FantasyGuru.com: Off-Season Report #8 (Post-Draft Rookie Report)

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OFF-SEASON REPORT #8
Published Online, May 8, 2015
Copyright © 1995-2015
Guru Fantasy Reports, Inc. All Rights Reserved 

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IN THIS ISSUE:

• Off-Season Report #8: Post-Draft Rookie Report - 5/8 

ONLINE NOW:

• Post-Draft Podcast - 5/7
• Keeper/Dynasty League Rankings - 5/7
• Depth Charts - 5/7
• Post-Draft Stock Watch - 5/4 
• Post-Free Agency Stock Watch - 4/28
• Keeper/Dynasty League Rankings - 4/28
• 2015 Player Movement Tracker - 4/28
• 2015 Remaining Free Agents Tracker - 4/28
• 2015 Rookie Player Profiles - 4/24
• Franchise Focus Podcasts: All 32 Teams - 4/24
• NFC IDP Post-Free Agency Roundup - 4/20
• Wide Receiver Height and Consistency - 4/20
• Offensive ID: Kyle Shanahan/Falcons - 4/16
• AFC IDP Post-Free Agency Roundup - 4/13
• Offensive Identities in 2014 - 4/13
• Visualizing Identity - 4/10
• Coaching Identity: A Rough Visual Guide - 4/9
• Pre-Draft Rookie Report Podcast - 4/8
• 2014's Distance Scoring Analysis - 4/6
• 2014's 300/100-Yard Bonus Analysis - 4/2
• Wide Receiver TD Spikes - 3/31
• Pre-Draft Rookie Report - 3/27
• Post-Free Agency Podcast - 3/26
• PPR RB Dynasty Value - 3/26
• Running QBs and Their Targets - 3/20
• Back to Regression - 3/12
• Players to Trade/Trade For: Keepers - 3/4
• 2014 Catch Rate & YPT Analysis: RBs - 3/2
• 2014 Catch Rate & YPT Analysis: WRs - 3/2
• 2014 Catch Rate & YPT Analysis: TEs - 3/2
• 2015 Combine Recap - 2/23
• 2015 Combine Preview - 2/17
• SOS Adjusted WR PPR Scores 2014 - 2/16
• 2015 Coaching Changes - 2/11
• SOS Adjusted RB PPR Scores 2014 - 2/4
• 2014's Lessons Learned - 2/2
• 2014 Review/2015 Previews - 2/2

UP NEXT:

• Off-Season Report #9: 2015 SOS Analysis - Next week
• 2015 Projections - Initial release set for May 18th

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2015 Post-Draft Rookie Report

Published, 5/8/15

In 2014, we had some major rookie fantasy contributors at multiple positions – Teddy Bridgewater at QB, Jeremy Hill at RB, and some guy named Odell Beckham at WR included. While the 2015 rookie skill position class doesn’t have the overall depth, we actually have some clearer situations than we had last year, especially at the running back position.

As always, our Post-Draft Rookie Report profiles the top rookies at every skill position, ranking them at the top for 2015, then ranking for keeper and dynasty leagues.

There’s a distinct lack of depth at QB and TE in this class, but very good depth at both RB and WR. So those positions probably have the more interesting rankings for this year. At this early stage, we’ve also added some of our favorite UDFAs to the rankings, and will continue to monitor those lower-end players as camps and the preseason move on.

But if you’re drafting now for your keeper and dynasty leagues, make sure you give this in-depth report a close read.

Quarterbacks

1. Jameis Winston, TB

School: Florida State | Ht: 6-3.5 | Wt: 231 | 40: 4.91 | Year: 3So

Drafted: 1^st round, 1^st overall

Bio: Two-year starter awarded the Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien Award in 2013. Passing totals last year included 3907 yards, 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Freshman totals from 2013 included 2641 yards and 40 touchdowns. Accomplished relief pitcher.

