Have a 2013 rookie draft on the horizon?
Check out these draft results from a recent 2013 Rookie Fantasy Football Expert Draft! This rookie draft took place on May 3rd, 2013; scoring for this league is PPR, and it’s a pure dynasty format. Don’t forget to comment below. Enjoy!
Round One
1.01 – Fantasy Football Xtreme – Giovani Bernard
1.02 – DraftCalc.com – Montee Ball
1.04 – Fantasytaz – Eddie Lacy
1.05 – Fantasytaz – Tavon Austin
1.06 – DraftCalc.com – DeAndre Hopkins[level-all]
1.07 – Second City Fanatics – Cordarrelle Patterson
1.08 – Pro Football Focus – Marcus Lattimore
1.09 – Pro Football Focus – Keenan Allen
1.10 – Fantasy Knuckleheads – Johnathan Franklin
1.11 – Dynasty Football Warehouse – Tyler Eifert
1.12 – The Fake Football – Zac Stacy
Smitty’s Take: As I’ve said all off-season long, especially prior to this year’s 2013 NFL Draft, this 2013 rookie running back class is strong, stronger than most suggest. That said, I don’t think Giovani Bernard is one of the runners than makes this class elite. Don’t get me wrong, Bernard has the makings of a long-term fantasy RB2, if the Bengals give him starter carries down the road, but a monster season isn’t likely during his rookie campaign. His coaching staff has gone on record suggesting he isn’t their workhorse back, at least not now, and I think many will be disappointed in Bernard’s stat line at 2013′s end. Again, he is a solid long-term prospect, a guy I have consistently ranked in the top 4-6 of this 2013 rookie class, but he isn’t near my top three. My top three are Montee Ball, Le’Veon Bell and DeAndre Hopkins, and you can read more about that here, here and here. Ball, Bell and Hopkins have eventual top 5-10 fantasy football upside (at their positions); and both Ball and Bell have top 5-10 fantasy running back upside as early as this season! Bold? You bet! I speak about these three and their future values in our 2013 Rookie Running Back and Wide Receiver Analysis.
What about the rest of this first-round group above? Well, I am not a fan of Eddie Lacy, and I haven’t been since the start of 2013. I think the real dark horse gem in this draft could be Johnathan Franklin, who I can envision starting in Green Bay by mid-season. Will Green Bay give Lacy first crack at the starting gig in 2013? Sure, which is why Franklin’s late graduation delays don’t concern me… I expect Lacy to lose the job later, not necessarily before Week 1… So, I love the Franklin pick at 1.10, and I do not consider that grabbing him too early like some might suggest… Reach! Sometimes using ADPs is smart, other times you aren’t losing a whole lot even reaching a whole lot. Franklin in the first round is bold, but crafty! I also love the Marcus Lattimore selection at 1.08. Lattimore is a good year away from doing much of anything, at least that’s how he should be viewed, and that’s a positive thing, as the proper healing process could help him in the long run. A year or two from now, Lattimore could be a very strong fantasy RB2 (with upside for more).
I like the Zac Stacy pick at 1.12, especially if coupled with the strategy I talk about in this “DraftCalc Quick Hit” video segment:
Round Two
2.01 – Fantasy Football Xtreme – Justin Hunter
2.02 – Beast OR Bust – Markus Wheaton
2.03 – DraftCalc.com – Denard Robinson
2.04 – Fantasytaz – Robert Woods
2.05 – Pro Football Focus – Aaron Dobson
2.06 – Wild Thing Football – Geno Smith
2.07 – Second City Fanatics – Christine Michael
2.08 – RosterWatch – Joseph Randle
2.09 – Pro Football Focus – Mike Gillislee
2.10 – Fantasy Knuckleheads – E.J. Manuel
2.11 – Dynasty Football Warehouse – Travis Kelce
2.12 – Fantasy PPR – Terrance Williams
Smitty’s Take: I’m not a real fan, yet, of most of the players taken outside of the first-round, I’m just not. I like 2-3 players in this second round, which I’ll speak to in a second, but I’ve never been big on hanging onto many of my 2nd+ round draft picks in rookie drafts, as I focus all my attention on moving up into the first (and grabbing multiple first-round picks if possible, as you see above in the first-round, where we snagged Montee Ball, Le’Veon Bell and DeAndre Hopkins). I love tossing in 2nd- and third-round picks to move my first-round pick up. Have the 1.04? Give up your second-round rookie pick and get the 1.03! That’s my plan of attack every off-season! As you will notice, though, we did sneak back into the second-round and scooped up Denard Robinson, who could be the future of that Jaguars’ rushing attack. It’s early, and the kid is extremely raw, but he is a Reggie Bush-like talent (but with passing skills), and he has huge future potential. Make no mistake, though, he is a project… an exciting project, but a project. Read more on Robinson here.
