The annual rookie draft in my dynasty league took place over the weekend; some will recall I mocked it last week. Things went about how I expected, although as always, there were a few surprises. I'll recap it below with thoughts on most every player. My picks are in bold.
1.01 Montee Ball, Den.
1.02 Le'Veon Bell, Pitt.
1.03 Tavon Austin, St.L.
1.04 Giovani Bernard, Cin.
1.05 Cordarrelle Patterson, Minn.
1.06 Eddie Lacy, G.B.
In some order, these are the top 6 in the majority of the rookie drafts I've seen. I am not a scout, but I watch a lot of video of these players, and I think Ball is the best of these four running backs, so I traded up to get him. As an added bonus, he joins an offense that I believe wants a young, talented feature back to handle most of the snaps. I'm aware Ball played behind a fine offensive line in Wisconsin. I also think he's very good, and he's with a very good team. Bell gets the edge over Lacy, in my mind, because he has a better track record of health and is a very good receiver. Bernard has been described as a change of pace back by the Bengals, and he doesn't look like a feature back. Love both wideouts, but running backs are scarcer.
1.07 Marcus Lattimore, S.F.
1.08 DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.
1.09 Tyler Eifert, Cin.
1.10 Justin Hunter, Tenn.
1.11 Keenan Allen, S.D.
1.12 Johnathan Franklin, G.B.
Hopkins, Hunter and Eifert are givens in this range. I like Hopkins a lot; my optimism about Hunter is capped by my fondness for Kendall Wright and doubts about Jake Locker. I was surprised Lattimore went this high. It's dynasty, but he suffered a brutal knee injury and even when he's back at full health, if he is, he'll be in a place where there might always be multiple backs involved in the running game. I had to take about 2 seconds before racing to the podium to select Franklin, who will start out behind Lacy but is a talented back in his own right and could be better. (And again, this being a dynasty league, I care less about 2013 than the guy who will have the best 3 years out of the next 5.)
2.01 Aaron Dobson, N.E.
2.02 Zac Stacy, St.L.
2.03 Travis Kelce, K.C.
2.04 Markus Wheaton, Pitt.
2.05 Robert Woods, Buff.
2.06 Terrance Williams, Dall.
2.07 Quinton Patton, S.F.
2.08 Zach Ertz, Phi.
2.09 Andre Ellington, Ariz.
2.10 Christine Michael, Sea.
2.11 E.J. Manuel, Buff.
2.12 Stedman Bailey, St.L.
Dobson, in New England, could become their No. 1 wideout, or be forgotten like their other wideout picks in recent years. Stacy could become St. Louis' No. 1 running back, or he's just a fifth-round flier who will never amount to anything. I should mention that TEs get 1.5 points per reception in this league, giving Kelce and Ertz added value. Wheaton is intriguing in Pittsburgh as an athletic receiver and possible running threat. Woods is one of a bunch of possible No. 2 wideouts in Buffalo. Michael is very talented but could have a hard time breaking out in Seattle. Ellington goes to an Arizona team led by Mendenhall (on a one-year deal) and injury-prone Ryan Williams. I like Bailey's game, and St. Louis has unproven wideouts ahead of him.
3.01 Jordan Reed, Wash.
3.02 Denard Robinson, Jac.
3.03 Knile Davis, K.C.
3.04 Joseph Randle, Dall.
3.05 Mike Gillislee, Mia.
3.06 Gavin Escobar, Dall.
3.07 Da'Rick Rogers, Buff.
3.08 Geno Smith, NYJ
3.09 Levine Toilolo, Atl.
3.10 Theo Riddick, Det.
3.11 Kenny Stills, N.O.
3.12 Kerwynn Williams, Ind.
It's the time of the draft for more tight ends and flier backup running backs. As a Jamaal Charles owner I probably should have opted for Davis, but I don't like his game or his tendency to fumble. Robinson has some upside as a slash type of player. Rogers, who the Bills say they had a first- or second-round grade on, has the biggest upside, but it's tough to overlook the fact that his failed drug tests resulted in him going completely undrafted; no one even wanted to risk a seventh-rounder on him.