Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

The 2019 rookie class is in! We go over landing spots, the path to fantasy production for each rookie, college football history, and more. Join Jason, Dave, and special guest and rookie expert Shawn Foss in a detailed discussion that covers the majority of the fantasy relevant players from the rookie class. Can you guess the musical theme for this podcast? Contact us via email with your guess and we'll send a prize out to the first person to guess correctly. Cheers! Feel free to consult This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ask us your lineup questions @drinkfive on Twitter. Best of luck going forward!

Listen to the Fantasy Finish Line, 5/8/2019: The 2019 Rookie Class

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to get notifications whenever we release a new episode. We also broadcast the shows live at http://www.mixlr.com/drinkfive on Wednesday nights. Feel free to browse over and join in the discussion in the chat room!

The NFL draft is almost upon us again, and in case you haven’t noticed over the past couple years, some players selected this weekend are sure to make an impact on fantasy football immediately. It wouldn’t make much sense to project how guys are going to do in year one without knowing the situation they’re walking into, but it doesn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with the players. With that in mind, here comes a list of guys to know for this weekend’s NFL draft with a brief overview of the obvious names as well as a few potential sleepers and busts:

QUARTERBACKS

The obvious guys (In the order I would want them):

1. Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

2. Derek Carr, Fresno State

3. Johnny Manziel, Texas A & M

4. Blake Bortles, UCF

I’m not worried about Bridgewater’s swooning draft stock and poor Pro Day showing. He’s the most cerebral QB in this class, has the best anticipation skills of the group, and has phenomenal accuracy on intermediate throws. His quick-decision making will keep him safe in the pocket, and his arm strength is good enough to make all the throws, even if he doesn’t have a cannon. For me, Teddy is clearly number 1 in the class.

Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles are considered the top two QBs in mock drafts right now, but I’m not sold on either guy. Manziel’s improvisational skills are unlikely to translate to the NFL the way most scouts hope. He’ll have to learn to throw from the pocket to have a lengthy career as a starter. If he doesn’t, he might be another Tim Tebow. Bortles has all the skills you want from a quarterback, but you have to sift through a lot of film to find them all. His prototype size and cannon arm make scouts drool, but his inconsistency will be maddening.

Derek Carr seems unlikely to be a first round pick, but he could really surprise at the next level. He was given full control of the offense at Fresno, and it was a very productive group. He throws a pretty deep ball, and has seen what to expect in the transition to the NFL at QB from watching his brother David. He’ll have to get used to lining up under center and operating a pro-style offense, but he has the tools to be a better QB than Manziel or Bortles.

Sleeper: Zach Mettenberger, LSU

Mettenberger’s stock has takena bit of a hit due to a flagged drug test and a degenerative back condition that have been discovered, but Mettenberger features the same requisite size and arm strength as Bortles, is close to him in terms of accuracy, and faced better competition at the college level. It makes him even more valuable that he can be picked a round or two later than Bortles as well. Honorable mention sleepers: Brett Smith, Wyoming & Tom Savage, Pitt

Bust: Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

Thomas has the measurables that get scouts hot and bothered, but he never was able to put the pieces together at Va. Tech.  He’s got tight end size, good speed and a really strong arm, but his accuracy and mechanics have been a nightmare. His upside is as a bigger Jake Locker, but I see more Josh Freeman (2013 Josh Freeman). Honorable mention bust: A.J. McCarron, Alabama

RUNNING BACKS

The obvious guys:

1. Bishop Sankey, Washington

2. Carlos Hyde, Ohio State

3. Tre Mason, Auburn

4. Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona

5. Jeremy Hill, LSU

6. Lache Seastrunk, Baylor

7. Devonta’ Freeman, Florida State

8. Charles Sims, West Virginia

There likely won’t be a running back selected in round one, but there could be a few productive backs in this crop. It’s difficult to separate these guys, but what puts Sankey a cut above for me is that he has no glaring weaknesses and is a high character guy who was voted team captain at UW. He won’t dazzle you with his elusiveness, but he runs well in traffic, is a great receiver out of the backfield, and he has an extra gear to run away from defenders. He’s also relentless at the goal line, scoring 36 TDs in the last 2 years.

