This guest post is provided by Paul Gabrail of DynastyOwner.com

This draft was quite unique. Often the first round of drafts are top-loaded with offensive talent, especially franchise QBs, that teams target with the hopes of putting points on the board in bunches. This year, however, was just the opposite. For our fantasy players, the first offensive skill player to go was at the #8 pick – WR Tavon Austin and the first QB wasn’t picked until the middle of the round Bills picked up EJ Manuel at #16!

The highlights of the first round:

- Only 4 of 32 first round picks were offensive Skill Players

- 0 RB in the first round (first time in the last 49 years)

- First time ever the top two picks were offensive Tackles

- The last time the first quarterback lasted to the 16th pick was in 2000 when the New York Jets drafted Chad Pennington with the 18th selection.

We broke down each fantasy football position player picked and gave our opinion on them. Luckily for Dynasty Owners, there was plenty of offensive talent to get excited about in the 2nd round of the draft. Here is our breakdown of how those picks slot for the near future. All contract estimates are based on the contract of the player who was drafted in the same slot in last year’s draft.

Round #1, Pick #8: Tavon Austin – WR to St. Louis Rams

Immediate target in Dynasty Owner because he is a dynamic slot WR who figures to be targeted by Sam Bradford early and often. With Sam Bradford on the clock to show he can win in this league, he could use this young and aggressive WR to help solidify him in St. Louis as their future. Draft Expert Mike Mayock called him the most explosive player in the draft. Not only could Tavon be a great WR, but he is also very dangerous in the return game as well so leagues rewarding return yardage or TDs should slot him even higher.

From a contract standpoint, last year’s #8 pick signed a $3.172MM per year contract for 4 years, so expect this to go up slightly for Austin. This is VERY reasonable for a player who can get some big playing time at the start. Last year, the average of the top 64 WRs in the league earned their FF teams 125 points, which would put Austin’s cost per point at $25K, which is 20% below last year’s average for the top 64 of $32,400.

Round #1, Pick #16: EJ Manuel – QB to Buffalo Bills

A highly controversial 1st round selection, Manual has a strong arm and very good mobility. He has physical tools to be a very good NFL quarterback, but was not close to being a consensus top QB in this draft due to his at times erratic play and propensity to be turnover prone and skiddish in the pocket. The turnovers are always a concern with a young QB, and how much of a leash or learning curve he’ll be on before the Bills turn him loose remains to be seen, and will dictate if and when he should be targeted in fantasy drafts.

He isn’t guaranteed the starting job, but be aware of him at all times. If he wins the starting job, and looks good in camp and preseason, this could be a GREAT pick for our Dynasty Owners. Even if he ends up losing the job later on in the season or next year, he would be a good bench QB at a very reasonable pay. Even if you had to cut him, paying the 30% DO penalty for unused contract would only be a few million Dynasty Dollars. Low downside and high upside with a salary to be in the neighborhood of $2.2MM per year for 4 years.

Round #1, Pick #21: Tyler Eifert – TE to Cincinnati Bengals

Eifert has a WR like build and pass catching ability, which makes him a top 10 fantasy TE in the league right away with incredible upside. Future fantasy owners had to be a little disappointed that he went to a team with an established TE, at least for next year, as Gresham might steal some targets from the TE position. That said, 2 TEs can flourish in the right offense (see NE) so Dynasty Owner’s need to think longer term and target Eifert as one of the first TEs off the board on draft day.

With a potential salary of around $2.05MM per year, he is well below the average salary of our top 23 performing TEs last year. Last year, the average of our top 23 TEs cost about $37K per fantasy point, averaging about 100 points for the year. For Eifert to fall in that same cost per point, he would only need 55 points, which makes him a great risk at the TE position on a team with an established TE. This could be one of the better TEs to have on your roster.

Round #1, Pick #27: DeAndre Hopkins – WR to Houston Texans

Hopkins profiles as a very complete reciever who should grow into being the number 1 option in Houston when Andre Johnson retires (or is sidelined with injury). Not as explosive as other WRs in this draft, but possibly the most complete in terms of hands, route running and play-making capability. We think he’s set up to be a top 60 WR next year but jump much higher than that when if/when he becomes the number 1 recieving option in HOU.

