by John Tuvey
Senior NFL Analyst @ The Huddle
#31) Patrick Turner WR Ht: 6-5 Wt: 223 Drafted 3.23 by the Miami Dolphins
Dynasty Value: Do you think Bill Parcells looked at Turner, a physical specimen of a wide receiver from USC, and flashed back to Keyshawn Johnson? Turner doesn't enter the league as the top overall pick, but he does have the potential to give Miami a bigger target to go with their assortment of undersized wideouts. Turner largely underachieved at Southern Cal but turned heads during Dolphins' OTAs and at minimum will open the season among Miami's top four wide receivers. If from there he were to develop into a red zone threat or a quality possession receiver-maybe not Keyshawn, but something more along the lines of Muhsin Muhammad-the Dolphins would consider the pick well spent.
2009 Considerations: Yes, there's a fit for Turner in the Miami passing game. Yes, he looked great during underwear workouts. But just how much value can the fourth receiver on a running team have as a rookie? At best Turner is worth a late grab-and-stash in a larger league; more likely you can keep an eye on him as he does bobs in the free agent pool. If Greg Camarillo's injury recover isn't going well, then Turner might make a larger splash this year-but he's still competing with Ted Ginn, Devonne Bess, and even Brian Hartline and Anthony Fasano for looks.
#32) Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Ht: 6-2 Wt: 210 Drafted 1.7 by the Oakland Raiders
Dynasty Value: If you're drafting a fantasy 100 meter relay team, Heyward-Bey is your guy. His 4.3 40 at the Combine caught the eye of Al Davis, who still plays the old AFL brand of long ball, so the receiver-desperate Raiders bypassed Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin for the Maryland speedster. Doesn't hurt that Heyward-Bey also has good size, athleticism, and leaping ability, or that Davis has been known to lobby for the deep ball with his coaches-during the game. He should also benefit from the Raiders' core of young offensive talent; then again, if Darren McFadden and Michael Bush become the focal point of the Raiders attack and JaMarcus Russell doesn't develop as a passer, all of Heyward-Bey's speed will be wasted.
2009 Considerations: Already labeled a bust by... well, just about everyone, Heyward-Bey finds himself behind the eight ball early on due to a hamstring injury aggravated during the OTAs. The transition from college to the pros is tough enough for wideouts without missing valuable reps, though DHB's role in the Oakland offense ("You go long") doesn't appear as if it will take extra pages in the playbook. If he's healthy the Raiders will feel at least some pressure to justify his selection, but there doesn't appear to be much of a support system in place to set him up for success. Most likely any pick before the last round used on Heyward-Bey will be greeted with a reaction similar to that which the entire football world levied at the Raiders on NFL draft day.
#33) Cornelius Ingram TE Ht: 6-4 Wt: 245 Drafted 5.17 by the Philadelphia Eagles
Dynasty Value: It's a familiar refrain for later-round picks: a talented player suffers an injury late in their college career; their draft stock suffers because of it, but a forward-thinking NFL squad with the luxury of time to allow for a full recovery takes a shot on said player and gets maximum bang for minimum bucks. Ingram, who missed his entire senior season with a knee injury, fits this profile to a T. There's plenty of developing to be done; Ingram started his Gator career as a quarterback and basketball player before moving to tight end, so with the injury he has just two years of experience at the position. He also comes from a spread offense, so he's more slot receiver than pro-style tight end. But if Philly can harness his athleticism, he'll bring some serious pizzazz to the traditionally fantasy-helper role of WCO tight end.
2009 Considerations: By all accounts, Ingram's knee has stood up to everything he and the Eagles have thrown at it thus far this offseason. In a best-case scenario, Ingram would team with Brent Celek as the pass-catching portion of Philly's tight end tandem-and in that role he would have fantasy value akin to that of the Jets' Dustin Keller during his rookie campaign. It's unlikely you'll want to spend a draft pick on Ingram, but he's a name worth filing away for a bye week fill-in or midseason help.
