The first pick in your fantasy draft this year will be a tougher choice than it has been for probably the last five seasons. Going into recent drafts, the pick was pretty clear-cut: either Marshall Faulk, Edgerrin James, or Terrell Davis would be dropping off the board first. This year, the field is wide open, with the "big five" running backs generating most of the hype - Priest Holmes, Marshall Faulk, Ricky Williams, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Clinton Portis. I'm here to tell you why Portis is the one player you can't live without this year. If you have the first pick, take him, and if you don't, do everything in your power to convice that "lucky" owner that he should take someone else. Here are ten reasons why:

1. The Stats.
Let's start with some basic numbers. Portis started only 12 games last year, but for the sake of argument, we'll say that he made a significant contribution in 13 games, since he went over 100 yards against the Bills in week 3. He racked up 1508 yards rushing, 364 yards receiving, and 17 touchdowns. Project that 13-game total out to a 16-game season, and you get 1856 rushing, 448 receiving, and 21 TD's. That would have landed him ahead of Priest Holmes and Ricky Williams in all-purpose yards, with just 3 fewer touchdowns than Holmes. (Keep in mind that Holmes nearly broke the single-season record!)

2. The Average.
Another stat: 5.5 yards per carry. Portis' average was tops among running backs who had any significant number of carries last season. An average like that keeps the chains moving and keeps the offense on the field.

3. The Age.
Youth rules the running back position in the NFL. Portis is young and healthy, with fresh legs, and has no history of major injuries. He's about to enter that golden 2nd-4th year window of his career. These are the prime years for an NFL running back nowadays. Of course, any player can get injured at any time, but of the "big five" mentioned above, only Portis and Tomlinson have no injury history.

4. The Broncos.
The Denver Broncos have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, and have consistenly placed a back in the top 5 nearly every year since Mike Shanahan became the coach. No offense to Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, and Mike Anderson, but Portis is better than all of them. He has the field vision and cutback ability of a young Davis, but that extra ounce of breakaway speed is what sets him apart from all those great Bronco backs. Portis can and will make the long TD run several times this year.

5. The Fullback.
The biggest and toughest back of that group, Anderson, is Portis' blocking fullback. Now that both players have a year of experience under their belt in those positions, they should be a much more effective tandem in seasons to come.

6. The Line.
The Broncos' offensive line is improving. With the return of veteran center and leader Tom Nalen, and the addition of mammoth tackle George Foster in the draft, this year's line should start to more closely resemble the one that paved the way for Davis' 2000-yard season and won them two straight Super Bowls. If Portis could find enough room to gain 1500 yards behind last year's patchwork outfit, he could be aiming for Davis' record behind a much-improved unit this year.

7. The Passing Game.
Portis' rookie classmate, Ashley Lelie, will work wonders to help Jake Plummer open up the passing game. Lelie has the size, speed, long arms, and soft hands that give cornerbacks fits. For the first time since John Elway was throwing to the "three amigos", the Broncos will have three legitimate wide receiver threats in the form of Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey, and Lelie. Oh, and before we forget - you haven't covered Shannon Sharpe yet. With defenses trying to account for all of these offensive weapons, Portis will have even more opportunities to run and catch.

8. The School.
Portis hails from the University of Miami, also known as the breeding ground of more NFL stars than any other college in the nation. If names like Edgerrin James, Warren Sapp, Jeremy Shockey, Ray Lewis, Bubba Franks, and Michael Irvin don't get your attention, you need to change the channel from figure skating, throw those rice cakes out the window, and break that Shallow Hal DVD you've watched 100 times. And for those of you scoring at home, 8 more Hurricanes were selected in this year's draft, including 3 in the first round.

9. The Attitude.
Unlike some of the names above, you'll only see Portis mentioned for crossing the goal line, not trying to sniff it. Many Miami players have a reputation for making the headlines in not-so-desirable ways, but Portis has shown a great deal of maturity in handling his newfound NFL fame and fortune. Portis pays the proper respect to his teammates and coaches, and stays focused on football, not his Hummer, cellphone, and stable of hoochies. There has been some noise lately about a new contract for Portis, but most of that is coming from his agent, and he has clearly stated that Portis will not hold out or miss any training camp time, period.

10. The Challenge.
Clinton Portis still has a lot to prove. He felt he was the best back in the draft last year, but was still taken behind William Green, T.J. Duckett, and DeShaun Foster, players who made moderate, little, and no contribution to their teams, respectively. He's certainly proved his worth against that group, but Portis has his sights set on being a superstar in this league. He wants his name mentioned in the same breath with the game's top running backs - Faulk, Emmitt Smith, and Williams, just to name a few. He's not there yet, but after this season, he will be well on his way.

So there you have it - all the pieces are in place for Portis to have a big, tremendous, HUGE season. I certainly wouldn't call you crazy for taking any of the top 5 backs with that premier selection. But I envy the owner picking in that third or fourth position who could add Portis to his roster. I'm telling you now, Sharks - call Clinton's name. You won't regret it.