The third and fourth rounds of rookie drafts will be made up of good but not great talents and RB and WR who could still matter for fantasy leagues if they land in the right spot and the second tier of a lackluster IDP class. We’ll all have favorites in these rounds, but history tells us that we should be willing to trade later picks if we can get a falling target earlier in the rookie draft by trading up.
The pre-draft Bloom 100 is a snapshot of how this year’s rookie class sorts itself out with without destination and draft position factored in, but remember that sometimes destination and draft position end up being a very large influence on a player’s dynasty outlook (even if in hindsight they were given too much weight for some players).
The Bloom 100 is ranked with the following type of dynasty fantasy football league in mind:
* Full IDP lineups including DT and CB
* PPR, start 3 WR
* Deep lineups and rosters
Of course, depending on your league scoring and settings, the placement of some positions can change, but the tier breaks and rankings within position should be good to use across all league formats.
26. Kenny Bell, WR, Nebraska - This Matt Waldman favorite plays like a more explosive Kenny Stills at his best and loves to block. He also has been plagued by drops, on the slight frame side, and might fit better as a complementary piece in a passing attack.
27. David Cobb, RB, Minnesota - Cobb projects as a smart, tough, versatile back in the NFL who will have a role and produce on his touches. The problem is that he’ll likely never be the most physically talented back on his roster and be seen as a long-term answer. I’ll be willing to move him up 10-15 spots with an ideal destination.
28. Zach Zenner, RB, South Dakota St - Zenner is a big stubborn back with good speed. He comes from a small school background, but has performed any time he played BCS conference teams too, and dominated at the lower level the way you would expect a future pro to. As long as he doesn’t get converted to fullback, he could be a core contributor in a backfield.
29. Tre McBride, WR, William and Mary - McBride is the bargain store alternative to Cooper and Agholor. He’s a graceful athlete who understands how to separate and can rack up receptions in the right role. McBride is one of the best at playing the ball in the air in this class, and his overall athletic ability/tools package should translate, even if he won’t be a playmaker/game changer.
30. Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami-Fl - Dorsett has legit deep speed and he plays the position well, but he’s not a TY Hilton, and I’m not even sure if he’s a John Brown. He could go in the second or even late first round, but doesn’t project as an everydown receiver in a two-wide offense.
31. Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas State - Lockett was very productive and can shake a corner like no one’s business, but like Dorsett, his size and game limit him as an outside receiver. If he lands in a perfect situation for a slot receiver like say, the Giants, perhaps Lockett will merit a second round rookie pick.
32. Justin Hardy, WR, East Carolina - Hardy has a very well-rounded game that could make him a “go to” option for a smart QB, but there’s also a question about how he’ll perform in the NFL when he doesn’t present a mismatch in terms of size, speed, or quickness. He’s more of a complement than a main course in a pass offense, but he can produce if given the opportunity.
33. Dezmin Lewis, WR, Central Arkansas - Lewis is a big, fluid receiver with great hands who jumps off of the small school tape the way a pro prospect should. He is more of a finesse receiver than a banger, and he’s not a top-end athlete, so there’s some question about how he’ll translate against better competition.
34. Devante Davis, WR, UNLV - Davis is a big receiver with a good game at the catch point. Occasionally, he will flash some suddenness or fluid athleticism that indicates potential starter ability, and he uses his hands well to engage with the corner.
35. Austin Hill, WR, Arizona - Hill was highly productive in 2012 with his big, rugged game and quality at the catch point, but he wasn’t the same in 2014 after as 2013 ACL tear. His pro day numbers indicate that Hill could be much closer to the promising player he looked like in 2012 than he was last year.
36. Stephone Anthony, LB, Clemson - Anthony projects as a three-down LB with good range, but not necessarily a splashy big guy or more than a LB3/LB4 unless role enhances his value.
37. Shaq Thompson, LB/S, Washington - Thompson may be a perfect fit in the pass-happy NFL and he could also fall through the cracks because he’s undersized and has a hesitant nature to his game. The plan for the team that selects him will be a big element of his value.
