Fantasy Football Dynasty: Top 10 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
The 2017 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, bringing a new wave of college footballs’ best talent to the next level. While some dreams of having a long and successful NFL career will come to fruition, many players will not achieve the success they envisioned. So which guys should you bank on in your dynasty league rookie draft in 2017?
April 27th will mark the start of what has grown into a huge 3 day event, in which 250+ players will get selected to join an NFL roster. Only a handful of these players will actually make the roster by the start of the NFL season, making it crucial to draft the right ones in your fantasy league. Most dynasty football leagues hold their rookie drafts shortly after the NFL draft. This is because the team these players end up getting drafted by will play a big role in their long-term success.
Offensive scheme, roster, and coaching will all affect how a prospect is used. Although these rankings may change due to landing spot, here are my pre-draft top 10 dynasty rookie rankings.
Fantasy Football Dynasty Rankings
1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
Landing spot often gets overlooked going into rookie drafts. Christian McCaffrey is a great example of a player whose value will be tied into which team he is drafted by. From a skill set standpoint he can do it all. His numbers during his time at Standford are staggering, averaging 183.08 yards from scrimmage per game in his last 25 games.
McCaffrey’s underrated ability to run between the tackles, catch the ball out of the backfield, line up as a wide receiver, and contribute in the return game gives him both a high ceiling and a high floor. If he can land on a team that intends to give him 15-20 touches per game he could be fantasy gold, especially in PPR formats.
2. Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
Davis averaged 82 receptions, 1,319 rec yards, and 13 touchdowns per season over his four years at Western Michigan. That’s consistent big- time production regardless of what conference he played in. Davis has the ability to line up both outside and in the slot making him a versatile player that will immediately give defenses trouble.
There is a chance that Davis could see a drop come draft time after being unable to participate in the combine and pro day workouts due to recovering from an ankle surgery. His tape and production are enough to be a top-5 dynasty pick, especially in PPR leagues.
3. Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma
Joe Mixon has drawn comparisons to Pittsburgh Steelers all-pro running bac,k Le’Veon Bell for good reason. Mixon has all of the attributes to be a true three-down back in the NFL, bringing both an elusive running style and a physical running approach when needed. His ability to run routes and catch the ball is as good as any in this draft class.
Where Joe Mixon will get drafted will be a big topic come draft weekend. Although the notion that Mixon could end up going undrafted is possible, the chances all 32 teams let a first round talent pass them by multiple times seems unlikely. Wherever he ends up it will only be a matter of time before his talent gets him playing time.
4. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Leonard Fournette possesses a rare combination of size and speed. Having the ability to run through or around defenders when he reaches the second and third level of the defense is something that NFL teams covet. The biggest question mark surrounding Fournette is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Playing in a LSU offense that didn’t ask him to so often did not help him showcase his catching ability or lack there of.
Fournette also answered some questions around his weight that came up when he weighed in at 240 pounds at the combine last month. He did so by weighing in at 228 pounds at his pro day just a few weeks later.
Even at 240 pounds Fournette was able to run an impressive 4.51 40 yard dash which ranked in the 94th percentile in weight adjusted speed score. Fournette is ready to take on a heavy workload right away so don’t hesitate to draft him if he falls in your leagues.
5. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Dalvin Cook received a lot of criticism after an underwhelming showing at the combine. Although his 40-time and shuttle numbers were not what many expected his production and game tape show a running back ready for the NFL.
Cook posted 1,000+ yards in all three of his seasons at Florida State and broke the 1,600 mark in back to back season to finish out his college career. He is a shifty back that looks faster on tape than his combine 40-time would lead one to believe.
He also showed a knack for getting into the end zone, scoring 40 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Add in the fact that he can catch the ball out of the backfield and you have a running back ready to contribute right away on the NFL level.
6. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
Mike Williams looks the part of an NFL receiver at 6’4″, 218 lbs. While he doesn’t have the speed to separate like some other receivers in this class, he has shown that he doesn’t need it. Williams does a great job of using his body positioning and huge catch radius to win against opposing cornerbacks.
The former Clemson Tiger will provide an instant red zone threat for whatever team drafts him. Good timing with a quality quarterback will play a big roll in Williams’ success early on so keep an eye on which team drafts him.
7. John Ross, WR, Washington
The NFL will soon have a new level of speed to deal with when John Ross joins the league. The speedster broke the 40 yard dash record, previously held by Chris Johnson, when he ran a blazing 4.22 last month.
Not only can Ross stretch the field and create big plays, but he can use his amazing footwork to beat corners off the line.This allows him to cause mismatches in the red zone and make plays on all three levels of the field.
His injury history however has created some concern about his long-term availability. Ross has suffered injuries to both knees, one kept him out of the 2015 season after tearing his ACL. Ross also participated in the combine despite having a torn labrum in his shoulder. It was revealed in February that the injury would require surgery before his rookie season.
8. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
Don’t let his production at Alabama fool you, O.J. Howard has a complete skill set that NFL teams are consistently looking for at the tight end position. Below average quarterback play at Alabama hampered his ability to showcase his true potential.
Even with these setbacks he showed flashes of what he is capable of. In the 2015 national championship game he hauled in five passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Howard is a freak athlete that can block which will earn him more playing time early. His route running will need some work but he will provide his team with an offensive weapon from day one.
9. Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State
One of the more impressive performances at the NFL combine was turned in by Chris Godwin. His tape shows a wide receiver that plays physical and can come down with 50-50 balls when given the opportunity. He also has good enough route running to excel on the next level.
His 4.42 40-time was a sign that he also has deceptive speed that will help him work downfield against NFL competition. Don’t be surprised if Godwin hears his name called early on day two of the draft.
10. Curtis Samuel, WR/RB, Ohio State
High ceiling and low floor. That is a way to describe the fantasy value of RB/WR Curtis Samuel. Samuel will bring a very unique set of skills with him to the NFL, the key will be how his new team will use him.
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If a team can get the most out of him he carries Percy Harvin type upside (if not better), his floor however would be more along the lines of a Cordarrelle Patterson.
Samuel has the quickness to thrive in the slot and has 4.31 speed to beat teams deep making him a mismatch nightmare. He also can line up in the backfield as a running back and contribute in the return game if needed. Last season, Samuel tallied 1,636 yards from scrimmage and found the end zone 15 times.
Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR as we head towards the NFL draft and get you set for the upcoming NFL season and all your fantasy football needs!