How high will Keenan Allen go in next year’s fantasy drafts?
Whether you just won your championship and are eager to defend your title or you were smoked by the injury bug this season and are plotting your revenge, it is never too early to get excited about next season’s fantasy football draft, the best day of the year. Here is a quick glimpse at what the first four rounds may look like eight months from now in a standard 10-team league:
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First Round
| 1 | David Johnson (RB – ARI) |
| 2 | Le’Veon Bell (RB – PIT) |
| 3 | Antonio Brown (WR – PIT) |
| 4 | Ezekiel Elliott (RB – DAL) |
| 5 | Odell Beckham (WR – NYG) |
| 6 | Julio Jones (WR – ATL) |
| 7 | Jordan Howard (CHI – RB) |
| 8 | Mike Evans (WR – TB) |
| 9 | A.J. Green (WR – CIN) |
| 10 | LeSean McCoy (RB – BUF) |
—Of all the names on this list, none is more injury-resistant than the Steelers’ Antonio Brown, who should bounce back to near record-breaking production next season with a full year of Big Ben. There is a compelling case to take Brown #1 once again.
—Both Johnson and Bell are on pace for over 2,000 yards from scrimmage in a full season with hordes of touchdowns, but Jordan Howard isn’t far behind. In fact, in Howards 11 starts this season, he averaged over 120 yards from scrimmage per game.
Second Round
| 11 | Dez Bryant (WR – DAL) |
| 12 | Jay Ajayi (RB – MIA) |
| 13 | Melvin Gordon (RB – SD) |
| 14 | Devonta Freeman (RB – ATL) |
| 15 | DeMarco Murray (RB – TEN) |
| 16 | T.Y. Hilton (WR – IND) |
| 17 | Alshon Jeffery (WR – NE) |
| 18 | Jordy Nelson (WR – GB) |
| 19 | Lamar Miller (RB – HOU) |
| 20 | Leonard Fournette (RB – CAR) |
—Don’t expect Fournette to be drafted in the first round like Ezekiel Elliott was in 2016. While the LSU phenom may be even more talented than Elliott, he is unlikely to be drafted by a team with a great offensive line and be a workhorse right away.
—If Alshon does decide to sign away from the Bears (who could blame him), Tom Brady would be licking his chops. This ranking reflects the unlikely, yet entirely possible scenario that the Patriots pay the supremely talented wide receiver.
Third Round
| 21 | DeAndre Hopkins (WR – HOU) |
| 22 | Todd Gurley (RB – LA) |
| 23 | Adrian Peterson (RB – NYJ) |
| 24 | Sammy Watkins (WR – BUF) |
| 25 | Rob Gronkowski (TE – NE) |
| 26 | Keenan Allen (WR – SD) |
| 27 | Rob Kelley (RB – WAS) |
| 28 | Jamaal Charles (RB – IND) |
| 29 | Davante Adams (WR – GB) |
| 30 | Carlos Hyde (RB – SF) |
—Yes, this has both AP and the NFL’s all-time leader in yards per carry, Jamaal Charles switching teams. If AP lands behind a stellar offensive line, his stock could soar, and boy oh boy, can you imagine Andrew Luck passing to Jaamal out of the backfield?
–Rob Kelley may end up the most disagreed upon player in next season’s drafts. His ability to gain yards after contact has some dreaming on his upside, but will the Redskins commit to using him as a workhorse and can he sustain a full season with his running style?
Fourth Round
| 31 | Michael Thomas (WR – NO) |
| 32 | Aaron Rodgers (QB – GB) |
| 33 | Amari Cooper (WR – OAK) |
| 34 | Travis Kelce (TE – KC) |
| 35 | Spencer Ware (RB – KC) |
| 36 | Dalvin Cook (RB – PHI) |
| 37 | Allen Robinson (WR – JAX) |
| 38 | Tom Brady (QB – NE) |
| 39 | Doug Martin (RB – TB) |
| 40 | Doug Baldwin (WR – SEA) |
—If Travis Kelce’s 2016 stat line were thrown into the mix with 2015 tight ends, his 2016 campaign would rank #7 for the position despite being #1 this season. The position has changed drastically but does that give top tight ends more or less value?
–Next season, The Muscle Hampster, aka Doug Martin, will be one of those impossible players to project. Will he continue his downward trend, face another injury and eventually surrender the job to Charles sims, or does he bounce back to be a top-end RB?
Honorable Mention: C.J. Anderson, Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Latavius Murray
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