2015 Draft Preview 2.0

I'm plugging Yahoo!'s preliminary 2015 ratings into the draft order, to see if that pulls up a more satisfying simulation. Obviously, this simulation only includes offensive players, but should still give a decent approximation of what the first five rounds might look like. Team by team breakdowns are listed in the second half of this blog, so you can see how your squad might shake out.



01. RB Le'Veon Bell (Hill Valley)
02. RB DeMarco Murray (Manitoba)
03. RB Jamaal Charles (Pawnee)
04. RB Eddie Lacy (Oniontown)
05. RB Marshawn Lynch (California)
06. WR Odell Beckham Jr (Oakwood)
07. WR Demaryius Thomas (HCM City)
08. WR Antonio Brown (Saskatoon)
09. WR Calvin Johnson (Toronto)
10. RB Matt Forte (Indiana)
11. WR Dez Bryant (South Park)
12. WR Julio Jones (M-Ville)
13. WR Jordy Nelson (Phoenix)
14. RB Arian Foster (New York) 
15. TE Rob Gronkowski (New York) 
16. RB Adrian Peterson (Phoenix)
17. WR AJ Green (M-Ville)
18. RB LeSean McCoy (South Park)
19. TE Jimmy Graham (Indiana)
20. RB Jeremy Hill (Toronto)
21. RB CJ Anderson (Saskatoon)
22. QB Andrew Luck (HCM City)
23. QB Aaron Rodgers (Oakwood)
24. WR Emmanuel Sanders (California)
25. QB Drew Brees (Oniontown)
26. WR Jeremy Maclin (Pawnee)
27. WR TY Hilton (Manitoba)
28. WR Kelvin Benjamin (Hill Valley)
29. WR Mike Evans (Hill Valley)
30. QB Ben Roethlisberger (Manitoba)
31. QB Tom Brady (Pawnee)
32. RB Lamar Miller (Oniontown)
33. QB Russell Wilson (California)
34. WR Alshon Jeffery (Oakwood)
35. WR Randall Cobb (HCM City)
36. QB Peyton Manning (Saskatoon)
37. WR Brandon Marshall (Toronto)
38. RB Melvin Gordon (Indiana)
39. RB Carlos Hyde (South Park)
40. QB Matt Ryan (M-Ville)
41. RB Alfred Morris (Phoenix)
42. WR Sammy Watkins (New York) 
43. WR Martavis Bryan (New York) 
44. WR DeSean Jackson (Phoenix)
45. WR DeAndre Hopkins (M-Ville)
46. WR Golden Tate (South Park)
47. RB Andre Ellington (Indiana)
48. RB Latavius Murray (Toronto)
49. RB Joique Bell (Saskatoon)
50. WR Josh Gordon (HCM City)
51. RB Mark Ingram (Oakwood)
52. WR Jordan Matthews (California)
53. WR Kenny Stills (Oniontown)
54. WR Brandin Cooks (Pawnee)
55. WR Mike Wallace (Manitoba)
56. QB Eli Manning (Hill Valley)
57. RB Giovani Bernard (Hill Valley)
58. RB Justin Forsett (Manitoba)
59. RB Rashad Jennings (Pawnee)
60. TE Antonio Gates (Oniontown)
61. RB Tre Mason (California)
62. TE Julius Thomas (Oakwood)
63. RB Jonathan Stewart (HCM City)
64. TE Martellus Bennett (Saskatoon)
65. QB Tony Romo (Toronto)
66. QB Cam Newton (Indiana)
67. TE Greg Olsen (South Park)
68. RB Terrance West (M-Ville)
69. QB Matthew Stafford (Phoenix)
70. QB Philip Rivers (New York) 

Team by Team breakdowns:

01. RB Le'Veon Bell (Hill Valley)
28. WR Kelvin Benjamin (Hill Valley)
29. WR Mike Evans (Hill Valley)
56. QB Eli Manning (Hill Valley)
57. RB Giovani Bernard (Hill Valley)

02. RB DeMarco Murray (Manitoba)
27. WR TY Hilton (Manitoba)
30. QB Ben Roethlisberger (Manitoba)
55. WR Mike Wallace (Manitoba)
58. RB Justin Forsett (Manitoba)


03. RB Jamaal Charles (Pawnee)
26. WR Jeremy Maclin (Pawnee)
31. QB Tom Brady (Pawnee)
54. WR Brandin Cooks (Pawnee)
59. RB Rashad Jennings (Pawnee)

