twistd
Footballguy
Vernon Davis is getting a lot of love as a sleeper in the preseason guides. But I think he is already creeping up draft boards. His ADP, according to Ants, in a 12 team league, is 7.06. He is the 6th TE off the board. He is taken almost a round before Crumpler and Cooley, and almost two rounds in front of Witten. In a mock draft I did a couple of weeks ago he was taken at 6.05, in front of Shockey and Heap. I get the feeling that he may creep up higher as the season approaches.
Last year Ben Watson was in a similar position. He was a consensus sleeper in the preseason. In my 12 team league he went at 5.01, in front of Gonzo and Heap. I got Heap at 5.06, five picks later. In a ten team league I picked Watson in the 11th round, and as the 7th TE off the board. And, as it turned out, I think that was too high.
Vernon Davis has awesome physical talents. And there may come a time when he surpasses Gates as the number one TE. But, right now, there are a lot of question marks about him, and his team. Will Alex Smith continue to develop? Will Jackson actually be healthy enough to play? Can any other WR provide a threat, or will Davis face double-teams all year long? Can Davis stay healthy? There are far too many questions, in my mind, for him to be taken so high.
I also think people lose the definition of a sleeper. If you can get Davis, say, in the eighth round. He is probably worth the risk. I felt the same way about Watson last year. But when you get so excited about him that you jump up and take him in the fifth round, in front of more established players, that could be a mistake. It probably makes sense to watch the sleeper lists from the magazines. With so many people drafting off of those, their consensus sleepers will likely go much higher than they should.
Last year Ben Watson was in a similar position. He was a consensus sleeper in the preseason. In my 12 team league he went at 5.01, in front of Gonzo and Heap. I got Heap at 5.06, five picks later. In a ten team league I picked Watson in the 11th round, and as the 7th TE off the board. And, as it turned out, I think that was too high.
Vernon Davis has awesome physical talents. And there may come a time when he surpasses Gates as the number one TE. But, right now, there are a lot of question marks about him, and his team. Will Alex Smith continue to develop? Will Jackson actually be healthy enough to play? Can any other WR provide a threat, or will Davis face double-teams all year long? Can Davis stay healthy? There are far too many questions, in my mind, for him to be taken so high.
I also think people lose the definition of a sleeper. If you can get Davis, say, in the eighth round. He is probably worth the risk. I felt the same way about Watson last year. But when you get so excited about him that you jump up and take him in the fifth round, in front of more established players, that could be a mistake. It probably makes sense to watch the sleeper lists from the magazines. With so many people drafting off of those, their consensus sleepers will likely go much higher than they should.