Scouting Report: Obviously, the biggest concerns with Winston aren’t with his football ability. In his short time at Florida State, Winston was accused of, although never formally charged with, rape. While the case never saw a courtroom, there’s absolutely no doubt it made him persona non grata on multiple draft boards (though, obviously, not with the team that had the #1 pick). Winston had multiple other incidents as well. On the field, Winston will tantalize with his physical skills and experience in coach Jimbo Fisher’s pro-style offense. He’s the most talented pure thrower in this class, and Winston was asked to make NFL throws on a consistent basis at Florida State. While there are slow elements to his delivery and shaky footwork in the pocket (which he is working on), Winston is a gifted pocket passer who stands tough with bodies in his face and tries to extend plays within that pocket. While he doesn’t have great timed speed or the mobility of Marcus Mariota, he’s also a very good thrower on the run (more accurate on film than Mariota, actually). And because of the pro-style nature of his offense, Winston made tight-window anticipation throws more than any passer in this class. That’s not to say Winston is a perfect on-field prospect. He threw 18 INTs as a sophomore in 2014, 8 more than in his Heisman-winning freshman campaign, which is a ton for such a highly rated passer. He also threw 25 TDs in 2014, compared to 40 in 2013. While Winston exhibits pocket toughness, his decision-making also breaks down under pressure, and he tries to force too many throws. Winston was asked to do more in terms of progression reading in 2014, but it coincided with a drop-off in stats. He also has a tendency to re-cock his delivery once he gets set to throw, an issue that could lead to more turnovers in the NFL.

Fantasy Analysis: Winston landed in Tampa Bay, as most everyone expected, and it puts him in an immediate position to succeed under OC Dirk Koetter, who likes pocket passing and downfield work. With two huge receivers in Mike Evans andVincent Jackson, plus TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Winston will have the opportunity to put up numbers early and often. That is, of course, if his offensive line can keep him on his feet. The Bucs spent many resources in the Draft after Winston on upgrading the line, but it could take some time for the likes of Donovan Smithand Ali Marpet to even approach decent play. It makes Winston’s fantasy prospects shaky, although some upside is clearly there. And of course, the biggest concern with Winston is his conduct. If he does anything wrong, especially regarding women, it’ll be really difficult for the league or the Buccaneers to give him the benefit of the doubt. The point is this: While the pairing of the big-armed Winston with Evans and company is appealing, counting on him as more than a decent QB2 or streaming option given the offensive line woes and his propensity for turnovers seems foolish.

2. Marcus Mariota, Ten

School: Oregon | Ht: 6-3.5 | Wt: 222 | 40: 4.43 | Year: 4Jr

Drafted: 1^st round, 2^nd overall

Bio: Three-year starter awarded All-America and all-conference honors since his freshman season. Awarded the 2014 Heisman Trophy. Won 36 games in college. Junior totals included 4454 yards passing with 44 TDs and 770 yards rushing with another 15 scores. Sophomore passing totals included 3665 yards and 31 TDs. He’s the most decorated player in Oregon history.

Scouting Report: Coming from Oregon’s wide-open offense (head coach Mark Helfrich still runs the Chip Kelly offense), Mariota will likely need some time to transition into a traditional NFL attack. But the question is this: If drafting the reigning Heisman winner Mariota at #2 overall, as the Titans did, why try to squeeze him into such a narrow hole, as the Ken Whisenhunt offense currently is? Mariota exhibits an exceptional knowledge of Xs and Os, and on occasion at Oregon has stared down the gun barrel and gone through progressions. He just wasn’t asked to do that much, and he requires some projecting for an NFL offense. But what Mariota does exhibit is exceptional mobility and playmaking ability, solid decision-making, and an arm that isn’t a laser but is very functional. Mariota also has a reputation as a strong leader and all-around high-quality individual. Mariota has a second gear as a runner, and we’d hope the Titans will employ at least some zone-read concepts in their playbook. If not, Mariota will be misused. Mariota will need some seasoning to throw more consistently into NFL windows, and ironically he’s not as good a thrower on the run as Jameis Winston, who overall is far less mobile than Mariota. He’ll also have to cut down on some of the “Manziel-y” plays he made in college, most notably throwing across his body and trying to make plays across the field. But overall, Mariota is a very good thrower with exceptional mobility, but also is a big body who occasionally exhibited the ability to stand tall in the pocket and go through his progressions, on the rare instances the Oregon offense asked him to do so.