At the #27 spot, you can expect a contract at around $1.9MM per year and for a Wide Receiver with potential of being #1 option, this is a FANTASTIC value. Better from a value standpoint than Tavon Austin at the #8 pick. Very high on DeAndre Hopkins but with that great potential comes the big contract four years from now…but for the next 4 years just enjoy his high end production at a low salary cost.

Round #1, Pick #29: Cordarelle Patterson – WR to Minnesota Vikings

Figures to immediately start next to newly aquired Greg Jennings, Patterson is someone to target as a low cost potentially high source of production in Dynasty Owner for the next 3-5 years. However, Minnesota had the 31st ranked passing offense last year at a paltry 171.9 yards per game, so Christian Ponder’s continued development will determine Patterson’s ultimate value ceiling.

It’s understood and also unfortunate that he found his way into this organization because his true potential may not show BUT this could be good for fantasy owners. Even if he gets mediocre WR results for the next four years, if he decides to sign somewhere else or the Vikings are able to establish Ponder, he will be explosive for his next contract which you would get first rights to. Yes it is four years down the road, but don’t look at him as a wasted pick for this year.

Round #2, Pick #34 – Justin Hunter – WR to Tennessee Titans

The Titans need threats in the passing game, but Hunter has some questions about his ability to focus and deal with physical corners, which has led to drops in his college career. Couple that with the fact that he’s going to an offense that ranked in the bottom 3rd of the league in most passing statistics and this is a pick might not have much fantasy impact in the next 3-5 years, despite the relatively high draft slot.

Everyone loves a good deal in Dynasty Owner but at some point, we have to draw the line and say “don’t get lured in by the low dollars.” Taking him in your draft should be a late round selection for those new DO teams and maybe picked up in free agency for past year’s teams in their rookie draft.

Round #2, Pick #35 – Zach Ertz – TE to Philadelphia Eagles

Chip Kelly loves using TE’s in the passing game so Zach Erz could be a top 15 TE option right away his rookie season. Ertz is a sure handed TE and his draft profile indicates he’s a smooth athlete with good route quickness to create some separation and sneaky speed to get behind the defense.

Love this from a cost perspective and a long term offensive production for a relatively low production position. Last year’s #35 pick cost around $1.35MM per year, so this could be a great TE in a TE friendly offense at the cost of 1/3rd the average tight end in our top tight ends from last year. If that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will. Don’t be afraid to get aggressive and surprise your opponents by taking him early if you have a need to save some money in a low production position.

Round #2, Pick #37 – Giovanni Bernard – RB – Cincinnati Bengals

While Bernard might not be as well known as some of the other RBs in the draft, he’s quick and powerful, and has a similar build and style to many successful running backs in the past decade. He does have some injury history with a torn ACL that should be factored into draft decisions, but he’s going into a great situation in Cincinnati that should provide a very good offense with the opportunity to win the starting job and get the majority of the carries out of the backfield. It remains to be seen if he would be a goal-line option or if they would look to one of their bigger backs until Bernard proves capable.

Running backs are always tough to gauge because of being more injury prone and having to split a lot of time. With that said, at the low potential cost of $1.3MM per year, Bernard would make a potentially good pick up if he has proven production early on. I don’t know if he is a high round pick but if you can take him late and have a need for cost effective RB, he is low risk because of the low salary. If he does well, use him as a trade bait for future draft picks or the RB that you have your eyes on.

Round #2, Pick #39 – Geno Smith – QB to New York Jets

Geno Smith is the ultimate wildcard in this draft, as evidenced by him being slotted as early as 3rd overall to falling all the way to 39th overall. As such, there is no predicting how he or the volitale Jets Quarterback situation will play out so we’d advise a wait and observe approach for anyone thinking about Geno Smith in the fantasy sense.

His potential salary collapse from $5MM+ per year to around $1.25MM per year. Ouch. But one man’s unfortunate circumstance can become your steal. He is not guaranteed the starting spot and you still have to realize that the Jets have a lot of money committed to Sanchez, but he is coming close to the point of proving he has what it takes. We would not recommend taking Geno in the draft. Wait until he has earned the starting position. With only 2 QBs on each team, it is not worth taking him in the draft. With that said, whoever does get him if he gets the starting position, could get quite the steal in this draft. The bar is set low since Sanchez has the lowest QB rating out of any QB over the past four years.

