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| Recent Blog Post: Fantasy Impact: Offensive Line Draft Selections |
As I watched the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft conclude I thought it would be a good idea, since I'm the offensive line specialist here at RotoWire, to compile a ranking of the top-5 most impactful selections from a fantasy perspective.
This year's draft was heavy at the top with offensive lineman, headlined by three tackles that went within the first four picks and two guards that were selected by pick number 10. You will find four of those five listed below. Here is my opinion of the additions that could change the fantasy values of their new teammates in a significant, and positive, way.
1. Chance Warmack to the Tennessee Titans at pick no. 10
Biggest Beneficiary: RB - Chris Johnson
Warmack may not have the highest upside or be the best lineman from this class in ten years, but he's the most ready to step on the field and be a force from Day 1. He's what I like to call a people-mover, he's tough and rugged. He'll step right in to play right guard and fill the Titans only remaining glaring weakness on their line. They signed Andy Levitre to fill their hole at left guard via free agency. The Titans have struggled to get the ground game going the last two seasons and that should change with Warmack in tow. Chris Johnson needs to get to the second level to be at his best and he should find a lot more creases to make that happen. He now becomes a much more comfortable selection somewhere near the top-10 fantasy running backs in drafts.
2. Lane Johnson to the Philadelphia Eagles at pick no. 4
Biggest Beneficiary: QB - Michael Vick
Johnson is the left tackle of the future for the Eagles, but I think he's the right guard of the here and now, granted Jason Peters and Todd Herremans can return healthy. Johnson is insanely athletic so he should be able to pull out in front of LeSean McCoy on sweeps and screens and Shady will benefit from his addition, but Vick has been getting murdered of late, a lot of times with the pressure coming up the middle. He'll have a cleaner pocket to work from this year. Right guard has been a major issue as 2011 first-round pick Danny Watkins hasn't worked out to this point. Johnson also provides insurance at tackle if someone goes down again, and the offense shouldn't completely stall as it did this past season.
3. Eric Fisher to the Kansas City Chiefs at pick no. 1
Biggest Beneficiary: RB - Jamaal Charles/ QB - Alex Smith
With Fisher and Branden Albert the Chiefs will have one of the best tackle tandems in the NFL. Fisher is the premier lineman in this year's class and while he'll eventually be their left tackle, possibly as early as 2014 when Albert's franchise tag runs out, he'll probably man the right side in 2013. He has a better pedigree and more strength to be successful there than Albert does. Kansas City's offensive line wasn't their biggest problem in 2012, but the upgrade along the front will certainly help all their weapons. The likelihood of Alex Smith being a success moves up a tick, Jamaal Charles should see more holes to squirt through, and Dwayne Bowe should have more time to get open. The Chiefs also selected Travis Kelce who will boost their run-blocking from the tight end position.
4. Jonathan Cooper to the Arizona Cardinals at pick no. 7
Biggest Beneficiary: RB - Rashard Mendenhall
There was no question the Cardinals needed to address their offensive line in this year's draft and though they missed out on the top-3 tackles they got a fantastic player in Cooper. He's a fast, chisseled athlete who moves extremely well and may be the best pulling guard I've ever seen. He anchors well in pass protection too and is strong at the point of attack. My gut is he will start for Arizona at center, which may ultimately be the best fit for his skill set, and be the leader of their offensive line from Day 1. He will be a big boost to the Cardinals' running game and recently added running back Rashard Mendenhall. Not getting a tackle is a bummer, but the return of Levi Jones means only one of Bobby Massie or Nate Potter will have to work out on the right side and the interior will be vastly improved. All the skill position players in Arizona get a bump, but Mendenhall's is the biggest.
5. Terron Armstead to the New Orleans Saints at pick no. 75
Biggest Beneficiary: QB - Drew Brees
I'm a bit out on a limb by myself on this one as Armstead went much later than I had him rated and obviously NFL brass weren't big believers in his potential. I'm sticking with my evaluation though. He's every bit as athletic as Lane Johnson and the Saints' situation at left tackle after losing Jermon Bushrod to free agency was tenuous at best. Charles Brown is slated to be the starter there, but Armstead gives the team a back-up plan with loads of upside and I personally think he'll win the job outright. Obviously Brees can't get much of a boost from being a top-3 or four quarterback, but if his blind side was a major problem this season things certainly could have gone horribly wrong. This pick is a nice security blanket for those aiming to select Brees at the top of this year's fantasy drafts.
Posted by sraposa33 at 4/26/2013 10:38:00 PM |
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| Quintin Demps (S) KC
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5/22/2013 |
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Recent Kansas City Chiefs Team News
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| RotoWire Update |
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9/4/2006 |
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The Chiefs on Monday signed quarterback Casey Printers, wide receiver Donovan Morgan, tight end Adam Johnson, center Jonathn Ingram, defensive tackle Stephen Williams, linebacker William Kershaw and cornerback Michael Bragg to the practice squad.
