Courtesy Patriots.com

As fantasy football owners begin prepping for their drafts, End Zone Buzz begins a series on the best and worst fantasy football picks of 2007.

In this installment, we look at the best and worst first-round selections.

Best first-round pick: New England running back Laurence Maroney.

With Corey Dillon gone, Maroney is now the feature back in New England. Although many owners may believe the production from the running back spot may be down, because the Patriots bolstered their passing game, Maroney is set to have a huge season.

The second-year back was very impressive in 2006, rushing for over 700 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and catching 22 balls for 194 yards. The addition of Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth will take pressure off of the run game, opening up more space for the hard-running Maroney.

If Maroney lasts to number 7 or lower in most drafts, as he should, he is an absolute steal and should be the best value in the first round.

Runner-up: Frank Gore

Worst first-round pick: New Orleans running back Reggie Bush.

Although Bush may fall into the second round in eight- and ten-team leagues, he'll be selected in round one in most fantasy football leagues, because of his amazing potential and diverse talents. The problem with Bush is Deuce McAllister, who will once again get the bulk of the carries, and the chances of Bush catching 88 passes again are slim.

Bush is a solid third- or fourth-round pick. Owners selecting him in the first round will be very disappointed.

Runner-up: Larry Johnson