2012 Rookie Fallers

Ken Kelly Posted On August 25, 2012

floyd7 Shortly after the NFL Draft, professional dynasty owners scramble to create their preliminary cheat sheets. After all, you’ve been researching these players for months, watched their combine film multiple times, watched their YouTube highlight reels, analyzed their new teams and playing situations, read fifty rookie articles on DLF and visited the DLF Forum for more words of wisdom.

Then everything changes in a matter of months.

For those who drafted early, there’s not much you can do now. You took your best shot and made the best choices you could based on the information you had at the time in your rookie draft or in your new league’s start-up draft. However, for owners drafting late or for savvy owners who think they could sell some of these rookies at more than market value because their league mates have been in hibernation since April, this is the time to re-evaluate the group and see just which players have seen their values decrease based on their performances in OTA’s, training camp or in preseason action.

With that in mind, here are some rookies who have seen their values decrease over the past couple of months.

Michael Floyd, WR ARI

Floyd has failed to separate himself from Early Doucet and Andre Roberts in camp and it’s starting to raise a bit of a red flag. The chances of him starting opposite Larry Fitzgerald to open the season have evaporated and he’s going to be battling hard for early playing time. It’s not looking like a productive rookie season for Floyd, much to the chagrin of his owners.

Trent Richardson, RB CLE

Is it time to panic? No. Is it time to be really concerned? No. Is it time to be mildly concerned? Perhaps. Richardson should be fine for week one, but it would have been great to have seen him in preseason action. We’ve had him squarely at #2 in our rookie rankings behind Andrew Luck and there’s no reason to move him. However, if you’re in a newly forming league, it’s going to be tough to swallow taking him right now without ever seeing him play. With the passing game looking like it’s going to struggle to find some rhythm, it may be time to knock Richardson down a spot or two on your overall dynasty list, but only a spot or two at the most.

Isaiah Pead, RB STL

Many owners are hoping Pead is the heir apparent to Steven Jackson in St. Louis and most figured he’d start cutting into his workload as soon as this year. So far, Pead has been very unimpressive, highlighted by a recent preseason performance where he scored a touchdown, but actually gained -8 yards on eight touches. So far this preseason, Pead has a disappointing 16 carries for 28 yards and five catches for six yards in two games – that’s not exactly what we had all hoped to see so far.

Mohamed Sanu, WR CIN

Sanu has been given every opportunity to win the job opposite AJ Green, but has yet to do anything substantial to earn it. In fact, fellow rookie Marvin Jones has actually looked more explosive. With Brandon Tate and Armon Binns ahead of him on the depth chart, it’s looking like Sanu will be firmly planted on your bench for the foreseeable future.

Coby Fleener, TE IND

Fleener was one of the hottest names in all rookie drafts in the past few months, but Dwayne Allen has been equally impressive (if not more so) in Colts camp so far. There’s still a long way to go in the battle for targets from Luck, but Fleener hasn’t dominated camp by any stretch of the imagination.

AJ Jenkins, WR SF

Jenkins has been a train wreck throughout most of the off-season and this is looking more and more like a developmental year for him. With all the receivers on the depth chart ahead of him, those who took a flyer on Jenkins in the second round of early rookie drafts may have to wait until 2013 to see anything productive.

Nick Toon, WR NO

It’s pretty difficult to win meaningful playing time when you can’t get on the field. Toon has missed out on a golden opportunity with Adrian Arrington nursing an injury of his own. While he’s still a solid prospect, it’s going to take a lot for him to make up for what he’s lost so far this off-season. The Saints have moved on without him for the time being.

Ronnie Hillman, RB DEN

Speaking of missed time and opportunity, Hillman has been nursing a hamstring injury all camp long and is finally set to make his debut this weekend. His chances of carving out any significant role on the offense are slim at this point unless he makes one incredibly good impression this week. Even before his injury, Hillman wasn’t getting much time with the first unit. Those who thought he would challenge Willis McGahee for the opening day start have to be disappointed. Early reports have him looking like a committee back now and in the future more than a future Broncos starter.

Chris Polk, RB PHI

Some thought Polk would hit Eagles camp and impress the coaches enough to challenge for the backup job behind LeSean McCoy. Well, he isn’t beating out Dion Lewis and now he has Bryce Brown in his way. The Eagles are even talking about converting him to fullback. Yuck.

Greg Childs, WR MIN

Childs was a hot name after the draft, but his career is likely over after his horrible multi-leg injury. It’s really tough to see him coming back and being effective after twin patella tendon tears.

Bernard Pierce, RB BAL

Pierce has looked pedestrian at best in camp and he’s being seriously pushed by Bobby Rainey. Those who drafted Pierce thinking he was next in line after Ray Rice have to be seriously disappointed – with Rainey’s emergence and Pierce’s struggles, that’s looking pretty farfetched.

Tommy Streeter, WR BAL

Some thought Streeter just needed some solid coaching to develop into a solid option for the Ravens. It looks like he does…but it’s going to be years of it, not months. It’s tough to hold to developmental players for years, but it looks like Streeter’s owners may have to do that in order to see any substantial dividends.

DeVier Posey, WR HOU

Posey was in line for significant playing time with the Texans, but he’s been severely outplayed by both Lestar Jean and Keshawn Martin in camp. It’s looking like a redshirt season for Posey and he has a long way to go if he’s ever going to be relevant in dynasty leagues.

Juron Criner, WR OAK

Much like Posey in Houston, Criner has been outshined by another rookie, but this one comes in the form of Rod Streater. Criner has a lot of talent, but it hasn’t translated to the field and he’s been struggling according to most reports.

Dan Herron, RB CIN

Many coaches took a late shot on Herron in early drafts, thinking he could earn a spot behind an underwhelming BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott. Herron has failed to impress this off-season and could be headed to the practice squad as a result. Boom! There goes his dynasty value.

Brandon Bolden, RB NE

There were some reports early that Bolden was going to push Stevan Ridley for some carries, but with the return of a healthy Shane Vereen and his own recent struggles in games, that’s not going to happen. Bolden could make a case for the practice squad, but it would be a surprise if he made the team at this point. He’s averaged less than 2.5 yards per carry in the preseason and that’s just not going to get it done.

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Ken Kelly

Co-Founder at DynastyLeagueFootball

Ken is a corporate trainer by day an a tireless editor of dynasty content by night. His passion for the World Champion Seattle Seahawks is second only to his love of fantasy football and the dynasty format.

Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK