Ray Rice should be the #1 pick on draft day

There are few things more valuable in fantasy football than a player that is consistent every week, and sees the bulk of the workload.  Nowadays aside from QB, it seems all of the skill positions are big time shares.  For every Ahmad Bradshaw there is Brandon Jacobs there to steal runs and TDs.  The coach going with the hot hand.  Three WR sets are the norm, with passing attacks like New Orleans spreading the ball all over the field and not really knowing which one is going to have the bigger game, let alone season.  Even the TE position is beginning to see pairs that are both receiving threats, like Rob Grankowski  and Aaron Henandez.  Most people will see how Gronkowski finished by far First among TEs and Henandez Third, but let me point out that Gronk had 6 games under 10 points and Hernandez had only 5 games over 10.

Then you have a player like Ray Rice.  In 2009 he rushed 254 times for 1,339 yards and 7 TDs.  Then in 2010 he rushed 307 times for 1,220 yards and 5 TDs.  Lastly, in 2011 he rushed the ball 291 times for 1,364 yards and 12 TDs.  Pretty good numbers right?  Now add in that in 2009 he had 78 receptions for 702 yards and 1 TD.  2010? 63 receptions 556 yards and 1TD.  And finally in 2011 he caught 76 balls for 704 yards and 3TDs.  Now let’s compare him to a pretty good WR like Pierre Garcon.  In 2009 he had 47 receptions for 765 yards and 4 TDs.  Then in 2010 he had 67 receptions for 784 yards and 6 TDs.  And to round it out in 2011 he hauled in 70 balls for 947 yards and 6 TDs.

If your just looking at receiving numbers those two are fairly close, aside from the TDs .  That means that by Drafting Ray Rice you are looking at practically getting the points of two players in one slot.  He is the Ravens offense, and he’s young so you know you probably won’t see much of a downtick.  That and the fact that the Ravens have a pretty good defense (even if they are aging) which means that they shouldn’t be in too many shootouts, means that you have yourself an easy pick for #1.