by John Tuvey
Senior NFL Analyst @ The Huddle
#21) Juaquin Iglesias WR Ht: 6-1 Wt: 210 Drafted 3.35 by the Chicago Bears
Dynasty Value: Iglesias is a polished receiver and talented return man, and he goes to a team that has few of the former and an abundance of the latter. The arrival of Jay Cutler in Chicago upgrades their passing game, and Iglesias has little standing between him and a regular role in the Bears’ receiver rotation; thus, there’s fantasy potential here. Iglesias could also help in the return game if the Bears transition Devin Hester to full-time receiver, but he wouldn’t be the fantasy factor Hester was in that role. Assuming he learns how to get separation from coverage, something he struggled with at the Senior Bowl, Hester should work his way into a premium spot in the Chicago receiving corps sooner rather than later.
2009 Considerations: There’s a whole lot going on in Chicago, what with Cutler’s arrival and an influx of new wideouts. But this is still the Windy City, and the Bears are still predominantly a running team. So even if Iglesias plays his way into a No. 3 or even No. 2 role in the Chicago receiver rotation, his immediate fantasy upside is limited. Factor in the traditional three-year learning curve for wideouts and it’s quite likely Iglesias will still be on the board at the end of most fantasy redrafts.
#22) Shawn Nelson TE Ht: 6-5 Wt: 240 Drafted 4.21 by the Buffalo Bills
Dynasty Value: Prior to the Senior Bowl, Nelson was viewed as just another pass-catching tight end in the Dustin Keller mold. Then in Mobile he demonstrated effort and even a bit of acumen as a blocker, potentially positioning himself as not just a receiver but as an every-down tight end. The Bills, who have a dire need at the position, hope to develop him as such but initially plan to take advantage of his speed by using him primarily as a receiver.
2009 Considerations: Bills OC Turk Schoenert runs an offense based on Sam Wyche’s old system—the one that produced quality seasons for Rodney Holman in Cincinnati—and Nelson is without question the most talented tight end on the Buffalo roster. Whether that translates into helpful fantasy numbers for Nelson in Year One remains to be seen, but at minimum Nelson is a name to keep on standby for a possible bye week plug-in play.
#23) James Davis RB Ht: 5-11 Wt: 218 Drafted 6.22 by the Cleveland Browns
Dynasty Value: Davis has good size and better speed than you might expect from a power runner. Much like he did at Clemson last year with C.J. Spiller, he’s expected to play a complementary role in the NFL—the “Thunder” to someone’s (Jerome Harrison, perhaps?) “Lightning”. While he only cost the Browns a sixth-round pick, his game does bear a resemblance to current Browns starter Jamal Lewis, as well as Cleveland coach Eric Mangini’s back from last year, Thomas Jones. He may not turn out to be Lewis’ heir, but right now he’s the closest thing to it on the Cleveland roster.
2009 Considerations: With Lewis holding down the feature back role and Harrison serving as the third-down guy, there isn’t any immediate opening for Davis. That said, Lewis has plenty of miles on his tires and will be on the wrong side of 30 by the time the season starts. Davis isn’t quite a handcuff candidate just yet, but he’s the guy who would stand to benefit if Jamal goes down—or if the Browns spend the last month or two of 2009 taking stock of what their roster holds for the future.
#24) Ramses Barden WR Ht: 6-6 Wt: 229 Drafted 3.21 by the New York Giants
Dynasty Value: The Giants went looking for a replacement for Plaxico Burress in the draft and emerged with both Barden and Hakeem Nicks. Both have good size, though at 6-6 Barden is the bigger target. He doesn’t have the downfield speed Burress flashed, and he’ll need to prove he can gain separation from NFL corners after dominating small-school competition. But Barden is also capable of providing Eli Manning with a big, reliable target—maybe even replacing Burress as the target of Eli’s red-zone affection.
2009 Considerations: The jump from college to the pros is tough for any wide receiver; to leap from Cal Poly to the Giants hardly makes the task easier. However, there’s definitely an opening in New York, especially for a bigger receiver like Barden. And don’t overlook the fact that Barden is a good downfield blocker; on a running team like the Giants, that may help get him on the field sooner rather than later. There’s upside here, but unless he proves to be a red-zone deity Barden’s fantasy potential won’t likely be realized until a year or two down the road.
#25) Bernard Scott RB Ht: 5-10 Wt: 200 Drafted 6.36 by the Cincinnati Bengals
Dynasty Value: For the past couple of seasons the Bengals have gone out of their way to avoid adding any more off-the-field troublemakers to their roster. But when Scott was still on the board in Round 6, Cincy decided his talent was worth the risk. Thus far that risk appears to be paying off; there have been no incidents to report, and during minicamp Scott impressed enough to earn additional reps. At 24 he’s a bit older than most rookies, and he does come with some baggage. But it’s not as if Cedric Benson promises to be the answer for Cincy’s backfield situation—and right now Scott would be the guy to step in.
2009 Considerations: That statement is worth repeating: if you think Benson’s strong finish to the 2008 season (against an array of creampuff opponents) is his springboard to a bounceback campaign with the Bengals, then Scott is little more than insurance. But Cincy hasn’t been shy about using change-of-pace backs in the past, and at present Scott sits atop a list that includes such notables as Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey. Just like with the Bengals’ pick, there’s risk involved here—but Scott has the ability to make that risk pay off.
