This is what we’ve been waiting for, fantasy football enthusiasts. The NFL Draft is underway, and we finally get to see where the rookie prospects will launch their professional careers. And NFL Draft landing spots allow us to start to zero in on fantasy football and dynasty rookie draft pick values.
Throughout the draft, we’ll take a closer look at fantasy-relevant prospects, giving you an overview of their strengths and weaknesses, and assessing their fantasy value in both redraft and dynasty formats. Here’s our dynasty rookie draft advice for Cam Ward.
Let’s dig in.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers
- NFL Draft Guide
Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook
Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice
In a surprise to no one, Cam Ward is officially a Tennessee Titan. As usual for a team drafting first overall, the Titans don’t have a perfect environment for a young quarterback. Their O-line was one of the worst pass-blocking units in the league last season, and having Calvin Ridley as your only above-average pass-catcher is far from ideal.
On the bright side, Brian Callahan was an exciting head coaching hire a year ago, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Titans draft a receiver with their 35th-overall pick. More importantly for Ward’s fantasy value, being selected first overall means he will be given a very long leash by the Titans and Dynasty trade markets alike. The 22-year-old also has enough traits that a C.J. Stroud-esque rookie season is certainly not off the table. He belongs in the conversation to be the second overall pick in Superflex Dynasty Rookie drafts.
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DBro’s NFL Draft Scouting Report & Player Comp
Scouting Report:
- When Cam Ward is locked in, he looks like a Pro Bowl-level/difference-making quarterback. He has a rocket arm with easy velocity. He can reach back and chuck it through a brick wall. Ward likely enters the NFL immediately knocking on the door of the top 12 ranks for strongest arm in the league.
- When Ward is on, he is lacing well-timed ropes to every level of a defense. He has some of the prettiest layered second-level and deep throws you’ll see. His high-end flashes are exquisite, with on-the-money ball placement and the velocity to fit it in any tight window. Ward has a quick release and can access multiple arm angles.
- The problem is his accuracy can be erratic. There are plenty of times when he needs to take something off the fastball in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Ward’s ball placement can be erratic. There are plenty of throws where he tosses it at a receiver’s back shoulder when he should have led them further down the field or a crosser or out route will be out of the reach of his receiver. Ward will also sail throws at times as he tries to fastball it to a receiver. He has to improve his down-to-down consistency and accuracy to reach his ceiling.
- Ward is also inconsistent with moving through his progressions. There are plenty of reps where he moves seamlessly to his third option or check down. He also has several plays where he feels a tick behind and misses an open receiver running across the field. Some of this is tied to his aggressive nature. Ward will take what a defense gives him with underneath routes, but he is also always a big-play hunter. This aggression is nice when he is dialed in, but it can also get him into trouble and impact his field vision. Ward plays with a swagger and has obvious confidence he can fit throws into any small window.
- He is a creative player who can craft some off-script wizardry. Ward will stand tall, cool and collected in the face of pressure. When he is locked in, he never looks rattled against pressure. When he is off and missing throws, things can pile up for him. This all goes back to the need for his play-to-play consistency floor, which needs to be raised.
- Ward has short-area agility that allows him to move well in the pocket. He will primarily be a pocket passer in the NFL, but he can take off and gain some yards with his legs if needed. Ward shouldn’t be considered a rushing quarterback or hyper mobile.
Player Comp: Jordan Love
More Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers
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