Did you know that Randy Moss was the first player ever taken in Robioland Football?
The first-round doesn’t decide a championship, but it sure will help you become on. Let’s take a look back at everyone’s first round picks and see who nailed it and who blew the pooch.
Note: The asterisk means keeper.
ROBIO
Overall, not too bad. No major busts. Since 2001, I’ve taken or kept nine running backs and I’ve only kept a player 25% of the time in round one. Every player I took finished in the top-25 at their position. Nine of my 12 first-round picks would be considered RB1/WR1/QB1, although a shocking seven of my first round players did not finish the season as starters on my team (two were traded away). I’ve produced two 1st team All-Robio running backs and a second team running back. My best pick would probably be Priest Holmes in 2002, but he failed to finish the season due to injury.
2001 – Lamar Smith, RB MIA – Rank: #20 2002 – Priest Holmes, RB KC – Rank: #1 2003 – Travis Henry, RB BUF – Rank: #12 2004 – Fred Taylor, RB JAC* – Rank: #15 2005 – Peyton Manning, QB IND – Rank: #2 2006 – Rudi Johnson, RB CIN – Rank: #10 2007 – Chad Johnson, WR CIN – Rank: #5 2008 – Brian Westbrook, RB PHI* – Rank: #10 2009 – Marion Barber III, RB DAL – Rank: #25 2010 – Adrian Peterson, RB MIN – Rank: #2 2011 – Adrian Peterson, RB MIN* – Rank: #7 2012 – Roddy White, WR ATL – Rank: #9
GRIFF
Griff’s had just two guys, Shaun Alexander and Steven Jackson occupy seven of his 12 first round picks. He rode Alexander during his peak years (three top-seven finishes) before he burned out in 2006. Two years late he landed Steven Jackson for three straight drafts. When he took Philip Rivers in the first in 2010, that ended a eight-year running back run. Overall, Griff’s had great success in round one. His only rough patch was between 2006-2008 when his three running backs finished 33rd, 41st and 20th among all backs.
2001 – Jeff Garcia, QB SF – Rank: #2 2002 – Terrell Owens, WR SF – Rank #2 2003 – Shaun Alexander, RB SEA – Rank: #7 2004 – Shaun Alexander, RB SEA* – Rank: #2 2005 – Shaun Alexander, RB SEA* – Rank: #1 2006 – Shaun Alexander, RB SEA* – Rank: #33 2007 – Cedric Benson, RB CHI – Rank: #41 2008 – Steven Jackson, RB STL – Rank: #20 2009 – Steven Jackson, RB STL – Rank: #5 2010 – Steven Jackson, RB STL* – Rank: #13 2011 – Philip Rivers, QB SD – Rank: #9 2012 – Jimmy Graham, TE NO – Rank: #2
DON
Don really struggled out of the gate when it came to drafting that first player. His first 1st round pick (Fred Taylor) only played two games, producing 116 yards and no TDs before going out with a season-ending injury. Over the next four years, Don picked players that failed to deliver a solid starter in Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Randy Moss. In 2006, Don became the only person to have his first-round pick go down before the season even started when Domanick Davis tore his ACL in the preseason.
Since 2007 though, Don has produced an impressive run of first rounders. In fact, he has delivered five straight top-10 guys with that first pick (six if you want to include Trent Richardson, who he landed with his first pick which was technically in round two after he traded out). Of course the star of this impressive run was Maurice Jones-Drew, who Don drafted as a rookie in 2008. He had three-straight top-10 seasons and gave Don his only first-round All-Robio award (first team in 2009).
2001 – Fred Taylor, RB JAC – Rank: N/A 2002 – Kurt Warner, QB STL – Rank: #44 2003 – Marshall Faulk, RB STL – Rank: #18 2004 – Marshall Faulk, RB STL* – Rank: #27 2005 – Randy Moss, WR OAK – Rank: #21 2006 – Domanick Davis, RB HOU* – Rank: N/A 2007 – Clinton Portis, RB WAS – Rank: #5 2008 – Maurice Jones-Drew, RB JAC – Rank: #9 2009 – Maurice Jones-Drew, RB JAC* – Rank: #2 2010 – Maurice Jones-Drew, RB JAC* – Rank: #10 2011 – Michael Turner, RB ATL – Rank: #9 2012 – No First Round Pick
ERIC
The younger Vozzola’s first-round failures are well documented. Take away from Rudi Johnson in 2004 and Larry Fitzgerald in 2008, Eric’s first-round picks have been brutally bad. He has four picks that were not worthy of keeping on his bench, let alone start. There’s Ricky Williams in 2003. He decided drugs were more important and finished #67. LaMont Jordan was a stud in 2006, but fell to #56 when Eric took him. In 2006, Shaun Alexander fell to 33rd, yet Eric ignored the warning signs and took him with his top pick. He finished #38. Two years later, every one saw that Brian Westbrook was done, except Eric. He finished #54. The following year, Eric was ready to ride the Randy Moss gravy train, too bad Moss decided he wasn’t interested in being productive, he finished #76. At least Ray Rice finally came through for him last year, becoming the first Eric first-round pick to earn any All-Robio award.
