Monthly Archives: May 2015

2015 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings

2015 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings

Todd Gurley

  1. Amari Cooper WR Oakland Raiders – Cooper is one of the best route runners to come out of college in the last ten+ years.  His explosion in and out of breaks is going to make him a nightmare to cover in one on one situations.  He has long speed and has enough size and strength to make plays down the field.  Is he an elite touchdown threat like Mike Evans?  No, but he is a better route runner and is incredible after the catch.  Going to Oakland was a nice landing spot as he can build a relationship with second year QB Derek Carr.  The Raiders finally have an elite wide receiver after years of swings and misses based on speed alone.
  2. Todd Gurley RB St. Louis Rams – I’m sure you have seen Gurley on top of a ton of Dynasty rookie boards and I don’t blame anyone one bit.  He is an amazing talent, but there are enough drawbacks with him for me to slide him to the number two spot.  Coming off of an ACL tear, a clean one but still a major surgery with a recovery that is involved, and playing a position that I don’t value as highly as the wide receiver position pushes him to the number two spot.  I don’t like drafting injured players period.  Even if he recovers fully and is right back to his old self, he landed in a less than stellar spot in St. Louis.
  3. Kevin White WR Chicago Bears – Kevin White is a specimen.  He’s got elite size and speed for the position and has showed that he can make plays on the ball in the air and run after the catch.  The issues with White are that he is coming from a college offense that hasn’t translated well to the pro game and didn’t produce as long and as much as Amari Cooper.  I think the bigger issue is the type of offense he played in, but I think he can overcome that and develop into a top 10 wide receiver in a few short years.
  4. Melvin Gordon RB San Diego Chargers – Gordon has a great landing spot and that alone moved him up my rankings a few spots.  He is a talented runner with strength and speed and showed he can do some things in the passing game in the few chances he got at Wisconsin.  If he can learn the offense fast and protect Phillip Rivers he could be a great grab in redraft leagues as well.  Danny Woodhead is recovering from a major injury and Woodhead will need to be fully healthy for his talents to once again be NFL ready.  Love the landing spot for Gordon and I even traded Jamaal Charles straight up for the right to pick Gordon at number four overall in a rookie draft.
  5. DeVante Parker WR Miami Dolphins – Even with Kenny Stills and Jarvis Landry  in Miami Parker became the best wide receiver on that team the minute he was drafted.  He has size and speed and has a great knack for making plays.  Ryan Tannehill better get his act together throwing down field because Miami really put a lot in his cupboard this off season.
  6. Breshad Perriman WR Baltimore Ravens – Breshad Perriman is big and really, really fast.  He ran a 4.2 40 at his pro day and 6’2″ and 212lbs.  That’s an insane size/speed ratio.  He showed on tape the ability to leave corners and safeties looking for answers on how to cover him and showed the ability to make tough contested catches.  He did have some drops, but his landing spot with Joe Flacco and the Ravens makes me a little less concerned about that.  He’ll be the number one receiver in Baltimore for a long time pushing the limits of Flacco’s arm.
  7. Nelson Agholor WR Philadelphia Eagles – Can you say the PERFECT landing spot?!  Agholor literally fills two spots on the Eagles that were vacated when DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin left the last two offseasons.  He is an excellent return man who can play in the slot or outside and is amazing after the catch where he can show off his return man skills.  Love this spot for Agholor, but I can’t push him over Parker or Perriman.
  8. TJ Yeldon RB Jacksonville Jaguars – Yeldon will be a better pro than college player.  That’s what the scouts have said.  I hope it’s true as his landing spot puts him in line for a great chance at being a 3 down back for a coach that wants desperately to control the clock and take pressure off of his young QB. I like Yeldon’s landing spot a little better than the other two backs ranked behind him, but I can see the argument for them as well.
  9. Ameer Abdullah RB Detroit Lions – Abdullah lands with a Detroit team that has a need at the position.  Joique Bell is coming off of surgery and is older than most people think as he was a late bloomer in the pro game.  Theo Riddick is a nice player, but all in all isn’t a supremely talented back.  Abdullah should see ealry action as a change of pace back and could eventually become the primary ball carrier for Lions.
  10. Dorial Green-Beckham WR Tennessee Titans – Green-Beckham is this high on my list based on his potential alone.  I haven’t seen any type of production to warrant a top ten pick in rookie drafts and he has an amazing amount of red flags.  I’m not going to rehash all the reasons the transition to being a professional athlete could be a difficult one for him, but I will talk about the horrible landing spot in Tennessee.  The Titans have not been able to develop a wide receiver in a long time.  Not since Derek Mason has there been a wide receiver I could count on week in and week out.  The bad landing spot and the fact that he is an unfinished product on and off the field means I’m staying away unless I get incredible value by picking him a draft.
