Early look at 2009

I'm back after a vacation break and wanted to wrap up the 2008 season by looking ahead to 2009. Let's take a quick look at what could be next year's first round.

1) Adrian Peterson RB MIN - If leading the league in rushing is considered a down year, then I can't wait to see with AP does in a good year. He'll be 24 in 2009 and still has room for improvement. If MIN gets a professional QB, look out. You won't be disappointed with this #1 overall selection.

2) Micheal Turner RB ATL - What else can you say about Turner and the whole ATL team? They shocked everyone and made the playoffs this year. Turner evolved into a stud in the 2nd half after a few down weeks early on and can only build on his break out year.

3) Maurice Jones-Drew RB JAC - With Fred Taylor out of the picture, MJD is set to be a stud next year. I could see him take a huge step in production as the Jags bounce back after a disappointing season.

4) DeAngelo Williams RB CAR - Wow. He was clearly the #1 RB this year after a huge season that saw many multiple TD games and some big yardage totals as well. It's yet to be determined how much more work Jonathan Stewart might see next year, but you can't argue with the results so far.

5) Matt Forte RB CHI - Forte brought a new dimension to the Bears' offense this year and should continue to see his production increase next year. With the added value his pass catching ability brings, Forte is a solid #1 RB next year.

6) Brian Westbrook RB PHI - If not for his continuing injuries he'd be right up there with AP. No one can argue with his production, but with the uncertainty of McNabb his ranking is uncertain.

7) Frank Gore RB SF - SF is another team on the rise and if Shaun Hill can solidify the QB position, Gore's potential could still be realized. He's a great #1 option with upside.

8) Andre Johnson WR HOU - The first WR off the board really stepped up this year and finally connected with Matt Schaub at a new level. With the emergence of Slaton, Walters and Daniels, HOU finally has the weapons to keep the pressure off of Schaub and the double coverage away from AJ.

9) Marion Barber RB DAL - This stud RB slides down the list after an up-and-down year that brought some injuries and the emergence of 2 quality backs behind him. I wouldn't worry too much about Choice or Jones next year, but be sure to grab one of them. I could see a similar situation to the Giants' this year, but Barber is still the guy to own

10) Drew Brees QB NO - Brees finally showed his potential this year as the Saints offense exploded despite missing its' best WR and RB for a majority of the year. The sky is the limit next year if Colston can stay healthy and their defense doesn't get any better.

11) Steve Slaton RB HOU - Slaton had to overcome a number of obstacles this year and really showed his value for HOU. He's a dual threat that can get the tough yards inside as well. HOU is on the rise and Slaton will be a major part of it.

12) Chris Johnson RB TEN - The 3rd rookie RB to move into the first round, Johnson would be much higher if not for Lendale White. I expect his touches to increase and White's to decrease, but White should still get the goal line work. That will keep him from moving into the top 5...yet.

There you have it. You'll notice some big names that didn't make the list (LT, Addai and Jackson), but they could provide huge value in the 2nd round if you're lucky enough to have them fall in your lap.

Now onto baseball, but I'll be back to talk football around draft time.