Fantasy Analysis: We were prepared to rank Mariota #1 among rookie QBs for 2015 (as we did pre-draft)… but he then landed in Tennessee, which is perhaps the least appealing spot we can possibly imagine for him. We’re trying to reconcile our feelings about Mariota’s ability with the fact that we just don’t trust the powers that be in Tennessee. All in all, Mariota is playing behind an offensive line that has some talent (Taylor Lewan), if also group of underachievers (Andy Levitre). He also has an intriguing pair of weapons in Kendall Wright and Delanie Walker, plus talented wild cards Justin Hunter and Dorial Green-Beckham. The Titans also added a much-needed early-down thumper in David Cobb to the backfield. They also drafted a FB, so they want to be run-heavy and could be looking to play like Seattle with Russell Wilson. But it all comes back to Whisenhunt and the Titan coaching staff. Our faith that they can put Mariota in the best position to succeed is really low, and we’ll have to be pleasantly surprised at some point before we buy Mariota as anything more than a low-end QB2 for 2015. If the Titans design a creative offense that takes advantage of Mariota’s abilities, we’ll reconsider, but that’s a “see it and believe it” proposition.

8 more QBs broken down plus keeper league rankings online, SUBSCRIBE NOW TO ACCESSS!

Running Backs

1. Melvin Gordon, SD

School: Wisconsin | Ht: 6-0.5 | Wt: 215 | 40: 4.45 | Year: 4Jr

Drafted: 1^st round, 15^th overall

Bio: Full-time starter the past two seasons winning numerous All-America honors as a junior as well as the 2014 Doak Walker Award. Posted career-best numbers of 2587 yards and 29 touchdowns last year. Averaged 7.8 yards on 631 carries in college.

Scouting Report: Gordon has unreal straight-line explosion and a true second gear, so he was rarely caught from behind in college. Gordon has good size, so he has some natural power in his legs, although he isn’t going to break a ton of tackles at the next level. And there’s some versatility here, as Gordon played in a very diverse offense under Gary Andersen, running tons of pro-style runs, while also adding fly sweeps and some reps as a Z receiver. But in projecting him for fantasy, we need to ask a few questions. First of all, Gordon struggled in pass protection and wasn’t productive as a receiver – he had just 22 catches in college, and while we don’t think he’s awful in that department, he tends to fight the ball on occasion. Number two, his natural quickness to the hole decreases the farther inside a run is called. While Gordon has size and is an aggressive runner, he doesn’t have the power of a Todd Gurley type of back, and he can’t break tackles with ease until he gets his legs going. Number three, we don’t see the Jamaal Charles comparisons, despite looking like him frame-wise. As Gordon himself has admitted, Charles has a better second gear and more natural wiggle and elusiveness, while Gordon’s game is more straight line, with the occasional use of jump cuts to find space.

Fantasy Analysis: As we mentioned when ranking Gordon #4 in our pre-draft rookie report, his final fantasy standing for 2015 would depend on fit. Ultimately, he’s found a good one, although not perfect. The Chargers had a clear need in the backfield, and they traded up to get him. It’s hard to sit here in May and not think that the Chargers want Gordon as their top back this year. The big concern we have is that the Charger line, although a sizable one, is a weakness, and Gordon was a player who got less decisive and effective the farther inside he ran in college. The Chargers believe in him as a pass protector (GM Tom Telesco called him the best in this draft when talking to reporters, which we disagree with, but still), and there will be an opportunity for Gordon to play on three downs as a rookie. That said, we have concerns that the Chargers have better pass-catchers on the depth chart in Danny Woodhead, Branden Oliver, and Donald Brown, and Gordon will find it difficult to bust off his patented long runs from his Wisconsin days. Are we guaranteeing Gordon will touch the ball even 250 times as a rookie? Absolutely not. But it appears the Chargers want to give him that kind of opportunity, and that will make him an appealing early pick in fantasy drafts, if he shows his mettle on third downs during camp and the preseason.

2. Todd Gurley, Stl

School: Georgia | Ht: 6-0.5 | Wt: 222 | 40: 4.45 | Year: 3Jr

Drafted: 1^st round, 10^th overall

Bio: Three-year starter who played in five games last season before sustaining a knee injury which ended his campaign. Still finished the year with 911 yards rushing and 9 TDs. Freshman totals of 2012 included a career-best 1385 yards rushing and 17 TDs. Sophomore totals included 37 receptions for 441 yards and 5 receiving touchdowns.

