The first round of the 2019 NFL Draft is in the books. From a fantasy football perspective, it was quite—arguably the quietest Round 1 in years. The first 32 picks were dominated by the defensive side of the ball.
This isn’t to say that nothing happened on offense. The first overall pick—as it so often is—was a quarterback. But while Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray has the skill-set to potentially be a star in the pros, he landed on an Arizona Cardinals team with a shaky offensive line, so-so skill-position talent and an unproven first-year head coach in Kliff Kingsbury.
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It was a similar situation at wide receiver. The first player taken at that position also hailed from Oklahoma, and Marquise Brown has speed to burn—and then some. But in addition to questions about his diminutive size, Brown landed with a Baltimore Ravens team at No. 25 that features a quarterback with accuracy issues and the most run-heavy offense in the league.
It wasn’t all bad news, though. In something of an upset, a running back came off the board before any wide receivers. That running back (Alabama’s Josh Jacobs) landed with the Oakland Raiders at No. 24—a spot that solidified his status as fantasy’s top rookie in 2019 and thrust him squarely into the RB2 conversation for the upcoming season.
In going No. 8 overall to the Detroit Lions, Iowa tight end TJ Hockenson landed in a situation where the draft’s most NFL-ready player at the position should see enough targets to be worth a look as a middling TE1 in 2019. Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry was the final pick of Round 1 by the New England Patriots—an ideal situation for the big-bodied pass-catcher.
With the exception of possibly Brown, all those players saw their dynasty fantasy value positively affected by their Round 1 draft status. Where the other two Day 1 quarterbacks (Daniel Jones to the New York Giants at No. 6 and Dwayne Haskins to the Washington Redskins at No. 15), dynasty value is just about all they have…for now.
Of course, there’s a flip side to so few skill-position players being drafted in Round 1. Day 2 of the 2019 draft is going to be off the chain—a potential free-for-all of backs and receivers that could drastically alter the fantasy landscape.
And that, dear reader, is why I’m here.
Throughout Friday night’s festivities In Nashville, I’ll be breaking down all the draft picks of note to fantasy owners—or at least as many as I can get to before my fingers fall off. Who lands where, and what it means in both dynasty and redraft fantasy football leagues.
The party starts in Tennessee at 7 PM Eastern.
The fun will get started here at FantraxHQ shortly thereafter, so check back for updates on Day 2’s most impactful picks.
NOTE: The “Fantasy Grades” listed in this article are slanted toward dynasty fantasy football leagues. If a player is drafted into a situation that’s favorable where fantasy impact as a rookie is concerned, his grade will be boosted accordingly.
Jawaan Taylor – OT, Florida
Jacksonville Jaguars, No. 35
Fantasy Impact: Taylor’s a 6’5″, 312-pound mauler who was mocked to Jacksonville by many draftniks at No.7. He’ll start at RT from Day 1 most likely, and he’s a ferocious run blocker. It’s good news for Leonard Fournette.
I was getting bored.
Fantasy Grade: N/A
Deebo Samuel – WR, South Carolina
San Francisco 49ers, No. 36
Fantasy Impact: Samuel isn’t the biggest wide receiver in this class. Or the fastest widest receiver in this class. But the 6’0″, 214-pounder is an excellent route-runner and incredibly physical when it comes to fighting for the rock. The 49ers aren’t exactly loaded at wideout, so Samuel could see a heavy target load in the slot right off the get.
Fantasy Grade: A-
Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
Denver Broncos, No. 42
Lock’s nightmare ends with the team so many had connected to the four-year starter at Mizzou taking him with the second of consecutive second-rounders. Had you told John Elway before the draft he could pass on Lock twice and still land him, he’d likely have suggested you stop huffing glue. Lock’s not going to start in 2019 unless Joe Flacco’s a disaster, but the Broncos hope they just landed the young QB they’ve sought for so long. They just won’t have a fifth-year option.
Fantasy Grade: B
Irv Smith – TE, Alabama
Minnesota Vikings, No. 50
The good news for the Minnesota Vikings is that they landed an athletic tight end who averaged over 16 yards a catch last year with the 50th overall pick. The bad news for fantasy owners—at least in the short-term—is that last I checked Kyle Rudolph’s still in the Twin Cities. Smith will have some value in the later rounds of dynasty startups and rookie drafts, but so far as 2019 impact goes unless Rudolph gets hurt there just aren’t enough targets to go around.
