Fantasy Football 2010
2010 Fantasy Football Draft Class
Football Babble has decided to take a quick peak ahead to the 2010 fantasy football season and which players are likely to make an impact coming out of college in the 2010 NFL Regular Season. Later, we’ll look at NFL free agency in the coming 2010 NFL Offseason.
Sam Bradford – 2010 Fantasy Football Draft Class
It’s hard to say what Sam Bradford’s early-season injury against BYU will do to his NFL draft stock. If he can return before the start of October and the brutal schedule including the Miami Hurricanes, Texas Longhorns and OSU Cowboys, Sam Bradford will have time to make people forget last year’s National Championship Game. If Bradford sits out most of the year, that could open the door for another big-armed college quarterback to grab the spotlight heading into the football offseason and NFL draft season.
What’s funny is, most people assumed Sam Bradford would go #1 in the 2009 NFL Draft – had he entered it. Most people thought Bradford was a superior quarterback to Georgia’s Matt Stafford, who went first overall to the Detroit Lions. It’s hard to imagine that Sam Bradford’s injury would be enough to damage his long-term outlook in the NFL, but you just never know from one year to the next.
Tim Tebow – 2010 Fantasy Football
Don’t draft Tim Tebow in any 2010 fantasy drafts. Tim Tebow will be a major disappointment in the NFL, because he can’t play NFL quarterback and he won’t have a natural position in the National Football League. Think Vince Young when you think of Tim Tebow. In the NFL, the running quarterback isn’t any faster than the linebackers, so they eat him up. And any flaws in his throw are exposed by the speed of the NFL game. Let you friend make the mistake of drafting Tim Tebow in an NFL fantasy football draft.
Colt McCoy – 2010 Fantasy Football Draft Class
It appears Colt McCoy won’t be getting too many looks as an NFL quarterback. Another of these great college quarterbacks, so-so NFL prospects.
Jahvid Best Fantasy Football 2010
The early favorite to be the #1 overall pick in rookies-only fantasy football dynasty drafts in 2010 is Jahvid Best, who plays for the University of California. Jahvid Best is rated the #4 most-likely player to win the Heismann Trophy in 2009 and the #1 rated running back, sitting behind only Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy. I’m guessing by the time the 2010 NFL Draft rolls around, though, Jahvid Best might have slipped down the draft board a little bit. That’s because Best doesn’t have the ideal size for an NFL running back, currently measuring in at 5’10″ (perfect size) and 195 lbs (about 20 pounds too light). Jahvid Best might add 5-10 pounds and get into the range of current NFL backs like Steve Slaton and Chris Johnson, but those players were not Top 20 draft picks. If a bigger RB steps up in the NCAA 2009 Season who has similar measurables in the 40 times, I’m guessing that player will eventually end up rated higher than Jahvid Best.
Remember the year Ricky Williams was getting all the accolades in college football, then Edgerrin James went ahead of Ricky based on measurables? That’s what I’m talking about with Jahvid Best.
Michael Crabtree – 2010 Fantasy Football
If Michael Crabtree is crazy enough to sit out the entire 2009 NFL Season and reenter the NFL Draft, he’s is very likely to have a rude awakening on the first day of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Currently, Michael Crabtree is being offered something around $20 million, while he wants closer to $40 million. I guarantee, if he reenters the NFL Draft, Michael Crabtree will be facing a contract offer of less than $20 million next year. Consider this.
In the 2009 NFL Draft, a few teams (Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders) considered Michael Crabtree, but decided his big ego and large entourage made him an iffy investment. Both teams wanted a star wide receiver, but ultimately crossed Crabtree off their list due to personality considerations. Their concerns look to be justified now. Do you honestly think a player egotistical enough and dumb enough to turn down $20 million to reenter the draft is going to impress teams.
Imagine you’re an NFL GM in the 2010 NFL Draft. Imagine you have a Top 10 draft pick. You have a huge investment to make: maybe $20 million with the 10th pick and $40 million with a Top 5 pick. You’re looking over all the young kids in the NFL draft you could select. You have all these guys who just impressed with a big junior or senior year, who were with a program last year and who have presumably just come off huge college careers.
Then you have Michael Crabtree. He had a huge college career, but he also turned down the going rate for the 10th pick in the NFL Draft because he was mad he didn’t get drafted higher. Then consider that Michael Crabtree was at pass-happy Texas Tech. Then consider that 9 teams passed on Michael Crabtree in the 2009 NFL Draft, while that 10th NFL team who decided to risk their future on Michael Crabtree was left holding the bag because he was throwing a tantrum over his draft status.
There’s no way an NFL General Manager is going to spend a Top 10 draft pick on that player, even if he rates higher physically (and that’s a big if, especially when he hasn’t played in a year). Teams were already shying away from Michael Crabtree last year. Now that they realize how immature and unstable Michael Crabtree is, teams will be running from him.
Michael Crabtree’s Hope – Fantasy Football 2010
And make no mistake: that’s what Michael Crabtree is betting on here. He’s betting he gets drafted not only in the Top 10, but significantly far enough the Top 10 that it’s worth it to him to miss 16 NFL game checks. For that to work, he probably needs to be drafted in the Top 5. There’s no way that happens. The Browns, Raiders and Niners – three teams likely to be high up the draft board next year – won’t be drafting Michael Crabtree, you can be sure. Crabtree’s agent is smart enough to know this, so you know he’s been told the risk he’s incurring by holding out for the year.
That’s the level of delusion we’re talking here. Michael Crabtree is throwing away millions of dollars for a dream that will never be. It’s better to get in camp, play well for the Niners and make up that money on the next contract – if you prove to be that great of a player.
C.J. Spiller – 2010 Fantasy Football Draft Class
I’ll be drafting this kid in my dynasty league in 2010, no doubt. That’s mainly because he has the same last name that I do. I think CJ Spiller will probably only be a scatback or 3rd down back in the NFL, but I hope he becomes a huge star.
Dez Bryant – The Oklahoma State wide receiver is already getting a lot of talk in the college football press. If OSU have a big 2009 season, expect to see Dez Bryant become a high draft pick in the NFL.
Arrelious Benn – Fantasy Football 2010
The Illini wide receiver is athletic and quick and, unlike Michael Crabtree, is thought to have the right attitude to impress NFL teams.
Evan Royster – Fantasy Football 2010
Penn St.’s junior running back has the measurables I was talking about with Jahvid Best. Expect to see his draft stock rise if the Penn State squad has a good 2009.
Jonathan Dwyer – Fantasy Football 2010
The big RB from Georgia Tech is a great combination of size and speed, and he might well be the #1 runner on the board come the 2010 NFL Draft.
Jermaine Gresham – Fantasy Football 2010
OU’s tight end is out for the season already, which could prove disastrous for the big TE’s NFL Draft status. Remember Gresham’s name when it comes to 2010 fantasy football keeper leagues, though, and remember he came into his senior season as the #16 NFL Prospect as rated by Scout Dot Com.
Jevan Snead – Fantasy Football 2010
Ole Miss’s quarterback might be the #1 draft pick in the NFL, if he leads Ole Miss to a good season and Sam Bradford’s injury lingers. Remember this kid’s name.
