BillsWin
05-31-2010, 05:53 PM
FULL LIST (http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/nfl/news;_ylt=AkljLILrVYnJCTte.2tSTBO5bZ8u?slug=fantguru-rookietop20_052610)
3. C.J. Spiller (RB, Buf) – It definitely would have been nice to see Spiller drafted by a better team, but it’s not a tragedy he landed in Buffalo. New head coach Chan Gailey wants to build a team that is strong running the ball, yet he also wants to run something of a spread attack, so selecting a potentially devastating receiver out of the backfield made some sense. And of course, they desperately needed playmakers, and Spiller is definitely that.
Gailey is a creative offensive coach, so he should take advantage of Spiller’s abilities. It’s certainly not an ideal landing spot, since the Bills OL is a work in progress, to be kind, and the passing attack should be weak, no matter who’s under center. But Spiller is very dynamic with terrific burst, acceleration, speed, change-of-direction, and elusiveness, all traits that will especially come in handy running behind a mediocre line. He’s a home-run hitter and a threat to take any play a long way. He does play tough for his size, but he’s not a good inside runner, so RBs Fred Jackson (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8063/;_ylt=AhZdBTrko23ZGu7Qzc00C.2TpcoF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8063/news;_ylt=AllNqS_NaP.57Q7rDASKY_STpcoF) and Marshawn Lynch (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8266/;_ylt=Ats2s3RzJ8vqcQb6g74KBs6TpcoF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8266/news;_ylt=Aqo55O0lH05oz4yXR8ui4KqTpcoF) (who it looks like will be sticking around) should still combine for a healthy number of carries and touches each week. Spiller’s also very effective and deadly in the passing game and can play in the slot or split wide and run vertical routes, so despite the presence of Jackson and Lynch, he should be a guy who gets enough touches early in his career to make a big difference. He’s also an exceptional returnman and will add a ton of value to a team in that role. Spiller isn’t without his issues this year, however, especially on this team. He’s proven he can play hurt, but he has had some injury problem, and he does run a little upright at times, so durability is a concern. You also have to be concerned about his blocking ability early on, and it’s always a concern with a dynamic and speedy player that he tries to bust too many runs outside. There is a chance a guy like Ben Tate (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24033/;_ylt=AvTNFBcubo6CgC1EDGr4oJeTpcoF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24033/news;_ylt=AoRFIlyFxeoPb.fvg_ZsW1qTpcoF) proves worthy of being ranked higher than Spiller later this summer, so those drafting early should be careful not to overvalue him, but there’s no question he looks like an exciting and aggressive pick as a flex starter in 2010.
18. Marcus Easley (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24082/;_ylt=Aj2UeNBbxAkYk0ow7Fz4b6mTpcoF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24082/news;_ylt=AocenN1agK2bLEPFa30iPReTpcoF) (WR, Buf) – He wasn’t exactly on the radar before the draft, but he is now because the Bills have a great need at WR and Easley has an intriguing combination of size, speed, hands, and overall athletic ability. The Bills reportedly timed him in the 40-yard dash at 4.4 seconds, so he really stands out as a potential sleeper rookie receiver. There’s some concern about whether or not he’s a one-year wonder, since he had only one big season in college, but the Bills believe he’s a late-bloomer and that he would have been drafted higher (Buffalo took him in the fourth round) had he produced as he did last year for a couple of seasons in college. He’s still a little unpolished in terms of his route-running, he’s a little stiff, and he isn’t the most experienced rookie receiver you’ll see. But with such a great need at the position, he should definitely get a great chance in Buffalo, and it’s not out of the question he starts fairly soon. He’s a good vertical threat, and he’s effective on passes over the middle because of his size, strength, and run-after-the-catch ability. He’s also worked on becoming a good blocker, which should help him in Buffalo. Head coach Chan Gailey has been really impressed with his hands this spring, too. Granted, the QB situation here is poor, and they will look to run it a lot. But if they are serious about a spread approach, this guy simply has to get on the field, so he should see a lot of snaps. Of course, this is a player who caught a whopping five passes before the 2009 season, so expectations need to be low.
3. C.J. Spiller (RB, Buf) – It definitely would have been nice to see Spiller drafted by a better team, but it’s not a tragedy he landed in Buffalo. New head coach Chan Gailey wants to build a team that is strong running the ball, yet he also wants to run something of a spread attack, so selecting a potentially devastating receiver out of the backfield made some sense. And of course, they desperately needed playmakers, and Spiller is definitely that.
Gailey is a creative offensive coach, so he should take advantage of Spiller’s abilities. It’s certainly not an ideal landing spot, since the Bills OL is a work in progress, to be kind, and the passing attack should be weak, no matter who’s under center. But Spiller is very dynamic with terrific burst, acceleration, speed, change-of-direction, and elusiveness, all traits that will especially come in handy running behind a mediocre line. He’s a home-run hitter and a threat to take any play a long way. He does play tough for his size, but he’s not a good inside runner, so RBs Fred Jackson (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8063/;_ylt=AhZdBTrko23ZGu7Qzc00C.2TpcoF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8063/news;_ylt=AllNqS_NaP.57Q7rDASKY_STpcoF) and Marshawn Lynch (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8266/;_ylt=Ats2s3RzJ8vqcQb6g74KBs6TpcoF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8266/news;_ylt=Aqo55O0lH05oz4yXR8ui4KqTpcoF) (who it looks like will be sticking around) should still combine for a healthy number of carries and touches each week. Spiller’s also very effective and deadly in the passing game and can play in the slot or split wide and run vertical routes, so despite the presence of Jackson and Lynch, he should be a guy who gets enough touches early in his career to make a big difference. He’s also an exceptional returnman and will add a ton of value to a team in that role. Spiller isn’t without his issues this year, however, especially on this team. He’s proven he can play hurt, but he has had some injury problem, and he does run a little upright at times, so durability is a concern. You also have to be concerned about his blocking ability early on, and it’s always a concern with a dynamic and speedy player that he tries to bust too many runs outside. There is a chance a guy like Ben Tate (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24033/;_ylt=AvTNFBcubo6CgC1EDGr4oJeTpcoF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24033/news;_ylt=AoRFIlyFxeoPb.fvg_ZsW1qTpcoF) proves worthy of being ranked higher than Spiller later this summer, so those drafting early should be careful not to overvalue him, but there’s no question he looks like an exciting and aggressive pick as a flex starter in 2010.
18. Marcus Easley (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24082/;_ylt=Aj2UeNBbxAkYk0ow7Fz4b6mTpcoF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24082/news;_ylt=AocenN1agK2bLEPFa30iPReTpcoF) (WR, Buf) – He wasn’t exactly on the radar before the draft, but he is now because the Bills have a great need at WR and Easley has an intriguing combination of size, speed, hands, and overall athletic ability. The Bills reportedly timed him in the 40-yard dash at 4.4 seconds, so he really stands out as a potential sleeper rookie receiver. There’s some concern about whether or not he’s a one-year wonder, since he had only one big season in college, but the Bills believe he’s a late-bloomer and that he would have been drafted higher (Buffalo took him in the fourth round) had he produced as he did last year for a couple of seasons in college. He’s still a little unpolished in terms of his route-running, he’s a little stiff, and he isn’t the most experienced rookie receiver you’ll see. But with such a great need at the position, he should definitely get a great chance in Buffalo, and it’s not out of the question he starts fairly soon. He’s a good vertical threat, and he’s effective on passes over the middle because of his size, strength, and run-after-the-catch ability. He’s also worked on becoming a good blocker, which should help him in Buffalo. Head coach Chan Gailey has been really impressed with his hands this spring, too. Granted, the QB situation here is poor, and they will look to run it a lot. But if they are serious about a spread approach, this guy simply has to get on the field, so he should see a lot of snaps. Of course, this is a player who caught a whopping five passes before the 2009 season, so expectations need to be low.