The Top Non-IDP Rookie Prospects: 1-25

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The beginning of April every year has its excitement for dynasty owners. Trading picks up, there’s speculation about where rookies will go and some of us crazy people even start analyzing other teams rosters to predict whom every team will take in the rookie draft. In my previous articles where I ranked the offensive players by position, I’ve received some praise, some confusion and some hate. As I tell anyone who reads my articles, do not let someone tell you what a player is, watch the player for yourself.

As with all the rookies ranked in this article and the next one, I have already watched at least three games worth of film on each, hopefully more. I based my rankings on PPR leagues that start one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers and a tight end. I anticipate compiling a top 25 that includes IDPs as well before the NFL Draft. Please note I am ranking them by skill and intangibles, so players with character concerns get ranked lower than their perceived skill level.

1. Eddie Lacy, RB ALA
Lacy, if healthy, is a workhorse running back. He runs hard inside or outside, has good ball security, and can pass block so he will be on the field all the time. He is safest player in your rookie draft this year.

2. Keenan Allen, WR CAL
Allen was knocked down by some draft analysts and fans. He did not have a decent quarterback throwing him the ball, but still managed to catch almost everything thrown his way. I love the way he gets physical with the defense and at times, tries to run over them. He has his injury concerns as well, but as our doctor Scott Peak says he should be good to go. His health may drop him to a spot where a good offensive team can draft him.

3. Gio Bernard, RB UNC
Bernard is a smooth runner who is more of a finesse guy than a power runner. He has good hands and can make people miss. I hope he is more LeSean McCoy than Knowshon Moreno. He is another player with injury concerns.

4. DeAndre Hopkins, WR CLEM
Hopkins is one of my favorite players in this year’s draft. He separates better than anyone else in his class, has soft hands and runs clean, precise routes. His game is not speed, but Hopkins will be successful in the NFL. He has a lower ceiling than the next ten rookies ranked after him, but his floor is a safe WR3 on your fantasy team for five-to-ten years.

5. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR TENN
Patterson is the best pure playmaker in his class. He is raw and his understanding of offenses and his role in them are questionable. I am excited about him and terrified at the same time. If he puts it all together, he will be worth the 1.1. If he crashes and burns, you don’t want to get burned that badly.

6. Tavon Austin, WR WVU
The draft buzz about Austin is climbing and climbing. Despite his stature, he is an explosive playmaker who can score from anywhere on the field. He is great in space and can make people miss. Hopefully he goes to a team that can use him as a complement to a WR1.

7. Johnathan Franklin, RB UCLA
Franklin is a bit small for a starting running back as he weighs close to 200 lbs. He is an explosive cut-back runner, who runs bigger than his size. His pass blocking needs a bit of work, but he can be a quicker than fast version of Chris Johnson.

8. Justin Hunter, WR TENN
Hunter is one of the tallest wide receivers in his class and may have the best body control, too. He attacks the ball with his hands and catches in stride like no one else.

9. Montee Ball, RB WISC
Ball is a bruising running back who is pretty good in the passing game as well. His enormous amount of carries in college is concerning, but then again, running backs are typically only projected for a three-to-five year NFL careers.

10. Tyler Eifert, TE ND
Eifert is a dynamic playmaker who plays more like a wide receiver than a tight end. He can line up inside if need be, but does most of his damage outside. In premium tight end leagues, Eifert should go four to five spots earlier.

11. Robert Woods, WR USC
Woods is a classic wide receiver who doesn’t like to get dirty. He runs smooth, precise routes, has great hands and gets separation from defenders. He is not a physical player, but makes up for it in technique.

12. Terrance Williams, WR BAY
Williams is an outside, deep route running wide receiver. He has good speed and size. His run blocking is near the top of his class, so expect him to find him on a running team like Houston, San Francisco, or Minnesota that can use him to block and take the top off the defense.

13. Zach Ertz, TE STAN
Ertz is a basically a big wide receiver trapped in a tight end’s body. He can get good separation and has great body control, but can barely block a lick. In tight end premium leagues, I would bump him up to the top ten.

14. Stedman Bailey, WR WVU
Bailey is a wide receiver who rarely drops the ball and has a knack for finding soft spots in the defense. He creates separation with his route running and amazing agility.

15. Quinton Patton, WR LA TECH
Patton has amazing body control and plays with a very physical style. He has great speed and does not let many balls hit the ground on his watch.

16. Marcus Lattimore, RB SO CAR
Lattimore had great speed and power before the devastating knee injuries. If he can come back from the latest signficant knee injury, he will be worth a top three pick. However, with those unknowns, I am willing to take a gamble on Lattimore here, if he is available.

17. Christine Michael, RB TEX A&M
Michael is an explosive, powerful runner. He was in his coach’s doghouse for most of the year and has not played in significantly in more than six games each year. I liked that he put it all together at the East/West Shrine Game week, but there are still character concerns that knock him down to 17.

18. Geno Smith, QB WVU
Smith has a strong arm and is athletic enough to be a good NFL starter. He needs to work on his mechanics and become a leader of men if he wants to be successful in the NFL. I wouldn’t want to depend on him for more than a bye week in 2013.

19. Markus Wheaton, WR OR ST
Wheaton is an explosive receiver. He attacks the ball in the air and plays with same intensity that Carolina’s Steve Smith does. No ball is out of reach with him as he is willing to do whatever it takes to make the difficult catch.

20. Gavin Escobar, TE SD ST
Escobar is another tight end who plays more like a wide receiver. He isn’t especially fast, but he runs good routes and can get separation against linebackers and safeties. I wouldn’t want him as my TE1, but would be happy with him as my TE2-3.

21. Andre Ellington, RB CLEM
Ellington is a finesse runner, but he is good at making defenses miss. He is more quick than fast, but needs to get more powerful to earn a three down role in the NFL.

22. Stepfan Taylor, RB STAN
Most people after the Combine see Taylor as this plodding runner who is not explosive due to his slow 40 time. He is a big back who can use his body as a weapon, but at times runs too high. Taylor can be a strong, no-nonsense runner like Stevan Ridley.

23. Aaron Dobson, WR MARSH
Dobson is a human highlight reel as he can catch any pass thrown his way if he is concentrating on it. He wasn’t asked to do much route running, so he is a bit raw with that.

24. Mike Gillislee, RB FLA
Gillislee is not a powerful runner, instead he relies on quickness and speed to gain yards. I like the way he uses his jump cut to get out of trouble, but he needs to get stronger to get a chance at a three down role.

25. Joseph Randle, RB OKLA ST
Randle is a smooth runner who tries to make defenders miss. This is somewhat unsuccessful due to his high running style that exposes his body to unnecessary hits. With the right coaching, I think he could be a more efficient runner.

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