Round #2, Pick #41 – Robert Woods – WR to Buffalo Bills

A shifty and quick route runner with a quick burst, Robert Woods should be able to start opposite Steve Johnson from opening day, especially given the lack of other quality WR options on the roster. However, as alluded to with EJ Manuel, the Bills and their offense are filled with uncertainty. Despite being a high potential player who’ll have a lot of playing time right away, we don’t foresee Woods being on a lot of fantasy draft radars in the 2013 season.

Again, just like Smith with the Jets, hang tight on Woods. No need to rush. Yes, you will want him if he does great, but there are plenty of other choices (albeit more expensive ones) that have proven track records. If Woods starts to play well and you have a need, pick him up fast because he will get gobbled up with a potential contract of $1.2MM per year.

Round #2, Pick #47 – Gavin Escobar – TE to Dallas Cowboys

Possibly the most sure-handed player in the draft, Escobar has great hands and makes for an intriguing option in a TE friendly Romo led offense. Jason Witten is still blocking him from being a serious consideration at TE on draft day, but he appears to be the heir apparent and that makes him a very appealing target in the next 3-5 years in Dynasty Owner.

If you take Escobar anywhere in the draft, please check your temperature. Witten is the sure pick here, even at a much higher salary, but production is a key component to TEs since you don’t have a plethora on your roster and they still cost, on average, a pretty penny. Keep your eye on him for the next few years, but wait for him to prove he is worth it and pay him the new contract he will get if he is able to prove it.

Round #2, Pick #48 – Le’Veon Bell – RB to Pittsburgh Steelers

Big, powerful back that fits perfectly with the type of RB the Steelers like to use, especially in goal line and short yardage situations. If one thing was clear last year, it’s that no RB is entrenched at the position in Pittsburgh, which opens the door for Bell to take the RB1 job and be the primary back in that offense. He has the quickness in his feet to do so, but must improve in the passing game to make that leap. Keep an eye on him in the preseason

If he is able to prove what we think may happen, at a potential salary of a little over $1MM per year, you are getting a steal for a lot of big goal line potential points. If you are running out of cap space and need a running back, this is a GREAT option to generate some points at a very low cost.

Round #2, Pick #55 – Vance McDonald – TE to San Francisco 49ers

McDonald has a nice combination of size and pass catching ability, however he’s going to a situation in SF where the TE is established with Vernon Davis and they don’t run enough two TE sets to make McDonald a target unless something happens to Davis.

Gotta feel for McDonald in that he is playing the waiting game. And even if he gets that chance, Davis has a big contract and SF will be committed to him for the near future. This is another example of leaving a guy on Waivers until he has to be picked up because of an obvious starting position opportunity.

Round #2, Pick #58 – Montee Ball – RB to Denver Broncos

Montee Ball figures to step right into the starting RB role with Denver and that usually spells high production for feature running backs out of that system. Ball of course has to sieze the opportunity, but his ability to find holes and catch the ball out of the backfield make him a very intriguing option in a strong albeit pass first Denver offense.

With a potential cost of only $900K per year and a starting RB role, you need to put him higher up on your draft position. If you are in your second DO year, this could easily be a high first round pick up due to his low cost and starting position ability. Last year’s average RB (out of our top 45 producing RBs) scored 143 fantasy points which would put Ball at a cost per point of $6300 per point! If he does well in the preseason and shows he will definitely be the starting RB, you have to jump on him and jump on him early. For those DO owners who are doing their first full draft, Ball could be a high draft choice in those leagues too.

Round #2, Pick #59 – Aaron Dobson – WR to New England Patriots

Unlike other WRs drafted in this round that need to become number 1 or 2 options to have fantasy potential, Dobson gets the luxury of going to the top passing offense in 2012. Dobson is a tall (6’3) and physical WR that provides NE with an option they don’t have in their WR corps right now. If he can get consistent targets, and there are plenty to go around, he could be in line to make a big impact right away. If he ends up winning a starting job, he’s a must target in Dynasty Leagues.

Dobson is drafted at a $850K per year, or so, spot so his output, if picked up, would be at a fraction of the cost of other WRs in the league. As you have seen, second round NFL draft picks can be highly productive with low cost, but with that low cost comes a lower commitment from their teams. That’s just a matter of business, so proceed with Dobson the way we have recommended from other non-guaranteed starting positions.

