When the Atlanta Falcons traded five picks to move up and draft Julio Jones in the first round last Thursday night, the move put the star wideout in an ideal situation where he is surrounded by a young, improving quarterback and superstar veterans at running back, tight end and wide receiver.

Jones’ skills boosted the fantasy value of several of his new teammates and the wealth of talent around him puts him in a position to contribute right away.

So sure, like every year, there are a handful of skill players (see Mark Ingram, New Orleans) who were drafted that could leave early impressions on fantasy teams. But in my eyes the biggest beneficiaries from a fantasy perspective in this NFL draft were veteran skill position players whose teams addressed deficient offensive line play.

Take Matt Forte for instance. I am not a huge fan of the Chicago Bears running back. He does have some explosiveness and big play ability, but had largely been inept on short yardage through his first three years.

Forte has a chance to improve in that area with a better push from what had been a subpar offensive line. The Bears drafted Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin, a run-blocking factory, in a move that can only give the team’s backs a better chance for success in the red zone and on short yardage runs.

They have more needs on the offensive line, but this is a step in the right direction.

Seattle is another team that improved its skill players’ potential by adding offensive linemen. First rounder James Carpenter was seen as a reach by many draft experts. But he was also thought by others to be the top run-blocking tackle in the draft. Carimi’s teammate, guard John Moffitt, should team with Carpenter to boost the run game as well.

Many thought those two both went a round too early. But the Seahawks needed reinforcements on the offensive line and Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett likely are not complaining.

Kansas City and Oakland, both young, up-and-coming teams in the AFC West, added strong centers. The Chiefs will likely install Rodney Hudson from Florida State in the middle with 37-year-old Casey Wiegmann possibly ready to hang ‘em up.

The Raiders went with Stefen Wisniewski from Penn State in the second round and followed up with Joseph Barksdale, a 325-pound tackle from Louisiana State in the third. The Raiders did not receive high marks for their draft, but these two could earn immediate playing time in front of Jason Campbell, Darren McFadden and others in Oakland.

Though he’s been a superstar for years, I also like Peyton Manning more in 2011. The relatively immobile vet seemed to get hit a lot more in 2010 than in past years. And the team’s run game was largely terrible, forcing Manning to throw 679 passes – 88 more than in any other year of his career.

The first two picks of the Colts draft will help both of those spots. They started with Anthony Castonzo, a 305-pounder from Boston College, and then selected Ben Ijalana, a 317-pounder from Villanova.

The pair should provide better protection and give whoever wins the running back role a better shot at contributing. Castonzo is almost assuredly a starter from day one. “He’s in at left tackle,” Vice President Chris Polian told USA Today Sports Weekly. “That’s where he’s played. He’s played it well, successfully, and we feel confident about him being able to help us.”

Ijalana was projected by the team as a possible first round pick and he’s likely to slide in at guard or right tackle, according to media reports.

Manning put up great numbers in spite of the team’s protection and running problems. But for the sake of his health and longevity, it’d be better for the team – and for fantasy football players – if Manning’s pass attempts and hits absorbed go down in 2011 and beyond.

There will be skill players making a difference as rookies as well. In addition to Jones in Atlanta, Mark Ingram will likely be the lead back in New Orleans, if for no other reason than the team’s willingness to dip high into next year’s draft to trade up to get him.
I would guess he will share time but he is built like someone who could excel in short yardage and goal-line situations.

Detroit also added a couple interesting weapons in wide receiver Titus Young and running back Mikel LeShoure.

I think I heard one announcer compare Young to Desean Jackson in Philadelphia. That may be so, but I like the pick even if his biggest role in 2011 is taking coverage away from Calvin Johnson. He’s fast, so send him down the field and opponents will have to cover him. If he can take even just a little focus off of Megatron, I would draft the Lions’ superstar receiver with confidence in 2011.