#34) Mohamed Massaquoi WR Ht: 6-2 Wt: 210 Drafted 2.18 by the Cleveland Browns
Dynasty Value: Scouts found plenty to like about Massaquoi: size, quickness, athleticism, character, leadership, work ethic... he's a coach's dream. They'll even overlook the 4.67 he clocked at the Combine, especially since he has run faster before and since. However, Massaquoi will need to overcome the dropsies that plagued him not only in college but also at the Senior Bowl to have any degree of success at the NFL level. He enters into a good system, as the Browns aren't exactly loaded at the wideout position. And if Massaquoi learns to catch, he and new teammate Brian Robiskie could develop along with Brady Quinn to give the Browns a semblance of a passing attack.
2009 Considerations: While there is an opportunity for wide receivers in Cleveland, at present Massaquoi falls behind Braylon Edwards and Robiskie as far as a go-to guy. And then there are questions about Quinn's readiness to take over the reins, and Eric Mangini's preference for a power running game over an aerial circus, and the whole learning curve for a wideout transitioning to the pros... yeah, it's going to be an uphill climb for Massaquoi's fantasy value in Year One.
#35) Gartrell Johnson RB Ht: 5-10 Wt: 219 Drafted 4.34 by the San Diego Chargers
Dynasty Value: The Bolts' backfield situation is hardly settled. Darren Sproles is franchised but no long-term deal appears imminent; LaDainian Tomlinson will in all likelihood play out the remaining two years of his deal and then either retire and wait for Canton to call or go the route of Emmitt Smith and hang on elsewhere for a couple of mediocre seasons. Either way, the Bolts could use a bigger back to share the load and wear down opposing defenses. Care to guess what Johnson's forte is? He's a bull of a back with both fullback and tailback experience; he's also a decent receiver and takes extremely good care of the football (one fumble in 310 touches as a senior). Given the current scenario, Johnson could wind up as a goal line guy, a change of pace to either Sproles or LT, or even the next Michael Turner-though with 4.7 speed, minus the "Burner".
2009 Considerations: If LT is back to something resembling his old form, Johnson won't see much work this season. The Chargers would prefer to get as much out of Tomlinson and Sproles as possible, with maybe some clock-eating and short-yardage work falling on Johnson's plate. If something happens to either member of the Chargers' backfield committee, however, Johnson would most definitely be a name worth keeping in mind. He's not worth a draft day roster spot in most leagues, but he should have a spot on your free agency radar-especially if you leave your drauction with either LT or Sproles.
#36) Mike Wallace WR Ht: 6-0 Wt: 199 Drafted 3.20 by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Dynasty Value: The Steelers lost their primary deep threat when Nate Washington left via free agency. Enter Wallace, whose 4.3 speed certainly qualifies him for the job. Ben Roethlisberger has never been shy about throwing the deep ball, so it wouldn't be a stretch to see Wallace develop into a regular member of a Pittsburgh receiver rotation that, once Hines Ward retires, would also include Santonio Holmes and Limas Sweed. That said, being the third receiver for a team that's built on defense and would prefer to run the ball hardly screams "fantasy star." Wallace will start out earning his keep as Pittsburgh's primary return man, but don't be surprised if his speed gets him on the field sooner rather than later-and maybe even catches Big Ben's eye.
2009 Considerations: Ward is still around, and Holmes is looking to build on his Super Bowl heroics to become an elite NFL receiver. And then there's Sweed, who has the size to give Pittsburgh what Plaxico Burress used to give them. The Steelers also have ex-Lion Shaun McDonald, but none of them possess Wallace's wheels. It's possible that the Steelers have Wallace focus his attention on the "you go long" portion of the playbook, which might get him some looks as a rookie. It won't be enough to warrant a shout-out on draft day, but his home run potential could give you a name to plug in later in the year when you're swinging for the fences yourself.
#37) Quinn Johnson RB Ht: 6-1 Wt: 246 Drafted 5.9 by the Green Bay Packers
Dynasty Value: Johnson brings a ton of value to the Packers roster. As a former linebacker converted to fullback in college, he should be a dynamic special teams contributor. He's also a road-grader of a lead blocker, yet sports just enough of the 1,000-yard rusher from high school to give the Pack more than just a lead blocker in goal line situations. Johnson turned 14 touches into three TDs at LSU, and Green Bay has been known to use their fullbacks in a goal-line role in the past. Johnson also has decent hands, one more element of a package that makes him ideal for a WCO fullback. There's little debate Johnson can be an extremely valuable football player for the Packers; just how much of that translates into fantasy help remains to be seen.
