| 1 |
Minnesota
|
RB
|
Adrian Peterson
|
A potential NFL franchise
back, Peterson is a downhill slasher with power, speed and decent hands.
He reminds some of us of a young Ricky Williams. However, Minnesota coach
Brad Childress has already said Chester Taylor will also be in the mix
this year. Bottom line. It's hard not to like Peterson running behind the
Vikings talented offensive line. |
| 2 |
Buffalo
|
RB
|
Marshawn Lynch
|
Buffalo landed a
workhorse runner in Lynch however he may split time with Anthony Thomas
and fellow rookie Dwayne Wright in 2007. Lynch looks to be a decent NFL inside runner but he's clearly
not in the same class as Peterson at this stage. Still, everything we've
seen suggests Lynch has what it takes to carry the ball 20+ times per game
and not wear down. |
| 3 |
Detroit
|
WR
|
Calvin Johnson
|
He'll start week one opposite Roy Williams in Mike Martz's spread system.
Last season Mike Furrey put up decent numbers for Fantasy owners and Johnson
has far superior skills. He's one of the five best college WR prospects to come out in the last ten years. |
| 4 |
GB
|
RB
|
Brandon Jackson
|
He starts out #2 on the
Packers depth chart behind Vernand Morency. Jackson
is a good one-cut and move inside runner and he's a good fit for the
Packers zone-blocking run scheme. He could be a hot rookie this winter once
he works his way into the starting lineup. |
| 5 |
Oakland
|
QB
|
JaMarcus Russell
|
He should see plenty of
playing time in 2007 however the Raiders offensive line is still
laughable. Russell reminds us of a young Daunte Culpepper with far
superior intangibles. In three years he could be a top-5 Fantasy QB due to
his exceptional arm strength. |
| 6 |
Tennessee
|
RB
|
Chris Henry
|
If he beats out LenDale
White you could be looking at the Titans go-to runner in 2007. Henry
projects well to the NFL as a decent inside and outside runner. Still,
he’s far from a lock, as he needs to improve his running style. Keep in
mind he only had 269 carries his entire college career and only averaged
3.8 yards per rush attempt. |
| 7 |
Indianapolis
|
WR
|
Anthony Gonzalez
|
Electrifying open field runner that will work the slot and have Peyton Manning throwing him the leather. With Harrison and Wayne both over 30, Gonzalez could come up huge in a few years.
|
| 8 |
KC
|
WR
|
Dwayne Bowe
|
He
should eventually become KC’s go-to possession receiver and see plenty of playing
time. Bowe has a nice size/speed ratio and he could see his share of
throws in the redzone via play action. While he may be a little slow
off the line, and he doesn’t excel in any one area, Bowe has few
weaknesses. |
| 9 |
Buffalo
|
RB
|
Dwayne Wright
|
A hard-nosed power runner,
Wright has the skills to become an adequate insider runner. In time, he could become a featured short-yardage and goal line
back. Wright lacks great speed but he has plenty of grit to go with his powerful
running style. He's an inside runner who could develop into a decent
short-yardage specialist in the NFL. He might also steal away a few touches
working as a Fullback at the next level. Long term, because Wright is hard
to tackle but lacks open field speed, he has more fantasy value in TD-heavy
scoring leagues. For now, we see him behind fellow rookie RB Marshawn Lynch
and veteran RB Anthony Thomas on the Bills depth chart.
|
| 10 |
Cleveland
|
QB
|
Brady Quinn
|
Opinions vary greatly on
Quinn. However most agree he has above average field vision and pocket
awareness. It's only a matter of time before Quinn wins the Browns
starting quarterback job away from Charlie Frye. Quinn ranks with the
likes of Alex Smith and Rex Grossman when they came out of college. With
emerging weapons in Cleveland and an upgraded offensive line, Quinn could generate
decent numbers in two to three years. |
| 11 |
Miami
|
WR
|
Ted Ginn
|
Ginn ranks in the same ballpark as Lee Evans, Troy Williamson and Santana Moss the year they came of college. Unquestionably, Ginn is an explosive open-field runner and he should immediately add a spark to the Dolphins special teams. That said, he doesn’t figure to be more than the #4 option in the Dolphins passing game in 2007. Despite all his speed, Ginn is still rather raw as a receiver. While Ginn has huge upside potential and Coach Cam Cameron really likes
his new weapon, they may have reached drafting him #9 overall. |
| 12 |
SD
|
WR
|
Craig Davis
|
With good size and speed, Davis will have every opportunity to win a starting job with the Chargers in 2007. Davis is best suited for man-to-man coverage and in
SD's system, he should see plenty of single defender coverage as long as the ground game is
going strong with LaDainian Tomlinson. |
| 13 |
Chicago
|
TE
|
Greg Olsen
|
The
best Fantasy TE prospect to come out of the 2007 NFL Draft, Olsen should
see plenty of balls thrown his way when he's on the field. While he's not
much of a blocker, Olsen has what it takes to get open at the NFL level.
