With the 2013 NFL season on in the rear view mirror, the time has come to look ahead to the 2014 fantasy football season. There are going to be some picks in the first round that surprise owners to a point with where the player is being drafted. It is very early and that point must be taken in looking at what a first round would look like in a ten-team league. Here is how I see the first round laying out if the draft was today for the 2014 season.
1. Jamaal Charles, RB- The way the 2013 season went for Charles, it is too easy to let him be the top pick. He is someone who could easily top 2,000 all-purpose yards next season in Andy Reid’s offense. He will be especially good in PPR leagues.
2. LeSean McCoy, RB- Many people are going to want to put McCoy over Charles especially with the Philadelphia offense but there is bound to be some regression next season as defenses figure out how to slow the Eagles down. He is a top-two pick no matter what.
3. Adrian Peterson, RB- It is hard to see Peterson down this list at No. 3 but this is the spot for him with a weak Vikings offense around him right now. His totals went down this season after the huge 2012 season. Third is a great spot to place him at this point.
4. Matt Forte, RB- The running back train continues with the Chicago rusher. The Bears appear to be on their way to having big offensive numbers in the next few years and Forte will benefit from that. He is a great pick for someone who doesn’t get one of the top three choices.
5. Marshawn Lynch, RB- Beast mode is truly in effect here for the Super Bowl champion. While there may be a Super Bowl hangover, I still expect to see Lynch’s numbers be good enough where he will be a top-five selection.
6. Peyton Manning, QB- There will be lots of people who think taking a quarterback in the first round is a bad idea. If he returns though, there will be a major chip on his shoulder to make the 2014 season another one for the record books. Pay the price and get Manning early.
7. Doug Martin, RB- Injuries derailed Martin in his sophomore year but with a new head coach in place and a healthy team around him, a big season is coming. He will be worth the first round pick before all is said and done.
8. Calvin Johnson, WR- The first wideout off the board comes here with Megatron. While the end of the Detroit season wasn’t the best with Johnson having a down year, I have to think he will want to get at least 110 catches in 2014.
9. Jimmy Graham, TE- It was a huge season for the big tight end in 2013. He may not be the happiest player in New Orleans when the season begins but he is still so much better than any other player at his position that the first round is warranted.
10. C.J. Spiller, RB- This is a definite wild card especially if he doesn’t get the carries he should be getting with the Bills. There will be a lot to watch when training camp does get started but Spiller is someone who will rebound to be in the first round.
Lynch is going to get suspended for the DUI. I would bump him down to the second round. Spiller in the 1st round is just funny but the other eight picks seem very good
As I mentioned Spiller is a wild card at No. 10. A classic boom or bust candidate. Only time will tell about him and what Lynch’s situation is.
I’m interested in your logic behind no Eddie Lacy, especially if someone is taking a flier on Spiller.
spiller at 10 give me a break lol. Why would you ever go “boom or bust” with your first round pick when you still got top 5 WRs and QBs up there. your takin CJ Spiller over brandon marshall aj green drew brees aaron rodgers??
You are entitled to your opinion on the Spiller pick. Rodgers is right behind Spiller on my board right now at 11. Brees’ value depends on Jimmy Graham and Marshall and Green are both second round picks that I wouldn’t take in round 1. All 2nd round picks but very good ones. I could be wrong on Spiller. I took him last year in the first round and got burned bad. Just believe he will stay healthy and earn that No. 10 spot in 2014.
I like the call for Spiller. Gotta take chances, throw some hay makers, if you’re going to draft the championship team.. no to make “conservative” champions out there.
Logic on Lacy is this. I believe Green Bay goes back to throwing the football more with a healthy Rodgers and that means decreased numbers for Lacy. He is an early to mid second round pick for me. He will have solid numbers and will likely get near the 1,000 yard mark but in my opinion I would take my chances on Spiller over Lacy.
I drafted Spiller in the first round and Rogers in the second and still won the league last year 12 man PPR