2010 Draft Prospects |
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Updated Last: 3/12/2010
Below you will find our 2010 NFL Rookie Rankings. These are our top ranked 2010 college football prospects heading into the 2010 NFL Draft. We have the top quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends listed from the 2010 NFL Draft class. The 2010 fantasy football season is around the corner and evaluating the incoming fantasy football rookie class is a critical part of the fantasy football scouting process. These positional 2010 rookie rankings below include expert analysis, links to college game film and links to college player profiles/bios. Now, because we’re a fantasy football Site, we have specifically focused on the fantasy football skill positions, which are all of the top soon-to-be NFL rookie running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks and tight ends from the 2010 NFL Draft Class. Also, looking for our first-round 2010 NFL Mock Draft? Take a look at how we see the entire 2010 NFL Draft’s first-round unfolding. We also provide a 2010 Rookie Mock Draft. So get to it!
Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Quarterbacks | Tight Ends
Height: 5-11, Weight: 195 | Born: 8/15/1987
We currently have C.J. Spiller ranked No. 1 out of all the running backs from this 2010 class, but beware, because Jonathan Dwyer is inching closer to Spiller for the top spot. He has good speed, but isn’t the biggest runner at 195 pounds. Landing spots are everything with this 2010 running back class, but for now, without knowing landing spots, this is the runner we see thriving the most at the next level. One of his greatest attributes is his ability to catch the football. Over his last three college seasons, Spiller has pulled in 34, 34 and 33 passes. In 2009, Spiller ran the football 201 times for 1,145 yards (5.7) and scored 15 total ru/rec touchdowns. He also pulled in 33 passes for 445 receiving yards. He was a monster in 2009, and even though he shared carries back in 2006, 2007 and 2008, he showed flash of brilliance even then. If in the right situation, this kid might be a fantasy football stud.
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Height: 5-11, Weight: 220 | Born: 5/1/1987
In 2009, Ryan Matthews rushed for 1,808 yards and 19TDs and he rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of his 11 played games (eight of which were 140+ yard games). Besides being a yardage machine, Mathews has a nose for the end zone — He had 8 total TDs in 2008 and 14 total TDs in 2007. Keep an eye on this running back, he could climb everyone’s rankings fast as we head toward April’s 2010 NFL Draft.
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Height: 6-1, Weight: 235 | Born: 7/26/1989
Jonathan Dwyer didn’t do much in 2007, as he was a back-up to Tashard Choice that year, but he certainly made some noise in 2008. In 2008, Dwyer ran the football 200 times for 1,395 yards (7.0) and rushed for 13 touchdowns. He only pulled in 8 receptions in ‘08, but he racked up 209 receiving yards and a score on his limited grabs. In 2009, Dwyer ran the ball 221 times for 1,346 yards (6.1) and rushed into the end zone 14 times. He only grabbed 3 receptions for 25 yards. He is a tough running back with great size. He has the perfect frame for the NFL and could be the second or third running back taken in the 2010 NFL Draft. As with C.J. Spiller, and most of the runners below, landing spots means everything… and If in the right spot, Dwyer could be a future fantasy football stud. If he is drafted to start at the next level, Dwyer has top 10RB upside! Like any of these runners in this class, without a good landing spot they could fail to live up to expectations.
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Height: 5-10, Weight: 195 | Born: 1/30/1989
Some compare this guy to Chris Johnson, but let’s not get carried away — yet. Jahvid Best has excellent quickness and can accelerate as fast as anyone. He knows how to hit the hole and has great cut-back ability. He is also a good receiving back. His weaknesses have to be pass protection and power. He is good at breaking tackles, but inside power is a must in the NFL and he has to prove he can handle the grind up the middle. Despite that short list of weaknesses, Best is arguably a top 3-4 rusher from this 2010 running back class. In 2009, Best ran the ball 141 times for 867 yards (6.1) and scored 16 total ru/rec touchdowns. He also pulled in 22 passes for 213 yards. He did his real damage in 2008, when he ran the football 194 times for 1,580 yards (8.1) and 16 total ru/rec touchdowns. He also pulled in 27 balls for 246 yards in 2008. How good will Best be in the NFL? That depends entirely on where he lands (a common theme in this early 2010 rookie running back rankings).
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Height: 6-0, Weight: 190 | Born: 4/16/1988
Joe McKnight had a strong Junior season at USC last year, rushing for 1,014 yards on 164 carries (6.2 YPC). He also punched in eight rushing touchdowns on the year and rushed for over 100 yards on four different occasions. In all three of his college seasons he has managed to at least pull in 21 passes. McKnight is extremely versatility and very explosive. Where he goes will determine everything. If he is in the right spot, he could be our top rated fantasy rusher heading into the 2010 fantasy football season.
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Height: 6-1, Weight: 235 | Born: 3/28/1987
The big question is, will Toby Gerhart’s talent translate into the NFL? If you don’t know much about Toby Gerhart, or about his monster 2009 college season, let us break it down for you. The Stanford running back is a solid 6-1 and weighs 235 pounds. He has the ideal frame for an NFL back. Gerhart, a Senior at Stanford, has a nose for the end zone, as he has racked up an insane 26 rushing touchdowns in just 12 games. Twenty-six rushing scores is unbelievable in just 12 outings! The big-play rusher averaged 5.6 yards per carry through those 12 contests and he rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of those games (he hit the 200-yard mark in three of those). Here, let us spit out just his last four 2009 outings and you decide for yourself how productive this kid is going to be at the next level. Gerhart had 223 rushing yards and 3TDs vs. Oregon on 11/7, 178 rushing yards and and 3TDs @USC on 11/14, 136 rushing yards and 4TDs vs. California on 11/21 and then 205 rushing yards and 3TDs vs. Notre Dame two days ago on 11/28. Those are his last four games, not his best four, his last four. Gerhart scored a rushing touchdown in 11 of his 12 games this year and had at least two rushing scores in nine of the 12 outings. If drafted to start in the NFL, something that we’re uncertain of, Gerhart would be a good NFL running back. It will be fun to watch how the scouts react to Gerhart at the combine/workouts.