Think a mix of Todd Heap and Dallas Clark.
|
| 14 |
NO
|
WR
|
Robert Meachem
|
A speedster with good size, rookie Robert Meachem will be playing his home games inside on the turf and that's to his advantage.
In addition, Meachem is on track to become the Saints #2 WR playing along side of Marques Colston.
Because the Saints have a number of weapons, opposing defenses will not
always be able to jam
Meachem and that should cover up one of his weaknesses. On paper, he has all the skills needed to start in the NFL. |
| 15 |
Miami
|
QB
|
John Beck
|
Beck
is Miami's eventual starting QB and he could nail down the job some time
during the 2007 season. Beck is a mix of Philip Rivers and Marc
Bulger. On the plus side, he's a very accurate passer when it comes to
shorter routes and he excels at getting the ball out in a hurry. In
addition, Beck has the ability to read and react to opposing defenses.
On the down side, he may not be able to stand up to an NFL pounding and he
could struggle on his deep throws.
|
| 16 |
Minnesota
|
WR
|
Sidney Rice
|
The Vikings need help at WR. With last year's early 1st round draft pick
Troy Williamson struggling, they reached for Rice mid-way into the 2nd round
of the 2007 draft. Rice is a tall receiver and at times he was very hard to
stop along the sidelines in college. Still, he needs plenty of work to
become a distinguished NFL receiver -- his route running certainly could
improve. Because the Vikings depth chart is currently thin at WR, Rice
should see his fair share of action as a rookie. |
| 17 |
Cincinnati
|
RB
|
Kenny Irons
|
With RB Chris Perry still nursing his ankle, the Bengals selected Kenny
Irons to compete for the backup RB role behind Rudi Johnson. Irons has
decent speed and has good presence in the pocket blocking. In addition, he’s
a decent receiver especially in the flat. When you add it all up, Irons
looks well positioned to be the Bengals 3rd down back. If he can hold up to
the pounding of the NFL, he could eventually become a starting NFL back. The
big question is his lack of upper body power.
|
| 18 |
Detroit
|
QB
|
Drew Stanton
|
He has size and decent mobility however he’s a project in the works at the
NFL level. Stanton needs to get rid of the ball quicker and improve his
consistency. That said, he’s stepping into a pass-happy Mike Martz offensive
scheme with several highly talented receivers currently on the roster. Any
way you cut it, this was a nice spot for Stanton to land in. He'll be
working with veteran QB Jon Kitna and learning from Martz. Fantasy wise,
Stanton probably won't fully register on the radar until 2009. Still, if
Kitna were to get hurt and Stanton develops quickly, he could beat out
backup Dan Orlovsky and be throwing the ball 35-40 times a game.
|
| 19 |
NYG
|
WR
|
Steve Smith
|
With Amani Toomer pushing his mid-30ies and Sinorice Moss underachieving,
rookie WR Steve Smith should get his chance to start for the New York Giants
sooner than later. While he’s not in Marvin’s class, on good days in
college, Smith looked like he was cut from the same mold as Marvin Harrison.
