2014 NFL Prospects

[CokeAndBacardi]

Why no love for RB Carlos Hyde out of Ohio State?

My disclaimer: I am an Ohio State fan. But what I see is a big (listed at 6-0, 242) guy that can pound it inside yet has the speed to cut once and go outside. He has also shown some really nice hands on check down passes. He also doesn't have any major medical issues.

His downside is that he is somewhat limited athletically, and doesn't have elite speed. He also served a 3 game suspension for an altercation with a female at a bar. But other players have gotten a chance for much worse offenses.

In the right offense, I think that Hyde has the tools to be a bellcow RB.

To me he's a poor man's version of Le'Veon Bell, another Big 10 back. With the touches he can probably do okay. There just isn't a lot to get excited about based on what I've seen.

[Vendetta]

Updating my top 12 thanks to new information and more viewings of different players. (disclaimer that I haven't seen all of these prospects play extensively so some is more word of mouth buzz)

1. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson (haven't seen anything yet to move him out of the top spot)
2. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin (really warming up to his talent)
3. Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt (probably way higher on him than most but he seems solid all-around and doesn't look like he'll bust)
4. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon (wow factor but might need more seasoning but rocketing up draft boards, rank accordingly)
5. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor (bumping him down mostly due to the rise of Mariota and Gordon)
6. Marqise Lee, WR, USC (a lot of other receivers are stepping up this season and he's slowly dropping in my rankings, possibly undeserved but I'm nervous about him)
7. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M (another guy I'm on the fence on. eye popping stats but something about him just isn't clicking with me)
8. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina (less risk than ASJ and producing weekly, having a great season)
9. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville (not as sold as I was before, still very talented but curious about his competition a bit)
10. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State (honestly haven't seen him play but have been reading tons of great things, will likely be rising on my boards soon)
11. Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona
12. Bshop Sankey, RB, Washington (these last two guys are probably the best of the remaining RBs so they'll likely get pushed up boards due to positional scarcity...talent or not, I'll let somebody else worry about Jeremy Hill)

[Cy23]

Updating my top 12 thanks to new information and more viewings of different players. (disclaimer that I haven't seen all of these prospects play extensively so some is more word of mouth buzz)

1. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson (haven't seen anything yet to move him out of the top spot)
2. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin (really warming up to his talent)
3. Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt (probably way higher on him than most but he seems solid all-around and doesn't look like he'll bust)
4. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon (wow factor but might need more seasoning but rocketing up draft boards, rank accordingly)
5. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor (bumping him down mostly due to the rise of Mariota and Gordon)
6. Marqise Lee, WR, USC (a lot of other receivers are stepping up this season and he's slowly dropping in my rankings, possibly undeserved but I'm nervous about him)
7. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M (another guy I'm on the fence on. eye popping stats but something about him just isn't clicking with me)
8. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina (less risk than ASJ and producing weekly, having a great season)
9. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville (not as sold as I was before, still very talented but curious about his competition a bit)
10. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State (honestly haven't seen him play but have been reading tons of great things, will likely be rising on my boards soon)
11. Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona
12. Bshop Sankey, RB, Washington (these last two guys are probably the best of the remaining RBs so they'll likely get pushed up boards due to positional scarcity...talent or not, I'll let somebody else worry about Jeremy Hill)

Good to see some rankings... I am going to make a point to laminate my rankings pre-combine and not touch them. Keenan Allen was high on my list last year, but I missed him in every league because I devalued him.

[CL3VELANDBR0WNS]

Seastrunk would be my number one running back on my board if the season ended today.

[CokeAndBacardi]

Look for Marquise Lee to have a big day today. He broke out last game and gets Cal's last ranked pass d. 340+ YPG and a TD:INT ratio of 21:4.

[CL3VELANDBR0WNS]

Whoa look at this report
Arizona State head coach Todd Graham said Oregon State junior Brandin Cooks is the best WR he has seen on film in the Pac-12.
If Graham includes his tenure at Arizona State, not just this season, that means Cooks beats the likes of USC's Marqise Lee, Robert Woods, Colorado's Paul Richardson, Oregon State's Markus Wheaton, and Cal's Keenan Allen. We can't disagree very much, as Cooks consistently separates form the slot or outside and doesn't mind showing off his catch radius.
Source: rotoworld

[CokeAndBacardi]

Whoa look at this report
Arizona State head coach Todd Graham said Oregon State junior Brandin Cooks is the best WR he has seen on film in the Pac-12.
If Graham includes his tenure at Arizona State, not just this season, that means Cooks beats the likes of USC's Marqise Lee, Robert Woods, Colorado's Paul Richardson, Oregon State's Markus Wheaton, and Cal's Keenan Allen. We can't disagree very much, as Cooks consistently separates form the slot or outside and doesn't mind showing off his catch radius.
Source: rotoworld

He averages a line of about 10/150/1.5. It's ridiculous and he looks pretty good. Cooks is why I play college football fantasy as well. Most don't hear about kids like this until February if you don't.

