DeAndre Hopkins HOU (1st RD) -

While Cordarrelle Patterson may have the best upside from a raw skills perspective in this years class, it is Deandre Hopkins that is No.1 on my board. In Hopkins you have the most polished receiver in this class and he should be a slam dunk, week one starter opposite Andre Johnson.

At worst case Hopkins will be a bye week starting option in his rookie year and at best case he’s probably a weekly WR3 play. By next year we should see his floor at WR3, and his upside could blossom as far as a WR1 in PPR leagues, if the injury bug jumps up and bits Johnson again.

Rookie Dynasty Draft By Position: QB | RB | WR | TE | @seanfantasyinfo

Cordarrelle Patterson MIN (1st RD) -

After Hopkins, you should have your eye’s firmly set on Patterson as the next receiver to come off the board. Patterson may a question mark at quarterback, but he will have Greg Jennings, Adrian Peterson and Kyle Rudolph to help take pressure off of him in coverage.

That basically means we will see Patterson in a bunch of one on one situations with a teams second or third-best corner, possibly a safety at times. Yeah, that’s good for this explosive rookie and if your in non-ppr leagues, Patterson should be even more valuable, let alone leagues with kick and punt return points.

Speaking of leagues with kick and punt point opportunities, Patterson should be the top receiver drafted in those leagues, because he will be electric in that area. Add it up, and if you’re the type of fantasy owner who prefers to draft the player with the most upside – regardless of the downside he may present – Patterson is your man.

Tavon Austin STL (1st RD) -

Don’t look to Austin as a receiver that will lineup on the outside often, at least early in his career. Austin should be used as a slot receiver and probably receive some looks in the backfield, much like we’ve seen from Randall Cobb and Percy Harvin in recent years.

As soon as the season begins Austin (like Patterson) will be one of the more explosive weapons in the entire league. Look to Austin as a respectable WR3 option early in the season, should everything go well in camp.

Markus Wheaton PIT (1st RD) -

Another terrific mid-round receiver for the Steelers and by 2014 Wheaton should be starting opposite Antonio Brown. Wheaton will be an instant vertical threat that defenses around the league would be wise to give attention too. I could see Wheaton putting up numbers close to that of Mike Wallace in his rookie year as the third receiver on the depth chart.

When, not if, Wheaton becomes a starter he will have a low-end value of a WR3 play with WR1 upside (especially in non-ppr leagues) in the future. Just don’t expect him to catch for than 65 to 70 passes in any given season.

Robert Woods, BUF (1st RD) -

My goodness the Bills have a talented young wide receiver core after this years draft. While Woods was the first receiver to go in this draft for the Bills (2nd round pick) it might be undrafted Tennessee star Da’Rick Rogers that is the more valuable fantasy option, down the road.

That said, Woods is likely to be a steady target in his passing game and should start opposite Stevie Johnson as early as week one. My only concern for Woods is he has a history of ankle problems, so keep that in mind before you draft him.

The arrow is pointing up for Buffalo and while they may not be a playoff team this year, it should happen soon if this draft delivers on the talent it has.

Keenan Allen SD (1st RD) -

First let me say this, if it wasn’t for such a deep class of receivers this year, Keenan Allen would never have fallen to the third round, even with his injury concerns. I’m amazed Allen fell all the way to the third round even with the group of receivers we have coming out this year, but I’m sure the Chargers were ecstatic to get him at that point.

Malcolm Floyd is just about washed up in San Diego, third year receiver Vincent Brown has to stay healthy and the same can be said for last years breakout receiver Danario Alexander. While Allen has some nagging injuries of his own, he’s the most talented receiver of the bunch and it wouldn’t surprise me if he starting week one.

Factor in that Antonio Gates is on his last legs and Allen’s star remains bright for the future. He still has WR1 potential, especially in PPR leagues, so consider it a bargain if he falls out of the top ten picks in the first round of your dynasty league.

Justin Hunter TEN (1st RD) -

Of the three receivers in this years class that played for the University of Tennessee, it is Hunter that actually gives me the most pause about drafting. All three receivers (Hunter, Cordarrelle Patterson, Da’Rick Rogers) have had some type of character concerns on or off the field.

While it is Rogers that clearly has the bigger red flag, at least fantasy owners know they should target him as a mid-round pick in rookie dynasty drafts. With Hunter, I see a guy that could end up like Kenny Britt, in that he’s got the raw skills to dominate but it doesn’t show up consistently.

Hunter is worth a first-round pick on draft day and that’s why I’m concerned. I don’t think he has the upside of Patterson, but he could be a WR1 in fantasy leagues a year or two down the road. He could also be a WR4 for most of his career, that has us scratching our heads wondering if he will ever figure it out.

Look to Kendall Wright as the clearly No.1 receiver of the future in Tennessee with Hunter as an attractive No.2. With that said, I have to believe Britt will be gone from the team after this year as he’s in a contract season and with the drafting of Hunter in the second round, we know what the Titans plans are likely to be. That is, moving on from Britt.

Stedman Bailey STL (late 1st / 2nd RD) -

Not a fan of Brian Quick and the 2012 second-round pick did nothing to prove me otherwise last season, even though opportunity was on the table to become a productive starter. Look for Tavon Austin to remain in the slot and his former partner in crime at West Virginia will likely beat out Quick in camp to start on the outside.

Bailey has WR2 upside and I think he could hold WR3 value this year, if and when he takes over a starting job.

Terrance Williams DAL (2nd RD) -

We could see the Cowboys move on from Miles Austin next year because of cap problems and the fact that Austin has struggled with injuries over the years. Williams would be a nice compliment player to Dez Bryant as he has the big-play ability to strike from anywhere on the field.

Look for Williams to make an impact as a rookie and with Tony Romo still in his prime, Williams has fantasy starter potential as soon as next year. Hey, a guy that caught 97 balls and over 1,800 at Baylor last year (without RG3) has to be more than just a deep threat, so look to him as a guy with No.1 receiver potential, should Bryant melt down at any point and move on from Dallas.

