2017 Camp and Preseason Risers, Fallers, Sleepers (1 Viewer)

[az_prof]

Based on preseason camp reports and preseason games, which players do you see as Risers (players you expect to exceed expectations based on what you are seeing), Fallers (players you expect to disappoint based on what you are seeing), and Sleepers (unknowns who are emerging as possible contributors)?

Riser: Jamaal Williams. He got lots of PT with first team during camp and he has shown well so far in preason.  He probably doesn't start but if Montgomery gets hurts he could take over and be a really productive back.

Faller: James White. After his late season performance and with Blount leaving I thought White would be in a great situation. Now, I have no idea (Burkhead? Gillislee? Dion? White?) who is the lead dog in NE or if anyone is and White has not distinguished himself.

Sleeper: Robby Anderson. He showed above average speed and good hands last year as an undrafted rookie, but off season issues and a limited route tree looked to cap his potential. However, he had a good camp and with injury to Enuwa and departure of Decker, he is poised to be the most productive WR on the Jets. They have a horrible team but there should be lots of late game junk stats. His first preseason game was very impressive.

Let's hear yours?

 

[Hankmoody]

https://forums.footballguys.com/forum/topic/758352-2017-preseason-observations-thread/?do=getNewComment

 

[Bayhawks]

Riser: Jamaal Williams. He got lots of PT with first team during camp and he has shown well so far in preason.  He probably doesn't start but if Montgomery gets hurts he could take over and be a really productive back.

With regards to the above, where are you getting the "lots of PT with first team" from?  I did a search, and I came up with one GB beat reporter saying he could "push" Ty for starting duties, and that he got "some" work with the 1's, with Edgar Bennett saying he earned work with the 1's because of his pass pro.  All of this was from the first couple days in August, though.  Haven't heard anything since, & he worked exclusively with the 2's in the 1st pre-season game.  Is there something I'm missing?  He is one of my favorite rookies to grab cheaper than the "big 4," and I'd love it if he has/is earning some work with the starters, but I haven't seen it.

 

[az_prof]

With regards to the above, where are you getting the "lots of PT with first team" from?  I did a search, and I came up with one GB beat reporter saying he could "push" Ty for starting duties, and that he got "some" work with the 1's, with Edgar Bennett saying he earned work with the 1's because of his pass pro.  All of this was from the first couple days in August, though.  Haven't heard anything since, & he worked exclusively with the 2's in the 1st pre-season game.  Is there something I'm missing?  He is one of my favorite rookies to grab cheaper than the "big 4," and I'd love it if he has/is earning some work with the starters, but I haven't seen it.

Right, early in August they were sharing 1st team reps and now with soft tissue injury to Ty:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/football/professional/packers-ty-montgomery-s-leg-injury-creates-opportunity-for-jamaal/article_11a0e2c8-1b45-54c4-91ff-90b698a9b544.html

 

[Bayhawks]

Right, early in August they were sharing 1st team reps and now with soft tissue injury to Ty:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/football/professional/packers-ty-montgomery-s-leg-injury-creates-opportunity-for-jamaal/article_11a0e2c8-1b45-54c4-91ff-90b698a9b544.html

Interesting.  Thanks for sharing the link. 

Kinda hope he does well enough for me to feel more comfortable that he can do the job, but not good enough that his price rises too much before my draft next week.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Any observations as draft season unfolds?

 

[SoBeDad]

Any observations as draft season unfolds?

Garcon will have a good year. Shanahan and Hoyer are a good combo. Hoyer is under-rated, look at what he did last year  in Chicago before getting injured, and the year before in Houston.

 

[Milkman]

Riser- Jamaal Charles

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Riser: Carlos Hyde - at the beginning of TC, you'd a thought the 49ers were going to do anything they could to show him the door.  A month later, Hyde looks like the bell cow on a suddenly (looks to be) much improved team.  Hyde's always had the pedigree, but this is his 4th HC in 4 years and I think he may finally burst.

Faller: Tyreek Hill - seems like In recent years, there is that quirky 2nd year WR talent that gets pushed into a much larger role than they should (think Jordan Matthews, Cordarrelle).  Hill's 4th round ADP never sat well with me, but this preseason hasn't been a very good precursor for Hill's 2017 success.

Sleeper: Mohammed Sanu - 2nd year with Ryan/Falcons.  Guy has been extremely impressive in camp and while Julio has been out, has shown well.  Viable WR3 you can get in 14th/15th

 

[PhantomJB]

Riser: Carlos Hyde - at the beginning of TC, you'd a thought the 49ers were going to do anything they could to show him the door.  A month later, Hyde looks like the bell cow on a suddenly (looks to be) much improved team.  Hyde's always had the pedigree, but this is his 4th HC in 4 years and I think he may finally burst.

Faller: Tyreek Hill - seems like In recent years, there is that quirky 2nd year WR talent that gets pushed into a much larger role than they should (think Jordan Matthews, Cordarrelle).  Hill's 4th round ADP never sat well with me, but this preseason hasn't been a very good precursor for Hill's 2017 success.

Sleeper: Mohammed Sanu - 2nd year with Ryan/Falcons.  Guy has been extremely impressive in camp and while Julio has been out, has shown well.  Viable WR3 you can get in 14th/15th

Good list. Are you seeing Sanu in 2-WR sets? Or is ATL rotating pretty evenly across from Julio. Trying to gauge targets/oppty.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Good list. Are you seeing Sanu in 2-WR sets? Or is ATL rotating pretty evenly across from Julio. Trying to gauge targets/oppty.

Sanu is the clear #2...people don't realize that Gabriel is more of a situational WR, only played about 330 snaps.