04. RB Eddie Lacy (Oniontown)
25. QB Drew Brees (Oniontown)
32. RB Lamar Miller (Oniontown)
53. WR Kenny Stills (Oniontown)
60. TE Antonio Gates (Oniontown)


05. RB Marshawn Lynch (California)
24. WR Emmanuel Sanders (California)
33. QB Russell Wilson (California)
52. WR Jordan Matthews (California)
61. RB Tre Mason (California)

06. WR Odell Beckham Jr (Oakwood)
23. QB Aaron Rodgers (Oakwood)
34. WR Alshon Jeffery (Oakwood)
51. RB Mark Ingram (Oakwood)
62. TE Julius Thomas (Oakwood)

07. WR Demaryius Thomas (HCM City)
22. QB Andrew Luck (HCM City)
35. WR Randall Cobb (HCM City)
50. WR Josh Gordon (HCM City)
63. RB Jonathan Stewart (HCM City)

08. WR Antonio Brown (Saskatoon)
21. RB CJ Anderson (Saskatoon)
36. QB Peyton Manning (Saskatoon)
49. RB Joique Bell (Saskatoon)
64. TE Martellus Bennett (Saskatoon)

09. WR Calvin Johnson (Toronto)
20. RB Jeremy Hill (Toronto)
37. WR Brandon Marshall (Toronto)
48. RB Latavius Murray (Toronto)
65. QB Tony Romo (Toronto)

10. RB Matt Forte (Indiana)
19. TE Jimmy Graham (Indiana)
38. RB Melvin Gordon (Indiana)
47. RB Andre Ellington (Indiana)
66. QB Cam Newton (Indiana)

11. WR Dez Bryant (South Park)
18. RB LeSean McCoy (South Park)
39. RB Carlos Hyde (South Park)
46. WR Golden Tate (South Park)
67. TE Greg Olsen (South Park)


12. WR Julio Jones (M-Ville)
17. WR AJ Green (M-Ville)
40. QB Matt Ryan (M-Ville)
45. WR DeAndre Hopkins (M-Ville)
68. RB Terrance West (M-Ville)

13. WR Jordy Nelson (Phoenix)
16. RB Adrian Peterson (Phoenix)
41. RB Alfred Morris (Phoenix)
44. WR DeSean Jackson (Phoenix)
69. QB Matthew Stafford (Phoenix)


14. RB Arian Foster (New York) 
15. TE Rob Gronkowski (New York) 
42. WR Sammy Watkins (New York) 
43. WR Martavis Bryan (New York) 
70. QB Philip Rivers (New York)

2015 Draft Preview

The 2015 draft order is set!

01. Hill Valley (Mike Verrino)
02. Manitoba (Marty Sheehy)
03. Pawnee (Pete Allegretta)
04. Oniontown (Vince Milillo)
05. California (Jason Kalmer)
06. Oakwood (Tom Acquisto)
07. HCM City (Peter Persampieri)
08. Saskatoon (Kevin Stabe)
09. Toronto (Stu Ferguson)
10. Indiana (Ajay Patel)
11. South Park (Mike Hart)
12. Margaritaville (Steve Grimes)
13. Phoenix (Kevin Grimes)
14. New York (Tom Grimes)

If we plug in the league's top scorers (and do not allow for teams to pick two QBs) we can mock out the first two rounds. A lot will change between then and now, and draft strategies should not stick to the previous year's points... but just for the hell of it:


01. RB Le'Veon Bell 353 (Hill Valley)
02. RB DeMarco Murray 348 (Manitoba)
03. QB Aaron Rodgers 338 (Pawnee)
04. WR Antonio Brown 333 (Oniontown)
05. QB Andrew Luck 324 (California)
06. RB Matt Forte 318 (Oakwood)
07. QB Peyton Manning 307 (HCM City)
08. RB Marshawn Lynch 297 (Saskatoon)
09. DE JJ Watt 295 (Toronto)
10. QB Russell Wilson 295 (Indiana)
11. QB Ben Roethlisberger 288 (South Park)
12. WR Demaryius Thomas 287 (M-Ville)
13. QB Drew Brees 283 (Phoenix)
14. WR Jordy Nelson 279 (New York) 
15. WR Dez Bryant 273 (New York) 
16. RB Arian Foster 272 (Phoenix)
17. QB Tom Brady (M-Ville)
18. RB Eddie Lacy 266 (South Park)
19. WR Odell Beckham Jr 257 (Indiana)
20. QB Matt Ryan 258 (Toronto)
21. WR Emmanuel Sanders 254 (Saskatoon)
22. WR Randall Cobb 251 (HCM City)
23. QB Joe Flacco 251 (Oakwood)
24. WR Julio Jones 250 (California)
25. QB Ryan Tannehill 249 (Oniontown)
26. WR Jeremy Maclin 245 (Pawnee)
27. QB Tony Romo 247 (Manitoba)
28. QB Eli Manning 244 (Hill Valley)