38. Vic Beasley, OLB/DE, Clemson - First of all, just take as a given that all of these EDGE prospects are more valuable for fantasy as defensive ends than they are as linebackers. Beasley has more of a linebacker frame and is unlikely to get the DE designation. He does, however, flash the best ceiling/risk combination of the EDGE prospects and is the best bet to hit his ceiling.
39. Leonard Williams, DE/DT, USC - Once again position designation looms over an IDP prospect in this class. As a 4-3 DT, Williams instantly becomes a potential impact player just off of Aaron Donald from last year’s class. As a 3-4 DE, Williams upside ends up in the Calais Campbell zone. I love Williams the player, but some of the production he creates will end up on other players box scores.
40. Karlos Williams, RB, Florida State - Williams 2014 is a late-round/UDFA level player who looks like an oversized third-down back, while Williams 2013 is a mid-round prospect with the ability to contribute in all facets of the offense. He has flashed NFL starter physical ability and game, but not lately, and there’s some character risk to boot. A home run hack in the later rounds.
41. Josh Robinson, RB, Mississippi State - Robinson looks like Mike Tolbert on first glance, but has a little Maurice Jones-Drew in his game. He’s a determined back who is very tough to bring down because of his low center of gravity and thick lower body . He’s a useful back who can get what’s there and sometimes get on a roll, outlasting a defense, but you wonder if a team will ever commit to him as a lead back because of his size and lack of physical talent.
42. Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas - Brown is what you see is what you get back, but what you get is a very efficient strong downhill runner who could be at least a stopgap in an early down running game if he lands somewhere with immediate opportunity or gets his foot in the door by some other manner. Don't accidentally take Malcom Brown, the highly touted texas DT in this year's class.
43. Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State - Greene just blends in from a tools standpoint, and that could limit his long-term NFL role. He is also a very skilled receiver in his routes with excellent body control and could still be a 70-80 catch guy in a pass-heavy offense.
44. Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky - Dupree has the highest athletic ceiling of the EDGE prospects, and he also has the size to remain at 4-3 DE and create more IDP value. He also has the rawest game and probably the longest wait of the top EDGE group to harvest what value he does create. I generally prefer to churn through my last few spots looking for offensive success to incubating IDP value with risk attached.
45. Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida - Fowler’s game is maybe the most clearly defined of the top EDGE prospects, but that’s in part because his game and athletic profile don’t create that a lot of room for upside. His high floor will appeal to teams, but that doesn’t help us much, even if he ends up at DE.
46. Jeremy Langford, RB, Michigan State - Langford looks like he belongs in the NFL, but not among the backs who will get regular touches for his team by design. He’s competent, efficient, and can play in all aspects of the offense, but nothing about his game can overwhelm his opponent. Still, if he happens to land in a good spot with immediate opportunity, he could be one of the more productive rookie backs.
47. Javourius “Buck” Allen, RB, USC - Allen is an unsubtle hard-nosed downhill runner with power and a good burst when he gets a clean hole. His running style offers little in the way of creativity and he doesn’t add much value to his runs. Yet another back who will have a good chance to make a team and could produce if called on, but will likely never be more than a temporary #1 on a depth chart.
48. Clive Walford, TE, Miami-Fl - Yeah it’s a long way down to TE2 this year. Walford is a good enough receiver and athlete to provide tactical value to offenses - especially those that run a lot of 2 TE formations - but not good enough to be a fantasy factor unless the situation is ideal. There are a few of those out there, so he could climb in the post-draft 100.
49. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA - I’m fascinated by Hundley, at least in part because his athletic profile indicates a quarterback who can be productive as a runner/scrambler. If a QB needy team is willing to spend a second (or even *gasp* a first) on Hundley, he might get a shot to start eventually, and that’s worth something in dynasty leagues. There’a non-zero chance Hundley could do something with it, too.
50. Michael Dyer, RB, Louisville - We would have loved to pick up Dyer this late in rookie drafts in 2010 or 2011. The compact pounder has seen his luster dim after leaving Auburn, but he’s a lunchpail runner who could hang around and be productive if a team is pressed into using him.