Quinton Patton SF (2nd RD) -

The 49ers had one heck of a fourth round in this years draft with the selections of Quinton Patton and Marcus Lattimore. In Patton, the 49ers have themselves an electric talent who projects to be a starter as early as 2014.

We should like Patton over AJ Jenkins and expect this years rookie to make a bigger impact, early on.

If that wasn’t enough factor in this story and you know this kid will be dedicated to his craft, and will be a total steal for the 49ers.

Aaron Dobson, NE (late 2nd / 3rd RD) -

The Patriots have struggled in the draft at the wide receiver position, so just because Aaron Dobson was a second-round pick, doesn’t mean he’s a lock for a solid career with Tom Brady as his quarterback. That also means we shouldn’t look bast fourth-round pick Josh Boyce or UDFA Kembrell Thompson and T.J. Moe (Moe wouldn’t be an outside receiver, more backup to Danny Amendola) at our dynasty drafts and beyond.

Dobson can make big plays down the field, something the Patriots have lacked since Randy Moss moved on to the Vikings in 2010.

Josh Boyce NE (3rd RD) -

Give strong consideration to Boyce in the third round as he may be a better fit for what the Patriots want to do on offense. Better in the short to intermediate game than Dobson, Boyce has a chance to earn quality playing time in his rookie year and beyond.

Da’Rick Rogers, BUF (3rd RD / 4th RD) -

If not for his substance abuse issues in college Rogers would’ve been at least an early second-round pick in the NFL draft, and a first round pick in dynasty drafts. Rogers has all the tools to dominate at the next level, and could be a fantasy star. At the same time, he could easily continue to show immaturity and be out of the league before the season begins.

Even if Rogers does have problems this off-season and the Bills move on from him, I would keep him on your taxi squad because he should get another opportunity in the coming years. Again, if he straightens up, he could if big for you at a fair price.

Corey Fuller DET (4th RD) -

Opportunity is what gets Fuller in the 4th round of dynasty drafts this year, but if he should fail to capitalize as a rookie, he might fall out of favor quickly. Second year receiver Ryan Broyles will be two years removed from his ACL next season, and the situation is there for the Lions to draft a high round receiver next year, if Fuller doesn’t flash.

Ryan Swope ARZ (4th RD) -

Love this guys game and I remember watching him dominate Alabama last season; it was impressive. Swope is the real deal and don’t pay any attention to those that worry about his small hands, this young man can play some football.

As sure as Corey Fuller gets a bump in draft value because of a good situation, Swope is dinged because of a bad situation in the early years of his career. But I believe we will see Swope emerge as a consistent fantasy option at some point in the first three years of his career.

Concussion issues in his past are probably the biggest reason he fell into the later rounds of the NFL draft, but perhaps some time away from a full time role will help him in this regard.

Chris Harper SEA (4th RD) -

With Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Golden Tate in front of Harper, the rookie will have to wait a couple years before he gets his shot. I think he will receive an opportunity to make an impact, and in a couple of years from now, Russell Wilson’s game should be developed to the point where Seattle is comfortable being a pass first offense.

Marquess Wilson CHI (4th RD) -

Perhaps a little thin for his 6’3 frame and question marks about his football character were the main culprits for Wilson’s slide during the draft. Either way as a 4th round pick in dynasty drafts we should target this talented pass catcher as a potential steal down the road.

Tavarres King DEN (5th RD) -

The Broncos are hurting for depth at receiver on the outside and King will have a chance to be the backup to Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, as a rookie. That’s good news for King as Thomas has had his share of injuries in his playing career.

Aaron Mellette BAL (6th RD) -

I have Mellette ranked this high mainly because of opportunity in Baltimore with Anquan Boldin gone. The Ravens failed to add anyone significant in free agency so Mellette will have a chance to fight for playing time early, with a host of other young Raven receivers.

Kenny Stills NO (6th RD) -

Big-play ability and a cheep contract are two reasons to believe Stills has the chance to stick in New Orleans and make an impact with Drew Brees throwing him the rock. We need to keep an eye on his performance in camp, but Stills is worth stashing in the later round of your dynasty draft.

Marquise Goodwin BUF (6th RD) -

Don’t be upset because Goodwin is this low, nor should you think I hate him as a player. It’s more that the Bills already have Stevie Johnson and they added Da’Rick Rogers and Robert Woods in this draft as well. Goodwin will have a role in Buffalo’s offense but it’s likely to be a field stretcher and he won’t be on the field at all times.

Good depth receiver for his team, not great for fantasy.

Ace Sanders JAX (7th RD) -

I wasn’t really interested in Ace Sanders but with the news of Justin Blackmon’s four-game suspension, we need to keep an eye on this rookie’s development. Sanders won’t replace Blackmon in the lineup as he projects to be a slot receiver only.

Still, the next offence for Blackmon could resort to a full-season suspension, so Sanders has some value at the end of your draft.

Best Of The Rest

Mark Harrison CHI, Charles Johnson GB, Perez Ashford CLE, Justin Brown PIT, Marcus Davis NYG, Zach Rodgers NYJ, Alec Lemon Hou, Cobi Hamilton , CIN, Keenan Davis, CLE, Kenbrell Thompkins, NE, T.J. Moe, NE, Javone Lawson, ARZ, Marlon Brown, HOU, Connor Vernon, OAK, Alec Lemon, HOU

We don’t have a deep class of running backs this year, with starter upside. It’s probably a good idea to pass on running backs in the middle rounds of your draft if you should miss out on the first eight backs on this list.

Giovani Bernard, CIN (1st Round) -

Bernard had a hard upbringing as his mom passed away when he was a kid and he even lived with another family for a time, while his Dad went off to look for work.

I love this kid and his pass receiving skills will make him a start in PPR leagues. For now, he will have to play second fiddle to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but expect the North Carolina star to take over the starting job at some point this season. In a year from now we could be looking at a top five tailback in fantasy leagues, so look to Bernard as the top rookie to take at any position this year.