2014 Season MVPs

The 2014 season saw standout performances on a weekly basis; While many players ebbed and flowed, stars shining brightly for an instant before burning out, some players withstood the test of time and defined their team's season. These are those players:

Offensive MVP: RB Le'Veon Bell, HCM Lead Farmers (339.2)

The Lead Farmers did not experience much success this season, but they did hand eventual champion NYF their final loss of the season, a 65 point shellacking in week 11. Le'Veon had some truly monstrous performances, and not a single dud on the year. He's put himself on the short list for top pick in 2015: versatile and durable, he is the year's top scorer.




Defensive MVP: DL JJ Watt, Phoenix Uprising (265.85)

Three years in a row Watt has been the league's biggest positional asset, and his value has been proven by three years of playing in the league's biggest game. After getting drafted by M-Ville with the 31st overall pick, Watt was traded to the Uprising before week eight, and continued his era of terror. The highest scoring IDP in 2012 and 2014, he finished within a point of the title in 2013 as well.




List of Team MVPs:
(Must have played at least nine games and finished the season with the team)

Saskatoon Sasquatch: RB Justin Forsett (225.6)
Picked up off the wire before week two, Forsett was a revelation at tailback for a moribund Sasquatch squad. He provided solid numbers all year, one of the few bright spots for 2-11 team.
HCM City Lead Farmers: RB Le'Veon Bell (339.2)
Drafted in the second round, he formed the best one-two punch in the league, along with Eddie Lacy. What surprised is that he was the knockout.
Oakwood Drivers: WR Golden Tate (205.6)
The fourth pick in the seventh round provided WR1 returns, a silver lining for Oakwood's talent deprived team. He might not approach these heights again, but he's proven himself reliable.
California Swag: QB Tom Brady (265.26)
Back where he won it all in 2012, 3rd round pick Brady couldn't lead the Swag an a playoff run, but it wasn't for a lack of trying: A pedestrian first month segued into MVP numbers the rest of the way.
Hill Valley McFlys: WR Julio Jones (242.7)
What might have been? The McFly's second round pick was dominant, while the rest of the talented WR corps (AJ Green and Josh Gordon) struggled to get on the field.
Manitoba Moosecrew: TE Rob Gronkowski (225.4)
The MooseCrew had All-Larkspur WRs Demaryius Thomas and Jordy Nelson split and flanker, but 4th round pick GRONK was the biggest mismatch for opponents.
Oniontown Massacre: QB Andrew Luck (310.64)
Don't call it Luck: The second rounder ended up number two in QB rankings, just a shade back from the top slot. He still has not reached his potential, either.
Pawnee Pride: QB Aaron Rodgers (313.3)
After being swiped in the second, the third selected QB ended up first at the end of the year. He came over from Indiana in a blockbuster, and was the catalyst for their winning season.
Indiana Turbanators: WR Mike Evans (201.2)
Drafting the rookie in the seventh was smart, holding on to him was smarter; Evans blossomed mid season and helped cement the Turbanator's playoff run. His size and speed promise a bright future.
Manhattanville Parrots: WR Odell Beckham Jr (226.88)
NYF drafted ODB in the 13th round, but dropped him when he missed a month due to injury. The Parrots added him for free, and saw him quickly become the league's premier playmaker.
Toronto Les Tres Petites: RB DeMarco Murray (327.7)
Murray dropped to the second round, due to his inevitable injury. When that never happened, he was the obvious MVP, scoring the second most points in the league and returning LTP to the playoffs.
New York's Finest: LB DeAndre Levy (196.15)
Any championship is going to feature several key guys, but under heralded Levy, drafted in the 10th, was the key. He led all linebackers in scoring with a combination of tackles amassed and playmaking.
South Park Cows: WR Antonio Brown (301.8)
The league's number one WR probably wont go in the second round again. He was #2 by a point in 2013, so this was no fluke. On a great team, Antonio Brown was the greatest.
Phoenix Uprising: LB Lavonte David (188.0)
With Watt elsewhere for 8 games, David was instrumental in the Uprising's dash for silver. Drafted in the 6th, he and 8th round S Harrison Smith gave the Uprising MVPs at all three levels on D.

