R.C. Fischer provides early minicamp notes on some of this year’s potentially fantasy relevant rookies.
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Welcome to the most delusional part of the NFL calendar year. Welcome to the first wave of rookie minicamp notes for the 2017 season.
The cycle of hysteria for media coverage of the incoming rookies is always the same the first half of the calendar year – we spend months beating up and hyping up the NFL Draft prospects. They are then drafted onto NFL teams in a process (the NFL Draft) where everyone calls prospect choices a ’50-50 gamble.’ Every NFL team is given an overly optimistic draft grade by the media – between ‘A’ and ‘C.’
Then the real rose-colored glasses go on after we grade their draft. The rookies hit their first NFL minicamps, and local reporters in attendance write glowingly of every rookie there. Breathless excitement over what jersey numbers these new heroes of renown will be gracing the stage with.
Top pick weapons catching passes in shorts against off-the-streets tryout DBs. Such hope, such promise, such wonder. The NFL loves its shiny new toys.
In fantasy football land it is of no profit to hear that every one of the 400+ rookies attending camps is doing wonderful and ‘learning fast’ plus ‘working hard.’ We need more actionable and/or unorthodox information to consider – especially those who are prepping for their upcoming 2017 dynasty rookie drafts.
With that in mind, I am going to share some of the more interesting observations and things people attending certain camps are discussing with me. It’s some of the better tidbits of information I have been sorting through to continually update my 2017 dynasty rookie draft top 200 (+IDP) rankings at CollegeFootballMetrics.com.
Not even half of the NFL teams have begun their rookie camps (most start May 11–14), but for the ones that started earlier, here are a few rookie minicamp notes on them from the past week (in no particular order).
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Kareem Hunt (RB – KC)
The first reports from Kansas City seem to indicate Kareem Hunt is already grabbing attention with his skills as a receiver out of the backfield, and it seems obvious he’s going to bump Charcandrick West as the No. 2 RB/the ‘passing game’ RB in short order.
Josh Jones (S – GB)
Former N.C. State DB Josh Jones was a second-round grab by the Packers, and everyone loved the pick because the Packers are hurting for DBs. Jones is a big DB at 6′1″/220 and ran a 4.41 40-time at the NFL Combine. However, he has been working as a linebacker along with time spent at safety during rookie minicamp. It could be a potential IDP bump if Jones gets classified as a DB but winds up as a hybrid LB/DB in reality.
Now on an unrelated note to Jones, but still regarding the Packers; of the three RBs the Packers drafted in 2017, the only name that I hear about from minicamp is ‘Jamaal Williams,’ so far. Just thought I’d mention that here since it’s important, but I don’t have enough information for it to warrant its own section. Food for thought, though.
K.D. Cannon (WR – FA)
The 49ers already sent former Baylor WR K.D. Cannon packing. A prospect who many thought was draftable and who was an early top 30 dynasty rookie prospect a few months ago, but he went undrafted and was one of the first rookies cut this season.
There’s no consensus if it was injury or something else (attitude or off-field actions), but I hear it’s “something else.” Cannon’s NFL career could be over before it gets started.
Jeremy McNichols (RB – TB)
Jeremy McNichols has some of the best hands out of the backfield of any RB prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft…however, he got about 3% of the accolades that Christian McCaffrey did from his excellent pre-draft work as a receiver.
McNichols is a perplexing prospect for many fantasy GMs. Consider the scenario he is facing right now – he is going to miss participating in practices into July still recovering from his recent labrum surgery. That wouldn’t be the biggest deal in the world, except McNichols was a fifth-round pick…he doesn’t have a draft status that allows him to have his spot in line guaranteed or held for him.
Doug Martin seems to be back in good graces. Dirk Koetter has loved Jacquizz Rodgers for as long as I’ve known them. Charles Sims still exists. McNichols has some hurdles to climb to make a dent on the depth chart.
Tampa could try to sneak McNichols onto the practice squad…or Charles Sims could be an odd man out. I guess they could carry four RBs on the active roster, but that’s not likely.
Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR)
Speaking of Christian McCaffrey, I’m reading reports that he is moving swiftly around the practice field riding a Pegasus and making catches with no hands…just using his sheer will and mind control to corral passes. He’s that good!
I like McCaffrey as a football talent as much as the next guy, but I think the football media has talked themselves into canonizing McCaffrey…he can do no wrong. The hysteria is likely to translate to real fantasy production because he is going to have to be the center of the Panthers’ offense, because the media, and thus the fans, will demand it.
Curtis Samuel (WR – CAR)
On that same vibe, Curtis Samuel has been showing his ‘plus’ speed in training camp and had everyone’s attention. What caught my eye about Samuel’s minicamp reports – he’s working more as a WR, and spending rare time in the backfield. Not good for those fantasy GMs hoping he’d be a dual threat WR/RB weapon.
Fred Ross (WR – CAR)
Sticking with the Carolina camp, a receiver that is grabbing a lot of attention is Mississippi State UDFA WR Fred Ross. He has fantastic hands and understanding of routes and spacing, but he tested below average athletically pre-draft and dropped off the draft radar. Ross may force a decision between him and flop Devin Funchess.
Bucky Hodges (TE – MIN)
Vikings rookie, 6′6″ tight end Bucky Hodges has surprised everyone at camp with how good/dominant a receiver he is. I’m not shocked – I thought he was a top 50 prospect for the 2017 NFL Draft going into it.
I’m only shocked the NFL witnessed a 6′6″ tight end prospect who has Jimmy Graham-like measurables, and is wildly athletic/gifted as a receiver and instead talked themselves into falling in love with Adam Shaheen. I was excited by all the positive Hodges minicamp news reported, and then I heard Mike Zimmer have the same praise during a press conference, but then Zim said ‘H-back’ and my fantasy heart sunk.
Jordan Leggett (TE – NYJ)
Jets tight end, former Clemson star Jordan Leggett, has been noted by more than one reporting that he has had several drops during the minicamp passing drills. Teams shied away from him in the draft, and now the Jets are finding out why. How many years can the Jets go without a plausible NFL-level tight end on their roster?
Trent Taylor (WR – SF)
Wes Welker-like, 49ers WR Trent Taylor, is grabbing attention in minicamp as the receiver who is catching everything thrown and is impossible to cover. He is the draft’s best Welker-like prospect this year. There’s just no Tom Brady throwing to him.
Tyus Bowser (LB – BAL)
Ravens IDP OLB Tyus Bowser is delivering exactly what the Ravens, and fantasy/IDP GMs, hoped for during minicamp. Bowser is making plays all over – dropping back into coverage to defend and pick off passes and landing sacks as a pass-rusher.
ArDarius Stewart (WR – NYJ)
I’m not an ArDarius Stewart fan, but he has two things going for him right now. First, people are impressed with his start to camp. Second, Robby Anderson was arrested this morning (as of this writing), and we’re not sure the extent of the issue for him, but if something bad is uncovered – a starting spot may have gotten easier for Stewart to obtain. On the fantasy downside, the Jets have nothing exciting throwing to any of their wide receivers.
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Look for more of my team’s NFL Draft scouting reports, measurables, mock drafts, and dynasty rookie rankings before and after the NFL Draft, right up to the beginning of the new NFL season at CollegeFootballMetrics.com. See our NFL/fantasy analysis all year round at FantasyFootballMetrics.com.