  11. Tevin Coleman RB Atlanta Falcons – Tevin Coleman has blazing speed and good size.  He showed he can pass protect and take it to the house at Indiana, but can he be elusive enough in tight spaces to produce at the NFL level.  That’s a good question, but he does get the benefit of landing in a spot with a great passing game already set up and an excellent run game coordinator in Kyle Shanahan.  With a defensive minded coach in place he could see a huge workload so the landing spot is perfect.
  12. Jameis Winston QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Winston is not Andrew Luck, but he is the most NFL ready QB to come out in a while.  He landed in a great spot with tremendous weapons and should be able to produce top 20 type QB numbers in his first year.  If Tampa can keep building their offensive line and get a running game that will take some pressure off of Winston he could flourish down the road.  He’s a value at the end of the first for sure.
  13. Devin Funchess WR Carolina Panthers – Funchess is an interesting case as he was a move tight end turned wide receiver at Michigan.  He’s huge with great leaping ability and has shown some skill at making contested plays, but overall he was very inconsistent playing with a less than talented Michigan team the last few years.  The landing spot is everything with Funchess as he goes to Carolina where Cam Newton loves to hit his big targets.  The WR2 position is wide open for Funchess and he could even emerge as a better player than Kelvin Benjamin down the road.
  14. Jaelen Strong WR Houston Texans – Jaelen Strong fell in the draft and fell a bit in the rookie rankings.  I love his size and speed and he showed a great ability to go up and make plays on the ball at Arizona State.  He’s got to get quicker in and out of his breaks and learn how to separate otherwise he will struggle to get targets in the pro game.  His landing spot isn’t ideal with the QB situation looking like one of the worst in the entire NFL.  Still really like him down the road and think he could be the Rueben Randle to DeAndre Hopkins OBJ.
  15. Marcus Mariota QB Tennessee Titans – Mariota has a lot to overcome to be a great PROFESSIONAL QB.  He played in a system that looks nothing like the pro game, but he did show elite athleticism and accuracy when he was set up for success.  He will need to work on the fundamentals of the position like reading a defense and moving your feet and shoulders as you go through your projections, but Ken Whisenhunt has been doing this a long time and I expect him to make it work.  The great thing about investing a pick in Mariota is you know he has a great make up.  He’s a tremendously hard worker with great speed and size.  Don’t let him fall too far in your drafts.
  16. Phillip Dorsett WR Indianapolis Colts – Dorsett was below Devin Smith in my rankings before he landed in Indy with Andrew Luck.  Dorsett has elite speed and has shown the ability to make tough catches in traffic down the field.  He gets dinged by people for not showing all the tools needed and I don’t question that.  The big thing is he landed in Indy with Andrew Luck and you don’t spend a first rounder on a guy when you’re this close to winning without having a plan for him.
  17. Duke Johnson RB Cleveland Browns – I wanted Duke Johnson to land in so…so many places, but Cleveland was not one of them.  With two quality backs already on the roster Johnson will have to battle for playing time in the all important practices.  We all know how Pettine had a different starter each week based on practice performance so if you take Johnson you will have to watch the Cleveland beat like a hawk.  I still like Johsnon’s skills a lot.  He has great feet and vision with excellent hands and a nose for first downs and the goal line.  Take him on talent and hope he rises above the competition.
  18. Jay Ajayi RB Miami Dolphins – The knee troubles were real with Ajayi because there is no way he should have lasted to the fifth round of the draft. While his long-term prognosis is not great for dynasty purposes his landing spot is pretty good as he can either share or take over the workload from Lamar Miller.  Ajayi is a bigger back with just as good of hands and running ability as Miller.  A timeshare could work in Ajayi’s long term favor as it won’t tax his knee as much.
  19. Maxx Williams TE Baltimore Ravens – In a class that wasn’t all that good at tight end Williams stood out.  He has huge hands and nice athleticism.  He landed in the perfect spot with the Baltimore Ravens as he will be the pass catching tight end that new offensive coordinator Marc Trestman likes.  Crockett Gilmore is a converted DE who showed promise as an inline tight end last season which allows Williams to move into the Dennis Pitta pass catching role.  Flacco loves his tight ends so I love the spot for Williams.
  20. Devin Smith WR New York Jets – Devin Smith is one of my favorite players in the draft.  He has a huge chip on his shoulder because people only think he’s a downfield receiver.  He IS a great downfield receiver with elite speed and tremendous concentration, but he can also run nice routes at all three levels.  he needs to be a little more explosive after he catches the ball underneath, but I think New York is a nice landing spot as he can learn from Brandon Marshall before eventually taking over.