Round #2, Pick #61 – Eddie Lacy – RB to Green Bay Packers

Although he’s going to a pass-heavy offense, Lacy slots as someone who could be contributing to fantasy leagues right away, especially as a goal-line option for GB. They have already made James Starks available for trade, meaning plan to lean on Lacy (and possibly 4th round pick Jonathan Franklin) to handle the carries next year. If productive, Lacy will have a shot to be a 3 down back right away, which makes him a serious sleeper candidate in Dynasty Owner.

If Lacy does end up being the sleeper candidate we think he may be, he will go quickly in Free Agency (probably not a high potential draft pick). With that, you may want to even pay another owner a nice premium in order to secure him once he is picked up. At a cost of around $850K per year, he is a great value for a team that may look for him to punch in the touchdowns. You don’t need large production out of him to ensure a good value. Ride that small contract as long as you can with Lacy.

Round #2, Pick #62 – Christine Michael – RB to Seattle Seahawks

An explosive RB with homerun potential, we were both surprised and a little disappointed to see Michael go to one of the more stable and established teams at RB in Seattle with Lynch and Turbin already in the mix. Michael has been called the most explosive RB in the draft, however off the field troubles and character issues caused him to slip. Keep an eye on him in training camp and preseason, and if you need to draft a handcuff for Lynch, Michael is the guy. He’s a great Dynasty stash if you have the roster spot and the patience.

The post 2013 NFL Draft Analysis Rounds One and Two appeared first on FFBookMarks.

An awesome tool that can be found at Dynasty Football Warehouse is the Dynasty Startup Average Draft Position (ADP). By digging into ADP, you get an idea where a player will land in your startup draft. While it’s not a perfect science, ADP can be used to develop a strategy and guide you through your draft. Using ADP, you can ask yourself whether or not you should grab a QB like Aaron Rodgers in Round 2, knowing that Drew Brees or Tom Brady can be had around Round 4 or 5. (Hint: it IS worth it to wait!)

To help you develop a strategy, I took a look at the results from our first eight drafts. From now until training camp, I’m sure these positions will change, but this will give you an idea as to what gems you should keep an eye on.

ADP is based on a 12 team standard PPR League.

Round 1 ADP
1.01 Trent Richardson
1.02 Doug Martin
1.03 Calvin Johnson
1.04 Arian Foster
1.05 Adrian Peterson
1.06 Ray Rice
1.07 AJ Green
1.08 LeSean McCoy
1.09 Julio Jones
1.10 CJ Spiller
1.11 Jamaal Charles
1.12 Dez Bryant
My choice for best pick in Round 1, based on ADP, is CJ Spiller with Jamaal Charles coming in right behind him. I have made it known that I would love to have a start up draft in 2013 due to the talent available in the 1st and 2nd rounds. The depth, especially at RB, in the 1st round (my preferred position to draft in the 1st) is unlike any I can remember from the past few years. At the end of the 1st Round, Spiller will provide you with a lightning rod to be your RB1 over the next 5 years. The injury to Fred Jackson (and the fact that F. Jax is 32), allowed for Spiller to finally get the lion’s share of the carries. Durability has been a concern with Spiller during his first two years in the league, but after getting stronger as the year progressed and amassing over 1,700 yards from scrimmage, Spiller proved the naysayers wrong. We have seen the beginning of a brilliant career from CJ Spiller.

Round 2 ADP
2.01 Aaron Rodgers
2.02 Marshawn Lynch
2.03 Demaryius Thomas
2.04 Alfred Morris
2.05 Brandon Marshall
2.06 Rob Gronkowski
2.07 Jimmy Graham
2.08 Percy Harvin
2.09 Randall Cobb
2.10 Matt Forte
2.11 Darren McFadden
2.12 David Wilson
At first glance, I thought Percy Harvin would be my choice here. Harvin was on pace for a career year in 2012 before an ankle injury and pissy attitude put him on the shelf for the rest of the season. With that being said, Randall Cobb’s sophomore 2012 season essentially mirrored what Harvin was able to accomplish in his 3rd year as a pro in 2011. Cobb has upside in dynasty leagues because he is 2 years Harvin’s junior and will play the same role as Harvin, but with Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball in the pass happy Green Bay Packers offense. Cobb’s value is sky high right now and rightfully so. With Greg Jennings leaving for Minnesota and Cobb only carving himself a larger role as a rusher and trusted receiver (80 catches on 104 targets? Stupidly efficient), I like the 3rd year WR out of Kentucky in 2013 and beyond.