On the down side, he’s had an ankle injury, lacks elite raw speed and has a
diminutive frame. Time will tell if his game transfers to the next level,
but he’s one guy to keep an eye one.
|
| 20 |
Carolina
|
WR
|
Dwayne Jarrett
|
Good hands, a big frame and a hard worker who likes to run block, Dwayne
Jarrett will be a possession receiver in the NFL. As a 2nd round draft pick,
the word around Carolina is they expect him to become the team’s #2 WR this
season. From a fantasy standpoint, with outstanding size and marginal speed,
he’ll do most of his best work in the red zone and on short third down
routes.
|
| 21 |
Miami
|
RB
|
Lorenzo Booker
|
He’s much better running outside the tackle box, Booker has good hands for a
RB coming out of the backfield. At present, Booker projects to be a
third-down back in the NFL. The Dolphins hope he can eventually become a
player in the mold of Warrick Dunn. Booker is a dangerous runner when out in
space however his small frame makes him an injury risk.
|
| 22 |
Chicago
|
RB
|
Garrett Wolfe
|
In college he showed excellent skills as a runner averaging 6.6 yards per
carry three seasons in a row. Wolfe is a flashy, elusive runner and plays
bigger than his 5’ 7’’ frame suggests. Thanks to his cuts, he could be a
potential big-play option in the NFL. However, durability and blocking will
be a major issue. For now, he’s behind Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson on
the Bears RB depth chart.
|
| 23 |
Saints
|
RB
|
Antonio Pittman
|
Pittman is a decent RB with adequate all-around skills. While he’s not
blessed with elusive moves, we’ve seen him get the job done running inside
and outside the tackle box. From a fantasy standpoint, the Saints are loaded
at RB with Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister and Aaron Stecker. The upshot? New
Orleans drafting Pittman may be bad news for Stecker. Pittman could make for
a nice value pick for those drafting rookies in a keeper league after some
of the big names come off the board.
|
| 24 |
Oakland
|
TE
|
Zach Miller
|
Miller isn’t the fastest rookie TE and he’s not the biggest, but his receiving skills and agility make he a legitimate threat working against NFL zone
coverage. Our biggest concern with Miller is injuries. He’s not been able to stay health. Overall as an NFL prospect, he ranks behind Vernon Davis and Heath Miller when they came out, but is ahead of TEs Anthony Fasano, Alex Smith and Jerramy Stevens when they were drafted into the NFL.
|
| 25 |
Oakland
|
RB
|
Michael Bush
|
If he had not hurt his leg his senior year in college, he might have been
the 2nd RB drafted in 2007. Overall, we still consider Michael Bush a solid
short-yardage NFL prospect. He has powerful legs and is a physical runner.
Think Jerome Bettis late in his career. Long term, if you’re looking to land
this rookie on your Fantasy team, he’s going to be most valuable in TD-heavy
leagues. Short term, he’s coming back from injury and figures to be deep on
the Raiders depth chart as he battles LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, ReShard
Lee and Justin Fargas for playing time.
|
| 26 |
Packers
|
WR
|
James Jones
|
In the very best case, he’ll take Donald Driver’s #1 WR spot away in 2008 or
2009. Jones is a very powerful guy for a WR and he’s not afraid to work over
the middle of the field. Think Anquan Bolden, but without as much speed and
with hands that still need plenty of work. Because the Packers need help at
WR now, Jones will be given every opportunity to see his fair share of
playing time in 2007. In the most likely case, he doesn’t look like a
Fantasy stud WR, but he should be able to make the Packers roster this year
as a possession and short-yardage route runner.
|
| 27 |
StL
|
RB
|
Brian Leonard
|
The most complete Fullback on the 2007 NFL draft board. About the only thing
Leonard lacks is top-end speed. Good vision and moves, Leonard is certainly
NFL material, but don't expect him to be a fantasy RB stud any time soon as
he’ll be used more as an H-Back, FB and TE in the NFL. His best attribute is
working as a receiver out of the backfield. A highly versatile offensive
weapon, Leonard should become the Rams #2 RB this season. Leonard may steal
touches away from Stephen Jackson on third downs.
|
| 28 |
Tennessee
|
WR
|
Paul Williams
|
Wide receiver may have been the Titans biggest need going into the 2007 draft. Given that, Paul Williams will have every
opportunity to compete for playing time this season. In addition, the Titans like Williams’ size and strength. All that said
, we still feel Williams has a lot to prove. He was rather inconsistent at Fresno State. Keep in mind despite all his physical talents he only scored one TD his senior year.
