This article is part of our NFL Draft series.
There were eight offensive skill-position players selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, with three of those players coming off the board within the first four picks. Let's take a look at the notable selections from Thursday night, starting with the quarterbacks that went 1-2.
Jared Goff, QB (California), 6-4/215 pounds
Selected first overall by Los Angeles
The Rams gave up quite a haul to ensure that they got their man, leaving us with no drama whatsoever for the first two picks of the draft. Goff isn't particularly mobile (4.82 40) and doesn't have noteworthy arm strength, but he's an accurate passer who displayed consistent improvement throughout his three-year tenure at Cal. Despite playing on teams that were no better than mediocre, Goff put up huge numbers in both his sophomore and junior season, including 43 passing touchdowns and 8.9 YPA in the latter campaign. Even if he's technically forced to compete for the starting job, there's little-to-no question that Goff will be under center in Week 1. He's a promising prospect for the long run, but with minimal receiving help in what figures to be a run-heavy offense, Goff offers very little fantasy upside for 2016. The Rams still need at least one more year to build a balanced offense around him.
Carson Wentz, QB (North Dakota State), 6-5/237 pounds
Selected second overall by Philadelphia
Wentz is the quarterback you'd draft if you were playing franchise mode in Madden. In addition to prototypical size, he offers excellent running ability and athleticism (4.77 40) for a big-bodied quarterback, with NFL-ready arm strength to boot. His tools translated to impressive college production in a pro-style offense, but there's understandably some concern regarding his ability to jump from FCS football to the NFL. The Eagles may share this concern, as various reports have suggested that they intend to keep Sam Bradford, who was re-signed on a considerable contract during the offseason. Wentz will likely get playing time at some point in 2016, but there's a good chance Bradford will have the reins in Week 1. Although he offers more year-one upside than Goff, it's quite possible Wentz goes undrafted in the vast majority of fantasy leagues.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB (Ohio State), 6-0/225 pounds
Selected fourth overall by Dallas
This is when the draft finally started to get interesting, as it had been widely reported in the previous weeks that Dallas would likely select either Elliott or FSU CB/S Jalen Ramsey. The Cowboys opted to go with the superstar running back, perhaps hoping he can do for the offense what DeMarco Murray did in 2014. While that's obviously a high standard to uphold, Elliott is one of the better running back prospects of the past decade, offering an excellent mix of speed (4.47 40), strength, agility, toughness and receiving ability. He should compete for a three-down job right out of the gate, with Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris likely reduced to complementary/non-existent roles. At this stage, Elliott has the look of an RB1, making him a likely second or third-round selection in most fantasy drafts.
Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor), 5-11/194 pounds
Selected 15th overall by Cleveland
After originally trading back from No. 2 to No. 8, the Browns moved down even further Thursday night, yet still managed to get arguably the best player at a clear position of need. Coleman ran a 4.37 40 at his pro day after crushing the other drills at the NFL Scouting Combine – and he did all this in the wake of a college career that saw him record 3,000 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns in 34 games. His size is the only real question mark, but even a cursory glance at the film makes it clear that he plays bigger than his listed size. While an outright comparison would probably be unfair, Coleman displays many of the same traits as Odell Beckham and Antonio Brown, often winning contested catches over defenders that have a size advantage. Cleveland may not be the best landing spot for his happiness, but Coleman should see plenty of targets from Robert Griffin and/or Josh McCown, as it appears Josh Gordon will likely miss another season. Of the four receivers drafted Thursday night, Coleman is the best bet to put up big numbers as a rookie.
Will Fuller, WR (Notre Dame), 6-0/186 pounds
Selected 21st overall by Houston
Remarkably productive in college, Fuller ran a blazing 4.32 40-yard dash, confirming that he should at least be a credible deep threat at the next level. He's dangerous with the ball in his hands and always a candidate to rip off a big play, but he dropped a lot of passes in college and may struggle to take punishment in the NFL. The Texans might have been better off selecting one of the guys that came off the board shortly thereafter, but with DeAndre Hopkins already gobbling up tons of targets, it did make some sense to go with the home-run threat. It remains to be seen if Fuller is more DeSean Jackson or Ted Ginn.
Josh Doctson, WR (TCU), 6-2/202 pounds
Selected 22nd overall by Washington
The second in a run of three consecutive wideouts, Doctson boosted his draft stock in a big way at the combine, turning in the best vertical jump and second-best broad jump at the position, along with a solid 4.50 in the 40-yard dash. Already 23 years old, the former Wyoming transfer missed the final few games of his senior season with a broken wrist, but only after posting a ridiculous 78-1,326-14 receiving line in 10 games. Doctson also topped 1,000 yards as a junior, giving him a strong combination of production and workout numbers. He's even built some hype as the potential top prospect at his position, and it wasn't out of the question that he could have come off the board around 8-12. In any case, Doctson is fortunate to land with a team that has a solid roster and decent quarterback, but he will have significant competition for targets. The Redskins reportedly intend to retain both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, which means Doctson will have to fight for his snaps. It is possible the team will eventually come to its senses and get rid of the overpaid Garcon.
Laquon Treadwell, WR (Ole Miss), 6-2/221 pounds
Selected 23rd overall by Minnesota
Viewed by many analysts as the top prospect at his position, Treadwell was ultimately just the fourth wide receiver drafted. His drop wasn't actually precipitous, as all four first-round wideouts were selected in a span of nine picks, including three in a row from 21-23. Treadwell hurt his stock a little bit when he ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at the combine, though it wasn't really a surprising time for a receiver who relies on physicality more so than speed. Treadwell's college tape is pretty dominant, with his combination of size, strength and ball-tracking ability rendering his lack of straight-line speed obsolete. At the very least, he should be an excellent real-life No. 2 receiver, as he's already remarkably polished for a 20-year-old. Treadwell has a lot in common with Chicago's Alshon Jeffery, another hulking wideout who seems even bigger than he is. It will be interesting to see if the Vikings open up their passing game now that they have both Treadwell and Stefon Diggs on the outside.
Paxton Lynch, QB (Memphis), 6-7/244 pounds
Selected 26th overall by Denver
As expected, Lynch was the third quarterback to come off the board, even though the Jets and Bills both passed on him. Instead, he landed with a team that has an even greater need at quarterback, not to mention a Super Bowl-ready roster. Lynch is a big, athletic (4.86 40) signal-caller with plenty of long-term upside, and he deserves a good portion of the credit for turning around a previously-moribound Memphis program. However, he played in a very simple offense in college and doesn't seem to be on Goff and Wentz's level from a mental/football IQ perspective.