Carlos Hyde is an impressive power runner and always seems to fall forward, and it doesn’t hurt that he averaged over 7 yards per carry in the Big Ten. His question marks are character related, but he’s got the size and skill to play all 3 downs. Tre Mason came on strong down the stretch of the season, showcasing great agility and vision. He doesn’t dance around in the backfield, he lets the hole open up and he hits it. The only question mark about Mason is that he’s undersized.

Jeremy Hill and Ka’Deem Carey both are solid runners, but each has some character red flags. Carey’s got great vision and patience, and he’s fantastic as a receiver out of the backfield, but he’s best suited to a spread offense. Hill on the other hand is a violent downhill runner, but he lacks great balance and rarely if ever uses his second hand to cover the ball in traffic. He also struggles in pass protection, which will certainly keep him off the field on 3^rd downs and perhaps make it hard for him to get on the field. Seastrunk is the most explosive runner on this list, but he really has struggled against good defenses. He needs to learn to get upfield more quickly and not go east and west so much. Freeman is undersized and played in a committee in college, which raises the question of how many carries he can handle at the NFL level, and Sims seems like a 3^rd down back at best.

Sleepers: Terrance West, Towson & Storm Johnson, UCF

West is no sleeper to draft insiders or anyone who saw him play, but who watched a Towson game? West set the FCS single-season records last year with 2,519 yards and 41 rushing TDs. Granted those numbers came against FCS competition, but the skills are legit. Someone is going to give West a chance, and he’s got the talent to be productive at the NFL level. Storm Johnson had a solid year for UCF, but not one that made him a household name. He doesn’t have one defining skill that jumps out at you, but the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. His unimpressive 40 times at the combine might make him a great value in the draft since he’s quicker in pads than on a track. Honorable mention sleepers: Lorenzo Taliaferro, Coastal Carolina & Isaiah Crowell, Alabama State

Bust: Andre Williams, Boston College

Williams was extremely productive in his senior season, leading the FBS with 2,177 yards, but he runs too upright and provides nothing as a receiver. Literally, he had zero catches last year. He also takes a bit to get up to speed, which when coupled with his upright running will make him an easy tackle as he hits the hole. I expect him to struggle at the next level. Honorable mention bust: DeAnthony Thomas, Oregon

WIDE RECEIVERS

The obvious guys:

1. Sammy Watkins, Clemson

2. Mike Evans, Texas A&M

3. Odell Beckham Jr., LSU

4. Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt

5. Allen Robinson, Penn State

6. Brandin Cooks, Oregon State

7. Marquise Lee, USC

8. Donte Moncrief, Ole Miss

9. Davante Adams, Fresno State

Watkins is close to the consensus as the #1 receiver in the class, but he, Evans and Beckham are all grouped pretty closely together. Watkins has the upside of a true #1. He’s a game-changer. He runs great routes, has great hands, and is an absolute burner in the open field. He’s got a smallish frame, but plays tougher than his size. Evans has freakish size, and high-points the ball with the best of them. He’s great at tracking the deep ball, works his way back to the quarterback effectively on broken plays, and will be a nightmare to cover in the red zone. He does need to polish his route running, but he could make a fantasy impact quickly. Beckham is getting a lot of attention lately. The Jets and Eagles are both enamored with him and would like to move up to get him. His skill set compares to Victor Cruz and he could have a long career as a slot receiver who can make big things happen after the catch. His size does limit him to a slot role, but he can be a star if he lands in the right place.

Jordan Matthews might be the most underrated WR in this class. He lacks top-end speed, but he is way above average at every other aspect of the position. He’s going to be a very productive number 2 wideout for a long time, a la former Bronco Ed McCaffery. Allen Robinson has the physical tools to be a number 1 wide receiver at the next level, but he needs to clean up his route running if he wants to make that jump. He is physically overwhelming for a lot of DBs and he dominated at times against Big Ten competition. Brandin Cooks has blazing speed and piled up big numbers in a pass-happy OSU offense, but his small size will likely limit him to the slot and he may struggle against more physical corners. He has the upside to be a star (think Carolina Steve Smith), but he needs to find a way to get stronger without losing speed.

