DYNASTY: Top 2013 College Prospects (1 Viewer)

[doowain]

How do you guys feel about 2014+ prospects? Should we be looking to move out into next years DevDrafts? Looking for guys like Sammy Warkins? Or Dyer or Bernard( don't know him)

Thanks

I drafted Giovanni Bernard in a devy draft this past weekend. I liked what I saw from highlights, but not being in ACC country I can't say I've seen much of him outside of those highlights. He is low to the ground, sets up his blocks well and has good wiggle through the hole. Also catches the ball extremely well. I'm not blown away by him, but it was a late devy pick.FWIW, Matt Waldman featured him in an article about pass protection, here.

You ask about the 2014+ prospects. I made what some might feel was a massive overpayment and gamble in another devy draft this weekend. We were down to the final pick and there was a guy still out there that I'd have taken at 1.06. I traded Mendenhall/2014 2nd for the devy pick/2014 1st.

With that pick, I took TJ Yeldon. Five start recruit by Rivals and a freshman this year at Alabama. Lots of mouths to feed there, but if the Alabama spring game was any indication, he's the most talented and dynamic RB on that roster. I've already gone on record saying that his talent falls somewhere in between Ingram and Richardson. Saban has called him his "only complete back on the roster".

He's listed as 6'2/216 by Alabama's site and runs a 4.43.

 

[noneother]

Thanks doowain!!

 

[gump]

With that pick, I took TJ Yeldon. Five start recruit by Rivals and a freshman this year at Alabama. Lots of mouths to feed there, but if the Alabama spring game was any indication, he's the most talented and dynamic RB on that roster. I've already gone on record saying that his talent falls somewhere in between Ingram and Richardson. Saban has called him his "only complete back on the roster".He's listed as 6'2/216 by Alabama's site and runs a 4.43.

I mentioned him a few pages back....lit it up during the spring game with 180 total yards (some against the first string D). You can't help but notice the buzz he's gaining from all the talk from coaches....the most I've seen at UA for an incoming freshman since Julio Jones.On another Alabama note....not that anyone was drafting this guy....but it appears Duron Carter is basically giving upSDS: Bama transfer WR Duron Carter dismissed from practice at FAU for lack of effort while his dad Chris Carter watched.

 

[doowain]

With that pick, I took TJ Yeldon. Five start recruit by Rivals and a freshman this year at Alabama. Lots of mouths to feed there, but if the Alabama spring game was any indication, he's the most talented and dynamic RB on that roster. I've already gone on record saying that his talent falls somewhere in between Ingram and Richardson. Saban has called him his "only complete back on the roster".He's listed as 6'2/216 by Alabama's site and runs a 4.43.

I mentioned him a few pages back....lit it up during the spring game with 180 total yards (some against the first string D). You can't help but notice the buzz he's gaining from all the talk from coaches....the most I've seen at UA for an incoming freshman since Julio Jones.On another Alabama note....not that anyone was drafting this guy....but it appears Duron Carter is basically giving upSDS: Bama transfer WR Duron Carter dismissed from practice at FAU for lack of effort while his dad Chris Carter watched.

ETA: Just went back and looked at your post. Swear I didn't see it before I posted that. Ha.

 

[gump]

With that pick, I took TJ Yeldon. Five start recruit by Rivals and a freshman this year at Alabama. Lots of mouths to feed there, but if the Alabama spring game was any indication, he's the most talented and dynamic RB on that roster. I've already gone on record saying that his talent falls somewhere in between Ingram and Richardson. Saban has called him his "only complete back on the roster".He's listed as 6'2/216 by Alabama's site and runs a 4.43.

I mentioned him a few pages back....lit it up during the spring game with 180 total yards (some against the first string D). You can't help but notice the buzz he's gaining from all the talk from coaches....the most I've seen at UA for an incoming freshman since Julio Jones.On another Alabama note....not that anyone was drafting this guy....but it appears Duron Carter is basically giving upSDS: Bama transfer WR Duron Carter dismissed from practice at FAU for lack of effort while his dad Chris Carter watched.

ETA: Just went back and looked at your post. Swear I didn't see it before I posted that. Ha.

I don't like touting UA guys....as I definitely have the crimson glasses....glad you brought him up! Something to keep an eye on....Eddie Lacy is still nursing a turf toe. It bothered him the 2nd half of last year and still isn't fully healed. There's talk of Yeldon seeing major PT as early as Game 1, which would be very realistic if Lacy is limited.

 

[bengalbuck]

With that pick, I took TJ Yeldon. Five start recruit by Rivals and a freshman this year at Alabama. Lots of mouths to feed there, but if the Alabama spring game was any indication, he's the most talented and dynamic RB on that roster. I've already gone on record saying that his talent falls somewhere in between Ingram and Richardson. Saban has called him his "only complete back on the roster".He's listed as 6'2/216 by Alabama's site and runs a 4.43.

I mentioned him a few pages back....lit it up during the spring game with 180 total yards (some against the first string D). You can't help but notice the buzz he's gaining from all the talk from coaches....the most I've seen at UA for an incoming freshman since Julio Jones.On another Alabama note....not that anyone was drafting this guy....but it appears Duron Carter is basically giving upSDS: Bama transfer WR Duron Carter dismissed from practice at FAU for lack of effort while his dad Chris Carter watched.

ETA: Just went back and looked at your post. Swear I didn't see it before I posted that. Ha.

I don't like touting UA guys....as I definitely have the crimson glasses....glad you brought him up! Something to keep an eye on....Eddie Lacy is still nursing a turf toe. It bothered him the 2nd half of last year and still isn't fully healed. There's talk of Yeldon seeing major PT as early as Game 1, which would be very realistic if Lacy is limited.

Yeldon does seem like one of the few RBs currently in college with big-time potential. I like Lattimore a lot, but other than him, these sophomore and junior classes look pretty devoid of sure-fire, big-time RBs.I'm sure some guys will emerge like Isiaiah Pead and Doug Martin did, but I don't see the no brainer type guys that you often do.

 

[EBF]

How do you guys feel about 2014+ prospects? Should we be looking to move out into next years DevDrafts? Looking for guys like Sammy Warkins? Or Dyer or Bernard( don't know him)Thanks

It's too early to say. You can't get a great feel for a draft class after just one year. I like Sammy Watkins and Marqise Lee, but a lot can happen in two years. Bernard is eligible for the 2013 draft if he decides to go. Dyer might be too depending on what happens. Looking at Dyer's 2010 highlights, he looked like a certain first round talent. His play fell off a little bit in 2011 and he's obviously got some character issues to sort through. I still rate him pretty highly simply because there aren't many backs in NCAA who have obvious NFL workhorse potential. He's one of those guys.

 

[Xue]

Someone to put on your radar for 2014 draft: LSU WR Odell Beckham, Jr. 5-11, 183. Great ball skills and catch radius for a small WR. Nasty jukes after the catch. I see a mix of Randall Cobb and Greg Jennings.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

I haven't looked much at the under the radar guys, but I actually like the top of the 2013 WR class a lot. Keenan Allen, Justin Hunter, Marquess Wilson, Robert Woods, and to a lesser extent Terrance Williams all look like they have WR1/2 potential and I expect them all to go in the top 2 rounds.

There's definitely a lot of potential in that group, but I don't see an obvious top 10 type of talent. Allen and Woods are ranked as such by some, but I think they're slightly overrated. Given the choice in a dynasty league, I wouldn't give up Blackmon, Floyd, or Wright for next year's 1.01 rookie pick. Just looks like a down year to me in terms of those rare can't-miss top 10 type of players. I had Luck, Richardson, and Blackmon as my wire-to-wire QB1/RB1/WR1 last year. This year I think there's a lot more uncertainty and fluidity at the top.

