[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (3 Viewers)

[ILUVBEER99]

ASJ has the biggest upside. There are so many TE's out there so why not go for the biggest upside TE available. His combo of size and athleticism is not comparable to anyone in the NFL today. I say go with the upside of ASJ as the #1 TE in the 2014 draft. The depth at TE in the NFL today (plus add 3 sure fire can't miss guys in this draft) is making me strongly consider making my dynasty leagues start 2 TEs or adding a flex position (I don't like and don't use flex today). In a 12 team league today it is far too easy to "make it work" with a TE off the waiver wire than is should be. For this reason I rank ASJ and his size and athleticism as the # 1 TE in this draft.

Go for it! If you miss - who cares..... Pick up Zach Ertz (or the next Zach Ertz) and roll with him....

This just isn't true, and it's making me think you're still caught up in the devy hype from a year or two ago.

I think that he was waaaaayyyy under-utilized at UW.... 6 foot, Six ATHLETE! Throw it high!!!!

I agree with you, but it doesn't have anything to do with the statement you made that I bolded. He's not a physical freak other than being big and tall.

Yup, if someone is looking for freakish ability it's Ebron they should be taking

 

[Brewtown]

ASJ has the biggest upside. There are so many TE's out there so why not go for the biggest upside TE available. His combo of size and athleticism is not comparable to anyone in the NFL today. I say go with the upside of ASJ as the #1 TE in the 2014 draft. The depth at TE in the NFL today (plus add 3 sure fire can't miss guys in this draft) is making me strongly consider making my dynasty leagues start 2 TEs or adding a flex position (I don't like and don't use flex today). In a 12 team league today it is far too easy to "make it work" with a TE off the waiver wire than is should be. For this reason I rank ASJ and his size and athleticism as the # 1 TE in this draft.

Go for it! If you miss - who cares..... Pick up Zach Ertz (or the next Zach Ertz) and roll with him....

This just isn't true, and it's making me think you're still caught up in the devy hype from a year or two ago.

I think that he was waaaaayyyy under-utilized at UW.... 6 foot, Six ATHLETE! Throw it high!!!!

I agree with you, but it doesn't have anything to do with the statement you made that I bolded. He's not a physical freak other than being big and tall.

Other than being big and tall..... Have you ever played one on one against a guy who is not as tall as you. Maybe someone who is just as good an athlete but shorter?? 9 times out of 10 your going to win the matchup.

And- oh yeah- did I mention how good an athlete ASJ is?

I don't even know what devy means. Screw devy- ASJ passes the eye test. Huge upside and A#1 on my board!

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Huh. I didn't think there was anybody left who still had ASJ as the #1 TE.

Good to know. I realize he was underutilized, it just seems like Amaro and Ebron have higher upside purely as receivers.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

ASJ has the biggest upside. There are so many TE's out there so why not go for the biggest upside TE available. His combo of size and athleticism is not comparable to anyone in the NFL today. I say go with the upside of ASJ as the #1 TE in the 2014 draft. The depth at TE in the NFL today (plus add 3 sure fire can't miss guys in this draft) is making me strongly consider making my dynasty leagues start 2 TEs or adding a flex position (I don't like and don't use flex today). In a 12 team league today it is far too easy to "make it work" with a TE off the waiver wire than is should be. For this reason I rank ASJ and his size and athleticism as the # 1 TE in this draft.

Go for it! If you miss - who cares..... Pick up Zach Ertz (or the next Zach Ertz) and roll with him....

This just isn't true, and it's making me think you're still caught up in the devy hype from a year or two ago.

I think that he was waaaaayyyy under-utilized at UW.... 6 foot, Six ATHLETE! Throw it high!!!!

I agree with you, but it doesn't have anything to do with the statement you made that I bolded. He's not a physical freak other than being big and tall.

Other than being big and tall..... Have you ever played one on one against a guy who is not as tall as you. Maybe someone who is just as good an athlete but shorter?? 9 times out of 10 your going to win the matchup.

And- oh yeah- did I mention how good an athlete ASJ is?

I don't even know what devy means. Screw devy- ASJ passes the eye test. Huge upside and A#1 on my board!

Dude. Stop trying to change the point I'm making.

You said this:

His combo of size and athleticism is not comparable to anyone in the NFL today.

It's bogus. Not even debatable.

I like ASJ as well. But he's not what you're making him out to be. Again, see the bolded comment.

 

[EBF]

Who are the rookies with a high level of talent but will be lower in draft and under the radar due to injury or off-field issues? Last year included Keenan Allen, Lattimore, Ogletree, and even Lacy to a degree.

Marqise Lee is a little underrated right now. I think teams will be too smart to let him fall out of the first round when the draft rolls around, but players like Watkins and Evans have tangibly more hype. I believe Lee is a much safer prospect than Evans and a very high-certainty type of prospect.

 

[EBF]

Rotoworld:

Indiana junior WR Cody Latimer has signed with an agent and has declared for the NFL draft, according to draft insider Tony Pauline.
Latimer is reportedly training in Florida. Latimer hauled in 72 receptions for 1,096 yards and nine touchdowns this season and is listed at 6'3/206 pounds. There was some turnover at the quarterback position, but Latimer was arguably the school's best offensive player.

