Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

As you read before in our prior article on the NFL Scouting Combine, those who perform well in the gluttony of tests they’re put through, do not always put up big numbers on the field. But, since many of us still want to see if anything can be learned from the event, it is time to break down the positions that matter most on the fantasy football field. Today, here at Bruno Boys Fantasy Football, we look at both quarterbacks and tight ends to see if there is anyone who looked strong enough to draft in your 2010 fantasy draft.

Note: Later this week we will have the breakdown of the running back and wide receiver positions from the NFL Scouting Combine.

QUARTERBACKS

The biggest problem coming into the combine with regards to the quarterback position was that some of the top players decided not to participate in the throwing tests or any timed exercises. Want to know how Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford’s throws looked coming off his shoulder injury? Sorry, didn’t happen. How about how fleet of foot Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame is? Again, a no go. Meanwhile, the other big names like Tim Tebow of the Florida Gators and anti-abortion fame and Colt McCoy of Texas, did go through some of the tests, but decided against showcasing their arms in Indianapolis.

Tebow did run his 40-yard dash at 4.72 with a position high 38.5 vertical jump, 4.17 20-yard shuttle, 11.27 60-yard shuttle, and 6.66 3-cone drill to go long with a 9’7” broad jump. So, in the end, what do those numbers mean? If anything, they proves that Tebow has a ton of athleticism, and if he can’t get the mechanics down as a quarterback, he could be used as a multi-dimensional talent that can find his way into the end zone in a bevy of ways.

McCoy meanwhile only competed in two events, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds and had a 9’6” broad jump. His injury in the national championship dictating that he hold off doing anything further, waiting instead for his pro day.

Outside of Tebow, the guy that impressed at the combine with his test results was Jarrett Brown of West Virginia. Brown ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine for the QBs at 4.54 seconds and did very well at the vertical jump (34.5), broad jump (9’6”), and 60-yard shuttle (11.91). His mechanics still need a bit of work as do his defensive reads, but his throws were very strong, and he definitely boosted his value going forward.

No one else really jumped off the page at the quarterback position. Dan LeFevour of Central Michigan had a couple good tests, but his throws were not very strong which you can bet draws a ton of red flags.

Fantasy Breakdown: Overall, the group was not very impressive. Bradford and Clausen certainly have the most potential, but not enough in their rookie years to be fantasy worthy in 2010. Tebow and Brown may score the most touchdowns (and may have flex positioning), but if they can only be put in the quarterback slot, you need to look past these guys and not get caught up in the hype.

TIGHT ENDS

The tight end position was also rather lackadaisical at the NFL Scouting Combine this go around. There was one guy who did create a little bit of buzz and possibly improved his draft stock. His name? Dorin Dickerson of Pittsburgh. Dickerson did the best at his position in the 40-yard dash (4.40 seconds), vertical jump (43.5), the broad jump (10’5”), the bench press (24 reps) , the 3-cone drill (6.96), and the 20-yard shuttle (4.30). Looking at Dickerson’s numbers compared to the rest of the pack, it’s not even close. He definitely looked like a guy who could sore on draft boards as long as he shows he can block. Being from Pittsburgh and watching Dickerson in almost his entire collegiate career, I can personally tell you this guy has a lot of athleticism. As long as he can stay in the game as a blocker as well, he has sleeper potential for 2010 if he lands in the right system.

No one else really stepped up at the tight end position, leaving little to be excited about. Jermaine Gresham of Oklahoma and Aaron Hernandez of Florida showed the most promise with their pass catching potential, but neither did anything special.

Fantasy Breakdown: Your best bet right now is to avoid drafting a rookie tight end (especially with the numbers shown in the our pre-combine article) and waiting to see if anyone cracks the starting lineup.

The three guys to keep on your radar for an in-season waiver wire grab are Gresham, Hernandez, and Dickerson. All three played very well in college and have shown they can catch almost anything thrown their way. However, with the position never being successful in year one, there is no need to draft a rookie, with it being best to take a wait and see approach.

Combine Report By Position:  QB  |  RB  |  WR  |  TE  | OVERVIEW.

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