Draft Prep: Rookie-only mock draft
How will dynasty owners look back on the NFL Draft Class of 2016? Will they be happy with this collection of talent? Are there enough stars to make future Fantasy teams great?
We all know about Ezekiel Elliott, and he's easily the No. 1 pick in a rookie-only draft. But what about the players after him? Who should be the No. 2 overall selection?
The candidates are Josh Doctson, Corey Coleman and Laquon Treadwell, and there's not much debate about that going into the draft. The order is up for discussion since all three offer similar upside despite differing situations with their respective teams. For 2016 re-draft leagues, I would rather have Coleman on my roster. But the goal is to look long term, and I like Doctson the best of that trio just based on talent.
I expect dynasty owners to like, not love, this class. After Elliott, Doctson, Coleman and Treadwell there is still plenty of talent with receivers like Sterling Shepard and Michael Thomas, and running backs like Kenneth Dixon, Derrick Henry, C.J. Prosise and Paul Perkins could be significant Fantasy contributors in 2016, as well as down the road.
The quarterbacks have the chance to be successful with three potential franchise passers in Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch -- I like Lynch the best -- and we'll see if a tight end emerges from Hunter Henry, Tyler Higbee and Austin Hooper. Henry has the most upside, starting in 2017.
But what could ultimately make this class great is the second- and third-tier options like Jordan Howard, Devontae Booker, DeAndre Washington, Leonte Caroo, Malcolm Mitchell, Tajae Sharpe and more. If any of those guys hit, and Elliott, Doctson, Coleman and Treadwell become stars, then this class could be awesome.
Here are my latest rookie rankings for dynasty leagues.
Updated on June 22
1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL
2015 college stats: 289 carries for 1,821 yards and 23 touchdowns; 27 catches for 206 yards
He's an above average talent in a special situation playing behind the Cowboys offensive line. It's hard to find a flaw with Elliott in Dallas.
2. Josh Doctson, WR, WAS
2015 college stats: 79 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns
DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon could be gone in 2017, which would make Doctson the No. 1 receiver in Washington. And he should make plenty of plays in 2016.
3. Corey Coleman, WR, CLE
2015 college stats: 74 catches for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns
He should be good as a rookie and an eventual star once the Browns figure out their quarterback situation. In re-draft leagues, Coleman is my No. 1 rookie receiver this year.
4. Laquon Treadwell, WR, MIN
2015 college stats: 82 catches for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns
He should catch a lot of passes, even as a rookie, but making a lot of plays down the field will be tough because of Teddy Bridgewater.
5. Sterling Shepard, WR, NYG
2015 college stats: 86 catches for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns
Shepard benefits playing opposite Odell Beckham, and he should play Randall Cobb's role for Ben McAdoo, who was a former Green Bay assistant.
6. Michael Thomas, WR, NO
2015 college stats: 56 catches for 781 yards and nine touchdowns
There are a lot of mouths to feed in New Orleans with Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Coby Fleener, but Thomas could be a good replacement for Marques Colston.
7. Kenneth Dixon, RB, BAL
2015 college stats: 197 carries for 1,070 yards and 19 touchdowns; 34 catches for 467 yards and seven touchdowns
He could easily be the best running back in Baltimore this year, and I like his long-term upside better than Henry. It'll be interesting to see how he shares carries in 2016 with Justin Forsett and Javorius Allen.
8. Derrick Henry, RB, TEN
2015 college stats: 395 carries for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns; 11 catches for 91 yards
His workload in college is worrisome (593 carries over three seasons), and DeMarco Murray is only 28. Henry also offers little in the passing game (17 catches at Alabama), so his upside is limited in PPR.
9. C.J. Prosise, RB, SEA
2015 college stats: 156 carries for 1,032 yards and 11 touchdowns; 26 catches for 308 yards and one touchdown
Seattle plans to use him in a variety of ways right away, which is encouraging. And it will be interesting to see what his role is if Thomas Rawls (ankle) is hurt to open the year.
10. Paul Perkins, RB, NYG
2015 college stats: 237 carries for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns; 30 catches for 242 yards and one touchdown
Rashad Jennings is 31, and Shane Vereen is a passing-downs specialist. If Perkins shows well as a rookie he could be the Giants starter for the next several years.
11. Will Fuller, WR, HOU
2015 college stats: 62 catches for 1,258 yards and 14 touchdowns
He has to prove he's more than a deep threat, and he will continue to play second fiddle to DeAndre Hopkins in the future. Brock Osweiler also doesn't seem to be the type of quarterback to enhance his game.
12. Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN
2015 college stats: 91 catches for 926 yards and six touchdowns
He got a favorable landing spot with the Bengals, who have to replace Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu as free agents. Hopefully he's starting opposite A.J. Green for many years to come.
13. Kenyan Drake, RB, MIA
2015 college stats: 77 carries for 408 yards and one touchdown; 29 catches for 276 yards and one touchdown
Drake could play a prominent role as a rookie with Jay Ajayi as his only competition for touches. He was a career backup at Alabama, but he could be an asset in PPR leagues based on his ability to catch the ball.
14. Devontae Booker, RB, DEN
2015 college stats: 268 carries for 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns; 37 catches for 318 yards
He should be the No. 2 running back for the Broncos as a rookie, but he has to prove himself right away since he's 24. However, he could be a C.J. Anderson injury away from stardom in Denver.
15. Jordan Howard, RB, CHI
2015 college stats: 196 carries for 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns; 11 catches for 106 yards and one touchdown
The Bears could lean on Howard this year with Jeremy Langford his only competition for touches, but he has minimal upside as a receiver with 17 career catches in college. He's a bruiser at 6-foot, 230 pounds.
16. Leonte Carroo, WR, MIA
2015 college stats: 39 catches for 809 yards and 10 touchdowns
He's talented, but his opportunity could be limited landing with the Dolphins. They already have two young receivers with plenty of upside in DeVante Parker and Jarvis Landry. It could take time for Carroo to thrive.
17. Malcolm Mitchell, WR, NE
2015 college stats: 58 catches for 865 yards and five touchdowns
The Patriots need speed at receiver, and he should play right away as a rookie. We wish he had a longer tenure with Tom Brady, but we hope a lot of big plays are ahead however long they are paired together.
18. Paxton Lynch, QB, DEN
2015 college stats: 3,776 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and four interceptions; 239 rushing yards and two touchdowns
He's my favorite rookie quarterback because of his landing spot in Denver. He might not have the upside of Jared Goff or Carson Wentz, but he does have the best path to success playing for the Broncos.
19. Jared Goff, QB, LAR
2015 college stats: 4,719 passing yards, 43 touchdowns and 13 interceptions
The Rams need to find weapons to help Goff succeed, but once that happens he could emerge as a viable Fantasy quarterback. He'll do a lot of handing off as a rookie with Todd Gurley in the backfield.
20. Pharoh Cooper, WR, LAR
2015 college stats: 66 catches for 973 yards and eight touchdowns; 111 rushing yards and one touchdown
Speaking of weapons for the Rams, Cooper lands in a good spot because all he has to do is outplay Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt and Brian Quick for playing time. He could be a No. 3 Fantasy receiver as early as 2016.
21. Carson Wentz, QB PHI
2015 college stats: 1,651 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions; 294 rushing yards and six touchdowns
We hope he starts over Sam Bradford to find out if the Eagles made the right move to trade up for him at No. 2 overall. He might not become an elite Fantasy quarterback, but he could be a Top 15 guy in the future.
22. DeAndre Washington, RB, OAK
2015 college stats: 233 carries for 1,492 yards and 14 touchdowns and 41 catches for 385 yards and two touchdowns
The Raiders have said getting Latavius Murray help this offseason was somewhat of a priority, and Washington was the only running back added. He should get playing time right away in 2016.
23. Hunter Henry, TE, SD
2015 college stats: 51 catches for 739 yards and three touchdowns
The replacement for Ladarius Green this season and the eventual replacement for Antonio Gates as soon as 2017. When Gates is gone is when Henry could become a legit Fantasy asset in all leagues.
24. Braxton Miller, WR, HOU
2015 college stats: 26 catches for 341 yards and three touchdowns; 260 rushing yards and one touchdown
He's a project as a converted quarterback, and he should play behind Hopkins, Fuller and potentially Jaelen Strong for the foreseeable future. But if his talent shines through he could become a No. 3 Fantasy receiver.
25. Mike Thomas, WR, LAR
2015 college stats: 71 catches for 1,391 yards and 14 touchdowns
Don't be surprised if he ends up as the best receiver for the Rams this season. Again, there's not a lot of talented bodies to leap over on the depth chart, and he was a solid player for Southern Miss.
26. Tajae Sharpe, WR, TEN
2015 college stats: 111 catches for 1,319 yards and five touchdowns
Sharpe could emerge as a quality receiver for the Titans as a rookie, and he could eventually become a starter. If the passing game opens up in Tennessee this year than Sharpe could be a surprise.
