With a week to go for the start of the NFL season, the biggest push of the draft phase of football is going on from coast to coast. If you draft with a top-five pick, it's a great way to start your season. But don't always think the concensus No. 1 pick by most fantasy football experts is the way to go.

While Arian Foster is the No. 1 overall pick in the majority of drafts, my top five picks begin with a player who is a bit more consistant when it comes to fantasy football production.

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is my No. 1 pick. He is reliable, has a solid offensive line to give him the holes he needs to run through and he produces as a receiver coming out of the backfield.

At No. 2, I’m still not thinking Foster.

After starting last season as a holdout and then struggling the first half of the regular season, I think Tennessee back Chris Johnson will be on a mission to make amends for 2011. He’s a guy who still has breakaway speed and he’ll also have a fair amount of balls thrown his way too.

I’m looking at Foster as my No. 3 guy. I think Andre Johnson is healthy enough to take a chunk of touches away from Foster. Don’t get me wrong, Foster is solid. But I think Andre Johnson lowers Foster’s production a bit.

Philadelphia back LeSean McCoy signed a new contract and is ready to roll at No. 4. He was a touchdown machine last season and he is another back that produces on he ground and through the air.

At No. 5, I’m looking for the maximum fantasy points I can compile at this stage and that’s why my pick is Detroit receiver Calvin Johnson. He is being projected by most fantasy football websites to produce anywhere from 300-350 fantasy points this season depending if you are in point-per-reception league or a standard NFL league.

My top five:

1.      Ray Rice

2.      Chris Johnson

3.      Arian Foster

4.      LeSean McCoy

5.      Calvin Johnson

 

Oh, those nagging injuries that take a bite out of our fantasy football production....

Among the top injured players to monitor between today and Sunday are Houston receiver Andre Johnson, Baltimore back Ray Rice and New Orleans back Pierre Thomas.
Johnson is nursing an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision as far as playing time.
Rice has a bruised right knee and has had limited practice according to the Ravens' web site. Willis McGahee could start in his place.
Thomas has an ankle injury and has seen limited practice time. If he can't go Chris Ivory (who?) could start in his place.
San Diego back Ryan Mathews has been plagued by an ankle injury but has been upgraded to probable and should start this week.
Monitor the progress of Cincinnati back Cedric Benson who has been bothered by a knee injury. He was listed as questionable today (Thursday).
Minnesota tight end Visanthe Shiancoe has a leg injury but fortunately he is on the bye this week.
St. Louis back Steven Jackson is still bothered by a groin injury. He is questionable. Even if he plays backup Ken Darby will likely see additional carries.
Denver back Knowshon Moreno is questionable with a hamstring injury opening the door for a likely start by former Patriots back Laurence Maroney.
Oakland receiver Louis Murphy has a clavical injury ad has been listed as questionable. He is expected to play but monitor his sitution as well.
Dallas tight end Jason Witten has a knee injuy and is listed as questionable. But like Shiancoe he is on the bye this week.
New England back Fred Taylor is still nursing a toe injury and is questionable. That could open the door for BenJarvus Green-Ellis to get a bigger workload and possibly a bigger role in the offense from here on out.

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http://www.cbssports.com/