Mendenhall To Be Top RB?
March 1, 2008 at 7:23 pm | Article by Paul Hickey |
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Many of our sources believe Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall is the top running back prospect in the 2008 NFL Draft. While Arkansas’ Darren McFadden has held that title since officially declaring for the draft and likely will be selected in the top five in April, Mendenhall has the measureables and potential to be a better pro.
More… The Illinois back runs a lot like McFadden, with an uncanny shiftiness and ability to make defenders miss using one quick cut or slight body movement. He’s also a phenomenal receiver out of the backfield and at 5′11″, 210 lbs. scounts believe he has the physical ability to carry the full load for an NFL team. He rushed for 1,681 yards and 17 TDs in 2007 after backing up Pierre Thomas in 2006. Our sources also believe that Mendenhall’s performance at the combine could have some bearing on whether or not a team like Houston or Arizona goes after an RB like Michael Turner in free agency.
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Henne A Sleeper QB? - Like Mendenhall, our sources are extremely high on U-M QB Chad Henne. Despite a pretty average, injury-plagued senior season, scouts believe Henne has Tom Brady-like decision making ability and poise. They also believe his arm strength to be pretty darn solid. But is it solid enough to get him into the first round? Some scouts believe so. A team at the back end of the first round, like San Francisco or Green Bay could look his way, or a team at the beginning of the second round, like Baltimore, Atlanta or Kansas City could be a logical suitor. Henne is perhaps the most ready-to-play QB in this year’s draft, and we wouldn’t really be shocked if he’s on the fantasy radar heading into 2009. Deep dynasty league owners should definitely monitor him.
McFadden To Chiefs? - When Chiefs GM Carl Peterson recently told the media that he’d consider drafting Darren McFadden with the fifth overall pick, many folks shrugged off the comment, but our sources believe that there’s a strong possibility that McFadden could end up in Kansas City this year. Miami and St. Louis do not have a need for a running back and will not select him. Atlanta and Oakland both have a good reason to take him, but Atlanta also desperately needs a franchise QB - which could be Boston College’s Matt Ryan - and Oakland needs help at the defensive line position - which could be Virginia’s Chris Long or LSU’s Glenn Dorsey. Our sources believe that if McFadden is still available at number five, Peterson will absolutely snag McFadden and work him into a rotation with Larry Johnson. Brad Childress and Sean Payton have provided the blue print for working two backs together and new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has more than enough running plays in his repertoire to make both backs happy.
DeAngelo Hall To Stay In Atlanta - 24 year old cornerback DeAngelo Hall has not wanted to be a member of the Atlanta Falcons for the last few seasons. It all started with Jim Mora saying he wanted to be the head coach of the Washington Huskies, and getting fired following the 2006 season. The Bobby Petrino era didn’t help any, with the Michael Vick debacle and Petrino skipping town. Our sources tell us that when Hall met new head coach Mike Smith for the first time at the NFL Combine, he went in asking for a trade, but came out feeling pretty good about where he stands with the team. We’re told that Smith has a way with players, especially defenders, and that Hall could turn his attitude around this season and become a leader that the previously misguided Falcons desperately need.
Adams & White To Emerge - Soon to be 29 year old Greg White and second year pass rusher Gaines Adams are primed to emerge in 2008, according to our sources. Adams, the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, recorded six sacks last season in very limited playing time, while White racked up eight. With Kevin Carter and Greg Spires now off the roster, the DE jobs belong solely to Adams and White, and with massively improved tackle Jovan Haye eating up opposing offensive linemen, we expect each of the Tampa ends to rack up double digit sack totals in 2008.
2008 NFL Draft Sleeper Of The Year - You may not remember, but in 2006 we told you about a few future fantasy studs that were coming fresh out of the NFL Draft that year. Their names where Marques Colston, Greg Jennings and Maurice Jones-Drew. We already know who this year’s NFL Draft sleeper fantasy stud is going to be, and chance are you haven’t heard about him yet. He only caught a handful of balls in 2006, but racked up 75+ catches for more than 1,200 yards and eight TDs in 2007. At 6′2″, 215 lbs., he’s the perfect combination of size and speed and could be the next great physical fantasy WR. That’s right folks, Michigan State’s Devin Thomas looks like a bigger, taller and (after running a 4.34 forty at the combine) a faster version of Carolina’s Steve Smith. Any NFL team that takes him will want to get the ball in his hands. Our sources believe he has an amazingly high ceiling and should be an elite game breaker at the next level. We’re confident enough in this kid to recommend dynasty owners drafting prior to the NFL Draft to select him in the late second round.
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