I'd trade any of those 3 WRs for the 1.01 without hesitation. Blackmon is on a very bad team and has already displayed huge character red flags between getting drafted and playing his first game, Kendall Wright is too small and too slow to ever be a dominant FF WR imo, in regards to Floyd I like him quite a bit, but given the choice of the 1.01 where I can get any of Keenan Allen, Justin Hunter, Marquess Wilson, or Robert Woods who have all already displayed WR1 skills in their sophomore season, the chance that one of the 4 will develop into a AJ Green/Julio Jones type prospect over the next year is very high imo.

 

[EBF]

In general, I'd definitely rather have a guy who's already been vetted by NFL scouting departments as opposed to guys who can only hope to be. Blackmon, Floyd, and Wright have already earned their first round slot, whereas the current college guys "might" do so. I'll take a first round talent over a possible first round talent more often than not. I've done enough dev drafts to know that not all of these "next big things" are anywhere near as good as billed. Perfect examples: Arrelious Benn, Alshon Jeffery, Jeff Fuller. All prematurely valued as first round talents when none of them really were the goods. You can bet that 1-2 of the so-called elite prospects in the 2013 class will suffer the same fate. They just aren't as good as people think.

I can't argue about Blackmon's character, but he was a top 5 pick and the fact that Jacksonville actually traded up to take him there suggests that at least one other team would've taken him in that range. He was a man amongst boys every time I saw him play in college and basically dominated anyone and everything in his path. I'm not sure why people think Jacksonville is such a bad situation. Yes, they're a bad team. So what? The Colts were bad when they drafted Marvin Harrison. The Lions were bad when they drafted Calvin Johnson. The Cardinals were bad when they drafted Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Someone is going to catch the ball in Jacksonville, and Blackmon was picked to be that guy.

Kendall Wright is not slow. In fact, I've never seen him caught from behind. In his college highlights he is running by people left and right. I realize that he didn't clock a blazing 40 time, but neither did Chad Johnson, Antonio Bryant, or Bernard Berrian. Game speed is not the same as track speed. If a guy is a burner on the field, that's all that really matters. Wright is also not small. Short? Sure, but not small. He's heavy for his height and plenty strong to beat the jam. Not quite Steve Smith-like in that regard, but somewhere between Smith and Santonio Holmes in terms of build and skills. Again...one team deemed him worthy of a top 20 pick and another (Cleveland) admitted they were targeting him at #22.

 

[Lash]

yeah but if you trade any of those guys for the 1.1 you just bought WAY more trade value in that asset

someone will overpay for the 1.1 alot more than they'll give you for any of those three even if YOU dont believe in the prospect that would go there (i.e. Moreno)

and Hunter is definitely gonna be a difference make at the next level, but he may stay if Bray does or if he needs more time to get healthy so you may have to wait a year

as for next year I like Watkins and if you really want to roll the dice on the next Calvin why not draft DGB

 

[Time Kibitzer]

In general, I'd definitely rather have a guy who's already been vetted by NFL scouting departments as opposed to guys who can only hope to be. Blackmon, Floyd, and Wright have already earned their first round slot, whereas the current college guys "might" do so. I'll take a first round talent over a possible first round talent more often than not. I've done enough dev drafts to know that not all of these "next big things" are anywhere near as good as billed. Perfect examples: Arrelious Benn, Alshon Jeffery, Jeff Fuller. All prematurely valued as first round talents when none of them really were the goods. You can bet that 1-2 of the so-called elite prospects in the 2013 class will suffer the same fate. They just aren't as good as people think.

I can't argue about Blackmon's character, but he was a top 5 pick and the fact that Jacksonville actually traded up to take him there suggests that at least one other team would've taken him in that range. He was a man amongst boys every time I saw him play in college and basically dominated anyone and everything in his path. I'm not sure why people think Jacksonville is such a bad situation. Yes, they're a bad team. So what? The Colts were bad when they drafted Marvin Harrison. The Lions were bad when they drafted Calvin Johnson. The Cardinals were bad when they drafted Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Someone is going to catch the ball in Jacksonville, and Blackmon was picked to be that guy.

Kendall Wright is not slow. In fact, I've never seen him caught from behind. In his college highlights he is running by people left and right. I realize that he didn't clock a blazing 40 time, but neither did Chad Johnson, Antonio Bryant, or Bernard Berrian. Game speed is not the same as track speed. If a guy is a burner on the field, that's all that really matters. Wright is also not small. Short? Sure, but not small. He's heavy for his height and plenty strong to beat the jam. Not quite Steve Smith-like in that regard, but somewhere between Smith and Santonio Holmes in terms of build and skills. Again...one team deemed him worthy of a top 20 pick and another (Cleveland) admitted they were targeting him at #22.

I don't necessarily disagree, but it's also likely that someone that no one has been previously talking about flies up draft boards, so the chance that there won't be at least be 1 stud WR for you to take with next year's 1.01 is very slim imo, and there's also a chance that some RB will blow up this season as well making the 1.01 all the more valuable. I realize an adverse situation isn't the be all end all, but when you add that to Blackmon's character red flags he's exhibited since May, I'd be more than willing to do a redo and get the 2013 1.01 for him, even though I like Blackmon's skills.

As for Wright, he may have game speed, but from someone who is 5'10, I'd definitely want track speed as well if I'm going to spend a 1st round pick on him. How many NFL WRs who are less than 6'0 who don't have track speed that are fantasy relevant? Wes Welker, Lance Moore, Andre Roberts, and Davone Bess is about it. Not that is lack of height and track speed automatically dooms Wright for mediocrity, but it decreases the likelihood of him being a fantasy WR1/2 by quite a bit imo, and hence I think he's a risky 1st round rookie pick for fantasy pools.

 

[DexterDew]

there are enough red flags amongst the rookies and the players still in college that it is almost a push. I prefer the bird in the hand that has already been vetted by the draft process, especially after getting burned by Polk.

On the horizon, I love Hunter if he is fully recovered. After what happened to Childs, I am apt to be a little more gun shy w/ players hurt in college. Watkins suspended for two games is never a good sign. Woods may not be the best WR on his team. From what I've seen, I like Allen and Lee, too.

The hypothetical "i wouldn't trade X for the 1.01 rookie" is great conjecture, but do we really know what team in our league will be last... just another reason to take the bird in the hand. YMMV

 

[EBF]

As for Wright, he may have game speed, but from someone who is 5'10, I'd definitely want track speed as well if I'm going to spend a 1st round pick on him. How many NFL WRs who are less than 6'0 who don't have track speed that are fantasy relevant? Wes Welker, Lance Moore, Andre Roberts, and Davone Bess is about it. Not that is lack of height and track speed automatically dooms Wright for mediocrity, but it decreases the likelihood of him being a fantasy WR1/2 by quite a bit imo, and hence I think he's a risky 1st round rookie pick for fantasy pools.

In terms of size...Kendall Wright - 5'10.25" 196Victor Cruz - 5'11.5" 206 Greg Jennings - 5'11.1" 197 Percy Harvin - 5'11.1" 192 Santonio Holmes - 5'10.5" 188Antonio Brown - 5'10.1" 186 Steve Smith - 5'9" 184Wright is in the same ballpark size-wise and was an earlier draft pick than all of these players. His dimensions obviously won't prevent him from becoming a great FF asset. It comes down to whether or not he's as fast as these guys. His combine times suggest he isn't. On the other hand, he ran in the low 4.4 range at his pro day and routinely demonstrated home run speed on the field. I'm inclined to believe that he has enough speed to be an effective deep threat in the NFL, despite his poor showing at the combine. His marks in the other drills don't reflect a lack of explosiveness, suggesting that the 40 time was a bit of an outlier. I can definitely see shades of Jennings, Holmes, and Brown in his game. He has the same kind of ability to get downfield. A year from now, after the NFL scouts have handed down a verdict on the likes of Hunter/Allen/Woods, I might not necessarily be willing to trade all of them for Wright. But sitting here today with no obvious way of knowing which of those players are going to be high picks and which are going to fade ala Fuller/Benn/Jeffery, of course I take the sure thing in Wright ten times out of ten.