Rookie Dynasty Draft By Position: QB | RB | WR | TE | @seanfantasyinfo

Le’Veon Bell, PIT (1st Round) -

Even those draftniks that doubted Bell have to admit he’s in a terrific situation to be a bell cow back in Pittsburgh. The Steelers even put Jonathan Dwyer up for trade for a short time after drafting Bell and that tells you they see this kid as a starter, early.

Bell is good in the passing game and can block so it will help his odds of starting week one. I expect that to happen unless Bell has an early training camp injury.

Johnathan Franklin, GB (1st Round) -

I don’t care if Franklin was drafted in the fourth round and Lacy was in the second, take Franklin. You have to love this kids enthusiasm for the game, the passion for which he plays football with.

Franklin improved each season at UCLA, and even if Lacy beats him out for the starting job, expect Lacy to find a few injuries and the durable, explosive Franklin will get his shot. In the end, I see a star fantasy back in Franklin and Lacy could end up taking a back seat because people start to realize this young running back is damn good!

Eddie Lacy, GB (1st Round) -

Obviously as I have Franklin listed ahead of Lacy you can tell I’m not a fan of the Alabama product. Well, it’s not that I hate Lacy but more that I love Franklin.

Lacy has a history for injuries and the fact that he suffered a hamstring injury in January and still couldn’t finish his pro day in April is a big red flag. I’m not saying Lacy wasn’t trying to get healthy, but more that he appears to be a slow healer.

This is a bad sign for a running back, and we could see Lacy go the way of Ryan Mathews, DeMarco Murray and Darren McFadden. All those running backs are talented, but all of them tend to miss at least a month, each season with injuries.

Marcus Lattimore, SF (1st – 2nd Round) -

If you’re willing to wait for a year on Lattimore (likely going to have to do that with most rookies anyway) you could have yourself the most talented running back in this draft, if not for his knee issue.

The 49ers will likely keep Lattimore on the PUP in his rookie year, but Frank Gore isn’t long for San Fransisco at his age, and if Lattimore is healthy he will have a terrific situation to play in. This is risk vs reward player, but I’d put my money on Lattimore coming back.

Zac Stacy, STL (1st – 2nd Round) -

I was almost shocked when I read a CBS article about last years rookie Isaiah Pead saying he was “miserable” last year. Even if he has a better attitude this off-season, it shows he doesn’t handle adversity well, by his attitude last year. I like Stacy’s physical style and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s starting for the Rams by week one. This is a nice payler to land in the late first to early second round.

Montee Ball, DEN (2nd Round) -

Well, we know John Fox doesn’t like to use rookie running backs much. This was evident with Ronnie Hillman last year as Fox opted to use Knowshon Moreon over his talented rookie when Willis McGahee went down.

I still like Hillman to be the better future fantasy back in Denver over Ball but we should look to Ball as a favorite for early down work in the future. But for now, don’t be surprised if it is Moreno or McGahee working ahead of Ball on the depth chart.

Ball, also struggles in pass-protection like Hillman did last year, and that won’t help him get on the field with Peyton Manning at quarterback.

Christine Michael, SEA (2nd Round) -

Michael is the most talented running back in his class but he might be the biggest bone head as well. If not for the Seahawks boldness to draft him in the second round (based on what they saw on tape) he’s possible this talented runner could’ve fallen all the way down the fifth or sixth round of the NFL draft.

As it stands, Michael has a terrific opportunity for his future as Marshawn Lynch may only have a few more years left as a healthy bell cow back.

If Michael is ready to get serious about his business, he will have no problem passing Robert Turbin on the depth chart and that’s saying something because Turbin was good for Seattle last year, as a rookie.

Stepfan Taylor, ARZ (3rd Round) -

While Taylor won’t blow you away with any one skill, he’s just going to kick your butt and give you everything he’s got. I like Taylor and it’s not surprise he’s a former recruit of Jim Harbugh at Stanford when you watch him play.

If the Cardinals move on from Ryan Williams, we should see Taylor as the immediate backup to Mendenhall. Not a bad spot to be in and Taylor could have an impact year one.

Mike Gillislee, MIA (4th Round) -

We don’t know if Lamar Miller can hold up for a full season as a starter and we should expect Gillislee to beat out Daniel Thomas. This is a good situation for the former Gator, and he could help your fantasy squad at some point, if Miller goes down.

Joseph Randle, DAL (4th or 5th Round) -

Well, I wasn’t a fan of Randle before the draft, but leave it to situation as the reason why he’s at this high up in my dynasty rankings. The Cowboys tend to draft their players with a specific role in mind, and they don’t tend to bring in much competition to push them.

Randle will basically be handed the backup role to DeMarco Murray and that means he’s likely to start a few games this year. Randle will get his chance to prove he can play in the league and will work in a talented offense.

These are good things for the Oklahoma State running back so keep look to him as an option in the fourth or fifth round.

Kerwynn Williams, IND (4th Round – 5th Round) -

If you’re in PPR leagues look to Williams as a viable fourth-round selection. If not he’s no higher than the fifth round, because a big part of Williams game at the pro level will be in the passing game.

Indianapolis really didn’t do anything to stop Williams from having an outside chance at playing time this year, so he should be considered a sleeper in the Colts offense.

Andre Ellington, ARZ (5th Round) -

Another talented running back that fell in the draft, we shouldn’t count Ellington out to win a starting job at some point in his career. For now, he’s likely the third for fourth running back on the dept chart in Arizona, but what I like about Ellington is his skill-set is different than that of the Cardinals other backs.

This could keep him on the active roster, or even force the Cardinals had to release or trade Ryan Williams, a talent runner in his own right that’s had trouble staying healthy.

At the end of the day, there’s a new coaching staff in Arizona and Williams is the only one of the four backs that wasn’t hand-picked by them. Expect Ellington to make the roster.

Knile Davis, KC (5th Round) -

How the heck this guy went before Johnathan Franklin I will never know but Davis is likely to be a bust pick for the Chiefs. What we do need to pay attention too is that Charles does have a torn ACL in his past, and if Davis is the clear cut No.2 back he’s only an injury away from fantasy relevance.

