šŸˆ Biggest Post-Draft Storylines

Fantasy football implications from the NFL Draft

Good morning. Letā€™s all extent a middle finger to Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks for being greedy.

Pete, Mr. Carroll, buddy. Remember what I told the Starbucks barista yesterday morning: If you have two top-30 WRs and a Bell Cow RB, you donā€™t need more weapons. Donā€™t draft players you canā€™t support. And why not give it to Marshawn in the Super Bowl? F***!

Pete plummeted the stock of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zach Charbonnet, Ken Walker, D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, just like he did to my Seahawks SB bet a few years ago

Peter ā€œIndependent Thinkerā€ Carroll

Today's newsletter highlights the best content & key takeaways from the NFL draft, including:

  • šŸ“ˆ Post-Draft Risers & Fallers

  • šŸ§¾ Draft Grades for Each Team

  • šŸ‘€ Rookie Dynasty Rankings

  • šŸ˜… Weā€™re worried about CJ Stroud

Thanks for joining us for our annual NFL draft month - this will be the last email from us until July/August. We appreciate you.

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WINNERS

Biggest Post-Draft Risers

Kirby Lee // USA TODAY Sports

RB Kendre Miller. The Saints drafted Miller, who averaged 6.68 YPC in his career, in Round 3. Scott Barrett believes Miller ā€œis immediately the favorite to win over the Mark Ingram role in this offenseā€ while ā€œthe days of Alvin Kamara receiving 70-plus percent of the teamā€™s snaps are long goneā€œ. Miller is the likely starter in 2024, but has upside if Kamara misses or Williams falters. (Scott Barrettā€™s 2023 Rookie RB Rankings for Dynasty)

Why Jordan Addison is flying up draft boards:

  • Pass-happy offense with 107 vacated targets

  • Picked the same range as Justin Jefferson - organization proven track record of evaluating WRā€™s (Part I of Theo Gremmingerā€™s 2023 NFL Draft Reactions)

  • This Calvin Ridley comp is spot on

  • HC Kevin Oā€™Connell was with the Rams when they had Cooper Kupp dominating as the big slot (Jefferson), Tyler Higbee flashing at TE (T.J. Hockenson), and Robert Woods excelling at WR2 (Addison?)

The only perfect score of the night (100th percentile pick) in the Whitefield/Wecht Pick Value ModelĀ was Anthony Richardson to the Colts. Richardsonā€™s inconsistent accuracy is a problem, but new HC Shane Steichen helped Jalen Hurts develop into one of the leagueā€™s best QBs. Richardson has a good offensive line, an elite RB and decent receiving options. Safe rushing floor with high-end, Justin Fields-2022 mid season-esq upside.

  • RB Jonathan Taylor is now paired with arguably the most athletic QB in NFL history (think: Mike Vick/Pre-Injury RGIII). 6.0 YPC is not a stretch for Taylor.

  • Other RB beneficiaries:

TE Dalton Kincaid. Kincaid is an elite pass-catching prospect that the Bills traded-up to snatch at 25th, despite recently handing Dawson Knox a 4-year, $52 million contract. Brandon Beane is not an idiot. Kincaid is a receiver disguised as a TE, the potential missing piece in a pass-heavy Bills offense. Some say he could be Josh Allenā€™s Travis Kelceā€¦

RB Jahmyr Gibbs: The three certainties of life: death, taxes, and the Detroit Lions hating Dā€™Andre Swift. When the Lions took Gibbs, HC Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes looked like they were ready to bite some kneecaps.

David Eulitt // Getty Images

The Falcons taking RB Bijan Robinson shows just how serious HC Arthur Smith is about not throwing to Kyle Pitts. Smith was OC of the Titans during Derrick Henryā€™s legendary 681 carries in 2015 & 2016 (Henry finished RB2 and RB1). 300+ carries is a lot to ask, but Bijan is a generational talent drafted to be the bellcow in a scheme that was #1 in rushing yards and yards per carry, and #2 in EPA/rush in 2022. Tyler Allgeier was solid, but it doesnā€™t matter. RB1 would not surprise.

