Round 3
3.1 – South Carolina WR Bryan Edwards – Edwards is highly thought of by many of the draftniks I respect, but it’s difficult to tell what the future holds for him. He is currently injured, and starting with an injury is not what you want. On top of that, the injury took away our ability to assess him at the Combine. Based on the skills he showed on tape, he is worth a third-round flier in dynasty drafts.
3.2 – Dayton TE Adam Trautman – Trautman is also difficult to assess, but in his case, it’s because he played for Dayton and did not face much top-tier competition. However, he showed well at the Combine, and on tape he flashes very nice route running and hands. It typically takes a couple years for tight ends to get up to speed and make an impact; as soon as he does, I think Trautman has a chance to be special.
3.3 – Boston College RB A.J. Dillon – After his excellent showing at the Combine, including running a 4.53 at 247 pounds, many will push Dillon much higher than this. While he did show he’s a great athlete, on tape he still appears stiff when he runs and does not appear able to change directions quickly and fluidly, a major key for running backs.
3.4 – Colorado WR Laviska Shenault, Jr – Shenault played all over the field for Colorado, including in the backfield, out wide, and in the slot. He is an excellent athlete but reminds me of a more athletic Denard Robinson – I cannot tell where he fits. He seems to be good at most things but may struggle to find a niche where he can become truly great. On top of that, he is injured often. He could explode in the right situation, and the landing spot could move him up for me. For now, he’s a risk.
3.5 – Minnesota WR Tyler Johnson – Johnson is another receiver I could see moving a lot higher if a team invests heavy draft capital in him. He certainly shows excellent route running, body control, and ball skills on tape, but he looks a bit limited athletically. I think he could be a great No. 2 on a team, where he wouldn’t have to face a top corner and could contribute with timely big plays.
3.6 – Utah RB Zack Moss – Moss is a rugged runner capable of breaking tackles, and he also showed good vision. He is another player I think might be athletically limited, but then again his 4.65 40-yard dash is adequate. Many rank him as a top-10 rookie in this class, so it’s entirely possible I may be too low on him. I just didn’t see enough “wow” plays.
3.7 – Texas WR Collin Johnson – Johnson impresses with his 6-feet-6 frame, and is excellent at going up and getting the ball. He did not work out at the Combine beyond the bench press due to a hip flexor injury, so that makes it difficult to know for sure what his athletic potential is. But on tape he profiles as an excellent red-zone target, with potential for more.
3.8 – Ole Miss RB Scottie Phillips – I was higher on Phillips before the Combine, but he failed to impress there. His great footwork struck me on tape, but he had several poor times on the drills like the three-cone and the short shuttle. Since those drills show quickness, that was confusing. Perhaps even this is ranking him too highly, but I’ll take a chance on him here based on what I saw – not only great footwork but also good vision and anticipation.
3.9 – Washington TE Hunter Bryant – Bryant reminds me of Gerald Everett. He is small for the position but looks like a bulky receiver out there. He is tough and will fight for yards, and is willing to fight for the ball. Like Everett, he likely will need some time to produce in the NFL, but he is worth a shot in your rookie draft if you need a tight end.
3.10 – Penn State WR K.J. Hamler – Hamler is small but very quick. He is one I wish would have worked out at the Combine, as I think he would have run a very nice 40-yard dash. But teams will struggle with his size at 5-feet-9 and 178 pounds. Yes, he is small, but he is dynamic enough to take any catch to the house. He is worth a shot in the third round of your rookie draft for sure.
3.11 – Maryland RB Anthony McFarland – McFarland tends to bounce runs outside too often, as is common with college runners accustomed to depending on their athleticism. He will need to work on this and show he is willing to punch it up inside in the correct hole. If he can, he can show off his 4.44 speed without costing his team with too many rushes for loss.
3.12 – Texas WR Devin Duvernay – Duvernay is another player who showed off at the Combine, running at 4.39 and also impressing in the other events. He is another player with a mix of skills, good at many things but perhaps not dominant at any. With his athletic baseline, if he can develop into a top-tier route runner he could end up being a steal in your dynasty rookie drafts.
Kevin Scott has been playing fantasy football for 20 years and plays in far too many leagues each year. He has written for SI, 4for4, FFToday, and other sites.