Ray Graham Hou (6th Round) -

I loved watching Graham back at Pittsburgh and I don’t care if he ran a 4.80, 40-yard dash this guy can play football. First off, 40-yard dash times are way overrated and I think Graham was held back because of a hamstring injury late in the college season and he’s still only a year removed from a torn ACL injury.

We need to see the burst that Graham had before his knee injury, and I think that will come. Even if Graham doesn’t make it on the Texans roster, he will get opportunities from other teams. An explosive back with good skills in the passing game, Graham is worth sticking on your taxi squad.

Rex Burkhead, CIN (6th Round) -

Heard good things about Burkhead before the draft, but unfortunately he will be arriving to Cincinnati with Giovani Bernard. Burkhead figures to be the third running back on the depth chart this year and should be the main backup behind Bernard, when the Bengals move on from BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Latavius Murray OAK (6th Round) -

Not sure I believe in Murray to win the backup job in Oakland but we can’t look past the one running back drafted by the Raiders this spring. Darren McFadden won’t stay healthy, as he’s missed at least four games in each of the five seasons in his career.

If Murray can carve out a role, perhaps he will have some fantasy value, in-season, when McFadden gets hurt again.

Jawan Jamison WAS (7th Round) -

Well it’s another season and of course Coach Shanahan had to draft a couple running backs, even though Alfred Morris ran for over 1,600 yards as a rookie. Why not, as both Evan Royster and Roy Helu have struggled either on the field or with injuries.

Cierre Wood, HOU (7th Round) -

One of the four UDFA running backs brought in by the Texans we need to pay attention to all of them (Wood, George Winn, Ray Graham, Dennis Johnson) so keep an eye on the raw running back from Notre Dame.

Kenjon Barner CAR (7th Round) -

If the Panthers do cut DeAngelo Williams in June, we could see Barner make the Panthers active roster this year. Jonathan Stewart has had issues staying healthy in his career, so perhaps Barner will get some playing time if things fall right.

Michael Hill, SD (undrafted) -

I’ll admit it, this one is just a hunch. I heard Michael on Movin’ The Chains back in April and I liked what he had to say about his time back at Missouri Western. Hill was the main tailback for his team for a couple of seasons and has good receiving skills.

We know Ryan Mathews can’t stay healthy, and Danny Woodhead isn’t big enough to be anything more than a complimentary back. Hill will get a chance to show what he can do and the depth in front of him (not including Woodhead and Mathews of course) is lack luster at best.

Hill will probably be on the practice squad this year but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him find some playing time by years end.

Best Of The Rest

George Winn HOU, Chris Thompson WAS, Miguel Maysonet PHI, Mike James TB, Michael Cox, NYG, Spencer Ware SEA, Stefphon Jefferson TEN, Theo Reddick DET, Dennis Johnson HOU, Montel Harris, TB

E.J. Manuel, BUF (1st Round) –

Whether you agree or disagree with the Bills moving back up in the first round to select Manuel, you have to admit GM Buddy Nix did a good job adding weapons, via the draft.

Adding receivers Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin and tight end Chris Gragg add speed to Buffalo’s offense, and the pickup ultra-talented yet troubled receiver Da’Rick Rogers after the draft, gives Manuel an exciting group of players to grow with. If your drafting in the later part of the first round and need a development quarterback for the future, select Manuel.

Rookie Dynasty Draft By Position: QB | RB | WR | TE | @seanfantasyinfo

Geno Smith, NYJ (2nd Round) -

Smith has the tools to be at least a low-end starting quarterback in 14-team dynasty leagues, in the future. Unfortunately, I don’t like his landing spot as the Jets will likely have a new Head Coach next year, and they need to give him help.

Add in the signs of immaturity, and it would be best for the Jets to keep him on the bench for a season and out of the media’s focus. Consider it unlikely for that to happen, and we have to be a little concerned with how Smith will handle poor media attention in New York. Look to Smith no higher than the second round as a boom or bust option.

Tyler Wilson, OAK (4th RD) -

Wilson is likely to receive an opportunity to start in the second half of the season as the Raiders project to fall out of playoff contention by some point in November. It’s another rebuilding year in Oakland and Wilson has starter upside.

A talented young offense to work with, Wilson could stick as the starter if he flashes at the end of the year. At worst he’s likely to be a respectable backup in the NFL.

Matt Barkley, PHI (5th Round) -

Barkley will likely sit on the bench in his rookie season and might find himself inactive most weeks. Coming off a shoulder injury in college, it would be best for Coach Kelly to give his rookie quarterback a year to rehab, and hopefully work on his average arm-strength.

Mike Glennon, TB (5th Round) -

Coach Schiano talked about bringing in someone to challenge Josh Freeman and that’s why Mike Glennon was brought onto the team. Glennon isn’t likely to win the job, but he’s an interesting hold on your taxi squad for development, should Freeman fail to improve.

Ryan Nassib, NYG (6th Round) -

Before the draft I would’ve recommended you select Nassib over Glennon, Barkley and possibly Wilson but he’s stuck in a bad situation for the next few years.

If you own Eli Manning, Nassib is obviously worth a look but it may be a few years before he gets an opportunity as Manning is a durable quarterback.

Matt Scott, JAX (7th Round) -

This should be Blaine Gabbert’s final year in Jacksonville, or at least his last look as the starter on the team. While various draftniks and scouts have raved about Scott’s skill-set he will have to prove himself to earn a roster spot as a third string quarterback.

We could see him receive a chance to start later in the year, but it’s likely he will only earn a backup role in the NFL, long-term.

Landry Jones, PIT (7th Round) -

A possible replacement for Ben Roethlisberger, Jones is worth stashing on taxi squads, as Big Ben could go down with a major injury at any point.

Best of the Rest

Sean Renfree, ATL, Tyler Bray, KC, Zach Dysert DEN

Tyler Eifert, CIN (1st Round) -
Perhaps a sign the Bengals aren’t happy with what they’ve seen from Jermaine Gresham as they went for the top tight end in this years draft, with one of their two first-round picks.

I had the chance to hear an interview with Eifert on Movin’ The Chains, about a week before the draft and they asked him if he’d visited any teams for workouts.

