It’s the time of year that all dynasty owners look forward to, rookie drafts! I will take a look at a 2 round rookie/free agent draft that was conducted from May 13th-15th. Rounds 3-4 will be conducted in August. This is a second year PPR dynasty league which I participate in and run.
Rosters before draft
IloveGibbs (Me) 2010 Champion– Aaron Rodgers, Matt Cassel, Peyton Hillis, Lesean McCoy, Darren McFadden, James Starks, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Braylon Edwards, Larry Fitzgerald, Vincent Jackson, Andre Johnson, Dexter McCluster, Terrell Owens, Jordan Shipley, Jermaine Gresham, Kellen Winslow, Sebastian Janikowski, NY Jets Def
Anatidae– Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Reggie Bush, Frank Gore, Chris Ivory, Thomas Jones, Pierre Thomas, Davone Bess, DeSean Jackson, Johnny Knox, Mario Manningham, Lance Moore, Legedu Naanee, Mike Sims-Walker, Owen Daniels, Heath Miller, Rob Bironas, Colts Def
Seven Angry Clowns– Joe Flacco, Tim Tebow, Donald Brown, Tim Hightower, Chris Wells, Danny Woodhead, Jacoby Ford, Percy Harvin, Robert Meachem, Eddie Royal, Demaryius Thomas, Mike Thomas, Dustin Keller, Mercedes Lewis, Nate Kaeding
Random Acts– Tom Brady, Justin Forsett, Matt Forte, Jerome Harrison, Rashad Jennings, Marshawn Lynch, DeAngelo Williams, Danny Amendola, Nate Burleson, Marques Colston, Pierre Garcon, Chad Ochocinco, Roddy White, Roy Williams, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Adam Vinatieri, Bears Def
Boats N Hoes– Jay Cutler, Josh Freeman, Kevin Kolb, Ahmad Bradshaw, Rashard Mendenhall, Ray Rice, Danario Alexander, Anthony Armstrong, Miles Austin, Arrelious Benn, Deion Branch, Jeremy Maclin, Mike Williams (SEA), Jermichael Finley, Tony Moeaki, Garrett Hartley, Chargers Def
Abominable Suh Man– Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Matthew Stafford, Mike Goodson, Shonn Greene, Clinton Portis, Jason Snelling, CJ Spiller, Jonathan Stewart, Ryan Torain, Michael Turner, Calvin Johnson, James Jones, Sidney Rice, John Carlson, Brandon Pettigrew, Mason Crosby, Saints Def
Corner Knifer– David Garrard, Matt Schaub, Tashard Choice, Steven Jackson, Felix Jones, Dwayne Bowe, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Greg Jennings, Reggie Wayne, Vernon Davis, Stephen Gostowski, Eagles Def
Coldone– Kyle Orton, Matt Ryan, LeGarrette Bount, Ryan Mathews, Knowshon Moreno, Kenny Britt, David Gettis, Brandon Lafell, Hakeem Nicks, Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme, Josh Brown, Raiders Def
Forbidden Rice– Philip Rivers, Michael Vick, Vince Young, Jahvid Best, Michael Bush, Montario Hardesty, Maurice Jones-Drew, Bernard Scott, Donnie Avery, Dez Bryant, Michael Crabtree, Mohammed Massaquoi, Chaz Schilens, Mike Thomas, Wes Welker, Antonio Gates, Neil Rackers, Atlanta Falcons
NIT2WINIT– Carson Palmer, Tony Romo, Cedric Benson, Ronnie Brown, Ryan Grant, Benjarvus Green-Ellis, Brandon Jacobs, Darren Sproles, Brandon Lloyd, Santana Moss, Hines Ward, Nate Washington, Chris Cooley, Todd Heap, Visanthe Shiancoe, Dan Carpenter
Steelers Rule– Ben Roethlisberger, Mark Sanchez, Marion Barber, Jamaal Charles, Anthony Dixon, Arian Foster, Ben Tate, LaDainian Tomlinson, Malcolm Floyd, Emmanuel Sanders, Golden Tate, Mike Wallace, Blair White, Brent Celek, Rob Gronkowski, Steelers Def
Rabbits– Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Fred Jackson, Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Mike Tolbert, Earl Bennett, Austin Collie, Santonio Holmes, Steve Johnson, Louis Murphy, Jordy Nelson, Steve Smith (CAR), Steve Smith (NYG), Jimmy Graham, Aaron Hernandez, Zach Miller, David Akers, Ravens Def
Round 1
1. Steelers Rule- AJ Green (WR)
Unless you are desperate for running backs, Green should be the #1 pick in all leagues. The Steelers Rule were desperate for WR help so this was a no-brainer. The QB situation in Cincinnati is concerning but Green is too talented not to produce.
