| Every year, many rookies come into the league | | | | field. He is not an every-down back, but will get |
| and, outside of RBs, very few make much of an | | | | 8-10 carries a game, catch some passes and |
| impact. Maximum Fantasy Sports has put its | | | | return kicks. If your league awards players for |
| collective heads together and has ranked the | | | | TDs on returns, bump Spiller up a round. |
| Top-5 fantasy football relevant rookies at the | | | | However, I would not look in his direction until |
| core skill positions and their projected draft round | | | | rounds 7-8. |
| in standard 12-team fantasy football leagues. | | | | 5. Toby Gerhart (Minnesota): Gerhart is a bruiser. I |
| Receivers have a chance to shine in their first | | | | would love to have him on my team if I had an |
| year, but tend to be very inconsistent and require | | | | NFL franchise. From a fantasy standpoint, he is |
| a year or two of patience. However, many of us | | | | playing behind Adrian Peterson. That keeps him |
| play in deep Keeper leagues, so we need to think | | | | from being the workhorse that he is capable of |
| about the future as well as the present. Do NOT | | | | unless AP gets hurt. He will still get 10 carries a |
| hang your current season on a rookie QB. Even | | | | game, but don't overpay for a part-time player. I |
| the great Peyton Manning had an average season. | | | | would not reach in his direction until the 8th round. |
| The pro game is much more complex and much | | | | Wide Receivers |
| faster than any team these fellas played against, | | | | |
| or played for, in college. It still amazes me that | | | | 1. Demaryius Thomas (Denver): Thomas could be |
| they get drafted in the NFL so high and get paid | | | | in line for a huge year. Denver has no clear-cut #1 |
| so much money before proving they can handle | | | | WR. Brandon Marshall is gone and Eddie Royal was |
| the transition. I think it is a HUGE stretch to | | | | a no-show last year. He did not receive much |
| imagine Sam Bradford even approaching the skill | | | | press in college since he played at Georgia Tech |
| and success of Tom Brady, yet, the Rams | | | | and they love their option offense there. |
| decided that monetarily, he was worth more. | | | | However, this kid is good and will be productive. I |
| Good luck justifying that to your accounting staff! | | | | would consider him late in the 6th round. |
| Below is the consensus review from Maximum | | | | 2. Dez Bryant (Dallas): Funny how the Cowboys |
| Fantasy Sports for the current draftable NFL | | | | ended up drafting Bryant after former Cowboy, |
| rookies. | | | | Deion Sanders, helped end Bryant's college career |
| Quarterbacks | | | | prematurely. Since Bryant was a first round pick, |
| | | | it is obvious to Cowboys' management that |
| 1. Sam Bradford (St. Louis): Bradford had a very | | | | trading for Roy Williams was a bad idea. Should |
| forgettable 2009 thanks to getting pounded into | | | | Bryant stay out of trouble, he could do well in the |
| the turf on two separate occasions and suffering | | | | Cowboys' offense with Miles Austin across the |
| shoulder injuries. Sadly, Oklahoma's OL may be | | | | field. Look to grab him in rounds 9-10. |
| better than St. Louis'. Bradford may be the only | | | | 3. Arrelious Benn (Tampa): Benn's talent was |
| rookie QB from this class who has a guaranteed | | | | wasted at Illinois thanks to poor play of QB Juice |
| starting position, but the Rams will stack the | | | | Williams. Sadly, he moves to a Tampa team that |
| playbook with running plays and you will be | | | | is eerily similar to the Illini; devoid of talent. I will |
| hard-pressed to find a reason to start Bradford | | | | admit that Bucs' QB Josh Freeman played pretty |
| for a few years. He is a last round pick at best. | | | | well under the circumstances that he was thrown |
| 2. Jimmy Clausen (Carolina): Clausen will be given | | | | into last year. Should these two players click, |
| the chance to win the starting position in Carolina. | | | | Benn could have a big season. He is a solid 9th |
| Should he do it, he has a leg up on Bradford in the | | | | round pick. |
| name of Steve Smith. Clausen could do well in | | | | 4. Golden Tate (Seattle): Tate was fabulous in |
| Carolina if he stays humble since they have a nice | | | | college and should easily move into the pro game. |
| RB duo and he comes from a pro-style offense | | | | He is a little short for the pro game, but will work |
| at Notre Dame. Monitor training camp and | | | | nicely in the slot and will get good YAC. As long at |
| consider drafting Clausen in rounds 10-12 should he | | | | Matt Hasselbeck stays healthy, Tate will put up |
| be playing well. | | | | good numbers. I would not reach for him before |
| 3. Colt McCoy (Cleveland): Though McCoy dropped | | | | round 12 though. |
| a lot farther in the draft than I would have | | | | 5. Eric Decker (Denver): Denver had such little |