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8/28/2006 |
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The Chiefs made 16 roster moves Monday to meet the league's mandatory cutdown deadline of 75 players, KC Metro Sports reports. Veterans Priest Holmes (neck) and William Bartee (Achilles) were placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Meanwhile, 14 were released. They include quarterback Jeff Smoker; wide receivers Craphonso Thorpe, Kyle Brown, Darrell Hill and Scott McCready; tight ends Robert Docherty and Adam Johnson; guards Steve Franklin, Peter Heyer and Tyler Lenda; defensive tackle Arrion Dixon; linebacker Nick Reid and cornerbacks Jerald Brown and Justin Perkins.
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| Schedule |
| Sep 9 |
ATL |
1:00 PM |
| Sep 16 |
@BUF |
1:00 PM |
| Sep 23 |
@NO |
1:00 PM |
| Sep 30 |
SD |
1:00 PM |
| Oct 7 |
BAL |
1:00 PM |
| Oct 14 |
@TB |
1:00 PM |
| Oct 28 |
OAK |
4:05 PM |
| Nov 1 |
@SD |
8:20 PM |
| Nov 12 |
@PIT |
8:30 PM |
| Nov 18 |
CIN |
1:00 PM |
| Nov 25 |
DEN |
1:00 PM |
| Dec 2 |
CAR |
1:00 PM |
| Dec 9 |
@CLE |
1:00 PM |
| Dec 16 |
@OAK |
4:25 PM |
| Dec 23 |
IND |
1:00 PM |
| Dec 30 |
@DEN |
4:25 PM |
| Sep 8 |
@JAC |
1:00 PM |
| Sep 15 |
DAL |
1:00 PM |
| Sep 19 |
@PHI |
8:25 PM |
| Sep 29 |
NYG |
1:00 PM |
| Oct 6 |
@TEN |
1:00 PM |
| Oct 13 |
OAK |
1:00 PM |
| Oct 20 |
HOU |
1:00 PM |
| Oct 27 |
CLE |
1:00 PM |
| Nov 3 |
@BUF |
1:00 PM |
| Nov 17 |
@DEN |
4:05 PM |
| Nov 24 |
SD |
1:00 PM |
| Dec 1 |
DEN |
1:00 PM |
| Dec 8 |
@WAS |
1:00 PM |
| Dec 15 |
@OAK |
4:05 PM |
| Dec 22 |
IND |
1:00 PM |
| Dec 29 |
@SD |
4:25 PM |
| Roster |
Abdullah, Husain S
Albert, Branden OT
Allen, Jeff G
Asamoah, Jon OG
Avery, Donnie WR
Bailey, Allen DE prob.
Baldwin, Jon WR
Bellamy, Josh WR
Berry, Eric S
Bowe, Dwayne WR
Bray, Tyler QB
Brock, Kevin TE quest.
Brown, Jalil CB
Catapano, Mike DE
Charles, Jamaal RB
Commings, Sanders CB
Copper, Terrance WR
D'Imperio, Ryan FB
Daniel, Chase QB
Davis, Knile RB
Demps, Quintin S
DeVito, Mike DE
Diles, Zac LB
Dixon, Marcus DT
Draughn, Shaun RB quest.
Eachus, Nate RB
Fasano, Anthony TE
Fisher, Eric OT
Flowers, Brandon CB
Gafford, Thomas LS
Gilyard, Mardy WR
Gray, Cyrus RB
Hali, Tamba LB
Hartman, Tysyn DB
Hemingway, Junior WR
Houston, Justin OLB
Hudson, Rodney C
Jackson, Tyson DE
Johnson, Derrick LB
Johnson, Nico LB
Jones, Edgar LB
Jordan, Akeem LB
Kelce, Travis TE
Lemon, Orie LB
Lewis, Kendrick S
McCarthy, Kyle S prob.
McCluster, Dexter WR
Moeaki, Tony TE prob.
Muir, Daniel DT
Newsome, Jamar WR
Opurum, Toben FB
Poe, Dontari DT
Powe, Jerrell DT
Reeves, Jacques DB
Robinson, Dunta CB
Rucker, Martin TE
Schwartz, Geoff OT
Sherman, Anthony FB
Smith, Alex QB
Smith, Sean CB
Stanzi, Ricky QB
Stephenson, Donald OT
Succop, Ryan K
Thorpe, Neiko CB
Toribio, Anthony DT
Wilson, Braden FB
Wylie, Devon WR
Zombo, Frank LB
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