Fantasy Football Brothers Nightmare & Dream Scenarios

We here at Fantasy Football Brothers recognize good cinema when we see it, so with the upcoming release (April 30th) of the remake Nightmare on Elm Street we present our own little tribute. It is our Nightmare vs. Dream scenarios that happened in the NFL Draft, especially what it all means in the  world of fantasy football.

The NFL Draft was full of surprises and full of Tim Tebow’s family. It is sad to say that the new time slot was a hit, so I don’t think they will be going back to the old format anytime soon. This was one of the deepest drafts in recent memory, and you had players being taken off the board in Round 7 that could be classified as “impact” type players.

Many notable players even went undrafted, only to be signed after the draft. That is a different article for a different day, but this article has to do with situations the drafted players found themselves in come draft day, and how it affects you in future drafts. So take notice, because the ‘Hood is Back, better than ever.

Nightmare Scenarios

Quarterbacks

QB-Sam Bradford—St. Louis Rams:  Bradford was the first pick overall. That comes with a warning since number one picks usually go to a lousy team, which the Rams are.

The team beefed up the line with the addition of Rodger Saffold out of Indiana, and gave him a new weapon in Mardy Gilyard of Cincinnati.

We worry about Bradford’s ability to dissect a defense at the NFL level. The Rams’ offensive line is still learning and the teams’ wide receivers (Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton) have been hampered by injury.

Bradford fantasy wise is a pass in redraft leagues and a borderline stash/save guy in dynasty/keeper formats.

QB-Tim Tebow—Denver Broncos:  Tebow was the biggest surprise of the draft, getting drafted 25 overall. That does not mean that you should go and surprise everyone on your draft night and draft him.

Tebow has had more than enough publicity already, and all the coverage on draft day made me want to hurl into my trashcan. Tebow is a pass in all formats.

Running Backs

RB-C.J. Spiller—Buffalo Bills:  Spiller could not have landed in a worse situation than in Buffalo. 

He now joins two other good backs in Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. This potential three-headed monster will be a situation to stay away from on draft day.

Given the fact that the Bills haven’t done much to address their offensive line, or that there were no apparent takers for Lynch’s services, we remain cautiously optimistic about Spiller’s value.

Spiller is a stash/save guy in all formats, and is the #3 rookie back to target on draft day in rookie leagues.

RB-Dexter McCluster—Kansas City Chiefs:  McCluster’s selection by the Chiefs has me baffled, but with Scott Pioli pulling the strings it’s hard to start second guessing.

While McCluster wasn’t a need pick by the Chiefs with the presence of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, he does give the team an explosive third down back who can catch out of the backfield, and is skilled in picking up blitzes for a player his age and size.

McCluster is a stash/save guy in all formats and is the #5 rookie back to target on draft day in rookie leagues.

RB-Montario Hardesty—Cleveland Browns:  Upon first look he almost landed in our Dream Scenario, but upon further review we’ll pass. The guy always seems to be injured.

Granted he has played through injuries in college, but the NFL is an unforgiving league. Hardesty will have to compete with fellow back Jerome Harrison, who tore it up at the end of last year, a healthy James Davis, and a lingering Chris Jennings.

We think Hardesty might stake his claim as a short yardage guy, or even a goal line vulture, but his injury history is too extensive to recommend. Hardesty is a guy to monitor and we rate him our #6 rookie back.

Dream Scenarios

Quarterbacks

QB-Jimmy Clausen—Carolina Panthers:  Clausen had to wait a little while to have his name called on draft day. The good news is he finds himself in a great situation on a team full of talent.

Clausen is a good fit for this offense, and is way ahead of schedule since he played in a pro-style offense at Notre Dame.

Carolina was in need of another QB with the release of Jake Delhomme. Clausen should compete with incumbent QB Matt Moore right away. Clausen is a guy to monitor and have on your radar come draft day.

QB-Colt McCoy—Cleveland Browns:  McCoy is another quarterback that has landed in a good situation. While he did have to wait, he did land right in Cleveland’s lap at 85 overall.

McCoy won’t have a lot of pressure to play right away. The QB’s in front of him are Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, so it might not be long before the Browns’ fans start chanting his name. McCoy is a pass in all formats, but monitor the situation.

Running Backs

RB-Ryan Mathews—San Diego Chargers:  Mathews lands in a perfect situation to the perfect team for his services. Fantasy Football Brothers thought he was the best back in the draft, and apparently so did the Charger’s who moved up to snag him.

He is a special blend of speed and power that will fit right in to the Charger’s offense.  He will be a nice compliment to Darren Sproles. Mathews should be targeted in all formats and is the #1 back to target in rookie leagues.