Scouting Report: Injuries are the if and the but when talking about Gurley because, if they didn’t exist, we may be discussing the ideal RB prospect. Before the much-discussed 2014 ACL tear, he lost three games to an ankle injury in 2013, and also he missed time with an NCAA rules suspension. That means Gurley played a combined 30 games in his three years at Georgia, out of a possible 40. An incredibly optimistic scout may suggest that this simply means Gurley is coming into the NFL fresh, as he’s taken fewer hits. We can speculate on the knee all we want, but Gurley is still incredibly young and plans to be ready by training camp. If so, the Rams are getting a Mack truck who is an incredible athlete for his size. Gurley has the lateral agility of a smaller back and the power you’d expect from someone of his size. Gurley is just as likely to win with a jump cut as he is with a stiff arm, and he trusts his speed in the open field, where he rarely looks to cut back if he doesn’t need to. A former track athlete who ran hurdles for the national team, Gurley also has experience as a kick returner. A productive receiver and willing blocker, Gurley projects as a true three-down back at the next level. And perhaps most important for a team looking for a foundation back, he got stronger as games went on and defenses wore down. Gurley posted 3900 yards from scrimmage in his 30 career college games, an average of 130 per game. He scored 42 TDs, and posted 65 receptions over that time as well. And he did all of this against SEC competition. There’s no back in this class who is as scheme-versatile as Gurley, as he improved his vision considerably in 2014 before going down.

Fantasy Analysis: Even with the ACL injury, we were prepared to pump up Gurley as our #1 post-draft RB for 2015, as we did pre-draft. Then he landed in a spot that gave us some pause – St. Louis. The Rams already have a talented young back in Tre Mason, have a history of bringing rookies along slowly, and have an unstable offensive line. That gives the Rams both the incentive and the luxury of making sure Gurley is 100% ready to go before unleashing him. After the draft, coach Jeff Fisher told reporters that the club plans to be “conservative” with the recovery, which makes sense since Gurley was such a huge investment. But Fisher already made it clear that the Rams viewed Gurley as an elite player in this draft, perhaps the best player in the draft overall, making him impossible to pass up. After trading Zac Stacy, the Rams still have an excellent 1-2 punch in Gurley and Mason once Gurley is healthy, which is ideal given Nick Foles is the QB, someone who needs a great running game to succeed to the best of his ability. So in short, we think Gurley can do it all and would have no problem going all-in on him if the Rams felt comfortable with playing him, but it’s just too early to know that. We have to also see if their man-crush on 3^rd down specialist Benny Cunningham factors into Gurley’s snaps initially. He’s our #1 dynasty back in this class, but for 2015 alone it’s hard to feel comfortable ranking him just yet. He could move up or down this list by the time August rolls around.

3. T.J. Yeldon, Jac

School: Alabama | Ht: 6-1.5 | Wt: 226 | 40: 4.54 | Year: 3Jr

Drafted: 2^nd round, 36^th overall

Bio: Two-year starter who struggled with injuries last season and finished the year with 979 yards rushing and 11 TDs while adding 15 receptions. Sophomore totals included 1235 yards on the ground with 14 TDs.

Scouting Report: Yeldon didn’t get the in-season pub that players like Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon got, but he’s started to receive a lot more love over the last few months once people actually watched him play. A favorite of our friends Greg Cosell and Fran Duffy, Yeldon looks like the type of player who can contribute early and often for NFL teams. Yeldon’s a bigger back who runs tall, but he has extremely light feet and can really “slash-n-go,” the style you look for in a zone runner. Make no mistake, Yeldon produced in college, averaging 5.8 YPC and 10.7 YPR on 576 carries and 46 receptions, respectively. But the fact that he averaged just over 200 touches per year for three years may be viewed as a positive for NFL teams, as he played as part of a rotation at Alabama and never took the hits a three-down back would be expected to take. He has a slim frame despite his size, with loose hips that allowed him to slip through the cracks at the point of attack, though he occasionally would sacrifice power for finesse, resulting in going down too easily. Overall, Yeldon needs to work on consistency in his blocking (though he’s more than willing and capable) and his ball security (10 career fumbles) to become a true three-down player in the NFL, but these are all things he can shore up.

Fantasy Analysis: The fit of Yeldon in Jacksonville is a really good one – Gus Bradley and company clearly want to run the ball to support QB Blake Bortles, and the Jags don’t have any options on their roster to really threaten Yeldon. Toby Gerhart, Bernard Pierce, and Storm Johnson were terrible last year, and Denard Robinson is a rotational player only. So Yeldon will have the opportunity to step in and contribute in a big way from Day One, as both a runner and receiver. A concern, of course, is the offensive line. The Jaguars run predominantly zone concepts, which is a great fit for the slashing Yeldon, but all in all the line needs to actually blockbetter. The Jags spent resources in improving the line this off-season, signing TJermey Parnell from the Cowboys and drafting A.J. Cann of South Carolina in the third round, but this could be a “see it and believe it” situation, especially regarding LT Luke Joeckel, who has struggled in the NFL thus far. Whatever the case, the Jaguars had a massive need in the backfield, and they attacked it aggressively with one of our favorite pre-draft RBs who landed in an ideal spot for third-down work. He has RB2 upside.

13 more RBs broken down plus keeper league rankings online, SUBSCRIBE NOW TO ACCESSS!

Wide Receivers

1. Amari Cooper, Oak

School: Alabama | Ht: 6’1” | Wt: 211 | 40: 4.42 | Year: 3Jr

Drafted: 1^st round, 4^th overall

Bio: Three-year starter awarded All-America and all-conference honors since his freshman season. Totals last season included career-best numbers of 124 receptions, 1727 yards and 16 TDs.

Scouting Report: Cooper immediately stepped onto the field at NFL factory Alabama in 2012 and broke Julio Jones’ freshman records, and Amari didn’t disappoint in his final two seasons either. Cooper is a different player than Jones, as Amari is more of a Z receiver and the best route runner in this year’s draft. His route running helps him to line up all over the field, and it makes him a QB’s best friend because he creates so much separation, especially by the sideline. Cooper has big hands and he uses them well to catch and to fight through press coverage. He tested well at the Combine, but he doesn’t have blazing speed (4.42 40-time) or ridiculous size (6’1”, 211 pounds). He makes up for those areas with superior quickness and balance, which helps him to win in the short and intermediate passing game. Cooper tracks deep balls pretty well, and he has enough speed to make game-changing plays. He does have a few too many drops on tape, and it’s the one area where he needs to find more consistency. He struggled at times as a sophomore, as he played through some foot and toe issues. Cooper rebounded by winning the Biletnikoff Award in 2014 and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Cooper and Kevin White would rank behind Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, and Odell Beckham if they were in the 2014 draft, but these two prospects are still franchise players.

Fantasy Analysis: Cooper is very good at the little things and makes it all look easy, and he could end up being the safest prospect in this draft, especially for fantasy. Cooper is clearly the #1 receiver in this Raider offense immediately, and he could easily step in with Derek Carr and become a target-hound for years to come, while also contributing as a #2 fantasy WR for this year. The marriage between and Cooper and Carr could be PPR gold in 2015, since Cooper operates in the area of the field where Carr excels.

2. Kevin White, Chi

School: West Virginia | Ht: 6’3” | Wt: 215 | 40: 4.35 | Year: 4Sr

Drafted: 1^st round, 7^th overall

Bio: Junior-college transfer who started the past two years. All-America and all-conference choice as a senior after totaling 109 receptions, 1447 yards and 10 TDs. Junior totals included 35 receptions for 507 yards.

Scouting Report: If Amari Cooper was 1A at WR heading into the 2015 draft, then White is 1B. White appears to have the most potential upside, and he blew everyone away with a 4.35 40 time at the Combine, which is a great time considering his size (6’3”, 215 pounds) and strength. White physically reminds us ofLarry Fitzgerald, and like Fitz, White can win in big-man games and in little-man games. He’ll primarily line up as an X receiver in the NFL, and he has good speed to separate from CBs, and he stacks DBs downfield. White isn’t as polished as Cooper, but he’s still a smooth athlete and crisp route runner. He struggled with drops in his first season at West Virginia in 2013, but he caught everything and consistently won in contested situations last season.White reportedly didn’t do well on the chalkboard at the Combine, which isn’t too surprising since he worked from only the right side of the field in West Virginia’s up-tempo offense. White also doesn’t have a long history of production, as he dominated for just one season at West Virginia after transferring in from JUCO in 2013. He’s also not overly explosive and runs a bit high, but he does fight for everything and gets open for his QBs in scramble situations. White is an effort blocker, but he needs to improve his technique on the outside.

