We’ve finally had the chance to gather our wits and dissect everything that took place at the 2017 NFL Draft. As dreams were realized by rookies, some veteran players either saw a threat to their depth chart stronghold come to light, or are sleeping well knowing that they have yet another chance to shine in the upcoming season (spoiler: Breshad Perriman).
This two-article series will look to find the top five risers and top five fallers in fantasy following this year’s draft, starting of course with the risers.
5. Paul Perkins, RB, New York Giants
Athletically speaking, Paul Perkins doesn’t tip the scale on much. Holding a 4.54 40-yard dash time (62nd-percentile), 97.9 Speed Score (50th-percentile) and 116.4 Burst Score (35th-percentile), there isn’t much to like about Perkins from a measureables standpoint. That being said, the Giants did little to address their backfield needs in the 2017 NFL Draft, using a fourth round pick on Wayne Gallman out of Clemson, making way for Paul Perkins to lead the Giants’ backfield early in 2017.
Paul Perkins Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Paul Perkins started the final two games for the Giants in 2016, logging 36 carries and one reception for a total of 179 yards over that span, but has yet to find the end zone as a pro. Expect that to change in 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGJgnx6rVUI
With Wayne Gallman learning the ropes, Rashad Jennings retired, and Shane Vereen coming back from a torn triceps muscle, early looks indicate the starting running back position is Paul Perkins‘ to lose. He plays in an offense that features one of the best receiving corps in the league, which should help spread defenders and garner plenty of opportunities for matchups against lesser fronts.
4. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Oakland Raiders
No, this isn’t a cop out. Yes, Marshawn Lynch is obviously going to produce more than he did in his retired 2016 season. The draft could have easily affected Lynch’s touches in the Oakland backfield for 2017. That being said, it didn’t. Oakland drafted running back Elijah Hood 242nd overall, and have left the rest of the touches in their backfield to Marshawn Lynch, and far inferior running backs DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ-eCYVTSjE
Beast Mode is back, and the NFL and Raiders are better for it. After parting ways with veteran running back Latavius Murray this offseason, the Raiders elected to bring Marshawn Lynch to his home town via trade with the Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch brings his hard-running ways and elite metrics to an offensive line that ranked 12th in the league in run blocking efficiency last season with a 101.9 run blocking score on PlayerProfiler.com.
Marshawn Lynch Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Having come into Raiders mini-camp looking to be in far better shape than initially believed, Marshawn Lynch has a chance to be bell cow in a high powered offense that needs to stabilize its running game in 2017.
3. Breshad Perriman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
With elite speed, height and burst, third year wide receiver Breshad Perriman has a chance to capitalize on opportunity on a roster that is now devoid of Steve Smith, and of any newly drafted wide receivers. The Ravens did not address a perceived need at wide receiver in the 2017 NFL Draft, and now Perriman truthers everywhere are salivating at the notion that their years of stashing him could finally be paying off.
At 6-foot-2, 213-pounds, Breshad Perriman has a blistering 4.30 40-yard dash (100th-percentile) and 125.7 Speed Score (99th-percentile).
Breshad Perriman Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
An injury plagued rookie campaign in 2014 saw Breshad Perriman‘s start of the season end as quickly as it began, but he bounced back in limited opportunity in 2016 to tally 33 receptions for 499 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He was targeted 66 times in 2016, resulting in an underwhelming catch rate of 50-percent (No. 92), but will likely find more opportunities and greater success as he becomes more comfortable with Joe Flacco and the offense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3kxf7_jeQU&t=17s
His measureables alone scream success, but his intermittent play (46.1-percent snap share, No. 119) needs to become more consistent in order for Baltimore to see what they really have in him. Breshad Perriman will get a chance to prove himself in 2017, and the sky is the limit for the former 26th overall pick.
2. Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans
One of the most efficient red zone quarterbacks, and rising start Marcus Mariota received a boost to his playmaking corps during the draft when the Tennessee Titans drafted Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis fifth overall, and Western Kentucky wide receiver Taywan Taylor 72nd overall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS4fAApG6iM
During his first two years in the league, Marcus Mariota has yet to throw an interception in the red zone, and posted a red zone completion percentage of 61-percent (No. 9) in 2016. His deep ball completion of 42-percent was good for the eighth best among quarterbacks in the league, and he finished 10th in the league with 26 touchdown passes, while averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game among quarterbacks (No. 9).
Marcus Mariota Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Taking Marcus Mariota‘s already top-notch play, and pairing it with Corey Davis‘ 6-foot-3, 209-pound frame, and one could only expect red zone effectiveness and deep ball completion percentages to rise for Mariota in 2017.
Corey Davis utterly dominated collegiate defenders, and despite the underwhelming talent he may have faced out of the MAC conference, still posted 331 receptions for 5,278 yards and 52 touchdowns, good for a 51.6-percent College Dominator Rating (96th-percentile). His College YPR of 16.8 is good for a ranking in the 78th-percentile, while his 18.7 Breakout Age (95th-percentile), makes him an elite college prospect at the wide receiver position.
Corey Davis Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
As it stands right now, Corey Davis figures to be inserted into the Titans’ wide receiver corps from day one, and will add significant value to Marcus Mariota, who is already garnering talk as a top 10 fantasy quarterback in 2017.
1. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Find us the guy in Tampa Bay who listens to the RotoUnderworld Podcast and has a subscription to PlayerProfiler.com, and congratulate him on a job well done. The Buccaneers had a Player Profiler draft for the ages, nabbing tight end O.J. Howard 19th overall, wide receiver Chris Godwin 84th overall and running back Jeremy McNichols at 162nd overall. Now it’s time for Jameis Winston to get to work with a team that already featured Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Doug Martin and Cameron Brate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1iqR-31QzM
Despite the overwhelming amount of weapons Jameis Winston will have in 2017, he will need to see improvement out of his offensive line who posted a 54.8 pass block score in 2016 (no. 22), but there’s no doubting the weapons around him. Keeping the focus on rookies as Winston’s key to improvement, tight end O.J. Howard will challenge incumbent Cameron Brate for touches early, and have the starting position locked up sooner rather than later.
O.J. Howard possesses a 4.52 40-yard dash time (97th-percentile), 123.9 Speed Score (98th-percentile), 11.01 Agility Score (97th-percentile) and 123.1 SPARQ-x Score (86th-percentile). His athleticism is undeniable, as is his size, coming in at 6-foot-6, 251-pounds. In 2016, Cameron Brate, a far less athletic player, led all tight ends with eight receiving touchdowns while coming in 12th among tight ends in receptions (57) and receiving yards (660).
O.J. Howard Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Given Cameron Brate‘s 2016 success despite his measureables, there should be a tremendous amount of hope for O.J. Howard in 2017 regardless of his rookie tag. With so many new weapons around him, via both free agency and the draft, Jameis Winston‘s arrow appears to be pointing up in all fantasy formats.
