TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

NFL Draft - Ideal Landing Spots for Fantasy Football

One of the most fun weekends of the year for the NFL season is the weekend of the NFL draft. Hope springs eternal for 32 teams. Well, maybe 31 since the Vikings traded their 1st round pick for Sam Bradford.

That hope and enthusiasm is also with fantasy football players, especially dynasty players as they hope their favorite prospects land in their favorite landing spots.

In this article, I will discuss some of my favorite matches made in heaven that I am hoping for this weekend.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge #2 is back with a massive $100,000 grand prize and $203,250 total prize pool, paying down to 100th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 8 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 17th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $100,000! Sign Up Now!

 

Ideal Draft Spots for Fantasy Football

Dalvin Cook (RB, Florida State) 1.19 Overall to the Buccaneers

This is far from an original take, as this is a pick that has been mocked by many mock drafters over the last four months, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a great fit. The Buccaneers' current RB1, Doug Martin, is suspended for the first three games of the 2017 season for the remainder of an Adderall suspension. Making a pick solely based on a player being out three weeks doesn’t make sense on its own, but there are other reasons this pick could work out well for both parties. Buccaneers RB2 Charles Sims has shown little to nothing in his first two NFL seasons and Jacquizz Rodgers in nothing more than a journeyman backup.

Cook dominated college football throughout his career with 4,300 rushing yards in 3 seasons, including two 1,600+ yard seasons and 19 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. Cook was a big play threat his entire career and that has been something lacking in the Buccaneers backfield. Prior to a porous combine performance where he tested in the ninth percentile in Burst Score and Agility score on Player Profiler, Cook had possibilities of going in the top half of the first round. However, now his combine numbers could slide him all the way to the 2nd round, but the ideal scenario would be the Buccaneers selecting him at 19 overall to be the workhorse back in one of the NFL’s best young offenses with Jameis Winston.

 

Christian McCaffrey (RB, Stanford) 1.15 Overall to the Colts

Christian McCaffrey has been one of the most prolific college running backs in recent memory in the last two seasons. McCaffrey had over 4,500 total yards in the last two seasons with 29 touchdowns. McCaffrey easily has the highest dominator rating (percentage of team's total yards) among the top backs in this class with a 50.7% dominator rating, good for the 98th percentile among all college backs.  The Colts may be gun shy about heavily investing in a running back after sending a 1st round pick for Trent Richardson in 2013, but this is a new regime in the post-Ryan Grigson era.

The Colts only legitimate running back is Frank Gore and one of these days, he will actually retire. His effectiveness has certainly tailed off in the last two seasons. McCaffrey would be a jolt for the Andrew Luck-led Colts offense that could be very explosive with a legitimate passing game threat coming out of the backfield. Drafting McCaffery would take some of the pressure off of Luck and gives him another weapon in the arsenal.

 

Deshaun Watson (QB, Clemson) 1.12 Overall to the Browns

In the annual tradition of saying “Next year's Quarterback class is better than this one,” that was one of the reasons many people gave when the Browns opted to trade down in the 2016 NFL draft and not select Carson Wentz. The quarterback highlighted by many in the “Next year's Quarterback class is better than this one” reasoning in 2016 was the expected arrival of Watson. Many way too early mocks in 2016 had Watson being selected #1 overall by the Browns and a year later they may not even need to select him #1 overall to still have a shot at him.

Watson has been a victim of the intense lens and over-scrutinization that happens to many quarterbacks in the scouting process in today’s NFL. Despite the 49 MPH throw velocity that has been a large concern of Watson detractors, he still had three seasons of solid production with Clemson including 8,702 passing yards and 76 passing touchdowns in his two full seasons as starter. While some may think the Browns are a bad landing spot with their history of quarterbacks in the last 17 years, it is definitely solid from a fantasy standpoint. The Browns have a pair of solid backs in Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson with one of the more underrated wide receiver corps in the NFL today led by Corey Coleman and Kenny Britt and with the bevy of picks that the Browns have in the 2017 draft, they likely aren’t done investing in weapons for their young quarterback.

 

Corey Davis (WR, Western Michigan) End of the 1st round trade back up to Panthers

Corey Davis and his landing spot is one of the harder ones to peg as we enter NFL draft weekend. The fantasy community is in love with the wide receiver who had three consecutive 1,400 receiving yard-12+ touchdown seasons. However, it appears the NFL may be a bit more concerned with the wideout who had limited opportunity to play against top competition and then was unable to participate in workouts at the NFL combine or his pro day. The lack of combine numbers could be concerning enough for teams that he slides toward the end of the 1st round on Thursday.

While there are teams who could take Davis in the late 1st round, I think a trade back up could be a more likely and more attractive scenario. Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess have been fairly disappointing in the last two seasons and it was clear that Cam Newton didn’t have a dependable target outside of Greg Olsen. Adding Corey Davis could be a coup for the Panthers offense that struggled as the 21st ranked passing offense in 2016. The possibility of a Newton-Davis combo should be enough to have fantasy owners salivating at the very thought.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jalen Brunson

Iffy for Meeting With Suns
Devin Booker

Uncertain for Saturday
Nicolas Batum

Starting Against Raptors
Julian Phillips

Returns From Two-Game Absence
Kevin Huerter

Available Against Nets
Ivica Zubac

Upgraded to Available
John Collins

Good to Go Friday
Joel Embiid

Active Against Cavaliers
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Ready for Action Friday
Cooper Flagg