Fantasy Analysis: He isn’t as polished as Cooper at this point, but White could end up being a prototypical X receiver and the better big-play fantasy player down the road. He’ll immediately step into the starting lineup to giving QB Jay Cutler two giants on the outside once again. The Bears have plenty of talented targets already - Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, Matt Forte, and Eddie Royal – but White will get plenty of chances as a rookie. Given such a high pick was used on him, he’ll beat out Marquess Wilson immediately for a starting job opposite Jeffery. The new offense and Cutler’s struggles may give us pause, but White will likely be drafted as a WR3 with upside to be a WR2 at some point this year. And Cutler certainly has the ability to take advantage of White.

3. Nelson Agholor, Phi

School: USC | Ht: 6’0” | Wt: 198 | 40: 4.42 | Year: 3Jr

Drafted: 1^st round, 20^th overall

Bio: Awarded All-America and all-conference honors the past two seasons when he was a starting receiver. His junior totals included a career-best 104 receptions, 1313 yards and 12 TDs after 56/918/6 the previous year. He’s an experienced punt returner who averaged 19.1 yards on 18 returns with two scores as a sophomore.

Scouting Report: Agholor looks and plays a lot like former USC teammates Marqise Lee and Robert Woods. Agholor isn’t afraid to work in the middle of the field, and he has positional versatility. He’s also a great punt returner. Agholor was born in Nigeria before coming to the United States at 5 years old, and he’s an extremely humble prospect, which obviously appealed to Chip Kelly. Agholor put up some good production over the last two seasons, and he showed good vision and wiggle after the catch, perhaps the best receiver after the catch in this class. His route running can be inconsistent at times, but he attacks DBs into high-leverage positions when he’s playing well. He really needs to improve getting off the line of scrimmage. He’s slow off the ball, consistently uses false steps off the line, and struggles to fight through press coverage. Agholor has a ton of drops and double catches, and overall his hands didn’t impress us on tape (others disagree). However, Agholor doesn’t have the explosiveness or the strength in contested situations to make up for his weak hands, so he’s really got to work on that aspect of his game.

Fantasy Analysis: Agholor projects to play immediately on the outside in this potent Eagle offense, and he could be a high-volume WR in Jeremy Maclin’s former spot, with Jordan Matthews staying in the slot (expect Josh Huff to contribute as well). Agholor certainly landed in a spot to be fantasy relevant right away as a potential #3 fantasy WR in 2015, and HC Chip Kelly will use him creatively like he did with Maclin. Kelly obviously doesn’t like to pigeonhole his receivers as “X, Y, or Z,” and Agholor’s smarts and versatility make him one of the safer fantasy picks of this group. There are nearly 200 targets to replace in this Eagle offense with Maclin and LeSean McCoy gone.

13 more WRs broken down plus keeper league rankings online here

Tight Ends

1. Maxx Williams, Bal

School: Minnesota | Ht: 6’4” | Wt: 249 | 40: 4.78 | Year: 3So

Drafted: 2^nd round, 55^th overall

Bio: Part-time starter the past two seasons. He posted a team-leading 36 receptions, 569 yards and 8 TDs last year.

Scouting Report: Williams leads a pretty weak overall 2015 TE class. He comes from an athletic family, now as a third-generation NFL player. He tested well at the Combine, showing soft hands and adjustment skills in drills. Williams looks the part (6’4”, 249 pounds) and he’s got big hands and long arms that maximize his catch radius. He’s more of a fluid athlete than explosive, but he can get down the seam, and he’ll win battles in traffic. Williams is a chain-mover and a threat in the red zone, as 82% of his catches went for first downs or TDs. He also led TEs with 9 explosive catches (25+ yards) last season, so he’s dangerous in the open field. Williams worked in a lot of multiple TE sets at Minnesota, and they moved him all over the place, so he’s comfortable lining up anywhere on the field. He missed a game in 2014 because of a calf injury, and he redshirted in 2012 with a bruised sternum, but he doesn’t have any major durability questions. Williams looks to still be learning how to run routes, but when he’s focused he can create separation with his transition out of breaks. He needs to get a little nastier as an inline blocker, and he has the room to get a little stronger. Still, he does a good enough job as a blocker to get on the field early in his career.