2009 Considerations: It's hard enough for a rookie feature back to garner fantasy value in year one, so unless Green Bay anoints Johnson the goal line guy at some point in training camp he's best kept on the back burner. But if Johnson is as good as advertised, the Pack may find a way to get more out of him than just some big hits on special teams. If it's lead blocks for Ryan Grant then there's little fantasy value for Johnson-but if he starts getting touches at the stripe, you'll want to know his name.
#38) Jared Cook TE Ht: 6-5 Wt: 246 Drafted 3.25 by the Tennessee Titans
Dynasty Value: The new prototype for the tight end is an athletic pass-catcher who can stretch defenses down the seam, and Cook is the poster child for that prototype. His college coach, Steve Spurrier, once compared him to Calvin Johnson and his athleticism was on full display at the Combine when he topped tight ends with best of show performances in the 40 (4.50), vertical jump (41 inches) and broad jump (10-3). Having been a receiver, Cook has some route-running acumen and the frame to add some bulk if the Titans want to make him into a pro-style tight end. Or, they could be perfectly happy using him out of the slot as a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
2009 Considerations: Considering where he is in his development as a tight end, let alone the transition from Saturdays to Sundays, Cook will have a hard time making a dent in 2009. It doesn't help that the Titans are predominantly a running team and Cook's blocking needs dramatically more work than his pass-catching. It would take a Bo Scaife injury and a string of red-zone collapses for the Tennessee running game for Cook to make a fantasy splash as a rookie. While such a scenario isn't out of the question, it definitely falls into the "unlikely" bin.
#39) Frank Summers RB Ht: 5-9 Wt: 241 Drafted 5.33 by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Dynasty Value: It's conceivable "Frank the Tank" might not even make the team. But his sterling showing at the UNLV Pro Day in front of multiple Steeler scouts punched his ticket on draft day, and there are multiple ways this bowling ball can contribute. The less fantasy helpful ways include special teams and as a fullback; the more intriguing options are as a goal line pounder in the Jerome Bettis mold. Summers also brings some pass-catching skills to the table, and given Pittsburgh's recent problems in the red zone there are far worse ways to use a late-round pick than on a guy who could wind up as the Super Bowl champions' designated short-yardage scorer.
2009 Considerations: It would take an extremely impressive training camp or maybe an injury to Willie Parker or Rashard Mendenhall to push Summers far enough up the list of options that he'd be worth a roster spot on fantasy draft day. But if the Steelers continue to struggle at the stripe, all it will take is one battering ram touchdown for Summers to cement himself as a local legend-and a potential goal line vulture. If you're planning on drafting Parker and/or Mendenhall, you'll at least want to be aware of what kind of camp Summers is having... just in case.
#40) Brandon Tate WR Ht: 6-0 Wt: 183 Drafted 3.19 by the New England Patriots
Dynasty Value: Classic Patriots pick. Entering his senior season at North Carolina Tate was widely considered one of the top return men in the country; despite an abbreviated senior season Tate came within 304 yards of the NCAA mark for kickoff return yardage. Mix in a modicum of receiving ability and Tate was on the Day One radar. But six games in he tore his ACL and MCL, sabotaging his draft value. His career stats are underwhelming-46 catches, 927 yards, and eight touchdown grabs, along with a couple rushing scores and six return TDs-but an astute dyntasy owner could follow the Patriots' path and get an early-round value at a later-round price for the low low price of just a roster spot.
2009 Considerations: It's a good bet Tate won't even see the field this season. By comparison, Tate suffered his injury a month after new teammate Tom Brady sustained his-and Tate's work depends a whole lot more on running and cutting than Brady's. Moreover, Tate will get limited reps while he recuperating, further increasing the already steep learning curve of a wideout transitioning from college to the pros. If you kick everybody back into the talent pool at the end of the year, there's no reason for Tate to be on your fantasy radar this season.
