2012 NFL Draft: 8 Top Non-QBs for Your Dynasty League

It’s fair to say the 2012 Draft coverage has been QB-centric. Of course, it’s been over a decade since two QB prospects have been as highly regarded as Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. And the last time QBs went No. 1 and No. 2 overall was 1999 when Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb were selected by the Browns and Eagles.

But if your dynasty QB is already in place, and you’re not a Colts or Redskins fan, the lack of coverage at the other skill positions is disconcerting.

Even Ryan Tannehill, the projected third QB off the board, has been getting more press lately than the top RB (Trent Richardson) and top WR (Justin Blackmon).

So before your Free Agent/Rookies dynasty draft, here’s a look at the top non-QB prospects for your dynasty league.

And because this is for dynasty, any lingering or past issues that could come into the play and affect the player’s performance or ability to remain on the field in the future will be mentioned.

Trent Richardson, RB 

Richardson should step in to a major role wherever he goes, whether it’s Cleveland, Tampa Bay (as B/r’s Matt Miller has projected) or elsewhere. In 2011 for Alabama, Richardson rushed for 1,679 yards at a clip of 5.9 per carry. He is a solid 5’11”, 224 lbs.

Richardson lacks straight-line speed, but has been compared to Emmitt Smith because of his power and ability between the tackles. 

Of course, Richardson seems like a good person as well, a positive for any team that drafts him, as he accepted a 17-year-old cancer-survivor’s request to accompany her to her high school prom.

Justin Blackmon, WR

Blackmon is the No. 1-rated receiver of the draft as the back-to-back Biletnikoff award winner. The only knock on Blackmon has been his lack of speed, but Blackmon can be physical and use route running to get separation. Blackmon did not run at the NFL combine, but ran a 4.46 40-yard dash during his pro day.

Many of the top receivers in this draft have had off-the-field concerns: For Blackmon, it was a DUI arrest in 2010.

Michael Floyd, WR

Floyd, at 6’3” and 220 lbs, is a bigger receiver than Blackmon and had a similar 40-time (4.47 to 4.46 for Blackmon). Both Blackmon and Floyd could come in and produce very good fantasy numbers in their first seasons, much like A.J. Green and Julio Jones did last year.

Three off-the-field alcohol related arrests while at Notre Dame are a bit of a concern. Floyd was stripped of his captaincy before the start of last season.

Coby Fleener, TE

This Stanford product fits the mold as the type of TE that has been dominating the NFL in recent years. He has the size, 6’6”, 247 lbs, and speed that create matchup problems. He ran a 4.52 at the combine but was reportedly in the mid-4.4s at his pro day. With most teams running some two-TE sets pretty regularly, he should see action wherever he lands.

Kendall Wright, WR

RGIII’s main target at Baylor is a top pro prospect as well, drawing comparisons to Carolina’s Steve Smith, another receiver who lacks size but has been successful in the NFL. Wright could also add fantasy points early on in his career as a returner.

Dwayne Allen, TE

Allen won the John Mackey Award in 2011 as the nation’s best TE, but he rates lower than Fleener on most draft boards because of a slow 40-time (4.89 at the combine). Positives include his great hands and that he played in a pro-style offense at Clemson. He’s been projected to Atlanta in the 2nd round, where he could benefit from playing with Tony Gonzalez.

Doug Martin, RB

Martin has been rising on draft boards since his last game with Boise State, where he totaled 301 all-purpose yards in the Las Vegas Bowl. He has a compact build and is very strong (28 reps at 225 lbs at the combine). He’s projected as an early second-rounder and should see some carries right away wherever he goes. 

David Wilson, RB

Wilson’s a high-energy, maximum-effort player who produced great numbers in college, rushing for 1,709 yards at 5.9 per carry in 2011. A negative may be Wilson’s coachability though, as he openly questioned play-calling while at Virginia Tech.