I had the ninth pick in a recent experts draft. The general scoring is four points per passing touchdown, six points per rushing and receiving touchdowns, one point per 20 passing yards, one point per 10 rushing/receiving yards and one point per reception. The starting lineup comprises of one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end and one kicker. Here's the first round:

1. Larry Johnson, KC, RB
2. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD, RB
3. Shaun Alexander, RB, SEA
4. Tiki Barber, RB, NYG
5. Clinton Portis, RB, WAS
6. LaMont Jordan, RB, OAK
7. Ronnie Brown, RB, MIA
8. Edgerrin James, RB, ARI
9. Steven Jackson, RB, STL - My pick
10. Carnell Williams, RB, TB
11. Brian Westbrook, RB, PHI
12. Domanick Davis, RB, HOU

I took Steven Jackson. I thought he offered the best package of skills, durability, job security, role in offense, potential in offense and upside of the remaining running backs.

Do you agree with my pick of Steven Jackson? Who would you have taken? Why?

I recently participated in a football auction draft in a best-ball format where the top scores for every starting fantasy position are automatically submitted for the season.

The roster size is 20 with nine starters of one quarterback, two running backs, three wideouts, one tight end, one kicker and one defense, in addition to 11 reserves. The league is comprised of 12 teams with a $200 budget and $1 minimum bid. After the draft, the roster remains the same throughout the season with no lineup additions or subtractions.

Check out the rest of the story on the auction draft.

Starters: QB Eli Manning, NYG, $27; RB Rudi Johnson, CIN, $41; RB Willis McGahee, BUF, $32; WR Marvin Harrison, IND, $30; WR Reggie Wayne, IND, $25; WR Samie Parker, KC, $1; TE Erron Kinney, TEN, $1; K Ryan Longwell, MIN, $1; DEF Buffalo, $1

Reserves: QB Mark Brunell, WAS, $1; RB Tatum Bell, DEN, $24; RB Laurence Maroney, NE, $7; RB Michael Turner, SD, $1; RB Jonathan Wells, $2; WR Travis Taylor, MIN, $1; WR Reche Caldwell, NE, $1; WR Doug Gabriel, OAK. $1; WR Michael Jenkins, ATL, $1; K Kris Brown, $1, HOU; DEF Cincinnati, $1

What are your thoughts on the auction draft?

The following rookies and veteran running backs could become starters this season. They are ranked in fantasy value:

1. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis: Can run, receive and block, and be a power and speed back. Just needs to grasp the offense and stay healthy.  

2. Chester Taylor, Minnesota: Will likely start in Minnesota and fulfill the role of Brian Westbrook in new coach Brad Childress' offense.   

3. Reggie Bush, New Orleans: May receive fewer carries than Deuce McAllister, but can be a proficient receiver from the backfield and break big plays on the fast track of the Superdome.

4. Laurence Maroney, New England: He's projected to be the Patriots' workhorse back, and that could come as early as this season if Corey Dillon continues to be injured and ineffective.  

5. Maurice Drew, Jacksonville: Will add more speed and quickness than the injury-prone Fred Taylor.

6. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina: It's only a matter of when DeShaun Foster becomes injured to let the NCAA record-setter start rushing for 100-yard days.

7. Frank Gore, San Francisco: He's more explosive than Kevan Barlow, but is vulnerable to injuries with his hard-nosed aggressiveness.

8. Lendale White, Tennessee: Bruiser in the mold of Eddie George could leap to near the top of the list this season if he wins the job in training camp over fragile Chris Brown and regressing Travis Henry.

9. Cedric Benson, Chicago: Management seems to prefer Benson over Thomas Jones. Uncertainty, poor rookie season and Jones' fantastic 2005 keeps him low for now.

10. Ron Dayne, Denver: Has never shown he can handle a featured back role in the pros. Five years of vacationing on the sidelines makes him unlikely to withstand a full season. Tatum Bell is more likely to gain 1,000 yards.