RB-Jahvid Best—Detroit Lions:  Best surprised most draft gurus by going in the first round. The Lion’s saw the value and they moved up to get him. The Lions’ situation at running back remains unsettled with Kevin Smith’s knee injury.

Best is explosive and can be a dynamic piece to this offense as a complimentary back to Maurice Morris. We look for Best to get around 8-10 touches per game as Detroit will find ways to utilize Best’s skills. Best is a guy to target on draft day and is the #2 back in rookie leagues.

RB-Toby Gerhart—Minnesota Vikings:  Gerhart was not drafted to be a replacement for Chester Taylor, but he does find himself in a good spot. Gerhart will aid in short yardage situations, which will keep Adrian Peterson healthy.

Don’t be surprised if Gerhart becomes the goal line back for the Vikings as Peterson has become fumble prone in recent years. Gerhart is a guy to handcuff with Peterson and to target in the later rounds.

RB-Ben Tate—Houston Texans:  Tate at first glance would seem to fit in the Nightmare category, but upon further review he seems like a guy that could separate himself from the pack.

Steve Slaton is coming off neck surgery and Ryan Moats was a one game wonder. Arian Foster appears to be the only road block in Tate’s way, and we believe with his combination of size and speed he will win the job.

Tate is a situation to monitor in camp and on draft day, we also believe he is the #4 back to target in rookie leagues.

Wide Receivers

WR-Dez Bryant—Dallas Cowboys:  Bryant fell down the draft board on draft day. Owner Jerry Jones didn’t let him go too far and moved up to grab him.

Bryant finds himself in a good offense with a quarterback in Tony Romo who will get him the ball. Bryant is a nice compliment alongside Miles Austin.

Watch camp closely to see if he outplays underperforming Roy Williams who could be on the move. As my fellow writer Shaun said, “They didn’t give him #88 to sit on the bench.”

Bryant is a guy to target in all formats and is our #1 rookie receiver in rookie leagues. This will seriously hamper Kevin Ogletree’s value, sorry Paul.

WR-Golden Tate—Seattle Seahawks:  Tate will have a chance to produce the moment he steps on the field. He finds himself in an offense that is in transition.

He will have a capable veteran QB in Matt Hasselbeck. Hass can sling it, if healthy, and given time in the pocket.

Tate will do his best work over the middle when opposing defenses are focused on stopping T.J. Houshmanzadeh. Tate is a guy to target on draft day and we view him as our #2 rookie receiver.

WR-Demaryius Thomas—Denver Broncos:  Thomas was a must get for a team in need of a wide receiver. Especially after the recent departure of Brandon Marshall to Miami.

Thomas is big and fast, but is extremely raw. He will have to improve his route running to be productive. The Broncos will look to utilize his skills in a passing game that was, at times stagnant last season. Thomas is a guy to have on your radar come draft day and is our # 3 rookie receiver.

WR-Arrelious Benn—Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  Benn lands in receiver starved Tampa Bay. Even more so with the recent departure of Antonio Bryant to Cincinnati.

Benn’s growth as a receiver was stunted by poor quarterback play while at Illinois. He must improve his route running to be productive.

He gives the Buccaneers a potential capable playmaker in a sea of disappointing receivers (Reggie Brown, Michael Clayton, and Maurice Stovall).  Benn is a guy to have on your radar, we view him as our #4 rookie receiver.

WR-Eric Decker—Denver Broncos:  Decker we believe was underrated on draft day, while he is not a burner, he is sure-handed guy that is not afraid to go across the middle and take punishment.

Decker is a nice fit into Denver’s offense, we view him as the heir apparent to Brandon Stokley, only a little more versatile. Decker bears watching and we love his upside.

WR-Brandon LaFell—Carolina Panthers:  LaFell was highly rated to start the college season, but his star lost some shine, and we think it had more to do with quarterback play than it did with LaFell himself.

Yes, he doesn’t always catch the easiest of passes, but what he does do is offer the Panther’s a physical receiver that they have been looking for to play alongside Steve Smith. LaFell could offer sleeper value this year, should be monitored, and we have him as our #5 rookie receiver.

Tight Ends

TE-Jermaine Gresham—Cincinnati Bengals:  Most mockers had it right with Gresham going to the Bengals. Gresham is the best tight end in the rookie class, and he goes to a team that hasn’t utilized their tight ends in the past.

That all could change as Gresham will work the middle of the field and his yards after catch (YAC) will be his biggest asset. Gresham is a guy to have on your radar as we love his “potential”.

TE-Aaron Hernandez—New England Patriots:  Hernandez is a pass catcher, not a blocker, and that will get him on the field quicker as the Patriots will look to give QB Tom Brady another sure handed weapon with the loss of WR Wes Welker. Hernandez is another player whose YAC will pay dividends in the passing game. If you are targeting a tight end in New England, Hernandez is your guy.