NFL Draft Fantasy Football WR/TE Analysis

Let's take a look at the WRs with a chance to make a fantasy impact. Over the past few seasons, we've seen some pretty studly rookie seasons from guys like Anquan Boldin, Andre Johnson, and the improbable Marques Colston. Dwayne Bowe was also off to a big start last season, but he eventually wore down and also fell victim to a poor offense.

WR:

Donnie Avery - A completely shocking move by the St. Louis Rams in taking a WR that wasn't a part of any top 5 WR list that I read about. Avery was the 1st WR off the draft board. Avery is a burner who fits the St. Louis WR profile, but he's rather raw and probably won't make an immediate impact. Given Drew Bennett is the starter opposite Torry Holt, Avery will have an outside shot at starting at some point this season depending on how fast he picks up the pro game. He's not worth drafting unless he shines and becomes a starter during the preseason, but that's highly unlikely.

Devin Thomas - Thomas was labeled as many as the WR with the highest upside in the NFL draft, but like Avery, he's also very raw. He was drafted into a great situation in that he'll be given a chance to start opposite Santana Moss, with Randle-El being far better suited for the slot. He's the big, physical receiver that Washington sorely needed, but given his lack of seasoning, it'll be a long-shot for him to be relevant in fantasy leagues this season. Washington is moving to a west coast offense this season, so that'll require some adjustments from QB Jason Campbell as well, so consider that. Thomas isn't a bad speculative choice at the end of drafts depending on how he does in training camp.

Jordy Nelson - Nelson is an interesting talent, but he's more of a project to eventually replace Donald Driver opposite Greg Jennings that someone primed to make a splash in his rookie season. With promising youngster James Jones also on the roster, Nelson is no better than 4th on the depth chart.

James Hardy - Hardy, much like Devin Thomas, was drafted into a situation that will allow him a chance to start in week 1. Buffalo has been looking for a big receiver to start opposite Lee Evans for 2 seasons now, and they finally landed one in the 6'6 Hardy. Given the QB situation in Buffalo is a bit in the air, I can't see Hardy being a big producer in fantasy leagues. Even if everything bounces right, there just won't be enough catches to go around for Hardy to be a weekly option yet with Lee Evans there. However, given his size as a potential red-zone weapon, he could emerge as a fantasy reserve.

Eddie Royal - With Brandon Marshall the unquestioned #1 WR, and the presence of Darrell Jackson, Brandon Stokley, and Keary Colbert on the roster, Royal has no chance of starting this season. The more likely scenario is that Royal will immediately become the team's punt returner, and he'll have a chance to replace Stokley in the slot later in the season should Stokley get hurt. Royal will focus on punt returns and be the #4 receiver at best when week 1 starts.

Jerome Simpson - Simpson will compete to replace Chris Henry in the slot. Given the Bengals often go 3 wide, Simpson could be in line for solid playing time. With CJ and TJ gobbling up most of the production, however, Simpson has a long ways to go to matter in fantasy leagues. If we wins the slot job, he's worth keeping an eye on over the course of the season.

DeSean Jackson - There was much debate over Jackson leading up to the draft, and some places labeled him as the best WR in the draft. His speed is elite, but did he have the size to start? I'm not sure how Philadelphia views him long term, but with Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis locked in as starters, Jackson will compete for the starting slot position. It will likely take an injury to a starter for him to become fantasy relevent.

Malcolm Kelly - Also picked by the Redskins, Kelly will also have a chance to start, but he's behind Devin Thomas thanks to draft position. Once training camp gets going that can all change depending on performance, however, so he's worth keeping an eye on to see if he can unseat Thomas with his performance.

Limas Sweed - I have to say I'm disappointed with Sweed's landing spot. Sweed was my favorite WR in the draft this season, and he was definitely the most pro-ready of them all. However, he lands in a situation in Pittsburgh where Ward and Holmes are anchored as the starters, so he's not going to be given a chance to start. Sweed is a big receiver with deep speed, and I'm surprised Buffalo didn't go with him over Malcolm Kelly. He would definitely be fantasy relevant should either Ward or Holmes get injured this season.

Dexter Jackson - Jackson joins the most convulated offseason passing game in the NFL in Tampa Bay. I think they have about 15 QBs on their roster, and are loaded up on old WRs that are breaking down. Jackson faced 1-AA competition at Appalacian State, so his ability to go against NFL corners will be questioned. Still, with the aging Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard, the disappointing Michael Clayton, and the questionable Maurice Stovall ahead of him, he has a chance to make an impact and start at some point. It just won't be in week 1, but any Gruden WR is worth remembering.

Earl Bennett - Bennett enters an interesting WR situation in Chicago. Both starters from last season, Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian, have left. The starting receivers are the promising but oft-injured Mark Bradley, and the returning Marty Booker. Booker has lost at least a step, so he's certainly not the WR he was when he originally played for Chicago. Devin Hester is there, but there are many questions as to what his role will be as a WR, and he's best suited for the slot. Brandon Lloyd is also in the mix, and he certainly has the talent to start for this team. If Bennett really shines in training camp, it'll be very hard for the Bears to keep him off the field. He'd like be a fantasy reserve at best, but he's someone to keep an eye on.

Andre Caldwell - He'll be the underdog to Jerome Simpson in the battle to be Chris Henry's replacement in Cincinnati, but he's worth noting given his supreme athleticism and big time college resume. He fell due to durability concerns, but there's no question he has the talent to be an NFL WR. If he wins the slot position, he'll be worth watching instead of Simpson.

Will Franklin - He's worth keeping tabs on based on the wide-open competition in Kansas City to start opposite Dwayne Bowe. Given the prediction that KC's offense will again be rather sluggish and slowed by inconsistent QB play, it's hard to think that the 3rd option behind Bowe and Gonzalez will have much fantasy value, but it's a name to be familiar with at worst.

If any other rookies emerge with strong training camps and become starters, I'll follow up with an article about them.

TE:

Dustin Keller - Keller is one of 2 rookie TEs worth watching at the moment, and he was drafted by the New York Jets. He's more of a big WR than a lighter TE given his 6'3/242 frame as he's not big enough to block consistently at the NFL level, so I'll be curious to see how the Jets use him. If he impresses and wins playing time, he could be used like Dallas Clark in that he's lined up in the slot and used to create mismatches. He's well worth keeping an eye on.

John Carlson - Carlson was the most well-rounded TE coming out of college this year, and he'll be given a chance to start in the west coast offense of the Seattle Seahawks. Should he win the starting TE role, he'll also be well worth keeping an eye on given Seattle is without proven passing game weapons behind the aging Bobby Engram.