great day it’s hard to predict. I expect the Pats to stack the box and force Campbell to pass, Denarius Moore is poised for a break out game.
• Santana Moss WILL have a big day versus the Rams. I don’t think the Rams will move the ball on offense and Washington will be able to air it out versus their weak secondary who ranks 3rd in points allowed.
• Minnesota has a possible deep sleeper in PPR formats, deep leagues only, Michael Jenkins is on the rise as a nice match-ups based flex starter and this week he gets the Chiefs who rank 11th in points allowed.

More obvious starters with great match-ups

• Larry Fitzgerald versus NYG
• Vincent Jackson, especially if Gates returns to the line-up. Miami allows the 4th most points to WR.
• Hakeem Nicks / Mario Manningham or Victor Cruz depending on Manninghams status – Arizona allows the 9th most fantasy points to WR.

Greg Olsen has a great match-up versus the Bears, nice flex play in your a Antonio Gates owner in a time of need.

TOP 10 Teams allowing the most fantasy points to opposing TE’s this year.

1. Miami Dolphins vs. TE 25 catches for 315 yards and 3 TD
2. San Diego Chargers vs. TE 14 catches for 180 yards and 4 TD
3. Chicago Bears vs. TE 19 catches for 237 yards and 3 TD
4. New Orleans Saints vs. TE 14 catches for 259 yards and 2 TD
5. Kansas City Chiefs vs. TE 12 catches for 159 yards and 3 TD
6. Cincinnati Bengals vs. TE 17 catches for 217 yards and 2 TD
7. Dallas Cowboys vs. TE 15 catches for 214 yards and 2 TD
8. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. TE 21 catches for 207 yards and 2 TD
9. Green Bay Packers vs. TE 9 catches for 178 yards and 2 TD
10. Buffalo Bills vs. TE 13 catches for 164 yards and 2 TD

• Greg Olsen has a great match-up versus the Bears, nice flex play in your a Antonio Gates owner in a time of need.
• Marcedes Lewis is a deep sleeper in DEEP leagues – he faces the Saints who can’t cover TE and you can bank that the Saints will score a lot of points.
• Randy McMichael (If Antonio Gates sits out) has a DECENT match-up versus Miami, but they’re ranked number one in points allowed due to the thrashing they took in week 1 versus the Pats.
• Jermaine Gresham is another Antonio Gates weekly flex replacement – the Bungles will have to air it out versus the Bills who rank 10th in points allowed.

More obvious starters with great match-ups this week:

• Jimmy Graham get the Jags who have trouble with tall TE’s.
• Scott Chandler gets the Cincinnati Bengals and they can’t cover TE either, rankings 6th in points allowed. Chandler has a TD in every game this year, it won’t stop this week.

Bouns Round for Kickers – top 10 teams allowing the most Kicker Fantasy Points

1. Cleveland Browns vs. K 10.7 points allowed
2. Kansas City Chiefs vs. K 10.3 this week they face Ryan Longwell
3. Indianapolis Colts vs. K 10.0 points allowed
4. Atlanta Falcons vs. K 9.7 points allowed
5. New Orleans Saints vs. K 9.3 points allowed
6. Chicago Bears vs. K 9.0 points allowed
7. Green Bay Packers vs. K 8.7 points allowed
8. Denver Broncos vs. K 8.7 this week they facec Jason Hanson
9. Dallas Cowboys vs. K 8.3 points allowed
10. Seattle Seahawks vs. K 8.3 points allowed

Locks this week are:

Ryan Longwell and Jason Hanson – both kickers present favorable TOP 10 match-ups this week and they’re in the TOP 10 in regards to FG and XP attempts.

A player with a “U” symbol next to him signifies updated information.

Well here it is, the long awaited 2011 Quarterback Rankings brought to you by yours truly.

The votes are in and the final rankings have been updated and applied for everyone out there.

Also be sure to bone up on our other rankings:

WR rankings – RB rankings – TE rankings – IDP – Kickers – Team Defense

What I have done is separated this particular piece into three sections: The Top 10, The Middle Tier and High risk/High Reward, with a little something extra at the end.