Fantasy Grade: B
A.J. Brown – WR, Ole Miss
Tennessee Titans, No. 51
D.K. Metcalf got all the pre-draft buzz after his otherworldly combine, but it was Brown who was the more productive pass-catcher for the Rebels in 2018, hauling in 85 catches for 1,320 yards. Brown, much like the aforementioned Deebo Samuel, isn’t a blazer or a massive red-zone target. But the 6’0″, 226-pounder is a good route-runner who excels at making catches in traffic. Brown has some Jarvis Landry to his game—the question is where the Titans will play him after signing Adam Humphries to man the slot in free agency.
Fantasy Grade: B
Drew Sample – TE, Washington
Cincinnati Bengals, No. 52
It can’t be argued that the Cincinnati Bengals need to add depth at tight end—the clock’s already ticking on the next Tyler Eifert injury. The argument is whether or not there were better options at the position available than Sample, who caught just 25 passes for 252 yards for the Huskies in 2018. Sample’s one of the better blocking tight ends in this year’s draft, and a better pass-catcher than those stats indicate—Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared him to Jack Doyle of the Colts. But he profiles as a low-ceiling dynasty option from a fantasy perspective.
Fantasy Grade: C-
Miles Sanders – RB, Penn State
Philadelphia Eagles, No. 53
Raise your hand if you had Sanders as the second running back selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. Now put your hand down, you danged liar. Sanders isn’t the tailback Saquon Barkley was, but the rushed for nearly 1,300 yards last year and averaged almost six yards a pop. Sanders isn’t especially explosive and needs to cut down on fumbles, but outside that he has a well-rounded skill-set that could equate to a workhorse role. That role likely won’t come until 2020 though after the Eagles picked up Jordan Howard in the offseason.
Fantasy Grade: B-
Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia
Kansas City Chiefs, No. 56
That the Kansas City Chiefs traded up in Round 2 to select a wide receiver that possesses 4.33 speed and averaged over 25 yards a kick return rather feels like the team is trying to replace someone. That Hardman is a blazer who (in theory) could slide into the Tyreek Hill role is undeniable. So is the fact that Hardman may have just hit the fantasy situation jackpot. But Hardman’s neither anywhere close to a finished product or the best receiver left on the board at this spot. The Chiefs tried a little too hard to get a Hill clone here.
Fantasy Grade: B-
JJ Arcega-Whiteside – WR, Stanford
Philadelphia Eagles, No. 57
The more film I watched of this year’s wide receiver class, the more I liked Arcega-Whiteside. He’s a big-bodied, physical receiver who runs excellent routes and makes up for a lack of elite speed with that route-running and good change-of-direction skills. He’s also the best contested-catch wideout in this draft by a wide margin. With Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and Nelson Agholor, the Eagles appear set so far as starting WR. But they are reportedly shopping Agholor, and Arcega-Whiteside’s going to be a hard player to keep off the field. This situation may keep JJAW from being the No. 1 rookie receiver in fantasy in 2019 I thought him capable of being, but in the long-term mark these words—this kid is going to shine in the NFL.
Fantasy Grade: A-
Parris Campbell – WR, Ohio State
Indianapolis Colts, No. 59
That shrieking sound you heard was defensive backs in the AFC South thinking about trying to cover both TY Hilton and Campbell. Campbell’s a late bloomer whose route tree needs to add a few branches, but he’s a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball and a versatile offensive weapon. It’s not hard to imagine Campbell as a Day 1 starter alongside Hilton and Devin Funchess, and a Colts WR corps that was thin behind Hilton last year suddenly looks pretty scary. Campbell’s going to be a high-variance fantasy option who mixes huge totals and long scores with disappearing acts—especially early on. But this landing spot is about as good as it gets.
Fantasy Grade: A
Andy Isabella – WR, UMass
Arizona Cardinals, No. 62
After flipping Josh Rosen to Miami for a package highlighted by this pick (oof), the Redbirds used it to select Isabella, who ESPN’s Mel Kiper called “Danny Amendola with a lot more speed.” Isabella’s small at just 5’9″ and 188 pounds, but he’s tenacious and peeled off a 4.31-second 40-yard dash at the combine. The Cardinals have a pair of capable outside receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk, but the Redbirds needed both vertical speed and a slot guy. They got both with Isabella—the question now is how Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray will use him.