 

[EBF]

Backyard Brawl dev drafts started this weekend and have all finished.

BACKYARD BRAWL ONE

Already rostered: Knile Davis, Matt Barkley

1. Marcus Lattimore, RB

2. Robert Woods, WR

3. Keenan Allen, WR

4. Justin Hunter, WR

5. Eddie Lacy, RB

6. Da'Rick Rogers, WR

7. Montee Ball, RB

8. Joseph Randle RB

9. Marquess Wilson, WR

10. Giovani Bernard, RB

11. Christine Michael, RB

12. Tyler Wilson, QB

13. Logan Thomas, QB

14. Andre Ellington, RB

BACKYARD BRAWL TWO

Already rostered: Knile Davis

1. Marcus Lattimore, RB

2. Robert Woods, WR

3. Keenan Allen, WR

4. Justin Hunter, WR

5. Marquess Wilson, WR

6. Matt Barkley, QB

7. Da'Rick Rogers, WR

8. Gio Bernard, RB

9. Montee Ball, RB

10. Tyler Eifert, TE

11. Cierre Wood, RB

12. Eddie Lacy, RB

13. Joseph Randle, RB

14. Logan Thomas, QB

BACKYARD BRAWL THREE

Already rostered: Cameron Marshall, Andre Ellington, Knile Davis

1. Keenan Allen, WR

2. Marcus Lattimore, RB

3. Robert Woods, WR

4. Justin Hunter, WR

5. Da'Rick Rogers, WR

6. Montee Ball, RB

7. Matt Barkley, QB

8. Terrance Williams WR

9. Marquess Wilson WR

10. Giovani Bernard RB

11. Branden Oliver, RB

12. Joseph Randle, RB

13. Christine Michael, RB

14. Michael Dyer, RB

My picks in bold.

Some interesting notes:

- Lattimore, Woods, and Allen went top three in every league.

- Hunter went 4th in every league.

- Rogers chosen in the 5-7 range in every league.

- Ball picked in the 6-9 range in every league.

- Marquess Wilson a top 10 pick in every league.

- Randle and Bernard drafted in every league. Barkley now rostered in every league.

- Biggest variance is probably Eddie Lacy, who went top 5 in one league and undrafted in another.

- Michael Dyer was undrafted in two leagues and probably would've been undrafted in the third if I hadn't taken him. I know he is mired in personal issues, but the downgrade seems like over-correction for a player who would've been a top 5 pick in all these drafts after the last season.

- Overall ADP, factoring in Barkley and Davis, probably looks something like:

Lattimore

Woods

Allen

Hunter

(Davis)

(Barkley)

Rogers

Ball

Wilson

Bernard

Randle

Not trying to sound like a hater, but I can't remember the last time I've been this lukewarm on a class of prospects. There is obvious talent at the top, but a lot of those guys have issues. Hunter, Davis, and Lattimore will all have to show that they can bounce back from injuries.

 

[jurb26]

- Marquess Wilson a top 10 pick in every league.

Wilson seems to be one of the best values in leagues that allow you to roster a college player. I took him in one such league. He's got the potential to be the best WR in this class IMO, better than any from this years group as well. As a matter of fact I'm a pretty big believer in the 2013 WR group. I thinks it's much better than 2012.

 

[Faust]

2013 NFL Draft: WR Hunter, RB Lattimore lead pro prospects on the mend

By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

From Pop Warner to the NFL, football is different at every level, but the main constant is the aggressive nature of the game. And with the physical back-and-forth needed to compete on the gridiron, injuries are bound to happen. Some are bumps and bruises while others might be a tad more serious. Trainers and team doctors have become just as important to the draft process as scouts and coaches.

Players are often measured by their toughness, but injuries are simply a part of the game. And a complicated aspect of evaluating prospects for the next level, is distinguishing how durability and past injuries play into the scouting process. Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy and was considered a high NFL Draft pick, but he decided to return to Oklahoma and ended up missing most of the 2009 season with a throwing shoulder injury. However, that didn't stop the Rams from making him the No. 1 overall pick the next April.

Not all injuries have happy endings though, just ask wide receiver Greg Childs who looked like a future first round pick at Arkansas before a serious knee injury ended his 2010 season and hobbled him most of his senior year. A fourth round draft pick of the Vikings, Childs was poised for a good amount of playing time as a rookie in Minnesota, but he will miss the 2012 season after recently suffering the same patella tendon tear in both knees, a potentially career-killing injury.

Dozens of players suffered season-ending injuries last fall and below are the top 10 draft-eligible prospects that NFL scouts are keeping a particularly close eye on as they return to the field in 2012.

10. OLB BRANDON MAGEE, Arizona State

INJURY: Ruptured Achilles tendon, August 13 – missed all of 2011

While Vontaze Burfict commanded most of the headlines the past few years for the Sun Devils, the heart and soul of the Arizona State defense has been Magee. He finished second on the team in tackles (73) in 2010 and, along with Burfict, formed one of the toughest linebacker duos in the nation, but a ruptured achilles in summer drills put Magee on the shelf for the 2011 season. While Burfict bolted early for the NFL (and went undrafted), Magee earned a medical hardship waiver and will return as a fifth-year senior this fall. A tick undersized at 5-11 and 230-pounds, Magee is a two-sport star, recently signing a contract with the Boston Red Sox after he was selected in the 23rd round of the Major League Baseball Draft this past summer. However, Magee, who prides himself on his leadership and determination, will play for the Sun Devils this fall and wants to play in the NFL someday.

9. SS/LB KENNY TATE, Maryland

INJURY: Torn ACL (right knee), October 1 – missed final 8 games of 2011

Tate was a standout safety over his first three seasons for the Terrapins, including an All-Conference junior season in 2010 with 100 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions. However, head coach Randy Edsall moved the 6-4, 230-pounder to linebacker (“STAR” LB/S position) in Maryland's new 3-4 scheme last season and Tate responded with mixed results over the first four games before his season ended due to a knee injury. Tate, who applied for and received an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA, missed all of spring practice, but is expected to return to linebacker when the season begins on September 1. Sources say that scouts are split on where his best position will be in the pros, but NFL teams will want to see Tate's knee at full health first and foremost.



8. ILB BRUCE TAYLOR, Virginia Tech

INJURY: Lisfranc fracture (right foot), October 22 – missed final 6 games of 2011

Over the first seven games of his junior season last year, Hokies' middle linebacker Taylor was among the ACC leaders in tackles (48), tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (3.0) and was on pace to be the team's leading tackler for the second straight season. However, a right foot injury suffered last season clouds not only his senior year, but also his NFL future. Since the injury, Taylor has undergone several surgeries and an extensive rehabilitation process that kept him out of spring practice and could jeopardize the start to his senior season in 2012. Like most of Virginia Tech's past pro prospects, Taylor doesn't receive enough respect, flashing the instincts to quickly diagnose plays and upper body strength to rarely miss a tackle. The emotional leader of the Hokies' defense, Taylor has early round potential, but how and when he returns from the foot injury is crucial to his draft standing.

7. RB RAY GRAHAM, Pittsburgh

INJURY: Torn ACL (right knee), October 26 – missed final 5 games of 2011

Although he seems to be the forgotten man in college football, Graham was a LeSean McCoy-clone prior to his gruesome knee injury halfway through the 2011 season. In his first six games last year, he recorded 893 rushing yards, averaging almost 150 yards per contest. Graham appears to be ready mentally, but the new Panthers' coaching staff is taking a cautious approach, holding him out of contact drills and not pushing their best player. Until he gets on the field and shows his knee is back to normal, Graham's draft stock will remain in limbo, but if healthy, expect top-40 talk for the lighting quick and elusive back.