#26) Mike Thomas WR Ht: 5-8 Wt: 195 Drafted 4.7 by the Jacksonville Jaguars
Dynasty Value: The Jaguars have had success with undersized yet productive Pac 10 players (see: Jones-Drew, Maurice) and they drafted another one in Thomas, who holds the conference record for receptions. Thomas is undersized and likely limited to the slot, where he may have to compete with fellow rook Jarrett Dillard for looks. But Thomas is also speedy and should unseat Troy Williamson as the Jags’ deep threat, if for no other reason than Thomas can actually catch. Thomas also brings return skills to the table, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see both he and Dillard groomed as the Jags’ receiving corps of the future.
2009 Considerations: Thomas’ 4.31 speed and kick return skills should get him on the field, but Jacksonville is primarily a rushing team and he’ll have to battle not only Dillard but also Torry Holt and Mike Walker for what limited looks are available in the passing game. Thomas is far more valuable as a dynasty candidate; though don’t forget about him completely in redraft leagues; neither Holt nor Walker has proven to be a bastion of good health of late, so Thomas may still find a way to work himself into the Jaguars’ receiver rotation.
#27) Pat White QB Ht: 6-0 Wt: 197 Drafted 2.12 by the Miami Dolphins
Dynasty Value: Where better for a guy with 56 passing scores and 47 rushing touchdowns to end up then the NFL home of the Wildcat? The presence of Chad Pennington as Miami’s man under center gives White time to work on his quarterback mechanics—and in the interim the Dolphins will find ways to take advantage of his athleticism. Should White develop enough as a QB he could push Chad Henne for “quarterback of the future” status, but there’s no rush and a solid fallback plan should White abandon his hopes to make it in the NFL as a pure quarterback.
2009 Considerations: White could make as much of a fantasy splash in year one as any of his fellow rookie quarterbacks; however, good luck predicting when that splash occurs. Last year the Dolphins turned Ronnie Brown, Patrick Cobbs, and Ted Ginn into one-week fantasy wonders using the Wildcat formation, and that is likely White’s fate in his first year in the NFL. Until he lands a set spot in Miami’s offense, keeping White on your fantasy roster will be like holding a Power Ball ticket: potentially lucrative, but in all probability just a waste of space.
#28) Travis Beckum TE Ht: 6-3 Wt: 243 Drafted 3.36 by the New York Giants
Dynasty Value: Beckum is another of the catch-first, block-as-an-afterthought tight ends coming out of the college ranks. In fact, he toyed with coming out last year and was ranked higher than Jets first-round pick Dustin Keller on many boards. A broken left leg cut short his senior year and torpedoed his draft stock, but the Giants hope he can fill the security blanket role vacated by the trade of Jeremy Shockey. He has the hands and had the speed prior to the injury, so if he’s all the way back he could turn out to be the proverbial “steal of the draft”.
2009 Considerations: First, you’ll want to see how Beckum looks in training camp to determine if there are any lingering effects of the leg injury. If he’s good to go, then he’s in the mix with fellow rooks Ramses Barden and Hakeem Nicks to crack a Giants receiving corps that will be looking for go-to guys after losing Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer in the offseason. Beckum will also compete with Kevin Boss for looks, so he doesn’t project to offer a draftable fantasy value. However, the opportunity and potential are there for Beckum to develop into a plug-in player at some point this season.
#29) Kenny Britt WR Ht: 6-3 Wt: 218 Drafted 1.30 by the Tennessee Titans
Dynasty Value: Some considered Britt the most talented wide receiver in the 2009 class; he certainly has the measurables, but from there opinions diverge, with some ranking Britt as elite and others tabbing him as strictly a possession guy at the NFL level. The Titans liked him enough to spend a first-round pick on a wideout for the first time since the Kevin Dyson debacle in 1998, but the free-agency signing of Nate Washington may be used to buy Britt time to develop into an NFL receiver.
2009 Considerations: The Titans have been in need of a go-to wideout for quite some time, but with both Britt and Washington added to the mix there may not be enough passing game to go around. The Titans are a run-first team, and with two new targets battling Justin Gage for Kerry Collins’ attention Britt’s opportunity is somewhat limited. He’s also a rookie, so factor in the NFL learning curve and it’s difficult to see Britt having much value in a 2009 redraft league.
#30) Aaron Brown RB Ht: 6-1 Wt: 196 Drafted 6.19 by the Detroit Lions
Dynasty Value: Brown’s speed is what got him drafted, and it’s that speed that will likely win him a spot in the Lions’ return game. During minicamps he also impressed Detroit coaches with his receiving ability, and it’s not difficult to project him as a third-down complement to Kevin Smith at some point down the road. The knock on Brown coming out of college was durability (or lack thereof), so a complementary role rather than a full-time gig might be just the ticket to ensure his health while maximizing the skills he brings to the table.
2009 Considerations: As it stands now, Brown is competing with Aveon Cason to back up Smith and Maurice Morris. Given that Brown is younger and faster, he’s a safe bet to make the team. From there, it’s just a matter of when the Lions realize that Morris is nothing special and give Brown an opportunity as a third-down complement to Smith. That’s not likely to happen in 2009, leaving Brown to focus on the return game and fantasy owners to treat the rookie as an afterthought.