New York's Finest are Larkspur Bowl Champions

New York made the 2009 Larkspur Bowl, but lost to the Orgrimmar Horde. They then spent half a decade trying to avenge their loss. And now they have, soundly defeating the Phoenix Uprising and capturing their first league championship.

#3 New York's Finest (179.49)
defeated
#1 Phoenix Uprising (146.47)
RECAP

Week 16

• New York's Finest
• 9-4
• Weekly Grade: B
• 179.49

• Phoenix Uprising
• 10-3
• Weekly Grade: C
• 146.47

Marshawn Lynch put up 22.30 points and Randall Cobb scored 19.15 as New York's Finest got past Phoenix Uprising, 179.49 to 146.47. New York's Finest has been a powerhouse and has now won five straight. This makes it two in a row for New York's Finest against Phoenix Uprising. Their last matchup was a 194.91 to 166.48 win in Week 12. Phoenix Uprising concluded the regular season in first place with a record of 10-3. They also ranked first in the league with 187.69 points per game. In their only other postseason game of the season, Phoenix Uprising defeated Margaritaville PH, 203.40 to 190.88.

Top Players

• • Marshawn Lynch
  • 22.30
 
• • Arian Foster
  • 19.20
 
• • Randall Cobb
  • 19.15
 
• • Jason Witten
  • 18.50

Smooth Moves by New York's Finest

• Marshawn Lynch led the matchup in scoring with 22.30 points against a projected 13.97 and has now overachieved in three straight games.
• You see what happens when you keep the laces out? Shaun Suisham scored 8.00 points, the highest K score in the league this week.
• Look, there in the sky. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's just Randall Cobb posterizing opponents. He had the sixth-highest score of any WR in the league this week with 19.15 points.
• Jason Witten had the second-highest TE score in the league this week with 18.50 points.
• Doug Baldwin scored 15.80 points, the 10th-highest WR score in the league this week.

Toyota Roster Tune-up

• After that performance, we have to wonder if Phoenix Uprising cares about becoming a Hall Of Famer at all. That's right, you're being judged by an online recap. 
• Left Jordan Cameron on the bench, where he scored 16.30 points to beat his scoring projection by 198.0%, the fifth-highest percentage in the league.
• It may be time to hire a new scouting director. Despite just picking up Stephon Gilmore, he had the lowest scoring output in the matchup with 1.00 point. This was 12.0% of his scoring projection, worst in the league.
• 13 of the starters on Phoenix Uprising underperformed versus their projections.
• Phoenix Uprising could have used more points from the TE position, where New York's Finest beat them 18.50 - 5.10.

What If

• New York's Finest would be 6-9 if they played Phoenix Uprising every week.
• Besides Phoenix Uprising, New York's Finest would have defeated four other teams this week.
• New York's Finest would be 5-8 if they played the same schedule as Phoenix Uprising.
• If New York's Finest had played every team in the league each week, they would be 106-88.
• Phoenix Uprising would have lost to four other teams besides New York's Finest this week.
• And they say procrastination doesn't pay off! Had they played each other last week, New York's Finest would have lost to Phoenix Uprising 203.40 - 175.25.
• If they played the same schedule as New York's Finest, Phoenix Uprising would be 9-4.
• Phoenix Uprising would be 135-52 if they played every team every week.

Game Notes

• Maybe the league is colluding against them. All four of the losses for Phoenix Uprising this season have come when their opponent scores higher than their season average.
• New York's Finest had the week's largest margin of victory (33.02 points) for the second time this season.
• New York's Finest underachieved for the 13th time this season, including the last nine weeks in a row, scoring 179.49 points against a projected 196.89 this week.
• Not going to name names, but some people here aren't pulling their weight. Forget it, Peyton Manning needs to step it up! He scored 7.64 points against a projected 19.12 in the win, and has now scored below his projection in four straight games.
• They may need to check dentals records to identify this victim. Phoenix Uprising had their worst loss of the season, losing by 33.02 points.
• New York's Finest has now won five games in a row.
• With 28.50 points, Phoenix Uprising got the lowest combined scoring output from the WR position for any team this week.
• New York's Finest had the third-highest score in the league this week with 179.49 points.

