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Post-Draft Dynasty Rookie Rankings

With the 3-day whirlwind of the NFL Draft behind us, we now have the 2^nd part of the dynasty rookie rankings equation: landing spot. Let’s combine that with the 1^st part, talent, to see how the class shakes out.

Here are our top 50 overall rookies for dynasty leagues. You’ll find individual positional rankings below.

Top 50 Overall

1. Todd Gurley, RB, Rams

Gurley jumps from #3 in our pre-draft rankings to the top of the board here. The gap between him, Cooper and White was never big. And Gurley landed in the best spot. He’ll be a workhorse in HC Jeff Fisher’s offense.

2. Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders

The NFL-ready Cooper should slide right in as Oakland’s #1 WR. And his prowess in the short and intermediate passing games looks like a perfect fit with QB Derek Carr, who excelled on those types of throws in college.

3. Kevin White, WR, Bears

Not an ideal landing spot for White. He’ll be behind at least Alshon Jeffery in the pecking order to open his career, Chicago won’t throw as much under the new coaching staff and the long-term QB situation is unsettled. But White’s ceiling is too high to fall lower than this in the rankings.

4. Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers

Dynasty teams with a hole at RB or looking for an immediate impact might be tempted to take Gordon over Cooper or White. Be careful. There’s some bust potential for a guy with inconsistent vision who landed behind a mediocre offensive line. Gordon also has work to do in the passing game. That being said, he’ll immediately become San Diego’s lead back and has long-term RB1 upside.

5. Breshad Perriman, WR, Ravens

This guy joins a Ravens WR corps with very little behind the 36-year-old Steve Smith. Perriman should win a starting job this season and could be the #1 WR in 2016. That gives him big fantasy upside in a Marc Trestman-led offense. Baltimore reportedly had Perriman ranked in the low teens on their overall board.

6. DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins

Parker is a slightly safer fantasy prospect than Perriman. But we’ve always questioned his ability to develop into a true #1 WR. A deep Dolphins pass-catching corps will make that even harder. On the plus side, his short-area quicks and route-running ability make him a nice fit with QB Ryan Tannehill.

7. Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles

It’s no coincidence that Agholor’s closest comparison on PlayerProfiler.com is Jeremy Maclin, the guy he’ll essentially be replacing. Agholor isn’t as dangerous downfield as Maclin, but he might be better after the catch. That makes him perfect for a Chip Kelly offense that likes to get the ball to playmakers in space.

8. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Titans

Green-Beckham would have been better off landing on a more settled offense with a proven QB. The good news is that he’s already the most talented WR on the Titans roster. DGB still has the potential to emerge as the best WR in the class, but he’s much riskier than the 5 ranked above him.

9. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Lions

Abdullah is capable of immediately pushing Joique Bell for touches. We’re expecting him to be Detroit’s lead back by 2016 at the latest. Bell turns 29 in August and had knee and Achilles surgeries this offseason.

10. Tevin Coleman, RB, Falcons

Coleman is a boom/bust runner joining a team that ranked 28^th in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades last year. That’s scary. But we’ve seen OC Kyle Shanahan get big numbers out of less talented RBs. Coleman has a wide spectrum of outcomes, ranging from bust to RB1.

11. Jaelen Strong, WR, Texans

Strong surprisingly slipped to the 3^rd round of the NFL Draft – due at least in part to the fractured wrist he suffered last season. Houston’s run-heavy offense and QB issues are also concerns. But Strong is the favorite to beat out Cecil Shorts for the Week 1 starting job. He should emerge as a solid possession complement to DeAndre Hopkins.

12. Jay Ajayi, RB, Dolphins

Ajayi slipping to the 5^th round is a sure sign that teams are concerned about his bum knee. But the cartilage problem is more of a long-term concern. Dynasty owners should never be expecting more than 4-5 seasons from a RB anyway, so it’s not a huge knock on Ajayi’s value. He certainly seems to have the ability to contribute immediately after racking up 3,248 yards and 51 TDs on the ground and 72 catches for 757 yards and 5 more scores for Boise St. over the past 2 seasons. Miami never seemed to view Lamar Miller as a workhorse RB, so look for Ajayi to get on the field quickly. He could eventually pass Miller on the depth chart.

13. Devin Funchess, WR, Panthers

Funchess will need to improve his consistency and play strength in order to succeed as a pro. But he’s 1 of the youngest prospects in the class, so there should be room for growth. The Panthers are clearly high on him, trading up 16 spots in the 2^nd round to snag him. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Funchess passes Kelvin Benjamin in the pecking order down the line.