To my surprise Eifert told them he hadn’t visited teams, but radio host Pat Kirwan said that was a good thing in his case because it meant teams “knew” what they were getting in him.

While Eifert isn’t in the greatest situation for the early portion of his career, I believe it’s likely he will out play Gresham, and likely the Bengals will move on from their former first-round pick in a year or two. View Eifert as a low-end TE1 as a rookie with top five upside, once Gresham is kicked to the curb.

Rookie Dynasty Draft By Position: QB | RB | WR | TE | @seanfantasyinfo

Travis Kelce, KC (late 1st / 2nd Round) -

If it weren’t for Kelce’s questionable off the field character, he would be my top dynasty tight end in rookie drafts, mainly because of where he went and Eifert’s landing spot. Kelce fell in a terrific spot as the Chiefs really only have one viable go to receiver in Dwayne Bowe, and Kelce should beat out Tony Moeaki, no later than 2014.

Perhaps Moeaki can hold him off to begin the season, but look for Kelce to start at some point in his rookie year. By his second season we should see a dependable TE1 emerge with top five upside.

Zach Ertz, PHI (3rd Round) -

With Brent Celek and James Casey already on the team, it’s not sure thing that Ertz will see enough playing time to warrant dynasty owners activating him off the taxi squad, year one. As a second round selection, you would think Ertz has a chance to be a TE1 but 2014; perhaps, but I’m not sure with should view that projection as a slam dunk.

Still, when compared to the tight ends below, Ertz skill and upside is head of the class.

Vance McDonald, SF (4th Round) -

McDonald is basically going to inherit Delanie Walker’s role in the offense and that means he will probably catch somewhere between 25 and 35 passes a year. I think McDonald is a great fit in football terms out in San Fransisco but as long as Vernon Davis is around, McDonald is just a backup in fantasy leagues.

Chris Gragg, BUF (5th Round) -

Looking for a sleeper who could come on in his rookie year, well Chris Gragg is worth a look. Gragg has the speed to push the field vertically and the Bills have a need at tight end with Scott Chandler coming off a major knee injury.

Gragg is worth a look somewhere around the 5th round of your dynasty rookie draft, so keep him in mind and watch his progress through the summer.

Mychal Rivera OAK / Nick Kasa OAK (5th Round) -

For all the short comings the Raiders have had on the field over the years, the tight end position has consistently been a productive spot for fantasy, no matter the quarterback. With Brett Myers gone to the Giants, Mychal Rivera and Nick Kasa have a chance to emerge as the next fantasy option.

Kasa is likely to be more of an inline option, and Rivera should be more of a move tight end or joker if you will. Flip a coin as to which player will prove to be the better fantasy play and both should receive competition through training camp.

Stash one or both players late in your draft and keep an eye on their progress.

Jordan Reed, WAS (5th Round) -

Coach Shanahan can’t help but to bring in a couple running backs each year through the draft, and he also likes to bring in tight ends. By next year, Reed could be another irrelevant project player like Niles Paul has become. That said, Reed will get his chance to prove he’s worthy of holding down a job as a move tight end.

He will never take over as an inline tight end as his size is too small for that area of the field. Because he’s young has some receiving talent and will play with Robert Griffin we need to pay attention to Reed. Just know that if you rank him after the Raiders tight ends and Chris Gragg on your board, he’s likely to come off the draft board before them.

Dion Sims MIA (5th Round) -

Yes the Dolphins brought in Dustin Keller this off-season but they only signed him to a one-year deal. The other tight ends that have been brought in over recent years have flopped so if Sims puts it together this year, he could be the starting inline tight end in Miami by 2014.

Gavin Escobar, DAL (6th Round) -

Escobar’s game is loved by some and hated by others within the draft community. Likely a reach for the Cowboys, Escobar will play second fiddle to Jason Witten, who still has good years in front of him. Those of you that have Witten, taking Escobar would obviously make the most sense, over other fantasy owners.

Levine Toilolo ATL -

Toilolo was drafted as a development player to potentially take over as the starter in Atlanta after Tony Gonzalez retires. Perhaps Gonzalez will retire next off-season, but just know he signed a two-year deal back in March so that’s not a sure thing.

Best Of The Rest

Ryan Otten JAX, Ryan Griffin HOU, Justice Cunningham IND, Luke Wilson SEA, D.C. Jefferson, Arz

Photo By: Chris Humphreys / US PRESSWIRE

I find it interesting that the 2013 NFL schedule will kickoff with the defending Super Bowl Champs heading to Denver to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos. While many of us will likely allocate our Sports Betting money to the Broncos side of this matchup (mainly because of home field, and all the turnover in Baltimore) it is a player like Manning, that should give us pause about what to actually expect this time of year.

Two Aprils ago, you would’ve thought any team scheduled to face Manning’s Indianapolis Colts would be in for a rough outing. Why not, as Manning had yet to miss a game in his career, but as we all know a neck injury cost him that season and the Colts were the worst team in the league.

While that is an extreme example of what can happen to a football team, we do know that about half of the teams that make the playoffs one year, miss it the next season.

Still, it’s fun to scour through the schedules at this time of year and even check the strength of schedule for each team, bye weeks, and the travel schedules for road games.

So while it may be a let down (as a 49ers fan, I really don’t feel that sorry for you Raven fans, just saying) for all of you Baltimore fans that won’t have a home game to kick off the season, it’s still just one game and unlike 2011, we can all be thankful to not have to wait through a nasty lockout, and know our teams will be playing regular-season football come September. Game On!