Fantasy Grade: B
DK Metcalf – WR, Ole Miss
Seattle Seahawks, No. 64
After showing off a ridiculous physique and tearing up the scouting combine, many draftniks thought the 6’3″, 228-pound Metcalf might be the first wideout drafted in 2019. But a limited route tree, rotten agility tests in Indy and an injury history combined to drop Metcalf to the last pick of Round 2. It’s not hard to see why the Seahawks took a chance on him—if he can come close to realizing his potential Metcalf could be a star. But he’s no sure bet to do that, and with Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin entrenched on the depth chart ahead of him it may take Baldwin being unable to return from injury for Metcalf to make an early impact. I’ll confess he makes me nervous. All sizzle, no steak–although he may get the occasional long score after Russell Wilson scrambles around for seven minutes.
Fantasy Grade: C-
Diontae Johnson – WR, Toledo
Pittsburgh Steelers, No. 66
As you may have heard, the Steelers lost a WR this offseason. His name escapes me at the moment—Tony something. The Steelers looked to get Juju Smith-Schuster some help this year by adding Johnson, a 5’10” 183-pounder who was wildly productive in the MAC. However, Johnson’s neither big nor especially fast (4.53-second 40 at the combine) and most draftniks had him pegged as a middle of Day 3 pick. Pittsburgh’s depth chart at wideout isn’t great behind Smith-Schuster, opening a door for early snaps for Johnson. But I have my doubts as to whether he has the talent to take advantage of that opportunity. The NFL ain’t the MAC.
Fantasy Grade: C-
Jalen Hurd – WR, Baylor
San Francisco 49ers, No. 67
Speaking of Day 3 projections who found themselves drafted much earlier than expected, Jalen Hurd is very much a project at the wide receiver position—his route tree essentially consists of bubble screens and go routes. However, Hurd is also a 6’5″ converted tailback with 4.3 speed who topped 1,200 yards on the ground at Tennessee. Hurd’s a dangerous weapon with the ball in his hands who is only just learning to play wideout. If ha can make the most of his prodigious physical gifts, he could be one of the steals of dynasty rookie drafts in 2019.
Fantasy Grade: B
Josh Oliver- TE, SDSU
Jacksonville Jaguars, No. 69
Oliver’s hardly a household name, but the 6’5″, 249-pounder was one of the more productive pass-catchers at the position last year, topping 50 receptions and 700 yards. Oliver also showed off some solid wheels at the combine—he’s very much the modern field-stretcher as a tight end. Oliver’s a work in progress—especially where his blocking is concerned. But the Jaguars depth chart at tight end is a steaming pile of blah. Oliver’s going to have a real chance of winning the starting job as a rookie, even if his fantasy ceiling isn’t especially high.
Fantasy Grade: B
Darrell Henderson – RB, Memphis
Los Angeles Rams, No. 70
That odd noise you heard when Henderson’s name was announced was Todd Gurley dynasty owners crapping their pants. Those fantasy owners were already concerned about the status of Gurley’s balky knee, and the Rams trading up to select a tailback many considered the most explosive player at the position in this class in Round 3 would certainly appear to show that they are too. In redraft leagues, Henderson just became a must-have handcuff for Gurley owners. In dynasties, Gurley’s injury and massive salary could mean his days in La-La Land are numbered—and that the Henderson era will begin soon enough on a potent Rams offense.
Fantasy Grade: A-
David Montgomery – RB, Iowa State
Chicago Bears, No. 73
Since the Chicago Bears flipped Jordan Howard to the Chicago Bears, there have been plenty of questions regarding what the NFC North champs planned to do at the position. In selecting Montgomery, a 5’10”, 222-pounder who some considered the best tailback in this class, the Bears answered that question—emphatically. Tarik Cohen is still going to be a big part of the Chicago offense—so much so that Montgomery may be the less valuable of the pair in 2019. But Montgomery has a workhorse skill-set and has drawn comparisons to Kareem Hunt. If he gets a chance to seize the reins, he isn’t likely to give them back.
Fantasy Grade: B+
Devin Singletary – RB, Florida Atlantic
Buffalo Bills, No. 74
Running back run! Devin Singletary of Florida Atlantic isn’t the largest back in the class of 2019. Or the fleetest of foot. But he was a ridiculously productive workhorse back at Florida Atlantic with the nickname of “Motor.” The bad news for Singletary in the short-term is that he’s stuck behind LeSean McCoy, TJ Yeldon and Frank Gore on the depth chart in Buffalo. The good news is that McCoy’s coming off down year, Gore gets 10 percent off his order at Denny’s and Yeldon…I have no idea why the Bills signed Yeldon at this point. Barring injury he won’t be a fantasy factor in 2019, but Singletary could conceivably be Buffalo’s lead tailback by 2020.