Marquise Lee had magnificent sophomore and junior years at USC, but saw a severe drop-off as a senior with Matt Barkley and Robert Woods gone to the NFL. Lee is a fluid route runner with good speed, but can be jammed at the line and has had some durability concerns in his career. He has big potential, but needs to find the right fit to realize it. Donte Moncrief might have the most upside of any receiver in this class. He wasn’t all that productive last season due to inconsistent QB play, but he also could have shown more toughness and fight for the 50/50 balls. If he can add that killer instinct, some scouts believe Moncrief can be Josh Gordon good.

Davante Adams has been extremely productive at Fresno State, but some of that is a result of Fresno’s uptempo system and Derek Carr’s reliance on Adams. Adams has very good hands and deceptive speed, but he doesn’t have great acceleration to get separation quickly and hasn’t had a chance to show what he can do against top competition. He could smoothly transition into the NFL, or he could become a career depth guy if he isn’t as effective against NFL DBs as he was against those from the MWC.

Sleepers: Cody Latimer, Indiana & Robert Herron, Wyoming

Latimer isn’t exactly a sleeper. He topped 1,000 yards receiving in the Big Ten last year and has been shooting up draft boards for the past couple months. To me he projects as Jordan Matthews-lite. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he’s got every other WR skill you need. There’s a pretty good chance he’s selected ahead of a few of the obvious names listed above, and will likely out-produce a few of them as well. Herron isn’t very well known, but he could be special. His size likely limits him to the slot, but he could be one of the 2 or 3 best slot receivers in this draft. He has surprising strength and toughness for a guy who stands 5-9, 195, and he also has elite speed. Honorable mention sleepers: Kain Colter, Northwestern & Dri Archer, Kent State

Bust: Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State

Scouts love Benjamin’s measurables. He’s even bigger than Mike Evans, but he isn’t nearly as polished a product. He could be a threat in the red zone, but his route running needs a lot of work, and he had several frustrating concentration drops. Kelvin could be solid if he puts in the work, but he also could be a complete bust. Honorable mention bust: Jared Abbrederis, Wisconsin

TIGHT ENDS

The obvious guys:

1. Eric Ebron, North Carolina

2. Jace Amaro, Texas Tech

3. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, Washington

This year’s tight end class has 3 potential fantasy stars, and they’re the guys listed above. Ebron has the most upside. He has the size of a tight end and runs like a receiver. He still needs some polish, specifically in his route running and blocking, but his size and athleticism remind scouts of Vernon Davis. Amaro is much more polished than Ebron, but he lacks Ebron’s speed. He’ll likely be more productive in year one, but Amaro’s upside is a little limited. He is a very natural pass catcher and a better blocker than Ebron. Amaro’s role in the NFL will be as a move tight end who does his best work lined up in the slot. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins is has some character concerns, but he is the most traditional tight end of the group. He’ll be a great working underneath and potentially in the red zone, and he’s a load to tackle after the catch. His immaturity could drive his team nuts, but he’s got the skills to be a phenom.

Sleeper: Joe Don Duncan, Dixie St.

Okay, part of the reason I mentioned this guy is because I love the redneck name, but Duncan has a chance to be another Joseph Fauria. Granted, Dixie State isn’t exactly facing top competition, but Duncan was a red zone killer, scoring 13 touchdowns in 10 games last year. He won’t step right in and dominate, but he could develop into a nice player. Honorable mention sleeper: Trey Burton, Florida

Bust: C. J. Fiedorowicz, Iowa

C.J. is commonly thought of as the number 4 tight end in this class, but he’s not a great receiving tight end. He won’t do you any good for fantasy purposes early on in his career. He might develop that part of his game later, sort of like a Heath Miller, but he walks in the door as purely a blocking tight end. Honorable mention bust: Xavier Grimble, Florida State

That’s all I’ve got for now. I’ll be back sometime after the players have landed on teams to talk about which ones you want on your fantasy team. Until then, enjoy the draft.

It’s the most wonderful time of the NFL off-season! It just goes to show how popular football is in this country – playoffs going on in the NBA and NHL, baseball is still in its opening month excitement, but the sports world seems to be fixated on what will be going on this weekend in Nashville.

This time last year it looked like this draft had to be as boring as the dreaded 2013 draft was. Definitely not the case! The amount of story lines heading into this year’s “Annual Selection Meeting” does not disappoint.