  21. Javorius Allen RB Baltimore Ravens – Allen was an interesting back to try and figure out.  The USC run game wasn’t what it used to be this past season but Allen flashed a lot of skills.  the landing spot in Baltimore behind journeyman Justin Forsett is perfect as Allen is a bigger back with pass catching ability.  It moved him from a third round prospect to this spot for me.
  22. David Cobb RB Tennessee Titans – Cobb is such a nice inside runner.  He’s deceptively quick and finishes his runs. The landing spot is perfect as he can challenge Bishop Sankey for playing time and probably would benefit from a timeshare where he would be the goal line back.  Having a QB like Mariota who keeps the edge guys honest opens up all sorts of room for a big back like Cobb.
  23. David Johnson RB Arizona Cardinals – Johnson is a back that looks like a stud.  He’s jacked up and is fast with excellent hands.  He landed in Arizona where they were desperate to find a running mate for Andre Ellington.  It’s perfect fit for Johnson as he could be in-line for a timeshare early with a chance at being a lead 3-down back down the road.
  24. Tyler Lockett WR Seattle Seahawks – Lockett was a huge get for the Seahawks as they desperately needed to replace both Golden Tate and Percy Harvin.  They needed a receiver to be able to win with route running and also be an excellent kick returner so they don’t have to keep using their defenders in that spot.  Lockett should see the field a lot and if Russell Wilson develops a good relationship with him he could be a nice third or fourth receiver on your team.
  25. Chris Conley WR Kansas City Chiefs – A deep speed receiver who landed with a QB who doesn’t throw the ball down the field or outside the numbers.  Not ideal for year one, but his size and speed is worth investing in especially if Andy Reid doesn’t last long in KC.
  26. Sammie Coates WR Pittsburgh Steelers – Another size speed investment that could be boom or bust.  The Steelers have a nice history of using receivers the right way to help them develop so I can see Coates being an asset down the road.
  27. Justin Hardy WR Atlanta Falcons – Hardy landed in the perfect spot in Atlanta.  A wide open WR3 spot with no tight end to threaten targets.  With Roddy White aging and Julio Jones having a foot that has been an issue he could see work on the outside before to long.
  28. Matt Jones RB Washington Redskins – Love the landing spot for this big back.  Gruden did not draft Alfred Morris and hasn’t committed to him long term.  They spent a third round pick on a back that they think can do it all.  I say believe in what your eyes are telling you and grab Jones especiallyw itht he Redskins investing a 1st round pick on an excellent run blocking tackle.
  29. Mike Davis RB San Francisco 49ers – I wanted Davis to land in Dallas, but he landed in San Francisco which has huge question mark behind Carlos Hyde.  He’s an immediate hand-cuff for Hyde owners and should be in the number two spot in the pecking order as soon as Reggie Bush plays his way out of another city.
  30. Josh Robinson RB Indianapolis Colts – I love this little ball of action.  He is tremendous in tight spaces and has the ability to bounce off tacklers and make people miss.  He could sit behind Frank Gore for a year or two, but he fits the mold of a RB that a team that doesn’t make huge holes would need.
  31. Kenny Bell WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nice landing spot in Tampa Bay for Bell.  He has adequate speed and size and could eventually take over the number two wide receiver role from Vincent Jackson.
  32. DeAndre Smelter WR San Francisco 49ers – Smelter is a stash, but a stash that you need to spend a decent lick on.  He is huge and fast, but raw.  Maybe down the road he could be a player that well outplays his draft spot.
  33. Tre McBride WR Tennessee Titans – McBride’s draft slide drove me nuts.  He could have landed in a ton of better spots than with the Titans, but now we will ahve to hope he can hang on to the last wide receiver spot in Tennessee.
  34. Clive Walford TE Oakland Raiders- Love the landing spot as he becomes another weapon for a young QB.  Should start from day one and could develop into a high end TE2.  At worst he’s the second best option in a weak tight end class.
  35. Cameron Artis-Payne RB Carolina Panthers – Great landing spot for the speedy running back.  He immediately becomes the back -up or third string RB behind the oft-injured Jonathan Stewart.
  36. Vince Mayle WR Cleveland Browns – A big receiver who could end up being the defacto WR1 for the Browns down the road.  I like him as more of WR2 type with a chance for him to be a WR4 in fantasy.
  37. Jeremy Langford RB Chicago Bears – Nice landing spot behind the aging Matt Forte, but I’m not a huge believer in his talent.
