2010 Rookie Draft Picks, Looking Ahead! (1 Viewer)

[kremenull]

Walter Football 2010 WR Rankings

1. Arrelious Benn

2. Damian Williams

3. Dez Bryant

4. Brandon LaFell

5. Golden Tate

6. Mark Dell

7. Marshawn Gilyard

8. Eric Decker

9. Dezmon Briscoe

10. Jordan Shipley

http://walterfootball.com/draft2010WR.php

Williams over Bryant is loco. There are many other things wrong with this list, but that's the most glaring bit of insanity.

I agree. Dez Bryant is the most talented receiver I have seen in college in quite some time.

Then you must have missed out on seeing Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Charles Rogers, and Calvin Johnson. This kid isn't even in the same galaxy as either of these guys during their college days.....Production is not the same as talent.

 

[offdee]

Jonathan Dwyer with a 75yd TD run on his first carry of the season. Anybody know of a link to the video of it online somewhere?

 

[FunkyTeaParty]

Bradford just got messed up.

 

[FUBAR]

Walter Football 2010 WR Rankings

1. Arrelious Benn

2. Damian Williams

3. Dez Bryant

4. Brandon LaFell

5. Golden Tate

6. Mark Dell

7. Marshawn Gilyard

8. Eric Decker

9. Dezmon Briscoe

10. Jordan Shipley

http://walterfootball.com/draft2010WR.php

Williams over Bryant is loco. There are many other things wrong with this list, but that's the most glaring bit of insanity.

I agree. Dez Bryant is the most talented receiver I have seen in college in quite some time.

Then you must have missed out on seeing Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Charles Rogers, and Calvin Johnson. This kid isn't even in the same galaxy as either of these guys during their college days.....Production is not the same as talent.

It isn't the least bit surprising that someone wouldn't have seen Moss in college. Fitz and Calvin were also in somewhat smaller programs but were uber-hyped (deservedly so), Rogers I don't know if it's just hindsight, but I don't recall being overly impressed when I saw him although he did have good skills.IMO, Bryant is only behind Moss, Fitz and Calvin - pretty good company. Around the same level as AJ, Rogers or Braylon. Benn is pretty impressive too.

 

[mcintyre1]

Continuing Helu watch:

17 carries for 157 yards and 3 TDs against FAU. Showed excellent cutting ability and powered through arm tackles. Also showed breakaway burst that was frankly missing last season.

FAU isn't much of a team, but the Nebraska O-line had trouble opening holes at times, but Helu still gained good yardage throughout.

 

[mcintyre1]

Mark Ingram looks like an NFL back in this game.

ETA: Forgot that he's only a Sophomore.

 

[TheBaylorKid]

2010 Version of my 2008 thread from two years ago. Will update as much as possible.All commentary and opinions are welcomed.Here are my projected top 12 (first round of a 12 teamer) in your standard PPR/non-IDP league. January 2009 Update:1. Joe McKnight, RB, USC2. CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson3. DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma4. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma5. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.6. Charles Scott, RB, LSU7. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma8. LaGarette Blount, RB, Oregon 9. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois10. Anthony Dixon, RB, Miss. State11. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech12. Jake Locker, QB, U-DubHave at it.Aposulli's solid takes below:

It's a little premature until we know who actually declares among the current Juniors/Sophmores, but here are my top 2010 draft eligibles by position...QB1. Mark Sanchez, USC2. Colt McCoy, Texas3. Nate Davis, Ball State4. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame*5. Jevan Snead, Ole Miss*6. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas**7. Tim Tebow, Florida8. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan9. Jake Locker, Washington*10. Zac Robinson, Oklahoma StateSanchez and Davis have the most potential here. McCoy will be the guy everyone is talking about in 2009 as the best Senior prospect. Tebow might have to switch posistions, but will be drafted on Day 1 if I had to guess. LeFevour is a darkhorse as the top Senior. More underclassmen will come through the woodwork, but I think the most hyped will be Clausen and Snead. Clausen could be as high as QB1 in 1 year. Mallett played well at Michigan in his limited time there, and with Petrino at Arkansas, he should put up big numbers if he starts from Day 1. Locker is a good athlete and leader ala Tebow, but probably not as mechanically flawed. Robinson could use some more seasoning, but should be one of the most talked about prospects among stat-happy draft scouts.RB1. Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech*2. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma*3. Jahvid Best, Cal*4. Darren Evans, Virginia Tech**5. Derrick Washington, Missouri*6. Charles Scott, LSU7. Evan Royster, Penn State*8. Stafon Johnson, USC9. LeGarrette Blount, Oregon10. Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State*11. Joe McKnight, USC*12. Caleb King, Georgia**13. Ryan Matthews, Fresno State14. DaRel Scott, Maryland*15. Chris Brown, OklahomaKind of a crapshoot, but some of these names are sure to be at the top the list of RBs for 2010. Guys like Noel Devine (West Virginia) Javarris James and Graig Cooper (Miami), Keiland Williams (LSU), Ben Tate (Auburn), Mike Ford (South Florida), Vondrell McGee (Texas), and C.J. Gable (USC) also have decent pro prospects. There aren't any surefire stud NFL RBs here, but Dwyer and Murray could prove me wrong.WR1. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State*2. Arrelious Benn, Illinois*3. Damian Williams, USC*4. Marshwan Gilyard, Cincinnati5. Brandon LaFell, LSU6. Eric Decker, Minnesota7. Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas*8. Golden Tate, Notre Dame*9. David Gettis, Baylor10. Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech*11. Carlton Mitchell, South Florida*12. Jacoby Ford, Clemson13. Jeremy Childs, Boise State14. Jordan Shipley, Texas15. Terrance Tolliver, LSU*Benn, Bryant, and Williams could be special #1 types. I suppose it's an average class, but there are probably guys at this point who I'm underrating. Gilyard should make a great slot receiver for any NFL team. Thomas is an enigmatic talent, who may go the way of Adarius Bowman if he can't keep his attitude straight. The real special talent is one year behind this class with Julio Jones (Alabama), DeAndre Brown (Southern Illinois), and A.J. Green (Georgia).TE1. Cornelius Ingram, Florida2. Rob Gronkowski, Arizona*3. Aaron Hernandez, Florida*4. Ed Dickson, Oregon5. Dennis Pitta, BYUGood athletes are what we're all looking for at TE in fantasy circles, and all of these guys make the cut.

