While many will consider this the most rapid of reactions, the events that unfolded over the weekend in terms of NFL Draft selections have certainly changed the landscape of the fantasy football world. Based off of scheme and culture fit, round value, and positional depth, certain prospects are set up for success earlier on in their careers than others. The players listed and analyzed below are worthy of Nostra-Dom-us’ “Preseason Prophecy of Fortune” as they are expected to enter the league and contribute at a high fantasy level from day one.
Ezekiel Elliott (RB) – Dallas Cowboys
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 225 LBS
No surprise here, as this glove-like fit has been discussed ad nauseam since Thursday night. It’s no longer a secret that Elliott – the top running back prospect in the draft and one of the most talented over the last decade – will thrive behind the NFL’s best offensive line, or as they like to be called The Great Wall of Dallas, for years to come. This summer, fantasy owners will be falling all over each other to take the “King of the Crop-Top,” as Elliott figures to enter the 2016 season as the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year Award.
His incredibly well-rounded skillset gives him a nearly unblemished scouting report. He runs with speed, power, elusiveness, and incredible ferocity. He never seems to fall backwards and combines excellent footwork and vision to make first-attempt defenders miss. Out of the backfield, Elliott has excellent hands and possesses a deft ability to properly turn up field after securing a pass. He is second to none in pass protection, and likely will enter the league as one of the best blocking backs. In terms of fantasy potential, Dallas really hit a home run here.
Sterling Shepard (WR) – New York Giants
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 193 LBS
During this draft process, I argued for Shepard as the second overall wide receiver prospect, but ultimately settled for him at No. 3 behind Laquon Treadwell and Josh Doctson. Shepard is someone who I loftily compared to Antonio Brown, so all things considered, I think pretty damn highly of the kid.
He’s slightly undersized at 5-foot-10, 193 LBS, but like Brown, he makes up for his lack of size with incredible talent. When watching the tape, right off the bat, evidenced by his incredible propensity to create separation and get open. He utilizes lightning quick, yet polished footwork to get in and out of his breaks in the blink of an eye. Outside of Amari Cooper last season, I have yet to see a collegiate wide receiver with more disciplined – yet natural – route running skills.
To go along with these superlatives, Shepard’s hands are football magnets. He dropped just eight passes in his four years of action at Oklahoma, while he time in and time out would unceremoniously turn inaccurate surefire incompletions into what appeared to be easy catches. He made every quarterback he ever played with look better, while he should be expected to do the same with Eli Manning in 2016.
Expect considerable rookie production from Shepard, similarly to that enjoyed by Seattle’s Tyler Lockett in 2015. Teaming up with Manning, the ultra-talented Odell Beckham Jr., and now a potentially healthy Victor Cruz – the Giants could feature one of the most explosive offenses in 2016 and beyond.
Michael Thomas (WR) – New Orleans Saints
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 209 LBS
Thomas enters just in the nick of time for Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, as their days as one of the game’s most prolific offenses appear to be numbered. They have been lacking a true No. 1 receiver since Marques Colston’s talent began a downward spiral after the 2012 season, and while they made it by with incredible production from tight end Jimmy Graham, he departed via trade prior to last season, leaving the Saints with a go-to receiving void.
Now Thomas will not enter day one and go on to grab 100 balls in his rookie year, but his build, skillset, and potential will finally give Drew Brees a legitimate X-receiver option to throw to. This will give him and Brandin Cooks plenty of one-on-one looks, making Cooks a top fantasy receiver option and Thomas a nice sleeper pick towards the end of drafts in 2016.
On tape, Thomas displays excellent mitts and defined route running skills. His hands are massive, while he possesses the catch radius of a California condor. He is deliberate in and out of his breaks and uses pitter-patter footwork to confuse cheating defensive backs, making it difficult to break on passes thrown his way.
The addition of Thomas will be one that Brees thanks the Saints front office for over these last few seasons of his career. If fantasy owners play their cards right, they will be thanking Brees and the Saints front office as well.
Tyler Boyd (WR) – Cincinnati Bengals
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 200 LBS
The Bengals featured a highly explosive offense last season, but entered the NFL Draft this weekend with plenty of question marks after they lost two of their top three receivers via free agency. The selection of Tyler Boyd out of Pittsburgh in the second round helped answer some of their offensive question marks, as his do-it-all skillset will compensate for much of what they lost in Mohammed Sanu and Marvin Jones. He is a good route runner, has great hands, and makes plenty happen with the ball in his hands. In college, Pittsburgh oftentimes used him on reverses and out of the backfield, just like the Bengals love to do with their secondary receivers, creating mismatches on the outside with real estate to roam. Expect him and A.J. Green to do plenty of damage in 2016 as an excellent wide receiver tandem. Keep Boyd in mind on draft day this summer.
Paul Perkins (RB) – New York Giants
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 208 LBS
I made it no secret that Perkins was my “pet cat” during this draft process, and while he only went in the fifth round, the Giants are so pedestrian at the running back position, that he may now be the most talented one on the roster. The addition of Perkins to this already explosive Giants offense makes them more balanced and will ultimately make them one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFC.
What he brings to the table is incredible elusiveness on the level of LeSean “Shady” McCoy. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and has the vision to make something out of nothing. His elite level vision will be one much utilized behind this mediocre Giants offensive line, while his ankle-breaking jump-cut could prove to be devastating to opposing linebackers.
With few answers at the position in New York, Perkins should hold legitimate fantasy value, as I predict that he will eventually see the bulk of the carries for the Giants in 2016.