2007 NFL Bodog Proposition Bets - Buffalo Bills First Running Back

Who will be the first RB drafted by the Buffalo Bills in this weekend's 2007 NFL draft?

Antonio Pittman +180
Any Other RB +250
Kenny Irons +300
Marshawn Lynch +300
Brian Leonard +350
Michael Bush +400
Adrian Peterson +450
No RB drafted +500

Ohio State Buckeyes standout Antonio Pittman tops the list of potential running back draftees for the Buffalo Bills in 2007. Pittman likely would be a 2nd rounder, allowing the Bills to draft needed defender in the 1st round.

This is a transition year for the Bills. The offseason has seen former stars like Willis McGahee, Takeo Spikes and Nate Clements leave through trades and free agency. At the same time, the Bills have more than their share of draft picks this year. The McGahee trade alone gave the Bills 3 extra picks over the next two drafts.

With four first day selections and a gaping whole at the running back position, expect to see the Bills take a runner on Saturday. Those extra picks mean the Bills could move up to grab a guy they like, though I don't see that happening in the 1st round.

THE FIRST ROUNDERS

Adrian Peterson will be gone a long time before the Bills select. Only if the Browns select Brady Quinn and Peterson somehow falls to around 7th pick or below could the Bills get in the game. It's an unlikely scenario, but if Peterson does slip, remember that the Bills have the extra third rounder to move up.

Marshawn Lynch looks to slide down in the first round, so there the possibility that the Bills decide to trade up into the bottom of the 1st or the top of the 2nd to select a player like Lynch. That's far too speculative to bet on, and I wouldn't suggest making a bet on the idea of Marshawn Lynch going to Buffalo.

THE SLEEPERS

Michael Bush is considered a low 2nd or a 3rd rounder. At the beginning of the NCAA season last year, Bush was considered a 1st round runner. A broken leg and complications in the healing process have hurt his draft stock. The fact that Bush is a big runner seems to have added to teams' concerns about his ability to bounce back to his old form.

That being said, Michael Bush is the kind of guy teams will love to snatch up at a certain point, because his potential for upside is big in the 3rd round. The Bills once selected McGahee coming off a major leg injury, so it's hard to say how that experience would color their perceptions of Michael Bush. This is an entirely new regime and McGahee had production after the injury, though his departure in Buffalo came from a rift with the front office.

Brian Leonard (pictured above) is more of a fullback or H-back than a classic halfback option, though some team is going to happily draft him in the 2nd round. I don't know that the Bills will look to him as the answer to the McGahee departure, so I'm not real sure if I like Leonard, even at +350. His combination of size and speed have drawn comparisons to Mike Alstott, if you are looking for a comparison.

THE PURE RUNNER

Kenny Irons should be a Day One pick, and if the Buffalo Bills are looking for a pure runner, the Auburn standout is certainly an option. Iron doesn't have blazing speed and is a bit light at 203 pounds. His pass-catching skills were not shown at the college level, while his blocking is suspect.

On the other hand, Irons is known for his quickness and explosion through the hole. He plays bigger than he is, and could well be the type of running option the Bills will look for. With Anthony Thomas and Schaud Williams still on the roster, the Bills might have the tough yardage guys they want.

The Bills might opt to wait awhile and draft a runner later. Keep in mind that this draft is said to be a little weak in depth at the runner position, so I'm not sure if the Bills go in that direction. Expect Buffalo to draft a first day runner, so be a little leery of the "any other RB" bet on Bodog.

OTHER BODOG NFL DRAFT BETS

2007 Dallas Cowboys Draft
2007 Green Bay Packers Draft

2007 NFL Bodog Proposition Bets - Buffalo Bills First Running Back