Class looking very good with the addition of Spiller and Bradford as well as Murray. In my mind, a legit chance for as many as FIVE RBs to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. Also time for the highly touted guys like Mcknight and Devine to show what they've got.

David Gettis update: 5 for 65 and 1 TD. Out ran Wake Forest coverage for a 37 yard bomb in the first quarter. Had soft hands instead of stone hands, not the same Gettis from the past three years.

 

[CalBear]

Jahvid Best, 10 rushes for 137 yards and 2 TDs. Four notable plays:

1) The 74-yard TD that will be on the highlights where he made a strong cut into the hole, burst through it leaving defenders grasping at air, ran 50 yards away from everyone except one guy who had an angle on him, then slowed up and waited for his blocker, set up the block, got the defender turned around, and finished the TD run strong.

2) A very nice route out of the backfield where he beat the defender, but dropped the pass. There was a hand in his face, but not on the ball. He did follow that up with a nice one-handed grab on a swing pass later, but he's not a fully polished receiver the way Reggie Bush was.

3) A TD dive where he hit two guys and still kept his momentum going forward and broke the plane.

4) His last play of the game, a 40-yard gain on a play where he reversed field, and got a good block from the QB that he cut inside of; a lot of backs would have gone to the outside of that block, which would have gotten 10-15 yards instead of 40. (Should have gone for a TD, but two downfield WRs failed to block the last defender.)

I can't imagine any way Best fails to be a successful NFL player.

 

[mcintyre1]

Full write-up of Helu's carries and analysis:

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=486202

This was a PPV game, so few actually saw it.

ETA: Helu was on the bench by the end of the third quarter, just as he was heating up. He could have easily gone 200+.

 

[BeTheMatch]

Jahvid Best, 10 rushes for 137 yards and 2 TDs. Four notable plays:

1) The 74-yard TD that will be on the highlights where he made a strong cut into the hole, burst through it leaving defenders grasping at air, ran 50 yards away from everyone except one guy who had an angle on him, then slowed up and waited for his blocker, set up the block, got the defender turned around, and finished the TD run strong.

2) A very nice route out of the backfield where he beat the defender, but dropped the pass. There was a hand in his face, but not on the ball. He did follow that up with a nice one-handed grab on a swing pass later, but he's not a fully polished receiver the way Reggie Bush was.

3) A TD dive where he hit two guys and still kept his momentum going forward and broke the plane.

4) His last play of the game, a 40-yard gain on a play where he reversed field, and got a good block from the QB that he cut inside of; a lot of backs would have gone to the outside of that block, which would have gotten 10-15 yards instead of 40. (Should have gone for a TD, but two downfield WRs failed to block the last defender.)

I can't imagine any way Best fails to be a successful NFL player.

Oh, come on now. That's great to be high on guys, but great college players bust all the time.

 

[Moonlight_Graham]

Jahvid Best, 10 rushes for 137 yards and 2 TDs. Four notable plays:

1) The 74-yard TD that will be on the highlights where he made a strong cut into the hole, burst through it leaving defenders grasping at air, ran 50 yards away from everyone except one guy who had an angle on him, then slowed up and waited for his blocker, set up the block, got the defender turned around, and finished the TD run strong.

2) A very nice route out of the backfield where he beat the defender, but dropped the pass. There was a hand in his face, but not on the ball. He did follow that up with a nice one-handed grab on a swing pass later, but he's not a fully polished receiver the way Reggie Bush was.

3) A TD dive where he hit two guys and still kept his momentum going forward and broke the plane.

4) His last play of the game, a 40-yard gain on a play where he reversed field, and got a good block from the QB that he cut inside of; a lot of backs would have gone to the outside of that block, which would have gotten 10-15 yards instead of 40. (Should have gone for a TD, but two downfield WRs failed to block the last defender.)

I can't imagine any way Best fails to be a successful NFL player.

Also, he did that in 2.5 qtrs.

 

[Moonlight_Graham]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

 

[King of the Jungle]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

Julio Jones > Benn IMO

 

[Balco]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

I started breaking down the Okl. St. - Georgia Game, and wow is Bryant good. He really reminded me of a young Terrell Owens, just a physical freak, huge hands, great body control.

