Mastersball

This week and next week, we will continue to look at the 2013 draft class by focusing on running backs that could make a fantasy impact this year.

Giovani Bernard 5’8” 202 (4.53 40) – The undersized back out of North Carolina is stronger than many people think. He has good hands and vision, can cut on a dime and explode through holes. He’s not easy to tackle and can make defenders miss. In college, he displayed excellent acceleration to get around corners, but it may be tougher to do that at the next level. Most project him as a change of pace back behind the Law Firm, and he will certainly be at least that. If Bernard proves that he can protect the quarterback and produces when handed the rock, he could earn up to 50 percent of the carries in the Bengals backfield but if he struggles with his blocks, his touches will be limited.

Eddie Lacy 5’11’’ 231 (4.59 40) – Lacy has good speed for his size, is hard to bring down once he gets going and keeps grinding after contact. Many see him as a three down back who warrants 20+ carries, but I have to see it to believe it. The Packers pass first and only run to keep defenses honest. They also drafted Jonathan Franklin and still have speedster Dujuan Harris who will get some touches. Add in the injury concerns (toe and hamstring) and this Packer may be over-drafted.

LeVeon Bell 6’1” 230 (4.60 40) – Bell enters a great situation in Pittsburgh as he is poised to enter the season as the No. 1 back if he steps up in camp. Bell has good size and is a load to bring down. The problem is that his top end speed is limited and it takes him a minute to get up there. Opportunity is half the battle and he will certainly have that.

Joseph Randle 6’0” 204 (4.63 40) – Randle is a good all-around back but is not great in any one area. He looks decent, if unspectacular, on tape. He has very good vision and is decisive with his breaks. What makes him a sneaky fantasy pick is DeMarco Murray’s penchant for injuries and an offense with weapons such as Jason Witten, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant drawing the attention of defenders and opening up running lanes. Randle is a nice flier with modest upside to target in the later stages of the draft. His lack of high-end speed, however, limits his ceiling.

Andre Ellington 5’9” 199 (4.61 40) – Don’t be deceived by Ellington’s lackluster 40 time at the Combine. He runs fast with pads on. He has lightning quick cutting ability with quick feet and high stride frequency. He’s a threat to score every time he totes the rock. He’s also very strong with perhaps the best balance and athleticism in this year’s running back draft class. He brings with him injury concerns but if healthy, he’s a sleeper due to Rashard Mendenhall’s and Ryan Williams’ health concerns.

Christine Michael 5’ 10” 220 (4.54 40) – Injuries and off the field issues scared some potential suitors away, but the Seahawks got a nice value at the end of the second round. Michael is very strong, with vision, burst and quickness. He’s not easy to tackle, leveraging his legs well to churn out extra yards after contact. His biggest problem in terms of immediate fantasy value is the presence of Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin ahead of him on the depth chart. Unless Lynch receives discipline from his pending DUI incident, Michael is more of a late target in draft champions formats or a potential waiver play later in the season if injuries strike the Seahawks backfield.

As draft prep season amps up, this week we’ll unpack some deeper WR options that may not be relevant on draft day in regular NFFC leagues but may be waiver worthy later in the season or serviceable in draft champions formats that dig as deep as 30 rounds or more.

Keenan Allen 6’2” 206 (4.73 40) – Many compare him to Anquan Boldin. We shall see. You can’t teach speed, so that is one skill he’ll never be able to learn. Watch him during the preseason to see if he can still beat press coverage at the next level. The corners in the NFL are bigger and stronger than those in the PAC 10. If he excels there, he may get enough snaps to contribute. He is a decent blocker.

Aaron Dobson 6’2” 210 (4.43 40) – Has the speed and physical skill set to succeed but will enter camp as somewhat of a project. He will need to grasp the Patriots' system very fast and then beat out the more experienced Julian Edelman and Donald Jones, along with fellow rookie Josh Boyce. If he does that he would become, at best, Tom Brady’s fourth option in the passing game since the Patriots use their tight ends like wide receivers. On the other hand, both Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are battling ailments that could bring their availability to start the season in question, and Danny Amendola has become a poster child for the injury prone.

Robert Woods 6’0” 201 (4.51 40) – He has adequate but not great speed and physical prowess. However, he is rated as being very pro ready due to his experience in USC’s pro system. Woods possesses very good vision and is quick in and out of breaks. His chances of making an impact in 2013 are better than most rookies due to the lack of competition for the No. 2 wide receiver role in Buffalo.

Markus Wheaton 5’11” 199 (4.45 40) – I need to watch more tape and keep an eye on how he performs in the preseason, but in pads he doesn’t seem as fast to me in and out of breaks as he does to others. Nevertheless, he will compete with Emmanuel Sanders for the No. 2 receiver job opposite Antonio Brown, which bodes very well for his fantasy prospects.

Corey Fuller 6’2” 204 (4.32 40) – He will need to beat out a full crew of WR’s (Mike Thomas, Brian Robiskie, Kris Durham and others) just to secure the No. 4 receiver slot, but if he does, he could be a sneaky pick. Nate Burleson and Ryan Broyles are not ironmen and in the Lions' offense any top-3 WR with a decent number of snaps is worth a look. He’s got the top-end speed to make defenders pay if they make a mistake.

Terrance Williams 6’2” 208 (4.52 40) – Williams works the sidelines well, has good hands and is faster than you think in pads. More importantly, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant have shown a propensity for getting dinged up, so Williams should get a number of serviceable starts this year as a No. 2 if either of them misses time.

Ryan Swope – 6’2” 205 (4.34 40) – Projects to have limited snaps as the No. 4 to start off and will likely need injuries to those ahead on the depth chart to have a fantasy impact, but Swope is a fireball that packs a punch. He’s tough and isn’t afraid to take defenders head on.  He can also fly as his combine time can attest.

Quinton Patton 6’0” 204 (4.53 40) – Patton is a solid receiver with great vision. He is very creative with the ball in space with excellent juke ability to make defenders miss. The problem is that with Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Mario Manningham, AJ Jenkins and Kyle Williams in the stable, snaps may be few and far between.

Marquise Goodwin  5’9” 183 (4.27 40) – Yes, you read that 40 time correctly. The fastest receiver in the 2013 draft lacks size but no corner will be able to stay with him if he breaks free. He’s worth a late flier in DC formats for the occasional home run.

Denard Robinson 5’10” 199 (4.43 40) – An electric playmaker with the ball in his hands, the Wolverine quarterback may be used at running back, wide receiver, special teams and quite possibly all three. He’s still raw, so expect minimal impact outside of a couple highlight reel returns.