Who will creep up rookie drafts come August? (1 Viewer)

[tombonneau]

We did our first rookie draft late August last year - like a traditional draft - but I much prefer having done an early one like this year in late June. Much more fun and challenging to analyze a small but relevant data set from June camps versus knowing by preseason Game 3 who the rookie is that won the starting WR job in Green Bay.

To that end, I'd love to crowdsource a crystal ball and see what mid-round rookie picks we think will make their way into the second round and even late first? Here are my candidates (and this is not owner bias ... at least not 100% ):

• Anthony Miller | I think he ends up a late first and looks good enough to negatively impact A-Rob stock. Just a huge believer in his talent.
  
• Deon Cain | I suspect he wins the starting job early and has a Golladay-like ascent into mid-second
  
• A GB Rookie WR | Not sure which one it'll be (fingers crossed J'Mon Moore!) but I think one of these kids beats out Allison and becomes an instant second rounder, if not higher
  
• Hines or Watkins | Whether it means anything or not, one of them will flash in preseason leading to a surge of "He's locked up the starting job" takes
  
• Lamar Jackson | It's only gonna take a handful of highlight plays to move him into the bottom of the first
  

What you got?

 

[Interseptopus]

Sutton. 6 months ago many said he was the best wr in this draft. hes going behind Moore, kirk, Ridley due to perceived better situations. all it takes is a few plays for sutton to rise up the charts a bit. not a major move, but it's a move. 

I agree with your entire list

 

[tombonneau]

Sutton. 6 months ago many said he was the best wr in this draft. hes going behind Moore, kirk, Ridley due to perceived better situations. all it takes is a few plays for sutton to rise up the charts a bit. not a major move, but it's a move. 

I agree with your entire list

I'm not a huge follower of college football, but I recall looking at rankings less than a year ago and Sutton seemed to be the consensus top guy. What happened? Down year or bad combine? I agree, he's a guy that could move up as he has some name brand cache. 

Come August, one way or the other I don't expect Moore-Ridley to be the first two WRs off the board.

 

[JoeJoe88]

Lamar Jackson | It's only gonna take a handful of highlight plays to move him into the bottom of the first

Completely agree on this one.  We had our rookie draft last month and I got him at the 1.07(2QB league) and I felt like it was a steal.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

It may not ultimately be deserved but Nyheim Hines is the type of player that can make a few big flashy plays in preseason which may shoot him up the ranks.

 

[Flying Elvis]

Antonio Callaway - draft day slides b/c of off-field issues cause draft day slides in early rookie drafts, too. A few flashy plays and it's a quick jump from 4th to 2nd. Looking at MFL ADP and he's already up to 36.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

another vote for Miller, Sutton, and Jackson...Sutton is probably going to continue to be overlooked by some since he is "behind" Thomas and Sanders...but both of those guys are fading and the buzz out here in that Sutton has been "Mossing" fools in camp....think it will be hard for them to keep him off the field...

 

[dmac37]

Jaylen Samuels- the Bell hold out could become a real thing and Samuels will benefit the most unless they bring an experienced RB that can do it all.

 

[Bojang0301]

Kalen Ballage, his value was all over the place immediately after the draft. Now people are having to sit down and look at the athleticism plus a potentially muddy situation in Miami and ask if they can pass on an RB like that over the hodgepodge WR and TE group.

 

[RushHour]

Sutton, Samuels and Ballage are the obvious ones to me. All should have been going higher in rookie drafts to date, especially Sutton.

A deeper guy might be Auden Tate- I’ve read a couple of early camp articles about him that seem pretty encouraging. Not that he’ll make a rookie impact necessarily but something to keep an eye on.

 

[jadensdad]

Completely agree on this one.  We had our rookie draft last month and I got him at the 1.07(2QB league) and I felt like it was a steal.

Same

 

[nirad3]

One of my dynasties holds its rookie draft much later than "the norm" (starts tomorrow morning).  Gonna follow this closely as I have a glut of mid-round picks and this league is notorious for letting value slip.

 

[Interseptopus]

Antonio Callaway - draft day slides b/c of off-field issues cause draft day slides in early rookie drafts, too. A few flashy plays and it's a quick jump from 4th to 2nd. Looking at MFL ADP and he's already up to 36.

he has to not be hurt. already has a strained adductor 

 

[BoltBacker]

Edmonds(ARZ) - got caught up in a deep RB draft but he's talented, and a new coaching staff brought him in. The new coaching staff hasn't shown yet that they are going to force feed DJ the ball in the same way the old regime did. If a veteran RB wants a pay raise don't be shocked if the coaching staff talks up the newer/younger/cheaper guy behind him even if they do plan on riding DJ into the ground when he's on the field.

Berrios(NE) - has several veterans ahead of him that may take some practices/games off while he's working hard everyday to make the team. 

James(SF) - high probability of a few run-after-catch plays vs 2nd/3rd stringers and the perception could easily be he's reeling in the Trent Taylor role in the offense if TT gets worked back into the rotation after back surgery. He may be more talented than Taylor.

Walton(CIN) - it wouldn't surprise me at all if Walton looks better vs 2nd stringers as Mixon/Gio does while playing behind a new OL trying to gel(including a rookie C) and playing against 1st stringers.

Kelly(LAR) - He's likely to look like a more exciting/dynamic player than Brown, even if Brown truly is the backup to Gurley.

Wadley(TEN) - if I were the Titans I wouldn't waste many Lewis reps in preseason. Wadley will look like a very nice compliment to Henry if he's getting reps.

