There weren't going to be too many good fits for a spread quarterback
with virtually no experience coming off his first read, but Petty
finds a good fit in New York with Chan Gailey, who is well known
for his spread offense and ability to cater his offense around
his quarterback. Although he will need plenty of time to adjust
to the pro game, the Baylor product has an impressive arm and
should have plenty of time to develop while Ryan Fitzpatrick and
Geno Smith battle it out for the starting job in 2015 and maybe
again in 2016. Petty doesn't have any redraft value in 2015, but
he's worthy of a fourth-round pick in rookie drafts as a long-term
project.
4.06 WAS – WR Jamison Crowder
Crowder is a bit of a curious pick for a team that is seemingly
satisfied with Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson, Andre Roberts and
Ryan Grant. With that said, Crowder is an explosive receiver that
profiles as a potentially productive long-term slot receiver in
a couple of years that should be able to return punts right away.
There is no redraft value here, but the three-year Duke starter
should be a consideration beginning in the fourth round of rookie
drafts.
4.07 CHI - RB Jeremy Langford
With Matt
Forte set to turn 30 during the season and the new staff a
bit unsure what they have in Ka'Deem
Carey, the Bears choose Le'Veon
Bell's replacement at Michigan State. Langford posted the
best 40-time at the Combine (4.42), but doesn't play that fast
and isn't much of a tackle-breaker. Carey should have the edge
for the right to back up Forte initially, so Langford likely begins
his pro career as a RB3 who will fight Jacquizz Rodgers for that
honor. Langford is yet another player that can be left undrafted
in yearly leagues and worthy of consideration in the third or
fourth round in rookie drafts.
4.08 ATL - WR Justin Hardy
Atlanta allowed Harry Douglas to leave in free agency, so it
is possible the Falcons are getting his replacement here with
the new NCAA record-holder in career catches. Hardy isn't your
typical pint-sized slot receiver, but that is where he will spend
most of his time with Atlanta early in his career. Hardy should
be a savvy, chain-moving wideout in the NFL, but probably isn't
explosive enough to survive on the outside and/or shouldn't be
considered Roddy White's long-term replacement. The East Carolina
standout warrants late-round consideration in redraft leagues
as a player capable of matching Douglas' production as a rookie,
which probably makes him a possibility to be taken in the late-second
or early-third round of rookie drafts.
4.18 SF - TE Blake Bell
The "Belldozer" was a conversion project for Oklahoma
and will continue that transition in San Fran. Bell possesses
good speed and could be worth a late dynasty pick at TE at a position
that doesn't possess many deep threats, but it will take some
time for him to get to the point where he can contribute in fantasy
at his position. The Niners could be looking at Bell as a potential
Tim Tebow-like two-point conversion and/or goal-line option.
4.24 CLE - WR Vince Mayle
Perhaps the most interesting redraft possibility - in terms of
obstacles to a starting job - of the fourth-rounders thus far,
Mayle is a bigger receiver (6-2, 224) that doesn't have a lot
in front of him on the depth chart (Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline,
Andrew Hawkins). However, Mayle is quite raw and has a steep learning
curve after playing in Washington State's spread offense. Ultimately,
it is hard to get excited about any Browns' receiver this season,
meaning he will probably be limited to a field-stretching role
in 2015. Mayle is worthy of fourth-round consideration in rookie
leagues.
4.26 BAL - RB Javorius Allen
A favorite of the draftnik community, I am not as high on the
USC running back since he lacks power and has fumbling issues.
With that said, Allen has good vision and receiving skills that
makes a lot of sense in new OC Marc Trestman's offense. With only
Lorenzo Taliaferro sitting behind Justin Forsett, however, Allen
has the inside track of a three-down role in Baltimore if Forsett
gets injured or fails to follow up on his breakthrough 2014 season.
As a result, Allen is worthy of late-round consideration in redraft
formats and a mid-to-late second-round pick in rookie drafts.
4.27 SF - RB Mike Davis
Perhaps my favorite remaining running back based on his 2013
tape, Davis appeared out of shape for most of the 2014 season.
San Francisco's depth chart behind Carlos Hyde is strangely unsettled
despite spending a draft pick at the position seemingly every
year, so the South Carolina standout could easily begin the season
as Hyde's handcuff. At his best, Davis is a bowling ball (5-9,
217) that can pound away at a defense. Davis is certainly worthy
of a later-round redraft pick assuming he lands the backup job
and, as such, a mid-second round pick in rookie drafts.
4.33 SF - WR DeAndre Smelter
San Francisco loves to stash talented players coming off injury
and that is likely what it will do here with Smelter, who is coming
off an ACL tear but goes 6-2 and 226. Smelter can hit the big
play and that will likely be his role when he gets healthy, although
he a handful to tackle after the catch and is one of the better
receiver prospects in this draft in that area. There is no redraft
value here, but the talent is such that he is worthy of a fourth-round
pick in rookie drafts.
Doug Orth has written for FF Today since 2006 and appeared in
USA Today’s Fantasy Football Preview magazine in 2010 and
2011. He is also the host of USA Today’s hour-long, pre-kickoff
fantasy football internet chat every Sunday. Doug regularly appears
as a fantasy football analyst on Sirius XM’s “Fantasy
Drive” and for 106.7 The Fan (WJFK – Washington, D.C).
He is also a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.