2018 NFL Draft Review: NFC South
A lot of high-end fantasy assets come out of the NFC South. The division is loaded with fantasy producers from the top to the bottom. Somehow, the division still figured out a way to add talent to a stacked group of skill players. Let’s look at what these teams did in the draft and see how we can utilize some of the players’ landing spots to our advantage in fantasy football.
New Orleans Saints
Tre’Quan Smith, WR UCF (Round 3, Pick 91)
The Saints used their third-round pick to add quality depth to their receiving group. Smith is a player not many people are talking about, but is someone you should be highly interested in. He totaled a 27.15 percent market share of UFC’s passing offense last year and 31.29 percent the year prior. Another thing to like about Smith is his athleticism. He has the size-adjusted speed to create mismatches in coverage which will work to his advantage at the next level. Couple that with the Saints’ passing offense and you have a wide receiver prospect with a ton of potential.
He currently holds a 23.10 Rookie ADP, making him a late second-round pick. That’s an amazing value considering his athleticism, history of production and situation. I wouldn’t blame you if you decided to pull the trigger on him a few picks earlier than where his ADP suggests.
The roster appears logjammed with talent with Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn and Cam Meredith on the roster. All it takes is one injury and Smith is primed for a large market share of targets. Drew Brees doesn’t discriminate when it comes to distributing the ball and when he’s on the field, he could post fantasy relevant numbers any given week. This poses value during the early stages of Smith’s career because he just needs to see the field become a streaky option for your lineups. He should become more dependable as he develops. Smith is a very safe option in the late second round of rookie drafts.
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Boston Scott, RB Louisiana Tech (Round 6, Pick 201)
Scott is a short, stocky back who has the short-area quickness and speed to be a dangerous weapon once he gets the ball in open space. He maintains his balance very well while running the football which allows him to easily bounce off tacklers. Combine that with his speed and quickness and you have a change of pace back who is a threat to score from anywhere on the football field.
I hate to short-change Scott, but he’s a sixth-round pick and the Saints’ roster has plenty of running back talent to burn through. We all know Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, but the team also has Daniel Lasco and Jonathan Williams on the roster. Scott will need to prove himself as a viable kick and punt returner if he wants to be a part of the 53-man roster next year.
Carolina Panthers
D.J. Moore, WR Maryland (Round 1, Pick 24)
Going into the draft, Moore was considered one of the top wide receivers in the draft. His landing spot and overall draft position cement him as the first wide receiver off the board in most rookie drafts. He’s a tremendous prospect and certainly deserving of those merits.
When it comes to fit, he is the perfect addition to Carolina’s passing game. The team needed a talented wide receiver with speed to play on the opposite side of Devin Funchess. Moore will help stretch the field while also helping the passing attack move the chains by running some short to intermediate routes.
You can’t go wrong by drafting Moore in the first-round of your rookie drafts. He’s a talented prospect who has the draft capital to back up his abilities. I wouldn’t be surprised if Moore develops into one of the most productive wide receivers in the league.
Ian Thomas, TE Indiana (Round 4, Pick 101)
Greg Olsen is still on the roster and he should be with the team for at least a few more years. Thomas is a developmental prospect with a lot of upside. He can beat linebackers in coverage with his size and speed. He also has the size and strength to easily box-out defenders. There’s a chance that he develops into Olsen’s successor in a few years. He’s far from a finished product, but with the right coaching, he could develop into a functional player. It’s going to take a few years for him to reach his potential.
This is what you do if you are interested in acquiring his services: Let someone else draft him in this year’s rookie drafts, then pick him up for free off the waiver wire in a year or two when his original owner decides to cut bait from him. Tight end prospects take time to develop and usually you can get them at a reduced cost in the second or third year of their career.
Atlanta Falcons
Calvin Ridley, WR Alabama (Round 1, Pick 26)
The Falcons took one of the most controversial players with their first-round pick. Ridley is a controversial player because there’s a wide spectrum of different viewpoints concerning his on-field talents. There are draft analysts who are in love with him while at the same time, there are a lot who think he’s overvalued.
Ridley is an exceptional route runner and his ability to get in and out of his breaks helps him create separation from the defender. He’s not a world-class athlete, but he has just enough speed and quickness to get the job done at the NFL level. Another thing that could hold him back is his size. At 6-foot-1 and 189-pounds, Ridley lacks the size necessary to use his body to out-muscle defenders at the catch point and to consistently beat jams at the line of scrimmage.
Atlanta is the perfect fit for him. Julio Jones will command a large portion of the coverage, leaving room for Ridley to operate underneath. He will routinely face the second and third best defensive backs on the team and he won’t be asked to do WR1 duties. There should be more than enough volume in the passing offense to make him a viable option in fantasy. He has a good chance at developing into a dependable flex play option in fantasy. I was sour on him going into the draft, but since the draft, I’ve warmed up to him. I can’t hate on anyone who decided to spend a mid-late first-round pick on him in rookie drafts.
Ito Smith, RB Southern Mississippi (Round 4, Pick 126)
Atlanta is the best landing spot for his skill set. Tevin Coleman’s contract will expire soon which could leave an opening on the depth chart for Smith to slide into. At Southern Mississippi, Smith finished his career with three straight 1,000 yards seasons. He also caught 40 or more passes in each of those seasons. We shouldn’t expect him to develop into a feature back at the NFL level, but he will serve well as the pass-catching specialist in a committee. If he sees the field, then he has a chance to be fantasy relevant in PPR leagues. With a 44.40 Rookie ADP, Smith is an incredible value in rookie drafts.
Russell Gage, WR LSU (Round 6, Pick 194)
Gage will have to walk uphill both ways if he wants to be a key piece of Atlanta’s passing game. Like most sixth-round picks, he will have to figure out a way to make the 53-man roster, let alone challenge the incumbent starters for meaningful snaps. Unless it’s a super deep league, he’s best left on the waiver wire.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ronald Jones, RB USC (Round 2, Pick 38)
Jones landed in the perfect situation for his skill set. He should get plenty of work early in his career and be given every opportunity to succeed. Even though he only caught 32 passes during this three-year career at USC, Jones will get some looks in the passing game. If he doesn’t make it happen in Tampa, then it’s not meant to be. His lack of size if a concern and could prevent him from holding a feature back role. With that being said, his tape is rock solid, and he definitely has the talent to provide a spark to the Buccaneers’ offense.
In rookie drafts, Jones is being selected anywhere in the top six. He’s definitely worth the high price tag because he’s a good running back who was selected 38th overall in the actual NFL Draft, meaning the Buccaneers should give him every opportunity to succeed. There’s a good chance that he receives a large market share of the touches out of the backfield in the near future.
Justin Watson, WR Pennsylvania (Round 5, Pick 144)
This year’s ‘Jeff Janis award’ goes to Justin Watson who was very productive during his four-year career at Pennsylvania. He has the size, speed and athleticism to create havoc at the NFL level. However, like most flashy late-round prospects who get a lot of love from fantasy enthusiasts, Watson needs the dominos to fall his way in order for him to become a fantasy asset.
In reality, there’s not much risk in acquiring him in drafts due to his ultra-cheap price point. He’s going in the late fourth-round in rookie drafts. There’s nothing to lose here and if he hits you got another option for you weekly lineup at a very cheap price. If he struggles, then he’s an easy cut to make.
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