Cant gauge WR usage from preseason as Julio largely has sat out.  And quite frankly #1 offense has gotten 4-5 drives, but Sanu is a ice under the radar get.

 

[voiceofunreason]

I think Sanu has been breaking out for 5 years. Always the same inconsistent guy that drops as many as he catches.

 

[zamboni]

Kevin White is a riser with the Meredith injury, but only if he can finally put on his big boy pants.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

I think Sanu has been breaking out for 5 years. Always the same inconsistent guy that drops as many as he catches.

Had 1 drop in 81 targets last year...

 

[zamboni]

Faller: Tyreek Hill - seems like In recent years, there is that quirky 2nd year WR talent that gets pushed into a much larger role than they should (think Jordan Matthews, Cordarrelle).  Hill's 4th round ADP never sat well with me, but this preseason hasn't been a very good precursor for Hill's 2017 success.

Relatedly, I think Kelce (obviously with the health caveat) gets a bump here despite his already high status among TEs. Smith may look to  Kelce even more with Hill's struggles, and with Ware out of the picture, they don't have a hammer at the goal line. May finally give Kelce more red zone looks that has been missing from his repertoire in recent years. 

 

[Tanner9919]

risers

Evan Engram - going to catch a lot of balls in 2017..he's lining up all over the place, and Eli is looking his way often.

K. Hunt ( obviously)

Ty Montgomery - looked incredibly sharp the other night. HE's the #1 RB in the #1 offense so he should produce big time #'s..grab J. Williams as insurance.

A. Rodgers - looks like he might be throw something like 45 Tds or so..he's just more valuable than last year.

R. Kelley,

Garcon looks the part of an 85+ catch WR,

J. Hill - no, overrated Mixon will NOT steal the starting RB job in  in Cincy..it's Hill's for the season.

Fallers

Fournette - foot injury on same leg he's had problems with in college, Bortles, lousy Jags offense and bad coaching staff..they look bad..no thanks

Kyle Rudolph - forgotten man in Minny's offense this preseason might be a sign of things to come.

A. Luck - not playing in 2017 , folks..the entire Colts' offense is in turmoil.

J. Howard - still a solid RB but growing pains in the offense keep him limited.

 

[chad in Indy]

Riser: Carlos Hyde - at the beginning of TC, you'd a thought the 49ers were going to do anything they could to show him the door.  A month later, Hyde looks like the bell cow on a suddenly (looks to be) much improved team.  Hyde's always had the pedigree, but this is his 4th HC in 4 years and I think he may finally burst.

Faller: Tyreek Hill - seems like In recent years, there is that quirky 2nd year WR talent that gets pushed into a much larger role than they should (think Jordan Matthews, Cordarrelle).  Hill's 4th round ADP never sat well with me, but this preseason hasn't been a very good precursor for Hill's 2017 success.

Sleeper: Mohammed Sanu - 2nd year with Ryan/Falcons.  Guy has been extremely impressive in camp and while Julio has been out, has shown well.  Viable WR3 you can get in 14th/15th

Can you provide a bit more insight into Hill?  I haven't been able to watch him preseason.  What are the struggles?  Routes, catching, report with Smith?  etc...

 

[CentralPA]

Can you provide a bit more insight into Hill?  I haven't been able to watch him preseason.  What are the struggles?  Routes, catching, report with Smith?  etc...

I watched a little bit of the game.  There was one pass from Smith to Hill where Hill probably should've caught it but it was poorly placed pass too.

 

[BobbyLayne]

risers

J. Hill - no, overrated Mixon will NOT steal the starting RB job in  in Cincy..it's Hill's for the season.

Could you expand on what led you to this conclusion?

 

[simey]

Fallers

Kyle Rudolph - forgotten man in Minny's offense this preseason might be a sign of things to come.

He is out with a hurt knee right now. He hasn't been forgotten about. I read an article last week on how Zimmer wants Rudolph to work on his blocking so he can become a complete tight end. He wants him on the field a lot.  Zimmer had him watch another TE to pick up points on how to pass and run block. Shurmur said unless you're the QB, you have a job to help block, especially if you're a TE. He said Rudolph has improved on that, and is focused even more on improving in that area. He will still be targeted in the passing game. They want him to be able to do everything.

 

[Ilov80s]

Could you expand on what led you to this conclusion?

He's getting a lot of 1st team touches and got he GL carries in game 3 of preseason. 

 

[Ilov80s]

Can you provide a bit more insight into Hill?  I haven't been able to watch him preseason.  What are the struggles?  Routes, catching, report with Smith?  etc...

He dropped a few passes the other day. 

 

[Milkman]

Adam Thielen's usage in the 3rd preseason game was very encouraging.......He's rising up my dynasty rankings looking into the future would love to see what a coaching change does. So I'm higher on him in dynasty than redraft.

 

[zamboni]

Thinking that Hilton and Moncrief are fallers due to the increasing possibility of Luck missing more time than just week 1.

 

[voiceofunreason]

Had 1 drop in 81 targets last year...

You're right he cleaned up the drops. Still a breakout every year and then has 500 yards. It's like hankerson, I'll let someone else take up a roster spot waiting for it to happen.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Can you provide a bit more insight into Hill?  I haven't been able to watch him preseason.  What are the struggles?  Routes, catching, report with Smith?  etc...

What was noted above...had a couple of drops and while pre-season stats are always sketchy to go by, for a guy who is going ahead of other receivers like Crabtree, Adams, Jeffrey, Bryant and just behind Demaryius and Keenan Allen...I think you would have liked to see some evidence of him belonging in this tier during August versus having some drop issues and aside from one pretty 32 yard reception, little production.