There is a growing movement in the Dynasty community toward “devy” players. The term “devy” refers to developmental players carried on the dynasty league rosters. These devy players are usually college players but can even be high school athletes. Each week, we will look at a different set of devy rankings.
The 2017 Draft class is a very strong one. Expect the running backs and wide receivers to dominate the discussion. There are some potential All Pro players at each position. In devy leagues, we advise trading 2016 rookie capital for 2017 devy picks. This is a strong class. Even the quarterbacks have big time potential.
This series of articles focuses on players who should be considered on their respective NFL prospects not college production. In this article, we will take a look at the prospects who will be eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft. Also, keep in mind that one or more of the top players eligible to turn pro this spring will actually stay in school. It happens every year.
5. Malachi Dupre (LSU) – The Sophomore possesses prototypical NFL size, 6'3”, 195 pounds, and makes plays in the air. Dupre is tall and a tremendous leaper. He will grow into a redzone threat over time and will have that role as a professional. Dupre is not relied upon too much, but it is understandable with Leonard Fournette lined up in the backfield. Those who just look at box scores will be disappointed in Dupre. He has performed well when targeted in the passing game. Middling play from quarterback Brandon Harris has further limited Dupre's production as well. The Tigers also have the talented Travin Dural at receiver. Dupre is a Louisiana product who stayed home to play for LSU even though he was highly recruited. As teams load up to stop the run, we expect Dupre's role to increase, and the targets to follow.
4. Nick Chubb (Georgia) – Before he tore his PCL a few weeks ago, Chubb was included in the conversation for the top spot on this list. At 5'11”, 213 pounds Chubb combines strength to run between the tackles and a burst to break off huge runs. Thankfully, Chubb will have a full year to recover from the knee injury. He should be able to get back to full speed some time during the 2016 season, allowing him to showcase his skills for draft evaluators. We are cheering on the talented runner to return to form as soon as possible.
3. Dalvin Cook (Florida State) – The 5'11”, 197 pounder is playing the best football in 2015 of his collegiate career. Cook has been nicked up of late but should return next week. His legal issues are now in the rear view mirror. Florida State is playing great on offense behind the talented Sophomore. We expect Cook to finish in the Top 5 for the Heisman Trophy. The ACC has plenty of soft run defenses for him to run wild and have huge numbers down the stretch. Cook has been able to break off big plays a few times each game. His compact frame, elusive open-field moves, and breakaway speed are a lethal combination for Seminoles opponents.
2. JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC) – The youngster has been impressive this season. He has emerged onto the national scene. Smith-Schuster should pass the 1,000-yard mark in the next game. He has put up big numbers almost every week and could have some monster games in conference play. The young pass catcher was dominant against Utah a couple of weeks ago. The Sophomore turns 19 years of age on November 22. Think about that for a moment. He is still just 18 years old. In addition, if Smith-Schuster leaves when eligible after the 2016 campaign, he will only be 20 years old. Smith-Schuster has good size, 6'2”, 200 pounds, and runs great routes. He is able to get open with ease in college and should be able to have success as a professional. This is one prospect who will continue to get better and better.
1. Leonard Fournette (LSU) – The bruising runner is the odds-on favorite for the Heisman Trophy. Just like Adrian Peterson over a decade ago, Fournette was physically able to enter the NFL coming out of high school and is tearing up all collegiate defenses, even the strong defenses of the SEC. He has to wait the NFL-mandated three years out of high school before turning pro. At a whopping 6'2”, 227 pounds, Fournette is thought to run a 4.40 40-yard dash. He runs over, through, and around defenders. Fournette ranks as our top devy player overall. Unless injured, he will star in the NFL, just like he has in college.
Honorable Mention
Artavis Scott (Clemson) – Like so many Clemson players, Scott's athleticism jumps off the screen when watching film. The Sophomore has burst and play-making skills to be successful in the NFL. With the injury to Mike Williams earlier this season, Scott is relied upon to have a larger role in the Clemson offense. Many will worry about his size, 5'11”, 185 pounds, but there are plenty of top receivers shorter than ideal. A couple of weeks ago, Scott caught 10 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. In that contest against Boston College, no other Clemson receiver had more than three catches. Scott will celebrate his 21st birthday December 12. He is still young and will continue to get better.
Royce Freeman (Oregon) – The Sophomore has been the best asset on the Oregon offense this season. A few weeks ago, Freeman rushed for 264 yards and two scores on only 27 carries in the loss to Washington State. Freeman is a big runner at 6'1”, 220 pounds. The bruising runner could top 1,500 rushing yards this season. He is relishing as the bell cow runner for the Ducks offense while the team searches for an identity without Marcus Mariota under center.
Josh Malone (Tennessee) – Malone has been full of potential and short on production during his collegiate career. The 6'3”, 195-pound Sophomore is a big-play player. The local product from Gallatin, TN is still very young, turning 20 years of age this coming March. Malone was Rivals' WR2 coming out of high school. The combination of poor quarterback play, strong running game, and emerging Junior MarQuez North have limited Malone's production. But, let's remember the immense upside Malone possesses. He will have plenty of time to show off his wares.
Christian McCaffery (Stanford) – McCaffery is the son of former NFL star receiver Ed McCaffery. The Stanford star is tearing up the Pac12 conference, and all other opponents. He stands 6'2”, 212 pounds and runs a 4.48 40-yard dash. The Sophomore ran for 243 yards in a recent game against UCLA. The 243 yards broke the Stanford record of 223 yards previously held by Toby Gerhart. Interestingly enough, McCaffery is a strong asset as a returner but offers little value in the passing game. Some may argue that he would rise to the occasion if used more as a receiver. With at least one more year left in his college career, McCaffery has plenty of time to work on his pass-catching ability. He could be a great fantasy option if landing in the right NFL offensive scheme.