14. T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jaguars

Yeldon is a pro-ready back who should immediately zoom to the top of Jacksonville’s depth chart. He could be part of the big-time turnaround of a suddenly stacked offense. Yeldon’s poor measurables still make us unexcited about his upside, though. And he’s also a rookie-year injury risk.

15. Maxx Williams, TE, Ravens

Williams was almost a Steeler. He’s much better off in Baltimore. Only the glass-hipped Dennis Pitta and unproven Crockett Gillmore stand between him and the starting job. And he’ll be playing in a Marc Trestman offense that fed TE Martellus Bennett 224 targets over the past 2 seasons. We like Williams’ odds to emerge as a perennial top 10 fantasy TE.

16. Devin Smith, WR, Jets

Smith doesn’t have much of a chance to win a top-2 spot this year in a WR corps that features Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall. But OC Chan Gailey’s offense uses a lot of 3+ WR sets, so Smith should see plenty of playing time. And he could eventually replace the 31-year-old Marshall. Of course, Smith would benefit from the Jets finding a long-term solution at QB.

17. Phillip Dorsett, WR, Colts

Dorsett owners will need to be patient. The rookie will be buried in the pecking order in 2015. But T.Y. Hilton, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen are all free agents next offseason. Andre Johnson turns 34 in July. Dorsett could quickly vault up the depth chart of an offense led by the best young QB in the game.

18. Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans

Mariota doesn’t seem like a natural fit in HC Ken Whisenhunt’s offense. But Whiz is already morphing his attack to take advantage of his rookie’s elite athleticism. Tennessee did a nice job bolstering Mariota’s supporting cast by drafting WRs Dorial Green-Beckham and Tre McBride, OT Jeremiah Poutasi and C Andy Gallik.

19. David Cobb, RB, Titans

Cobb was a 5^th-rounder but could make an immediate impact. The Titans see him as a 3-down back thanks to his size, vision and pass-protecting ability. He’s capable of quickly beating out Bishop Sankey for the starting job.

20. Jameis Winston, QB, Bucs

Winston will be the Week 1 starter for a team with an intriguing group of pass-catching weapons in Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Charles Sims and rookie Kenny Bell. Tampa also shored up the offensive line by drafting OT Donovan Smith and G Ali Marpet. If Winston can improve his on- and off-field decision making, there’s clear QB1 upside here. But there’s still plenty of bust potential.

21. David Johnson, RB, Cardinals

Johnson is 1 of the top receiving backs in this draft class and is a good bet to make an impact in the Cardinals passing game. He has the size and measurables to become a starter, but we were less than impressed by his running ability on tape. The Cardinals might be more optimistic considering they spent a 3^rd-round pick on him. How highly you value Johnson heavily depends on what you think of Andre Ellington as a lead back.

22. Duke Johnson, RB, Browns

Johnson joins a young, crowded Browns backfield. He’s a better pass-catcher than Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West but will have a tough time carving out more than a change-of-pace role.

23. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks

Lockett might already be the most talented WR in Seattle. The run-heavy offense will cap his short-term upside, but the Seahawks figure to open up the attack post-Marshawn Lynch. Lockett is still a recommended target in the late 2^nd or early 3^rd round of dynasty drafts.

24. Chris Conley, WR, Chiefs

Conley’s downfield ability is a poor fit with the conservative Alex Smith. On the plus side, the Georgia product could quickly earn a significant role on a Chiefs team desperate for WR help. Conley’s freaky combination of size and speed still gives him plenty of long-term appeal.

25. Buck Allen, RB, Ravens

Baltimore was an excellent landing spot for Allen. He’s 1 of the top pass-catching backs in the class and joins an offense under OC Marc Trestman that loves getting the RBs involved in the passing game. Allen could quickly emerge as a PPR asset. And at 6’0, 221 pounds with 4.5 speed, he has the potential to develop into an NFL starter.

26. Sammie Coates, WR, Steelers

Coates is a big, athletic dude whose game needs lots of polish. He’ll have time to develop in Pittsburgh, where he figures to be no higher than 4^th on the depth chart this season. The Steelers have had success developing WRs (Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant), so we like this long-term fit. Coates is still a boom-or-bust prospect, but he’s worth taking a shot on if you can get him in the 3^rd round of your rookie draft.

27. Jeremy Langford, RB, Bears

Langford will open his pro career behind Matt Forte. But Forte turns 30 in December and hits free agency next offseason. Langford could be his successor. Remember that RB Ka’Deem Carey wasn’t drafted by Chicago’s current regime. RB Jacquizz Rodgers is just a change-of-pace back.