6. RB CHRISTINE MICHAEL, Texas A&M

INJURY: Torn ACL, November 5 – missed final 4 games of 2011

The past two seasons, Michael has finished second on the team in rushing, both times behind Cyrus Gray. But his runner-up status among Aggies' rushers isn't because of lack of talent, but rather because he has struggled to finish healthy, suffering back-to-back season-ending injuries the past two years. After a broken leg in 2010, Michael was on pace to lead the conference in rushing last season with 899 yards on the ground through the first nine games before tearing his ACL against Oklahoma, the same game that saw Sooners receiver Ryan Broyles go down with a knee injury as well. Obviously durability is a concern for him after the past two seasons, but based on talent alone, Michael is an early round pick and arguably the best senior back in the nation.

5. ILB SHAYNE SKOV, Stanford

INJURY: Torn ACL (left knee), September 17 – missed final 10 games of 2011

The top senior on this list, Skov led the Stanford squad in tackles (84) as a sophomore in 2010 and was called the “Andrew Luck of the defense” by the Cardinal coaching staff entering the 2011 season. However, he tore ligaments in his left knee against Arizona in the third game of last season, requiring surgery and missing the rest of his junior year. With successful rehab and his drive to get back on the field, Skov will be near 100% for the season opener, but he will be forced to sit out the first game because of a DUI arrest in the off-season.

4. RB KNILE DAVIS, Arkansas*

INJURY: Broken ankle (left ankle), August 11 – missed all of 2011

Davis is one of the few players on this list who didn't even play a snap last season, suffering his injury in summer practice. He had an All-SEC season as a sophomore with 1,322 rushing yards and 13 scores and was poised for another big season in 2011 before an ankle injury last summer sidelined him for all of last year. While this means he hasn't played a down of football in over 19 months, Davis also has had longer to recover from the injury and will be chomping at the bit to get back on the field for the 2012 season opener. When healthy, he has first round talent and NFL scouts can't wait to see him again this fall.

3. DT DOMINIQUE EASLEY, Florida*

INJURY: Torn ACL (left knee), November 26 – missed bowl game

After being one of the highest recruited players in the nation, Easley had a breakout sophomore season last year, tallying 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. However, he tore his ACL in his left knee in the regular season finale against Florida State and had surgery before the Gators' bowl game. Easley missed all of spring ball, but is expected to be healthy for the 2012 season, moving outside to defensive end. He is very light on his feet for a big man with lateral burst and flexibility to explode in any direction. As long as the knee injury doesn't have an effect on his change of direction skills, Easley has early round potential.

2. RB MARCUS LATTIMORE, South Carolina*

INJURY: Torn ACL (left knee), October 15 – missed final 6 games of 2011

Considered one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy last year, Lattimore's All-American worthy sophomore season took a turn for the worse – literally. With over 800 yards over his first seven games, he was among the nation's leader in rushing, tallying four 100-yard performances including a career-high 246 rushing yards against Navy. However, Lattimore suffered a knee injury in an October win over Mississippi State and left the game on crutches. Originally diagnosed with a “knee sprain,” he needed surgery to repair knee ligaments that ended his 2011 season and kept him from practicing this past spring. Even with the injury concerns, Lattimore is considered the top draft-eligible running back for the 2013 NFL Draft and should cement that status if he returns fully healthy this fall.

1. WR JUSTIN HUNTER, Tennessee*

INJURY: Torn ACL (left knee), September 17 – missed final 9 games of 2011

Any discussion regarding the top draft-eligible receiver in the nation should include this talented playmaker from Tennessee. At 6-4 and 205-pounds, Hunter has a similar play style and skill-set as former All-SEC receiver A.J. Green who was a top-five pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and is one of the best young receivers at the next level. After a seven-touchdown freshman season in 2010, Hunter registered a head-turning 16 catches for 302 yards and a pair of scores in two games last season. However, he turned his left knee wildly and tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Florida in game three, missing the rest of his sophomore season after surgery. Hunter returned ahead of the schedule and practiced this past spring, albeit not yet 100%. If his knee proves to be at full health this fall and he shows the same athleticism, Hunter has top-10 potential and could jump both Southern Cal's Robert Wood and California's Keenan Allen as the top draft-eligible receiver in most evaluator's minds.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: DT Kaleb Ramsey (Boston College), OT Manase Foketi (Kansas State), DE Nathan Williams (Ohio State), OLB Ramon Buchanan (Miami, FL), RB Eric Stephens (Texas Tech), CB Jerrell Gavins (Boise State), C Braxston Cave (Notre Dame), OG Jonathan Rush (Oklahoma State), CB Devin Smith (Wisconsin), OT Elvis Fisher (Missouri), OG Josh Dworaczyk (LSU), DE Jacques Smith (Tennessee), RB Dominique Whaley (Oklahoma), FB Devon Ramsay (North Carolina), QB Jordan Wynn (Utah), WR Brandon Wimberly (Nevada), RB Montel Harris (Temple), TE Mike Ragone (Kansas), WR Verlon Reed (Ohio State), RB Chris Thompson (Florida State), OT Shon Coleman (Auburn), OG Josh Jenkins (West Virginia), OT Corey Lewis (Illinois), CB Troy Stoudermire (Minnesota), OLB Jake Fischer (Arizona)

 

[EBF]

- Marquess Wilson a top 10 pick in every league.

Wilson seems to be one of the best values in leagues that allow you to roster a college player. I took him in one such league. He's got the potential to be the best WR in this class IMO, better than any from this years group as well. As a matter of fact I'm a pretty big believer in the 2013 WR group. I thinks it's much better than 2012.

Usually Pac-10 players (besides the ones on USC) are underrated nationally, so it's weird to see the crazy hype for this next crop. They are all good players, but I don't know that they're really as good as the hype would indicate. I think Marqise Lee could end up being the best of the lot. Woods is thin and weak, and doesn't really make as many vertical plays as you would expect given his reputation (very low YPC last two seasons). Wilson is tall and productive, but doesn't really have special speed or athletic qualities. I like Allen, but he doesn't have great deep speed either and is probably more of a possession guy. I like his game and would probably rate him the highest of the 2013 guys, but he is a unique player with no obvious parallel in the NFL. Speaking of the PAC, one prospect who I hyped up a bit last year is Arizona State RB Cameron Marshall, who I took at 1.07 in the 2011 BYB 3 dev draft. I think he is one of the few RBs in this class with a first round ceiling. I watched him a lot last year and came away unimpressed with his footwork and instincts behind the line of scrimmage, but he rushed for 1000+ yards and 18 TDs on a bum ankle, and frame-wise looks like the second coming of Jonathan Stewart. I definitely like his pro prospects more than Curtis McNeal, Stepfan Taylor, Jonathan Franklin, and John White, who are ranked higher in some circles. He's the only guy in the conference who physically resembles a 300+ carry NFL back. I'm curious to see him at full strength with a better supporting cast and scheme. He ran out of the spread a lot last year, and never really had a fullback to open lanes for him. It made it hard to gauge his ability.

 

[EBF]

7. RB RAY GRAHAM, Pittsburgh

INJURY: Torn ACL (right knee), October 26 – missed final 5 games of 2011

Although he seems to be the forgotten man in college football, Graham was a LeSean McCoy-clone prior to his gruesome knee injury halfway through the 2011 season. In his first six games last year, he recorded 893 rushing yards, averaging almost 150 yards per contest. Graham appears to be ready mentally, but the new Panthers' coaching staff is taking a cautious approach, holding him out of contact drills and not pushing their best player. Until he gets on the field and shows his knee is back to normal, Graham's draft stock will remain in limbo, but if healthy, expect top-40 talk for the lighting quick and elusive back.

I was a little surprised that Ray Graham wasn't picked in any of the BYB leagues. He's not really the style of back that I tend to rate highly, but I know some people are really bullish on him. He has great footwork and jukes. Just not very bulky or strong.

 

[offdee]

7. RB RAY GRAHAM, Pittsburgh

INJURY: Torn ACL (right knee), October 26 – missed final 5 games of 2011

Although he seems to be the forgotten man in college football, Graham was a LeSean McCoy-clone prior to his gruesome knee injury halfway through the 2011 season. In his first six games last year, he recorded 893 rushing yards, averaging almost 150 yards per contest. Graham appears to be ready mentally, but the new Panthers' coaching staff is taking a cautious approach, holding him out of contact drills and not pushing their best player. Until he gets on the field and shows his knee is back to normal, Graham's draft stock will remain in limbo, but if healthy, expect top-40 talk for the lighting quick and elusive back.

I was a little surprised that Ray Graham wasn't picked in any of the BYB leagues. He's not really the style of back that I tend to rate highly, but I know some people are really bullish on him. He has great footwork and jukes. Just not very bulky or strong.

He was picked at 4.09 in our April Phenomz Dynasty draft by FBG's very own Matt Waldman.

 

[coolnerd]

2013 NFL Draft: WR Hunter, RB Lattimore lead pro prospects on the mend

By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

From Pop Warner to the NFL, football is different at every level, but the main constant is the aggressive nature of the game. And with the physical back-and-forth needed to compete on the gridiron, injuries are bound to happen. Some are bumps and bruises while others might be a tad more serious. Trainers and team doctors have become just as important to the draft process as scouts and coaches.

Players are often measured by their toughness, but injuries are simply a part of the game. And a complicated aspect of evaluating prospects for the next level, is distinguishing how durability and past injuries play into the scouting process. Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy and was considered a high NFL Draft pick, but he decided to return to Oklahoma and ended up missing most of the 2009 season with a throwing shoulder injury. However, that didn't stop the Rams from making him the No. 1 overall pick the next April.

Not all injuries have happy endings though, just ask wide receiver Greg Childs who looked like a future first round pick at Arkansas before a serious knee injury ended his 2010 season and hobbled him most of his senior year. A fourth round draft pick of the Vikings, Childs was poised for a good amount of playing time as a rookie in Minnesota, but he will miss the 2012 season after recently suffering the same patella tendon tear in both knees, a potentially career-killing injury.

Dozens of players suffered season-ending injuries last fall and below are the top 10 draft-eligible prospects that NFL scouts are keeping a particularly close eye on as they return to the field in 2012.

10. OLB BRANDON MAGEE, Arizona State

INJURY: Ruptured Achilles tendon, August 13 – missed all of 2011

While Vontaze Burfict commanded most of the headlines the past few years for the Sun Devils, the heart and soul of the Arizona State defense has been Magee. He finished second on the team in tackles (73) in 2010 and, along with Burfict, formed one of the toughest linebacker duos in the nation, but a ruptured achilles in summer drills put Magee on the shelf for the 2011 season. While Burfict bolted early for the NFL (and went undrafted), Magee earned a medical hardship waiver and will return as a fifth-year senior this fall. A tick undersized at 5-11 and 230-pounds, Magee is a two-sport star, recently signing a contract with the Boston Red Sox after he was selected in the 23rd round of the Major League Baseball Draft this past summer. However, Magee, who prides himself on his leadership and determination, will play for the Sun Devils this fall and wants to play in the NFL someday.

9. SS/LB KENNY TATE, Maryland

INJURY: Torn ACL (right knee), October 1 – missed final 8 games of 2011

Tate was a standout safety over his first three seasons for the Terrapins, including an All-Conference junior season in 2010 with 100 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions. However, head coach Randy Edsall moved the 6-4, 230-pounder to linebacker (“STAR” LB/S position) in Maryland's new 3-4 scheme last season and Tate responded with mixed results over the first four games before his season ended due to a knee injury. Tate, who applied for and received an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA, missed all of spring practice, but is expected to return to linebacker when the season begins on September 1. Sources say that scouts are split on where his best position will be in the pros, but NFL teams will want to see Tate's knee at full health first and foremost.



8. ILB BRUCE TAYLOR, Virginia Tech

INJURY: Lisfranc fracture (right foot), October 22 – missed final 6 games of 2011

Over the first seven games of his junior season last year, Hokies' middle linebacker Taylor was among the ACC leaders in tackles (48), tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (3.0) and was on pace to be the team's leading tackler for the second straight season. However, a right foot injury suffered last season clouds not only his senior year, but also his NFL future. Since the injury, Taylor has undergone several surgeries and an extensive rehabilitation process that kept him out of spring practice and could jeopardize the start to his senior season in 2012. Like most of Virginia Tech's past pro prospects, Taylor doesn't receive enough respect, flashing the instincts to quickly diagnose plays and upper body strength to rarely miss a tackle. The emotional leader of the Hokies' defense, Taylor has early round potential, but how and when he returns from the foot injury is crucial to his draft standing.

7. RB RAY GRAHAM, Pittsburgh

INJURY: Torn ACL (right knee), October 26 – missed final 5 games of 2011

Although he seems to be the forgotten man in college football, Graham was a LeSean McCoy-clone prior to his gruesome knee injury halfway through the 2011 season. In his first six games last year, he recorded 893 rushing yards, averaging almost 150 yards per contest. Graham appears to be ready mentally, but the new Panthers' coaching staff is taking a cautious approach, holding him out of contact drills and not pushing their best player. Until he gets on the field and shows his knee is back to normal, Graham's draft stock will remain in limbo, but if healthy, expect top-40 talk for the lighting quick and elusive back.



6. RB CHRISTINE MICHAEL, Texas A&M

INJURY: Torn ACL, November 5 – missed final 4 games of 2011

The past two seasons, Michael has finished second on the team in rushing, both times behind Cyrus Gray. But his runner-up status among Aggies' rushers isn't because of lack of talent, but rather because he has struggled to finish healthy, suffering back-to-back season-ending injuries the past two years. After a broken leg in 2010, Michael was on pace to lead the conference in rushing last season with 899 yards on the ground through the first nine games before tearing his ACL against Oklahoma, the same game that saw Sooners receiver Ryan Broyles go down with a knee injury as well. Obviously durability is a concern for him after the past two seasons, but based on talent alone, Michael is an early round pick and arguably the best senior back in the nation.

5. ILB SHAYNE SKOV, Stanford

INJURY: Torn ACL (left knee), September 17 – missed final 10 games of 2011

The top senior on this list, Skov led the Stanford squad in tackles (84) as a sophomore in 2010 and was called the “Andrew Luck of the defense” by the Cardinal coaching staff entering the 2011 season. However, he tore ligaments in his left knee against Arizona in the third game of last season, requiring surgery and missing the rest of his junior year. With successful rehab and his drive to get back on the field, Skov will be near 100% for the season opener, but he will be forced to sit out the first game because of a DUI arrest in the off-season.

4. RB KNILE DAVIS, Arkansas*

INJURY: Broken ankle (left ankle), August 11 – missed all of 2011

Davis is one of the few players on this list who didn't even play a snap last season, suffering his injury in summer practice. He had an All-SEC season as a sophomore with 1,322 rushing yards and 13 scores and was poised for another big season in 2011 before an ankle injury last summer sidelined him for all of last year. While this means he hasn't played a down of football in over 19 months, Davis also has had longer to recover from the injury and will be chomping at the bit to get back on the field for the 2012 season opener. When healthy, he has first round talent and NFL scouts can't wait to see him again this fall.

3. DT DOMINIQUE EASLEY, Florida*

INJURY: Torn ACL (left knee), November 26 – missed bowl game

After being one of the highest recruited players in the nation, Easley had a breakout sophomore season last year, tallying 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. However, he tore his ACL in his left knee in the regular season finale against Florida State and had surgery before the Gators' bowl game. Easley missed all of spring ball, but is expected to be healthy for the 2012 season, moving outside to defensive end. He is very light on his feet for a big man with lateral burst and flexibility to explode in any direction. As long as the knee injury doesn't have an effect on his change of direction skills, Easley has early round potential.

2. RB MARCUS LATTIMORE, South Carolina*

INJURY: Torn ACL (left knee), October 15 – missed final 6 games of 2011

Considered one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy last year, Lattimore's All-American worthy sophomore season took a turn for the worse – literally. With over 800 yards over his first seven games, he was among the nation's leader in rushing, tallying four 100-yard performances including a career-high 246 rushing yards against Navy. However, Lattimore suffered a knee injury in an October win over Mississippi State and left the game on crutches. Originally diagnosed with a “knee sprain,” he needed surgery to repair knee ligaments that ended his 2011 season and kept him from practicing this past spring. Even with the injury concerns, Lattimore is considered the top draft-eligible running back for the 2013 NFL Draft and should cement that status if he returns fully healthy this fall.

1. WR JUSTIN HUNTER, Tennessee*

INJURY: Torn ACL (left knee), September 17 – missed final 9 games of 2011

Any discussion regarding the top draft-eligible receiver in the nation should include this talented playmaker from Tennessee. At 6-4 and 205-pounds, Hunter has a similar play style and skill-set as former All-SEC receiver A.J. Green who was a top-five pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and is one of the best young receivers at the next level. After a seven-touchdown freshman season in 2010, Hunter registered a head-turning 16 catches for 302 yards and a pair of scores in two games last season. However, he turned his left knee wildly and tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Florida in game three, missing the rest of his sophomore season after surgery. Hunter returned ahead of the schedule and practiced this past spring, albeit not yet 100%. If his knee proves to be at full health this fall and he shows the same athleticism, Hunter has top-10 potential and could jump both Southern Cal's Robert Wood and California's Keenan Allen as the top draft-eligible receiver in most evaluator's minds.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: DT Kaleb Ramsey (Boston College), OT Manase Foketi (Kansas State), DE Nathan Williams (Ohio State), OLB Ramon Buchanan (Miami, FL), RB Eric Stephens (Texas Tech), CB Jerrell Gavins (Boise State), C Braxston Cave (Notre Dame), OG Jonathan Rush (Oklahoma State), CB Devin Smith (Wisconsin), OT Elvis Fisher (Missouri), OG Josh Dworaczyk (LSU), DE Jacques Smith (Tennessee), RB Dominique Whaley (Oklahoma), FB Devon Ramsay (North Carolina), QB Jordan Wynn (Utah), WR Brandon Wimberly (Nevada), RB Montel Harris (Temple), TE Mike Ragone (Kansas), WR Verlon Reed (Ohio State), RB Chris Thompson (Florida State), OT Shon Coleman (Auburn), OG Josh Jenkins (West Virginia), OT Corey Lewis (Illinois), CB Troy Stoudermire (Minnesota), OLB Jake Fischer (Arizona)

Injury is the main thing that is keeping people from being excited about this class at least at RB. there is not a Trent Richardson, but all four RBs in this article with health should grade out around Martin/Wilson if not higher. The questions this year are obvious and up-front, it take alot of football and scouting to get good CLARITY (thanks sigmound and cecil).

 

[Xue]

Backyard Brawl dev drafts started this weekend and have all finished.

BACKYARD BRAWL ONE

Already rostered: Knile Davis, Matt Barkley

1. Marcus Lattimore, RB

2. Robert Woods, WR

3. Keenan Allen, WR

4. Justin Hunter, WR

5. Eddie Lacy, RB

6. Da'Rick Rogers, WR

7. Montee Ball, RB

8. Joseph Randle RB

9. Marquess Wilson, WR

10. Giovani Bernard, RB

11. Christine Michael, RB

12. Tyler Wilson, QB

13. Logan Thomas, QB

14. Andre Ellington, RB

BACKYARD BRAWL TWO

Already rostered: Knile Davis

1. Marcus Lattimore, RB

2. Robert Woods, WR

3. Keenan Allen, WR

4. Justin Hunter, WR

5. Marquess Wilson, WR

6. Matt Barkley, QB

7. Da'Rick Rogers, WR

8. Gio Bernard, RB

9. Montee Ball, RB

10. Tyler Eifert, TE

11. Cierre Wood, RB

12. Eddie Lacy, RB

13. Joseph Randle, RB

14. Logan Thomas, QB

BACKYARD BRAWL THREE

Already rostered: Cameron Marshall, Andre Ellington, Knile Davis

1. Keenan Allen, WR

2. Marcus Lattimore, RB

3. Robert Woods, WR

4. Justin Hunter, WR

5. Da'Rick Rogers, WR

6. Montee Ball, RB

7. Matt Barkley, QB

8. Terrance Williams WR

9. Marquess Wilson WR

10. Giovani Bernard RB

11. Branden Oliver, RB

12. Joseph Randle, RB

13. Christine Michael, RB

14. Michael Dyer, RB

My picks in bold.

Some interesting notes:

- Lattimore, Woods, and Allen went top three in every league.

- Hunter went 4th in every league.

- Rogers chosen in the 5-7 range in every league.

- Ball picked in the 6-9 range in every league.

- Marquess Wilson a top 10 pick in every league.

- Randle and Bernard drafted in every league. Barkley now rostered in every league.

- Biggest variance is probably Eddie Lacy, who went top 5 in one league and undrafted in another.

- Michael Dyer was undrafted in two leagues and probably would've been undrafted in the third if I hadn't taken him. I know he is mired in personal issues, but the downgrade seems like over-correction for a player who would've been a top 5 pick in all these drafts after the last season.

- Overall ADP, factoring in Barkley and Davis, probably looks something like:

Lattimore

Woods

Allen

Hunter

(Davis)

(Barkley)

Rogers

Ball

Wilson

Bernard

Randle

Not trying to sound like a hater, but I can't remember the last time I've been this lukewarm on a class of prospects. There is obvious talent at the top, but a lot of those guys have issues. Hunter, Davis, and Lattimore will all have to show that they can bounce back from injuries.

Joseph Randle is so overrated. His numbers look great, but he won't transition well to the NFL as a RB. Might need to switch to WR. I dub him "Robert Woods playing running back". Cierre Wood, Alfred Blue, Charles Sims are similar guys who are better pure runners.

 

[Heep]

DEV draft that just finished today in my league...

Already on a Roster: Knile Davis

1. Keenan Allen

2. Robert Woods

3. Marcus Lattimore (Side Note: Same owner had 1st 3 picks...)

4. Justin Hunter (Note: This guy tried to take Knile at 4th not realizing he was on a roster)

5. Marquess Wilson

6. Da'Rick Rogers

7. Terrance Williams

8. Matt Barkley

9. Giovani Bernard

10. Eddie Lacy

11. Montee Ball

12. Christine Michael

 

[Heep]

11. Montee Ball

This was interesting to me, given he went as high as 6 and no later than 9 in the other drafts listed. I'm wondering if him being attacked and suffering the concussion drove his value down a tad...

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

Honey Badger kicked off LSU team...wow

 

[Area51Inhabitant]

Honey Badger kicked off LSU team...wow

Last year he served a 1 game team suspension for failing a drug test. I hope he didn't do it again. He could be costing himself millions.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Looking at those backyard drafts, I think Marquess Wilson offers the best value in the middle of the first round. I like him infinitely more than Da'Rick Rogers who seems to be going way too high imo.