Not mentioned in this ranking are Rex Grossman (Washington) and Vince Young (Philadelphia) who are slated as primary backups.

Be sure to stop by and also look at our Top 8 Bounce-Back Players for 2011 when you’re done here.

The Top 10:

1. Aaron Rodgers – GB: Rodgers plays in the most explosive offense in the NFL, and there is little reason to doubt another repeat performance of his stellar 2010 campaign that saw him pass for 3,922 yards with 28 TDs, 11 INT and a completion rate of 65.7%. The real point to notice here is the Packers will have a better O-line in 2011 and they also get Jermichael Finley back.U: The Packers have also retained James Jones, and plan on getting Jordy Nelson more involved in the passing game, which makes this team even deadlier than 2010…if you can imagine that. Rodgers is set to have a better season in 2011 than he did in 2010, and should remain my number 1 QB for the duration.

2. Tom Brady – NE: Brady moves into the number two spot as one of the best fantasy quarterbacks to come into this season. He has a new weapon in OchoCinco, and he is coming off of a career 2010 season which he’ll only build upon.

3. Drew Brees – NO: Brees is another QB who is among the elite, but concerns about having too many cooks in the kitchen—some of which with health issues— raises a tiny red flag. But for Standard leaguers, Brees might be better than originally anticipated with some new red-zone weapons at his disposal.

4. Matt Ryan – ATL: Saturday’s preseason game was confirmation that the Falcons are not only going pass-happy this season, but also plan to utilize the shotgun more which will bode well for Ryan and the Falcons. Ryan could wind up the leading passer in 2011 if all goes well.

5.Tony Romo – DAl: Final rankings are all about reality—especially in the Top 10—and the reality is, Romo has been on fire and is ready to reclaim his place as a fantasy QB elite. Remember, Romo had three straight seasons as a Top 9 fantasy QB before last year’s injury.

6. Phillip Rivers – SD: It’s hard to leave Rivers out of the Top 5, but it’ll be pulling straws in comparison at the end of the year. if you miss out on the first five, Rivers is just as good, and could potentially be better.

7. Michael Vick – PHI: Vick has had a nice preseason, but he also showed he has significant trouble against the 3-4 defenses (he faces 9 teams who run that defense this season) and he hasn’t played a full 16 since 2006. He’s still dangerous as hell, but this is as high as he should be ranked considering who’s ahead of him and his given risk factors.

8. Matt Schaub – HOU: The Texans will put more emphasis on the ground game this year which will hurt Schaub just a little bit, but I have a feeling they will be playing from behind in a lot of contests this year which will keep his numbers right where they should be every year.

9. Peyton Manning – IND:Sorry but he falls. Things are too risky, but keep in mind that these rankings reflect draft rankings more than projections. Manning should be fine once he does play.

10. Ben Roethlisberger – PIT: Big Ben should have a monster year with Pittsburgh going more vertical in 2011.

The Middle Tier:

11. Matthew Stafford – DETStafford has been on fire this preseason and has shown why—if he remains healthy—you should view him as a borderline elite fantasy quarterback.Stafford has completed 24 of 31 pass attempts (77.4% completion rate), and has thrown for 356 yards, five TDs and zero touchdowns, but he will also have a new three-wide set to play around with, and if he remains healthy, this guy is going to live up to all the hype. The health concerns keeps him out of the Top 10.

12. Joe Flacco – BAL: If Flacco goes as the number 12 quarterback in fantasy football draft, he will be the greatest value pick for a QB 1 have seen in years. Expect big things from Flacco this season.

13. Josh Freeman – TB: U - Freeman looks like a new quarterback and has been playing extremely well given he is a very slow work in progress player. He is not QB1 material just yet, but he is a solid member consideration for your roster this year.

14. Eli Manning – NYG: Manning is a great source for fantasy points, but he is also a huge turnover liability which nullifies those point totals. He has been having a horrid preseason, and still shows he throws off the back foot, which is where all the bad throws come from.

15. Sam Bradford – STL – U: Despite no change in Bradford’s ranking, it is noteworthy to mention that the addition of MSW greatly improves his overall projected fantasy value. Bradford is expected to make for a fine QB2 pick.

