2014 Rookie Draft Review: Industry League – Round Two

Jeff Haverlack

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In part one of our ongoing fantasy industry dynasty rookie draft, we covered what turned out to be a relatively surprising first round of selections.  Some of the usual suspects were selected at somewhat unusual selection points.  Such is a rookie draft.  The upside of this event means some first round names will slip into the second round –  always a nice situation for those selecting at the top of each round.

For reference, here’s a link to the league.

Let’s get to the picks and the commentary:

Round Two

2.01  Rotoviz – Jeremy Hill, RB CIN

Hill is one of those players who could be considered a bargain or a reach at this selection.  I’ll lightly take the side of the former.  Many believe that, if not for off-the-field incidents and character flags, Hill is the running back most likely to succeed in the NFL on talent alone.  He’s a big back and falls to a situation in Cincinnati that could yield early field time, especially within the red zone.  There are a few bigger names on the board, but I like the general aggressiveness of the pick.

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2.02  Fake Pigskin – Johnny Manziel, QB CLE

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  And for no other player is that more true than Johnny Manziel in 2014.  I’m not one who believes Johnny Football should be taken in the top 18 selections unless there exists a dire need at quarterback for the selecting coach, or if you play in a 2QB format.  It’s not often the third quarterback off the board in the NFL Draft is the first selected in fantasy, but that’s the case here.  If you believe in Manziel’s ability to transcend size concerns and amass fantasy points with his wheels, it’s a bold gamble you can make.  I’m just not that bold.

2.03  Rotoviz  – Terrance West, RB CLE

Coaches continue to chase the Cleveland running back situation, even despite the addition of the Browns’ next flavor of the month, Ben Tate, coupled with two new flavors in West and fellow rookie Isaiah Crowell.  There’s a lot of coin flipping as to which back will eventually emerge.  I would argue that Crowell is the truest runner of the trio and that both Tate and West are injury prone enough to suggest less fantasy productivity.  Obviously Rotoviz would disagree.  He’s a boom or bust pick and I do admire the moxie of the selection.

2.04  Fake Pigskin – Kelvin Benjamin, WR CAR

Benjamin hasn’t been getting much love in rookie drafts, but he’s arguably in one of the best starting situations of any rookie receiver.  He’s a huge target and certain to start immediately for the Panthers.  I’m not sure what to think and I’m not ready to pencil him in as anything more than a WR4 in 2014, but it’s a great value play at this point in the draft for a Fake Pigskin team intent on rebuilding at receiver.

2.05  Fake Pigskin – Donte Moncrief, WR IND

Smelling a pattern here from Fake Pigskin?  Moncrief is a high-ceiling, but raw receiver with the tangibles to be an elite target IF he can develop.  He’s in a fine situation with a young quarterback who will be at the helm for the next decade.  I’m still surprised not to see Marqise Lee here (or earlier), however.

2.06  Football Guys – Marqise Lee, WR JAX

Finally.  It’s a great value for FBG and the pick practically makes itself.  Lee fell due to injury concerns and a sub-par 2013 campaign, but he’s as NFL-ready as any receiver in the draft and almost certain to be a day one starter.

2.07  Draft Buddy – Devonta Freeman, RB ATL

Freeman has been on the rise ever since the Falcons have been talking him up as a potential every-down back.  With Steven Jackson likely on his last legs, Freeman could move up in a hurry.  I’m not overly high on him myself, but I like backs with an opportunity to show early in their career.

2.08  Fulltime Fantasy – Tre Mason, RB STL

It’s hard not to like how Mason runs.  He’s a bit of  a tweener, but when watching his tape, I think he’s arguably the best all-around back in the draft.  It’s a crowded situation in St. Louis, but Mason should slide in as the backup to Zac Stacy immediately … with upside.

2.09  Pro Football Focus – Jace Amaro, TE NYJ

It’s a solid value play as Amaro falls to a great starting situation in New York.  It won’t surprise me at all if he leads all  rookie tight ends in production in 2014.

2.10  Fantasy Football Xtreme – C.J. Mosley, LB BAL

The first defensive player taken in our draft and he’ll be the first in most.  Mosley will be on the field on all downs and should vie for defensive rookie of the year.

2.11  Dynasty League Football – Isaiah Crowell, RB CLE

We feel very good about our QB, WR and TE situations.  Even for the next year or two, we feel great about our running backs.  But we’re willing to take a stab at what we feel is the best size-to-ability back in this draft.  Off-field  character flags wave wildly, but we’ll take that risk.

2.12  Football Guys – Paul Richardson, WR SEA

Things start getting interesting at this point in the draft where sites will start selecting their favorite sleepers –  this is likely the case here with Richardson.  He’s an intelligent player with slot capability.  Too highly selected for my taste, but anything is possible as we near the third round.

Best Value

In my opinion, Marqise Lee at 2.06 is easily the best value of this second round.  Football Guys has to be ecstatic Lee fell.  Prior to his 2013 campaign, he looked to be headed for a top-ten NFL draft selection as the first receiver off-the-board.  Injury will remain Lee’s biggest hurdle to overcome, but I don’t doubt his ability or heart.

Biggest Reach

This is a tough selection given that many of these second round selections are values due to lesser names being drafted in the first round.  Solely on bust-ability, I’m hanging the label for the second round on Fake Pigskin’s selection of Johnny Manziel.  There’s a strong likelihood Manziel would have been available at his next selection at 2.04, allowing him to take another position player before selecting Manziel.  But as I’ve always said, if you have a need at a position, it’s better to overdraft a player than gamble with him not being there later if he’s a player you truly desire.

Summary

As mentioned previously, the second round was made up of many names who could have been first round selections, making it a round filled with many value picks.  The first quarterback off the board (Manziel) was the third selected in the NFL Draft and both remaining quarterbacks are still on the board.  The third round will likely start with a few of the remaining value plays followed by each coach’s sleeper and boom-or-bust selections.

Stay tuned.

Follow me on Twitter:  @DLF_Jeff

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jeff haverlack