  38. Rashad Greene WR Jacksonville Jaguars – Love Greene but wish he landed in a timing based offense with a better QB.  He runs nice routes and catches the ball well, but it means nothing if Bortles can’t get better.
  39. Stefon Diggs WR Minnesota Vikings – A team with a WR that is evolving.  Diggs is a nice Slot WR type and benefits from having a QB who likes to throw to the slot.
  40. Jesse James TE Pittsburgh Steelers – A great landing spot for James as he can learn the position from heath Miller.  He has elite size and nice speed so he’s worth a shot especially in tight end premium leagues.
  41. Jeff Heuerman TE Denver Broncos – Stash for the future after he injured his ACL in Rookie Camp.  Love the athleticism and he showed very nice ability in 2013.  The position is wide open in Denver.
  42. Ty Montgomery WR Green Bay Packers – Nice landing spot for Montgomery as he can be a return man that develops behind some of the best in the business.  I think Jeff Janis owners or DeVante Adams owners should hedge their bets with a late pick of Montgomery.
  43. Garrett Grayson QB New Orleans Saints – Grab Grayson and stash him for the inevitable divorce of Drew Brees and Sean Payton down the road.  Who knows he could even be a guy that they develop and trade.
  44. Tyler Kroft TE Cincinnati Bengals – I like Kroft but i don’t think he is going to be a major fantasy asset.  I think he’ll be a better real life tight end than fantasy one.
  45. Zach Zenner RB Detroit Lions – Zenner could develop into a nice complement to Abdullah down the road.  At least we know he’s smart enough as he’s putting off Medical School to give his dream a shot.
  46. Darren Waller WR Baltimore Ravens –  Huge WR/TE that is a nice stash for down the road.
  47. Bryce Petty QB New York Jets – Throws a great ball, but needs to learn the position all over again.  Stash for down the road.
  48. Karlos Williams RB Buffalo Bills – A back that will help on Special teams right away and could develop into LeSean McCoy‘s hand cuff down the road.
  49. Devante Davis WR Philadelphia Eagles – A nice landing spot for the big receiver from UNLV.  I could see him claiming a spot on the team and eventually becoming a starting outside receiver in Chip Kelly’s offense.
  50. Brett Hundley QB Green Bay Packers – He gets to learn the position behind the best in the game throwing to very talented wide receivers.  Great developmental stash for a dynasty team with middle aged QBs.

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2015 NFL Draft Winners and Losers

2015 NFL Draft Winners and Losers

Dante-Fowler-Jr

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Buccaneers got extremely lucky to end up with the first overall pick when a franchise QB who is actually ready to play in the NFL happened to be available.  No one knows if Winston will mature and become a great professional, but as of now you have to believe he has a chance with a team that is ready to build around him.  The Bucs already happened to have weapons in the fold so it was important to protect their investment and they did so with their next two picks.  Donovan Smith may have been a reach, but the Bucs need a massive upgrade to the O-Line and Smith could be a nice RT in the league.  Marpet was the darling of the combine as he competed along side big school lineman and more than held his own.  There were rumors that he could find his way up into the high second round, but fell to the Bucs in the third.  All in all I like what the Bucs did, especially grabbing Kwon Alexander in the 4th round.  I would have rather seen the Bucs take a slot receiver in this draft then take Bell in the 5th.  Overall it was a very nice draft for the Bucs.
  2. Tennessee Titans – The Titans had a bit of a disjointed draft.  They held all the power in the draft as they held the two spot where Mariota was inevitably going to be available after Winston went.  With all the talk of trades nothing materialized and the Titans decided to take Mariota as their franchise QB.  The Titans have so many holes on their team that taking a QB whose game doesn’t necessarily translate to the pro game very easily is a tough sell.  In the second they traded down with the Giants and ended up taking Dorial Green-Beckham.  The Titans have spent some high draft picks the last few years on wide receivers, Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright, and spent some money in the off-season on Harry Douglas to come in as their slot receiver.  If this was a team that I trusted to develop DGB I would be excited about the pick, but I have no confidence in them to be able to get the best out of him.  Cobb, Poutasi, and Fowler can remake the Titans running game, which is something I like.  Cobb and Sankey could be a nice timeshare, especially with Mariota running some Zone-Read.  Tre McBride in the 7th was a steal, but who knows if he’ll even get a chance.