16. Jay Cutler – CHI: I don’t believe the Bears have elite talent at WR, and I don’t believe Cutler is mature enough to rise to the Top 10 level. He’s a safe QB 2, nothing more.

17. Matt Cassel – KC: Cassel should have another solid fantasy season, but needs to show fantasy owners his available weapons are quality producers before ranking any higher.

18. Kyle Orton – DEN: Orton should be the starter this season, but John Fox is far more conservative than McDaniels ever was. Expect a run first approach this season which will dip into Orton’s value. U: Orton is the starter, but his value may drop a bit in a run first approach expected to be deployed by coach Fox.

19. Jason Campbell – OAK: Has plenty of receivers with huge upside, but whether or not they step up is left to be seen. He will have sleeper candidate Jacoby Fordat his disposal for a full season this year, which should help.

20. David Garrard – JAC: He’s a good quarterback in a bad offense.

21. Ryan Fitzpatrick – BUF: Fitzpatrick rises to 21, but don’t necessarily view him as a low-ball option.Remember, this is a guy who threw for 3,000 yards and 23 TDs to only 13 INTs in 2010, and he accomplished that while SPLITTING TIME with Trent Edwards.

High Risk or High Reward?

22. Donovan McNabb – MIN:I cover the Vikings exclusively in other capacities, and I have given this a lot of thought.The consensus is, McNabb isn’t going to be that great, but I believe raising up to 22nd is just about right, and he could be a great waiver wire addition to someone later in the season, or even a savvy late-round draft selection for those who wan to to roll the dice. You could do a whole lot worse, trust me.

23. Matt Hasselbeck – TEN: Hasselbeck—previously un-ranked—now cracks the list at 23 taking the place of Browns QB Colt McCoy. While Hasselbeck’s presence will be immediately felt, it is important to remember that Jake Locker WILL get his chance. Whether it is this season or next, however, is yet to be seen.

24. Mark Sanchez – NYJ: Sanchez isn’t required to throw the ball much, and is set to lose Braylon Edwards, but that’s not even the real problem. Last year the Jets, and Sanchez, struggled heavily in drop-back passing because of the fact that Sanchez holds the ball way too long, rather than going through his progressions. His 3,291 yards and 17 touchdowns may cause some people to argue this point, but his 13 Interceptions are a better gauge of what’s to come in 2011 with a receiving corp. that will have fewer veterans, and a greater emphasis on the running game. Like I said, it’s still early, so something could happen to show a different possibility, but for now, Sanchez stays put. Remember, the Jets are a defensive team first and can win with or without him. Sanchez has looked horrible this preseason, ad should be left on the waiver wire as far as I am concerned.

25. Kevin Kolb – ARI: Kolb finally lands in the desert and cracks the list at 25, but that doesn’t mean he is devalued, only that it will take time for Kolb to learn the offense and prove to fantasy owners he is worthy of something higher than a possible mid to late round selection.Kolb has some exciting weapons to play with, though, in Fitzgerald and newly acquired TE Todd Heap which could raise his value by opening day.

26. Chad Henne – MIA: Henne is waiver wire material anyway, so i don’t think anyone is even going to notice his drop from 21 to 26.

27. Colt McCoy – CLE: Goodbye Tarvaris Jackson and hello Colt McCoy (again)! I am really turned by this guy and he is looking more and more as if he could be the real deal this season.The problem with McCoy will be what he does against the better defenses of the league, which is the fantasy concern. McCoy should wind up being a late season WW trend pick by my estimation.

Who’s Left?

The remaining balance of available quarterbacks do not rank high enough to be placed on this list, but do deserve a quick viewpoint for all of you fantasy owners out there.

The Redskins will go with the unproven John Beck who is getting an unwavered show of support from coach Shanahan. But Washington offers little weapons for the youngster, and there is too little amount of information for fantasy owners to trust him even in a Dynasty setting.