Source: Tony Pauline on Twitter

Never heard of this kid until 15 minutes ago, but after doing a bit of research this guy looks really good. Real nice size at 6'3, 215lbs, nice production at 70 receptions, 1100 yards, 9 TDs, showed up against tough opponents like Missouri, Penn State, and Michigan, and he even had a nice 1 on 1 jump ball TD catch against the best CB in the country in Darqueze Dennard that's viewable here. And watching some other highlights videos (video 1, video 2) he definitely looks the part of an NFL #1 WR displaying speed, really nice hands and WR skills, and winning a bunch of jump balls. Would like to see more examples of him taking short passes deep with his YAC ability, but even so, guy has immediately become one of my favourite WRs in this draft.

He came onto my radar a few weeks ago. Could end up being a pretty nice 2nd-3rd round prospect. Maybe a better version of Nick Toon.

 

[EBF]

ASJ has the biggest upside. There are so many TE's out there so why not go for the biggest upside TE available. His combo of size and athleticism is not comparable to anyone in the NFL today. I say go with the upside of ASJ as the #1 TE in the 2014 draft. The depth at TE in the NFL today (plus add 3 sure fire can't miss guys in this draft) is making me strongly consider making my dynasty leagues start 2 TEs or adding a flex position (I don't like and don't use flex today). In a 12 team league today it is far too easy to "make it work" with a TE off the waiver wire than is should be. For this reason I rank ASJ and his size and athleticism as the # 1 TE in this draft.

Go for it! If you miss - who cares..... Pick up Zach Ertz (or the next Zach Ertz) and roll with him....

This just isn't true, and it's making me think you're still caught up in the devy hype from a year or two ago.

I think that he was waaaaayyyy under-utilized at UW.... 6 foot, Six ATHLETE! Throw it high!!!!

I agree with you, but it doesn't have anything to do with the statement you made that I bolded. He's not a physical freak other than being big and tall.

Other than being big and tall..... Have you ever played one on one against a guy who is not as tall as you. Maybe someone who is just as good an athlete but shorter?? 9 times out of 10 your going to win the matchup.

And- oh yeah- did I mention how good an athlete ASJ is?

I don't even know what devy means. Screw devy- ASJ passes the eye test. Huge upside and A#1 on my board!

Athletic can mean lots of things. ASJ moves well for a big guy and he has the basketball skills to win contested catches. He's athletic in that sense, but not in the same sense that Vernon Davis and Jimmy Graham are athletic. Do not expect him to rip off a 4.3.-4.5 40 or outrun NFL defensive backs. I expect a 40 time in the 4.7-4.8 range.

 

[EBF]

De'Anthony Thomas is gone from Oregon.

http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=209360406

Started out the CFB season strong, but sat out some games with an injury and fell behind in the RB pecking order to Thomas Tyner and Byron Marshall. By the end of the year he was the 3rd string ball carrier. Developed a reputation among Oregon fans for being a little bit of a diva. Took a long time to bounce back from his injury (people think he might have been sandbagging to protect his body and his draft stock), made some foolish comments to the media, and allegedly missed a practice in the build-up to the bowl game. Basically, his head was not in the game this year.

Not that high on his FF potential myself. Has no position. Too small to play RB. Not a great pure WR. Some Oregon fans think he's been a CB masquerading as a running back all along. He's explosive with the ball in his hands though and I'm sure someone will use a pick on him for a gadget/return man role.

 

[Brewtown]

Who are the rookies with a high level of talent but will be lower in draft and under the radar due to injury or off-field issues? Last year included Keenan Allen, Lattimore, Ogletree, and even Lacy to a degree.

Marqise Lee is a little underrated right now. I think teams will be too smart to let him fall out of the first round when the draft rolls around, but players like Watkins and Evans have tangibly more hype. I believe Lee is a much safer prospect than Evans and a very high-certainty type of prospect.

I agree on Lee.

A few guys that I think have value and are a little more under the radar are:

Isaiah Crowell - talent doesn't just go away!!! Don't follow he herd and avoid the guy just because he has been arrested. Who cares!

Cody Hoffman - steady production who I think has the look of a good pro. He just has the look of a good, smooth NFL WR with nice PPR potential.

 

[EBF]

Also just saw that Donte Moncrief is officially in the draft:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20140105/ole-miss-donte-moncrief/

I see him as a better version of Terrance Williams. Similar body type and style. Better athlete.

He won't go round 1, but the 2nd is a possibility and I can't see him falling out of the 3rd.

This really might be the deepest WR class I can ever remember. Kind of ridiculous.

 

[Brewtown]

ASJ has the biggest upside. There are so many TE's out there so why not go for the biggest upside TE available. His combo of size and athleticism is not comparable to anyone in the NFL today. I say go with the upside of ASJ as the #1 TE in the 2014 draft. The depth at TE in the NFL today (plus add 3 sure fire can't miss guys in this draft) is making me strongly consider making my dynasty leagues start 2 TEs or adding a flex position (I don't like and don't use flex today). In a 12 team league today it is far too easy to "make it work" with a TE off the waiver wire than is should be. For this reason I rank ASJ and his size and athleticism as the # 1 TE in this draft.

Go for it! If you miss - who cares..... Pick up Zach Ertz (or the next Zach Ertz) and roll with him....

This just isn't true, and it's making me think you're still caught up in the devy hype from a year or two ago.

I think that he was waaaaayyyy under-utilized at UW.... 6 foot, Six ATHLETE! Throw it high!!!!

I agree with you, but it doesn't have anything to do with the statement you made that I bolded. He's not a physical freak other than being big and tall.

