Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Consisting of 10 members of the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Staff, along with guest columnist’s from Fighting Chance Fantasy and The IDP Guru, our first of many Fantasy Football 2010 Mock Draft will be a 16-round affair based on a standard scoring league (Pass TDs - 4 points, All Other TDs - 6 points, 25 Yards Passing - 1 point, 10 Yards Rushing/Receiving - 1 point). Outside of having to field a starting line-up occupied by 1 QB, 2 RBs, 3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 K, and 1 D, owners are free to compile their rosters any way in which they pleased.

All commentary after each pick is provided by the Bruno Boys staff member who made that pick. The draft started on February 15,2010 and we will report round-by-round updates as they are available. Make sure to check back tomorrow for commentary on Round 6 of our Fantasy Football 2010 Mock Draft.

FEBRUARY MOCK DRAFT ROUND 5 RESULTS

5.01: Bruno Boys Matt - Tony Romo (Dal) — I absolutely despise Romo, but he was the best quarterback available and I was worried about not getting a top notch QB. I do like his high ceiling and I think the emergence of Miles Austin as a legitimate No.1, go to receiver is really going to do wonders for Romo and the Cowboys next season. As the first pick in Round 5, Romo is a great value because he should have no problems posting numbers similar to the QBs taken in the first and second rounds of this mock draft.

5.02: Bruno Boys Larry - Steve Slaton (Hou) — This may be a little early to take a chance, but sometimes fantasy football is won by taking chances. There were high expectations for Slaton heading into 2009. As a third round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, he was a virtual unknown heading into his rookie year, but by the seasons end he was a household fantasy football running back. There were high expectations for him heading into his sophomore season, but he had issues holding onto the ball and he did not perform up to the expectations of fantasy owners or the Houston Texans. He lost his starting job during the season, before he ended the year on injured reserve with a neck injury. I made this pick believing Slaton can return to the dual threat fantasy running back he was during his rookie season in 2008.

5.03: Bruno Boys Whooley - Steve Smith (NYG) — Smith isn’t a big play threat, averaging just 11.8 yards per catch in 2009, but when you haul in 107 passes, you don’t have to be to put up fantasy numbers. Establishing himself as Eli Manning’s go-to-guy, Smith racked up 1,220 yards and 7 TDs last season, making him the 11th best fantasy football wide out on the season. What fantasy owners should love in getting Smith is his consistency. Last season, the Giants’ wide out tallied five or less fantasy points just twice all year.

5.04: Bruno Boys Hallam - Dwayne Bowe (KC) — I was really considering another receiver here or a tight end, and after Anquan Boldin went off the board, Bowe was the last of what I felt were guys who had the chance of having a big time season.  With the breakout of Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs weren’t just a complete waste on offense anymore and if Matt Cassel continues to develop Bowe could be a high end WR2 or possibly a low end WR1.  Bowe is a big guy who is a great red zone target and as long as he stays healthy, he should have no trouble scoring six or seven touchdowns with a possibility for a few more.

5.05: Bruno Boys Jacob - Jason Witten (Dal) — At this point, there really isn’t a wrong pick. I’m not interested in reaching for a quarterback, and Bowe was probably the last true WR1 available. Witten offers safety at a position that is gaining depth but still has some unknowns. While I wouldn’t have minded waiting another round or two for Jermichael Finley, Owen Daniels, or Brent Celek, I’m happy that a proven TE is there for me in Round 5.

5.06: Bruno Boys Jimbo - Donovan McNabb (Phi) — In my opinion, Donovan McNabb is going nowhere. There’s been trade rumors circulating about him in recent weeks, but I think that’s all just talk. McNabb has a plethora or weapons in his arsenal. Grant it, he’s losing Brian Westbrook, but LeSean McCoy is a mirror image of Westbrook and should be fine to slip into that role. I think McNabb and the Eagles’ offense has another big year in 2010. Considering the available quarterbacks left with my fifth-round pick, I’ll take McNabb here.

5.07: Bruno Boys Allie - Mike Sims-Walker (Jax) — Sims-Walker was the second best thing about the Jags offense in 2009 behind MJD. He played well-above expectations catching 63 passes for 869 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. Following the release of Torry Holt, MSW enters the 2010 season as the Jags’ No. 1 receiver. Hopefully the Jags shore up the pass rush and find a solid receiver to start opposite him and take away some of the double coverage. If Sims-Walker builds on last season’s progress, stays healthy and makes bed checks, I think he’s good for 1,000+ receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. I like his upside and I like him as a WR2 pick in Round 5.

5.08: Bruno Boys Cory - LeSean McCoy (Phi) — I wanted to go with a wide receiver in this round but the options weren’t extremely tantalizing so I opted instead for Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy. The release of Brian Westbrook means McCoy is going to be the man in Philadelphia next season and I love his potential in that offense. At the very least this will also help cover myself if DeAngelo Williams yields even more carries to Jonathan Stewart.

