I am mostly concerned with the skill positions (QB, RB, WR) when it comes to the NFL Draft because those are the players that will help your 2009 fantasy football rosters.  Here is my first look at the early declarers.

Running Backs
Glen Coffee, Alabama
6′1″, 198 Lbs.
1383 yards, 10 TDs

Coffee made a great leap in production in his Junior year averaging a robust 5.9 yards per carry.  He had five 100 yard games, including 218 against Kentucky.  Did not have a good showing on the ground in the Sugar Bowl (13 carries for 36 yards), but he had his most produtive contribution in the passing game (4 catches for 40 yards, TD).  Not a speedy back (4.53), he’ll likely fall into the 5th round or so.  He’d probably be better off returning to school.

Wide Receiver
Austin Collie, BYU
6′2″, 206 Lbs.
2008:  106 catches for 1538 yards, 15 TDs

Collie made great strides in his Junior year nearly doubling his Sophomore production.  He finished his career with a string of eleven straight 100 yard games.  He has six multiple TD in 2008.  Collie will have to improve his speed (4.56) to improve is draft stock.  He’ll likely go anywhere from the 2nd to the 4th round depending on that improvement.

Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
6′3″, 214 Lbs.
2008:  97 catches for 1165 yards, 19 TDs

How amazing is it that a 97 yards catch, 19 TD season could be looked as disappointing?  In 2007 though, Crabtree had 134 catches for 1962 yards, and 22 TDs.  Nobody is going to label the two-time Biletnikoff Award Winner a disappointment though.  Crabtree caught a TD pass in 21 of 25 games, including seven games with three and thirteen multiple TD games.  His speed (4.54) needs to improve, but there is little chance he isn’t an early first round pick.  He’ll likely be the first wideout taken.  Matt Millen is scheming to get in an NFL Front Office so he can be the one to make the pick.

Jeremy Machlin, Missouri
6′1″, 200 Lbs.
2008:  102 catches for 1260 yards, 9 TDs, 40 carries for 293 yards, 2 TDs

Machlin is very versatile rushing for 668 yards with 4 TDs in his two years with Missouri.  He wasn’t a bad receiver either catching 182 passes for 2315 yards and 22 TDs.  He went over 100 yards seven times last year.  Machlin possess incredible speed (4.38) that should propel him into the first round on this year’s draft.  He’ll be an instant boost to any teams return game, and depending on the situation could be a factor in the passing game right away.  

Previous Profiles
QB Josh Freeman, Kansas State
QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia
RB Shonn Green, Iowa
RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin
RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
RB Chris Wells, Ohio State
WR Kenny Britt, Rutgers
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland
WR Hakeem Nicks,  North Carolina