Fantasy Football 2012: 6 NFL Draft Prospects To Watch in the Later Rounds

While the majority of analysis of the NFL Draft is focused on Rounds 1 and 2, there are impact players in the fantasy game that came from Round 3 and beyond. Last year, DeMarco Murray (Round 3), Roy Helu (Round 4) and Denarius Moore (Round 5) all made fantasy impacts after being selected in the later rounds of the draft. Here are six guys that could be taken in Round 3 or later and appear on fantasy rosters in 2012.

LaMichael James, RB

There really shouldn’t be a debate anymore on whether a back like James can succeed in the NFL. Listed at 5’8” and 194 lbs, he’ll be one of the smallest players drafted. But Darren Sproles (5’6”), Maurice Jones Drew (5’7”) and Ray Rice (5’8”) have proven that smaller backs can succeed in today’s NFL.  James’ speed, elusiveness, and toughness should make him an impact player in 2012.

Bernard Pierce, RB

On the flip side of James is Bernard Pierce. Pierce is one of the bigger backs available in the draft at 6’, 218 lbs. He clocked a respectable RB 40-yard time of 4.49, the same as Trent Richardson and David Wilson. A knock on Pierce is that he runs tall, but he’s patient and big enough to absorb contact.

Orson Charles, TE

Charles may drop a bit further down draft boards with the unfortunate timing of a DUI arrest in March. However, Charles was a team captain and honor-roll student at Georgia. He did not run at the NFL Combine but did crush the rest of the TE-field with 35 reps at 225 lbs. Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen tied for second at 27 reps.

Taylor Thompson, TE

Thompson was exclusively a DE at SMU but was a TE in high school and worked out as a TE at the combine. He’s a project, but has the size (6’6”, 259 lbs) and speed (4.57 40-yard dash) of an ideal TE. Much like Jimmy Graham in his rookie season of 2010, Thompson could start slow but pick up production (and TDs) in the later weeks of the NFL season.

Tommy Streeter, WR

Streeter, out of Miami, is a big (6’5”, 219 lbs) and fast (4.40 40-yard dash) WR that will need to develop a bit before he’s an every-down guy. However, he can step in with a team right away as a red zone target as he can win the battles for contested throws.

Michael Smith, RB 

Smith is the (deep) sleeper of the RB class as he could go as late as Round 6. The back from Utah State impressed at the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.36 40-yard dash. He ran a 4.33 at his pro day. Overall, the other numbers from his pro day were impressive, including 23 reps at 225 lbs and a 40.5 inch vertical. Smith could be valuable to an NFL team right away as KR/PR or a change-of-pace back. But an immediate fantasy impact doesn’t seem likely. Still, a player with his speed and production (he averaged 7.6 yards per carry in 2011) is one to keep an eye on.