| guessed, he ended up in a nice position. Cleveland | | | | faith in their current receivers that they drafted |
| has very young players at the skill positions that | | | | two receivers this year in the first three rounds! |
| he can easily bond with. With only INT-prone Jake | | | | Decker, like Thomas, is a big receiver with good |
| Delhomme in front of him, he could wrestle the | | | | hands. He ended his Gopher career with a foot |
| job away this year and hold onto it for a very | | | | injury, but that will not hamper him this year. I |
| long time. I would consider grabbing him in the last | | | | would grab Decker in the 12th round. |
| round in Keeper leagues. | | | | Tight Ends |
| 4. John Skelton (Arizona): I admit, I did not see | | | | |
| Skelton play in college. My DirecTV College Game | | | | 1. Rob Gronkowski (New England): The Pats lost |
| Plan did not pick up any Fordham games. Skelton | | | | their two starting tight ends from 2009 and filled |
| finds himself in an enviable situation in Arizona. He | | | | that void nicely in this year's draft. Gronkowski is |
| is playing behind Matt Leinart and could be | | | | 6'6" and has great hands. He could revive |
| throwing to Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston. | | | | memories of Ben Coates in New England. With |
| Leinart has not impressed in the opportunities he | | | | the NFL having so many productive tight ends, |
| has had under center since being drafted. It is his | | | | you could probably steal him in the 11th round. |
| job this year, but, if he flounders, I would not be | | | | 2. Ed Dickson (Baltimore): The Ravens opened up |
| surprised to see the Cardinals give Skelton a shot. | | | | the passing game last year, showing great |
| Do not draft Skelton but this is definitely a | | | | confidence in QB Joe Flacco. One area that has |
| situation to keep an eye on this year. | | | | underperformed in Baltimore the past few years |
| 5. Tim Tebow (Denver): with Kyle Orton and | | | | is the tight end position. Todd Heap has been too |
| Brady Quinn ahead of him, he has no chance of | | | | beat-up to effectively contribute so Dickson was |
| playing for a few years and I am not convinced | | | | brought in to help him into retirement. I could see |
| he can do the job. Do not draft! | | | | taking a flier on Dickson in the 14th round. |
| Running Backs | | | | 3. Jimmy Graham (New Orleans): The Saints has |
| | | | concerns about Jeremy Shockey's health even |
| 1. Ryan Mathews (San Diego): I love this kid as will | | | | before his May seizure. Graham is also 6'6" and |
| the Chargers fans. He is big, strong and quick for | | | | has nice "ups", as displayed in his basketball career. |
| his size. San Diego needed a power back to | | | | Drew Brees likes getting his tight ends involved in |
| complement Darren Sproles and Mathews is that | | | | the passing game so Graham has nice potential |
| back. He is the first rookie that I would look at. I | | | | for catching a few passes per game and the |
| would consider him late in the 3rd round but | | | | occasional TD. I would think about grabbing him |
| shouldn't last long into the fourth round. | | | | with my last pick. |
| 2. Ben Tate (Houston): Steve Slaton was a gold | | | | 4. Jermaine Gresham (Cincinnati): At 6'5", Gresham |
| mine for his owners....in 2008. He fell off the map | | | | has the size to contribute in Cincinnati. However, I |
| last year and raised many doubts in Houston | | | | am skeptical about the Bengals offense and their |
| about his long-term credentials. They grabbed | | | | ability to use Gresham effectively. The Bengals |
| Tate at the end of the second round and will give | | | | drafted Chase Coffman last year and failed to |
| him the chance to be their franchise back. He has | | | | utilize him at all. Granted, I am no talent scout, but |
| a chance to duplicate Slaton's 2008 numbers and | | | | I saw Coffman played at Missouri and thought he |
| should be considered draftable in late round four. | | | | would have fit nicely in Cincinnati. Take a |
| 3. Jahvid Best (Detroit): If Kevin Smith can be | | | | wait-and-see approach with Gresham. |
| productive in Detroit, Best certainly can. With | | | | 5. Anthony McCoy (Seattle): Pete Carroll extended |
| Smith coming off of a knee injury, Best will get | | | | an olive branch to USC-grad McCoy in the 6th |
| the starting nod. The only concern with Best is | | | | round of this year's draft. John Carlson is the |
| that he has already suffered multiple concussions | | | | current pass-catching TE for Seattle, but Carroll is |
| and will be facing bigger, stronger, harder-hitting | | | | very loyal and may work McCoy into the offense |
| defenses in the NFL. Grab him in the 4th-5th | | | | as the season progresses. Do not draft but keep |
| round. | | | | an eye on the Seahawks' box score. |
| 4. C.J. Spiller (Buffalo): Spiller is electrifying on the | | | | |