2001 – Eddie George, RB TEN – Rank: #25 2002 – Marshall Faulk, RB STL – Rank: #16 2003 – Ricky Williams, RB MIA – Rank: #67 2004 – Rudi Johnson, RB CIN – Rank: #9 2005 – Julius Jones, RB DAL – Rank: #20 2006 – LaMont Jordan, RB OAK – Rank: #56 2007 – Shaun Alexander, RB STL – Rank: #38 2008 – Larry Fitzgerald, WR ARI – Rank: #1 2009 – Brian Westbrook, RB PHI – Rank: #54 2010 – Randy Moss, WR NE/MIN/TEN – Rank: #76 2011 – Chris Johnson, RB TEN – Rank: #13 2012 -Ray Rice, RB BAL – Rank: #4
MOLLY
Molly tends to be a bit hit or miss. She started off strong with Peyton Manning and Deuce McAllister, who both earned an All-Robio award (Manning got a 2nd team, McAllister a 3rd team). However, she stuck with McAllister a little too long and he helped bring her down in 2005. Overall, she’s produced three All-Robio players in round one and a total of six top-10 players.
2002 – Peyton Manning, QB IND – Rank: #2 2003 – Deuce McAllister, RB NO – Rank: #6 2004 – Deuce McAllister, RB NO* – Rank: #21 2005 – Deuce McAllister, RB NO* – Rank: #50 2006 – Warrick Dunn, RB ATL – Rank: #20 2007 – Edgerrin James, RB ARI – Rank: #9 2008 – Clinton Portis, RB WAS – Rank: #7 2009 – Clinton Portis, RB WAS* – Rank: #45 2010 – Shonn Greene, RB NYJ – Rank: #35 2011 – Aaron Rodgers, QB GB – Rank: #1 2012 – Aaron Rodgers, QB GB* – Rank: #5
RICH B
Now there are two ways to look at Burrier’s first round success with Tomlinson. The positive: He had arguable the greatest fantasy player during the peak of his career in the first round for five-straight years. The negative: You’re telling me Rich could never draft a great enough player in the later rounds (Rounds 2-5)? Thanks to L.T., Burrier has an impressive resume in round one. Until Larry Fitzgerald this past season, Rich had never had a first-round pick fall past the top-20. He has five All-Robio awards, but again, four of them came from Tomlinson.
2002 – Eddie George, RB TEN – Rank: #15 2003 – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD – Rank: #2 2004 – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD* – Rank: #4 2005 – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD* – Rank: #3 2006 – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD* – Rank: #1 2007 – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD* – Rank: #1 2008 – Frank Gore, RB SF – Rank: #15 2009 – Brandon Jacobs, RB NYG – Rank: #19 2010 – Drew Brees, QB NO – Rank: #6 2011 – Drew Brees, QB NO* – Rank: #2 2012 – Larry Fitzgerald, WR ARI – Rank: #48 2012 – Drew Brees, QB NO* – Rank: #4
ROB M
Look at that, Masterson started his career off in Robioland with a homer pick in Curtis Martin. The reality is, just imagine how good Rob’s early career could have been if only Priest Holmes could have just stayed healthy. Anyhow, the first round hasn’t been awful for Rob, but he hasn’t dominated either. He has two 1st-team All-Robio players (Holmes in 2002, Steven Jackson in 2006) and he’s shown he’s not afraid to wide receiver, taking a pair of hands four out of five years between 2007-2011. Outside of Marvin Harrison in 2007, the strategy has worked well.
2002 – Curtis Martin, RB NYJ – Rank: #18 2003 – Priest Holmes, RB KC – Rank: #1 2004 – Priest Holmes, RB KC* – Rank: #16 2005 – Priest Holmes, RB KC* – Rank: 29 2006 – Steven Jackson, RB STL – Rank: #2 2007 – Marvin Harrison, WR IND – Rank: #99 2008 – Randy Moss, WR NE – Rank: #12 2009 – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB SD – Rank: #30 2010 – Reggie Wayne, WR IND – Rank: #7 2011 – Roddy White, WR ATL – Rank: #13 2012 – Chris Johnson, RB TEN* – Rank: #14
RICH C
After back-to-back first rounds of Ahman Green (one as a draft pick, the other as a keeper), Calderon struggled over the next four years, failing to deliver a star with his first pick (Note: Terrell Owens was a star in 2005, but he got suspended). However, he’s been pretty solid over his last four years, nailing back-to-back All-Robio players. Sadly though, his last two first-round picks (Vick, McCoy) failed to finish the season due to injury.