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jaguars had an amazing draft.  That’s right the Jaguars!  From rounds one through six the Jaguars did an amazing job.  Dante Fowler Jr. is going to be a very good player from day one in the NFL.  A ton of teams would have loved if he slid in the draft.  Yeldon in the second isn’t my favorite pick, but I understand why they needed to take a back with his type of upside.  Cann is better than what they have now.  Sample was a steal in the fourth round, especially if you really watched how he played at Louisville.  Greene was one of my favorite players picked in the 5th round, but it wasn’t an ideal spot for him with Allen Robinson and Marquis Lee already there.  Bennett dropping to the sixth is beyond nuts for me, because it is too hard to find interior pass rushers in this league and Bennett does that pretty well.
  4. Oakland Raiders – I had an inkling that the Raiders were going to help Derek Carr with this draft and they almost did exactly what I thought they might.  I figured they would go with Amari Cooper in the 1st and I hoped they would go with Maxx Williams in the 2nd, but they decided to go with Clive Walford in the 3rd instead.  I liked the value, but the DE they took in the second, Mario Edwards Jr., was a bit of a reach for me.  If he can be more consistent and show the quick first step he shows from time to time he could be good.  Everywhere else was kind of blah for me.  Some guys that could play, but it seemed like a lot of projection.
  5. Washington Redskins – I really liked the first two picks the Redskins made.  They broke my Giants fan heart by taking Scherff with their first round pick and then took another potential Giants target when they took Preston Smith in the second.  Matt Jones is a big back with some lateral quickness and I liked him as a value in the 4th, but in the 3rd I thought the Redskins could have continued to build their O-Line.  Instead they waited and took Kouandjio in the fourth which made a lot of sense.  I liked Spaight in the 5th a lot.  Overall this was a solid haul for the Redskins.
  6. New York Jets – The Jets had the chance to win the draft after landing , arguably the best player, Leonard Williams with the 6th overall pick.  The Jets followed that up by taking one of my favorite players, Devin Smith, to be the speed receiver to open up Brandon Marshall,  Eric Decker and the running game.  After that the Jets were okay, but not flashy as they needed to address the QB position with Bryce Petty in the fourth.  Smith and Williams are a heck of a haul all by themselves, if they get anything else, production wise, out of the rest of the draft it will be one of their all-time best.
  7. Chicago Bears – The Bears needed to address the defensive side of the ball this draft, but Kevin White being available at seven was too good to pass up.  Eddie Goldman was a nice pick in the second, but they needed to double up in the third and instead went with a Center.  Normally I’m all about taking quality O-Line in the meat of the draft, but there were too many good players still available to not address the secondary or D-Line again.  Langford could end up being a nice pick in the fourth, but again I thought there were defenders available.  We’ll see if it matters as their first two picks could end up being really good.
  8. Atalanta Falcons – I really liked what the Falcons did in the 2015 draft.  Vic Beasley is a beast and immediately upgrades the Falcons non-existent pass rush.  As you look at the rest of the draft you have to ask yourself when’s the last time a team got five solid starters/contributors in one draft.  Jalen Collins in the second was a really nice value.  Tevin Coleman immediately upgrades his fantasy stock ending up in Atlanta with Kyle Shanahan.  Justin hardy can start out in the slot and eventually replace Roddy White down the road.  Grady Jarrett brings excellent pass rush skills to the middle of the Falcons D.  Jake Rodgers is a nice grab in the seventh as a guy that could develop into a RT in the future.
  9. New York Giants – The Giants needed to address the O-Line in this draft and they seemed to like Flowers from Miami more than most as he became their pick as soon as Scherff went to the Redskins at 5.  Flowers will immediately upgrade the overall run blocking of the Giants O-Line and could make the Giants better at two positions by forcing Justin Pugh in to Left Guard.  The Giants traded up to grab Landon Collins at the top of the second and really only had to give up a fourth to do it.  Collins was the best Safety on the team the minute he was picked.  Owa Odighizuwa was a guy that I really thought fit what the Giants look for when trying to upgrade the DE behind JPP.  After the third the Giants once again started making some weird picks.  Mykkele Thompson was even more surprised to be drafted than Jay Bromley was last season.  Thompson has some Special Teams ability, but there were safeties available that looked a lot better on tape. (Derron Smith of Fresno State being example number one)  Geremy Davis is a nice pick as a wide receiver who can come in and be a gunner and special teams ace while learning how to run routes better.  Big and fast he has some upside.  Hart could develop into a future starting Guard, but we shall see.
  10. St. Louis Rams – Todd Gurley could be the best skill position player to come from this draft.  I don’t love the fit with the Rams, but it doesn’t really matter when it comes to Gurley.  They tried to remake their O-Line with some fancy trade downs, but in reality it seems like they let a lot of talent slide by in this draft.  When you look at their draft as a whole it doen’t look very good.  If Gurley ends up being an all-time great no one will remember.
