Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

As you read before in our article about 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. In Tuesday’s article, we broke down the quarterbacks and tight ends and today we look at both running backs and wide receivers to see if there is anyone who looked strong enough to draft in your 2010 fantasy draft.

RUNNING BACKS

The running back position always seems to produce at least one rookie 1,000-yard rusher year after year. 2010 should be no different, especially if some of the top prospects play as well on the field as they performed at the combine. C.J. Spiller out of Clemson, who seems to be the consensus number one back to be drafted in April, ran a great 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds. He also had 18 reps on the bench press and showed, as was expected, that he can both carry the ball and catch it out of the backfield.

Another running back that has always shown promise when healthy is Jahvid Best out of California. He had the best 40-yard dash time for his position at 4.35 seconds and the best 3-cone drill at 6.75 seconds. He also ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.17 seconds, showing he has the shiftiness to make big plays in the NFL. If Best is healthy and if drafted to the right situation, he could have a big time impact on your fantasy team.

The final stud from the running back position at the NFL Combine was Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds, benched press 225 pounds a total of 19 times, had a vertical jump of 36”, and ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.33 seconds. To add to the strong numbers Mathews put up, he also caught the ball very well in the positional drills. The biggest concern with Mathews going into the combine was whether or not he could stay on the field on 3rd down situations. If he shows he can pass block too, there is a good chance Mathews may be the best out of all the backs in his rookie season.

Some other guys who did do well at the combine were Montario Hardesty of Tennessee, Ben Tate of Auburn, and Toby Gerhart of Stanford. All three will likely be splitting carries at best though in the NFL.

Meanwhile, some of the guys who struggled were Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech, Dexter McCluster of Ole Miss, LeGarrette Blount of Oregon, Stafon Johnson of USC, Joique Bell of Wayne State, and Andre Dixon of Connecticut. The reason most of these guys struggled was due to their poor 40-yard dash times. Additionally, with teams wanting their running backs to catch the ball out of the backfield, none of these players demonstrated that they have great hands to make plays. All of these guys need a big time opportunity and/or injury to make a fantasy impact.

Fantasy Breakdown: To recap, the three running backs to keep an eye on for 2010 in your fantasy drafts are C.J. Spiller, Jahvid Best, and Ryan Mathews. They will likely be your best bet for an immediate impact. However, stash away the other names because, as we all know, it doesn’t matter where you are drafted but instead the opportunity you are given, so make sure all of the rookies mentioned are on your watch list going into 2010.

WIDE RECEIVERS

The wide receiver group in the 2010 NFL Draft is not an overwhelming bunch, and they definitely will not be able to live up to last year’s class. The most touted player of the group, Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State, did not participate in any of the drills or tests at the NFL Combine. Another player who was absent from all aspects was Demaryius Thomas of Georgia Tech, who sat out with an injury. We know of the talent Bryant provides with his exceptional speed, and since he will be the first wide receiver chosen in the NFL Draft, he will get grabbed at some point in your fantasy draft (which may not be a great idea). Thomas was someone who I really wanted to see workout and a guy that you should keep an eye on during his pro day.

Two other bigger name wide receivers who are graded to go in the bottom of the first round got all the spotlight with Bryant and Thomas both not participating and did not disappoint. Golden Tate of Notre Dame, who is a great possession receiver, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds, did 17 reps on the bench press, and jumped 10’0” in the broad jump. Now that Tate has shown speed along with the toughness which he displayed on the field, he is a sure first round selection.

Another possible first round pick will be Arrelious Benn of Illinois. Benn ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds, a strong showing, had a position best 20 bench press reps and went for 37” in the vertical jump. What is interesting about Benn is that he was originally projected to be in the mid to upper first round, but with his production on the field dipping in the final month of the season, his draft stock went right along with it. He has just as much if not more talent than any other wide receiver and could be an impact player right away, especially since most of his drop in production was a matter of his teammates’ play.

Some other guys that had good combine performances were Taylor Price of Ohio State, Marcus Easley of Connecticut, Emmanuel Sanders of Southern Methodist, and Jacoby Ford of Clemson. Considering how little of a fantasy impact wide receivers make in year one, these results likely will mean little to their production on the field. There is a small chance one of these guys plays a factor in 2010, but good luck trying to figure out which one that may be.

Some guys who struggled in the combine tests were Brandon LaFell of LSU, Dezmon Briscoe of Kansas, and Shay Hodge of Ole Miss. If these players had mixed results in front of scouts (to go along with red flags going into the workouts), there is no reason for you to give them a second thought on draft day. Instead, wait to see if one gets a good luck and has a big week or two before even considering grabbing them for your fantasy team.

Fantasy Breakdown: To recap the wide receiver position, there are three guys right now that look like they could have a decent impact in the NFL in year one. Those guys are Dez Bryant, Arrelious Benn, and Golden Tate. Anyone else would be a huge risk to draft at this point in your fantasy drafts. And remember this, most rookies only have about 800 yards receiving at best with the rare few having over 1,000 yards in a solid all-around year. Thinking that Bryant, Benn, and Tate will be sure fire locks is even a bit risky at this point due to the role they will likely play, wide receiver No. 3s.

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

————————

Don’t forget to head over to our Fantasy Football Message Board and sign-up for a FREE FORUM account. By doing so you will be able to talk fantasy football all season long.

This article has been written by Bruno Boys Greg. He can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)