• Will the Cardinals take a QB first overall just a year after taking a quarterback 10th overall?
• Have the Giants found the Eli Manning heir apparent?
• Who moves up? Who moves down?
• The Raiders always provide drama and/or confusion with their draft strategy…and they pick THREE times!!

So to get ready to boo the commissioner 32 times in one night, let’s take a look at how the first round could go Thursday Night!

With the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select…

1 – ARIZONA CARDINALS – Kyler Murray – QB – Oklahoma

There has been a whole lot of “will they, won’t they” going around with this pick. Most of the reports recently say that the Cardinals will look in the direction of someone other than the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback.

I don’t buy it.

Josh Rosen is not the answer. I said it when he was drafted, he gives off a very strong Ryan Leaf vibe…not something you want in your organization. Murray has the potential to be the star leader that this young team needs. Well…young team plus Larry Fitzgerald…a solid plus for a quarterback to have!

2 – SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – Nick Bosa – EDGE – Ohio St.

People have called him the best prospect in the league and he will be more productive than his brother, Joey. Better than 28.5 sacks in 35 games? I’m sure the 9ers will accept that.

3 – DENVER BRONCOS (Mock Trade w/NYJ) – Drew Lock – QB - Missouri

It happens every year, and you know it will happen again this year. Teams always make crazy moves up for a quarterback. This year will be no different with all of the names available.

This year, it will be the Broncos that make that move to get a guy that really seems to be a “John Elway” guy. As for the Jets, they move down seven spots, pick up a decent haul of draft capital and will possibly still get a defensive starter…(foreshadowing!)

4 – OAKLAND RAIDERS – Josh Allen - EDGE

Yes the Raiders have removed their scouting team from the War Room, yes they have announced that they are planning on doing something “surprising” But what if all of this buzz is just a way to get teams to think they’ll take a quarterback when really they just want to get a team to move up, take a quarterback, and ensure that the Raiders will get Allen as a Khalil Mack replacement. Maybe the Raiders…as hard as I’m sure it is for you to accept…know what they’re doing!

5 - TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS – Devin White – LB -LSU

All of the hype leading up to the draft on the defensive side has been centered on Bosa, Allen and Quinnen Williams, but don’t sleep on White. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs find the Defensive Rookie of the Year falling in their lap.

6 – NEW YORK GIANTS – QUINNEN WILLIAMS – DT - Alabama

Speaking of falling in their lap! The Giants do need to start thinking of an Eli succession plan, but they have two picks this first round and don’t need to reach for a quarterback here. Instead, they just settle for the Aaron Donald-like Williams who many consider to be the best player in the draft.

7 – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – Jawaan Taylor – T - Florida

You just spent a LOT of money on a quarterback…protect him at all costs!

8 – DETROIT LIONS – Rashan Gary – DE - Michigan

Medical questions are starting to come up on Gary but the Lions look past that to get a potential Pro Bowler who won’t need to go too far from his dorm room to make it to work.

9 – BUFFALO BILLS – T.J. Hockenson – TE - Iowa

Josh Allen (the quarterback taken last year, not the linebacker taken this year…this is confusing!) anyway, the Bills' Allen can chuck the ball 70 yards with ease. Not every play calls for that though, so the Bills get the underneath insurance that he needs.

10 – NEW YORK JETS (Mock Trade w/DEN) – Montez Sweat – EDGE – Mississippi St.

The Jets make out like bandits in this scenario, getting a ton of picks from Denver and still grab the edge rusher that they need.

11 – CINCINNATI BENGALS – Brian Burns – EDGE – Florida. St.

Some have said the Bengals may look to snag a quarterback here, but Andy Dalton isn’t exactly waiting on his AARP card and next year’s draft is much more quarterback heavy. So instead, the Bengals reach a bit to grab someone to get to Big Ben and Baker.

12 – GREEN BAY PACKERS – Ed Oliver – DT - Houston

Possibly the steal of the draft as the Packers sit tight and come away with a smaller but much more athletic B.J. Raji replacement.

13 – MIAMI DOLPHINS – Jonah Williams – G - Alabama

I have a feeling the Dolphins are setting themselves up to tank this year for a high pick next year for their franchise quarterback. Might as well be prepared with a new dominant lineman to protect whoever it will be.

