Fantasy Football 2012: Ranking the Top 15 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch

When it comes to fantasy football, not all NFL draft prospects are noteworthy, regardless of talent.

For example, USC left tackle Matt Kalil is regarded as the consensus No. 1 offensive line prospect. But in fantasy, the addition of one elite lineman will not substantially transform his team's offensive performance. A running back may gain more yards running to his side, but good defenses adjust to that accordingly.

Likewise, one defensive player prospect can play at an elite level on his NFL team—such as Arizona's Patrick Peterson—yet not move the needle much on his team's overall defensive performance.

While important pieces to the puzzle, such talented players are not as important to fantasy football owners as offensive skill players.

The following are the top 15 NFL draft prospects that fantasy football owners should keep an eye on for 2012. Their projected impact will further shake out once we know their NFL destination, which I will cover in a future article after the draft.

15. TE Dwayne Allen

School: Clemson

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 255

40 speed: 4.65

Projected round taken in draft: first or second

Pros: Solid route-runner; good size; strong run-blocker; quick.

Cons: Not dynamic in any particular area; more suited to short/intermediate passing than true vertical.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Allen's size and route-running ability makes him a good red-zone target. College production has been somewhat modest, but skill set projects him to be a fantasy option to watch.

14. RB LaMichael James

School: Oregon

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 185

40 time: 4.38

Projected round taken in draft: third

Pros: explosive home-run threat on any carry; dynamic, shifty back; very fast.

Cons: struggled against good defenses; lacks weight and lower-body strength to be an every-down back; injury history.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: While arguably the most explosive back in this draft, James does not currently possess the size to be an every-down back, which will limit his touches and fantasy potential. If he can get his weight up to around 200 pounds, he could be like a Jamaal Charles.

13. RB David Wilson

School: Virginia Tech

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 200

40 speed: 4.45

Projected round taken in draft: third

Pros: Good speed; explosive in space; shifty yet fluid runner.

Cons: Fumbling issues; not as impressive in traffic.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Better size than LaMichael James and still explosive in open lanes, Wilson seems a better fit in the NFL than James if Wilson can address the ball security problems.

12. TE Coby Fleener

School: Stanford

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 250

40 speed: 4.79

Projected round taken in draft: second

Pros: Good route-runner; deceptive speed; vertical passing threat.

Cons: Lacks strength.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Fleener is tall with speed that is likely closer to 4.5 or 4.6 than 4.8. With those traits, he poses a matchup problem for defenses much like Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. If he works on getting yardage after the catch and breaking tackles, he will go from merely relevant in fantasy to dominant.

11. WR Alshon Jeffrey

School: South Carolina

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 233

40 speed: 4.50

Projected round taken in draft: second

Pros: Produced despite average quarterback; tall and strong; decent speed; excellent blocker.

Cons: Difficulty getting separation at times; focus issues; weight concerns.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: While regularly touted as the second-most talented wide receiver in the draft, the problems with getting separation and his speed (tackled from behind in the Nebraska game), combined with whispers of character issues, could make him a risky fantasy player.

10. WR Mohamed Sanu

School: Rutgers

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 218

40 speed: 4.50

Projected round taken in draft: first or second

Pros: Good route-runner; size; makes tough catches.

Cons: Decent, but not great, speed.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Sanu has a great skill set: ability to make difficult receptions, runs good routes and height that makes him a red-zone threat. Unfortunately, that can also translate into "possession receiver" in the NFL rather than a star wideout. Where Sanu eventually lands will largely determine whether he becomes a legit fantasy option or not.

9. RB Lamar Miller

School: Miami (FLA)

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 212

40 speed: 4.46

Projected round taken in draft: second

Pros: Fast; good size; can make people miss.

Cons: Not a polished or instinctive runner; doesn't excel in traffic.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Over time, Miller could become Darren McFadden, who also started life in the NFL needing big holes to run through in order to be successful. At this stage, though, Miller is going to need both a team with an uncontested opening at RB and some time to fine-tune his skills. With speed and raw elusiveness, Miller could be a compelling fantasy option, depending on his new home address. The better bet, though, might be his second year in the NFL.

8. RB Chris Polk

School: Washington

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 215

40 speed: 4.46

Projected round taken in draft: second

Pros: Good vision; cutting ability; hits hole quickly.