After Wilson, I think there's lots of value for RBs at the end of the first round. One or more of Eddie Lacy, Branden Oliver, or Christine Michael is going to skyrocket up fantasy draft boards by the end of 2012 imo.

 

[EBF]

I think the best value in terms of talent-per-cost is actually Dyer. His 2011 clips were pretty unimpressive, but when you go back and look at his 2010 clips he has obvious first round talent:

If he can get his life sorted out then he can be a starter at the next level.

I do like Oliver too though. Took him in that draft I posted above and also in Backyard Brawl 4, in which all college players were eligible (Watkins, Lee, etc).

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

I think the best value in terms of talent-per-cost is actually Dyer. His 2011 clips were pretty unimpressive, but when you go back and look at his 2010 clips he has obvious first round talent:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8vfI7rFArUIf he can get his life sorted out then he can be a starter at the next level.I do like Oliver too though. Took him in that draft I posted above and also in Backyard Brawl 4, in which all college players were eligible (Watkins, Lee, etc).

Let me get this straightyer looked like a first round talent TWO YEARS AGO with Cam Newton.Dyer didn't look as good in 2011 without Cam Newton.Kicked off Auburn team.Kicked off Arkansas State team(with old coach).But because EBF says to buy we should...i'll pass.

 

[identikit]

I think the best value in terms of talent-per-cost is actually Dyer. His 2011 clips were pretty unimpressive, but when you go back and look at his 2010 clips he has obvious first round talent:

But, but he has the pedigree.

 

[EBF]

5 star recruit. NFL frame. Consecutive 1000+ yard rushing seasons in the SEC. Rated as a first round talent by reputable websites:

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1155910.html

Plenty of reasons to like him.

If Bryce Brown can get drafted after his disaster of a college career then of course someone will take a chance on Dyer. At the end of the day, rare talent is just that...rare. Guys like Dyer don't grow on trees, in the NFL or in FF. If you can get a potential first round 300+ carry type of workhorse outside the top 10 picks in a dev draft, I'd say it's a great gamble to take.

 

[werdnoynek]

5 star recruit. NFL frame. Consecutive 1000+ yard rushing seasons in the SEC. Rated as a first round talent by reputable websites:http://cfn.scout.com/2/1155910.htmlPlenty of reasons to like him.If Bryce Brown can get drafted after his disaster of a college career then of course someone will take a chance on Dyer. At the end of the day, rare talent is just that...rare. Guys like Dyer don't grow on trees, in the NFL or in FF. If you can get a potential first round 300+ carry type of workhorse outside the top 10 picks in a dev draft, I'd say it's a great gamble to take.

i agree. it will be interesting to see what he does with the spare time this year and leading up to the draft.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

5 star recruit. NFL frame. Consecutive 1000+ yard rushing seasons in the SEC. Rated as a first round talent by reputable websites:http://cfn.scout.com/2/1155910.htmlPlenty of reasons to like him.If Bryce Brown can get drafted after his disaster of a college career then of course someone will take a chance on Dyer. At the end of the day, rare talent is just that...rare. Guys like Dyer don't grow on trees, in the NFL or in FF. If you can get a potential first round 300+ carry type of workhorse outside the top 10 picks in a dev draft, I'd say it's a great gamble to take.

5 star recruit means very little: Joe McKnight was a 5 star recruit, DeAndre Brown was a 5 star recruit, Darrell Scott was the #1 rated RB in his class, etc.Back to back 1000+ seasons in the SEC is misleading:2010 vs SEC teams= 119 carries 688 yards 5.8 YPC2011 vs SEC teams= 168 carries 809 yards 4.8 YPC-If you take out Miss/Miss St games from 2011 his #'s vs SEC= 123 carries 482 3.9.......very unimpressive.Without Cam Newton he looks like a very average RB300 carry RB??? Only two RB's in the NFL had over 300 carries last year.Bryce Brown didn't get kicked off of two teams for character concerns...huge red flag. Alphonso Dennard dropped by 4 rounds for a drug concern...but Dyer isn't going to drop like a rock for getting kicked off of two teams? He will go undrafted. He may not even stay motivated...he's not on a football team for 2012...get lazy put on some weight.

 

[EBF]

Without Cam Newton he looks like a very average RB

You are reaching way too far in your attempt to discredit his talent. He rushed for 1242 yards last season at 5.1 YPC. That's not an average season. It's a very good season, no matter how you cut up the stats to make it look otherwise. And yes, his performance dropped without Newton. The whole team regressed. I don't think that's damning evidence that he's no good. When you lose the #1 overall pick in the draft at the most important position on the field, your team is going to suffer. The main risk factors with Dyer are related to character, not talent. And that risk is factored into his draft position. He went undrafted in two out of three BYB drafts and probably would've slipped out of the third if I hadn't grabbed him. If not for the character risk, he would've been a top 5-6 pick in every league, if not higher. So clearly people are factoring the red flags into their valuations.My argument is that he's well worth the gamble at his current cost. There just aren't a lot of guys floating around with first round ability, and Dyer is one of them. It's rare to get that kind of upside outside the first few dev picks. I would much rather gamble on a guy who could be a top 10 dynasty RB in a couple years than settle on mediocre talents who have little chance of becoming impact players on Sundays.At this point it's up to Dyer. If he decides to learn from his mistakes and get serious about his profession, he can be as good as any RB in NCAA right now. If he keeps wasting chances, he could be out of football in a couple years. He'll get a shot though. Teams will always gamble on talent.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

Without Cam Newton he looks like a very average RB

You are reaching way too far in your attempt to discredit his talent. He rushed for 1242 yards last season at 5.1 YPC. That's not an average season. It's a very good season, no matter how you cut up the stats to make it look otherwise. And yes, his performance dropped without Newton. The whole team regressed. I don't think that's damning evidence that he's no good. When you lose the #1 overall pick in the draft at the most important position on the field, your team is going to suffer. The main risk factors with Dyer are related to character, not talent. And that risk is factored into his draft position. He went undrafted in two out of three BYB drafts and probably would've slipped out of the third if I hadn't grabbed him. If not for the character risk, he would've been a top 5-6 pick in every league, if not higher. So clearly people are factoring the red flags into their valuations.My argument is that he's well worth the gamble at his current cost. There just aren't a lot of guys floating around with first round ability, and Dyer is one of them. It's rare to get that kind of upside outside the first few dev picks. I would much rather gamble on a guy who could be a top 10 dynasty RB in a couple years than settle on mediocre talents who have little chance of becoming impact players on Sundays.At this point it's up to Dyer. If he decides to learn from his mistakes and get serious about his profession, he can be as good as any RB in NCAA right now. If he keeps wasting chances, he could be out of football in a couple years. He'll get a shot though. Teams will always gamble on talent.

I don't think he's a first round NFL talent. How many FCS schools would cut a first round NFL talent...answer is very few.You can keep pumping up Dyer however you want to justify that pick, but the consensus(everybody else in all 3 leagues + myself) don't think he's worth the gamble. Keep on spouting off the terms "first round ability" "rare" "upside" "impact player" like they are associated with Dyer. Dyer dropped a full YPC without Cam Newton...special talents at RB shouldn't drop off a full YPC(this is including his big day against Samford ). It really goes to show the attention Cam Newton was receiving from defenses and Michael Dyer was just a byproduct.EBF, you throw out terms and go on rants like you're the guru of college prospects...this argument + LeVeon Bell is worse than Edwin Baker + discussions with several board members regarding you specifically = your opinion not deserving much credibility

 

[JPeso]

Dyer just looks pretty pedestrian to me.

I'd rather a shot at a guy who pops on screen and doesn't have D'Evils swirling around inside (I'll accept thugs if they are pimps, slapping myself on the wrist when they make a mistake).

