Two weeks later, we're still dumbfounded at how one can tank a draft, routinely strand 300 receiving points on the bench and be in ninth place with six weeks to go, yet somehow squeak out a third-place finish in the final week without the benefit of competent quarterback play or a dominating rushing performance.
Let's just say that there will always be a special place in our heart reserved for the Steelers defense and Lance Moore.
The 2008 NFL regular season offered many surprises -- some good (like Moore, who had 79 catches for 928 yards and 10 TDs nobody saw coming) and some bad (like Braylon Edwards, a top-20 pick who went from 80 catches for 1,289 yards and 16 TDs in 2007 to 80 drops, 61 receptions for 877 yards and 3 TDs in 2008).
Personally, we learned that:
1.) you will and should get laughed at for taking a tight end inside the first 20 picks
2.) a bad draft isn't always the death knell of the band
3.) Steve Smith and I go together like peas and carrots
4.) hitching your wagon to Tony "Mr. September" Romo isn't the wisest of strategies.
Looking ahead, here's a preview of the first round in 2009:
1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings -- There will always be injury concerns, but there isn't a more dangerous runner in the game. Peterson won this year's rushing title with 1,760 yards while scoring 10 touchdowns and averaging 4.8 yards per attempt. In two NFL seasons, the former Oklahoma star has rushed for 3,101 yards, 22 TDs and is averaging 5.2 yards per carry against defenses designed specifically to stop him. Imagine if he had a quarterback.
2. Michael Turner, RB, Falcons -- LaDainian Tomlinson's longtime understudy stepped into the spotlight and became a star in his first season as a featured back with the Falcons. Turner, who had a four-year career total of 1,257 rushing yards entering the season, rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns. We're sold.
3. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers -- The third-year pro finished third in the NFL in rushing with 1,515 yards, averaged 5.5 yards per carry and led the league with 20 TDs, 18 coming on the ground. And to think we already had Jason Witten, Torry Holt, Willie Parker, Earnest Graham, Nick Folk and Chris Chambers secured onto the roster before Williams was even drafted. Nice work.
4. Drew Brees, QB, Saints -- Everybody laughed at the guy in our league who threatened to draft Brees in the first round back in September. On Wednesday, Brees was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 5,069 yards -- just 15 shy of Dan Marino's 1984 record total -- and 34 TDs for New Orleans. More impressive is the fact that he did it with his top targets -- Marques Colston, Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey -- all missing significant time with injuries.
5. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers -- San Francisco coach Mike Singletary favors a run-first, run-second philosophy that promises Gore (1,036 yards, 6 TDs rushing in '08) will see as many carries as he can handle in 2009. Gore might even get the ball at the goal line with the game on the line instead of Michael Robinson.
6. Matt Forte, RB, Bears -- Forte, a second-round steal, was given the opportunity to be an every-down back as a rookie and the former Tulane standout capitalized by rushing for 1,231 yards and 8 TDs and catching 64 passes for 484 yards and 4 TDs. Think of a younger, healthier version of Brian Westbrook. Speaking of ...
7. Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles -- He'll miss a game or two every year and he'll be a game-time lineup decision every other week, but Westbrook will also give you close to 2,000 combined yards and 10 to 15 TDs.
8. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts -- Me: "Hi, I'd like to place an order for 4,000 yards and 30-plus TD passes, please."
Absolute Certainty: "Thank you, drive through."
9. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars -- Jones-Drew has averaged roughly 1,300 total yards and 13 TDs in each of his first three seasons, and Jacksonville's bowling ball with legs won't have to play nice and share the ball with Fred Taylor anymore.
10. Steve Slaton, RB, Texans -- Because of Tomlinson's mileage and mounting health issues, and with Chris Johnson losing goal-line carries to LenDale White in Tennessee, Slaton cracks our top 10. The 1,700 yards total yards and 10 TDs he delivered as a rookie didn't hurt, either.
Stu Rosenberg's fantasy sports column runs Fridays. He can be reached at srosenberg@modbee.com or 578-2300.
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