  11. Minnesota Vikings – I really like how the Vikings have been going about building their team.  I love this draft for them.  They took the top corner, arguably the top middle linebacker, a DE who at times looked like a 1st round pick, TJ Clemmings who has all the tools to be one of the top four lineman in the entire draft, and with their last pick they got my favorite small school defensive flyer with Edmond Robinson from Newberry.  Zimmer has done a tremendous job and could be building the real Green Bay rival in Minny.
  12. Cleveland Browns – I don’t get why the Browns hate me.  Seriously, they don’t draft a wide receiver AGAIN and take Duke Johnson so he can be in a timeshare with two other quality backs. GAG, from a fantasy football perspective.  From an overall football perspective the Browns draft was pretty good.  Shelton, Orchard and Erving could all be big time contributors for a team that needs to continue to make strides.  With their seventh round pick they took a flyer on Ifo Ekpre-Olomu who could be a player for them in 2016 after he tore his knee up late in the 2015 season.
  13. New Orleans Saints – The Saints had a really nice start to the draft as they took a nice OT prospect in Andrus Peat and then solidified their defense with a stud MLB and one of the best pass rushers in the draft.  In the 3rd they took a QB who could be the heir apparent to Drew Brees and grabbed a corner that fell down some draft boards for getting pulled over for a possible DUI after the combine.  I was very surprised that they didn’t look at the tight end or wide receiver position.  Overall it was a solid draft.  If Kikaha can stay healthy the Saints could have really helped their D.
  14. Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins got a great value with DeVante Parker with the 14th pick.  After that they took some nice values with Jordan Phillips and Jay Ajayi in the 2nd and 5th respectively.  I’m very interested in Tony Lippett converting to a full time cornerback with the Dolphins.  Even if it takes some time for him to really make the conversion he could be a great special teams player while he learns the nuances of the position.
  15. San Diego Chargers – The Rams really forced the Chargers hand when it came to trading up for Melvin Gordon.  Gordon was a perfect fit for the offense that desperately needs a difference maker in the backfield.  The 49ers knew that their target was a scheme specific fit so they were able to trade down and still get the guy they wanted.  I like the aggressiveness of the Chargers in this instance.  After the top eight or so players it all became a bit bunched so getting a player that really solves a need was huge.  Denzel Perryman in the 2nd was a nice addition as he was potentially looked at as a late 1st rounder as the draft process went on.  The rest of the draft will be a wait and see, but if Gordon hits then the draft was a success.
  16. Houston Texans – The Texans needed to help their secondary this off-season and Kevin Johnson, who they grabbed in the 1st round, will be a nice addition.  In the second round they got a huge MLB in Benardrick McKinney, who was once rated as a top 10 draft prospect before the 2014 season.  He has a chance to be good, but he looked like he will need some coaching after seeing him struggle with pass coverage drills at the combine.  in the third and fourth round they doubled up on Wide Receivers after letting Andre Johnson walk and then trading away Devier Posey.  The value on Jaelen Strong was really nice considering some, including me, saw him going in the late first to early second round.  His lack of separation skills ultimately doomed his draft stock, but his leaping ability and size should make him a decent wide receiver 2/3 for Texans.  A good landing spot for him after he fell in the draft.  Kenny Hilliard in the seventh is like another Alfred Blue pick that we will have to monitor with Arian Foster always on the verge of injury.
  17. San Francisco 49ers – The more you look at the 49ers draft the more you like it for their specific team.  The players weren’t fits on most teams, but to the 49ers they were perfect.  The only pick I didn’t love was the 2nd round pick of Jaquiski Tartt out of Samford.  I thought that he would go in the late third to early fourth range and I liked a few other safeties more.  I’m not a fan of Blake Bell, but if they use him strictly as a pass catcher he could be useful.  Eli Harold was a nice pick and so was taking Smelter, as a redshirt, and Davis in the fourth.  I really wanted Davis to land in Dallas, but you have to keep your eye on him if you’re a Carlos Hyde owner in dynasty.  Trent Brown is extremely interesting as a developmental project.  He’s 6’8″+ and 355 lbs.  Just massive, but needs a ton of work.
  18. Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs draft hinges on if Marcus Peters can come into the league and be professional.  He was right there with Waynes for being the top CB in the class, but where he would go was all up to how well he interviewed with teams after being kicked off of his college team at the University of Washington.  I absolutely hate that Chris Conley landed with the Chiefs in the third round from a fantasy perspective, but for them he was a steal.  Steve Nelson was an interesting pick in the third as well as they obviously wanted to address their slot corner position.  The rest of the draft saw depth picks and also a new Center in the second.  If Morse makes the transition to Center easily than he will be a solid pick.