The second player I do love in this second-round group, a player we didn’t get a chance to grab, is Aaron Dobson. This underrated New England receiver is a player that I rank shockingly-high if your check out our 2013 Rookie Wide Receiver Analysis.
Want to talk about this draft, or anything fantasy football related? Jump on our fantasy football forums now!
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I absolutely LOVE Eifert and Kelce. I personally think if he keeps everything together Kelce makes this tandem look like an amazing haul for the Warehouse. I hate comparisons but Kelce is a mirror image of Gronkowski. and if you watch interviews he brings a fire like no other.
That said 2 picks in 2 rounds to start and going TE/TE is interesting. But this tandem has that kind of upside, but it would have to be a 2 TE league or have at least 2 FLEX WR/TE spots.
I am not a fan of smallish RBs or WR that are not natural hands-catchers, probably my two biggest pet peeves. That said I generally stay away from Franklin (who lacks true shiftiness and doesn’t hit the line as hard as many RBs in this class that come at a much better bargain, plus he’s not the pass protector or hard hitter that even DuJuan Harris is). I need to research Bernard more, but I am skeptical of him over guys like Bell, Lacy, Ball (in that order).
I love Hunter and Wheaton to start the 2nd. I have no idea why anyone would take Allen over these two, he looks very slow on game film, no explosion at all, barely separating from weak Pac-10 soft secondarys….I like him if I can get him after those 2 guys, Quinton Patton, and maybe a couple others.
I have no idea why anyone would get excited about Denard Robinson unless you think he’s going to hit the weight room hard, bulk up, basically follow MJD everywhere and soak up all his knowledge and completely dedicate his life to becoming an NFL RB. I’ve never met the guy but I see more entitlement.
Unless you have already won a championship and have the best team in the league, there is no reason to take Lattimore first round, the risk is just too insane. He wasn’t insanely better than any RB in this class, he was the best at the time, but watch game tape of Bell, Lacy, Michael, Randle (who I also think was a very solid pick at this point) and there is a lot less risk with similar upside.
Back to Randle, he’s in a GREAT situation. DeMarco Murray is a barely above average talent who is getting a Darren McFadden type cotton soft reputation. Randle runs big for his size and automatically looks ready to step in as the #2 behind a fragile RB on an explosive offense.
More later, gotta run, great job guys fun read!!
Get in the forums. I love how you bring a solid response to everything, we need you there
Thanks brother, you twisted my (ego’s) arm lol In there now
just started our rookie draft bell and ball went 1&2. I had 3&4 took hopkins and bernard. I also have 1.9 coming up too. gonna see what rb is left
Quick question guys – how in the heck has everyone overlooked Knile Davis? I just watched his highlights video – was nothing short of mind-boggling, the guys speed was off the charts, he was elusive, didn’t shy away from contact, was a blur compared to the defense, he shot through 2 levels of D before the LB’s could even react – at 5’11′ 227 pounds, 4.38 speed, 31 reps on the 225, how can this beast of a RB be overlooked? His highlights overwhelm all the others!!! Am I missing something? How did Bo Jackson get missed?
You are late to the party:
https://draftcalc.com/fantasy-football-content/sleepers/2013-rookie-analysis-running-backs/
.. As you can see, back well before the draft, i had him 3rd out of all 2013 rookie runners…But, landing spots have a lot to do with values, and it’s hard slotting him higher than he is today with so many in better ‘now’ like situations. He also has a fumbling problem that he needs to correct, which is doable. You aren’t wrong to like him, though.. Where do you have him ranked amongst RBs post draft?
I play in a dynasty league and own Lynch, Ivory, Vereen (thanks to you via recent trade) and Fred Jackson so my value is based on long term talent. I personally have him #2 behind Cristine Michael as an overall talent but I understand I’ll have to wait, however the size/speed will become apparent by mid pre-season, much like Russell Wilson, whom I drafted in our 5th round last summer, did. Assuming Davis isn’t a bum, the league will be rocked by that talent – the reason he doesn’t dance around and make all the hard cuts and pounding the rock is because he doesn’t have to – he splits LB’s and they whiff! That’s my take! Thanks for replying
Again, another solid comment, and you could be right on all counts. Anything can happen. Davis is a talent, he just needs the opportunity, and injuries happen!