2. Boats N Hoes- Julio Jones (WR)
I have Mark Ingram as the #2 ranked rookie but Team Boats N Hoes is in excellent shape at RB with Rice, Mendenhall and Bradshaw. Julio Jones landed in a perfect situation in a high powered offense in Atlanta and will be able to contribute right away, especially in the red zone.
3. Seven Angry Clowns- Mark Ingram (RB)
Team Clowns should be ecstatic that Ingram lasted until the third pick. Ingram landed in a great situation on the high powered Saints offense and will be a lock for close to 1000 yards and double digit TD’s. Bush, Ivory and Pierre Thomas are still around but they are average talents at best and will not keep the Heisman Trophy winner off the field.
4. Seven Angry Clowns- Daniel Thomas (RB)
Thomas should be the #4 pick in all rookie drafts as there is a pretty big dropoff after the top 4. Thomas will step right into the starting job with a run heavy team and will rack up well over 1000 yards behind a solid offensive line in Miami.
5. Coldone- Ryan Williams (RB)
Williams should be the #5 pick in all leagues.  He will have every opportunity to enter the season as the starting RB for the Cardinals.  This move probably signals the end the the Beanie Wells era in Arizona and Williams has a shot at 1000 yards and 20-30 catches, especially if Arizona lands a veteran QB in the offseason.
6. Coldone- Jonathan Baldwin (WR)
Team Coldone needed WR help after taking Ryan Williams at #5 and went with the 1st rounder from Pitt. Baldwin will be a bit of a project after leaving college earlier than desired and will take a couple of years to develop. He will not be a reliable fantasy option for the forseeable future. I would have gone with Leonard Hankerson over Baldwin, who will contribute right away in Washington. If you need RB help, I would go with Leshoure, who I have ranked as the #6 rookie.
7. Abominable Suh Man- Greg Little (WR)
Team Suh Man is solid at RB with Spiller, Stewart, Turner and Greene so he went the WR route with Little. Little will step right into the starting lineup in Cleveland and will have plenty of opportunity to produce in an offense that lacks any playmakers. I would have gone with Hankerson over Little.
8. Seven Angry Clowns- Mikel Leshoure (RB)
Team Clowns is desperate for WR help but Leshoure is too good to pass up this late in the 1st round. The presence of Jahvid Best hampers Leshoure’s expectations a bit but it will be hard to keep this talented RB off the field. Best and Leshoure will likely split carries with Leshoure getting the goal line work. In the suddenly explosive Lions offense, Leshoure is a candidate for double digit TD’s.
9. Abominable Suh Man- Roy Helu (RB)
With only 3 WR’s on Team Suh’s roster before the draft, I would certainly have gone the WR route, especially with Hankerson and Torrey Smith on board. Helu enters a great situation in Washington with his only competition being injury prone, Ryan Torain. Helu will have every opportunity to compete for the starting job and Shanahan has had great success with unheralded RB’s.
10. Forbidden Rice- Torrey Smith (WR)
Smith is a speedster and is the perfect complement to Anquan Boldin in Baltimore. However, I would have gone with Hankerson who I like a bit more in PPR leagues.
11. Coldone- Leonard Hankerson (WR)
Coldone passed up Hankerson with the 6th pick but was lucky enough to land him this late. He is a steal this late in the 1st round.
12. Rabbits- Shane Vereen (RB)
Team Rabbits need RB depth so he went with the talented back out of Cal. Vereen enters a crowded RB situation that includes Green-Ellis, Woodhead and fellow rookie Stevan Ridley. Vereen is by far the most talented RB out of the bunch and I expect Vereen to be the starter in New England within the next few years. However, I always like to avoid New England RB’s since Belichick loves to rotate his backs.
Round Two
1. Boats N Hoes- DeMarco Murray (RB)
Team Boats needed some RB depth so he went with the former Sooner, Murray. He enters a crowded situation in Dallas that includes Felix Jones, Tashard Choice and Marion Barber, although the Cowboys are expected to release either Choice or Barber. Murray caught over 150 passes in his career at Oklahoma and will likely enter the season as third down back. Felix Jones has never been able to stay healthy so Murray will have a chance to start at some point in the season. I would have gone with Alex Green over Murray.
2. Steelers Rule- Titus Young (WR)
Young is the perfect complement to Calvin Johnson in Detroit and I would consider him late in the 1st round if you need WR help. Nate Burleson put up solid numbers as the #2 WR in 2010 and Young is much more talented. 600-700 yards in 2011 is realistic with plenty of upside beyond this year.
3. Coldone- Randall Cobb (WR)
Cobb enters a crowded WR situation in Green Bay and will not receive much playing time in 2011. Cobb will take a couple of years to develop and his upside is immense playing with Aaron Rodgers. Team Coldone has solid depth at all positions so he can afford to wait for Cobb to develop.
4. Rabbits- Jordy Nelson (WR)
If Nelson is a free agent in your league I would grab him in beginning of the second round. Nelson has a shot at the #2 WR job in Green Bay with Donald Driver on his last legs and James Jones likely to be gone via free agency.
5. Seven Angry Clowns- Cam Newton (QB)
Not many teams in this league needed QB help so the Heisman winner lasted all the way until the middle of the second round. He will likely go a few spots higher in most leagues. Team Seven has Flacco and Tebow so he needed the help. Newton will start from day 1 in Carolina and will put up decent rushing numbers.
6. IloveGibbs- Alex Green (RB)
I made a draft day trade sending the 12th pick of the 2nd round and a 2012 second round draft pick to Team Coldone for the 6th pick. I was shocked to see Green fall this far and I would’ve pulled the trigger on him late in the 1st round. He enters a situation with James Starks and Ryan Grant who will likely be gone after this season. Green and Starks will split carries in 2012 and beyond with Green having more upside because of his speed and pass catching abilities. Brandon Jackson put up solid numbers, especially in the passing game in 2010, and Green is much more talented.
7. Random Acts- Kendall Hunter (RB)
A great pick by Team Random who is lacking in RB depth. Frank Gore has bust written all over him this year and Gore never plays a full 16 game season. Hunter is a must have handcuff for Gore owners and Hunter is likely to start at some point in the season.
8. Steelers Rule- Jacquizz Rodgers (RB)
Solid pick by Team Steelers, who lacks RB depth with only Arian Foster and Jamaal Charles as reliable options. Rodgers is only a long-term keeper as he will be behind Turner and Snelling in Atlanta. However, Rodgers will receive a fair amount of catches in third down duty in 2011.
9. Coldone- Tandon Doss (WR)
I would have gone with Greg Salas over Doss. Salas caught over 200 passes the last 2 seasons at the University of Hawaii and will receive playing time right away in St Louis.
10. Forbidden Rice- Vincent Brown (WR)
With only Jahvid Best and Jones-Drew at RB, Team Forbidden should have solidified his RB situation and gone with Bilal Powell. Brown will see limited playing time in 2011 but will have plenty of opportunity beyond as Vincent Jackson will likely move on at some point.
11. Boats N Hoes- Delone Carter (RB)
Carter enters a crowded RB situation in Indy with Addai, Brown, and Mike Hart already in the fold. Carter is not likely to get much playing time in 2011 unless the Colts are bitten by the injury bug again. I would have gone with Bilal Powell with the Jets and their run heavy offense.
12. Anatidae- Andy Dalton (QB)
Team Anatidae is a rebuilding team and needs help at all positions. Only one QB went off the boards in the first two rounds and Anatidae has several picks in the 3rd and 4th rounds of the rookie draft so I would have gone in a different direction with Bilal Powell and several WR’s still on the board. If he was set on a QB, I would have gone with Locker or Gabbert who have more upside than Dalton.