The following are some save candidates who could replace shaky closers or share chances:

Florida's Franklyn German: Matt Herges blew his first save chance by allowing three runs in the ninth to the Nationals, taking the loss. Another closing candidate Carlos Martinez may be headed to the DL with a sore right elbow. Reliever Chris Resop was demoted last Thursday. This leaves German, once a highly touted Oakland prospect, as the best candidate to share save chances or replace the shaky Joe Borowski, who sports a 6.75 ERA. German, who has extensive closer experience in the minors, saved 27 games for Triple A in 2004, striking out 60 in 49 innings. He also totaled 48 saves for Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A in 2001 and 2002. He was waived by Detroit and claimed by Florida in the season's beginning.

Tampa Bay's Chad Orvella (Also Shawn Camp): Dan Miceli is currently Tampa Bay's closer, but he has one blown save in four chances and owns a 9.53 ERA. Camp has one save already this season by pitching two innings on Saturday and is the current set-up man. He also closed two games in '04, his rookie season. He could receive additional spot saves. Chad Orvella has promise to be the featured closer, receiving 14 holds for the Devil Rays and garnering nine saves in Double-A last season. Orvella improved in his stint at Triple-A, compiling a 2.57 ERA with six hits, six strikeouts and one walk in seven innings over five games.

Cincinnati's Todd Coffey (Also Kent Mercker): Weathers blew his first save Sunday, giving him three saves in four chances. He's in his 16th season and has a robust 5.79 ERA. Second-year reliever Coffey has served well as a set-up man, compiling a 1.35 ERA with four holds, one earned run, five strikeouts, seven hits and two walks in 6.2 innings over seven games.  He has closing experience, saving 20 games at Double-A in 2004. Mercker already has one save and two holds, has allowed only one earned run and two hits, and has seven strikeouts and two walks in 3.1 innings over five games. Mercker will likely continue to receive spot saves.

Seattle's J.J. Putz: Eddie Guardado blew his first save of the season in the ninth inning of Monday's loss to Boston. He allowed two earned runs and two hits in .2 innings. That made his ERA jump to 11.57.  Until Monday's blown save (one earned run, two hits in .2 innings) in the eighth inning at Boston, Putz had an impressive 14 strikeouts, two saves and two holds, while allowing just six hits, one walk and three earned runs in 7.1 innings over six games. Putz has closing experience, saving 11 games for Triple-A in 2003 and nine saves for the M's in 2004. If Guardado continues to struggle, he'll likely keep sharing save chances with Putz.  

Any others who could receive save chances or become closers soon?

Nabbing new closers from free agency in the first week can be an easy way to add saves.

Here are the following current closers who may have gone undrafted:

Tampa Bay's Dan Miceli (named the closer), San Francisco's Tim Worrell (Armando Benetiz is currently injured and ineffective), Boston's Jonathan Papelbon (Could replace Keith Foulke permanently), Detroit's Fernando Rodney (replacing injured Todd Jones) and Kansas City's Ambiorix Burgos (replacing injured Mike MacDougal).

A few relievers could take over by May, including:

The White Sox's Neal Cotts (insurance for inexperienced Bobby Jenks) and Florida's Matt Herges (if Joe Borowski becomes injured or ineffective).   

Some longshots are:

The Dodgers' Danys Baez (if Eric Gagne becomes injured), Arthur Rhodes (if Tom Gordon fails in return to closer), White Sox's Cliff Politte (if Jenks or Cotts become ineffective), Cubs' Bob Howry or Scott Williamson (if Ryan Dempster is only a one-year success), Florida's Chris Resop (if Borowski and Herges are ineffective), St. Louis' Braden Looper (if Jason Isringhausen becomes injured) and Arizona's Luis Vizcaino or Brandon Lyon (if Jose Valverde becomes injured or ineffective).

Anyone else who might be feasible?