  19. Buffalo Bills – The Bills traded up last year to grab Sammy Watkins so they didn’t have a 1st round pick.  With what little draft stock they had they made some very team specific picks that could prove out well.  Darby fits Rex Ryan well as he can man up cover as well as most of the corners in the draft.  In the third they went with a Guard that I have seen play a lot at Louisville and think he could be a nice addition to their O-Line that desperately needs help in the middle.  Everywhere else were special teamers and role players like the pass catching, but dreadfully slow, Nick O’Leary.  I was wondering where he would land because his lack of speed makes him a liability on kick coverage teams.
  20. Philadelphia Eagles –  The Eagles fooled us all.  Everyone thought they would be wheeling and dealing from the outset of the draft, but they sat still at number 20 and took a perfect fit for their offense and their team in Nelson Agholor.  It’s crazy to think they replaced Jeremy Maclin‘s pass catching ability and semi-replaced DeSean Jackson‘s electric kick return ability with one player.  The landing spot immediately moved him up my rookie rankings.  Hopefully Chip can stay around a while to make this a magical landing spot fantasy wise.  The rest of the draft was really nice as well.  They grabbed Eric Rowe in the second, which was a steal as most saw him coming off the board at the very top of the second round. In the 3rd they got another talented linebacker to add depth and improve their team overall.  They also traded away their fourth for a 3rd rounder next year from the Dolphins.  3rds are nice to have in your back pocket as draft day trade currency.  In the 6th I thought they got two corners that were a bit lesser known, but could be nice pick ups for their pressure speed defense.  I like their size a lot.  This was a really solid draft by Chip Kelly and company, but I was very surprised they didn’t address an aging offensive line.
  21. Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals made Andrew Whitworth mad with their first two picks in the draft, but they made Andy Dalton really happy as they took two of the top 6 Tackles available in the draft with their picks.  Cedric Ogbuehi was a top 3 prospect when the 2013 season came to a close and he was a sold top ten prospect until he tore his ACL in the 2014 season.  With Cincy having two good tackles in place it gives him a chance to make a full recovery and then play Left Tackle in this league for a long time.  (Not saying 10 years like some of the talking heads) Jake Fisher was talked about as a perfect fit for a lot of teams at the bottom of the first and who knows if Denver didn’t trade up to land Shane Ray, he may have gone there.  They then stacked up the value and team fit throughout the rest of their draft.  Getting Paul Dawson at the end of the third was such a perfect fit for both player and team, that you didn’t think it could happen.  I liked Derron Smith a lot as a value in the 6th as well.  If Tyler Croft can play right away this draft was a home run.
  22. Pittsburgh Steelers – I expected the Steelers to take a corner in the first round, but once Peters and Johnson went in the teens the Steelers were in the perfect position to take Bud Dupree from Kentucky to be their big time pass rusher.  I really liked the value with taking Dupree there and especially with the scheme fit.  I liked the corners they got in the second and fourth rounds and the safety they added in the seventh could be a nice gamble.  Jesse James going to the Steelers in the 5th is a really nice landing spot for him as he can learn a ton from Heath Miller and of course fill his shoes one day.  If they hit on Sammi Coates this draft goes from good to wholly cow.  We won’t know that for a while so for now they did well.
  23. Denver Broncos – The Broncos traded up and took Shane Ray.  Ray was viewed as a top 8 pick for the entire draft process until he hurt his toe and then got busted for possession of marijuana.   He will fit in nicely with the Denver D and should take over for DeMarcus Ware down the road.  The rest of the draft saw the Broncos try to sure up the RT position as well as Center and I think they did a pretty good job.  I would have liked if Tre McBride or Rashad Greene landed in Denver late, but you can’t get everything you want.
  24. Arizona Cardinals – I really liked the 1st round pick of DJ Humphries who would have been an ideal fit for the Carolina Panthers one pick later.  I really didn’t like the pick of Marcus Golden in the second round.  I was not high on him through the draft process and thought he was a bit of a reach.  The rest of the draft was okay, but not great in terms of value and seeing real contributors early.
  25. Carolina Panthers – The Panthers needed to address the linebacker position in this draft, but taking Shaq Thompson in the first was a bit of a surprise.  Especially with some quality tackles still on the board.  Shaq Thompson was all over draft boards in the lead up to the draft and was even picked to the Giants at the 9 spot in a mock draft that Arif Hassan and I did on the podcast.  Obviously that spot was a little high after he ran a slower than expected 40 and struggled a bit in linebacker drills.  After Thompson I really liked what the Panthers did as they got a lot of team specific fit players.  Funchess and his huge wing span fit perfectly with Cam Newton.  Daryl Williams as a Right Tackle is a nice fit. David Mayo and Cameron Artis-Payne are players that I expect to contribute right away, especially on special teams.  Overall it was a good draft and could be a really good one if Shaq Thompson develops into a play-maker at the next level.