28. Justin Hardy, WR, Falcons

A precise route-runner with reliable hands, Hardy should win Atlanta’s #3 WR job this season. We’ll see if Atlanta believes the 5’10, 192-pounder can win from the outside and eventually replace Roddy White.

29. Mike Davis, RB, 49ers

Have the 49ers soured a bit on Carlos Hyde? This offseason, they’ve tried to re-sign Frank Gore, added Reggie Bush and then drafted Davis. The South Carolina product has the size (5’9, 217 pounds) and skill set to develop into a 3-down back.

30. Josh Robinson, RB, Colts

This 5’8, 217-pound bowling ball is a tackle-breaking machine with plus pass-catching ability. He could be in the mix for a significant role in Indy post-Frank Gore.

31. Kenny Bell, WR, Bucs

Bell is a wiry 6’1, 197-pounder. But he’s explosive and played outside the numbers at Nebraska. He has a good shot to win the #3 job this season and could eventually replace Vincent Jackson in the Bucs’ starting lineup.

32. Clive Walford, TE, Raiders

Walford is a smooth and versatile TE with plenty of pass-catching ability. But he might have to share targets with TE Mychal Rivera behind likely target hog Amari Cooper.

33. Rashad Greene, WR, Jaguars

Greene joins a young and completely wide-open Jags WR corps. He was extremely productive in college as Jameis Winston’s #1 WR. But at just 5’11, 182 pounds with 4.5 speed, Greene might settle in as a #3, slot receiver.

34. Devante Davis, WR, Eagles

Davis went undrafted but quickly latched on with the Eagles. A physical 6’3, 220-pounder, he fits the Chip Kelly mold. There’s opportunity in Philly behind Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor.

35. Tre McBride, WR, Titans

7^th-rounders don’t pan out often, but some evaluators had this guy as a mid-round pick. And Kendall Wright is the only WR locked into a starting job in Tennessee. If you draft Dorial Green-Beckham early, adding McBride later as insurance would be a good move.

36. Zach Zenner, RB, Lions

The South Dakota St. product went undrafted but has the measurable and production profile to emerge as a contributor. He could eventually serve as a big-body complement to Ameer Abdullah.

37. DeAndre Smelter, WR, 49ers

Smelter tore his ACL last November, so 2015 could be a redshirt year. But the 6'2, 226-pounder has a shot to eventually replace Anquan Boldin as a possession receiver in San Francisco.

38. Darren Waller, WR, Ravens

Big, athletic and raw. Waller won’t make an immediate impact but landed in a good spot. He could eventually be a starter opposite Breshad Perriman.

39. Matt Jones, RB, Redskins

Washington made this guy the 8^th RB off the board, ahead of more-heralded guys like David Cobb, Jeremy Langford and Mike Davis. Jones didn’t put up big college numbers but goes 6’2, 231 pounds with 4.5 speed. He has a chance to become the Redskins’ lead back when Alfred Morris hits free agency in 2016.

40. Vince Mayle, WR, Browns

Mayle is a former basketball player who played just 2 seasons of college football. That makes him a project, although he could be forced into early playing time for a Browns team in need of WR help. Mayle goes 6’2, 224 pounds and is a good ball tracker.

41. Ty Montgomery, WR, Packers

We’re not fans of Montgomery’s NFL potential, but our ears perked up when Green Bay selected him in the 3^rd round. The Packers could do some Randall Cobb-ish kind of things with him in the slot and backfield.

42. Jeff Heuerman, TE, Broncos

Heuerman joins an offense run by Gary Kubiak, who loves to involve TEs in the passing game. Owen Daniels turns 33 in November, and Virgil Green is unproven as a receiver.

43. Tyler Kroft, TE, Bengals

Cincinnati’s selection of Kroft in the 3^rd round was a bit of a head-scratcher considering they used a 1^st-rounder on Tyler Eifert just a couple of years ago. Eifert has had trouble staying healthy, though, and is only signed through 2016. Kroft drew a Zach Ertz comparison from NFL Films’ Greg Cosell.

44. Jamison Crowder, WR, Redskins

Not many 5’8, 185-pound WRs become reliable fantasy assets. We think Crowder will max out as a #3 WR for the ‘Skins and a bench guy in fantasy football.

45. Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Panthers

Artis-Payne should at least quickly earn a change-of-pace role behind Jonathan Stewart. And Stewart’s injury history provides upside beyond that. We’re just not sure Artis-Payne has the ability to excel as a lead back in the NFL.