Other than being big and tall..... Have you ever played one on one against a guy who is not as tall as you. Maybe someone who is just as good an athlete but shorter?? 9 times out of 10 your going to win the matchup.

And- oh yeah- did I mention how good an athlete ASJ is?

I don't even know what devy means. Screw devy- ASJ passes the eye test. Huge upside and A#1 on my board!

Athletic can mean lots of things. ASJ moves well for a big guy and he has the basketball skills to win contested catches. He's athletic in that sense, but not in the same sense that Vernon Davis and Jimmy Graham are athletic. Do not expect him to rip off a 4.3.-4.5 40 or outrun NFL defensive backs. I expect a 40 time in the 4.7-4.8 range.

I think he'll run in the high 4.6/low 4.7 range. That is damn good for a guy his size.

Rob Gronkowski ran a 4.65.....

 

[ex-ghost]

Bortles going pro.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/05/report-blake-bortles-turning-pro/

 

[EBF]

ASJ has the biggest upside. There are so many TE's out there so why not go for the biggest upside TE available. His combo of size and athleticism is not comparable to anyone in the NFL today. I say go with the upside of ASJ as the #1 TE in the 2014 draft. The depth at TE in the NFL today (plus add 3 sure fire can't miss guys in this draft) is making me strongly consider making my dynasty leagues start 2 TEs or adding a flex position (I don't like and don't use flex today). In a 12 team league today it is far too easy to "make it work" with a TE off the waiver wire than is should be. For this reason I rank ASJ and his size and athleticism as the # 1 TE in this draft.

Go for it! If you miss - who cares..... Pick up Zach Ertz (or the next Zach Ertz) and roll with him....

This just isn't true, and it's making me think you're still caught up in the devy hype from a year or two ago.

I think that he was waaaaayyyy under-utilized at UW.... 6 foot, Six ATHLETE! Throw it high!!!!

I agree with you, but it doesn't have anything to do with the statement you made that I bolded. He's not a physical freak other than being big and tall.

Other than being big and tall..... Have you ever played one on one against a guy who is not as tall as you. Maybe someone who is just as good an athlete but shorter?? 9 times out of 10 your going to win the matchup.

And- oh yeah- did I mention how good an athlete ASJ is?

I don't even know what devy means. Screw devy- ASJ passes the eye test. Huge upside and A#1 on my board!

Athletic can mean lots of things. ASJ moves well for a big guy and he has the basketball skills to win contested catches. He's athletic in that sense, but not in the same sense that Vernon Davis and Jimmy Graham are athletic. Do not expect him to rip off a 4.3.-4.5 40 or outrun NFL defensive backs. I expect a 40 time in the 4.7-4.8 range.

I think he'll run in the high 4.6/low 4.7 range. That is damn good for a guy his size.

Rob Gronkowski ran a 4.65.....

We won't know until we know. It's possible that he could run a decent time with event-specific training, but he clearly does not play fast.

Witness how quickly the defenders close the gap on him during the play at 2:37 on this reel:

http://youtu.be/lPZ5ZDWEADo?t=2m36s

I actually like ASJ somewhat, but as I've repeated ad nauseam all year, this is where the "freak" talk really breaks down. Jimmy Graham ran a 4.53 at 6'6"+ and 260 pounds. Kellen Winslow ran a 4.55 at 247 pounds. Vernon Davis ran a 4.38 (!!) at 254 pounds. Those guys were freaks. ASJ is merely a big body with good fluidity, good box out skills, and strong hands. In those categories he might be better than Ebron, but Ebron is certainly more reminiscent of the new breed of hyper athletic hybrid players who have come to dominate the position in FF. ASJ had a season-long catch of 34 yards. Ebron had two 70+ yard catches and another 50+ yarder. That alone says a lot about their athletic ability and explosiveness.

 

[Brewtown]

Also just saw that Donte Moncrief is officially in the draft:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20140105/ole-miss-donte-moncrief/

I see him as a better version of Terrance Williams. Similar body type and style. Better athlete.

He won't go round 1, but the 2nd is a possibility and I can't see him falling out of the 3rd.

This really might be the deepest WR class I can ever remember. Kind of ridiculous.

The dynasty leagues that I am in only have 2 round rookie drafts each year. This year the 24th pick (last pick in the second round) is gonna have the value of a late first rounder (10-12 range). I think there is so much value in the 2nd round of rookie drafts this year. It's probably a good idea to go and trade for additional 2nd round picks. In most years people are willing to part with them as throw-ins to trades. It is also probably a good thought to trade-down in many scenarios because of the depth that is gonna be out there.

Looking forward to the draft!

 

[Brewtown]

ASJ has the biggest upside. There are so many TE's out there so why not go for the biggest upside TE available. His combo of size and athleticism is not comparable to anyone in the NFL today. I say go with the upside of ASJ as the #1 TE in the 2014 draft. The depth at TE in the NFL today (plus add 3 sure fire can't miss guys in this draft) is making me strongly consider making my dynasty leagues start 2 TEs or adding a flex position (I don't like and don't use flex today). In a 12 team league today it is far too easy to "make it work" with a TE off the waiver wire than is should be. For this reason I rank ASJ and his size and athleticism as the # 1 TE in this draft.

Go for it! If you miss - who cares..... Pick up Zach Ertz (or the next Zach Ertz) and roll with him....

This just isn't true, and it's making me think you're still caught up in the devy hype from a year or two ago.