The 49ers will initially go with the reeling Alex Smith who is in a now-or-never mode. The 49ers will introduce the West Coast offense this year which could breath life into Smith’s career temporarily, but with rookie Colin Kaepernick breathing down his neck, and given Smith’s track record, I can’t seem him lasting a full 16 games. At this point he hold little value, but Kaepernick is an obvious choice for Dynasty leaguers.

The Panthers, Vikings and Bengals all offer rookie quarterback considerations for fantasy owners. But out of three offered—Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and Christian Ponder—only Ponder and Dalton offer limited value.

I don’t see Newton becoming the next “big thing” as many feel he will become, and would say that he ranks last among the 2011 rookie QB class.

Andy Dalton will get the nod as the opening day starter in Cincy, but the Bengals have all sorts of offensive issue right now, killing Dalton’s initial projected value for the 2011 season, while Christian Ponder will likely sit for a year or so behind McNabb, unless McNabb falls flat on his face.

I like Ponder over Dalton myself for all of you in Keeper and Dynasty leagues.

If you have a specific question please feel free to leave it below for me, and I will answer it. Also, be sure to check back regularly as these rankings will go through a few more changes before the season opens in September.

http://fantasyknuckleheads.com/2011-fantasy-football-sleeper-jacoby-ford/

Among this group are a couple of developing young starters, a first year starter and a couple of veterans who aren’t considered good picks normally.

Here’s FantasyKnuckleheads.com’s official QB rankings. And here’s a list of my five sleeper quarterbacks to keep an eye on in your league’s draft.

1. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions – Stafford is an excellent talent and has elite weapons at his disposal. The only concern when drafting him is his health. He’s shown that he’s pretty injury prone in his first couple seasons in the NFL. But, if he can stay healthy for a whole season, he could easily be a top-tier fantasy quarterback.
2. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins – Henne has a huge target in Brandon Marshall. 2011 will be his sink-or-swim season. If he’s going to make it as an NFL starter, he’ll need to show it this season. I predict he’ll take a step forward this season and become a pretty valuable second-tier fantasy quarterback.
3. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears – Call Cutler a baby, call him sulky, call him whiny. But, the fact of the matter is that he led the Bears all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season. He has one of the best pass-catching running backs at his disposal in Matt Forte. He’ll put up big numbers once again, but he’ll always have the stigma of being a quitter after last year’s NFC Championship Game.
4. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs have the NFL’s best running back duo in Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles. Eventually, that will start to pay dividends for Cassel. He already has Dwayne Bowe at his disposal. A solid No. 2 receiver would really boost Cassel’s value.
5. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings – Ponder is in the same boat as Cassel. He has Adrian Peterson, the best running back in the NFL. He also has Percy Harvin. If the Vikings re-sign Sidney Rice, Ponder will have a potent receiving tandem and could surprise some people by actually having a decent fantasy value. He could definitely be considered for a backup spot in later rounds.

But for some of those players, the specualtion has been an ongoing fiasco from the get go, and today I want to quickly look at some names a lot of you are sure to be interested in.

Consider this to be a primer for my Early Quarterback Rankings which you should definitely take a look at as well.

Matt Hasselbeck: So long Seattle, hello free agency! Nothing about Matt Hasselbeck suggests he is a top notch quarterback, but he still has a boat load of talent which could rejuvenate his career if he lands in the right home.

It has been rumored that the Minnesota Vikings were kicking the tires on him, but they have other ideas that do not include Hasselbeck at the present time.

Now that Kerry Collins is gone, however, the Titans could wind up being Hasslebeck’s new zip code, and if so, his value suddenly becomes more intriguing than originally thought.

Yeah that about sums things up.

Donovan McNabb: The Redskins are likely to release McNabb rather than trade him, and there isn’t going to be much demand for a washed up QB who is still owed a ton of money.

Still, the Vikings have been rumored to continually show interest in him, and perhaps they were waiting for McNabb’s release to make it a cheaper pursuit.

I don’t see much fantasy value in McNabb in 2011, and he’ll ultimately be the most famous waiver wire name in 2011.

Kevin Kolb: Seattle, Arizona, Minnesota, Kalamazoo…heck this guy has been speculated to go just about everywhere and the free agency market hasn’t even opened up yet!

