Wow, this has been an entertaining first half of the first round in the 2009 draft. The Denver Broncos just used the 12th pick to take University of Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno. That's crazy! I love Moreno. I love him. He was my favorite back in this draft by far, and I think he's going to be the best rookie rusher in fantasy this year. But what in the world is Denver doing not taking a defensive player? Brian Orakpo went next, at 13th, to the Redskins, and I think that's who the Broncos should've taken. Anyway, Josh McDaniels did get a good player; maybe he simply felt pressured to get a big-name guy back right away to replace Jay Cutler?
Moreno instantly becomes the favorite to play over the Broncos' collection of rushers, which also includes Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, LaMont Jordan, Selvin Young, Ryan Torain and Peyton Hillis. I have to believe that Young and Torain may very much be on the roster bubble now, because that's too many runners, even for the Broncos. But Moreno has a great pair of bookend tackles to run behind (Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris) and a high-octane, Patriots-style offense. He'll have some of his fantasy value sapped by the fact that someone else figures to be a goal-line back (probably Jordan), and someone else figures to be the third-down guy (probably Arrington). But my prediction, about 10 minutes after he became a Bronco, is that Moreno will lead Denver in carries in 2009.