2013 NFL Schedule

NFC West

49ers | Seahawks | Rams | Cardinals

NFC North

Packers | Lions | Vikings | Bears

NFC South

Falcons | Buccaneers | Saints | Panthers

NFC East

Giants | Redskins | Cowboys | Eagles

AFC West

Broncos | Chargers | Raiders | Chiefs

AFC North

Ravens | Steelers | Bengals | Browns

AFC South

Texans | Colts | Titans | Jaguars

AFC East

Patriots | Jets | Bills | Dolphins

Bye Weeks

Week 4 – Panthers, Packers

Week 5 – Vikings, Steelers, Buccaneers, Redskins

Week 6 – Falcons, Dolphins

Week 7 – Saints, Raiders

Week 8 – Ravens, Bears, Texans, Colts, Chargers, Titans

Week 9 – Cardinals, Broncos, Lions, Jaguars, Giants, 49ers

Week 10 – Browns, Chiefs, Patriots, Jets

Week 11 – Cowboys, Rams

Week 12 – Bills, Bengals, Eagles, Seahawks

It might just be spring, but fantasy football enthusiasts are always looking at rankings and predictions for the upcoming season. With a number of teams changing up personnel, the wide receiver position looks to be a bit unclear after Calvin Johnson. Unless something pops up, Johnson will be and should be the first wide receiver off the board. If you are looking for an elite wide receiver in 2013 though, where do you turn after that?

Dez Bryant

Some might think it is crazy to take the controversial Bryant this early, but with the Tony Romo extension, he has officially arrived. Bryant finished 2012 with 1382 yards and 12 touchdown catches. He was at his best at the end of the year, despite playing through a finger injury that affected his ability to catch the ball. As long as nothing pops up off the field, Bryant could be a true challenger to Johnson going forward.

AJ Green

The 2012 season did not end like he had hoped, but that should not scare away fantasy football owners in 2013. Green is just now starting to settle in as an elite NFL wide receiver. He was able to finish with 1350 yards and 11 touchdowns, which means he basically had a similar season to Bryant. Bryant might have more upside, but Green is the safer pick.

Brandon Marshall

Every wide receiver benefits from a quarterback who loves feeding them the ball. The Jay Cutler-Brandon Marshall connection is strong, and the Bears will hope the two can excel in 2013. Only Calvin Johnson gets more opportunities to catch the ball, so Marshall is another safe pick who will produce nicely.

Andre Johnson

The injury risk is always going to be there with Johnson, but the Houston Texan wide receiver seemed to be just fine a season ago. He came up just short of 1600 yards total, but his four touchdowns were a bit of a disappointment.

Julio Jones

If Atlanta did not have so much talent catching the ball, Julio Jones might be higher on this list. As it is, he was still able to finish with 1198 yards and 10 touchdowns. His play down the stretch (and in the playoffs) proved that he is the #1 target for Atlanta.

Article Written By: Guest Writer

The most talked about quarterback heading into the divisional round of the 2013 playoffs wasn’t Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan or even Aaron Rodgers by NFL pundits, it was 49ers Colin Kaepernick. The second-year quarterback received an opportunity to start after Alex Smith suffered a concussion, and because of his play against the Bears and Saints the youngster was awarded the starting job, mainly because of the upside his skill-set presented.

While Kaepernick has the physical tools to be an elite quarterback in the NFL in the future, the 49ers have an elite defense and running game. With this in mind it only seemed to make sense that San Francisco should stick with Smith, a game managing quarterback who will keep this team on schedule to place your Super Bowl Betting on the team that plays in the city by the Bay.

Packers Come To Town

With the Packers coming to town for the 49ers first playoff game, many in the media pegged Green Bay to win the game because they had last years MVP and former Super Bowl winner Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

Anyone who watched the game knows how things started out; Kaepernick throwing an interception to Sam Shields and traveled into the end zone. From that point on, the 49ers offense went on to post 45-points as Kaepernick threw for 263-yards and two touchdowns, also running for a playoff record 181-yards on the ground with two more rushing scores.

This was the kind of performance that validated Head Coach Jim Harbaugh’s decision to start his talented yet inexperience quarterback in the middle of the season.

It was the kind of performance that has many fantasy owners drooling about his potential coming into next year and the case has to be made that Kaepernick is worthy of drafting as your starting quarterback in 10-team leagues.

What we do have to keep in mind is his performance against the Packers should be viewed as the top end of his production, especially on the ground. Through his eight starts during the regular-season Kaepernick posted only three games over 50-yards on the ground and his game high on the season was an 84-yard performance against the Rams.

Clearly the Packers were thrown off by the 49ers reinserting the pistol offense ( quarterback lines up in shot gun but lines up in front of the running back, not by his side) for 50 percent of their snaps after practically abandoning this formation in the final two games of the regular season.

This was the offense Kaepernick helped put on the map in his college days in Nevada and should continue to be a formation that gives the Falcons problems this week.

As for the passing game, look no further than No.1 receiver Michael Crabtree as a big reason why Kaepernick is lighting-up teams in the red zone. Over the past two weeks Crabtree has scored 4 touchdowns with 17 receptions and a whooping 291-yards.

If the 49ers are going to make the Super Bowl, we need to see Kaepernick play mistake free football and that can happen (only three interceptions during the regular season), but keep in mind the Falcons have been an opportunistic defense when playing at home. We’ve seen this group shutout the Giants offense, and force five interceptions on Drew Brees during the second half of the season.

Then again, this is the same unit that gave up 385-yards passing and 60-yards on the ground to rookie Russell Wilson last week, so perhaps they tend to struggle against mobile quarterbacks. Just look to the success of Cam Newton against Atlanta this year as another reason to believe in Kaepernick’s ability to excel once again in his second playoff game.

No matter what happens in Atlanta, what we do know is the future appears to be bright for Kaepernick and if he fails to lead his team to the Super Bowl this season, they will remain a contender in future years.

With Jonathan Stewart out of the lineup it appears we can finally trust a running back in our lineups out of Carolina. For the second year in a row DeAngelo Williams is playing his best football down the stretch, and we should expect the veteran to touch the football over 20 times this week as the Panthers are sure to roll up a big lead on the Raiders.

Week 16 Standard Rankings – QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex | K | D | Waivers | Start – Sit |

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Start’em

QB. Tony Romo vs. Saints –

On a hot streak through the second half of the season, the Cowboys have now won five of their last six games and are intrenched in a chase for the NFC East crown. With New Orleans coming to town you can count on a high-scoring game and Romo should be a lock for two or more touchdowns and over 300-yards passing.