ā€œAnd, truthfully, I think Robinson may actually be a better prospect than Saquan Barkley was ā€” Barkley was slightly more athletic (94.2) and a more prolific pass-catcher in college, but Robinson definitely profiles as the better runner.ā€ - Scott Barrett

  • Dolphins RB Devon Achaneā€™s speed is perfect for the Shanahan/McDaniel outside zone scheme. While Miamiā€™s backfield is a little crowded for now, he could be the Raheem Mostert replacement.

  • And donā€™t forget our boy Juwan Johnson:

FALLERS

Free the Falcons Pass-Catchers

Without a regime change,Ā Kyle Pitts and Drake London wonā€™t live up to their ADP. Yes, the Falcons are expected to throw less in 2023 after averaging a 24.4 pass attempts per game in 2022 (historically low, like 7th lowest in the last 30 years low). And itā€™s probably a good idea, because projected starting QB Desmond Ridder isā€¦ not good? And backup Taylor Heinicke isā€¦ not better?

Day 2 QBs. Will Levis and Hendon Hooker both landed in less-than ideal situations. Levis will reportedly start out as ā€œQB3ā€ for the Titans while Hooker backs up Jared Goff.

Kenneth Walker: Seahawks drafted RB Zach Charbonnet 52nd overall. Charbonnet is a downhill runner and goal-line threat with a better receiving resume than Walker. This pick crushed the fantasy value of both players.

@TheFFBallers Landing Spots on Jaxon-Smith Njigba: ā€œThe Seattle offense is stacked, and the Seahawks receive a D for WR fantasy opportunity. Itā€™s not an ideal landing spot, and the challenge for JSN in Year 1 will be to establish any sort of consistent weekly performance in an offense with so many mouths to feed.ā€

GRADES

Tell Me How You Really Feel

Dalton Kincaid // Getty

B- for the Bills: ā€œWhile I preferred Michael Mayer as a prospect straight up, thereā€™s no question [Dalton] Kincaid brings dynamic vertical capability. I think he will take over quickly as Buffaloā€™s primary slot receiverā€ via Evan Silva of EstablishTheRun. Silvaā€™s must-read 2023 AFC Draft Grades is free to read here.

C- for the Chiefs WR Rashee Rice: ā€œ[Has a] Miles Austin ceiling, which would be some WR1 value, but Rice is likely more to be a WR4 with some WR2 weeks and maybe a WR2 a few years down the road (with options cleared out of Kansas City).ā€ From guru Jake Ciely of The Athletic: Bryce Young A in dynasty, Jahmyr Gibbs B and Dalton Kincaid C+ this year and more.

F- for the 49ers Kicker: ā€œA kicker in the third round. Jake Moody is the first kicker to earn Day Two capital since the fateful Robert Aguayo selection in 2016. Moody is the best kicker in the draft, but the 49ers opted for a low-impact position far too earlyā€ via Kyle Dvorchak from NBCSportsEdge draft grades for each team. We agree Kyle. #BanKickers

QUICK SLANTS

  • Dā€™Andre Swift is just 24 years old and is under contract for $1.7 million dollars in 2023. Rashaad Penny is 28 and making $1.08 million (@DrakeFantasy). Eagles GM is a genius.

  • @BenjaminSolak wrote about how next yearā€™s QB class is always better (but also how next yearā€™s QB class might actually be better (no really we mean it this time (this one is different (next year is better for sure))))

  • The Russell Wilson trade is now complete, with all the traded picks used. Yes, the Seahawks still win.

  • Ian Rapoport called Trey Lance a 3rd stringer. Probably not great.

  • Yes, the Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick for multiple violations of the NFLā€™s anti-tampering policy in discussions with Tom Brady.

While Trey Lance is not great for my dynasty team, you can be great in your life today (as long as your name is not Adam Gase). So get after it!

Jake, Eddie & Coach D

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