Fantasy Football: Dynasty League Rookie Mock Draft

1. Julio Jones – We have Jones mocked first overall due to the crowded backfields top talents like Ingram, Williams and LeShoure will be joining and due to the fact that the Bengals have Andy Dalton pegged as their starting QB. Jones has a great opportunity in Atlanta and it will probably be only a year or two before Jones overtakes Roddy White as the number one receiver on this team. Matt Ryan can now be counted among the elite potential QB’s with all the weapons at his disposal and Jones seems destined for a long and successful career with Matt Ryan under center.

2. A.J Green – A.J Green was the consensus number one receiver in this draft class but landed in an unenviable position with the Cincinnati Bengals. With Carson Palmer swearing he will never play another down in a Bengals uniform A.J Green will likely have rookie QB Andy Dalton throwing passes his way. Ochocinco is rumored to be on the chopping block so the talented Green will likely step right in as the number one receiver with Jerome Simpson as the number two with Jordan Shipley in the slot. We will not fault you for picking Green over Jones as he has the #1 job already sewn up but Dalton is nowhere near the talent of Matt Ryan and we like Jones’ dynasty prospects better.

3. Mark Ingram – Although other running backs like Daniel Thomas and Roy Helu will have a greater opportunity to succeed in their first seasons in the NFL, Ingram’s no-nonsense running style coupled with the New Orleans Saints explosive offense make Ingram too tantalizing a prospect to pass up at third overall. We expect former Heisman winner Mark Ingram to get 16-18 touches a week and to function as the teams goal-line back. He will lose passing down work to Pierre Thomas if he is still in town. He should grab hold of the featured role by 2012.

4. Ryan Williams – Though the Cardinals backfield is full of serviceable backs, Williams is easily the most complete back of the three and should be handed the featured role right out of the gate. Beanie Wells is on notice and has promised to be better than ever this year but will by all accounts get the smaller piece of the pie in a probable 60/40 split. Williams may end up as the most productive back in this draft class when all is said and done.

5. Daniel Thomas – You have to watch tape on Thomas to truly appreciate the type of skill he has at his size. Thomas is a perfect fit for the Dolphins all the way down to the fact that he is a former QB more than capable of manning the wildcat. Thomas is the early favorite for offensive rookie of the year and is already a sure-fire RB3 with RB2 upside. Potential future additions to this backfield are the main reason he is ranked lower than Ingram and Williams. Remember we are mocking based on long-term value, those who end up with the first overall pick and need a running back will want to give Thomas serious consideration at number one.

6. Mikel LeShoure – LeShoure is brimming with talent but is heading to Detroit to play behind Jahvid Best. While Best is injury prone, he will be the lead back in this committee. Detroit brass has said that LeShoure may get featured touches against 3-4 defenses where a power back is the better strategic option. LeShoure is arguably the 2nd most talented running back in this draft class and is only ranked so low due to the exceptional talents of his backfield mate Jahvid Best. LeShoure is a bench option with flex upside and a must-have handcuff for Jahvid Best owners. LeShoure is more suited to be a featured back than Jahvid Best and should eventually assume the number one role, although that may not happen for a couple of years.

7. Shane Vereen – Shane Vereen seems to have landed in an ideal situation in New Engalnd playing with a high octane offense on which he will be featured on all passing plays. Vereen is expected to have the lead back role in New England with 16-18 touches per week with fellow rookie Stevan Ridley playing the change of pace and short-yardage role. Vereen has exceptional hands and will make an even bigger impact in PPR formats. He was drafted for a featured role and despite his size is one of the strongest running backs in this draft class. He projects as a flex2 option in year one and should become an emerging stud by 2012.

8. Roy Helu – Roy Helu is entering an ideal situation in Washington and has a chance to be one of the top rookie running backs in 2011. Mike Shanahan has opened some eyes by comparing him to a young Clinton Portis. Helu has breakaway speed and can explode downfield once he finds a crease. Helu is a one cut runner and is a perfect fit for the Shanahan’s one-cut, zone-blocking scheme. Helu has only Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams to beat out for the starting job and by all accounts Helu is the most talented of the three. We expect talent to win out and for Helu to grab a hold of the starting job by mid-season. Helu is a bench option with low-end flex value upside. We do not like his long-term dynasty league prospects as we expect an addition to this backfield by 2012.

9. Jonathan Baldwin – Baldwin is going to take some time to put it all together especially with news emerging that Todd Haley intends to play tough love with the purported ‘Diva in the making’ in Baldwin, somewhat similar to what he did with Dwayne Bowe. Baldwin has the chance to be the number one receiver for the Chiefs if Bowe is not retained when he hits free agency in 2012. By all accounts Baldwin will be slow to develop due to his struggles with press coverage and also due to the fact that he plays on the most decidedly run-first team in the NFL. With that said Baldwin has shown that he has possession receiver skills and has no fear running routes over the middle. He is a big bodied, red-zone weapon and should emerge with flex 2 value from about week 8 on. Long-term he projects as a solid WR3.

10. Leonard Hankerson – Hankerson is full of potential and should find his way into the starting lineup from week one if the lockout is lifted in time. Regardless Hankerson is the only receiver on this roster truly suited for a number one receiver role and should be firmly entrenched in that role by mid-season. Hankerson is an accomplished vertical threat and can also churn out a decent ypa on short passes. He may not have as good a rookie season as Greg Little but he has a much greater shot at being the number one receiver on his team past the 2011 season.

11. Greg Little – Little is expected to immediately as the Browns #1 receiver and is a good bet to finish as the top rookie receiver in fantasy. He is not as talented as a Julio Jones or A.J Green, but is flying under the radar due to missing the entire 2010 NCAA season. The concern with Little is that we expect the Browns to bring in some top-notch competition for Little either through free agency or the 2012 draft which would push him to the number two role he is probably more suited for. With that said the Browns already have their vertical threat in Massaquoi and Little can focus on his west coast routes and display his incredible yards after the catch ability. The former running back is looking like a flex option with WR3 upside in his rookie campaign. Long-term Little has WR2 upside.

12. Austin Pettis – Austin Pettis joins Josh McDaniels’ pass-happy offense and he is expected to step in as the number one receiver. A big bodied, red-zone option with crisp route running and soft hands, this is exactly the type of receiver Sam Bradford needed to take his game to the next level. Pettis is looking like a bench option with flex upside in his rookie season. Long-term we expect Pettis to settle in as the number two receiver for Sam Bradford and as a flex option in fantasy.