 

[Balco]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

Julio Jones > Benn IMO

I think AJ Green is going to be a very good one as well. Very smooth pass catcher.

 

[Moonlight_Graham]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

Julio Jones > Benn IMO

Jones will be #1 after both Bryant and Benn declare next year. You might be right about Jones > Benn. I won't argue with that.

 

[TitusIII]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

Julio Jones > Benn IMO

Maybe in 5 years, but Benn is a beast who simply went to the wrong school. He is Anquan Boldin-esque at the NFL level, at worst...imo...

 

[Moonlight_Graham]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

Julio Jones > Benn IMO

I think AJ Green is going to be a very good one as well. Very smooth pass catcher.

I'm leary of USC WRs, but Damian Williams is pretty good. So is Brandon LaFell. WRs are so damn hard to predict at the next level. The only one I can guarantee success for is Bryant.

 

[offdee]

WR- Marvin Jones, Cal. (true Soph.)

Dude has some sweet hands and made a few sick catches yesterday. He's officially on my radar.

 

[jurb26]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

Julio Jones > Benn IMO

I think AJ Green is going to be a very good one as well. Very smooth pass catcher.

This is my favorite of the group.

 

[Balco]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

Julio Jones > Benn IMO

I think AJ Green is going to be a very good one as well. Very smooth pass catcher.

This is my favorite of the group.

Good route runner for being so tall. Also was better than expected to me when a cb tried to jam him at the line. Like I said before, very smooth, with very good hands.

 

[CalBear]

Oh, come on now. That's great to be high on guys, but great college players bust all the time.

Right, and the point of scouting is to determine which ones will bust and which will be successful. JJ Arrington rushed for over 2000 yards and 15 TDs in his senior year at Cal, but I was always ambivalent about his pro prospects, because he just didn't seem to have the moves or strength he'd need at his size. Justin Forsett rushed for over 1500 yards and 15 TDs as a senior, but he has neither the moves nor the vision to succeed. Marshawn Lynch rushed for just 1356 yards and 11 TDs, but he was obviously a much better pro prospect than either Forsett or Arrington. Best's style is very different from Lynch's, but he is transcendant in the way that Lynch was, and Arrington and Forsett are not.

 

[BeTheMatch]

Oh, come on now. That's great to be high on guys, but great college players bust all the time.

Right, and the point of scouting is to determine which ones will bust and which will be successful. JJ Arrington rushed for over 2000 yards and 15 TDs in his senior year at Cal, but I was always ambivalent about his pro prospects, because he just didn't seem to have the moves or strength he'd need at his size. Justin Forsett rushed for over 1500 yards and 15 TDs as a senior, but he has neither the moves nor the vision to succeed. Marshawn Lynch rushed for just 1356 yards and 11 TDs, but he was obviously a much better pro prospect than either Forsett or Arrington. Best's style is very different from Lynch's, but he is transcendant in the way that Lynch was, and Arrington and Forsett are not.

That's fine. I like Best a lot too. But I can imagine a scenario in which he fails to become a successful NFL back.

 

[EBF]

EARLY TOP 12

1. WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State - Lacks burner speed, but hyper athletic with great size. A better Dwayne Bowe.

2. RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech - Nice combination of size, speed, and elusiveness. Looks like a late first round talent.

3. RB CJ Spiller, Clemson - Jaw-dropping speed and athleticism. Questionable instincts. Needs to prove he can carry the load.

4. RB Jahvid Best, Cal - Dynamic athleticism and skill. Size and durability are major question marks. Warrick Dunn or Leon Washington?

5. WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati - Productive player with great combination of instincts and physical ability. Second coming of Santonio Holmes.

6. RB Stafon Johnson, USC - Not a flashy back who makes highlight reel runs, but versatile 215 pounder with NFL starter potential.

7. QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma - Bradford shows some signs of greatness. Then again, QBs are always a crapshoot.

8. WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois - Production and pedigree are hard to ignore. Needs to show me more burst next season.

9. WR Damian Williams, USC - Dominates his competition. I'm not quite sure how his game translate to the NFL.

10. RB LaGarrette Blount, Oregon - Legit talent or fool's gold? Hard to say. Upside is intriguing if he pans out.

11. WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech - Hard to evaluate because he's never targeted. Intriguing tools. Needs to show some burst and route running.

12. RB Darren Evans, Virginia Tech - Productive in a major conference. Might not have the physical ability for the next level.

This list will change drastically over the course of the next 8 months, but it's a fun starting point.

Gilyard is killin' it in the first half vs. Rutgers today. 7 catches for 78 yards and a score. I think he has all the attributes to be a successful pro. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me very much of Santonio Holmes. They have a nearly identical build, skill set, athleticism, and playing style.

 

[Balco]

EARLY TOP 12

1. WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State - Lacks burner speed, but hyper athletic with great size. A better Dwayne Bowe.

2. RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech - Nice combination of size, speed, and elusiveness. Looks like a late first round talent.

3. RB CJ Spiller, Clemson - Jaw-dropping speed and athleticism. Questionable instincts. Needs to prove he can carry the load.

4. RB Jahvid Best, Cal - Dynamic athleticism and skill. Size and durability are major question marks. Warrick Dunn or Leon Washington?

5. WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati - Productive player with great combination of instincts and physical ability. Second coming of Santonio Holmes.

6. RB Stafon Johnson, USC - Not a flashy back who makes highlight reel runs, but versatile 215 pounder with NFL starter potential.

7. QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma - Bradford shows some signs of greatness. Then again, QBs are always a crapshoot.

8. WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois - Production and pedigree are hard to ignore. Needs to show me more burst next season.

9. WR Damian Williams, USC - Dominates his competition. I'm not quite sure how his game translate to the NFL.

10. RB LaGarrette Blount, Oregon - Legit talent or fool's gold? Hard to say. Upside is intriguing if he pans out.

11. WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech - Hard to evaluate because he's never targeted. Intriguing tools. Needs to show some burst and route running.

12. RB Darren Evans, Virginia Tech - Productive in a major conference. Might not have the physical ability for the next level.

This list will change drastically over the course of the next 8 months, but it's a fun starting point.

Gilyard is killin' it in the first half vs. Rutgers today. 7 catches for 78 yards and a score. I think he has all the attributes to be a successful pro. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me very much of Santonio Holmes. They have a nearly identical build, skill set, athleticism, and playing style.

Really? I am watching the game, I think Gillyard can be a nice # 3 receiver on a team, and an excellent return man, I just don't see him as a starter in the NFL.

 

[EBF]

EARLY TOP 12

1. WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State - Lacks burner speed, but hyper athletic with great size. A better Dwayne Bowe.

2. RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech - Nice combination of size, speed, and elusiveness. Looks like a late first round talent.

3. RB CJ Spiller, Clemson - Jaw-dropping speed and athleticism. Questionable instincts. Needs to prove he can carry the load.

4. RB Jahvid Best, Cal - Dynamic athleticism and skill. Size and durability are major question marks. Warrick Dunn or Leon Washington?

5. WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati - Productive player with great combination of instincts and physical ability. Second coming of Santonio Holmes.

6. RB Stafon Johnson, USC - Not a flashy back who makes highlight reel runs, but versatile 215 pounder with NFL starter potential.

7. QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma - Bradford shows some signs of greatness. Then again, QBs are always a crapshoot.

8. WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois - Production and pedigree are hard to ignore. Needs to show me more burst next season.

9. WR Damian Williams, USC - Dominates his competition. I'm not quite sure how his game translate to the NFL.

10. RB LaGarrette Blount, Oregon - Legit talent or fool's gold? Hard to say. Upside is intriguing if he pans out.

11. WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech - Hard to evaluate because he's never targeted. Intriguing tools. Needs to show some burst and route running.

12. RB Darren Evans, Virginia Tech - Productive in a major conference. Might not have the physical ability for the next level.

This list will change drastically over the course of the next 8 months, but it's a fun starting point.

Gilyard is killin' it in the first half vs. Rutgers today. 7 catches for 78 yards and a score. I think he has all the attributes to be a successful pro. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me very much of Santonio Holmes. They have a nearly identical build, skill set, athleticism, and playing style.

Really? I am watching the game, I think Gillyard can be a nice # 3 receiver on a team, and an excellent return man, I just don't see him as a starter in the NFL.

He gets open every single play and catches everything. Did you see the screen pass? He got upfield in a hurry.Don't let the fact that he isn't 6'4" and 220 with 4.3 speed lead you to believe he can't be a pro starter. He's super smooth and really doesn't have any weaknesses in his game. Straight line speed might be the only question mark, but I think his speed is definitely adequate. With a sub 4.5 40 time he should push hard for a spot in the first round come April.

 

[EBF]

Here are some Saturday highlights from two of my favorite USC prospects:

RB Stafon Johnson -

Only one catch in this clip, but it illustrates some of his strengths. This guy is a load and he runs pretty well for his size. If he was Oklahoma he might have all the hype that Gresham does. As is he could be a 2nd-3rd round pick and a future NFL starter. I'm not sure if he has the dynamic athleticism to be a great FF TE, but he has the two way potential to start at the next level.

 

[Balco]

EARLY TOP 12

1. WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State - Lacks burner speed, but hyper athletic with great size. A better Dwayne Bowe.

2. RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech - Nice combination of size, speed, and elusiveness. Looks like a late first round talent.

3. RB CJ Spiller, Clemson - Jaw-dropping speed and athleticism. Questionable instincts. Needs to prove he can carry the load.

4. RB Jahvid Best, Cal - Dynamic athleticism and skill. Size and durability are major question marks. Warrick Dunn or Leon Washington?

5. WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati - Productive player with great combination of instincts and physical ability. Second coming of Santonio Holmes.

6. RB Stafon Johnson, USC - Not a flashy back who makes highlight reel runs, but versatile 215 pounder with NFL starter potential.

7. QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma - Bradford shows some signs of greatness. Then again, QBs are always a crapshoot.

8. WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois - Production and pedigree are hard to ignore. Needs to show me more burst next season.

9. WR Damian Williams, USC - Dominates his competition. I'm not quite sure how his game translate to the NFL.

10. RB LaGarrette Blount, Oregon - Legit talent or fool's gold? Hard to say. Upside is intriguing if he pans out.

11. WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech - Hard to evaluate because he's never targeted. Intriguing tools. Needs to show some burst and route running.

