The NFL Draft is in the books, and that means the end of all my beloved "reports." There is nothing better than when a media member comes out with some ridiculous report like there is a 60/40 chance that a team will draft a quarterback. Really? So in other words, you have no idea, either?
Listen, no one knows anything when it comes to the draft, and if they do have information it is given out by the team as misinformation. When I worked for the New England Patriots, everyone was banned from the football offices two weeks before the draft. If you were seen in the football offices you got fired. If you were lost and just happened to wander in there, fired. If someone needed medical attention and you knew CPR, fired. So trust me, no one knows anything when it comes to the draft. That is why Ryan Nassib went in Round 4 instead of No. 8 overall to the Buffalo Bills.
I wrote my pre-draft column about the guys I liked and didn't like. This column will have a bit of overlap but now it is more about the players who went to the best situations for fantasy success. For example, my favorite player in this draft was Montee Ball. Ironically, the guy I loved last year was Ronnie Hillman.
Well, now they are on the same team with 10 other running backs and some guy named Peyton Manning, who I hear likes to throw the ball sometimes. So while I still love Ball, I don't like coach John Fox or the situation he is in for immediate fantasy success. I would recommend Ball much more in a dynasty league format than re-draft leagues.
Below are the players I have going up and coming down following the draft. Remember, this is based on my draft board. Yes, I have a draft board. I have had a draft board since I was 12. I may not be right all the time, but those of you who have been following me for a long time know I have given you my fair share of Eric Decker's, Stevan Ridley's and Priest Holmes' over the years immediately following the draft. Hopefully I can uncover one or two more fantasy gems this year.
Now on with The Fire Sale ...
Going Up
Stedman Bailey, WR, St. Louis -- I said in my pre-draft Fire Sale that Bailey was one of my favorite players in this year's draft, and if I was writing a script for where I wanted him to go to make an immediate impact, St. Louis would have been the place. If you are too lazy to click on the link above, here is some of what I wrote about Bailey last month:
The other thing I really like about Bailey is the quality of...