|
| 29 |
Minnesota
|
WR
|
Aundrae Allison
|
He’s going to need some coaching at the next level, but given the Vikings lack of depth at WR, Allison could emerge as a wide receiver down the line. Because he’s not a great route runner but has excellent quickness, he’ll be more of a threat in man coverage and not against zone schemes. Bottom line. We like his speed
and hands but short term, he looks to become a return specialist in the NFL. |
| 30 |
49ers
|
WR
|
Jason Hill
|
SF made a decent pick drafting for need and landing Hill. He had a solid college career and is one of the best route runners in the 2007 rookie draft. Hill could see his fair share of playing time even as a rookie given the looks of SF’s current depth chart. Still,
Hill only has average hands so don’t count on that much for now.
|
| 31 |
Jacksonville
|
WR
|
Mike Walker
|
He has good size and amazing speed for a 6-ft 2-in WR. What he lacks is big-time college football experience coming from the University of Central Florida. On paper Walker has it all including good hands working as a possession receiver and near elite 40-time posting a 4.3 40. Walker is not easy to predict. That said, most small college kids with similar raw talent as Walker don’t end up making a big splash in the NFL as a wide receiver.
The Jags like his physical skills and they always seem to need help at WR so time will tell. |
| 32 |
Philadelphia
|
QB
|
Kolb Kevin
|
Philly is known for its short-passing game via the West Cost system. Kolb
excels at the short passing game. In fact, he completed over 67% of his
throws his senior year at Houston. In addition to his accuracy Kolb also has
decent arm strength. For now, Donovan McNabb is firmly placed as the Eagles
#1 QB, however Kolb will get his chance down the line and he fits Philly's
offensive scheme.
|
| 33 |
Atlanta
|
WR
|
Laurent Robinson
|
Robinson has a huge upside given his excellent speed and height. On the downside, he needs work as a receiver. He could become a go-to for Vick, but not this year. In 2007, he figures to be a third, fourth of fifth receiving option.
Robinson is worth keeping your eye on. |
| 34 |
Buffalo
|
QB
|
Trent Edwards
|
He’s tall, strong and well built. Still, Edwards made plenty of ill-advised
throws in college and will need to cut down his INTs to make it in the NFL.
Learning the Bills system might help. Other than his hulking size, Edwards
fits the bill as a guy who's decent in all areas, but not great in any.
Don't count on him being an NFL starter as long as JP Losman is held in good
esteem in Buffalo.
|
| 35 |
Houston
|
WR
|
Jacoby Jones
|
He’s a project in the making. Jones has excellent burst and with NFL coaching he could become a steal for the Texans. He could be dangerous after the catch but he lacks upper body strength and he could get muscled out in the NFL. In drafting Jones, the Texans were willing to roll the dice in hopes of landing a WR with big-play potential.
Jones is a nice fit for Houston so keep his name on your radar screen. Bottom line. Huge upside potential but could also be a bust.
|
| 36 |
Philadelphia
|
RB
|
Tony Hunt
|
Landing Hunt in the 3rd round was a respectable value pick for Philly. He
might become a decent change of pace runner to give Brian Westbrook a blow
during games in 2007. Hunt is a power runner with decent hands working as a
receiver. On paper, he looks to complement Westbrook’s flashy outside
running style. Worth noting, as the season goes on, Hunt could take some
goal-line work away from Westbrook.
|
| 37 |
Packers
|
K
|
Mason Crosby
|
Crosby has a strong leg and was the best kicker to come out of the 2007 class.
He has a better than 50-50 chance to beat out Dave Rayner for Green Bay FG kicking duties in 2007. If he wins the job he’ll be best in
leagues that give big points for long FGs.
|
| 38 |
Baltimore
|
WR
|
Yamon Figurs
|
Figurs is the fastest runner among the 2007 WR class. He has a huge upside do to his exceptional open field skills. That said, he might not do much on offense aside from returning punts and kickoffs in 2007. He'll compete for the Ravens #3 job this season but likely fall a little short as a rookie. Because he’s only 175-pounds, he’s going to have some problems beating press coverage if he lines up as a wide receiver. If he contributes as a wide receiver down the line, look for Figurs to be working from the slot.
|
| 39 |
KC
|
RB
|
Kolby Smith
|
With Larry Johnson and Michael Bennett in front of him, barring injury,
Smith won’t be seeing many rushing attempts in 2007. In 2008, he should
become KC’s #2 RB. Smith reads blocks well and is going to be most effective
working outside the tackle box in the NFL. Capable of the big-play and being
on a team that thinks run first, Smith could be useful to select in your
rookie fantasy draft, but don’t expect that much any time soon.