  26. Baltimore Ravens – Is there anyone better at working the draft than the Ravens?  They replaced Torrey Smith with a top tier speed receiver in Breshad Perriman.  They replaced Dennis Pitta with Maxx Williams in the 2nd round by jumping over their rivals, the Steelers, to secure his pass catching services.  I like everything they did after those two picks as well.  Getting Carl Davis in the third was a steal.  Nabbing Buck Allen to learn from Justin Forsett really upped Allen’s stock in dynasty rankings.  Even their late picks have a ton of upside if they can develop them to what their team needs are.  Great draft once again by the Ravens.
  27. Dallas Cowboys – We know Byron Jones won the combine, but can he win the Cowboys some games.  I like the fit with the Cowboys and you have to like them addressing the defense in this draft.  Taking Gregory in the second is a lottery ticket.  If they can get him to focus on being a professional and all that comes with that then he can really help them.  if he washes out of the league after multiple suspensions then it was only a late second round pick and not the top 10 in the first that he looked like he could and should be.  Chaz Green solves the swing tackle spot and Damien Wilson and Ryan Russell will really help this defense.  Overall you have to say Jerry did a great job this year.
  28. Detroit Lions – I really like that they traded back to take Tomlinson.  It’s not always easy to find a trade partner, especially when you really want to take a player that would be a reach.  In the second round they grabbed Amir Abdullah who is the perfect compliment to Joique Bell.  The landing spot for Abdullah really ups his dynasty rookie stock for me.  The third and fourth rounds were solid, but in the fifth I thought they should have gone with a double up at corner instead of grabbing a full back.  I would have liked if they grabbed a LB at some point, but that’s a bit of nit-picking.
  29. Indianapolis Colts – Phillip Dorsett going to Indy was a huge surprise.  It obviously ups his dynasty rookie ranking, but as far a good pick for a real NFL team on the verge of competing for a title, I’m not sure.  His speed is tremendous, but the Colts needed to get more physical and I’m not sure they came out of this draft upping their physicality enough.  Dorsett will be great for us, and Andrew Luck in fantasy football but he probably wasn’t the right pick.  Josh Robinson landed in a nice spot, but in the 6th round who knows what they really think of him long term.  remember this is the same GM that thought Trent Richardson was worthy of trading a 1st rounder for.
  30. Green Bay Packers – I thought Malcolm Brown was signed sealed and delivered to the Packers after he fell in the draft, but they decided to go with a nice FS prospect instead.  Jeff Janis truthers had to be upset with the pick of Ty Montgomery in the 3rd. (I know I was)  Overall it was a nice draft, but I was surprised they didn’t grab a tackle in a draft that had a lot of quality tackle prospects.  Jake Ryan can play and Brett Hundley was once thought of as a 1st rounder before he took a beating this year at UCLA.  If Hundley can develop as a back up to Aaron Rodgers than the Packers got a nice future trade piece.
  31. Seattle Seahawks – The Seahawks didn’t have a pick until the second round after trading for Jimmy Graham.  When they did pick in the second round they really showed themselves as a team desperate to get the Lombardi trophy back by taking Frank Clark who was not even on most team’s draft boards after he was arrested for domestic abuse. I can’t believe that they didn’t interview one witness who was there the night Clark allegedly (only because it was reduced to a misdemeanor) slammed his girlfriend’s head against a wall.  They even had the nerve to say he never hit her even though every witness including a child who ran out of the room screaming because he thought Clark was going to kill his sister said he did. (I have heard most of this situation before, but OTL on ESPN had an in-depth piece on it today)  I guess the Seahawks needed it on YouTube in order for them to pass on the last pass rusher left in the draft.  With that pick not withstanding you know the Seahawks draft well so I’m sure they came out okay, but I tuned out after Clark.  Tyler Lockett makes Doug Baldwin expendable to me.
  32. New England Patriots – I love the Patriots draft.  I really like that they took Malcolm Brown at the end of the 1st instead of trading out of the first and after that they picked really good football players.  Jordan Richards is a good football player, is he a second round talent?, I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter because the Pats think he is.  Their fourth round was fantastic as they got Trey Flowers, Tre Jackson and Shaq Mason.  Love the physicality of Mason and Jackson.  Any fringe players on the Patriots have to be concerned as it looks like they grabbed a lot of guys who will contribute and play special teams, heck they drafted a long snapper in the fifth round.


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