I think that he was waaaaayyyy under-utilized at UW.... 6 foot, Six ATHLETE! Throw it high!!!!

I agree with you, but it doesn't have anything to do with the statement you made that I bolded. He's not a physical freak other than being big and tall.

Other than being big and tall..... Have you ever played one on one against a guy who is not as tall as you. Maybe someone who is just as good an athlete but shorter?? 9 times out of 10 your going to win the matchup.

And- oh yeah- did I mention how good an athlete ASJ is?

I don't even know what devy means. Screw devy- ASJ passes the eye test. Huge upside and A#1 on my board!

Athletic can mean lots of things. ASJ moves well for a big guy and he has the basketball skills to win contested catches. He's athletic in that sense, but not in the same sense that Vernon Davis and Jimmy Graham are athletic. Do not expect him to rip off a 4.3.-4.5 40 or outrun NFL defensive backs. I expect a 40 time in the 4.7-4.8 range.

I think he'll run in the high 4.6/low 4.7 range. That is damn good for a guy his size.

Rob Gronkowski ran a 4.65.....

We won't know until we know. It's possible that he could run a decent time with event-specific training, but he clearly does not play fast.

Witness how quickly the defenders close the gap on him during the play at 2:37 on this reel:

http://youtu.be/lPZ5ZDWEADo?t=2m36s

I actually like ASJ somewhat, but as I've repeated ad nauseam all year, this is where the "freak" talk really breaks down. Jimmy Graham ran a 4.53 at 6'6"+ and 260 pounds. Kellen Winslow ran a 4.55 at 247 pounds. Vernon Davis ran a 4.38 (!!) at 254 pounds. Those guys were freaks. ASJ is merely a big body with good fluidity, good box out skills, and strong hands. In those categories he might be better than Ebron, but Ebron is certainly more reminiscent of the new breed of hyper athletic hybrid players who have come to dominate the position in FF. ASJ had a season-long catch of 34 yards. Ebron had two 70+ yard catches and another 50+ yarder. That alone says a lot about their athletic ability and explosiveness.

Witten ran a 4.65

Julius Thomas ran a 4.64

All of these guys do event specific training for the combine (except for Maurice Clarett-he was training for something else). If they don't-they are idiots!

Ebron is the safer pick and should be a great NFL TE. I think ASJ's ceiling is higher because of the height/athleticism combination.

If ASJ runs a 40 in the 4.6's-LOOKOUT!

 

[slackjawedyokel]

I am hoping STL passes on Watkins. I'm sure he'll be good anywhere, but with the way they have invested in WR's, I am afraid he would lack consistency. I could be totally wrong but it seems like a poor fit to me.

 

[EBF]

Witten ran a 4.65

Julius Thomas ran a 4.64

All of these guys do event specific training for the combine (except for Maurice Clarett-he was training for something else). If they don't-they are idiots!

Those are pretty fast times and I'll be a little surprised if ASJ hits that mark. As football fans we've come to think of 4.6 as being pretty slow, but in reality that is a very fast time. The average man in his athletic prime can't run anywhere near that. I'd go even further and suggest that if you can clock a legitimate electronic 4.65 in the 40 then you'd probably be one of the fastest guys in school at the average American high school.

Obviously ASJ is on a different athletic plane compared with your average Joe off the street, but my point is that you should be reluctant to assume that he's going to run that kind of time. 4.6 is pretty ho-hum speed for a RB and downright slow for a WR, but it's quite fast for a TE. That's the type of time that Eifert ran and, to my eyes, ASJ doesn't have anywhere near the same fast twitch burst as Eifert. Consider for a moment that Bengals ILB Vontaze Burfict (a Pac-12 star) ran a 5.00 40 at the combine. Stanford ILB Shayne Skov, arguably a future NFL starter and one of the best ILB in college football, is projected to run a 4.84-5.14 by Draft Scout.

Those are standout players in a major college conference. NFL caliber athletes. And (barring a surprise from Skov) neither one of them is even close to 4.6 speed. There just aren't that many 250+ pound guys walking around the planet who can run a 40 in 4.70 or better. You never really know until you see the stopwatch, but don't be surprised if ASJ clocks 4.8 or something like that. He moves well for his size, but he doesn't strike me as a great sprinter or a guy with that rare level of speed for a big TE.

 

[Xue]

ASJ is Martellus Bennett. He can be a monster on the right team. As talented as some TEs are, most of them are underutilized.

 

[ZWK]

Here is my first pass at ranking this RB draft class based on my opinions, which incorporates both the numbers that I looked at earlier, and what I observed watching them play (I've tried to ignore reputation except in deciding which players to look at).

Lache Seastrunk
Carlos Hyde

Jeremy Hill
Jay Ajayi

Antonio Andrews
James Wilder
Ka'Deem Carey

Tre Mason
Bishop Sankey

Charles Sims

Marion Grice
Andre Williams

You could label the tiers "yes", "probably", "maybe", and "probably not". Compared to my pre-combine rankings from last year, no one is on Lacy's level - these 4 tiers roughly line up with my tiers 2-5 from that post.

I've only ranked the 12 guys who I've watched at least 2 games of, but based on the little that I've seen I'd tentatively slot Devonta Freeman in at #5 (ahead of Andrews).

 

[Brewtown]

ASJ is Martellus Bennett. He can be a monster on the right team. As talented as some TEs are, most of them are underutilized.