Lemme break it down.

If Seattle wants Kolb, they will have to offer something bigger than they can afford, and considering the club is comfortable with sticking with Whitehurst is need be, the likelihood is very small.

If Arizona wants Kolb they too will have to offer something big, and the rumor is it could be either Beanie Wells, DRC or even Patrick Peterson.

Kolb to Arizona is more likely than any other speculated deal, but I don’t think the club will go backwards and trade away any defensive players for Kolb.

Minnesota ain’t happening.

Tarvaris Jackson: Here’s some interesting news to fill your crawl space with, there is strong speculation from Tom Pelisserro on Twitter that the Seahawks could be interested in Tarvaris Jackson saying:

“Have done due diligence on Jackson. Heard from people with other teams that would like to work with him, too — but as a backup.”

This is only interesting because of its curious nature. Jackson will have zero fantasy value in 2011, and Whitehurst will be waiver wire fodder if there is ever to be a —dare I say it—quarterback competition between Jackson and Whitehurst.

If you guys have a specific question for me, leave it below and I’ll get back at ya!

A few days ago, I posted my rankings of the top 5 fantasy quarterbacks for 2011. Today, it’s time to rank the running backs.

The list is full of proven veterans, but youngster Arian Foster managed to crack the top 5 after a huge fantasy year in 2010.

Here’s my list of the top five fantasy running backs for 2011. And here’s a look at Fantasy Knuckleheads official top 40 running back rankings.

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings – Peterson has been the most consistent fantasy running back of the past few years. Even though Arian Foster had a better year last year, Peterson is a lock to be a great RB this year too. And, now that the Vikings have a tentative agreement to acquire Donovan McNabb from the Washington Redskins, Peterson won’t have to carry the entire load offensively. He’ll have plenty of space to run.
2. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans – Johnson is in the same boat as Peterson. He’s proven that he’s not a one-year wonder, something that Foster will have to prove this year. And, the Titans recently shored up their QB spot as well, signing Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck will be an upgrade and will make the offense more potent, making Johnson more valuable.
3. Arian Foster, Houston Texans – Foster certainly has the potential to be the No. 1 fantasy running back again in 2011, but I’m not sold just yet. He’ll certainly have a very strong year, but he won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year. Let’s see how he does when defenses game plan for him. I’m not saying don’t draft him, I’m just saying don’t draft him No. 1 overall.
4. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams – Jackson is the do-it-all running back for the St. Louis Rams. He’s always a top 10 fantasy running back, but now that the Rams have a solid QB, he should be even better. If the Rams get a legitimate No. 1 receiver, that’ll be even better news for potential Jackson owners.
5. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars – MJD was awesome last season despite playing through an injury. Imagine how much better he should be this season if he’s at 100%. He’s always a threat to break a long run, and one long run could mean a good week for your fantasy team. If you are picking in the middle of the first round of your draft, grab MJD. You won’t regret it.

We’re just about ready for the 2011 NFL Draft, and of course, with every real-time draft comes traipsing along a clever mock draft for all to enjoy.

Over the past weeks the main argument has been quarterback versus defensive tackle with cornerback versus outside linebacker coming in a close second.

Either way, the Vikings are chock-full-of needs on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Let’s take a look at what I predict will happen, and let’s see how close—if at all—I actually come.

+++

Round 1: Nate Solder – OT – Colorado:

Surprise, surprise, surprise! No quarterback and no defensive end, the Vikings shore up the OT position—while sending a message to Bryant McKinney—in selecting the mammoth 6’ 8” 319 pound Nate Solder (the guy on the left for those who don’t know).

What’s a draft without surprises, right?

Not only do the Vikings have a need for an OT, but the Vikings figure it to be the wisest first selection, if for anything, to keep Chicago and Detroit’s grubby little hands off of him.

The massive tackle is an aggressive trench man who is more athletic than most defensive ends, has an 81 inch wing span, and is the type of true grit power player the Vikings will need to protect whoever is at the helm.

Remember, having two good tackles ensures protection for your QB, which in turn, ensures the proper development.