The Larkspur Bowl: Final Countdown

As the game chugged toward conclusion, New York looked to have victory in its grasp, and it was just a matter of time before a new champion was crowned. Then rumors of QB Peyton Manning sitting out were sounded. Then RB Marshawn Lynch misses most of the first half with an upset stomach. It was as if the universe was aligning to give Phoenix its fourth Larkspur Bowl...

Well, so much for that.




#1 Phoenix Uprising vs #3 New York's Finest
Current Score: NYF 171.85 over PHX 143.47
Live Projection: NYF 190.98 over PHX 153.5


RB Marshawn Lynch put the game out of reach, scoring two TDs, the latter of the 79 yard bowling ball highlight reel variety, the culmination of a night good for 22.3 points. WR Doug Baldwin scored 15.8, more than any Uprising wide receiver could manage on the big day. QB Peyton Manning still has to weigh in, but the game has been decided. Even a monster game from kicker Connor Barth would only make things more respectable, not contentious. For what it's worth, Barth has outscored Manning 44.5 to 27.6 over the last three games- Barth's only three games this season.

The Larkspur Bowl: Fourth Quarter

There are four players still active in the final matchup; Or there would be if Marshawn Lynch wasn't inexplicably suffering an upset stomach on the biggest night of the Larkspur Season.

#1 Phoenix Uprising vs #3 New York's Finest

Current Score: PHX 144.97 over NYF 132.75
Live Projection: NYF 168.82 over PHX 155.03

New York's Finest can do away with whatever drama is left by taking the lead tonight. They'll rely on RB Marshawn Lynch and WR Doug Baldwin to combine for some measure of double digits, and then give the ball to Peyton Manning to close it out. While New York has a high win probability, they will still need to score the points to take the lead and finish things. Assuming Beast Mode enters the game with even a modicum of health, he has scored double digit points in eleven of fourteen games, including seven in a row. 

The Larkspur Bowl: Gameday

After a reasonable effort from Anquan Boldin, the Uprising had an 12.1 point lead to open the day. With most of the action early we have seen a few outstanding performances amongst a sea of mediocre- and worse. Lets take a look at the early returns:

#1 Phoenix Uprising vs #3 New York's Finest
Live Projections: NYF 171.58 over PHX 161.41

MVP Candidates:
For Phoenix, the only two players that have had truly championship caliber days are DE JJ Watt (19.5) and RB Arian Foster (19.2) while S Harrison Smith did his part (14.55) as well. New York's Randall Cobb had a big game (19.15), while DB Desmond Trufant, a castoff from the Uprising, gave the Finest his finest (13.5) effort. No player has been able to rise up and clinch the game for either team yet- Phoenix has another half from LB Alec Ogletree and CB Stephon Gilmore, and has to hope they can make some plays, because New York is back just twenty points and still has QB Peyton Manning and RB Marshawn Lynch yet to play, along with WR Doug Baldwin and another half from S Barry Church and TE Jason Witten. The final player active in the matchup is Uprising kicker Connor Barth.

Disappointments:

There have been several notable busts on both sides of the ball: NY's veteran RB Steven Jackson left the game after just five touches, with a quad injury, and could only put up 3.2 before his departure. For Phoenix, QB Drew Brees imploded under the bright lights, turning the ball over three times, getting sacked five times, and finishing with just 5.82. WR Eric Decker was a non-factor, scoring 3.1, while WR Charles Johnson and TE Travis Kelce scored 5.3 and 5.1 respectively.

What might have been:

Which ever team loses will have some obvious regrets; New York wasted a 20.4 score from WR Eddie Royal, leaving him on the bench. Phoenix could have used Karlos Dansby's 11.0 where Avery Williamson scored 2.5 and TE Jordan Cameron went off for 16.3 that will remain underutilized.

The Larkspur Bowl: First Quarter

It was hardly an auspicious start for the defending champions, who stumbled out of the gate, expending their first player LB Avery Williamson, and netting only 2.5 points. It brings the live projection very close:

#1 Phoenix Uprising vs #3 New York's Finest
Live Projections: PHX 202.78 over NYF 196.88

The Larkspur Bowl should see some early action Saturday, as three players are currently rostered between the two teams. Phoenix has to hope they can recoup some of their initial failures, and will depend on WR Anquan Boldin to reestablish their advantage. Boldin started his year with his opponent, New York, where he was a dependable possession WR. Following the Uprising's acquisition of JJ Watt, they moved RB Trent Richardson to help replace dismissed Brandon Marshall; In Boldin's first four games with his new team, he scored 70.8 points, hearkening back to his prime. However, in the past three games, he's only mustered 14.5 in three tough matchups, including his two worst games of the season, twin 3.3's. His degree of difficulty is merely average this week- he'll need to transcend it to restore the Uprising's early confidence.

