1) Shane vereen. Try to find a giants article that doesn't refer to him being used more than anyone expects. He's going to get carries on early downs this year, plus the receptions and third down work.
2) Jeremy Maclin - everyone seems to be sown on Maclin in Kansas City. Alex smith can throw deep when he has good receivers, but he doesn't even try when he's got Donnie Avery. Terrell Owens had a monster year playing under Andy Reid in Philly. Expect quality wr2 numbers at a wr3 price.
3) Andy Dalton - Hue Jackson has said he wants to open up the offense this year. With healthy weapons, Dalton was a top five qb two years ago. He should be in the conversation with guys like Eli, Romo and rivers, but his stock is way down because his receivers got injured last year. Dalton used to focus on aj green and nobody else. In back to back seasons he's been forced to make heavy use of sanu and Jones. Now he has Green, Sanu and Jones on the field at the same time. With defenses focused more on the running game, expect more room for the passing game and a higher ypa.
4) Zach ertz. No djax. No Maclin. No mccoy. Sure, agholar is talented, and Matthews looks great out of the slot. But they run an awful lot of offensive plays and someone needs to catch the ball. This feels like one of those situations where the tight end fills the void because there's nobody else to do it.
5) Legarrete Blount - this is the most clarity we've had at running back in new England in years. Sure, they're looking for someone to fill vereen's role - but vereen only had a big role because he was very talented. Yeah, ridley got benched. But that was for fumbling, specifically in some very bad situations. Blount came in of the street and replaced a guy who had a 200 yard game. Then Blount showed why. Belichick loves veteran backs and the Patriots are always one of the top rushing teams. An absolute steal in the mid rounds.
Honorable mentions
Victor Cruz. It depends how late he slides, of course, but he's been left for dead by a lot of people and every report so far is that he's faster than expected, taking hits, making cuts, and had an outstanding recovery. Cruz was best when nicks was drawing number one coverage. He could be a sneaky wr1 after a few weeks of getting his game speed back.
Kyle Rudolph - good talent, good qb, great coach for tight ends, great running back to take pressure off him. The pieces are all there. Again.
Alfred blue - he wasn't great last year, but after working out with Adrian Peterson this off season he might take a big step forward. The opportunity is certainly there and the team will definitely feed a running back ifvthey do well. Read this
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Blue-uses-offseason-workouts-to-ensure-Texans-6209112.php?t=d87b126e77438d9cbb&cmpid=twitter-premium
Dan Herron - is there a backup rb in a better situation behind an older running back?
Later picks
Virgil green - Julius Thomas was a badly flawed receiving tight end until he started. Manning covers up a lot of those flaws. With some decline in arm strength, manning isn't stretching the field anymore, and this is already a tight end friendly offense. Yes, green is a better blocker than receiver, and yes, Owen Daniels may start out as the guy to own, but if you have deep rosters this is a great guy to stash.
Eddie royal - last couple of years, Eddie royal has started out red hot then declined rapidly. This year, with Marshall gone and their stud rookie sidelined, royal is already making noise in camp. Back together with cutler, this could be a nice fill in receiver especially for early daily leagues or best ball leagues.
at the bolded