Smith(ATL) - there will be a lot of hand-wringing if he starts scoring TD's in the pre-season even if it is in the 2nd half. There is a non-zero chance he's a TD vulture in that offense as the Falcons try to protect their investment in Freeman. I don't really view Coleman as a short yardage guy, but he's been better than I expected he would be.

 

[tombonneau]

Edmonds(ARZ) - got caught up in a deep RB draft but he's talented, and a new coaching staff brought him in. The new coaching staff hasn't shown yet that they are going to force feed DJ the ball in the same way the old regime did. If a veteran RB wants a pay raise don't be shocked if the coaching staff talks up the newer/younger/cheaper guy behind him even if they do plan on riding DJ into the ground when he's on the field.

Berrios(NE) - has several veterans ahead of him that may take some practices/games off while he's working hard everyday to make the team. 

James(SF) - high probability of a few run-after-catch plays vs 2nd/3rd stringers and the perception could easily be he's reeling in the Trent Taylor role in the offense if TT gets worked back into the rotation after back surgery. He may be more talented than Taylor.

Walton(CIN) - it wouldn't surprise me at all if Walton looks better vs 2nd stringers as Mixon/Gio does while playing behind a new OL trying to gel(including a rookie C) and playing against 1st stringers.

Kelly(LAR) - He's likely to look like a more exciting/dynamic player than Brown, even if Brown truly is the backup to Gurley.

Wadley(TEN) - if I were the Titans I wouldn't waste many Lewis reps in preseason. Wadley will look like a very nice compliment to Henry if he's getting reps.

Smith(ATL) - there will be a lot of hand-wringing if he starts scoring TD's in the pre-season even if it is in the 2nd half. There is a non-zero chance he's a TD vulture in that offense as the Falcons try to protect their investment in Freeman. I don't really view Coleman as a short yardage guy, but he's been better than I expected he would be.

Berrios call is great. Pats are notorious for creating fan boy WR cult hero's in preseason. Berrios fits the bill. Edelman suspension should only enhance his value. I'll bet he peaks in third round. 

Wadley and Smith will for sure creep up in preseason reps just don't think they can get too high. Though I think everyone will eventually wise up to Coleman 2018  = Ito 2019. 

 

[BoltBacker]

Though I think everyone will eventually wise up to Coleman 2018  = Ito 2019. 

I'm not sure it will take that long. It seems to me Ito bring something different to the table than Coleman or Freeman. 

Freeman's size and running style has me questioning if the Falcons will continue to use him in short yardage situations if Ito is on the roster(and I expect him to be). Freeman was dominant the first month of the season scoring 5 rushing TD's in the first four games. But for the rest of the season he only had 2 total. In addition, there has been talk of RB coach Parmalee advocating Freeman "gets skinny" to avoid hits.... but I just don't see how that jives with the Freeman running style. A Freeman avoiding hits fundamentally changes the player that he is. The only way for the Falcons to protect him is to get him the ball in space more often and keep him out of traffic imo. And Tevin Coleman had 5 total rushing TD's for the season so I think there is a very real and valuable role for Ito this season.

The real problem Ito has from a fantasy perspective is the way modern fantasy football is scored. Somehow people have created this alternate universe where 3 catches for 30 yards is just as important as scoring a TD. Because, you know, the goal of football is to out-reception your opponent just as much as it is to out-score your opponent..... right? Not a rant against you, just a rant at the direction the hobby has been moving way too long and admittedly probably doesn't belong in this thread.

 

[Oil Boom]

DaeSean Hamilton. 

Smooth route runner, and has a good chance of getting in some work in the slot this season. 

I don’t understand why he isn’t getting more love. 

 

[tombonneau]

I'm not sure it will take that long. It seems to me Ito bring something different to the table than Coleman or Freeman. 

Freeman's size and running style has me questioning if the Falcons will continue to use him in short yardage situations if Ito is on the roster(and I expect him to be). Freeman was dominant the first month of the season scoring 5 rushing TD's in the first four games. But for the rest of the season he only had 2 total. In addition, there has been talk of RB coach Parmalee advocating Freeman "gets skinny" to avoid hits.... but I just don't see how that jives with the Freeman running style. A Freeman avoiding hits fundamentally changes the player that he is. The only way for the Falcons to protect him is to get him the ball in space more often and keep him out of traffic imo. And Tevin Coleman had 5 total rushing TD's for the season so I think there is a very real and valuable role for Ito this season.

The real problem Ito has from a fantasy perspective is the way modern fantasy football is scored. Somehow people have created this alternate universe where 3 catches for 30 yards is just as important as scoring a TD. Because, you know, the goal of football is to out-reception your opponent just as much as it is to out-score your opponent..... right? Not a rant against you, just a rant at the direction the hobby has been moving way too long and admittedly probably doesn't belong in this thread.

Would love if you're right. I'm in love with his game and Wadley's. I just see that as the evolution of the RB flex position. The smaller back who can do a little damage between teh tackles but excels catching the ball and making people miss in space. Barring the rare bell cow, I'm just stocking up on this type of player. Especially in 0.5ppr.  

 

[Bronco Billy]

DaeSean Hamilton. 

Smooth route runner, and has a good chance of getting in some work in the slot this season. 

I don’t understand why he isn’t getting more love. 

I think it might be because as well as Hamilton has shown so far, Sutton has been even stronger.  I’m seeing Sanders moving into the slot in 3 wide sets to put Sutton outside.

That doesn’t diminish Hamilton’s start so far, just that Sutton has been labeled Moss-level uncoverable at times so far.  It’s early, a lot of guys look great in tees and shorts.  But Elway might have struck WR gold twice this draft.