Fantasy Analysis: Williams will almost certainly get on the field plenty this season with just second-year TE Crockett Gillmore potentially holding him back. The Ravens used two picks on TEs (Williams and Nick Boyle), so it’s clear they aren’t expecting anything from Dennis Pitta. As we saw in 2014, it’s tough to expect much fantasy production out of rookie TEs, but Williams has the best chance to do it out of this class. He’s definitely an ascending prospect, and Williams could be a TE2 this season with Steve Smith and Breshad Perriman as the only other receiving threats in this Raven passing game. Because he doesn’t have much competition, it’s fair to draft Williams as a TE2 with an eye toward potential upside, as Marc Trestman’s offense filtered 219 targets to Martellus Bennett over the last two years.

2. Clive Walford, Oak

School: Miami (FL) | Ht: 6’4” | Wt: 251 | 40: 4.79 | Year: 5Sr

Drafted: 3^rd round, 68^th overall

Bio: Full-time starter the past two years and awarded all-conference honors as a senior after a career-best 44 receptions, 676 receiving yards and 7 TDs.

Scouting Report: Walford appears to be the next in line of productive NFL tight ends from the University of Miami. He steadily improved during his time with the Hurricanes, capping off his career as a Mackey Award finalist and as a third-team All-American. Walford did suffer a meniscus injury in his final regular season game, which forced him to miss their bowl game. He got back to full strength quickly and had a great week at the Senior Bowl. He also tested well at the Combine, showing good hands and adjustment skills in drills. Walford is a former standout basketball player at 6’4”, 251 pounds, and he uses his big frame and huge hands to help his QBs out. Walford lined up at a number of different spots at Miami, and he excelled at getting off press coverage and can win in unconventional ways. Walford runs a variety of routes but needs to become a more consistent as a route runner. He’s pretty talented after the catch, with decent speed and the strength to fight for extra yards. He did struggle with some drops in his first couple of seasons, but his concentration improved as a senior. Walford is a good blocker who can line up as the play-side blocking TE on zone runs, which will help get on the field early in his career.

Fantasy Analysis: Walford isn’t an elite athlete for the position, but he’s above average as a receiver and as a blocker. He got compared a lot toDwayne Allen in the pre-draft, so if that comparison holds, Walford is likely to be a better real-life player than a consistent fantasy player. He has the potential to play for a long time, and he should be ready to contribute immediately, especially with his landing spot in Oakland with ascending QB Derek Carr and the mediocre Mychal Rivera offering little resistance for playing time at TE. He just isn’t likely to be anything more than a TE streamer this year, if he’s even that.

3. Tyler Kroft, Cin

School: Rutgers | Ht: 6’5” | Wt: 246 | 40: 4.75 | Year: 4Jr

Drafted: 3^rd round, 85^th overall

Bio: Two-year starter who led Rutgers with 43 receptions and 573 receiving yards as a sophomore in 2013.

Scouting Report: Kroft had one of the more interesting Combine experiences this February. He suffered a high ankle sprain during Rutgers’ bowl game, and he had a bizarre re-injury at the Combine during medical examinations and was unable to participate. Kroft is a former high school WR and it shows. He looks like a natural receiver, with good ball skills and soft hands to catch the ball away from his frame. Kroft still needs to improve as a route runner, but he does show good instincts finding soft spots against zone defenses. Kroft looks a lot like Zach Ertz with how he gets down the seam at his size (6’5”, 246 pounds). Kroft has a tall, athletic frame but he needs to get stronger at the next level. Not surprisingly, he struggles to get off the line in press coverage, but he is an aggressive blocker who has improved during his college career. His production did slip quite a bit from his sophomore to junior season, which is a concern, but he did play with the terribly inconsistent Gary Nova.

Fantasy Analysis: The Bengals love Kroft’s size and potential, and he’s got a chance to be a solid receiver at the next level. Like Ertz currently, Kroft needs to get stronger and become a better blocker before he becomes a three-down TE, which will obviously cap his fantasy upside. Still, Tyler Eiferthasn’t been the picture of health in his first two seasons, so Kroft could be forced into a big role at some point in 2015. In a lot of ways, Eifert and Kroft are similar players.

7 more TEs broken down plus keeper league rankings online here

FantasyGuru.com’s Joe Dolan and Tom Brolley, plus Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net, contributed to this report.

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