46. Stefon Diggs, WR, Vikings

Diggs profiles as a slot receiver and will need to beat out Cordarrelle Patterson and Jarius Wright just for the #3 spot behind Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson.

47. Bryce Petty, QB, Jets

Petty is a major project who is at least a year away from making a fantasy impact. But we like his fit in OC Chain Gailey’s spread offense.

48. Karlos Williams, RB, Bills

Williams is a converted safety whose game needs polish. He’ll have time to develop as he sits behind LeSean McCoy and Fred Jackson. Williams’ 6’1, 230-pound frame and 4.4 speed give him upside, though.

49. Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks

Rawls is an extremely physical runner, making him a good fit in Seattle. It’s possible that he develops into an option to eventually replace Marshawn Lynch.

50. Garrett Grayson, QB, Saints

Grayson’s college tape won’t blow you away, but he’ll get to learn from Drew Brees and perhaps someday operate in HC Sean Payton’s offense.

QBs

1. Marcus Mariota, Titans

2. Jameis Winston, Bucs

3. Bryce Petty, Jets

4. Garrett Grayson, Saints

5. Brett Hundley, Packers

6. Sean Mannion, Rams

7. Shane Carden, Bears

8. Trevor Siemian, Broncos

RBs

1. Todd Gurley, Rams

2. Melvin Gordon, Chargers

3. Ameer Abdullah, Lions

4. Tevin Coleman, Falcons

5. Jay Ajayi, Dolphins

6. T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars

7. David Cobb, Titans

8. David Johnson, Cardinals

9. Duke Johnson, Browns

10. Buck Allen, Ravens

11. Jeremy Langford, Bears

12. Mike Davis, 49ers

13. Josh Robinson, Colts

14. Zach Zenner, Lions

15. Matt Jones, Redskins

16. Cameron Artis-Payne, Panthers

17. Karlos Williams, Bills

18. Thomas Rawls, Seahawks

19. Malcolm Brown, Rams

20. Marcus Murphy, Saints

21. Kenny Hilliard, Texans

22. Terrell Watson, Bengals

23. John Crockett, Packers

24. Terrence Magee, Ravens

25. Trey Williams, Texans

26. Synyn Days, Cowboys

27. Corey Grant, Jaguars

WRs

1. Amari Cooper, Raiders

2. Kevin White, Bears

3. Breshad Perriman, Ravens

4. DeVante Parker, Dolphins

5. Nelson Agholor, Eagles

6. Dorial Green-Beckham, Titans

7. Jaelen Strong, Texans

8. Devin Funchess, Panthers

9. Devin Smith, Jets

10. Phillip Dorsett, Colts

11. Tyler Lockett, Seahawks

12. Chris Conley, Chiefs

13. Sammie Coates, Steelers

14. Justin Hardy, Falcons

15. Kenny Bell, Bucs

16. Rashad Greene, Jaguars

17. Devante Davis, Eagles

18. Tre McBride, Titans

19. DeAndre Smelter, 49ers

20. Darren Waller, Ravens

21. Vince Mayle, Browns

22. Ty Montgomery, Packers

23. Jamison Crowder, Redskins

24. Stefon Diggs, Vikings

25. Titus Davis, Chargers

26. Antwan Goodley, Cowboys

27. Dezmin Lewis, Bills

28. Bud Sasser, Rams

29. Mario Alford, Bengals

30. J.J. Nelson, Cardinals

31. Geremy Davis, Giants

32. Deontay Greenberry, Cowboys

33. Dres Anderson, 49ers

34. DaVaris Daniels, Vikings

35. Austin Hill, Seahawks

36. Josh Harper, Raiders

37. Evan Spencer, Redskins

38. Andre Debose, Raiders

39. Chris Harper, Patriots

40. Jordan Taylor, Broncos

41. Kaelin Clay, Bucs

42. Rasheed Bailey, Eagles

TEs

1. Maxx Williams, Ravens

2. Clive Walford, Raiders

3. Jeff Heuerman, Broncos

4. Tyler Kroft, Bengals

5. Jesse James, Steelers

6. MyCole Pruitt, Vikings

7. Nick O’Leary, Bills

8. Nick Boyle, Ravens

9. James O’Shaughnessy, Chiefs

10. A.J. Derby, Patriots

11. Jean Sifrin, Colts

12. Wes Saxton, Jets

13. Ben Koyack, Jaguars

14. Busta Anderson, 49ers

15. C.J. Uzomah, Bengals

16. Blake Bell, 49ers

17. Geoff Swaim, Cowboys