Fantasy Rookies – Who should be on your radar after round one?
The NFL draft always produces a lot of talent, and as usual a large selections of offensive weapons were selected in the top 32. From a fantasy perspective most of these players won’t do a lot for your team, but there are some gems amongst the rough.
The Top Two QBs
Luck and Griffin might be insanely talented players…but both are going to terrible teams. Colts and Redskins QBs were avoided like the plague last year…but they have one thing on their side – garbage time. Selecting a guy like Rogers and Brees gets you the numbers, but it can be frustrating when they put 21 points on a team before half time and then start ground and pounding. With the Skins and Colts’ D you wont have this problem!
Luck is the more pro ready QB right now, but (outside of Wayne) has no one to throw to. If they colts pick up Fleener that might provide an offensive outlet but if you’re looking for a solid sleeper RG3 has to be my moneyman. You get more points for yards on the ground and RG3 is going to be running for his life. I see him (hopefully) hitting similar numbers to Cam was last year. He shouldn’t break as many records, but as a bench pick up could end up leading you to a championship. I have friends who are looking to draft him as a late starter. Don’t count Luck out though, he has Aaron Rogers like wheels…and that means he’ll be finding his way into the endzone every now and again.
Trent Richardson
Everyone seems to love him. I don’t. 50% of rookie running backs last year ended the season injured and Richardson is going to be running behind a TERRIBLE O-line. It could be one of the worst units in the league. Dude has wheels…but I fear he wont get to use them. Here’s the thing though; speed kills and sometimes these guys make their O-lines better. I was so low on CJ out of the draft. Sharing time, no goal line carries, but he carried my fantasy team with pure pace. If someone bites on Richardson in the first four rounds, good on them. Like the Browns, they knew what they wanted and did all they could to get him. I like Richardson as a match up based flex player or a bench. See what the browns do with Weeden and how he ends up playing. Browns are going to be playing from behind a lot this year – doesn’t bode well for Richardson’s carries. As far as RBs go, one guy I do like is David Wilson. He is unconventional runner but an electrifying runner who will be behind a big blue line. He has the potential to do great. RBs are used well in New York and this guy could be a solid flex.
Rookie Wide-outs.
There is one position in the NFL where as a rookie it is almost impossible to carry production across from college; WR. Obviously there are exceptions, but most wide receivers take a year or two to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NFL. Many come from systems where they never had to learn route trees. The NFL can be a shock to a rookie WR. You might like Blackmon, but you shouldn’t. He’s a talented prospect, but has Gabbert throwing to him. Not a good sign. He might fill in as a good flex and an interesting player to store on the bench, but don’t expect much from him. Michael Floyd I would almost say is a better pick up. He wont start, but will be playing alongside Fitz who will draw all the double coverage’s. At 6-3, 220 Floyd doesn’t have game breaking speed but is a major red zone threat. Remember Dez Bryant in his first year? Nothing for ages and then suddenly he exploded. I see Floyd having a season like that. Kendall Wright has minimal fantasy value and AJ Jenkins will be buried on the depth chart. If he can break into the starting team and see field team he might be the teams deep threat. A bench player to start every now and again I fear he might be a Meachem type – sometimes getting 100 yards and 2 TDs and others games catching one ball for 12 yards.
The Rest!
Ryan Tannehill at 8 was a reach, but if he turns out to be the franchise guy the Dolphins hope he will be then good for them. As far as fantasy goes? No one ought to draft him, so if he starts to ball get on the waiver. He’s not one of the top 12 QBs, could be a bench player. Picking Brandon Weeden likely means that Colt is done in Cleveland. People seem to think that because Weeden is 28 he wont need to develop as much as the younger guys…sadly learning gets harder with age, so it might take Brandon longer to grasp some of the lessons. Saying this; if he was younger he’d be a top ten prospect. The Browns didn’t draft this guy to sit, and he will start. He’s not the greatest on his feet, but could be a great talent. Sadly he’s on the browns, but will get a bunch of garbage time. Could be a good back up if he pans out, keep an eye on him for the waiver, or if you have space draft him and then cut him if it isn’t working out. The Bucs took RB Doug Martin with the penultimate pick on round one. Martin will be splitting carries in Tampa so should be avoided unless he starts to break out. He’s a three down back but likely wont get goal line carries.