2003 – Ahman Green, RB GB – Rank: #3 2004 – Ahman Green, RB GB* – Rank: #13 2005 – Terrell Owens, WR PHI – Rank: #27 2006 – Larry Fitzgerald, WR ARI – Rank: #25 2007 – Rudi Johnson, RB CIN – Rank: #50 2008 – Larry Johnson, RB KC – Rank: #27 2009 – Larry Fitzgerald, RB ARI – Rank: #3 2010 – Roddy White, WR ATL – Rank: #2 2011 – Michael Vick, QB PHI – Rank: #14 2012 -LeSean McCoy, RB PHI – Rank: #12
BOB
No person has mystified me in the first-round more than Bob. It’s not so much that he appears to be allergic to running backs, but rather, he tends to produce the most memorable, jaw-dropping picks in league history. Kevin Jones in 2005, Reggie Bush in 2006, Willie Parker in 2008 and Dez Bryant this past season were all shockers. None of those guys were projected to be anything close to a first-round pick (Bryant was considered a mid-to-late second round pick). Sadly for Bob, outside Bryant last year, none of the others paid off, finishing 34th (Jones), 16th (Bush) and 45th (Parker).
Bob’s best pick was arguable Corey Dillon. He finished 6th among all backs and was the only functional back on Bob’s 2004 title run that featured the first three-wide championship in league history. Overall though, he has found great success with receivers. Five times Bob drafted or kept a wide receiver and four times those receivers finished in the top-10.
Overall, 70% of Bob’s first-round picks finished the season as starters, half finished in the top-10, two earned third-team All-Robio, while one (Andre Johnson in 2009) brought home a second-team. However, no Bob first-round pick has earned a First-Team All-Robio.
2003 – Marvin Harrison, WR IND – Rank: #6 2004 – Corey Dillon, RB NE* – Rank: #6 2005 – Kevin Jones, RB DET – Rank: #34 2006 – Reggie Bush, RB NO – Rank: #16 2007 – Reggie Bush, RB NO* – Rank: #26 2008 – Willie Parker, RB PIT – Rank: #45 2009 – Andre Johnson, WR HOU – Rank: #4 2010 – Andre Johnson, WR HOU* – Rank: #8 2011 – Andre Johnson, WR HOU* – Rank: #53 2012 – Dez Bryant, WR DAL – Rank: #8
MATT
Matt is a stud at picking late-round keepers and in the first round he’s also not too bad. Actually, of his ten 1st round picks, nine of them ended the season as his starters (the exception is the Edge in 2006). He has produced three All-Robio players (Terrell Owens in 2004, Brian Westbrook in 2009 and Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011). Of all his picks, only two failed to finish among the top-25 at their positions.
2003 – Terrell Owens, WR SF – Rank: #12 2004 – Terrell Owens, WR PHI* – Rank: #6 2005 – Corey Dillon, RB CIN – Rank: #18 2006 – Edgerrin James, RB ARI* – Rank: #22 2007 – Brian Westbrook, RB PHI – Rank: #2 2008 – Chad Johnson, WR CIN – Rank: 51 2009 – Fred Gore, RB SF – Rank: #10 2010 – Ryan Grant, RB GB – Rank: #121 2011 – Maurice Jones-Drew, RB JAC – Rank: #4 2012 – Steven Jackson, RB STL – Rank: #22
COLBY
I’ve decided to only count Colby’s picks post-2009 since Jeff did the actual drafting. In four years, nothing to tragic here. He hit a home run in his first season along, when Reggie Wayne produced a first-team All-Robio season. Frank Gore was reliable as a RB2, while Charles finished top-10 coming off an ACL injury.
2009 – Reggie Wayne, WR IND – Rank: #2 2010 – Frank Gore, RB SF – Rank: #17 2011 – Frank Gore, RB SF* – Rank: #15 2012 – Jamaal Charles, RB KC – Rank: #9
JEFF
Jeff looked like he knew what he was doing back in his first solo season by grabbing a decent Tiki Barber. When he returned six years later without Colby nagging him, he landed his only first-team All-Robio player in Randy Moss. Since then, he’s struggled to deliver stars with his first pick.
2003 – Tiki Barber, RB NYG – Rank: #14 2009 – Randy Moss, WR NE – Rank: #1 2010 – Ryan Mathews, RB SD – Rank: #32 2011 – Larry Fitzgerald, WR ARI – Rank: #9 2012 – Maurice Jones-Drew, RB JAC – Rank: #18
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