On the other side of the ball, it appears that New York will once again wait on its haunches, instituting a rope-a-dope policy and unleashing their main salvo on Sunday. LB Perry Riley and WR Eddie Royal will both be playing Saturday, but it remains unlikely that either hears their number called by the Finest for the big dance. Riley spent some time with the Hill Valley McFlys this season, while Eddie Royal made some early noise, (mostly for the Indiana Turbanators) before settling into an auxiliary role. While they have yet to deploy any weapons yet, the Finest do have the final strike capabilities, as number one overall pick Peyton Manning will play on Monday, along with the Uprising's kicker, Connor Barth.

The Larkspur Bowl: Kickoff

The Larkspur Bowl kicksoff tonight, and both rosters have players going:

#1 Phoenix Uprising vs #3 New York's Finest
Original Projection: PHX 208.80 over NYF 196.88

For the Phoenix Uprising that player is linebacker Avery Williamson.
The fifth round of the NFL draft might have uncovered three diamonds in the rough already: Telvin Smith (Indiana Turbanators), Devon Kennard (Hill Valley McFlys) and Avery Williamson. After a couple of weeks of inactivity, Williamson eased into the rotation, and then broke out in week five and has blossomed into an every down player since. He's been reliable but has not made a ton of noise in recent weeks: With a plum matchup, the Uprising hope Williamson sets the tone early for their title defense.

On the other side of the ball, New York's Finest has WR Allen Hurns, who is expected to be inactive; Hurns has bounced around a lot this year: The Oakwood Drivers added him early after a monster week one, and then he was moved in a few trades: Notably from the Pawnee Pride to the Margaritaville Parrots, and then from there to New York's Finest. He had another monster week nine, and a few other flashes, but has not shown himself to be a reliable weapon, and won't see the field in tonight.

Previewing the 2015 Draft Order

We've got one more week of games before we officially shift our focus to 2015.
Here's how the draft order is shaping up:

01. Hill Valley vs Manitoba Victor
02. (Loser from above)
03. Pawnee vs Oniontown Victor
04. (Loser from above)
05. California Swag
06. Oakwood Drivers
07. HCM City Lead Farmers
08. Saskatoon Sasquatch
09. Toronto Les Tres Petites
10. Indiana Turbanators
11. Margaritaville vs South Park Victor
12. (Loser from above)
13. (Loser from below)
14. Phoenix vs New York Victor

While Phoenix and New York are playing for the trophy, all four matchups will have long term implications. If you think don't give draft order much prominence, reconsider this past year's draft:

Round 1
1.	Peyton Manning(Den - QB)	New York's F...
2.	Jamaal Charles(KC - RB)	Oniontown Ma...
3.	LeSean McCoy(Phi - RB)	Margaritavil...
4.	Adrian Peterson(Min - RB)	OAKWOOD DRIVER
5.	Matt Forte(Chi - RB)	South Park Cows
6.	Eddie Lacy(GB - RB)	HoChiMinhLea...
7.	Marshawn Lynch(Sea - RB)	Saskatoon Sa...
8.	Calvin Johnson(Det - WR)	Pawnee Pride
9.	Jimmy Graham(NO - TE)	California Swag
10.	Demaryius Thomas(Den - WR)	Manitoba Moo...
11.	Montee Ball(Den - RB)	Indiana Turb...
12.	Dez Bryant(Dal - WR)	Les Tres Pet...
13.	A.J. Green(Cin - WR)	Hill Valley ...
14.	Drew Brees(NO - QB)	Phoenix Upri...

The first pick and the last pick are now meeting in the finals a year later- while their bookended picks aren't the only reason, it's not a coincidence, either. They also were the only two teams to select QBs in the first round, giving themselves a solid foundation at the league's most important position. The rest of the first round featured only two unmitigated busts: RB Montee Ball (ineffectiveness and injury) and RB Adrian Peterson (suspended indefinitely after week one) and while the twelve remaining picks all delivered useful lines, their teams definitely waxed and waned on their effectiveness. The two sandwich picks, Marshawn Lynch and Calvin Johnson were both traded mid season, with middling results. A first round pick defines who your team is, at least up until some of your later picks are able to develop into flagship entities. Don't underestimate the vitality of your marquee selection.