The Colts' Joseph Addai has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and at least seven TD in each of the last two seasons. Simon Bruty/SI

By Scott Engel, RotoExperts.com, Special to SI.com

The following article is a free preview piece from RotoExperts.com 2008 Fantasy Football Draft Central. The kit includes nearly 70 strategic advice columns, positional analyses, team previews, and draft tools, so register today at http://www.rotoexperts.com/ to see the full range of coverage.

It's the moment that every fantasy player looks forward to and often spends weeks or months ahead of time thinking about: The first round of your fantasy football draft for the new season. One person will get the opportunity to be the envy of the rest of the league for a day, as every other fantasy player wants to be the one who has the first overall selection. No matter where you pick, though, you can make a solid decision and lay the foundation for a championship team. Here's an in-depth look at what you should be thinking at every spot in the first round and who your ideal selections should be, with some other thoughts and alternatives added in.

First pick

In most cases, this selection comes down to a choice between the established fantasy superstar and the one with outstanding upside. This year, it's simply LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Adrian Peterson. The latter excited fantasy owners in his rookie year, with amazing performances that made him look like the best running back on the planet. Yet for annual consistency at a high level, no one beats Tomlinson. Plus, he is going to be primed for a big year, after the way his season ended this past January in New England. Peterson will deliver some brilliant performances, but Tomlinson is more proven, is more versatile and plays in a better offense. With increasingly more uncertainty in the running back situations around the league, I want to make the safest possible high-level pick here. The only guy I would consider here other than Tomlinson is Tom Brady (based on his terrific 2007 production), with not much reason to believe his numbers will fall much in '08. That said, I'd rather have a top-notch RB when you consider the current state of the position and the fact you usually have to start at least two.

Ideal pick: LaDainian Tomlinson
Top alternative: Tom Brady

Second pick

I'm still not thinking Peterson yet. Last year, everyone wanted to own Brady, as his '07 owners well know. They were besieged by trade offers so often that they had to disconnect their phones and log off the computers just for some peace and quiet. This early in the selection process, I'm still looking for sure things, regardless of whether Peterson excites me with his upside. If I can't get Tomlinson, I want Brady, who is nearly certain to deliver stellar fantasy numbers again. Sure, the quarterback position is one on which you can wait until the middle rounds and still get a pretty good starter, but why not take the opportunity to own the guy who may be the most productive player in fantasy football in '08? Randy Moss returns, and that's all I need to know to convince me that I must have Brady if I don't get Tomlinson.

Ideal pick: Tom Brady
Top alternative: Steven Jackson

Third pick

Nope, no Peterson yet. While injuries have been an issue for him, I believe Steven Jackson is set for a big year. Not only is he the most difficult player in the NFL for defenders to corral when he reaches the second level, he's a major force in the red zone and also catches passes. New offensive coordinator Al Saunders will ride his Mack truck on many successful drives, and Jackson should thrive under Saunders' direction. Add in the fact that Jackson is playing in a contract year, and I truly believe he is on the verge of a monster campaign. If you don't quite trust Jackson, then Peyton Manning is the "safe" selection to make here.

Ideal pick: Steven Jackson
Top alternatives: Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning

Fourth pick

Peterson finally goes off the board here. If he actually falls to you in this spot in any draft, you should be pretty excited. In the NFL, you can't assume that putting "eight in the box" will stifle the running game in every situation where the passing game is shaky. Not when you have a dominant offensive line that tramples opponents and a running back who makes defenders often look foolish, even when they're prepared to stop him. Peterson is going to have a few disappointing outings, but his best games will drive you to some certain victories.

Ideal pick: Adrian Peterson
Top alternative: Peyton Manning

Fifth pick

This early, you often have to make the decision between huge upside and excellent annual production. Now that Peterson is off the board, there's no other guy available who offers so much promise that he is more enticing than the one elite "safe" pick left. I don't care if he doesn't outperform Brady; Manning has been the closest thing you can get to peace of mind in fantasy football for years now. In a game where there are few actual reassurances and seemingly no sure things, Manning is the closest thing you'll find to a guarantee. No one matches him for regularly outstanding numbers, and you'll never second-guess yourself for picking him.

Ideal pick: Peyton Manning
Top alternatives: Joseph Addai, Brian Westbrook.

Sixth pick

Joseph Addai doesn't get the ink like Peterson, but he is another guy who has quickly become worthy of an early pick due to his huge promise. While he is not as exciting or as spectacular as Peterson, Addai is on the verge of major superstardom in fantasy football. He is a prime weapon on a powerful offense, and he's also one of the best receiving running backs in the NFL. He will finish off a lot of scoring drives for the Colts, and I really wouldn't worry about any other Colts RB stealing away a few carries. They'll just ensure that Addai stays fresh, and Addai will still be on the field for most of the team's important plays with respect to fantasy statistics.

Ideal pick: Joseph Addai
Top alternative: Brian Westbrook