2018 NFL Draft Review: AFC East

Bruce Matson Posted On June 3, 2018

The AFC East is always one of the most intriguing divisions in the NFL. Every year we start the year wondering which team has done enough to outclass the Patriots. At the end of every year, we get the same answer after we watch the Patriots go deep into the playoffs. Still, there were a lot of interesting moves in the draft this year and some of them came out of the AFC East.

Let’s take a look each team’s haul through a fantasy lens.

New England Patriots

Sony Michel, RB Georgia (Round 1, Pick 31)

This draft pick was a head scratcher for some people because the Patriots had other positions of need that the team could’ve addressed. Nonetheless, New England spent their first-round pick on Michel. During the last few years, the front office became quite known for finding diamonds in the rough at running back. Here they decided to go against the grain and pay a premium pick to get their player. This has to mean they value Michel quite highly, considering they used to live by patching things up with bargain bin running backs off the waiver wire.

The biggest fear many people have is that it’s hard to predict which Patriots running back is worth starting on a weekly basis. Michel should be considered an x-factor to this scenario, because he’s quite possibly the most talented back the Patriots had in a while. Expect him to play the Dion Lewis role and a little more. I wouldn’t be surprised if he saw a large market share of the goal line carries.

Michel was a five-star recruit out of high school and was one of the most talented running backs in all of college football. He shared the stage with Nick Chubb, who was also a five-star recruit right out of high school. Michel can run the ball between the tackles and catch the ball out of the backfield which are traits the Patriots can utilize. He’s an easy first-round selection in rookie drafts.

Braxton Berrios, WR Miami (Round 6, Pick 210)

[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]

Berrios was an intricate part of the Hurricanes’ offense last year. His 5-foot-8 and 184-pound frame profiles him as a slot receiver at the next level. New England might be the perfect spot for him because they have a history of using slot receivers as one of the main focal points in their offense.

Even though he’s a perfect fit for the offense, it doesn’t mean he’ll make an impact for fantasy. He’s still a sixth-round pick who has to work his way up the depth chart to even get a chance to dress on Sundays. Still, he’s a player to take a stab at in the last round of rookie drafts. Just like most players in the fifth and sixth rounds of rookie drafts, he can be a “what-the-heck draft pick” for your team. If he hits, you could look like a genius.

Danny Etling, QB LSU (Round 7, Pick 219)

Etling is currently the third quarterback on the depth chart. However, when training camp gets here, he’s more than likely going to be fighting for a roster spot. Don’t be surprised if he ends up on the team’s practice squad.

There’s really nothing to see here. Unless you’re in the deepest dynasty league of all time, I don’t suggest burning a pick on him in rookie drafts.

Ryan Izzo, TE Florida State (Round 7, Pick 250)

In the seventh round the Patriots drafted a tight end who can barely beat me in a foot race. In short, Izzo is a traditional blocking tight end. He’s more than likely going to be another body in training camp. Odds are good he’s never going to be a highly sought-after fantasy asset. He’s safe to leave on the waiver wire.

Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen, QB Wyoming (Round 1, Pick 7)

The Bills made Josh Allen the third quarterback off the board and he will surely be the face of the franchise in the near future. Will this face be clean-shaven, or will it have a scruffy Duck Dynasty beard? Only time will tell. For right now, we know that he’s a developmental quarterback with a lot of potential. He has the athletic ability plus an arm that can sling the ball all over the football field.

Buffalo’s offense lacks explosive playmakers which could hinder Allen’s development. I don’t know if Allen is ready to lead a team without a supporting cast around him. I would’ve rather seen him get drafted by a team with a veteran quarterback, so he could sit the sidelines and develop his game for a few years before hitting the field. Here, he’s competing right out of the gate against AJ McCarron for the starting job.

Exercise caution when drafting Allen. He currently has a 35.00 Rookie ADP. I would make sure all of my targets at wide receiver and running back are completely off the board before drafting him in 1QB leagues. In 2QB leagues, I wouldn’t touch him until all of the stud skill players have been drafted. When in doubt, go with the running back or receiver, because there’s a lot of risk associated with Allen’s dynasty stock.

Ray-Ray McCloud, WR Clemson (Round 6, Pick 187)

McCloud profiles as your typical slot receiver. Buffalo isn’t exactly stacked with talent at wide receiver, so there’s a slim chance that he can work his way up the depth chart. More than likely, he’s going to just be another practice squad journeyman who bounces from team to team.

Austin Proehl, WR North Carolina (Round 7, Pick 255)

The Bills are telling us that they need a slot receiver by drafting one in the last two rounds of the draft. Proehl caught 21 passes in six games last year and is considered a longshot to make the team. Buffalo is spitballing to see if they can find a slot receiver on the cheap.

Miami Dolphins

Mike Gesicki, TE Penn State (Round 2, Pick 42)

Gesicki was one of the most athletic tight ends in this year’s draft class. He is walking into a situation where he won’t have much competition to earn a starting job. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes his rookie season as the team’s starting tight end.

He does have some limitations when it comes to pass protection and run blocking, but those weaknesses shouldn’t prevent him from developing into one of the main receiving options for the team. NFL teams are switching up their approach to how they evaluate tight ends who are more receivers than inline blockers. The size-speed dynamic that Gesicki brings to the table will create a lot of miss-matches. This should allow him to be utilized in the passing game early in his career. With just A.J. Derby and Gavin Escobar on the roster, the starting job might have as well be gift wrapped in Charlie Brown Christmas wrapping paper.

Kalen Ballage, RB Arizona State (Round 4, Pick 131)

The Dolphins decided to address the running back position with their fourth round selection. Ballage is a player who has a lot of potential. He’s a boom or bust prospect, though. He has the chops in the passing game to be a major threat, but it’s hard to draft him in complete confidence because he lacks the college production that most starting caliber running backs have. No matter how you slice the bread here, Ballage is a very intriguing play in rookie drafts. He’s either going to be a heavy hitter for your fantasy team or he’s going to fall on his face even harder once starts competing at the NFL level.

New York Jets

Sam Darnold, QB USC (Round 1, Pick 3)

The Jets used the third overall pick on Darnold which means they should give him every opportunity to succeed. Sure, there are some flaws in his game, but he also has enough talent to develop into something special. He’s typically the fourth quarterback off the board in rookie drafts – this makes sense considering the other options are in better situations and are arguably just as talented as him.

Darnold will turn 21 years old in June, making him one of the youngest quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s going to eventually get his time to shine, but it’s hard to forget that Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater are currently sucking space on the roster for at least the short-term. If you need a quarterback and Darnold falls to your lap at a palatable price point, don’t be afraid to pull the trigger.

Chris Herndon, TE Miami (Round 4, Pick 107)

Herndon will be competing with Jordan Leggett and Clive Walford for the starting tight end duties. The job is up for the taking. This alone draws some appeal in fantasy. Honestly, I like some of the other tight ends on the roster are better. Herndon is a below average athlete who lacked production at the college level. He’s a fantasy asset who serves more value on the waiver wire than your team.

Trenton Cannon, RB Virginia State (Round 6, Pick 204)

I’m not really into 185-pound running backs. Cannon is going to compete for kick and punt return duties. He does have the quicks and burst to be explosive in the open field. If he can carve a role as the team’s pass-catching specialist out of the backfield, he could become fantasy relevant. I just wouldn’t bet on it.

[/am4show]

Author
Recent Posts

Bruce Matson

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

I'm a financial counselor for a hospital in South Central Ohio. I graduated from Muskingum University with a bachelor's in business while minoring in Economics and Accounting. I won my first fantasy football title with Jake Plummer as my quarterback.