Round 3 ADP
3.01 Cam Newton
3.02 Chris Johnson
3.03 Michael Crabtree
3.04 DeMarco Murray
3.05 Victor Cruz
3.06 Andrew Luck
3.07 Hakeem Nicks
3.08 Larry Fitzgerald
3.09 Aaron Hernandez
3.10 Maurice Jones-Drew
3.11 Andre Johnson
3.12 Stevan Ridley
I’m flabbergasted trying to figure out why anyone would draft Chris Johnson, injury prone DeMarco Murray and the aging MJD over Stevan Ridley. In Ridley’s first crack at the starting job he merely put up 1200+ rushing yards and double digit touchdowns. Sure, he is uninvolved in the passing game, but so was Michael Turner in his prime. The Burner worked out OK for most fantasy owners. I can understand why someone would pass on Ridley for a WR or QB. Maybe they went RB-RB, RB-QB or RB-WR in the first two rounds? However, at this juncture in the draft, the 24 year old Ridley is the best you’re gonna get and produce like a low end RB1/high end RB2 for the next 3-4 years.

Round 4 ADP
4.01 Roddy White
4.02Eric Decker
4.03 Jordy Nelson
4.04 Justin Blackmon
4.05 Drew Brees
4.06 Colin Kaepernick
4.07 Vincent Jackson
4.08 Darren Sproles
4.09 Wes Welker
4.10 Torrey Smith
4.11 Mike Wallace
4.12 Eddie Lacy (R)
Drew Brees simply wins fantasy owners championships. At this point in the draft, drafting Brees gives you an elite QB to paired with (hopefully) a combination of upper echelon WRs and/or RBs taken in Rounds 1, 2 and 3. While getting up there in years (age 34), Brees may be a dinosaur compared to Colin Kaepernick or Robert Griffin III, but personally I would like to draft the elite guy and worry about his long term replacement later. Over the next 3-4 years, what will Kaep and RG3 give you? They have the potential to put up solid fantasy numbers, but injuries and defenses focusing on the pistol could hurt their value. Drew Brees comes in year after year and produces QB1 numbers. I’ll take that over potential any day of the week.

Round 5 ADP
5.01 Ryan Mathews
5.02 RG3
5.03 Pierre Garcon
5.04 Matt Ryan
5.05 Dwayne Bowe
5.06 Marques Colston
5.07 Antonio Brown
5.08 Tom Brady
5.09 Giovani Bernard (R)
5.10 Jeremy Maclin
5.11 Matthew Stafford
5.12 Mikel LeShoure
Following Stafford’s monster 2011 season he underwhelmed and those who used a high draft pick on him in 2012 cursed the fantasy gods. If you take a look at the numbers, yardage is the same, but the TDs well way off from 41 in 2011 to 20 in 2012. Playing from behind a ton, Stafford chucked the ball 727 times (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and it is a miracle that his arm hasn’t fallen off by now. So, why is he a better option in the 5th round over players like Matt Ryan and Tom Brady? 2 reasons…1) Stafford is still just 25 and 2) Calvin Johnson. I think that with Reggie Bush coming to town (more on that later) and an improved team around him, Stafford should be able to have 2011′s success in the near future.

Round 6 ADP
6.01 Frank Gore
6.02 Lamar Miller
6.03 Greg Jennings
6.04 Josh Gordon
6.05 Russell Wilson
6.06 Jonathan Stewart
6.07 Jason Witten
6.08 Reggie Wayne
6.09 Kenny Britt
6.10 Cecil Shorts
6.11 Stevie Johnson
6.12 Reggie Bush
A Lion mentioned in Round 5 and now one mentioned in Round 6. I love the move of Reggie Bush to the Lions. In my winners and losers of free agency write up, I mentioned that Detroit will be a place where Bush can thrive as an RB1/RB2 due to their pass happy offense (727 attempts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). In Round 6, a guy who can put up RB1 numbers is hard to come by. You could get this from Reggie Bush over the next 2-3 years.

Round 7 ADP
7.01 Cordarelle Patterson
7.02 Mark Ingram
7.03 TY Hilton
7.04 Ronnie Hillman
7.05 Vernon Davis
7.06 Kyle Rudolph
7.07 Miles Austin
7.08 Peyton Manning
7.09 Danario Alexander
7.10 Vick Ballard
7.11 Montee Ball (R)
7.12 Kendall Wright
This was a tough one, but I had to go with Peyton Manning here. Like Drew Brees, Manning’s window is closing quickly, but he can still lead you to a fantasy championship for the next 1-2 years. Getting Manning in the middle of the 7th round is absolute highway robbery and goes to show you the depth at QB in the fantasy world. Words of wisdom would be, “DO NOT DRAFT A QB EARLY IN 2013!!!”. In a 12 team league, the QB5 from 2012 is getting drafted as the QB11. Worry about the future of your QB position later and win now with Peyton Manning.

Round 8 ADP
8.01 Keenan Allen (R)
8.02 Jacquizz Rodgers
8.03 Marcus Lattimore (R)
8.04 Tony Romo
8.05 Mike Williams
8.06 Steven Jackson
8.07 Danny Amendola
8.08 Steve Smith (CAR)
8.09 Ahmad Bradshaw
8.10 James Jones
8.11 Alshon Jeffery
8.12 DeSean Jackson
Even if Danny Amendola is only able to put up 80% of what Welker’s stats, he still has value in the 5th round…let alone the 8th round. Injuries are a major concern here and I’m sure his ADP will sky rocket to the 5th or 6th round as we get closer to the season, but for now he is coming in at 8.07. I think that Amendola is more the victim of flukey injuries and I’m optimistic that New England will be a fresh start for him. Playing the same role as Welker in New England’s offense (but a bit faster), the sky is the limit for Amendola. While 100 catches is not out of the realm of possibility, I expect a consistent stat line right around 85/1050/6 for 2013 and beyond.

Other Notable Players To Keep Your Eye On
9.06 Michael Floyd
Carson Palmer is coming to town and there will be a lot of attention on Larry Fitzgerald. Right time for Floyd to break out.
11.02 Eli Manning
2012 was a tough year for the Giants, but Victor Cruz, a healthy Hakeem Nicks and new weapon Brandon Myers should bring Eli back over 4,000 yards
12.01 Tavon Austin
I’m not usually high on rookies but I think Austin will have a great career as a slot receiver in the NFL.
13.10 Martellus Bennett
Now with the Bears, I like Bennett to be a red zone threat in Chicago’s offense
16.09 Michael Vick
2012 may have been the year of Foles, but 2013 will be the year of Vick. In Chip Kelly’s offense, I think Vick will be the starter and take off from Day 1.
19.08 Danny Woodhead
Ryan Mathews is made of glass and Ronnie Brown is over the hill. Woodhead should have a bigger role in SD than he ever did in NE.
20.02 Dexter McCluster
Shot in the dark, but I think that Andy Reid does special things with McCluster in 2013. He is on my list of targets this off season.
Well that’s that. If you have any questions or comments on this article, a past article, ADP or fantasy football let it be known in the comments or hit me up on Twitter (@LGrilli88)

The post Using ADP: Evaluating Potential Draft Steals appeared first on FFBookMarks.

In this game of fantasy football, we are always looking to get that edge. That one thing that can help our team stand out. For one day, for one week or the entire year. Often times, it can come down to one big acquisition. It could be a guy you had a gut feeling about late in the draft and you decide to take a “flyer” on him or it could be dumb luck. Maybe you’re watching a live game and a star player goes down with an injury and you swoop online to pick up his backup (I am not a fan of leagues that operate this way but it happens). No matter what, fantasy owners want that edge.

So, us fantasy football “experts” comb through the numbers and articles to try and find that special player that may one-day be the next Alfred Morris or even Wali Lundy. Because those are the guys that can take a good team and make them a champion.

So I bring in, to the fantasy locker room, the “Crimson Comet” himself, Treavor Scales. That’s right, he has a nickname.  And isn’t it fantastic?

He’s a 5’-9”, 200 lb running back out of the IVY League who played for Harvard. Hence the reason for his nickname. He played all four years and had his breakout season as a senior. His rushing totals on the season were:

168 CAR, 1002 YDS, 6.1 YPC, 13 TD over a 10 game season

He was the only player in the IVY League to rush for a thousand yards and averaged over a touchdown per contest. So why haven’t we heard the name Treavor Scales? It basically comes down to where he plays, Harvard. Not too many players in the NFL are playing from Harvard or even the entire IVY league for that matter. Most notably, former Bills starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, is the most known current player from the IVY League. Plus lets be completely honest, it takes a really cerebral individual to attend Harvard and brains don’t always coincide with great athletic ability.