I look at ASJ and see a guy with great size catching the ball and running easily and fluidly. I also see him making the tough catch. I am very excited about his pro prospects. Looks like a difference-maker to me...

 

[jurb26]

ASJ is Martellus Bennett. He can be a monster on the right team. As talented as some TEs are, most of them are underutilized.

That's exactly who I compared him too in one of these threads... Somewhere. I can't keep track any more.

 

[JohnnyU]

Huh. I didn't think there was anybody left who still had ASJ as the #1 TE.

Good to know. I realize he was underutilized, it just seems like Amaro and Ebron have higher upside purely as receivers.

I haven';t read every post on ASJ, but isn't anyone factoring in his off-the-field issues when evaluating him?

 

[identikit]

Huh. I didn't think there was anybody left who still had ASJ as the #1 TE.

Good to know. I realize he was underutilized, it just seems like Amaro and Ebron have higher upside purely as receivers.

I haven';t read every post on ASJ, but isn't anyone factoring in his off-the-field issues when evaluating him?

This is what worries me the most.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Lache Seastrunk

Carlos Hyde

Jeremy Hill

Jay Ajayi

Antonio Andrews

James Wilder

Ka'Deem Carey

Tre Mason

Bishop Sankey

Charles Sims

Marion Grice

Andre Williams

You could label the tiers "yes", "probably", "maybe", and "probably not".

My pre-combine ordering...

Probably

--Seastrunk

--Hyde

--Hill

Want More Info

--Carey

--Mason

--White

--Grice

--Ajayi

--Sims

--West

--Gaffney

--Sankey

Probably Not

--Andre Williams

Wouldn't Draft

--Silas Redd

--Markus Coker

--Antonio Andrews

--Michael Dyer

 

[Brewtown]

Huh. I didn't think there was anybody left who still had ASJ as the #1 TE.

Good to know. I realize he was underutilized, it just seems like Amaro and Ebron have higher upside purely as receivers.

I haven';t read every post on ASJ, but isn't anyone factoring in his off-the-field issues when evaluating him?

I wish that I could play in a high stakes dynasty league with 11 guys who think just like this guy!

 

[JohnnyU]

Huh. I didn't think there was anybody left who still had ASJ as the #1 TE.

Good to know. I realize he was underutilized, it just seems like Amaro and Ebron have higher upside purely as receivers.

I haven';t read every post on ASJ, but isn't anyone factoring in his off-the-field issues when evaluating him?

I wish that I could play in a high stakes dynasty league with 11 guys who think just like this guy!

Didn't he under perform too? I'm not 100% sure this guy applies himself like he should. Say what you want about wanting to play in leagues with guy who think like I do, but fantasy players can't read what's in between a player's ears or in his heart. By the way, I have a very successful resume in dynasty leagues played with yahoos on this board such as yourself

 

[Milkman]

Where's Freeman on those rb lists?

 

[FUBAR]

Who really cares what Watkins stats were, he simply LOOKED great while doing it. Great routes, great hands, great running after the catch, all around great awareness, and some great catches getting the ball at it's highest point rather than waiting for it to come to him.

He looked like they put a 5 year polished NFL vet out there to play a game with the kids. He isn't the biggest, or the fastest, but he is just incredibly good.

I mentioned Crabtree before, but the more I read assessments, the more he sounds like Hakeem Nicks.

 

[Slapdash]

I am hoping STL passes on Watkins. I'm sure he'll be good anywhere, but with the way they have invested in WR's, I am afraid he would lack consistency. I could be totally wrong but it seems like a poor fit to me.

I just don't see St. Louis spending two high picks in a row on undersized WRs (not that size is a concern with Watkins, he is just on the smaller side).

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Pre-combine top-12 (alpha by position):

Bortles

Manziel

----------

Hill

Hyde

Seastrunk

-------------

Adams

Benjamin

Cooks

Lee

Moncrief

Watkins

----------

Ebron

Assuming at least as many guys who are not currently listed emerge as there are guys who fall off this list it's a fantastic year to own late firsts and early seconds. That's my favorite part of the draft anyway, but this year you could have your choice among several really strong prospects in that range.

 

[Ilov80s]

Who really cares what Watkins stats were, he simply LOOKED great while doing it. Great routes, great hands, great running after the catch, all around great awareness, and some great catches getting the ball at it's highest point rather than waiting for it to come to him.

He looked like they put a 5 year polished NFL vet out there to play a game with the kids. He isn't the biggest, or the fastest, but he is just incredibly good.

I mentioned Crabtree before, but the more I read assessments, the more he sounds like Hakeem Nicks.

He is similar in size and does do a good job of grabning the ball at the highest point like Nicks does (did?). However, Watkins looks much faster and like a more explosive athlete.

ETA: Crabtree ran 4.54, Nicks 4.63 Watkins ran a sub 4.3 at Clemson this summer. Now we know that number is juiced, but I would expect him to run around a 4.40-4.45

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Also, looking at this stuff closely again for the first time in awhile...

Colt Lyerla is a perfect mix of football skill and physical tools. Just unbelievable potential. But it appears things are not AOK between the ears and you gotta have three pieces.

 

[jeter23]

Huh. I didn't think there was anybody left who still had ASJ as the #1 TE.

Good to know. I realize he was underutilized, it just seems like Amaro and Ebron have higher upside purely as receivers.

I haven';t read every post on ASJ, but isn't anyone factoring in his off-the-field issues when evaluating him?