Would I be surprised if Dyer made a pro impact? Of course not. Does that make him a better gamble than those drafted around him? I'd rather the gamble on a similarly priced Michael at roughly the same cost (might be a little more expensive. I drafted Bernard as well, but his value is higher than Michael's).

Dyer could be a conceited jerk but if he's pimping SEC defenses than I am certainly listening. What I saw wasn't enough for me to hold on to his high school accolades. I'm certainly not anti-thuggery.

 

[EBF]

Okay, let's see...

Dyer was rated as a five star prospect by Scout and Rivals out of high school.

Started for the national champion as a true freshman.

Broke Bo Jackson's Auburn record for most rushing yards by a freshman.

Logged consecutive 1000+ yard seasons in the SEC.

Rushed for more yards from 2010-2011 than any other SEC RB besides Trent Richardson.

Was generally regarded as one of the top RB prospects in college football during this time by draft sites.

But, because you say so, isn't talented.

The irony here is huge.

Let me get this straight:

Dyer looked like a first round talent TWO YEARS AGO with Cam Newton.

Dyer didn't look as good in 2011 without Cam Newton.

Kicked off Auburn team.

Kicked off Arkansas State team(with old coach).

But because EBF says to buy we should...i'll pass.

I'm not claiming to be some kind of draft guru. I'm offering an opinion. Last I checked, I am allowed to have one. And my opinion is that Dyer is great value at his current cost in dev drafts. Nobody says you have to agree.

You are allowed to disagree with or ignore opinions. I know that's usually what I do when I see your posts.

 

[JPeso]

I'm not claiming to be some kind of draft guru. I'm offering an opinion. Last I checked, I am allowed to have one.

And my opinion is that Dyer is great value at his current cost in dev drafts. Nobody says you have to agree.

You are allowed to disagree with or ignore opinions. I know that's usually what I do when I see your posts.

You didn't know you weren't allowed to have an opinion??!!?!?!?!?

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

I disagreed with your opinion, then Jpeso agreed + the rest of your 3 leagues. But you don't see the irony...

I'd rather have Silas Redd/Christine Michael/LeVeon Bell/Zac Stacy/Kenjon Barner over Michael Dyer at that pick and those are just the RB's.

 

[JPeso]

I took Terrance Williams at 7. I can't say I'm the biggest fan. He does make nice plays but I'm not nearly as comfy with him as some of the cats available in the early-mid 2nd of this year's class.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

I took Terrance Williams at 7. I can't say I'm the biggest fan. He does make nice plays but I'm not nearly as comfy with him as some of the cats available in the early-mid 2nd of this year's class.

I like him, but not crazy high. Need to see him produce without RGIII and Wright drawing coverage away. It will be interesting to see if Wright/Gordon/Williams were products of RGIII or will have legit NFL careers.

 

[EBF]

I'd rather have Silas Redd/Christine Michael/LeVeon Bell/Zac Stacy/Kenjon Barner over Michael Dyer at that pick and those are just the RB's.

To each his own. I like Dyer more than those guys, and for me it's not really that close. Time will tell.

 

[Groundpounder]

Guys, Ray Graham was unbelievable at times last year before getting injured. The guy has much wiggle and just plays with an extra gear. Size is definitely a concern though. Anyone see him being more than a 3rd down back at the next level?

 

[BigTex]

Guys, Ray Graham was unbelievable at times last year before getting injured. The guy has much wiggle and just plays with an extra gear. Size is definitely a concern though. Anyone see him being more than a 3rd down back at the next level?

I had him the #2 or #3 in this past draft if he stayed healthy and declared early. This guy has it all he's more than a 3rd down back!

 

[coolnerd]

I'd rather have Silas Redd/Christine Michael/LeVeon Bell/Zac Stacy/Kenjon Barner over Michael Dyer at that pick and those are just the RB's.

To each his own. I like Dyer more than those guys, and for me it's not really that close. Time will tell.

I like dyer on the field more than those guys, but his off the field is so bad that he is not trust worthy.

 

[EBF]

The way I look at is that very few of the prospects in college football obviously have the talent to be more than a street level replacement in the NFL. Even a lot of the guys who might be drafted aren't really special in pro terms. For me guys like Redd and Barner fall into that category. They will probably get drafted and might make a roster for a few years, but to me they look like major underdogs to ever be anything more than backup type players at the next level.

Dyer has major character baggage, but at least with him there's a chance that he'll get straightened out and really become something special in the NFL. I'd rather have a 10% chance at a first round pick than a 90% chance at a seventh round pick. Those numbers are arbitrary, but they reflect the reasoning. I've done a few dev drafts over the last few years and I've realized that upside is a huge part of the equation. I've taken guys like Mardy Gilyard and Jarett Dillard who were nice players and draftable prospects, but didn't really have special qualities for the next level. These guys are a dime a dozen and tend to wash out of the league pretty quickly. Given the choice between mid-late round talents and a potential first round type of talent, I'm going to swing for the fences ten times out of ten.

That was my reasoning when I took Dyer. I went back and watched his clips and thought "Man, how is this guy still here?"

Of course, I could be completely off in my evaluation. He could be a middling talent and players like Redd and Graham could end up being stars in the NFL. Regardless of whether the evaluation was correct, I think the reasoning behind it was solid. Once the obvious elite guys are gone, I think it pays to gamble on greatness in dev drafts as opposed to settling for a safe prospect with marginal upside.

 

[Chadstroma]

7 pages here- I scanned through a bunch but was not seeing a discussion on the class as a whole.

So, I have a couple of questions: What is the general view of the potential class as a whole? Most importantly, how does the high end of the class look?

 

[EBF]

I think there's a general perception that the class is down.

On the other hand, there are quite a few players with first round potential. A lot of people think these guys have first round ability.

QB: Matt Barkley, Tyler Wilson, Logan Thomas, Tyler Bray

RB: Marcus Lattimore, Knile Davis

WR: Robert Woods, Keenan Allen, Marquess Wilson, Justin Hunter, Da'Rick Rogers

Just my personal opinion, but I think the class is down across the board. At this time last year you had a clear franchise QB in Luck, a clear elite RB prospect in Richardson, and a clear first round WR prospect in Blackmon. I think most would agree that Luck and Richardson were better at this stage of their careers than the top QBs and RBs in the 2013 group. I feel that way about Blackmon as well. Last year I would've been thrilled to get him with the 1.03 dev pick. This year I had the 1.03 pick in one league and traded down because I didn't like any of the options.

I just happen to think this is a slightly weak group where all of the top players have some question mark or another. No doubt the upcoming NCAA season will help clarify this picture, but for now I am down on the top of the draft. My reaction to the names above is an emphatic "meh."

It's early though. I didn't know who Ryan Mathews and Rashard Mendenhall were before their breakout years. Players like Demaryius Thomas, David Wilson, Kendall Wright, Doug Martin, and RG3 were not considered first round locks entering their final college seasons. I'm optimistic that some of the known players will justify the hype, and that some unknown players will emerge.

 

[jurb26]

WR: Robert Woods, Keenan Allen, Marquess Wilson, Justin Hunter, Da'Rick Rogers

Am I the only one who really likes this group,of WRs? Much better than last years IMO. I think there are 4 1st rounders there and 3 better than than last years best guy, though none as good as Green or Jones.

 

[Chadstroma]

WR: Robert Woods, Keenan Allen, Marquess Wilson, Justin Hunter, Da'Rick Rogers

Am I the only one who really likes this group,of WRs? Much better than last years IMO. I think there are 4 1st rounders there and 3 better than than last years best guy, though none as good as Green or Jones.

If Blackmon came out a year earlier he would have been the 3rd best option to draft at WR (Green and Jones ahead of him)- I am not really sure that is so much speaking about Blackmon as it is speaking about Green and Jones though.