The last couple of weeks I have been filling my fantasy football writing fix with a few some commentary on what to expect from the 2012 rookies heading into the season. There are a couple of late round Quarterback sleeper possibilities. There are two potential running back rookies who could make your starting lineup to start the season, with potential of some of their 2012 NFL Draft classmates joining them down the road. What about catching the football? Let’s have a look at the Wide Receivers and Tight Ends in this year’s class from a re-draft perspective…

Justin Blackmon, Jacksonville Jaguars

Justin Blackmon will be the rookie Wide Receiver that will likely go first off of fantasy draft boards. Something that we know going into each season is that there will be some rookie pass catchers that bring in some fantasy points. Some can make decent WR2 options for a chunk of the season (WR1 in given weeks). What is not always certain is a correlation between how early the WR went in the NFL Draft, and their overall talent at the position. More often than not, it is the situation they land in. Enter concerns with Blackmon. He is certainly talented, and will likely be a fantasy force someday. BUT, there is more to worry about than going for him when fantasy football is concerned.

There is the obvious obstacle with the recent DUI arrest.  Another obvious point would be Maurice Jones-Drew getting touches. Aside from that, there is the issue that Blaine Gabbert is likely to be his QB, and the whole having a contract and getting into camp thing.

Realistically, you will not be looking at Blackmon as a consistent contributing force on your fantasy squad anyway. In a 12 team league, he may get some WR3 time to start the season. If that is what you have in mind, look at him after your starting roster is filled.

Michael Floyd, Arizona Cardinals

Another name that will be considered on fantasy draft day based on his NFL Draft stock. Floyd is in a position that is worse than Blackmon, aside from legal troubles. The Cardinals are still not set on who their QB is going to be. While we know for certain that Floyd will not be the #1 WR in Arizona as long as Larry Fitzgerald is around, he may not even make the starting lineup to start the season. The Cardinals appear to be leaning Andre Roberts at the #2 position, and there is still Early Doucet to consider in the slot. Look at one of the old Moss boys, (Randy, Santana) at the position you would have considered Floyd.

Kendall Wright, Tennessee Titans

If it had not been for size, some thought that Kendall Wright may have been the best WR prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft. There is a chance that he may be in the best fantasy football position of the pass catchers. Kenny Britt is doing everything in his power to give Wright playing time with his recent arrest. Despite that, Britt is still recovering from last year’s knee injury, and Wright is expected to fill his starting spot. A fantasy owner can feel good landing Wright late as a WR3 or WR4, knowing there will be weeks you are getting a WR2 on your team.

The Rest

The Giants’ Rueben Randle is worth watching on the wire or a very late round pick. The Giants will place people where they can succeed and if he shows he can, he will get his chances. Stephen Hill is slotted to start with the Jets, but is dealing with a hamstring he should shake by camp. Brian Quick is the guy with the Rams. You take Rams WRs when desperate. Keep an eye on Quick for when you are, because he will be leaned on as the guy in St. Louis.

Tight End

Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts

The only Tight End worth mentioning at this time is Coby Fleener with the Colts. There is the obvious relationship with Andrew Luck going back to Stanford. There is the obvious emphasis on the athletic TE after the seasons had by Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski. All exciting stuff, but have perspective and don’t look at him too early, and certainly not as a TE1 to start the season. This is the type of guy that I don’t usually land late because someone else over pays with an earlier pick.

There are some things that are certain each year when the NFL Draft rolls around. There are going to be trades on draft day. There are going to be Jets fans that boo. There will be a quarterback that is drafted higher than expected a month or so earlier. In the 2012 NFL Draft, Texas A&M QB, Ryan Tannehill is likely to represent that pick. With Andrew Luck expected to go to the Colts with the first overall pick, and the trade between the Rams and Redskins completed for the positioning for Robert Griffin III, the NFL Draft needs a QB story. Ryan Tannehill is playing the lead.