Doubtful on Saturday
Dominick Barlow

Good to Go Friday
Lauri Markkanen

Out Again on Saturday
Paul George

Available Friday
Atlanta Falcons

Kevin Stefanski the Favorite for Falcons Head-Coaching Job
Matt Boldy

Placed on Injured Reserve
Kawhi Leonard

Won't Suit Up Against Toronto
Ross Colton

Good to Go Friday
Immanuel Quickley

Ruled Out on Friday
Will Smith

Returns Against Red Wings
Shayne Gostisbehere

Out Friday
Brad Marchand

Remains Out Friday
Joel Armia

Returns From Five-Game Absence
Chris Kreider

a Game-Time Call Friday
Troy Terry

Cutter Gauthier Available Friday
Leo Carlsson

Sits Out Second Consecutive Game
CFB

Darian Mensah Entering Transfer Portal
Sam Darnold

Seahawks "Optimistic" That Sam Darnold Will Play on Saturday
Nico Collins

Officially Ruled Out for Divisional Round
Rome Odunze

Questionable for Divisional Round
J.T. Realmuto

Signs Three-Year Deal to Return to Phillies
Bo Bichette

Agrees to Three-Year Contract With Mets
CFB

Weber State Signs former Ohio State, Cal Quarterback Devin Brown
Kawhi Leonard

Questionable Ahead of Raptors Matchup
Paul George

Likely to Go Friday Against Cleveland
Joel Embiid

Expected to Play Friday vs. Cavaliers
Bennedict Mathurin

Still Sidelined for Pelicans Matchup
Sam Merrill

Out Friday with Hand Sprain
Khris Middleton

Won't Suit Up Friday vs. Kings
Bo Bichette

Phillies the "Overwhelming" Favorite to Sign Bo Bichette
Mark Scheifele

Leads Jets to Victory Thursday
Tage Thompson

Records Season-High Five Points Thursday
Jack Eichel

Notches Four Points Thursday
Ilya Sorokin

Shuts Out Oilers With 35 Saves
Andrew Peeke

Not Expected to Be Out Long-Term
William Nylander

Aggravates Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Ross Colton

Uncertain for Friday
Josh Lowe

Angels Acquire Josh Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Kyle Tucker

Signs Four-Year Contract With Dodgers
Ricky Pearsall

Questionable to Play on Saturday Night
Sam Darnold

Questionable With Oblique Injury, Expected to Play
Damon Severson

Back for Blue Jackets Thursday
Adin Hill

Available Thursday Night
Brandon Montour

Activated From Injured Reserve
Joel Eriksson Ek

Misses Third Straight Game Thursday
Jonas Brodin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Clayton Kershaw

to Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Patrick Mahomes

Says Rehab Going "Great," Goal is 2026 Week 1 Return
Nico Collins

a "Long Shot" to Play in Divisional Round
CFB

Auburn, Ohio State the Lead Suitors for Kyle Parker
CFB

Oregon QB Transfer Bryson Beaver Linked to Georgia, Kentucky
CFB

Jake Merklinger Commits to UConn
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Finalizing Deal With Giants
Ben Griffin

Looks To Stay Hot In 2026
New York Giants

Giants Making "Massive Push" to Hire John Harbaugh on Wednesday
Ranger Suárez

Ranger Suarez Agrees to Five-Year Deal With Red Sox
CFB

Dante Moore Not Entering 2026 NFL Draft, Will Return to Oregon
NFL

Mike Tomlin Doesn't Plan to Coach in 2026
Travis Hunter

Expected to Play More Defense in 2026
CFB

FBS Coaches Unanimously Vote to Expand Redshirt Eligibility to Nine Games
CFB

Ohio State Transfer Mylan Graham Signs with Notre Dame
CFB

Caden Durham Withdraws from Transfer Portal, Will Stay at LSU
Jordan Spieth

Perhaps the Most Intriguing Player at Sony Open
Aaron Rai

Looking For Putting Confidence at Waialae Country Club
Collin Morikawa

Isn't The Safe Play He Used to Be Ahead of Sony Open
Kurt Kitayama

Needs His Putting to Turn Around For Success at Year's First Event
Ryan Weathers

Yankees Add Rotation Depth, Acquire Ryan Weathers in Four-Player Deal
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Fire Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman
Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Tomlin Stepping Down as Steelers Head Coach
CFB

Georgia Tech the Favorite to Land Justice Haynes?
Nolan Arenado

Cardinals Trade Nolan Arenado to Diamondbacks
Tom Kim

Desperately Needs a Solid Week at Sony Open
Billy Horschel

Hoping For a Fast Start to New Season at Sony Open
Corey Conners

Looks to Have a Return to Form in 2026
PGA

Chris Gotterup a Decent Play at Sony Open
Gary Woodland

Could Prosper at the Sony Open
Keith Mitchell

Unlikely to Contend at Sony Open
Robert MacIntyre

Looking for a Good Performance at the Sony Open
Michael Kim

Hopes to Start Sony Open Better This Week
Tom Hoge

Tries to Erase Poor 2025 Second Half in Hawaii
Brian Harman

Seeks Fresh Start in Hawaii
Eric Cole

Looks to Last Year for Success at Sony Open
Daniel Berger

Starts Off 2026 at Sony Open
Nico Collins

Suffers Concussion Against Steelers
Nico Collins

Carted to Locker Room for Concussion Evaluation
Kyle Tucker

Mets Meet With Kyle Tucker
Dalton Kincaid

"Should be Fine" for Divisional Round
Brooks Koepka

Officially Returning To PGA Tour
Tucker Kraft

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1 of Next Season
CFB

Georgia Lands Kentucky Transfer Dante Dowdell
Matthew Stafford

has "Little Sprain," Should be "Good to Go"
CFB

Sam Leavitt Expected to Sign with LSU
Green Bay Packers

Packers Expected to Work Out New Deal With Matt LaFleur in the "Coming Days"
CFB

Dylan Raiola Commits to Oregon
CFB

Isaiah Horton Landing with Texas A&M
George Kittle

Suffers Torn Achilles on Sunday
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract