What do you do for a living?
If I'm at a party, a bank, or talking with a stranger on a plane or train, the answer is simple.
I write about football.
But there's also a seasonal component to this answer. Between February and June, I'll have some RSP readers ask me if I could recommend a good fantasy football website.
And between August and January, I'll have a fair share of Footballguys readers ask me, "What is the RSP?"
If you already know, I'll be sharing 2017 prospect insights in this column and you can skip the appetizer below and get to the meal.
Intro to the RSP
If you're one of those Footballguys who has been meaning to ask me about it, you're in luck this week. The Rookie Scouting Portfolio is my 12-year-old publication devoted to the analysis of NFL Draft prospects at the fantasy skill positions: QB, RB, WR, and TE.
The publication is split into two parts: a pre-draft analysis that I publish for online download April 1 and a post-draft analysis that I publish for download no later than a week after the NFL Draft. The April version is a long-term look at a player's talent unclouded by the factors of organizational fit, scheme match, and depth chart.
It makes the April version a great reference for leagues with deep rosters as well as an analysis for waiver wire and trade moves 3-4 years after the draft. Players like (links to RSP analysis) Spencer Ware, Alfred Morris, Travis Kelce, Randall Cobb, Jay Ajayi, David Johnson, Ray Rice, Martavis Bryant, Russell Wilson, and DeMarco Murray had extra appeal in the April version of RSPs.
The May version incorporates organizational fit, depth chart analysis, and rookie draft ADPs into its look at the prospects. Players (links to RSP analysis) like Michael Thomas, Matt Forte, Hakeem Nicks, Amari Cooper, Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Devonta Freeman, Mike Evans, and Odell Beckham were slated for short-term impact. It makes the May version a strong guide for rookie-only, keeper, and re-draft formats.
New readers sometimes ask if they could purchase the May version only, but the April and May versions are a package deal. The work for the April version informs a lot of what readers get in May. Also, long-time readers often share with me that they felt the same way as new readers at first, but discovered the long-term value of the April version and after seeing its value play out as I shared earlier, would not want to go without it.
New to the RSP?
- Find out why it has a dedicated following.
- How the RSP gives back to the community.
- Take a video tour of a previous RSP Package.
- Here’s an FAQ.
- Past issues (2006-2016 are available for $9.95)
This week's Gut Check will feature notes and commentary about some of the 100 players I've already studied for the 2017 RSP.
A late December look at the 2017 class
IDP
The top player in this class is probably not an offensive skill player, but Texas A&M's defensive end Myles Garrett. I don't study IDP players for the RSP, but I often profile them in film room sessions on YouTube.
Here's one of Garrett with Cowboys-centric draft writer John Owning.
Past IDP options of note in the RSP Film Room include:
- DE Noah Spence
- DL Leonard Williams w/former NFL defender Ryan Riddle
- DE/OLB Shane Ray w/University of Houston Recruiting Coordinator Alex Brown
- Edge defender Vic Beasley w/Justis Mosqueda, author of the fascinating and accurate Force Players analysis
- LB Eric Kendricks w/Jene Bramel
- DBs Clayton Geathers and Damarious Randall w/Ryan Riddle
Some players
If an organization embarks on this bold steps, quarterbacks from this class that could fit this Kapernick-Tebow idea (and offer more) include Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer, and Patrick Mahomes. I tend to wait until late December before I begin studying quarterbacks so I'm not going to spend a lot of time discussing the specific talents of this position just yet, but this trio has potential for growth as pocket passers and could thrive sooner than later in spread-friendly offenses.
North Carolina QB Mitch Trubisky has earned the old-school, three-step/five-step/seven-step/check-down seal of approval as the most NFL-ready quarterback of the class. I spent 18 hours studying Trubisky in recent days. I like his skill for maneuvering a pocket even if he's not a quick-twitch athlete or powerful runner. He's aware of pressure off the edge and up the middle and successfully incorporates the variety of escape techniques drilled into his game.
Trubisky is also good at delivering the ball in the short range of the field while on the move. I was impressed with his short-range accuracy while moving to his left, especially after evading pressure with a spin or reduction of his shoulder. He incorporates these moves well and most importantly, finishes with an accurate throw.
But I'm troubled with Trubisky's reactions to pressure. He truncates his release or doesn't follow through this his footwork when he feels pressure that's imminent, but not on top of him. This three-minute look at this pivotal play with 0:14 left against Florida State is a good example. If not for a questionable pass interference call on the following play, this would have been the best opportunity for North Carolina to win this game and Tribusky would have failed them.