The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft offered up a few surprises (Dion Jordan, E.J. Manuel), a multitude of linemen and few fantasy impact makers. In fact, we saw a mere six offensive skill position players come off the board - and not a single running back was selected in Round 1. That hasn't happened in 50 years. As a result, let's take a look at the players who will be on your radar in fantasy football drafts and some of the players who should help your fantasy stars produce on the gridiron.
Eric Fisher, OT, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 1): Fisher was considered the premier left tackle in the 2013 class. He made 34 career starts at Central Michigan, ran a 5.05 40 at the Scouting Combine and scored a 23 on the Wonderlic test. He'll protect Alex Smith's blind side as a rookie, and his presence will do nothing but increase the value of Jamaal Charles.
Luke Joeckel, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 2): Joeckel started 37 games at Texas A&M and will improve the Jaguars' pass protection right out of the gate. He will be moved to left tackle, though, as right tackle Eugene Monroe has one more year on his contract. Joeckel won't help the value of Blaine Gabbert, but runner Maurice Jones-Drew should benefit.
Lane Johnson, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 4): Johnson is considered raw, but he might have the most upside of any tackle in the whole 2013 class. He'll protect Michael Vick's blind side and is a solid fit for the up tempo offensive attack of new coach Chip Kelly. His presence will do nothing but help the stock of LeSean McCoy in upcoming fantasy leagues.
Jonathan Cooper, OG, Arizona Cardinals (No. 7): Cooper, the first guard taken in the top 10 since 1997 (Chris Naeole), started 48 games at North Carolina and allowed no sacks in his senior season. He was also charged with just one quarterback hurry. That's music to the ears of the immobile Carson Palmer, who'll take over the reins of the offense this season.
Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis Rams (No. 8): While he isn't the biggest player 5'8" and 174 pounds, Austin is a serious playmaker and a great addition for the Rams and quarterback Sam Bradford. Compared by some to Percy Harvin for his versatile skill set, Austin is a four-down athlete and will be the first Rams wideout picked in most seasonal fantasy drafts.
Chance Warmack, OG, Tennessee Titans (No. 10): Warmack's presence on the Titans' offensive line is clearly good news for the value of Chris Johnson. He started 40 games at Alabama and is likely to line up at right guard for coach Mike Munchak. CJ2K still shouldn't be considered a true No. 1 fantasy runner, but an improved line does make him more attractive.
E.J. Manuel, QB, Buffalo Bills (No. 16) Manuel is a bit raw, but he has the skills to become a read-option star (read option=fantasy points). I'm not sure he'll start in Week 1, but Kevin Kolb hasn't been the best (or most durable) NFL quarterback. Consider Manuel a viable dynasty-league gem, and watch his status of the depth chart in seasonal formats.
Justin Pugh, OT, New York Giants (No. 19): Protecting Eli Manning is important for the Giants' success, and Pugh will no doubt help in that respect. The Syracuse product started 34 contests at college and was charged with just with one-half a sack and no quarterback hurries in 2012. Pugh is being projected to play guard or even a center for the G-Men.
Kyle Long, OG, Chicago Bears (No. 20): The son of Howie and the brother of Chris, Kyle was projected as a second-rounder but jumped into Round 1 because offensive linemen were at a premium. While he didn't play a ton at the collegiate level, Long will come in an help protect Jay Cutler. It's a good move for a Bears team that needed to upgrade their line.
Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (No. 21): Eifert is a solid pass catcher and should improve the value of Andy Dalton as an additional weapon in the offense. However, his fantasy appeal will be minimal when you consider the presence of Jermaine Gresham ahead of him on the depth chart. I would have liked Eifert a lot more if he went to the New York Jets.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans (No. 27): The Texans (finally) went out and drafted a legitimate complement to Andre Johnson. Similar to Roddy White, he led Clemson in receptions, yards and touchdowns in his final collegiate season. He'll be worth a late-round flier in seasonal leagues, but Hopkins is more attractive in dynasty leagues at this point.
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota Vikings (No. 29): The Vikings traded a ton of picks to land Patterson, who is the instant favorite to start opposite Greg Jennings in what should be an improved pass attack. With that being said, this is still a run-first offense with Adrian Peterson in the backfield - that will limit Patterson's initial fantasy impact.
Travis Frederick, C, Dallas Cowboys (No. 31): NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock had Frederick rated as a third-rounder and call the selection "a reach." Regardless, he projects to be a starter on a team that had one of the league's worst interior lines in 2012. If he does pan out, Frederick will give much-needed pass protection to quarterback Tony Romo.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
