Unless you play in a league of Tibetan monks or with people whose surnames are Hilton, you aren't likely to land Peyton Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson, Priest Holmes, Randy Moss and Antonio Gates all in your preseason fantasy draft.

	Ladd K. Biro The perfect draft Top 100 players Top 50 running backs Top 35 quarterbacks Top 60 wide receivers Top kickers Top defenses - special teams Top 25 tight ends

The most you can hope for, therefore, is to secure the best value with every pick, methodically assembling a team that will dominate from Week 1 and take you all the way to a title.

With that lofty goal in mind, I've done the research for you -- investigating the average draft position of each player from several mock draft sites to determine the best pick in each round -- resulting in the following "perfect draft."

This analysis makes a few key assumptions. First, we're in a 10-team league using a standard scoring system that starts one quarterback, two running backs, one tight end, one kicker and one defensive back. Second, we are drafting from the fifth position in a zig-zag format, which is why Edgerrin James is our first rounder, rather than Tomlinson. Third, since all drafts play out differently, we'll need a little luck along the way -- including the hope that our competition doesn't also read this column.

Just in case, I've offered a second option in each round -- the ingeniously named "Plan B" -- because we've all experienced the heart-ache of losing our targeted player to the owner picking right before us. Now when this happens, you can maintain your composure, call an audible and never let on that your entire world has collapsed around you.

Now, with the fifth pick of the 2005 Fantasy Draft, we select . . .

Round 1 -- Edgerrin James, RB, Colts: An elite back in the prime of his career in the best offense on the planet. If Manning tones down the touchdown passes just a bit, the Edge will be a monster. Plan B -- Deuce McAllister, RB, Saints, is another bona fide fantasy star with awesome upside.

Round 2 -- Corey Dillon, RB, Patriots: If he slides to you, and he could, tell your buddies to start engraving your league's championship trophy. Plan B -- Ahman Green, RB, Packers, is a stellar No. 2 fantasy back who will win a couple of games for you by himself.

Round 3 -- Javon Walker, WR, Packers: Playing for a hefty raise, Walker will challenge Randy Moss for 2005's top fantasy receiver. Plan B -- Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers, looks like a linebacker and scores like a top receiver.

Round 4 -- Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts: Wayne will out-perform teammate Marvin Harrison and give you two of the top three receivers in fantasy football. Plan B -- Trent Green, QB, Chiefs, is a perennially underrated passer that can carry you to a championship. A tad early, perhaps; but if we snooze, we could lose him.

Round 5 -- Michael Bennett, RB, Vikings: My pick for sleeper of the year, Bennett will stay healthy and dazzle opposing defenses with his world-class speed. You'll regret it if you let him slide by. Plan B -- Kerry Collins, QB, Raiders, can lead your team nicely if you didn't get Green.

Round 6 -- Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets: If you didn't take Green or Collins, grab Brett Favre. Otherwise, Coles will look great alongside your other wide receiver studs. Plan B -- Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs, is a must if you have Priest Holmes, and great trade bait if you don't.

Round 7 -- Ravens defense: Go ahead and solidify this position for the entire season with the top unit in the business. Wait another round, and they're gone. Plan B -- Dallas Clark, TE, Colts, will be a top 3 tight end, but may slip to the next round.

Round 8 -- Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals: If Clark is gone, grab Palmer and hope that Cincinnati's offense lives up to expectations. Plan B -- Travis Henry, RB, Titans, should be the full-time starter by the time you need him.

Round 9 -- Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins: Could last another round, but don't push your luck. May be carrying the load for another team by the time his four-game suspension ends. Plan B -- Rod Smith, WR, Broncos, the grand old man of the Mile High city has plenty of miles left on his wheels.

Round 10 -- Drew Brees, QB, Chargers: If you only have one quarterback on your roster, Brees is a potential starter who would make an outstanding back-up. Otherwise, go for Plan B -- Eric Moulds, WR, Bills, who could easily outperform his draft position if J. P. Losman is the real deal.

Round 11 -- Eddie Kennison, WR, Chiefs: A potential top 20 receiver that gets no respect, Kennison will be the first K. C. wideout in years to achieve fantasy stardom. Plan B -- L. J. Smith, TE, Eagles, would be a solid starter, but is even better as a back-up.

Round 12 -- Keenan McCardell, WR, Chargers: Another late, great value pick, McCardell will play like a No. 2 fantasy receiver in San Diego's high-octane offense. Plan B -- Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots, will be 2005's top fantasy kicker.

Round 13 -- Tyrone Calico, WR, Titans: At this stage of the draft, the best strategy is to select back-ups with substantial upside, like Calico. Plan B -- Eagles defense, will fill in nicely during the Ravens' bye and in selected match-ups.

Round 14 -- Sebastian Janikowski, K, Raiders: If you didn't get Vinatieri, the Raiders' bad boy will handle your kicking duties quite capably. Plan B -- Eric Shelton, RB, Panthers, is ready to run if DeShaun Foster can't kick the injury bug.

Round 15 -- Dominic Rhodes, RB, Colts: Rhodes is necessary insurance if the Edge is your top pick. Plan B -- Najeh Davenport, RB, Packers, is also worth a roster spot if you took Ahman in Round 2.

Round 16 -- Marcus Robinson, WR, Vikings: Few players have the physical gifts and lofty upside of Minnesota's No. 2 receiver. With Randy gone and Culpepper at the controls, the sky's the limit. Though Travis Taylor is a concern. Plan B -- Mike Williams, WR, Lions, is the rookie receiver with the best chance to visit the end zone with regularity.

Ladd K. Biro is a syndicated columnist who also runs a sports marketing agency, Champion Management, in Dallas, Texas. His Fantasy Football 2005 column appears Tuesday during the National Football League season. He can reached at lbiro@championmgt.com.