But for Treavor, that is exactly what you get. Someone that was able to graduate from Harvard and who also just so happens to be a freakishly good athlete. How good are his numbers you ask?

At the Harvard Pro Day, which was held on March 14th, it was time for Treavor to get measured up and do the same tests all players at the NFL Combine go through. After all was said and measured, Scales’ numbers were right in line with some of the best in Indianapolis. In the 40 yard dash, the most notable of all the tests, he ran a blistering 4.45. If compared to the official combine numbers that would have placed him 3rd overall among RB’s. In the vertical jump, he posted a 41, which would have placed him 2nd at the combine. He would have also placed second in the broad jump at 10’-9”. In the 3-cone drill, he would have finished in 1st with a 6.67. But the most impressive might have been his 10.86 in the 60 yard scuttle drill. That number would have given him the best score ever in the history of that test.

You do have to take all of these numbers into context though. Generally pro days are geared to show the absolute best of a certain athlete and are tailored to show strengths and not weaknesses. And the athlete gets to workout at a facility he’s familiar with and on a surface he’s practiced on many times before. At the NFL Combine, players are all on the same field, same surface and can be measured truely side-by-side. Would Treavor’s numbers have come in this strong at the combine, one would hope but we can’t bank on that.

One thing I can tell you is that if he had, no one at the combine would have compared to this kid side-by-side. It’s still a long-shot that Scales is drafted this year but you never know. Some good word-of-mouth and a coach gets wind of a possible game changing back and he could take a chance late in the draft. If you want to watch his highlight reel from last season, here it is! Scales reminds me of David Wilson, another explosive running back that broke out last season for the Giants.

I’m not saying to draft him on your team yet. But remember his name. At the very least, if you see him get drafted late, you can tell your buddy’s all about him and scratch the word sleeper on your cheat sheet.

The post Is Treavor Scales the Next Fantasy Football Sleeper? appeared first on FFBookMarks.

The Raiders are making news by coughing up a pair of draft picks to ensure they won’t have to overpay Carson Palmer in 2013. Oakland is in the process of picking up Matt Flynn from the Seahawks, and is expected to give Palmer a trip to the airport with a one-way ticket to Phoenix. Flynn figures to slide into a starting role in Oakland, although his suspect arm strength may limit the team’s downfield passing game.

Palmer potentially landing in Arizona would represent the best of the bunch in terms of fantasy upside. But don’t rewrite your cheat sheets just yet. He still represents an aging arm on a team with suspect potential outside of Larry Fitzgerald. He at least gives Fitz a fighting chance to regain WR1 fantasy status.

The post Crappy QBs on the Move appeared first on FFBookMarks.

It’s good news for RGIII, as another weapon the field gives the Redskins even more options. Davis will still need to prove healthy if he wants to build on his career average of 39 yards per game. He may not be in 2011 form, when he posted a 59-796-3 line. But he’s definitely athletic, and still on the right side of 30. He should be productive for another couple seasons.

The post Davis Spurns Bills, Shocks No One appeared first on FFBookMarks.

According to CBS Sports, the Jaguars, Bills and Raiders are kicking the tires on Seattle’s $5.25 million backup.

Flynn, 28, provides an alternative for teams unimpressed by this year’s crop of rookie QBs.

CBS says several sources have pointed to Jacksonville as the most likely trade destination. New Jags head coach Gus Bradley is familiar with Flynn from his time as Seattle’s defensive coordinator. And with Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert occupying the top spots on the depth chart, an upgrade is necessary.

In Oakland, Carson Palmer’s clock is ticking. He’s reportedly unwilling to substantially slash his $13 million base salary for 2013. Worth about a third of that at this stage of his career, look for a release in the coming weeks.

Buffalo is perhaps the most QB hungry team league-wide. After cutting underachieving overachiever Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tarvaris Jackson now sits atop the depth chart. The Bills will almost certainly address the position via the draft – even if a deal with Flynn materializes. Unlikely to land him, though, they’re expected to target WVU’s Geno Smith with the 8th overall pick. Jacksonville, Oakland, Cleveland and Arizona – all picking in the top-7 – might force a trade up.

Still, Flynn and his one-game-of-fame – a 480 yard, 6 TD outing Week 17 of 2011 – remains far from a sure thing.

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After all, the polarizing college star recorded a lowly 4.82 40-time on Indianapolis’ fast track. Forget his off-field issues – that number alone fueled speculation that he would lose guaranteed 1st round status.

