Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Part of being a fan of the NFL is studying the upcoming rookie class and trying to find players that can make an impact from the start. As fantasy football players we take it a step further in trying to find that gem from the NFL Draft that will make a immediate impact in on your fantasy squad. After watching the NFL Scouting Combine and loads of video on some of the top offensive players in the 2010 NFL Draft we noticed the talent pool isn’t as deep as years past. The majority of the first round is going to be dominated by NFL ready offensive lineman or skill players on defense that cane make an impact right away. While big names like Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen will be drafted early in the NFL Draft it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be fantasy contributors in 2010. In fact, you will notice that in Part 1 of our four-part series breaking down potential Impact Fantasy Football Rookies the two signal callers didn’t make the grade. Now it’s time to take a look at seven rookies who have the best shot of bringing fantasy football owners to the promise land in 2010.

1. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson: He will not be the first offensive skill player to be chosen on draft day, but he will be the first running back taken. Spiller has a ton of raw talent and is an excellent ball catcher out of the backfield. That will be huge in point per reception leagues and it will keep him on the field for more plays than any other back. Spiller ran for 1,212 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2009 for Clemson and also added 36 receptions out of the backfield. On top of that, Spiller will go down as arguably the best return man in college football history and he holds the record for kickoff return touchdowns with seven during his career.  He is a guy who fights for yards after contact and can turn the corner in a flash. The draft projections have Spiller going in the teens, anywhere from 13th to 19th overall. Likely spots for him could be the Seattle Seahawks or the San Francisco 49ers.

2. Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State: Matthews is a guy who had a big year in 2009, rushing for 1,808 yards and 19 touchdowns. He did a great job at the NFL Scouting Combine and has now been elevated into late first round status. The best thing about Mathews is his bruising running style which is hard to replicate by many other players in this draft. The big question surrounding Mathews was catching the ball out of the backfield, which he showed in the combine that he has improved on his pass catching ability. One team that may take a look at him will be the San Diego Chargers, who need someone to complement Darren Sproles. If the Chargers pass on him, someone will likely make a trade to grab the talented back.

3. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State: Bryant’s combination of speed, height and overall athletic ability makes us believe that any team who chooses the rookie wide receiver will be forced to insert him into the starting lineup from day one. He is ready to play against NFL caliber cornerbacks and his skills are unmatched by any other college wide receiver. Due to an NCAA violation, Bryant only played in three here he had 323 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Right now, our 2010 Mock Draft has the Denver Broncos as the landing spot for Bryant, even if Brandon Marshall remains with the team. If he somehow slips by Denver, it’s tough seeing him going past the Miami Dolphins at 12.

4. Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame: Tate showed teams at the NFL Combine he has the speed to go along with his great pass catching ability. With the recent free agent acquisitions made by many of the teams at the bottom of the draft at the wide receiver position, it just might slide him into the top of the second round. This is not a bad thing though for Tate, who could easily find more playing time on a bad time and be a big factor in point per reception leagues. The New York Jets may take a look at the bottom of the first round, but it seems that being drafted by someone like the Kansas City Chiefs could be more realistic. Looking at his numbers from college last season (1,496 yards and 15 touchdowns on 93 catches) and as a fantasy football owner you know he is capable of some big things.

5. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois: Benn entered the 2009 season as arguably the best wide out on the board but his value has dropped due to the talent around him at Illinois. He only had 490 yards receiving and two touchdowns in 2009 and the lack of a solid quarterback plus an ankle injury that slowed him all season really affected his overall numbers. If healthy, and on a good team though, Benn has the type of athletic ability that could make him an immediate contributor in an offense looking for a secondary receiver. The projected draft position for Benn seems to be a mystery. He may fly off the board in the mid to late twenties or quite possibly into the top of the second round. However with his talent, it will be tough to keep him off the field. The Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, and New York Jets could all be interested in Benn towards the bottom of the first round.

6. Jahvid Best, RB, California:  Best may come with the most risk on any NFL team and/or fantasy football team. He has the potential to be the best at his position as a rookie with his explosiveness to hit the hole and speed to break away. He has shown he can catch the ball fairly well and runs strong between the tackles. However, he is injury prone though and it shows by his numbers in 2009 (867 yards and 12 touchdowns). There is a possibility that a team in need of a running back later in the first round could snag him, but due to the injury factor, Best could drop out of the first round If the Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers pass on Spiller in Round 1, Best could be an option. Other spots he could land include the San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns or Detroit Lions.

7. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech: Thomas is the one wild card that could either be one of the best at his position out of the rookies drafted of one of the bigger busts. He has top end speed with good height, a lot of athleticism, and the ability to make some incredible catches. Throughout his college career Thomas got better each year and he topped that off with 1,154 yards receiving and eight touchdowns in 2009. Since he did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine, it will be up to his pro day to depend on where Thomas gets drafted. Right now he will be projected in the mid to upper second round, but his upside could tempt a team to snag him towards the end of the first round. If you are in a deep fantasy football league and looking for a true rookie sleeper that many will not think of, Thomas is the guy right now. As long as he can get on the field (talent wise he can from day one), he could be a key contributor.

This is the first tier of rookies who will likely have the greatest impact in fantasy football after the 2010 NFL Draft. Some might wonder why there aren’t any Quarterbacks or Tight Ends listed; however, if you read the Pre-NFL Combine article, you will notice that those positions tend to not be high impact players in year one. Keep this in mind when following the draft this April.

Remember to check back next Tuesday for Part 2 of our four-part series breaking down potential Impact Fantasy Football Rookies

Impact Fantasy Rookies:  Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3  |  Part 4

————————

Don’t forget to head over to our Fantasy Football Message Board and sign-up for a FREE FORUM account. By doing so you will be able to talk fantasy football all season long.

This article is written by Bruno Boys Greg. He can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)