This is what worries me the most.

Right. If the talent is a 3 way tie b/w ASJ, Ebron, Amaro...ASJ becomes my 3rd choice.

 

[Faust]

Bortles going pro.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/05/report-blake-bortles-turning-pro/

2014 NFL Draft: Blake Bortles (No. 3 QB) reportedly headed to NFL

By Derek Harper | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

January 5, 2014 8:52 pm ET

Blake Bortles is the latest underclassman seeking to cash in on a stellar bowl game performance in front of a national audience, as the Central Florida quarterback will forego his senior season and enter the 2014 NFL Draft, CBSSports.com's Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday.

Bortles is the No. 12-rated prospect for this year's draft at the No. 3 quarterback behind Louisville junior Teddy Bridgewater and Texas A&M redshirt sophomore Johnny Manziel, according to NFLDraftScout.com ratings. However, Bortles is also a raw athlete with a small sample size playing against top-level competition.

The 6-foot-3, 227-ound Bortles is No. 22 on Rob Rang's current Big Board.

"A prototypically built pocket passer with good awareness, athleticism and arm strength, Bortles looks the part of an NFL starting quarterback," Rang wrote. "He is methodical in his setup and delivery of the ball and is a bit inconsistent with his accuracy, but the mettle he showed in guiding UCF to several comeback victories in 2013 has scouts buzzing. Bortles isn't as polished as Bridgewater, (Derek) Carr or Manziel, but should he enter the 2014 draft a top-10 selection is not out of the question."

Rang certainly sees Bortles' upside and the likelihood NFL teams will fall in love with his skill set - projecting him to go No. 3 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who would make a marketing smash with the local product, in his current Mock Draft. Dane Brugler has Bortles going one pick later to the Cleveland Browns.

The news of Bortles making the NFL jump along with Oregon running back De'Anthony Thomas on Sunday night brings the list of underclassmen expected to enter this year's draft to 61. The deadline for underclassmen to declare is Jan. 15, and the final list is expected to shatter last year's record of 73. A quartet of junior wide receivers, Clemson's Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant and LSU's Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry, were also reported Sunday to have decided to forego their senior seasons.

Bortles led the Knights to an 11-1 record during the regular season, but largely flew under the radar until leading a dramatic 52-42 victory over heavily-favored Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl, displaying a strong arm and surprising athleticism as a dual-threat quarterback.

Bortles threw for 3,582 yards and 25 touchdowns against nine interceptions this season while completing 67.8 percent of his passes.

Bortles is making a calculated gamble by seeking to make the leap to the NFL while his stock may be at its highest. Bridgewater (No. 3-ranked prospect overall) has announced he will enter the draft as a junior, and Manziel (No. 8) is expected to join him shortly. However, redshirt sophomores Marcus Mariota of Oregon and UCLA's Brett Hundley have decided to return to school.

Bortles could potentially wind up in the top 10 with a strong showing leading up to May's draft, rather than returning to school and entering a draft class next year that could feature Mariota, Hundley and Stanford's Kevin Hogan, among others.

Among Bortles' strengths are his excellent size, good arm strength and underrated athleticism that makes him a threat as a ballcarrier as well. While he needs to grow in terms pocket awareness and route progression, his biggest current weakness is inconsistent accuracy. Even in UCF's bowl game, Bortles threw several passes that forced his receivers to adjust, missing out on yards after the catch, or missed them entirely.

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: LSU losing Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry to NFL

By Derek Harper | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

January 5, 2014 6:18 pm ET

LSU wide receivers Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry will forego their senior seasons and enter the 2014 NFL Draft, according to a Yahoo! Sports report.

Beckham is currently the No. 5 wide receiver and No. 35 overall prospect eligible for the 2014 draft, according to NFLDraftScout.com ratings. He is projected as a late-first or early-second round prospect, while Landy (No. 9 WR/No. 48 overall) is viewed as a strong second round prospect. Neither made NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst Rob Rang's current Big Board, but their decisions to enter the draft this year were likely aided by the fact LSU will also lose senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger to the NFL.

Beckham caught 59 passes for 1,152 yards and eight touchdowns this season, while Landry finished with 77 receptions for 1,193 yards and 10 touchdowns for the 11-2 Tigers. Beckham has begun interviewing agents, according to the report, while Yahoo reported in December that Landry had already begun devising a plan to prepare for the Scouting Combine next month.

Beckham was a first-team All-SEC pick by the coaches and named the 2013 Paul Hornung Award winner as the FBS' most versatile player after shattering the Tigers' single-season record for all-purpose yardage. Beckham, Jr. racked up 2,222 all-purpose yards, breaking Domanick Davis' previous mark of 2,120 set in 2002, and his abilities as a return man will certainly help his draft stock. He displays "remarkable vision, agility and acceleration, according to Rang.

Rang views Landry as a smooth athlete capable of making dazzling catches, but inconsistently has prevented Landry from warranting first-round consideration. Landry was particularly adept at getting open on underneath routes for LSU, quickly uncovering at the line of scrimmage while attacking soft zones in coverage before showing his numbers to the quarterback. He was voted second-team All-SEC by the coaches.

NFLDraftScout.com analyst Dane Brugler views Landry as the better pro prospect as a receiver, writing, "Landry has big, soft hands and with fluid body control and coordination to make it look easy plucking the ball out the air."