Cons: No elite qualities.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Polk has generated both enthusiasm and shrugs depending on who you talk to. Polk has good running instincts and would have had better numbers if he played behind a better offensive line. He is also a good receiver. Not afraid of contact, Polk can deliver yards after contact. His value will largely be determined by his future team's scenario.

7. QB Robert Griffin III

School: Baylor

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 220

40 speed: 4.52

Projected round taken in draft: first

Pros: Very strong arm; mobile; accurate; solid decision-making skills; strong work ethic.

Cons: Rarely took snaps under center.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: The Heisman Trophy winner is often compared to Michael Vick and Vince Young, but RG3 is a much more polished passer than either Vick or Young coming out of college. As both a dynamic passer and runner, RG3 could be a fantasy star like Cam Newton.

The biggest question mark is how RG3 will be able to adjust to running NFL offenses. He's also not as big as Newton—or even as big as fellow mobile quarterback Tim Tebow—so durability issues could also come into play if RG3 runs as much as Tebow and Newton in the NFL. Still, he has immense talent, so he's worth watching closely for fantasy.

6. WR Kendall Wright

School: Baylor

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 190

40 speed: 4.39

Projected round taken in draft: first or second

Pros: Speed to burn; excellent hands; quickness.

Cons: Catching the ball in traffic.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Arguably more explosive than the more heralded Justin Blackmon, Wright easily separates from defenders. His elite speed will make him one of the most exciting receivers in fantasy in 2012. Since he was open so often, it's unclear how much he will fight for the ball when he faces tougher defenders in the NFL. But he is an obvious impact player you must watch come draft day for fantasy.

5. WR Michael Floyd

School: Notre Dame

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 228

40 speed: 4.51

Projected round taken in draft: first

Pros: Good hands; size; speed; quickness.

Cons: Off-field issues.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Floyd is a big wide receiver who runs smooth and is quick for his size. He makes spectacular catches, showing good hands that didn't drop his first pass until late in the season. Floyd will be the No. 1 WR on an NFL team, and assuming he has a solid quarterback throwing him the ball, he should be on your fantasy radar.

4. QB Andrew Luck

School: Stanford

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 235

40 speed: 4.72

Projected round taken in draft: first

Pros: Excellent decision-maker; accurate; strong arm; mobile; ideal size.

Cons: Somewhat inconsistent deep ball.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Luck is arguably the best quarterback prospect in years. Not only does he have elite physical talents, but his mental part of the game is equally elite. He operated an NFL-style offense in college, is an outstanding leader and shows great poise under pressure.

The only problem from a fantasy standpoint is making an adjustment to the speed of the NFL game. Eventually, Luck will be among the elite like Rodgers, Brees and Brady. But for 2012, Luck will be successful, though not a fantasy stud.

In keeper or dynasty leagues, Luck ranks higher than he is listed here.

3. WR Justin Blackmon

School: Oklahoma State

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 212

40 speed: 4.48

Projected round taken in draft: first

Pros: Physical; excellent route-runner; quickness.

Cons: Lack of elite speed.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Blackmon became a legend of sorts after his Fiesta Bowl performance (eight receptions, 186 yards, three touchdowns). While he lacks elite speed, he makes up for it with quickness, great route-running, strength and fantastic hands. It's premature to call him a glorified possession receiver in the NFL, as he will still be a dominant WR1 in fantasy despite the lack of burning speed.

2. RB Doug Martin

School: Boise State

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 210

40 speed: 4.46

Projected round taken in draft: second

Pros: Quickness and cutting ability; good vision; excellent receiver.

Cons: Undersized height.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Martin has a strong skill set in quickness, speed, running instincts and ability to run well in traffic. And with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and the strength to stay in during goal-line situations, he becomes a strong candidate to be an every-down back for his future NFL team. All these qualities make him a very desirable player for fantasy in 2012.

1. RB Trent Richardson

School: Alabama

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 224

40 speed: 4.49

Projected round taken in draft: first

Pros: Strong receiver; good in pass protection; lots of yards after the catch.

Cons: Lacks elite speed.

Pre-draft fantasy analysis: Richardson is one of the safest RBs for fantasy to come along in recent memory. He possesses elite quickness, vision, agility, strength and hands. Though he lacks the speed to house any given carry, Richardson is an every-down back that can be compared to Ray Rice.

Whether a PPR league or non-PPR, Richardson will be gold for fantasy owners.