Mock Draft Central has run five expert mock drafts for the 2008 fantasy football season. Fake Teams particpated in the final one on Monday night (August 18th). The first was held on April 28th. What I wanted to do was compare the first and last expert draft and determine which way the most intense fantasy football winds were blowing when it comes to fantasy football draft thinking.
A look at the Top 20 Decliners shows 16 RBs with Green Bay Packers' RB Ryan Grant falling from the 6th overall selection to the end of the 2nd round at #22. Oakland Raiders' Rb Darren McFadden fell from the mid-second round to the 1st selection in the 6th. Did either of these backs deserve that kind of disrespect? As a matter of fact, why so many RBs declining so much?
Taking a look at the Top 20 Improvers shows hints at what was going on. 11 of these players were WRs, 3 were TEs and two were QBs. That coincidentally equals 16. Apparently, what the running game lost was made-up in a greater emphasis on the passing game. This makes some sense given the proliferation of RBBC, but why wouldn't the late April experts know this? That is a question I can't answer.
Top Decliners:
| POS | Player | 1st Expert Draft | Last Expert Draft | %Change |
| RB | Grant Ryan | 6 | 22 | -266.67 |
| RB | McFadden Darren | 17 | 61 | -258.82 |
| RB | Jones Julius | 41 | 105 | -156.1 |
| RB | Stewart Jonathan | 38 | 94 | -147.37 |
| RB | Brown Ronnie | 10 | 24 | -140 |
| RB | Johnson Rudi | 36 | 80 | -122.22 |
| RB | Taylor Fred | 46 | 96 | -108.7 |
| QB | Bulger Marc | 63 | 130 | -106.35 |
| RB | Jackson Steven | 4 | 8 | -100 |
| RB | Maroney Laurence | 19 | 35 | -84.21 |
| RB | Parker Willie | 39 | 62 | -58.97 |
| RB | Green Ahman | 84 | 131 | -55.95 |
| RB | Mendenhall Rashard | 58 | 90 | -55.17 |
| WR | Porter Jerry | 93 | 142 | -52.69 |
| QB | Hasselbeck Matt | 70 | 104 | -48.57 |
| RB | Jacobs Brandon | 20 | 29 | -45 |
| RB | Lewis Jamal | 23 | 32 | -39.13 |
| RB | Jones Kevin | 105 | 145 | -38.1 |
| RB | Johnson Larry | 12 | 16 | -33.33 |
| TE | Smith L.J | 120 | 160 | -33.33 |
Top Improvers:
| POS | Player | 1st Expert Draft | Last Expert Draft | %Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Brees Drew | 44 | 31 | 29.55 |
| TE | Shockey Jeremy | 103 | 72 | 30.1 |
| WR | Jackson Vincent | 96 | 67 | 30.21 |
| WR | Bowe Dwayne | 74 | 51 | 31.08 |
| TE | Daniels Owen | 131 | 88 | 32.82 |
| RB | Gore Frank | 9 | 6 | 33.33 |
| RB | Johnson Chris | 143 | 95 | 33.57 |
| TE | Witten Jason | 64 | 42 | 34.38 |
| WR | Johnson Andre | 29 | 19 | 34.48 |
| WR | Houshmandzadeh T.J | 22 | 14 | 36.36 |
| WR | Gaffney Jabar | 177 | 112 | 36.72 |
| WR | Chambers Chris | 76 | 48 | 36.84 |
| QB | Brady Tom | 8 | 5 | 37.5 |
| RB | Rice Ray | 161 | 99 | 38.51 |
| WR | Fitzgerald Larry | 26 | 15 | 42.31 |
| WR | Wayne Reggie | 21 | 12 | 42.86 |
| DEF | San Diego Chargers | 149 | 85 | 42.95 |
| WR | Moss Randy | 13 | 7 | 46.15 |
| WR | Colston Marques | 34 | 18 | 47.06 |
| RB | Williams Ricky | 107 | 55 | 48.6 |