After participating in many mock drafts selecting at positions 1, 2 and 3, I have produced the strategy which I believe will result in the greatest chances of fantasy success. (All projected options are based off of my results from these mock drafts.)

Round 1

Projected Best Options – Arian Foster, Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Mike Vick.

Arian Foster is the most likely to succeed of these players and is currently seen as the safest pick. Peterson and Johnson both have rookie quarterbacks likely to start for them, so will see teams game plan more heavily to stop them and in some weeks will see a decline in production. If Mike Vick can stay healthy for all 16 regular season games, then he will most likely be the top scoring fantasy football player of 2011. Vick can produce running back type numbers as well as being able to throw to some of the most explosive wide receivers in the NFL. The gamble with Vick is that his running style is likely to result in injury and he will most likely only feature in 10-12 regular season games in 2011.

Recommended Option : RB

Rounds 2 and 3

Projected Best Options :

QBs-Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees

RBs- Matt Forte, LeGarrette Blount, Peyton Hillis, Felix Jones, Ahmad Bradshaw

WRs- Greg Jennings, DeSean Jackson, Mike Wallace, Miles Austin, Mike Williams

Due to your draft position you will end up with two picks very close to each other and then a long wait from this point on. Three of the NFL’s best quarterbacks should still be available for these selections, with Philip Rivers being the most likely to produce of the three quarterbacks after finishing the 2010 NFL season with over 4,000 yards for the third consecutive season. Matt Forte is the safest of the listed running backs, however if Blount can recapture his 2010 form then he could end up being the most productive. Hillis is the riskiest of the running back options after he showed signs of reduced production towards the end of the 2010 NFL season. He also has the Madden Curse to contend with. There should also be some top quality wide receivers available for the 2^nd and 3^rd round picks. This is due to the perception that the running back class is very shallow, so other fantasy owners will look to double up on the position early. Unless you fall in love with a particular running back here it may be a better option to take two elite receivers instead, especially if you are in a league which requires playing three wide receivers.

Recommended Option : WR – WR

Rounds 4 and 5

Projected Best Options :

QBs- Tony Romo, Matt Schaub, Matt Ryan

RBs- Ryan Mathews, Mark Ingram, Ryan Grant, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Beanie Wells

WRs- Chad Ochocinco, Santonio Holmes, Marques Colston, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Johnson

TEs- Jermichael Finley, Dallas Clark, Jason Witten

The quarterback class is very deep this year, so unless you have a stand-out favorite it may be better to wait until later to get one. The top running back options are beginning to run out, however because you are picking early in round 5 you should be able to still pick up at least one good contributor. The top wide receivers available from now are players who have only one or two good seasons under their belt. At least one of these is likely to bust, so a better option may be to wait and try and identify this year’s biggest surprises.

Some people see this as too early to select a tight end, however in the modern game tight ends can produce 1000 yards if in the right offense. One concern with two players at this position is that both were on injured reserve last year and may suffer a decline in productivity as a result. Witten has always been a consistent contributor.

Recommended Option: RB – RB

Rounds 6 and 7

Projected Best Options :

QBs- Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Freeman, Matthew Stafford

RBs- Fred Jackson, Mike Tolbert, Joseph Addai, Tim Hightower, Reggie Bush

WRs- Austin Collie, Julio Jones, Plaxico Burress, Sidney Rice, Kenny Britt

TEs- Owen Daniels, Jimmy Graham, Tony Gonzalez

This is the best time to begin looking at quarterbacks, however if you don’t like any of the best three available there are other decent options available in the later rounds. The running backs left are now underachievers, old or have never been given a decent chance to perform. Backs like Reggie Bush and Mike Tolbert are good selections as they will be hungry to prove that they should start in the NFL and they should seize any chance that they can get. The wide receivers available all have the potential to have a break out 2011 campaign, however it is uncertain which will and which will not perform to their abilities. The tight end class still has some potential starters left, so a better option may be to wait and take two very late round sleepers and play matchups.

Recommended Option: QB – WR

Rounds 8 and 9

Projected Best Options :

QBs- Eli Manning, Sam Bradford, Kevin Kolb, Joe Flacco

RBs- LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Bush, C.J. Spiller, James Starks

WRs- Mike Sims-Walker, A.J. Green, Mike Thomas, Hines Ward, Michael Crabtree

TEs- Marcedes Lewis, Rob Gronkowski                                                         

D/STs- Packers, Eagles, Jets, Ravens

The last of the starter quality tight ends should still be available, while the rest of the draft is now trying to pick up your sleepers at quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

Recommended Option: TE – Sleeper(RB)

Rounds 10 and 11

Projected Best Options:

QBs- Jay Cutler, Matt Cassel, Kyle Orton

RBs- Ryan Torain, Roy Helu, Danny Woodhead, Rashad Jennings, Thomas Jones, Ben Tate

WRs- Donald Driver, Steve Breaston, Steve Smith (PHI), Robert Meachem, Greg Little

TEs- Kellen Winslow, Zach Miller, Brent Celek

D/STs- Bears, 49ers

Recommended Option: Sleeper(WR) – Sleeper(QB)

Rounds 12 and 13

Projected Best Options:

QBs- Mark Sanchez, Colt McCoy, Cam Newton     

RBs- Montario Hardesty, Jerome Harrison, Javon Ringer, Donald Brown

WRs- Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Williams (SEA), Dexter McCluster, James Jones, Davone Bess

TEs- Brandon Pettigrew, Aaron Hernandez, Dustin Keller

D/STs- Saints, Lions, Giants, Chargers

Recommended Option: Sleeper(WR) – Sleeper(TE)

Rounds 14 and 15

Projected Best Options:

QBs- Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Tavaris Jackson, Blaine Gabbert      

RBs- Delone Carter, Mike Goodson, Darren Sproles, Leon Washington

WRs- Josh Cribbs, Torrey Smith, Darrius Heyward-Bey

TEs- Jeremy Shockey, Heath Miller, Kevin Boss

Ks- Alex Henery, Neil Rackers, Josh Brown, Garrett Hartley

D/STs- Falcons, Dolphins, Cardinals, Texans

I prefer to play matchups with my defense in an attempt to maximise points. This is why I chose to leave it until last, however if you choose to select a more elite defense earlier then there are still good sleeper options available in round 15 at quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

Recommended Option: Kicker – Defense

Potential Team :

QB Josh Freeman (6), RB Arian Foster (1), RB Ryan Mathews (4), FLEX Mark Ingram (5), WR Greg Jennings (2), WR Miles Austin (3), TE Rob Gronkowski (8), K Alex Henery (14) , D/ST Cardinals (15)

BN Julio Jones (7), BN LaDainian Tomlinson (9), BN Greg Little (10), BN Kyle Orton (11), BN Emmanuel Sanders (12), BN Brandon Pettigrew (13)