Don’t worry about the Saints shutting out the Buccaneers last week, while it was a terrific performance by New Orleans this defense doesn’t travel well in road games.

QB. Colin Kaepernick @ Seahawks –

Some of you may still be a little nervous to start Kaepernick this week because of how the Seahawks are playing, and they always seem to play better at home. Keep an eye on corner back Richard Sherman’s availability this week, because if he’s out it will be key for Kaepernick’s odds of success.

With Brandon Browner already serving a suspension and backup corners Walter Thurmond and Marcus Trufant attempting to come back from hamstring injuries, Kaepernick might just face the Seahawks secondary at the right time.

RB. DeAngelo Williams vs. Raiders –

With Jonathan Stewart out of the lineup, Williams is being used as a dare I say feature back. Sure, he will lose out on goal-line opportunities to Mike Tolbert and Cam Newton, but Williams has carried the football 39 times over the past two weeks.

Carolina is on fire and they should build up a big lead on the Raiders in the first half, allowing them to run the football with regularity in the second half. Over the past two weeks Williams has a touchdown in each game, and over 50-yards in the running game and passing game each week. As long as Stewart is out, Williams is worth starting, especially against the Raiders.

RB. LeSean McCoy vs. Redskins –

According to Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com we shouldn’t expect the normal workload from McCoy we used to see before his concussion a few weeks back. Still, Bryce Brown has struggled for two weeks in a row and his ball security issues are a problem so the opportunity could be there for a full workload.

While I can’t blame the Eagles coaching staff for playing it cautious with McCoy (at least to the press) if he has success early in the game, we should expect him to possibly touch the football 20 times. Then again if the Eagles fall behind early, we could see McCoy pulled in the second half of the game.

It’s a bit of a risky play, but if you need help at your flex position, McCoy is a player too talented to turn down.

RB. David Wilson @ Ravens –

While Ahmad Bradshaw tells us he’s going to play this weekend, he’s yet to be cleared for practice after his knee injury against the Saints a few weeks ago. Wilson should split time with either Bradhsaw or Kregg Lumpkin but his big-play ability, coupled with the Ravens struggles against the run make him a worthy start this week.

RB. Stevan Ridley @ Jaguars –

Ridley has had his fumbling issues resurface over the past two weeks after going without a fumble since week five against the Broncos. While Danny Woodhead was in the game more in the second half last week, I believe it had more to do with the Patriots actually playing from behind than anything else.

The games scripts will return to normal for the Patriots this week as they face a floundering Jaguars team. Ridley should remain as the top option in the running game and the closer in the fourth quarter. For the first time since his matchup against the Jets, Ridley actually has a favorable matchup so get him in the lineup.

WR. Brandon Lloyd @ Jaguars –

Outside of Wes Welker and Lloyd the Patriots are depleted at receiver. With Rob Gronkowski out as well, the door has reopened for Lloyd to make an impact in New England’s passing game and he’s taking advantage with big numbers over the past two weeks.

Lloyd should have continued success against the Jaguars leaky secondary. It would be wise for the Patriots to keep Lloyd involved as he posses a threat to opposing defense as a presence that can make big plays down the field. Time to keep the veteran going to give opposing teams in the playoffs someone to prepare for in the vertical game, which in turn will open up more opportunities in the short passing game and running game.

WR. Antonio Brown vs. Bengals –

I was a big fan of Brown’s this summer with Mike Wallace going through this holdout. As it turned out, Brown was the disappointment for most of the year as Ben Roethlisberger gravitated towards Wallace, no matter his conditioning or understanding of Todd Haley’s playbook.

Brown is a good receiver and will likely be the Steelers go to possession option in future years, but he’s struggled too often in failing to find the end zone. Since Roethlisberger’s return from a rib injury, the veteran has found Brown in the end zone each of the past two weeks.

Pittsburgh is struggling to run the football and their defense is leaky against the pass, so expect the Bengals to take advantage and score over 21 points. Roethisberger will be throwing more often than the Steelers would like, but that’s a benefit to Brown owners so consider him a respectable WR3 this week.

TE. Dennis Pitta vs. Giants -

With Joe Flacco struggling to keep Torrey Smith involved in the offense, it appears Pitta is the one taking advantage. The Ravens have struggled on defense this year and while the Giants are coming of a horrible game in Atlanta, we should expect them to score up to 30 points in this game.

Pitta should be active and makes for a respectable low-end TE1 down the stretch.

D. Redskins Defense @ Eagles –

The Eagles should have some yardage in this game, but expect the Redskins to make some big plays on defense much like they did against his team a few weeks back. Washington has playoff aspirations and as we saw with the Eagles last week, playing so many young players is starting to take its toll.

Bringing LeSean McCoy back from a concussion will help the Eagles, but expect Washington to deliver a solid performance for fantasy leagues.

Sit’em

QB. Matthew Stafford vs. Falcons –

Forget about Stafford’s throwing mechanics and focus on his receiving core as the main reason why you shouldn’t trust him down the stretch. While the Cardinals have a respectable secondary, Stafford should have at least had a touchdown pass against the Cardinals an 300-yards passing as the Lions played from way behind.

Atlanta has given quality quarterbacks problems over recent weeks as both Drew Brees and Eli Manning have produced unworthy starting numbers against this secondary. I don’t like Stafford’s odds, and you would be wise to keep him on your bench after a pathetic loss to the Cardinals last week.

RB. Ahmad Bradshaw @ Ravens -

As I mentioned above when discussing David Wilson as a start’em option, Bradshaw continues to tell the press he’s going to play this week. Even if he plays, I have to wonder just how many touches he will get if he actually suits up. Don’t put Bradshaw in your lineup this week if you have any other half way respectable options.

WR. Greg Jennings vs. Titans –

While Jennings has been back from his groin injury a few weeks now, he’s still not playing up to the expectations we would normally have for him. The Packers should make quick work of the Titans this weekend, and if Jennings doesn’t make noise in the first half he’s likely to disappoint you.

