This article is part of our NFL Offseason Watch series.
It may seem a bit early to focus on fantasy football, but with the draft completed and the major free agents under contract, we actually have a pretty good idea of what most teams' rosters will look like.
Earlier this week I wrote a blog focused on veteran players that saw their stock fall during the draft, looking at things from an individual/fantasy-oriented perspective.
Of course, while some players saw their teams add serious competition, others received silent votes of confidence, leaving them in good position to occupy leading roles in 2016.
Browns QB Robert Griffin
After trading back twice in the first round, the Browns waited until late in Round 3 to select a quarterback, going with USC's Cody Kessler at No. 93 overall. Though he may technically get a chance to compete with Griffin and Josh McCown for the starting job, Kessler doesn't offer much in the way short or long-term upside, standing at just 6-1 with middling arm strength and mobility (4.89 40). The former Trojan likely could've been had a round or two later, and there were other quarterbacks still available that would've made more sense for a rebuilding team.
While questionable from a team perspective, the decision to select Kessler was excellent news for Griffin, who won't have to worry about fending off a highly drafted rookie. He also got some much-needed help in the form of wide receivers Corey Coleman (15th overall), Ricardo Louis (4th round), Jordan Payton (5th) and Rashard Higgins (5th). Even
It may seem a bit early to focus on fantasy football, but with the draft completed and the major free agents under contract, we actually have a pretty good idea of what most teams' rosters will look like.
Earlier this week I wrote a blog focused on veteran players that saw their stock fall during the draft, looking at things from an individual/fantasy-oriented perspective.
Of course, while some players saw their teams add serious competition, others received silent votes of confidence, leaving them in good position to occupy leading roles in 2016.
Browns QB Robert Griffin
After trading back twice in the first round, the Browns waited until late in Round 3 to select a quarterback, going with USC's Cody Kessler at No. 93 overall. Though he may technically get a chance to compete with Griffin and Josh McCown for the starting job, Kessler doesn't offer much in the way short or long-term upside, standing at just 6-1 with middling arm strength and mobility (4.89 40). The former Trojan likely could've been had a round or two later, and there were other quarterbacks still available that would've made more sense for a rebuilding team.
While questionable from a team perspective, the decision to select Kessler was excellent news for Griffin, who won't have to worry about fending off a highly drafted rookie. He also got some much-needed help in the form of wide receivers Corey Coleman (15th overall), Ricardo Louis (4th round), Jordan Payton (5th) and Rashard Higgins (5th). Even with Josh Gordon in danger of being suspended for another year, RG3 should now have a functional group of weapons, which was no sure thing a couple weeks ago.
Also interesting: The Browns didn't draft any running backs, suggesting that we're in for a second straight year of the Isaiah Crowell-Duke Johnson backfield. Johnson impressed as a receiving threat last season, but the duo isn't especially promising from a run-game perspective. Perhaps RG3's presence, assuming he starts, will help to open up some lanes for the running backs.
Redskins RB Matt Jones
If it wasn't already obvious, the Redskins are confident in Jones' ability to lead their 2016 backfield. The team lost Alfred Morris to the rival Cowboys and failed to add any notable free agents at the position, yet still waited until the seventh round to draft a running back, Georgia's Keith Marshall.
A third-round pick last year, Jones possesses excellent athleticism and surprisingly strong pass-game skills for a 6-2, 230-pound runner – but he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry as a rookie while fumbling five times (four lost) on 163 touches.
Although Chris Thompson figures to steal a good chunk of the receiving workload, there's no real competition for the starting job in what will at least be a decent offense. Mere competence is all that should be needed for Jones to provide RB2 value – and there's RB1 upside if he actually plays well.
Broncos QB Mark Sanchez
Rather than trade for Colin Kaepernick or Sam Bradford, the Broncos selected Paxton Lynch at No. 26 overall, opting for long-term upside over a (possible) short-term solution. First-round quarterbacks usually end up starting sooner rather than later, but Lynch has a lot to learn after playing in a simplistic offense against middling competition during his time at U of Memphis.
Furthermore, the Broncos have a roster that's otherwise Super Bowl-caliber (duh), which works strongly in Sanchez's favor. It's tough to justify starting a mediocre veteran over a promising rookie when you're sitting at 2-6 in Week 9; not so much if an elite defense has your team right in the thick of the playoff hunt.
Sanchez may prove to be an improvement from last season's disastrous Manning-Osweiler duo, but even with Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders lifting him up, he probably won't have much of a fantasy impact outside of two-QB leagues. The Broncos undoubtedly plan to rely on their running game and defense.
Dolphins RB Jay Ajayi
Miami reportedly made a real effort to retain Lamar Miller, then signed C.J. Anderson to a four-year, $18 million offer sheet that was eventually matched by the Broncos. Having missed out on two of the biggest names in free agency, the Dolphins were a strong candidate to make a splash at running back during the draft, with some rumors suggesting they might even trade up for Ezekiel Elliott.
Instead, the Dolphins waited until Round 3 to select Kenyan Drake, who backed up Eddie Lacy, T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry during his four years at Alabama. I don't really have an issue with where Drake was selected, but he would have made more sense as a luxury pick for a team that wants a speedy change-of-pace runner and special teams contributor.
Not to say the Dolphins couldn't use that type of player, but given the current state of their depth chart, it would have also been wise to target a guy with more lead-back potential – perhaps Utah product Devontae Booker or Louisiana Tech product Kenneth Dixon, both of whom lasted until the supplemental portion of the fourth round. In fact, the Dolphins easily could have selected one of those players without sacrificing Drake.
Anyway, Ajayi is now the clear favorite to lead Miami's backfield, despite averaging just 3.8 yards on 49 carries as a fifth-round rookie last season. I do think the Dolphins are interested in Arian Foster (Achilles), who remains unsigned but still wants to play (if he's healthy enough to do so). He visited the Dolphins in late March and is reportedly in no hurry to sign a contract.
Eagles RB Ryan Mathews
The Eagles traded DeMarco Murray, opted not to add any notable free agents, and then didn't select a running back until the fifth round of the draft. Everything points to Mathews handling a sizable workload, even if Darren Sproles and rookie Wendell Smallwood also have roles.
Philadelphia won't be running Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense and probably won't win many games, but Mathews should still get plenty of carries when he's healthy.
Falcons WR Mohamed Sanu
The Falcons had a very obvious need for a No. 2 wide receiver, but they appear to have unknowingly settled for a No. 3, with Sanu's five-year, $32.5 million contract arguably representing the biggest over-pay of the 2016 offseason.
Given the team's utter lack of passing-game weapons to complement Julio Jones, it seemed another wide receiver might be added in the early rounds of the draft. The Falcons did select TE Austin Hooper in the third round, but the only wideout they drafted was UCLA's Devin Fuller in Round 7.
I don't think he's good enough to take advantage, but Sanu does have a real shot to reach triple-digit targets, which at least makes him worthy of a late-round flier in most leagues.
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