12. RB Darren Evans, Virginia Tech - Productive in a major conference. Might not have the physical ability for the next level.

This list will change drastically over the course of the next 8 months, but it's a fun starting point.

Gilyard is killin' it in the first half vs. Rutgers today. 7 catches for 78 yards and a score. I think he has all the attributes to be a successful pro. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me very much of Santonio Holmes. They have a nearly identical build, skill set, athleticism, and playing style.

Really? I am watching the game, I think Gillyard can be a nice # 3 receiver on a team, and an excellent return man, I just don't see him as a starter in the NFL.

He gets open every single play and catches everything. Did you see the screen pass? He got upfield in a hurry.Don't let the fact that he isn't 6'4" and 220 with 4.3 speed lead you to believe he can't be a pro starter. He's super smooth and really doesn't have any weaknesses in his game. Straight line speed might be the only question mark, but I think his speed is definitely adequate. With a sub 4.5 40 time he should push hard for a spot in the first round come April.

I think he has palenty of speed, watch him on returns. I just think in a traditional offense, he is no a 1 or 2. Solid slot and return guy, though.

 

[kremenull]

EARLY TOP 12

1. WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State - Lacks burner speed, but hyper athletic with great size. A better Dwayne Bowe.

2. RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech - Nice combination of size, speed, and elusiveness. Looks like a late first round talent.

3. RB CJ Spiller, Clemson - Jaw-dropping speed and athleticism. Questionable instincts. Needs to prove he can carry the load.

4. RB Jahvid Best, Cal - Dynamic athleticism and skill. Size and durability are major question marks. Warrick Dunn or Leon Washington?

5. WR Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati - Productive player with great combination of instincts and physical ability. Second coming of Santonio Holmes.

6. RB Stafon Johnson, USC - Not a flashy back who makes highlight reel runs, but versatile 215 pounder with NFL starter potential.

7. QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma - Bradford shows some signs of greatness. Then again, QBs are always a crapshoot.

8. WR Arrelious Benn, Illinois - Production and pedigree are hard to ignore. Needs to show me more burst next season.

9. WR Damian Williams, USC - Dominates his competition. I'm not quite sure how his game translate to the NFL.

10. RB LaGarrette Blount, Oregon - Legit talent or fool's gold? Hard to say. Upside is intriguing if he pans out.

11. WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech - Hard to evaluate because he's never targeted. Intriguing tools. Needs to show some burst and route running.

12. RB Darren Evans, Virginia Tech - Productive in a major conference. Might not have the physical ability for the next level.

This list will change drastically over the course of the next 8 months, but it's a fun starting point.

Gilyard is killin' it in the first half vs. Rutgers today. 7 catches for 78 yards and a score. I think he has all the attributes to be a successful pro. As I've mentioned before, he reminds me very much of Santonio Holmes. They have a nearly identical build, skill set, athleticism, and playing style.

I think Bryant is very good, taking nothing away from him. I just can't for the life of me rank WRs ahead of top-flight talent RBs in a dynasty rookie draft, unless said WR is a Moss, Calvin, or Fitz-like talent. And none of these WRs coming down the pike are that. All 3 of your top RBs are ahead of any WR for this draft at this point, for PPR or otherwise. WRs are also very dependent upon situation, for RBs, just hand 'em the ball and watch 'em rack up yards. Haven't sorted out the Top 3 RBs yet though, they are all very close right now, IMO. And all 3 look VERY GOOD! Anyone giving up a Top 3-4 pick in the 2010 rookie draft may regret it for a loooooonnng time.....Just my

 

[EBF]

I would take him 1.01 in a PPR rookie draft today. He looks like the safest pick of the entire group.

The RBs all have a lot of potential, but I don't see any of Dwyer/Best/Spiller as can't-miss franchise backs at this point.

 

[offdee]

So, what was the deal with CJ Spiller only getting 4 carries Saturday?

Sidenote: Clemson vs. Ga. Tech on national TV this Thursday night....Dwyer vs. Spiller. (stinks that it's on the same night as NFL opening night though ??)

J. Harper 15 75 5.0 12 0 0

A. Ellington 9 72 8.0 36 0 0

K. Parker 7 25 3.6 18 0 0

R. Taylor 9 22 2.4 7 0 0

C. Spiller 4 12 3.0 5 0 0

J. Ford 1 9 9.0 9 0 0

W. Korn 1 0 0.0 0 0 0

 

[BeTheMatch]

So, what was the deal with CJ Spiller only getting 4 carries Saturday?

Sidenote: Clemson vs. Ga. Tech on national TV this Thursday night....Dwyer vs. Spiller. (stinks that it's on the same night as NFL opening night though ??)

J. Harper 15 75 5.0 12 0 0

A. Ellington 9 72 8.0 36 0 0

K. Parker 7 25 3.6 18 0 0

R. Taylor 9 22 2.4 7 0 0

C. Spiller 4 12 3.0 5 0 0

J. Ford 1 9 9.0 9 0 0

W. Korn 1 0 0.0 0 0 0

He tweaked a hammy

 

[Pip's Invitation]

One of my leagues just added a rule that allows us to draft college players -- sort of like a farm roster in fantasy baseball. So this thread will help. Thanks for the discussion.