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Other Running Backs: LeGarrette Blount (Oregon), Anthony Dixon (Mississippi State), Evan Royster (Penn State), Montario Hardesty (Tennessee), Ben Tate (Auburn), Keith Toston (Oklahoma State)
Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Quarterbacks | Tight Ends
Height: 6-2, Weight: 215 | Born: 11/4/1988
Dez Bryant played just three games in 2009, but pulled in 17 receptions for 323 yards and 4TDs in those three outings. After three games played in 2009, Bryant was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after lying to the NCAA when the receiver was asked if he had visited Deion Sanders’ home and had worked out with him. Will missing most of the 2009 season hurt Bryant’s draft stock? Probably not. Most scouts seem to think that the suspension won’t scare off any NFL teams, and honestly, the sentence didn’t fit the crime. Bryant is a big-time receiver with size and strength that you just don’t find at the college level. Many think that this kid can be better than Michael Crabtree and we agree. Bryant could be a fantasy football beast in 1-2 seasons. Mark it down.
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Height: 5-11, Weight: 195 | Born: 8/2/1988
Golden Tate broke Jeff Samardzija’s school records of 93 catches and 1,496 receiving yards in 2009, and he also racked up 18 all-purpose touchdowns. Tate isn’t the biggest receiver, but he can hold his own and go up and get a ball with the best of them. He has had some issues with dropping the football, but his upside is huge if given the targets and opportunity. He could be a first-round selection during April’s 2010 NFL Draft.
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Height: 6-3, Weight: 206 | Born: 11/4/1986
Brandon LaFell is a strong prospect, but he never recorded a 1,000-yard season in college and his receptions and receiving yards dropped off a bit in 2009. He did manage to score 11 times in 2009, but it’s tough to predict how well LaFell will do in the pros. Having a good quarterback can go a long way and LaFell may prove this if he lands in the right spot. His landing spot could make or break his future at the NFL level.
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Height: 6-1, Weight: 195 | Born: 5/26/1988
Damian Williams is one of the best route-runners in this 2010 wide receiver class. In 2009, Williams pulled in 70 balls for 1,010 yards and 6TDs. If Williams gets drafted into a good situation, he could mature quickly, especially given his experience in a pro-style offense.
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Other Wide Receivers: Taylor Price (Ohio), Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech), Marshawn Gilyard (Cincinnati), Arrelious Benn (Illinois), Danario Alexander (Missouri), Jeremy Williams (Tulane), Jacoby Ford (Clemson), Jordan Shipley (Texas), Eric Decker (Minnesota)
Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Quarterbacks | Tight Ends
Height: 6-4, Weight: 214 | Born: 11/8/1987
If only Sam Bradford had declared a year earlier. Bradford, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2009. Will he recover fully and be ready for his rookie season? That’s a tough question to answer — Time will tell. As of right now, Bradford looks like the top QB in this 2010 draft class. He could go No. 1 overall to St. Louis.
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Height: 6-3, Weight: 217 | Born: 9/21/1987
Jimmy Clausen had a great college season in 2009, passing for 3,722 yards, 28TDs and he only threw 4 INTs. He had seven 300+ yard games in 2009 and two of those games were 400+ outings. Clausen looks like the real deal and he could very well be a top 10 overall pick in this year’s 2010 NFL Draft. It’s tough to predict how well Clausen will be from a fantasy perspective, especially if he goes to a team without good wide receivers. Stay tuned — His fantasy value will be easier to predict as we near April.
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Height: 6-3, Weight: 235 | Born: 8/14/1987
Tim Tebow is a strong-armed passer — His footwork and slow release are weaknesses, and many are really starting to doubt his ability to play at that next level… All that said, he has tremendous work ethic and we believe he will surprise everyone. Tebow rushed for 13 scores in 2009 and threw for 21 touchdowns. Even though he had better seasons in the touchdown department back in 2008 (30) and 2007 (32), Tebow still had a strong 2009 — Yet he is very underrated right now. A team like Jacksonville could invest and get him at bargain value later in the draft. In time, we predict that Tebow proves doubters wrong.
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Other Wide Receivers: Jevan Snead (Ole Miss), Colt McCoy (Texas), Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Tony Pike (Cincinnati), Sean Canfield (Oregon State), Bill Stull (Pittsburgh), Max Hall (BYU), Jonathan Crompton (Tennessee)
Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Quarterbacks | Tight Ends
Height: 6-6, Weight: 260 | Born: 6/16/1988
Jermaine Gresham missed his senior season with a knee injury. He is a huge player at 6-6, 260 and could turn into a solid NFL tight end with time. During his Junior season, Gresham pulled in 66 balls for 950 yards and 14 TDs. He should be a first-round pick on draft day come April.
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Height: 6-3, Weight: 250 | Born: 11/6/1989
Aaron Hernandez had a huge season in 2009, pulling in 68 passes for 850 yards and 5 TDs. With Tim Tebow heading to the NFL, Hernandez is smart to declare. If drafted into the right situation, he could become a strong NFL tight end.
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Other Tight Ends: Rob Gronkowski (Arizona), Dennis Pitta (BYU), Ed Dickson (Oregon), Garrett Graham (Wisconsin), Anthony McCoy (USC)