+++

Round 2: Rahim Moore – CB – UCLA:

With heavy anticipation of the next QB for Minnesota coming in the second round, Vikings fans get thrown another curveball as the organization sticks to a plan of draft for the future and for the now by selecting UCLA’s Rahim Moore.

Another area the Vikings are desperate for overall help, Minnesota quickly reacts to what is looking like a very weak position in the draft by grabbing the best, while available.

Moore was a standout player for the Bruins who is being compared to the great Ed Reed, who Moore says he tries to model his game after.

The Vikings need a solid quality cover man who can rotate between corner and safety, immediately contribute in all coverage schemes (if needed) and has the experience to be a low maintenance rookie with star-like qualities.

Moore is also a perfect fit the oft aggressive defensive approach of the Vikings.

+++

Round 4: Ricky Stanzi – QB – Iowa:

Much to my chagrin, TCUs Andy Dalton has already found a new home (my guess is Buffalo) shattering my dreams of actually predicting he would be around in the fourth round.

That’s fine, bring on Ricky Stanzi!

Owner Ziggy Wilf and company decide that passing on the deal of a lifetime in Stanzi as a fourth rounder would be as dumb as the kickoff rule change, and pull the trigger on the underrated Iowa QB.

Stanzi is a clever QB who can utilize the short passing game to his advantage—or safety—while possessing the ability to exploit the long ball when appropriate.

+++

Round 5  (first selection): Austin Pettis – WR – Boise State:

At some point, the Vikings are going to have to consider a wideout of some capacity. With Bernard Berrian likely not to return (thank god) and Sidney Rice’s future up in the air, the team has a significant need for anyone who can effectively catch a ball.

Austin Pettis is a methodical receiver who can play out of the slot, as well as, contribute as a deep ball threat.

Pettis’ true talent is in the slot as he can cause defenses to pay extra attention to his ability to split coverage and rake in balls over the middle.

But with the Vikings having more double TE sets  in the mix this year, featuring another deep receiver alongside Percy Harvin will be paramount to utilizing what could be five weapons on the field—assuming Rice does not return.

+++

Round 5 (second selection): Sione Fua – DT – Stanford:

OK, now we get to the nitty-gritty of things.

In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, the Vikings decide to hold the check book a little closer, and take a safer approach to drafting a defensive lineman.

Rather than buy into all the hoopla surrounding the first and second rounders, the Vikings decide to go after someone who fits their scheme, as well as, their needs.

Sione Fua is a very interesting player who helped the Stanford Cardinals improve their run defense from 55th in the nation to an impressive 19th.

The most intriguing aspect though, is this is a guy who underwent the team’s transformation from a true 40 defense to a more 3-4 type scheme. He is a heavily experienced two-gap lineman—a rare commodity—but a perfect fit for the Vikings demanding, multi-look scheme.

Not to mention a bona fide steal in the fifth.

+++

They call him "thomas the Tank" for a reason!

Round 6: J.T. Thomas – OLB – West Virginia:

A member of one of the best defensive teams in West Virginia, J.T. Thomas is chock full of talent and experience which isn’t always found in a linebacker this late.

Thomas is a multi-tooled backer who can play both the strong side and the weak side (the most needed areas for the Vikes) with ease and comfort.

As I mentioned before, J.T. Thomas is a speedy backer who can move laterally against the run, press up front on coverage and get into pass-rushing lanes with ease, making him a near five-tool player.

His only knock is his history of injuries—and the fact that zone coverage is not his strong suit…but not very many collegiate backers can boast otherwise.

+++

Round 7: Kyle Adams – TE – Purdue:

The Vikings are eventually going to settle in and grab themselves a TE for various reasons:

1.       Shiancoe isn’t getting any younger.

2.       Depth and youth.

3.       The need for another solid blocking TE who can also be a possession receiver.

Kyle Adams has a great TE build and he knows how to work against zone coverage effectively, which is why he is known as a move-the-chains TE.

In addition to his natural ability to play both sides of the position, he also is a go-getting type of receiver willing to fight for possession, and can be the developmental short-game type of TE the Vikings will need in their new double TE sets.