Dynasty Football Fan

Ok, it’s still January.  The NFL playoffs are not even complete yet, the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, free agency and NFL Draft have not even occurred yet.  Still, it’s never too early to talk about who you’re going to want to target with that first round pick in next year’s dynasty rookie draft.  So without further ado, here’s my pre-draft top 10 dynasty rookie list:

1. Trent Richardson – You really could consider Andrew Luck here, but if Luck is going to Indy and sitting for a year or two behind Peyton Manning, then Richardson gets the nod.  Let’s be clear here, Richardson is no Adrian Peterson.  He’s not an elite RB prospect and he comes from a run heavy offensive scheme.  That being said, he is better than his predecessor Mark Ingram at this point in his development and Ingram was at the top of most drafts last year.
2. Andrew Luck – Everything that the pundits say is true, he has everything he needs to be the next Peyton Manning, including Mannings team!  I don’t like it when people anoint a player before he’s taken a snap, but in terms of choosing this kid for your fantasy squad, there is no better player in this draft.
3. Lamar Miller – I really like this kid’s get up and go.  He’s got speed, agility, a solid frame that’s below average for an NFL RB but if he adds 10 pounds of muscle between his rookie and 2nd year and keeps his moves, he can be the real deal in the right situation.
4. Chris Polk – Playing on a poor team really didn’t help Polk but he’s a solid contributor with NFL size and moves to be successful.  The team he goes to will help determine if he jumps Lamar Miller or goes down a notch post-draft.
5. Robert Griffin III – I’ve never seen a spread option quarterback have a 70% completion ratio.  He can run, he can pass, he will need time to develop his timing and read ability in the NFL, but he’s worth the shot.  Just keep in mind, he’s not Cam Newton.  Newton is huge, Griffin is small in NFL quarterback standards, and that is a bit of a risk.
6. Justin Blackmon – He just can’t compare to the two elite prospects that came out last year in AJ Green and Julio Jones.  That said, he has all the tools to be successful and if he finds himself with a decent developing QB (ie. Sam Bradford, Christian Ponder) then he could be productive right out of the gate.
7. Alshon Jeffery – A lot of people don’t like him due to his lack of speed and some character issues.  I’m not one of those people.  He has the size to dominate NFL cornerbacks and has been VERY productive in the best conference in the land.  Call me a believer.
8. David Wilson – He’s only a one year starter but what a year.  Over 1,700 yards at Virginia Tech is very impressive.  He’s small for an NFL back but has all the tools to succeed otherwise.  A bit of a risk due to size and lack of sustained performance over a couple of years but a great prospect none-the-less.
9. Michael Floyd – I love big wide receivers and here’s another one for you.  Michael Floyd has all of the tools to succeed he just needs to show maturity and that he’s ready to commit to being the best player he can be in the NFL.  Watch the scouting combine closely and see where he lands, if there are no red flags, don’t hesitate to take him late in the first round.
10. Ryan Tannehill – He’s raw, but very talented.  played 2 years at WR so he’s an athlete playing QB.  When moved to QB he was very productive but not necessarily a winner, nor a finisher.  These are traits that can be developed and he’ll need time to improve his mechanics too.  All of that said, he has too much talent to keep him out of the top 10.

So there you have it, my pre-draft top 10 dynasty rookies.  What do you think?