Not that anyone cares, but I took Dez Bryant.

 

[jurb26]

TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma - I'm really not impressed with his burst or lateral movement. I think he's a big, lumbering target whose straight line game won't translate to the NFL level. He's comparable to Greg Olsen in some respects. He's not a terrible player. He's just not nearly as good as advertised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eH4lRMr4Nc

This analysis is almost hysterical....I'm sorry EBF, and I don't mean to poke fun at you here, but c'mon man, open your eyes here. You say that Gresham is a big, lumbering target who doesn't show good lateral agility nor burst and then proceed to post a link that absolutely dispels about everything you said in your analysis.......This kid has tremendous athleticism, including agility (sidestepping several would-be tacklers in the vid as well as pulling away from guys in traffic, i.e, burst), especially for a big guy, remember, this is 6'5" or greater and 260 lbs.....In the video, do you not see him getting separation easily on LBs, as well as DBs, and catching very smoothly with his hands + piling up major RAC?......We can mark this one down right now.....Gresham is a CAN'T MISS STAR in the NFL...not just a Pro Bowler, but ALL-PRO...

Gresham is big and he has good straight line speed, but he's neither quick nor shifty. From what I've seen he has one move: catch the ball, run in a straight line, and crash into anyone who gets in your way. That works in college against inferior athletes, but I don't think it will work in the NFL.I watched the highlight reel again to see if I missed anything. Aside from one nice move near the goal line against Nebraska, I didn't see him show any lateral quickness. When I watched his games last year I came away with the impression that he was just a big guy who can run fast in a straight line. Nothing I've seen since then has changed my opinion.

OK! I think I see the problem then. If you're expecting a guy of this size to be "cat' quick, elusive as a waterbug, and change directions like Barry Sanders, then OK, I agree. He isn't that.But isn't the TEs primary objective to move the chains. No need to try and dance, dodge, nor duck defenders when you're working the middle of the field. Catch it and turn it up field, that's what he's supposed to do. And from what I've seen, nobody is doing it better than this kid as he also makes big plays. Look at his ypr. It's not just the system, although sure, it does help. But don't you also think that NFL teams implement facets of their systems to best utilize their best playmakers. This kid can flat-out play. Check his high-school highlight reel, which you probably have. He will be a load to defend with his combination of size/athleticism/hands/speed.....I dunno man, I'm all aboard this one and I don't think there is a surer bet at the skill positions for next year's draft than Gresham....

HS reel (Gresham jersey #2)

Well, the surest prospect (skill prospect anyway) is done for the year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4455155

 

[EBF]

Well, the surest prospect (skill prospect anyway) is done for the year.



http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4455155

Tough break for Gresham. Wasn't a big fan of his game anyhow. Oklahoma has gone from frontrunner to disaster in no time flat.

 

[BlueBandit24]

Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn injured his ankle. Anyone know the severity? IMO Dez Bryant is the #1 WR in the country, with Benn a distant 2nd.

Julio Jones > Benn IMO

I think AJ Green is going to be a very good one as well. Very smooth pass catcher.

This is my favorite of the group.

Green is a lot of fun to watch; it's too bad the Georgia offense was stagnant against Okie State. That 2011 class with Jones, Green, DeAndre Brown and Notre Dame's Michael Floyd looks pretty impressive right now.

 

[EBF]

Some additional clips from this past weekend:

WR Mardy Gilyard vs. Rutgers

Not much to see here. The game was over by halftime, so Mardy took a backseat in the second half.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8gc4R8eqXI

RB Jahvid Best vs. Maryland

Little guy, but you've gotta love the speed and quickness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Jl9Q3GjxE

WR Dez Bryant vs. Georgia

This guy is a beast. What else is new? IMO this is clearly the top skill player in the draft. Expect to hear me say it often.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycMogRp_0lg

 

[EBF]

Also some miscellaneous Jonathan Dwyer highlights from the 2008 season:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq9Yme2gczU

Pretty impressive. He's a big guy, but he also has good jukes and long speed. Best and Spiller might be first round picks because of their big play skills, but Dwyer looks like the clear RB1 for FF purposes because he has the size to be a conventional workhorse back.

 

[MAC_32]

watching Clemson/Ga Tech on DVR now

It's too bad Damaryius Thomas plays in this offense, I think he could be great but I can't tell.

Spiller's looking every bit how I expected him to, a lot of Chris Johnson in him. I've seen better from Dwyer, but if this is his floor that's a damn high floor.

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

Jonathan Dwyer vs Miami - 5 carries for 5 yards. He was injured, but I'm not sure what it was or to what extent.

 

[EBF]

Jonathan Dwyer vs Miami - 5 carries for 5 yards. He was injured, but I'm not sure what it was or to what extent.

On the flipside, Demaryius Thomas had a huge night with 6 catches for 134 yards and is starting to look like a serious contender for the WR2 spot behind Dez Bryant. There are some recent highlights available here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cobMLIxrMRw

 

[Patoons]

Jonathan Dwyer vs Miami - 5 carries for 5 yards. He was injured, but I'm not sure what it was or to what extent.

