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.

Featured Promo: Looking for some more fantasy football action? Adopt a dynasty orphan team over at FFPC. Sign up today and get $25 off any FFPC league. 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

Neemias Queta

Back in Action Friday
Miles McBride

Misses Friday's Game
Josh Hart

Active Against Trail Blazers
Tre Johnson

Out Against Lakers
Khris Middleton

Sits Out Meeting With Lakers
Austin Reaves

Remains Out Friday
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Cleared to Play Friday
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Unavailable Friday Due to Illness
Michael Porter Jr.

Won't Play Friday Night
Malik Monk

Returns to Kings Lineup
Russell Westbrook

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Domantas Sabonis

Won't Play Friday Night
Jalen Green

Available Friday Against Cavaliers
Jaylen Brown

Won't Play Friday
Kawhi Leonard

Available Friday
Aaron Gordon

to Be Re-Evaluated in 4-6 Weeks
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Expected to Return Friday
Jacob Wilson

Signs Seven-Year Extension
Diego Lopes

An Underdog At UFC 325
Alexander Volkanovski

Set For UFC 325 Main Event
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Dan Hooker

Set For UFC 325 Co-Main Event
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Rafael Fiziev

Returns At UFC 325
CFB

Texas Lands Wake Forest Transfer Sterling Berkhalter
Darius Garland

Remains Out Friday vs. Phoenix
Onyeka Okongwu

Out at Least Through the Weekend
Lauri Markkanen

Resting Friday Against Nets
Cameron Johnson

Could Be Back Before All-Star Break
Samuel Ersson

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Pavel Zacha

Exits Early Thursday
Charlie Lindgren

Hurt Versus Red Wings
Jack Hughes

Exits With Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Brad Marchand

Suffers New Injury Blow
Patrick Kane

Becomes NHL's Highest-Scoring U.S-Born Player
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Expected to Miss a Week
Tommy Edman

Will Have Delayed Start to Spring Training, Could Miss Opening Day
Ryan McDonagh

Ready to Rejoin Lightning Lineup
Logan Thompson

Unavailable Thursday
Dylan Guenther

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Shayne Gostisbehere

Ready to Face Mammoth
Anton Lundell

Out Thursday
Elias Lindholm

Won't Play Against Flyers
Evgeni Malkin

Good to Go Thursday
Kirk Cousins

Falcons Expected to Release Kirk Cousins
Chase Brown

Working on Extension With Bengals
Michael Penix Jr.

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1
Isaac Paredes

Not a Lock for Opening Day Lineup?
Dalton Kincaid

Doesn't Need Offseason Surgery
Josh Allen

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Josh Allen

on Crutches, Wearing Walking Boot
Corbin Carroll

a Top Fantasy Outfielder After Joining 30-30 Club
Jonah Tong

Won't Pitch in the World Baseball Classic
CFB

Michigan RB Bryson Kuzdzal Withdrawing from Transfer Portal
James Reimer

Stops Avalanche Wednesday Night
Tim Stützle

Tim Stutzle Collects Two Points Against Avalanche
Ondrej Palat

Enjoys Multi-Point Debut With Islanders
Zach Werenski

Has Fifth Multi-Point Outing of the Month
Travis Konecny

Questionable for Thursday
Rasmus Ristolainen

Doesn't Finish Wednesday's Loss
Blake Coleman

Out Until Olympic Break
Aaron Judge

Appears to be Past his Elbow Issues
Bo Nix

Expected to Resume Training in 4-6 Weeks
Michael Penix Jr.

Thinks he'll be Ready by April
Evan Carter

Establishes a Goal to Steal 30 Bases
Edouard Julien

Traded to the Rockies
Cleveland Browns

Browns Hiring Todd Monken as Next Head Coach
Sahith Theegala

Off to Much Better 2026 Start
Gary Woodland

an Intriguing Option at Torrey Pines This Week
CJ Abrams

Giants Offer "Aggressive Pitch" for CJ Abrams
Andrew Putnam

Hopes to Keep Momentum Rolling This Week
Matthieu Pavon

Seeks to Return to 2024 Form at Torrey Pines
Luke List

Still Looking For Birdies at Torrey Pines
Jake Knapp

Faces Stiff Challenge at Farmers Insurance Open
Rasmus Hojgaard

Needs to Play Better at Torrey Pines
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Could Struggle at Farmers Insurance Open
J.J. Spaun

A Steady Option At Farmers Insurance Open
Andrew Novak

Looking For More Success At Torrey Pines
Denny McCarthy

A Wild Card At Farmers Insurance Open
Max Homa

Looks To Keep Resurgence Going At Torrey Pines
Joe Highsmith

Struggling Heading Into Torrey Pines
Wyndham Clark

Looks To Carry Momentum Into Farmers Insurance Open
Tony Finau

Aims To Turn Things Around At Torrey Pines
Akshay Bhatia

Looks to Bounce Back at Torrey Pines
Paul Goldschmidt

Yankees Expressing Interest in Re-Signing Paul Goldschmidt
Bo Bichette

Won't Play in World Baseball Classic
NFL

Bill Belichick Won't be First-Ballot Hall of Famer
Carlos Correa

Won't Play for Puerto Rico in World Baseball Classic
Si Woo Kim

Looks to Continue Incredible Run at Torrey Pines
Jason Day

has a Good Chance to Keep Momentum This Weekend
Keegan Bradley

has Good Course History at Torrey Pines
Billy Horschel

Isn't a Great DFS Option at Torrey Pines
Aaron Rodgers

Mike McCarthy Says he Wants Aaron Rodgers to Return
Will Zalatoris

Has a Shot to Challenge at the Farmers Insurance Open
Drake Maye

Expected to be Fine for Super Bowl
Tennessee Titans

Titans Set to Hire Brian Daboll as New Offensive Coordinator
Buffalo Bills

Bills Promote Joe Brady to Head Coach
CFB

Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi Signs with Michigan
CFB

Darian Mensah Reaches Settlement with Duke, Expected to Land at Miami
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Not Drawing Interest on Open Market?
Shedeur Sanders

Named as Pro Bowl Replacement
Framber Valdez

Among Many High-End Pitchers on Free-Agent Market
Jose Altuve

Won't Participate in World Baseball Classic
Harrison Bader

Agrees With Giants on Two-Year Deal
Paddy Pimblett

Drops Decision
Justin Gaethje

Becomes the New Interim-Lightweight Champion
Song Yadong

Suffers Unanimous Decision Loss
MMA

Sean O'Malley Gets Back In The Win Column
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Extends His Win Streak
Derrick Lewis

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Officially Hire Mike McDaniel as Offensive Coordinator
Nathan Eovaldi

Doesn't Expect Any Limitations in Spring Training
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dominates in NFC Championship Game Win
Matthew Stafford

Plans to Return in 2026
CFB

Arthur Smith to Become Ohio State's Offensive Coordinator
Bo Nix

Sidelined for 12 Weeks With Broken Ankle
Jose Altuve

to Mainly Play Second Base