Todd McShay: 2015 IFFDA Mock Draft

Todd McShay released his first "way too early" IFFDA Rookie Mock Draft for 2015. How early? The draft order isn't even quite set yet and the playoffs haven't started. Here is what the draft guru had in mind when it comes to the future of the IFFDA:

1. Carolina Panthers - RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

Reasoning: The Panthers were seemingly on the Gurley train despite the suspension. Once it was reported that he had a torn ACL, Gordon broke Tomlinson's single-game rushing record. The Panthers are in the market for a running back, and Gordon is looking like the best of the bunch.

2. Buffalo Bills - RB Todd Gurley, Georgia

Reasoning: Buffalo GM Bill Smith has been on record saying they were looking at Gurley. Depending on where he lands in early May, the thought is that the Bills won't be scared off by the ACL injury. Gurley definitely has the talent that makes him worthy of the pick.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Amari Cooper, Alabama

Reasoning: The Bucs have a lot of years and dollars wrapped up in their backfield already. They have some young talent at WR, but Cooper has drawn comparisons to Falcons WR Antonio Brown when it comes to his route running. He's a special, special talent at wideout.

4. Seattle Seahawks - RB TJ Yeldon, Alabama

Reasoning: Roster depth. It's that simple. Seattle is starting Shonn Greene as we are heading into Week 12 of the IFFDA season... He has negative 2 points total over the past 6 weeks. Yeldon would serve as a big upgrade and a solid building point for the aging 'Hawks.

5. Denver Broncos - WR DeVante Parker, Louisville

Reasoning: Mile High City isn't necessarily hurting at any one position, so they're looking best available at this point. Parker is an explosive athlete that has been mocked as high as Top10-15 overall in the NFL Draft which would make him a virtual lock for Top 5 in the IFFDA Rookie Draft.

6. Cincinnati Bengals - QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon

Reasoning: There's one position that really sticks out on the Bengals roster, and it may be the most important one. As long as Andy Dalton and Alex Smith are running the show, the Bengals aren't threatening long-term. With the running ability and playmaking Mariota brings to the table, could be an instant game changer for Cincy.

7. Chicago Bears - RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

Reasoning: The current Chicago regime has been known to spend picks on young backs while spending on WR's in free agency. Zac Stacy didn't pan out and although Forsett has been a nice fill in, he may be more of a stop gap at the position. Adbullah is a nimble, physical presence who has been mentioned among the top tailbacks in the nation. He fits the mold of a Bears running back.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Cleveland) - WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma

Reasoning: Picking a wideout here would give the Bucs a lot of flexibility with their roster and future transactions. Before DGB was sent packing from the Mizzou program, he was drawing comparisons to current Browns WR AJ Green. Tampa already has a lot of talented receivers, but in this league you can never have too many.

9. Indianapolis Colts - RB Mike Davis, South Carolina

Reasoning: Indy is locked down through the next couple of years at wide receiver, and sure depth never hurts especially behind an up and down Larry Fitzgerald. The Colts, however, I'm sure are tired of playing musical chairs at running back. Sproles is aging and a change of pace back, Ivory & Johnson aren't reliable and have been somewhat disappointing. Davis could be just what the Colts need to take them to the next level.

10. Arizona Cardinals - TE/WR Devin Funchess, Michigan

Reasoning: Vernon Davis has been awful. Just terrible. This pick may depend if Funchess will carry TE eligibility heading into next season, but then again it may not. Funchess made the switch from tight end to wide receiver this season and his production has been off the charts and the transition has been smooth. The Wolverine receiver is just an athlete and a play maker no matter where he lines up and has drawn comparisons to the likes of Julius Thomas from scouts.

11. Atlanta Falcons (via Oakland) - WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State

Reasoning: Strong is an athlete who has been measured at 6'3. He's put together a very entertaining highlight package of catches over his 3 seasons at Arizona State. If there's one knock on him it's that he's sometimes inconsistent and needs to polish up his route running, but from an athletic standpoint, he's ridiculous.

12. Buffalo Bills (via Atlanta) - QB Jameis Winston, Florida State

Reasoning: With a pick they acquired in a trade last offseason with the Falcons, the Bills will be making their second selection of the first round. They traded Tony Romo mid-season and have Big Ben locked up through the 2015 season allowing them to play the solid veteran and not lean on the former Heisman QB right away.

13. Miami Dolphins - WR Kevin White, West Virginia

Reasoning: By the time the IFFDA draft rolls around, mocking White at 13 may seem silly. He's already being projected as a first round pick in the 2015 NFL draft which would seemingly make him a steal this late in the first round of the IFFDA draft. Miami will likely go best available with this pick, but in this mock, running back has been cleaned out before they had a shot.

14. Atlanta Falcons (via Washington) - WR Sammie Coates, Auburn

Reasoning: The Auburn wideout may end up being a better "real life receiver" than a fantasy receiver, but he seemingly always steps up and makes plays in the biggest moments for the Tigers. That's a quality that Falcons GM Cody Dudley historically likes in his players and with Atlanta being deep with young talent at WR already, the pick would be worth a stab.

15. Detroit Lions - RB Duke Johnson, Miami

Reasoning: With no real stud TE's in this class outside of Funchess, the Lions will look to fill a void on their roster elsewhere. They're loaded down at wide receiver but are missing a second running back to pair with Le'Veon Bell. Duke has the typical build of an ideal NFL running back and although he does have some elusiveness, he runs low to the ground and with power. He could fit in nicely with an already good Detroit team.

16. Carolina Panthers (via New England Patriots) - RB Tevin Coleman, Indiana

Reasoning: It's no secret that Panthers GM Doug Auman loves players who hail from Bloomington. Coleman may be the best NFL prospect from Indiana in recent memory (including Latimer, Randle El etc). CBS has him ranked as the No. 4 RB prospect, but you could easily make a case for him as the 2nd behind Gordon after the injury to Gurley. If there's a bright spot on the Panthers roster it's their backs, but you can never have too many in a league this deep.

Murray Model of Consistency

Despite being the odds on favorite to win the IFFDA MVP Award, Patriots RB DeMarco Murray has yet to win a single Player of the Week Award. A knock on the workhorse? Hardly. More like a testament to his consistency this season. He hasn't exploded in any single week to take home a weekly award, yet has put up very solid numbers week in and week out that have him at the top of the MVP voting. Murray has 199 total fantasy points this season and has only scored single digits once this year (against the league's top rushing defense) where he scored 8 points. He has no more than 28 points in a single week, but has scored 20+ in 6 weeks, and has scored 19 twice. If that's not consistency, I don't know what is.

Cleveland Sweeps October

The IFFDA hands out awards each week as well as each month, for each conference and for the league as a whole. In the month of October, the Cleveland Browns took home some hardware. Browns WR Sammy Watkins won the IFFDA Rookie of the Month Award for the AFC and the IFFDA. Watkins won the weekly award 3 of the 4 qualifying weeks and is considered the overwhelming favorite to win the Rookie of the Year Award. As for the rest of the league, Cleveland RB Arian Foster edged out Cardinals WR Demaryius Thomas for the IFFDA Player of the Month Award in October. Foster was also the Player of the Week in Week 8.

Romo the Face of the Broncos?

Quarterback Tony Romo went from splitting time with Ben Roethlisberger for the Bills, to bye week fill in with the Falcons to... face of the franchise for the Broncos??? The Falcons inquired about an upgrade at the backup QB position and sent Montee Ball and Ryan Fitzpatrick to the Bills for Tony Romo. Once Romo was banged up and in question to play in Week 9, the Falcons began shopping their new quarterback for a healthy stand in while Aaron Rodgers had the week off. Broncos GM Ryan Branagin expressed interest, but not just for the short term. Tony Romo has one year left on his current contract and will become a free agent this summer. In a recent interview, Branagin stated that Romo could be resigned and become the face of the Denver franchise in light of the recent injury history to current QB Robert Griffin III.