But on Tuesday, he was able to rehab his stock – albeit slightly – running a top 40-time of 4.71. While the improvement isn’t substantial, it is noteworthy in the eyes on scouts. And according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter, his all-around solid Pro Day makes him a virtual lock to go in the draft’s first 32 picks. Teams in the hunt for Te’o include Chicago (20), Minnesota (23/25) and Baltimore (32).

The post Te’o Improved 40-Time Still Sucks appeared first on FFBookMarks.

After meeting with the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday, the former Oakland Raiders wide receiver is set to visit the Lions on Wednesday, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

The Lions have been on a long hunt for a complimentary weapon to place across from Calvin Johnson.

Nate Burleson restructured his contract to stick around for another season, but he turns 32 in August and arguably wouldn’t be on the roster if the cupboard wasn’t so bare. Ryan Broyles has been injury-prone and the Titus Young experiment ended in disaster, leaving the team short at wideout.

The Reggie Bush acquisition gives the Lions a viable target out of the backfield, but another field-stretching pass-catcher would do wonders for the Lions.

Heyward-Bey, of course, is no sure thing.

His four-year stint with the Raiders was uneven at best after the Raiders stunned their fans by taking him with the seventh overall pick in 2009. Heyward-Bey showed growth during a productive 64-catch campaign in 2011, but he tailed off last season before being released earlier this month.

The post DHB and Megatron in Motown? appeared first on FFBookMarks.

His release from the Buffalo Bills, coupled with his decision to sign with the Tennessee Titans acts as a reset button for the former Harvard star.

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“You have to swallow your pride a little bit,” Fitzpatrick said Monday, according to The Tennessean. “I felt like Buffalo was the best place for me to start next season, and it didn’t work out.

“So when that relationship ended, I knew I was going to be looking at a backup role. I am a competitor. I want to be out there and helping the team win on Sunday, but that’s the reality of the situation right now.”

Fitzpatrick, 30, is entrenched behind Jake Locker as the No. 2 option in Tennessee. He understands his role is to help Locker improve while serving as an insurance policy.

“I had a few options. I wanted to find a nice role for me to come in and help a young guy,” Fitzpatrick said. “This was, for me, a great opportunity to come in. I don’t know Jake at all. But I want to be there for him and be ready to play if anything happens.”

This actually isn’t a bad situation for Fitzpatrick. Locker remains a raw prospect who has battled injury issues in his first two NFL seasons. There’s always the chance Locker puts it together and becomes the star the Titans envisioned him being.

If that doesn’t happen, Fitzpatrick will be ready.

The post Fitzpatrick Titans Newest Benchwarmer appeared first on FFBookMarks.

Fantasy footballers have been spoiled the past several years. Many top college quarterbacks have left school to become household names not only in the NFL, but in fantasy football circles as well.

Players such as Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford have all enjoyed above average success early in their careers. And all have shared a stretch in which they were manning many fantasy rosters, helping owners to victory. But unfortunately, 2013 won’t bring such a quarterback.

The best chance at a quarterback making an impact most likely lies in West Virginia star Geno Smith. He has the build of a QB: he weighs in at 218 pounds and stretches to 6’2”. And he also owns a very respectable 4.59 40-yard dash time. But what he doesn’t have – at least in the eyes of many NFL draft analysts – is the ability to read a defense and react in a timely matter to what he’s shown.

Much respected NFL Films talent Greg Cosell aired his opinion Tuesday on the “Rich Eisen Podcast.” On the show, he discussed how Smith misses too many routine throws, has slow eyes and lacks lightning-quick decision-making.

While Smith has been rumored to go anywhere from 1 to 32 in the NFL draft’s first round, he isn’t a lock. And if his talents don’t impress NFL teams enough, how will he develop into an immediate star in fantasy football? The answer is simple – he won’t.

In dynasty fantasy football leagues, he is worthy of being taken as a project and someone that you can wait on to mature. But for your annual, or redraft leagues, he simply does not have the juice to perform as a solid QB2 – let alone a QB1 like the handful of names I mentioned above.

So when gearing up for your fantasy football draft, and you’re looking at what rookie you might want to snag in hopes of finding the next Newton, Trent Richardson or Julio Jones … remember: you will definitely want to pass on Smith. Let him become someone else’s problem.

Chris Ziza is the founder and senior staff writer of FFLockerRoom.

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