The Top 25 Rookies with IDP

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The month of April every year has its excitement and intrigue for dynasty owners. Everyone wants to start trading picks, there’s speculation about where rookies will go, and some crazy people (I include myself here) start analyzing other teams rosters to predict whom every team will take in the rookie draft. In earlier articles where I ranked the 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.

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As with all the rookies ranked here, 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, one tight end, three linebackers, two defensive ends and three defensive backs. Please note I am ranking them by skill and intangibles, so players with character concerns get ranked lower than their perceived skill level. There will be a few changes from my last two article as there have been quite a few disappointing performances during their individual workouts.

1. Gio Bernard, RB UNC
Bernard is the safest pick right now in rookie drafts. He is not the biggest, strongest or fastest back in his class. This running back can touch the ball 20-25 times a game and be productive, regardless of scheme. His upside could be close to LeSean McCoy.

2. DeAndre Hopkins, WR CLEM
I have a genuine man crush on Hopkins this year. This wide receiver is the safe choice in a draft class that is full of questions. He gains separation by running clean, precise routes. Hopkins has soft hands and can make difficult receptions in traffic. He will probably never break the top ten dynasty wide receiver ranks, but he will be a top 20 player for he next five-to-ten years.

3. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR TENN
Patterson is the ultimate huge upside, huge reward player. His athleticism is unquestionable, but his rawness drives me crazy trying to rank him. Just get the ball in his hands on returns and on bubble screens and let him do his magic.

4. Tavon Austin, WR WVU
Austin is quickly becoming the most talked about playmaker these days. Despite only being 5′ 8″ and 178 lbs, he is an explosive playmaker who can score from anywhere on the field. The comparisons to Percy Harvin are flying, but he doesn’t have Harvin’s size, which isn’t big by NFL standards. Hopefully Austin will get drafted by a team that has other offensive weapons so he isn’t the primary focus of the opposing defenders.

5. Eddie Lacy, RB ALA
Lacy could be 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. His workout did not instill confidence for whatever teams that decide to draft him. I have concerns he might be more a product of his offensive line than his own abilities.

6. Keenan Allen, WR CAL
Allen’s 40 times in the 4.7+ range causes concern. Blazing speed was never his game, but he did show explosion on the practice field and on game tape. He has good hands, runs like a back once he has the ball in his hands and may slip drastically down draft boards. I’m still a believer and you should be, too.

7. Johnathan Franklin, RB UCLA
Franklin is my other man-crush and one of the safest players to draft. Yes, he isn’t a big back at 205 lbs, but he is an explosive cut-back runner, who runs with his hair on fire. I just hope he lands in a good situation, otherwise he could get buried for a few years.

8. Justin Hunter, WR TENN
Hunter has the best body control of his class so he can adjust to poorly thrown passes. I have concerns about his effort on the field as it rises and falls depending on his game use. When Hunter is on his game, he attacks the ball with his hands and catches in stride like no one else.

9. Tyler Eifert, TE ND
Eifert is the best tight end in his class with his combination of speed, route running, and adequate blocking. If you need a tight end this year, do not settle for the second or third best, go out and get him while the cost is still reasonable.

10. Robert Woods, WR USC
Woods is a technician when it comes to running routes, gaining separation and catching the ball in short windows. It is concerning that he took a back seat to Marqise Lee, but being a true #1 wide receiver may not be his game, much like DeAndre Hopkins.

11. Terrance Williams, WR BAY
Williams is a down field/bubble screen receiver similar to Mike Wallace as he isn’t as adept running intermediate routes. His run blocking is near the top of his class, so he could be an asset to a run first team that has a strong armed quarterback.

12. Bjoern Werner, DE FL ST
Werner explodes to the quarterback. He is very effective at making plays when the ball is coming towards his side (running or passing), but loses focus if it goes to the other side. The defensive end can be an elite pass rusher in a 4-3 system.

13. Cornellius Carradine, DE FL ST
Carradine disposes of blockers better than any other defensive lineman in his class. He has very quick feet and vision which helps him read the offense quickly. I would like to see him develop more of a killer instinct as he shows great anticipation. He is recovering from a torn ACL, so this might be bit high draft spot to select him.

14. Montee Ball, RB WISC
Ball has taken a bit of a tumble down my rankings. He is a big, bruising back without a lot of wiggle, but with plenty of college carries. He does not have a great deal of upside, but is a safe choice for running back needy teams.

15. Stedman Bailey, WR WVU
Bailey is a consistent wide receiver who finds soft spots in the defense. He isn’t the biggest or the fastest receiver; however, he creates separation with his route running and agility. This is another very safe receiver.

16. Marcus Lattimore, RB SO CAR
Lattimore was a dominating back before the devastating knee injuries. Doctor James Andrews seems convinced that he will be ready to play football within the next ten months or so. It sounds amazing if he can fully recover. If he were fully healthy, Lattimore would have been a top three pick, so at this point he is a bargain.

17. Quinton Patton, WR LA TECH
Patton played for a small school and didn’t play against the best competition, so there are concerns with why he did not dominate. He is a physical player who will contort his body to make spectacular receptions – Patton reminds me a bit of Brandon Lloyd in that regard.

18. Arthur Brown, LB KAN ST
Brown has a fantastic first step and is instinctive finding the ball carrier. He fills holes quickly and does a good job disengaging blockers from his body. The linebacker is decent in pass coverage, and should be able to make an impact at an inside line backer position immediately.

19. Christine Michael, RB TEX A&M
Michael is an enigma wrapped in a riddle. While he is an explosive, powerful runner, this back has not played in significantly in more than six games in each year of college football. Michael impressed me at the East/West Shrine Game week, but there are still character concerns (oversleeping at the Combine?) that knock him down my board.

20. Markus Wheaton, WR OR ST
Wheaton is moving up draft boards. He runs good routes and, despite his size, attacks the ball in the air. He does everything well, but may be overlooked due to his size.

21. Geno Smith, QB WVU
Smith has a strong arm and is athletic enough to be a good NFL starter, though he took a lot of heat for his intangibles in recent weeks. He needs to work on his mechanics and be a stronger leader. Smith may find success with a team like Jacksonville or Philadelphia.

22. Zach Ertz, TE STAN
Ertz is a slot wide receiver who plays tight end. He catches the ball well in space and gets downfield quickly. He cannot block for more than one and half seconds, so he needs to go to a spread offense to be effective.

23. Kevin Minter, LB LSU
Minter is not a gifted athlete. He is a hard-nosed thumper who will excel as an inside or middle linebacker. He is a solid tackler with good instincts and decent vision.

24. Stepfan Taylor, RB STAN
Taylor is a bigger running back who is more quick than fast despite what his abysmal 40 time tells you. He is more talented than former Stanford Cardinal Toby Gerhart. He has good hands and is a solid pass blocker a team like Pittsburgh may be able to get in the fourth round.

25. Aaron Dobson, WR MARSH
Dobson is another receiver who should have dominated the weaker division foes with his freaky athleticism. He needs to improve his route running. He is also good at making difficult catches made easy.

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