27. Wendell Smallwood, RB, PHI
2015 college stats: 238 carries for 1,519 yards and nine touchdowns; 26 catches for 160 yards
This is another running back in a great situation since the Eagles lost DeMarco Murray in a trade to Tennessee but only added Smallwood in the fifth round. And he plays behind an injury-prone Ryan Mathews, so he could see the field sooner rather than later in a big role.
28. Alex Collins, RB, SEA
2015 college stats: 271 carries for 1,577 yards and 20 touchdowns; 13 catches for 95 yards
He's not going to get much work as a rookie if Rawls, Prosise and Christine Michael are healthy, but he's a physical runner, which has worked in the past for Seattle (see Marshawn Lynch). Still, playing time will be tough in the early going.
29. Jordan Payton, WR, CLE
2015 college stats: 78 catches for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns
The Browns drafted five receivers to address a huge need at the position, and Payton could easily emerge as a starter opposite Coleman or play in three-receiver sets. His upside is a No. 3 Fantasy receiver.
30. Keith Marshall, RB, WAS
2015 college stats: 68 carries for 350 yards and three touchdowns; four catches for 28 yards and one touchdown
Marshall landed in a great situation with the Redskins, who have Matt Jones and little else at running back this season. He's fast and once shared the Georgia backfield with Gurley, but he's still getting over a torn ACL in 2013. He's a sleeper in all rookie-only formats.
31. Rashard Higgins, WR, CLE
2015 college stats: 75 catches for 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns
Higgins was the fifth receiver drafted in Cleveland in Round 5 from Colorado State, and he could be the biggest surprise of the class based on what he did in college. Like all the Browns receivers, there's an opportunity for playing time, which works in his favor.
32. Tyler Ervin, RB, HOU
2015 college stats: 294 carries for 1,601 yards and 13 touchdowns; 45 catches for 334 yards and two touchdowns
Ervin could emerge as the No. 2 running back in Houston this season behind Lamar Miller, but that doesn't guarantee him a big role. He will likely play on passing downs and special teams and will only have increased value if Miller gets hurt.
33. Tyler Higbee, TE, LAR
2015 college stats: 38 catches for 563 yards and eight touchdowns
Jared Cook is gone, not that he was a big factor, but Higbee could start right away in 2016. And as we've said about the Rams, there's a lack of talent on offense, so he could soak up targets as a rookie.
34. Demarcus Robinson, WR, KC
2015 college stats: 48 catches for 522 yards and two touchdowns
He has some character issues to overcome after four suspensions at the University of Florida, but the Chiefs are desperate for a No. 2 receiver opposite Jeremy Maclin. Robinson could challenge Chris Conley and Albert Wilson for playing time right away.
35. Austin Hooper, TE, ATL
2015 college stats: 34 catches for 438 yards and six touchdowns
Hooper landed in a good spot with the Falcons because they lack weapons in the passing game after Julio Jones. Like most rookie tight ends, we might not see his potential realized until his second season.
36. Josh Ferguson, RB, IND
2015 college stats: 129 carries for 708 yards and three touchdowns; 37 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns
He is an undrafted free agent, but he signed with the right team since Frank Gore is 33 and doesn't have anyone of significance on the depth chart behind him. If he plays well, a big role could be his in the future.
37. Jonathan Williams, RB, BUF
2015 college stats: 211 carries for 1,190 yards and 12 touchdowns; 11 catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns
You might need some patience with Williams since he will play behind LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams, but once McCoy (28) is gone from Buffalo he could get an extended look. There's upside here, but he's low on the depth chart.
38. Ricardo Louis, WR, CLE
2015 college stats: 46 catches for 716 yards and three touchdowns
Louis is a project, but the Browns now have plenty of depth at receiver to see what develops down the road. The reward could be great based on his athleticism, but we might not see Louis make an impact any time soon.
39. Dak Prescott, QB, DAL
2015 college stats: 3,793 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and five interceptions; 588 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns
The reason for Prescott here is his landing spot because Tony Romo isn't going to play forever and was hurt for most of 2015 with a twice-broken collarbone. If Prescott eventually takes over as the starter in Dallas then he could be a sleeper Fantasy option in the future.
40. Darius Jackson, RB, DAL
2015 college stats: 208 carries for 1,078 yards and 14 touchdowns; 21 catches for 201 yards and two touchdowns
Jackson won't see the field in 2016 behind Elliott, Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris, but he could emerge as the handcuff to Elliott in 2017. And that gives him value as a late-round pick in rookie-only drafts.
