How will QB Jameis Winston fare in TB?

Every once in a while the NFL Draft has little to surprise. In 2015, that is exactly what we got. There was not a trade until the 15^th pick, where the San Diego Chargers moved up two spots to snipe Melvin Gordon away from the Houston Texans. Let’s take a look at some of the picks of the first round that were very solid, and others that were either shocking or just outright bad. All other picks are neither outstanding nor undervalued, they fit just right.

Winners

Jameis Winston – QB – Florida State: Round 1, Pick 1 – TB
Winston could also fall in the just right, but I boosted him a bit considering he was the No. 1 overall pick. The Bucs needed a quarterback, and you better believe that receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans threw confetti when the pick was announced.

• Fantasy Impact: He will be a starter right away, and will be throwing quite a bit to their very good wide receivers and multi-dimension running backs. He will make a lot of mistakes, so don’t get overly excited if you’re penalized for interceptions. In the end, 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions sound just about right.

Trae Waynes – DB – Michigan State: Round 1, Pick 11 – MIN
Waynes will find it very nice to have head coach Mike Zimmer and defensive coordinator George Edwards in his corner, as they are going to maximize his talents. The coaches like corners that are aggressive and use press coverage to reroute the wide receiver, which fits right into Waynes’ wheelhouse.

• Fantasy Impact: Look for this guy to get interceptions and make tackles. He will start out of the gate, but will need time to develop his game to the NFL level. Likely to have fairly immediate impact as an IDP player, and will improve what was already an above-average defensive unit in Minnesota.

Melvin Gordon – RB – Wisconsin: Round 1, Pick 15 – SD
Gordon will be walking into an empty backfield. The Chargers are only carrying Donald Brown, Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver; two third-down backs and one that is oft-injured isn’t the answer. Gordon will change this scenario 100 percent because he is a high-level running back that will force Brown into the No. 2 role right away. He does struggle with catching the ball out of the backfield, which will be the Woodhead/Oliver role.

• Fantasy Impact: He will be a nice choice for standard leagues, as he will receive a majority of goal line carries. As mentioned his PPR skills are low, and won’t be used primarily in passing-down situations. The major aspect is seeing just him on the field, as he instantly becomes one of the few RBs who won’t share the load.

Losers

Brandon Schreff – OT – Iowa: Round 1, Pick 5 – WAS
Schreff is not someone I think is a bad player. I think he will be very good as long as they move him to the guard spot as he is a little undersized to play tackle. Washington had one of the worst offensive lines in the league last year, but they also had a horrible defense. I don’t think a tweener such as Schreff is the answer, especially when Leonard Williams from USC is still available.

• Fantasy Impact: As mentioned, the Redskins’ offensive line was one of the worst in football last year. While Schreff may not have been the best option on the board, he does bring improvement to the unit, which in turn helps RB Alfred Morris.

Cameron Erving – C – Florida State: Round 1, Pick 19, CLE
Cameron Erving was a name I was not expecting to hear when the commissioner stepped to the podium. Erving has played multiple positions on the offensive line at Florida State, and while versatility is a plus and can signal tremendous athleticism, it also means he is a tweener. At No. 19, this is something that you should avoid, or trade down to get.

• Fantasy Impact: The Browns already boasted one of the best OLs in the league, and this will only further cement that. Erving could be a fall-back if Alex Mack ultimately decides to exit via free agency. Cleveland will be running the ball a lot considering the strength of their line and the weakness of the QB position, so Erving’s additional should only help whoever’s carrying the rock.

Shaq Thompson – OLB – Washington: Round 1, Pick 25 – CAR
Thompson is another tweener that can do some amazing things on the football field. In nickel packages look for Thompson to play linebacker, or safety in run-heavy schemes. You may also find Thompson on special teams, or as an emergency running back. He is the perfect example of “jack-of-all-trades, master of none.” Many predicted him to be a mid-to-late second to early third round draft choice. I guess the Panthers didn’t get the memo.

• Fantasy Impact: Dual eligibility is always a good thing to have, but will he find a home anywhere? Until then, he probably is just a late-round flier or destined for waiver wires.

Phillip Dorsett – WR – Miami: Round 1, Pick 29 – IND
Dorsett is a distant cousin of Speedy Gonzalez. This guy can flat out fly. The Colts were so enamored with him that they decided to add him to the ever-growing clan of wide receivers. Will he get much playing time? Try cracking the lineup when T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, and Donte Moncrief are out there. He is definitely a pick for next season, but will Andrew Luck survive behind their offensive line?

• Fantasy Impact: Specially made for long-distance scoring or dynasty/keeper leagues. The only way he becomes fantasy relevant is if one of the three wide receivers goes down with an injury. Will most likely become the team’s slot receiver, if Hilton cannot be retained after his contract expires next season. If anything, his addition means targets taken away from the current group of WRs, specifically Moncrief.

Stephon Anthony – ILB – Clemson: Round 1, Pick 31 – NO
Anthony was a surprising pick by the Saints. This is a team that needs a facelift when it comes to defense and are lacking in several positions on the offense. A wide receiver could have gone nicely here, and Randy Gregory is still available. Even Andrus Peat wasn’t a great decision. Whoever is making the picks made a wreck out of two selections they had. On the bright side, the Saints did struggle in stopping the run, and Anthony has serious skills out there.

• Fantasy Impact: Anthony is a Week 1 starter, but I would wait and see how he fits on the Saints’ defense. If you’re in a league that awards points for run-stop percentage, he holds additional value.

Mike Valverde is a correspondent for FantasyPros, and he also writes for Fantasy Sports Warehouse. You can follow Mike @RFLRedZone and Fantasy Sports Warehouse @FantasySportsWH.