"He is tough and brave in tight coverage and routinely shows the ability to win in contested situations. While Beckham is probably more of a home-run threat, Landry is the better pro prospect because of his large, reliable hands and natural build and athleticism to do something with the catch."

With Clemson's Sammy Watkins, the top-rated receiver prospect in the country, reportedly set to enter this year's draft as well, Beckham and Landry join an increasingly deep position group. Watkins is followed by Texas A&M redshirt sophomore Mike Evans (No. 10 overall), Southern Cal junior Marqise Lee (No. 17) and Penn State junior Allen Robinson (No. 33), who have all decided to throw their hats into this year's draft pool.

Yet to announce a decision is Florida State redshirt sophomore Kelvin Benjamin, the No. 36 overall prospect who will play in the BCS title game Monday night.

 

[Concept Coop]

Huh. I didn't think there was anybody left who still had ASJ as the #1 TE.

Good to know. I realize he was underutilized, it just seems like Amaro and Ebron have higher upside purely as receivers.

I'm very open to the idea that I'm dead wrong on some combination of the top 3 guys. I just feel that if you swapped ASJ with Amaro, in terms of situation, ASJ would be a no-brainer and we might not be talking about Amaro right now.

I don't expect ASJ to run a low 4.6. I'm hoping for something in the 4.68-.4.72 range - anything faster is gravy, and anything slower than 4.80 and I'll be concerned.

The guy is 6'6" 270ish. He's huge. He's long. The fact that he moves the way he does, in my opinion, makes him a physical freak. Guys that size shouldn't be able to do what he's shown capable of doing.

I don't understand why the buzz is dying off, assuming those cooling off are familiar with his situation.

Gronk wasn't quite himself this year, and clearly wasn't playing as fast as his 40 time. That's what I view as ASJ's upside and comp: a slightly hobbled Gronk.

 

[buck naked]

I haven't you guys that are "plugged in" to dynasty and prospect evaluation talk much at all about the LSU pair, Landry and Beckham. Where do they fit in with the rest of the WRs this year?

 

[Soulfly3]

seriously losing my mind on whether I should move up to no1 to grab Watkins or sit tight and take whoever of he, evans or lee falls to me at 5.

Not to make this an AC thread or question... but ####, it's dynasty so the point is who will be the best WR?

I know depends on landing spot, but talent mostly wins out

 

[lod01]

I haven't you guys that are "plugged in" to dynasty and prospect evaluation talk much at all about the LSU pair, Landry and Beckham. Where do they fit in with the rest of the WRs this year?

jesus, there are so damn many above average WRs in this draft, dynasty is going to be really interesting this year. Some will be weeded out when they get picked by teams like ATL who already has their top 2 set in stone (White being 33 or so). Others get crossed off when they go to a place like the NYJ.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

seriously losing my mind on whether I should move up to no1 to grab Watkins or sit tight and take whoever of he, evans or lee falls to me at 5.

Not to make this an AC thread or question... but ####, it's dynasty so the point is who will be the best WR?

I know depends on landing spot, but talent mostly wins out

Watkins is about as safe as it gets for a stud FF WR, but if the person with the 1.1 is going to ask for the moon, you're better off just sitting tight at 1.5 and picking up one of the number of other WRs with stud potential.

 

[Ilov80s]

I haven't you guys that are "plugged in" to dynasty and prospect evaluation talk much at all about the LSU pair, Landry and Beckham. Where do they fit in with the rest of the WRs this year?

jesus, there are so damn many above average WRs in this draft, dynasty is going to be really interesting this year. Some will be weeded out when they get picked by teams like ATL who already has their top 2 set in stone (White being 33 or so). Others get crossed off when they go to a place like the NYJ.

Looks like a plethora of quality WRs for sure. To the opposite of what you said, there are some WRs that will receive a huge boost when they get taken by teams with legitimate NFL QB play but a need for another playmaker: Detroit, New England, Seattle, Indy, Carolina, KC and San Diego. At least a couple of those teams are likely to grab a WR in the first 2 rounds.

 

[lod01]

seriously losing my mind on whether I should move up to no1 to grab Watkins or sit tight and take whoever of he, evans or lee falls to me at 5.

Not to make this an AC thread or question... but ####, it's dynasty so the point is who will be the best WR?

I know depends on landing spot, but talent mostly wins out

Better do so film work and read some OTAs then because Watkins is not head and shoulders above the field. As a matter of fact, I'll bet that he's not going to end up with the best numbers out of these WRs for their career.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

seriously losing my mind on whether I should move up to no1 to grab Watkins or sit tight and take whoever of he, evans or lee falls to me at 5.

Not to make this an AC thread or question... but ####, it's dynasty so the point is who will be the best WR?

I know depends on landing spot, but talent mostly wins out

Better do so film work and read some OTAs then because Watkins is not head and shoulders above the field. As a matter of fact, I'll bet that he's not going to end up with the best numbers out of these WRs for their career.

Well obviously when your choices are Sammy Watkins or every single other WR, taking the field is the statistically obvious choice; but in fantasy when your choice is Watkins or 1 of any of the other WRs, it's not nearly that obvious which, if any, of the WRs will be the one who puts up better career numbers.

 

[Soulfly3]

seriously losing my mind on whether I should move up to no1 to grab Watkins or sit tight and take whoever of he, evans or lee falls to me at 5.

Not to make this an AC thread or question... but ####, it's dynasty so the point is who will be the best WR?