[clarion contrarion]

Whoa look at this report
Arizona State head coach Todd Graham said Oregon State junior Brandin Cooks is the best WR he has seen on film in the Pac-12.
If Graham includes his tenure at Arizona State, not just this season, that means Cooks beats the likes of USC's Marqise Lee, Robert Woods, Colorado's Paul Richardson, Oregon State's Markus Wheaton, and Cal's Keenan Allen. We can't disagree very much, as Cooks consistently separates form the slot or outside and doesn't mind showing off his catch radius.
Source: rotoworld

watch the film of him.... always has separation and roadrunner meep meep speed
he is smallish and that doesn't scream wr1 .... but a santana moss ty hilton type of guy for sure

[the_lung]

I normally view these kind of reports as fluff pieces...coaches at both the college and NFL level are ALWAYS fluffing their upcoming opponent's best player in their pressers. However, it can help to put a guy on my radar and make me tune into a game I might not normally check out. Unfortunately this game is being broadcasted I believe on the PAC-12 Network and not one of the standard networks.

[Dingram]

I normally view these kind of reports as fluff pieces...coaches at both the college and NFL level are ALWAYS fluffing their upcoming opponent's best player in their pressers. However, it can help to put a guy on my radar and make me tune into a game I might not normally check out. Unfortunately this game is being broadcasted I believe on the PAC-12 Network and not one of the standard networks.

I would be able to offer an opinion if I could take my eyes off the_lung's avatar!! Haha nice

[BadgerYou]

Updating my top 12 thanks to new information and more viewings of different players. (disclaimer that I haven't seen all of these prospects play extensively so some is more word of mouth buzz)

1. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson (haven't seen anything yet to move him out of the top spot)
2. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin (really warming up to his talent)
3. Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt (probably way higher on him than most but he seems solid all-around and doesn't look like he'll bust)
4. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon (wow factor but might need more seasoning but rocketing up draft boards, rank accordingly)
5. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor (bumping him down mostly due to the rise of Mariota and Gordon)
6. Marqise Lee, WR, USC (a lot of other receivers are stepping up this season and he's slowly dropping in my rankings, possibly undeserved but I'm nervous about him)
7. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M (another guy I'm on the fence on. eye popping stats but something about him just isn't clicking with me)
8. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina (less risk than ASJ and producing weekly, having a great season)
9. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville (not as sold as I was before, still very talented but curious about his competition a bit)
10. Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State (honestly haven't seen him play but have been reading tons of great things, will likely be rising on my boards soon)
11. Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona
12. Bshop Sankey, RB, Washington (these last two guys are probably the best of the remaining RBs so they'll likely get pushed up boards due to positional scarcity...talent or not, I'll let somebody else worry about Jeremy Hill)

So I'm going to take this list and modifying it to a 2QB league ranking (since that's what I roll around in)

1. Sammy
2. Gordon - He isn't the average plodder Wisconsin is known for (I know I've watched them all)
3. Mariota
4. Hundley (IF he comes out, probably won't)
5. Bridgewater
6. Seastrunk - I must admit I haven't seen much of his play this year
7. Evans
8. Lee
9. Amaro
10/11. Ebron/ASJ (Depending on if you want the higher ceiling or the safer pick?)
12/13. Matthews/Robinson (I like Matthews more and he should probably be ranked higher but I haven't seen enough of his tape to just toss him up there)
14/15. Sankey/Carey (I like Sankey better, but Carey looks solid)
16. Manziel (in my 2 qb league this guy will be taken before pick 12 in my league due to the importance of the position)
17-21. The next 5 qb's depending on where they get drafted/if they get a chance at starting (this is me being lazy)
22-23. De. Thomas/Ja. White (these guys always scare me, so situation dependant but great talents but I always get sucked in to the "Sproles" type of jack of all trades roles they could fall into)
24-30. ALL WRs that should realistically be rated higher but I know thats not how its going to go on my leagues draft day. The likes of (Cooks, Moncrief, Coleman, Aberderris)

This is a quick and dirty list that I have started on about 10 - 15 post-it notes on my desktop.

[Vendetta]

Been hearing lately that Gordon is leaning towards staying in school which would really suck.

[CL3VELANDBR0WNS]

Carlos Hyde and Jay Ajayi are starting to climb my "board".
If Gordon stays in school, I would say that Carlos Hyde may offer the best NFL size and vision out of any back in the upcoming class.

[Vendetta]

Thanks for those two names, I'll do some research on them. I was looking at Ka'Deem Carey and Bishop Sankey a fair bit today and while I like them as prospects I'm not in love with them either. I don't think either have the speed necessary to be elite so they'd likely top out as RB2's for fantasy purposes which would still make them worth of a 1st round selection in rookie drafts but likely near the back half of the round. If Gordon stays in school I'd venture that the top 6 might feature as many as 5 WRs. I'm slowly becoming less enthused about Lache Seastrunk. Great playmaker and speed but doesn't look great between the tackles and I wonder about him being more of a complimentary back in the NFL rather than a true #1.

[Seventy5]

He's a little short and may have some limitations, but Aaron Murray can ball