On the flipside, Demaryius Thomas had a huge night with 6 catches for 134 yards and is starting to look like a serious contender for the WR2 spot behind Dez Bryant. There are some recent highlights available here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cobMLIxrMRw

I said it earlier this summer... if these guys threw the ball more... Thomas would shoot up the charts. They were forced to throw tonight, but last year Gtech was last in the NCAA in pass attempts.Love what we're seeing out of him. Great start for the season.

 

[Patoons]

Also, I didn't see it posted in here, but James Starks (Buffalo) is out for the year and has no more years of eligibility left. It's too bad... he was an nice all around back with nice promise/size out of a smaller program.

He was starting to climb a lot of people's boards and he could have been a guy that burst onto the scene this season a la Mendenhall, D.Brown, S.Greene, etc.

 

[offdee]

Jonathan Dwyer vs Miami - 5 carries for 5 yards. He was injured, but I'm not sure what it was or to what extent.

Watched the last 2 Ga. Tech games and I have no idea why they are using Dwyer they way they are. The keep pounding him straight up the middle into piles where he has no room to utilize his speed or moves....and then they are using that other big dude (transfer from Louisville) on the outside pitches.They are both bigger backs, but Dwyer could make so much more happen if they just got him in some open space every once in a while. The one time I've seen that they actually did this was the first play of the first game and he went 75yds for a TD.

 

[Balco]

Jonathan Dwyer vs Miami - 5 carries for 5 yards. He was injured, but I'm not sure what it was or to what extent.

On the flipside, Demaryius Thomas had a huge night with 6 catches for 134 yards and is starting to look like a serious contender for the WR2 spot behind Dez Bryant. There are some recent highlights available here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cobMLIxrMRw

Would not be surprised at all if he is a 1st rounder. A beast.

 

[awesomeness]

15. Ryan Matthews, Fresno State*

Taken from aposuli's rankings, this kid looks like a nice sleeper who is quite far under the radar right now. May be the kind of player who makes a pretty decent to big push up the rankings seemingly out of nowhere. I'm not quite ready to give him the ringing endorsement, but he is intriguing.

Loved what I saw of him in the Fresno State-Rutgers game.Here is the blurb from my Scouting Post:

RYAN MATTHEWS, RUNNING BACK (5'11 210) SOPHOMORE (#21)

Stats: 26 carries 163 yards (6.3 avg) 3 tds; 1 catch 20 yards

The real deal. Hits the hole hard and aside from one play, won't bounce the ball to the outside until he gets past the first wave of defenders. Runs a bit upright. Tremendous balance, always falls forward when he is tackled. Reads blocks well, sees the hole and accelerates through it. Deceptive speed. Workhorse, gets better with more carries. Nose for the end zone. Definitely one to watch.

Watching some clips of him, he does look good. Can change directions on a dime, good quickness, keeps his feet moving all the time, good stiff arm. He's definitely someone i have my eye on now. Hopefully he'll be able to stay healthy this year, and hopefully he'll get some more targets in the receiving game. Only 8 receptions in a year and a half isn't very good, although he got very good yardage on the receptions he did have. Granted it could just be Fresno State's gameplan that's the reason for so few targets.

Ryan Mathews stats against #10 ranked Boise State tonight: 19 carries, 234 yards rushing, 3 TDs. All 3 TD runs were of 60+ yards. He also has had a gain of 50+ yards in all 3 games so far this season. His draft stock is rising.

 

[EBF]

There's lots of football left to be played, but the draft picture is gradually starting to crystallize. Here are some current thoughts on the cream of the crop and some sleepers:

WR

1. Dez Bryant, OK State - Having a mediocre season by his standards, but still looks like the only elite skill player in this draft. Big target with a smooth, explosive stride. Routinely makes circus catches. Very high ceiling. A rich man's Dwayne Bowe.

2. Demaryius Thomas, GA Tech - Making the most of limited opportunities. Physically resembles a #1 NFL WR. Another big target who moves surprisingly well. Figures to be a possession type like Marshall.

3. Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati - Explosive athlete who shows good body control and catches everything thrown his way. Part Santonio Holmes. Part Jeremy Maclin. Seemingly has all the ingredients to become a productive starter. Lacks size and power, but should work well in a system that uses speed/finesse WRs. Would be a perfect late 1st rounder for the Colts.

I haven't seen any other WRs who have really impressed me yet. I know there's quite a bit of hype on Arrelious Benn. My first impression is that he's overrated, but I'll make sure to catch 1-2 of his games this year before I reach a final verdict. Ditto that for WR Brandon LaFell. I'm lukewarm on USC WR Damian Williams. There's something missing with him. I think it's because he's a size/speed tweener who won't be quick enough to shake NFL DBs or strong enough to overpower them.

RB

1. Jonathan Dwyer, GA Tech - Looks to have a near ideal combination of size/speed. Strong enough to break tackles and fast enough to run away from defenses. Gimmicky offense often gives him big running lanes and makes it hard to evaluate his inside running and footwork. Stumbling out of the gates this year, but you can't ignore the 1300 rushing yards he posted last season. Should bounce back and ultimately become a mid-late first round pick.

2. Jahvid Best, Cal - Former high school sprinting champion whose best attribute is his speed/acceleration. Gets to top speed in a hurry and there aren't many who can catch him. Also a very good receiver who can split out wide and make plays downfield. Thin frame and limited power. Durability issues. His value in the NFL will be as a complementary back and receiver ala Reggie Bush.