Coming into the draft season there were a number of Quarterback hungry teams. Since then, The Seahawks have dropped out of that race by signing the two game wonder that is Matt Flynn. Several teams were chasing Peyton Manning, but all except Denver failed. When the dust settles, the Cleveland Browns (#4)and the Miami Dolphins (#8) are the teams that are considered most likely to be targeting a QB. With both of these teams landing within the top 10 picks of the 2012 NFL Draft, that creates a spot for a third QB to be drafted so high. Is Ryan Tannehill a top 10 caliber QB, or is he a QB going to a top 10 team?

In the 2011 NFL Draft, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder were both drafted higher than expected, in the same range as Tannehill. A month before the draft, neither was expected to go as high. The weight of struggling franchises were put on their shoulders. A year later there is talk of a need for a QB in Jacksonville. If the Dolphins or the Browns draft Tannehill, the same will be expected of him. The Dolphins have a potential “start until the new guy is ready” vet in David Garrard, but chances are he wouldn’t last long with a fresh possible franchise QB in the wings. Cleveland is either with or without Colt McCoy. If they take Tannehill, it is for him to start now because McCoy isn’t going to be the guy.

While media hype does wonders for athletes that need to improve their draft stock, it can also set a prospect up for failure by propelling him to a position that he was not ready for. We even noted last month that he was the best available quarterback.  I’m not writing this to say that Ryan Tannehill is not ready. I’m writing this to plant the seed that the media may have created his stock when we are reflecting if he is a bust or not after his rookie season.

I guess it could be a bit premature to call Ryan Tannehill the best available Quarterback considering that the 2012 NFL Draft is still a month and a half away. That is essentially what we have before us though, isn’t it? With the Colts and Redskins in line to take Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III off the board, the former Texas A&M QB is likely on the top of the list for the rest of the Quarterback needy teams in the NFL.

With just a year and a half of starts under his belt, many feel that Tannehill is a bit raw to be spending an early first round pick on. Add the perceived lack of experience to a broken foot and that pretty much sums up the downside for Tannehill. On the plus side he has the ability, smarts, and size to be a solid NFL QB. With that combination, paired with the need of some teams, Tannehill should see himself come off the board in the top half of the first round. The questions is going to be who believes it the most in the month of April.

As the NFL Draft order sits right now, there are four teams that are looking for a QB in the top 13 picks. One of those teams, the Arizona Cardinals, do not appear on the radar for using a first round pick on a signal caller, but will take Peyton manning if they can get him. That leaves Cleveland, Miami, and Seattle. With Free Agency starting this week, we should know soon who decides to go with former 7th rounder Matt Flynn as their big money QB. By the time Tannehill’s workout comes along on March 29th, it could be a two horse race assuming Flynn lands on one of those teams.

Our 2012 NFL Mock Draft has been updated to officially reflect the trade between the Washington Redskins and the St. Louis Rams…even though the trade is not officially official. The Minnesota Vikings are essentially on the clock with the Colts selecting Andrew Luck, followed by the Redskins selecting Robert Griffin III. The mock will move to three rounds within the week.

Given that the number one spot in the 2012 NFL Draft appears to be sealed up with the Indianapolis Colts selecting Stanford Quarterback, Andrew Luck, the hot commodity story of the NFL Scouting Combine and the draft is Baylor’s Robert Griffin III. It is thought that there are Quarterback needy teams, such as Cleveland, Miami, and Washington, that have their eyes on RG3 and are looking at moving into the St. Louis Rams’ number two pick to get him. While he didn’t throw, Griffin put on a fascinating show for those in attendance, both on the field and in the interview room.

“I think I was able to go out there and affirm to the scouts how athletic I am, or impress them even more,” Griffin said Monday. “I was able to show people that I am as advertised. I’m a good guy, I like to make people laugh. I can’t remember a meeting I didn’t go in and we weren’t laughing. You go there and do what you’re supposed to do, create a buzz for yourself.”

The Rams just watched their draft position become more valuable this weekend.

Source: SFgate.com