WR. Josh Gordon @ Broncos –

Coming into last week Gordon was having a nice little stretch but his inconsistency crept up on fantasy owners as he failed to reach 50-yards on the day. Playing against the Redskins leaky secondary, it was worth a shot last week to put him in the lineup but this week he faces Champ Bailey and the Broncos defense. Keep the rookie out of your lineup.

TE. Kyle Rudolph @ Texans –

Christian Ponder needs to hit the restart button in the off-season and figure out how to play quarterback again. For now, it appears Ponder’s confidence is shaken, something he admitted to be a problem down the stretch of last season, and it’s clear the Vikings are trying to win by leaning solely on Adrian Peterson’s running ability.

Ponder will continue to run a dink and dunk offense which will hurt Rudolph’s chances to help your team.

D. Seahawks Defense vs. 49ers –

As I mentioned above with Colin Kaepernick, we need to keep an eye on Richard Sherman’s availability for this weeks game as he may be suspended starting on Friday. With fellow corners Walter Thurmond, Marcus Trufant and defensive tackle Allen Branch possibly out this week, the Seahawks would be a bad play for you if they are all out.

Unfortunately, this game will be played on Sunday night and their won’t be a Monday night game. That basically means if you go with the Seahawks, by the time you realize Trufant, Thurmond or Branch are in fact out, it will be too late to make a change.

Therefore, you need to rely on the practice participation of these three players and Sherman’s status on Friday to determine if you should start them. Keep an eye on this situation.

Heading into Super Bowl showdowns for many fantasy leagues it’s probably not a good time to say this is the weakest week for waiver options throughout the entire season, but that’s exactly what we have. Outside of an opportunity opening up in San Diego because of anther collarbone injury to Ryan Mathews, there’s really nothing to discuss at running back if this is your final week of action.

Our best chances for help come from defense and possibly rookie receiver Rod Streater as the Raiders figure to play from behind in Carolina.

Week 16 Standard Rankings – QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex | K | D | Waivers | Start – Sit |

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QB. Sam Bradford -

Bradford failed to make my week 16 quarterback ranking list this week, however he does have a terrific matchup and could be a surprise low-end QB1 this week. If you’re in need of a quarterback and Russell Wilson is already picked up off your waiver wire, go with Bradford in what should be one of his better performances of the season.

RB. Jackie Battle -

With practice squad running back Edwin Baker promoted from the practice squad, I have to feel like Ronnie Brown won’t be active this week as he battles back from a hamstring injury, but at this point he still has a chance to play. With Ryan Mathews done for the season with another collarbone injury, Battle has a chance to be the main option in the running game.

While the Jets have played well on defense over the past three weeks, it’s not like they will be running away from the Chargers on the scoreboard, so expect San Diego to run the football throughout the game.

WR. Rod Streater -

With Danarius Moore struggling and losing time in the offense as a result, it’s been Rod Streater that has benefited. We know Darrius Heyward-Bey is an inconsistent option in the passing game and with Streater playing well, it might be worth using the rookie as the Panthers will likely focus their attention on Moore and Darren McFadden as players to take away.

WR. Brandon Gibson -

Situation is the reason I have Gibson down this week as the Rams will face the Buccaneers pathetic pass defense. With Danny Amendola coming back last week, we should keep Gibson’s value suppressed as a flex play option, but because of the matchup, he could quietly put up low-end WR2 production this week.

WR. Jason Avant -

Nick Foles will continue to look Avant’s way as the Redskins are likely to give up yardage through the air. Expect Washington to force turnovers, and they should put some pressure on Foles because of Philadelphia’s poor offensive line. Still, this should be a good game for Avant to rack up the yardage as the Eagles play from behind.

TE. Dennis Pitta -

The Ravens are having a hard time getting the football in Torrey Smith’s hands and as a result it seems Dennis Pitta is benefiting. Look for Pitta to remain active against the Giants in what should be a game close to what we saw when the Ravens played the Redskins a few weeks ago.

D. Redskins Defense -

The Eagles will continue to roll with Nick Foles and if you happened to watch their pathetic performance against the Bengals last week, you should be excited about starting the Redskins defense. Washington dominated Foles and the Eagles ground game in their matchup just before Thanksgiving, and should have start-worthy success this week.

D. Panthers Defense -

Carolina was terrific against the Chargers as they brought the pressure on Philip Rivers throughout the game and held Danario Alexander without a reception. Playing against the Raiders at home, you can count on turnovers and sacks as Oakland figures to play from behind.

If you happened to draft Brandon Lloyd this past summer like I did, you’ve probably been shaking your head when watching the Patriots play on prime-time television the past two weeks as the veteran has looked like a Pro Bowl star. In that time Lloyd has been targeted a whopping 25-times, hauling in 17-receptions for 279-yards a score and even picking up a fumble recovery in the end zone for another touchdown.

Problem is, many of you didn’t have him in your lineup let alone on your team at this point, after Lloyd struggled throughout the season and was demoted out of two receiver sets against the Dolphins and Colts.

Outside of Wes Welker  and Lloyd suiting up each week, the Patriots have been plagued by injury at the receiver position and with Rob Gronkowski out, it’s opened the door for Lloyd to be a relevant option in the passing game.

Will it continue as New England plays Jacksonville this weekend? Why not, as it would stand to benefit New England to have Lloyd playing well as he posses a threat to defenses as a weapon on the outside that can stretch the field. While the Patriots figure to make quick work of the Jaguars, Lloyd is worth starting in your lineup this week as at least a flex play start.

DeAngelo Williams A Must Start?

Now that Mike Shanahan has finally settled on one running back we can easily point our fingers towards Carolina as the most frustrating backfield to trust in fantasy football. That said, with Jonathan Stewart out with ankle problems, DeAngelo Williams is being used as the main option at running back.

Expect Cam Newton and Mike Tolbert to continue to take away goal-line opportunities from Williams but over the past two weeks Williams has over 50-yards both running and receiving each week. Not only that but Williams has a touchdown reception in both games and has a total 39 carries over the past two weeks.

Finally one of the Panthers two talented running backs is getting enough touches to show us that they are still an effective option when given a chance. As long as Stewart is out, we should trust Williams as no less than a must start flex play option against the Raiders defense.

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