The New Number 1 Pick

Fantasy football season is fast approaching. For football fans, this is the most natural extension to help you enjoy the season even more. Having players to root for on teams other than your home team definitely adds to the excitement of watching the random nationally televised games that previously held little interest for us.

Having said that, who is this year's number one pick? Last year, you were crazy not to take LaDanian Tomlinson. The year before, Peyton Manning was the one gobbled up by all those lucky enough to pick first. Who will it be this year? Here are a few options and what I think of their chances to be the consensus number 1.

LaDanian Tomlinson
The chargers are starting the season with a new coach and a new philosophy so you might be wary of him this year. Consider this though; what better way to get your regime off to a great start than to get the ball into the hands of the game's best player as often as possible? I can't think of a better way to "not get fired" than that.

Stephen Jackson
I agree that you probably shouldn't use your first pick on him, but I believe that by the end of this season you will wish you had. If you get him in the middle of the first round, you are getting a steal. He is the main goal line threat for the rams, plus he catches a ton of passes out of the backfield. Last year he was still growing into his role but if the last few games of the season are any indication, he is going to have a huge year.

Peyton Manning
Nothing new to report here. He will have a big year as usual and will be very worthy of this pick, even if it means giving up on getting a big name RB in the first round. If you don't have the first pick and he slides to you, you'd be silly to pass him up. He has proven to be a fantasy fortune for whoever has had him the last few years.

Drew Brees
I know, I know, having two QBs on this list is ridiculous, but seriously, what other running backs can you count on to have the kind of year that Drew Brees is expected to have? The Saints schedule reads like a who's who of arena league dropouts. They have everyone back except an aging Joe Horn. Plus a Reggie Bush with a year under his belt, can't hurt. The future couldn't be brighter.

So who would I take? If I am blessed to have the first pick in one of my leagues I will be taking LT. He's the best player on one of the best teams and in a situation with a new coach who will get him the ball often. It just shapes up to be a huge year for him.