5.09: Bruno Boys Kyle - Hines Ward (Pit) — I was all set to take LeSean McCoy with this pick, but Cory snatched him up in the spot right ahead of me. Such is life in fantasy football drafts. But I needed a receiver, and Ward offers stable production and a perfect No. 2 at this spot in the draft, so I have no complaints.

5.10: Bruno Boys IDP Guru - Donald Driver (GB) — I’m going to go with the safe selection here and take Driver to pair up with Aaron Rodgers. Driver has had six straight 1,000 yard seasons and is on one of the best offenses in the league. Look for his production to stay consistent in 2010.

5.11: Bruno Boys Greg - Wes Welker (NE) — Here is a perfect example of getting a great deal on a guy who suffered an injury last year. I considered taking Welker with my last pick due to the number of passes that get thrown his way. Although he is coming off the injury and doesn’t score a lot of touchdowns, he is Tom Brady’s favorite target and his numbers alone make him a stud. I feel that Welker will be fine by Week 1 of the season and would be a steal in the bottom Round 5.

5.12: Bruno Boys Cavigs - Michael Crabtree (SF) — Crabtree was one of the guys I targeted at the start of Round 5 and I’m ecstatic that the second year wide out fell to me. Despite missing five games due to a contract dispute, Crabtree was able to haul in 48 receptions as a rookie while showing signs of a star in the making. The San Francisco 49ers offense will run a spread formation this year, which should lead to Crabtree seeing an increase in targets and opportunity. Look for Crabtree to finish 2010 as a low-end WR2.

Round 5 Commentary from Bruno Boys Cavigs: In Round 5 we saw many teams address their needs at the wide receiver position. In a fantasy football league that starts three wide outs, getting your hands on WR2 that has upside is important and we saw seven teams do just that. Bruno Boys Whooley got things started by taking Steve Smith of the New York Giants. Smith started 2009 as a back-up receiver in New York and finished it with over 100 catches and a low end WR1 ranking. Smith will provide needed consistency on a weekly basis; however, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hakeem Nicks plays a bigger role in the offense in 2010.

With pick 5.04, Bruno Boys Hallam drafted the talented, and troublesome, Dwayne Bowe. If Bowe can stay out of head coach Todd Haley’s doghouse, and on the field, he should be able to produce quality numbers. The next two picks we saw Bruno Boys Jacob take tight end Jason Wittenat 5.05 and Bruno Boys Jimbo snag his quarterback in Donovan McNabb at 5.06. With the quarterbacks available getting thin, the pick of McNabb assured Bruno Boys Jimbo a top-10 quarterback in 2010. As for the Witten pick, I felt it was a round premature. Witten will likely finish as a top-5 tight end in 2010, but Bruno Boys Jacob could have taken a wide out in Round 5 and likely snagged Witten, or someone similar, in Round 6.

Despite a quick road bump at picks 5.05 and 5.06, Round 5 finished off with a run on wide receivers. Five of the last six picks were wide receivers and in my opinion each team did an excellent job of filling a void at their WR2. What I found interesting about each pick was the mix of new blood and old blood. Bruno Boys Allie and I went for the new blood in drafting Mike Sims-Walker and Michael Crabtree. Both receivers will enter the 2010 season under the age of 25 and are considered wide outs that can someday be superstars. With Sims-Walker being the only option on the outside in Jacksonville, I feel he should have no problem improving on his 63 reception and seven touchdown season. Same can be said about Crabtree, who has the tools to build on his 48 receptions from a year ago. Look for both wide receivers to disappear from time to time, but in the end finish off 2010 as WR2 options. When Bruno Boys Kyle and Bruno Boys IDP Guru drafted Hines Ward and Donald Driver they opted to go for old blood. Both of these ball catchers are over the age of 34; however, they are as consistent options as one can find. Driver has six straight 1,000 yard seasons and I like his chances of making it seven in a row. Ward get’s better with age should continue to build on what has been a great five-year stretch. Ward has 395 receptions and 37 touchdowns over his last 74 games (five years).

Finally, the biggest reach in Round 5 was the selection of Steve Slaton at 5.02. In 2009, Slaton was drafted as a low-end Round 1 draft choice; however, a 3.3 yard per carry average and five lost fumbles earned him a spot on the Houston Texans bench. On top of that, Slaton underwent off-season back surgery and is no guarantee to be ready for the start of training camp. With Houston having a mini-army full of running backs, there is no guarantee Slaton will enter the 2010 season as the primary ball carrier and this will be something to monitor throughout the pre-season. Obviously this selection was made on upside, and the third-year running back has a lot of it, but I feel that Slaton would have been available when Bruno Boys Larry selected in Round 6 or Round 7.

Past Rounds RECAP:  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12 |  13 | 14 |  15 |  16

Have an opinion on how the first round played out? If so, let us know!

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