|
| 40 |
SF
|
RB
|
Thomas Clayton
|
The 49ers took a gamble on Thomas, a guy with some off-field baggage. On the
plus side, he averaged 5.0 yards per carry while playing with the Kansas
State Wildcats. If he gets his act together, Thomas could become the 49ers
#2 RB this season. With good power, speed and receiving skills, he has the
physical tools needed to become an NFL RB. Still, he also has a history of
not playing up to his natural ability.
|
| 41 |
Oakland
|
WR
|
Johnnie Higgins
|
At only 185-pounds, he projects more like a kick return specialist and perhaps a #3 slot receiver in the NFL. On the plus side, Higgins is very quick and a big-play threat in open space. Due to his great first step, he might be able to work in the slot down the road but for now, at best he looks more like a 4th receiving option for Oakland. |
| 42 |
Tennessee
|
WR
|
Chris Davis
|
Another smallish WR, Davis lacks the size/speed ratio to become a star NFL receiver. However, Davis could evolve into a #3 WR down the line. In addition, he might be able to contribute returning kicks. Also on the plus side, he gets off the line well and is harder to jam at the line than most guys his size. |
| 43 |
Packers
|
WR
|
David Clowney
|
A decent looking receiver, Clowney has good hands and good speed. However, he lacks upper body strength and his blocking, durability and ability to avoiding the jam could all limit his upside in the NFL. Short term, he’ll be competing for the Packers third receiving spot. |
| 44 |
Carolina
|
WR
|
Ryne Robinson
|
The team sees him more as a punt return man. He’ll compete with fellow rookie WR Dwayne Jarrett and veterans Keary Colbert and Drew Carter for playing time at WR. Right now, Robinson looks to be #4 on that list. Long term, if he can’t make it on special teams, he will have to fight just to make the team. At 5-9 he lacks ideal NFL size however he’s a very competitive player in the mold of teammate Steve Smith. Despite his good hands and elusive running style, don’t count on Robinson for more than special teams and punt returning in 2007. |
| 45 |
Cardinals
|
TE
|
Ben Patrick
|
The Cardinals will look to him more as a receiving TE. In addition, Patrick has good size and decent speed. The bad news, he needs plenty of work as a blocker and that will limit his playing time. Given the Cardinals lack talent at TE, Patrick should make the team and could perhaps steal a few TDs away from AZ’s big guns. |
| 46 |
Indianapolis
|
WR
|
Roy Hall
|
The Colts see him as a long-term project that could pay off some day. On paper, Hall has all the requirements to be an NFL receiver including size and speed. A very raw talent, he is a true boom or bust pick that could pay off in maybe 2-3 years. |
| 47 |
SD
|
WR
|
Legedu Naanee
|
He only made 74 receptions in four years at Boise State. Naanee is a real NFL long shot, boom or bust pick. On the plus side, he has great size and speed. Basically, he’s a great athlete and the Chargers must be willing to give him several years to learn the position. Bottom line. A very captivating NFL prospect but a very risky NFL selection. |
| 48 |
KC
|
K
|
Justin Medlock
|
As a rookie Medlock will compete with KC's Lawrence Tynes. Medlock has above average leg power but must improve his accuracy. He could start out as a kickoff specialist than become a starting field-goal kicker. Worth noting, Medlock is more than capable of making 50+ yard field goals in the NFL. |
| 49 |
Dallas
|
QB/WR
|
Isaiah Stanback
|
He only completed 51% of his throws in college but he has excellent speed
and has the potential to be a playmaker in the NFL probably as a WR or
"slash" type player. He's easily the best running QB in the 2007 draft. If
Stanback plays QB, he'll be a great scrambler and he's capable of making
some nice thrown on the run. For now, he’s going to be deep on the bench, as
he really needs to improve his throwing accuracy to make it as an NFL QB.
Don't be surprised if the Cowboys try to work him into the lineup as a third
receiver or on a handful of trick plays this year. If he shows anything in
camp, he should make the team.
|
| 50 |
Pittsburgh
|
TE
|
Matt Spaeth
|
The team sees him as a blocking TE first and a possible redzone target second. Speath has huge size and could be a decent weapon around the goal. Otherwise, he’s nothing that special as a Fantasy prospect. |
