Daily Dr. Roto — April 27, 2018
Fantasy Impact for Round 1 of the NFL Draft
QB Baker Mayfield (Browns) — He’s got swagger, accuracy, and brings a passion for the game that is infectious. I see Tyrod Taylor starting the first 8-9 games of the season before Mayfield gets his chance to play. He’s got great weapons around him, and I do think he will change the culture of the franchise. I think he might even end up being startable in the Fantasy playoffs next season.
RB Saquon Barkley (Giants) — Fantasy Football owners can rejoice! Barkley will be given the keys to the Giants offense from Day 1. Look for him to be a first-round Fantasy pick come August. There is no reason that Barkley can’t have 1000 yards rushing to go along with 40-45 receptions, and 10 TDs this season. Wishful thinking? Possibly. Is he good enough to get those numbers? Absolutely.
QB Sam Darnold (Jets) — I am fully convinced that the Jets got the player at #3 that they would have taken at #1. Darnold goes into a great situation in New York as Josh McCown will be the perfect mentor to him. I see Darnold playing on or before Week 9 this season. Once he plays, I don’t think Darnold will be Fantasy viable this season, but I love him in dynasty leagues moving forward.
QB Josh Allen (Bills) — The Bills never expected Allen to be available at #7 and they made an aggressive move to go get him. He’s going to need time to mature and learn the pro game, so I think A.J. McCarron’s job is safe for most (if not all) of the season. This actually bumps McCarron’s Fantasy stock a bit as a potential QB2 in deeper leagues.
QB Josh Rosen (Cardinals) — I really love this pick for the Cardinals. Rosen is a West Coast kid, and he will love playing out in Arizona. Sam Bradford will without question be the starter this season, but he’s never been able to stay healthy. Rosen might be able to push Mike Glennon for the backup’s role as early as training camp. Rosen is the most pro-ready QB in this year’s draft class, and it’s possible that he might have some value if (when) Bradford gets injured. I might take Rosen as a QB3 in Best Ball leagues and certainly pair him with Bradford if I take him.
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WR D.J. Moore (Panthers) — This is a great pick for the Panthers who were desperately searching for a deep threat to complement McCaffrey, Olsen, and Funchess. Moore should start out as the WR4 behind Torrey Smith, but there is a path for more playing time if he plays well during games. My biggest knock with Moore is that Cam Newton is inconsistent and I am not sure that Moore will provide big Fantasy numbers on a regular basis, so I like Moore better in best ball formats.
TE Hayden Hurst (Ravens) — Hurst has been compared to Heath Miller due to his receiving abilities which tells me all I need to know about him. Moreover, no one in the NFL knows the tight end position like Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome, so I am sure that Hurst will be a good player. Rarely, if ever, do tight ends make an immediate impact on offense, but I can see Hurst becoming the receiving TE immediately for the Ravens in 2018 playing as the TE2 behind Nick Boyle.
WR Calvin Ridley (Falcons) — The Falcons lacked depth at receiver once Taylor Gabriel signed with the Bears in free agency, so they must have been ecstatic to get Ridley late in the first round. Ridley has immense upside, but it might take him about two years to make an impact behind Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu. He is certainly well worth drafting in dynasty leagues as a potential star down the road. As for this year, Ridley is going to need an injury to a starter to get significant playing time. I see no more than 40 or so receptions from him this season at best.
RB Rashaad Penny (Seahawks) — This was very much of a need pick for the Seahawks. Although Penny needs work on his pass protection and receiving skills, he can make an immediate impact running on first and second downs. Look for him to share time with Chris Carson at the beginning of the season, but he might end up being the starter by Week 10. I like him as an RB4 with upside for more this season.
RB Sony Michel (Patriots) — Many Fantasy owners might wonder why the Patriots needed Michel if they already have Burkhead and White already in the fold. The reason is this–Michel is an incredibly talented runner who can make the quick cut and hit the hole to find the end zone. Neither Burkhead nor White offer that type of skill set. Watch for Michel to have an immediate impact this year in Fantasy. I think he could be an RB3 with upside for even more if he can learn the system quickly.
QB Lamar Jackson (Ravens) — Did the Ravens save the best for last? I mentioned on my recent podcast that I thought that the Ravens were the perfect spot for Jackson as they needed a facelift. Joe Flacco’s reign as starting QB in Baltimore is quickly coming to an end. If the team falls out of playoff contention early, I can easily see them turning to Jackson this season. My bold prediction is that Jackson will win someone a Fantasy title in Week 16 this year with 100+ yards rushing and 200+ yards passing.
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