I know depends on landing spot, but talent mostly wins out

Better do so film work and read some OTAs then because Watkins is not head and shoulders above the field. As a matter of fact, I'll bet that he's not going to end up with the best numbers out of these WRs for their career.

Well obviously when your choices are Sammy Watkins or every single other WR, taking the field is the statistically obvious choice; but in fantasy when your choice is Watkins or 1 of any of the other WRs, it's not nearly that obvious which, if any, of the WRs will be the one who puts up better career numbers.

this

 

[ShaHBucks]

Huh. I didn't think there was anybody left who still had ASJ as the #1 TE.

Good to know. I realize he was underutilized, it just seems like Amaro and Ebron have higher upside purely as receivers.

I haven';t read every post on ASJ, but isn't anyone factoring in his off-the-field issues when evaluating him?

I wish that I could play in a high stakes dynasty league with 11 guys who think just like this guy!

You might as well find 15 of them and play in a 16-teamer.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Former director of college scouting Greg Gabriel believes it would be a major mistake for a team to select UCF redshirt junior QB Blake Bortles in the first-round.

"I'll predict right now if Bortles comes out and goes in (the first-round) the HC and GM will be fired within three years," Gabriel tweeted. "People are falling in love with Bortles arm and athleticism. When you just look at that you will screwed. Think Boller, Gabbert." The major difference we see with Bortles and the two listed quarterbacks is strong pocket movement. Bortles does fall away from some passes and his footwork needs improvement, but we don't think he is a "manufactured" talent like the other two.


Source: Greg Gabriel on Twitter

 

[lod01]

Cody Latimer is coming out and after tonight's game, Benjamin will declare. 40 times are going to make or break some of these big WRs.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Rotoworld:

Former director of college scouting Greg Gabriel believes it would be a major mistake for a team to select UCF redshirt junior QB Blake Bortles in the first-round.

"I'll predict right now if Bortles comes out and goes in (the first-round) the HC and GM will be fired within three years," Gabriel tweeted. "People are falling in love with Bortles arm and athleticism. When you just look at that you will screwed. Think Boller, Gabbert." The major difference we see with Bortles and the two listed quarterbacks is strong pocket movement. Bortles does fall away from some passes and his footwork needs improvement, but we don't think he is a "manufactured" talent like the other two.


Source: Greg Gabriel on Twitter

The difference between Bortles and guys like Boller and Gabbert is Bortles has actually been a very productive college QB, whereas Boller and Gabbert's statistics sucked even in college. I don't know enough about Bortles to be convinced he definitely won't be a bust, but I'm convinced he's not obviously going to bust like I was about Boller/Gabbert/Tannehill.

 

[EBF]

Who really cares what Watkins stats were, he simply LOOKED great while doing it. Great routes, great hands, great running after the catch, all around great awareness, and some great catches getting the ball at it's highest point rather than waiting for it to come to him.

He looked like they put a 5 year polished NFL vet out there to play a game with the kids. He isn't the biggest, or the fastest, but he is just incredibly good.

I mentioned Crabtree before, but the more I read assessments, the more he sounds like Hakeem Nicks.

Comparisons are all over the board for him. I've seen some really strange ones that don't really capture the essence of his body type and how he plays. Part of that is because every player is unique and not every one of them is going to have a perfect parallel. IMO Watkins is a straight-line speed guy with solid strength and hands. Not quite parallel to an agile catch-and-run player like Crabtree or a legitimate big body WR like Fitzgerald and Demaryius (who are also more agile).

I've said he's like the offspring of Mike Wallace and Julio Jones. I think he will be pretty successful at the next level. He doesn't really have the agility that I like in a prospect, but he does enough things well that he should be difficult to stop. I've seen his 100m times from high school as low as 10.45s, which is very fast. He's got some toughness and some possession game. Add it all up and he should be a 1000 yard guy at the next level. Possibly even a star.

 

[EBF]

Rotoworld:

Former director of college scouting Greg Gabriel believes it would be a major mistake for a team to select UCF redshirt junior QB Blake Bortles in the first-round.

"I'll predict right now if Bortles comes out and goes in (the first-round) the HC and GM will be fired within three years," Gabriel tweeted. "People are falling in love with Bortles arm and athleticism. When you just look at that you will screwed. Think Boller, Gabbert." The major difference we see with Bortles and the two listed quarterbacks is strong pocket movement. Bortles does fall away from some passes and his footwork needs improvement, but we don't think he is a "manufactured" talent like the other two.


Source: Greg Gabriel on Twitter

The difference between Bortles and guys like Boller and Gabbert is Bortles has actually been a very productive college QB, whereas Boller and Gabbert's statistics sucked even in college. I don't know enough about Bortles to be convinced he definitely won't be a bust, but I'm convinced he's not obviously going to bust like I was about Boller/Gabbert/Tannehill.

It is amazing how many turds you can avoid just by passing on "project" QBs with shoddy college stats. The NFL still has a huge blind spot for unproductive QBs with "all the tools" and just about none of those guys have worked out in recent years. Gabbert, Boller, and Locker are shining examples.

I have not seen enough of Bortles to have a concrete opinion yet, but I've read up on him a little bit and I did catch some of his bowl game this year. He seems like a guy with the right mental makeup to be successful. Poised and confident. Like Johnny Manziel, he might be OVER-confident, but I'd rather take that than someone who's going to wilt under pressure. Give him some time to iron out the kinks and my hunch is that he'll at least be a decent player ala Cutler and Flacco.