Fantasy Grade: B-
Terry McLaurin – WR, Ohio State
Washington Redskins, No. 76
Haskins will get a familiar face to throw to in DC in McLaurin, who quietly averaged over 20 yards a catch for the Buckeyes in 2018. The 6’0″, 208-pounder took a back seat to Parris Campbell in the eyes of most draftniks, but McLaurin opened eyes with an excellent week of practice at the Senior Bowl and a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He’s also a special teams maniac, although fantasy owners likely don’t care. What they should care about is a Redskins WR corps that’s as weak as any in the NFL. McLaurin could see quite a few targets as a rookie.
Fantasy Grade: B+
Damien Harris – RB, Alabama
New England Patriots, No. 87
Josh Jacobs may have been the first Alabama running back selected in 2019, but it was Harris who actually led the Crimson Tide in rushing last year. The 5’10”, 216-pounder isn’t the athletic talent that Jacobs is, but he’s a capable between the tackles back in his own right who runs hard and has good vision. The problem is that Jacobs landed in the RB quagmire that is New England. He’s not going to take early-down duties from Sony Michel, and he’s not a good enough receiving threat or pass-protector to earn much passing down work. Harris is a talented kid who will get carries here and there, and he’ll get to keep winning in New England. But this landing spot all but obliterated his fantasy value.
Fantasy Grade: D
Miles Boykin – WR, Notre Dame
Baltimore Ravens, No. 93
It’s no secret that the Ravens needed WR help—having Willie Snead as your No. 1 receiver is…ungood. After adding Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown in Round 1, the Ravens went the big-bodied route on Day 2 with Miles Boykin, a 6’4″, 220-pounder who roared up many draft boards after peeling off a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Boykin has the size-speed combo that NFL teams covet in No. 1 receivers, but he lacks polish and had just one big season with the Fighting Irish. A rookie impact might be asking too much, but you can’t really ask for a better depth chart situation. The question then becomes just what the No. 2 receiver on a run-heavy team would be worth in 2020.
Fantasy Grade: B-
Will Grier – QB, West Virginia
Carolina Panthers, No. 100
It’s long been a question as to which quarterback would go after the “Big 4” of Murray, Haskins, Lock and Jones. As many expected, it was Grier, who threw for almost 3,900 yards and 37 touchdowns for the Mountaineers in 2018. Frankly, an argument can be made that Grier’s every bit as likely to find NFL success as Jones. Or would have, had he not been the first quarterback drafted by the Panthers since Cam Newton back in 2011. It rather goes without saying that playing behind Newton isn’t going to afford Grier much fantasy value. Not this year. Not next year. Quite possibly not ever.
Fantasy Grade: F
Alexander Mattison – RB, Boise State
Mattison isn’t a tailback who got a lot of buzz heading up to the draft, despite topping 1,400 yards for the Broncos in 2018, topping 300 carries and catching 60 passes over his three seasons playing on that blue abomination of a field. The biggest reason for that is athleticism—or more appropriately the lack thereof. Mattison had just nine carries of more than 15 yards a year ago, and ran a pedestrian 4.67-second 40 at the combine. Simply put, while Mattison does just about everything pretty well, he’s not great in any one area. That will relegate him to a role as Dalvin Cook’s backup—although given Cook’s injury history that could give Mattison some handcuff value.
Fantasy Grade: C
There you have it—a Day 2 filled with a run on wide receivers that ran the situational gamut, running backs who mostly landed in so-so fantasy spots at best, and tight ends and quarterbacks that are barely worth caring about. There might be a gem or two for fantasy owners still be had on Day 3 (looking at you, Mike Weber), but odds are the fantasy stars of tomorrow were drafted either Thursday or Friday.
Now, to wrap things up, I’ll save you a few bucks and just tell you the plot of Avengers:Endgame.
I told you there would be snark.
But I’m not a monster.
A member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and Pro Football Writers of America who resides in Columbus, Ohio, Gary Davenport has been featured on a number of fantasy websites and in nationally circulated publications, including the USA Today Fantasy Football Preview and the magazines distributed by Fantasy Sports Publications Inc., for whom Gary is both a contributing author and associate editor. Gary is an eight-time FSWA Award finalist and two-time winner who has been a finalist for that organization’s Fantasy Football Writer of the Year award each of the last three years. He won the honor in 2017. Gary also appears regularly on Sirius XM Radio (including live from Radio Row at Super Bowl XLIX) and over-the-air stations across the country. He knows football. Or so he’s heard.
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