3. Stafon Johnson, USC - No one else has him ranked this high, but I'm sticking with my guns on this one. Johnson is the best pro prospect of the USC RBs despite his lack of press. Really looks good this season. It's a shame they don't use him more. He's big, strong, quick, instinctive, and versatile. He would be a perennial 1200 yard rusher if not for USC's stubborn commitment to RBBC. On the downside, he lacks an elite burst and can be caught from behind in the open field. I look for him to become a lesser Marion Barber or Larry Johnson.

4. CJ Spiller, Clemson - Speed is his game. No one catches him in the open field and his third gear is right up there with some of the fastest skill prospects in recent memory like Ted Ginn and Chris Johnson. He will be a monster on returns and he'll hit big plays in the NFL because no one will catch him when he gets a lane. He catches the ball well and can be split out wide like a WR. Unfortunately, he's not a very stout and he doesn't appear to have much potential as an inside runner. He has a skinny frame with limited power. He's a dynamic player, but he looks destined for RBBC or backup duty.

I'm not too high on most of the other high profile RB prospects. DeMarco Murray has never looked like a good pro prospect to me. Joe McKnight is like a lesser version of Best. He does a lot of the same things, but also has the same weaknesses (no power and suspect durability). I see him as a situational pass catching back in the NFL.

Sleepers

RB Ryan Matthews, Fresno State - Could be this year's Donald Brown/Matt Forte who emerges from relative obscurity to post monster stats and become a top 60 draft pick. Has 447 rushing yards in only three games with a 9.1 YPC average. Looks to have an excellent size/speed combination at 5'11" 220 with enough juice to outrun defensive backs. Will have to prove that he can stay healthy.

RB Delone Carter, Syracuse - Former standout freshman working his way back from injuries. Compact runner with good power and adequate quicks. Only averaging 3.6 YPC thus far, but that's partially a result of his mediocre supporting cast. Looks like a potential 4th-7th round pick or priority free agent.

WR Kevin Jurovich, San Jose State - Exploded onto the scene a couple years ago before injuries derailed his career. Bouncing back nicely with 21 catches and 280 yards in three games this season. Quick player who shows good hands and athleticism. Far from a sure thing, but someone to monitor as the process unfolds.

 

[Balco]

Sleepers

RB Ryan Matthews, Fresno State - Could be this year's Donald Brown/Matt Forte who emerges from relative obscurity to post monster stats and become a top 60 draft pick. Has 447 rushing yards in only three games with a 9.1 YPC average. Looks to have an excellent size/speed combination at 5'11" 220 with enough juice to outrun defensive backs. Will have to prove that he can stay healthy.

RB Delone Carter, Syracuse - Former standout freshman working his way back from injuries. Compact runner with good power and adequate quicks. Only averaging 3.6 YPC thus far, but that's partially a result of his mediocre supporting cast. Looks like a potential 4th-7th round pick or priority free agent.

A couple things:1. I love Ryan Matthews as a prospect ever since seeing him shred Rutgers last year. He is very, very good, and could climb to the # 1 back when all is said and done.

2. It's funny you mention Carter, because I too have been impressed despite his low ypc. His O Line is atrocious. I really like his running style. Low base, thick lower body, I think his running style translates well to the next level.

 

[Balco]

There's lots of football left to be played, but the draft picture is gradually starting to crystallize. Here are some current thoughts on the cream of the crop and some sleepers:

WR

1. Dez Bryant, OK State - Having a mediocre season by his standards, but still looks like the only elite skill player in this draft. Big target with a smooth, explosive stride. Routinely makes circus catches. Very high ceiling. A rich man's Dwayne Bowe.

I hate to compare players, but everytime I see Dez Bryant, I see a young Terrel Owens (even down to the drops!). What a great player he is. Size and speed, huge hands. He is going to be a great pro.

 

[BeTheMatch]

There's lots of football left to be played, but the draft picture is gradually starting to crystallize. Here are some current thoughts on the cream of the crop and some sleepers:

WR

1. Dez Bryant, OK State - Having a mediocre season by his standards, but still looks like the only elite skill player in this draft. Big target with a smooth, explosive stride. Routinely makes circus catches. Very high ceiling. A rich man's Dwayne Bowe.

2. Demaryius Thomas, GA Tech - Making the most of limited opportunities. Physically resembles a #1 NFL WR. Another big target who moves surprisingly well. Figures to be a possession type like Marshall.

3. Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati - Explosive athlete who shows good body control and catches everything thrown his way. Part Santonio Holmes. Part Jeremy Maclin. Seemingly has all the ingredients to become a productive starter. Lacks size and power, but should work well in a system that uses speed/finesse WRs. Would be a perfect late 1st rounder for the Colts.

I haven't seen any other WRs who have really impressed me yet.

Eric Decker of Minnesota belongs on this list. If you don't know about him yet, you should. Good size, great hands, tough as nails, big-time competitor and a very smart player. And he's fast enough. Very easily could be a first-round pick if he keeps playing the way he always has. One of his TD catches against Cal last week was one of the best I've ever seen. Got drilled helmet to helmet when he was up high in the air but still managed to hang onto the ball and get a foot in for the score. Then got several stitches in his face and came back to score another and throw for another.