DaeSean Hamilton (Penn State) – Hamilton gets little publicity due to playing in a disappointing offense led by Christian Hackenberg. He redshirted the 2013 season after suffering a wrist injury. This was the year with Bill O'Brien coaching and Allen Robinson starring at the receiver position. So, last year, Hamilton burst onto the scene as the team's top pass catcher. The redshirt Freshman broke the Penn State Freshman record of receptions (11) and receiving yards (165) in his first collegiate game. Hamilton led the Big 10 conference in receptions in 2014. He did this with a struggling quarterback and as a Freshman. The strong initial season included 14 receptions against Ohio State. This stellar season earned him Freshman All American honors. Hamilton is 6'1”, 211 pounds. The sluggish offense and inconsistent quarterback play of Hackenberg has taken its toll this year. Many will point to Hamilton's lack of elite size or speed as a reason to discount his future. But, let's remember that he caught 82 passes for 899 yards in his first collegiate season a year ago. If Hackenberg were playing better, we might be hearing more about the talented Sophomore.
Demario Richard (Arizona State) – Richard is still very young. He just turned 19 years of age and has room to develop on his 5'10”, 210-pound frame. The Sophomore has carried the Arizona State offense this season. Richard is the star running back that few are discussing. He could easily be a Top 5 tailback in next year's draft class.
Paul Perkins (UCLA) – The redshirt Junior is overshadowed by Freshman passer Josh Rosen. The 5'11”, 198 redshirt Junior does not get twenty carries per game, like several on this list, but could make the jump to the professional level if he can perform well the rest of the season. He will be NFL Draft eligible after the season. We expect Perkins to stay another season, but big games against some of the weak Pac12 defenses could be enough to buoy his draft stock enough to announce for the draft.
Travis Rudolph (Florida State) – Rudolph was the top ranked receiver coming out of high school, as ranked by Rivals. He is a local product from West Palm Beach, Cardinal Newman High School. Rudolph is athletically built, but needs to add weight to his 6'2”, 184-pound frame. He is just a Sophomore and will continue to improve on route running, reading defenses, and gaining separation off the line of scrimmage. The upside is high if he can continue to develop. Rudolph made a great play against Syracuse this past Saturday, embarrassing the defender. He ended the game with five grabs for 191 yards and three scores. What a game.
Paxton Lynch (Memphis) – The redshirt Junior is a massive human being at 6'6”, 230 pounds, drawing comparisons to Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger and Nick Foles. Lynch could come out this year, but we hope he stays in school one more year. The strong showing against Mississippi fueled the talk of him turning pro this Spring. One reason why Lynch could come out, even though he would benefit from another year at the collegiate level, is the lack of quality quarterbacks in the 2016 Quarterback draft class compared to the 2017 class.
Brad Kaaya (Miami, FL) – Kaaya started slowly as a Freshman, but played very well down the stretch. The game against Florida State last year was especially memorable. The 6'4”, 210 pound Sophomore has a big-time arm and is not afraid to throw down the field. After losing Phillip Dorsett, Clive Walford, and Duke Johnson Jr to the NFL, Miami lacks weapons in the passing game. This puts even more pressure on the youngster to carry the offense. Kaaya is efficient as a passer and stands strong in the pocket.
Deshaun Watson (Clemson) – Watson is one of the more electric players in college football. He has a rifle for an arm and is not afraid to throw the ball into tight spaces. His size, 6'3”, 188 pounds, is a concern for many considering Watson's lengthy injury history. The Sophomore is a weapon as a runner and passer. His lack of size has stirred debate due to Watson's willingness to run in the open field. Watson is young, turning 20 years old three weeks ago. Shockingly, Watson completed almost 75% of his passes through the first four games of the season, a truly remarkable statistic. Injury is the only thing standing in the way of a Top 5 selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. His bevy of great receivers will only help the cause. Watson was awesome against North Carolina State this past Saturday.
Kyle Allen (Texas A&M) – The 6'4”, 195 pound Allen has a strong arm and possesses plenty of upside. The Sophomore is just 19 years old does not turn 20 until March. Allen has been wildly inconsistent this season. This past Saturday, Allen was benched in favor of Freshman Kyler Murray. Allen can make all of the throws but still has plenty of maturing to do before he turns pro. Yes, he needs to bulk up his frame, but that will come with age. He is still very young. Even with the demotion, we still like Allen's chances of being a viable professional passer.
Allen Lazard (Iowa State) – Lazard is one of those players who fails to wow scouts but makes plays. He is tall but needs to add some bulk to his 6'5”, 190-pound frame. Lazard had many offers to leave the state, but decided to stay near his hometown of Urbandale, IA. He was a big-time recruit, choosing Iowa State over Notre Dame, Nebraska, Stanford, California and Iowa. One factor that led him to Iowa State was his father, Kevin, played football at Iowa State in the early 1990s. We question Lazard's burst and ability to beat the speedy NFL defenders. He has missed action this season with a shoulder injury.
K.D. Cannon (Baylor) – Cannon has been overshadowed by the incredible Corey Coleman this season. He is a small, 5'11”, 170 pounds, speedster who possesses 4.38 (40 yard dash) wheels. Cannon passed the 1,000-yard mark a year ago in the prolific Baylor offense so he has proven production. Yes, Cannon is fast, but he also is able to run decent routes. The Sophomore will continue to develop and could see his name called on Day 2 of the 2017 NFL Draft.
That will do it for the 2017 Draft Class. Next week, we will look at the top overall players of the 2018 Quarterback Draft Class.
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