14 – ATLANTA FALCONS – Christian Wilkins – DT - Clemson

Wilkins becomes the first of many Clemson defensive linemen off the board and heads to Atlanta when he should be able to help revitalize the Falcons defense.

15 – WASHINGTON REDSKINS – Marquise Brown - WR - Oklahoma

A lot of people have been talking about D.K. Metcalf after he showed how much of an athletic freak he is at the Combine but the Redskins are able to look past that to grab the best all-around receiver in the draft. But who will throw to him? Hhhmmm…stay tuned!

16 – CAROLINA PANTHERS – D.K. Metcalf – WR - Mississippi

Cam Newton needs someone to throw to other than his running back and tight end. Metcalf should fit in nicely with the Panthers offense.

17 – NEW YORK GIANTS (from CLE) – Dwayne Haskins – QB – Ohio St.

Patience pays off as the Giants are able to still get their guy along with Williams at 4. For the first time in a long time, it will be a good day to be a Giants fan!

18 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS – Andre Dillard – T – Washington St.

The Vikings should only be concerned with protecting a guy that they gave over $80 million guaranteed to. The Minnesota offense has weapons all around, now it is time to solidify the line.

19 – TENNESSEE TITANS – Clelin Ferrell – DE - Clemson

The hometown crowd will be able to witness live their beloved Titans come away with what could be a strong candidate for steal of the draft.

20 – PITTSBURGH STEELERS – Deandre Baker – CB - Georgia

Initial reaction would be that the Steelers need to go offense after losing both Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. But with James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh has the luxury of focusing on their defense.

21 – SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – Jaylon Ferguson – EDGE – Louisiana Tech

After trading Frank Clark, Seattle will be looking to fill the pass-rushing void and do so with a small –school gem that could be the next Clark at a MUCH cheaper price for the next 4-5 years.

22 – BALTIMORE RAVENS – Cody Ford – G - Oklahoma

So many people have Baltimore going wide receiver here, which is technically a “need.” But when you’ve chosen to go with a quarterback that can’t throw the ball, it makes a lot more sense to protect him than to give him a weapon that he won’t use.

23 – HOUSTON TEXANS – Devin Bush – LB - Michigan

Some are saying that Bush is the best linebacker in the draft – even ahead of fellow Devin, Devin White. If that is the case then the tough Texans defense just got a lot tougher to deal with.

24 – OAKLAND RAIDERS (from CHI) – Josh Jacobs – RB - Alabama

Reports having been coming out that Jon Gruden is in love with the idea of having Jacobs in his backfield. With the recent retirement of Marshawn Lynch, this pick seems like a foregone conclusion.

25 – PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – Byron Murphy – CB - Washington

The Eagles are rumored to be interested in Jacobs as well. But with him off the board they have to “settle” for arguably the best cornerback in the draft.

26 – INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – Dexter Lawrence – DT - Clemson

They say that a football team should be built from the inside out. The Colts will spend the last two drafts buying into that hypothesis big time!

27 – OAKLAND RAIDERS – Rock Ya-Sin – CB - Temple

Stop me if you’ve heard this before but the Raiders are on the clock! As for this pick, I mean come on, the man’s name just screams “Raiders”!

28 – LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – Greg Little – T - Mississippi

If Philip Rivers is going to stick around for a few more years, it is imperative that the Chargers build an offensive line that they have confidence in.

29 – SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (from KC) – Johnathan Abram – S – Mississippi St.

Seattle replaced Frank Clark with their first 1st round pick – now they try and replace Earl Thomas.

30 – GREEN BAY PACKERS (from NO) – Noah Fant – TE - Iowa

Aaron Rodgers loves his tight ends and he is getting a good one here for years to come.

31 – LOS ANGELES RAMS – Jefferey Simmons – DT – Mississippi St.

Simmons has been labeled as a top-10 talent by some, which means he should be able to properly replace the departing Ndamukong Suh.

32 – WASHINGTON REDSKINS (Mock Trade w/NE) – Daniel Jones – QB - Duke

Bill loves trading down and he will have several chances with Jones still on the board. The Redskins will be the ones to put the package that entices the Pats together for the Duke signal caller.